Nan Gong Yu held Xiao Man in one arm and the sword at his waist in the other, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings. "It seems some people can no longer wait!"
A murderous aura enveloped the two, as if the cold night wind itself was intimidated and had quieted.
Xiao Man gripped a dagger. She had never been fond of swords, but she was well-equipped with hidden weapons.
A whistling sound split the air. Nan Gong Yu drew his sword and slashed forward, bisecting an incoming feather arrow. Xiao Man shifted behind Nan Gong Yu, their backs to each other as they faced the assassins.
"The fight has broken out below. Aren't you going to help?" Dong Fang Wei asked, his arms crossed, looking at the other two who were merely watching.
"No rush," Yan Yu Qing said calmly. "We've been busy all night. Since they went out for wontons alone, they might as well get a good workout."
Dong Fang Wei snorted and turned his head, his gaze falling on Du Gu Luo. Du Gu Luo was also watching the besieged pair with curiosity, his hand never leaving his sword hilt, ready to descend at any moment.
"How long do we have to wait?" Dong Fang Wei asked, seeing that those below were struggling.
"We wait for the signal," Du Gu Ming Yu stated calmly. With Mu Rong Sheng Rui gone, certain factions in the imperial capital would naturally become restless and make their move, especially the Crown Prince who was under house arrest. If the situation wasn't controlled in time, he wouldn't remain Crown Prince!
"Don't worry, the two below aren't even using their full strength. They are likely waiting to see who else can't resist attacking them," Yan Yu Qing said with amusement.
Dong Fang Wei simply sat down and closed his eyes to rest. It wouldn't be too late to act once Xiao Man gave the signal.
"They truly are affectionate, going out for wontons in the middle of the night," a voice sneered from the shadows. "However, it makes things convenient for us."
"Master, shall we take them both down?"
"Taking them both down won't be easy. Just severely injure Nan Gong Yu. Don't let him ruin things."
"Yes, Master."
While Nan Gong Yu was locked in a fierce battle, elsewhere, the Chu King's manor was in chaos. The Chu King's consort had a fall, triggering premature labor. Maids and servants scurried about frantically, and to make matters worse, the midwife was drunk and completely insensible.
"What do we do? The midwife is so drunk, we can't wake her."
"Quickly go find another midwife from outside. The Consort is not going to give birth immediately," the old nurse immediately ordered. "Have you informed the King?"
"The King is handling official matters and has not yet returned."
"Then why aren't you sending someone to inform the King! If anything happens to the Consort, can you bear the responsibility?" The Chu King's Consort's old nurse berated, then ushered the physician in. "Doctor, please examine the Consort."
The royal physician was sweating profusely. He was a doctor, but he was not skilled in midwifery. Even if he were, he dared not deliver the Chu King's Consort's baby!
The Chu King's Consort cried out in pain, her water had broken, but the midwife had not yet been found. The doctor paced the room anxiously, "Is the hot water ready? Are all the supplies prepared?"
"Everything is ready, but the midwife has not arrived."
Seeing the Chu King's Consort crying out in pain and her water broken, and it being late at night, making it difficult to find a midwife, the doctor, in his desperation, grabbed a basin of hot water and rushed into the midwife's room, dousing her with it.
The midwife slowly opened her eyes. "Is it raining?"
"The Consort has gone into labor! You old hag, get up quickly! If anything happens to the Consort or the young prince, your head will be forfeit!"
The midwife, who had been groggy, jolted awake upon hearing about the Consort's labor. Her wine was gone, but her limbs felt weak, and she couldn't stand. The royal physician quickly ordered people to help carry the midwife to the Chu King's Consort's room.
The Chu King's Consort screamed hoarsely, but the baby was still not coming. The midwife, dripping wet, was dragged in. She saw the Consort sweating profusely, with little strength left.
"Consort, save your strength. Quickly give the Consort a slice of ginseng to hold," the midwife instructed, her voice urgent. She had to ensure the safety of the Chu King's Consort and the child, or Prince Chu would have her head for secretly drinking in the manor. Sudan Novel Network.
"Hot water, gauze, scissors," the midwife steadied herself, wiping the water from her face, and moved forward to assist. "Consort, take a deep breath, and then push hard."
"So much blood..." The maid attending to the Consort felt dizzy and faint upon seeing the excessive bleeding.
The midwife was also a little nervous. The labor had been going on for so long, and the baby still hadn't come out. She feared that Consort Qi would have a difficult birth.
"Ah." Consort Qi bit down on a handkerchief, trying with all her might to give birth, but the baby was being particularly stubborn, refusing to come out.
"Consort, push, it's coming, it's coming soon, push, push harder," the midwife encouraged the Chu King's Consort.
"It's out, it's out!" a maid shrieked.
The midwife's legs went weak, and she sat down on the ground. "Doctor, doctor, quickly come, it's breech!"
The royal physician rushed in upon hearing the commotion. "How can it be breech?"
"The feet... the feet are coming out first. It's over, it's over."
The royal physician felt a cold sweat break out. This was a sign of a difficult labor. "Quickly think of a way to turn it. If anything happens to the Consort or the young prince, neither you nor I will survive!"
"How do we do that?" The midwife was also flustered. At this moment, she had no idea what to do.
"Has the King returned yet?"
"No."
"Go, quickly invite Mr. Xiao. Mr. Xiao's medical skills are better than mine; perhaps he has a solution." The royal physician, inspired by the emergency, immediately sent someone to fetch Xiao Qin.
The maid, upon hearing this, ran quickly to Xiao Qin's courtyard. In a short while, she returned, dragging a dishevelled Xiao Qin.
"Mr. Xiao has arrived."
Xiao Qin tidied his clothes and asked, "What is the situation?"
"The Consort has gone into labor, but it's breech."
"Difficult labor," Xiao Qin frowned. "Give the Consort a slice of ginseng to hold. I will first administer acupuncture to stop the bleeding and prevent her from becoming exhausted due to excessive blood loss."
"Now that it's breech, what can be done?"
"Where is the King?"
"The King is attending to affairs and has not returned to the manor."
Xiao Qin's brows furrowed. "Her water has broken, and we can't delay any longer. If the fetal position cannot be corrected... I can only try my best, but be prepared for the worst."
"What is the worst-case scenario?" the royal physician asked, trembling.
"The death of both mother and child."
The attending old nurse's eyes rolled, her head swimming. The Consort was having a difficult labor, and the King was absent at this crucial moment. They, as servants, had no authority to make decisions.
Xiao Qin stopped the Chu King's Consort's bleeding, but he could not correct the fetal position despite all his efforts. The amniotic fluid was rapidly depleting, and if the baby could not be delivered soon, it was highly likely to suffocate within the mother's body.