Tang Dynasty Prison Administration

074: The Lianhua Case in Qingzhou

Cheng Nianci kept her sword drawn without making a move. Du Yu didn't pay much attention to her at first, after all, in his eyes she was just a woman, even if she was the one holding the sword.

Women are naturally at a disadvantage in terms of strength, and Du Yu was much taller than Cheng Nianci. Cheng Nianci was only seven feet tall, while Du Yu was eight feet tall. After all, he was an elite border soldier, so he was naturally much taller than ordinary people.

However, the greatest pressure of the dragging knife technique lies precisely in dragging the knife. As long as the knife is not drawn, the opponent cannot predict the opponent's attack method and thus cannot respond.

Seeing Cheng Nianci pressing closer, Du Yu dared not hesitate any longer, lest disaster strike. He frowned, kicked the handle of his sword, and lunged forward. Cheng Nianci dodged to the side, then kicked the sword and used the momentum to slash at his waist and legs.

Seeing this, Du Yu had no choice but to swing his sword to block.

This block startled Du Yu, causing his arm to tremble slightly. Before he could react, he saw Cheng Nianci kick her knife around her body, twirling it, and then strike at his other calf with another knife.

Seeing this, Du Yu braced himself with his long-handled sword, leaped into the air, drew the sword, and cleaved Mount Hua in two.

Cheng Nianci raised her knife and did a split to deflect the force and block.

Du Yu's strength was far beyond what Cheng Nianci could withstand; he could suppress Cheng Nianci simply by using his strength alone.

Just as Du Yu was about to forcefully press down on the blade to kill Cheng Nianci, Cheng Nianci suddenly released the broadsword, and several hidden arrows shot out from her left sleeve. Du Yu dodged them by turning his head, but Cheng Nianci took the opportunity to pounce down, and somehow pulled out two short daggers from her hand.

With a somersault forward, a knife pierced through Du Yu's calves from both sides.

Du Yu was not wearing heavy armor, only full armor. Full armor did not have foot armor, only upper and lower body armor, but it did not protect the legs. Protecting the legs is generally only allowed in wartime situations when wearing heavy armor.

Du Yu cried out in pain and then kicked Cheng Nianci hard. Cheng Nianci tried to block with her hands, but was still kicked to the ground and slid for a meter or two.

But Cheng Nianci is a ghostwriter, and a woman at that. How could someone who can make it in this industry not have some of her own methods and skills!

As she glided, she fiddled with her right sleeve, and several hidden arrows shot out swiftly.

Du Yu was in considerable pain after being stabbed in both legs, but he still managed to dodge the flying needles by turning to the side!

However, when Du Yu turned around again, Cheng Nianci was in no hurry and slowly picked up the Mo Dao that had just fallen to the ground.

In contrast, Du Yu was now panting heavily and could barely stand.

Cheng Nianci looked at Du Yu coldly and said, "I know you're very capable, and you really are. But we young ladies don't rely on strength to survive in the martial world; we rely on our brains. I've coated the knife with a deadly poison. I bought this poison from a merchant from the Nanzhao Kingdom. It's the sap of a tree. A flick of the finger can make someone weak in the limbs, their blood circulation stagnate, and they'll die within a quarter of an hour!"

Upon hearing this, Du Yu tried to suppress his discomfort and grip the long sword again, but for some reason, not only his arm, but his whole body began to feel weak, and even standing became a little difficult.

Cheng Nianci slowly picked up the Mo Dao (a type of long-handled sword), and without the slightest hesitation, kicked the Mo Dao, took a step forward, and leaped up, forcefully splitting Mount Hua.

Instantly, blood splattered everywhere, covering Cheng Nianci's face.

Looking at Du Yu again, he had already been cleaved in two.

Su Wen was startled by what he saw. He breathed a sigh of relief, then slowly stood up and looked back at the double Buddha statue in the temple.

At this moment, the Buddha statue's eyes were half-closed and its face was expressionless. This scene made Su Wen seem to understand why some people in Buddhism also believed that the practice of sexual intercourse between two bodies was also a Buddhist practice. In people's eyes, this naked female statue, with her legs clamping around the Buddha and her hands embracing the Buddha, had an indecent posture and seemed obscene.

But this is only in the eyes of humans. In the eyes of Buddha, women are like white bones, devoid of desire. In the eyes of Buddha, there is no such thing as lewdness!

Su Wen opened the palace door and slowly walked out. The soldiers who had been watching all laid down their weapons and surrendered!

Xu Ran suddenly burst into laughter: "Hahaha... Su Wen, this isn't over yet! I may have lost today, but Buddha will avenge me, hahaha..."

After saying that, Xu Ran pulled out a dagger from his pocket and stabbed it into his chest, making a cut. He endured the pain and reached into the wound, trying to pull out his heart, but the intense pain made his whole body convulse.

He began spitting out large amounts of blood, then fell headfirst to the ground and remained motionless.

Seeing this, Su Wen felt a lingering fear.

Su Wen quickly ran to Xu Ge's side and untied the ropes binding him, asking, "How did they capture you?"

Xu Ge said, "I ran into them halfway to the military camp before I even reached it. So I told them you found the twin Buddha statues, and just as I turned to leave, they held a knife to my neck!"

Su Wen breathed a sigh of relief: "Thank goodness, thank goodness they didn't harm you, otherwise I would have been a sinner. I still can't ask you to do such dangerous things next time!"

Xu Ge said, "Master, you're amazing! You solved a case that even the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review couldn't handle, and you've only been here a few days!"

Upon hearing this, Su Wen gave a wry smile and said, "My disciple, you still have a lot to learn. This case has only just begun!"

Xu Ge looked shocked.

However, the next second, Chen Lin suddenly spoke up: "Execute all these soldiers who attempted rebellion, leave no one alive!"

Upon hearing this, Su Wen quickly turned around to stop him: "No!"

However, the soldiers completely ignored Su Wen's words and immediately began to attack. The armor-piercing spikes and blunt weapons killed these soldiers as easily as killing chickens. Moreover, all their weapons had been taken away, and they were now a flock of lambs to the slaughter!

Some soldiers were beheaded on the spot with a swift stroke of the sword. Seeing this, Su Wen looked at Chen Lin.

Chen Lin said calmly, "Minister Su, the army has its own military law. These people listened to the heretical words of the evil monk and even conspired with Du Yu to rebel. This is a capital offense and must be eradicated completely. Otherwise, it will be detrimental to military law and to the Tang Dynasty!"

After saying this, Chen Lin bowed to Su Wen with both hands and said, "Minister Su is the acting governor of Qingzhou. Please order the execution of all the families of these people, and Du Yu's entire clan should be exterminated to prevent future troubles!"

Su Wen took a deep breath. He wasn't a saint, but he was a forensic doctor. He had already ordered the officers to kill many people, and now he was going to order the execution of their families. He wanted to say that these people's families had not committed any crimes.

However, Su Wen knew that this was not modern society; this was the Tang Dynasty, a feudal dynasty.

Human life here is less than grass. For the sake of the foundation of imperial power and the prosperity of the country, keeping these people's families alive would be a disaster.

Su Wen was trembling all over. With a thud, he knelt on the ground. After hesitating for a long time, looking at the river of blood and hundreds of corpses before him, Su Wen looked at his trembling hands and whispered, "Give the order!"

"Your subordinate obeys!" Chen Lin replied, then immediately turned and headed out of the tunnel, saying, "Issue the order of the Governor of Qingzhou: execute all the families of traitors and rebels. Anyone taller than a horsewhip shall be beheaded. Du Yu's treasonous plot will result in the extermination of his entire clan. All women shall be sent to the brothels. Those over fifty years of age shall be exiled, and those over eighty years of age shall be exempt from punishment. Do you understand?"

All the soldiers responded in unison, "Yes, sir!"