Chapter 365 Judgment
After Princess Qiongxiao was captured, the shocking case of skinning people alive, which had terrified the capital, was finally solved.
Neither the court officials nor the common people expected that the princess who once protected the country would turn into a murderous, skinning, and face-changing demon.
Many people petitioned to have Princess Qiongxiao and Master Fu executed by slow slicing as a warning to future generations. Court officials also jointly submitted a memorial requesting the emperor to publicly execute or behead the two main culprits.
After Wen Zhiming ascended the throne, he severely punished corrupt officials and those who used their power to oppress the people. Compared with previous cases, the case of Princess Qiongxiao's skinning was even more brutal and heinous. Even though a few old ministers wanted to ask for a quick death for Princess Qiongxiao because of her past service to the country, they could not convince the public at this time.
In order to appease the public and quell the negative impact of this incident.
Half a month later, with the Emperor's approval, the Court of Judicial Review and the Censorate sentenced the main culprit, Fu Lao, to death by a thousand cuts, Princess Qiongxiao to be beheaded, and the accomplice, Han Cui, to ten years in prison.
Guan Yi'an, an accomplice, was involved in multiple cases and was convicted of several crimes. Due to his infection with snake venom, he will be executed in the autumn.
When the verdict reached the public, the people were very satisfied with the result.
After all, it was Old Fu who was the one who skinned people. This old woman had skinned dozens of people, and in the end, she herself would be torn to pieces. How could that not be considered karma?
Princess Qiongxiao went to great lengths to obtain a young and beautiful face, but in the end, she was beheaded. The face she obtained with blood and lives was ultimately separated from her head. It is true that no matter how cunning she was, she could not escape the justice of heaven.
On the day of the execution, the people surrounded the execution platform, eager to see how ferocious the main culprit in the skinning case looked and how satisfying it was for the people to see him executed.
Unfortunately, only Old Master Fu was brought in as a prisoner. A bailiff rushed in to report, "Princess Qiongxiao tore her clothes into strips, tied them to the iron bars of the prison, and hanged herself."
Hanging himself, using his own clothes as a rope, was a very unseemly way to die. But it was still much more dignified than beheading.
At least it was a complete corpse.
Despite her pride and arrogance, her actions that exemplified righteousness and her heinous crimes, Princess Qiongxiao was ultimately unwilling to appear before the people she had risked her life to save as a prisoner.
She had never been afraid of anything in her life; she had experienced bloodshed, pursuit, and imprisonment. In the end, however, she died because of her selfish desire to pursue youth and beauty. In the final moments of her life, she became a coward.
Although the people were somewhat disappointed, they couldn't just drag the dead bodies over and behead them, especially since there was still one more person left, the skinning demon Fu Lao, whom they hated even more.
Master Fu's skinning technique was unparalleled, but he never expected that he would be executed by slow slicing, especially in front of everyone.
After the officials announced Fu Lao's crimes, the onlookers were already filled with righteous indignation and threw rotten vegetable leaves, rotten eggs, and pebbles at Fu Lao.
Old Fu was no longer the smug and arrogant man he once was. His back was bent, his head was drooping, and his cloudy old eyes were filled with fear and panic.
After the people had vented their anger, the executioner washed Old Fu clean with water and approached him step by step, carrying a sharp and small executioner's knife.
The execution of Lingchi (death by a thousand cuts) required meticulous knife skills. The limbs had to be stabbed first, avoiding vital organs. Although it was the first time the executioner had carried out such a cruel method, he was well-versed in it.
He struck with lightning speed, making crisscrossing cuts with swift and precise movements, fully prepared to ensure that Old Master Fu would survive the final blow.
However, after only ten or so cuts, Old Fu let out a roar, then blood flowed from his seven orifices, and his whole body went limp.
The executioner paused, and the doctor who was watching stepped forward to examine the prisoner and exclaimed, "The prisoner was so frightened that his liver and gallbladder ruptured, and he has died suddenly."
A villain who had skinned several people alive was so terrified that he died while being subjected to the torture of slow slicing.
The people sighed upon hearing this, saying that death absolves debts, which was a good thing for her, sparing her the remaining hundreds of dollars.
After the execution was over, some people applauded and cheered, some were still savoring the moment, and some were still shaken. Green Water, standing in the first row, clenched the white jade gourd in her hand. "Brother, the main culprit who killed you has gone to hell. Now only Guan Yi'an is left, and he doesn't have many days left to live. You can rest in peace now."
After saying that, Lu Shui turned around and walked to the end of the long street, where a luxurious carriage was parked.
Meng Lingge was pregnant and should not see too much bloodshed, but she knew that Lu Shui wanted to see Master Fu and Princess Qiongxiao die with her own eyes, so she came with her and waited at the street corner.
Lu Shui boarded the carriage and briefly recounted Princess Qiongxiao's suicide and Old Master Fu's death from fright.
Meng Lingge wasn't too surprised.
Princess Qiongxiao would stop at nothing to maintain her youth and beauty, so how could she willingly accept being beheaded? Even in death, she would die wearing that hard-won new mask.
As for Old Lady Fu, those skilled with knives often die by their own blades. Given the combined effects of known cruelty and unknown fear, it's understandable that she was frightened to death.
Seeing that Meng Lingge didn't react much to the matter, Lu Shui said...
"Your Majesty, I wish to retrieve my brother's body from the Censorate and find a place to bury him. On holidays and festivals, I will burn some paper money for him. My brother was too kind-hearted. If no one pays his respects, I fear he will be bullied in the afterlife."
Meng Lingge nodded and said, "Since we're out together, I'll go with you. It'll be a while before I need to see Guan Yi'an."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Green Water did not refuse.
With Meng Lingge going along, the yamen runners would certainly not dare to make things difficult for her, and things would proceed more smoothly.
The carriage headed towards the Censorate.
Upon learning of Meng Lingge's arrival, Lord Liu personally greeted her.
"Your Majesty the Empress's presence is an honor. Is it to discuss the case of the prisoner again?"
Meng Lingge would come to see Guan Yi'an every few days, and they had long been used to it.
At first, the yamen runners were puzzled as to why the Empress would visit a prisoner so often. However, after learning that the prisoner had plotted to harm the Empress and the child in her womb, they understood.
Guan Yi'an's days in prison were even more difficult.
Meng Lingge nodded and said, "I'll go to the prison to take a look. I also have something else to discuss with you today. Lushu is a lady-in-waiting by my side. Her brother was the victim of the murder case at Princess Qiongxiao's residence. Now that the case is closed, she wants to take her brother's remains back for burial."
Lord Liu knew about the connection between Meng Lingge and Guan Yi'an, and guessed that she probably wanted to speak to the prisoner alone.
"Then I will go with Miss Green Water to handle the handover of the victim's remains. Your Majesty, please take some people to visit the prison first. If you have any instructions, please send someone to let me know, and I will come to handle it immediately."
"good."
Meng Lingge didn't waste any words with him. After giving Lushui a few instructions, she led the others to the place where Guan Yi'an was being held.
Guan Yi'an was imprisoned in the deepest part of the cell, where serious death row inmates were held.
The few cells were filled with, apart from Guan Yi'an, all the other prisoners were fugitives with fierce faces, thick skin, and ruthless eyes.
Each of them has at least three lives on their hands.
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