The Legend of the Xue Clan's Female Generals: Shangguan Wan'er's Bloody Demise in the Tang Palace

The shackles were fastened to Shangguan Wan'er's wrists. As they closed on both sides, a rivet was driven through the round hole at the joint of the shackles, and a eunuch brought down a hammer with force. The rivet was immediately flattened. Shangguan Wan'er felt a sharp pain in her wrists, which were already bleeding from the impact. The female prisoner merely shed tears but did not cry out. Her other hand was soon fitted with shackles as well. The eunuch, Xiao Gaozi, checked both sets of shackles to ensure they were securely fastened before picking up a two-foot-long leg shackle, preparing to put it on the prisoner. "Your Grace, please wait, I still have something to remove from my lower body." Shangguan Wan'er did not shy away. She pulled down her trousers, revealing the rope tied around her waist and the wooden plugs in her nether regions. Xiao Gaozi and the other eunuchs were startled. This was the first time they had seen such an arrangement. Indeed, previously, it was always convicted concubines or princesses who were banished to the掖幽庭 (Yè Yōu Tíng - a place of confinement). Shangguan Wan'er was the first to arrive from the execution ground. The rules of the execution ground required the lower body to be plugged to prevent incontinence. So this was how it was done. The eunuchs set about untying the rope. Then, they carefully removed the two wooden plugs. The plug in the rear passage was stained yellow. Who said this female prisoner was not afraid of death? She had still been so terrified that she defecated. The female prisoner, Shangguan Wan'er, felt a bit shy. Without the wooden plugs in her two orifices, she felt a strange emptiness. Strange. Perhaps she liked this feeling? The eunuchs had no interest in the prisoner's private parts, even feeling a sense of disgust. Holding their noses, they told the prisoner to put on her trousers. Then, they threw her a dark red robe. This was, in fact, the prison uniform of the 掖幽庭, just without the character for "prisoner" on it. The female prisoner, Shangguan Wan'er, quickly put it on. The sides of this prison robe were tied with straps, which did not hinder her shackled hands from reaching through to change. Finally, her private parts were covered. The female prisoner extended her delicate feet. The black iron shackles were fastened to her snow-white ankles, creating a stark contrast. It made one pity these beautiful feet, fearing they would be chafed by the iron shackles. The sound of flattened rivets being hammered echoed again. The shackles were securely locked onto the female prisoner's feet. The female prisoner, Shangguan Wan'er, stood up and moved her feet with difficulty, trying to adapt to her new equipment. However, the dragging of the iron shackles was not something an unmarried young woman could endure. Before she had taken two steps, blood was drawn. It was Xiao Gaozi who was kind. He threw the female prisoner a strip of cloth torn from a prison robe. "Use this strip of cloth to drag the shackles for now. When you get used to it, you won't need it anymore." This momentary kindness from Xiao Gaozi would later bring him immense benefits. Xiao Gaozi would go on to become a famous eunuch whose name would be recorded in history. But that is a story for another time. The shackled female prisoner slowly walked out of the instrument room, dragging her leg shackles with the strip of cloth. From this moment on, Shangguan Wan'er officially became a registered female slave of the 掖幽庭. On her first day, the supervising eunuch did not assign Wan'er any heavy labor. He only asked her to clean the 掖幽庭. This was partly to help her adapt to walking with leg shackles and partly to familiarize herself with the environment of the 掖幽庭. Female slave Wan'er saw that besides eunuchs, there were only female slaves here. They were all disheveled, wearing hand and leg shackles just like her. They had already adapted to such equipment, so the leg shackles dragging on the ground did not affect their walking speed, swinging between their legs as they walked quite quickly. The hand shackles were the same; they let the hand shackles swing around their wrists without affecting their work at all. How did they manage this? It amazed Shangguan Wan'er. When would she be able to do the same? Thinking this, Wan'er tried to swing her leg shackles, but as soon as she moved her foot, she regretted it. It hurt terribly. She quickly and obediently lifted her leg shackles and then walked with a waddle towards the tool shed. "Here, this is the tool shed. That's the broom. You just need to sweep this courtyard today." The eunuch finished his instructions and left. Shangguan Wan'er put down the cloth strip, took a broom with her shackled hands, and then slowly moved into the courtyard to begin sweeping. To minimize the damage from the leg shackles, Wan'er basically swept all the areas within her reach before moving her feet to open up a new battlefield. Fortunately, the other female slaves did not shun her, and the eunuchs, seeing she was new, did not rush her. Even so, after finishing, she was too tired to straighten her back. Of course, when she was a young lady, she never did any work. Her hardest tasks each day were composing poetry and practicing calligraphy. In the evening, Shangguan Wan'er, having completed her work, joined the other female slaves in line to receive their dinner. Although this was the 掖幽庭, the dinner, while not delicious, was filling. One could not work without being full. After dinner, the female slaves returned to their cells. Shangguan Wan'er's flattery was over the top. Wu Sansi knew it was flattery, but he loved hearing it. "You said you'd be my ox or horse, is that true?" "It's true, this female prisoner is willing to be Your Highness's ox and horse." With that, Wan'er voluntarily shed her clothes. She stood naked before Wu Sansi. Then, she slowly knelt, her hands flat on the ground. She shuffled her rear end to Wu Sansi's feet. The clatter of her shackles dragging on the floor made Wu Sansi unable to contain himself. Wu Sansi was already losing control, but he still had to maintain his princely dignity. Wan'er saw this, straightened her kneeling posture, removed Wu Sansi's boots, and used her mouth to pull down his trousers. She placed her hands on Wu Sansi's feet and began to lick. A wave of pleasure surged through Wu Sansi's heart. He hadn't felt his heart pound like this in years. Wu Sansi's little brother sprang to attention, staring directly into the female prisoner's eyes. Although Wan'er had no sexual experience, she had read extensively since childhood, inevitably encountering illicit texts. Thus, she understood these matters between men and women. Wan'er opened her mouth, aimed for Sansi's little brother, and swallowed. A wave of nausea washed over her. Her stomach churned violently. Wan'er endured, suppressing the feeling of disgust, tears streaming down her face. Honestly, Wan'er's tricks were rather clumsy, not comparable to Wu Sansi's concubines at all. But Wu Sansi knew this was a young girl's first time, and these clumsy skills were actually more enjoyable to him than those of experienced women. He felt a long-lost sense of initial joy. This young female prisoner was truly a new experience, one he needed to savor. As the feeling intensified, Wu Sansi grabbed Shangguan Wan'er and pushed her onto the bed. He hooked her leg shackles behind her neck. Wan'er lay on her back, her tender private parts fully exposed. Wu Sansi held one of Wan'er's hand shackles above her head, pressing it against the bed behind her. With his other hand, he grasped his own little brother and aimed for Wan'er's private parts. He entered slowly. The sensation was so familiar. Wan'er was no stranger to being penetrated by foreign objects. Before being taken to the execution ground, her virginity had been broken by a wooden rod. Now it was a flesh-and-blood penis, which felt much better than wood, at least it was warm. The initial penetration caused Wan'er intense pain. After three or four thrusts, she began to feel comfort and pleasure. This was Wan'er's first taste of adult pleasure, something she had read about in those illicit books. Now, experiencing it firsthand, she found it truly blissful. Wan'er reciprocated Wu Sansi's movements, while he cupped Wan'er's not-so-full breasts. He rubbed, twisted, and squeezed, waves of pleasure washing over Wan'er's soul. At this moment, Wan'er suddenly thought of her grandfather and her family. Were their spirits watching her from heaven? How must they feel, seeing her ravaged by the enemy who destroyed her clan? Thinking of this, tears welled up in Wan'er's eyes. She was pitiful, tragic, and utterly captivating. Seeing Wan'er's tears, Wu Sansi became even more excited. "This is little beauty's first time, isn't it? Hahaha. How wonderful!" Wan'er turned her head, rubbing her eyes against the pillow. Then, suppressing her tears, she smiled and nodded, saying with a choked voice. "This female prisoner has never been… never been married. This female prisoner is very happy. May Your Highness cherish this female prisoner." "Little beauty, this king will show you my might. Come," Wu Sansi was at his peak, unlike his intimate moments with his wives and concubines. They were too familiar with many positions, lacking novelty. This female prisoner was an unfamiliar toy, offering more novelty and allowing him to rediscover his virility. Lying there, being ravaged, Shangguan Wan'er's initial pleasure had turned to numbness and soreness. Especially her private parts, which had been penetrated for so long, were already torn. Now, every thrust felt like torture. But she could not show any impatience. To rise above her station, such sacrifices were necessary. Finally, with a roar, Wu Sansi ejaculated. After ejaculating, Wu Sansi continued to thrust three or four more times before collapsing, completely spent, onto Shangguan Wan'er's body. Wan'er was finally free. The woman's first night was completed under these circumstances. Shangguan Wan'er looked at the man sleeping on her. A flicker of affection began to grow in her heart. For a woman, after such deep physical intimacy, it was natural to surrender herself to the man. Wu Sansi, as the nephew of Emperor Wu, was also very handsome, resembling his aunt. He could be considered a good match for a lifelong companion. Shangguan Wan'er unconsciously reached out with her shackled hand to caress Wu Sansi's face, her desire for revenge completely gone. "Heh. Tie her tighter, and it'll cause less harm to the master. Before, when disobedient female prisoners moved, their legs were broken with a "My Lord, how much longer do you intend to keep this female prisoner? One hundred lashes weren't enough?" Dismissing the attendants, Wu Sansi escorted the female prisoner Wan'er to the bedchamber. The moment they entered, Wu Sansi embraced Wan'er's slender waist, pressing his lips against her cherry-like mouth. Wan'er, unable to resist, guided the hand shackles over Sansi's head and embraced him in return, their lips locked in a passionate, biting kiss. "Wan'er, how long has it been since you last visited me? Do you deserve punishment?" "This prisoner is not her own mistress. Your aunt cannot do without this prisoner, so this prisoner has had to trouble my Lord. This prisoner has missed my Lord dearly and needs comfort too!" "Haha. Wan'er has learned to flirt. Hmm, after so long, Wan'er's breasts have finally grown!" "Don't be so mean. This prisoner has been drinking medicine every day for my Lord, just so my Lord can touch her more comfortably. My Lord should reward this prisoner." Wu Sansi could no longer contain himself. He pushed Wan'er onto the specially made pleasure bed, lifting her hands above her head. The shackles were locked onto iron rings at the head of the bed. Her legs were raised, just high enough to reach the suspended shackles hanging from the bed. Her legs were spread, the shackles pulled taut. She was then made to step into the leg shackles, which were closed and locked. The length of the leg shackles was precisely the same as the distance between the two holes. Once locked, the female prisoner Wan'er lay on the bed, legs spread, unable to move, at Wu Sansi's mercy. This time, Wu Sansi did not enter directly. Instead, he produced a riding crop. "On the execution ground, the Queen's cries were truly intoxicating. Wan'er, cry out in blood for me, I wish to hear it." "This prisoner is willing to be tormented by my Lord, as long as she is not injured." Wu Sansi's riding crop was specially made. Instead of a single braided leather strip, it was fanned out, so the force was not concentrated in one spot. This allowed the female prisoner to receive the whipping without serious injury, a win-win situation. Wu Sansi pondered for a moment, then took out the gag made by the blacksmith and forced it into Wan'er's mouth, tightening it. This rendered the female prisoner unable to cry for help. He then took a long black cloth strip and tied it around the female prisoner's eyes, depriving her of her sight. Wan'er felt enveloped in darkness, unsure where Wu Sansi's whip would land. "Crack!" Sansi's whip struck Wan'er's private parts. "Mmm," Wan'er moaned softly. The gag muffled her sounds to a mere hum. Wan'er felt a searing heat in her nether regions. One of the leather strips had landed directly on her clitoris, making her involuntarily try to squeeze her legs together to ward off the whip. However, her legs were held apart by the shackles, making it impossible. Her only response was a wriggle of her hips, offering no escape. Seeing Wan'er's wriggling buttocks, Sansi's excitement surged. He began a lightning-fast barrage on her backside. "Crack, crack, crack, crack, crack!" "Mmm—mmm—mmm—" Each cry was drawn out. The female prisoner clearly felt the real pain, evident from the wetness seeping through the blindfold at the corners of her eyes. Just as Wan'er's crying subsided, her mature breasts received the greeting of the whip. Wan'er threw her head back, stretching her neck, her hands desperately pulling at the shackles, trying to shield her breasts. It was all in vain. Seeing Wan'er's slender neck, Wu Sansi was momentarily stunned. Although this female prisoner Wan'er's breasts were not large, her neck was exquisitely beautiful. The veins on her neck and the hollows of her collarbones formed a perfect, tempting combination. Wan'er sensed something was amiss. Why had the whipping stopped? She twisted her head, trying to sense the presence of the whip. What followed was a frenzied kiss from Sansi. Wu Sansi began to suckle from her collarbone, then slowly moved down to the base of her neck, circling upwards. Wan'er's neck felt as if it would be bitten off by Wu Sansi. What a peculiar fetish, to ignore the plump breasts and instead nibble on her neck. Yet, he had to admit, this "nibbling on the neck" was incredibly pleasurable. Wan'er's breathing grew rapid, her lower body instinctively arching, seeking Sansi's manhood. Sansi, noticing Wan'er's arousal, removed his trousers and placed his engorged, erect member at the entrance of her moist cave, but made no move to enter. This threw Wan'er into a panic. Blindfolded, she could only feel his hard erection at her entrance. She began to writhe her hips, lifting them back and forth, trying to engulf his member with her honeyed core. Restrained by the leg shackles and cuffs, this was the limit of her ability. Wan'er began to moan, shaking her shackled hands, protesting Wu Sansi's teasing. Wu Sansi let out a hearty laugh and slowly rose, thrusting his hips forward with force. "Ah—mm~" Satisfied, Wan'er stopped shaking her arms and contentedly enjoyed Wu Sansi's ministrations. The smile on her lips was undeniable, even with the gag. Just as Wu Sansi was in the throes of his passion, a servant burst in. "Bad news, my Lord! Lai Junchen has stormed the manor, claiming to be apprehending the imperial fugitive Shangguan Wan'er!" "What? Who is Lai Junchen to dare trespass into my manor?" His mood ruined, Wu Sansi was furious. His erect member, which had been so firm, now sagged limply. Wan'er, lying on the bed, also heard the commotion. She whimpered, wanting to understand what was happening. The hemp rope was placed around the female prisoner's neck, with ends passing under her armpits. It was wrapped around her upper arms several times before being crossed and tied securely behind her back. The separated ropes were then wound around her forearms, converging at her wrists to bind her hands firmly. Next, the double-stranded rope was pulled down from behind her neck, hoisting her hands to the middle of her back. Another knot was tied at her wrists. Finally, the remaining rope was wrapped around her neck and tied behind her back, with the ends hidden amongst the knots, almost invisible. This technique was truly masterful; under Lai Junchen, none of his subordinates were weak. After the binding, the prisoner's breasts, which had been subjected to torture, stood erect once more. An officer brought a pair of shackles; Wan'er recognized them as the ones she wore upon entering prison, the shackles from the Prince of Liang's mansion. However, the officer was now using iron rivets, unlike the silver ones used by the Prince of Liang. These rivets were known as "death rivets," specifically for death row inmates. Only after the condemned prisoner met their fate would their feet be severed, the shackles heated red at the blacksmith's to remove the rivets, and the shackles reused. Wan'er knew this was the end of her journey, to be accompanied by the shackles. She offered little resistance, allowing the officers to smash the shackles onto her feet. After the shackles were secured, Wan'er was escorted by two officers towards the death row cell. Having frequently worn shackles at the Prince of Liang's mansion, Wan'er was not unfamiliar with them. However, this time she was bound tightly, making walking a bit difficult. Upon arriving at the death row cell, Wan'er saw Princess Taiping, her wooden cangue removed, bound to a pillar with hemp rope. A gag was stuffed into her mouth, but her clothes and shackles remained. "What is going on?" Wan'er turned to ask the officers. "You're a death row inmate, and you're concerned about others. Just stay put. Tomorrow, you won't be able to enjoy this world." After the officers locked the door and left, Wan'er walked over to Princess Taiping. Taiping made muffled sounds. Wan'er was all too familiar with this gag; she had worn it often at the Prince of Liang's mansion and knew how to exert force to overcome its limitations. "Princess, push the gag hard with your tongue, and I'll help from the outside." Taiping obediently pushed the gag outwards with her tongue. Wan'er, with her hands bound behind her back, couldn't exert much force. She leaned in and bit down on the gag in Taiping's mouth. Their lips met, and both felt a flush of shyness. Fortunately, they were both experienced and did not pull away. Their heads twisted together, rubbing for a long time until they finally managed to dislodge Taiping's gag. Wan'er's mouth was filled with Taiping's saliva, and Taiping's lips were also covered in Wan'er's spit. The wet gag hung around Taiping's neck. Taiping suddenly burst into tears. "Princess, what's wrong? Why did they tie you up like this?" "Wan'er, Mother, Mother executed my husband!" "Ah? His Majesty, killed Prince Xue?" "Yes, after you were taken away, they bound me and put this gag in my mouth." Wan'er sensitively noticed that Taiping was no longer using the imperial "this consort" self-address, but "I." This indicated that Taiping now considered Wan'er one of her own. "Princess, tell me properly, did Prince Xue really participate in the Prince of Yue's rebellion?" "Wan'er, although you are not of the imperial family, you have been in the palace for a long time. Even ordinary interactions between us Li siblings can lead to speculation. Moreover, my husband's mother, Princess Chengyang, had a very close relationship with the Prince of Yue's consort. Things can be misconstrued as having substance even when they don't. Mother, Mother is too cruel. They say there is no affection in the royal family. My eldest brother, Li Hong, and second brother, Li Xian, were both killed by Mother with her own hands. I hadn't been born then and didn't experience it personally. Later, my third brother, Li Xian, and fourth brother, Li Dan, though not killed, were both deposed. Now it's my turn. I don't know if Mother intends to execute me like she did my elder brothers. Perhaps tomorrow, I'll be bound like you and taken to the execution ground." "No, Princess, His Majesty favors you the most. He wouldn't let you die. This must all be Lai Junchen's idea. Princess, believe me. Tomorrow, you will surely be released." Taiping felt a little more at ease. The rope binding caused Taiping some pain. However, she looked at the naked, bound Wan'er with curiosity. "Wan'er, this way of binding looks painful. Can you endure it?" "Princess, this is the second time this female prisoner has been to the execution ground. I'm used to it. I remember the first time, they inserted two wooden plugs into the female prisoner's nether regions, called 'hole stoppers.' They'll probably do that tomorrow too. This binding is much stricter than yours, Princess. Any slight movement of the arm will pull on the female prisoner's neck, making it impossible to breathe. One can only desperately try to lift their hands upwards. Bound like this all night, the female prisoner will have no strength to walk, let alone escape. This is also one of the prison's objectives." "Is that so? Then I'm considered to have been treated leniently. Wan'er, I never noticed before. Your breasts are so erect! I didn't see them like this in the palace before." "Princess, you'll know when you're personally bound for execution. Yours are even larger than this female prisoner's. Oh dear, I've offended the Princess, please forgive me." "Wan'er, no need for formalities. We are cellmates now, what hierarchy is there? This is your last night, and I'm here with you. I suppose I'm your last woman. Hahaha." Wan'er gave an awkward laugh upon hearing this. The other woman was about to be executed, and the Princess could still laugh! That night, the two female prisoners spent a sleepless night in the death row cell, discussing their past romances and intimate moments. Princess Taiping also learned that binding and shackles could be a way to enhance intimacy. She wondered who she would find to play with after she got out. The next morning, the death row cell became bustling. An officer entered the death row cell and took out the condemned prisoner, Shangguan Wan'er. As expected, two wooden plugs were inserted into the prisoner's nether regions, secured with hemp rope, and then she was escorted to the prison gate for identification. Several female prisoners were already locked in the cowshed. They had finished their meal and were now curled up on the straw bedding with their hands tied behind their backs. Upon closer inspection, their leg shackles were connected to their collars, causing them to curl up. Their hands were bound behind them. "There are no guards here at night, so we've locked them up like this to prevent the cows from escaping," the yamen runner escorting them explained kindly, noticing the three female prisoners' confusion. After a day of torment, the three female prisoners were indeed starving. Moreover, they had undergone feeding training. Facing this trough of what could barely be called food, they no longer cared about their dignity. They needed to eat to have the strength to think about anything else. Wan'er took the lead, followed by Li Zhiying and Taiping. They stretched their necks and lay by the stone trough, eating like livestock with their mouths. After all, this was the Control Crane Bureau; even the pig slop contained some meat. It was much better than what the displaced refugees outside were eating. Seeing that the three female prisoners had finished eating, the yamen runner took out three bronze locks and secured their leg shackles to their collars. Then, he used three hemp ropes to tie their hands securely behind their backs. After a final check to ensure everything was locked, he left with peace of mind. It was no wonder the outside world knew nothing of the situation in the Control Crane Bureau; with such strict restraints, no one could possibly escape. Curled up on the ground with their hands behind their backs, the three female prisoners began their pre-sleep conversation. Li Zhiying asked Taiping first. "Aunt Taiping, did Uncle Xue really participate in the rebellion of Prince Yue?" "I don't know. But the Xue family was indeed very close to Prince Yue, Li Zhen. Even if they didn't participate, my mother wouldn't spare the Xue family. I just didn't expect my mother to be so ruthless this time, wanting to behead me along with them." Wan'er knew about the rebellion case of Li Zhen. In fact, she had drafted the imperial decree to confiscate Prince Yue Li Zhen's mansion. Now, she found herself imprisoned in the Control Crane Bureau alongside the victims of the Li Zhen case. "Princess, what does the 'proposed execution' written on our crime tablets today mean? Didn't we only have to serve three days? Why has it changed to 'proposed execution'?" "I don't know what 'proposed execution' means either. Other female prisoners have 'execution' written on theirs. Since ours doesn't directly say 'execution,' it means we won't be executed. Don't be afraid. No matter what, I am the Empress's daughter. How could my mother kill me?" "That's true. The Princess and the County Princess are both of royal blood. They definitely won't be. But I'm just an official from an allied family. I'm not so sure." In fact, it wasn't just Wan'er who was unsure. Taiping was also uncertain at this moment. She knew her mother could be heartless and disregard kinship when she set her mind to it. Her eldest brother, second brother, and even her infant sister had been killed by her mother's own hands. Although she hadn't acted so ruthlessly in recent years, no one could be certain. After all, Xue Shao was involved in a rebellion case, and as a family member, she was legally subject to execution along with him. "Wan'er, can you sleep like this? This is more severe than sleeping in the Yeyou Pavilion. I can't even stretch my legs." Li Zhiying began to complain about the sleeping conditions. "Sister Ying, it's already good. The day before I was sentenced to execution, I slept bound hand and foot in the Ministry of Justice prison. At least here, only my wrists are tied, and my arms are not restricted." "Alright, but I don't know if Auntie can get used to it. Auntie has never suffered before." Taiping gently nudged Li Zhiying. It felt a little better to have her niece thinking of her here. Lost in their thoughts, the three tightly bound female prisoners slowly drifted off to sleep. It was understandable; after a day of being branded, paraded, and violated, their bodies were utterly exhausted. "This is the same hemp rope the Ministry of Justice uses to bind condemned prisoners. Do you know how to use it?" Taiping asked, a hint of unease in her voice. "Princess, I've been bound for years. I'm tired of shackles. But if we're going to play, we need to get into character. There might be things I do that offend you?" Wan'er replied, her voice laced with a playful challenge. "I don't fear it, I can accept it. Hurry, I can't take it anymore." Seeing Princess Taiping gasping for breath, Wan'er steeled herself. She picked up a hemp rope. "Female prisoner Taiping, kneel and be bound!" With that, she kicked Taiping behind the knees. Startled, Taiping fell to her knees with a thud. Wan'er, mimicking a jailer, placed the rope around Taiping's nape. Then, she began to wrap one of Taiping's arms, finishing one before moving to the other. The two strands of rope met behind Taiping's back, and Wan'er tightened them, completing the binding of Taiping's hands. The joined rope was then pulled down from the rope behind Taiping's neck, naturally lifting Taiping's arms upwards. Being a woman, Wan'er couldn't lift Taiping's hands all the way behind her head, only to the middle of her back before tying a secure knot. Taiping, now bound, had a flushed complexion and steady breaths. She lay on the ground, her eyes hazy as she gazed at Wan'er. Wan'er, transformed into a rogue teasing a respectable woman, began to caress Taiping's ample breasts. She toyed with Taiping's erect nipples, not just with her hands, but with her mouth. Her sharp teeth gently bit down on Taiping's nipples, pulling and grinding them slowly, causing Taiping's body to convulse. She moaned and whimpered incessantly. Under Wan'er's ministrations, Taiping's masochistic tendencies began to awaken. The harder Wan'er bit, the more excited Taiping became. She whimpered, "Harder, pull harder!" Amidst Taiping's moans, Wan'er gradually rediscovered a long-lost sensation. She picked up a long rope and meticulously bound herself from head to toe in a web of knots, leaving only her hands free. Seeing Wan'er like this, Taiping was curious. "Wan'er, you're all tied up like a turtle shell. Does it feel good?" "Princess, this was San Si's idea. He calls it the 'Turtle Shell Bind.' It distributes pressure evenly across the body, making it very comfortable. Soon, I'll tie my hands behind my back, and then I'll be as helpless as you." Wan'er carefully lay down, folding her legs back towards her buttocks. Then, she threaded her hands through pre-made loops behind her back. The mechanism of the loops was connected to the tightly bound legs. Once her hands were in place, she extended her legs downwards, and the loops automatically tightened. Wan'er was now in the 'Turtle Shell Bind' combined with a 'Four Horsemen's Gallop' position. Lying on the ground without the support of her hands or feet, Wan'er could only use her breasts to alternately shift her body. She slowly moved closer to Princess Taiping, who was also lying on the ground. Taiping was in a 'Five Flower Bind' but her legs were not tied, giving her some mobility. Taiping half-rose and shuffled closer to Wan'er. The moment their skin touched, both Taiping and Wan'er blushed as if struck by electricity. Wan'er flipped over, lying on the ground. Taiping rose and knelt beside her. Then, the two began to tease each other with their breasts, Taiping's large ones and Wan'er's slightly smaller, yet still tender, ones. Their soft flesh rubbed against each other, sending waves of pleasure through them, their faces flushing. Their mouths drew closer involuntarily. They began to suck and nibble on each other, savoring each other's breath. The kiss ignited an even more tempestuous feeling. Taiping spread Wan'er's legs apart and straddled her, her own legs between Wan'er's. Wan'er's groin was tied with several large knots, and the two women used these knots to rub and writhe against each other. Wan'er's pubic hair had been completely burned away, making her even more sensitive. She began to moan incoherently. Taiping, taking advantage of Wan'er's daze, indulged in seeking pleasure all over Wan'er's body. ... The next morning, Wan'er awoke to find Taiping's delicate feet by her head. Her own legs were still intertwined with Taiping's. "Princess, wake up!" Taiping was also awakened by Wan'er. She looked at the scene before her with a hint of shyness. She tried to get up but found that the 'Five Flower Bind' had dug into her skin, making it impossible to move. Taiping looked at Wan'er, who shook her head. Wan'er, in her 'Turtle Shell Bind' and 'Four Horsemen's Gallop,' was even more unable to move. Just then, a servant knocked on the door. "Princess, Princess, it's time for breakfast." The second punishment was called "Phoenix Returning to the Cage." The name alone suggested cages. Empress Wei and Li Guoer were still reeling from the first punishment, "Flying Swallow in Mid-Air," and had no idea how severe the second one would be. Two iron cages were brought over by the brothel thugs. Li Guoer was lowered first and her restraints were removed. Having endured a nightmarish ordeal, Li Guoer felt no shame. She bared her chest without hesitation, then rubbed the rope marks on her arms. She then looked up at her debauched mother, who was still swaying her ample breasts and moaning. Seeing that Guoer had recovered, the thugs opened the lid of the iron cage and drove her to kneel inside. They first placed a long iron rod through the square openings of the cage, pressing down on Guoer's back. This prevented her from standing up. Then, they pulled her arms up and back, pressing her elbows onto the iron rod. Her hands were pulled to the sides of the cage and shackled to the bars. Her arms were now trapped by the rod. From behind, the thugs spread Guoer's legs apart and pulled them towards the sides of the cage, where they were also shackled. A curved anal hook was brought over. Guoer was positioned kneeling, her buttocks raised. The hook was then forcefully inserted. "Ah, it hurts. Can you be gentler?" Guoer began to complain. "We're already being considerate by not using a sharp hook. You're afraid of a little pain?" a thug retorted ungraciously. The front of the anal hook had a ring. Guoer's hair was tied into a long braid, threaded through the ring, and pulled tight. It was then bound securely with a thin hemp rope, ensuring it wouldn't loosen. Guoer was forced to lift her head to alleviate the pain of her scalp being pulled. In pain, Guoer started cursing again. "Damn it, who invented such a perverted torture device? To torment someone like this." "We're not done yet. This is just the beginning. Those little bunnies on your chest are still free." "Damn it, you men only know how to torture women's private parts. You stinking men are truly wicked." "Hahaha, this torture device was designed by the Big Boss. And she's not a stinking man." To think that such a device for tormenting women came from the hands of a former princess. Guoer was speechless. She thought to herself, indeed, when women become ruthless, they are far more terrifying than men. The tool for dealing with her nipples was simple: two fishhooks with strings. A thug pinched Guoer's nipples and pulled them forward forcefully, almost tearing them off, before embedding the fishhooks. The moment the hooks touched her nipples, a piercing pain shot through her. "Ah, it hurts so much! Can't you use iron clamps instead of hooks?" Guoer began to plead, trying to find alternatives. "That won't do. We've used iron clamps before, and female prisoners have managed to shake them off. Fishhooks are more reliable. Don't worry, it'll be over soon." With another surge of force, the fishhooks quickly pierced through her nipples. The other nipple was also pierced. The thugs threaded the strings of both fishhooks through the cage bars, pulled them taut, and tied them together securely. The final step was to plug Guoer's private parts with a wooden plug. The wooden plug was inserted through a ring at the back of the cage. After a few frictions against her private area, one end was inserted and pushed all the way in. Guoer now had two objects inserted into her body. The pain was indescribable. She dared not cry out, for any sound would tug at the fishhooks on her chest. She could only let out soft moans. The thugs secured the wooden plug from behind and rechecked all of Guoer's restraints before closing the cage lid and locking it with a brass padlock. "My beautiful lady, your precious daughter is now caged. You should prepare yourself." With that, the thugs began to loosen the suspension ropes and lowered Empress Wei. They released Empress Wei's bound body. Seeing Guoer securely confined in the iron cage, Empress Wei tearfully caressed the bars. "Guoer, it's all my fault. Guoer, please endure. I had no choice for our survival. We'll get through these three months, and then it will be over." Without waiting for the thugs to act, she followed Guoer's example and knelt down in another opened cage. The thugs wasted no time and began their busy work of restraint. Soon, Empress Wei was also confined in the iron cage, just like Li Guoer. The ropes binding Wan'er were loosened, and she was then arranged to take a bath. It's worth noting that this was near the Western Regions, where water was a precious commodity, indicating the respect the Western Region people held for Wan'er. After Wan'er finished her grooming, she returned to Li Chiying's tent. Seeing that Li Chiying was still shackled, she requested to be fitted with the same wooden cangue and shackles, to suffer alongside Princess Yuzhen. The Uyghur people, with no other choice, also fitted Shangguan Wan'er with the same torture devices. Wan'er, wearing the wooden cangue, then proceeded to the Uyghur envoy's tent. "Oh my, what great fortune it is for me to finally meet the Prime Minister of the Great Tang." "You flatter me, sir. I am here to request a favor from you." "Oh, don't just say one thing, even ten, a hundred, I will agree. The Great Tang and the Uyghur are friends. Prime Minister Shangguan. A heroine among women." "It's like this, Princess Yuzhen is not marrying of her own free will. I wish to request that you release Princess Yuzhen. Sir, do you miss your homeland in the Great Tang? Princess Yuzhen feels the same. Why must you force a woman to leave her home? Can we not forge our alliance in other ways?" "Oh, this, I am under orders from the King of the Uyghur to seek this marriage. If the princess does not return, I cannot report back." "This way, if you are in a difficult position, I have thought of a solution. The current Crown Prince is Princess Li Chiying's own brother, and he will be the next emperor of the Great Tang. I will act as guarantor, how about the Crown Prince and the King of the Uyghur become sworn brothers? And he takes a princess back. The Uyghur will then be the son-in-law of the Great Tang. And becoming sworn brothers with the Crown Prince is much closer than being a son-in-law. What do you think, sir?" The Uyghur envoy, seeing that he could not decide this himself, appeared quite troubled. After pondering for a long time, he replied to Wan'er. "Prime Minister Shangguan, my consideration is this. I will first take my people back to the Uyghur and explain the details to the King. Princess Yuzhen and Prime Minister Shangguan will be temporarily escorted back to Chang'an by other Uyghur officials. If the King agrees, I will then arrange for Uyghur officials to return. If he disagrees, we will have to bring Princess Yuzhen back. Is that acceptable?" Upon hearing this, Wan'er recognized it as a compromise. She nodded in agreement. Thus, the negotiations concluded. The Uyghur envoy split into two groups, one returning to their homeland, the other returning to Chang'an. Li Chiying and Shangguan Wan'er still traveled in sedan chairs, which were essentially prisoner carts. Both wore wooden cangues and shackles, which were not removed. The Uyghur soldiers feared that if they escaped on the journey, their responsibility would be immense. With the restraint of the wooden cangues and shackles, they could feel more at ease. The journey back to the capital was bumpy. Inside the prisoner carts, the wooden cangues of Wan'er and Li Chiying clanged against each other, and both their necks and wrists were abraded, drawing blood. "Wan'er, you have suffered for me," Li Chiying said with concern, examining Wan'er's injuries. "Sister Chiying, you jest. Our friendship dates back to the time of the Ye You Ting. This little hardship is nothing. We endured even harsher environments in the Kong He Fu." "Indeed, in the Kong He Fu, we were tortured by Zhang Zongchang along with Aunt Taiping. We were almost beheaded. It was only when Longji brother rushed to our rescue that we saved our lives. Alas, why does Aunt Taiping hate me so much that she insists on marrying me off to the Uyghur?" Li Chiying began to weep as she thought about it. "Sister Chiying, please don't cry. Wan'er is also heartbroken. After Empress Wei and Gu'er were executed, the conflict between the Crown Prince and Princess Taiping became apparent. One of them was bound to fall. Then it would be a matter of being escorted to the execution ground and beheaded for public display," Wan'er clenched her hands, which were bound by the wooden cangue, tightly together, her gaze vacant. She thought of her own fate. "Wan'er, who do you think will win between brother and aunt in the end? Why can't they coexist peacefully?" "My princess, you do not know what it feels like to possess power. With power, all kinship, all blood ties, can be discarded. Ever since Emperor Taizong's Xuanwu Gate Incident, every dynasty in our Great Tang has seen brutal fratricide, continuing to this day. I believe the Crown Prince will win. At that time, Taiping and I will both be taken to the execution ground." Wan'er's face was etched with a sorrowful, cold smile. Li Chiying struggled to pull her hands out of the wooden cangue. Disregarding the discomfort in her arms, she grasped Wan'er's hands. "Wan'er, please try to persuade aunt, tell her not to contend with brother for the throne. With the precedent of Empress Wu ascending the throne, the Great Tang cannot have another female emperor. Chiying does not want aunt to be killed, and even less does she want Wan'er to be executed." Shangguan Wan'er also tightly held Li Chiying's hand. How she wished she could live peacefully with Li Chiying like this. But there was no other way. She could not repay Princess Taiping's life-saving grace, and could only accompany her as a loyal companion, even at the cost of her own life. Seeing Wan'er's lack of response, Li Chiying felt her heart turn to ashes. She was overcome with despair. On both sides were familial ties, and she could do nothing to avert the clash between these two factions. The marriage procession returned to the capital smoothly. At this time, Li Longji had also just returned to Chang'an after inspecting Jiangnan. As soon as he alighted from his carriage, Li Longji went to Princess Yuzhen's sedan chair. He lifted the curtain and saw Li Chiying, wearing a wooden cangue and shackles, and Shangguan Wan'er, with whom he had secretly dallied in Jiangnan. Upon seeing Li Longji, Wan'er's face immediately flushed. "Sister, it's good that you've returned. You don't know, when I heard about the marriage alliance, I wished I could have chased you back immediately," Li Longji dared not look at Wan'er's face and could only express his feelings to Li Chiying. The imperial decree has been issued, and the ministers are at ease. Some imperial guards came to the great hall. Grabbed Wan Er's bound arms. Dragging Wan Er backwards towards the gate. Wan Er looked back at Li Ziying fondly. Li Jieying also reached out her hand to grab Wan Er's hand. It was blocked by the eunuchs. "Wan Er, why are you so cruel. Leaving me to live on in this world." Looking at the crying Princess Yu Zhen, Li Longji's heart was like a knife at this time. It was even harder than if he had died the Empress himself. Especially Wan'er's last look at herself without a trace of sadness made his heart ache even more. Ministry of Justice prison. Princess Taiping had already been put on death row. Changed into prison clothes. The chain collar locked to the wall confined Taiping's neck, and the wooden shackles and leg irons were the same. Seeing Wan Er was also escorted over at this time. Rushed to get up. "Wan Er, you have been sentenced to be beheaded?" "That's right, Princess. Wan'er said that she swore to follow the princess to the death, and now Wan'er has come over to accompany the princess." "You're that close to Yu Zhen's niece? Did Li Longji really not listen to Niece Yu Zhen? Surprisingly, he sentenced you to be beheaded?" "Sister Holding Ying did plead on behalf of the female offender, but it was rejected by the female offender, and since the female offender has followed His Highness. It would not be possible to betray His Highness and seek survival alone." At this time, an official brought over a set of prison clothes. Wanting Shangguan Wan'er to change her prison uniform. Wan'er undid her own clothes and took them all off. Standing naked in the cell. In front of her chest, the female prisoner number eight eight six several branding was clearly visible. That was still the imprint in the Controlling Crane House, it had been years ago, and Taiping's chest was also there. The prison uniform was handed over. Wan Er did not pick it up. "Female prisoner Wan'er requests that the female prisoner be chained to the standing yoke. Just like Princess Xue Ji Luan Ying. The female prisoner also wants to try the standing yoke." The guards were a bit confused. "This is the harshest torture device in the entire prison. It's usually locked the day before the execution. Are you sure you want to lock it on the standing yoke." Wan Er's gaze was firm. "The female prisoner is sure, there are only three days left already, and the female prisoner is going to taste all the torture in this world." It was also the first time that the guards had watched a female prisoner who had taken the initiative to request additional punishment. So he pulled Wan'er to the side of the standing shackle, opened the wooden shackle on the wall, and leaned Wan'er's neck into the round hole of the wooden shackle. Then closed the wooden shackle. Locked. Both hands were also pulled out and locked to the wooden yoke on the wall with a hand yoke. The shackles on Wan Er's feet were pulled up. The ankles were jammed into the round holes of the foot shackles. Then the foot shackles were closed and locked. The leg shackles were then casually resting on the foot shackles. Wan Er secretly screamed in her heart. It hadn't even been hung with chest bells or inserted into the lower body yet, and she felt uncomfortable. Because although the previous wooden shackle was locked on the head, it was free to move, at this time the wooden shackle, the foot shackle was all fixed on the wall. He could not move at all. A moment of time will be sore and numb. Still have to lock another three days, how can this be good. The guards brought over two bells with fish hooks, look at the size, should be taken off from Ji Luan Ying's chest, at this time need to give Wan Er put on. One of the guards pulled on Wan Er's nipple and slammed the fish hook into it. Then with a twist, the fish hook penetrated the nipple and hung the brass bell. One ended. The other nipple was similarly stretched and pierced with a fish hook. Hanging the brass bell. Wan Er really wanted to scream at this point. It was too damn painful. But she couldn't scream, it was her own initiative, she could only stand on her tiptoes and slowly rock her body up and down slightly. Reduce the pain in their chest. But it didn't help at all, the brass bells pulled the nipples downward. One desperately wanted to use both hands to hold the bell and alleviate the pain in one's chest. However, her hands shook and struggled, but she was still unable to break free from the tightly locked shackles. One could only do nothing to help, and could not use any of one's strength. The guards brought over two more wooden pestles carved in the shape of dildos and peeled open the female prisoner Shangguan Wan'er's lower body. The guards brought over two more wooden pestles carved in the shape of dildos and slit open the female prisoner Shangguan Wan Er's lower body. "Oh," a contraction of the rectum made Wan Er hurriedly tighten her abdomen and inhale, it was too sour. Then came the wooden pestle and mortar for the vagina, rubbing it against the doorway a few times before slamming it in. "Ah!" This time it was too much to bear. Wan Er screamed out. Tears also spilled out.