Qi Yue unconsciously took two steps forward, but immediately stopped.
âEven if I save her, what then? Sheâll die all the same. Itâs only a matter of time.â
As soon as she said this, Cong Zhonglanâs husband clung to some kind of hope, and knocked his head on the floor several times more urgently.
In the silence, the jingling of his chains rang out, striking Qi Yueâs heart.
âMiss Qi Yue, even if it ends in death, living one more day is still living! Please, save my wife!â
Hearing the man pleading relentlessly to save his wife, without a mention of the child, Qi Yueâs heart stirred.
âAlright, I can make sure your wife lives, but I canât save the child in her womb.â
Another clatter resounded, and the man seemed very agitated.
âDonât save the child, save the adult! I just want my wife to stay alive.â
Cong Zhonglanâs voice rose urgently.
âNo, Miss Qi Yue, save⦠save the child! Save my child!â
Qi Yue sneered.
âI suggest you worry about yourself. Even if I save your child, who will you leave them to? Your husband in chains? Or these government officials?â
âThat⦠is still better than dying without having been born!â Cong Zhonglan roared, nearly screaming.
âMiss Qi Yue, please save my child, donât mind me!⦠Ah⦠save my child, ah!â¦â
The sound of chains rang out once more as the man pleaded urgently.
âNo, save my wife! I donât want the children, I donât want the children!â
A woman filled with maternal love, a man wholly devoted to his wifeâ¦
The world didnât seem so bad after all.
Qi Yue shouted angrily.
âQuiet! Do you think my medical skills are lacking? That saving one means killing the other?!â
The cave suddenly brightened!
And with it, everyoneâs faces lit up.
In Qi Yueâs hand was a Luminous Pearl of which no one knew the origin.
The fist-sized Luminous Pearl split the inky darkness, radiating a warm and gentle glow.
She walked straight to Cong Zhonglanâs side and handed the Luminous Pearl to Shen Yu.
âMother, hold this for me.â
âAlright.â
Shen Yu was somewhat excited; she knew her good daughter-in-law wouldnât just stand by and do nothing.
Qi Yue, though she had boldly claimed she would save Cong Zhonglan and her children, actually felt a heavy burden on her heart.
To reposition a breech baby to a correct birthing position was something she had become quite adept at, but doing the same for twins simultaneously, that was a first.
One wrong move could potentially strangle both children with the umbilical cord.
If she focused on just one, the other couldnât survive.
Too difficult!
She frowned, regretting the hasty decision she had made in her impulse.
âMiss Qi Yue⦠Iâm not afraid⦠donât worry. Even if the children canât survive, thatâs, thatâs alright!â
Cong Zhonglan caressed and took hold of her hand.
âMiss Qi Yue, I trust youâ¦â
The light from the Luminous Pearl was flawlessly warm, casting a glow on her pale face, obscuring all her facial details.
The heartache that hardship had brought her, the wrinkles time had wrought at the corners of her eyes⦠all disappeared in an instant.
Instead, there was a holy smile, trust, entrustment.
In that moment, Qi Yue was moved by this woman who was as thin as kindling.
She forgot the three major principles she had set for her medical practice.
Never believe in a patientâs gratitude, never save a patient without absolute certainty, and never invest any emotions in a patient.
At that moment, her heart was filled with the desire to save this woman and her children.
âOkay,â she held Cong Zhonglanâs hand firmly in response and said earnestly, âWhat follows will be very painful, so painful youâll wish for death, but you must endure. If you can hold on, you will see your children.â
Assisting a child in breech position to return to the correct position carried risks comparable to major surgery, and the pregnant woman would suffer unbearably due to the intervention.
She was genuinely worried that Cong Zhonglan would not hold on.
âMm.â Cong Zhonglan nodded, tears rolling down her cheeks and disappearing into her messy hair bun.
Qi Yue reached out and placed a few Wild Ginseng Pills into her mouth.
âKeep them in your mouth, they will help boost your energy,â she said.
As she spoke, her hands had already reached Cong Zhonglanâs swollen belly!
She took a deep breath and pressed down hard.
âAhâ¦â
Cong Zhonglanâs piercing scream added a sinister atmosphere to the entire cave, making everyone freeze in place.
They all watched motionlessly as Qi Yue pressed and pushed on Cong Zhonglanâs belly.
Gradually, a quiet murmur arose in the cave.
âCan she really do it? Can she ensure both the adult and child will survive?â
âI donât know. Maybe she can. This woman is quite mystical; she might just snatch a life from King Yanâs hands.â
âIf only she could snatch lives, then we too could survive!â
ââ¦â
Qi Yue could no longer hear everyoneâs discussions.
Her heart, her hearing, and her sense of touch were fully connected with the fetus inside Cong Zhonglanâs womb.
She felt as if she could see how they were striving to break through their motherâs birth canal and survive.
Finally, after Cong Zhonglanâs last agonizing scream, the childâs cries followed.
Then another loud cry.
âItâs done, itâs done,â Shen Yu exclaimed excitedly as if she had given birth herself, âTwo boys, Cong Zhonglan, you have sons now!â
Cong Zhonglan managed a smile, murmuring, âBoys are good, boys wonât have to suffer in the future.â
Qi Yue was also very happy.
In this world, it was still easier for males to survive.
She quickly took care of Cong Zhonglan after the birth and bundled up the two children as well.
Zhang Zhao, throughout the entire event, was burdened with shackles, watching Cong Zhonglan with a face full of concern that he could not hide.
Seeing the shackles around his neck and feet, Qi Yue frowned.
âCommander Guan, I have heard that heaven does not bring calamity to young children. The timely arrival of these two children might be heavenâs way of telling us there is still hope for life,â she said.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
She pointed to the shackles on Zhang Zhaoâs body, âI hope Commander Guan can show leniency and let him hold his children and take care of his wife who has just given birth.â
âFine. In consideration of Miss Qi Yueâs words that there is still hope for life, I will remove these shackles,â Guan Yidao declared, raising his hand. Immediately, a Government Official came over and unlocked the shackles on Zhang Zhao.
âBut,â his voice grew serious as he hesitated, âif he harbors any other intentions, there wonât be a second chance!â
âCommander Guan, please rest assured, I would not dare to entertain any other thoughts!â
Zhang Zhao, now free, knelt on the ground, fervently making his vow.
The commander gave him a few more warnings before leaving.
Rather than rushing to his wife and children, Zhang Zhaoâs first action was to try to kneel in front of Qi Yue.
Good heavens, she hadnât noticed before, due to the distance and the shackles on Zhang Zhao.
Now that he was close, she realized this man had a thin face, but was robustly built indeed.
Especially his height, he must be at least one meter ninety.
With such an imposing presence, no wonder he was falsely accused of murder.
Qi Yue hurriedly grabbed his arm to prevent him from kneeling.
But Zhang Zhao insisted on kneeling, and despite Qi Yue using all her strength, he still knelt down.
What great strength!
Qi Yue was inwardly shocked. No ordinary man was he, no wonder Guan Yidao, even though sympathetic, still did not dare to unlock his shackles.
Zhang Zhaoâs voice was firm as he bowed to the ground.
âFor Miss Qi Yueâs great kindness, Zhang Zhao will never forget!â
Qi Yueâs ears rung with the resonance of his deep voice, and she quickly gestured with her hands.
âEnough, go see your wife and children.â