"It was you..."
Shen Tang carefully examined Liu Guan's face.
"King Shen has a good memory. I am Liu Guan, courtesy name Yuanyou."
"Good! Very good! You actually dare to show your face in front of me! It seems that my fearsome reputation is not enough to make people tremble with fear, or perhaps these years of self-cultivation have made people forget their methods!" Shen Tang's smile remained unchanged, but a chilling killing intent was clearly added.
Liu Guan's lips curled into a mocking smile.
She was forced to look up at Shen Tang from below, but the arrogance in her eyes and brows made it seem as if she were the one looking down on him: "To see the King of Shen, what is there to be afraid of? If fate were on my side, I, Liu, would be able to see the King of Shen as a prisoner. But the outcome of war is always cruel, and I only hate my own incompetence, destined to have regrets."
Not only are they not afraid to see Shen Tang, but they also desperately hope to see him.
Unfortunately, her current identity is not what she desired.
Liu Guan's outrageous remarks had not angered Shen Tang, but instead frightened Tu Dege. His loyal guards had escorted him on his escape and thought they had finally escaped, but unexpectedly, several troops suddenly appeared from afar, surrounded them, and all the guards were killed in battle.
Tudego saw the scribe with gray hair.
Chu Yao looked Tu Dege up and down, then raised his hand and waved.
Several soldiers rushed forward and bound Tudege tightly, the other end of the rope falling into Chu Yao's hand. Chu Yao rode a tall horse, with Tudege staggering behind him, his hands bound, as the Kang soldiers watched coldly. No one uttered a sound from beginning to end, but Tudege felt as if he were being silently tortured by countless gazes. He knew Chu Yao was humiliating him, and his heart burned with hatred that made him want to grind his teeth to dust.
Just as they were about to return to the battlefield, Chu Yao spoke.
In some ways, you're quite like your father.
Tudego's feet were rubbed raw and bleeding.
Hearing this, he abruptly looked up: "You—"
A ball of rope hit him squarely in the face.
Chu Yao shook his head regretfully: "The procession, led by a rope, is a shared experience for both father and son. All these years, and he hasn't improved an inch."
The northwestern kingdoms harbored deep hatred for the northern deserts.
The initial stages of that battle went poorly, with the northwestern states suffering defeats.
To demonstrate their strength and humiliate the northwestern kingdoms, the Northern Desert devised a variety of bizarre "entertainment methods," including but not limited to horse racing—specifically, stripping prisoners naked, binding them tightly, and racing them by ropes. Initially, the horses moved slowly, but their competitive spirit ignited, gradually increasing their speed.
After a horse race, the captives were dragged away until only their bones remained.
After the great victory of the northwestern kingdoms, similar events were held to celebrate the victory and to intimidate the tribes of the northern desert! However, those being led by ropes were not limited to the captured northern desert soldiers, but also included representatives of various tribes who came to surrender. They could refuse if they felt humiliated.
If they refused, the northwestern states continued to fight and kill.
The result was that Bei Mo did not refuse.
Having waged a protracted war for centuries, both sides were well aware of each other's true nature. The envoys sent by the Northern Desert were often outwardly respectable but ultimately useless pawns, deliberately chosen as scapegoats to vent the anger of the northwestern kingdoms. If they were dragged to their deaths by horse races, no one would stand up for them. Chu Yao, as a meritorious official, was also invited to participate, and a carefully selected young representative was placed in his hand.
Chu Yao had reservations about this barbaric activity, but a friend who understood him stopped him: "I know you disapprove of these things, but Wu Hui, you must understand that some pain can only be truly felt by 'an eye for an eye,' so that the enemy can truly empathize!"
It's best not to spoil the fun at a celebration banquet.
Chu Yao was half-pushed off the field for a match.
The generals from the northwestern kingdoms were relatively restrained, only dragging their men around until they were bloodied and mangled, sparing their lives. Only Chu Yao leisurely rode his horse along. Everyone else had opened their robes and were drinking heavily, but Chu Yao had only gone halfway around when everyone started clapping and cheering.
Haha, when it comes to insults, writers have the most creative ways to do it.
[Wu Hui is leading me by the nose like a dull knife grinding my flesh! If I were the one being led like this, I would have committed suicide out of shame and indignation long ago.]
[Because you're a shameless old man, but people don't care.]
Faced with the commotion, Chu Yao offered no explanation.
Doing the same thing in his youth and now, Chu Yao had different feelings. He ordered the soldiers to escort Tudege to see the Lord. Tudege was still immersed in the shock brought by Chu Yao's words, and only when Liu Guan directly provoked Shen Tang did he come back to his senses. He was so frightened that his face turned pale.
He scolded, "Yuan You!"
Liu Guan completely ignored Tudege at this moment.
Tudege is a coward who fears death, so she might be able to save her life, but the moment Shen Tang recognizes her, she will not survive.
Shen Tang: "Did you kill Zheng Xiuchi?"
This Zheng Xiuchi was none other than Zheng Yu, the supervising censor of the Censorate.
Liu Guan feigned a bad memory: "Zheng Xiuchi? Is the King of Shen referring to that censor who's good at escaping and keeps his mouth shut? I remember him as good in every way, except for his bad luck. If he didn't know so much, I really wouldn't have the heart to kill him."
Qi Shan, who was about to lift the curtain, suddenly looked up.
"You killed Zheng Xiuchi?"
Liu Guan readily admitted with a laugh, his smile so bright that tears of joy welled up in his eyes: "Yes, it's a pity that a good-for-nothing traitor appeared halfway through. If it weren't for her getting in the way, I, Liu, would truly be looking forward to the scene of King Shen personally coming to Jinli County to investigate clues, digging up graves along the so-called clues, only to find out the corpse of his own censor. Hahahaha—your expression would surely be quite interesting!"
Fueled by a mix of old and new grudges, Qi Shan couldn't withstand Liu Guan's provocation any longer. She drew her sword from her waist with a swift motion, the blade pressed against Liu Guan's brow, ready to pierce her brain at any moment: "You're not afraid of death! If I can't kill Tude, I can at least kill you?"
It's really not a good idea to kill Tudege openly if he's willing to surrender.
But Liu Guan was merely a subordinate, not to mention her arrogant and provocative behavior, having committed Zheng Xiuchi's death and offending Shen Tangqi, Qi Shan, and Gu Chi in one fell swoop. Liu Guan merely looked at the sword's edge and laughed, slowly standing up, the sword moving from between her brows to against her throat.
Step by step, we move towards praying for good.
Qi Shan held the sword steadily, showing no intention of moving it away.
Liu Guan walked firmly without showing any intention of avoiding the pain.
The sword, sharp enough to cut through iron like mud, plunged into his throat with a soft thud, and blood slowly flowed from the wound, down his neck, and into his dirty collar.
She didn't stop, and took two more steps forward.
With a soft thud, the sword pierced straight through the back of the neck.
Drops of blood fell from the tip of the sword, splashing up dust.
Tudege finally reacted and tried to rush over to pull Liu Guan away, but he was forcibly restrained by the soldiers. Tudege helplessly pounded the ground, his eyes bloodshot. Liu Guan heard the commotion but didn't even glance at him, only gritting his teeth and leaning back in pain.
The neck was finally freed from the sword.
Liu Guan tightly covered her bleeding neck with both hands. Wenxin, a scholar, had an extraordinary constitution; even if someone pierced her throat, she would not die immediately. She smiled at Shen Tang and said haltingly and with great difficulty, "Your Majesty Shen is very generous. Guan thanks you."
She had seen too many of the fates that captured women would suffer! Although Liu Guan was born in the swamp, she hated the swamp even more and would never allow herself to fall into a place even dirtier than the swamp.
Even though she was unwilling to accept her defeat, she knew that the victor is king and the loser is villain! The outcome was not something she could control! Since she could not choose who she was born to, where she was born, or where she grew up, she could at least choose who killed her, where she died, and where she would sleep.
Qi Shan was so angry with Liu Guan that she trembled.
Don't think he couldn't guess why Liu Guan committed suicide! Even in his dying moments, he still wanted to badmouth Kang Guo; he was truly obstinate. He wanted to lift the man off the ground, and even wanted to say, "Medical practitioners, treat her." Death, is it that easy?
Anger is anger.
Qi Shan is still rational.
He stared with a dark expression as he watched the pool of blood beneath Liu Guan's body.
Life is slowly slipping away with time.
Seeing that Shen Tang's expression was rather sour, Ji Moqiu said considerately, "Your Majesty, do you need to treat her? As long as Your Highness gives the word, no matter how she tries to kill herself, we can guarantee that she won't die."
The high priests of the Gongxi clan possessed many special methods.
Before Shen Tang could speak, Liu Guan, who was lying on the ground on the verge of death, suddenly experienced a surge of energy, his eyes flashing with hatred and ferocity. The remaining literary energy within him shot straight to the top of his head, and blood gushed from his seven orifices. His head drooped limply, and he fell silent. Ji Moqiu stared blankly at Liu Guan, awkwardly saying, "Please forgive my outrageous words, Your Highness."
He really can't save someone like that.
Liu Guan was also a ruthless person. She directly unleashed her literary energy to rage and crush the brain, shattering the brain tissue under the crown of the head.
Shen Tang moved her lips slightly.
Veins throbbed uncontrollably on his forehead, but he managed to suppress his rage with reason: "Drag her body away and burn it. Keep all the ashes and send them to Zheng Qing's family for disposal later."
He himself does not have a penchant for sadism or murder.
She didn't intend to let Liu Guan live; she planned to kill him. However, Shen Tang would at most offer Liu Guan a white silk ribbon, poison, a dagger, and a sword—a four-piece suicide package full of humanistic concern—to see which Liu Guan preferred. As for Liu Guan's own imagined torture of female prisoners—parading them on wooden donkeys, whipping them naked, sending them to brothels… she had never done any of those things in all her years of fighting; it was truly a frame-up!
With Liu Guan dead, Shen Tang lost even the interest in dealing with Tu Dege, because Tu Dege could slide on his knees, and there wasn't a single hard part of him, including his mouth. Hoping that he would rather die than submit and give Shen Tang leverage to send out the four-piece suicide kit was impossible.
"Lock him up and keep a close watch on him!"
This matter involving Tudege is easy to make a big fuss about.
Sending his subordinates to fight in his place, sacrificing the elite troops of the Northern Desert to their deaths, while he himself, escorted by his personal guards, attempted to escape amidst the chaos—such a blatant act would be enough to demoralize the various tribes of the Northern Desert. Tudege was the de facto king of the Northern Desert, while the nominal king, Tudege's father, had long been sidelined by this filial son. In recent years, this devoted son had also been sending women to his father, causing him to indulge in wine and women, neglecting state affairs.
When Kangguo and Beimo went to war, even the emperor dared not personally lead the expedition.
Tudege also wouldn't allow the other party to do that.
Because Tudege was initially very confident about this battle. If his father personally led the army and won against Kangguo, the hearts of the people of the Northern Desert would be with the king, and his father would seize the opportunity to take control of the military power. He might even turn around and kill his own son for the greater good.
therefore--
For Kangguo, capturing Tudege was even more important than capturing the Northern Desert King, which led to Tu Rong's ecstatic joy. Unfortunately, he captured the wrong person, a fake Liu Guan in disguise, while the real big fish was caught by his cunning teacher.
His face was drooping longer than a donkey's.
Lin Feng patted his senior brother on the shoulder: "There's plenty of time in the future."
As long as you live long enough, why worry about not having military merits?
Tu Rong, feeling uncomforted, said dejectedly, "Junior sister, you're like a well-fed woman who doesn't know the hunger of a starving man..."
Lin Feng was taken to the battlefield when he was eleven or twelve years old, while I was still escorting grain supplies when I was fifteen or sixteen. I finally made it to adulthood and my cultivation level was quite good. I thought I could finally show my skills, but I was disappointed.
Lin Feng said helplessly, "I'll protect you next time."
My senior brother is indeed pitiful.
Tu Rong was overjoyed. If the occasion hadn't been inappropriate, he would have hugged Lin Feng's leg and shouted, "Long live my junior sister!"
Family members, does anyone understand?
At a time when military merits were being frantically pursued within Kang State, his junior sister's willingness to share military resources with him was practically like having a biological older sister! Tu Rong's mood instantly brightened.
Shen Tang told everyone to go about their own business.
Only Qi Shan and Yun Ce did not move.
Qi Shan didn't move, Gong Xi Chou stared at his sword without moving, and Ji Mo Qiu stood rooted to the spot like a stake.
Xianyu Jian, who had hastily returned to his unit, couldn't stand the atmosphere and excused himself as if his backside was on fire. His fellow disciples had lost Shexing Pass and been captured, and he had no idea what the situation was like inside Kaiyang Guard. He needed to get back as soon as possible to deal with the situation, calm the troops, and leave the rest of the explanation to his senior brother.
Inside the tent, the five people formed a delicate balance.
Shen Tang broke the silence: "Yuan Liang, I didn't do it this time."
Don't act like you're going to settle scores with her later.
Qi Shan was taken aback at first, then shook his head and explained, "It's not because of that. I'm here to tell the Lord that Gong Yunchi committed suicide in his tent not long ago. Banbu is handling his funeral arrangements."
This news was like a bolt from the blue.
Shen Tang jumped up: "Gong Yunchi committed suicide?"
These five words together are too contradictory.
Gong Cheng was a Grand Master of the Eighteenth Rank!
As long as he surrenders, Shen Tang won't be able to find fault with him and is unlikely to kill him. Besides, Shen Tang also has to consider Gong Shuwu; Gong Cheng's chances of survival are very high. Why would he commit suicide? Surely Gong Shuwu couldn't have forced him to die, could he?
That's impossible.
Gong Shuwu's personality wouldn't allow him to do such a thing.
No matter how disappointed he was in Gong Cheng, he would still take care of him out of blood ties—he wouldn't treat Gong Cheng as a nephew, but only as the seed to continue his elder brother's lineage—he would never force Gong Cheng to his death.
Shen Tang racked her brains but couldn't understand why he committed suicide.
Qi Shan nodded: "Yes, he did commit suicide."
Gong Cheng also left two suicide notes.
One letter was addressed to Gong Shuwu, and Qishan read it.
One letter was addressed to Shen Tang, and Qi Shan was asked to forward it on her behalf.
He also used his finger as a pen to write eight characters on the ground—
I turn my back to the southeast, but I cannot see my ancestors.
After doing all this, he destroyed his dantian and committed suicide in the tent.
Shen Tang hesitated for a moment before reaching out to take Gong Cheng's suicide note.
The envelope had frayed edges, and judging from the condition of the suicide note, it was prepared well in advance and carried with the person.
This judgment aroused doubt in Shen Tang's heart.
"What exactly does Gong Yunchi want to do?"
Gong Cheng doesn't necessarily have to die.
She did not open the suicide note in public, but simply put it away.
He asked worriedly, "How is the Half-Step one doing?"
Whether Gong Cheng lived or died didn't really affect her much.
Since it concerns Gong Shuwu, we cannot ignore it.
Qi Shan said, "Banbu seemed a little sad, but he calmed down quickly. He just asked Shan to tell the Lord that Gong Yunchi left a message before his death saying that he had a daughter whose mother was a woman from the Northern Desert. Banbu plans to go to her after the war is over and raise her properly."
Shen Tang: "..."
Her lips twitched.
The image of Gong Cheng, who had been disillusioned with life for over a decade, flashed into my mind.
She had never met Gong Cheng, the spirited man he was before his tumultuous life. The first time she saw him, Gong Cheng was at his lowest point, his face pale, his expression bleak, his eyes filled with confusion and disgust. It was hard to imagine that such a person had worked for his family's enemy for so many years and even fathered a child with the enemy's bloodline. She was thankful that Gong Shuwu didn't have flesh and blood, otherwise, this news would have given him a stroke on the spot.
She asked, "Biological? Or maybe adopted."
Qi Shan was unaware of this.
"Since it's a matter of entrusting an orphan to someone, they shouldn't be deliberately causing misunderstandings."
They will definitely explain everything in detail.
If it was intentional, how much must one enjoy tormenting Gong Shuwu?
Shen Tang agreed with this reasoning.
He raised his hand and agreed to Gong Shuwu's request.
“If he wants to take the child back to raise her, then he can. But as Gong Cheng’s daughter, her future situation will probably be difficult.” Once her identity is exposed, she may be ostracized and despised by other bureaucrats’ children and suffer violence and bullying. Gong Shuwu should also consider this. Either conceal the child’s identity or change the child’s surname.
Qi Shan said, "Shan will remind you even if it's just a little bit."
After speaking, he did not leave, but looked at Yun Ce.
He learned from the prisoners that Yun Ce's cultivation had been crippled by Yun Da himself. So what was going on with Yun Ce now? He wouldn't let his guard down until Yun Ce had a clear explanation.
In an instant, Yun Ce became the focus of everyone's attention in the tent.
Yun Ce didn't hide anything.
He took a letter from his pocket.
It was also handed to their own master.
Shen Tang: "???"
Yun Ce said, "It is a will left by my master."
However, this suicide note was not prepared in advance.
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I saw in the backend that it was updated to version 13.5 this month, and something feels off.
PS: I'm asking for a minimum monthly vote, and I'll try to reach 15 votes this month.
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