The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 954 - 214: No More Births_2

Chapter 954: Chapter 214: No More Births_2

Feng Wei offered a bow to Emperor Chu Wen, who stood beside with a grim expression, hoping he wouldn’t take Mo Heng’s rudeness to heart.

At this time, Emperor Chu Wen’s mind was also filled with thoughts of Pei Qin’s poisoning. Knowing that Pei Qin was Mo Heng’s wife, he didn’t care about Mo Heng’s disrespect, "I have already decreed that at all costs, we must find the Seven-pulse Lotus to save her!"

Mo Heng only noticed Pei Qin frowning in pain and reached out to lift the covers.

The poison arrow had already been removed by Lu Hai, and the wound was dressed and bandaged, but a piece of red and black bloodstained the gauze, a horrifying sight.

Mo Heng’s heart felt as if it had been gouged out; he didn’t feel pain anymore.

News of Capital Jingcheng being recaptured arrived, but the ranks of soldiers felt no joy. That legendary youth, the godlike general, who led them to forge Thunder Cannons and Repeating Mortars to reclaim the land and defeat Wa Ci, was now on the brink of victory poisoned in a stealth attack, his life hanging by a thread.

The soldiers of the Mortar Barracks had red eyes, shouting to chase down and kill the fleeing Gu Liqi, to flatten Wa Ci, to avenge General Pei and wash away the hatred! To demand they hand over the Seven-pulse Lotus!

Dou He ran back frantically wanting to see Pei Qin, "Han San is blessed by the heavens, he surely won’t be in trouble!"

Mo Heng requested permission and carried Pei Qin back to her own tent.

Seeing Mo Heng emerge carrying her, with hair disheveled and pallor ghostly as death, Qinqin lay lifeless in Mo Heng’s arms, and Dou He, upon seeing this, rushed forward in shock, "Han San!?"

Feng Wei stepped forward to stop him, "General Pei needs to rest."

Mo Heng carried Pei Qin directly into her tent and stayed by her side.

Pei Qin barely opened her eyes, "It hurts..."

"Qinqin!? Where does it hurt?" Mo Heng was alarmed and quickly leaned in.

Pei Qin inhaled sharply in pain, the poison arrow having nearly pierced her chest. Now, "... breathing hurts."

"I’ll go get you some medicine, it won’t hurt soon. Be good!" Mo Heng picked her up and kissed her forehead gently.

The moment he held her, Pei Qin, in even more pain, began sweating profusely, silently cursing him. She couldn’t speak, her head growing increasingly faint.

Seeing her pass out again, Mo Heng summoned physicians and the Imperial Physician to tend to her, and instructed Lu Hai, Liu Feng, and a few others along with the physician to stay with Pei Qin at all times. He and Feng Wei went out to search for the Seven-pulse Lotus.

Hu Qi, seeing Pei Qin poisoned, which infuriated the army, suggested exploiting the situation to attack the Rong Clan, and to reclaim the Liaodong region in the process.

The scattered remnants of the forces from various regions were also gradually convening, including ten thousand newly recruited and trained soldiers.

Emperor Chu Wen, recalling Pei Qin’s earlier advice to first reclaim Capital Jingcheng and deal with Wa Ci, did not heed Hu Qi’s suggestion, choosing instead to reorganize the army and first restore the lives of civilians across the lands. More importantly, Pei Qin’s poisoning needed to be cured within seven days, or else, should she fall, Great Chu would no longer have anyone capable of producing such invincible ammunition.

On the third day of Pei Qin’s poisoning, a pair of oddly dressed individuals arrived, claiming to be envoys of the Rong Clan, with a method to cure Pei Qin’s poison.

Emperor Chu Wen loathed Wa Ci and the Rong Clan to the bone, but for the sake of Pei Qin, he allowed the Rong Clan Envoy an audience.

However, the Rong Clan demanded, as conditions for curing Pei Qin, ownership of several cities in the Liaodong region and insisted that Pei Qin remain there indefinitely, not leaving unless she died.

One life against a dozen cities, what weighs more?

Pei Qin’s life was vital! But to cede a dozen cities and to send someone to their territory, prohibited from leaving unless dead, made Emperor Chu Wen both hesitant and filled with rage. It was obvious they wanted to use Pei Qin as a hostage, coercing her to work for their agenda. The Rong Clan’s ambition was clear; they were worse than beasts!

Emperor Chu Wen pointed at the Rong Clan Envoy and shouted furiously, "... Was it you who launched that poisoned arrow in stealth!?"

The Rong Clan Envoy naturally denied it.

Enraged, Emperor Chu Wen ordered the envoys to be dragged out and executed by a thousand cuts.

An Liefeng and others quickly interceded, "On the battlefield, envoys are not to be killed!"

"Nonsense about sparing envoys! Kill!" Emperor Chu Wen, having spent time with Pei Qin and the soldiers of the Mortar Barracks, learned from them and picked up swearing.

With the emperor’s fury unchallenged, and because they also believed the Rong Clan to be shameless to the extreme, it was very likely that they were behind the poisonous arrow, scheming to take General Pei away with this circuitous method.

But now, on the fifth day, there was still no news of finding the Seven-pulse Lotus, and Mo Heng, who had gone searching for the medicine, was nowhere to be heard from.

Pei Qin was almost always comatose, her vital signs growing weaker and weaker.

The Imperial Physician had urged action several times.

Emperor Chu Wen stood atop a high tower, looking out over the Imperial City blanketed in heavy snowfall, standing for hours on end.