Two days later.

Muruo assembled a small force, preparing to depart.

To guard against the possibility of Da Lin’s troops attacking, he had no choice but to settle Tang Si and Ji Yunshu at a herdsman’s dwelling.

He left several dozen men to look after them.

Before departure—

Tang Si threw herself into his embrace, tears in her eyes: “You must be careful.”

He stroked her head and kissed her forehead: “A Si, if I…” something happens!

Before the last three words could leave his lips, Tang Si covered his mouth with her hand.

“Don’t speak such nonsense. Nothing will happen to you! You must promise me, you must come back alive, find every possible way to return, promise me.” Her eyes brimmed with tears.

He grasped her hand and said: “Alright, I promise you, I will definitely preserve this life and return.”

“Words once spoken cannot be taken back.”

“Silly girl, when have I ever broken a promise I made to you?”

He promised to take her to the capital, and he did!

He promised to marry her, and he did!

He had never broken his word.

Tang Si threw herself into his embrace once more.

Holding him tightly.

“A Mo, no matter what the final outcome is? Even if all of Houliao is destroyed by Da Lin, even if blood flows like rivers across the entire grassland, I want you safe and sound.”

He opened his mouth but couldn’t utter a single word, only holding the woman in his arms.

For a long while—

He finally released her.

Muruo wiped away her tears, lowering his gaze to Tang Si’s belly. He slowly crouched down and pressed his ear against her stomach.

As if he could sense that tiny person’s breathing inside.

So faint!

The corners of his mouth gradually revealed a father’s smile.

“Wait for me to return… to name the child.” He said.

Tang Si wiped her tears.

Before departure, Muruo told Ji Yunshu: “Jingrong has great fortune and destiny. He will return safely. If we don’t find him today, we’ll continue searching tomorrow. If we can’t find him now, we’ll continue searching later.”

After seeing Shi Ziran buried, Ji Yunshu’s condition had improved considerably.

She said: “Muruo, ever since Jingrong and I met, we’ve relied on you throughout this journey. Thank you.”

“There’s no need for such words between us.”

“Actually, you don’t need to go. You could stay behind.”

“Duty calls.” Muruo’s eyes were utterly serious.

Just these four words alone reflected his character—valuing righteousness, loyalty, and even more so, responsibility!

Ji Yunshu pressed her lips together and stopped trying to persuade him.

Muruo turned to Bai Yin: “I’m counting on you.”

Bai Yin nodded: “Don’t worry.”

Muruo finally mounted his horse and departed with his men.

Tang Si chased after him for several steps, shouting: “A Mo, the child and I will wait for your return.”

He heard it all but didn’t look back.

Fearing that in that moment, he wouldn’t be able to bear leaving!

Tang Si cried continuously, sobbing, intending to keep chasing, but Ji Yunshu held her back.

She remained where she stood, only able to watch from afar as Muruo disappeared from her sight.

The only thing she could do.

Was wait!

Wait for his return.

Not long after, news arrived.

Houliao and Da Lin had officially gone to war.

War erupted on this grassland that should have remained peaceful.

The sound of war horns startled the birds in the grassland’s forests. They flapped their wings and fled swiftly.

Death was gradually spreading.

Blood was gradually staining everything.

This day had finally arrived under the weight of power.

Five days later.

Houliao was already riddled with wounds.

Tang Si continued weaving the garment in her hands, waiting for the child’s arrival.

She knew Houliao’s predicament, knew the perilous nature of the current situation, yet she pretended not to know anything. She was extremely obedient, weaving the little garment in her hands while stroking her belly, saying: “You must be good and obedient, wait for your father to return, understand?”

The child in her belly suddenly seemed to respond, actually kicking her belly lightly.

“Little one, are you getting impatient? But you can’t come out now. You have to wait until your father finishes fighting before coming out.” She stroked her belly soothingly.

Ji Yunshu sat nearby, watching Tang Si’s happy and playful demeanor, and smiled along with her.

Tang Si continued weaving the garment in her hands.

She had been working on it for several days, and the garment was finally taking shape.

The weaving was getting better and better, more and more exquisite!

Just then—

The sound of hoofbeats suddenly came from outside!

And people shouting!

Tang Si and Ji Yunshu exchanged glances before going out to check the situation.

“It’s… it’s Houliao people coming.” Said the guards outside.

They hadn’t expected them to track them down!

But the hoofbeats grew closer and closer.

In the distance, they could see a cavalry unit, with someone at the front waving a banner.

That was… Da Lin’s banner!

And the person leading them was Chu Chengyu!

Which meant…

Tang Si staggered back several steps, nearly unable to stand. Fortunately, Ji Yunshu steadied her.

She shook her head, tears immediately welling up: “Impossible, it’s impossible! Muruo… he won’t have any trouble.”

Her voice trembled!

Bai Yin knew there was no escaping now and immediately drew the large blade in his hand, ordering his men: “Protect the two young ladies.”

Those dozens of men immediately surrounded the two women protectively.

Suddenly—

Tang Si uttered “Ah” and her face filled with pain!

She clutched her belly with both hands, her legs buckling.

“I…”

Ji Yunshu looked: “Tang Si?”

“I… I think I’m going into labor!”

Her water had broken.

She cried out in pain, her hands gripping Ji Yunshu’s arm tightly.

“Ah! I… I… it hurts so much!”

Her body slowly crumpled downward.

Seeing this, Bai Yin said to Ji Yunshu: “You take her inside, leave outside to us.”

“Alright!”

Ji Yunshu quickly helped Tang Si inside.

Tang Si lay on the bed, drenched in sweat from the pain. She panted, clutching Ji Yunshu’s clothes tightly, struggling to lift her head, her eyes full of tears as she said: “A Ji, A Mo will be alright, won’t he? He… he will be alright, won’t he?”

Ji Yunshu gripped her hand: “Yes, he’ll definitely be fine!”

“He promised to return. The child and I… together… are waiting for him!”

“Ah~” She cried out in pain and fell backward.

Ji Yunshu pulled over a large cloth from the side to cover her, grasped her hand, and stroked her sweat-beaded forehead.

“Ah! It hurts so much.”

“Tang Si, you’ll be fine, and the child will be fine. Do as I say, understand?”

“Ugh!” Tang Si nodded through gritted teeth.

Ji Yunshu removed her pants, shouting: “Take a deep breath, push hard below!”

Tang Si’s mind was filled with worries about Muruo’s safety, but she desperately tried to stay calm, following Ji Yunshu’s instructions.

She inhaled and pushed with all her might!

Over and over again.

The torture made her wish for death!

Outside, Chu Chengyu had arrived with his troops.

Surrounding Bai Yin and his men one by one.

Chu Chengyu sat on his horse, hearing the screams from inside the tent, and said to Bai Yin: “Hand over that Miss Ji.”

Bai Yin’s eyes flashed with murderous intent as he said: “Over my dead body!”

Neither would yield!

Chu Chengyu revealed a fierce expression: “Don’t say I didn’t give you a chance. Just hand over the person, and I’ll spare your life.”

Bah!

“I’ll say it one more time: if you want to take anyone, kill me first!”

“Fine.” Chu Chengyu raised his hand and ordered: “Attack!”

Da Lin’s troops charged forward.

Bai Yin led his men in desperate resistance.

Inside the tent.

Tang Si was still pushing, completely exhausted!

“Ah, I can’t, I can’t anymore!” She threw her head back, her face completely red, her entire body soaked with sweat.

Her hands gripped the bedsheets so tightly her fingertips turned white.

“Push harder, Tang Si! Push!”

“Ah!” Tang Si lifted her head high, using every last bit of strength in her body for one final push.

But the child still wouldn’t come out.

Because her water had broken, if the baby wasn’t born soon, it would die from oxygen deprivation in the womb.

Ji Yunshu grabbed her hand again, looking at her weakened state, and said: “Don’t give up, Tang Si, you can’t give up!”

Her eyes drooped weakly as she said: “A Ji, I… I can’t anymore.”

She had exhausted all her strength.

“Tang Si, hold on, make one more effort.”

“I…” She panted, without an ounce of strength left.

“Tang Si!”

“…”

“You promised Muruo you would wait for his return, that you and the child would wait for him together. You can’t sleep, you can’t sleep!” Ji Yunshu shouted loudly, tears streaming down her face.

Tang Si’s pale lips moved slightly. Her hand fumbled at her side for a moment and pulled out a dagger.

She pressed it into Ji Yunshu’s hand.

Weakly saying: “A Ji, help me.”

Ji Yunshu looked at the dagger in her hand and shook her head desperately.

Because she knew what this meant!

“No matter what, help me… save this child, help me.”

“No… you’ll be fine.”

She said: “A Mo has always… refused to tell me whether the child is a boy or girl. I think I might… might never know, and won’t be able… to watch him grow up.”

“That won’t happen.”

“I can’t wait… can’t wait for A Mo to return and name the child. If… it’s a boy, call him… call him Mo Zhi! If it’s a girl, also call her Mo Zhi. I hope he can grow up happy and carefree, knowing no suffering, no pain, and even more… unaware of everything that happened today. A Ji, please… you must, must help me take care of my child, I beg… you.” She gripped Ji Yunshu’s hand.

“Tang Si, you’ll be fine. Push harder, give birth to the child.” Ji Yunshu cried until her vision blurred.

Her heart felt like it was being cut by knives!

Tang Si shook her head slightly: “I know I… can’t hold on much longer. A Ji, promise me, promise me…”

Pleading!

Ji Yunshu cried and nodded: “Alright, I promise you, I promise you.”

“Thank you, A Ji.”

She finally let out a sigh of relief, lying there peacefully, her face no longer showing any pain.

That powerless gaze looked upward as she said: “A Mo, if… if there is another life, I would still be willing to marry you.”

If there is another life, I would still be willing to marry you.

She smiled, such a beautiful smile.

More beautiful than the stars in the sky!

Those eyes filled with tears were so clear!

Slowly—

Her hand gripping Ji Yunshu’s lost its strength.

It fell away.

Landing softly on the bed.

Without a sound!

In that moment, Ji Yunshu’s mind went completely blank.

Time itself seemed to stop completely in that instant.

“Tang Si?” She called her name once.

However, that bold and carefree girl who always wrapped her whip around her waist could no longer hear.