Jingkang Female General

"By imperial decree, the traitor Liang Wu colluded with the enemy and evaded battle. His crimes are unforgivable. The authorities are ordered to deal with the Liang family's dependents according to the law. Liang Hongyu, dismount quickly and surrender!" The local constables of Jingkou were familiar to Liang Hongyu. On ordinary days, when these constables bullied the common folk, Liang Hongyu would always step forward and speak up for justice. Thus, these constables, though harboring resentment, dared not speak ill of the eldest daughter of the Liang family. Due to the Liang family's military status, they could only fawn and flatter. But now, the constables had a different demeanor. Finally, they had an opportunity to vent their frustrations. Liang Hongyu was somewhat flustered, not out of fear for herself, but for her father. They called her father a traitor. What crime had he committed? Hongyu knew that as a young woman, she could not possibly escape the capture of these well-trained soldiers. Moreover, her father had taught her since childhood not to oppose the authorities, and that he would handle everything. Therefore, Hongyu was relatively obedient. She calmly dismounted and stood before the constables, offering a bow. "Brother Constable, may this humble girl know where my father is now? And for what crime has he been accused?" "Guards, bring the criminal girl Liang Hongyu a cangue," the constable ignored Hongyu and first ordered someone to place a heavy wooden cangue around Liang Hongyu's neck, preventing her escape. He knew that Liang Hongyu had practiced martial arts since childhood and he himself might not be able to defeat her. As the wooden cangue was fitted around Liang Hongyu's head, the two planks closed, trapping her neck. There were two round holes in the front of the cangue, which Hongyu knew were for her hands. Before the constables could act, Hongyu extended her hands from beneath the cangue. The constables looked at the obedient Hongyu. They had originally planned to slap her if she resisted. Now, there was no opportunity. So, they brought a pair of hand shackles and fastened them over Hongyu's extended hands, above the wooden cangue. The side bars of the wooden cangue were locked, and the lower bars of the hand shackles were also secured with copper locks. Hongyu looked at her attire, too ashamed to lift her head. This was the garb of a criminal. "Guards, bring the shackles." "Brother, do I still need shackles? I won't run, please don't lock my feet, alright?" "As the family of a traitor, how can you not be shackled? Your crime could lead to the execution of the entire family. These shackles are necessary." Hongyu was helpless. In this era, everything was decided by the authorities. What could a woman like her do? A three-foot-long shackle was brought over. It was entirely black, with patches of rust. The rings were formed by bending two narrow iron strips into semicircles. The two iron rings were fastened around Hongyu's ankles. The constable threaded a copper lock through the joined ends of the iron rings. The shackles were now locked. At this moment, the shackles were still somewhat loose, and Hongyu was wearing boots. Hongyu took a couple of steps to test them. Apart from the pulling sensation from the weight of the chain, it was not too uncomfortable overall. Just then, the Prefect arrived. This Prefect was a frequent visitor to the Liang family and considered an acquaintance. Upon arrival, the Prefect took Liang Hongyu to a corner, away from the other soldiers. "Niece, do not blame your uncle. I am merely following orders. Brother Liang has been sentenced to beheading for the fall of Hangzhou. For now, please endure. I will see if I can help you avoid punishment." Liang Hongyu's head exploded. She suddenly felt the world spin, losing her balance and collapsing onto the ground. What had her father done to deserve beheading? After a long while, a heart-wrenching cry echoed. "Father! Father! If you leave, how can your daughter live?" Looking at Liang Hongyu, who was slumped on the ground, crying with tears streaming down her face, the Prefect of Jingkou did not know how to comfort her. He could only beckon someone to bring a stool for Liang Hongyu to sit on. After a while, her crying subsided. Liang Hongyu used her shackled hands to wipe away her tears. Restricted by the wooden cangue, only two fingers touched the corners of her eyes. After a simple wipe, Hongyu knelt before the Prefect with a thud. The pull of the shackles almost caused her to fall. "Uncle, tell Hongyu the truth. My father could not have colluded with the enemy. He taught Hongyu loyalty and patriotism since childhood, how could he have colluded with the enemy? Hongyu wants to know who framed my father to have him executed." "Alas, what use is it for you to know? Can you go and seek revenge?" "Yes, Hongyu wants to avenge her father. I beg you, Uncle. In my next life, I will repay you by being your ox or horse." "Alas, you do not understand the ways of officialdom. Fang La's rebellion has enraged the court, and someone must take responsibility. Ultimately, it was the extravagant gifts to the emperor that caused this. However, Lord Zhu Mian of the Imperial Supply Bureau is a close confidant of the current Prime Minister Wang Fu. Your father had impeached Zhu Mian regarding these gifts, and thus offended him. Now that you know, what can you do? Run to Tokyo to find Lord Wang? Not to mention that you cannot reach Tokyo, but even if you did, what then? Zhu Mian and Wang Fu are favorites of the Emperor. Forget about you, even Lord Li Gang impeached Wang Fu, and what happened? He was still demoted and dismissed. Forget it, I can try my best to get you a lighter punishment. That would be doing justice to Brother Liang." Liang Hongyu raised her shackled hands high, clenching her fists. Her face turned red due to the pull of the wooden cangue. Hongyu thought to herself, just wait, wait until I am released from prison, and I will surely find them to avenge myself. "Thank you, Uncle. Hongyu remembers. Wang Fu and Zhu Mian colluded, and for the sake of the extravagant gifts, they threw Jiangnan into chaos, which led to Fang La's rebellion. Now, they have falsely accused my father of colluding with the enemy. Such treacherous officials deserve to be punished by everyone." The Prefect waved his hand at Liang Hongyu. "Niece, speak cautiously, speak cautiously. Beware of words leading to disaster. Let us not speak of them for now. Niece, you are currently a prisoner yourself. Please bear with it for some time. You will need to be escorted to prison. If there is an opportunity, I will help you avoid punishment." The wet nurse brought another set of shackles, slightly thicker than the previous ones, an anvil, a hammer, and a box of rivets. Hong Yu's left foot was pulled over by the wet nurse and placed beside the anvil. The shackle's ring clasped Hong Yu's ankle. This time, the ring was much smaller, fitting snugly against her ankle. Once the ring was closed, the wet nurse took a rivet and inserted it from bottom to top through the aligned holes of the shackle. "Why aren't you locking it? How will this be opened once the nail is hammered in?" Hong Yu panicked, quickly pulling back her left foot in resistance. Two wet nurses stepped forward and restrained the struggling Hong Yu. The wet nurse holding the hammer continued to hold Hong Yu's left foot, re-fastening the shackle around her ankle. "You are a grave offender, and must be put in death shackles. This is the court's rule." Without further ado, the rivet was again passed through the aligned holes of the shackle. A "clang" sounded as the rivet was hammered, deforming slightly. Hong Yu felt a vibration in her ankle from the iron ring. Fortunately, it didn't hurt, only a tingling sensation. "Hold the female prisoner down, I'm going to use force." The other two wet nurses increased their strength, pressing Hong Yu down firmly. "Clang, clang, clang, clang." Under repeated heavy blows, the rivet quickly collapsed, completely blocking the hole and flattening out on the outside. These hammered-shut shackles could not be opened without specialized tools. After being riveted shut, Hong Yu finally felt the coldness of the shackles. With her left foot secured, the wet nurse pulled out Hong Yu's right foot. The shackle was fastened, the rivet inserted. As the hammer fell, the right shackle was also firmly locked onto Hong Yu's right foot. Once both shackles were riveted shut, the wet nurses released Hong Yu. As Hong Yu stood up, she felt the discomfort of her feet being bound. Moving her feet produced a clinking sound, and the pressure of the shackles on her skin brought a piercing pain. The shackles were now completely fixed to her feet. Before Hong Yu could catch her breath, a set of hand shackles was brought over. These were much larger than the wooden cangue she had been in, about two feet long and one foot wide. The frame of the shackles was studded with iron nails, clearly a sturdy device. The shackles were placed on Hong Yu's hands, and the plates were closed. Hong Yu could feel the biting force of the shackles; her hands could not be pulled out. The insertion piece securing the shackles below was also locked with a copper lock. A collar was then fastened around Hong Yu's neck. It was shaped like a larger shackle ring. The collar closed in front of Hong Yu's neck and was secured with a copper lock. "Get up, we're taking you to the cells." A wet nurse kicked Hong Yu, ordering her to rise. Hong Yu tried to steady herself by leaning on the wall, but the wooden cangue was too large, preventing her hands from reaching the wall. She could only support herself on the ground. She slowly stood up. The wet nurse led the way, with Hong Yu following behind. This time, without shoes, the shackles not only restricted Hong Yu's stride but also chafed the delicate skin of her ankles. Coupled with the pebbles on the ground pressing against the soles of her feet after her shoes were removed, Hong Yu could barely walk a few steps before the pain became unbearable. "Hurry up, this is nothing. Many death row inmates wear much heavier shackles and still walk." Hong Yu had no choice but to grit her teeth, enduring the pain in her ankles and the soles of her feet, and moved forward. The entire prison echoed with the clanking of her shackles dragging on the ground, drawing the attention of the female inmates in the surrounding cells. Finally, they reached the entrance of the prison. The wet nurse unlocked the iron chain with a key, then pulled Hong Yu to the doorway and kicked her in the backside. Hong Yu stumbled forward and fell onto the cell floor. Her hands, bumped by the holes of the wooden cangue, were in agony. Her feet were also tripped by the shackles. Hong Yu cursed inwardly. At this moment, a wet nurse brought over an iron chain and locked it onto the collar around Hong Yu's neck. The chain was securely fastened to the wall, a measure to prevent female inmates from escaping. After locking the collar, Hong Yu heard the sound of the cell door being locked behind her. "Stay put in the cell, and don't think about escaping." After the warning, the wet nurses left. Hong Yu turned and saw that the adjacent cells were filled with female prisoners from Fang La's rebel army. Since they hadn't changed into prison uniforms and were still wearing their own military attire, it seemed Fang La's rebellion had recruited many women. Like Hong Yu, they were all equipped with shackles, hand restraints, and collars. Two prisoners were even wearing wooden cangues. The cangues had seals attached, suggesting they were the inmates with the most serious crimes. Through conversation, Hong Yu learned that Zhu Mian had extorted the local populace in Jiangnan to collect rare and beautiful stones, causing many families to be ruined. These women were forced by the authorities, with no means of survival, and had no choice but to follow Fang La in rebellion. This made Liang Hongyu re-evaluate her own situation. At least she had lived a life of privilege and was not forced into rebellion. Now, many here faced execution, while her own fate was still undecided, and she was still alive. That night, Hong Yu slept poorly. The new environment was filled with a foul odor, and the restraints on her body were suffocating. Hong Yu only managed to doze fitfully, spending the night adjusting the position of her shackles, trying to adapt to the changes brought by her new attire. In the morning, Hong Yu was awakened by shouting. Four male constables entered the women's ward. Many female inmates with tattered clothes got up and tried to hide. Some of their clothes were no longer sufficient to cover them. Hong Yu quickly looked down at her own prison uniform. Fortunately, hers was new and did not expose any skin. Even so, Hong Yu used her shackled hands to adjust her uniform, feeling as if she had already been exposed. "Female inmates Sun Hongjing and Zhang Xiayun, come out." Hong Yu saw the two female inmates wearing wooden cangues get up. "Today, you two will be taken to the execution ground. We will bind you now. Cooperate with the binding, do not struggle, or you will be bound tighter. Do you understand?" "We understand." The two condemned women replied with flat expressions. Since they had chosen the path of rebellion, they knew they would eventually be beheaded. They had accepted their fate. Hong Yu slowly shuffled her shackled feet to the entrance of her cell. With her hands in restraints, she couldn't grip the bars, so she squatted down to watch the two condemned women. The constables removed the wooden cangues from the two women, and unfastened the collars around their necks. The shackles remained, not removed. "Alright, Brother Shizhong, can you tell me about it? How was this Rainbow Bridge built? Why is there no bridge support," Hongyu could tell that Han Shizhong was showing off. Han Shizhong pondered for a long time without figuring it out, then waved his hand. "Who cares? As long as someone can build it, we can just admire it." Liang Hongyu pointed at Han Shizhong and shook her head with a smile. This was also her first time seeing the Rainbow Bridge in Tokyo. On the bridge, men and women leaned on the railings, admiring the scenery of the Bian River. Shops lined both ends of the bridge, with all sorts of people coming and going, creating a scene of prosperity and peace. This area was not yet within the city limits of Tokyo, but due to the convenient transport from the pier, it was already very bustling. People from the city, both men and women, loved to come to the Rainbow Bridge to court. In the Great Song Dynasty, men and women were much more open than in the Tang Dynasty. Women were not restricted in any way, except that they could not hold official positions in the court. Women engaging in business were also commonplace. Hongyu followed Han Shizhong to the Rainbow Bridge. It was a single-arch bridge spanning the river, with a span of seven to eight *zhang*. It was supported only by the piers at both ends and the massive mortise and tenon joints of the wooden structure. There were no intermediate support points, and its shape resembled a flying rainbow, hence its name, the Rainbow Bridge. The people by the roadside saw a military officer arrive with a beautiful woman and stopped to watch. Although she wore a veil, it was evident that she was stunning. Tokyo had no shortage of beautiful young ladies, but few could compare to Liang Hongyu. Moreover, this beauty was wearing shackles and manacles, yet she didn't appear to be a female convict. Thus, as before, a crowd began to gather, making Liang Hongyu blush. She quickly grabbed Han Shizhong's arm, while Han Shizhong proudly strode ahead, chest puffed out, unafraid, as if declaring, "This is my woman. So what? Envious? So what if she's wearing shackles and manacles? I like female convicts. What are you going to do about it? If you have the guts, go like a female convict too!" Hahaha. Hongyu felt a sense of shame due to the shackles and manacles on her hands and feet. She avoided the gaze of the crowd, taking each step carefully to avoid the clanking of the foot shackles. Finally, she stepped onto the Rainbow Bridge and stood at its highest point, looking at the winding Bian River flowing out of Tokyo, its destination unknown. It might flow from Tokyo into the Yangtze River and reach Jingkou. "What are you thinking about? Come, try this." Han Shizhong handed Hongyu a cup of fragrant drink. "Where did you buy it?" Hongyu asked, a little confused. She hadn't seen it earlier. How did this fellow get it? It was bought by Han Shizhong's personal guards. His soldiers were much smarter than Han Shizhong. The drink was sweet and delicious as it went down her throat. Hongyu found herself liking Tokyo's fragrant drinks. In Jingkou, they usually only drank tea, and fragrant drinks were rare. In Tokyo, they were almost everywhere. "There's perilla in this, it's called a Perilla Drink. I saw you were bound in the prisoner cart, enduring the wind and sun, and you seemed to be coughing. This can relieve it. I sent someone to buy it from the other side. Hehe," Han Shizhong explained, scratching his head. He hadn't drunk it much himself; this was his first time trying it out. Hongyu looked up and indeed saw a shop on the opposite side with a sign advertising Perilla Drinks. This big fool was actually thoughtful. After descending the Rainbow Bridge, Han Shizhong, fearing that the shackles would impede Hongyu's walking, suggested hiring a carriage to take her into the city. Hongyu refused. "I want to walk into the city with you, Brother Shizhong. I'm already used to these shackles. Taking a carriage would diminish this beautiful memory. I want to walk all the way to Tokyo with you, Brother Shizhong." Entry into the city required verification of documents. Han Shizhong presented his military registration and Liang Hongyu's camp follower registration to the inspecting soldiers. "Why is this female convict not wearing restraints?" "She is, sir. Please look." Hongyu quickly pulled up her long skirt, revealing her foot shackles, and then extended her hand to show her manacles. The officer glanced at them and then grumbled, allowing them to enter the city. Soon, they passed through the bustling streets and arrived at the Ministry of Justice Prison. All prisoners escorted from other regions to the capital were to be held at the Ministry of Justice Prison. Liang Hongyu's journey to the capital was to clear her name and restore her civilian status. She would still be imprisoned first, and then released according to the imperial amnesty or other official documents. "Jingkou female convict Liang Hongyu has arrived." "Do you have the relevant official documents? Entry permit for the capital." "Yes. The female convict belongs to the Jingkou Camp Followers of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. This is the commendation memorial from Grand Councilor Tong Guan." Liang Hongyu handed over all the documents specially approved by Tong Guan to the gatekeeper of the Ministry of Justice Prison. Upon receiving them, the gatekeeper quickly reported to his superior. They dared not refuse Tong Guan's orders. "Very well, you will be imprisoned today. Tomorrow, someone from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices will come for interrogation. Guards, escort the female convict Liang Hongyu to the 'Di' character cell." An official came forward and grabbed Hongyu's arm on each side, preparing to escort her away. Hongyu suddenly turned around and looked at Han Shizhong. "General, I am merely a lowly camp follower. I am truly unworthy of you, and I will bring you infamy. I do not wish for you to be disgraced. Moreover, my fate in coming to the capital is uncertain. If I fail to bring them down this time, please forget me, General. The journey into the capital just now has already satisfied me. I have no regrets in this life." Han Shizhong understood. Hongyu's unusual behavior throughout their journey, whether it was her unreasonable demands or her playful banter, was her way of repaying him. She had come with a resolve to die. Han Shizhong quickly stepped forward, grabbed Liang Hongyu's hands, and shook his head. "No, I will never let anything happen to you. You must also be careful. You have a straightforward nature; do not confront them directly. As I said before, if you encounter any difficulties, come to the military camp to find me." At this moment, a soldier called out to Han Shizhong to rejoin his unit. The Ministry of Justice Prison was not a place Han Shizhong could control. Shizhong reluctantly released Liang Hongyu's hands, repeatedly admonished her, and then bid her a reluctant farewell before returning to his troops. The 'Di' character cell was a prison specifically for female convicts at the Ministry of Justice. Unlike local prisons where men and women were held together, this prison in the capital was properly managed. Because of Tong Guan's personal commendation memorial, the Ministry of Justice Prison treated them with relative courtesy. Without any further actions, Hongyu was escorted into the cell. Hongyu lay down to rest as soon as she entered. Less than an hour after lying down, she was dragged from the bed. "Your name is Liang Hongyu, isn't it?" a female guard asked, grabbing Hongyu's hair. The Autumn Grand Ceremony is tomorrow, the ninth day of the ninth month. Tonight, you will be confined to the cage beds. Cooperate obediently, lest you suffer physical torment." Hu Sanniang and Liang Hongyu nodded in agreement. The jailers unlocked the handcuffs and collars of the two female death row inmates. They then placed heavy wooden yokes around their heads. These yokes were specifically designed to be used with the cage beds, weighing over twenty catties and reinforced with iron bands, making them impossible to escape even for the heroes of Liangshan. Once the wooden yokes were closed, they were locked securely with bronze locks. The inmates' hands were then pulled through the two round holes in front of the yokes and secured with hand shackles. These shackles were tighter than the ones Hongyu had worn before, preventing her from even turning her wrists. These were also special shackles for death row inmates, designed to prevent escape. After the yokes were locked, the two female inmates were fitted with gags and blindfolded. They were being escorted to a secret holding area for death row inmates to prevent them from knowing the route and attempting an escape. Once all measures were completed, the jailers unlocked the shackles on their feet and the chains on the ground, then pushed them out of the death row cells. Hongyu dragged the twenty-catty death row shackles, turning and twisting, unsure how many times, before being pushed down more than ten steps into the death row holding area. It was a row of cage beds stretching as far as the eye could see, likely twenty or thirty in total. All death row inmates, regardless of gender, were to be confined to these cage beds. Hongyu and Hu Sanniang's blindfolds were removed. Hongyu opened her eyes and was stunned by the sight. Six male death row inmates were already confined to the cage beds, with only their heads and hands exposed. Their feet were also locked outside, unseen. With them were five female death row inmates, three of whom had been transported from counties under Jiangning Prefecture. Because they were escorted into Jiangning, their crimes were sealed on their yokes. Two were women convicted of adultery and murder, and one was a female spy from the Liao Kingdom. The following is the procedure for confining the five female death row inmates to the cage beds. The jailers lifted the upper garments of the female inmates, pushing them up to their necks and forearms beneath the yokes. The five women cried out in unison, trying to crouch down to avoid this humiliating process. However, without exception, the jailers grabbed their yokes from behind and lifted them. With the women together and their upper garments removed, it was inevitable that their chests would be compared. Relatively speaking, the Liao Kingdom female inmate had the largest breasts, which was to be expected for a northerner. Next was Hu Sanniang; women from Shandong were also known for their boldness and fullness. The two women convicted of adultery and Liang Hongyu were both southerners, with relatively smaller breasts. However, Hongyu's were undoubtedly the most beautiful, in perfect proportion to her body. The other women fell silent upon seeing Hongyu's breasts, and even the Liao Kingdom inmate looked at Liang Hongyu with a hint of envy. This made Hongyu blush even more, as not only male jailers but also six male death row inmates were staring at her intently. Fortunately, all the inmates had their mouths gagged, preventing them from uttering any lewd remarks. "Once you are on the cage bed, you cannot move. The cover plate has long nails. If you need to relieve yourself, speak up quickly. Once you are on the cage bed, it will not be opened until tomorrow morning." At this, the five female inmates cried out in unison, all needing to relieve themselves. The jailers had anticipated this and led the women to the innermost part of the cell, where a drainage ditch was located. All feces and urine could be channeled through here to the sewers of Jiangning City. The five female inmates lined up and squatted beside the drainage ditch. The sound of rushing water, mixed with the sounds of individual inmates defecating, could be considered a beautiful melody. After relieving themselves, the five female inmates were taken to the cage beds one by one. First was the Liao Kingdom spy. The jailers lifted the inmate and placed her onto a cage bed near the male inmates. The wooden yoke was fitted into the slot of the cage bed. Her feet were placed into the semicircular notches of the foot shackles, with the leg irons left outside. Then, the other half of the foot shackles was closed and locked. The iron chains beneath the cage bed were pulled one by one and tightly fastened around the inmate's chest, abdomen, buttocks, and thighs. Then, a cover plate studded with iron nails was brought over and placed downwards onto the inmate's cage bed. The four corners of the cover plate were secured with long nails. "Mmmph mmmph," the Liao Kingdom inmate cried out incoherently, likely due to the nails piercing some part of her body. Hongyu guessed it was her breasts, as they were exceptionally large. The nails on the cover plate were likely designed for the physique of a southern woman. Next were the two women convicted of adultery and murder. After "What is your name?" "This humble woman's surname is Zhang, given name Wan'er." Hong Yu had used a forged official pass to stay at the inn. Her false name was Zhang Wan'er. "We received a secret report. You are the one who assassinated Lord Zhu, aren't you?" "No, this humble woman knows nothing." The soldiers, without further ado, stepped forward and placed a wooden cangue on Hong Yu, chaining her neck and roughly shoving her out of the inn. Poor Hong Yu, having been free of shackles for only a few days, was once again subjected to a cangue. Fearing she might harm innocent bystanders, Hong Yu did not resist, allowing the soldiers to apprehend her. Arriving at the Jiangning Prefecture yamen, Hong Yu was brought to the main hall. With a stern shout, "Kneel!" Hong Yu was forced to the ground. "Who is this kneeling person? State your name truthfully!" "This humble woman is Zhang Wan'er from Tokyo." "Your official pass is forged. The inn might not have noticed, but I can. If you don't speak the truth, beware of torture." "This humble woman speaks the truth in every word, please, my lord, discern it." Hong Yu did not wish to reveal her true identity. That would bring shame upon the Liang family. Her recently cleared name would be tarnished again, and she would be convicted a second time. "This female prisoner refuses to confess truthfully. Guards, bring the拶刑 (zān xíng - finger torture)!" The yamen runners, obeying the order, fetched the instruments for拶指 (zān zhǐ - finger pressing). They inserted wooden sticks between Hong Yu's fingers. With the cangue on, the拶指 was imminent. Her hands were trapped by these sticks, impossible to dislodge. "Begin the torture!" The yamen runners, one on each side, pulled the ropes of the拶指. Pulled by the ropes, the row of wooden sticks pressed inward between Hong Yu's fingers. As the saying goes, all ten fingers are connected to the heart. It was indeed true. Hong Yu watched her fingers being crushed by the拶指 sticks. Her heart felt as if it were being pierced by a hundred silver needles. For the first time, Hong Yu cried out piercingly, abandoning all pretense of composure. Her hands thrashed back and forth, trying to escape the pressure of the拶指. As Hong Yu's cangue swayed back and forth, the two yamen runners moved with it. But no matter how they moved, the pulling force never lessened. Hong Yu wanted to stand up and drag the torture device out of the hall. She lifted one foot, only to have her shoulder firmly pressed down. Behind Hong Yu, the two yamen runners, one hand gripping the cangue board, the other pressing on Hong Yu's shoulder. Her kneeling feet were also pinned by the yamen runners with water-fire clubs, rendering her immobile. This was to force Hong Yu to endure the拶指 torture; escape was impossible. Although Hong Yu had recovered from the caning she received at Kaifeng Prefecture, she was still a young woman and could not resist the combined pressure of four yamen runners. Even though Hong Yu's fingers were bleeding profusely, the yamen runners showed no signs of stopping. It looked like they intended to break her fingers. Hong Yu could no longer bear it. With a choked sob, her hair disheveled, tears and snot streaming down her face, Hong Yu's cangue crashed to the ground. Hong Yu fainted. Only then did the yamen runners release their grip. "Reporting to my lord. The female prisoner has fainted." "So weak under torture. Guards, first shackle this female prisoner and confine her to the prison. We will interrogate her again tomorrow." A yamen runner brought a pair of shackles. He pulled up Hong Yu's skirt, intending to shackle her ankles. At that moment, one yamen runner exclaimed, "My lord, this female prisoner has shackles marks on her ankles." They all observed closely. Indeed, there were marks on Hong Yu's ankles. "Jingkou Prison Special Ten Pounds." It turned out that the shackles in the Great Song Dynasty had incised characters on the inner side of the shackle ring, used to identify the origin of the instrument and prevent private resale. It was like official seals on treasury silver. The Jingkou shackles also bore the location and weight of the instrument. Hong Yu's long-term wear of these shackles had inevitably transferred the marks to her ankles. "Jingkou is not far from Jiangning. Send someone to Jingkou Zhenjiang Prefecture to check the prison records and see which female prisoner has used ten-pound shackles." After arranging the search, Hong Yu was still fitted with Jiangning Prefecture shackles. This time, they were twenty-pound shackles, double the weight of what Hong Yu had worn before. This was because ten pounds were for minor offenders, while twenty pounds were for female death row inmates. Hong Yu's execution of Zhu Mian would undoubtedly result in a death sentence, so they immediately fitted her with death row shackles according to the standard. Confined to the death row cell, Liang Hong Yu had not yet regained consciousness. She was dragged in, and her clothes were changed by the jailers. Her original clothes were removed and replaced with a red death row uniform. The front of the death row uniform bore the character "死" (sǐ - death), and the back bore the character "囚" (qiú - prisoner), clearly identifying her as a condemned inmate awaiting execution. Sharing the cell with Hong Yu was another female death row inmate. She wore the same death row uniform as Hong Yu, also with twenty-pound shackles. Her hands were bound by half-foot-long manacles. She helped Hong Yu sit by the wall and gently patted her to wake her. Under the calls of her fellow inmate, Hong Yu finally woke up. The first thing she did upon waking was to raise her hands. The cangue had been removed. Her hands were now bound by half-foot-long manacles, connected to the collar around her neck. "It hurts so much." Hong Yu looked at her swollen, misshapen fingers. The blood had already congealed. When she tried to make a fist, a piercing pain shot through her fingers. Wang Fu was furious because he knew that Empress Meng would definitely inform Li Shishi about Liang Hongyu. If Li Shishi got involved, he would be in a passive position. Therefore, he had to obtain sufficient evidence and then execute Hongyu to get through this smoothly. How could a woman like Hongyu withstand the strength of the men in the Imperial City Department? Her palm was forced open, and her handprint was then pressed onto the confession. Wang Fu was overjoyed to receive the confession. "Good, since the criminal has confessed, now, the rebel offender Liang Hongyu shall be executed by hanging, to be carried out immediately." The officials of the Imperial City Department originally wanted to follow the normal procedure, but seeing the Prime Minister's urgency, they dared not delay. So they untied Hongyu's restraints and prepared for the execution. Untied, Hongyu was half-lying on the ground. She knew she couldn't escape today. A night was enough for Wang Fu to kill her. Her husband, Shijie, and Sister Hu probably didn't even know her situation. Forget it, she had to pay the price for her impulsiveness. Hongyu cupped her hands over her breasts. Her breasts, having been subjected to torture, ached at the slightest touch. Hongyu endured the pain, unwilling to be further humiliated. "Wang Fu, I didn't expect to survive falling into your hands today. But I have one request before my execution, please grant it." "Alright, tell me." Wang Fu looked at Hongyu with a smile, what request could a person facing death have? "I wish to dress before my execution. Please preserve my final dignity." Wang Fu thought it made sense. If Li Shishi were to inspect the body, having clothes would be better. So he nodded in agreement. "Give her a set of prison clothes." The jailer brought a set of prison clothes and threw them in front of Hongyu. Hongyu struggled to get up and put on the prison clothes. The clothes were much too large, but at least her private parts were covered. Only then did Hongyu kneel down, extending her arms behind her back. This was the standard posture for binding a death row inmate, Hongyu knew. In the end, even if she had to be bound, she wanted to be in control. "Bind me." The jailer, seeing Wang Fu nod, took hemp ropes and placed them on Hongyu's shoulders, through her armpits, wrapped around her arms, tied in a knot behind her hands, and then the rope passed through a loop behind her neck and pulled down. Hongyu was sentenced to hanging, so the noose for strangulation was not tied. The binding was complete. A prisoner's tag, a large board with "Rebel Female Offender Liang Hongyu" written on it, was hung on Hongyu's chest. This was the same as the death warrant for beheading. After the preparations were complete, Hongyu, dragging her death row shackles, was escorted out of the door. When she entered the prison today, Hongyu had seen the execution ground of the Imperial City Department. It wasn't far, but every step Hongyu took now was agony. Her entire body had been tortured, and there was no part that didn't hurt. After finally reaching the execution ground, the sun had already risen in the east. The slanting sunlight shone on the wall of the execution ground. Hongyu smiled charmingly, this was the last time she would see the sun. Then Hongyu was pushed onto the gallows and stood on a movable plank. Hongyu could see the swaying corpses of female death row inmates next to her. She would probably be hung here for a long time too. A noose dangled down. The jailer placed the noose around Hongyu's neck and tightened the loop. "My lord, the female death row inmate Liang Hongyu is ready. Shall we proceed with the execution?" Wang Fu looked at Liang Hongyu, who was glaring at him angrily, and felt a pang of guilt. "Miss Hongyu, I don't necessarily have to be at odds with you. Why did you insist on holding onto me so tightly? I can only say that you brought this upon yourself. Don't blame me when you get to the underworld. Alas, guards, prepare for execution." Hongyu closed her eyes. The noose tightened around her neck, making it difficult to breathe. With a "clang," Hongyu's body trembled. Was that the sound of the wooden plank beneath her feet being opened? Hongyu's legs went weak, and the noose tightened around her neck... But why didn't she fall? Hongyu opened her eyes again. At this moment, Hongyu saw the yamen runners from Kaifeng Prefecture entering the gate. Wang Fu was startled. Why had the yamen runners from Kaifeng Prefecture come in? The one leading them was Prince Kang, Zhao Gou. Zhao Gou was Zhao Heng's younger brother. He had no official position and was temporarily handling affairs for Kaifeng Prefecture on behalf of Zhao Heng. "Your subordinate pays his respects to His Highness Prince Kang." Wang Fu could only bow his head upon seeing Zhao Gou. Zhao Gou ignored Wang Fu and quickly walked to the gallows, removing the noose from Hongyu's neck. "Sister, are you alright?" "Your Highness Prince Kang, am I dreaming?" Hongyu staggered and fell into Zhao Gou's arms. "Don't say anything, I'll take you away." Zhao Gou helped Hongyu down from the gallows. "By imperial decree of my brother, the case of Liang Hongyu's assassination shall be handled by Kaifeng Prefecture. What do you say, Prime Minister Wang?" Zhao Gou disagreed. "What's wrong with women? Didn't the Yang family women all go on the expedition? Besides, this time, I'm just wearing the cangue for you. I already have permanent shackles, so adding a wooden cangue isn't difficult. For the dignity of the Great Song, please allow His Majesty and the Prince of Kang." Zhao Heng knew they were fellow disciples and would look out for each other, so he agreed. With a prince secured, a prime minister was still needed. The current prime ministers were Bai Shizhong and Li Bangyan, but both were surrenderists and cowards who refused to be hostages. In the end, they recommended Zhang Bangchang, the current deputy prime minister, as a hostage. Zhao Heng agreed, as he still needed Bai Shizhong and Li Bangyan to handle court affairs. Thus, the two hostages were chosen. Next, it was time to put cangues on the accompanying personnel. Hong Yu would wear the cangue in place of Zhao Gou, and Zhang Bangchang's servant would wear it in place of him. As per the Jin people's demands, the Imperial City Department procured two iron cangues. These cangues were two feet long and two feet wide, two inches thick, and completely wrapped with iron sheeting studded with copper nails. They weighed twenty catties each. The wooden cangues Hong Yu had worn before weighed at most a few catties; this was the heaviest she had ever worn. A soldier pulled open the wooden cangue and fitted it over Hong Yu's head. The cangue settled around Hong Yu's neck. Someone beside her lifted Hong Yu's hair, and they pushed the two sides of the cangue together. With a click, the cangue closed. Hong Yu's hair was let down, falling behind the cangue. The soldier locked the two wooden bars that passed through the cangue with a copper lock. "Miss Hong Yu, extend your hands." Hong Yu reached out and cupped the cangue board, testing its weight. It was so heavy she could barely lift it. Then, she extended her hands through the two round holes in the front of the cangue. A pair of iron-clad hand shackles was then fastened around Hong Yu's wrists. The holes in the hand shackles were very tight, and Hong Yu's veins bulged. Hu Sanniang walked over and lifted Hong Yu's hands up a bit higher. Hong Yu felt more comfortable. "Sister Hong Yu, I should have been the one to kick the Prince. How could you steal my job?" "Sister Hu, the palace female soldiers and the orphanage still depend on you for care. I already have shackles on. And I'm not as well-trained as you. It's fitting for me to go. Don't worry, I'll bring your husband back to you completely intact." Zhao Gou looked at them both with gratitude. "Sanniang, don't worry. My senior sister is suffering for me. I will never let her be bullied. No matter what, I will not abandon her. You should go back." After the wooden cangue was fitted, the Imperial City Department brought the shackles. Seeing that Hong Yu already had shackles fitted on her feet, they did not fit new ones. They simply untied the hemp rope around Hong Yu's waist, allowing the shackles to drag on the ground. "Miss, please forgive us. This is the Jin people's demand. They want to see the shackles." Hong Yu was helpless. Fortunately, she had the shackle supports gifted by Li Shishi. Her ankles could bear it. On the other side, Zhang Bangchang's substitute also had shackles and a wooden cangue fitted, and was ready. After the Great Song's peace envoy notified the Jin army, they arranged for Zhao Gou and Zhang Bangchang to be escorted out of the city. That day, the people of Tokyo gathered at Xuanze Gate to see the two hostages off. They all praised the Prince of Kang for his fearlessness at this critical moment. When they saw Liang Hongyu following behind Zhao Gou, they began to discuss. "What's the situation with this woman? Why is a prisoner following the Prince of Kang?" "This is the Jin people's demand. Originally, the Prince of Kang was supposed to wear the cangue and shackles, but now General Han Shizhong's wife has voluntarily offered to wear them in place of the Prince of Kang." "Truly remarkable. She is indeed a heroine." "Yes, look at this wooden cangue and shackles. They are the kind worn by death row inmates. They must weigh at least several dozen catties. Let alone for a woman, even a man would suffer wearing them. This Madam Han is truly suffering." "Shishi, want to try something new?" "Your servant is at your mercy, Your Majesty." Li Shishi knew this was Zhao Ji's prelude to binding her. In the palace, Zhao Ji rarely resorted to binding, as there were other maids and eunuchs present, and he couldn't go too far. Now, they both recalled the delightful times at Fan Lou. Zhao Ji hastily pulled a bundle of hemp rope from under the bed. "Fortunately, there's spare hemp rope in the palace, otherwise I would have to use silk," Zhao Ji unfurled the rope. "In Jiangnan, I met envoys from the Eastern Ocean who taught me some of their binding techniques. I thought it would be more interesting to explore them with you, Shishi." Zhao Ji stood behind Li Shishi, gently lifting her and making her kneel on the bed. He first brought both of Li Shishi's arms behind her back, overlapping her forearms and clasping her elbows. The rope was tied and knotted between her overlapping forearms. The rope then went around her arms, across the top of Li Shishi's snow-white breasts to the other arm, back behind her, hooked onto the rope, and then wound in the opposite direction around her arm, passing under her breasts before returning to her back to be tied. "How does that feel?" Zhao Ji asked as he tied the knot. "Mmm, it's more comfortable than the previous bindings, it doesn't dig into my shoulders. It doesn't hurt." Li Shishi turned her head to look at Zhao Ji, who was working diligently. Her eyes were full of affection. "Haha, there are other reinforcing measures too." Zhao Ji pulled the rope that passed under Li Shishi's armpits back and tied it. The same was done on both sides, tightening the ropes above and below her breasts. Her breasts were squeezed by the two ropes, pushing the flesh of her chest into the ropes, making her breasts stand even more erect and full. Li Shishi could now feel the tightness of the restraint. Her expression began to become slightly dazed, as she savored it. Zhao Ji tugged upwards on the rope behind Li Shishi's back. Li Shishi let out a soft moan and straightened her kneeling posture. For the first time, her arms felt a slight, stinging pressure as the rope pulled them up. Zhao Ji turned his head and kissed Li Shishi's chest, nibbling and teasing with his tongue. Li Shishi swayed from side to side, seemingly trying to evade but actually enjoying it. After a moment, Zhao Ji pulled the rope around her neck, passed it between her breasts, wrapped it twice, and tied it to the ropes above and below in the middle. Then, the rope went around to the other side of her neck and was tied behind her back. At this point, the entire rope was used up. Such precise execution. Zhao Ji lay on his side on the bed, admiring the two mounds of flesh that Li Shishi's breasts formed against the binding rope. "I must say, these Eastern Ocean ropes are truly beautiful." After admiring her, Zhao Ji pushed Li Shishi over to lie on the bed. He bent Li Shishi's left leg and pressed it towards her chest, her knee almost touching her left breast. "Ah, it hurts," Li Shishi cried out. "Now for the binding of the legs." Zhao Ji unfurled another bundle of rope, held the middle, and wrapped the two strands around Li Shishi's left ankle, tying a knot. Zhao Ji then pressed Shishi's left ankle towards the root of her thigh. The rope was wrapped around the root of her thigh four times, bending her lower and upper legs together and binding them. After tying the knot at her ankle, the remaining rope was passed between her calf and thigh, cinching the ropes on both sides. After two more wraps, the rope on her legs was also secured, making them impossible to loosen. Just like her left leg, Zhao Ji bound Li Shishi's right leg tightly in the same manner. Li Shishi was now completely unable to spread her legs. Zhao Ji pushed her knees towards Li Shishi's full breasts. This leg binding was strenuous, and her private parts between her legs were forced open. This was even clearer than before she was bound. Her tender, wrinkled opening was gaping wide, with sparse pubic hair still clinging with dew from moments ago. Zhao Ji was mesmerized. He extended his tongue and began to explore. The bound Li Shishi stretched her neck, trying to get a clear view of her own disarray, but waves of pleasure from below made her arch back onto the bed. Her arms, under the pressure of her body, could not extend. Pain and pleasure coexisted. Zhao Ji felt the same. Wasn't this more enjoyable than being emperor? Here with Li Shishi, he had forgotten all about his throne being usurped. His tongue's exploration concluded. Zhao Ji pulled the rope binding Li Shishi's arms, helping her sit up. Because her legs were bent and bound, she could only sit with her legs spread apart. "Shishi, how do you feel?" "Your servant is extremely happy, thank you for Your Majesty's affection." "You're happy already? There's more." Zhao Ji, holding Li Shishi, moved to a grand armchair and placed her on it. Because she was bound, Li Shishi could only lie at an angle. Zhao Ji used one rope to pull up Li Shishi's left leg and tied it to the left back of the armchair. The same was done on the right side, tying it to the right back of the chair. Li Shishi's private parts were completely exposed at the edge of the armchair, her bound arms pressed against the entire chair. Li Shishi's back was propped up by the chair's back, causing her breasts to sag slightly. This wouldn't do. This was the finishing touch. Zhao Ji brought two wooden clips with thin ropes attached. He clipped one to each of Li Shishi's nipples. "Mmm~, it hurts~" Li Shishi writhed, trying to shake off the clips. It was futile, as the clips' power transmitted through her nipples to her heart. Despite her reluctance, Li Shishi was helpless. Zhao Ji merely glanced at the struggling Li Shishi before continuing to pull the thin ropes of the clips, tying them to the back of the chair. The clamping force of the clips, combined with the upward pull of the thin ropes, made Li Shishi whimper and moan. Her hands clawed at the chair, but she could not escape the torment of the two clips. If his court officials were to see this scene, Zhao Ji would have no peace in his later years; he would be condemned to death. Fortunately, this was the cold palace. No one else saw it but himself. "Shishi, how is it? Are you satisfied with my new toy this time?" "Your Majesty, your servant is in pain. Can you remove the clips?" "No, it's more interesting with the clips," Zhao Ji said, then pulled the thin ropes, teasing Li Shishi's nipples. After teasing her nipples, he extended his tongue to the gushing, overflowing cave. He explored it thoroughly. Jin Wushu understood some of the Great Song laws, but the iron hook piercing the clavicle was for extremely heinous criminals who might break free and escape. Clearly, the torture inflicted on Hongyu this time was intentional revenge. Hongyu knew she couldn't escape this calamity and faced it with equanimity, at least she had saved a hundred thousand people. The iron hook, heated red, was brought before Hongyu by the blacksmith holding it with tongs. Before it even got close, the heat from the hook sent a wave of scorching air towards Hongyu. Facing this red inferno, Hongyu was terrified and instinctively tried to shrink away, but her body was bound to the wooden post, leaving her nowhere to hide. She could only turn her head, exposing her collarbone. With a "sizzle," a large gash was torn in her clothes, revealing Hongyu's collarbone, that alluring triangular area on her shoulder. Between the shoulder muscle and the collarbone was a small hollow. Just as the blacksmith was about to insert the iron hook into this recess, Jin Wushu stopped him. Jin Wushu picked up a wine pot and poured wine into the hollow of Hongyu's collarbone. It held about half a cup of wine. Jin Wushu leaned in, his lips puckering, and carefully slurped the wine dry. Then, he let out a long sigh. "Ah, what fine wine, truly enchanting. If you would submit to me, I could make you my queen, how about it?" Hongyu's eyes reddened, tears welling up, her lips tightly pressed. "You dream! I, Liang Hongyu, was born a subject of the Great Song, and I will die a ghost of the Great Song. To ask me to surrender to the Jin? Hmph. Perhaps in the next life." Jin Wushu, while captivated by Liang Hongyu's beauty, also recalled the tragic death of his own queen. Yet, Liang Hongyu refused to yield, and he could only painfully order the torture to continue. The blacksmith reheated the iron hook, then held it with tongs, aimed at the spot where the wine had been, and thrust it in with force. A plume of white smoke rose, accompanied by the smell of burning flesh. Hongyu's entire body tensed, and she let out a long cry to the heavens. The iron hook pierced through her clavicle and emerged from behind it. A basin of cold water was splashed onto Hongyu's collarbone. With a hiss, the hot iron hook produced a burst of scalding steam. Hongyu's entire shoulder and chest were left with a bright red mark. Hongyu cried out, struggling against her restraints, shaking violently but to no avail. Then, another iron hook was driven through the other side of her collarbone. Hongyu's shoulders were now pierced by two iron hooks. The ends of the hooks were then secured with two-foot-long chains, the kind used to drag prisoners. Seeing that the iron hooks had passed through Hongyu's collarbones, Jin Wushu ordered her to be unbound. Once freed, Hongyu tried to touch her collarbones, but the pain made her writhe on the ground. She could only gently support the chains with her hands, preventing them from pulling on her wounds. Her clothes were torn, and with the two large iron hooks on her shoulders, she couldn't even hang them on her shoulders. She could only hold them with her arms to prevent them from slipping, a final act of defiance. After a day of rest, seeing that Hongyu had recovered somewhat, Jin Wushu ordered the march to begin. Early in the morning, Hongyu was stripped of her upper garments, like the female slaves being escorted north from outside Tokyo. Her arms were then pulled behind her, her upper body tightly bound. The ropes crisscrossed her chest, accentuating her full breasts. The chains on Hongyu's collarbones were tied to a horse's saddle with a thick rope. The escorting Jin soldiers rode their horses, urging them forward. Pulled by the long rope, Hongyu's collarbones were subjected to unbearable pain, forcing her to run at a brisk pace to alleviate the agony. The horse would sometimes speed up, sometimes slow down, leaving Liang Hongyu exhausted. Just as she managed to slow down for a moment's rest, she would be yanked forward again, running relentlessly forward. Finally, they made camp for the night, and Hongyu was unbound and locked to a wooden post. Hongyu saw that the flesh below her collarbones was bloody and mangled. Blood continuously seeped from both wounds. The Jin soldiers simply sprinkled some wound medicine on Hongyu and left her, still bound. After the Jin soldiers had eaten their fill, a basin of leftovers was placed before Hongyu. With her hands bound, she had no choice but to lower her head to the dog bowl to begin her meal for the day. At this moment, Hongyu desperately wished for her husband to descend like divine soldiers and rescue her. However, Han Shizhong had not received any distress signal from Liang Hongyu. The soldiers Hongyu had sent out had been captured by Jin Wushu, meaning no Great Song general was aware of Hongyu's predicament. The next day, the journey continued. Hongyu was still being pulled along by the horse of her escorts. As they neared Huainan, Jin Wushu discovered retreating pseudo-Qi soldiers. He heard that Yue Fei was nearby. Jin Wushu was terrified. Yue Fei was his lifelong nemesis. "Someone, bring Liang Hongyu here! Let Liang Hongyu be the vanguard, and we will fight Yue Fei to the death." Hongyu was dragged over by her chains. Jin Wushu ordered her to be stripped naked, her upper body tightly bound with ropes, and then placed securely on horseback. Her collarbone chains were pulled to the horse's bridle, and a chain around her neck was pulled to the back of the saddle. Her leg shackles were removed and then re-locked beneath the horse's belly. A tall banner was then inserted behind Hongyu, bearing the inscription: "The Great Song's Whore, Liang Hongyu." This was an insult to the Great Song and a method to demoralize Yue Fei's troops. As the generals faced each other, Yue Fei, leading the charge, was about to order a full assault when a naked, bound woman on horseback emerged from Jin Wushu's ranks. Who else could it be but Sister Hongyu? Yue Fei was stunned. When had Sister Hongyu been captured by the Jin? How had he received no news? Hongyu, on her horse, was brought to the center of the generals. "Sister Hongyu? What happened to you?"