Chapter 122: A Thread Between Life and Death

Wan Tang takes a deep breath, lifts the blood‑stained curtain and steps into the inner hall.

A heavy scent of blood hits her at once, mixed with sweat and the fetid fumes of medicinal herbs, making one feel almost nauseous.

In the wavering candlelight, Lady Qi lies limp on the delivery bed, the brocade quilt already soaked through with blood, her greasy black hair clinging to her pallid face.

"Get… out…," Lady Qi croaks hoarsely, her trembling fingers gripping the bed curtain tightly, "You slut… don't think you can harm me…"

Wan Tang cold‑ly scans her twisted visage: "Save your strength for giving birth."

"Ah!" Lady Qi suddenly erupts, snatching the jade ruyi beside her pillow and hurling it, "It's you who wants to ruin my child! You and the Xu family are both worthless."

"The imperial doctor said this morning I was fine, why can't I deliver now?"

A wave of excruciating pain makes her curl up like a shrimp, and fresh blood gushes from beneath.

The seasoned midwife in the corner rushes forward to block Wan Tang.

The old woman's face is full of flab, her cuffs embroidered with the Xiao family's secret pattern, her cloudy eyes rolling: "Your Majesty Jin Gui, this filthy place— you'd better leave at once."

She deliberately displays the item bestowed by Xiao Mingshu, "I, by order of Minister Xiao, have come specifically to assist Lady Qi in delivery."

"Did I ask you about the situation?" Wan Tang snaps sharply.

She rips open the blood‑stained bedding.

The sight before her makes her stomach cramp; Lady Qi's lower body is already a bruised purple, the baby's head lodged in the birth canal, the tiny violet face half‑visible.

【Wan Tang really stepped into murky water; Lady Qi scolds her, what does she care? Let her die in Xiao Mingshu's hands.】

【Blame Wan Tang, that foolish Lady Qi—perhaps she doesn't know that Xiao Mingshu has been sacrificing the small for the great from the start. The Empress Dowager was present before; Xiao Mingshu had no choice. Now that labor is imminent, many women die in difficult births; as long as the child lives, it's fine.】

【At this moment Wan Tang enters, not only aligning with Xiao Mingshu's intent but also providing a scapegoat.】

Cold sweat drips down Wan Tang's temples.

The scent of herbs in the air continually unsettles her.

Wan Tang stares at the herbs smoldering in the corner, lifts a basin of water and douses them outright.

"Your Majesty! This is the medicine prepared by the imperial doctor!" the midwife shrieks suddenly, her gaunt fingers clutching the medicine bowl tightly, "You are plotting to murder the Imperial Heir!"

"Bang!"

A sharp slap lands on the midwife's face.

Wan Tang's voice is as cold as ice: "The Emperor is just outside the hall; if Lady Qi and the Prince have any mishap, I'll be the first to cut you down!"

The midwife trembles, collapses limp on the ground, and dares not speak further.

"Everyone, get out of the way!"

She barks the crowd away, first stuffs ginseng slices into Lady Qi's mouth to keep her alive, then, trembling, walks to the foot of the bed.

In the candlelight, her hand that holds the silver dagger keeps shaking, cold sweat streaming down her temples.

【Wan Tang really intends to deliver? Can she hear us talking?!】

【There's no modern anesthesia in ancient times, but there's ma fu san!】

【Quick! Press the Hegu point to relieve pain!】

Wan Tang's pupils narrow slightly, "Right, a narcotic— as long as it can make someone lose consciousness, it'll do."

She suddenly shouts, "Fetch the narcotic, and prepare hot water and thin rope!"

The imperial doctor cries out from behind the curtain, "Your Majesty, you must not! Those narcotics are only used by the disreputable."

"Silence!" Wan Tang cuts in, "If we delay any longer, the Prince will surely die!"

The imperial doctor rushes to the Emperor's side, "Your Majesty, isn't this nonsense?"

Chu Yunzheng's gaze deepens, "Can your Imperial Medical Institute even save Lady Qi?"

The imperial doctor's face turns pale, speechless.

Chu Yunzheng kicks him, snarling, "Get out!"

"Prepare according to Lady Wan's orders."

Xiao Mingshu stands aside, obscure and unreadable.

Bai Wei slips up to Xiao Mingshu, "Your Majesty, look at Lady Wan—so smug, as if she truly can save anyone."

"I still want to think of a way to have her expelled."

Xiao Mingshu glowers at Bai Wei.

A faint smile curls at the corner of her mouth, a meaning‑laden laugh: "She loves the spotlight, then let her flaunt it properly."

"That gate, however, is the Ghost Gate."

"Since she likes to go there, let her go."

Xiao Mingshu adds a light note, "It's hard to persuade a dying ghost; I originally intended to spare her life."

Bai Wei instantly nods, reveling, "This Lady Wan seems destined to live to the end, so she'll accompany Lady Qi in the burial."

Wan Tang has no idea what's happening outside.

At this moment, only one thought fills her mind: save lives!

She follows the voice in her head, first pressing Lady Qi's Hegu point.

Then she sprinkles the narcotic powder onto the wound, her trembling fingertips stained with fresh blood.

"Ah!" Lady Qi lets out a heart‑wrenching scream.

Wan Tang clenches her teeth, carefully slicing the birth canal with the silver knife.

Fresh blood spurts out, splashing onto her pale face.

Her hand shakes so much she can barely hold the knife, yet she forces herself to continue.

【Who would have thought ancient narcotics worked so well, their effect not inferior to modern anesthetics.】

【Quick! Rotate the fetal position!】

【First cut the umbilical cord! Be careful not to hurt the baby!】

Her blood‑stained fingers probed the birth canal, groping to untie the tangled umbilical cord.

Each movement provoked Lady of Grace Qi's pig‑slaughter‑like wail, and every mournful cry made the imperial physicians clutch their chests and stamp their feet.

"It's coming, it's coming quickly…" Wan Tang muttered to herself, sweat soaking her clothes.

With the final gush of blood, the bluish‑purple infant finally slipped into her trembling hands.

Wan Tang used a silver knife to cut the umbilical cord, then lifted the baby's tiny foot.

"Snap!"

A light pat landed on the baby's back.

"Wah!"

The bright wail pierced the deathly silence.

Wan Tang collapsed onto the ground, the infant in her arms warm and alive.

She stared at her blood‑soaked hands and suddenly let out a light laugh.

In that smile lay the gratitude of surviving a calamity, and an indescribable desolation.

The hall doors were flung open, and Chu Yunzheng's silhouette stood against the backlight.

Wan Tang lifted her head while holding the baby, the blood stains on her face still wet, the tears in her eyes not yet gone, yet she raised a weary yet proud smile: "Congratulations, Emperor… it's a Prince."

The scent of blood still lingered in the hall, and Chu Yunzheng strode in.

The Empress Dowager had already lunged toward the baby, her trembling fingers parting the swaddling cloth: "Indeed, a Prince."

Wild joy burst from his murky eyes.

He immediately ordered the grandmother to move the child aside.

Xiao Mingshu forced herself to remain dignified, stepping forward to block: "Emperor, the atmosphere here is heavy with blood; your priceless body must not become stained."

Chu Yunzheng seemed not to hear.

His gaze locked tightly on the figure collapsed in the pool of blood.

Wan Tang's side hair was disheveled, her plain white dress soaked in blood, and her face still bore splattered blood droplets.

Yet her fingertips still trembled, her lips as pale as paper.

"Tangtang."

The Emperor's voice was hoarse beyond recognition; taking three steps as two, he rushed forward, ignoring the filthy room, and seized Wan Tang into his arms.

His broad palm supported the back of her head, the force so great it seemed to mash her into bone and flesh.

"You truly are my lucky star."

The words, wrapped in scorching breath, fell at her ear, tender beyond reason.

Wan Tang could feel his chest violently trembling; the usually composed emperor's heartbeat was astonishingly rapid.

Xiao Mingshu dug her fingernail into her palm, and the Emperor didn't even glance at the Prince!

The imperial physicians knelt on the ground, their foreheads pressed to the blood pool, daring not to look up.

Wen Po slumped in the corner, staring at the embracing pair, her eyes full of terror.

Lady of Grace Qi's fate remained uncertain.

Yet everyone inside, including the Emperor's first child, seemed to have become mere background.

In Chu Yunzheng's eyes, only that fool who could not even protect himself yet still stepped forward.

"Emperor…" Xiao Mingshu was on the verge of grinding her teeth.

Chu Yunzheng replied, "Everyone be quiet, let Tangtang rest a while."

"My Tangtang is my greatest meritorious subject; tell me what reward you desire!"

【Zha Long is still affectionate; in that case, perhaps regarding the Black River City incident, Wan Tang can plead with Zha Long.】

【Xiao Chuan's actions aren't purely selfish; aren't they also for Zha Long's sake?】

【Alas! Wan Tang, you must be sure to save Xiao Chuan!】

【After all, he killed Xu Mingde, also to avenge your mother!】