si-mexico Chapter 72, 9 Lifetimes: She Came from a Sea of Blood, Madly Debunking the Blood Sea Revenge Feast
Chapter 72, 9 Lifetimes: She Came from a Sea of Blood, Madly Debunking the Blood Sea Revenge Feast
Chapter 72 She Came from a Sea of Blood: A Madman's Blood Sea Revenge Feast
On a spring afternoon, the warm sunlight gently spilled into Luoqingci's courtyard, which was filled with the fragrance of flowers. She was dressed in an elegant plain-colored silk dress and sat quietly by the window, her slender white fingers seemingly casually turning the pages of a yellowed medical book.
A gentle breeze caressed her hair, creating a serene and beautiful scene. Anyone who didn't know her would surely think she was a pampered young lady who never left her home and only knew about romance and poetry.
Suddenly, a ghostly-like spy silently slipped into the courtyard, quickly walked to her side, leaned down slightly, and whispered a few words in her ear.
The moment the words "Shen family" entered her ears, the peaceful scene shattered like glass. Luo Qingci's hand, which was turning the pages of the book, suddenly stopped, as if she had been frozen in place.
Her originally fair and jade-like fingertips turned slightly white from excessive force. Even the precious medical book that she cherished was pitifully creased with wrinkles from her unconscious grip, just like her chaotic thoughts caused by hatred at this moment.
She took a deep breath, her chest heaving violently, trying to suppress the rage that threatened to burst from her chest. But the bloody and cruel scenes of the massacre of the Luo family back then played wildly in her mind like an uncontrollable revolving lantern.
"Shen family, you heartless bastards, you've trampled over the countless bones of my Luo family to live this life of extravagance and debauchery, do you really think you can rest easy and walk sideways in this world?"
Luo Qingci gritted her teeth, cursing silently in her heart. The cold glint in her eyes could freeze a person into an ice cube. "This dirty glory that we traded our whole family's lives for, I will make you pay back every single penny, and even double the amount!"
Meanwhile, in the most bustling and lively market in the capital, the scene was absolutely chaotic.
The old man selling candied hawthorns shouted in his hoarse voice, "Sweet and crispy candied hawthorns! They'll be gone if you don't buy them now, so don't miss out!"
The woman selling fabric wasn't to be outdone. Hands on her hips, her voice shrill enough to pierce eardrums: "New arrivals! The colors are so vibrant! Ladies, come and pick some out. I guarantee you'll become the most beautiful woman in the capital when you wear them!"
Just then, a flurry of hurried and chaotic footsteps and noise, like a gust of wind, instantly shattered the lively atmosphere of the bustling marketplace.
A group of soldiers surged towards an incredibly imposing mansion like a raging tide, looking as if they were about to demolish it at any moment.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!" The soldiers swung their thick arms and pounded on the vermilion gate with tremendous force, the sound like thunder, so loud that passersby couldn't help but cover their ears: "Open the gate! By order of the Emperor, we are here to arrest the corrupt official Shen Yaozu!"
Inside the mansion, Shen Yaozu was leisurely sitting on a carved armchair with his legs crossed, humming a tuneless little tune. He was also holding a small wooden stick in his hand, teasing the beautiful thrush in the cage. He looked as carefree as an old man, as if nothing in the world could bother him in the slightest.
Hearing the deafening banging on the door, he frowned impatiently, his fat face scrunching up, and he yelled at the top of his lungs, "Who is it? What's with the crazy behavior in broad daylight? Don't you know this is Lord Shen's residence? You're asking for trouble!"
The door was flung open with a loud crash, startling Shen Yaozu so much that he dropped the birdseed he was holding. The thrush was also startled and jumped around in its cage, fluttering about and chirping incessantly, as if it too was quite frightened by the sudden turn of events.
He looked closely and, good heavens, a group of soldiers had surrounded him like dumplings. The head constable, Zhang, had a serious expression on his face and was holding a bright yellow official document. He said loudly, "Shen Yaozu, someone has filed a formal complaint against you for accepting bribes. Come with us! Don't dawdle, or don't blame us for being impolite!"
Shen Yaozu's eyes widened, almost popping out of their sockets, his face filled with disbelief as if he had heard something unbelievable. He then flew into a rage, the veins on his neck bulging like angry little snakes.
He roared at the top of his lungs, "Have you all lost your minds? Do you know who I am? I'm a favorite of the Prime Minister. Even the Prime Minister has to give me some face. If you dare to touch me, aren't you afraid of losing your heads and your whole family suffering the consequences?"
They were acting like they were about to attack someone.
Officer Zhang sneered, his disdain practically overflowing. He slammed the official document on the table with a loud "bang," making the teacups on the table jump.
Tea was spilled all over the table: "The evidence is conclusive, come with me! Don't cause trouble here, or your punishment will be doubled!"
Shen Yaozu stared at the official document, his legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to the ground like a lump of mud, muttering incessantly, "This is impossible, someone must have framed me, some blind fool must be jealous of me and deliberately messing with me..."
He looked like a plucked rooster, all his former majesty gone, leaving him only in a sorry state.
All of this was part of Luo Qingci's meticulous plan. At this moment, she was sitting in a teahouse opposite the market, dressed in men's clothing, wearing a jade crown, holding a folding fan, leisurely sipping tea, and watching this good show through the window.
A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips as he muttered to himself, "Shen Yaozu, this is just an appetizer. You'll get what's coming to you. Enjoy it."
His tone was like that of a strategist who watched his enemy walk step by step into the trap he had set, completely unaware of it.
In another luxurious mansion in the capital, Shen Yunyao was lounging on a chaise lounge, acting like an extremely pampered young lady, bossing her maids around to massage her legs and fan her, all the while complaining incessantly.
Her voice was high-pitched and thin, like a chattering sparrow: "Are you doing this on purpose? You're fanning so slowly, are you trying to make me die of heat so you can take the blame? Haven't you eaten? Put some effort into it! Also, bring me that box of rouge from the Western Regions. I need to dress up nicely; I'm going to the Minister's wife's flower-viewing banquet later! If I'm late and ruin my chance to shine, none of you will get away with it!"
Her domineering manner made it seem as if the whole world revolved around her, and that she was the center of the world.
Just then, a series of hurried, chaotic footsteps came like a gust of wind, and Wang Er led a group of ruffians in like bandits descending the mountain. Shen Yunyao was so frightened that her face turned pale, and she sat up abruptly, dropping the handkerchief in her hand to the ground.
Her eyes widened, and she screamed, "Who are you? How dare you trespass into my house? Are you tired of living? Do you know who I am? I am the eldest daughter of the Shen family, and my husband's family is also a prominent family. Get out of here right now, or you'll regret it!"
As she shouted, she frantically tidied her hair, trying to project the dignity of a young mistress, but her trembling hands betrayed her inner panic.
Wang Er walked up with a smirk, his thuggish appearance infuriating. He had a blade of grass dangling from his mouth and said brazenly, "Madam Shen, your husband owes us a huge gambling debt, and now he's vanished without a trace. You have to pay it back, right? Or we'll take you as collateral! We brothers aren't afraid of your Shen or Li family. Paying back debts is a matter of course!"
Shen Yunyao was both shocked and furious. Her face turned bright red, like a ripe tomato, and she looked like she was about to explode: "You're talking nonsense! How could my husband gamble? Someone must have instructed you to do it. Get out of here right now! If you don't leave, I'll have you all arrested!"
As she cursed, she reached for a vase next to her, as if to smash it, but the vase trembled in her hand, just like her flustered state of mind.
Wang Er, however, was not afraid at all. He said with a smile, "Madam Shen, please don't get agitated. Why don't you take a look at this first?"
As he spoke, he pulled out a crumpled IOU from his pocket and waved it in front of Shen Yunyao. The IOU was like a death warrant. Shen Yunyao looked at the IOU and her face turned pale instantly. Her body began to tremble uncontrollably, as if her spine had been removed and she had lost all her energy.
All of this was naturally Luo Qingci's doing. Through the secret chamber, she spent a lot of money to bribe the cronies around Shen Yunyao's husband, setting a trap to make him addicted to gambling, and deliberately leaking the news that the Shen family was wealthy to Wang Er.
Seeing Shen Yunyao's panicked state, Luo Qingci laughed so hard in the shadows that her shoulders shook uncontrollably: "Shen Yunyao, when you harmed my Luo family back then, did you ever think that this day would come? This is called karma, what goes around comes around, it's time for you to pay your debts! If you knew this would happen, why did you do it in the first place, hahaha!"
The laughter was filled with the joy of revenge, as if it were releasing years of resentment along with the laughter.
After Shen Yaozu was imprisoned, he cursed and swore all day long, his voice so loud that his roars echoed throughout the entire cell: "You dogs, when I get out, I'll skin you alive! I'll make you know what happens when you offend me! You all just wait, when I get out, I'll make sure your whole family never has a moment's peace!"
That day, Luo Qingci disguised herself as a prison doctor, carrying a medicine box, and walked steadily into the cell.
Shen Yaozu was sitting in the corner, disheveled and looking like a beggar who had crawled out of a garbage dump. His hair was a mess, and there were streaks of black ash on his face.
Seeing someone come in, he impatiently yelled, "What are you doing here? I'm not sick, don't bother me! Get out of here, or I'll beat you up!"
Luo Qingci spoke coldly: "Shen Yaozu, long time no see."
Upon hearing the voice, Shen Yaozu abruptly raised his head. After recognizing the person, the anger on his face instantly turned into terror.
His eyes widened like saucers, and he stammered, "You... how could you be here? Weren't you dead? This must be a dream, I'm dreaming... I must have been confused from being locked up these past few days, and I'm hallucinating."
As he spoke, he subconsciously shrank back, pressing his body tightly against the wall, as if the celadon porcelain was some kind of monstrous flood that could devour him in an instant.
Luo Qingci removed her disguise, revealing a bright yet ruthless face, like a demon in the dark, her aura overwhelming: "How could I die? I want to see you pay the price for what you did back then. Going to the eighteenth level of hell would be too good for you! I remember every single evil deed you committed, one by one. Today is the day you pay your debts!"
Shen Yaozu was so frightened that he backed away repeatedly, crashing into the wall with a "bang" like a startled rabbit. "Cousin, I... I was forced into it. The Prime Minister threatened me, saying that if I didn't do this, he would kill my whole family. I had no choice... I was just trying to protect my family, so I acted impulsively. Please forgive me this time."
He cried as he tried to grab Luo Qingci's sleeve, but Luo Qingci kicked him away in disgust. "Forced? You betrayed your family for wealth and glory, and you still have the nerve to argue! Save your excuses for the King of Hell! Do you think you can wash away your sins by saying you were forced?"
Shen Yaozu knelt down with a thud, begging for mercy with snot and tears streaming down his face. He cried so pitifully, "Cousin, I was wrong. Please forgive me. I'll be your slave from now on. I'll do anything for you... I'm willing to return all the money I've embezzled over the years. Please spare my life."
Luo Qingci looked at him, her eyes devoid of any pity, only filled with endless coldness, like ice that would never melt: "It's too late. From the moment you betrayed the Luo family, there was no turning back! You should just stay here and repent properly. This is all your own doing!"
After saying that, she turned and left. Her resolute back seemed to tell Shen Yaozu that his fate was sealed and no one could change it, just like a prisoner sentenced to death who could only wait for the judgment of fate.
After dealing with Shen Yaozu, Luo Qingci turned her attention to her aunt. Upon learning that her son had been arrested and her daughter's family was in dire straits, her aunt was frantic, pacing around the house, constantly muttering, "What can we do? What can we do... God, how could you be so cruel? Please save my children!"
She went around asking people to plead for her, but those who used to fawn over her like lapdogs now avoided her like the plague, refusing to answer her calls or open her doors. When she went to visit them, they simply had their people turn her away.
That day, Luo Qingci came to her aunt's house. When her aunt saw her, she was stunned at first, her eyes widened, and then she rushed over as if she had grabbed a lifeline, grabbing Luo Qingci's arms tightly with both hands.
Her fingernails were almost digging into her flesh, as if letting go would mean losing her last hope: "Qingci, you've finally come! Please save your cousin and cousin! They've been wronged, someone must have framed them... Please save them for the sake of our family, or our whole family will be doomed."
Her tone made it sound as if she were the victim, with an innocent expression, as if she had completely forgotten the evil deeds she had committed back then.
Luo Qingci looked at her aunt with mockery in her eyes, as if looking at a ridiculous clown, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.
He drew a cold line: "Innocent? When you betrayed the Luo family back then, did you ever think we were innocent? For your own wealth and glory, you pushed our whole family into the abyss, and now you want me to save you? Have you lost your conscience? When you climbed up by stepping on our blood, did you never think of this day?"
Aunt's face turned deathly pale, like a blank sheet of paper. She still wanted to argue, but before she could speak, Luo Qingci interrupted her.
He said domineeringly, "From today onwards, your Shen family will lose everything. This is what you deserve. This is called karma! Enjoy all of this. This is the bitter fruit you sowed. Now it's your turn to reap what you sow!"
After saying that, Luo Qingci turned and left, leaving her aunt slumped on the ground, crying loudly.
The cries echoed in the empty room, sounding particularly desolate, like a lament for the decline of the Shen family, or a satire of their past misdeeds.
After these blows, the Shen family was completely ruined. Shen Yaozu was dismissed from his post, investigated, and exiled to the frontier.
Shen Yunyao was abandoned by her husband and left to wander the streets. Her former glory was gone, and she could only beg for a living in the streets and alleys. The once pampered young mistress was now dressed in rags and covered in dust.
Her aunt also fell ill and never recovered, spending her days in tears and regretting her past actions, but it was all too late. Seeing the once glorious Shen family now in such a state of decline, Luo Qingci's hatred finally subsided somewhat.
But she knew this was just another stage on her path to revenge. Standing on the city wall, overlooking the entire capital, her eyes were firm and sharp, like the brightest star in the night sky.
It's as if he can see through all the darkness and evil in this world: "Anyone who hurts someone I care about will pay a terrible price. No one in this world can escape my grasp! Who will be next?"
Her eyes held a chilling ruthlessness, as if telling everyone that her path of revenge was far from over, and that those with ill intentions would be reduced to ashes in her rage, while she would become the most awe-inspiring being in the world.