Xiao Qing lay unconscious, her pulse and breathing, her heartbeat growing weaker.
No matter how Mu Xueqin tried to revive her, how everyone bustled about, Xiao Qing remained unresponsive.
The cries of the newborn babies, mingled with the anxious calls of the attendants, made the delivery room exceptionally noisy.
Liang Xiao, his hand trembling, placed it on Xiao Qing's lips. Struck as if by lightning, his pupils contracted violently!
No sign of breathing?
Liang Xiao, still unwilling to give up, shook Xiao Qing incessantly, calling out repeatedly by her ear, "Shuang'er, look at the children!"
After dozens of urgent pleas that failed to awaken Xiao Qing, Liang Xiao finally broke down completely. He knelt by Xiao Qing's bedside and sobbed uncontrollably.
His beloved, his confidante, his most trusted companion, who had given him her unreserved trust and love, allowing him to pursue his grand ambitions and achieve a vision of peace he had once only dared to dream of!
And now, after bearing him two children, she was to leave him forever?
"Shuang'er! Shuang'er!! Shuang'er..."
Liang Xiao clasped Xiao Qing's hand, his forehead hitting the bed frame, calling her name incessantly, tears streaming down his face like rain.
Ning Xuejun collapsed to the ground, covering her mouth, tears welling up.
Mu Xueqin also felt the world spin, trembling, "A sin, a grave sin!"
Her daughter was Liang Xiao's legitimate wife, yet Xiao Qing, the last remnant of the royal lineage, faced such a crisis. As the Saint of Medicine, she could not escape blame, and could only offer her life as atonement to the world!
In a mere moment, the delivery room was filled with cries, everyone plunged into despair.
After an unknown period, Xiao Qing heard Liang Xiao's weeping echo in her ears. She took a deep breath, slowly opened her eyes, her breathing resuming faintly before returning to normal.
"Brother Xiao?"
The voice that reached her ears jolted the grief-stricken crowd awake. Liang Xiao's head shot up, only to see Xiao Qing gazing at him tenderly.
"Shuang, Shuang'er!!"
Liang Xiao called out, tears still in his eyes, clutching Xiao Qing's hand. He feared it was merely a final burst of energy, or that his forceful grip might cause Xiao Qing to faint again.
Mu Xueqin quickly stepped forward to examine and care for Xiao Qing.
Xiao Qing seemed to realize she had just brushed past the gates of death. Seeing Liang Xiao still weeping, she pouted and pecked his cheek.
"Shuang was just scaring you~"
Liang Xiao wept and laughed simultaneously, kissing her back, "As long as Shuang is safe! We're not having any more children! No more!"
"Shuang wants to have a few more with Brother Xiao," Xiao Qing murmured.
"No more! Two are enough!" Liang Xiao shook his head, still shaken.
"Alright..." Xiao Qing smiled sweetly, looking at the two crying infants beside them, her heart full.
How could she not understand that her Brother Xiao feared she would suffer such pain again, nearly losing her life.
After taking Xiao Qing's pulse, Mu Xueqin exclaimed, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! You have stabilized! A miracle, truly a miracle! Anyone else would certainly not have woken up. The heavens bless Your Majesty..."
As the Saint of Medicine, she had never believed in ghosts or gods, but at this moment, she dared not disbelieve.
No one knew better than she what Xiao Qing's condition had been.
It was beyond hope!
"It is Brother Xiao who blessed Shuang," Xiao Qing said softly.
"It is our ancestors, the people of the realm, and the martyrs of the past!" Liang Xiao said happily.
Xiao Qing giggled, then couldn't help but kiss away the tear streaks on Liang Xiao's face, her expression filled with concern. She changed the subject.
"The fifteenth of August, our wedding day, the birth of our three children, the Mid-Autumn Festival~" Xiao Qing said playfully.
"I will give you the best gift in the world!" Liang Xiao solemnly promised.
Xiao Qing shook her head, "Brother Xiao's intention is enough. The best gift is this peaceful era, the hearts of the army and the people returning to you, Brother Xiao..."
Liang Xiao understood and smiled, "Shuang means we should set an example for everyone, not to be extravagant or superficial!"
"Brother Xiao always understands Shuang best," Xiao Qing said with a proud smile.
"It is Shuang who understands her Brother Xiao best!" Liang Xiao said with great affection.
Once Xiao Qing stabilized, she urged Liang Xiao to check on Zhuo Xun.
After Liang Xiao left, Xiao Qing wiped away Ning Xuejun's tears as she approached, "I'm sorry, Granny Ning."
After losing her parents, Ding Wuyi and Ning Xuejun had been like foster parents to her, caring for her meticulously.
Ning Xuejun finally managed a tearful smile, "The Lord's safety is our greatest fortune!"
Xiao Qing softly requested, "Don't let Eunuch Ding cry, okay."
Ning Xuejun understood and nodded, "Your humble servant will tell Eunuch Ding that the Lord's delivery was smooth and without incident, so he can be happy too..."
Ding Wuyi, driven by frenzy, rushed back to the imperial palace. After a hasty bath, he waited anxiously outside the delivery room, afraid to enter.
Eunuchs were prone to losing control of their bowels, and even with precautions, he worried he might disturb the Lord, so he could only wait in torment.
It was not until Ning Xuejun opened the door and informed him of the smooth delivery that Ding Wuyi burst out of the West Palace villa and laughed up at the sky, as if he had become decades younger overnight.
"Your subjects have not failed the late Emperor and Emperor Zhao's cultivation!!"
Suddenly, Ding Wuyi remembered Sima Jing, who was still in Yanzhou training the Hidden Wolf Guard for Liang Xiao.
"Quick, quick, send someone to notify the old Commander!"
In Zhuo Xun's delivery room, Liang Xiao, along with Zuo Wushang, Zhuo Wulue, Zhuo Zifang, Christa, and others, stood by her bedside, comforting the happy Zhuo Xun.
Everyone understood Zhuo Xun's urging Liang Xiao to attend to Xiao Qing, and deeply admired her.
Zuo Wushang's eyes were already red with tears as he repeatedly kowtowed his thanks to Liang Xiao's family and the Zhuo father and son.
Zuo Longcheng!
Liang Xiao had kept his promise and named the child this, in commemoration of his leading Zuo Wushang and others to destroy the barren lands and sweep through the Chieftain's court of Dragon City.
This also meant that the Zuo family, his line of Zuo Wushang, would not be extinguished!
Zhuo Zifang and Zhuo Wulue had also calmed their emotions and sighed, "From now on, this child will also be a pillar of Great Gan, surely capable of great achievements and leaving his name in history!"
"Lord Zhuo is correct!" Zuo Wushang agreed, echoing their sentiments repeatedly.
The beds in Zhuo Xun's room were specially made with wheels underneath, for easy transport.
Mother and child were then moved to Xiao Qing's chambers. The three infants lay side by side, crying lustily, tended to by Luo Qingxue, who had just returned, and others.
"Brother Xiao, can the second child take the surname Liang..." Xiao Qing weakly suggested.
The eldest son, Xiao Xun, the second son, Xiao Qian!
These were the names Liang Xiao had chosen for the two children.
In imperial naming, children of the same generation shared a common radical.
He hoped the eldest son would, like Emperor Xuan of Han, Liu Xun, be diligent and benevolent towards the people.
The second son, naturally, his name reflected his character. The character 'Qian' conveyed deep expectation, hoping for a future of fraternal affection and to avoid struggles for the throne.
Originally, Liang Xiao had considered naming Xiao Qian 'Xiao Chen', hoping he would be as unyielding as Liu Chen, the King of Bei Di and grandson of Emperor Zhaolie Liu Bei.
However, Wang Canghai reminded him that the full version of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" had become popular in both countries, and some might consider a name associated with the fall of a dynasty and death to be inauspicious. Liang Xiao had to abandon the idea.
Liang Xiao smiled, "The children will take the surname Xiao, it's all the same!"
Xiao Qing no longer insisted, nuzzling into Liang Xiao's embrace.
Happiness!
This night, Xiao Qing felt the pain of her ten-month pregnancy was insignificant.
Wang Canghai and other ministers, upon receiving the news, were overjoyed and rushed to the West Palace villa to offer their congratulations.
However, everyone faced a dilemma.
The children were born, but should they now announce to the world that the Emperor was a woman?