A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace Chapter 1145: So What If It’s Me?

Hai Tang no longer concealed her identity and readily confessed.

"What if it was me?!"

"But... how did you figure it out?!"

Hai Tang had been quite confident in her mastery of disguise.

Even that scoundrel Hai Xiangjin hadn't seen through it, so how could Hai Situ?!

Hai Situ suddenly erupted into laughter.

"It wasn't difficult at all!"

"Since you're about to meet your end, I'll enlighten you!"

"Your disguise was excellent, but you overlooked a fundamental truth: a woman is a woman, and a man is a man!"

"The day you injured your own arm and revealed it... I knew instantly you were a woman."

Most men possess arms that are thick, with prominent veins.

In contrast, women's arms are significantly more slender, and their skin tends to be smoother.

Thus, the distinction between male and female is immediately apparent!

Hai Tang was consumed by a wave of regret; she had been negligent!

Hai Situ let out a cold sneer.

"By blood relation, you are technically my cousin! I had no intention of causing you trouble!"

"However, your collusion with the Great Chu traitors, leading to the demise of tens of thousands of Western Xia soldiers, leaves me no choice but to eliminate you!"

"Prepare yourself for death!"

He exerted pressure on his wrist, and the great blade swept in a deadly arc towards Hai Tang's throat.

Instinctively, Hai Tang twisted and retreated.

The massive blade narrowly missed her ear, severing a lock of her dark hair.

The hairpin became dislodged, and her slightly curled, long hair cascaded through the air.

It swept past her shoulders, reaching down to her waist.

Hai Tang's sharp eyebrows knitted slightly, and a cold glint suddenly sparked within her eyes.

Within her movements, she had drawn the long sword from her waist, commencing a duel with Hai Situ.

The clang of swords and blades echoed through the air, punctuated by the neighing of battle horses as they clashed.

Smoke billowed from the ground, and sparks showered from the sky.

Hai Situ, tall and dark-skinned with sparse hair, possessed a pair of striking amber eyes.

From his youth, he had followed Prince Jin, enduring rigorous training within the military.

He was adept at various stratagems and specialized combat formations.

His disposition was characterized by suspicion, a solitary and arrogant nature, and a capacity for insidious ruthlessness.

Hai Tang, on the other hand, had been trained by General Ye Xiao, a veteran subordinate of the late King of Western Xia, whose martial prowess was once considered unparalleled.

Consequently...

The two remained locked in combat, neither able to secure a swift victory.

Hai Situ’s blade swept with expansive, imposing, and fierce motions, incredibly aggressive and dominant, rendering him formidable. His techniques shifted with exceptional dynamism.

Hai Tang’s long sword moved with refined skill, its dazzling brilliance shooting skyward like a magnificent silver serpent, seeming to cleave the very air. Her movements were agile and evasive.

It was impossible to determine how much time had elapsed.

The wound on Hai Tang's arm throbbed intensely, her strength gradually diminishing, clearly showing signs of faltering.

Hai Situ, however, fought with escalating vigor, performing with apparent ease. Each strike was lethal, driven by a resolve to annihilate Hai Tang.

Just as Hai Tang found herself cornered and her defenses weakening.

Yang Chenyi suddenly charged from the flank, brandishing a great blade and bellowing loudly.

"Western Xia scoundrel, how utterly shameless to harass a woman!"

Hai Situ's offensive faltered momentarily, after which he let out a triumphant laugh.

"Haha!"

"Princess Hai Tang of Western Xia, your accomplice has finally arrived!"

The instant he uttered these words, he redirected his blade, yanking Hai Tang's body towards him.

The great blade pinned her at the waist, while his other hand clamped tightly around her throat.

Hai Situ roared with laughter.

"Come at me with all your forces, I wish to see how highly your Great Chu values our Western Xia princess!"

Hai Tang's entire wounded arm tore open anew, blood gushing more freely. The searing pain pierced her heart, rendering her face utterly pale.

Trapped against Hai Situ's chest, she couldn't move an inch.

Gritting her teeth, she issued a warning.

"Do not approach!"

"Brother Yang, do not come any closer!"

Hai Situ emitted a sarcastic sneer.

"Calling him Brother Yang, how intimate you two are!"

"What right does such an insignificant person possess to be considered a princess of Western Xia?!"

Yang Chenyi could no longer endure the taunts, stepping forward to retort furiously.

"Shameless villain! Who is truly insignificant?!"

"Great Chu and Western Xia were once on amicable terms, maintaining peace. It is ambitious villains like you, seeking power and attempting to instigate conflict!"

"You are the one who deserves to die, not her!"

Hai Situ's face contorted with malice, projecting a fierce and menacing demeanor.

"Enough of this blather, withdraw your troops for me!"

"Or I shall end this woman's life right before your eyes!"

"Is she of such great importance to you? I will dismember her at my whim!"

His tone dripped with venom and provocation.

Yang Chenyi felt a surge of heat in his chest; this scoundrel, how utterly shameless, resorting to such despicable threats!

"If you possess the audacity to capture, you better have the courage to kill!"

Xia Tingfeng arrived swiftly with a contingent from another direction.

"Brother, don’t come any closer!"

"Brother Xia, don’t approach!"

Hai Tang and Yang Chenyi uttered these words almost simultaneously.

Hai Tang was anxious about Xia Tingfeng's safety.

Yang Chenyi, on the other hand, was concerned for Hai Tang's well-being.

What if that scoundrel made a move if someone acted rashly? What a shameless wretch!

The scene reached an impasse.

Tingfeng dismounted his horse, advancing alone, his gaze fixed intensely on Hai Situ.

"What do you intend to do?!" he challenged.

Hai Situ raised a proud eyebrow.

"I want you to fall back and clear a path!"

"Your Great Chu is truly contemptible and without honor, always resorting to dirty tricks!"

Xia Tingfeng's expression turned frigid, his voice laced with a cold, dismissive tone.

"What's despicable and underhanded about it? This is called strategic maneuvering!"

"Furthermore, if we are considered despicable and shameless, then what does that make Western Xia?!"

"Choosing to massacre a border town like this, and setting up ambushes with such a deployment!"

"If we are despicable and shameless, then you are worse than savage beasts!"

Xia Tingfeng spoke with few words, but his accusations were blunt.

Hai Situ's countenance contorted in rage, growing exceedingly menacing.

"Hahaha!" he declared.

"What good is there in saying more?!"

"If you do not retreat within the time it takes an incense stick to burn, be prepared to collect her remains!"

Xia Tingfeng and Yang Chenyi exchanged a meaningful glance.

Both found themselves somewhat hesitant!

Should they retreat? Halting the Western Xia Army in such a manner was a rare and golden opportunity, a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

But if they didn't retreat, Hai Tang's life would hang in the balance!

Trapped in this agonizing choice, neither could easily commit to a decision.

...

Xia Tingfeng surveyed the surrounding area, mentally assessing the probability of a successful rescue from Hai Situ's clutches.

Yang Chenyi also contemplated the grave situation.

Hai Situ was known for his cruelty; any slight misstep might provoke him to show no mercy whatsoever...

Thus, liberating someone from his grasp seemed nearly impossible.

And precisely at that critical juncture.

Hai Xiangjin, who had been engaged in fierce combat across various fronts, charged towards this sole escape route with his contingent.

Without a moment to assess the unfolding circumstances, his forces had already ensnared Hai Situ's rear.

This development rendered any surprise attack plan even less likely to succeed.

Hai Xiangjin appeared somewhat taken aback and perplexed by the turn of events. Hai Situ quickly apprised him of the details.

Hai Xiangjin proved to be even more ruthless than anticipated.

He narrowed his eyes, issuing a direct ultimatum.

"As long as the exit is unblocked, we will release her immediately!"