A family of loyal martyrs, starting with nine wives to continue the family line.

When Tuoba Yue heard those words, tears immediately streamed down her face.

She was in so much pain that she could barely see, but her fingers gripped the edge of the bed tightly, as if she wanted to tear the wood apart.

"Did he really say that?"

The young female doctor knelt by the bed, nodding through tears.

"His Majesty said it himself. He said he wanted the Empress to live."

Tuoba Yue's lips trembled, and then she suddenly laughed.

The laugh was faint and ugly.

"That bastard."

Xie Daoning's eyes reddened, but his hands didn't stop.

"After you've finished cursing, go all out."

Tuoba Yue was breathing heavily, his breath coming in short gasps.

"I...I have no strength left."

"have."

Xie Daoning leaned down and stared at her, his voice unusually harsh for the first time.

"Tuoba Yue, haven't you always wanted the Wei family to acknowledge you? That man outside has already said so much. If you dare to fall asleep now, I'll wake you up by stabbing you."

Tuoba Yue was taken aback.

The man outside.

Wei Zhao.

Tuoba Yue gritted his teeth and let out a low growl.

"Come!"

Outside the delivery room, Wei Zhao froze upon hearing this sound.

His fingers were still on the hilt of the knife, and his palms were sweaty.

Su Qingyun walked to his side and whispered, "Your Majesty, Sister Xie's medical skills are excellent."

Wei Zhao nodded.

"I know."

Knowing is one thing, but human life isn't an account book; you can't get away with it just because you can calculate it accurately.

As Wei Zhao watched the basins of bloody water being brought out, he felt as if someone was pressing on his chest.

He's even starting to regret it now.

If I had known, I shouldn't have let Tuoba Yue encounter the new army.

If I had known, I should have kept her in the palace.

But as soon as the thought crossed his mind, he stopped himself.

Tuoba Yue is not a bird in a cage.

If you lock her up, she'll only feel worse.

This woman didn't want fine clothes and delicacies; she wanted to be treated as a member of the Wei family.

Xie Daoning's voice suddenly came from inside the room.

"Push harder!"

Tuoba Yue shouted, but her voice sounded unlike her usual self.

Xiao Guanyin's eyes were terribly red, and she turned away.

Liu Jingshuang stood by the door, her fingers pressing against the scabbard, her knuckles turning white.

Fang Fuyao remained silent.

She looked up at the sky and suddenly frowned.

"His Majesty."

Wei Zhao turned his head.

Fang Fuyao pointed outside the palace walls.

"Look."

Everyone looked in that direction.

The clouds that had been hanging over the capital suddenly split open in the middle.

It's not scattered.

It's a crack.

A beam of golden-red light pierced through the clouds and shone directly on the roof of the maternity ward. The palace bells rang by themselves, even though there was no wind.

From the direction of the Imperial Ancestral Temple in the distance, a deep, resonant bell suddenly rang out, one after another, so thick it sent chills down one's spine.

The Imperial Guards all knelt down.

The palace maids also knelt on the ground.

"A celestial phenomenon!"

"It's a celestial phenomenon!"

"The new Prince Wu has been born, and auspicious omens have descended from the heavens!"

Wei Zhao's gaze froze, but he felt no immediate elation.

Auspicious omen?

It sounds good.

But the person inside hasn't come out yet. Whoever tells me of auspicious omens, I'll behead them first.

He no longer seeks any extraordinary celestial phenomena or any new destiny for the Wu Kingdom.

He just wants both the big and the small ones to live.

Inside the delivery room, Xie Daoning also heard the bells ringing outside.

Her forehead was covered in sweat, and her vision was blurry, but her hands were frighteningly steady.

We must not act rashly.

If things fall into chaos now, all the previous efforts will be wasted.

The baby has turned and the bleeding has been barely contained.

The most dangerous hurdle is halfway over, but only halfway.

Xie Daoning bit his tongue, the fishy taste spreading in his mouth, forcibly suppressing the slight dizziness.

"Tuoba Yue, listen up."

Tuoba Yue had almost fallen silent.

Xie Daoning grabbed her hand.

"The last time."

"If you really want this child to see the world his father built for him, then give birth to him."

Tuoba Yue suddenly gripped Xie Daoning's hand tightly, almost arching her back off the couch.

"ah--"

Outside the delivery room, Wei Zhao suddenly took a step forward.

Liu Jingshuang stopped him.

"Don't go in!"

Wei Zhao's jaw clenched so tightly it ached.

next moment.

The baby cried.

It was very loud.

It's not weak at all.

The crying pierced through the doorway and across the courtyard, drowning out everyone else's words.

Wei Zhao stood still, his gaze momentarily blank.

Alive.

The child survived.

But he didn't dare to relax yet.

"Where is Tuoba Yue?"

No one answered.

Wei Zhao's heart was in his throat again.

He stared at the door, his voice hoarse.

"Where is Tuoba Yue?"

The door finally opened, and the young female doctor rushed out carrying the swaddled baby, her face covered in sweat and tears.

"Your Majesty! It's the prince! The Empress is alive too! Mother and child are safe!"

Wei Zhao's shoulders relaxed, and he almost lost his balance.

Su Qingyun quickly helped him up.

"His Majesty."

Wei Zhao closed his eyes.

it is good.

That's really good.

He has heard countless reports of victory in his life.

The Northern Rong suffered a major defeat, the Western Qiang retreated, the Holy Fire Sect was destroyed, the flag was changed in Pingyang in half a day, Luo Shao was captured, and the entire 30,000-strong Red Blade Army was wiped out.

But no sentence made him feel that his life still had any semblance of humanity more than the four words "Mother and child are safe".

Xiao Guanyin burst into tears first, and then cursed.

"Damn, that scared me to death."

Shang Wanqing crossed her arms, her eyes red, but she was still looking at the swaddling clothes.

"Are all your fingers present?"

The young female doctor paused for a moment, then quickly looked down.

"All of it."

Flowers can speak, turning tears into laughter.

Shang Wanqing said earnestly, "Weapons can't be made without a single part, and the same goes for children."

Everyone's eyes were already red, but her words made them both cry and laugh.

Wei Zhao reached out and took the child.

The little one in the swaddling clothes was all wrinkled, his face was red from crying, his fists were clenched tightly, and he was making quite a lot of noise.

Wei Zhao looked at him, and the cold killing intent in his heart slowly dissipated.

This is his child.

He was also the first male offspring of the Wei family.

Wei Zhao handed the child to Su Qingyun and turned to enter the delivery room.

The smell of blood hadn't dissipated yet.

Tuoba Yue lay on the couch, her face deathly pale, her hair soaked, but the corners of her mouth still turned up.

"Did Your Majesty see it?"

Wei Zhao walked to the bedside and took her hand.

"I saw it."

Tuoba Yue's eyes lit up.

"Does it look like me?"

Wei Zhao remained silent for a moment.

"picture."

Tuoba Yue's eyelids slowly drooped.

"That's good."

Wei Zhao tightened his grip.

"Go to sleep. I'm here."

Tuoba Yue hummed in agreement and quickly fell asleep.

Xie Daoning stood to the side, still holding the blood-stained handkerchief in his hand.

Only after confirming that Tuoba Yue's breathing had stabilized did she take a step back.

As he retreated, his body swayed slightly.

Wei Zhao reacted quickly and caught her from behind.

When Xie Daoning leaned into his arms, her whole body went limp.

She is so tired.

She hasn't stopped for a moment since the start.

Turning the baby to the correct position, stopping the bleeding, administering intravenous fluids, saving the baby's life—every step felt like snatching someone from the edge of a cliff.

Those outside only heard a cry of "Mother and child are safe."

But no one knows how many times she used her judgment, how many silver needles she used, and how many bowls of medicine she used to fight back those four words.

Wei Zhao knew.

He looked down at her pale profile, and his heart suddenly softened beyond belief.

"Thanks for your hard work."

Xie Daoning tried to stand up straight, his voice very soft.

"Your Majesty, I dare not take credit; it was Sister Tuoba who held things together."

Wei Zhao did not let go; instead, he gently hugged her from behind.

"Don't push."

Wei Zhao whispered close to her ear.

"The fact that this child is alive, and that Tuoba Yue is alive, is all thanks to you who snatched them back from the brink of death."

Xie Daoning's eyes welled up with tears.

She had endured this day for far too long.

Don't panic, don't cry, don't give in, don't be afraid.

Because if she were afraid, Tuoba Yue would be gone.

Wei Zhao's words almost shattered the last bit of strength she was holding onto.

"His Majesty……"

Wei Zhao looked at the baby in the swaddling clothes.

"You can name the little one."

Xie Daoning suddenly looked up.

"How can this be allowed?"

Wei Zhao asked, "Why not?"

"He is a prince, a descendant of the Wei family, and his name should be decided by His Majesty."

Wei Zhao looked at her.

"Daoning, I am not rewarding you."

Xie Daoning was stunned.

Wei Zhao's voice was very steady.

"I'm making him remember that half of his life was given to him by you."

The crowd outside the door also quieted down.

Su Qingyun held the child and smiled first.

"Thank you, sister. Please take it."

Liu Jingshuang nodded.

"You are qualified."

Xiao Guanyin wiped away her tears.

"Hurry up and get it, don't dawdle. If you keep dawdling, I'll give you a fancy name: Wei the Scare Man."

Hua Jieyu burst out laughing.

Shang Wanqing frowned.

"It doesn't sound good."

Xie Daoning, seeing them looking at her, finally shed tears.

She lowered her head and thought for a long time.

The bells were still ringing outside, and light shone through the gaps in the clouds onto the threshold and the baby's swaddling clothes.

After the little one had cried enough, he gradually calmed down, his eyes still closed, but his fists were clenched tightly.

Xie Daoning reached out and gently touched his forehead.

"The mysteries of heaven and earth are determined by fate and destiny."

Her voice was still hoarse, but it was very clear.

"Let's call him Wei Xuan."