Chapter 451: Ex-husband Takes Action
Doctor Hu tugged at his collar, revealing the clear, bloody scar on his neck from a sword. His voice was hoarse and dry, "I was forced to do that."
"What do you mean?" Xiao Yan's brows furrowed even tighter, and an ominous premonition wrapped around his heart like a cold vine.
Doctor Hu did not hide anything, nor was he able to hide it, so he told the whole story of the suffocating scene that had just happened in the clinic.
"I had just entered the clinic, the lights weren't even on yet, when the back of my neck felt touched by an icy sword! I thought... I thought they were going to kill me to silence me..." Doctor Hu's voice trembled with the pain of someone who had just survived a catastrophe, and the color drained from his face. "But... it turned out to be—Zhang Heyao."
Xiao Yan frowned.
How could Zhang Heyao know?
How could he have known all this so accurately in such a short time, and even... prepared a child? What was he planning to do?!
"Yes, it's him." Doctor Hu closed his eyes, as if he could still feel the touch of the cold sword against his flesh, and the suffocating sense of oppression emanating from Zhang Heyao, which was completely different from his usual gentle scholar image.
He had never imagined that the seemingly weak Zhang Heyao was so agile and ruthless, and so courageous.
"This child," he pointed at the baby girl in the medicine chest compartment, his voice drifting, "was forcibly induced to be born... It's a girl. Zhang Heyao said that it was... born by Hu Ji. He also said... the baby looked ten days or half a month off. When she grows up, even if her features don't quite resemble Qi Niang's, the outline of Hu Ji's bloodline will barely make up for it..."
"He also said - if the abandoned mother gave birth to a son, we can exchange this child and give your biological son to him to take away. He promised... that he would treat him as his own, educate him carefully, and never treat him unfairly. If... if the abandoned mother gave birth to a daughter..." He looked at Xiao Yan with a complicated look, "Then you can decide for yourself whether to swap or not."
This secret, which was enough to overturn the fate of Xiao Yan's family, was revealed to him at the risk of having their property confiscated and their clan exterminated.
But what about Zhang Heyao?
Not only did he know, but he also set up a trap with horrifying efficiency, pushing an innocent baby in front of Xiao Yan as a bargaining chip, giving him an extremely humiliating choice, but perhaps the only way to survive.
——Which man would be willing to hand over his newly born flesh and blood to his former rival?
His words "treat him as if he were your own child" sounded full of control and mockery to Xiao Yan.
Zhang Heyao has an unpredictable temperament and acts ruthlessly. Who can guarantee that he will treat this child well in the future?
Xiao Yan himself is a miserable man with a wandering life. Is he going to let his son repeat the same mistakes and grow up under the shadow of his enemies?
But he had no choice.
Especially if Lu Qiniang gave birth to a son, if she didn't switch the baby out, she would be dead.
The cold "eradication" that symbolizes the majesty of imperial power will fall on the head of an innocent baby without hesitation!
Jiang Xuan looked at Xiao Yan worriedly.
These calculations are obvious.
But to be honest, Zhang Heyao also risked his life to help.
He is such a worldly-wise and self-protective person, and the only reason he is willing to get involved is because he can't let go of Lu Qiniang.
There is no choice, really no choice.
Now I hope Lu Qiniang gives birth to a daughter, maybe that will prevent the separation of flesh and blood.
No, even if giving birth to a daughter would give her better possibilities, Xiao Yan would still hesitate about what to choose.
He clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms, and the sharp pain barely brought him back to a state of clarity.
He can't mess around.
Qi Niang is still waiting for him.
She knows nothing.
Xiao Yan suddenly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, all the storms in his deep eyes were forcibly suppressed, leaving only a calmness that was almost dead.
But beneath that calmness lies a bottomless vortex of pain.
"Give me... the labor-inducing medicine." He stretched out his hand, his voice steady without a trace of emotion, as if everything he had just heard had nothing to do with him.
Doctor Hu looked at his face, which had instantly suppressed all emotions and was like wearing a cold mask, and his heart felt even more bitter.
He silently took out the small porcelain bottle from the top of the medicine box and handed it over.
Xiao Yan held the porcelain bottle tightly, as if holding the last bit of strength to support himself to move forward, then turned around and walked back to his and Lu Qiniang's room.
Warm light poured out from inside the door.
Lu Qiniang was half leaning on the kang, with Daya sitting beside her. The two of them were whispering and laughing about something, and Lu Qiniang had a gentle smile on her face.
This heartwarming scene and the cold and cruel transaction outside the door are like two completely different worlds.
"Is Old Hu here? Is the rain still heavy outside?" Lu Qiniang asked with a smile when she saw Xiao Yan coming in.
"Well, I'm back. It's still raining heavily." Xiao Yan walked to the edge of the kang, a gentle smile naturally appearing on his face. His eyes fell on Lu Qiniang's face with his usual concern, "Old Hu prescribed some medicine, saying...it can help you get well and save you some pain."
"Before, you said that medicine is three parts poison, and now you want me to take medicine. He lets me say everything alone." Lu Qiniang scolded with a smile, "Where's the medicine? I'll take it."
She is not afraid of taking medicine.
Having suffered so much in the past, I am not pretentious now.
Xiao Yan picked up the cup of warm water on the table, carefully poured the powder from the porcelain bottle into it, and gently stirred it with a silver spoon. "Old Hu specifically instructed me to do this. It's good for you and the child. Come, I'll feed you, and after you finish drinking, I'll give you some candied fruit."
"Who needs you to feed me? I'm not a three-year-old child." Lu Qiniang didn't understand the situation. She took the cup from his hand and drank it all in one gulp.
“It’s so hard to drink.”
Even though Lu Qin's mother could tolerate bitter medicine, she now felt it was so bitter that her tongue was numb.
Xiao Yan stuffed a candied fruit into her mouth and said to Daya, "Jiang Xuan is in the room. You can go back. I will stay with your mother."
There are some things that need to be known by Daya, so that she can help think about whether there are any mistakes.
What is rare is that despite the unexpected disaster, Daya did not shed a single tear from beginning to end. She remained calm and composed, even making herself look pale in comparison.
Daya smiled, nodded and went out.
She was also surprised when she saw the baby.
But then I felt relieved.
"That's all very well. But I'm afraid the midwife might leak the information easily."
"Zhang Heyao told me about this," Doctor Hu said, still feeling a lingering fear when he mentioned Zhang Heyao. "He found the midwife. She should have been the one who delivered Hu Ji before. He will probably keep his mouth shut afterwards."
"Where are the people?" Daya asked.
"They said it would be delivered right away, but your mother will probably need a while to start it."
"Okay, thank you for your hard work, Uncle Hu." Daya smiled at him.
Doctor Hu looked at her calm expression and felt a little overwhelmed.
"Daya, what do you think? It's like this!"
"The moon waxes and wanes, and people are subject to misfortunes and blessings at any time." Daya said calmly, "We have encountered this situation, and there is nothing we can do. Uncle, it's not time to cry yet. We will find a way."
Originally, she was worried that she would give birth to a younger brother and would not be able to save him.
But now, even a younger brother is not in danger of his life, so the only one left is Dad.
That's much easier.
"Jiang Xuan, please do me a favor."
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