White Dragon Sword

She hastily gathered firewood and hurried back. Upon seeing a wooden cage cart placed in the courtyard, Madam Ma couldn't help but be startled. Could it be that the imperial army intended to take Miss Li away in the coming days? While she was contemplating, the eldest of the Yan Shan Three Ghosts, Bald Yama, was shouting in the courtyard, "Damn it, the prison cart is here, the torture instruments are here, why aren't they taking the prisoner back? Are we supposed to freeze and starve here?" "Insolent! You have no manners. I am still enduring here, and you can't stand it? Do your job properly, and if there's any mistake, I'll take your lives!" Baole reprimanded. Then, he saw Madam Ma beckoning her over, and holding up a pile of chains, he asked her, "Do you know what this is?" Madam Ma shook her head. Baole said, "These are the torture instruments prepared for that female prisoner. Handcuffs and shackles. Go in, take off her shoes and socks, and put these on her!" "Ah, but that prisoner is about to give birth. How can she give birth with shackles on?" Madam Ma exclaimed in shock. Baole snorted and said, "When she's about to give birth, you come to me for the key!" Madam Ma numbly took the shackles, not knowing what to do. She then heard the wicked Judge chuckle lewdly, "Can that woman handle these things? Let me go and put the shackles on that prisoner, and have some fun while I'm at it." Baole suddenly turned around and glared at them, scaring the three ghosts away. Madam Ma, fearing further trouble, took the torture instruments and entered the woodshed. Li Yuzhi had been doing alright these past few days. After being locked in this woodshed, her ropes had been loosened. She lay on the bed all day, and apart from Madam Ma bringing her food, no one disturbed her. The room was silent, except for the sound of the woodshed door being unlocked when food was delivered. When Madam Ma entered, she looked at the increasingly haggard Li Yuzhi and couldn't help but feel sad. Then, looking at the chains and shackles in her hand, tears streamed down her face. She couldn't bear to add to Li Yuzhi's troubles, so she leaned over the bed and whispered, "My husband is hiding nearby. I saw his iron spear marks when I was gathering firewood today. As soon as you give birth, he will come to rescue you." A faint smile appeared on Li Yuzhi's pale face. "It's just that..." Madam Ma looked at the torture instruments placed to the side, her expression filled with sorrow. Li Yuzhi turned over and saw the dark, rusty shackles. She cried out tragically, "Why do you want to lock me up?" "Yes, miss. They want to put shackles on you. When you give birth with shackles on, you'll have to get the key from them to unlock them. By then, their guard will be tighter, and how will we be able to get the child out?" Li Yuzhi gritted her teeth and said, "Sister-in-law, it's alright. Fate decides life and death. I have to risk it. I will give birth even with shackles on!" As she spoke, she slowly sat up, took off her boots, and removed her silk socks, revealing a pair of beautiful, bound feet. "Sister-in-law, put them on me, or we won't get through this!" Li Yuzhi said softly. Madam Ma helplessly separated the chains on the bed, not knowing how to apply them. Li Yuzhi, fearing that too much time would attract the wicked Yan Shan Three Ghosts and that she would suffer further humiliation, pulled over a longer chain, draped it around her delicate neck, crossed it over her chest, and locked it tightly. Then, pointing to a chain with smaller links, she said, "Sister-in-law, these are for the hands." She extended her slender jade-like hands, allowing Madam Ma to lock them. Finally, she picked up the remaining shackles and fiddled with them. She saw that there was a two-foot-long chain between the two loops. She nodded slightly and said, "Sister-in-law, I can still give birth with shackles on. When the time comes, you can tie my ankles to the two ends of the bed and use a rope to hook the middle chain of the shackles. That way, there will be no sound." Madam Ma could no longer hold back her tears and burst into sobs. Li Yuzhi quickly covered her mouth and said, "Sister-in-law, no! If you pity your little sister, then quickly lock my feet. From now on, treat me as a stranger..." Madam Ma, suppressing her grief, nodded. "When do you think the female prisoner will give birth?" Baole asked Madam Ma. Madam Ma meekly replied, "It might be a few more days, it's hard to say. But when she gives birth with shackles on, they will have to be unlocked." Baole nodded and ordered the Yan Shan Three Ghosts, "After the female prisoner gives birth, bring the child to me immediately. Then, shackle the prisoner with a cangue, put her in the prison cart, and escort her to Dingzhou immediately..." "It seems I'm going to give birth tonight. Sister-in-law, please hurry and find a way to tell Brother Guo!" Li Yuzhi extended her shackled jade feet and continued, "First, tie my ankles firmly to the head of the bed, and use a rope to hook the shackles..." Madam Ma left a message at the spot where Guo Zongliu had left his spear marks, and then hurried away. As night fell, Madam Ma deliberately delivered Li Yuzhi's dinner an hour later than usual. It wasn't until the hour of Xu (7-9 PM) that she entered the woodshed. She saw that Li Yuzhi's pale face was even more haggard, her two jade feet, adorned with shackles, were stretched taut, and large drops of sweat trickled down her face. Madam Ma bit her lip and asked, "Miss, what if the baby cries when it's born?" Madam Ma was, after all, an inexperienced woman. Li Yuzhi remained silent. "I'm going in to check. Why isn't the female prisoner making any noise? Is she about to give birth?" a soldier said. A few more days passed with no news. The four decided it would be best to return to the Azure Dragon Temple in Ye City to rendezvous with Daoist Master Yin Feng, Song Yikun, before making further plans. Four Directions Valley was a former imperial grain storage site, hidden deep within the mountains and extremely difficult to find. Baole and the Three Ghosts of Yanshan kept Li Yuzhi under guard until the following morning before reaching the valley. Upon surveying the area, they found it long abandoned. Fortunately, some provisions and firewood were found beneath dilapidated tents. The three ghosts began to complain, but Baole silenced them. Turning to Li Yuzhi, he said, "There are no cells or prisons here to confine you. How about letting the three ghosts share quarters with you?" Li Yuzhi knew Baole harbored ill intentions. If she were to share quarters with the three ghosts, she could only imagine the extent of the humiliation. Angrily, she retorted, "If you have wicked intentions, beware, I will bite off my tongue and kill myself!" Seeing Li Yuzhi's firm resolve, Baole dared not press further. "You are a wanted criminal of the court. I will not make things difficult for you, but I must detain you here until early spring. I cannot afford to be careless." Li Yuzhi scoffed, "I am already in chains and shackles, what more do you want?" Baole chuckled, "We officials can reside in the military camp without issue. But you, a female criminal, should be locked away in a prison. It's a pity this place is desolate and uninhabited, making it impossible to detain you properly." He then surveyed the valley, pointing to a cave. "Three Ghosts, quickly go into the mountains and chop some wood to fashion a cage to imprison Li Yuzhi inside this cave..." The three ghosts dared not disobey and headed up the mountain with their tools. Baole found a tattered tent and lit a bonfire, then led Li Yuzhi inside. "Sit here for a while. Those three fools will build a cage for you, and we can chat in the meantime." Li Yuzhi, dragging her shackles, stumbled and sat on the pile of firewood, remaining silent. Baole asked, "I've heard there are three Saintesses of your White Lotus Society, and each holds a phrase that unlocks the secret of the White Dragon Sword. Is this true?" Li Yuzhi gave a wry smile. "Since you already know, why do you still ask?" Baole smiled. "You are beautiful and virtuous. Although you have committed an unforgivable crime, your future is not entirely bleak. If you confess truthfully, you can return to your hometown." Li Yuzhi retorted, "You have no good intentions. If not for the tyranny of the Tartar Emperor, how could the White Lotus Society rally several provinces to rise up?" "Haha, Miss Li, I don't understand these matters. But with Wang Cong'er dead, you are the only one left with a phrase. As for the other Saintess, I don't know who she is. What difference does it make even if you tell me?" Baole said. Li Yuzhi remained silent. Baole opened the tent flap and looked towards the cave. "Miss, look at the wood and branches the three ghosts have cut. To build a cage and confine you like a cat or dog, wouldn't that be too cruel? And that's not all. I've invited Tu Qianli and Zheng Sankuang. They are masters at tormenting women. When the time comes, all sorts of torture instruments will be applied to your delicate body. What a waste." Li Yuzhi disdainfully replied, "Even with all your methods, you will never extract any secrets of my sect from me!" Baole leered, grabbed Li Yuzhi's feet, and stripped off her boots and then her stockings. "This barefoot female prisoner in shackles is quite amusing. If you were to be considered an imperial courtesan later, it would be one thing. When kings and ministers take pleasure in you, they would at least maintain some decorum. But if you are considered a camp prostitute, imprisoned in a dark cell, and subjected to the abuse of the masses, it wouldn't be a pleasant experience, would it? Just for these shackled jade feet, countless people will be coveting them." Li Yuzhi remained unfazed. She stood up and walked towards the tent entrance. "Don't rush, Miss Li. The cage is not yet built, why the hurry..." Baole said, grabbing Li Yuzhi. Li Yuzhi glared at him, "Are you not content being a corrupt official, must you also be a lecherous thief!" Baole shook his head. "If I were a lecherous thief, you would have been ruined long ago after being captured. I am merely reminding you to be practical." Li Yuzhi replied, "Thank you for your kind intentions, but humans and dogs cannot speak the same language..." The Three Ghosts of Yanshan were quite clumsy. It took them a full half hour to nail together a cage, ten feet high and three feet long. As they worked, they grumbled, "Damn it, we are somewhat renowned figures in the martial world, and now we're doing manual labor..." They also kept glancing at Li Yuzhi, who stood barefoot in the snow, shivering from the cold. Having recently given birth and endured a arduous journey, her frail body could no longer bear it. Baole placed a hand on her shoulder. "Miss Li, it's not good to be so stubborn. The experience of being in prison is not pleasant." Before he could finish, Li Yuzhi stepped into the cage. Zheng Sankuang and Liu Daying arrived at Four Directions Valley almost simultaneously. Zheng Sankuang, still recovering from a blow from Lü Yinan, had to rest in Baole's tent. The task of guarding Li Yuzhi still fell to the three ghosts. Liu Daying showed no respect for Zheng Sankuang. In front of him, he said to Baole, "This is the master you favor? He couldn't even withstand a single move from his opponent." Baole was perplexed. "My lord, while I wouldn't say Master Zheng's martial arts are peerless, few in this world can match him. Was his injury perhaps sustained against an exceptionally formidable opponent?" Liu Daying snorted. "The most formidable figures in the martial world today are the Beggar of Jingchu, Murong Feng, and the Flying Immortal of Kunlun, Gongsun Yue. Murong Feng has been missing for many years. In truth, he is the true leader of the White Lotus Society, and Liu Song is merely his disciple. However, he is obsessed with martial arts and never interferes with the sect's affairs. As for Gongsun Yue, he lives in seclusion in the Western Regions and never meddles in worldly affairs. I have sent people to invite him many times, but he refuses to emerge. He does have a son named Gongsun Zhi, who runs a 'Carefree Pavilion' in Chang'an. It is likely that he is a dissolute young master, not suited for great use." These words shamed Zheng Sankuang into silence, and he could only bow respectfully from the side. Baole also didn't know what to say. After a long pause, Liu Daying asked, "General Baole, how do you plan to deal with the female criminal, Li Yuzhi?" Baole replied, "My lord, there was a Daoist priest previously, a disciple of the Wudang sect named Song Yikun. His martial arts were exceptionally potent. Even the Three Ghosts of Yanshan could not withstand a single move from him, and many of my soldiers died at his hands. That is why I dared not escort the prisoner to the yamen rashly, and chose to imprison her here. We will wait until early spring when the army advances, and then escort her. What do you think?" Liu Daying nodded. "That is wise and safer. However, the Emperor has issued a secret decree to me. The White Dragon Sword must be found, and its secrets must be unlocked. Furthermore, the criminal must be severely punished. Has this Li Yuzhi confessed anything?" Gongsun Zhi was overjoyed to hear that a group of female convicts would be brought to his residence. "My lord, rest assured, a prison has already begun construction in the secret quarters of this annex." Bao Le nodded, and seeing his pleased expression, warned him, "I know you are a man of loose morals. I don't care what you do with the other female prisoners, but do not lay a hand on Li Yuzhi." Gongsun Zhi hastily cupped his hands in a salute, "I would not dare." Bao Le continued, "Liu Daying has been transferred to the capital, but he is constantly thinking of the White Dragon Sword. I suspect he will make a move, so you must be cautious..." Fifteen years. She felt she would soon grow old or be so tormented by these beasts in military uniform that she would become a non-human, non-ghost. But to her surprise, she remained as graceful and captivating as ever. Li Yuzhi, the wife of Liu Zhixie, had been imprisoned in this deep dungeon for fifteen years. A steel collar adorned her slender neck, iron chains bound her, and she was barefoot and shackled. She had not yielded. Her heart was filled with hatred for her husband's murderers and with fervent loyalty to the White Lotus Society. She did not wish to die, for her great revenge remained unfulfilled, and she longed to see her daughter, whom she had never met. Since Bao Le captured her, she had been held in the Dingzhou prison for a month. As Bao Le was to lead troops to suppress the White Lotus Society, she was taken along with the army. Enduring the jolts and bumps of long marches locked in a prisoner cart, she was confined to the military brothel camp. Fortunately, Bao Le only kept her under strict guard and did not subject her to the ravages of the soldiers like the other female captives, always providing her with a separate cell. Later, when the White Lotus rebellion was largely quelled, she followed Bao Le back to Xi'an and was imprisoned with the remaining hundred or so captured women in the Xi'an prison. Bao Le had also subjected her to severe torture three times, demanding the secret of the White Dragon Sword and the whereabouts of the third saintess of the White Lotus Society. This was carried out by Zheng Sankuang: whipping, branding, the thumb screw, and even stripping her and locking her in a standing cage for public display. Fortunately, she only heard the shameless jests of the soldiers and was not violated. Seeing her sisters treated as military prostitutes, she considered herself fortunate. Li Yuzhi had a gentle disposition and never caused trouble for the jailers or guards. Even when facing Bao Le, despite the blood feud between them, she rarely cursed or reviled him. Bao Le specifically assigned two female guards, Zhao and Wang, both The Desher man turned to the executioner beside him and said, "Inspect the restraints." A thug stepped forward, first lifting the iron lock securing the collar on Li Yuzhi's neck with both hands and shaking it three times; then he lifted her wrist shackles and carefully examined them; finally, he bent down, grasped the iron fetters on Li Yuzhi's ankles, and inspected them closely. After finishing, he stood up and replied loudly, "Reporting to Your Excellency, the prisoner's restraints and chains are solid, her wrists are shackled, her ankles are bound, and she awaits punishment barefoot!" The Desher man drew out his words: "Report in detail how the execution is to be carried out..." Since entering prison, Li Yuzhi had endured countless beatings, but she had never seen such a display. Looking at the yellow-clad guards and the deferential manner of Baole, she secretly thought, "This Fourth Master is at least a prince, perhaps even a higher-ranking noble." Before she could ponder further, she heard the execution officer reply, "Reporting to Your Excellency, today we will administer foot punishment to the prisoner. Her handcuffs must be removed, and she will be bound to the execution platform." The execution officer paused, signaling the thugs to move the platform closer. Pointing to the platform, the execution officer continued, "The platform is three feet two inches long, with two execution posts at the back forming a cross. The horizontal post is two feet three inches long; the vertical post is two feet seven inches high. The prisoner Li Yuzhi is four feet five inches tall, with arms two feet seven inches long and legs three feet one inch long. Her wrists will be stretched and secured in the cuff rings at both ends of the horizontal post, her neck will be bound to the vertical post, and her foot fetters will remain. The tail of the platform will be fixed with an iron hoop to her ankles. Her chest, waist, and abdomen will be confined with iron chains, rendering her body immobile and her feet unable to move. The executioner will use a whip made from ox or horse tails to lash the soles of her feet, making the prisoner feel pain and teaching her a lesson, to submit to the Great Qing's laws..." The old man stroked his beard and smiled slightly, "Lashing her jade feet would be a beautiful sight, but this woman has been imprisoned for many years and has endured much punishment. Her flesh has become tough. Is the prisoner Li Yuzhi willing to accept the punishment?" Li Yuzhi heard the sharp, mocking tone and retorted, "I don't know how high an official sits above, but as a prisoner imprisoned for many years, I know that harsh laws and cruel punishments are not enough to subdue the world. No wonder the Tartar court, after ruling for so many years, still poisons the common people." Li Yuzhi's words terrified everyone present. Only the Fourth Master continued to smile, "Begin. Do not strike too hard. After the punishment, quickly return her to confinement. I want to see how the women of the White Lotus Sect suffer in their cells." The cells for the military prostitutes were also within this prison. There were no female guards here, only male soldiers. The cells were not as comfortable as Li Yuzhi's death row cell. Although Li Yuzhi was shackled daily and had to wear a foot cage, she at least had a bed, table, and chairs. This place was different. It was an iron cage with three barred sides, and the top of the cell was also iron bars. The guards could sometimes stand on the roof to observe the prisoners. The cell was filled with straw. Corresponding to the cell door, a thick iron chain lay on the ground, its ends fixed to iron rings on the prison wall. In the middle of the chain, a pair of shackle rings were fixed every two feet, with only half a foot between the rings. Li Yuzhi's feet could no longer touch the ground after her punishment. Two soldiers supported her as they entered the cell. The cell was empty at the moment. The Fourth Master surveyed the surroundings and asked Baole, "Why have all the female prisoners here gone to comfort your soldiers?" Baole hurriedly knelt and said, "Fourth Master, this... recently the border soldiers have had a hard life, so I ordered these women awaiting punishment to provide some comfort. I know I have erred." The Fourth Master laughed heartily, "Get up. Even if you didn't come here, I would know what you do. In the past, the Grand Ancestor himself dealt with captured foreign women in this manner, so what you have done is not entirely wrong. However, the Emperor now wishes to pacify the realm, so some matters must be kept more confidential." Baole, who had just stood up, was already sweating profusely. At this moment, the sound of clanging shackles echoed. Two teams of soldiers escorted a group of female prisoners, with a team of soldiers in the middle. The female prisoners did not have handcuffs, but their left arms were tied together with a rope. All were barefoot and shackled. Upon entering the cell, without waiting for the soldiers' commands, they sat on the ground, extending their shackled bare feet towards the iron chain. The soldiers did not remove the prisoners' fetters but pushed the shackle rings up and then placed the prisoners' ankles into the shackle rings on the chain. Finally, only one pair of shackle rings remained empty. Granny Wang and Granny Zhao came over and helped Li Yuzhi into the cell. Like the other female prisoners, she placed her ankles into the chain. They then brought the wooden board of the foot cage and clamped it to her ankles, before locking Li Yuzhi's feet into the wooden cage with three barred sides. "So many restraints on the feet of such a beautiful woman?" the Fourth Master remarked. Baole quickly replied, "Naturally. How can such an important fugitive be allowed any slip-ups?" The Fourth Master nodded and remained silent for a long time. "However, it is quite inconvenient here. You must arrange other matters properly. Also, has Li Yuzhi's daughter been found?" Baole trembled and said, "Her whereabouts have been traced. We will apprehend her immediately." "Whether she is captured is not the main issue. The key is to find the White Dragon Sword and the three Saintesses of the White Lotus Sect..." Yue Qinglian tilted her chin towards the half-bowl of clear water in the food box and said to Ma Lan, "The woman lying beside you is a demoness, known as the Blood-Dropping Rakshasa. She's currently drugged. If you splash her with this water, she'll definitely break open this cell door and fight those people. You can escape in the chaos then." Ma Lan hesitated upon hearing "Blood-Dropping Rakshasa." Yue Qinglian urged, "Hurry, before they shackle and handcuff you." "Ah, handcuffs and shackles too?" Ma Lan exclaimed in terror and quickly splashed the half-bowl of water onto Lü Yinan's face. Lü Yinan jolted awake, finding herself in a horse stable, her shoes and socks removed. "What's going on?" she asked, alarmed. Yue Qinglian replied, "The person who was supposed to meet you was sent by Gongsun Zhi." "Ah, damnable!" Lü Yinan stood up and struck the cell door with both palms. The makeshift stable cell couldn't hold her; the iron lock shattered instantly. Lü Yinan leaped out of the cell and shouted, "Deng Che, get out here!" Just then, Deng Che arrived with several followers, carrying handcuffs and shackles. Seeing Lü Yinan emerge, he was greatly alarmed. Knowing he was no match for her, Deng Che ordered his men to attack. These men were no match for Lü Yinan, and within moments, all lay dead from her Seven-Injury Fist. Lü Yinan saw Deng Che had already fled, and the young girl from before had also vanished. She looked at Yue Qinglian, chained to the horse post, and felt a flicker of gratitude. "You saved me today." Yue Qinglian said dismissively, "I didn't necessarily want to save you; I wanted to save that girl." Lü Yinan replied, "Regardless, I will treat you well tonight." She then untied Yue Qinglian's chains and, lifting her with one hand, carried her to an upstairs guest room. "Tonight, I won't seal your acupoints. I'll just tie your wrists with a rope. I'll sleep with the rope in my hand, and you won't be able to escape!" Lü Yinan declared. Yue Qinglian gave a wry smile. "No need for such trouble. Bring me the fine steel shackles, and you can sleep soundly." Lü Yinan was almost in awe of this White Lotus Saintess, finding her not only pure but also serene in all circumstances. "No, I said I would treat you well tonight!" Lü Yinan tied the rope around Yue Qinglian's wrists, then tied the other end to her own, and lay down on the bed. After the two women lay down, neither could sleep. They tossed and turned, their movements restricted by the rope. Lü Yinan finally spoke, "Yue Qinglian, you're a wanted criminal. Aren't you afraid of being imprisoned and tortured?" She asked this with a lingering fear, having narrowly escaped capture by Gongsun Zhi several times. If she were truly shackled and caged, subjected to endless humiliation, she didn't know how she would cope. Yue Qinglian seemed indifferent, merely snorting in response. "Actually, you should be grateful to me. Escorting you to Xiangyang to hand you over to Liu Daying is better than being a plaything in Gongsun Zhi's hands." Lü Yinan wanted Yue Qinglian to understand her predicament. Yue Qinglian coldly replied, "Imperial dogs are all the same, regardless of their master." Lü Yinan let out a strange laugh. "Haha, don't forget you're a prisoner, at the mercy of others. While you might not be tortured in the Xiangyang prison, at least you won't be violated, preserving your Saintess's dignity. Lord Liu went to great lengths to capture you, specially forging handcuffs and shackles for you from twenty catties of profound iron, and using three hundred catties of fine steel to cast a prison cart and cage. He even set up a special prison in the Xiangyang mansion, with all sorts of torture instruments prepared. He truly put in a lot of effort." Lü Yinan was somewhat toying with Yue Qinglian, wanting to see her show fear. To her surprise, Yue Qinglian let out a delicate laugh. "It's a rare wonder in the world for a provincial governor to be so attentive to a mere female prisoner. Lü Yinan, you're a renowned figure in the martial world. Aren't you afraid of being ridiculed by your peers for acting as a lackey?" Lü Yinan suddenly became angry. "It's all thanks to your Empty River Three Absolutes! Years ago, when I was practicing the Seven-Injury Fist, I was wounded by your sworn brother, Duan Ziye, and nearly died. By chance, Liu Daying saved me, and that's why I'm repaying his kindness!" "Martial world grievances are our own affair. The Tartar court invades our Han lands, slaughtering our people. Every martial artist should stand up. You, however, for personal grudges, have no qualms about defecting to the Tartars. Have you no shame?" Yue Qinglian said indignantly. "Silence! Tomorrow you'll be locked away. Let's see how long you can remain defiant!" Lü Yinan decided to ignore the female fugitive in her hands. The next morning, Lü Yinan asked the innkeeper for a basin of hot water and said to Yue Qinglian, "Wash up. After you eat, I'll escort you back to the stable. Soon, Liu Daying will personally come to take you to Xiangyang." Yue Qinglian remained silent. After washing her face, she placed her delicate feet into the water and quietly washed them. Then, bringing her hands and feet together, she said to Lü Yinan, "Bind me." Lü Yinan replied, "No need. When Lord Liu arrives, he'll naturally put handcuffs and shackles on you." Liu Daying arrived at the Baiyun Inn with a hundred personal guards and over twenty jailers and constables, driving a prison cart. Seeing Lü Yinan guarding the stable, with Yue Qinglian inside, barefoot and half-seated, Liu Daying smiled broadly. "Lü Yinan, you've worked hard to capture this wanted criminal through so many difficulties." Lü Yinan cupped her hands in a salute. "The White Lotus Saintess, Yue Qinglian, is imprisoned here. Please, my lord, open the cell and verify the prisoner." Liu Daying nodded and ordered his men to open the stable and bring Yue Qinglian out. Yue Qinglian stood tall and graceful under everyone's gaze, unfazed. Liu Daying approached her. "Are you the White Lotus Saintess, Yue Qinglian?" Yue Qinglian replied sternly, "Since you already know, why ask?" Liu Daying stroked his beard. "As you are a wanted criminal, you must abide by the laws of the court. I will first have the coroner examine you. You must comply." "As you wish!" Yue Qinglian said. For the convenience of escorting Yue Qinglian, Liu Daying had specially found two female attendants. The two attendants acted swiftly, lifting Yue Qinglian's clothes and examining her sleeves carefully. They then took out a soft tape measure and measured her neck, waist, wrists, and ankles one by one. They reported to Liu Daying, "Reporting to my lord, the prisoner Yue Qinglian is five feet seven inches tall. Neck circumference: six inches seven fen, waist: one foot eight inches, wrist: two inches three fen, ankle: two inches six fen, foot length: four inches two fen. Please instruct whether to affix shackles and a cangue." Liu Daying nodded. "According to the laws of the court, affix leg shackles and a cangue to the female prisoner Yue Qinglian, and place her in the prison cart." The two attendants brought the instruments of torture and approached Yue Qinglian, saying, "Please, Miss Yue, kneel to receive your punishment." Yue Qinglian remained silent, instead sitting down on the ground, her hands placed on her chest, her legs extended and together, her delicate feet bare. "Why does the prisoner refuse to kneel!" A bailiff nearby, holding a leather whip, stepped forward to strike. Suddenly, Lü Yinan reached out and caught the whip. The man, knowing her formidable martial arts, merely glared. Lü Yinan saw Liu Daying also looking displeased and said, "My lord, when affixing leg shackles to this prisoner, kneeling would be inconvenient. Allow her to sit; it will save everyone some effort." Liu Daying nodded in agreement. The two attendants worked together. First, they placed a thick, black iron chain around Yue Qinglian's neck, crossing it in front of her chest and locking it with an iron lock. They then put handcuffs on her delicate wrists and fastened a two-inch-wide iron ring around her waist. As the iron ring tightened, Yue Qinglian felt discomfort and asked, "What is this? What is it for?" The attendant replied, "This is a waist-securing device. The young lady is a prisoner. Once the leg shackles are affixed, the chain between the heavy shackles can be connected to this. It will allow you to use your waist for strength when walking, making your legs feel lighter." Yue Qinglian remained silent, allowing the two attendants to proceed. After securing her waist, the attendants brought a large, three-holed cangue. Another attendant spread Yue Qinglian's hair and placed the cangue around her delicate neck. Then, her cuffed hands were placed into the two front holes of the cangue, and a pin was used to secure it. The attendant continued, "Miss, all the necessary restraints have been applied. Only the final step remains: securing your feet. It may be painful, so please bear with it." Yue Qinglian nodded slightly with her head within the cangue. The attendant grunted and took out the leg shackles, saying to her, "The imperial decree clearly states that the restraints on a wanted criminal's feet are the most severe. Forgive me..." With that, she lifted one of Yue Qinglian's fair, tender feet and placed it into the shackle ring. Rivets were driven into the ring, and hammered shut. The other foot was treated the same way. The leg shackles were not the end. They then placed rings on each of her ten toes, connecting the rings with fine chains and attaching a small lock at the big toe. He then proceeded to place the rings on the chains around Lin Xuexuan's ten toes, securing them one by one with the locking mechanism. After finishing, he lifted Lin Xuexuan's pair of jade-like feet, examining and admiring them. "Hmm, beautiful feet adorned with shackles and toes locked, a captive beauty surpasses the nobility in the palace." Lin Xuexuan struggled her feet in disgust, causing the iron chains on her ankles and toes to clatter. Desheren chuckled upon seeing this, "Why is this little female offender in such a hurry? You've only been fitted with two restraints. There are five in total just for your feet." He then unfurled two slender iron chains and said to Lin Xuexuan, "Normally, female offenders are shackled barefoot. Firstly, it increases pain and prevents escape. Secondly, some soldiers and guards, unable to enjoy female offenders usually, can satisfy their lust by toying with the beautiful feet of captive women during their watch. But you are an imperial treasure of the Retired Emperor, how can you be treated like other female offenders? Therefore, you are given these chain shoes, which not only restrain your beautiful feet but also prevent them from being exposed to the public." As he spoke, he meticulously wound the chains from beneath the shackles on Lin Xuexuan's ankles, starting with the ankles and heels, then the soles, the insteps, all the way to the base of the toes, securing one end. Next, Desheren picked up the foot cage and dangled it before Lin Xuexuan's eyes. "You know this one. Li Yuzhi and Yue Qinglian have both worn it. This is called a foot cage. However, the one for you is different from the others. It's equivalent to two restraints. You see, there's a partition at the bottom of this cage. This partition is made of thin iron. Your feet will be locked in the cage with your soles placed on it. If you are willful and break the rules, a candle holder can be placed beneath this partition, and the candle flame will roast your beautiful feet. The sensation is no less than any other torture. Of course, only the Retired Emperor and I have the authority to inflict punishment." With that, he locked Lin Xuexuan's beautiful feet, now adorned with shackles and chains, into the cage. After fitting Lin Xuexuan's feet with all the restraints, Desheren untied the ropes binding her and said, "Lin Xuexuan, do not be afraid. You have the most restraints on your feet; the other parts will have fewer." He then grabbed a pair of iron collars and fastened them around her delicate neck. Connected to the collar was a chain with handcuffs in the middle, which were naturally locked onto Lin Xuexuan's wrists. Below the handcuffs was another iron ring, which Desheren introduced as a waist shackle, to be secured around the girl's slender waist. After locking Lin Xuexuan up, Desheren addressed the crowd, "The ninth set of restraints is the cage where she will be confined. It is in the outer prison cell. You can carry her out and place her in the cage." Zheng Sankuang stepped forward again and said, "Earlier, the elder official mentioned that ten sets of restraints were prepared for this female offender. But in my view, the ones locked on the female offender are: first, the foot shackles; second, the toe shackles; third, the chain shoes; fourth, the foot cage; fifth, the partition and candle holder beneath the foot cage; sixth, the collar; seventh, the handcuffs; eighth, the waist shackle; ninth, the prison cage for confinement. What about the tenth item?" Desheren said, "Carry her into the cage, and then I will reveal the tenth restraint." Seeing Desheren acting mysterious, the others did not dare to ask further and all turned their gaze to Yang Zitong. Yang Zitong chuckled and said, "How wise and mighty is the elder official! He has already prepared the prison cell for the prisoner here. Why don't we escort Ma Lan there as well and confine Lin Xuexuan at the same time?" He Zhongxiong, concerned for Lü Yinan, asked, "Where is my sister now?" Yang Zitong replied with a smile, "The elder official has also confined her in the prison within this courtyard. But rest assured, Elder Hero He, everything is perfectly in order." Since Lin Xuexuan was already wearing the foot cage, she could not walk and had to be carried by others. Ma Lan, still bound tightly, was escorted by strong men into the courtyard. The so-called prison was the west wing of the courtyard. The door had been replaced with a wooden grate. Upon entering the room, they found that the room was completely divided by a wooden grate, with a door in the middle. The interior was further divided into two sections by wooden grates. In the eastern section stood an iron cage, six feet high, six feet wide, and six feet long. It was clearly made for Lin Xuexuan, with enough space for a female prisoner to stand or lie down without hindrance. Naturally, there were bedding and blankets inside the cage. The crowd, finding it inconvenient to carry Lin Xuexuan, simply opened the cell and placed her inside the cage. They also wanted to see what the tenth restraint for the beautiful captive Lin Xuexuan would be. Desheren respectfully took out several sheets of Xuan paper from his robes and opened them. Everyone was astonished to see that the characters on the paper were in gilded regular script. These were clearly imperial golden seals! Desheren, accompanied by Yang Zitong, entered the prison cell and had Lin Xuexuan sit on the ground with her legs stretched out straight. He first took out two golden seals and crossed them over the opening of the foot shackles of the foot cage, sealing them. Then, as if he were the master, Desheren loudly proclaimed, "The imperial foot cage has now confined the bare feet of the female offender Lin Xuexuan. Sealed..." The seals were inscribed with small gilded characters: "Designated for the confinement of female offender Lin Xuexuan's feet. Cannot be unsealed without imperial decree!" The other end of the seal read: "Female offender Lin Xuexuan's foot length is three inches and seven fen. One pair of imperial foot shackles, eight toe shackles; two pairs of chain shoes. Cannot be opened without imperial decree!" Afterward, Desheren took two more seals from Yang Zitong and crossed them over Lin Xuexuan's waist shackle. These seals read: "Female offender Lin Xuexuan's waist is one foot and five inches. One pair of imperial collar, handcuffs, and waist shackle each. Cannot be unsealed without imperial decree!" Finally, he locked the cage and affixed a seal to the cage door. This seal was even more astonishing: "This cage is to be carried as a sedan chair, used as a palanquin, and for the imperial escort of the female prisoner, the imperial courtesan Lin Xuexuan!" The crowd was almost stunned, witnessing how much thought the current Retired Emperor had put into this. Suddenly, a feminine voice from behind them chimed, "I wonder if Desheren has also prepared such a luxurious confinement for the female offenders." They looked and saw that Ma Lan's beautiful face was already filled with envy. "You don't need that. You'll be confined with Lü Yinan, wearing handcuffs and foot shackles. Look at the equipment outside the prison. Later, I'll have Lü Yinan hand it over to you. Tonight, I will enjoy you with the heroes." Desheren snorted coldly. "Take her away..." Gongsun Zhi, with an air of absolute authority, felt a peculiar sense of loss. He had been thoroughly outmaneuvered by this seemingly compliant female prisoner. Deng Che, accompanied by several burly men, barged in. Sun Yingxiu, her expression unwavering, slowly rose from her seat and addressed the ravenous crowd, "You may take me now." Two of the burly men moved behind her, twisting her jade arms behind her back. "Let's go!" Sun Yingxiu fell silent as she was escorted away. Pushed along by the men behind her, she walked with light steps, her proud breasts thrusting forward. "I know now, you are the most difficult one among the Seven Bronze Swords. Precisely because of that, I will deal with you thoroughly." Gongsun Zhi was extremely vexed by his earlier miscalculation. Sun Yingxiu struggled to turn her head, glancing at him with a scornful smile. "Torture, humiliation, it's all the same, isn't it?" she said, continuing to walk. Sun Yingxiu was brought to the edge of a dense forest. Gongsun Yue looked at her son in surprise, "Why did you only bring her back?" Gongsun Zhi remained silent, gesturing for his men to prepare the instruments of torture for the newly captured female prisoners. He waved to the men escorting Sun Yingxiu, signaling them to release her, and then said, "There are five cages here. One is prepared for you, and the rest hold your four sisters. You can see them before you are shackled." Sun Yingxiu seemed not to hear Gongsun Zhi's words, slowly approaching the terrifying confinement areas. The first cage held Shen Yuehan. Thick wooden bars formed a cramped space, and the cage was constructed from solid logs from top to bottom. Inside the cage stood a cross made of similar logs, to which Shen Yuehan was chained. Her arms were stretched wide, her wrists tightly bound to the crossbar with iron shackles. Her hair cascaded behind her, and a black iron collar was visible around her delicate neck, also secured to the cross with iron nails. It was impossible to tell how many chains bound this beautiful female prisoner. Two chains crossed over her shoulders, locked at the chest with a padlock. Her slender waist was wrapped in steel chains that extended down her thighs to her knees. Her lower legs were completely bare, only tattered remnants of cloth clinging to the wounds. Below her calves was a wooden foot shackle, like a tiger's maw, devouring her plump, fair legs. A heavy iron anklet secured her feet below the shackle. The weight of the torture devices made her bare, delicate feet press forcefully against the wooden bars at the bottom of the cage. The rough logs had already cut her fair soles in multiple places. "Sister Shen, you have suffered." Sun Yingxiu's voice, which had never been subdued by the terror of her opponents, choked with emotion. Shen Yuehan let out a bitter laugh from within the cage. "Good sister, this ordeal will pass." The second cage held Lin Shujing. As she had only recently been captured, she had not yet been tortured, and her clothes were still intact. She leaned against the wooden bars, her restraints not yet extensive. A thick iron chain was draped around her delicate neck, crossing over her proud chest before being locked. The remaining chain wrapped around her waist. Her hands were in iron shackles, and her bare, delicate feet were shackled at the ankles. Although there were no visible wounds, her beautiful, small feet bore the marks of being bitten. "Xiuxiu, you are so cunning, leaving a spark for our Bronze Sect." Seeing Sun Yingxiu brought alone, Lin Shujing understood everything. Sun Yingxiu nodded in understanding and whispered, "Sister Shen said the ordeal will eventually pass." The third cage confined Zhang Xiaoman. Her voluptuous figure was clad in tattered clothes, her body bearing the marks of torture. Her hair was disheveled, her face pale, clearly having endured countless humiliations. Her confinement was particularly unusual. She lay askew in the cage, her feet suspended high above. Gongsun Zhi had looped the chains of her shackles around the wooden bars of the cage. She too was wrapped in chains from head to toe. "How could they treat you like this?" Sun Yingxiu exclaimed in anger. Zhang Xiaoman's voice was weak but filled with hatred. "Sister, these beasts in human clothing, binding me like this, only to toy with my feet on the way here to satisfy their lust." At this moment, Gongsun Zhi stepped forward. In front of Sun Yingxiu, he grabbed Zhang Xiaoman's small foot and began to knead it, completely ignoring Sun Yingxiu's anger. "Sun Yingxiu, your sister is not as beautiful as you, but she can entertain us by playing with her feet along the way. Look at your sister Ting'er. She is currently the most sought-after courtesan among our captives." Wei Yuting was still as cold and delicate. She curled up in the cage, her slender body weighed down by heavy restraints. Her fair face was almost devoid of color, her delicate brows furrowed, betraying the pain she endured. Her deep eyes conveyed her coldness and composure. Her slender shoulders bore heavy chains, and her delicate wrists were tightly locked in iron cuffs. Her bare, slender, fair feet were locked in a foot cage, and within the cage, a heavy shackle secured her ankles. The observant Sun Yingxiu could see that those snow-white feet were smeared with disgusting filth, and she knew what such an ice-pure woman was enduring. "We haven't captured one more beauty, and she is now the most prized among the female prisoners. I have been taking care of her, playing with her beautiful feet for three days. But I will save some for later. I've only had my way with her once. Once we capture Lin Xuexuan, I can truly indulge. However, when we reach Xinyang, you too will be a delicacy for me to enjoy." Sun Yingxiu remained silent, walking to the last cage and saying fearlessly, "This is for me, isn't it?" "Yes, that's right. Put the restraints on her first." Gongsun Zhi roughly kicked at the shackles with his foot. Sun Yingxiu smiled nonchalantly, reaching up to let down her hair, which was tied at the back of her head. Two burly men placed a three-holed wooden yoke around her delicate neck, then locked her hands into the holes of the yoke, and finally placed iron shackles on her jade wrists. "Put her in the cage first, then nail on the foot shackles. Oh, and lock her feet in the foot cage too. Even though she's still wearing silk stockings, I imagine her jade feet will be more interesting than Wei Yuting's," Gongsun Zhi said lewdly... The second cell held Lin Shujing. Baole's eyes lit up, but he saw a female prisoner behind the iron bars, handcuffed behind her back, her breasts naturally arching, her bare feet shackled in a foot cage. "This is the sign of Lin Shujing's plumpness and gentle, wise nature. If only she weren't a bit older, she'd definitely be placed in the Imperial Brothel. Especially these beautiful feet, so full and shapely. Lord Baole, would you like to enjoy them?" Gongsun Zhi said with a wicked grin, looking at Baole. "It's her," Baole said, not refusing. The third cell held Sun Yingxiu. She glared defiantly with her large eyes, her hands cuffed, the chain between the cuffs raised high and suspended from the cell's ceiling bars by another chain. The difference was that her feet were clad in colorful silk stockings, and her ankles were shackled within a foot cage. "This woman is Sun Yingxiu. I couldn't bear to let her go barefoot, as I will be interrogating her about the secrets of the Bronze Sword Manual later. Of course, after the torture, I will lock all five female prisoners' feet in foot cages. Everyone, judge a woman by her feet. This Sun Yingxiu's purple is quite nice. After Lords enjoy Shen Yuehan and Lin Shujing, you can take turns favoring her. Haha." Gongsun Zhi burst into laughter. He walked to the next cell. This cell was relatively spacious. Three sides were iron bars, and within them were two female prisoners. One was plump, with a face like a full moon, her limbs suspended on a crucifix, her bare feet shackled with twenty-pound iron fetters. Above the fetter rings, near her calves, an additional lock was added. Each lock was connected to a thick iron chain, the other end secured to the stone floor. Beneath her feet was a pile of straw. Another prisoner leaned against the cell wall, her skin darker, her figure slender. A wooden yoke, reinforced with iron, was slung over her shoulders, her hands and neck trapped within it, further secured by chains on her wrists and neck. Her bare feet were also shackled, and the fetter rings were further confined by foot stocks. "The plump one is Water Cloud Sword Zhang Xiaoman, and the thinner one is Lone Goose Sword Ma Hongjuan. These two women are slightly less attractive, but they'll do as military prostitutes. I'll hand them over to Jin Jiujing and Deng Che later to enjoy and train." Next, they arrived at the last cell. This cell was truly special. Although it also had three sides of iron bars, a large iron cage lay horizontally inside, six feet long, wide, and high. A thin veil covered the cage, vaguely revealing the female prisoner within. Gongsun Zhi grinned wickedly at Baole and Liu Daying. "The female prisoner in this cell, though not as important as Li Yuzhi and Yue Qinglian, is a generous gift I'm offering to the Grand Emperor. Just as there is the Guanghan Palace in heaven, there is the Guanghan Sword on earth. Just as there is Chang'e in heaven, there is Wei Yuting on earth. Both can be called pure jade maidens. Guards, open the veil so the lords can behold Wei Yuting's beauty." Two jailers took out keys, opened the cell door, and removed the veil. Everyone gasped in amazement at the beauty in the cage. She was slender and delicate, like a fairy. Her black hair was tied high, a jade hairpin slanted in her bun. Her skin was like congealed fat, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed, her beautiful eyes seeming to hold a hint of joy and affection. She wore a plain white silk dress, her waist tightly bound by a silk sash, giving her a clean, elegant, and ethereal aura. The restraints she wore were also unusual, leaving the guards outside the cage puzzled. They looked to Gongsun Zhi for an explanation. "Haha, my lords, you may not understand. It's harder to pacify those who serve as imperial prostitutes than military prostitutes. While imperial prostitutes serve the Grand Emperor, they are mostly offered to princes and ministers for a taste. Military prostitutes, however, have no leisure time, being repeatedly toyed with by all sorts of people. Afterward, they may still have to endure the lash. But this Wei Yuting, upon hearing she was to be presented to the Grand Emperor as an imperial prostitute, tried to kill herself repeatedly, unlike other female prisoners who were more compliant. Thus, I had no choice but to use these restraints. Look closely, my lords. To lock her up, besides the usual handcuffs and shackles, I used three iron chains, totaling thirty pounds. One chain goes from her left shoulder, under her armpit, diagonally across her chest to her waist, and another from her right shoulder, under her armpit, diagonally across her chest to her waist, crossing at the chest and locked behind her back. At the point where the two chains meet at her waist, another lock is added. The third chain is even more elaborate, connecting the handcuffs and shackles together, extending out to be fixed to the ground. In addition, she has hand shackles, foot shackles, foot cages, and even toe shackles on her bare feet." He then looked at Wei Yuting in the cage and teased, "Wei Yuting, why don't you rise and greet the lords? Haha." "Hmph, don't talk about being unable to move when locked like this. Even if I were free, I wouldn't greet dogs like you," Wei Yuting retorted coldly. Liu Daying, finding himself rebuffed, said to Gongsun Zhi, "This female prisoner will be presented sooner or later. Why not find a more secure place to confine her to prevent any mishaps?" Baole also said, "While these heavy restraints are secure, they have damaged her skin. I fear the Grand Emperor might be displeased." Gongsun Zhi bowed. "My lords, please rest assured. Firstly, when Lin Xuexuan is brought here, a special cell will be prepared to confine these two prisoners. Secondly, although Wei Yuting is heavily restrained, she is prepared daily with Xi Shi's Bone-Nourishing Soup for her exposed skin, with special attention paid to soaking her jade feet daily. There will be no negligence." Baole and Liu Daying were finally at ease. Gongsun Zhi continued, "My lords, the inspection of the prison is complete. The female prisoners can be enjoyed. Shen Yuehan will serve Lord Liu, and Lin Shujing will be for Lord Baole. You can enjoy yourselves while I interrogate Sun Yingxiu, allowing the lords to enjoy the female prisoners and also to witness a different scene. We will also bring out Wei Yuting's cage so she can watch her sisters being humiliated and learn some experience for when she serves the Grand Emperor. Jin Jiujing and Deng Che, you may take Zhang Xiaoman and Ma Hongjuan to enjoy yourselves for a while." At this moment, Zheng Sankuang and Yang Zitong were standing aside. Zheng Sankuang was unwilling to be left out and approached. "Young master, what about Old Yang and me?" Gongsun Zhi sneered. "You two have accomplished nothing. Just carry out the cage where Wei Yuting is imprisoned, and then go rest..."