With only a few words, Tantai Yi decided the dancer’s fate.
At the mention of witnessing the execution, everyone present turned pale.
Song Pu’s face blanched as well. He had heard of the punishment known as lingchi. The condemned would be tightly bound in a fishing net, and the executioner would slice away the flesh that bulged through the mesh, piece by piece, until nothing remained but bone.
(*TN: 凌迟; lingchi aka “death by a thousand cuts”)
A skilled executioner did not even require the net; he could carve the flesh into thin, uniform slices with frightening precision. Sometimes, even when the punishment was complete, the victim would still have a faint breath left in them, capable only of weak groans. Compared with beheading, hanging, or being torn apart by horses, it was among the most agonising deaths imaginable.
Song Pu’s gaze fell upon the dancer trembling on the ground. Her veil had already slipped away, revealing a youthful, strikingly pretty face. She looked no more than eighteen or nineteen. In the modern world, she would be little more than a secondary-school student.
Because she came from the southern regions, her features were not very different from those of the Liang people, though her eyes were lighter in colour. With tears brimming in them, she appeared all the more pitiful.
Few men could fail to feel sympathy for such a girl.
Song Pu felt a pang of compassion and wanted to plead on her behalf, yet in this atmosphere he could barely protect himself. How could he possibly speak up for her?
After hesitating for several seconds, he ultimately said nothing.
The dancer was dragged away by the guards and taken to the dungeon.
Tantai Yi also seemed to be in a foul mood. The smile that normally hung on his lips like a mask had disappeared. He led Song Pu and the others towards the underground prison.
Tantai Yi walked ahead while Song Pu and the rest trailed several steps behind. Suddenly Li Zongyi tugged him aside. From within his sleeve he produced a small white jade bottle and whispered in Song Pu’s ear,
“This is a calming pill. It’ll help when watching the execution.”
Song Pu accepted it gratefully. His mood was wretched; his cheeks burned, and even his ears felt hot.
Could he really stand there and watch a young girl tortured to death?
He glanced at Li Zongyi and the others. They too looked uneasy, their faces pale as paper.
“…Should we try persuading His Majesty?” Song Pu murmured.
Li Zongyi stared at him in surprise before quickly shaking his head.
“I advise you not to do anything unnecessary. If you anger His Majesty, none of us will escape unscathed.”
Song Pu fell silent.
It wasn’t just him who was afraid, everyone was.
And that was only natural. How could another person’s life ever be more important than one’s own? To risk oneself for a stranger was hardly rational. At best one might receive punishment; at worst one might offend the emperor’s authority and be executed outright.
Song Pu understood all of this.
But when they arrived at the execution chamber and he saw Bai Dai, Chief Justice of the Court, sharpening his knife before the dancer, his emotions moved faster than his reason.
“Wait!”
The single word cracked through the chamber like thunder in the night, shattering the tense silence.
All eyes turned towards Song Pu.
His face flushed red. From the corner of his eye he noticed the emperor’s dark, dangerous gaze resting upon him, and his nerves immediately tightened.
Tantai Yi spoke softly. “Minister Song. What insight do you have?”
Song Pu’s voice trembled. “Well, that is… that…”
As he spoke, a sudden flash crossed his mind. His whole body jolted. He straightened his back and his speech immediately became clear.
“I believe that lingchi alone is far too lenient for her!”
No one had expected him to say such a thing. Tantai Yi seemed intrigued and asked, “How so?”
Song Pu swallowed and said, “Your Majesty is compassionate. To grant this dancer only lingchi means she will suffer for at most two days before it is all over. Moreover, I have heard that when pain reaches its extreme, one ceases to feel it. In my view, such a punishment will not truly serve its purpose. She dared to covet and offend Your Majesty’s sacred person. She deserves death a hundred times over. Perhaps another form of punishment would be more effective.”
The words were extraordinarily bold. Song Pu himself knew it. He had no idea where such courage had come from, yet he simply could not watch a young girl die like this.
If he let it happen, would he not lie awake in the dead of night, unable to sleep whenever the memory returned?
Tantai Yi seemed persuaded.
“What Minister Song says has reason behind it. Then tell me, Minister Song, what method of punishment would be better?”
Song Pu darted a quick glance at the dancer collapsed on the floor, drew a breath, and continued.
“In my view, not only should her body suffer, her spirit should suffer as well. Women under heaven love beauty and cleanliness. They are as delicate as flowers and cannot bear to be broken. From the fact that she did not even spare us a glance, but instead came straight to offend the most exalted person here, Your Majesty, it is clear she is proud and arrogant by nature. If we prescribe the remedy to match the illness, we may achieve a punishment that leaves her wishing for death.”
“Therefore, Your Majesty, why not punish her by making her sweep the palace latrines?”
Li Zongyi and the others drew in a sharp breath. Making a beautiful woman clean latrines was far too cruel.
Yet compared with lingchi, it was still exceedingly mild. How could His Majesty possibly agree?
Everyone could not help glancing at Tantai Yi. The execution chamber was so quiet that the sound of a falling needle could almost be heard.
Tantai Yi listened and regarded Song Pu thoughtfully until sweat began to bead on the latter’s forehead. Only then did he narrow his slender pale-golden eyes and say slowly,
“What Minister Song says is extremely reasonable. Lingchi truly is too lenient for her.”
He then turned to Bai Dai with a trace of puzzlement.
“Minister Bai, is it really true that when pain reaches its extreme one ceases to feel it?”
Bai Dai answered cautiously. “As far as this minister knows, those undergoing punishment find the pain unbearable in the early and middle stages. Toward the end their reactions lessen. Presumably they have grown numb to it.”
Tantai Yi considered for a few seconds.
“In that case, let it be done as Minister Song suggests. Send this woman to sweep the latrines.”
Song Pu quietly let out a breath of relief.
Tantai Yi changed the subject. “I had wished to see Minister Bai’s skill today. Would this not mean returning disappointed?”
He smiled faintly. “How about Minister Song taking her place?”
Song Pu: “…”
Seeing Song Pu’s face turn deathly pale, the bright black of his eyes flickering with tiny sparks of fear, Tantai Yi’s gaze deepened slightly. With an almost intimate gesture he reached out and patted Song Pu on the shoulder.
His voice carried a trace of amusement.
“I was joking. Minister Song need not be afraid.”
Tantai Yi was born with immense strength. Though he only patted Song Pu lightly a few times, Song Pu was naturally far more sensitive to pain than ordinary people. The places struck burned fiercely. His face turned pale from the pain and a mist gathered in his eyes.
Even so, he suppressed the urge to cry, forcing out a strained smile.
“Women are physically weak. However skilled Lord Bai may be, he would find it difficult to display his true mastery. In my opinion, next time we should find a sturdy man instead and observe the execution then. That way Lord Bai may perform to his fullest ability, and our viewing experience will also be greatly improved. What does Your Majesty think?”
Tantai Yi stared at Song Pu’s slightly furrowed delicate brows and the redness around his eyes. A trace of puzzlement flickered in his gaze.
Suddenly he said, “Minister Song.”
Song Pu’s eyelashes trembled slightly. He lifted his eyes to look at Tantai Yi, then quickly lowered them again.
Tantai Yi studied his face.
“Minister Song has rather exceeded my expectations.”
Song Pu’s lips moved. Before he could reply, Tantai Yi shifted his gaze to Cao Xi standing behind him. “Cao Xi, make the arrangements.”
Then, as though dissatisfied, the corner of his lips lifted. With a heavy hint of malice beneath a gentle tone he added, “And cripple the hand with which she touched me.”
Cao Xi bowed. “Yes.”
Tantai Yi swept his gaze over those present. “That will do. Return to the palace.”
Hearing this, Song Pu lowered his eyes. There was little he could do, but at least he had preserved the girl’s life.
*
By the time Song Pu left the palace it was already evening. The orange-red glow of the setting sun stained half the sky, even the clouds dyed crimson. It was a scene of magnificent splendour. Beneath the sunset, the imperial city’s red walls and yellow tiles possessed a stately beauty of their own.
Song Pu glanced back at the palace city. His hand unconsciously rose to touch his neck.
In a single day he had already suffered repeated palpitations and cold sweats. If he remained in such an environment for long, his lifespan would surely be shortened.
He drew a breath and was about to leave when a familiar voice called from behind.
“Song Pu!”
He turned around. It was Li Zongyi and the others.
After a pause he took out the white jade bottle from his robes and handed it over.
“Thank you, Zongyi-ge*. I have not used it yet, so I should return it.”
(*TN: Ge means elder brother. Here, it’s used to address an older male; similar to “Zongyi bro”.)
Li Zongyi did not take it.
“Keep it. Taking one pill from time to time will also help calm the mind.”
Song Pu therefore did not insist. “Many thanks, Zongyi-ge.”
Li Zongyi said, “I was attending on His Majesty earlier and had no chance to speak with you. In future you should refrain from such opportunistic behaviour. If you anger His Majesty, no one will be able to save you.”
Song Pu knew he meant well. Yet he himself did not understand why, though he had been terrified, he had still spoken up for the dancer.
Perhaps it was because he had grown up in a peaceful age where all people were equal, and so he could not help caring about a human life.
Just like the heroes often reported in the news who, even knowing they might die, still rush forward to save others. That spirit of self-sacrifice seemed to run in their blood. No matter the era, there would always be someone willing to step forward.
He did not regret it. Still, there was little point explaining it to Li Zongyi. He simply smiled and nodded.
“Zongyi-ge is right. I shall be more careful in future.”
Li Zongyi’s tone softened. Looking at him, he laughed.
“Even so, what you did today was truly astonishing. After falling ill once, your courage has grown considerably. You even dared to talk back to His Majesty.”
Song Pu said seriously, “It was not talking back. It was a reasonable suggestion. His Majesty is handsome, of exalted status, and possesses an excellent capacity for drink. In every respect he surpasses us. It is understandable that the dancer should favour His Majesty over the rest of us. After all, who would prefer a stone after seeing a pearl?”
“But that dancer actually skipped over us entirely and coveted His Majesty’s sacred person, hoping to rise to the heavens in a single step. A toad wanting to eat swan’s flesh. It is truly infuriating. In my opinion even lingchi would not be enough. Making her sweep the latrines is better. She can watch her lovely face and youthful body wither day by day through labour, even have the stench of the latrines seep into her very bones…”
Song Pu raised his head and sighed. “How tragic. It would move listeners to sorrow and bring tears to the eyes. Yet for such a proud and wicked woman, it could not be more fitting!”
Li Zongyi and the others stared at him dumbfounded. After a long moment one finally said, “I find myself at a loss for words.”
They even began to feel he had a point.
Song Pu sniffed and declared firmly,
“So you see, I truly acted for His Majesty’s sake. With His Majesty’s status, strength and appearance, second to none beneath heaven, how could he be casually offended? With that dancer as an example, let us see what woman will still dare to overestimate herself and offend His Majesty’s sacred person.”
Having said this, Song Pu cupped his hands to Li Zongyi and the others.
“My mother is waiting for me to come home for dinner. I shall take my leave first. Zongyi-ge, Jiangming-ge see you tomorrow. Gu-de-bai*!”
(*TN: the raws are 古德拜 gu de bai… goodbye…heehee.)
With that he slipped away at once, leaving Li Zongyi and the others staring at one another.
“Gu… gu-de-bai? What does that mean?”
“No idea.”
…
