Chapter 165: Premature Birth

Chapter 165: Premature Labor

The tables turned too fast, leaving everyone present stunned.

The guards clutched their wounded hands, lying on the ground and groaning in pain. Prince Jing, furious and desperate, shouted, "Get up now! Kill them!"

But this time, no one obeyed him.

"Zhou Jing, you kidnapped my sister and set her on fire. Do you have a death wish?"

Xie Zheng slammed his bow against the ground, his whole body exuding killing intent.

Prince Jing trembled in fear—his men were either dead or injured, and even his rebel forces had been subdued by Xie Zheng. His bravado disappeared, and his eyes darted around before he dragged Shen Qiuyu up by her neck, using her as a human shield.

"It wasn’t me! It was her—she’s the one who hurt Xie’s sister!"

Prince Jing, a man who clung to life at all costs, gripped Shen Qiuyu by the scruff, her legs uselessly dragging.

She looked haggard, her face like a nightmare, and with her legs now broken, she was even more hideous.

The crowd stared at her, a mix of shock and disdain. Shen Qiuyu, who had always prided herself on her dignity, wished the earth would swallow her.

"Stop looking at me!"

Xie Zheng shot her a disgusted look. This woman was vicious, having harmed his sister multiple times—he wouldn’t spare her.

But Prince Jing, the mastermind behind it all, was the one he truly wanted dead.

Xie Zheng raised his hand, and Prince Jing’s bravado crumbled.

"You dare not kill me! I’m a prince!"

"If you kill me, the Emperor will have your head!"

"Tch!"

Xie Zheng’s eyes gleamed with contempt as he lifted his bow. "Then I’ll gladly accept the punishment."

The arrow flew. Prince Jing’s pupils dilated, his face turning deathly pale as he shoved Shen Qiuyu in front as a shield.

But he underestimated Xie Zheng’s strength. Young General Xie had earned fame in the military camp at eighteen for his unmatched archery—when he wanted someone dead, no one could escape.

The arrow pierced through Shen Qiuyu’s body and embedded itself in Prince Jing’s chest, nailing them both to the wall of the side hall.

Flames ignited their clothes, instantly swallowing them in fire.

"Ahhh! I don’t want to die! Xie Zheng, save me! I’ll make the Emperor pardon you!"

Even now, Prince Jing resorted to threats. Xie Zheng sneered, snatching a vat of tung oil from the corner and dousing them with it.

"Tell that to Yama yourself, Your Highness."

Xie Zheng didn’t fear threats.

While the flames devoured them, Shen Qiuyu suffered just as terribly as Prince Jing.

Especially with her legs crippled and her heart run through by a sharp arrow.

Yet, as long as she thought of the man who had tormented her for years dying alongside her, Shen Qiuyu's face broke into a vicious grin.

"Your Highness, you loathed A Yu so much, yet who would have thought it would be A Yu joining you on the road to hell?"

She cackled wildly, suddenly grabbing Prince Jing's hand and yanking him into the inferno.

In her condition, she wouldn't survive anyway—taking someone down with her meant she wouldn’t be lonely on the journey to the afterlife.

"Ah! You damn bitch!"

The flames engulfed them both. Prince Jing, unable to escape, was trapped under her. He cursed and raged, his voice growing weaker until only the roar of the flames remained.

...

"My Lord, are you hurt?"

After Prince Jing's death, his remaining guards were no longer a threat.

Zhang Feng and Chang Yuan broke free and hurried to Wei Xun's side.

Wei Xun knelt on the ground, his gaze unfocused, clearly on death’s door.

"Save... save A Yuan."

A Yuan was cradled in his arms, unharmed except for inhaling some smoke.

A Yuan clutched his hand, her eyes brimming with tears, and looked up to instruct Chang Yuan.

"I'm fine—save him first!"

"Ugh! What a disaster!"

Xie Zheng, having dealt with the remaining guards, walked over. In just half a day, Wei Xun had wound up like this.

Though Xie Zheng despised him, seeing him like this still felt a twinge of pity.

Moreover, he had ended up this way while saving Xie Zheng's sister.

"There's a carriage outside. Get him to the village first."

"Yes."

Chang Yuan and Zhang Feng obeyed, hoisting Wei Xun up. The ground beneath him was soaked red—no one could tell how bad his wounds were or how much blood he had lost.

A Yuan's lips trembled as she struggled to her feet. "I'm going too."

Xie Zheng couldn't bear to see his sister suffer and gently urged her, "You're far along in your pregnancy—you shouldn’t see this much blood. Ride in the other carriage with Chun Tao."

"Brother..." A Yuan looked at Xie Zheng, her eyes begging through tears. "He’s like this because of me. I’m not afraid."

Her face was smudged with soot, but her eyes shone brightly.

Her belly made her wobble unsteadily, and Xie Zheng couldn’t argue anymore.

Wei Xun had suffered such grave injuries to save his sister—out of duty or thanks, they couldn't abandon him now.

"Alright, go ahead."

"Thanks, big bro!"

The moment Xie Zheng gave in, A Yuan staggered after Wei Xun.

Xie Zheng watched from behind, his heart in his throat, calling out again and again, "Slow down, watch out for the baby."

"I know."

Hearing this, A Yuan slowed her steps. She’d been in too much of a hurry, and only when she stopped did she feel the stabbing pain in her belly.

But Wei Xun was badly wounded, and the village only had one doctor. She didn’t want to be a burden at this moment.

By the time they reached the village, the doctor was already waiting.

When he saw Wei Xun, his face fell.

"His injuries are too severe. I fear..."

He trailed off, but everyone present understood.

Wei Xun’s life hung in the balance.

"Doc, you’ve gotta save him! If you can revive him, money, treasure, whatever you want—he’ll give it to you!"

Chang Yuan was beside himself—his lord absolutely could not die.

But the doctor was just a country physician who traveled between villages, and he wasn’t trained for this. He simply couldn’t treat such severe wounds.

"It’s not that I won’t help, but I truly can’t. Get him to town—Doctor Liu there’s the best. He’ll know what to do."

Doctor Liu came from a long line of physicians and specialized in trauma. The moment he saw Wei Xun, he immediately instructed Chang Yuan to take him to the back room.

"His burns are too severe. The wounds must be cleaned first, or if fever sets in tonight, not even heaven can help him."

"Understood."

Chang Yuan and the others followed Doctor Liu’s orders. A Yuan, exhausted from the journey, could barely hold on.

White as a sheet, she clung to the doorframe as a sudden wave of pain made her feel as though her lower abdomen was about to split open.

Mrs. Liu, who had just finished delivering hot water to the back room, came out and saw her in this state.

The older woman’s face went stern, her expression grave.

"This girl’s going into labor!"

She’d trained under Doctor Liu and had practiced medicine with her husband for years. Mrs. Liu’s skills were no less than her husband’s—if she said A Yuan was in labor, there was no mistake.

Chun Tao panicked. "What should we do?"

There were no midwives here, no preparations for childbirth, and with the marquis still being treated inside, who could attend to her mistress?

Mrs. Liu started rolling up her sleeves. "I’ll do it!"

A doctor was the best midwife.

A Yuan was carrying twins, making the birth inherently dangerous. But with Mrs. Liu personally overseeing the delivery, it was even more reliable than a midwife.

When Xie Zheng learned his sister was in labor, he almost buckled at the knees.

Men were forbidden from entering the birthing chamber, so he could only wait anxiously outside.