Three Sisters in Troubled Times

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

The Northern and Southern Dynasties period, while much calmer than the Jin and Sixteen Kingdoms period, was still marked by the rivalry between the Northern Wei and Liu Song dynasties. Both claimed to be the true masters of the Central Plains and sought to annihilate the other. During the reigns of Emperor Wu and Emperor Wen

of Song, the country was engaged in prolonged warfare with the Northern Wei, leaving the Central Plains in a state of chaos. To defeat their adversary, the Song state employed military force and also dispatched numerous spies to the Wei to gather intelligence and conduct sabotage operations. These spies received special training from Song officers; while not all were exceptionally skilled, they excelled at intelligence gathering. Although the Song state was militarily inferior to the Wei state, it held an advantage in understanding the enemy's movements. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Song, the two states remained in a stalemate for many years.

Among these spies were three women, two of whom were sisters. The elder sister, Zheng Suqing, was twenty-two years old; the younger sister, Zheng Sumei, was twenty years old, in the prime of her youth, and strikingly beautiful. Originally from the north, the two sisters suffered greatly during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. Their parents and Suqing's husband were killed by invading Wei soldiers, and their one-year-old son died of starvation. Both sisters deeply resented the Northern Wei.

To escape the war, they fled south with the refugee tide and encountered the Jin army stationed on the border. The Jin commander, Zheng Xiao, took in the refugees and arranged for them to enter Jin territory. Among them were Suqing and Sumei. Learning of their plight, Zheng Xiao felt compassion and, coincidentally, they shared the same surname, Zheng. He then adopted them as his goddaughters.

From then on, Suqing and Sumei studied and practiced martial arts with Zheng Xiao every day, becoming exceptionally skilled. Coincidentally, another of Zheng Xiao's goddaughters, named Fan Mei, was twenty-four years old and also very beautiful. Her father was a close friend of Zheng Xiao and also a general in the Jin Dynasty. After her father and husband died in battle, and her mother soon passed away from illness, Zheng Xiao adopted her as his daughter.

Under the influence of her two fathers, Fan Mei also became highly skilled in martial arts. After the Suqing and Suqing sisters became Zheng Xiaoyi's daughters, Fan Mei, perhaps out of shared misfortune, was overjoyed to have them join her, treating them like her own younger sisters. After the Liu Song dynasty replaced the Jin dynasty, Zheng Xiaoyi also became an officer in the Song army. Faced with the long-term incursions of the Northern Wei, the three sisters longed to fight alongside the Song army, but the Song dynasty did not allow women to serve in the military. Despite their martial arts skills, the three sisters had no opportunity to use them, causing them great frustration.

Several months later, in order to thoroughly investigate the Wei army's border situation and military movements, the Song army planned to select some people from within to organize a spy group. The three sisters quickly caught the officers' eye; firstly, they were highly skilled in martial arts, and secondly, women could more easily conceal their identities when carrying out missions. The three sisters, naturally overjoyed at the invitation, immediately agreed.

However, Zheng Xiao objected: "You'd better not go. Northern Wei is a den of tigers and wolves, not a place where women like you can risk yourselves."

Fan Mei said, "We three sisters are fortunate to have been given a second chance by our adoptive father. Although we are women, we hope to serve our country as loyally as our adoptive father. Moreover, Northern Wei and we are sworn enemies. Destroying Northern Wei is not only the wish of the nation, but also the wish of us three sisters."

The adoptive father shook his head and said, "I am deeply moved by your pure hearts, but if you fall into the hands of the enemy, the consequences are unimaginable. I cannot let you take such a risk..." At this moment, Su Qing and Su Mei knelt down and said, "We two sisters have been practicing martial arts diligently for the past few years. We will not fall into the hands of the enemy so easily. Besides, for our family members who died unjustly, we are willing to sacrifice our lives. We hope that our adoptive father will grant our request." The adoptive father could not persuade them otherwise, and his superior also greatly admired their skills, so he had no choice but to agree.

The leader of the spy group was Situ Jian, a skilled warrior who had participated in the war to conquer Yao Qin. He was responsible for the entire training of the spy group. As the war progressed, members of the spy group gradually entered Northern Wei territory and began their work.

The sisters Suqing and Sumei were in the same group, mainly responsible for gathering information on the defenses of key cities. Sometimes they disguised themselves as vegetable vendors, sometimes as ordinary women traveling, and sometimes even as beggars. With their intelligence and ability, they thoroughly investigated the customs, geography, and garrison numbers of some border towns between Song and Wei, providing the Song army with valuable intelligence. Fan Mei and several others were in a group, mainly responsible for harassing enemy lines and sabotage.

During the stalemate with the Liu Song army, Northern Wei also began to notice the spies who had infiltrated their territory and issued a search and arrest order to find and execute these spies.

Ten days later, news began to circulate of the capture and execution of members of the spy group. The members were thrown into a state of panic, even the usually quick-witted Suqing, who, during a solo operation, inadvertently gave herself away and was captured by Wei soldiers while fleeing towards Huatai. Upon receiving the news, Sumei abandoned her own mission and rushed to Huatai in the dead of night, hoping to rescue her sister.

Section Two: Execution and Public Display

. Huatai, a strategically vital location since the late Han Dynasty, was still a key military stronghold for the Northern Wei. Many members of the spy group gathered intelligence there. Meanwhile, the Wei army, led by General Tuoba Wei, was also relentlessly capturing these spies from the Southern Dynasty.

In the past month, several members of the spy group had been executed at the Huatai execution ground. It was the height of summer, and according to the custom of executions in the autumn, public executions were rare at this time of year. This series of executions of Southern Dynasty spies greatly interested the local people, and "spies" became a topic of conversation.

The day was scorching hot, and many wealthy young men sought refuge in teahouses to escape the heat. Even the hardworking commoners on the streets seemed listless, occasionally sipping water and chatting.

Around noon, a thin man burst into the street, shouting, "Another Southern Dynasty spy has been executed!" Many were already accustomed to this kind of "news," finding it uninteresting, and the heat only added to their aversion.

A few asked, "How many are they going to kill this time?"

The thin man replied, "One."

The crowd responded with disappointment, "Only one? So boring." The thin man exclaimed excitedly, "But this time it's a woman!"

"What? A woman??" The thin man's words acted like a stimulant; the previously drowsy people suddenly became wide awake, as if possessed by Lao Tzu, and rushed towards the execution ground. In an instant, the area around the execution ground was packed with people. The execution ground at Huatai was built between the inner and outer city walls, surrounded by sturdy bamboo fences. In the center of the execution ground was a small, elevated platform of about fifty or sixty square meters, designed to allow onlookers a clear view during the execution.

The first thing that caught everyone's eye was the completely naked female prisoner. Among the officials dressed in blue or black robes in the center of the execution ground, her exposed body was particularly striking. According to the rules of the Northern Wei Dynasty, both male and female prisoners were required to be naked from the waist up during execution. Female prisoners were sometimes even required to be completely naked, which further aroused the "sexual desire" of the crowd, forcing the guards to hold back the surging crowd outside the fence.

That female prisoner was none other than Zheng Suqing. That day, after her unfortunate capture, she was taken to the Huatai prison by Wei soldiers.

General Tuoba Wei happened to be there with his troops and personally interrogated Suqing. He stripped Suqing naked, tied her to the rack, and lashed her chest, abdomen, and back with a leather whip soaked in salt water, demanding she reveal the members of the spy group and information about the Song army.

With each piercing, excruciating pain, Suqing let out piercing screams, but she didn't utter a single word. Tuoba Wei grew impatient, grabbing Suqing's chin and saying viciously,

"You're quite stubborn, woman. If you don't want to die, confess now and avoid further torture." Suqing coughed up blood and said, "Kill me or torture me, it's up to you… but you want me to betray my comrades… absolutely… absolutely not."

At this moment, the clerk beside him said, "Sir, should we resort to severe torture?" Tuoba Wei paused for a moment and said, "These Southern Dynasty spies are truly remarkable. We used considerable torture on the few we captured before, but none of them betrayed their comrades. To be honest, I admire them quite a bit." The clerk nodded and said, "Yes, we used so much manpower and resources to capture just a few. It's not easy to wipe them all out in one fell swoop. So, what does Your Excellency mean..." "That's enough. There's no need to continue with torture. Tell Magistrate He that, just like last time, there's no need to issue a public notice. Tomorrow at noon, take this woman directly to the execution ground and behead her as a warning to others." This was the method Tuoba Wei had come up with. By not issuing a public notice and canceling the public parade, he could directly strengthen the security at the execution ground. This would both prevent any attempt to break the prisoner and achieve the purpose of deterrence through public execution.

Su Qing was seen kneeling in the middle of the execution ground, her hands tied behind her back, her hair tied into a bun with glue. Despite the torture she had endured the previous night and her haggard appearance, she didn't droop her head. Instead, she held it high, her brows revealing a defiant spirit.

As a woman who had given birth and practiced martial arts for many years, Suqing's body was full and sturdy. Her thick arms were bound by ropes like sections of lotus root. Her round breasts, though slightly sagging, were accentuated by her two reddish-brown, coin-sized areolas and two long, protruding nipples the size of soybeans, creating a unique and alluring appearance.

Perhaps due to the blazing sun, Suqing's skin appeared dark, dotted with pearly beads of sweat, making her particularly alluring. Clear bloodstains from the torture were visible throughout her body.

As the crowd grew, various discussions filled the area around the execution ground.

"What a young girl, looks like she's only in her early twenties, what a waste..." "Such a good woman, why did she have to become a spy? She deserves to die!" "That woman's breasts are huge, it would be amazing to sleep with her for a night." "There aren't many women executed all year round, we should kill more so we can feast our eyes." "Judging by that executioner's wicked appearance, he probably slept with that woman last night." "Of course we can't waste them, haha."

The executioner was standing behind Su Qing. He looked very young, probably only sixteen or seventeen, but his face was not good. His eyes were as small as pinholes, he had a large nose and a mouth like a hippopotamus, making him look extremely repulsive.

This executioner had only appeared on the execution ground at the beginning of the year. He also came from a family of executioners. Although he had not carried out many executions, he was very skilled. He hadn't appeared at the previous executions of Southern Dynasty spies at the Huatai execution ground, so this was probably a deliberate arrangement. Executing a naked female prisoner for the first time was a significant "coming-of-age ceremony" for the novice executioner, signifying his official transformation into a true executioner.

The executioner wore a wicked grin, his narrowed eyes fixed intently on Su Qing's naked body.

"Hey, you lucky lad,"

someone below the platform jeered. "Quickly cut off that woman's head!" "Yes! Cut it off!"

"Chop off her breasts too, for a snack!" The men outside began shouting wildly.

While the spectators around the execution ground were usually predominantly male, there was never a shortage of daring women, even when the one being executed was also female. Around the execution ground at Huatai, groups of women mingled among sweaty men, loudly discussing their naked comrades without batting an eye—truly, "women are not inferior to men."

But one woman stood silently in the crowd, observing everything unfolding on the execution ground. She was Suqing's younger sister, Sumei. Despite her days-long journey to Huatai, she was too late.

Seeing her sister on the execution ground, Sumei's heart ached. She desperately wanted to rush onto the platform, kill all the officials and executioners, and rescue her. However, the trained Sumei retained her rationality. Considering the circumstances, she knew she wouldn't be able to save her sister now; she might even lose her own life.

Sumei wasn't a coward, but she had important duties to attend to and couldn't easily sacrifice her life unless absolutely necessary. Reason and emotion battled fiercely within Su Mei, but ultimately, reason prevailed slightly. Her reason told her that she could only watch her sister's final journey… At that moment, the executioner read out Su Qing's charges, and the executioner removed the executioner's scepter from her back, preparing for the execution. Then the executioner asked, "Criminal Zheng Su Qing, do you have any requests before you die?" Su Qing slowly said, "May I… take a few more glances at this world?" The executioner nodded, then glanced around the execution ground. When Su Mei's tear-filled eyes met hers, Su Qing paused slightly, a barely perceptible smile appearing on her face. This moment, though brief, felt as if time had suddenly stopped for Su Mei.

"Did my sister sense my presence and make this request?" Su Mei wondered. Her sister's moist gaze and beautiful smile seemed to express her comfort at her younger sister's presence at her funeral. Su Mei smiled and nodded back.

After looking around, Suqing's weariness vanished instantly, and her previously pale face turned rosy. She adjusted her kneeling posture, leaning slightly forward, and said to the executioner, "Brother, it's time for your hard work." With that, she closed her eyes and offered her neck for execution.

Seeing such heroism in a seemingly frail woman, the spectators below cheered.

The executioner picked up his wine jug, took several sips, and held the last mouthful in his mouth. He then removed the red cloth from the executioner's blade and spat the wine onto it, the blade gleaming coldly in the sunlight. Watching

her sister stretch out her neck and the executioner raise his blade, Sumei felt as if an invisible hand was gripping her heart tightly, suffocating her.

"Sister, I've come to save you..." This thought suddenly flashed through Sumei's mind, the needle of emotion about to pierce the fabric of reason.

At noon, under the blazing sun, perhaps from the heat, or perhaps from tension, beads of sweat constantly appeared on Su Qing's body. Sweat dripped from her long nipples, quickly soaking the ground. The executioner glanced at the sky, then tossed the execution warrant forward.

"Execute!" The executioner, receiving the order, gripped his large, ghost-headed blade and swung it downwards. A muffled "swoosh" was heard as Su Qing's head fell, rolling once and twice on the ground until it reached the ground below the platform. Accompanied by a hissing sound, several small jets of blood shot out like arrows from Su Qing's blood-red neck.

The instant Su Qing's head was severed, Su Mei suddenly felt her vision go black, almost fainting, her entire body wracked with excruciating pain as if it were about to explode. Watching her sister's headless body violently gushing blood, she tried to hold back her sobs, but tears streamed down her face like a burst dam. At that moment, how she wished it were all just a dream…

Suqing's strong body slowly collapsed forward, her sturdy legs twitching slightly before coming to a stop. The crimson blood almost stained the execution platform. The executioner walked to the platform, bent down, and picked up Suqing's head. Perhaps excited by this first execution of a female prisoner, simply raising the head in a show of force wasn't enough; he also placed one foot on Suqing's naked corpse, his face beaming with smug satisfaction.

"Good! Good!" the audience below applauded. Perhaps due to the excruciating pain of her severed neck, Suqing's eyes and mouth were slightly open, making her appear somewhat terrifying.

After the executioner verified the head, the guards hung it on the inner city gate. The ropes were untied, and the body was carried to the side of the gate and laid out in a "T" shape, her full breasts drooping like deflated balloons. The crowd around the execution ground gradually moved to the inner city gate to admire the woman's head and the naked corpse.

At midnight, the people of Huatai City were already fast asleep. Apart from the occasional footsteps of patrols and the chirping of insects, the streets were eerily quiet. Dressed in black, Su Mei cautiously made her way from her hiding place towards the inner city gate. After evading the guards on the gate, she reached the spot where Su Qing's body lay. By the dim moonlight, Su Mei saw that her sister's limbs were almost entirely bones, and even her breasts had been gouged out—likely the work of some onlookers.

"Beast!" Su Mei cursed inwardly. Suppressing her grief, she quietly climbed onto the city gate, removed her sister's head, wrapped it in a cloth, and then disappeared without a trace.

The next morning, the officers who discovered Su Qing's missing head were terrified. Fearing punishment from their superiors, they disposed of Su Qing's body first, then lied, claiming that the convict's corpse had begun to decompose and stink due to the hot weather, and had been buried in the mass grave.

Chapter 3:

Littering by Chariot. Fan Mei, on a mission in the Guanzhong region, was devastated upon learning of her sworn sister Su Qing's execution and her hatred for the Northern Wei intensified. At this time, she and her companions were preparing to burn the enemy's supplies. The Northern Wei planned to attack Song territory from the east and west in two routes: the eastern route led by Tuoba Wei of Huatai, and the western route by Niu Jian of Chang'an. Having learned the location of Niu Jian's supplies, they decided to cut off their supply lines. Without supplies, the attack would fail, thus relieving pressure on the Song army.

Niu Jian had previously defeated the Song army many times and therefore underestimated them. Especially after learning that the Song army had transferred a large number of troops from Shu to aid the eastern front, he became even more complacent, never expecting the Song army to send someone to disrupt his plans. Just as he and a large group of generals were enjoying a grand banquet, they suddenly discovered flames rising from behind their camp. Niu Jian was immediately alarmed, directing his soldiers to fight the fire while simultaneously sending men to search the area around the camp for the arsonist.

Having completed their mission, Fan Mei and her three companions were fleeing the scene, but the Wei army reacted quickly; their search party had already spotted them and was closing in.

As Fan Mei struggled forward, a sudden, sharp pain shot through her calf, causing her to slip and fall. Looking back, she saw she had been struck by an arrow. Seeing the Wei soldiers rushing towards her, Fan Mei shouted to her companions who were about to return to her aid,

"Don't worry about me! Go back quickly and tell the army our mission is complete, quick!" Several arrows whizzed past, grazing their ears. Knowing there was no hope of saving her, her companions could only grieve and continue their retreat. To cover her companions, Fan Mei painfully deflected the arrows, then drew her sword and fought the Wei soldiers who charged at her. However, outnumbered and wounded, she was quickly defeated and captured, taken back to camp.

The fire was finally extinguished, but their supplies were almost completely destroyed, making it impossible to attack the Song army in the short term. Enraged, Niu Jian immediately executed the guards and ordered the captured Song spies to be brought to his camp. He wanted to see which guy had the audacity to do such a thing.

When Fan Mei was brought into the tent, Niu Jian was taken aback; he hadn't expected such a bold person to be a young woman. Niu Jian sneered, saying, "Are all the men in your Southern Dynasty dead? You actually have to send a woman to set fires?"

Fan Mei retorted, "Our Southern Dynasty soldiers are all honorable men; killing the enemy on the battlefield is their duty. For such lowly tasks, we weak women are more than capable." "Hahaha! Well said!" Niu Jian laughed wildly. "I've long heard that your Southern Dynasty has sent many spies. Well then, considering you are a woman, if you can name other spies and provide us with intelligence on the Song army, I will let bygones be bygones tonight and spare your life."

Fan Mei raised her phoenix eyebrows and sneered, "Now that I'm in your hands, you can do whatever you want with me. But as for me to reveal my comrades, the sun will rise in the west!"

"Hahahaha..." Niu Jian burst into another fit of maniacal laughter. "It's truly rare for a woman to have such backbone. It seems you won't speak unless I torture you a bit. Men! Strip this woman naked!" The soldiers escorting Fan Mei were already drooling with desire, and Niu Jian's order was exactly what they wanted. They quickly stripped Fan Mei naked. Fan Mei's snow-white skin was laid bare before everyone. Like Su Qing, she had a very voluptuous figure, with her hemispherical breasts standing high on her chest. Although not as large as Su Qing's, they were still very sexy.

Niu Jian's lecherous eyes were fixed on Fan Mei's alluring naked body, and his mouth was practically watering.

At this moment, the staff officer next to him asked, "General, what kind of torture should be inflicted?" Niu Jian's wicked eyes rolled, and after chuckling a few times, he ordered, "Press her down on the table! Spread her legs apart!" The soldiers immediately understood what was going on, and they all grinned wickedly. They pressed Fan Mei down on the table, spread her legs, and immediately exposed the two thick, fleshy lips that were half-covered by the small "forest" below Fan Mei's abdomen.

Upon seeing this "scenery," Niu Jian blushed instantly. His "little master" swelled like an iron rod, and he could no longer restrain himself. He hastily unzipped his pants and plopped himself onto Fan Mei's soft, fleshy body, forcefully thrusting his blood-filled "iron rod" into her vagina. Fan Mei screamed in agony. Niu Jian, while thrusting, said, "How about it, little girl? Tonight, I'll give you a penis torture, how about it? Hahaha!" The surrounding soldiers cheered as they watched. Niu Jian grabbed Fan Mei's breasts with both hands and began to knead them forcefully, his tongue roaming over her fair face. Fan Mei felt extremely humiliated and was about to bite her tongue to commit suicide when Niu Jian grabbed her cheeks, preventing her from biting her tongue. Niu Jian might not be good at fighting, but he was quite clever in this regard.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Niu Jian let out a howl and collapsed onto Fan Mei, panting heavily. Fan Mei, in agony, fainted. After finishing, Niu Jian casually fastened his trousers and said to the soldiers, whose lust had been aroused, "This woman is yours tonight. But while you're having sex with her, don't kill her, and don't let her bite her tongue to commit suicide, understand?" He then laughed wildly and walked out of the barracks.

That night, the hungry howls of the beasts echoed through the camp... The next morning, Fan Mei was tied to a pillar in the camp by the soldiers. After being tortured by the beastly soldiers all night, Fan Mei's hair was disheveled like weeds, and her once rosy, fair face had turned as pale as a corpse. Her head was tilted to one side, her eyes were vacant, and her mouth was half-open. Her snow-white skin was covered with streaks of blood, worse than if she had been subjected to severe torture. Both sides of her thighs were stained with blood, and her nipples had almost been bitten off, with blood still seeping from the edges of her areolas.

After sizing her up from head to toe, Niu Jian leered and said, "Little sister, if only you had known this would happen, you wouldn't have done it in the first place. If you had just confessed everything, I would have spared your life..." Before he could finish speaking, Fan Mei spat water in Niu Jian's face. "Beast..." she weakly cursed.

Niu Jian was instantly enraged. "Slap!" A sharp slap landed on Fan Mei's face, and two bloody teeth flew from her mouth. Niu Jian roared, "Guards! Take this woman to the execution ground in Chang'an! I want to tear her apart by five horses!!"

Because dismemberment by chariot was a common punishment since the Qin and Han dynasties, the execution ground in the capital was specially designed for this purpose. It occupied a very large area. Normally, the area around the bars could be narrowed for ordinary executions, but when dismemberment by chariot or the execution of an entire family was to occur, the entire execution ground had to be used.

Although it was a temporary execution, the soldiers who received the order quickly fenced off the execution ground, and the horses for the execution were in place. At noon, Fan Mei rode a tall horse, her hands bound behind her back, and a wad of cloth stuffed in her mouth to prevent her from committing suicide. Although female prisoners were often executed naked in Chang'an, the execution of a female prisoner by dismemberment was something that had not been seen since the Sixteen Kingdoms period. So the people flocked to the execution ground, all wanting to be at the forefront to witness that historic moment.

Fan Mei and her entourage were walking through the streets of Chang'an, heading towards the execution ground. Her snow-white and voluptuous naked body was particularly eye-catching in the surging crowd, and the soldiers responsible for binding her had deliberately tied a rope below her breasts, making them appear particularly full and perky.

Seeing Fan Mei's alluring naked body and striking beauty, many couldn't help but shake their heads in pity. Although Fan Mei was almost completely exposed to the gazes of men and women throughout the city, she didn't feel particularly humiliated. After all, compared to the gang rape by the beastly soldiers the previous night and the subsequent agony of being torn apart by five horses, being paraded naked seemed to be the most merciful punishment for her.

Upon arriving at their destination, the soldiers led Fan Mei to the center of the execution ground and untied the ropes binding her. Fan Mei was forced to lie on the dusty sand, her limbs spread out in a "T" shape. Then, her neck and limbs were tightly bound with thick hemp ropes, five of which were connected to five horses in different directions. Thinking about what was about to happen, the steadfast Fan Mei couldn't help but tremble with tension, cold sweat pouring down her body.

At this moment, Niu Jian and several followers entered the execution ground. Niu Jian first inspected the thick hemp ropes binding Fan Mei's limbs, then squatted down and pulled out the gag stuffed in her mouth, grinning maliciously as he asked, "How about it, little girl?

Your delicate arms and legs are about to be moved, and that's no ordinary pain. I'm being very merciful, I'll give you one last chance, will you confess or not?"

Looking at Niu Jian's ugly and disgusting face, Fan Mei spat on his face and cursed, "Beast!

Kill me if you want, why say anything more!"

Niu Jian's face immediately twisted like a bitter gourd, the muscles on his cheeks twitching incessantly, and the words "Execute!!" burst from his mouth in a fit of rage. The soldiers on the five horses, upon receiving the order, spurred their horses forward at full speed. Fan Mei felt a powerful force suddenly pull her limbs and neck, and her whole body was lifted into the air, her body stretched out in a long "fire" shape.

Before Fan Mei could even scream, several crisp cracking sounds rang out as her head, arms, and left leg were ripped from her body. Only her right leg remained connected to her pitiful frame. The powerful recoil threw her limbs into the air, and blood gushed from the severed joints, like a rain of blood.

Upon learning that the prisoner's body had been torn apart, several soldiers immediately tightened the horse's muzzle to stop it, otherwise, its speed would have easily caused it to crash into the crowd. The severed limbs fell to the blood-soaked ground with a series of thuds. The scene was utterly gruesome; the surrounding spectators were stunned, and some even vomited on the spot.

At this moment, Niu Jian entered the execution ground, raised his sword and severed the body, still connected to the right leg, then grabbed the right breast, lifted it high, and shouted, "Everyone, watch carefully! This is the fate of a Southern Dynasty spy! If you discover any other spies, report them immediately, and I will reward you handsomely!" Niu Jian seemed to feel this wasn't enough, so he ordered Fan Mei's severed limbs, body, and her convulsing head to be hung in Chang'an for ten days as a public display.

A few days later, news of Fan Mei's death reached Huatai. Su Mei, who had already lost her own sister, was heartbroken to learn she had lost another sworn sister, and wept bitterly for three days and three nights.

Section Four: Sacrificing to the Flag

Time flies like an arrow, and another year has passed in the blink of an eye. At this time, the situation on the battlefield had changed drastically. Due to Emperor Wen of Song's incompetence and weakness, facing a formidable enemy, he first turned against his own brothers, eliminating those who threatened his throne, and then, heeding slander, killed the renowned general Tan Daoji. The morale of the Song Dynasty plummeted, and the situation deteriorated rapidly. To make matters worse, the Wei army seemed to suddenly have complete knowledge of the spy group's movements, and members were being captured and executed one after another. Exhausted and constantly on the run, Su Mei realized there was a traitor within their ranks.

Knowing her own situation was also unsafe, Su Mei decided to reunite with the group leader, Situ Jian. Over the past two years, Situ Jian had also participated in intelligence gathering and relayed orders to members at designated locations. Perhaps due to the recent heightened tensions, he infiltrated Huatai alone and instructed Su Mei and the others to meet him.

That night, around midnight, Su Mei followed his instructions and arrived at the forest near Huatai to meet the group. After waiting for about fifteen minutes, Situ Jian also arrived at the destination. Upon seeing him, Su Mei hurried over to greet him:

"Long time no see! I heard there was an accident over there too. Are you alright?" Situ smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'm your leader, how could I be in trouble so easily?" "Where are the other brothers? Why haven't they arrived yet?" Su Mei looked around, feeling a little strange. She knew her companions were always very punctual.

"They'll be here soon. Things are tense right now, so they have to be careful." Hearing Situ's explanation, Su Mei nodded and said, "By the way, brother, I wanted to tell you something. Recently, it seems like everyone's whereabouts have been thoroughly investigated. I'm worried that there might be some among us..." Before Su Mei could finish speaking, Situ replied, "Sister, let's not discuss that now. Lately, I've been thinking, is our Great Song Dynasty about to end?"

Su Mei was shocked to hear this: "Brother, how can you say that? Haven't we been working hard for the Great Song Dynasty all this time? The situation is indeed not optimistic lately, but as the..." "My people, even if the country is on the verge of collapse, we should still be loyal to it. So many of our comrades have sacrificed their lives for the country, and my two sisters died tragically on the execution ground because of it. If we give up now, how will we face them in the future?" Situ sighed and said, "What Great Song? In the end, this Great Song was nothing more than Emperor Wu usurping the Jin throne. Besides, the current emperor is incompetent and foolish. When the Qing and Yan provinces fell into enemy hands, he was busy killing his brothers. Even the only general with some talent, General Tan Daoji, was killed by him on trumped-up charges. Don't you think it's foolish to be loyal to such a country?"

"Could it be that you..." Su Mei's head suddenly felt like it had been hit hard by a hundred-pound sledgehammer. She couldn't help but take a few steps back and said, "Could it be that you are the traitor?"

Situ Jian laughed a few times, drew his precious sword from his waist, and pointed at Su Mei, saying, "I say, sister, it seems you're not qualified to be a spy. You only realized it now. As the saying goes, a good bird chooses a good tree to perch on. Rather than dying a cowardly death while serving a tyrannical ruler, it's better to join the Great Wei and enjoy wealth and glory." Su Mei simply couldn't believe the facts before her eyes. The man who had made great contributions to the country and was skilled in both literature and martial arts would actually betray his country and surrender to the enemy. "You beast!" Su Mei cursed, "Don't you feel ashamed for doing such a despicable and filthy thing? My two older sisters, and the comrades who were arrested before, they didn't utter a single word until they died, and you! You haven't even suffered a little physical pain before you've abandoned the light and betrayed your own comrades!" Situ Jian said, "I can only say I regret it. I'm also very saddened by the deaths of my comrades, but given how things are developing, even if I don't betray them, it's only a matter of time before they're arrested. Aren't your two older sisters the same? I feel sorry for you, so I called you here tonight to try and persuade you. If you're willing to come with me to..." "Surrender to the Great Wei, and I guarantee you wealth and honor in the future!"

Upon hearing this, Su Mei was so angry that tears streamed down her face. She cursed, "Bah! You have no shame. If I did that, I would be worse than a pig or a dog. How could I face my two sisters in the future?" After a pause, Su Mei suddenly remembered something. "Where are the brothers who were supposed to come here tonight? Could it be...!" Situ Jian whistled, and hundreds of Wei soldiers emerged from the woods, surrounding the two of them. "That's right, they won't be coming tonight, and they won't be coming again..." "Beast!" Before Situ Jian could finish speaking, Su Mei drew her sword and stabbed at him. In the blink of an eye, the surrounding Wei soldiers rushed forward and subdued Su Mei in a few moves. Su Mei felt a heavy blow to her head and fainted.

She didn't know how much time had passed when she vaguely woke up, her head still throbbing. She tried to touch it, but her hands felt as if they were being crushed by a large stone, and she couldn't move them. She tried to move her legs, but her feet seemed glued to the ground, unable to move an inch. Only then did she suddenly open her eyes and find herself in a military camp tent, completely naked, and firmly tied to a cross-shaped wooden post.

Su Mei felt incredibly ashamed and struggled desperately, trying to break the ropes. Just then, someone walked in, perhaps because they heard the commotion. Su Mei looked up and a surge of anger rose within her. It was Situ Jian. She cursed, "You traitor! Release me! What do you want?" Situ Jian didn't rush to answer; he first carefully examined Su Mei's body. Unlike her two older sisters, Su Mei was slender, but her muscles were firm, making her figure appear very athletic. Her small, pointed, pink breasts were also quite alluring.

Situ Jian said with a forced smile, "What a beautiful body! I've known you for so long, and this is the first time I've seen you naked."

Su Mei, both ashamed and angry, spat on Situ's face and cursed, "Pah! You shameless traitor! We treated you like an elder brother back then, never dreaming you'd be the one to betray us! Kill me if you want, but if you dare to disrespect me, I'll haunt you even as a ghost!" Situ Jian casually wiped his face and said, "You three sisters are all the same, aren't you?" "That's truly rare. Actually, I'm also heartbroken about the deaths of my brothers and sisters, but it's too late to say anything more. However, to be honest, I've always wanted to spend a night with you, little sister, to taste your beauty. As far as I know, you're still a virgin, aren't you?"

Su Mei's face flushed crimson, and she almost cried. "You…" Situ continued, "Don't worry, although you'll still be executed tomorrow morning, I won't do anything to your body, and neither will anyone else. Do you know why?"

"Spit it out, stop beating around the bush!"

Situ Jian said slowly, "The Northern Wei originated from the Xianbei people. In ancient times, they had a tradition of performing a battle ceremony before going to war, offering a young virgin as a sacrifice to the god of war—a kind of flag-raising ceremony. However, this ceremony is no longer used; instead, livestock or enemy prisoners are used. Now, our two armies have assembled, and we are determined to destroy the Song Dynasty. Lord Tuoba, for a good omen, has decided to hold this ancient ceremony." Su Mei couldn't help but shudder and asked, "You mean, you're going to use me as a sacrifice?" "Yes, you can..." "How clever! Tomorrow morning at the auspicious hour, your head, blood, and this beautiful body will all become offerings to the God of War. After the ceremony, your virgin body, now imbued with 'divine power,' will be devoured by the soldiers going to war, so that they may receive the power of the God of War." Su Mei sneered, "You keep calling yourself the God of War, do you really think you're one of the barbarians of the Xianbei? You even eat human flesh like them, it's rare to see someone so shameless."

Situ was too lazy to refute her, saying, "It's getting late, dawn will break in a few hours, you should get some rest, I can't wait to taste the sacrificial meat. Hahaha!" With that, he turned and left the camp without looking back.

Since joining the spy group, Su Mei had already disregarded life and death, but the thought of being stripped naked and beheaded at such a young age filled her with resentment, even the thought of her body being eaten like pork... Thinking of this, Su Mei couldn't help but cry sadly.

In just a few hours, all the past events kept surfacing in Su Mei's mind. In her short twenty years of life, perhaps the happiest time was when Zheng Xiao recognized her as his adopted daughter. Although the three sisters had endured hardships, they had also enjoyed a few happy years. But both of her older sisters had passed away one after another, and even if she could live on alone, she wouldn't be happy...

Overwhelmed with mixed feelings, Su Mei spent the night in painful and joyful memories. At dawn, although Su Mei was in her tent, she could feel the sky gradually breaking. According to Situ, the ceremony would be held at 7 AM, and it seemed that her time was coming to an end. Although she was afraid, she was determined not to let Situ Jian, this traitor, and the Wei people look down on her. So she slowly calmed herself down, closed her eyes to rest, and waited for that moment to arrive.

At 7 AM, two Wei soldiers entered the tent, untied Su Mei from the rack, tied her hands behind her back, and took her away. Stepping out of the tent, Su Mei was stunned by the magnificent sight before her. A long straw mat stretched out before the tent, leading to a strange altar. Neatly arranged Wei soldiers stood on either side of the mat, their expressions solemn, as if facing a formidable enemy.

The thought of appearing naked before thousands of men made Su Mei's face flush crimson, and her head drooped uncomfortably. The sky, just beginning to brighten, was a deep blue, and the temperature was pleasantly comfortable. In that atmosphere, as the two Wei soldiers led Su Mei step by step toward the altar, even she felt a sense of "sacredness." Halfway there, she could clearly see the altar.

The altar appeared rather simple. Above it was a large painting of a hideous, fully armed figure—presumably their so-called God of War. Below the painting was the altar itself, divided into three tiers. The top tier held a large dish, undoubtedly for displaying severed heads; the second tier contained a bowl; and the third was a long wooden plank. Candles were lit all around the altar, creating an eerie atmosphere.

Several figures stood around the altar, one of whom, clad in ornate armor, sat on a tiger-skin chair—undoubtedly Tuoba Wei. In front of the altar stood Situ Jian, holding a long white tiger-patterned sword, smiling at her. Su Mei felt a wave of nausea, thinking, "He has to do it himself; he's probably just trying to prove his loyalty to his new master." Recalling the gruesome sight of her sister Su Qing's head being severed and blood gushing out, and imagining herself being beheaded in the same way, with streams of blood spurting from her neck, Su Mei shuddered.

As her delicate feet led her step by step toward her final resting place, Su Mei's heart began to race, her mind gradually going blank. She even saw hallucinations; her sworn sister Fan Mei and her biological sister Su Qing suddenly stood naked before her, smiling and waving. Tears welled in Su Mei's eyes, and she smiled back, thinking, "My sisters are so kind, they've come to take me away. But if I die naked, must my soul also be naked? Oh well, we come into this world naked, and to leave naked is a good thing, isn't it?" With this thought, the last trace of fear in Su Mei's heart vanished without a trace.

Then she turned to the Wei soldiers escorting her and said, "Brothers, could you please let go? I want to walk there myself."

After the two Wei soldiers released her, Su Mei strode confidently to the end of the mat, where a large white cloth was laid out. She stopped and said to Situ Jian, "Is this it?" Situ smiled and said, "Sister, you are indeed a heroine, with great courage. Yes, this is it. Kneel down." Su Mei thought for a moment and said to Situ, "Considering we once worked together, could you do me a favor? After Sister Su Qing was beheaded that day, I buried her head under the big banyan tree in front of Foguang Temple. After today's event, could you bury my head here as well?" Situ smiled and said, "What deep sisterly affection. Okay, I'll do you this favor after the flag-raising ceremony. Is there anything else you want?" "

To be honest, I'm a little scared. Please be quick when you make your move." "Don't worry, sister, I'll be fast."

"Thank you for your trouble." After saying this, Su Mei slowly knelt on the white cloth, her body leaning slightly forward. Situ then pushed her shoulder-length hair forward, revealing her slender neck.

"Sisters, I'm here." Su Mei closed her eyes with a smile.

"The auspicious hour has arrived!" the messenger shouted, and Situ immediately raised his knife and brought it down. Blood splattered, and a head wrapped in blue silk rolled onto the white cloth.

At this moment, the two Wei soldiers in charge of escorting her rushed forward and supported Su Mei's body as she was about to fall. Situ Jian then took the bowl from the altar and placed it on the white cloth, filling it with the gushing blood in an instant. The headless naked corpse seemed to still be conscious, struggling incessantly, as if trying to break free from the two soldiers supporting her. Her two white legs kicked incessantly, and the two soldiers could only hold her body tightly.

The fountain of blood sprayed forward for the time it takes to burn half an incense stick before slowly stopping, leaving only a few blood bubbles rising from the blood-soaked neck. Only then did Su Mei's body cease its struggle. Next, they placed the severed head on the plate at the top of the altar, and the bowl of steaming blood on the second tier. The soldiers untied the ropes binding Su Mei and placed the headless, naked corpse on the wooden plank at the bottom. After

everything was arranged, the generals, led by Tuoba Wei, bowed in unison before the altar to pray for a successful campaign. They then took the bowl of hot blood, each taking a sip, and finally, when it reached the commander-in-chief Tuoba Wei, he drank it all. After the ceremony, Su Mei's body was dismembered into eight pieces by the army cooks, and the meat was roasted over a fire according to tradition.

Su Mei's meat was tender and smooth, and when roasted, it smelled incredibly fragrant. The sizzling sound of the fat, especially from the rump and other fatty cuts, made everyone's mouths water.

After about an hour, Su Mei's tender meat was roasted to a golden brown, emitting a aroma reminiscent of suckling pig.

After the roasting, the best cuts from the breast, arms, and thighs were divided among the generals, while the rest were cut into pieces and distributed equally to the soldiers going on the expedition. After the altar was removed, Situ Jian kept his promise and ordered Su Mei's head to be buried under the large banyan tree at Foguang Temple.

Chapter Five: The End

. On the day of the ceremony, at midday, the two armies of Northern Wei marched straight towards Jiankang, the capital of Liu Song. Emperor Wen of Song mobilized almost the entire nation's military force to protect the capital. Despite the previous civil war over power, the Song army displayed a rare unity in the face of national crisis, putting up a desperate resistance against the attacking enemy. Even the Song troops defending the western front were highly motivated, and Niu Jian, despite outnumbering his opponents three to one, was unable to advance an inch. Just as Tuoba Wei's eastern army was preparing to encircle Jiankang, the sound of cannons rang out, and hundreds of thousands of Song troops appeared behind them. Tuoba Wei immediately realized he had

fallen into a trap and had no choice but to lead his troops in a desperate fight to break through the encirclement. Situ Jian, similarly trapped in a predicament, was utterly bewildered. At this point, forget about promotions and titles; even his survival was in question. As they searched for a way to escape danger, Situ Jian suddenly shouted, "Traitor Situ, do you know who I am?"

Situ turned around and saw it was Zheng Xiao. He was terrified and turned pale. Before he could answer, Zheng Xiao roared,

"You ungrateful wretch, give me back my daughter's life!" With that, he swung his sword and cut Situ Jian in two. This man who betrayed his comrades for wealth and power could only go to the underworld to collect his reward.

In the battles of Jiankang and Sichuan, the Song army won a great victory. Niu Jian died in battle, and Tuoba Wei also died in the chaos of battle. It seemed that the "God of War" had not brought them good fortune. The Wei emperor felt that the Southern Dynasty still possessed strong military power, so he dared not launch another invasion southward. The Northern Wei and Liu Song were once again in a stalemate.

With Emperor Wen's consent, Zheng Xiao built a shrine for his three adopted daughters, so that the Song people would remember their deeds of loyalty and sacrifice for the country. Situ Jian's entire family was executed, and all their property was confiscated.

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Three Sisters in Troubled Times

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