Chapter 241: I'm Going to Die!

Take a bite and give you my infinite first kiss -

Pass first, change later! Thank you for your support. Ming'er, our little nineteen is about to die. Whether it's a son or a daughter, Ming'er knows.

------Off topic------

"Zhao Nineteen, loving you and loving him is the proudest thing in my life!"

Xia Chuqi smiled, and his cold fingers touched the corners of his eyes.

"Ah Qi......" Zhao Zhu's eyes had a crystal color.

"No...... Pain. She shook her head, looked at him with a smile, raised her chin, and showed the most beautiful side in front of him, but even if she wanted to take it easy, every word she said was very difficult, "Zhao Shijiu, don't give up on our children." He is in my body and One with Me. Just as you are one with me. I could even feel that he was struggling, he was screaming, he was crying out when he knew his parents were going to give up on him......"

"It hurts?" He asked worriedly, a drop of sweat falling from his forehead and pressing it against her face.

When he was carrying her through the long corridor, in the interval of contractions, her mood slowly calmed down, hoping that it would be a little longer, a little longer, and it would be better to go through a reincarnation.

Xia Chuqi breathed painfully, breathing like a gossamer, but his gaze did not leave for a moment. She didn't know how long she could watch it, she didn't know if Chang's words were true, she was reluctant to let him go, and she didn't want to miss his face for a moment.

He stared down at her, his gaze unanswered.

She was forcing him so that he could not give up the child.

"Zhao Nineteen, if I don't have Xiao Nineteen, I won't be able to live."

"I've got what I can do." Zhao Zhu interrupted him coldly, his face had returned to his usual calmness, but his calm added some coldness and haze, like the calm before the storm, seeing Xia Chuqi's heart twitching and his stomach twitching, and the pain made the whole person curl up, as if he fell into a semi-fainting state, hugging his neck, and he didn't even have the strength to speak.

Jia nodded, frowning, "But Your Highness, Zhao Mianze is about to enter the mansion, and now if he can't see Miss Seven......"

"Find ...... Stable Mother"

Zhao Zhu didn't speak, just hugged her tightly and looked back at Jia Yi.

"Zhao Nineteen, I want our child."

Xia Chuqi tightened his clothes, and his voice was hoarse and unbearable.

The oil lamp inside was dim, and the light was a little dark.

He didn't speak, and went straight down the road with him in his arms.

A Yi lifted the bed board in understanding, revealing the tunnel below.

Zhao Zhu's mood is not much better than hers, his always calm and graceful face has changed color slightly, the green tendons on his forehead are beating one by one, and his palms are wet with sweat, but he is a man who has gone through strong winds and waves, and he will not be as overwhelmed as her. In a moment, he stopped and hugged her waist and gestured to Jiayi.

She was a child, but she had roughly calculated her due date. As of today, the child is only seven months and twenty-three days away, and the due date is still long, and the sudden onset is considered premature, and there is not a hospital and obstetrician here as in later generations, and the confusion in her heart can be imagined.

"I, I'm going to give birth to ......"

"Ah Qi, what's wrong with you?"

Looking at her pale face, Zhao Zhu came back and hugged her.

"I ...... Zhao 19...... I ......"

She has never given birth, but in the end, she is a woman, a woman from the afterlife, a doctor who understands gynecology. Haven't eaten pork, and I've seen pigs walking.

On the seventh day of summer in bed, sweat was already soaking through my back. It was probably because tonight's events were too nervous, or because Dao Chang's words frightened her mind, and when Jia Yi entered, the little nineteen in her stomach became even more restless. Almost as soon as he spoke, her stomach ached, and she felt contractions.

Qinglan, Zheng Erbao, and Mei Zi came in when they heard the news, and everyone was nervous.

Chutz Courtyard, a room of tension.

~

Without shouting "flat", Zhao Mianze flicked the sleeves of his robe and strode in from the main entrance.

"Wechen knock to see Your Majesty, long live Your Majesty, long live, long live."

Xia Chang led the people of the Wei Mansion to bow down one after another.

Outside the gate of the Duke of Wei's mansion, rows of Praetorian guards holding sabers, holding torches high and riding high-headed broadswords, were neatly lined up at the door. Zhao Mianze got off the dragon chariot, and a boot embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon fell to the ground, and his eyes swept coldly.

~

No one thought that Zhao Mianze would come, and he would come at such a time. But he is the emperor, whether it is the Duke of Wei or the Chuci Academy, he insists on coming, and no one can stop him.

"Zhao Mianze is here."

Zhao Jun let go of her hand, put down the tent, and went to open the door. When Jia pushed the door in, he was in a hurry, and the wind blowing in the robe, even on such a midsummer night, instantly cooled the heart of the seventh day of the first summer.

"Master, something happened."

Immediately after, a nervous shout sounded.

Before Zhao Jun could answer, there was a sudden knock on the door outside.

"Bang!"

"Zhao Nineteen, I can't ......" Xia Chuqi looked up at his solemn face, hugged his neck tightly, and said in a low voice, "This time, listen to me." Think about it, if we didn't have children, we would be regretful in this life. What's more, didn't the old monk say, I am against the world, I am against the world, I am against the world, I will die sooner or later, so I will be completely disobedient? Unless you don't even want me. ”

"It can't be delayed any longer."

Zhao Zhu's voice was a little cold, and the hand holding her tighter.

"Ah Qi."

In this matter, if it is found that before she is pregnant, she may agree not to have children, and only the two of them will depend on each other for their lives, and wait until the day when her "phoenix life is difficult to continue". But now that Xiao Nineteen is really living in her belly, he is about to be eight months old, as a mother, how can she give up his life for herself?

If in her previous life, whoever said such things to her, she would definitely slap him away. But she is a person who has crossed over, she is just a soul, what the old monk said, she really can't treat him as a fart.

I see. When Dao Chang couldn't help but find the Wei Mansion to persuade her to let go, he must have already looked for Zhao Bottle, right? Perhaps what the great monk said to Zhao Zun was more thorough, more serious, and more irreversible than what he told her. This strengthened his idea that he didn't want children, right?

"Nope." "I'm just thinking about how I'm going to say it to you." ”

She sighed, "You haven't been here these days, and you've been thinking about trade-offs?" ”

They just want to be together, they just want a child, the family lives happily together, they don't take the initiative to harm others, they don't kill people, they don't rectify people, why do they go against the way of heaven, why do they disturb morality?

Xia Chuqi choked, leaned his head on his chest, listened to his "pounding" heartbeat, and couldn't tell whether it was uncomfortable or suppressed emotions, which enveloped his heart, spread to his limbs, and almost suffocated in pain.

"You have to agree."

"I wouldn't agree."

After a long silence, he closed his eyes coldly, "If it's you, I can." ”

"Then you can do it, kill your own child yourself?"

"I can't do it."

"Zhao Nineteen, you rely on me once, okay?"

Her throat tightened, and she lowered her arms and wrapped her arms around his waist.

For a man with a feudal mentality, the heirs of the family must be more important than that of a woman. has seen too many episodes in the old society where she didn't want a woman for her son, and Zhao Shijiu's kindness to her is even more precious. It is precisely because of this that she needs a child even more

Hearing him say this, Xia Chuqi couldn't help but warm his heart.

The corners of his lips were cold, "Without you, what is the use of my child?" ”

"It's not a gamble!" Xia Chuqi smiled, "Even if I'm gone, we still have children, and there is no matter whether we win or lose, you don't have to be so entangled." ”

Zhao Zun's brows were knotted, "How can you use you to gamble?" ”

She smiled softly, suppressed her voice, and touched his face with her other hand, "We are all one life picked up, how can we be afraid of death?" Besides, even if Dao Chang is a high-ranking monk in the world, we don't have to believe in him all, who hasn't miscalculated? ”

Back to the three dark days in the building, it was the place where Xiao Nineteen came.

Involuntarily, the two of them remembered Huiguang Huizhao Building.

Facing the pressure of life and death again.

Two different forces, different beliefs, communicated, and neither spoke.

"You don't have a choice!" Zhao Zhu's face turned cold and clenched her hand. But she buckled her backhand back, as if she were competing with him, and shook his fingers together, and looked at each other.

"For a woman, the greatest pride is to have children for the man she loves. The continuation of life is the testimony of love, people will die, love will not die, and the bloodline will never die, and it will be passed on forever in heaven and earth for thousands of generations......"

"Zhao Nineteen! You don't have to persuade anymore. She interrupted him again and snatched the words back. The corners of his lips lifted and gave him a bright smile, and then, he stretched out his hand and gently covered his mouth, his eyes were as bright as water, but full of determination.

"Don't say stupid things!" He interrupted her.

"I don't choose it with you. If I had to choose between myself and Little Nineteen, I would only have one life, and I would rather be him than me. People always have to die, I am a person who is against the world, since it is difficult to continue life, how can I leave you a son and a half daughter, I will not be there in the future, you also have a thought. If you don't want to, the stripes come and go without a trace, and I'm just a soul, and you'll forget about me......"

After a while, Xia Chuqi softened his heart.

"Zhao Nineteen!" Xia Chuqi opened his mouth slightly, with a trace of innocent annoyance, and his eyes were crossed, two people with four eyes, like sharp knives fighting in the air, no one obeyed anyone.

"Ah Qi, you can't delay any longer, you hurry up and write a prescription."

His face was slightly cold, he stroked the slight bulge on his lower abdomen, chased Xiao Nineteen's fists and feet, closed his eyes for a moment, suddenly withdrew his hand, hugged her tightly, rested his head on her shoulder, and sprayed her warm breath on her neck socket, his lonely and cold gaze, like a wounded wolf, bloodthirstily choosing a sad and more self-hurting path.

How could he not want their children? It's just that he is a man, and at a critical time, he must be ruthless to make the best decisions.

In order to save her life, she couldn't find a suitable explanation.

He has a black belly and a cold and poisonous tongue, but at this time, he is not good at words.

Zhao Zhu's palm was warm and hot, but his arm was very stiff.

"Ah Qi ......"

"Zhao Nineteen, let's be brave, okay?" Xia Chuqi looked at him fixedly, "I have always believed that people will win the sky." Speaking of this, her stomach suddenly moved, and the child inside became agitated again, she stagnated slightly, happily took Zhao Zhu's hand and pulled it to her lower abdomen, covering the bulge, "You touch, you touch quickly, our little nineteen He has reacted, he must have heard it." ”

"Ah Qi......" Zhao Zhu's voice choked.

"Little Nineteen is a real life, and I have a heart to heart with his mother and son. I can feel him. He's in a bad mood, I know, he's coquettish, I know, he's happy, and I know. Even I'm thinking...... Did he know that his father was ready to give up on him...... He's being sad, that's why he's so anxious today, kicking me all the time. ”

"How's your heart?"

Xia Chuqi pursed his lips and smiled, "I believe in my heart more." ”

Zhao Jun was stunned for a moment, crying and laughing, "Ye is so untrustworthy?" ”

"That's a strange thing." Xia Chuqi snorted, his eyes were half-closed, his eyes were half-closed, and he couldn't open them a little, "Starting from Qinggang County, you have been following me all the way, to Jingshi, to Luanhe, to Liaodong, to Mobei, and to Yinshan...... It's not impossible to do it again. ”

"Ah Qi." Zhao Zhu stroked her face, "Did you fool you?" ”

After the one hundred and eighth confrontation, Xia Chuqi looked at him with a bitter face, looking relaxed, but he couldn't suppress the heaviness in his tone, "Zhao Nineteen, are you sure that Dao Chang is not a god stick who talks about it?" What is the 'reincarnated peach blossom, the phoenix's life is difficult to continue', is it really not what you told him? ”

"Ah Qi, I only want you, I don't want to gamble."

Zhao Zhu stroked her hair, and there was a soft halo in her eyes.

"Zhao Shijiu, I am a mother."

She looked up lazily and stared at him without blinking.

He looked down, stared at her, and didn't speak.

"Zhao Nineteen, I am a doctor who only talks about science, and I know my own physical condition. I am very healthy, and I am in the right position, so I will definitely be able to give birth to the child safely. As for what gave birth to a son, it would be contrary to the world and affect the world. And what is there because of my love and sin, causing the emperor to compete for hegemony, and the world is in chaos, I ...... I don't dare to believe it, but I don't want to have children because of this. ”

Xia Chuqi glanced at him, yawned, and gently leaned his heavy head on his chest, rubbing it like a kitten, and her coquettish movements were very affectionate, but her mind was stuffy and dizzy, like a few heavy lumps of lead.

He was justified and tried to convince her.

"But it's also true that you're not what you are today."

Again, she insisted on a cold voice.

"There is no such thing as a child and a mother who dies...... I don't believe it. ”

He also adhered to his feudal superstitions.

"The Tao often does not lie."

She adheres to her atheism.

"What is contrary to the world should not be true."

The room was quiet, obviously two people were sitting together, breathing, heartbeat, but it was so empty as if no one existed, and there was no sound for a long time. I don't know how long it took, the breeze licked the tongue of fire, raised the curtain, and the light veil brushed Xia Chuqi's face, and the itchy touch pulled her mind back.

He sat beside her, one arm around her shoulder, pursed his lips as if an old monk was in a trance, his eyes as deep as an ancient well staring at the candle flame moving without wind in the distance, and the bottom of his eyes was glowing with a halo of cold owls.

In the halo of swaying candle flames, Xia Chuqi hung his head slightly, feeling sleepy. She leaned on the head of the bed, leaned on the soft pillow, and rested her head on Zhao Zhu's shoulder, pondering what he had said earlier.

It's the second watch.

~

"Prepare a sedan chair, I want to visit at night!"

He took the cloak that was placed on the back of the chair, and Jun's face was heavily shadowed.

A gust of wind blew through the corner of the wall, and there seemed to be a window in the hall that was not closed tightly, and suddenly there was a "pop", the window opened, and it slammed on the window lattice, which restrained Zhao Mianze's expression.

Ah Ji lowered his head and did not respond.

"There is an old man who also told me."

"I don't blame you." Zhao Mianze sighed faintly, his voice seemed to leak wind, he muttered for a moment, and when he spoke again, his eyes had already taken back from Ah Ji's body, and through the big red cover embroidered with peonies, he looked at the candle tears dripping from the red candles inside.

"I said casually that I have transgressed my duty, and I ask Your Majesty to condemn it."

Ah Ji's face was hot, he knelt down on one knee and hung his head.

"This sentence is familiar to me."

Zhao Mianze was slightly stunned, suddenly raised his head, and glanced at the small man in armor and thin body kneeling in the hall, the handsome man who had been by his side for many years, but he had never paid serious attention to it.

"Your Majesty......" Ah Ji swallowed a mouthful of saliva, his eyes were slightly warm, "No matter what happens, you can't be in a hurry, take care of your body, only when your body is in good condition, can you have the strength to persevere, and only then can you have the strength to pull yourself out of the mud." ”

He stumbled and sat back in his chair, motionless.

Even if it is confirmed, what can he do with her?

What can he do with her?

The clenched fist slowly loosened, and the emotions of anger, anger, and grief in his chest slowly changed, and the original irrepressible hatred was washed away.

Almost suddenly, from Ah Ji's eyes, he remembered Xia Chu's unruly eyes - eyes that were not afraid of death, did not give in, and did not admit defeat.

Zhao Mianze's eyes were like fire, and he glared at him angrily. But for a moment, the indifference, or relief-like relief in his eyes, made him shake violently and stiffened.

"Then you will dieβ€”"

"Humble duty deserves death, please give your majesty death."

But he didn't seem to have much fear, just knelt silently on the ground.

Two angry "should I die" in a row, and Ah Ji's face changed when he heard it.

"Ah Kee!" Zhao Mianze turned his head and glared at him hatefully, almost gritting his teeth and spit out a few words, "I trust you so much, and entrust you with the most important and important things, and the result is ...... How did you repay me? I asked you to check, and you said no, and you kept saying no. But at this time, you come to report - you say, do you deserve to die? Damn it? ”

"Your Majesty is angry, the matter has come to this, think twice."

"Your Majesty......" There was a moment of panic on Ah Ji's face. Thinking of the woman in the Chutz courtyard, the woman he had been watching and spending months with her, his heart was full of excitement, and he suddenly felt a little unbearable.

"Change clothes for me and go to the Wei State Mansion."

Zhao Mianze's face was cold, he took the note and only glanced at it, as if he had been stung by a needle, he bounced up from the chair suddenly, and the arc of his movements was so large that he knocked down the music and scattered to the ground.

"Your Majesty, this is something from the Chutz Courtyard."

Zhao Mianze's warm and hoarse voice came from the top of her head, Ah Ji was startled, when she looked up, her eyes met his slightly narrowed gaze, her throat tightened, and a fiery feeling that expanded from the depths of her heart burned her body a little stiff, as if she had been burned by fire, her throat was dry, she couldn't speak, hesitated, and finally slowly pulled out something from her sleeve and handed it to He Chengan to hand it to Zhao Mianze.

"Why don't you keep quiet?"

Ah Ji did not get up, but still knelt in the temple. Under the dim candle flame, his delicate face was a little pale, and his palms were tightly pinched, and he didn't move for a long time. She knew very well that the turbulent waves that this thing would bring after it was presented, and for a moment, she couldn't help but wet her palms.

"Get up and talk."

Zhao Mianze came back to his senses, looked at the top of Ah Ji's buried head, held the palm of Song Shu's hand tightened slightly, and his warm face was tense, before he put down Song Shu and waved his hand.

Hong Ah Ji is the person arranged by Zhao Mianze to take care of Xia Chu in the Chu Ci Courtyard, and his entry into the palace at this time can only mean one thing: there is movement at the end of the Wei State Mansion, and it is very serious, at least it cannot be handled by Ah Ji within the scope of his authority.

"Bow to your majestyβ€”"

Jiao Yu went out backwards, and a moment later, Ah Ji, who was dressed in neat armor, came in lightly. With her head slightly lowered, she fell to the ground on one knee.

The person who entered the hall to report was Jiao Yu, he glanced at Zhao Mianze's gloomy face, and looked at He Chengan in puzzlement. He Chengan pursed his mouth and didn't say anything, but just went over to add hot water for him.

"Your Majesty, Hong Aji is here."

It's a pity that he thinks about her every day, but he can't stop her from returning to the Wei Mansion, nor can he take her under his wing before the wedding, counting the twenty-seventh day of the lunar month, his eyebrows are deeply wrinkled.

It's the second shift, what is she doing? Already asleep, right? She shouldn't miss him, right? Zhao Mianze glanced at He Chengan, took the cloak and threw it on the imperial case, looking at the lampshade, but his mind was a pair of eyes that laughed like a crescent moon, and the corners of her lips that were obviously smiling, but looked stubborn everywhere.

He Cheng'an's hand paused in the air, "Second watch." ”

"It's been a few shifts."

He Chengan said in a low voice, took a bright yellow cloak from the truss, and wanted to drape it on his shoulders, but he gently pushed it away, rubbed his forehead impatiently, and his face was like frost.

"Your Majesty, the wind is blowing, and the weather is cold."

A turmoil in the East Garden had a far-reaching impact on the Dayan court. Ordinary people sound like they just add some jokes and topics, but for the emperor, every thing that may be involved in the government is a big deal.

In the study of the main heart hall, the lights have not been extinguished. In the large lampshade embroidered with peony and wealth, the candle flame flowed on the candlestick like tears, reflecting the shadow of Zhao Mianze alone. On the chessboard not far from him, there was always that game of chess that he couldn't crack. On the imperial case in front of him, the high recitals were piled up in one place, telling the helplessness of being the son of heaven.

Under the dark night, the imperial city was immersed in tranquility.

It's the height of summer, and the night is cool.

~

Then he said, "If I had to choose between you and my child, I would have to choose you." ”

She shivered when she met his eyes.

If it weren't for the extreme helplessness, Zhao Shijiu wouldn't be like this.

"Ah Qi ......" Zhao Zhu's deep voice was mixed with a hint of astringent hoarseness, calling out his name, and the long tail note was in the air, stabbing Xia Chuqi's heart and his back cold.

Xia Chuqi had a faint guess in his heart, and when he saw that he was still now, he glared at him, and pushed his arm away, as if his good temper had been exhausted, and his tone was angry, "I'll tell you the truth." Little Nineteen is almost eight months old, and there is nothing more important than him, and you have to make me give it up unless you kill me. Otherwise, it can't be. ”

The corners of Zhao Zhu's mouth twitched slightly, as if he wanted to speak, but he didn't say anything.

"What's the matter, the secret of heaven can't be leaked yet?" The corners of Xia Chuqi's lips turned up, and he glanced at him indifferently, and a faint cold glow flashed under his eyes: "Zhao Nineteen, you are not the kind of unreliable man, any excuse you make will be broken." I believe you have your troubles, so you don't have to explain them to you, but I want to know the real reason. ”

The two of them have been together for several years, and they often quarrel, but they rarely quarrel. Hearing this, Zhao Zhu frowned and stroked her face, "Ah Qi, I ...... this matter Can't say. ”

He said very surely, and the look of a serious face made Xia Chuqi cry and laugh, so he stroked his hair and said in a low voice, "Cheng." Even if I'm angry. So His Royal Highness King Jin, can you give me a reasonable explanation? ”

"You're here."

"Am I?"

"Enough of the?"

When she was questioning accusatory, Zhao Zhu kept silent and let her vent her dissatisfaction. When she finished speaking, he put her body around and pressed it in the crook of his arm, looking at her honestly with deep eyes.

"That sentence of reincarnated peach blossom, the phoenix's life is difficult to continue, I told you one person. In today's world, except for you Zhao Zhu, no one else will know. If it weren't for you, how could this come out of his mouth? You want me to put it down? Or do you yourself want to let go? Even our children are going to be put down? ”

"Zhao Nineteen-" Seeing that he didn't answer, her eyebrows condensed slightly, "What does Dao Chang mean, does it mean you?" ”

"Crackling" rhetorical question, she said that she was not impatient, her attitude was leisurely, as if she didn't care, and the smile hooked up at the corner of her mouth was a little dazzling.

She frowned and smiled, "I don't know, I'm not the roundworm in your stomach?" Zhao Nineteen, that Changda monk was called by you, right? He has a criminal record, when he was in Qinggang, he deceived Dongfang Qingxuan, deceived Hong Taiye in Beijing, and when he said that Tianjiao said, he coaxed Zhao Mianze again. What the hell is the catastrophe? By whom is he directed? Others don't know, don't I know? Now, he's come to tell me to let go of my love and tell me a bunch of nonsense in the clouds, with only one purpose, that is, to keep me from being with you, right? ”

"You know." He put his arm around her, tightening slightly.

"Zhao Nineteen!" Xia Chuqi stiffened his neck, looked at him, and suddenly smiled coldly, "Do you not want to fight for this time, or do you not want to live with me at all?" ”

"Ah Qi." Zhao Zhu's eyes were gloomy, as if it was difficult to speak, she put her cold face on her neck, closed her eyes, and her solemn voice was full of depression, "The coming day is long, we will not fight for this time." ”

Others may not understand, but how could she not know what kind of man Zhao Shijiu is? It has not been a day or two since she was pregnant with Xiao Nineteen, and it has not been a day or two since Zhao Nineteen knew about it. Before he "lost contact" this time, he was looking forward to the birth of Little Nineteen as much as she did, and he even racked his brains to dig a tunnel for this. But now it's almost eight months old, and he says that he doesn't want the child anymore, and he still finds such a lame excuse, how can he coax her?

"Zhao Nineteen, do you think I don't understand you?"

"Huh?" The corners of Zhao Zhu's lips pursed.

"But what did you hear from others?"

"You fart!" The seventh day of the summer is an existence that must be reversed, and the more annoyed it is, the more lazy it is. She lazily pushed away Zhao Zhu's hand, picked up the cup, half-closed her eyes, as if she was enjoying it very much, took a deep breath, and smiled at the bottom of her deep eyes, with a touch of anger that could not be concealed.

"You are still young, and you are not in a hurry to have a child, you see that the situation is tense now, if the child is born, not to mention that you are affected, you have to affect our plan......"

Zhao Zun knew that she heard clearly, and did not repeat it, walked over and bowed around her, put her body in front of her chest, and when she lowered her head, her thumb rubbed her lips intentionally or unintentionally, as if to appease and apologize.

"I didn't hear clearly, Zhao Nineteen. You say it again. ”

When encountering something, it will be quiet and quiet, and it will be safe, which is the way of life in the seventh day of the first summer. If what Zhao Zhu said today was not so serious, she might have had some overreactions. It was the seriousness of his words that made her look idle, think about it, get out of bed slowly, put on her shoes, pour the water from the pot into a fruit-patterned teacup with colorful flowers, sit on the embroidered pestle, look at his face, and seem to be smiling.

Looking at Zhao Zhu's cold and complicated face, she didn't speak.

But hugging the quilt in her hand was quiet for a moment, she calmed down again.

Pushing him away, she rolled over and got up.

Xia Chuqi was like being hit on the head by a muffled thunderbolt.