Chapter 1, Palace Assassination

From this day forth, you shall be my woman, Zhao Mu. One day, I will make you my wife, without the need to bear any other identity, nor to endure the slander, ridicule, and contempt of the world.

Hao'er was stunned by the bloody severed arm he had just seen, and seeing this, I grabbed him and ran desperately...

The queen bent down and smiled at Hao'er, saying: "Since Ying Hao is so brave, I shall fulfill this small act of filial piety for you"

In March of this year, the three kingdoms united, each deploying an army of 100,000, launching an offensive against the Kingdom of Wu from three fronts. The King of Wu boasted of his strong nation and the absence of weak soldiers, yet he did not anticipate that Qin, Chu, and Zhao, after years of recuperation, had already regained their strength. This time, the three-pronged assault was determined to succeed.

"If you move again, I will stab it in!" As my words fell, they struck like a sharp blade. "Your Majesty, do not doubt, this is a vital point on the human body; a single needle, and it is as if an arrow has pierced through the chest."

The night was thickly dyed, and I knew that the battle within the palace had reached a fevered state. The flames consumed much of the night sky, brighter than the golden lamps in the palace, illuminating the entire royal palace as if it were daytime. Thick smoke obscured the view, resembling a black dragon leaping forth, charging towards the great hall and the sleeping quarters, frightening the children into loud cries.

"Uncle Chu is not leaving, so we will not leave either," Hao'er shouted loudly

Hao'er had never witnessed such a brutal scene, frightened to bury her face in my body, not daring to open her eyes

"Mother, why do you want to poison them?" Hao'er asked softly in my arms, her expression filled with fear

Thus, King Wu refused to surrender and ordered General Li to lead 50,000 elite troops to defend the four gates of the capital, making a desperate resistance; he commanded Marquis Wu Wen to station 10,000 guards at the four gates of the royal palace, ensuring strict defense and holding fast.

King Wu, clad in a black long robe resembling mourning attire, appeared desolate and melancholic, his gaze dark and forbidding. He stood beneath the night sky, which glowed red from the flames, with his hands clasped behind his back. The slaughter continued endlessly behind him, yet he seemed to have long since become indifferent to life and death, fixated solely on one matter. Once his wish was fulfilled, he would return with a smile.

What does the king intend to do?" With cold hands, I asked.

Even within the depths of the imperial palace, one can still faintly hear the sounds of battle and clashing weapons from the city.

At the hour of Shen, the city fell

I shall not live beyond tonight; it matters not whose hands I perish by. The queen said quietly, revealing her deep despair, "You all should leave now, flee for your lives."

The queen closed her eyes and commanded the attendants, "Take action!"

Throughout history, the fate of women in times of national ruin and family loss has been either to meet their end in the underworld or to endure the hardships of this world. Wandering through life, they merely survive, burdened by the heavy weight of national grievances and familial hatred, a weight so profound that it becomes unbearable, leading to the shattering of their souls and the extinguishing of all hope.

Her expression changed slightly, and I continued: "To take a step back, does the king permit you to do this? The sons of the State of Chu and the State of Zhao are imprisoned by the King of Wu in a mysterious place, prepared to threaten the coalition of the three kingdoms at a critical moment. If the Qin general cannot see Hao'er and me, he will certainly not be subjected to this threat. At that time, it would be a delusion for the royal family of Wu to wish to preserve even a trace of their bloodline."

I rushed towards the main gate of the palace, where both sides were engaged in a deadly struggle, each suffering casualties.

Hao'er cares for me so deeply, and my heart cannot help but feel a warmth.

The attendant closed his mouth in fear, not daring to act recklessly.

The queen rose from her seat and spoke slowly: "You are all well aware of the situation. By the king's command, I grant wine to you, my sisters, to prevent you from being captured by the allied forces and subjected to humiliation."

King Wu slightly raised his right arm, turned, and walked forward with heavy steps

The general of the Qin state will take me away from the Wu state, and the King of Qin will not abandon me, nor will he leave Hao'er behind. Although the King of Wu will not easily let me go, and may even resort to mutual destruction, I must still plan for myself and fight for my own future. If I am fortunate enough to escape from the palace of the King of Wu, then my own future will be in my own hands

Only I and Hao'er remained in the sleeping chamber. The queen fixed her cold gaze upon me, approached me, and calmly said: "Mei Xi, the king has issued a command, you should understand."

The night deepens, and the starlight dims

"Do not be afraid, mother is here," gently comforted the mother of the Queen of Wu.

They advanced step by step, and just as two guards reached out to grab me, one of them came at me with a sword

I maintained a blank expression, my left hand protecting Hao'er. "The queen is seeking personal revenge, isn't she? Hao'er is the heir of the Qin prince. If anything were to happen to us, do you think the Qin army would treat the people of Wu kindly? The queen does not wish to live in a cowardly manner, but she must also consider the lives and deaths of the citizens in the city. If the queen has no compassion whatsoever and disregards the common people, then let us take action."

King Wu approached me, lowering his voice, "How could I bear to let you return to the Qin state?"

Four guards approached, escorting us forward

Tonight, the allied forces of Qin, Chu, and Zhao have invaded Jianye, directly assaulting the royal palace, determined to annihilate Wu

Taking advantage of the queen's moment of inattention, my fingers reached into the wide sleeve, firmly grasping a silver needle. Immediately after, I pulled Hao'er behind me, while the hand holding the silver needle swiftly lunged towards the queen's neck, threatening her life

"If we do not die, they will have to endure even more cruel suffering." I touched his hand, my thoughts racing: Would the queen also take my life and that of Hao'er?

After running for a while, I turned back to look. He had intercepted all the guards, surrounded on all sides, his white clothing stained with blood, the tip of a spear piercing his left chest. Despite his injuries, he fought valiantly, drenched in blood

I felt Hao'er tugging at my clothing with a slightly trembling hand, indicating his fear; having never witnessed such a scene, it is no wonder he was frightened

Her hatred towards me must stem from the favor and affection that King Wu has shown me

The guards rushed forward, and he immediately turned to confront them, bravely engaging in combat.

It is rare for them to be wholeheartedly loyal to the queen, and it is equally rare for the queen to show such tolerance towards these servants. The queen hysterically roared, commanding them to flee for their lives. In despair, the palace attendants and courtiers left in tears, turning back with every step.

As the long spear thrust forward, he swiftly turned around, channeling his strength to parry with his sword. The sound of their clash was akin to the ringing of gold and jade, and like the cracking of ice on a frozen river. In an instant, a guard on the left lunged fiercely, sending a chill of fear through me, my palms sweating. Just as I was about to call out a warning, Hao'er had already shouted, "Uncle Chu, be careful!"

I originally thought I could find General Qin, but unexpectedly, while passing through a remote palace garden, I encountered King Wu.

Hao'er suddenly stepped forward, extending his arm to shield me, and calmly said: "I will drink first"

The sword energy swept in, and the killing intent surged forth. The guards immediately turned to confront the attack of the newcomer. The individual fought alone, wielding a sword with considerable momentum; wherever the long sword swept, flesh split open, and blood rained down. At first, the guards were fearful of his fierce sword edge, but then they discovered that although this person was brave, his swordsmanship was not particularly exquisite. Thus, they launched a collective attack.

The royal palace of King Wu, illuminated by bright lights, appears even more luxurious and resplendent. The large silk curtains hanging from the beams cast shadows, adding a chilling atmosphere at this moment. The women seated in various places are dressed neatly, quietly awaiting the attendants' announcements. Some are gently rocking their young children, some appear anxious, some have vacant expressions, and others look emaciated.

I close my eyes, unable to bear the sight of this bloody and brutal scene

King Wu convened a meeting in the grand hall with his loyal ministers to discuss strategies for resisting the enemy, while the queen gathered all the palace women in the king's chamber to prevent chaos in the palace and the escape of concubines.

The heavy palace gates are tightly shut, and the golden lamps shine brilliantly yet hauntingly.

The queen said coldly: "If you want to leave, then go ahead."

As soon as the words were spoken, all the ladies and concubines knelt down and bowed their heads, pleading with the queen for mercy

At the hour of the Dog, as night fell, the allied forces once again sent envoys to negotiate surrender, but King Wu executed the envoy. Half an hour later, the allied forces began their assault, launching a fierce attack. The thunderous sound of giant trees crashing against the gates echoed in the ears, instilling fear; the hoarse cries of battle, the sharp clash of swords, the hurried and chaotic footsteps, and the mournful wails of despair continuously resounded, creating a heart-stirring atmosphere that was impossible to ignore. The thunderous sound of giant trees crashing against the gates echoed in the ears, instilling fear; the hoarse cries of battle, the sharp clash of swords, the hurried and chaotic footsteps, and the mournful wails of despair continuously resounded, creating a heart-stirring atmosphere that was impossible to ignore

Hao'er stood beside me, tightly clutching the corner of my garment, staring fearfully at the queen

The long spear fell to the ground, and the two guards cried out in pain.

"All retreat to the inner hall," I commanded, as time was of the essence and I needed to leave this place as soon as possible

I watched the battle nervously, "No, I cannot leave."

Suddenly, a line of guards came chasing after me. I knew that it was the order of King Wu to capture me, so I hurriedly pulled Hao'er and ran away.

I scoffed, "Does Your Majesty really think you can keep me? Unless you kill me, I will fight to the death to leave the State of Wu"

"I told you to leave, so leave..." Chu Nuo shouted in exasperation

He suddenly smiled, a smile that was extremely cold, "Even if I were to kill you, I would still want to keep you by my side."

The queen was neither angry nor smiling, her expression terrifyingly calm. "You need not use any more flowery words; the king has already resolved to embrace death. What bloodline, what lives of the people, the king will not care, nor will I. I know you do not wish to die, but I am determined to see you dead!"

In the final sentence, she gritted her teeth and spoke, filled with deep-seated hatred

At this moment, I found myself in a perilous situation, and he unexpectedly came to my rescue, while I had never known that he possessed such skills

Chu Nuo swiftly drew his sword, leaning back as he thrust it towards the guard behind him, the bright red blood splattering onto his fair forehead

The corpses lay scattered on the ground, their dark purple poison blood flowing onto the earth, a sight that was strikingly vivid

Perhaps he came specifically to capture me

Although I find myself in this situation, I am filled with excitement and joy. On this day, I have finally waited for this moment.

Holding Hao'er tightly, I stepped out of the palace chamber, only to discover that the situation in the royal palace was exceptionally dire.

The Wu Kingdom's border defenses suffered heavy losses, retreating step by step. The coalition forces of the Three Kingdoms seized the opportunity to advance on Jianye with unstoppable momentum, overwhelming all in their path, causing the defenders in various cities to flee in panic. Upon hearing this, King Wu was greatly alarmed and immediately summoned his ministers to discuss countermeasures. Unfortunately, the hastily summoned generals and troops could not withstand the formidable momentum of the coalition forces. In May, the coalition forces stationed outside Jianye and sent envoys into the city to demand surrender

Hao'er shrank back behind me in fear and whispered, "Mother, does the king want to kill us?"

A chill swept over my entire body, and I glared at her coldly, "In that case, may the Queen grant me wine."

The long palace corridors, exquisite halls, opulent flower gardens, and the resplendent Wu Wang Palace, alongside broken swords and severed limbs, with corpses lying in disarray and blood flowing in winding streams, all within sight, present a scene of shocking brutality.

With my eyes brimming with heat, I resolutely flee forward

Today, the sunlight is slightly harsh, causing discomfort to the eyes, and after lunch, the heat becomes even more intense

The sounds of slaughter grew louder, echoing in the ears, seemingly endless, as a surge of overwhelming killing intent surged forth. The queen was also filled with fear, the palace attendants trembled slightly, and the hands of the courtiers began to shake. It was evident that the allied forces were about to breach the inner palace.

Behind him stood a line of guards, wielding precious daggers, their expressions stern and solemn

Suddenly, I noticed two guards approaching me, and Hao'er shouted in panic: "Uncle Chu, save us..."

These beautiful women are all concubines of King Wu. I am not a concubine of King Wu, but I am his woman. The reason I am here is that Hao'er and I are important hostages in the hands of King Wu

Perhaps Haoer was both startled and anxious, and in his panic, he accidentally tripped over a corpse. I immediately pulled him up, but the pursuing soldiers were already closing in. We fled forward without regard for anything, yet we still could not escape the pursuit of the guards

The palace maids and attendants shook their heads in unison, unwilling to leave on their own accord

The person who has arrived is none other than Prince Nuo of Chu, who, like Hao'er, is also a hostage in the State of Wu

Before my eyes, one by one, young and beautiful women drank poison and died, while some desperately struggled to escape; however, they could not evade the suppression of the attendants and their fated destiny. Even the offspring of King Wu could not escape a cup of fatal poison.

No one can escape, and resistance is futile.

I widened my eyes and met his gaze; even though his eyes were cold and eerie, I refused to back down

At this moment, I must set aside my past weakness, save my own life, save Hao'er, and take a bold gamble.

The situation reversed in the blink of an eye, before the palace maids and attendants could react, and the queen remained completely unaware. In their eyes, Mei Ji was a weak woman, powerless and subject to oppression and humiliation. The palace maids and attendants stared in shock at the scene before them, at a loss for what to do, while the queen's lips trembled, her fear evident.

I let her go, and she slowly walked towards the inner chamber, her steps unsteady, as if all the strength in her body had been drained away, leaving no trace of the will to survive.

The wicked weapon approached my shoulder, and at the critical moment, a cold light surged forth, piercing my eyes. Unable to withstand the bone-chilling cold, I squinted my eyes slightly, and in an instant, the thin blade severed the guard's arm.

The sword gleamed fiercely, and Chu Nuo exerted all his strength to protect me and Hao'er. Although he could not maneuver freely under the siege of the guards, he was still able to withstand the onslaught for a while. In the fiery red night, he weaved through the long spears, his handsome face marked by a fierce gaze filled with red veins. While fending off the guards, he shouted, "Hurry! Hurry up..."

"If you wish to save his life, then follow me," the King of Wu said in a low voice, his stern gaze fixed upon my face

Mother, I am afraid. In the stillness of the long night, a little girl whispers faintly

A servant was about to raise his voice to call for someone to protect the queen, and I coldly said: "If you dare to call for help, the queen will meet her end!"

Just as we were about to take a break for lunch, a squad of guards burst into the Proton Mansion, unceremoniously seizing Hao'er and me, and taking us into the royal palace. Later, from the words of a concubine, we learned that the coalition forces of the three kingdoms had launched a full-scale attack, breaching the city from the south, north, and east gates, and perhaps would storm into the royal palace before nightfall

The spear tip glimmered with a chilling white light, and I was greatly alarmed. I pulled Hao'er and turned to flee, but the two guards relentlessly pursued us, cornering us against a wall. The long spear swept across, and the murderous intent surged towards us, chilling me to the bone. I stood there in a daze, while Hao'er trembled uncontrollably, repeatedly calling out: "Uncle Chu, Uncle Chu..."

Chuno pushed me forward, his brows and eyes resolute as a blade, "If we don't leave now, it will be too late!"

The sounds of swords, precious blades, spears, halberds, and the clash of metal reverberated in the night sky, continuing endlessly. The entire palace seemed to be ablaze, with rampant flames everywhere, and fleeing palace servants and attendants, their expressions filled with terror.

Twelve years ago, when I first arrived in the State of Wu, he was merely thirteen years old, and he is now twenty-five. I first met him at a banquet in the palace, and as he gradually became more aware of the world, we found ourselves under the same roof in a foreign land, sharing similar sentiments and exchanging feelings. When he felt melancholic, I would comfort him with gentle words; when I was bullied by the palace ladies, he would also lend a helping hand. Thus, a friendship of gentlemen was forged between us

Several palace maids entered, each holding a lacquered table, followed by five attendants

A loud rumble shook the palace chamber, causing the bronze vanity mirror and the incense burner to tumble to the ground. The sound was muffled, startling everyone into silence as they looked around in alarm