The Chang Family Main Residence
At this late hour, the main hall was still brightly lit.
Old Master Chang had not yet retired, instead sitting in the main hall, sipping tea.
He didn't know why,
but he couldn't shake a feeling of unease.
"This is bad! Master!"
A servant rushed in from outside in a panic. Old Master Chang glared at him, "Why are you in such a rush!"
The servant quickly straightened his attire, "Master, our medicinal herbs have been impounded at the entrance. It's that brat Chang Pinghe!"
"Pinghe?" Old Master Chang asked in confusion, "Wasn't he in the back courtyard?"
The servant shook his head quickly,
"It's true, it was him! And he had that wretched little girl named Song with him. No matter what I said, he wouldn't budge. They're out there counting the herbs now!"
Old Master Chang stood up excitedly, his beard bristling with anger, "Then who is in the back courtyard!"
He hobbled forward with his cane, "It's alright, we have Wanwan. He wouldn't dare commit such an act of abandoning his kin!"
But before he could take a few steps,
another person rushed in, also in a state of panic.
This person was panting heavily, "Master, a woman has been apprehended in the back courtyard. It's Miss Lin Tingwan of the Lin family."
Old Master Chang's expression sharpened, "What is she doing here?"
The servant shook his head,
"I don't know."
"Keep an eye on her. Don't let her get near Wanwan," Old Master Chang grunted and continued walking towards the entrance.
Compared to Wanwan,
he cared more about the intercepted medicinal herbs and Chang Pinghe at the entrance.
What does it matter that she's pregnant?
He never liked this marriage in the first place!
Stepping outside, he saw the arguing group from afar.
Old Master Chang greeted them with a smile, "Youngster Pinghe, you're home. Why didn't you let me know?"
Chang Pinghe snorted, "Let you know? So you could prepare?"
He shouted angrily, "I told you explicitly to forbid leaving the city! How could you dare!"
Song Qingchao also chimed in with a smile, "Yes, this little lady advised you to be careful."
Old Master Chang's face turned a shade of red with anger.
He glared at Song Qingchao, then spoke to Chang Pinghe in a conciliatory tone, "You must understand, with Wanwan's current condition, if the Chang family were to encounter trouble..."
He didn't elaborate, but his words clearly implied that he wanted Chang Pinghe to drop the matter.
Chang Pinghe merely lowered his head and rubbed his thumb, "Old Master Chang, you cannot keep threatening me with Wanwan."
Old Master Chang chuckled slyly, "I will use Wanwan. If you had listened to me back then and married the true eldest daughter of the Lin family, what could I have done to you? You chose your own path, what can you do to me?" httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Chang Pinghe clenched his fists in anger, but showed no signs of backing down.
Old Master Chang looked at the two of them with an air of arrogance, "Now that the Lin family's eldest daughter has also been captured, let me go, and I'll give both women back to you."
"You scoundrel!"
Song Qingchao spat out the words through clenched teeth.
She couldn't fathom how anyone could be so despicable!
"But it's not me who is despicable. When one wants to achieve something, one has to give up some things, don't they?"
Song Qingchao looked at the expression on his face, wishing she could rush forward and land two solid punches.
However, this was Chang Pinghe's family affair.
If she were to leave Feng County safely, she absolutely could not afford to offend Chang Pinghe!
Chang Pinghe, fists clenched, was about to retort but was stopped by a servant running towards them.
The servant scrambled forward, hair plastered across his face, "It's bad!"
Old Master Chang was furious at the sight.
It was Chang Pinghe who calmed the servant down before he could speak.
The servant had no time, "Madam is having a difficult labor!"
The words stunned everyone, and even Song Qingchao grew anxious.
In this era, childbirth was a journey through the gates of hell for women.
With premature labor compounded by a difficult delivery, it was a pre-booked ticket to death.
Even the gods in heaven could not save them!
Chang Pinghe, forgetting all about the herbs, shoved past Old Master Chang and rushed into the courtyard.
Song Qingchao was also very anxious.
She grabbed Old Master Chang by his collar, "Where is Lin Tingwan!"
If Lin Tingwan had managed to meet Wanwan, she wouldn't be so worried right now!
With Lin Tingwan's medical skills, Wanwan should be safe!
Old Master Chang, however, showed no sense of urgency.
He remained arrogant, "If you want the person, you'd better release my shipment, otherwise..."
"Otherwise what?" Song Qingchao's voice turned cold, "Now that there is both testimony and evidence, do you really think I came here just to impound your herbs?"
She suddenly shoved him away.
She didn't hold back her strength, pushing Old Master Chang to the ground.
"With the plague spreading outside the city, Old Master Chang, you'd best pray for your own good fortune!"
She said this and then followed after Chang Pinghe.
From a distance, his urgent footsteps could be heard, and as she got closer, Lin Tingwan's voice became audible.
By the time she arrived,
Chang Pinghe had already managed to rescue Lin Tingwan.
Lin Tingwan, supporting herself as she ran into the house, explained Wanwan's condition, "The umbilical cord is around her neck. I can only do my best!"
Song Qingchao did not stop her, but instead held back Chang Pinghe, who was about to rush forward, "Don't interfere. Trust Tingwan!"
Chang Pinghe's eyes were already bloodshot.
Betrayal by his family, his wife in danger – Chang Pinghe had been in an extremely tense state all night.
She continuously reassured Lin Tingwan, finally stabilizing Chang Pinghe's condition.
He leaned against the doorway, his voice hoarse as he soothed Wanwan.
But the heart-wrenching screams emanating from the room continued to make both of them uneasy.
Meanwhile, Old Master Chang, as if oblivious to their distress, had brought his men in.
So it fell to Song Qingchao to block Old Master Chang's disruptive actions.
She lifted the hem of her skirt and descended the steps, her gaze sweeping over a group of servants wielding clubs, before letting out a scoff.
"Old Master Chang, we've sparred so many times. Why are you still not giving up?"
Old Master Chang also sneered, "Miss Song, it's best we settle our feud sooner rather than later."
Song Qingchao nodded in agreement, "Fine, then I'll consider it a bit of exercise."
She placed a hand on her neck, "However, fighting in the courtyard isn't ideal. Shall we go outside?"
"Not ideal?" Old Master Chang said with a sinister grin, "Where is it not ideal? I think it looks just fine."
His cane struck the ground with a "clack," and then the household guards behind him surged forward, wielding clubs and making guttural noises as they charged at Song Qingchao.
Accompanying their inane shouts was Old Master Chang's voice, fueling the spectacle, "Giving birth, what's the big deal? These young people today, truly worse than the next generation."
Song Qingchao deflected a guard with her arm, having just pushed away one of the servants beside her.
Upon hearing Old Master Chang's words, she was so enraged her lungs felt ready to burst, and her attacks grew increasingly forceful.
She had expected Chang Pinghe to be too preoccupied to bother with her.
However, with a turn, she found herself standing shoulder to shoulder with Chang Pinghe.
Chang Pinghe looked coldly at Old Master Chang, "Wanwan is in mortal peril. Are you truly determined to do this?"
Old Master Chang snorted, saying nothing.
Chang Pinghe let out a heavy sigh, his hand tightening around the sword at his waist, "Miss Song, no need to hold back."
With a "swish,"
the gleaming sword tip glinted with a chilling coldness under the moonlight.
But more terrifying than that was the word "kill" he uttered!
Song Qingchao spun her dual crescent moons, then charged forward under the moonlight!