A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1125: Total Betrayal

The chilling sound of the singer's cries gradually softened, the flow of blood beginning to ebb. Yet, the potent scent of it, rather than calming, ignited a savage instinct within Hai Geli, a primal urge for further bloodshed.

His gaze turned a fierce red, his sanity unraveling with each passing moment. His movements became wild, uninhibited, a dance of pure madness. He felt an overwhelming compulsion to end the singer's life with his own hands!

Yes, to end it! To make them perish!

He harbored a deep-seated hatred for every soul within the Chu Dynasty. They had reveled in stolen glory, occupying fertile lands and enjoying prosperity for generations. Their time was up; it was time for his own ascendancy.

No one knew how much time slipped by in that blood-soaked haze.

The singer's strained breaths finally ceased altogether.

The crimson pool beneath continued its descent, a dark testament to the deed.

Hai Geli lowered his formidable spear, a satisfied lick tracing the corner of his lips. He discovered a perverse pleasure in this act – a perfect fusion of self-gratification and brutal elimination. Two birds, one stone.

In the ensuing days.

A different singer was brought to his chambers each dawn. Upon his initial conquest of the city, he had commanded all the comeliest women be confined to a grand courtyard.

Now, that courtyard saw a steady decline in its inhabitants.

One by one, they were taken, and none ever returned.

The guards offered a flimsy excuse of relocation.

But the truth was known to all.

That 'other place' was no earthly destination, but the desolate depths of hell itself!

Then, one fateful day.

The remaining singers, their spirits worn thin by the gnawing dread of the unknown, could endure no more. They were acutely aware that the city's tormentor was the deranged Hai Geli.

Their families, their protectors, their beloved young lord, the benevolent Great Shopkeeper – all had fallen.

Their songs were silenced, their service ended, their comfortable lives shattered.

If this was to be their end, they resolved to meet it with dignity!

Yet, their demise would not be in vain!

Though these frail women could not defend their nation on the battlefield, they could still ensure their tormentor paid a heavy price!

With this grim resolve, they hatched a daring and desperate plan.

"Collective retribution!"

Who dared to say that songstresses knew nothing of a nation's plight? Even courtesans possessed a spirit of defiance!

This was their pact.

They poured their remaining moments into crafting a new song and dance, a final, poignant performance.

Furthermore, they used precious silver to dispatch a messenger to Hai Geli, conveying a delicate proposition: their remaining sisters were ready to offer their service in this new piece, should he desire it.

Gleeful at this unexpected offer, Hai Geli readily agreed, even gifting them exquisite stage costumes.

A wave of bittersweet emotion washed over the women as they held the vibrant silks.

This was to be their final act upon the stage of life.

But it mattered little.

In sixteen years, they would be reborn as celebrated courtesans, or rather, they would transcend that status entirely. They envisioned themselves as cherished daughters of noble families.

No more forced smiles, no more enduring the sting of the madam's lash, no more entertaining unwelcome guests.

Instead, they dreamt of loving parents, protective brothers, finding a devoted husband, and living a lifetime of blissful harmony.

What a glorious future!

The women chuckled merrily, their faces alight with anticipation as they adorned themselves and applied their makeup.

"When that time comes, I'll certainly seek out the most handsome man, one brimming with courage and intellect, with a noble profile..."

"Oh, aren't you embarrassed, fantasizing about such a perfect match!" another teased.

"What? You don't desire a handsome husband?"

The woman smiled charmingly, shaking her head before replying with quiet pride.

"To deny wanting one would be a lie, but true beauty lies not just in the shell, but in a deep, compatible soul!"

"What I truly want is someone who is kind to me, someone who will shield me from fear and hardship, from the constant struggle, from the crushing weight of helplessness..."

Their shared laughter mingled with their hopeful words.

One woman, blessed with exceptional beauty, remained unusually quiet, prompting curiosity among her companions.

"Lianlian, why the silence? What kind of person do you long for?"

Lianlian, the least experienced and educated among them, hailed from a desperately poor family. Sold into trafficking, she had passed through many hands before arriving at her current life as a singer.

Fortunately, her striking looks, coupled with a gentle and kind disposition, had earned her the affection of her fellow singers. They guided her, and in time, she learned the arts of song and music to earn her living.

Now...

Lianlian's face, round and full of innocence, beamed with a yearning smile.

"I wish to marry someone who can read!"

She had harbored a lifelong desire to read and write, a dream stifled by her family's poverty. Her brothers couldn't even afford schooling, let alone herself.

"I'll find a literate husband, and we'll have many children!"

"My husband will teach them to read and write, and each child will gain knowledge without costing a single coin!"

Hearing Lianlian's simple yet heartfelt wish.

Her companions, for once, did not tease her, a departure from their usual playful banter.

Instead, their eyes filled with tears, their noses souring.

"We will, Lianlian, we definitely will!"

"We’ve done good deeds in this life, heaven will open its eyes, in the next life we’ll all be young ladies!"

"We’ll never sell smiles again!"

"Yes, yes!"

They cried, holding each other for a while, then tidied up their appearances.

They each took sharp hairpins and ornaments, placing them in their hair.

"Those bastards, they killed so many of us! At least one will prick them with this hairpin!"

"Hmph! They dream of us serving them!"

After cursing for a while, they finished tidying up.

They wore the most exquisite makeup, the most gorgeous silk clothes.

They boarded the carriage that came to fetch them and left without looking back.

As expected, once they entered the Liu Shouwei Residence where Hai Geli temporarily stayed, they never came out again.

...

It is said that night, the Liu Residence was extremely noisy.

It is said that Hai Geli, the Great General, was injured.

It is said a deputy general was also stabbed blind in one eye.

They said...

This time it wasn’t just rumors, this time it was true.

The next day, outside the Liu Shouwei Residence were several women’s bodies.

Their bodies were naked, bloody and mutilated, full of whip scars and knife wounds, their death extremely horrific.

They hung upside down on a crooked tree, watched, cursed, and insulted by anyone.

Hai Geli, still feeling unsatisfied, called for wild dogs to be stationed around.

Wild dogs were not fed, they fed on blood and flesh, they gnawed bone...

In any case...

These young women, with their frail bodies, defended their last dignity.

No one laughed, no one insulted them.

Days later, with Hai Geli’s injury healed and his anger dispelled, he was busy fighting battles.

This matter was forgotten.

No one knew who retrieved these women’s remains, carefully dressed them, and buried them in a protected location.

In the end, it was a good ending.

Their lively wishes surely will come true!

Before revenge and hatred, what does rank matter?

They came from humble origins, but they were not lowborn.

Some were born well, filled with a belly of books, full of knowledge, yet despicably reviled by all.

This person was... Liu Shouwei.

Liu Shouwei, to save his life, completely betrayed.

He served as Captain here for most of his life, familiar with every terrain, each blade of grass and tree.

Even if watching his homeland destroyed and people killed.

He could never do anything with courage.