Climbing on the Sparrow Branch – CH 597

Chapter 597: Saving the Child

When Pei Que noticed the old master turning to look at him, he knew the old master was entrusting the remaining matters to him.

Turning around and entering the crowd, Pei Que’s biggest worry now was An Zhi.

After the Imperial Guards entered the Pei family compound, they immediately scattered, frightening the Pei family’s servants into a chaotic panic.

Hearing the servants’ cries, Pei Que grew increasingly anxious and rushed back to the courtyard.

But before he could find An Zhi, he heard Binglu’s cries. Looking up, he saw two Imperial Guards dragging Binglu away.

Pei Que stepped forward and kicked the two Imperial Guards away.

“Young…Young Master! Please…go see Madam!” Binglu sobbed, unable to speak clearly. “Suddenly, a group of Imperial Guards rushed into the room, grabbed Madam, and tried to drag her out! Madam has gone into labor and is about to give birth!”

If Lin Feng had not arrived in time, An Zhi would likely be in grave danger.

Upon hearing that An Zhi was in trouble, Pei Que turned and ran.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, he heard An Zhi’s cries from inside the room and saw the two Imperial Guards lying unconscious on the ground.

“Fourth Brother, you cannot go in!” Madam Meng stopped Pei Que. “Fourth Sister-in-law is having a miscarriage and is about to give birth. I sent Binglu to fetch a doctor, but where is he?”

Pei Que then remembered Binglu, whom he had just encountered. However, Binglu had not returned with him; she had probably gone to find a doctor.

Wait a minute, there were so many Imperial Guards outside; how could they let Binglu out!

Just as Pei Que thought this, he saw Fusheng’s figure appear behind the archway, carrying a soaking wet person on his back.

“Anyone want to lend a hand?” Fusheng called out.

Madam Meng’s maid went to help and found Binglu soaking wet. She asked in surprise, “Did not Binglu go to fetch the doctor? Why is she so wet?”

“The Imperial Guards outside would not let Sister Binglu go out. They said no one could leave, regardless of whether Madam gave birth or not. In the struggle, they pushed Sister Binglu into the pond.” The pond was frozen solid in winter, the water so cold it could kill someone. Fusheng was also soaked and shivering.

Pei Que heard this and then heard An Zhi’s cries from inside the house. At that moment, the midwife ran out.

“Master Pei, why has not the doctor come yet?” the midwife asked anxiously, her hands trembling. “Madam was frightened, and the baby is breech. The doctor needs to prescribe medicine to keep the baby breathing!”

Today was New Year’s Eve. After checking An Zhi’s pulse, the doctor had gone home for the New Year. Although their mansion was not far, even if the doctor wanted to come in, he could not, because a large crowd had gathered outside the Pei Mansion.

Upon hearing that An Zhi would have a difficult childbirth, Pei Que glanced at the sword in his hand, his starry eyes filled with murderous intent.

“Lin Feng, guard the courtyard. If anyone dares to force their way in, kill them!” Pei Que roared, preparing to go find a doctor himself.

“Master Pei, wait!” The midwife rushed forward in a panic, stumbling, but she could not worry about anything else, and hurriedly asked, “If, in case, something unexpected happens, should we save the mother or the child?”

She was about to give birth, and there was some difficulty in the delivery. Based on her experience, the midwife felt that the delivery was unlikely to be successful, so she had to ask first.

Hearing this question, everyone in the courtyard was shocked.

Everyone’s expression was different. Pei Xuan fearfully clung to her mother’s arm, and Madam Meng kept chanting Amitabha.

Pei Que’s face froze.

The child he had been waiting for for almost ten months and the wife he had wholeheartedly protected—he now had to decide to sacrifice one of them.

How could he make a decision?

“Ah!” An Zhi cried out again from inside the room.

The midwife, alarmed, urged, “Master Pei, please make a decision quickly! This matter cannot be delayed!”

Pei Que moved his lips; his eyes were already moist, wanting to speak, but he could not.

Taking a deep breath, Pei Que gripped his sword tightly, his resolve hardening. “Save the mother! My wife must be safe!”

With that, Pei Que rushed into the noisy night.

An Zhi inside the room was covered in sweat.

Pain, excruciating pain!

Her worst fear had come true.

If those Imperial Guards had not pulled her back, she would not have suffered this miscarriage; after all, she knew something about the gunpowder.

“Pei… Pei Que!” An Zhi called out with difficulty, but Pei Que was not there. Chunlan had told her that Pei Que had gone to fetch a doctor. “At a time like this, how could the Imperial Guards let him out?”

If the Imperial Guards stopped him, Pei Que would definitely take action. If they did not find the gunpowder, injuring the Imperial Guards who came to investigate would also be a crime.

“Madam, please do not speak.” The midwife brought over some ginseng slices and put them in An Zhi’s mouth. “You cannot worry about others now. Give birth to the child first, otherwise you will be in danger yourself. Hold the ginseng slices in your mouth, do not swallow them, and breathe in with me.”

The taste in her mouth was faintly bitter. An Zhi’s stomach cramped with every breath. And at this moment, there was still some time before she gave birth.

Meanwhile, Pei Que had already knocked out five Imperial Guards and rushed out of the Pei Mansion.

Just then, the doctor heard that something had happened at the Pei family and was worried that the lady was about to give birth, so he hurriedly paced outside the door.

As Pei Que and his physician prepared to enter, Lin Fan stopped them.

“Pei Que, I am acting on imperial orders. What is the meaning of you forcing your way in with your men?” Lin Fan, sword in hand, blocked the Pei family was gate.

“Lin Fan, I advise you to let me in,” Pei Que said expressionlessly.

“You can go in, but the people behind you cannot.” Lin Fan pointed his sword at the physician behind Pei Que. “The Emperor has decreed that from this day forward, no one in the Pei family is allowed to enter or leave. You dare to break out and bring people in? Do you even have any respect for the Emperor?”

“I will say it again, my wife is having a difficult childbirth and needs a doctor.” Pei Que’s clothes were soaked with sweat and blood.

“So what if she is having a difficult childbirth? He cannot come in, and that is final!” Lin Fan was thrilled to see Pei Que’s displeasure. “When you caused the Lin family’s downfall, you showed no mercy! Even if you kneel before me now, I will not budge. Since your wife is having a difficult childbirth, let her have one. Even if she dies, she will die in the Pei Mansion… Pei Que, how dare you lay a hand on me!”

Before Lin Fan could finish, Pei Que had already charged forward with the doctor.

Following Pei Que were several servants from the Pei family, helping to hold off the other Imperial Guards.

Pei Que’s sword was aimed directly at Lin Fan.

He did not care about the imperial decree, nor did he care about anything else; anyone who stood in his way would die!

While Pei Que was fighting fiercely, An Zhi nearly fainted.

“Madam, push!” Chunlan whispered in An Zhi’s ear.

“Chunlan, where is Binglu?” An Zhi’s eyelids were barely open from the pain. Binglu had gone to find the doctor; she should be back by now.

Chunlan reassured her, “Do not worry, Madam, Sister Binglu has returned, but she fell into the water and cannot come over right now.”

“How could this happen… Ah! It hurts so much!” An Zhi could not catch her breath, and her eyelids slammed shut.

Chunlan, startled, quickly pinched her young madam’s philtrum.

“Let me do it,” the midwife pushed Chunlan aside. “Go outside and see why Master Pei has not arrived yet. If he is any later, something terrible will happen!”

Chunlan ran out crying. Just as she was about to ask someone, she saw in the distance that the young master was carrying someone on his left shoulder.

As the young master approached, Chunlan noticed that his lips were as white as paper, his right hand hung limply, and blood dripped down, staining the pebbles on the ground bright red.