Death
Qin Hui thought Liang Hongyu was doomed to die, but he never expected Zhao Gou to let her go. However, he did not want to give up. He ordered someone to invite Liu Rumei into the palace.
Liu Rumei was led by a maid to a secluded study room, where Qin Hui was standing by the window, playing with a piece of Hetian jade bi in his hand.
"Sit down." Qin Hui turned around with a half-smile on his face. "How does General Han treat you?"
Liu Rumei lowered her eyes and said, "The general treats me...very politely."
"You're polite?" Qin Hui chuckled. "That means you're distant. How does Liang Hongyu treat you?"
Liu Rumei bit her lip and said, "Madam is upright and honest, and never makes things difficult for me."
Qin Hui gently placed the jade disk on the table, making a crisp sound. "Do you know that in the court, the emperor had originally agreed to deal with Liang Hongyu, but suddenly changed his mind? This woman is not simple."
Liu Rumei didn't dare to respond and just listened quietly.
"If Liang Hongyu is eliminated, you will be Han Shizhong's legitimate wife." Qin Hui raised his eyebrows, a chilling murderous intent flashing in his eyes, and asked her, "Are you willing?"
Liu Rumei's heart trembled. She looked up at Qin Hui, then quickly lowered her head. "But the last time Prime Minister Qin ordered me to steal 'The Northern Hunting Record of Tears and Blood', I'm afraid she must have become wary of me. If I betray her again, General Han will definitely not trust me anymore."
Qin Hui walked up to her and said, "Don't worry about this. You are a gift from the emperor. They dare not touch you. You just need to monitor Liang Hongyu's whereabouts and tell her the truth."
Liu Rumei's fingertips trembled slightly. She knew this was a road of no return, but Qin Hui's offer was too tempting. During her time at the Han residence, she had witnessed firsthand the deep affection between Han Shizhong and Liang Hongyu, leaving her as a mere figurehead. If Liang Hongyu were gone, could she replace her and remain by Han Shizhong's side forever? Her father had eight concubines, and she had assumed all men were as heartless as her father. She had never imagined she would one day meet a man like Han Shizhong. She had tried her best to seduce him, but he remained unmoved, only fueling her desire to conquer him and claim him as her own.
So she said softly, "I... obey your command."
Qin Hui nodded with satisfaction: "Very good. Remember, act with caution. If you have any news, send someone to deliver it directly to your house."
As Liu Rumei left the Qin residence, a light rain began to fall. Sitting in her sedan chair, her thoughts were swirling. She had been given to Han Shizhong as a pawn by the emperor. If she could truly become the mistress of the Han residence, perhaps she could escape her fate of being manipulated.
Inside the Han residence, Liang Hongyu was training a hundred female soldiers in the backyard. Most of these women were orphans whose families had been taken away by the war. Liang Hongyu not only taught them martial arts, but also taught them literacy and reasoning.
"Madam, the general has sent a message saying that he will arrive at Phoenix Mountain to garrison in three days. Please lead the troops to meet him." A guard came to report.
Liang Hongyu took the letter. Han Shizhong's handwriting was vigorous and powerful. Besides military matters, he had also secretly drawn a magnolia at the end, a secret message between them. Liang Hongyu's lips curled slightly as she put the letter away.
"Pass the order down, set off in three days, and only take the female soldiers with you." Liang Hongyu ordered.
In the corridor in the distance, Liu Rumei watched this scene quietly.
That night, in the study of the Han Mansion, Liang Hongyu was studying the route map to Phoenix Mountain when Liu Rumei walked in quietly with a bowl of soup.
When Liang Hongyu saw Liu Rumei coming in, she casually pressed a piece of paper on the map. Last time, the original manuscript of "The Northern Hunting Record of Tears and Blood" was stolen by someone and presented to the government, so she had to do something about it.
"Sister, are you still busy? This is the Tremella soup I made myself. Please try it." Liu Rumei put the soup bowl on the table and her eyes inadvertently swept over the map under the page of paper.
Liang Hongyu looked up and smiled. "Thank you, sister. I was just about to tell you that I will be leading my troops to reunite with the general in three days. I'll leave the affairs of the mansion to you, sister."
Liu Rumei's heart moved: "Don't worry, sister, leave the affairs of the mansion to me."
Liang Hongyu picked up the soup and suddenly looked at Liu Rumei, "Sister, you seem a little uneasy?"
Liu Rumei hurriedly shook her head: "No, I'm just worried about my sister's safety."
Liang Hongyu's heart moved when she heard this. Although Liu Rumei left in shame and anger after failing to seduce her husband that day, she had never done anything out of line in Hanfu Mansion since then. Not only that, she also lowered her posture from time to time to please her. This made her suddenly feel sympathy for Liu Rumei.
She put down the soup bowl and took Liu Rumei's hand. "I know that the emperor's marriage to the general was not your original intention. When the war subsides, I will ask the emperor to restore your freedom and find you a true lover."
Liu Rumei was stunned. She didn't expect Liang Hongyu to say this and didn't know how to respond for a moment.
"It's late, sister, go and rest first." Liang Hongyu said with a smile.
Liu Rumei left the study, her heart in turmoil. Liang Hongyu's sincerity made her waver, but thinking of Qin Hui's threats and promises, she still took advantage of Liang Hongyu's absence and sneaked in after she left the study.
It was already dark at this time. She took out the fire stick hidden in her sleeve and lit it. She flipped through the stack of reports on the desk and finally found the map she had seen during the day. The location circled in red on the map was Phoenix Mountain. Liu Rumei frowned. Was she going to Phoenix Mountain in three days?
The next day, Liu Rumei went to ask Jinxiu again and heard that Liang Hongyu would set out with only 300 female soldiers in three days. She hurried back to her room, unfolded a piece of paper and pen, and wrote down the news that Liang Hongyu would only bring 100 female soldiers to Phoenix Mountain in three days.
Three days later, at dawn, Liang Hongyu led the female soldiers on their way out. They rode lightly and traveled swiftly. Liu Rumei stood at the gate of Han's residence to see them off, watching them depart with a tinge of anxiety.
The team entered a dense forest in the afternoon.
The woods of late autumn were filled with a chilly atmosphere. Withered yellow leaves swirled and fell in the bleak wind, forming a thick layer on the ground. The crisp rustling sound of horse hooves made the surroundings even more eerie and silent.
Liang Hongyu led the charge, over a hundred female soldiers at a rapid pace. She worried about her upcoming reunion with her husband, Han Shizhong, yet also felt a subtle unease. The forest was too quiet; not even a bird could be heard singing, only the whimpering of the wind through the bare branches. Her battlefield-honed intuition knew this forest held a hidden danger.
Liang Hongyu suddenly reined in her horse and raised her hand to signal the troops to stop.
"Madam, what's wrong?" Qiu Feng asked.
Liang Hongyu frowned and looked around: "It's too quiet."
"Change the route and take a detour." Liang Hongyu gave the order decisively.
As soon as he finished speaking, a sharp sound of an arrow pierced the sky!
In an instant, the cries of killing erupted! Countless Jin soldiers emerged from the woods on both sides of the road, their black armor gleaming coldly in the sparse autumn sunlight. They instantly surrounded the small group of female soldiers, impenetrable. Within the Jin army formation, beneath a large black banner embroidered with gold, Wanyan Zongbing sat upright on a tall horse, a ferocious yet triumphant smile on his face.
"Liang Hongyu! This very place is where you will be buried! I wonder where you can escape!" Wanyan Zongbing's voice was like a bell, filled with the pleasure of finally venting his pent-up resentment. He had been defeated repeatedly by Han Shizhong and his wife, especially Liang Hongyu, who had once beaten the drums of war amidst a vast army, crushing his troops and leaving him completely humiliated. This vengeance was a vengeance he must avenge.
Liang Hongyu knew she had been ambushed, outnumbered, and the situation was dire. But she remained calm, unafraid. Raising her spear, she shouted, "Sisters! Form a formation! Follow me and fight our way through! Show these powerful men the might of the women of the Song Dynasty!"
"We swear to follow the madam until death!" Over a hundred female soldiers responded in unison. Though their voices carried the clear, feminine eloquence, they were filled with the heroic spirit of facing death head-on. They quickly formed a circular defensive formation with Liang Hongyu at the core, spears pointed outward, crossbows in hand.
The Jin soldiers surged forward like a tide, and the female soldiers fought desperately. Liang Hongyu led the charge, her spear wielding like a sea dragon, its shadows darting through the air, sending Jin soldiers and horses reeling wherever she went. Her gaze fixed on Wanyan Zongbing in the distance, believing that only by capturing the leader first could there be a glimmer of hope.
"Qiu Feng! Protect my flanks! Follow me and charge!" Liang Hongyu shouted and rode her horse towards Wanyan Zongbing.
"Don't worry, Madam!" Qiu Feng responded, dancing the spear in her hand tightly, protecting Liang Hongyu and blocking the cold arrows and swords and guns that attacked her from the side.
Liang Hongyu, a skilled warrior, charged left and right, effectively carving a bloody path through her ranks, gradually approaching Wanyan Zongbi's central army. Seeing Liang Hongyu's bravery, Wanyan Zongbi's eyes flashed with surprise, which then turned into a deeper murderous intent. He personally drew his sword to meet the enemy in battle.
"Wanyan Zongbing, you've been defeated by me several times, but you still haven't learned your lesson!" Liang Hongyu shouted, stabbing the tip of her spear straight into the opponent's throat.
Wanyan Zongbi raised his sword to block, grinning grimly, "This time is different. Your mortal enemy sent a message, and I was prepared!"
Liang Hongyu was shocked, realizing there must be a traitor in the army, but she didn't have time to think about it. The two men fought in a group, swords and spears clashed, sparks flew.
The two engaged in a fierce battle, swords and spears clashing. Though a woman, Liang Hongyu's spearmanship was superb, and her momentum was unstoppable. For a time, she and Wanyan Zongbi were locked in a close fight. However, the pressure from all around them grew. Though the female soldiers were brave, they were outnumbered, and as they fell, the circular formation gradually compressed.
During the fierce battle, Liang Hongyu seized upon a vulnerable spot in Wanyan Zongbi's army and thrust her spear at his throat. Wanyan Zongbi frantically parried, avoiding the vital wound but causing his shoulder armor to rip open, sending him into a cold sweat. Furious, he sternly ordered the surrounding sharpshooters, "Shoot! Shoot her for me!"
Several cold arrows were shot silently from different directions at Liang Hongyu who was fighting with Wanyan Zongbi. At this time, Liang Hongyu was fully focused on the powerful enemy in front of her and failed to notice it in time.
"Madam, be careful!" Qiu Feng, who had been paying close attention to the battle situation, caught a glimpse of a cold light from the corner of her eye. Without thinking, she suddenly jumped up from the horse and pounced on Liang Hongyu!
"Puff!" One sharp arrow pierced Qiu Feng's chest, and another hit her shoulder. The huge impact caused her to crash heavily into Liang Hongyu.
Liang Hongyu was startled by this sudden change. When she turned around, she saw Qiu Feng spitting blood, her face instantly turned as pale as paper, and her body slid down limply.
"Qiu Feng!" Liang Hongyu cried out in grief and reached out to hold her.
Qiu Feng used up her last bit of strength to push Liang Hongyu away, and shouted weakly but anxiously: "Madam, please go quickly... Don't worry about me... Go find the general..." Her eyes were full of pleading and reluctance, and then they became blurred, and her arms fell limply.
"Qiu Feng—!" Liang Hongyu's heart ached, tears instantly blurring her eyes. This sister who had grown up with her, who had accompanied her through countless hardships, had taken the fatal blow for her!
Qiu Feng's death deeply touched Liang Hongyu's heart. She howled to the sky, her eyes red, like a wounded beast, and swung the spear in her hand even more frantically, as if she was fighting without regard for her life.
"Wanyan Zongbi! I want you to pay with your life!"
She rushed towards Wanyan Zongbi again without hesitation. The surrounding guards were frightened by her desperate momentum and were unable to stop her. Wanyan Zongbi was also thrown into a panic by Liang Hongyu's sudden outburst.
More and more Jin soldiers gathered around her, and Liang Hongyu's guards dwindled. She herself was wounded in many places, and her robe was stained red with blood.
After defeating several Jin soldiers in succession, Liang Hongyu's horse was pierced by a spear and she fell to the ground. Several spears pierced her body from different directions at the same time.
Liang Hongyu leaned on her gun, trying hard to hold herself back from falling. She raised her head and looked in the direction of Han Shizhong. There was no fear in her eyes, only endless regret and worry.
"Aman... take care..." She murmured softly and eventually died, but her body was still standing, her eyes wide open, as if she was still looking at the land she swore to protect with her life.
Wanyan Zongbing looked at Liang Hongyu's body and ordered his soldiers, "Take her body away."
The deputy general next to him reminded: "Marshal, she is already dead."
"I will use this woman's corpse to lure Han Shizhong here."
The deputy general then ordered his men to carry Liang Hongyu's body onto their horses and head towards the Jin army camp. At this time, the Song and Jin countries had reached a peace agreement, and Wanyan Zongbing only brought a small force. Not only did he want to avenge his personal grudge, but he also wanted to kill this terrifying woman for the sake of the Jin Dynasty's continued prosperity.
A few days ago, he received a secret report from Qin Hui, saying that Liang Hongyu had secretly set up an intelligence organization in Zuixianglou in Lin'an City, specifically to spy on the intelligence of the Jin Dynasty. The intelligence base of Zuixianglou had been secretly destroyed by dozens of masked killers he sent a few days ago. All 180 people in the building were killed, and not a single one was left alive.
According to Qin Hui's secret letter, this intelligence organization was spread throughout the Great Song Dynasty. Despite using every possible means of torture, he failed to pry out the few remaining suspects who contacted him in other locations, who had all committed suicide by biting their tongues. Although Liang Hongyu was dead, the vast intelligence network she left behind and their loyalty truly frightened him. A woman could achieve such feats. If she wasn't killed, she would remain a scourge to the entire Great Jin Dynasty. Since Han Shizhong was her husband, he must have known something.
The wind grew colder, whimpering across a land fresh from a brutal battle, carrying fallen leaves and the scent of blood. Over a hundred loyal and brave female soldiers had died heroically for their country, not a single one surrendering. Their blood soaked the autumn soil of this nameless forest. A flock of birds circled for a long time above the dense forest, their clear, shrill cries echoing through the air, as if telling of an endless wail.
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