With a slight smile, lowering her eyes and raising them again with the same calm expression, Qin Chang Ge said: “Good, what’s wrong with having someone protect me? Whether it’s people you send or my own people, I accept them all. Nothing is more important than life—without life, nothing can be accomplished. I won’t act recklessly, rest assured. However, you haven’t answered my question—regarding Li Li’s handling, what do you plan to do?”
Gazing at her for a long moment, Xiao Jue’s eyes showed intertwined frustration and hope, churning intensely for a while before he finally said calmly: “Long Qi secretly requested an audience last night, advising that we could have Li Li carry soil bags in prison and smother him to death, which would also give the suffering people an explanation.” Xiao Jue’s gaze was mocking. “He said Li Li refuses to confess in prison, and with his noble status and countless people looking after him—good food, good drink, good service—he lives comfortably, which has actually aroused public anger, even leading to attempts to storm the Ministry of Justice prison. Moreover, Li Li has hereditary protection and cannot be tortured. Without a confession and with evidence being obscured, how can Li Li be dealt with? Better to have him ‘commit suicide’—Li Han’s group would have nothing to say.”
“Oh?” Qin Chang Ge raised an eyebrow at him. “Good idea.”
“I told him to get lost!” Xiao Jue smiled proudly. “I am the Emperor of Xi Liang, with all beings beneath my feet. An emperor’s virtue should be impartial and universal, benefiting all under heaven. For a mere Li Li who deserves his punishment, would I not dare kill him openly and justly? Do I need to use such underhanded methods to kill someone who is thoroughly evil? Does he think his suggestion is thoughtfully good advice? He’s insulting me!”
Smiling sweetly yet with eyes growing cold, Qin Chang Ge said: “With ironclad evidence and unquiet vengeful souls, such evil acts are outrageous and should be punished according to clear law with public execution. Why resort to secret murder in hidden chambers? Where does this place the nation’s laws?”
She smiled leisurely, extending her finger to slowly write the character for “kill” on the table.
Saying lightly: “If we’re to kill, we must hold open court, obtain confession in court, then openly and justly—kill.”
Xiao Jue frowned: “As long as he’s willing to confess, I can execute him immediately. The key problem lies here—Li Li has hereditary protection and cannot be tortured. He’s also received guidance from Duke Wuwei’s advisors, denying everything without a single flaw. Li Han has good relationships with many court officials who inevitably provide private protection. These people obstruct from within, and now it also involves new versus old factional struggles—getting him to confess in court is truly difficult.”
“It’s just getting a confession, right?” Qin Chang Ge smiled carelessly, blinking. “You’re not skilled in treacherous arts—let me handle it.”
Nodding with complete trust, Xiao Jue said: “That’s fine. I just hope to somewhat spare Li Han’s feelings. Losing a son in old age—he’s truly pitiful… Speaking of which, Li Han already came crying to me a few days ago, weeping with tears streaming down his aged face. I told him directly that princes break the law just like commoners. That old man’s cunning increased with age—in his extreme anger and confusion, he actually asked what should be done if the crown prince committed crimes? I saw he was desperately confused and didn’t argue with him.”
He couldn’t help but smile: “Rong’er? He’s too busy with business to have time for anything else. How could Li Li compare to him?”
Thinking of Xiao Rong seriously crouching in the accounting room counting silver, both couldn’t help but share a smile. The solemn atmosphere from discussing the case lightened slightly. Xiao Jue remembered something and suddenly said: “Northern Wei spies report that Northern Wei has experienced a coup. Prince Jin Wei Tianzi received a divine prediction from Northern Wei’s strategist He Buyu, calling him ‘true dragon’s son, heaven-ordained.’ Within just a few days, he gathered most court forces and gained support from the Nine Gates Commander and Capital Guard Battalion Commander Lin Jun’s defection. Under the name of ‘clearing the emperor’s side,’ he collaborated with Palace Consort Chun from within. She poisoned Wei Tianqi with chronic poison, killed dozens of palace guard eunuchs, opened the palace gates, and led Wei Tianzi into the imperial palace. In a few more days, Wei Tianzi will likely change the era name.”
“Really?” Qin Chang Ge smiled without the slightest surprise, praising: “The serpent’s son is also like a serpent—venomous and lurking, choosing victims to bite, knowing to select the most advantageous timing. Not bad, not bad.”
Xiao Jue looked at her thoughtfully: “You don’t seem surprised at all? Chang Ge, does this matter have your hand in it? I remember you saying you know He Buyu.”
“Mm…” Qin Chang Ge’s eyes flowed with charm as she smiled sweetly: “There might be just a little bit of that…”
In the dim office that had just been filled with murderous aura, where the lean youth had used endless pressure to force an old general out the door, a trace of rare mischievous expression gradually appeared in her eyes. That expression held slight charm, faint yet clever laughter, light and graceful as spring wind and gentle rain. In the gray, dark space where dust motes danced, she remained clean as flowing spring water, like an unparalleled famous flower blooming with radiant glory atop ten thousand mountains.
When she smiled, Xiao Jue seemed to hear distant mountain qin music ringing in the wind, crossing the mortal world in an instant to reach his ears. Who was raising fingers to ripple flowing strings in the long wind? One string, one flourishing year.
For that moment, he wanted to gather her into his embrace, using all his strength to fiercely, completely gather her strength and delicacy into his arms.
He wanted to bury his head deeply, using real sensation to savor the long-missed woman’s clear, cool fragrance.
He wanted to taste her lips—ice-cold and soft, lotus flowers blooming atop snow peaks, pure as jade, fragrant as musk.
Yet ultimately he stepped back.
For such a woman, approaching without knowing proper bounds was equivalent to pushing her away in ignorant confusion.
She wasn’t an ordinary woman who would soften in a man’s breath, turning delicate murmurs into yielding tenderness. Those women willing to become men’s boots, belts, and undergarments were as common as boots, belts, and undergarments scattered everywhere. Men liked to use them but wouldn’t treasure them.
But some women received heaven and earth’s spiritual energy and creation’s caress. They could be approached but not violated, only suitable for winning their favoring smiles through sincerity and devotion.
If he didn’t love and respect the nobility in her soul, why would he be willing to lower himself to start over and wait again?
He loved her uniqueness—he had no right to presumptuously wish to change that uniqueness first.
He smiled, transforming his intended embrace into a brilliant smile.
“I always trust you,” he said meaningfully, “just as I’m always willing to wait for you.”
Qin Chang Ge watched his expression change—experiencing contemplation, hesitation, understanding, then stepping back.
A rare smile bloomed in her eyes, slightly spreading.
Wisely not pointing it out, she continued the previous topic: “Who is Consort Chun?”
“I don’t know,” Xiao Jue answered quickly and decisively. “Among Northern Wei’s harem, I know a few from prominent families, but none are her. She’s probably of ordinary birth, an unremarkable common consort in the harem. But her actions are quite extraordinary. How careful and cautious was Wei Tianqi? She actually managed to administer chronic poison without detection. The night Wei Tianzi staged his coup, she had her trusted palace maids guard the Empress Dowager and Empress while she appeared at the palace gates. Without even attempting negotiation, she immediately killed people—dispatching seven guard eunuchs trying to stop her in one breath, all with single fatal strikes. Her methods were so ruthless that people fainted from fright on the spot. The palace gates opened extremely quickly, controlling the entire imperial palace before inner palace guards could arrive—such decisiveness, such killing intent!”
Raising an eyebrow, Qin Chang Ge asked: “What’s her name?”
“Wanyan Chunzhen.”
“Wanyan clan?” Qin Chang Ge paused, then slowly smiled, saying softly: “Ha… I didn’t expect this variable. Truly heaven helps our Xi Liang. I was originally worried that after the serpent’s son settled in, there would also be troubles. From this perspective, his throne will be unstable. Whether Wei Tianqi or this woman, neither is easy to deal with. Let them fight, continue fighting—the more fiercely you fight, the happier I am…”
“Spy reports say Consort Chun and Prince Jin reached an agreement—one controlling the inner palace, one grasping political power. After Wei Tianzi ascends the throne, he’ll make Consort Chun empress.”
“Good, good,” After a while, Qin Chang Ge laughed: “So that’s her plan. These two are also a perfect match—remarrying with righteous confidence, marrying one’s sister-in-law openly without concealment, ignoring public opinion for supreme power. They don’t even plan to install a puppet, discarding all hypocritical political veils, directly seizing what they want naked and unashamed. Truly worthy of being the serpent’s son and Wanyan clan descendant…”
“I feel like Consort Chun’s condition for becoming empress sounds somewhat meaningful,” Xiao Jue frowned. “She’s not coming for you, is she?”
“Her target isn’t empress,” Qin Chang Ge smiled and waved her hand. “Just watch—there’s drama to be staged. Let’s manage our own affairs first!”
Several days later, Li Li’s public trial day arrived.
For consecutive days there had been brilliant sunshine and charming spring weather, but that day heaven suddenly changed face. It was gloomy from early morning, soon beginning to drizzle in the ground-hugging wind, swaying and fluctuating. All of Yingdu was shrouded in gray rain and mist.
Elderly people leaned against doorframes gazing at the sky, sighing after a long while:
“Deep injustice unanswered corresponds to heavenly signs—ominous, ominous…”
Young people excitedly opened oil-paper umbrellas: “What ominous! I think those thirty-six poor girls are crying! Heaven has eyes and will finally give that tyrant his comeuppance! Come, let’s watch the public trial!”
No one expected that someone of Li Li’s status would actually undergo public trial. It was said the emperor decreed the public trial. While people cheered His Majesty’s wisdom, they also wondered—didn’t they say he still refuses to confess? And torture can’t be used—can any results be achieved?
Doubts aside, people still poured out from all streets and alleys like tides, calling friends to go together. Regardless, seeing that tyrant who dominated Yingdu and caused countless people to suffer honestly receiving trial in court was itself quite satisfying.
As for what results today’s trial would produce and how the perpetrator would be brought to justice—honestly, though people expressed fierce demands to punish the criminal, deep in their hearts they absolutely didn’t believe this matter would be resolved so easily.
What was Li Li’s status? What was Li Li’s father’s status? Criminal law was always designed for common people. Officials and nobles had ten thousand ways to escape punishment. Life for life? How was that possible? Who dared risk death and family destruction to kill the Li family’s son? Those thirty-six delicate souls were destined to die in vain!
Rain fell like flying catkins, densely coating heaven and earth with oil. The ground gleamed with blue light, wet and slippery. When Minister of Justice Long Qi hurried from the rear hall to the main court, somehow his foot slipped and he fell. His attending servant was startled, but he had already scrambled up quickly, looking somewhat uneasily toward outside the main court.
The servant peered out and was also startled, murmuring: “So many people…”
Outside the Ministry of Justice main hall, dense crowds of heads filled the view—a sea of people exceeding any large Yingdu market gathering.
Long Qi’s face paled.
How come the rain didn’t reduce the crowd at all?
If these people became dissatisfied, one spit per person could flood the Ministry of Justice hall!
Helplessly swallowing saliva, Long Qi looked with an iron-blue face at the dark Ministry of Justice hall. Somehow, today he felt constantly restless, as if something beyond control was about to happen.
Someone approached from the opposite direction with brilliant feathered caps—the other two officials for today’s public trial: Prime Minister Mao E and Yingdu Prefect Du Changsheng.
Today Long Qi would preside with Mao E and Du Changsheng as co-judges. Seeing the situation outside, all three maintained stern faces without speaking. After mutual bows, hearing drums outside, they cleared their throats together and stepped out with measured paces.
The first to emerge, Long Qi, nearly stumbled again.
In a corner of the main hall, Duke Wuwei sat boldly on a boxwood chair, looking like he’d been there early, glaring at everyone with raised brows, displaying an attitude of killing whoever killed his son.
Outside the main hall, family members of the thirty-six victims knelt carrying bones before the Ministry of Justice, staring at Li Han with hanging eyes, also showing determination not to give up until seeing Li Li executed.
Before court even convened, the atmosphere between both sides was already tense and explosive.
Long Qi forced himself to sit calmly, constantly wiping sweat despite the cool weather. Mao E glanced at the crowd, his expression actually becoming more composed as he squinted sleepily. Du Changsheng ignored Li Han’s bloodthirsty gaze, maintaining calm composure with a slight cold smile.
When Li Li was brought to court, the masses roared with commotion. Sound waves surged like tides, making this usually fearless arrogant young master tremble and not dare look back.
Before Long Qi began questioning, he intentionally glanced at Li Han. Duke Wuwei sat motionless in the shadows of the court corner, his expression unclear. Long Qi was somewhat surprised but quickly withdrew his gaze, slapping the gavel with a “crack.”
Questioning, name reporting, routine procedures: “You! Do you know your crimes!” Long Qi shouted loudly.
His voice seemed a bit too high from nervousness? Long Qi quickly cleared his throat, secretly relaxing his constantly tense back. He expected the same as many previous times—Li Li would cry injustice, deny unto death, then hastily conclude with no results and return to custody.
Unexpectedly, a miracle occurred today.
Below in court, the pale, fat Li Li blinked and immediately said: “I know my crimes!”
One statement shocked the masses. The victims’ family members who had been holding their breath, prepared to cause a great disturbance if today’s trial again produced no justice, nearly choked on their suspended breath.
Long Qi froze on his seat, Mao E’s narrow eyes suddenly widened, Du Changsheng’s thick brows raised with a flash of light in his eyes.
Outside the court, noise roared like howling!
Strangely, Li Han remained motionless in the shadows.
Li Li needed no questioning at all, rattling off like beans from a bamboo tube how he abducted people, how he forced himself on them, how he indulged until death, how he disposed of bodies in deep wells—explaining everything clearly and cheerfully, his expression almost gleefully satisfied.
Long Qi sat there stunned, almost thinking Li Li had gone mad. But seeing his normal expression and clear words, describing crimes that matched perfectly, he really couldn’t lie with open eyes claiming mental confusion. Prime Minister Mao had always been a cunning fence-sitter, merely squinting thoughtfully, naturally not saying an extra word. Looking at Duke Wuwei, seeing him sitting rigidly in his chair staring without speaking, while Du Changsheng was already smiling as he had clerks bring the written confession for Li Li to sign and seal.
Li Li looked without looking, excitedly and almost impatiently signing. As his finger fell, tens of thousands of people outside the court cheered in unison.
Long Qi felt like he was in a dream. In his dazed state, just as he was about to routinely request imperial approval for execution, Du Changsheng calmly produced an imperial edict from his sleeve: “His Majesty decrees: if the Li criminal confesses in court, no need to report to authorities for determination—execute immediately!”
The brief edict struck like thunder, shocking and overturning tens of thousands inside and outside the court. Du Changsheng seemed prepared, his expression fierce as he waved his hand. Immediately two exceptionally tall and strong bailiffs rushed out, immediately knocking down Li Li, kicking his knee, stuffing a peach pit in his mouth, gagging and shackling him, dragging him clanking to outside the Ministry of Justice hall. A red-turbaned executioner appeared from nowhere, raising his snow-bright blade. Sunlight after the light rain’s clearing reflected a brilliant, dazzling radiance that hurt the eyes. Over ten thousand people reflexively raised their hands to block the light.
Before hands could be raised, they heard the executioner’s thunderous shout. Blade rising and falling, blood sprayed like a flying fountain over ten feet high. That instant, even the sunlight seemed stained by that blood color, its radiance blood-dark and ominous. A human head rolled gurgling to the ground, rolling several zhang away before the body slowly collapsed.
This sequence was incomparably swift as lightning—decree proclamation, shackling, dragging out, and execution occurred almost instantaneously. So crisp and rapid that people couldn’t follow with their eyes, dazzling and confused. People were still immersed in shock from the sudden imperial edict when the head had already slithered down with thick blood to their feet. Those in court had long become clay sculptures and wooden carvings, while the tens of thousands outside were too shocked and stunned to remember to cheer.
Only much later did the square resound with awakening thunderous applause: “Good!!!”
In their emotional excitement, most people became crazed and wild, chaotically shouting with earth-shaking voices. No one knew what they were shouting, no one wanted to explore what they wanted to shout. They only felt that today’s miraculous dream-like street execution scene was like a painful blood tumor that had long festered suddenly bursting in their hearts and lungs. In the blood’s wild flow was a special explosive pleasure. Long-suppressed emotions burst forth like mountain torrents, pouring down with incomparable satisfaction and exhilaration. This intense emotion stuck in their throats, demanding release, wanting to tear open their chests and roar decisively! No one knew who first rushed forward. The crowd immediately surged forward like chasing waves, shouting, crowding, waving hands and kicking feet. Everyone’s face glowed red with bright eyes, surging like a dark tide toward the Ministry of Justice hall!
Du Changsheng, already forewarned and prepared, waved his hand. Three thousand elite imperial guards appeared in bright armor, silently forming a line before the human tide, their steel-like indifferent expressions, gleaming long blades, and deep black shining armor quickly sobered the frenzied crowd. People no longer tried to advance forward but turned to scramble for Li Li’s head. Someone tore off half an ear, someone dug out an eyeball, someone pulled off half the hair… More people grabbed bits of bloody flesh mixed with mud, laughing as they brought the blood-dripping pieces before those bones, saying: “Girls, you have a bite too!”
Seeing Long Qi had already lost his wits from shock, Du Changsheng decisively took charge, announcing court dismissal and ordering soldiers to disperse the crowd. People lingered long before gradually dispersing. In court, everyone was silent as cicadas. Long Qi still sat stunned with bean-sized sweat drops rolling down his face. Prime Minister Mao’s squinting eyes finally opened wide as he quickly left without a word. Only Li Han remained sitting motionless, blood slowly flowing from his eye corners.
He had literally torn his eye corners from staring.
His facial expression was such that even Du Changsheng dared not look twice. As he packed his things and left, halfway there he couldn’t help but look back, seeing a faint dark shadow flash behind Li Han before vanishing instantly. Then, in the empty, dark Ministry of Justice hall above, a fierce howl suddenly erupted.
Like a lone wolf howling at the moon, a fierce beast surrounded, abandoned by the world in icy wilderness—an endless, bleeding howl of anger, sorrow, pain, and despair.
Beams, columns, tables, and chairs all seemed to tremble, the ground stirring and swirling backward.
Moonlight shattered, darkness fell like a curtain with a whoosh, covering everything. This miserable howl flew with blood sounds, soaking through the bloody deep coolness of this purple night.
Du Changsheng stood frozen in darkness, unable to move a step. When he regained awareness, his back was soaked through heavy clothing.
He slowly turned, gazing toward the palace city, his usually calm, fearless face showing a trace of terror.
The Li Li rape and murder case of dozens of civilian women finally reached its conclusion half a month after the crime’s exposure, in the fastest, most unbelievable, most unimaginable manner with the most unexpected ending.
So-called efficient and crisp, so-called cutting the Gordian knot, so-called shocking—all seemed insufficient to describe the tremor this case brought to Xi Liang’s court and even all people under heaven.
For months afterward, teahouse and tavern topics without exception centered on that day before the Ministry of Justice hall—the death of the Li family young master, torn apart and devoured by thousands of hands and mouths.
Li Li became the most miserably ended noble descendant in Xi Liang’s history.
His luck was truly insufficient.
This case’s impact on the capital was extremely far-reaching. Common people saw the emperor’s wisdom and decisiveness in Li Li’s execution, believing they glimpsed the dawn of a golden age. The powerful saw the young emperor’s cunning and depth, restraining their former arrogance and pride. New nobles of humble birth were jubilant, convinced the emperor would be the greatest sovereign in a thousand years, working energetically to follow the new emperor in creating a magnificent golden age. Except for Li Han, who spent his days in his mansion lost and confused, wondering why his beloved son confessed in court, everyone—regardless of inner turmoil—became active on the surface.
Xiao Jue, who hadn’t personally witnessed that shocking scene at the Ministry of Justice square, was stunned for a long while after learning of Li Han’s experience, even becoming slightly distracted during court sessions.
How did she do it?
How could Li Li possibly confess?
Also, why make the innocent Li Han personally witness his beloved son’s such miserable death?
This last question suddenly made him dejected.
Chang Ge, Chang Ge—returning across lifetimes, has your heart become several degrees colder than before?
The bloodied Ruiyi left you unable to recover warmth, forever deeply resentful?
How can I truly warm you?
Fourth year of Qianyuan, sixth month, in the season when paulownia flowers filled the city with fragrance, trumpet vines under flower walls in deep mansions also bloomed like flames, reaching several zhang high as if climbing clouds.
The career of newly appointed Ministry of Justice Yingdu Administrator Zhao Moyan also rose like these transcendent trumpet vines, step by step reaching the clouds.
Blade-sharp in the Ministry of Justice for less than a month, promoted to Bureau Director for meritorious service in solving the Li Li rape and murder case.
Becoming Xi Liang’s youngest, most rapidly promoted fifth-rank official in history.