The Unofficial History of the Xue Family's Female Generals: Ji Luan Ying's Five Slayings

"What is this? This prison is too cruel," Ji Luan Ying felt a strange sensation within her, an indescribable feeling. Although she was also a woman who had not yet experienced intimacy, her physiological reactions were natural and irresistible. She said this aloud, but a slight itch lingered in her heart. "Alas, the laws of the Great Tang are thus, and there is nothing that can be done. The court has always been severe with women who commit the ten grave offenses. Women with martial arts skills are even more strictly guarded. I am a direct disciple of the Old Mother of Mount Li. If we speak of sorcery, I am among the best in this era. A mere prison cannot hold me. However, my unfilial son committed a capital offense. The Emperor originally intended to execute only Xue Gang. But Empress Wu disrupted the court, usurping the Emperor's authority. She decreed the execution of the entire Xue family. I did not wish to add further crimes to the Xue family's name, so I surrendered myself and was imprisoned in this death row. Empress Wu has a State Preceptor, Zhang Tian Zuo, who is deeply versed in sorcery. He knew that ordinary torture instruments would be ineffective against me, so he used demonic arts to break my magic. What you see is one of the restraints. The copper bells are yang in nature and specifically counter my pure yin sorcery, preventing me from gathering energy in my chest. Besides the chest restraint, my lower orifices have also been plugged with wooden rods made of hundred-year-old peach wood, preventing me from channeling my power. With these three restraints, I am no different from an ordinary person. I can only await my execution." Ji Luan Ying listened and quickly reached out to touch. Indeed, she felt a circle of hemp rope around Fan Li Hua's waist. The rope was tied in a "丁" shape, with one vertical strand passing through her nether regions. Each of the two smooth peach wood rods had a drilled hole at its base, through which the rope passed, thus firmly securing the wooden rods within her body. Most people only knew that peach wood was a divine object for warding off evil. Few knew that peach wood was also a nemesis to pure yin sorcery. Fan Li Hua was a disciple of the Old Mother of Mount Li, and the Old Mother of Mount Li was the grandmaster of pure yin sorcery. "Aunt Fan, what can I do for you? These people are too cruel, specifically targeting a woman's private parts. Let me remove all of these things for you?" Ji Luan Ying said, grasping the hook of the bell with one hand and the flesh of the nipple with the other, preparing to pull them from her breasts. "Ah! Don't!" A piercing pain made Fan Li Hua's voice change. "These are imperial restraints. Removing them without authorization is punishable by law. Soon, they will have to reattach them to me, and I will bleed again. Moreover, even without these restraints, I would not escape. This is truly the Xue family's sin, and I have decided to face execution calmly. It is just that my legitimate grandson, Jiao'er, was born not long ago and will be executed along with me. I truly cannot bear it. Can you summon my master, the Holy Mother of Mount Li, to save Jiao'er from this calamity? I believe Master will surely find a way. As long as Jiao'er can live, I care not. Luan Ying, I would be eternally grateful if you would do this for me!" Ji Luan Ying's heart ached upon hearing this. The compassion of parents is universal. Although the Xue family had four sons named "Brave, Mighty, Strong, and Powerful," this was their only grandson. If he were to die, the Xue family might very well become extinct. She had to help no matter what. "Aunt Fan, tell me, how do I summon the Holy Mother of Mount Li?" Fan Li Hua raised a finger to her lips in a shushing gesture. Then she beckoned Ji Luan Ying closer. "Help me pull out the wooden rod from my front passage. I will perform a ritual, and then you will help me insert it back, without anyone seeing." When Ji Luan Ying entered, the prison guards had already retreated far away. They were giving Prince Xu some face, not listening to what they shouldn't, not looking at what they shouldn't, lest knowing too much lead to an early death. Although Ji Luan Ying had not yet experienced intimacy, she knew that a woman's anatomy was different from a man's. The front passage was exclusively for men. She couldn't use it herself. Sometimes, out of curiosity, she had tried to insert her finger, and it had been a sharp pain. How uncomfortable would it be to have a wooden rod inserted there? Despite her shyness, saving a life was paramount. She reached out and untied the hemp rope. Then, she gripped the head of the wooden rod in Fan Li Hua's front passage and pulled outwards. Perhaps it had been inserted for too long, and it was a bit difficult to remove. Ji Luan Ying increased her strength. With a "pop," the wooden rod was pulled out, and the front passage closed, the two fleshy lips making a soft sound. Fan Li Hua's expression tightened slightly. She bit her lower lip, then released her teeth, and her face relaxed. She let out a long sigh. After composing herself, Fan Li Hua instructed Ji Luan Ying, "Without the peach wood restraint below, I can perform the ritual. Luan Ying, stand guard at the door for me. I will finish the transmission quickly." Ji Luan Ying nodded and walked to the door, looking around. No one was there. She then turned back to look at Fan Li Hua. Although Fan Li Hua was still shackled by the wooden stocks, her hands were free to perform the ritual. She made various hand gestures, chanting words under her breath. As her body swayed, the copper bells chimed softly. After a moment, a flash of spiritual light appeared on Fan Li Hua's fingers, then vanished instantly. Fan Li Hua withdrew her hands, exhaled, and then beckoned Ji Luan Ying back with a smile. "Luan Ying, I'm done. Can you put the wooden rod back for me!" "Uh, um, okay, okay. Does this just get pushed in?" Ji Luan Ying's mind was a bit chaotic, and her speech was a little stammering. She reached out and touched the dangling peach wood rod. Only then did she see clearly that this rod was not just a stick but carved into the shape of a man's phallus, and it looked considerably thicker now. Ji Luan Ying could hardly believe it. Was this thick thing what she had just pulled out? Could something so thick actually be inserted? But she could hear the guards approaching and had no time to hesitate. Ji Luan Ying quickly aimed the wooden rod at Fan Li Hua's front passage and forcefully pushed it inwards. However, without the lubrication of bodily fluids, there was significant resistance. After much effort, and fearing she might hurt Fan Li Hua, Ji Luan Ying found she couldn't insert it at all. Fan Li Hua frowned, clenching her fists. She was enduring the tearing pain in her lower body. She also felt Ji Luan Ying's fumbling. Enduring the pain, she spoke, "Luan Ying, don't be afraid. I'm going to be beheaded anyway, so it doesn't matter if my lower body is damaged by being penetrated. Don't worry about me, just push hard." Hearing this, Ji Luan Ying blushed for some reason, then nodded. After all, she came from a martial arts family and was considered a heroine of the era. She naturally had strength in her hands. Ji Luan Ying began to increase her force. "Ah, ah,嗯." Fan Li Hua bit her lip, enduring the tearing pain of the wooden rod being forcibly inserted. Finally, it was in. As they were talking, the prison gates slowly opened. Two prisoner carts led the way, followed by men and women bound tightly, all walking towards the execution ground. The first prisoner cart carried Xue Dingshan, the Prince of Liang. His head and fists protruded from the large wooden cangue at the top of the cage. The second prisoner cart was an improved wooden donkey. Bound to it was naturally the Princess of Liang, Fan Lihua. As the old mother of Li Mountain had said, Fan Lihua was scantily clad this time, with only a short strip of white cloth covering her hips, barely concealing her private parts. Another strip of white cloth covered her breasts. Through the white cloth, the outline of bells could be vaguely seen. Of course, those who didn't know that Fan Lihua's breasts were pierced wouldn't know that beneath the white cloth, two bronze bells were hung above her breasts. The wooden donkey had also been modified. Originally, it had a long wooden pole connected to the wheels. As the wheels turned, this pole would thrust in and out of the female prisoner's body, making her wish for death. This time, it was likely due to Prince Xu's constant pleading, using his old connections to get a concession. The wooden donkey was only kept for form. Fan Lihua could be seen bound tightly, her upper body tied to the pillar behind the wooden donkey, with a death noose around her neck. Her hair had been painted and gathered at the top of her head, forming a ponytail that was pulled up to the top of the pillar, passed through an iron ring, and tied. Fan Lihua's legs were spread apart, sitting on the wooden donkey. Her feet were bound backward to the sides of the wooden donkey. As the wooden donkey moved, Fan Lihua's body trembled unnaturally. Ji Luan Ying knew that her lower body was still being pierced by the wooden stake. Although outsiders saw that the wooden donkey had lost a function, Ji Luan Ying, as someone who understood, knew that Fan Lihua was suffering no less, still enduring a double punishment. "This is outrageous! To humiliate a first-rank imperial madam like this in public," Ji Luan Ying exclaimed indignantly. The surrounding people cast various glances at her, some in admiration, some in doubt, and some looking to report her for a reward. Ji Long quickly pulled Ji Luan Ying and walked towards the execution ground. "Don't speak. Be careful of imperial spies. If you can't save the person you want to save and get yourself caught, it won't be worth it." Ji Luan Ying knew she had been impulsive. She obediently followed the prisoner carts towards the execution ground. From the crowd watching the execution, the majority were still mourning for the Xue family. Many elderly people cried out their farewells to the Xue family. Some brought food and wine, and others pleaded with the soldiers for leniency, showing that the Xue family was indeed popular in the capital. The distance from the prison to the execution ground was not too far. Perhaps considering the large number of executions and fearing public unrest, the court had canceled the route of parading through the streets and proceeded directly to the execution ground. This, to some extent, did alleviate the suffering of the Xue family members. Of course, Fan Lihua's suffering would also be somewhat lessened. The execution ground ahead was heavily guarded, with only one side open for the public to watch. The remaining three sides were completely manned by soldiers. There were as many as 380 people to be beheaded, executed in batches of over 50 at a time. The executioners also worked in two shifts. Each executioner had two execution swords prepared, so they wouldn't have to stop if a blade became dull. Ji Luan Ying arrived at the front of the execution ground early and squeezed into the front row with Ji Long and Ji Hu. The prisoner carts had already arrived and were being escorted by soldiers to the back of the execution ground. The prisoners awaiting execution had not yet been brought out. "They must be changing the ropes. The court has regulations for executions. There are explicit rules on what kind of ropes to use, how many times to wrap them around the arms, whether to use a noose around the neck, and whether to plug the female prisoner's private parts. There are even regulations on how many cuts are needed for lingchi. It's not arbitrary. This is the Great Tang, and it must have the grandeur of a great nation." Ji Luan Ying heard someone in front of her boasting about their knowledge. Although she disdained this person, he was indeed telling her things she didn't know. So, she didn't interrupt his bragging. "Do you know about the wooden donkey that Marshal Fan is riding today? Today, His Majesty has shown mercy and agreed to reduce the parts. In the past, all female prisoners sentenced to death for heinous crimes had to be stripped naked, have their pubic hair shaved, and be paraded on a wooden donkey. The wooden donkey had an extremely long donkey penis-like pole that went through the wooden donkey. Then the female prisoner would be lifted high, her legs spread, and forced down onto the pole. Then ropes would be used to secure her, preventing her from escaping. As the wooden donkey moved, the pole would go up and down in the female prisoner's holes with the rotation of the wheels. How painful was that? Many female prisoners died from the penetration before even reaching the execution ground. Even if they died, they still had to be beheaded; the process had to be followed. But there were exceptions. I remember a female prisoner a couple of years ago who committed adultery and killed her husband. She was stripped naked, and her figure was absolutely stunning, better than Xiao Cui from Zui Hong Lou. Oh, I've seen it all. If that female prisoner were sold to Zui Hong Lou, Xiao Cui would have no chance. Ah, I've said too much, back to the point. That female prisoner was tied to the wooden donkey. All the way here, besides the bouncing of her breasts, all you could hear was her moaning. This slut actually treated sitting on the wooden donkey as enjoyment. When the soldiers pulled her off the wooden donkey, a stream of淫水 flowed out. That scene was incredibly lustful." "You know so much. Then tell me, does Marshal Fan have to be stripped naked when she's beheaded?" "According to court regulations, Marshal Fan should be stripped naked for execution. But I see she's wearing clothes to cover the places she shouldn't be covering today. Perhaps an old lover is working on her, so we won't have the pleasure of seeing!" Ji Luan Ying's face instantly changed upon hearing this. "What a scoundrel! To insult Aunt Fan like this even as she's being executed. If I weren't on a mission today, I would take your dog life." Before Ji Luan Ying could finish her thoughts, there was a dull thud. The scoundrel who had been speaking suddenly fell to the ground. The nearby soldiers quickly helped him away. They didn't want this person to disrupt the execution. Who would care about the scoundrel's fate afterward? Late that night, two furtive figures appeared beneath Ji Luan Ying's window. Inside, Ji Luan Ying was preparing to sleep, embracing Xue Jiao, when a puff of soporific smoke was blown into the room. Soon, both Ji Luan Ying and Xue Jiao inhaled the smoke and collapsed onto the bed. The two figures used a blade to pry open the door from the outside. Upon seeing the unconscious pair, they didn't immediately act but instead produced a bundle of hemp rope. "To do a good job, one must first sharpen one's tools," it seemed these two were professionals. Xue Jiao was still young and naturally didn't need to be bound. That left Ji Luan Ying as the sole target. One of them helped Ji Luan Ying sit up. They brought Ji Luan Ying's arms together behind her back, crossing them. The other person untangled the hemp rope, revealing the end. They placed it on the back of Ji Luan Ying's neck, and the two separated strands wrapped around her arms a few times, extending to her wrists. The rope around her wrists was crossed behind her back and tied. The tied rope was then joined into a single strand, passed through the rope at the back of her neck, and pulled downwards forcefully. Ji Luan Ying's clasped hands were forced upwards. The two tested the tension, pulling the rope a few more times to ensure it was as tight as possible. They then added several more wraps of rope around Ji Luan Ying's wrists before tying off the two ends with a secure knot. In this manner, Ji Luan Ying's upper body was thoroughly and firmly bound by the hemp rope. "Don't let her scream on the way, gag her mouth," one traitor commanded. The other traitor immediately found several strips of cloth on the bed, balled them up, and stuffed them into Ji Luan Ying's mouth. He then used another long strip of cloth to cover the gagged mouth and tied a secure knot at the back of Ji Luan Ying's head. "Do we need to bind her legs too?" "Bind them as well. If the young lady wakes up, we won't be able to handle her. Tie her in a spread-eagle position. That way, she won't be able to escape." "Spread-eagle? You know quite a bit, don't you?" "Heh, I learned it at the pleasure houses in the city. The girls there, especially Xiao Hong, loved that position." "Slap!" A smack landed on the traitor's head. "Stop reminiscing about Xiao Hong, get back to work." "Yes, brother, just watch me. It's my specialty." They laid Ji Luan Ying down on the bed. Using a rope, they wrapped it around the backs of Ji Luan Ying's knees, then around her feet a few times before adding a reinforcing strand. The excess rope was threaded through the rope at the back of Ji Luan Ying's neck and pulled taut. Ji Luan Ying's legs bent naturally, her feet almost touching the back of her head. The pulled rope was then wrapped around her feet a few times and tied securely. Thus, a standard spread-eagle position was completed. "Brother, look, is it standard?" "Damn, I didn't expect you to have this skill. Next time I go to the pleasure house, you help me tie up A Chun too. Damn it, just thinking about A Chun serving me in that position gets me excited. It's just damn expensive." Ji Luan Ying knew she had no escape. It seemed she was destined to be executed at the execution ground, just like Fan Li Hua. As long as she didn't bring shame to the Ji family, she would be a hero again in eighteen years. So she replied, "This female prisoner, Ji Luan Ying, accepts her fate. I await your judgment." "Guards, have the female prisoner make her mark. Then, shackle Ji Luan Ying with the death row wooden cangue, throw her into the death row prison, and request approval from the Ministry of Justice to escort her to the capital for execution in three days." A yamen runner took the confession written by the scribe, smeared Ji Luan Ying's palm with red ink behind her, and pressed her palm onto the confession. This was considered making her mark. After the marking was done, Ji Luan Ying was escorted to the death row cell. This cell was truly incomparable to those in the capital. It was not only rudimentary but also stank. It was likely due to insufficient local funding. It was also rarely cleaned. Moreover, death row prisoners were people about to be executed, so no one cared about the smell. Ji Luan Ying's upper body, which had been bound, was unbound. Although she was no longer restrained, her strength was no match for multiple opponents. If she acted now, Ji Luan Ying would have no chance of winning, and she didn't even know where Xue Jiao was. She could only suppress the urge to resist and calmly accept her situation. She would find a way to escape after seeing Xue Jiao. The matron handed Ji Luan Ying a prisoner's uniform and told her to change into it. "Mama, can't I wear my own clothes?" They called the matron "Mama" here, a form of respectful address at the time. "Imperial law dictates that all prisoners must wear uniform attire. This is also to prevent escape. You see, if someone wearing a prisoner's uniform tries to escape, they'll surely be caught, right? Besides, you are a female prisoner awaiting execution. It's already good that you're getting this. Many female prisoners are executed naked. If you don't wear this, you'll be naked like them. You choose." Ji Luan Ying had no choice after hearing this and said, "I'll wear it, I'll wear it. This female prisoner is willing to follow Mama's arrangements." After changing into the prisoner's uniform, Ji Luan Ying's clothes were confiscated. At this moment, two yamen runners entered. "Female prisoner Ji Luan Ying, we are about to put the cangue on you and nail on the shackles. Do not attempt to resist. If you resist, you will suffer the consequences." "This female prisoner will not resist. I will allow the officers to proceed." Two thick pieces of metal-clad wood were fastened around Ji Luan Ying's neck. The semicircles closed, perfectly encircling her fair neck. The black wood contrasted sharply with her white skin. In front of the neck opening, there were two round holes for locking her hands. Before the yamen runners could give the order, Ji Luan Ying voluntarily passed her hands through from below. The yamen runners then wrapped chains around her hands on the cangue and locked them, preventing her hands from being withdrawn. The top and bottom ends of the cangue had square holes. Two wooden bars passed through the cangue. One end of the bar protruding from the surface had a raised part, and the other had a small hole. After passing through, a copper lock was used to secure it in this small hole, thus locking the cangue tightly onto the prisoner's head. The prisoner could not open the cangue by herself. A rusty iron shackle was thrown to the ground, making a clanging sound. Each end of the shackle had two semicircular iron rings. A yamen runner pulled one of Ji Luan Ying's feet and fastened the two semicircular iron rings around her ankle. Then, using an iron rod as a rivet, he passed it through the hole of the ring, placed it on an anvil, and brought down a hammer with a loud bang, bang. Ji Luan Ying felt a sharp pain in her ankle. Her ankle skin was bleeding. Tears quickly flowed uncontrollably. It wasn't from the pain; a female warrior could endure pain. It was the feeling of humiliation that made the prisoner weep. After several heavy hammer blows, the iron rod became flattened, completely covering the round hole. The shackle was thus nailed shut. The other foot was treated the same way. A shackle weighing over twenty pounds was locked onto Ji Luan Ying's feet. Blood faintly oozed from both ankles, having been broken by the impact of the hammer when the shackles were nailed on. "Try walking around to get used to it. Since you've committed a capital offense, don't blame the imperial law for being merciless. This shackle is the lightest one we could find, considering you are a female death row inmate," the yamen runner said before leaving the cell with his tools. It was Ji Luan Ying's first time wearing a cangue and shackles. When the shackles were being nailed, her hands instinctively wanted to support herself. Restricted by the cangue, her head and neck bent forward together. Her hands couldn't be withdrawn, nor could they reach further. She only swayed her upper body, unable to help. Hearing the yamen runner's words, Ji Luan Ying sat up, cupped the cangue with her hands, and, swaying, finally stood firm. She began to move her feet forward. As soon as her left foot lifted, she felt the heavy downward and backward pull of the shackle. With each slight step, the shackle ring would rotate. The rusty surface of the shackle also had some burrs, which tore at the skin of her ankle. She took a small step. Then, she tried to move her right foot forward. She felt the same sensation. Her feet had suffered abrasions from the hammer blows earlier, and the pull of the shackles now made it even more painful. After two steps, it felt like she hadn't moved at all, as the part of the shackle dragging on the ground remained still. Ji Luan Ying gritted her teeth, enduring the pain, and took a large step. Finally, the shackle moved. However, the pain intensified. Fortunately, as a martial artist, she was accustomed to injuries and could still bear it. Seeing Ji Luan Ying walking with difficulty, the matron sighed. She walked over to offer guidance. "Prisoners wearing shackles are like this at first, unable to walk and chafing their feet. Spread your legs like this, straighten the shackle, and then alternate your steps forward. This way, the shackle ring won't rotate, and your ankles won't chafe. The shackle won't pull as much. Try it." Indeed, Ji Luan Ying followed the matron's instructions and straightened the shackle. With her legs spread, the shackle ring felt as if it were fixed to her ankles, no longer rotating. She walked much faster than before, although the gait was not very graceful, especially for Ji Luan Ying, an unmarried woman. "Don't overthink it. You're going to be escorted to the capital for execution anyway. Don't worry about what others think. Do whatever is comfortable. Practice for a while. After dinner, I'll have to lock you up again." "Ah? Lock me up again? I'm already locked up all over. Where else is there to lock?" Ji Luan Ying was shocked. She didn't know any magic. They wouldn't use the same torture devices as they did for Fan Li Hua on her, would they? Moreover, she was still a virgin. It would be too much of a loss to have her purity violated by a wooden pestle. "What are you thinking about? Imperial law dictates that condemned prisoners must be placed on a 'xià chuáng' before execution. This county is too poor to afford one, so I've installed an iron ring on the wall. Your shackles will be locked to it at night. Additionally, a chain will be used to secure your neck to this iron ring. This is your 'xià chuáng' for this county. Make do for a few days. Once you're escorted to the capital, you'll surely have a proper 'xià chuáng' to sleep on!" Ji Luan Ying understood, but she didn't know what a 'xià chuáng' was. "Mama, what is a 'xià chuáng'? Why doesn't our county jail have one?" "A 'xià chuáng' is exclusively for death row inmates and is difficult to construct. This county upholds justice and order, so where would we get so many condemned prisoners? You are, in fact, the only female death row inmate in the past ten years. We'll have to make do with a chain." Ji Luan Ying now understood. So, she was the only female death row inmate in this county in a decade. She wondered if this was something to be proud of. Dinner arrived for the death row cell. It was, in fact, just a foul-smelling steamed bun and a bowl of thin gruel. For condemned prisoners in the Tang Dynasty, the common practice was to simply keep them from starving. The advantage of this was saving grain and simultaneously eroding the prisoner's will and ability to resist, killing two birds with one stone. After Ji Luan Ying finished eating, the jailer returned with a chain. First, the chain was wrapped around the female prisoner's neck and secured with a brass lock. Then, the chain was threaded through the iron ring on the wall and locked. After securing her neck, the jailer lifted Ji Luan Ying's shackles and used a brass lock to fasten the iron ring to the shackles. This way, the female prisoner could only sit obediently on the cell floor, unable to stand or walk. How the prisoner slept was not the jailer's concern. The prisoner had to figure it out herself. Then, the jailer locked the cell door and left. Chained to the wall, Ji Luan Ying wanted to urinate. She discovered that most of the chain for her shackles was already hanging on the wall. Her feet could only move within a limited range. When she tried to stand, the chain around her neck pulled her back, preventing her from standing. "Mama, Mama, can you loosen it a bit?" Ji Luan Ying was the only occupant of the death row cell. Naturally, no one responded. Ji Luan Ying continuously adjusted the position of her feet. The wooden cangue also began to exert immense pressure, primarily because her hands were fixed in one position for too long and couldn't stretch. She couldn't pull them out, nor could she fully extend them. Her hands desperately wanted to break free from the cangue's restraint, causing her neck to chafe and bleed. The pain in her neck made her abandon any thoughts of escape. She could only swing her elbows up and down like butterfly wings, which served as a form of exercise. After swinging for a while, her wrists were already bleeding where they rubbed against the holes of the cangue. The female prisoner obediently stopped swinging. "Ah, this is so uncomfortable. Father, when will you come to save your daughter? Your daughter doesn't want to be in this place, ah. Ah," her final cry turned into a low sob. At this moment, her bladder was increasingly full, and she could no longer hold it. It was like a dam bursting. "Gush, gush, gush," a wave of relief washed over her. Ji Luan Ying felt an unprecedented comfort. She lay quietly on the cell floor, enjoying the brief peace. She didn't care that her prison uniform was soaked with urine. *Cough, cough, it stinks. No wonder the death row cell smells so bad. Every female prisoner is locked up like this; it's no wonder it stinks when they urinate.* Meanwhile, as the female prisoner Ji Luan Ying lay sleepless, shackled and chained, Mount Wohu was in chaos due to the sudden disappearance of Ji Luan Ying and Xue Jiao. Ji Cheng, Ji Long, and Ji Hu searched for three full days without finding any trace of them. It was also the fault of the two traitors whose acting was too superb. They worked harder than everyone else, successfully deceiving Ji Cheng. To this day, Ji Cheng had not realized that his precious daughter had been betrayed and imprisoned in the county jail. Three days later, the Ministry of Justice's reply arrived, agreeing to escort the female prisoner Ji Luan Ying to the capital for execution. Upon receiving the Ministry of Justice's reply, the county magistrate immediately arranged for the county's best soldiers to form the escort team. He also specifically found the best carpenter to build a brand-new prisoner cart. This was a great achievement, and he wanted to appear in the capital in the best possible light. His promotion and fortune depended on this. "Of course, I'm the best at smashing shackles in the county. They all call me Wang Da Chui. It's just that the ones on the feet are a bit tricky to operate because they're so tight. It might hurt your esteemed wife's ankles. Is that alright?" Xue Gang was angry but had no other choice. He had to agree. "Tell us, you're the expert. How should we smash it open? Tell us what to do, and we'll do it." "This, requires binding your esteemed wife to this pillar first." "What? Binding her too?" Ji Luan Ying was a little surprised. "Yes. Mainly, she can't move around while I'm smashing. If she moves, I won't be able to hit it accurately. Whether it opens or not is one thing, but I might injure her ankle. So, binding her securely to prevent movement is a necessary measure. It's for your own safety." "Fine, bind me. It's not like it hasn't been done before. I can accept it. Gang Ge, you bind me. I don't trust anyone else's skill." Xue Gang blushed and didn't dare to speak. Then, as if nothing had happened, he silently retrieved a slightly bent hemp rope from the bedside cabinet. It was clearly well-used; even the rough fibers of the rope were worn smooth, making it look unlike ordinary hemp rope. Ji Luan Ying leaned against the pillar, clasping her hands behind her back around it, waiting for Xue Gang to bind her. Xue Gang unfurled the hemp rope, found the end, and placed it around Ji Luan Ying's neck, then under her armpits, wrapping it around her arms. The rope met behind the pillar, where it was tied securely. He then took another long rope and, starting from her upper chest, wrapped it around Ji Luan Ying's body, circling the pillar repeatedly, all the way down to her calves. This way, Ji Luan Ying was bound firmly to the pillar, unable to move at all. After finishing the binding, Xue Gang asked Wang Da Chui, "Brother Da Chui, is this good?" Wang Da Chui carefully inspected the bindings, tightening a few loose ropes. Then he said, "It's fine. It's just that if the ankle is jolted later, there might be bleeding. Please don't blame me then, Madam." Bound tightly, Ji Luan Ying found it difficult to breathe. She coughed a few times and said hoarsely, "Brother Da Chui, proceed. I can endure it." She then turned to Xue Gang. "Gang Ge, please tie a belt around my mouth. If I can't bear it, I can bite the belt." Xue Gang thought this was a good idea and took out a three-finger-wide leather belt, placing it in Ji Luan Ying's mouth and tying it tightly around her head and the pillar. This way, she couldn't even turn her head. Everything was ready. Wang Da Chui took out his specialized tools, explaining as he went, as if giving a live demonstration. "This is the iron chisel we specifically use to open shackles. It's the only one in the county. You won't find it at other blacksmiths. This is different from a carpenter's or a regular blacksmith's. It's made from the same meteorite iron as the shackles themselves. It's incredibly hard. See how flat the chisel tip is? Even a small gap is enough to insert it." An anvil was also brought out and placed at Ji Luan Ying's feet. He then took out a hammer. The hammer wasn't large, but it was clear from its appearance that it was heavy. Wang Da Chui looked at the securely bound Ji Luan Ying and sighed softly. "Madam, you are truly suffering." He then placed the left shackle ring on the anvil and inserted the chisel into the seam of the ring. My goodness, he was truly a master. The chisel penetrated just a tiny bit. Wang Da Chui held the chisel with his left hand and swung the hammer with his right, striking the chisel. *Clang, clang, clang*, three rapid blows. The shackle ring indeed opened. "It's open, it's open!" Xue Gang exclaimed in surprise, seeing a rather large gap in the shackle. "Madam, be careful. Now it's time to chisel off the rivets. When I've opened shackles for female prisoners before, several were injured by the shackle pieces that sprang off at this point. Pay attention." With that, Wang Da Chui aimed at the rivet inside the shackle ring and raised his hammer high. *Crack!* The shackle ring sprang up. Ji Luan Ying's left foot slammed onto the ground, and the shackle ring sprang up, catching on the fleshy part of her ankle. It might have hit bone. Ji Luan Ying's tightly bound body writhed violently. She cried out in pain from her bound mouth. It was clear she was in agony. Seeing Ji Luan Ying struggling desperately, Wu Gang's heart ached. But the shackle couldn't be worn forever. He could only hold the bound Ji Luan Ying tightly, trying his best to alleviate the pain caused by the shackle. A wooden frame shaped like the character "土" (tǔ) was placed before Ji Luan Ying. Atop the frame was a carved phallus, its edges sharp and angular, unlike the smooth, rounded one currently inserted within her. The two individuals untied the ropes around Ji Luan Ying's waist, removing the torture devices that had tormented her for half the day. Then, they lifted her legs, spreading them apart to open the entrance to her nether regions. They then positioned her over the phallus below and lowered her down. "Ah—" This time, there was no foreplay, no lubrication. Her entire body's weight pressed directly onto the frame, the shaft plunging deep into Ji Luan Ying's womb. The "土" shaped frame had two horizontal wooden bars, each with a loop at the end for securing restraints. Her ankles and knees were bound and fixed by ropes. The frame was indeed simple. But Ji Luan Ying, bound to it, could not bend her legs, and her arms were also held straight up, rendering her immobile. In such a state, Ji Luan Ying was truly unable to move an inch. "Damn it, if I don't teach you a lesson, you won't know my power. I'm telling you all, I won't tie you up today. Stay put. If anyone dares to loosen her, I'll make you unable to move an inch too. Let's go." With that, the squad of soldiers tidied up their food buckets and bowls, locked the door, and left. Ji Luan Ying remained in the "unable to move an inch" posture, under the watchful eyes of the other female prisoners. She had no idea what fate awaited her tomorrow. "Gang Ge, hurry back and save me!" Ji Luan Ying was subjected to a torture known as "Unable to Move an Inch." This torture involved a phallus with sharp edges inside her body; even the slightest movement felt like being scraped by a knife. Furthermore, Ji Luan Ying's bent-over, bound posture conflicted with the vertically inserted wooden rod. To avoid the rod pressing against her womb, she had to maintain a slightly upright posterior while bent over. Over time, Ji Luan Ying couldn't bear it and would involuntarily shift her feet, causing the phallus inside to churn her womb. This made Luan Ying begin to regret her actions. "If I had known this punishment would be so painful, I might as well have eaten that leftover rice. Now, not only am I starving, but I'm also bound in this humiliating and agonizing posture. I must change my ways from now on, or I'll be the one suffering." "Sister, you're in too much pain. Let me loosen your ropes for you." Xu Ying walked over to Ji Luan Ying's side. Despite the soldiers' stern orders, she couldn't bear to watch. Even if she were to be bound in the "unable to move an inch" posture tomorrow, she had to help. "No, little sister, don't. Don't let my stubbornness cause you to suffer this punishment too. I've already tasted it; it's truly too painful. Let me bear this pain alone." The other female prisoners were also untied early because of Ji Luan Ying. They were grateful for her sacrifice and spontaneously gathered around her, as if she were their belief and reliance for survival. Some, whose chains were too short to reach Ji Luan Ying, were also cheering her on. Ji Luan Ying looked at the other prisoners, who were as naked as she was, and felt a warmth. "Tell me your stories? That way, I can distract myself. It will also be your way of helping me." Opposite Ji Luan Ying sat a woman with a cold, elegant demeanor. Despite the shackles on her feet and her nakedness, it was clear she was no ordinary person. "I am the daughter of the King of Jiangling, the great-granddaughter of Emperor Taizong. Emperor Gaozong is my imperial uncle, and Empress Wu is my imperial aunt. My imperial uncle doted on me. When I was three, he broke precedent and changed my title from Princess Yun to Princess An Yun. Thus, I was renamed Li An Yun. My enfeoffment as a princess predated Princess Taiping's by a year. After Empress Wu usurped the Tang dynasty and established her own Zhou dynasty, my father was furious. As a descendant of the Li family, he naturally wanted to defend the Tang empire. When Xu Jingye raised an army in Yangzhou, my father donated all his wealth to fund the military and recruited righteous men to join the anti-Zhou forces. After the defeat, our entire family's assets were confiscated, and my title as Princess An Yun was revoked. I, along with my mother and sisters, were sent to the military camp to appease the soldiers. That's how I began living this dark and hopeless life. I wanted to commit suicide, I thought about escaping, but after more than a year, all my attempts failed, and I even implicated my mother and sisters, who were taken to the execution ground and publicly beheaded. I have also experienced this 'unable to move an inch' torture. This thing here was damaged by that device. Now, every time I'm taken away to entertain the soldiers, it pulls at the wound inside, causing me immense pain. Sister Ji, you must absolutely not move. Moving only causes discomfort, not injury. Truly, if you can't bear it any longer, we can help you loosen your muscles." Ji Luan Ying's current posture was indeed uncomfortable, but as long as she didn't move, her body wouldn't be harmed. Her arms were bound horizontally at the elbows, not impeding normal blood circulation. Even if bound for a whole night, it wouldn't be a major issue. Her legs were only fixed by rope loops around the wooden bars, which wouldn't cause blood stasis or necrosis. Only the wooden rod deep within her private parts was pressing against her womb. No matter how she lifted her hips or swayed, she couldn't dislodge it. Remaining motionless was sometimes more agonizing than being bound all over. After talking for a while, Ji Luan Ying felt as if half the night had passed. Xu Ying told her that less than half an hour had gone by. Ji Luan Ying immediately deflated like a balloon, filled with anxiety and pain. It felt like an eternity, like every second was stretching into an age. There was no other way; staying like this wouldn't get her through the long night. "Let's kneel at Sister Ji's feet to relieve the pressure on her upper arms. She can straighten her body and won't have to bend over constantly. This will also lessen the torment from that rod." Xu Ying proposed her idea and then looked around, asking for the opinions of the other female prisoners. Li An Yun was the first to raise her hand. "I agree. We are all in the same boat. I'm willing to be the first." Ji Luan Ying quickly shook her head. "Absolutely not. You are a princess. Stepping on you would be a grave disrespect. Absolutely not." "What princess? I'm like you now, a prisoner awaiting execution. Besides, how many people here aren't princesses or county princesses? Sister Ji, don't worry about that." The other female prisoners also agreed. With the help of the other prisoners, they lifted Ji Luan Ying, who was bound to the "土" shaped frame. Then, one foot was placed on Xu Ying's back, and the other on Li An Yun's foot. Li An Yun and Xu Ying knelt on the ground, in a prone position. After they were positioned, Ji Luan Ying's bound arms no longer pressed down on her body, and she could finally straighten up. The wooden rod inside no longer pressed against her skin. The intrusion of the foreign object made her private parts swell, but after a while, she became numb to it. Only occasional coughs or movements would cause Ji Luan Ying to feel pain. "What position do you want to be tied in this time?" "Suspended, it's been a while since I've suspended you." Anyone familiar with rope play knows that the safest way to suspend someone is with two rope loops, one above and one below the breasts. A rope is then threaded between the upper arms and the body to secure it, preventing the suspension ropes from slipping up or down. The hands are tied behind the back and secured to these loops. This way, when suspended, the body's weight is borne by the chest loops, and the hands are merely immobilized, not bearing weight, thus reducing the risk of injury. Through repeated attempts, corrections, and experiments, Xu Ying's tying skills had advanced by leaps and bounds. She could now perform suspensions without causing injury. As Xu Ying's hands pulled the rope downwards, Ji Luan Ying's bound body rose accordingly. Eventually, only her tiptoes touched the ground. Xu Ying then tied a rope around Ji Luan Ying's right ankle and pulled it up towards the ceiling beam, securing it with a knot. Ji Luan Ying was now standing on one foot, her legs spread wide in a straddle, in the middle of the room. Her bush-covered pussy was fully exposed to Xu Ying. "I'm afraid sister might scream later, so I'll gag you first. Don't worry, I'll gag you too later. It's only fair." Without waiting for Ji Luan Ying's assent, Xu Ying grabbed a prepared rag, balled it up, and stuffed it into Ji Luan Ying's mouth. She then secured it with a long strip of cloth. Ji Luan Ying felt something was wrong. Usually, in this position, Xu Ying would start her mischief. After completing all the preparations, Xu Ying left the bedroom and returned shortly. Ji Luan Ying's back was to Xu Ying, who was up to something. With her mouth gagged, she couldn't ask. "Sister, I've secured your pussy, but I can't guarantee your backdoor. I'll just experiment there for a bit." With that, Xu Ying produced a pale yellow stick. The stick had been peeled, and it was coated in a transparent, viscous fluid. Xu Ying began by rubbing the stick back and forth across Ji Luan Ying's nipples. At first, there was nothing. After a while, a burning sensation began. Before the burning sensation on her nipples could fully register, the short stick slowly penetrated her anus. The anus was incredibly sensitive. Immediately, the burning sensation in her anus joined the burning on her nipples. "Mmmph—" Ji Luan Ying began to writhe her breasts, trying to resist the heat. As she writhed, she also tried to clench her buttocks tightly, resisting the burning in her anus. It was the spiciness of ginger. Ji Luan Ying finally understood the source of her unease. Xu Ying was using her to test the stimulating effects of ginger. Seeing Ji Luan Ying's reaction, Xu Ying knew. The experiment was a success. Bound as she was, Ji Luan Ying didn't care about experiments. She was genuinely suffering from the ginger's heat. Her nipples, stimulated by the ginger's viscous fluid, were swollen and throbbing, desperately needing external friction for relief. Ji Luan Ying's constant breast writhing was an attempt to get Xu Ying to embrace and vigorously massage her breasts. "If only Gang Ge were here. Gang Ge's strength is so much greater than Xu Ying's. His large hands would grab my breasts and rub them hard, that would be so comfortable." The heat in her anal region also stimulated the surrounding pussy. The love juices in her pussy flowed like a gurgling mountain stream. The straddle position prevented Ji Luan Ying from clenching her buttocks. No matter how hard she tried, the ginger stick remained lodged in her hole, unmoving. Ji Luan Ying's hands, knowing they couldn't break free, still strained with all their might, shaking. She tensed and released within the rope loops, and when she couldn't break free, she thrashed wildly up and down. If not for the restraining ropes around her chest, she would have come apart with this frantic movement. Her upper body was tightly bound and unyielding. Ji Luan Ying then began to lift her only standing leg, her left leg, and shake it wildly. The pain in her upper body from the ropes forced her to lower her leg and stand again, only to lift and shake it once more. "Mmmph— mmmph—" Ji Luan Ying cried inwardly, "Sister Xu Ying, you're even more heartless than Zhang Tian'e. Just you wait, I'll deal with you properly later. Ah, I can't take it anymore, sister, hurry up and fuck me. Hurry up and rub my breasts. I'm going to explode." Xu Ying watched the fruits of her labor, tears silently falling. She didn't know if she would ever have the chance to play this game again. "Sister, endure it for a little longer. Soon, I'll let you have your fill of tormenting me." Seeing Ji Luan Ying on the verge of collapse, Xu Ying finally embraced her from behind. She kissed her neck and grasped her breasts, rubbing and massaging them with all her might. Ji Luan Ying's frantic thrashing stopped. She turned her head, allowing Xu Ying to open her gagged mouth. As soon as it was open, she met Xu Ying's lips, biting, entwining tongues, and sucking. "Sister, hurry and pull it out for me. Ah— sss— hurry, use that stick to fuck me. Hurry." Xu Ying freed one hand and reached towards her anus. She found the ginger stick, pulled it out with a forceful tug, and tossed it casually onto the floor. "Summon guards! Escort the female prisoner back to the Celestial Prison and ensure she is well-guarded. No mistreatment. Await the Emperor's decree before taking her to the execution ground for public decapitation." With the help of two guards, the female prisoner rose, bowed to the three elders, and returned to the Celestial Prison. As a convicted felon, her treatment naturally differed from that of an untried prisoner. The Celestial Prison did have cangue beds. "Mama, could I perhaps not sleep on a cangue bed? I recall there used to be standing stocks in the Celestial Prison. Fan Lihua was once confined in them." The matron was astonished. "You know of Fan Lihua? Ah, yes, you are the Princess Consort Xue. However, that torture device is far more cruel and agonizing than a cangue bed." "It's alright, Mama. I wish to try the very same instrument my mother-in-law used." The matron, resigned, led the female prisoner to the cell previously occupied by Fan Lihua. The cell had been unused for a long time, with cobwebs clinging to the walls. After a cursory cleaning, she brought Ji Luan Ying to the opposite wall. On the wall, at a height suitable for a prisoner's neck, was a fixed wooden cangue, secured with iron plates. Below it were fixed leg stocks. Between the leg stocks stood two upright wooden rods, clearly designed to penetrate the prisoner's nether regions. "Female prisoner, have you truly considered this? While the cangue bed is harsh, it does not involve wooden rods thrusting into you, nor will your nipples be adorned with bells. Lying down is also far more comfortable than standing." "Mama, this prisoner fears nothing. This prisoner is willing to be locked here. This prisoner also wishes to experience her mother-in-law's suffering. Please proceed." The matron, having never encountered someone who willingly sought to intensify their punishment, could only oblige. She meticulously cleaned the instruments, unlocked all necessary restraints, and even carefully moistened the dildo attached to the top of the wooden rod. The female prisoner's neck and hand stocks were unlocked, and her prison garb was removed, revealing tattoos on her breasts, which caused a moment of shock. The prisoner also appeared somewhat embarrassed. "These were branded by Princess Anle's people when I surrendered at Tongguan." "You have suffered, female prisoner. I have never seen tattoos on nipples before." The leg shackles were of suitable length and did not need removal. The matron first opened the leg stocks fixed to the wall. The female prisoner positioned her feet within the semicircular openings of the stocks. The leg shackles were lifted and placed onto the stock board. The matron then fastened the other half of the leg stocks, securing them with a bronze lock. The prisoner was now spread-legged, leaning against the wall. The two wooden rods between the leg stocks were slightly adjusted downwards. The prisoner assumed a position, and the matron, aiming carefully, inserted the anal rod. The entire phallus was pushed in before the rod was locked at the bottom. The other rod was then aimed at the vulva. With a slow, deliberate motion, it was inserted. Once the phallus was submerged, it was locked at the bottom. The prisoner felt an intense fullness in her lower body. As the two rods swayed within her, they pressed against each other, causing excruciating pain to the flesh being squeezed. The prisoner finally understood the severity of this instrument. No wonder her mother-in-law had been unable to cast spells with these wooden rods in place. Once the wooden rods were secured, a chain was brought from the wall, wrapped around the prisoner's waist, and locked in place, serving as a measure to prevent excessive body movement. The wooden cangue fixed to the wall was sturdier than the one the prisoner had previously worn. Fortunately, it was stationary, eliminating the pressure on her shoulders. The prisoner lifted her hair, revealing her neck, which was already chafing red. Her neck was placed into the semicircular opening of the cangue. The matron closed the other half and locked it securely. Her hands were extended through the two round holes in the front of the cangue. The hand stocks were fastened and locked above. The prisoner was now completely immobilized in the standing stocks. "Bring the bells," the matron commanded. "The small ones or the large ones?" another matron inquired. "The small ones. The large ones might be too much for the prisoner to bear." Ji Luan Ying, though feeling some discomfort from being locked in the cangue, spoke up. "Use the large ones. My mother-in-law used the large size, so I shall use the large size as well." "Are you certain? I must warn you, once they are on, they cannot be changed. Think carefully." "This prisoner is certain about using the large ones. I am to be executed, why should I care about the size of the bells?" Thus, the large bronze bells, identical to those worn by Fan Lihua, were brought. Ji Luan Ying's nipples had been pierced twice before. This time, she was accustomed to the procedure. Grasping the tip of her nipple, a sharp, curved hook pierced it. She released her hand. The weight of the bell pulled her nipple downwards, causing a sharp pain. The prisoner gasped, letting out a hissing sound. "I told you so, but you wouldn't listen. Isn't this just unnecessary suffering?" With all the attachments in place, the matron performed a final inspection, then gathered her tools, preparing to depart.