In a rooftop room of a themed hotel in S City, an ambiguous atmosphere filled the room. Heaving breaths and involuntary moans filled the air. The heavy, wine-red gauze curtains on the bed couldn't conceal their intertwined bodies. The man, with his bronze skin and sweat-drenched back, lay beneath her. Her long, strappy dress was
torn open, revealing glimpses of her skin—a truly alluring sight. "Wei, you're so beautiful..." the man murmured, lost in passion, before his burning kiss enveloped hers, silencing her lips and tongue.
The woman's eyes, though slightly narrowed, seemed lost in the throes of lovemaking, yet a glint of desire shone within.
"Mmm..." she whimpered, her voice softening the man's gaze.
Finally, he pulled away from her slightly swollen lips, burying his face in her neck, gently nibbling, his eagerness tempered with tender affection.
At this moment, she finally opened her eyes, a hint of impatience hidden in her clear, cold, sharp eyes as she stared at the ceiling, seemingly waiting for something.
"Wei..." the man called out again, almost involuntarily, but the instant he looked up, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed onto Murong Wei.
This large man, Murong Wei could push him away effortlessly.
She had received various training since she was eight, raised by her grandfather, and became a professional assassin at thirteen. Her immense strength was one of her strengths, but she was also proficient in hypnosis, poisoning, scaling walls, and both traditional Chinese and Western medicine.
The man on the bed was dead, but how he died was unknown; even the forensic doctor probably wouldn't be able to find anything.
Wrapped in a sheet, the first thing she did after getting out of bed wasn't to run away, but to carefully peel off the thin membrane from her mouth. Even though the man was the epitome of a rich, handsome, and successful man in the eyes of many women, she still felt disgusted. The less than five minutes of contact she had just experienced had almost made her lose control and slap him.
Next, the second thing she did still wasn't to run away, but to take a shower.
She was lazy about everything except showering, counting money, and reading novels.
The happiest thing in her life was soaking in the bathtub, finishing her calculations, and then slowly devouring a novel.
An hour later, when she calmly emerged from the bathroom, she had changed into a dirty cleaning worker's jumpsuit, the wide trousers concealing ten-centimeter stilettos. She was satisfied with everything about herself—big eyes, a high nose—except for her height, barely 1.68 meters.
She pulled an old-fashioned instant camera from her large pocket, snapped a picture of the man's pale face, and a retro-style photograph slowly emerged from the camera's base.
"Five million, done!" She grinned, holding the photo between two fingers, her eyes crinkling into dimples, making her look quite adorable. In the
assassin world, someone at her level typically doesn't leave the field for three years at a time, living off their earnings during that time. This deal meant another three years of vacation for her.
People in the industry likened her to a dormant volcano, erupting and then going dormant periodically.
She glanced at the time, grabbed a pen from the table, pulled her waist-length hair up high, slung her toolbox over her shoulder, and hummed a little tune as she prepared to leave.
But in that instant, she stopped abruptly, feeling a sudden heaviness in her head, as if something had been pressing down on it. As she instinctively reached for the pen, a wave of dizziness washed over her, and everything went black. She could only vaguely hear hotel alarms, a cacophony of noise, the clashing of wheels, whips, the clanging of weapons, shouts, and cries…
Wait, why are these sounds becoming increasingly unfamiliar?
What happened?
"Fourth Miss, something terrible has happened!" Suddenly, the voice became clear, very close, as if it were right next to her ear...
"Fourth Miss, get up quickly! Eldest Miss is back first, Master and Madam are still on their way!"
"Fourth Miss, what's wrong? Get up! Run for your lives!"
"Fourth Miss, it's too late! Eldest Miss is back! This will definitely be exposed!"
...
These anxious voices echoed in Murong Wei's ears, causing her a splitting headache. She tried to open her eyes, but she had no strength, her eyelids heavy.
She couldn't understand what the voices meant at all. What Fourth Miss? What Eldest Miss? These terms were too distant from her.
She had been an orphan since childhood, adopted by the old master, and trained on a deserted island. At thirteen, she escaped from the jaws of a tiger and joined the assassin profession. Ten years had passed, and she was twenty-three.
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her fingertips, jolting her scattered consciousness together. She abruptly opened her eyes, but what she saw made her freeze instantly.
This...this...where is this?!
"Fourth Miss, you're finally awake! Hurry up and get ready. Eldest Miss is still at the manor and will be coming to the villa tonight. We still have time to escape." The old nanny said, quickly bringing over clothes.
Murong Wei looked at her fingers where she had been pricked with needles, then glanced at the old nanny, her heart filled with even greater horror. The nanny was dressed in simple, dark black clothes, her hair styled in an intricate way, her wrinkled face filled with anxiety.
"Oh dear, Fourth Miss, are you scared out of your wits or what? Get up quickly!" the old nanny urged again.
"You...I...um...who are you?" Murong Wei asked timidly, her hand naturally and naturally resting on her protruding belly, though at this moment, she hadn't yet realized what she was touching.
"Fourth Miss...what's wrong with you today?" the old nanny finally noticed Murong Wei's strange behavior.
"No, no, who am I... No, no, where am I... No, that's not right either! I wanted to ask... Ask, ask, ask why you're in such a hurry!"
Murong Wei's words changed repeatedly with the old nanny's expression. Adaptability was a basic skill for every assassin, and this sudden turn of events, though overwhelming, allowed her to quickly regain her composure.
She remembered a very cheesy term: "time travel"!
"Fourth Miss, this old servant is saying that the Eldest Miss has arrived. She's at the manor and will come to see you at the other courtyard tomorrow or tonight!" the old nanny said earnestly, enunciating each word clearly.
"Ah... what should I do?" Murong Wei suddenly panicked as well. She didn't know how the Fourth Miss had offended the Eldest Miss, only that one was a legitimate daughter and the other a concubine's daughter, and the legitimate daughter was to be married off by imperial decree, wanting to find the concubine's daughter as a substitute.
In short, she was now the Fourth Miss, and she had to panic along with the old nanny to avoid giving herself away.
Acting was her forte.
Murong Wei was so startled that she stood up and was about to rush out.
However, the moment she took a step, she stopped abruptly, her body stiffening, staring ahead with a look of astonishment.
"Fourth Miss, be careful! You've barely managed to save your baby, and you'll be giving birth in a few days. You can't afford any accidents now; if something happens, it will be a double tragedy!" The old nanny's tone was stern as she pulled Murong Wei over, deftly brought her some water, and said, "Fourth Miss, have some water first. In a bit, pack your valuables. I've packed the rest of the luggage. I'll go check if the coachman has arrived yet. Don't wander off. As soon as the coachman arrives, we'll escape."
Murong Wei took the water cup and nodded mechanically. Only after the old nanny creaked and closed the door did she come to her senses.
Yet she remained stiff, mechanically lowering her head like a robot, even hearing the cracking of her cervical vertebrae.
What did she see?
A swollen belly! Just as the old nanny had said, she was about to give birth!
Good heavens, this joke had gone too far! She had transmigrated into a pregnant woman, and was about to give birth.
Wait!
There was a very important, crucial question!
Murong Wei slowly raised her head, filled with endless感慨 (gǎnkǎi - mixed feelings of emotion and reflection), "Who is the father of the child?!"
The old nanny returned quickly, while Murong Wei, having tidied herself up, sat on the warm couch, toying with a crystal-clear fish-shaped pendant made of artificial crystal, a material completely foreign to this era.
She hadn't expected it to have traveled with her.
She quickly searched the room, finding her toolbox, the tool she used in her crimes, under the covers, and the pen she used to hold up her long hair, under her pillow.
"Fourth Miss, what's wrong with you today! You're not usually like this! Eldest Miss is back, did you even hear me?" the old nanny urged anxiously, noticing the pendant dangling in Murong Wei's hand.
"Isn't it pretty?" Murong Wei's voice softened.
"Pretty, Fourth Miss, what is this?" the old nanny asked curiously.
"Look closely, isn't there a totem hidden inside?" Murong Wei said softly again, her voice seemingly possessed by magic.
The old nanny didn't answer, looking even more intently, seemingly bewitched by the crystal pendant, leaning forward, mesmerized.
Murong Wei stopped shaking the pendant, a mysterious and elegant smile playing on her lips. After a long silence, she spoke softly, "Tell me, who am I?"
"Fourth Miss," the old nanny murmured, her soul truly captivated.
This was the oldest and simplest form of hypnosis—instant hypnosis!
As a top assassin, Murong Wei naturally knew it. This hypnosis didn't work on everyone; only two or three out of a hundred people could be instantly hypnotized. Clearly, Murong Wei's luck wasn't bad.
"Who is the Fourth Miss?" Her voice was still so gentle as she spoke, lazily reclining on a high pillow.
"The fourth daughter of General Murong of the Han Kingdom, Murong Zi, is about to be married off to the Xuanyuan Dynasty as a concubine of the Qi King," the old nanny replied.
Murong Wei was startled. She hadn't expected the name to differ from hers by only one character. She smiled helplessly, about to ask more questions, when she was shocked again.
About to be married off?
That meant she hadn't yet been married off to Xuanyuan; more precisely, she was pregnant out of wedlock and about to give birth!
In ancient times, this was a more terrifying thing than murder. Having finally calmed herself, Murong Wei still asked softly, "Whose child is Fourth Miss carrying?"
"This servant doesn't know who it is. Eldest Miss admires Prince Xuanyuan Qi, but it was Fourth Miss who was betrothed to him since childhood. A year ago, Eldest Miss took Fourth Miss to the north to escape the summer heat. After returning, Fourth Miss became pregnant. Only this old servant and a few guards knew about this. When the child was three months old, Fourth Miss claimed illness and came to this villa to rest. Just then, Master was ordered to go on a military campaign, and Madam accompanied him, so this matter has been kept secret until now," the old nanny answered truthfully.
"Why didn't you abort the child?" Murong Wei continued to ask. She didn't know that, long afterward, whenever she thought of those words, her heart would feel like it was being torn apart.
"Fourth Miss is kind-hearted and timid. She wouldn't even step on an ant, let alone kill the child in her womb," the old nanny said.
Murong Wei shook her head helplessly and asked, "Does the eldest young lady know about this?"
"Of course she knows. The fourth young lady has been living in the separate courtyard. After Master and Madam left, no one has come to see her. It's because the eldest young lady sent servants to look after her. I was also ordered to look after the fourth young lady. The eldest young lady pretends to know nothing and went to the border with the general," the old woman replied.
Murong Wei nodded, but then, a thought struck her and she couldn't help but back away in fright. What a close
call! So… the old woman was actually a spy!
If it weren't for the hypnosis, she might have unwittingly fallen into the old woman's trap!
Remember, the first servant you encounter after transmigrating isn't always your confidant!
Murong Wei roughly guessed the key to the whole matter. She stretched and asked curiously, "And who is Prince Qi?"
Although it was obvious that the eldest young lady was the one who framed her, and her methods were extremely ruthless—not only preventing her from marrying Prince Qi, but also trying to kill her!
No matter what, she was the fourth young lady of the Murong family. Being pregnant out of wedlock could be resolved early on, allowing her to marry into a family of lower status than the General's. However, being discovered only when she was about to give birth was a serious matter.
Unfortunately, she was more interested in men than women. The name Xuanyuan Qi Wang sounded impressive.
"Xuanyuan Qi Wang, named Che, is the seventh prince of the Xuanyuan clan. After the crown prince ascended the throne, he was enfeoffed as a prince and given the title 'Qi.' He is proficient in the six arts, possesses both talent and virtue, and is incredibly handsome. He became famous throughout the states in his youth. He is mysterious and elusive; he is rarely seen except at grand palace banquets," the old nanny answered truthfully.
"Xuanyuan Che?" Murong Wei murmured to herself, then asked, "Has the date for the marriage alliance been set?"
"This marriage was arranged in childhood, and the Xuanyuan royal family has never mentioned it. However, the late emperor's edict is in the General's hands, so this marriage is unavoidable," the old nanny replied.
Murong Wei nodded and asked many more questions about General Murong's mansion, only putting away the crystal pendant late at night.
It turned out that General Murong had no sons; this fourth young lady was his only legitimate daughter. The eldest young lady, Murong Lan, the second young lady, Murong Qiu, and the third young lady, Murong Yue, were born to his second concubine. The general's wife married late and died early, leaving this biological daughter to be bullied from childhood.
After a long while, the dazed old nanny suddenly snapped out of her daze, finally coming to her senses, but looked completely bewildered, forgetting what she had just done.
She looked at Murong Wei blankly, then became anxious again, tidying up the valuables on the warm couch while urging, "Fourth Miss, hurry up, the coachman will be here soon."
Murong Wei, however, appeared languid, subtly pushing away the old nanny's hand that was pressing on the valuables, and said indifferently, "I'm tired, and it's getting late. Let's leave tomorrow. Remember to wake me up early."
With that, she gently lifted the heavy valuables with one hand, placed the other on her waist, and rose to the bed with the proper bearing of a pregnant woman.
The old woman then turned to look out the window and was shocked to find that it was already dark. What was going on? How could it be night already?
How could Murong Wei sleep that night?
In ancient times, insomnia meant neither leveling up in a game nor browsing Weibo; one could only toss and turn in bed. Unfortunately, Murong Wei couldn't even toss and turn; she lay motionless on her back.
With such a large belly, she had absolutely no idea what to do. She had pretended to be pregnant before, but that was just for show.
After much hesitation, she finally sneaked out of the house. Her stomach was growling with hunger; no wonder someone with her exceptional adaptability couldn't sleep.
In ancient times, the kitchen was also called the East Kitchen, meaning east of the main hall—she knew this basic fact.
Glancing at the bright moon, a faint smile appeared on Murong Wei's lips. She quickly found the east side and carefully made her way there in the dark, finally finding a small kitchen at the end.
Using the moonlight, she cautiously opened the door, then turned on her pocket flashlight, adjusting it to a low beam. The toolbox that had accompanied her from her time travel contained all sorts of things, but unfortunately, they were all rechargeable and could only be used for a short time.
She first found a stool and sat down, her breathing uneven. Dressed in a long, ancient-style dress, and heavily pregnant, she felt awkward and every step was difficult. This was really frustrating for her, who was usually carefree and even occasionally climbed walls and trees, and would even leap across rooftops when she felt
like it. Putting aside the condition of the Fourth Miss's body, just this pregnancy alone rendered her unable to use any of her skills. The Eldest Miss would arrive tomorrow, and she had to think of a safe way to save her own life and the child in her womb.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but smile, gently patting her large belly, and said with a laugh, "Baby, we're in this together now. I'll protect you, so don't blame me for taking your mother's body later."
As she spoke, she was about to get up when, unexpectedly, the baby in her belly moved, seemingly kicking her. This startled Murong Wei, her face turning pale instantly, her legs going weak, and she almost fell. In that instant, a figure in black flashed by, a large hand supporting her shoulders, protecting her.
How terrifying! Could this be what they call telepathy, what they call fetal movement!
Murong Wei, still in shock, clung tightly to that arm, her body trembling, muttering to herself, "Thank goodness!"
She had already turned off her flashlight; just before the fetal movement, she had sensed someone approaching in the darkness, but she hadn't expected this person to move so quickly.
In the dim light, she couldn't make out the man's face clearly, only that he was very tall, more than a head taller than her. He seemed quite drunk; his hot breath, thick with the smell of alcohol, wafted towards her as he approached, making her uneasy.
"Hehe, aren't you afraid of me?" he chuckled, his deep, pleasant voice tinged with languor and intoxication.
"Who are you... what... what do you want?" Murong Wei stammered, as timid as a frightened rabbit.
"Just passing by, I'm tired." He said lazily, his tall frame slowly leaning towards her. Murong Wei dared not speak, instinctively retreating, back and forth, until she finally leaned firmly against the wall.
He covered her mouth with his large hand, leaning against her side, his head against the wall, seemingly trying to calm himself, or perhaps resting, remaining silent for a long, long time.
Murong Wei's eyes widened. She dared not disturb him. She could feel the warmth of his hands, but the calluses on his palms suggested he was a pampered man, someone who wielded a sword constantly.
Who was this man, and why was he here, drunk?
Was he someone from General Murong's mansion, or was he simply passing by?
After a long while, he gradually released his grip, and without any further movement, Murong Wei dared to slowly turn her head. But as soon as she turned, she froze. In the dim light, she could only see his profile—delicate lines, perfect curves, almost sculpted.
Murong Wei suddenly felt an urge to immediately turn on her flashlight and see what kind of otherworldly face this was!
But she didn't.
Her innate assassin's instincts told her this man was dangerous; she had to leave immediately.
Before she could even move, he suddenly turned around, leaning against the wall, his head drooping onto her shoulder. His large hand slowly encircled her neck, pulling her closer and closer.
Even the scent of wine couldn't mask his signature ambergris. Despite her aversion to all fragrances, she felt a strange sense of intoxication. Slowly, his lips gently touched her cheek.
They were so cold! Startled, she shuddered, instantly sobering up.
He remained silent, his cold lips tracing a path of light kisses down her cheeks, hovering just short of landing, but never actually kissing her.
Murong Wei's eyes widened; she could no longer contain herself. She pressed her miniature flashlight against his abdomen and slammed it down.
"Who are you?" he demanded, pulling away and grabbing her neck, his voice cold and sharp.
In the dim light, Murong Wei finally faced him directly. She still couldn't see his face clearly, only that his sharp eyes were deep and cold, completely devoid of drunkenness.
The object in her hand was still pressed against his abdomen—a weapon she'd been using as a flashlight and a self-defense stick. Even though it wasn't a continuous press, 300 volts should have knocked him out and caused him to convulse!
Unexpectedly, 300 volts only sobered him up.
"You're not Murong Zi, who are you!" His voice grew colder, and he noticed the object in her hand. However, before he could act, a glint flashed in Murong Wei's eyes, and she pressed the switch again. This time, she didn't just press and release; she held it down.
A hundred volts held down is enough to kill, let alone 300 volts. Even if this guy's constitution was abnormal, he was still a human being!
Sure enough, the man let out a muffled groan, then released the switch and lay flat on his back, crashing down on the table with a loud bang!
In the quiet night, this loud noise was quite alarming.
Murong Wei stomped hard on his foot with her embroidered shoes and quickly ran away, instantly missing her ten-centimeter stilettos…
The next morning, the old nanny brought breakfast early and began urging her, repeating the same two sentences over and over: the young lady is coming soon, run away quickly, or you'll die.
Murong Wei ignored her, staring blankly at the millet porridge and dried radish.
Why did that guy say she wasn't Murong Wei last night? Could it be that he came specifically to find Murong Wei, or perhaps he wasn't drunk at all, just pretending, or… or was this guy actually the father of the child in her belly, here to meet Murong Wei in secret?
Then why did he say he was just passing by?
Various guesses and wild thoughts filled her mind, and she hadn't slept a wink since last night.
"Fourth Miss, what's wrong with you again?" the old nanny asked suspiciously, feeling that something was off about the young lady since yesterday, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
"Nanny, where did these things come from?" Murong Wei asked calmly, picking up a piece of dried radish and sniffing it.
"Of course it was made in the kitchen. I got up in the dark to make it for you, mistress. Hurry up and eat your fill so we can get going." The old nanny urged her anxiously.
Murong Wei was still stunned. Three hundred volts of electricity, and that guy was actually fine. He had disappeared first thing in the morning!
"Fourth Miss, this old servant begs you, please hurry!" Suddenly, the old nanny knelt down without warning.
Murong Wei finally came to her senses, covered her face with a silk handkerchief, and forced out a few tears before bending down to help the old woman up. However, she couldn't get the old woman up for a long time. "Granny, please don't be like this. Please get up quickly. I understand your good intentions, but how am I supposed to escape with such a big belly? Where can I escape to? What if the baby is born on the way? What should I do then?"
"Oh dear, Fourth Miss, it's better for the baby to be born on the way than to run into the Eldest Miss. I've told you about the dangers of this situation countless times. We can only hide in this courtyard until today. We must leave. The Eldest Miss won't protect you. She will definitely tell the Master about this." The old nanny said with a serious expression.
"Granny, I'm scared... or..." Murong Wei said, her voice trembling with tears, "or... or... Granny, go and tell my father. Go now. There's no escaping now. Let him know, and after I give birth, he can scold or beat me as he pleases."
She really wanted to continue playing dumb, but the nanny's urging left her no choice. She knew very well that once she stepped out of the courtyard, a large number of assassins would be waiting for her. In her current state, she couldn't possibly fight back. Even though she carried a lot of modern equipment in her toolbox, many of them were unusable. Besides, if she encountered someone like the monster from last night, she would only face certain death.
Usually carefree and nonchalant, she was more meticulous and cautious than anyone else when it mattered.
Once she left the Murong residence, everything would be irrelevant to the seemingly ignorant young lady. It was likely that even the old nanny and the guards in the courtyard would not escape unscathed.
Thinking of this, Murong Wei's hand unconsciously touched her swollen belly again. For some reason, her first thought was still of this child. No matter what, she had to save it; the child's life was intertwined with her own.
"No, Fourth Miss, didn't you always say that this was something your father absolutely couldn't know about? Your father's health isn't good; it would upset him," the old nanny hurriedly advised.
"But...but now that things have come to this, I have no choice, Nanny, I'm scared, I'm really scared..." Murong Wei sobbed softly as she spoke.
"Oh dear, my dear aunt, now is not the time to be afraid. Don't worry, everything has been arranged by your nanny. When have I ever not thought of you? If I say everything is alright, then everything is alright. Would I ever be careless about your and your child's lives? I would risk my old life to ensure your safety! Hurry up, Fourth Miss, the coachman is waiting outside. Let's go out the back door and go to a farmhouse in the suburbs to take shelter. Things will be much easier after the baby is born." The old nanny looked up at her, appearing completely devoted, as if she wanted to lay her heart out for her.
Murong Wei was still sobbing. She pulled open her silk handkerchief and glanced at the old woman. Just as she was about to speak, the old woman began to speak earnestly again, "Fourth Miss, if the eldest young lady were to expose this, and with her embellishment, Master would definitely fall ill from anger. You know Master's health best. If Master falls ill, you will have the hardest time in the manor. We've been hiding for so long, Fourth Miss, I'm begging you, if Master finds out about this, we servants can't bear the consequences!" As
the old woman spoke, she suddenly hugged Murong Wei's legs, tears streaming down her face, looking even more pitiful than Murong Wei.
“Granny, actually…”
Murong Wei was interrupted again before she could finish speaking. “Fourth Miss, it’s really too late. Don’t you trust this old servant? My heart is as pure as ice and as clear as the moon!”
“Granny, you should…”
“Fourth Miss, this matter involves the imperial court. You are the Qi Prince’s concubine appointed by the late Emperor Xuanyuan. If the eldest young lady exposes this, the Murong Royal Mansion will definitely sacrifice you. Don’t blame this old servant for not warning you then. Also, you don’t even know who that man is. If you’re accused of harboring a criminal, you will become the sinner of the entire Murong Mansion, Fourth Miss!”
“Granny, how about this…”
“Fourth Miss, let’s go!”
The nanny had interrupted Murong Wei countless times. Finally, she stood up abruptly, grabbed her hand, and wore a tragic expression of a warrior going to his death.
Just then, Murong Wei's patience finally reached its limit. She abruptly stood up and roared, "Can't you even let me finish what I have to say?"
The old nanny, startled by the shout, immediately released her grip, frozen in shock as if struck by lightning. She
finally realized something was wrong with the fourth young lady. She'd been acting strangely since yesterday. How could Murong Zi, who was usually timid and even afraid of the sound of rain, speak so loudly, and...and...and swear like that!
Murong Wei glanced coldly at the old nanny, sat up straight, slowly straightened her clothes, and smoothed her loose hair before lazily speaking, "Old nanny, it's not that I don't want to leave, it's just that if I step out of this door, my life is over, and you... knowing Murong Lan as you do, do you think she'll let you go?"
"You... how could you..." The old nanny was utterly astonished, looking at Murong Wei completely bewildered, feeling that this fourth young lady had completely changed, even more terrifying than the eldest young lady.
"Answer my question, yes or no!" Murong Wei's voice was cold.
"This... this... Fourth young lady, spare me! This old servant knows her mistake, this old servant was blind to your greatness, please save this old servant!" The nanny, enlightened by the question, immediately knelt down heavily again, kowtowing repeatedly and begging for mercy.
"Fourth Miss, this old servant is foolish! Your words are shocking! I know I was wrong! Please, Fourth Miss, save me! Eldest Miss is heartless and will surely silence me!"
"This servant is willing to serve you like a dog or a horse, at your beck and call, without complaint or regret, I will do my utmost!"
"Fourth Miss, please be magnanimous and save me!"
...
The old nanny begged and kowtowed repeatedly, pleading and kowtowing for a long time, but heard no response from Murong Wei.
Just as she cautiously raised her head, suddenly, she heard Murong Wei scream "Ah!" followed by a painful cry, "It hurts... ah... it hurts..."
"She's giving birth!" the old nanny blurted out in a jolt.
"Ah...it hurts...help!"
"Doctor! Get a doctor quickly...120...hurry...help! Ah...it hurts..."
Murong Wei clutched her stomach with one hand and gripped the armrest tightly with the other, her face contorted in agony. This excruciating and helpless pain was something she would never forget! The old nanny was panicked and couldn't understand what Murong Wei was saying at all.
There is no pain in the world more painful and terrifying than childbirth.
"Hurry, find a doctor! Hurry! I can't hold on any longer, hurry!"
"Granny, hurry! If this child can't be saved, you'll die too! Everyone in this courtyard will die! Do you understand?!"
...
Murong Wei's warning brought the old nanny back to her senses. She hurriedly said, "Fourth Miss, hold on. This place is too remote; there's no time to find a midwife. I'll have them boil water right away. You wait here."
With that, she rushed out the door. She was the only maidservant serving in the courtyard; the other four were all guards and couldn't offer much help.
Murong Wei's shouts continued to echo. The old nanny summoned everyone, gave them all the instructions, and then hurriedly went back inside.
At this moment, Murong Wei was already lying on her back on the couch, clutching the brocade quilt tightly. She was in so much pain that she was about to roll over when the old nanny rushed forward, stopping her. "Fourth Miss, you can't! Lie down, it'll be over soon. Just bear with it!"
The old nanny had no experience in childbirth, but she was someone who had been through it herself. She held Murong Wei's body firmly to steady her, and was about to speak when, with a "bang," the door was kicked open!
"Ah..." Murong Wei didn't care about anything else; she screamed until her throat was hoarse. Having received special training since childhood, she had endured all kinds of hardship. Even when she was torn apart by a tiger, her body covered in wounds, with large patches of skin torn from her legs, she had never cried. But now, tears welled in her eyes as she helplessly cried for help.
This pain was unbearable.
In the rudimentary medical conditions of ancient times, childbirth was like walking on the edge of death; one wrong move and it was death, leaving no room for negotiation.
At this moment, the old nanny's hands, which had been firmly pressing down on her legs, loosened, and she knelt down heavily with a thud.
The one who entered was none other than Murong Lan, the eldest daughter of General Murong's mansion and the second concubine's eldest daughter!
She had long, arched eyebrows, a pair of alluring, captivating eyes, and a long, flowing, light blue silk dress that accentuated her enchanting figure. She swayed her slender waist as she gracefully entered.
The servant who had kicked down the door was a burly man with a full beard and a large bronze earring in his left ear. He stood by the door, head bowed respectfully, treating his mistress as a queen.
On the bed, Murong Wei was still screaming in pain, her voice already hoarse.
Murong Lan's foxy eyes merely glanced at her, completely ignoring her sister who was about to give birth. Her gaze fell on the old nanny, and suddenly turned sinister.
The old nanny knelt trembling, not daring to raise her head. The guards who rushed in with hot water retreated upon seeing the scene.
"What happened? Speak!" Murong Lan suddenly shouted, as if it had nothing to do with her.
The old nanny was still trembling, afraid to answer.
"Didn't you say you were sick? How did you take care of me? You...you...how am I supposed to explain this to Father!" Murong Lan roared, her chest heaving with anger.
The old nanny quickly raised her head, about to explain, but Murong Lan shouted, "Guards! Take her away and torture her!"
"Young Miss, you are so heartless! It was clearly you..." The old nanny's words were cut short as a burly man entered and grabbed her by the neck.
The old nanny struggled desperately, but couldn't break free. Her face flushed red, and she looked like she was about to die, but the man didn't let go, dragging her away.
Inside the room, only Murong Lan and Murong Wei remained. A profound silence fell, broken only by Murong Wei's heart-wrenching screams, a sound of utter despair.
Murong Lan gave a cold laugh before slowly walking towards the bed, looking down at the disheveled, sweat-drenched Murong Wei with disdain.
Murong Wei's hair was disheveled, and sweat clung to her face. She gripped the pillow tightly with both hands, clenching her teeth to stifle a scream, glaring at Murong Lan. She had clearly heard her conversation with the old nanny.
"Fourth Sister, how could you do such a thing?" Murong Lan shook her head helplessly, her face filled with disappointment. She slowly sat down on the edge of the bed, gently placing her beautifully maintained hand on Murong Wei's tightly clenched hands, patting them lightly. "You actually did something so shameless! Who is that man?"
Murong Wei didn't answer, her jaw clenching even tighter, her anger growing stronger.
"Fourth Sister, do you know you're destined to be the Prince Qi's concubine? How could you steal someone and leave behind a child?" Murong Lan's tone remained calm and collected as she grabbed a lock of Murong Wei's long hair and suddenly yanked it hard!
"Ah..." Murong Wei cried out in surprise, her eyes twitching with pain.
"How old are you? Already so fond of men? Can't wait?" Murong Lan sneered, releasing her grip, then immediately seizing Murong Wei's delicate chin.
"Let me go!" Murong Wei cried out angrily, her voice weak; she was utterly exhausted.
"Fine!" Murong Lan smiled, then pressed down on Murong Wei's arms, which were gripping the pillow tightly, and placed her other hand on her stomach.
"Ugh...get off me!" Murong Wei shook her head repeatedly, struggling.
"What do you think, Fourth Sister? So eager for a man? Are you satisfied with the one I gave you?" Murong Lan laughed, leaning against Murong Wei, her smile so elegant and noble, as if she were the only legitimate daughter of the Murong family.
This was the first time she had called Murong Zi "Fourth Sister." Before, she would at most call her "A-Zi." "Fourth Sister" was her father's affectionate nickname, representing her unique status in the Murong family. Even with the Second Concubine in charge, the hierarchy of legitimate and illegitimate children remained, and the one betrothed to Prince Xuanyuan Qi could only be her!
"Whatever you want... I... I'll give you... I'll give you everything, just keep this child... I... I won't be a threat to you anymore, including, Qi Wang's concubine!" Murong Wei managed to finish the sentence, already in too much pain to resist. She feared she wouldn't be able to give birth to the child.
"Give it to me? Hahaha, Murong Zi, can you afford to give it to me now? Huh? Let me tell you, what I want doesn't need your charity. You probably don't know what kind of person Xuan Yuan Qi Wang is! Only if you die can I, as Qi Wang's concubine, live in peace!" Murong Lan's delicate face suddenly contorted into a ferocious expression, and the pressure on Murong Wei's stomach increased dramatically.
"Ah..."
A piercing scream rang out, so agonizing that it was impossible to recognize the voice.
The guards outside the door, the burly man, and the dying old nanny were all stunned. The eldest young lady's ruthlessness was undeniable; the fourth young lady was likely dead along with two others.
Xuan Yuan Qi Wang had never met the fourth young lady; who would know if she was truly his concubine who would one day marry far away to Xuan Yuan?
After that agonizing scream, the room fell silent.
Murong Lan lay stiffly on the floor, while Murong Wei remained supine, her teeth clenched so tightly they seemed about to snap, her hands gripping the pillow tightly, the miniature stun gun lying beside it.
Her luck had turned; with a single 300-volt shock, Murong Lan had stiffened and collapsed, convulsing uncontrollably. She was lucky she hadn't gone into shock!
Her chest heaved violently; even without strength, she would squeeze out
every last drop! The old man often said she was like a long spring, usually wobbling and carefree, easily pushed down without causing any major harm, but once pushed to the limit, she would inevitably soar upwards!
Her jaw clenched so tightly that her face was contorted, blood seeping from her gums. Her legs were tense, a throbbing pain spreading from her lower abdomen, a constant, recurring ache throughout her body—a pain she couldn't shake off, a pain she felt helpless to endure.
She remained silent, feeling as if her lower body no longer belonged to her, a hot, wet mass, as if something was trying to detach itself.
The child…
it must be alright!
Push!
Suddenly, she loosened her teeth, letting out a muffled groan, followed by heavy breathing.
She didn't know why she suddenly felt so determined to give birth to this child safely, regardless of her own life or the child's innocence; it seemed like an instinct, a desire to protect him.
"Push!"
"One, two, three…push…"
"Murong Wei, hold on, push! Deep breaths!"
she silently chanted, taking deep breaths, seemingly completely absorbed, forgetting the pain, the exhaustion, the time…
just like every life-or-death moment before, she told herself this: as long as her spirit didn't give up, she could pull through, she definitely could!
…
"Wah…"
Finally, a clear, sharp cry echoed throughout the courtyard, like a loud announcement.
Everyone was startled, and General Murong Bo, who had just stepped into the courtyard, was completely stunned, utterly bewildered by what had happened.
Upon returning home, he heard that his fourth daughter had been ill for several months and rushed over without stopping. He was surprised to find such a scene;
the child's cries were clearly coming from the master bedroom.
"What happened?" Murong Bo suddenly shouted sharply. Years of war had etched countless lines on his face, making this usually impeccably handsome face terrifyingly stern.
The dying old nanny, seeing a glimmer of hope, tried to struggle, but met the burly man's warning eyes and slumped weakly to the ground. Betrayal at this moment might truly mean no survival; she chose silence.
"Reporting to Master, the eldest young lady just arrived. She's been inside for a long time without any movement, and then suddenly the child started crying," the burly man replied respectfully, head bowed.
"Where is Fourth Daughter!" Murong Bo, uneasy, strode forward and pushed open the door.
Beneath the bed lay Murong Lan, stiff and seemingly unconscious. On the bed, a newborn baby cried incessantly, the umbilical cord still attached. The baby, Fourth Sister, was disheveled, barely clothed, her long hair in disarray, weakly lying on the bed, reaching out her hand, murmuring "Help!" but unable to utter a word.
She knew her current state of disgrace, her clothes barely covering her private parts, knew everyone outside the door was watching, men and women alike, but she cared not for the shame; she had to save this child.
Murong Bo felt a sudden dizziness, utterly unable to comprehend what was happening. The old nannies who had just arrived cried out in alarm, ignoring the master's orders, rushing to close the door, fetch a midwife, and a doctor, creating utter chaos.
The Second Madam, however, was the first to rush in, embracing Murong Lan and wailing and screaming as if her daughter were dying.
Murong Bo was helped to the outer hall by several attendants, where he took a nitroglycerin pill before barely regaining his composure.
"Seal off this courtyard! Don't let anyone in! Go now!" he commanded breathlessly, slamming his hand heavily on the table, which collapsed with a crash.
"Master, what happened? How could Lan'er faint inside? I don't know what's wrong with her, her whole body is stiff! The doctor can't do anything!" The second madam rushed over, crying.
"Master, you must do justice for Lan'er! How could she, the eldest daughter of Huang Da, be in the delivery room? How could she see... Alas, Master, you must investigate this matter thoroughly. If word gets out, not only will A Zi be disgraced, but the entire Murong family will be shamed!"
"They managed to keep it a secret for so long, and they even wanted to give birth to the child! Whose child is this bastard?!"
"Enough?" Suddenly, Murong Bo's stern voice interrupted the second madam's cries.
The second wife sniffed and retreated sullenly to the side. Even as a favored concubine, she dared not act rashly at this time. She naturally knew that this matter was inextricably linked to Lan'er, but she was not entirely clear about the reasons.
The room fell silent, the atmosphere growing increasingly strange. Murong Bo didn't utter a word, his face growing as grim as the sky outside, dark clouds gathering, threatening an impending downpour.
Only when a fierce wind swept in, whipping sand and dust, causing the simple hall's doors and windows to rattle, did Murong Bo slowly raise his head and look towards the door.
The second wife quickly stepped forward to close the door, offering a cup of tea, feigning concern, "My lord, if you're angry, take it out on me. Don't let anger harm your health."
Murong Bo still didn't react, staring blankly at the door, seemingly lost in thought.
The second madam put down her teacup and silently stood by his side for a long, long time, until the torrential rain poured down and the sky cleared. Several old maids came and went, but Murong Bo didn't even glance at them.
"Master..." The second madam stepped forward again and gently tugged at Murong Bo's sleeve, her voice somewhat coquettish.
Murong Bo glanced at her, then sighed and asked softly, "How is Fourth Son?"
"Just came to report that mother and child are safe," the Second Madam replied curtly, her words concise, but a hint of resentment lurked in her eyes. He always asked about Murong Zi first!
She was the first to marry into the Murong family, but due to her status, she was forced to be a concubine, and even her daughter, though older, had to be relegated to a secondary position.
"What about Lan'er?" Murong Bo then asked.
"Her body is no longer stiff, but she hasn't woken up yet. The doctor said she suffered excessive fright, and coupled with her weak constitution and blood deficiency, she needs to recuperate properly for a few days to prevent future illness. It would be best to use some nourishing medicine and let her recover slowly," the Second Madam quickly replied.
Murong Bo nodded without speaking, then got up and headed towards the master bedroom.
The Second Madam was puzzled, feeling that her husband was acting differently today, as if something was on his mind. Murong Zi giving birth out of wedlock was a major event; how could he be so calm?
Puzzled, she quickly followed, but once Murong Bo entered the room, he wouldn't allow anyone to approach.
Inside, a dim lamp illuminated the quiet atmosphere.
On the bed, the newborn baby, wrapped in a clean blanket, slept peacefully beside Murong Wei. It was a boy, with strikingly handsome features, delicate as a porcelain doll, bearing no resemblance to Murong Wei whatsoever. One couldn't help but wonder who his father was.
Murong Wei lay on her side, her face as pale as paper, her eyes darting about, yet she stubbornly held on. She hadn't slept a wink since.
She was worried, she didn't trust anyone here. She had
gone through so much to bring the child into this world; regardless of who the father was, regardless of whether she was his biological mother, she was determined to have this child and care for him.
She had been orphaned at a young age, abandoned at birth, wandering the streets, nearly starving and freezing to death several times. She had endured such suffering, and she would never allow this child to suffer.
She barely managed to stay upright, watching Murong Bo approach step by step. This must be General Murong, her current father.
"Fourth child, does it still hurt?" Murong Bo sat down, asking gently, his eyes filled with loving fatherly affection.
Murong Wei shook her head, remaining silent, but involuntarily tightened her protective embrace of the child. She could see the resolute determination in the old man's eyes.
"Fourth child, do you know why your father rushed back this time?" Murong Bo asked calmly, having not even glanced at the child since.
Murong Wei shook her head again. She had been bracing herself, waiting for a storm, a reprimand, but the old general hadn't uttered a word.
"The King… said that the Xuanyuan envoy has arrived, and the date for the marriage alliance has been set for the end of this month, the 28th, ten days from now." Murong Bo's tone remained very calm, his gaze finally slowly shifting downwards, landing on the sleeping child's face!
Murong Bo looked at the child, while Murong Wei looked at him, her eyes growing increasingly wary.
"Can you tell your father what happened? Who is that person? Why have you kept it so well hidden? Why hasn't he dared to show himself yet?" Murong Bo's tone remained calm, but Murong Wei could hear the overwhelming anger beneath.
In ten days, Xuanyuan would arrive to fetch the bride. This matter not only involved the entire Murong family, but also Xuanyuan and the Han Kingdom.
Xuanyuan was the overlord of this continent, while the Han Kingdom was merely a small country bordering the East Sea. Such a disparity in power meant that if not handled properly, even a small incident could ignite a war!
Then General Murong would be a sinner
against the Han Kingdom! She didn't understand the grand scheme of things, but she grasped this basic logic. But what did this have to do with her, and with her child?
"It's my elder sister! It's my elder sister who did it!" Murong Wei blurted out without restraint.
"What!" Murong Bo's anger finally erupted.
"Ten months ago, my eldest sister and I went north to escape the summer heat. The eldest young lady hired someone to harm me, to force me. I don't know who that person is. I'm scared, Father, I'm scared. I dare not tell anyone. I didn't know I was pregnant. I dare not abort this child, so I pretended to be sick and hid here." Murong Wei cried loudly, pitifully tugging at Murong Bo's hand that was reaching for the child.
"Lan'er, it's impossible. Lan'er has always treated you so well." Murong Bo simply didn't believe it. Having been away for so long, how could he know what was happening in the manor?
"Father, the nanny knows! The old nanny who serves me knows!" Murong Wei choked out, still tightly gripping Murong Bo's hand. His hand was almost choking the child's neck, but the child, completely unaware of the approaching danger, slept peacefully, oblivious to everyone around.
"This matter can be investigated slowly, but this child cannot be kept! Tell me, who is his father?" Murong Bo suddenly shouted sharply, finally startling the child, who burst into loud wails, the sound deafening.
"Don't even think about it!" Murong Wei could no longer pretend, her tearful eyes sharpening, and with a sudden pull, she broke Murong Bo's wrist.
Murong Bo staggered back, the pain nothing to a general. He hung his hand, utterly astonished, and said coldly, "Fourth Sister, where did you learn martial arts!"
All the young ladies of the Murong family learned martial arts, except for Fourth Sister. From a young age, she learned music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and knew the "Women's Precepts" and "Women's Books." All her education was based on the rules of the Xuanyuan Palace, and every step she took and every word she uttered was taught by the Xuanyuan Palace's nanny. Her life's mission was to avoid making mistakes and to avoid being caught in any way wrong in her position as the Qi Prince's concubine.
But she actually did such a thing! She actually knew martial arts, and her strength was no less than a man's!
"I'm going to have this child. No one will be allowed to lay a finger on him!" Murong Wei picked up the child and slowly got off the bed. Even though her body was aching, she gritted her teeth and stood up.
Murong Bo was completely unfamiliar with this daughter and was at a loss for what to do.
Just then, the door was suddenly kicked open, and Murong Lan entered. She immediately knelt down and moved towards Murong Bo, crying, "Father, please calm down! It's my fault! I didn't discipline my sister properly, which led her to commit this heinous crime. Please forgive my sister and punish me instead!"
The Second Madam followed and knelt down beside Murong Bo, sobbing, "Master, please calm down! Don't upset yourself! Your health is important! It's my fault for not disciplining the children properly. Master, if you want to punish someone, do it to me!"
"What right do you, a mere concubine and illegitimate daughter, have to speak of 'discipline' to me? Murong Lan, ten months ago at the summer resort in the north, you had me humiliated. I've been in this secluded courtyard for seven months, and no one has ever come to see me. And now, of all times, Father has gone to war. Why such a coincidence? Just find that old nanny and ask her." Murong Wei said sharply. If she didn't strike first, she feared she would be met with a series of elaborate schemes.
"You!" The Second Madam was so angry at her words that she almost fainted, but she couldn't help but glance at her daughter. Murong Lan was shocked. She had sensed something was wrong earlier, and she didn't even know how she had fainted. Now, she was absolutely certain that this Murong Zi was not the timid and cowardly Murong Zi of the past.
In her plan, Murong Zi would not resist. She couldn't bring herself to say the word "humiliation," let alone dare to expose the matter!
Murong Bo, who had been silent all along, also looked at Murong Lan.
"Fourth Sister, why are you slandering me? At the Summer Palace, several servants knew you stayed indoors all day. No matter how much the sisters invited you, you wouldn't come out of your room. I only stayed for three days before returning to the manor. Father also knows about this. Why are you protecting that man and framing me? Fourth Sister, for a man, you disregard sisterly affection, and you even disregard the hundreds of lives in the Murong Manor! Do you know you are the future concubine of the Prince of Qi!" Murong Lan suddenly hit the nail on the head, covering her face and weeping, but a cold glint flashed in her eyes.
"Bring Granny Gui in!" Murong Bo said coldly.
A moment later, Granny Gui knelt trembling before him. Murong Wei frowned, her mind no longer on arguing with these people, but on how to escape.
Murong Wei comforted the child while backing away and sitting down. She had to conserve her energy; no one knew what would happen next.
Murong Lan was about to speak when Murong Bo waved his hand to interrupt her, coldly asking, "Who is that man?"
This was his biggest concern; that man had to die!
"Master...Master, I...I don't know, I don't know anything." The old nanny trembled, barely able to speak.
"Nanny, Fourth Sister framed me! You'd better explain yourself today!" Murong Lan interrupted.
"Yes...yes...yes, Eldest...Eldest Miss, I don't know, I don't know anything. Fourth Miss won't say anything...I dare not ask...I dare not speak." The old nanny stammered, collapsing to the ground, no longer daring to raise her head.
"Fourth Sister, tell your father who that man is, how you met him, and whether he taught you martial arts." Murong Bo asked patiently.
"Father, if you believe your daughter, you should ask my eldest sister. I told you, I was violated. Only my eldest sister knows who it was! Even if you kill me today, I still won't know who it was!" Murong Wei said, choking back tears. She had found the key to the matter—the man Murong Bo cared about most.
"Fourth sister, I've always treated you well. Why are you framing me like this? If I ordered it, why are you protecting this child? Why did you give birth to this child?" Murong Lan retorted.
"This is also a life. How can I bring myself to do it?" Murong Wei countered.
"If you can't do it, then how can you bring yourself to break your father's hand!" Suddenly, Murong Bo roared in anger, seemingly having reached his breaking point.
Murong Wei stood up abruptly, instantly understanding Murong Bo's stance. Silently, she took out a bomb hidden in the baby's swaddling clothes. She always kept a few miniature bombs in her toolbox; they were incredibly useful.
"What! Master, your hand!" The second madam was shocked and rushed forward, but before she could even reach Murong Bo, he waved her away. "Everyone out! No one is allowed to leave this courtyard without my order!"
No one dared to utter a sound and retreated. Murong Wei clearly saw the cold smile on Murong Lan's lips. She wanted nothing more than to smash the bomb in her hand onto Murong Lan's head, but in the end, she held back. She had to calculate everything clearly: the blast radius, her physical strength, the child's endurance, and her escape route. The east was the only road she knew!
The door slowly closed, and the room fell into a suffocating silence. Murong Bo slowly drew his sword, pointing it at the child in Murong Wei's arms. His voice was almost ruthless, "Fourth Sister, you are still my daughter. Put that child down, tell me who his father is, and I guarantee no one will mention this again. Ten days later, you will still be in your wedding dress, heading to the Xuanyuan Qi Prince's mansion, living a life of ease and comfort."
"Don't even think about it..." Murong Wei said coldly, tightly holding the wailing child in one arm, while suddenly raising her other hand high. In her hand was a small black ball, completely unfamiliar to Murong Bo!
A deafening
roar echoed throughout the entire courtyard, shaking the earth. In the blink of an eye, the master bedroom was shattered, the blast affecting the entire courtyard. Before anyone could recover, they were swept far, far away by the intense heat.
Dust filled the air, obscuring everything; only a hazy trail of flames could be seen. Everyone lay sprawled on the ground, covered in dust and dirt, their faces ashen and all injured.
Had this courtyard not been hidden in the mountains behind the Murong residence, the explosion would have shocked the entire Han Kingdom.
Explosives were something only the Xuanyuan clan possessed, and in extremely limited quantities!
It was said that the formula for their production was held by Prince Qi, Xuanyuan Che, which was why the Xuanyuan Emperor relied on him so heavily. As
the dust gradually settled, the crowd dared to get up. Tragically, in this moment of crisis, everyone was concerned only with their own lives; no one had thought of General Murong.
"Father!"
A heart-wrenching cry rang out, followed by a beautiful young girl, about seventeen or eighteen years old, dressed elegantly in simple clothes, rushing straight into the ruins. This was none other than Murong Yue, the third young lady of the Murong family.
Her cry spurred the crowd forward, searching the rubble. After a long while, they finally found Murong Bo, barely alive, under a large rock.
Murong Bo was quickly rescued and hurriedly carried away. As Murong Yue left, she glanced back at the intact eastern corridor, then at her eldest sister still searching for Murong Weiwei, said nothing, and quickly chased after the carriage.
"Hurry! Even if it's just a body, dig it out!" Murong Lan said coldly, her voice filled with anxiety.
The servants searched for a long time, clearing almost the entire rubble, but still couldn't find the fourth young lady's body.
"Master, only the eastern road is intact; she could only have escaped that way," finally, the burly man beside her noticed.
"Impossible! Even Father couldn't escape, how could she? She's with her child!" Murong Lan said coldly.
"She must have escaped. There's no other body here." The burly man was decisive.
"Chase her! Chase her! Don't come back if you don't catch her!" Murong Lan was furious, like a tigress.
She had schemed so hard to make everything a fait accompli, but she never expected this outcome. Murong Zi, she hid too well. But she couldn't understand why she had hidden herself so deeply all these years. It had brought her no benefit whatsoever!
And this explosive, its power far surpassed any explosive that Xuanyuan had ever used. Where did she get it? And her skills—it was all a mystery, too sudden.
Yes, Murong Wei was incredibly skilled, but having just given birth and with a child, she couldn't possibly escape unscathed, even though she had calculated everything meticulously: the time, the place, the direction, even every move she made to escape, how to protect her child and herself.
However, she couldn't fully assess her own strength. Holding the baby, she was desperately running uphill, completely ignoring the damp heat beneath her and the burning wound on her right cheek.
The child in her arms seemed stunned by the massive explosion, motionless, letting her hold it without crying or fussing.
Murong Wei felt both relieved and worried. If the baby didn't cry, her whereabouts wouldn't be revealed. But, would the baby be paralyzed from fear?!
She dared not stop; she feared that if she stopped, she would never be able to move again. She gritted her teeth, trying to ignore the numbness in her legs and hands, ignoring the damp blood beneath her, and desperately ran uphill. Gradually, she went from running to walking, until even taking a single step became incredibly difficult.
Even so, she dared not sit down. But everyone has their limits. Just as she reached the summit, before she could even see what lay on the other side, her legs gave way, and she collapsed to the ground.
Her eyelids were so heavy; she longed to collapse and sleep soundly for days on end. But then, the baby in her arms suddenly cried out, "Wah!"
"Shh!" Murong Wei jolted awake.
"Wah wah wah...waaaaaah..." The baby's crying was startling, and it wouldn't stop.
"Shh, you brat! Quiet...quiet...if you want to save your life, be quiet!" Murong Wei warned breathlessly. She had never handled a child before and had no idea what to do with him. Many, many days later, she finally understood that, under normal circumstances, this child wouldn't cry unless...he was hungry.
"Baby, be good... Mommy will sing for you, don't cry anymore... Happy Sheep, Pretty Sheep, Lazy Sheep, Boiling Sheep... Don't cry, good baby, don't cry anymore... Slow Sheep, Soft Sheep, Red Wolf, Gray Wolf, don't look down on me just because I'm a sheep... Try crying again, you sheep!" Murong Wei sang until she got angry; her love for this child was indeed as limited as her patience.
However, at her angry shout, the baby's crying stopped abruptly, as if it had been genuinely frightened.
Murong Wei breathed a huge sigh of relief. She could endure any hardship by taking a breath, but she just couldn't bear the baby's endless crying.
She really didn't want to get up, but thunder was rumbling, and a downpour was imminent. She had to find shelter; she was made of iron, but this baby was delicate porcelain!
However, just as she stood up, she discovered that the entire mountainside was covered in torches. Without even thinking, she turned and fled to the other side of the mountain.
She wished she could just roll down the mountain, but with this little burden in her arms, and the mountain being so steep, going down was harder than going up.
Murong Wei gritted her teeth, her delicate face terrifyingly serious. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating her disheveled state and the festering wound on her right cheek. At that moment, she looked like a vengeful ghost from the mountains.
Suddenly, she stopped, staring into the darkness ahead, a cold smile creeping onto her tightly pressed lips!
It was a cemetery! By the light of the lightning, she suddenly realized that she was facing a cemetery!
"You brat, remember this day! I'm here to give you courage. When you grow up, you'll be fearless, not afraid of ghosts, not afraid of heaven, not afraid of earth!" She said each word clearly, gritted her teeth, and walked step by step towards the cemetery, not noticing the trail of blood she left behind. How could she not bleed after such a long walk right after giving birth?
The torches that had been flying up the mountainside had already reached the summit, and many of them had flowed down, soon reaching the mountainside as well. At this moment, thunder rumbled, and it looked like a heavy rain was about to come.
"Boss, it's about to rain. It's so dark. We can't find it tomorrow. Let's block the road down the mountain!"
"That's right, boss! There's a cemetery halfway up the mountain, it belongs to the Ning family. We can't break in!"
"It's so late at night, who knows if we break in? The Ning family is always frugal; they don't even hire gravekeepers for their ancestral tombs."
...
Several guards discussed amongst themselves, the leader still hesitating, when suddenly someone shouted, "Boss, there's blood here!"
Instantly, everyone's attention was drawn to it. Just then, another flash pierced the darkness, a cold white light illuminating everything around, including the scattered graves not far away...
The mountain wind grew stronger, and the sound of large raindrops began to fall incessantly. The downpour had finally begun, giving the guards a good reason to retreat.
Murong Wei had already reached the depths of the cemetery. In the darkness, she could see nothing to begin with, and the rain intensified, leaving only the sound of the downpour in her ears.
She couldn't bring the toolbox out, but many of the items inside were compressed, and the box itself had a combination lock, was waterproof, fireproof, and even bulletproof and riot-proof features. She wasn't worried at all; what couldn't be destroyed, she could always find.
Her stun gun, which she carried, had already been used three times and was running low on power; she didn't know how much longer it would last.
She carefully shielded the child before turning on the stun gun's beam to illuminate the path ahead.
The raindrops were now falling in streams, and Murong Wei grew increasingly anxious. She didn't know if she could endure this on her own, but she knew that if she didn't find shelter soon, her child would never see the light of day!
Ignoring the possibility of being discovered, she swept the cemetery with her flashlight, searching for a hiding place.
However, besides the straight tombstones and low grass, there was nothing else in the cemetery, not even a single large tree.
Whether she went back or forward, there was no time to escape.
What to do?
The rain intensified, and Murong Wei could feel the rain streaming down her face. She took off her blood-stained coat, wrapped it around the doll, and gritted her teeth as she headed towards the main tomb in the center of the cemetery.
Crouching low, she barely managed to shield the doll from the wind and rain, frantically fiddling around the massive tombstone for a long time. Finally, amidst the pouring rain and rumbling thunder, a muffled sound came from within.
The massive tombstone had moved, revealing a dark opening.
Having robbed ancient tombs before, she knew this basic mechanism.
Without hesitation, Murong Wei crouched down and entered!
The bright light from the power plant illuminated everything in the passageway. The passageway sloped downwards, dropping vertically as far as she could see—it was clearly an underground tomb.
Murong Wei felt no curiosity. Holding the baby, she sat at the entrance, her hands trembling as she checked the breath of the silent child. Knowing he was still breathing, she breathed a sigh of relief, leaned against the stone wall, and slowly slid down, nearly dropping the child. She was utterly exhausted; waves of dizziness washed over her.
Even when she was a teenager, she had fought off a tiger with her bare hands, and she had never felt this tired.
She placed the child aside, her hands hanging limply to the ground, her eyelids drooping. She couldn't hold on any longer, and soon she slowly turned her head and slumped down, falling asleep…
That night, she had many, many dreams. She dreamt of the old man who had adopted her; he still had that fierce look on his face, demanding to know why she hadn't returned to report.
She also dreamt of the real Fourth Miss, Murong Zi, who actually came to snatch the doll from her. Then, Murong Zi's appearance suddenly changed, transforming into Murong Lan, the Second Madam, and General Murong!
They all wanted to take her doll!
She ran and ran, clutching the doll, which cried loudly.
"Waaaaah...waaaaah...waaaaah..."
Her head was spinning from the dream, feeling like it was about to split open. Finally, amidst the realistic crying, she woke up.
"Uh...it felt so real, it was all a dream!" She groggily opened her sleepy eyes, smiling and sighing as she reached to her right.
But after touching for a long time, she couldn't find her soft pillow, nor could she find her phone!
Why was her hand sticky, touching only a cold stone wall?
And why was there a child crying?
Murong Wei suddenly opened her eyes, and everything before her was like a thunderbolt, jolting her awake completely.
It wasn't all a dream after all!
"Waaaaah... Waaaaah! Waaaaah..." The child's cries continued, growing louder and louder, finally pulling Murong Wei back to her senses.
She tried to get up, but found herself covered in blood, her legs too weak to stand.
It took a great deal of effort to turn to the side, and her aching hands finally managed to lift the baby.
"Baby, please don't cry, okay? Let me calm down so I have the strength to carry you!" Murong Wei pleaded, seeing the child's face flushed red from crying, she didn't know what to do.
She had forgotten she was hungry and hadn't considered that the child might be hungry too, assuming he was just startled and oblivious, only now realizing fear.
"Baby, shh... stay here for a while, Mommy will go out and see if those people are gone, okay?" Murong Wei whispered, naturally referring to herself as Mommy, carefully putting the child back down. She gritted her teeth and stood up. The tomb door wasn't closed; she cautiously peeked out, surveying her surroundings for a long time before finally exiting the passageway.
However, she was shocked as soon as she emerged.
She realized she had been mistaken in her panic the night before; this wasn't the main tomb, but a stone tablet standing beside it!
The tablet recorded the deceased's identity and life story. This was actually the Prime Minister's cemetery, and buried here was none other than the Duke of Ning of Han, the father of the current Prime Minister. She hadn't expected the entrance to the tomb to be beneath this very tablet.
Murong Wei didn't have the energy to worry about such things. She looked around and, seeing no one following her, hurriedly returned to the passageway.
But as soon as she reached the entrance, she stopped abruptly, stunned as if struck by lightning. She watched in disbelief as a leopard slowly approached the doll from the passageway. It was clearly a female leopard; its tail was longer than its body, its fur was brightly colored, brownish-yellow, and covered with black spots and rings, like copper coins—a golden leopard! The race
against time had begun!
This was Murong Wei's first reaction.
However, trying to outrun a wild beast was utterly foolish, especially a leopard, the fastest creature in the world!
The leopard seemed to have seen her too, but instead of backing down, it leaped to the baby's side. Its head and eyes were full of hostility, glaring at her intently.
Although Murong Wei had never encountered a leopard before, she had some experience with animals. Leopards, though ferocious, didn't easily harm people. She stood still, not daring to provoke the leopard.
The leopard kept staring at her, flashes of golden light constantly flashing in its eyes. Murong Wei was astonished. Seeing this golden light at night would be normal, but in the bright daylight, for a leopard to have golden light in its eyes meant this leopard was no ordinary creature.
Thinking of this, she panicked even more, desperately clenching her hands to stay still. All her fatigue and pain were long forgotten. The potential of humans was limitless, especially the human heart.
She had only one thought: to save the child, even if it meant fighting the leopard with her bare hands!
For a long, long time, seeing that she didn't move, the leopard slowly lowered its head and lunged at the baby with its large, sharp teeth, while the baby continued to wail loudly.
In a flash, Murong Wei swiftly picked up a stone from the ground and hurled it at the leopard.
"Awooo..." the leopard roared, its fangs bared, and it stepped forward, placing the baby beneath its body!