Chapter 413: Chapter 398: Breaking Through
Dongxue held the dagger, her hands trembling, tears streaming down her face, "Miss, if you cut open your belly, you’ll die."
"It doesn’t matter..." Feng Shu looked outside the door in despair and disgust, "Living is meaningless. After you take out the child, leave through the secret passage, go back to the Feng Mansion and tell my parents to take everyone away, as far as possible."
For the past six months, Su Yuejiao had also been planning to leave the Capital City, not wanting Feng Shu to be trapped in Xiangguo Temple forever, or imprisoned by Yuwen Jing in the palace.
Feng Shu’s plan was initially to give birth to the child, send it away, and then slowly plan her escape. She couldn’t possibly abandon her family. Now that Yuwen Jing was right outside, with danger imminent, she couldn’t consider much more. She could only focus on the child, buy time, and let her family leave. Whatever the outcome, if she died, all would end, left to fate.
If worst comes to worst... she would wait for her child and parents on Huangquan Road.
She truly had done her best!
Her greatest regret was not being able to see Yuwen Jing get what he deserved. But she knew that Xie Jue and Xie Xun would definitely return to the Capital City for revenge!
A fierce contraction hit, and Feng Shu bit down on a cloth strip again, straining to hold onto Dongxue, pleading with tears in her eyes. Dongxue couldn’t bring herself to do it; this was the girl she had grown up with, more important to her than her own life.
To her, the girl was far more important than the child!
But to the girl, the child was more important than herself; she would do anything to protect it.
"Miss..."
Feng Shu’s tears fell like raindrops, while Xia Zhu at the door also covered her mouth in suppressed sobs. Everyone felt helpless and desperate, and there was a child soon to be born.
Yuwen Jing frowned slightly. More than an hour had passed with no sound from inside the hall. He couldn’t help but suspect whether Feng Shu was really inside, or if it was just an illusion.
His nature was inherently suspicious, his brow furrowed, "Shu’er, Shu’er?"
Feng Shu endured the pain and removed the cloth, "Your Majesty, I want to wash and rest. I don’t want to see you. Please leave!"
Due to the pain, Feng Shu’s voice was somewhat hoarse. No matter how she tried to stay calm, she couldn’t restore her voice to its original state. Yuwen Jing had already doubted whether Feng Shu was in the room, and upon hearing her voice, he sternly said, "You’re not Shu’er!"
Feng Shu was panic-stricken, and Dongxue was also startled. Yuwen Jing suddenly kicked the door, but was blocked by Xia Zhu, who held the door firmly, "Your Majesty, our young lady is bathing and washing her hair. You... please be respectful!"
"Step aside!" Yuwen Jing said angrily, "If you don’t want to die, get out of my way!"
Xia Zhu held the door firmly. Yuwen Jing glanced back, and Chen Mo stepped forward, slowly drawing his curved blade, exuding a murderous aura, "Move!"
Xia Zhu used her body to block the door and suddenly heard Feng Shu say, "Xia Zhu, let him in!"
Yuwen Jing was furious. When Xia Zhu moved aside, he pushed the door open, and the sound of water could be faintly heard coming from behind the screen. Fengyu had poor health and often needed to soak in hot springs. A hot spring pool had been built in her courtyard, and this was no exception at Xiangguo Temple. Hot spring water from the mountains was led indoors, and Feng Shu immersed herself in the water, her clothes half-off, exposing her shoulders. Dongxue scattered flower petals over the pool to conceal her pregnant belly. As Yuwen Jing entered, Feng Shu and Dongxue hurriedly made these preparations.
If she hadn’t spoken, Chen Mo could have killed Xia Zhu with one sword strike. Xia Zhu was a foolish girl who would die blocking the door. Ultimately, escape was impossible, so they had to do their best to hide the truth.
The hot spring, however, eased her pain. Through the screen, Feng Shu hoped Yuwen Jing wouldn’t come in, but she clearly underestimated his suspicion. Without seeing her, Yuwen Jing wouldn’t leave!
Yuwen Jing walked around the screen, and Dongxue quickly covered Feng Shu’s shoulders with a fox fur coat. Feng Shu was drenched in sweat, her hair soaked, indistinguishable whether from steam or perspiration, her face pale as paper.
"Your Majesty, please be respectful!" Feng Shu looked at him coldly, her hands under the water clenching her clothes tightly, not revealing any of her pain, and she could clearly feel the birth canal slowly opening under the water. The child was about to be born, and she had to strain to give birth while calmly facing Yuwen Jing, an ordeal she struggled to mask.
For the labor was too painful.
If the child was born right in front of him... the thought of that scene sent shivers up Feng Shu’s spine, forcing her to hold back, not daring to push.
Yuwen Jing looked at Feng Shu, and after not seeing her for more than half a year, she had lost a lot of weight, exhibiting signs of illness. Yuwen Jing felt a pang of heartache, and a sense of relief, for it was Feng Shu indeed.
She remained at Xiangguo Temple, just didn’t want to see him.
"Shu’er..."
"Get out!" Feng Shu’s eyes were red from the pain, but to Yuwen Jing, it appeared as if she was deeply humiliated. Yuwen Jing retreated outside the screen, gazing darkly at the distressed woman.
As soon as he left, Feng Shu grabbed the fox fur coat and stuffed it into her mouth, biting down hard.
Yuwen Jing said, "Shu’er, I’m waiting for you right here. We haven’t seen each other for months. I have so much to tell you!"
Feng Shu, "..."
Lingering like a specter!
What to do!
She couldn’t give birth right in front of Yuwen Jing, and it was too late for Dongxue to cut open her belly. The first cries of a newborn could never be concealed!
Feng Shu, in despair, continued pushing. She couldn’t let the child suffocate.
"Xia Zhu..." Feng Shu said, "Go out... and set fire by the Grand Hall..."
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, bad news!" A Jinyi Guard rushed in, "Xie Jue has been spotted in the front courtyard of Xiangguo Temple!"
"Xie Jue?" Yuwen Jing squinted his eyes, "Are you sure?"
"Absolutely sure, many people have seen him."
"Xie Tingfeng, how dare you!" Yuwen Jing said angrily, "Men, block off Xiangguo Temple. No one is allowed in or out. Chen Mo, if he dares come, I’ll make sure he never returns!"
Feng Shu also heard the Jinyi Guard’s conversation, her heart pounding. Why was Xie Jue at Xiangguo Temple?
What was he here for?
Did the Shadow Guard tell him about the child?
She felt both surprise and worry, delighted that Xie Jue had come, perhaps allowing her to give birth in peace. Any of the Xie brothers standing there gave an endless sense of security.
This is great!
But she also worried whether Xie Jue could leave after coming here.