At this moment, in the Prince Zong's mansion, a woman dressed in a loose-fitting dress sat under a towering ancient pine tree in the courtyard. She looked up at the red plaque hanging above it. Since returning from Nan Xu Cong's grave, Ji Wu Shang had been quiet, very quiet. She was focusing on her pregnancy.
When Bei Gong Minhao returned to the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion, the Zhenbei Princess was overjoyed. She knew he still harbored feelings for Ji Wushang, but she also knew that Nan Xuzong was dead, and that Ji Wushang, consumed by her obsession, would certainly refuse to remarry… and that Bei Gong Minhao currently had no intention of marrying another princess…
Princess Zhenbei sighed, but she couldn't force him. She could only hope that Beigong Minhao would "wake up" soon.
They also knew that Yi Yun Muchen had given birth to a boy and was living with Bei Gong Jueshi in Wudang Mountain, which brought some comfort to the Princess of Zhenbei.
Bei Gongminhao would visit Ji Wushang from time to time, but he would never stay for more than an hour before leaving.
This has protected Ji Wushang in a way that is invisible.
Ji Wushang looked up at the red signs hanging above for a long time, "Red flies, green dances."
"Fourth Imperial Consort." Hongfei and Cuiwu immediately stepped forward, one carrying snacks and the other bringing a cloak from outside.
The two exchanged a glance. Since Ji Wushang returned, he had stayed in the Zongwang Mansion. He mostly spent his time in the Moxuan Garden, either lost in thought or making children's clothes. He often seemed to be laughing and crying at the same time, and often talked to himself, making the servants around him shake their heads helplessly.
Everyone knew that Ji Wushang was talking to Nan Xuzong, but where was Nan Xuzong? Where was Nan Xuzong's response?
Or, she might simply sit under this towering ancient tree, staring blankly at the red sign above it, basking in the sun, and that would be her whole day.
"Fourth Imperial Consort, it's still cold, please put on a cloak!" Cuiwu stepped forward and draped a cloak over her shoulders.
Ji Wushang didn't react, but pointed to the tree and said, "Take down all the red signs! Take them down immediately, all of them!"
Hongfei and Cuiwu were both taken aback. Hongfei placed the snacks in front of her and asked, "Fourth Imperial Consort, are you hungry?"
"Hongfei, Cuiwu, did you even hear me?!" Ji Wushang raised his voice, glaring at them angrily. When he first entered this Prince Zong's mansion, Nan Xuzong had held him in his arms and even let him sit on his shoulders to take off the red plaque. When he opened it, there were quite a few words written on it. How could he forget?
He pampered him so much… Ji Wushang’s nose tingled with emotion.
Every red plaque bears his handwriting! You must see it for yourself, feel his presence, and experience everything about him!
Hongfei and Cuiwu nodded immediately, "Yes." This was the first time Ji Wushang had ever lost his temper...
After a long while, Ji Wushang held a box of red tokens in his hands, and his hands began to tremble.
Hongfei and Cuiwu were afraid that Ji Wushang might do something rash, so they stayed by her side. There were two reasons for this: first, it was Second Master Beigong Minhao's instruction to take good care of Ji Wushang; second, Ji Wushang was about to give birth, and the time for childbirth was fast approaching!
Ji Wushang picked up a red card and slowly flipped it over to see what was on the other side.
"Every day, I hope to wake up to see your beautiful smile, Wushang, I love the way you smile."
Ji Wushang pursed his lips and turned to another page. "Wushang, the way you look when you're asleep is just like a cat, so obedient and serene, it sweetens my heart."
“Cong…” Ji Wushang couldn’t help but utter his lover’s name.
She couldn't stop her tears as she looked through each page. Every page contained his words to her: some were words of advice, some were words of praise, some were words of laughter, some were words of philosophy, but most of them were words of care, affection, praise, and dependence.
Hongfei and Cuiwu felt a pang of sadness as they watched Ji Wushang weep. However, fearing that Ji Wushang might be too grief-stricken, Hongfei quickly gestured to Cuiwu, then turned and left the mansion to inform Beigong Minhao.
Ji Wushang was crying and sniffling, sometimes laughing, which made the servants stop and stare at him.
Ji Wushang acted as if no one was around, immersed in his own world.
She flipped to the last page, which read, "Wu Shang, I love you, whether in this world or in another cold world, I will still love you. In the next life, and in this life, we will be husband and wife."
She covered her face and burst into tears, "...I, I promise you... Cong, sob sob..."
Those around him couldn't help but shed tears.
Bei Gongminhao stood at the courtyard gate, watching Ji Wushang cry from afar. He felt deeply saddened, but dared not approach her. He wanted to offer her warmth, but... he couldn't. She wouldn't accept it. Heh! Bei Gongminhao smiled bitterly to himself.
But at that moment, Ji Wushang's hand trembled, and a sharp pain shot through her lower abdomen! She quickly put down the box full of red tokens, clutching her stomach, "I, I'm in so much pain, someone help me, someone help me!"
Beigong Minhao was shocked and quickly rushed forward, followed by the surrounding servants.
Bei Gongminhao was anxious and immediately tried to help Ji Wushang, but the next second he felt that sticky smell!
He held up his hand and saw that it was covered in blood! "Quickly, get the imperial physician!" She was about to give birth!
Ji Wushang's face was covered in cold sweat as she looked at Beigong Minhao. "Quick..." Beigong Minhao suddenly picked her up and rushed into the Moxuan Garden.
Several imperial physicians were anxiously delivering Ji Wushang's baby inside, while outside, waiting anxiously, were Bei Gongminhao, the Princess of Zhenbei, Madam Qin, and Mo Qiqi.
A few months ago, Madam Qin gave birth to a girl, while Mo Qiqi gave birth to a boy, but let's leave that aside for now.
There was another person, the sixth prince Huangfu Yu.
After Nan Xuzong's death, Huangfu Yu's personality began to change somewhat. He started befriending Beigong Minhao, settled down, and studied hard. However, he still couldn't shake his roguish nature. Now, he arrived, extremely anxious.
He learned some stories about Nan Xuzong and Ji Wushang from Beigong Minhao, and felt moved, but did not overstep his bounds.
As darkness fell, the expected cries still hadn't been heard, which only increased the anxiety of the waiting group.
Beigong Minhao almost wanted to walk out, but the old women and nannies guarding outside stopped him, saying, "Your Highness, please wait a moment, there's no rush!"
"Those imperial physicians are truly incompetent! I should have Father Emperor kill them all!" said the Sixth Prince, Huangfu Yu, coldly.
Bei Gongminhao snorted coldly. Although Huangfu Yun was the sixth prince, everyone knew that he had no ability at all! Emperor Zhou used to pamper him and let him do as he pleased, but now, ever since that favored concubine, Meifei, appeared out of nowhere, he has gradually neglected all the princes around him!
Consort Ning was cunning, but Consort Mei was no pushover either; they were evenly matched, each with their own strengths and weaknesses!
However, this did not affect Emperor Zhou's continued affection for Consort Mei!
At this moment, a royal physician, covered in cold sweat, came out from outside. "Sixth Prince, Crown Prince, General Qin's wife, General Mo's wife," the physician greeted each of them, but Bei Gong Minhao had already grabbed the physician and said, "Stop talking nonsense!"
The imperial physician wiped away his sweat. "Yes, yes... the Fourth Imperial Consort, the Fourth Imperial Consort, she... she had a difficult childbirth..."
Beigong Minhao gripped his clothes even tighter, "Then hurry up and think of a solution!"
"Please, Your Highness, calm your anger... Your Majesty, I have come to ask whether to save the mother or the child..." As he spoke, the imperial physician immediately knelt down!
Everyone around turned pale!
This question of saving the mother or the baby... they still only thought it was a difficult birth, but it shouldn't be this serious!
Madam Qin looked at them all, her face deathly pale. "I, my poor young lady... ah!"
"Mother, oh!" Mo Qiqi stepped forward and stood with Madam Qin.
"I need to save the baby! I need the Fourth Princess to be alright!" Bei Gongminhao stepped forward, his eyes almost bloodshot!
"Let me tell you, if anything happens to her, I'll make sure you all lose your heads!" Bei Gongminhao grabbed the imperial physician's collar, his face icy cold. "You must ensure the Fourth Imperial Consort's safety!"
"Yes, yes..."
Huangfu Yu shook his head inwardly, "What a disaster!"
The imperial physician was practically thrown in by Beigong Minhao, and he quickly went inside.
Ji Wushang was in excruciating pain. Her face was completely pale, and she was biting a piece of cloth in her mouth. She was trying her best to push the child out, but she just couldn't!
At this moment, several imperial physicians looked at the imperial physician who had just entered and asked, "How is he? How is he?"
"Save the baby," the imperial physician said.
Hearing this sound just as Ji Wushang was about to lose consciousness, she instantly woke up. She forcefully pulled the gag out of her mouth and cried out incoherently, "No, no, I want Xiao! Please, save Xiao! Save Xiao!"
The imperial physicians stared blankly at Ji Wushang. If they wanted to save the baby, they would probably have to use very cruel methods to remove the child from her womb!
Ji Wushang's tears streamed down her face. She absolutely had to give birth to this child! She absolutely had to!
"Please, please..." Ji Wushang cried out, his eyes still holding a final glimmer of light.
The imperial physicians were stunned for a moment, and after thinking it over, they went out.
The imperial physician immediately knelt before Bei Gong Minhao, "The Fourth Imperial Concubine said that she... she will save the child!"
The people around were stunned.
The wind picked up, carrying an endless chill.
Beigong Minhao felt as if a long time had passed, his gaze vacant, and he murmured, "Listen to her... protect the child."
☆、299 A woman with a son longs for her husband; she remarries, taking her child with her! (Climax! Must-read)
Ji Wushang felt herself sinking into that icy coldness, the pain all over her body indescribable! So this was what childbirth was like! But this was Nan Xuzong's child, and yet she felt so happy! Ji Wushang's heart was filled with anticipation; she wanted to give birth to this child and experience the joy of motherhood! When she heard that resounding cry that shook the heavens, Ji Wushang's heart leaped with joy, but the next second she was plunged into endless darkness and cold.
Those who were anxiously waiting outside were overjoyed to hear such a cry, and their faces lit up with smiles!
However, Beigong Minhao remained silent, his entire face dark and gloomy.
After a long while, the imperial physicians came out. One of them bowed and said, "Sixth Prince, Crown Prince, ladies, you may go in..."
Bei Gongminhao immediately lifted the curtain and went in. He saw that Ji Wushang was lying flat on the bed. Her face was as pale as a sheet of paper, and... she was lifeless.
The imperial physicians stepped forward and bowed, "The Fourth Imperial Consort... she didn't make it..."
"The child is a boy," one of the imperial physicians added.
Bei Gongminhao bent down and took the newly wrapped child from the imperial physician's hands. The child was still wrinkled, but when he looked at everyone, especially when he saw Bei Gongminhao, he stopped crying.
"Get out." Bei Gongminhao said coldly. He brought a stool and sat down beside Ji Wushang's bed. "His Highness the Fourth Prince once entrusted me with the care of the Fourth Princess Consort. I have failed him... You may all leave!"
Everyone sighed as they watched. Looking at Ji Wushang, seeing her lifeless state, they all shook their heads and left.
Bei Gongminhao held the child in his arms. What would the child be called? Ji Wushang hadn't even chosen a name yet! But she had actually left like this… This woman, living in such pain, had finally succumbed to her pain… Bei Gongminhao's eyes reddened, he sobbed, then looked at the baby in his arms, speaking haltingly, “Baby, your mother… she… gave you to me…”
"Waaaaah, waaaah..." The baby suddenly burst into loud cries. Bei Gongminhao immediately coaxed him gently, "Baby, be good, come and give me a kiss, we won't cry, okay? Your mother is here, come on, oh, don't cry, don't cry!" Bei Gongminhao turned to look at Ji Wushang.
He stepped forward, placed his hand on her wrist, and checked it. Indeed, there was no pulse at all.
Bei Gongminhao looked at Ji Wushang, "Wushang, Wushang... how could you abandon the baby? Look at him, how pitifully he's crying, how could you bear to leave him? Wushang!"
Hearing the baby cry incessantly, Bei Gongminhao had no choice but to hold him in his arms and gently comfort him. "Good boy, baby, don't cry. Your mother is over there! Okay, do you want your mother? Come on, okay! Good boy, don't cry." The more Bei Gongminhao spoke, the more the baby cried, as if the world was ending. Helpless, Bei Gongminhao finally decided to place the child next to Ji Wushang.
Looking at the baby, Bei Gongminhao felt a pang of sorrow. The baby had just been born and already lost both parents. What was he to do? He looked at Ji Wushang, tears welling up in his eyes again. She... had given her life to save this baby!
This is the last time the baby will hold his mother's hand... Thinking this, Bei Gongminhao placed Ji Wushang's still slightly warm hand in front of the baby. As if understanding, the baby stretched out his little hand and held Ji Wushang's slender hand with both of his little hands. The crying stopped, but there were still soft "waa waa" sobs.
Bei Gongminhao felt uneasy. He looked at Ji Wushang and sighed deeply.
The baby actually tried to hold Ji Wushang's hands with both hands and then kissed them with her little mouth! Bei Gongminhao sighed as he watched.
But unexpectedly, at this moment, Bei Gongminhao saw Ji Wushang's finger twitch!
"Quick, someone come quick!" Bei Gongminhao was immediately alarmed and rushed outside. Outside, the imperial physicians were preparing to pack up and leave. When they saw Bei Gongminhao come out, they were all startled.
"Wu Shang is not dead! The Fourth Imperial Consort is not dead! Quick, you must go and save her!" Bei Gong Minhao shouted loudly.
Everyone around was extremely surprised!