Hao Dongxi asked Zhang Wei, "How did you discover our plan?"
Zhang Wei took out the Tongxin grass from his embrace.
"The Tongxin grass of the two of us, Mo Du treasured it greatly; it never had anything like these fingernail scratches on it."
"When we entered the military camp and Mo Du didn't appear, I already understood what was going on."
Hao Dongxi gritted his teeth and said, "Then when was it swapped? Why didn't I notice anything?"
Zhang Wei glanced at the human-skin doll.
The human-skin doll sneered, "Swapping it right under your noses is as easy as eating and drinking for me!"
Zhang Wei said, "Any more questions? You can die a clear ghost."
"Madame Speaker, she hasn't woken up yet, has she?"
Hao Dongxi chuckled, "The hallucinogenic dose I used was sufficient and would cause considerable damage to the brain. Madame Speaker should not wake up again."
Zhang Wei's eyes narrowed, a rare glint of killing intent appearing.
The human-skin doll beside him nodded and whispered, "That hallucinogen is quite peculiar, but given some time, it'll be absolutely no problem."
Hao Dongxi said confidently, "There is no antidote for that poison; the damage has already been done! However, Mr. Zhang Wei, my family possesses an ancestral artifact that can treat her damaged brain!"
"If you are willing, I can go back and retrieve it to heal the Speaker and make amends. What do you say?"
All eyes fell on Zhang Wei.
He merely narrowed his eyes, remaining silent.
Hao Dongxi spoke more brazenly, "It was merely a misunderstanding between us; why must we fight to the death? However, I can tell you for certain that brain damage is something to be handled with utmost care; casual medical treatment could cost the patient her life!"
The meaning was simple.
Only he could save Mo Du now.
If he were killed, Mo Du would also perish with him.
Do not attempt other methods of treatment; brain injuries are extraordinary, and one wrong move could worsen the condition.
The human-skin doll also hesitated.
Although he was quite confident, he could not bear the responsibility.
It still depended on Zhang Wei's choice.
After a long silence, Zhang Wei stood up and said, "I've changed my mind, I won't kill you."
The entire hall erupted in a commotion.
Disappointment mingled with hope, and regret with relief.
"Chef Zhang, we resolutely support your decision."
"It's still best to focus on healing the Speaker; revenge can wait..."
"That's right, the Speaker loves her soldiers like her own children; I'll never find another commander like her."
Zhang Wei waved his hand, signaling everyone to calm down.
He walked to Hao Dongxi and said slowly, "I, above all else, detest being threatened!"
"Chef Zhang, you misunderstand; this is merely mutual benefit."
Zhang Wei ignored him and continued, "I never show mercy to those who threaten me, because I know that doing so will cause more people to use even more valuable things to threaten me countless times."
"Therefore, I've set a rule for myself..."
Hao Dongxi instinctively felt a sense of foreboding.
"All who threaten me shall die without a burial place!"
Squeezing the words through his teeth, Zhang Wei declared, "Cancel Hao Dongxi's death sentence and replace it with castration, nose removal, hamstringing... to be hung on a flagpole, endure seven days of punishment, and then be subjected to the slow slicing at the altar!"
Zhang Wei listed all the punishments he could think of, all at once.
The men behind Hao Dongxi collapsed to the ground, kowtowing incessantly, "Master Chef, we did not offend you; these were all Hao Dongxi's ideas. Please grant us a swift end!"
Hao Dongxi cursed, "In the end, it's still death; get up! Stand up!"
One of them spat, "Get lost! We are irreconcilable with you!"
"Yes, today's events are all your fault!"
"If it weren't for you, how could we have thought of sneaking away!"
"Exactly, it's all your fault!"
Zhang Wei stroked his chin and looked at the others, "I can grant you a quick end, even leave your bodies intact to be taken back for burial. It all depends on whether you're willing to atone for your crimes..."
"We are willing! We are willing!"
Zhang Wei briefly described the punishments, including skinning, cutting flesh with a dull knife, removing kneecaps, severing noses, and being eaten by insects, which made everyone present shiver.
"But there are no executioners for such punishments in the army; these punishments will be carried out by you!"
"You say... what?"
"By us?"
Several of them couldn't believe it.
Zhang Wei said softly, "For traitors, betraying multiple times shouldn't cause any psychological pressure, right? Hao Dongxi, you too will taste the feeling of betrayal. Let these former comrades of yours send you on your way."
Zhang Wei turned his head and said to the other northern elders, "During the execution of the punishment, you must keep him alive. Whoever allows him to die will bear his punishment."
This was a method designed to break a person's spirit.
Dealing with a traitor in such a manner was very fitting.
A wounded soldier shed tears, "But, what about the Speaker?"
"Yes, can the Speaker still live?"
"Perhaps, it's still best to focus on saving her."
"We've already killed so many; it's enough."
Hao Dongxi, who had already resigned himself to his fate, now grasped at a straw of hope.
Tears streaming down his face, he chuckled strangely, "Kid, even if I die, I'll take that damn Speaker with me! That woman is your lover, isn't she? How does it feel to lose your beloved?"
Zhang Wei said expressionlessly, "Angering me will bring you no benefit. Do you think I'll kill you on the spot? Don't dream."
"So what! Hmm? Mo Du will eventually sleep forever! She will never wake up!"
Zhang Wei said, "Originally, I intended to punish you for seven days and then kill you by slow slicing."
"But I've changed my mind again."
"I am too indecisive."
"I want to watch, together with Mo Du, the grand spectacle of you being slow-sliced."
"I will awaken Mo Du. The day she awakens will be the day you die."
"But I believe you will eagerly await that day's arrival."
"Because, every single day of your future will be exceptionally full, and every second will be etched in your memory!"
Returning to his seat, Zhang Wei waved his hand and commanded, "Take him away and execute the sentence!"
"Execute it immediately!"
"All soldiers in the army can witness this; this is the fate of a traitor!"
As the crowd dispersed, Chu Xiang remained standing in place.
Zhang Wei's face was as cold as ice, and his voice was chilling, "Originally, you would have been among them."
"Chef, I've always known you to be a person of clear right and wrong. At that time, I was powerless to stop all of this."
"I acknowledge your merit in providing intelligence."
In fact, all of this had been completed so quickly and accurately thanks to Chu Xiang's efforts.
She had played the game of double-dealing to perfection.