Jiang Wang's forehead veins were bulging, as if he was enduring something.

Why does she have to torture herself like this?!

"You think I care about you that much? You think your life can save you from everything? Aren't you overestimating yourself!"

He tightened his grip, as if he wanted to crush her bones in an instant, but Shen Mingzhuang remained silent, like a puppet that could not feel pain.

Looking at her stubborn face, he finally let go, but leaned down to stare into her eyes, wanting to know what she was thinking at that moment.

"Shen Mingzhuang, do you hate me?"

Shen Mingzhuang then looked up at him, tears glistening in her eyes. Did she hate him? Did she hate his fickleness, his inability to remain faithful to her, his domineering nature, and his pride that would never bow down?

But what about her? Isn't she the same? She's also proud and unwilling to bow her head, she's also determined and unwilling to forgive, isn't she also autocratic and headstrong? It can only be said that they are two people who are too similar, which is why they have ended up in this situation.

"And what about His Majesty?"

Instead of answering, she asked a question. Her bleak smile was like the last glimmer of light before sunset, adding a touch of life to her, but it was so faint that it could hardly sustain her vitality.

Jiang Wang felt as if he had been stabbed in the heart, the knife still spinning in the wound, tearing his heart to shreds.

Shen Mingzhuang looked at that handsome face, the face that had appeared countless times in her dreams, warming her, yet piercing her heart upon waking. She involuntarily reached out and stroked that face, which was much thinner than she remembered. She smiled, but crystal tears unexpectedly slid down her cheeks like morning dew falling from flowers. That bright smile, those clear tears, fell from the beauty's cheeks.

The hall was silent, but Jiang Wang's heart was in turmoil. He frantically reached out and cupped her face in his hands. Each teardrop was like molten iron, falling onto his heart and scalding it with countless holes.

"Guards, perform a cesarean section on Consort Ming."

He suddenly took a step back, but their eyes remained locked together, their gazes locked. Upon hearing this, Shen Mingzhuang's smile deepened. She looked intently at the person before her, as if she wanted to etch him into her heart forever. Jiang Wang clenched his fist, turned around with a heavy gaze, and walked out of the main hall step by step, as if he had used up all his strength.

Shen Mingrong and Lu Ming were both shocked. A cesarean section... was this going to be done to take the child out alive?

How could anyone survive like this? How could the Emperor be so heartless as to insist on taking Consort Ming's life before he would be satisfied?

The two were led away from the main hall, and it was only when the wind blew that they regained some of their senses.

Jiang Wang forced himself to reach the side hall, where he clutched his chest, his eyes red and swollen, and leaned against the wall, taking a few rapid breaths. There was a sound of water droplets falling to the ground. He tilted his head back and closed his eyes, but then he heard the voice of a guard: "Your Majesty, Master Ciyuan has arrived."

Jiang Wang nodded and sat down beside the Arhat bed. He peeled off his clothes layer by layer, revealing fresh wounds on his exposed chest. Master Ciyuan quickly entered the side hall. He first put his hands together and chanted "Amitabha" before saying to Jiang Wang, "Your Majesty, this is the last time your heart's blood will be taken. Are you ready?"

Jiang Wang nodded in a deep voice, "Since Consort Ming is having a cesarean section today, let's take as much as possible, as long as we can save her life."