Chapter 29: The Pork Pie of Bo Yikao, Divvying Up... - Ah? The Wives I Abandoned Turned Out to Be Real

Chapter 29: The Pork Pie of Bo Yikao, Divvying Up... [Upon hearing your words, Daji did not object.] [For last night, she had already sensed your intentions.] [And it was precisely because you had such thoughts that she completely let down her guard and opened her heart to you.] [Otherwise,] [You would not have been qualified to hear the deepest parts of her heart.] [When Bo Yikao heard your terms, a look of determination flashed in his eyes.] [He did not feel that you were targeting him, understanding that offering people of high status as sacrifices to the gods had been a long-standing tradition. Even his father had once considered sacrificing him, his eldest son, to the ancestors.] [For Bo Yikao, death was not something to fear.] [In his view, as the son of Xibo Hou, his esteemed position assured him that after death, he would transform into a spirit guarding Xiqi alongside his ancestors.] [Bo Yikao agreed to your decree.] [The other ministers, upon hearing this, also showed anticipation, sensing that the familiar Shang King Di Xin had returned.] [The more brutal he was, the more they revered him.] [At this moment, a minister named Fei Zhong stepped out from among the group, looking at you with eyes full of admiration.] "O wise King!" "It is indeed a blessing for Shang and all its people that our King can make such decisions." "However, your humble servant has one more suggestion." "That upon Bo Yikao’s death, we turn him into pork pies, to be shared among the ministers." [The other ministers looked eager upon hearing this.] [In Shang, consuming the flesh of someone of high stature was believed to grant protection from spirits and gods!] [Another minister, You Hun, also stepped forward.] "My King, why not send a portion to Xibo Hou Ji Chang?" "It's commonly known that Xibo Hou Ji Chang's divination skills are unmatched. If he can discern that these are Bo Yikao's pies, it would indicate we cannot allow him to remain." "Of course, if he cannot discern it, then he is merely an empty reputation." [At this, you felt a surge of closeness towards Fei Zhong and You Hun, as if they were family.] [There was an innate trust in their words.] "Agreed!" [Bo Yikao's face turned ashen at your words. He never imagined you would betray him this way.] "You will not die well, Shang King!" [Bo Yikao shouted and then dashed to his death against the hall.] [Subsequently, you ordered for Bo Yikao to be made into meat pies.] [Only in this manner,] [Could you close off all avenues of retreat, advancing and retreating with Daji.] [Life and death no longer mattered to you.] [The pies were quickly made.] [After offering sacrifices to the ancestors and gods, they were brought into the hall.] [You and Daji did not partake, while the ministers ate heartily, their mouths oily with the esteemed person's pies. The more they consumed, the more they believed spirits would favor them.] [After the feast,] [Fei Zhong and You Hun volunteered to take the pies to Xibo Hou Ji Chang, and you permitted their request.] [You instructed them to observe and document Ji Chang's reaction.] [Returning thereafter, Daji led you to the grand hall where Shang King Di Xin's body lay.] [At this moment, Shang King Di Xin appeared withered, his bloodstone chest crystal dim and lifeless.] "Is he going to die?" [You asked Daji.] [Daji nodded.] "Indeed, he is dying. Without the renewing blood of my Tushan lineage, even all the ancestors of Shang gathered here could not save him." "Then why are the nine cauldrons nearby engraved with taotie patterns?" [Noticing the bronze giants around you, the taotie engravings seemed animated, as if watching you and Daji.] "Within these nine cauldrons is housed the national fortune of Shang." [Shocked by Daji's explanation, you could understand.] [No wonder such a malevolent beast as the taotie was used, carving on these cauldrons, consuming everything and releasing nothing.] [Once the national fortune entered, it would never have the chance to leave.] [After the shock, you contemplated killing Shang King.] [Because by doing so, you could permanently replace him, becoming the true king of Shang.] [The allure of power was indeed too intoxicating.] [To relinquish it now would be worse than death.] [Daji restrained you.] "If Shang King Di Xin were to die unnaturally, it would draw the attention of Shang's ancestors, and not even I could protect you." [Upon hearing Daji’s words, you abandoned the thought of killing Shang King.] [Gazing at the bewitching Daji, you found control slipping away.] [Daji, however, stopped your next move and instead led you to a section of the palace under construction since last year.] [Previously unexplored by you, today Daji uniquely brought you here.] [There you saw nine massive pools arranged in a grid, surrounded by various entertainment facilities, with ten beauties by each pool.] [Due to your excessive strength in that area, Daji had begun constructing this last year, naming it the "Wine Pool and Meat Forest," hoping these beauties could share some of the burden with her.] "From now on, you may only visit me once a week." [After saying this, Daji left the Wine Pool and Meat Forest.] [Watching the swarm of beauties approach, you felt as if a bird had fallen into a dark forest...] ... Switching to a first-person perspective, Su Mo observed the myriad of women around him. Though slightly below Daji's standard, these women were still remarkably beautiful, varying in form and grace. Such is the joy of being emperor. It could not be higher. Su Mo was surprised Daji had deliberately created a Wine Pool and Meat Forest. Yet it also indirectly indicated that Daji's slight frame truly couldn't endure. ... [You lingered in the Wine Pool and Meat Forest for quite some time, inspecting each person’s body.] [The next morning, as you ascended the court steps, your pace was unsteady, and there was a dull pain in your sides.] [You suspected Daji watched you with a touch of satisfaction...] [Fei Zhong and You Hun stood before the court, ready to report.] [First, Fei Zhong spoke.] "Your Majesty, after presenting the Bo Yikao meat pies to Xibo Hou yesterday, Xibo Hou ate with relish and even expressed a wish to consume such pies daily." [You Hun added that Xibo Hou Ji Chang seemed genuine in his enjoyment, leaving not even a crumb.] [At this point, your choices are?] [Option one: Fulfill the original promise, releasing Xibo Hou Ji Chang back to Xiqi.] [Option two: You deduce that Xibo Hou's actions are because he foresaw your move; hence, continue his imprisonment until Xibo Hou Ji Chang grows old and dies.] [Option three: Sacrifice Xibo Hou Ji Chang, turning him into meat pies for offering to the gods!] Faced with these options, Su Mo pondered, stroking his chin. He wondered if the history of this Shang dynasty paralleled that of Earth's recorded Shang dynasty. If they were not much different, even if Ji Chang weren't released, his second son, Ji Fa, might still revolt. Glancing at the sky, Su Mo estimated dawn was about a half-hour away. Since he'd experienced what he wanted this simulation, He might as well turn Xibo Hou Ji Chang into meat pies, pushing Ji Fa to raise arms a bit sooner. He sighed. If he could save enough money, he would certainly resign from the General's Mansion and buy a small courtyard outside to live alone. Then he could simulate as long as he wanted. To explore the full potential of "A Love For A Lifetime"! [You chose to sacrifice Xibo Hou Ji Chang, making him into meat pies for the gods!] [Nobody anticipated you would make this choice.] [But now, Shang was riddled with internal strife and external threats. Vassals were increasingly dissatisfied with the royal house.] [Thus, in the ministers’ eyes,] [Your actions were reasonable.] [Through terror, you must suppress all opposing forces, deterring these vassals from rebelling too hastily!] (End of Chapter)