Chapter 2, Wu's demise

Thank you, Your Majesty

The palace of the King of Wu is brightly lit, yet it has changed hands. The former master, the King of Wu, is now a true recluse, with no guards or soldiers to protect him

He could not bear to see the pain and anger on my face, gazing towards the flower garden, "By killing King Wu, you can alleviate the twelve years of humiliation and resentment, but more importantly, you must let King Qin know how much you hate King Wu, that you have not a shred of willingness towards him, only hatred!"

I smiled gently and asked, "Hao'er, do you like them?"

"I hate them," Hao'er said, pursing her lips as she turned to look at them, her clear eyes revealing a deep-seated resentment. I have always advised her not to express her thoughts in front of anyone. Those who bully us, no matter how much we hate them, we must respond with a pleasant demeanor and a smile.

Chuno donned a white robe, his sleeves fluttering as he walked, exuding an air of elegance and vitality, with the hint of melancholy between his brows long vanished. Upon closer inspection today, he truly resembled a dashing young nobleman

As a man, being a hostage in the State of Wu is indeed disgraceful, and as a weak and helpless woman, being a hostage in a foreign land, you must endure more humiliation and suffering than a man. These humiliations and sufferings will accompany you for a lifetime, never to be erased

"Escape? Do you think escaping is that easy? Do you think I am someone who fears death?" King Wu shouted angrily, gripping my collar, "If I am to die, I will take you down with me."

"My dear, over the years, although I have not treated you with the affection of a husband, I have shown you kindness. In your heart, who has treated you better, I or King Qin?"

"You must not have thought about it," he laughed self-deprecatingly

Meng Tianyu held great respect for Hao'er and treated me with due courtesy as well. After the bloodbath in the royal palace, it was already the hour of the rat, and he arranged for one hundred soldiers to ensure the safety of my mother and me. That night, I slept soundly in the hostage residence and did not rise until the sun was high in the sky the next day.

It is truly laughable that such shameless words can be uttered.

He said, "In order to avoid being insulted by the enemy army, the queen drank poison and died; such loyalty and integrity, she died well! She died well!"

I was shocked by his poignant words, horrified by the emotions he intentionally revealed, momentarily at a loss for words, "I cannot answer you; in fact, I really have not thought about it."

King Wu laughed eerily, his fingers slowly rubbing against my cheek, "I still want to torment you well; if you wish to die, it won't be that easy."

"Wretched person!" King Wu was furious, his eyes filled with malice, "I had no idea you possessed such audacity and such means."

Is Hao'er's archery skills becoming rusty? I asked

Chuno's gaze was different, gradually warming like sunlight, "Really?"

He smiled gently, "What I am thinking, you always seem to guess. However, it is merely a thought."

Hao'er looked up at me and asked, "Mother, are they all going to be shot dead?"

Hao'er ran a few steps, then turned back, saying, "A child cannot abandon their mother"

I do not wish to say much, remaining silent. In fact, I am also uncertain whether to return to Qin or to disappear altogether

I smile and do not express a definitive opinion

King Wu was filled with fear and trepidation, standing rigidly with a flickering gaze, unable to believe that I would fight with all my might.

Chunuo fixed his gaze upon me, the golden sunlight dancing in his eyes, "What about you? Have you ever thought about it?"

Lifelong humiliation

"Oh? Is there anything that this humble one does not know? Please, do tell." He squatted down and once again grasped my chin, "Speak!"

"What the king does not know is countless." I spat out the blood from my mouth and glared at him with a sidelong glance

"If Your Majesty wishes to kill me, please do so quickly; otherwise, it won't be long before the Qin general arrives at the main hall. At that time, it will not be easy for Your Majesty to take action." I provoked him, hoping to alleviate his hatred towards me.

The water flows gently, flowers flutter and fall, in a riot of colors.

Why has the coalition of the Three Kingdoms not yet arrived at the main hall? Do the Qin generals not wish to find me and Hao'er sooner? What has become of Chu Nuo? Is he surrounded by the guards, and has he managed to break through? And what of Prince Zhao Chang of the Zhao Kingdom, where is he now?

I suddenly said, "Does Your Majesty truly find it hard to part with me?"

He saw through my thoughts, Chuno, truly impressive

Chu Nuo turned to look at me and said, "I was just thinking, going back may not be as glorious as we imagine; what awaits us may not be what we expect"

King Wu suddenly raised his head and looked towards his subjects. He saw me, and his lifeless gaze seemed to gain a hint of vitality as it drifted over. I met his gaze, my eyes devoid of any emotion. Before long, it appeared that he could not withstand such a stare, unable to bear my sunlight-like, domineering gaze, and he lowered his eyes, bowing his once invincible and haughty head.

Duke Wu of Wen stared wide-eyed in terror, while King Wu fixed his gaze upon me, his eyes burning with hatred. His lips moved, yet he could not utter a single word.

The two attendants guarding Hao'er rushed over in shock, "Unbridled! Quickly release His Majesty."

I advised, "It is of no use to overthink; it is better to be a bit more carefree."

The sounds of battle ceased, and the clamor of slaughter gradually faded away, as if the carnage that had lasted for several hours had never occurred

He lowered his voice and said, "If I arrange everything perfectly, without any mistakes, would you be willing to join me in hiding away and living a simple life?"

"Today, as we part, I do not know when we will meet again." He sighed softly, feeling quite emotional.

The atmosphere was charged with hostility, and his expression grew increasingly cold. I did not wish to provoke him further, so I slowly said: "This needle is a silver needle used for diagnosing and treating injuries; it can save a life or take one."

Chuno cannot hide his disappointment, the smiles that once blew like the wind have turned into today's sorrow, "I understand."

King Wu grasped my chin and said, "Even so, I am still a king of a fallen nation. How can I face my ancestors of the Wu dynasty?"

I pulled Hao'er to stand before Meng Tianyu and asked him to grant me a request. He pondered for a moment and agreed

The empty square was filled with a sea of people, bustling and crowded, as the citizens of the city gathered to witness the scene of their nation's monarch and royal family being killed. Some were filled with anger and sorrow, others remained indifferent, and still others whispered among themselves. Under the guns and spears of the strong army, the common people could only seek to protect themselves.

How could I not think this way! If there were such an opportunity, I would certainly take Hao'er far away from disputes, seeking seclusion from the world. But would King Qin let me go? Would he allow my offspring to be left to wander outside?

He did not respond, seemingly lost in thought, his expression one of solitude

I neither agree nor disagree, he suddenly recalled something, "Over the years, why have you ... ... "

Since His Majesty remains safe and sound, we can immediately disguise ourselves and escape

The city has fallen, the envoy has been slain, the allied forces have stormed the palace. He is aware that he is trapped in a desperate situation, with no room for struggle. All he can feel is despair, and the only object upon which he can vent his hatred is me, for apart from me, there is no one weaker than him. At this moment, King Wu is filled with resentment, gloom, and indignation, yet he suffers from a lack of outlets for his emotions. Having caught hold of me, it is only natural for him to torment me mercilessly.

I let out a cold snort, "Your Majesty, do you still have time to listen to me? Very well, since Your Majesty has such refined interests, I shall speak for your listening pleasure"

The child secretly practices archery every day, without neglecting it

The long night is endless, and all is silent.

At the threshold of the grand hall stood the distinguished General Meng Tianyu of the Qin State, renowned for his remarkable achievements, with the valiant soldiers of the Qin State behind him

"If you don't go back to your country, where else can you go? You, with such a heavy heart, why bother?"

"Mother, that is the King," Hao'er pointed to the person in the center, then gestured to another side, "and that is the Marquis"

I seized the opportunity to escape his control and rushed towards the main hall's entrance, only to be momentarily stunned, followed by a surge of joy.

To be so indifferent to the death of one's first wife, is such a husband truly worthy of lifelong trust

I understand his thoughts and feelings. Being a hostage in a foreign land, he endures great humiliation, and the ridicule from his own country is not significantly less. There are always some busybodies who deliberately expose our wounds, causing us deep pain.

With my fingers gripping a silver needle, I swiftly thrust it towards his neck. My voice was icy cold, "As long as Your Majesty makes a move, I will stab down. This point is a vital acupoint; with one needle, Your Majesty will meet your end in the underworld."

Thus, three days having passed, Meng Tianyu decided to lead his troops back to the court the day after tomorrow

That was the King of Wu, dressed in black, his clothes torn, his hair disheveled, and his face ashen.

I have turned over numerous thoughts in my mind; I can no longer wait. If King Qin has no intention of taking me back, then the Qin general will abandon both me and Hao'er, and our lives will be in jeopardy

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

"How is it? Does it hurt a lot? Please, my lord." He said wickedly, applying even more force.

Although I have my suspicions, I do not dare to make rash assertions

I take a wild guess, "Do you wish to escape the world?"

Both being hostages in the State of Wu, sharing the same circumstances and similar sentiments, he and I cherished each other deeply. I have always regarded him as a brother, yet he harbored different intentions. Perhaps it is precisely because of our many similarities that he felt such deep affection for me under the confined heavens of Wu.

With a sudden inspiration, I asked: "Does Your Majesty not wish to know how the Queen is at present?"

I know what he wants to say, he said: "Bitch! Bitch! Bitch!"

I hurriedly groomed myself and brought Hao'er to the palace gate

I did not know how to comfort him, and I blurted out: "After you return to your country, the King of Chu will surely arrange a suitable noblewoman for your marriage."

I chuckle coldly in my heart, appearing nonchalant on the surface. "Twelve years have passed, and the visage of King Qin has long since faded, yet the humiliation bestowed upon me by His Majesty is something I shall never forget."

The loyal subjects of Wu knelt down in unison, mourning the passing of King Wu, lamenting the annihilation of the Wu royal family, and expressing their sorrow over the division of Wu among the Three Kingdoms, the fragmentation of the territory, and the loss of their homeland.

The dim candlelight flickered on his face, intensifying his hostility

Wu Mie, for us, is a great relief. Circumstances differ, identities differ, and naturally, the state of mind differs.

The Hall of Supreme Harmony is vast and desolate, with only the flickering of candles illuminating the space.

I gently touch his head, remaining silent

The king has not neglected state affairs; he simply did not anticipate that the three states of Qin, Zhao, and Chu would unite to attack Wu

This is the most comfortable and relaxing night in twelve years

I shouted, "Hao'er, run quickly!"

The sun shines brightly in the clear sky

On the night of the fall of Jianye City, the coalition forces of the Three Kingdoms stationed at the royal palace, capturing more than twenty members of the royal family and over ten court officials

Hao'er, standing beside Meng Tianyu, smiled at me

Hao'er was bound to a vermilion pillar, guarded by two loyal attendants. The King of Wu used Hao'er as leverage, warning that any slight movement on my part would result in the dagger in the attendant's hand being plunged into Hao'er's chest

Please go ahead and tell me.

I pushed through the crowd and arrived at the front, fixing my gaze on one person

I do not want Hao'er to suffer; I would rather endure the suffering myself than let him, at such a young age, be homeless and go without proper meals.

I know what he wants to ask, I understand the principles of medicine, and naturally, I could use medical knowledge to harm others, even completely escape from the Proton Mansion and flee from Jianye. Yet, I obediently remain in the Kingdom of Wu, enduring the humiliation he imposes and the ridicule from the world. Why? Perhaps Hao'er and I could escape from Wu, but the King of Wu would send people to hunt us down, and the State of Qin would also send people to search for us. No matter whether we flee to the north or the southwest, Hao'er would have to follow me in a life of hardship.

I want him to grow, and even more, I want him to understand that a man can be both flexible and resilient. When it is time to stand tall, he must do so in the most ruthless and striking manner, so that the world knows he is a man of great stature.

He exerted more strength with his hands in excitement, causing me to grimace in pain

Meng Tianyu handed us two sets of bows and arrows. As we stood three paces in front of King Wu and Marquis Wu Wen, the gathered citizens began to whisper among themselves, their voices growing louder, denouncing us for our ingratitude and angrily accusing us of repaying kindness with enmity. The people believed that we, mother and son, had been hostages in the State of Wu for twelve years, and that King Wu and the royal family had treated us so well, yet we were actually going to shoot them ourselves. What else could this be but repaying kindness with enmity?

However, I pay no heed; I wish to bid farewell to the unbearable humiliation of the past twelve years in this manner. I want Hao'er to know that all the humiliation and the burden of enduring it are not without recompense. There will come a day when he can take the lives of those who regard us as dogs and slaves, demanding that they repay with their blood

I did not want to disturb him, so I remained silent. After a while, he finally came to his senses and began to talk about various events in the city. Unintentionally, he mentioned the shooting that took place under the blazing sun that day, and I could no longer smile. "Others may not know the reason, but do you not know it either?"

I tightly held onto King Wu and anxiously instructed, "Quickly go find Uncle Chu, or seek out the general of the Qin state"

The leader of the guards reported that the remnants of the royal family led by King Wu had been brought to the vast open space in front of the main gate of the palace, where the coalition forces intended to execute the members of the Wu royal family one by one, in order to intimidate the people of Wu.

Indeed, a lifetime of humiliation has made me the laughingstock of the world, a stain in the annals of history. I am a courtesan, I am the worn-out shoe that has endured twelve years of abuse; even if I were to return to the State of Qin, the King of Qin would cast me aside like a tattered shoe

"Mei Xi, upon returning to the country one day, I do not know how the people of the nation view us. Have you ever thought about it?"

The three kingdoms agreed to equally divide the cities outside of Jianye; the governance of Jianye City will rotate among the three kingdoms, with each term lasting three years, starting with the State of Chu

Very good

Upon hearing this, King Wu was taken aback, "If you are unwilling to part, what, are you willing to accompany me to the underworld?"

Given the circumstances, why must the king persist? I spoke slowly, fully aware that he had lost all composure at this moment, much like a wild beast trapped for too long, frantically pursuing its prey, even if it meant perishing alongside it.

Hao'er hesitated repeatedly, but ultimately gritted her teeth and rushed out of the main hall to seek reinforcements. I immediately felt a sense of relief, but unexpectedly, King Wu struck me with a heavy palm, knocking me down to the ground. A metallic sweetness surged in my mouth, and blood oozed from the corner of my lips

"Do you still wish to stay under the eaves of Wu?" I smiled with a hint of narrow-mindedness

That night in the palace, he risked his life to come and save me, which must have originated from this.

He helped me up, and his dead gray eyes revealed a terrifying ruthlessness. "Since it is so, you shall accompany me to the underworld."

Lifelong humiliation

King Wu's expression was one of astonishment, filled with a deep sense of pity, "In fact, you are also quite pitiable"

I felt a wave of nausea, contemplating how to rid myself of this delirious king of a fallen nation. Suddenly, I heard the sound of arrows whistling through the air. The King of Wu also sensed the imminent threat and turned to look, just as an arrow whizzed by and pierced his right arm

He seems to want to devour me entirely, "Do you know how to administer injections? Do you understand medical principles?"

The reason for my country's downfall is entirely due to you. The beautiful courtesan, indeed a beautiful courtesan! The King of Wu sighed deeply, not without regret, saying, "The King of Qin is truly remarkable, using a beautiful courtesan who carries the prince as a hostage to confuse me, leading me to be ensnared in a world of indulgence, neglecting state affairs, and thus remaining oblivious to the growing strength of your three kingdoms.

On this day, Chu Nuo paid a visit

The allied forces besieged the city without indiscriminately killing the innocent. Subsequently, they imposed regulations on the people of Wu to prevent riots or the emergence of rebel forces, and to further prevent the royal heirs from rallying the populace for a counterattack

Hao Er's arrow struck the chest of Duke Wu Wen, while my arrow pierced the heart of King Wu. Their gazes gradually fell, and ultimately, they breathed their last.

So, he has harbored such feelings for me; when did this begin? I was completely unaware.

As the hour arrived, the archers were all prepared. I whispered in Hao'er’s ear, and he was filled with joy.

More than twenty individuals were suspended by ropes, disheveled in appearance, covered in dust and dirt, and appeared as if in a daze

There is." I said softly

I candidly told him, "Your Majesty, the principles of medicine are not like swordsmanship that can preserve life. I only wish for Hao'er to grow up safely, that is all."

More than twenty arrows flew out simultaneously, piercing their chests