The two spoke to each other, back and forth,
making Song Qingchao so angry she slapped the space between them with her hand, "Stop."
Chang Pinghe turned his face away, stiffly blocking the doorway, "In any case, I won't let him in."
Song Qingchao nodded, "Commander Chang, I understand your personal grudges very well, but you should believe in Young Master Xiang's medical ethics. Bai You'an is alone inside now and can't handle it. With one more person, Wanwan's chances of safety will be greater."
Xiang Yunling also added, "I've explained this many times. My feelings for Wanwan have always been those of a friend. Whether you believe it or not, I'm going in today."
He controlled his wheelchair and bumped it with a "bang" against Chang Pinghe's leg, then quickly squeezed through the gap.
Chang Pinghe, who was bending down to hold his leg, was about to turn around and grab Xiang Yunling's wheelchair when Song Qingchao seized him.
Chang Pinghe glared, "What are you doing?"
He tried to reach forward but found himself firmly held, unable to move an inch.
Such a frail, weak young girl could hold him fast.
He couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Song Qingchao had no strength to argue with him. Only after spotting Xiang Yunling's figure disappearing did she finally release Chang Pinghe.
"If you want Wanwan to be in trouble, then by all means, go in and drag him out. I won't stop you."
She walked to the city wall and leaned against it, sitting down.
"Premature birth is already dangerous. Now Wanwan is infected with the plague, and the conditions are harsh, with no midwife. If you kick Xiang Yunling out and leave only Bai You'an inside, do you think that would be good for Wanwan?"
Chang Pinghe stood in place, his stance stubborn.
"I was just too worried."
"Worried about what? About him having killed people before?"
Chang Pinghe shook his head, "I'm worried about Wanwan."
"Don't worry, Wanwan will be fine."
After Song Qingchao rested, she noticed that the previously empty city wall was now filled with guards. Some were boiling water, some were decocting medicine. Bowls of bloody water were carried out, and bowls of hot water were carried in.
"Did you find a midwife?"
"Yes, I found one with a milder case," Chang Pinghe said, then coughed, covering his mouth.
Her cough made Song Qingchao nervous.
Her expression turned serious, "You're infected too?"
Chang Pinghe, who had been standing guard at the door, nodded, "Everyone in this city is."
He turned his head back, his eyes bloodshot, "So, before you came in, I warned you."
Song Qingchao looked back at him.
She didn't know what words to use to express her feelings right now.
The entire city was infected. Just how potent was this plague?
The night slowly descended,
but the firelight on the city wall illuminated half the sky.
Chang Pinghe was pacing back and forth anxiously.
Song Qingchao listened to the constant wails and the sound of pacing footsteps, and her heart also grew anxious.
Three hours had passed, why hadn't anyone come out yet?
As she was thinking this, she saw Xiang Yunling emerge.
He wore a mask, but the dampness on his forehead still revealed his disheveled state.
"Save the mother or save the child?"
His voice was cool and clear, devoid of any emotion.
Song Qingchao had just stood up, and upon hearing this, she was stunned. She asked again, unsure, "What did you say?"
"Save the mother or save the child?" Xiang Yunling asked again, his eyes fixed on Chang Pinghe, trying to find an answer in his expression.
"Save the mother."
Chang Pinghe still stood tall and straight. He answered without hesitation.
"Wanwan is in your care."
Xiang Yunling said nothing, turned his wheelchair, and went back in.
Song Qingchao stood behind Chang Pinghe, not knowing what to say.
Before everything was settled, silence was probably the greatest comfort to him.
Soon, a baby's cry could be heard from inside.
The child cried loudly, not like a premature baby at all.
With a "bang,"
Chang Pinghe collapsed onto the ground.
Song Qingchao hurried inside.
Before she could enter, she saw Xiang Yunling emerge, holding a small infant.
He didn't even glance at the fallen Chang Pinghe, "It's a young master. Congratulations, Commander Chang."
Chang Pinghe seemed to realize belatedly. He struggled to regain his voice, "A young master?"
Then he got up and rushed fiercely towards Xiang Yunling, "I said save the mother! Where is Wanwan? Wanwan!"
Xiang Yunling ignored him, only holding the baby tighter, "The child is weak. Don't pass the sickness to the baby. Move aside!"
"I don't want any child! I want Wanwan!"
He shook his head and rushed into the room, muttering "Wanwan."
He directly bumped into Bai You'an.
Bai You'an, covered in blood, frowned and blocked Chang Pinghe at the door, stopping his outburst, "Mother and child are safe. Don't make a scene."
Hearing this, Chang Pinghe's tears instantly streamed down, and he disbelief asked again and again, "Wanwan is okay?"
Bai You'an confirmed, "She's fine."
After he spoke, he walked past Chang Pinghe and went to Song Qingchao's side, "I'm glad you found Young Master Xiang."
Song Qingchao tilted her head, looking at his similarly damp temples, "You've worked hard."
Bai You'an, his white clothes stained red with blood,
quietly looked at Song Qingchao and said in a hoarse voice, "It's nothing."
He reached out to pull Song Qingchao, but seeing his blood-stained clothes, he withdrew his hand, "The delivery room and the newborn are both weak. Commander Chang, this city wall is not a good place to recuperate."
Chang Pinghe retracted his foot, which was about to step into the room, "But there's nowhere else to go. All the houses have collapsed."
Xiang Yunling, who had been silent, interrupted them, "Come to my house."
He controlled his wheelchair and moved forward, "I have many empty rooms in my courtyard. The wind is too strong here. I'll take the child, as for you, it's up to you."
He took the child to the stairs and said to two soldiers, "Please help me get down."
The two soldiers exchanged glances.
Chang Pinghe said, "Escort Young Master Xiang down."
As soon as he said this, the two soldiers immediately acted.
Chang Pinghe paid them no mind, instead bending over and entering the room, then carrying Wanwan out.
He nodded at Bai You'an and Song Qingchao, "Thank you both."
Song Qingchao smiled and said it was nothing, but Bai You'an pursed his lips and said nothing.
The two followed Chang Pinghe and also descended the city wall.
Before they reached the bottom, they heard a commotion.
Song Qingchao craned her neck to look down,
Elder Chang and a group of people were blocking the stairs again.
They were numerous and surrounded Xiang Yunling, who was holding the baby.
"You can leave, but you must leave the child behind!"