【Little Peach Blossom】

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

Little Peach Blossom – Part Two of the "Stories of a Case" Series In

Huoshan County, Luzhou Prefecture, there lived a family. The head of the household was named Zhang Xin, and his wife was named Li. The couple

ran a clothing shop in the county town, making a living by cutting and sewing clothes. Because Zhang Xin was quick-witted, loved to keep up with trends,

and was good at research, his tailoring styles were always up-to-date. He often created innovative designs, and his exquisite sewing skills made

him a favorite among the wealthy landowners in the surrounding area. Therefore, their small shop prospered and their wealth increased significantly. In just a few years,

their small shop had grown into a large, bright, and spacious storefront.

However, every family has its own troubles. Despite Zhang Xin's thriving business and the harmonious relationship between husband and wife,

whether it was due to insufficient male virility or some kind of vaginal obstruction in Li, they still hadn't conceived

a . A century later, not only would the Zhang family's incense burn out, but

the greatest loss would also be the loss of their exceptional tailoring skills. The couple were deeply saddened by this, but they would not elaborate on it for now.

Coincidentally, during this period, the Chenzhou area, Zhang Xin's ancestral home, suffered a three-year drought, resulting in a complete crop failure. Some local residents

fled their homes to seek other livelihoods; others, reluctant to leave their ancestral lands, sent their children to find work elsewhere to supplement their income. One of Zhang Xin's distant

uncles belonged to the latter group, sending his ten-year-old son, Zhang Jizu, to seek refuge with Zhang Xin, hoping to earn a living in his tailor shop

. Zhang Xin himself had come from a poor background and understood the hardships of the poor, intending to lend a helping hand. Furthermore

, the shop did indeed need an apprentice, so he gladly accepted. A year later, Zhang Xin saw that the

boy was handsome, intelligent, diligent, and devoted to his master and mistress

, and decided to adopt him as his son. With the help of a matchmaker, the other party, who was more than eager to marry him, chose an

auspicious day , held a banquet, and Ji Zu officially became Zhang Xin's son. The whole family was overjoyed, their wish fulfilled

. Zhang Xin then imparted all his skills to Ji Zu, who diligently studied. Seven or eight years later, Zhang Ji Zu

became a renowned tailor in the area.

A few years later, Ji Zu had grown into a handsome young man of twenty, attracting

matchmakers . Zhang Xin, knowing his own limitations as a craftsman

from a humble family, knew he couldn't aspire to marry into wealth and power. Therefore, he chose a suitable spouse for him, the daughter of a small merchant family, named Liu

Suzhen . She was sixteen years old, beautiful,

with a graceful figure, elegant features, a delicate hairstyle, a charming face,

willow-leaf eyebrows, sparkling eyes, and fragrant lips.

With slender arms and legs, pert breasts, delicate shoulders and prominent buttocks, and a graceful waist;

her skin was like ice and jade, her lotus feet swaying gently, exuding fragrance, resembling Chang'e, the Moon Goddess.

Her character was also gentle, virtuous, filial, and diligent. With her parents-in-law and husband busy at the shop, Liu Suzhen

became the household manager. The family of four lived harmoniously, and their fortunes prospered. A few years later, the small shop had

expanded into a large clothing store with a shop in the front, a workshop in the middle, and a residence in the back.

But nothing lasts forever. Life is never smooth sailing; disappointments are common. Just as Zhang

Xin thirty, his wife, Li, unfortunately fell ill. Despite seeking medical help,

she passed away. The whole family was grieving, and Zhang Xin was devastated. As the saying goes, a young couple grows old together,

bound by life's bond. For thirty years, from their youth to the present, they've built a small tailor shop into

a large establishment, a testament to their shared hardships and tireless efforts. Whenever Zhang Xin enters the shop and

sees the windows and shelves his wife has meticulously arranged, he's overcome with emotion, tears streaming down his face, lost in thought, unable to

control himself . Later, he simply handed the shop over to his son, becoming a hands-off manager and no longer bothering the shop.

With two veteran employees gone, Ji Zu couldn't manage alone, so he recruited two

skilled businessmen from Tongcheng County, Yang Yun and Zhang Xiu, to help. Thanks to Ji Zu's craftsmanship and the two men's

eloquence , the shop continued to thrive.

As for Zhang Xin, since relinquishing control of the shop, he's enjoyed a relaxed and happy life, spending his days

resting , or drinking tea and playing chess with other elderly people under the shade of trees—a truly leisurely existence. However, many loyal customers still trusted

him, valued his craftsmanship, and often invited him to their homes, treating him to good food and drink, and letting him stay for a few days to sew funeral clothes for

his parents and new clothes for his children. Firstly, he couldn't refuse the kindness of his loyal customers; secondly, he couldn't give up his old skills and his hands were itching to work

again; and thirdly, it was also a way to expand his son's shop's business. He gladly accepted all these invitations, which also allowed him to

travel and sightsee. Over time, it became an indispensable part of his life.

This time, Zhang Xin was again in Luzhou Prefecture, working on a dowry. This was a wealthy family who had hired more than a dozen craftsmen to prepare the dowry for their daughter's

wedding . One day, the craftsmen were chatting idly during a break from work when

a young man asked, "Hey, waiter, have you hooked up with that Little Peach Blossom yet?"

"Ugh! Don't even mention it," the waiter replied. "I spent two taels of silver to go in, had a cup of wine,

and only managed to touch her delicate hand. I didn't even get a kiss before I was kicked out."

"So, our monthly wages aren't even enough for one night with her? Her price is way too high."

"Who is Little Peach Blossom? Which brothel does she belong to? What's her character like?" The young men

were most interested in such things and asked eagerly.

"Little Peach Blossom's surname is Wang, her nickname is Peach Blossom, and she's currently the top courtesan at the Lichun Brothel," an insider revealed. "As for

her looks, she's absolutely stunning! Willow-leaf eyebrows, almond eyes, cherry lips, peach cheeks, lotus-like face, slender waist, full breasts and plump hips—she's also skilled in singing, dancing, and playing

musical instruments ; truly a rare talent!"

"When did such a talent appear? I've never heard of her before!"

"This Little Peach Blossom was a famine-stricken girl from Chenzhou who fled there. Desperate for food and clothing, she was sold to a brothel

to survive. Although she grew up to be quite beautiful, she suffered from a terrible ailment: body odor. The stench of her body

could , preventing her from receiving VIPs and forcing her to frequent low-class brothels.

It was only thanks to the discerning eye of the madam of the Lichun brothel that she was bought at a low price. And somehow, she was cured of

her ailment with some miraculous medicine, which is why she became so famous and outshone everyone else! It's only been about six months." The person in the know paused

, then added, "However, since she's been in those low-class brothels, she's bound to have picked up some dirty diseases! So,

when you go to see her, be careful. Of course, this must be kept secret! Otherwise, we'll ruin their

livelihood. These people are greedy and will not rest until they find out we leaked the secret !"

The young people were gossiping over there, while the older ones were chatting idly over here.

"Hey, old Zhang, your wife's been dead for years. Don't you want to remarry and find someone to take care of

you for the rest of your life?"

"Marriage is all about fate; you can't force it. If you're compatible, you'll love each other dearly and live happily ever after. If you're not compatible

, you'll fight and argue all the time. It's better to be single and have a peaceful life!" Zhang Xin

said with a touch of melancholy.

"Master Zhang is a romantic, deeply attached to his deceased wife, still thinking of her to this day. How could he possibly choose another

woman and fall in love with someone else?"

"Old Zhang is right. Bringing back a shrew is not as easy and enjoyable as being single. If

he brought back a greedy and lustful woman, she might even kill him!"

"I also support being single. If your little brother gets itchy, just go to a brothel

, find a lover, have a few rounds, and get your kicks. It's much better than having a wife and kids to keep you tied down,

always asking for food and drink!"

These were just casual remarks from the group, and the people speaking probably wouldn't actually do such

things. But somehow, they stirred up Zhang Xin's heart today. Lying alone on his bed in the dead of night,

a restless spirit stirred within him, preventing him from falling asleep. He pondered, "Although Li and I shared a deep bond and

fought side-by-side through thick and thin for decades, she has been dead for over two years. Death is like a lamp going out; dead ashes cannot be rekindled. Should I

also seek a new flame and rekindle my life? In my haste, let alone finding a new partner,

perhaps I could go to a brothel and seek some pleasure, find a little enjoyment? Yes, at least I can't stay stuck in a dead end

, under this withered old locust tree, just waiting to be hanged." That's how people are; good habits

are hard to cultivate, but bad ones come easily. Zhang Xin was originally a craftsman from the lower rungs of society

; the old feudal moral codes held no sway over him. Now that his business had grown, he

didn't care about spending a little money. With his mind opened, his behavior became unrestrained. This led to a scandalous

affair , which ultimately resulted in a lawsuit and the loss of several lives!

The next day, after finishing work, he changed into a bright and elegant outfit. He was a tailor, and although he might not have much else, he

certainly had a lot of decent clothes. He dressed himself up like a wealthy man, with some silver notes tucked into his pocket, and strolled toward

the brothel . The madam, seeing that he appeared to be a wealthy man, immediately beamed with delight, her face breaking into a wide smile. She quickly invited him

to sit down, offered him tea, and said obsequiously, "Sir, you must be tired. Is this your first time seeking pleasure in my establishment

? Our girls are all as beautiful as flowers; I guarantee you'll have a wonderful time!" She then beckoned inside,

"Peony, peony, wintersweet, chrysanthemum, rose, Chinese rose, magnolia, lotus—come out, let sir

have a look ." Before she finished speaking, a string of

young women dressed in red shirts and green jackets, their faces painted with makeup and adorned with jewels, emerged from behind the curtain. Each one moved with a graceful gait, displaying seductive and wanton manners as they passed before him.

After introducing them one by one, the madam asked, "Which one has caught your eye, sir?"

Zhang Xin had indeed accumulated some wealth over the past decade or so thanks to the thriving business of his tailor shop, but he was ultimately a nouveau riche and

had never seen such a magnificent and colorful spectacle. Already dazed by the allure of perfumes, wine, and money

, he bluntly asked, "Which one of them is Xiao Taohong?"

The madam's face contorted with laughter, thinking, "Xiao Taohong is a real

money tree !" But feigning helplessness,

she said with a regretful tone, "Master wants Taohua! You truly have discerning eyes, very farsighted. She's our top

courtesan! Beautiful, slender, of excellent character, and exceptionally skilled. It's just that you've come at the

wrong time tonight; she's already been booked by Master Zhao from the south of the city!" She then secretly glanced at Zhang Xin, noticing his

constant shaking of his head and sighs, seemingly regretful and resentful. Just as he was about to give up and consider choosing another girl,

the old woman spoke up again, "However, there is still room for negotiation. Master Zhao has already prepaid

twenty taels for Peach Blossom's price for one night. According to the rules, if there are any changes, the deposit will be refunded in full, and a penalty of fifty percent will be paid in compensation for breach of contract.

Our Lichun Brothel cannot do business at a loss! In my opinion, if you can pay the ten taels of

silver for us, we will return Master Zhao and give Peach Blossom to you. What do you say, sir?"

At this moment, Zhang Xin was already so engrossed in the sight of fair and delicate bodies, graceful figures, melodious

music, and sweet fragrance that he was completely captivated

. He would have agreed without hesitation even if the price was three hundred taels, let alone thirty.

Zhang Xin took out thirty taels of silver from his pocket and handed it to the madam. She smiled radiantly and led

the way into a room. "Please wait here a moment, sir. Miss Peach Blossom will be here shortly!"

the madam said, turning and closing the door behind her. Zhang Xin paced back and forth inside, looking around. He found the

house unremarkable, lacking both opulence and dazzling brilliance. A pink tasseled gauze curtain hung above the carved balustrade bed.

A pair of apricot-yellow pillows embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in the water sat in the center. A small round table

with two chairs was set with several dishes of dried and fresh fruit, cold appetizers, and fine

white porcelain from Jingdezhen, including a wine pot, teacups, and bowls. Several New Year's paintings with auspicious meanings like "May wealth and prosperity come your way" and "May you have abundance year after year" were pasted on the walls. A statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva sat on the long table, wisps of smoke curling in the air, emitting a faint fragrance.

This must be Xiao Taohong's boudoir for receiving guests. 　　Suddenly, the door opened, and a strong, pungent fragrance of orchids wafted out, causing him to cover his nose and sneeze. Looking up, he saw a charming young woman drift in through the door. Her appearance was striking: 　　a graceful, alluring figure, a captivating and seductive air, 　　a flowing red satin dress, a slender, willow-like waist, a 　　delicate, rosy face, rosy cheeks, arched, willow-leaf eyebrows 　　, sparkling, watery eyes, 　　a straight, delicate nose, cherry-like lips, fair, 　　smooth skin, slender, white bones, full, shapely breasts, 　　heavy, fragrant hips, slender, jade-like fingers, and delicate 　　, pointed, golden lotus feet. 　　Entering the room, she gave Zhang Xin a deep curtsy, parted her lips to reveal her pearly teeth, and said in a sweet, melodious voice, "This humble servant..."

Peach Blossom greeted the master, saying she had come to serve him and await his orders. She called him "Master" three times in a row, her voice like

silver bells , sweet as honey, making Zhang Xin feel as if a thousand claws were scratching at his heart. He involuntarily

lunged forward, trying to embrace her. But Peach Blossom was clever enough to deftly move her body, advancing and retreating, always

maintaining a distance of two or three feet. Then she softly said, "Master, don't be impatient, there's still a long night ahead! Let

me first offer you three cups of wine, then I'll play with you in bed, how about that?"

Saying this, she invited the master to sit down. Peach Blossom gently stretched out her jade-like arm, flicked her slender fingers, filled two cups with sweet grape wine, and handed

one to Zhang Xin, saying, "Peach Blossom is fortunate to receive your favor. Today I offer this cup of wine as a small token of my gratitude. I hope

you in good spirits and have a good time!" "Under the sweet words of Xiao Taohong, Zhang Xin was overjoyed and drank several cups in succession.

He didn't know what had been added to the wine, but despite his usual high tolerance,

just His face flushed, his breath ragged, and he glanced at Xiao Taohong with drunken eyes. He saw that she too was flushed with desire, her eyes gleaming,

her breasts slightly exposed, and she was acting coquettishly. Overwhelmed by emotion, he lost control and,

without thinking, rushed forward, pulling Xiao Taohong into his arms. He began to grope her body and kiss her

face repeatedly." Xiao Taohong, half-heartedly resisting, followed him onto the bed, undressed, and began their passionate encounter.

It turned out that although Xiao Taohong was beautiful and charming, she had been born with a chronic body odor. The madam of

the brothel , bought her, claiming she had cured her with a secret remedy. In reality, she simply used

fragrant orchids and perfumes to mask the odor before receiving customers. However, no matter what, close, intimate intercourse inevitably

left a trace of her unpleasant smell. This had led to fights and brawls between the patrons and the brothel. Later, the madam devised

a plan... First, they'd pour three cups of strong wine, laced with a small amount of sleeping potion and aphrodisiac. In a semi-conscious

state would only see the alluring faces, ignoring the foul stench of the fox spirits. Unaware of the deception, they'd fall for the trick,

believing they were experiencing unparalleled pleasure. One by one, they'd linger, returning again and again, their money flowing into the madam

's hands. They were shameless and smug, thinking they'd monopolized the courtesan's affections! Zhang Xin was now exactly that kind of

fool, deceived and deluded!

Since his wife's death, Zhang Xin had lived a solitary, ascetic life. He had never been near a woman before, but today,

having tasted the sweetness of passion, he was like dry tinder, ready to ignite at any moment. Though his old age and frailty prevented a raging fire, he still

exerted all his strength was a born harlot, indiscriminate in her advances, regardless of age or strength.

The two engaged in a passionate battle on the bed. It was truly:

heads together like phoenixes flitting among flowers, necks entwined like mandarin ducks playing in the water,

first pressing their lips tightly together, then leaning against each other's faces.

A cloud of dark clouds piled up beside the pillow, the brocade concealing their frenzied passion,

cherry lips panting, sweet saliva escaping from their tongues.

Deep affection flowed through their hazy, starry eyes, damp with sweat . Her breasts rippled with desire,

like gentle raindrops sprinkling across the land, leaving a lingering fragrance.

Her willow-like waist swayed with the warmth of spring, her warbling voice a whisper

of unspoken love. The blushing clouds and rain exuded a myriad of alluring charms, and vows of eternal love were exchanged.

After more than an hour, their lovemaking finally ended. Zhang Xin, old and frail, exhausted from the intense battle,

fell into a deep sleep. Little Peach Blossom, however, was not yet satisfied. She secretly slipped out of Zhang Xin's embrace and went to attend to the

remaining guests. At dawn, she returned to Zhang Xin's side and lay down on her side. When the old man awoke, he saw Little Peach Blossom

still in his arms, her warm, soft body mingled with... The faint, pungent scent of a woman stirred his heart even more. If it weren't for the fact that

it was time to go to work, he truly wouldn't have wanted to say goodbye to her.

That evening, Zhang Xin came again, and because he had a reservation, he only paid twenty taels of silver. This continued for three days, and it seemed that

a hundred taels of silver

had gone down the drain; all the wages he had earned through a year of hard work had been lost. The brothel was a bottomless pit of money; one couldn't enter empty-handed. Fortunately, his work there was finished, so he quickly packed his bags,

and with endless longing and yearning, reluctantly returned to his hometown in Huoshan County with Xiao Taohong.

Zhang Xin returned home, but the image of Xiao Taohong constantly haunted his mind. He suffered from insomnia day and night, lost his appetite, and

grew increasingly thin and haggard for her sake. Before a month had passed, he couldn't resist running off alone to Luzhou Prefecture to visit

Xiao Taohong . He repeated this four or five times within six months. His ex-wife, Li,

had painstakingly saved her savings, which had vanished like water. His son, Jizu, saw this and was heartbroken. He

wanted to persuade his father to mend his ways, but was too proud to speak. After all, the family wealth belonged to his father... It's understandable that my mother would spend

her hard-earned savings in her later years, but

it's truly not worthwhile to pour a large sum of money into a prostitute who will never amount to anything. Ji Zu was an honest man, focused only on his craft and lacking in cunning,

so he was powerless to stop his father's actions.

One day, while chatting with his employees Yang Yun and Zhang Xiu in the shop, he lamented the situation. Unexpectedly, Yang Yun

offered an unexpected solution: "Isn't that easy? Just marry Xiao Tao Hong and fulfill

the old man's wish!"

"This—I'm afraid it's difficult!" Ji Zu hesitated.

"Is it because she's a prostitute, and it would damage the Zhang family's reputation?" Zhang Xiu countered.

"No, that's not it. Our family isn't a scholarly or prestigious clan; we're just a lowly crafts

family. As long as the old man is willing, marrying her is fine." " But this Xiao Taohong is the top courtesan of the Lichun Brothel, and her price

is extremely high. To buy her out of prostitution, it would probably take several thousand taels of silver. My small shop,

even if it went bankrupt, probably couldn't afford it!"

"Brother, don't panic. From what I understand, although Xiao Taohong is exceptionally beautiful, she has a slight disability, so

there's still a loophole to exploit." Yang Yun further said, "I heard that when the Lichun Brothel bought her, it only cost less than a hundred

taels of silver. Now, if we pay her ten times that, we can definitely get her for a thousand taels. Leave this matter to me, brother, just

stay home and wait for good news!" After

the discussion was settled, Ji Zu gave Yang Yun and Zhang Xiu a few days of leave and went to the Lichun Brothel in Luzhou Prefecture to persuade the

madam. With their silver tongues, they actually got it done. When they returned, they reported to Ji Zu, "The two sides

have reached an agreement, and Xiao Taohong will be redeemed for one thousand taels of silver." "Ji Zu then reported this matter to his father, who was more

than happy to agree. He took out all his savings, about eight hundred taels, and Ji Zu also scraped together two hundred taels from the shop's turnover,

and gave them to the two men. In less than ten days, a bridal sedan chair carried Xiao Tao Hong into the Zhang family's gate."

People might wonder, given that Xiao Taohong was young and vibrant, in the prime of her youth and the

golden age for earning money, how could Yang Yun and his companion so easily acquire such a cash cow? The truth is,

although Xiao Taohong was the top courtesan at the Lichun Brothel, renowned and commanding high prices, her

fame was entirely fabricated by the madam, who used her beauty to create a false sense of prosperity. Most of the locals

in Luzhou Prefecture knew that Xiao Taohong came from a low-class brothel,

a place frequented by hooligans, gamblers, opium addicts, and the poor. Associating with such people inevitably led to contracting various sexually transmitted diseases. To put

it bluntly , her body odor was the most convincing evidence. Therefore, despite her stunning beauty, people

remained wary, keeping their distance and avoiding her at all costs. Only passing merchants and migrant workers,

unaware of her true nature, were seduced by her beauty and reputation, seeking her favors. Once they learned the inside story, they

never returned. Therefore, Xiao Taohong's customers were mostly one-off clients. Because of this, with a "kill or be killed"

mentality, her appearance fee was set extremely high, which in turn boosted her popularity. The madam understood that

this vicious cycle would soon lead to a decline in business. Therefore, she had long planned

to find a wealthy man while she was still popular and sell her at a high price, making a quick profit. Zhang Xin happened to be there, becoming a sucker.

Yang Yun and Zhang Xiu were originally petty thieves and idlers who, to make a living

, gained Ji Zu's trust through their eloquence and temporarily became parasites in the tailor shop as apprentices. These people naturally knew some of the inner workings of

the brothel business. Therefore, he was confident and took on the task for his grandfather with great care.

Firstly he wanted to profit from it. He explained the situation to the madam, and they reached an agreement: the brothel

would receive 800 taels of silver, and each would receive a 100-tael commission. Secondly, they both coveted Wang Taohua's beauty, but

as penniless vagrants, they had no means to approach her. Bringing her

home would make things much easier, hence their enthusiasm.

Wang Taohua entered the Zhang family and immediately married Zhang Xin. The Zhang family wasn't wealthy, and

since she was a courtesan, they didn't want to make a big fuss. They invited a few close friends and relatives from the neighborhood, had a few

drinks, and then went to the bridal chamber—that was it. Zhang Xin's wish was fulfilled, his grandfather and his wife fulfilled their filial duties, and Yang Yun and

Zhang Xiu scheme succeeded—everyone was happy. To make it easier for Yang Yun and Zhang Xiu to get closer to Tao Hua in the future,

they proposed that Zhang Xin become their godfather and that they become sworn brothers with Ji Zu. Zhang Xin, delighted and grateful for their help

, agreed. A banquet was then held, where the three burned incense, kowtowed, and performed the sworn

brotherhood ceremony, before bowing to Zhang Xin and his wife. Ironically,

it was quite a sight to see three sons in their thirties and a twenty-eight-year-old daughter-in-law kneeling before their twenty-three-year-old mother.

For the first two or three months after the wedding, Zhang Xin and Tao Hua were deeply in love and their relationship was sweet and harmonious

. Father, sons, mother-in-law, and daughter-in-law lived in peace and respect, enjoying a very happy life. However, as time passed and the novelty wore off, problems began to surface.

Zhang Xin, being a man, had his own set of pleasures. He often went out with friends, playing drinking games, drinking tea, and playing chess,

returning home late at night. When hired by outsiders to do tailoring work, he would stay away from home for days at a time. All the sons

were busy working , and their daughter-in-law, Liu, managed all the household affairs. Tao Hua was left alone in the backyard, bored

and restless. So she tried coming to the front shop to chat with her sons, relieve their boredom, and lend a

hand. Tao Hua was quite good at needlework; she was adept at buttonholes and sewing button loops. Ji Zu was an

honest man, and Tao Hua was his stepmother, so it was normal for the family to chat and laugh together. After all, Li Shi's mother had often

been in and out of the shop before, so he didn't pay much attention. But Yang Yun and Zhang Xiu were different. They were

lecherous scoundrels who had long coveted Tao Hua's beauty. Her presence in the shop provided

them a rare opportunity. So they fawned over her, fed her rice porridge, and flattered her, using every

means to seduce and provoke her. Wang Taohua grew up in brothels and had seen countless tricks and schemes of men. How could she

not see through their desires? But now, as the mistress of the house, she could only feign dignity.

Ultimately, however, she was a woman of wanton nature, and after a while, she couldn't resist the advances of her two adopted sons, finally

becoming their possession.

One day, only Taohua and Yang Yun were in the shop. Yang Yun deliberately dropped the measuring tape, causing it to fall and

hit Taohua's foot. The small tape measure was weightless and caused no real pain, but Yang Yun seized the opportunity to make a big fuss,

repeatedly apologizing: "Mother, your unfilial son has hurt your foot; I am truly guilty and cannot escape punishment

. Please forgive me. Let me massage it for you to improve your blood circulation!" As he spoke, he grasped her bound feet with both hands and

began to stroke them.

Seeing this, Peach Blossom understood immediately and laughed, "You little rascal, trying to hook up with me and

take advantage of me?" With that, she kicked him squarely in the groin.

Yang Yun cried out, clutching his stomach and crouching down, "Ouch, ouch! Mother, you're so cruel!

You've kicked !"

Seeing Yang Yun in pain, Peach Blossom rushed over to comfort him, "Are you hurt anywhere?"

Taking advantage of the situation, Yang Yun pulled Peach Blossom into his arms, and the two sat together on the ground. Yang Yun grinned

and said, "Mother's little feet are so beautiful, they felt so good kicking me!"

Peach Blossom quickly struggled to her feet, spitting towards the door, "In broad daylight, under the clear sky,

with crowds of people on the street, aren't you afraid of being seen?"

"So, when it's quiet at night and no one is watching, I can get close to Mother, is that right?" Yang Yun

said with a lewd grin.

"Come on if you dare, and see how I'll torment you!" Peach Blossom said, then went to the back.

Actually Little Peach Blossom had heard this kind of flirtatious banter many times in the brothel, and was used to it, so she didn't take it seriously.

She thought to herself: "If the old man dares to flirt with me tonight, he'll kick you

out and fire you, no doubt about it. Besides, you can't even get into the back courtyard! My daughter-in-law, Liu,

is a very shrewd person; she's very strict about the gates. Even though we're sworn brothers, there's no reason for her to let you in in the middle of the night.

" A few days later, the tailor shop received a big order: a wealthy family in Lu'an County was buying clothes for their entire family.

To demonstrate his wealth and generosity, he provided winter clothing for every servant, maid, and old woman,

tailoring and sewing them on-site to ensure a perfect fit. Due to the large workload and generous pay,

it was decided that Zhang Xin and his son would go together, estimating it would take about twenty days to return. Yang Yun and

Zhang Xiu would remain at the shop to handle occasional business. Ji Zu specifically instructed them to take extra care of his stepmother and sister-in-law, and

to be vigilant about the safety of the backyard. This instruction inadvertently provided Yang Yun and Zhang Xiu with

the opportunity . After Zhang Xin and his son left, the two indeed fulfilled their duty, visiting their mother and sister-in-law every few days to pay their respects,

showing concern and putting on a show.

One evening, Yang Yun arrived at the backyard and knocked on the door. Ji Zu's wife, Liu Suzhen, came out and, after confirming that he was her husband's

sworn brother, opened the door to welcome him in. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Liu, he left and went to Wang's room, where he

again feigned concern, but lingered for a long time. Finally, Yang Yun said,

"That day, Mother said it wasn't convenient in broad daylight. Today it's late, and there's no one around, so please

grant this favor!"

Wang Taohua, knowing Yang Yun was about to pester her, quickly said, "You little rascal, you're

quite . You haven't forgotten what happened that day. It was just a joke, but you took it seriously. Although we're

about the same age, we're mother and son. How could we do such an incestuous thing? Give up on that idea and go back to sleep!"

"Mother's joke has made Yang Yun miss you for days. Have pity on me! Besides, I went

to great lengths to persuade my stepfather and son to redeem you and bring you home, all so I could be close to you and

get intimate! Please grant my wish!"

"I am deeply grateful for your help and your affection, but I absolutely cannot do anything to betray

Master and his son! After all, it was they who spent money to rescue me from my misery!"

Yang Yun was annoyed by Tao Hua's constant evasions. He thought to himself: You shameless prostitute,

stop pretending to be a pure and virtuous woman. Let me expose your true colors and hurt you, then you

'll be revealed. So he said, "Mother is determined to remain faithful, and I dare not force you. But I've heard from outsiders

that Mother has a wonderful fragrance under her armpits. Could I smell it? I'll leave immediately!" The implication

was: Stop pretending. I even know you have body odor. Do you think I do

n't know about your past scandals?

Sure enough, Peach Blossom's face immediately flushed crimson with shame, and she stammered, "You, you, what do you know?

-- Please don't tell anyone! -- I, I, I have no face to live anymore." Peach Blossom was originally a despicable

prostitute, but the brothel Lichun gave her a beautiful facade, which made her famous and

attracted the favor of Master Zhang, who redeemed her with a large sum of money, giving her her current status and allowing her to hold

her head high in public. If her past shameful deeds were to be made public, everything before her—her husband's love, her son's respect, and the neighbors'

treatment—might change, so she appeared extremely flustered.

"Don't worry, Mother, as long as my wish is granted, I will keep my mouth shut." Seeing that Tao Hua was listless,

Yang Yun 's thieving courage and lust grew considerably. He immediately rushed forward, hugged her tightly, and, disregarding

the foxy stench, buried his head in her furry armpits, muttering, "I love this slut

!"

Because Wang Tao Hua was a lowly prostitute, her relationships with men were extremely decadent, and her

physiological needs for sex were insatiable. Although she was grateful to Zhang Xin for redeeming her, she was also

troubled by his old age and weakness, which prevented him from satisfying her sexual desires. Yang Yun was a strong and handsome young man.

Under his teasing, Tao Hua's defenses quickly crumbled. A burning lust had already ignited

within her she cried out, "No, no!—Just this once, never again!" She was more than willing in her heart.

Face to face, lips to lips, tongues to tongue, hands to hands, they went to bed together,

undressed, and began their tryst.

Imagine, the union of two strong and vigorous young men and women—a perfect match, a clash of titans.

Wasn't it far more intense than with that old geezer? They made love in bed all night, still wanting more, until dawn when it was time to

open the shop, and only then did Yang Yun get up and leave. They secretly agreed that from now on, whenever the old man was not home, around midnight,

after their daughter-in-law Liu had completed her daily routine of checking the house and returned to her room, Tao Hua would unlatch the back gate, leave it ajar

, and let him sneak in without anyone knowing.

Two or three days passed in this manner. Meanwhile, Zhang Xiu, seeing Yang Yun not returning home every night, grew suspicious. One

night, he secretly followed him. Just as Yang Yun entered the backyard and was about to turn around and lock the gate, Zhang Xiu suddenly appeared,

shouting, "You, Yang Yun, sneaking around like that! What a fine thing you've done! What should your punishment be?"

"Shh!" Yang Yun quickly put his index finger to his lips and whispered, "Keep it down, don't let my sister-in-law

know , or everything will be ruined!"

"Why not also take down that Liu woman? Then neither Zhang Fei nor Li Kui can say the other is bad!" Zhang Xiu was even more wicked,

coming up with such a vicious idea.

“Yes! How come I didn’t think of that?” Yang Yun suddenly realized, “Liu’s beauty is no less than Xiao Taohong’s,

and she’s a few years older, so she’s even sexier. If we each have one, wouldn’t it be even more fun?”

“Today, let’s have some fun with Xiao Taohong first, and then we can plan how to lure Liu into our trap.”

Taohua, seeing that the two had come together, already knew that one of them had already hooked up with the other, so the other

couldn’t refuse. Thus, the three of them, either one after the other or at the same time, took turns. Taohua was an expert in this area, with

many , and Yang Yun and Zhang Xiu were having so much fun that they lost their bearings. After the three of them finished, they discussed how to lure Liu

into their trap.

“My daughter-in-law is a proper person, living deep within the inner palace. Except for going out to buy some household items, she rarely

has contact with the outside world, and I’ve never heard any news about her having affairs. Unlike me, Taohua, who is promiscuous

and easily seduced by you. It won’t be so easy to seduce her!” Taohua said with a lack of confidence.

"Yes! This Liu, she always sits upright, eyes fixed straight ahead, quiet and reserved,

the image of a chaste and virtuous woman. What if she resists to the death and causes trouble? It'll be hard to handle!" Yang Yun also expressed his concern.

"No, no! You have no idea that a woman like Liu, who values chastity and is so concerned with saving face... "

Once she loses her chastity, she will absolutely not make it public; she is the best at keeping secrets. "Don't believe me? Let's

try !" Zhang Xiu was far more cunning and ruthless than Yang Yun. "Little Tao Hong will lure her here.

We only need to do this and that, and she'll be a meek little lamb."

As for the daughter-in-law, Liu Suzhen, although not of noble birth, she was a woman well-versed in traditional virtues and dignified in her manners

. She naturally despised and had no affection for women like Tao Hua, who came from brothels and behaved frivolously. Since they lived in

the same courtyard, she couldn't have been unaware of Tao Hua's secret meetings and adultery with Yang Yun and Zhang Xiu. Liu was a meticulous

person. She considered that firstly, as her father-in-law's second wife and her stepmother, she couldn't afford to be too embarrassed; secondly, as

a woman, it was inappropriate for her to interfere in such matters. She could only keep a close watch on the household, maintain her purity, and wait for her husband to return and report

. She decided to reconsider.

That day, the weather was clear and sunny, with a bright blue sky and crisp autumn air. On any other day, on such a fine day,

Liu would have invited some of her neighbors to go for a walk in the market and buy some household items, drinks, and food. But now that

her husband was away, to avoid any unexpected incidents, she decided to be cautious and stay home. So she closed

the door and did some needlework to pass the time. Suddenly, she heard a knock at the door. Peeking through the crack, she saw her stepmother

standing alone outside. She opened the door and let her in. She asked, "Mother, what brings you here?"

"I say, Suzhen! Stop calling me 'Mother,' 'Mom,' 'Mother' all the time. Actually, I'm four or

five years younger than you! I'm not as experienced as you in dealing with people and handling affairs. From now on, let's call each other sisters!"

Peach Blossom smiled broadly, only saying the most flattering things.

"No way!" "I dare not break the Zhang family rules! If my father-in-law and husband find out,

they'll beat me half to death with the family law!" Liu Shi had no liking for Tao Hua, so her words were naturally blunt. The implication was that

the Zhang family had rules, and she shouldn't misbehave and break them! "Mother, please speak quickly; I

need to finish my needlework!"

"Su Zhen, listen to me. I've come here specifically to ask for your advice. I, Wang Tao Hua, grew up in a brothel,

received no education, and don't understand etiquette or how to conduct myself. I've been in the Zhang family for four or

five months now, and I wonder if my words and actions are still inappropriate? You've been in this family

for over ten years, are very experienced, and everyone praises your competence. I hope you can give me some guidance."

Tao Hua spoke sincerely.

"What experience do I have? I truly don't deserve such praise!" Seeing Tao Hua's sincerity, Su Zhen felt embarrassed

to keep a stern face and intended to say a few polite words to get rid of it. Suddenly, an idea popped into her head,

and she couldn't help but say it, so she said, "However, there is one thing I want to advise you on. Even though you and Yang Yun and

Zhang Xiu are mother and son, you still need to be careful. This is not a brothel. You need to

be more discreet in your words and actions to avoid gossip!"

Upon hearing this, Tao Hua blushed with embarrassment and was very unhappy. She thought to herself, "This woman has sharp eyes.

She still found out! But don't be so smug. Today, I'll expose your true colors!" On the surface, she still

pretended not to be angry but to humbly accept the situation, saying, "Sister is absolutely right. I was used to being in that kind of place in the

past . I really need to be more careful in the future." " Talking with my sister has been incredibly beneficial. The weather is lovely

today , so I'll treat you to a meal at my place. I'll prepare some food and wine, and we can have a few drinks together

so I can properly listen to your teachings!"

This Liu Suzhen was an upright person, but she had a small flaw: in her spare time or when lonely, she liked

to drink alone. Although not a heavy drinker, she often got drunk because of her low alcohol tolerance, and her actions became

unsteady. Yang Yun and Zhang Xiu had noticed this and sent Tao Hua to invite her. Now, seeing Tao Hua inviting

her for drinks, she became interested, overcame her previous awkwardness, and happily went to Tao Hua's residence. Inside,

a table of fine food and wine had already been prepared, the aroma filling the air. Her appetite was whetted, and without any hesitation, she sat down and began to eat and drink

. After three cups, she became more talkative, her tongue tumbling out. Tao Hua then diligently poured her three more cups, and she was completely drunk.

Her soul drifted away, beyond her control—

when Liu regained consciousness, she found a strong man on top of her, thrusting a

hard penis into her vagina. This man was Zhang Xiu. Only then did Liu realize she had been tricked and

fallen for their scheme. She tried to struggle and resist, but her hands and feet were held down by Yang Yun and Tao Hua, rendering her immobile. By this time,

her lust had been aroused, and there was no way to stop. She could only swallow her anger and accept their

rape .

Afterwards, Tao Hua seemed somewhat guilty, but there was nothing she could do. She could only comfort her gently, saying, "Sister Suzhen,

don't be too sad. What's done is done. Just accept your fate and make the best of it! If you don't mind, the four of

us can often get together for pleasure. Isn't that more enjoyable than having a bland husband like you?" Zhang Xiu also threatened her harshly, "

If you submit to us from now on, all will be well. But if you waver or

tell your husband about this, we will immediately expose your adultery and make it impossible for you to live in Huoshan County

or even Luzhou Prefecture!"

Sure enough, as Zhang Xiu expected, Liu Suzhen, in order to save face, dared not tell

her grandfather and obediently followed Yang Yun and Zhang Xiu's summons, reluctantly engaging in that shameful act. Thus,

the four of them took turns sleeping together: Yang Yun slept with Tao, Zhang Xiu slept with Liu, Yang Yun slept with Liu, and Zhang Xiu slept with Tao, their desires for each other becoming increasingly intimate.

Zhang Xin and his son did not return for more than a month after their trip. As the saying goes, "If you don't want others to know, don't do it in the first place." As time

went on, rumors about Xiao Taohong and the other three's secret rendezvous and adultery spread, eventually reaching the ears of Zhang Xin and his son. The two

believed that Liu had been in the Zhang family for more than ten years and had always been upright and innocent; she would never do such a thing. A scandalous affair had occurred; as for

Xiao Taohong, she came from a brothel and was inherently a promiscuous prostitute. Under the influence of outsiders, it was inevitable that she would succumb to her old habits and

go astray. However, she was not Zhang Xin's official wife, but merely a courtesan he bought for amusement.

Even if , it wouldn't be a big deal. But those two rascals, Yang Yun and Zhang Xiu, were too despicable, daring

to bully their godfather. If this continued, they would become a menace and suffer the consequences. Therefore, it was decided to find

an opportunity to dismiss them, and that would be the end of the matter.

Due to the return of Zhang Xin and his son, the games between Yang Yun, Zhang Xiu, Taohong, and Liu Shi were disrupted.

However, they were not happy about it. So the two secretly plotted to get rid of the Zhang family father and son, seize the tailor shop, and take

the two beauties. That day, Yang Yun handed Tao Hua a packet of poison and instructed her, "This is a packet of rat poison. Put it

in Old Master Zhang's food and kill him. Then we can be husband and wife forever!"

Tao Hua was, after all, a weak woman. Hearing that she was to kill someone, she was already terrified and her hands and feet went weak. She hurriedly said,

"Master Zhang has been kind to me. I can't do it! Besides, what will happen after he dies? I have no

idea . What if the matter isn't kept secret and gets out? Wouldn't I become a criminal who murdered her husband? That would mean

being paraded through the streets on a wooden donkey and being torn to pieces! I dare not do such a despicable thing. It's better to do it like

this , secretly. As long as we act discreetly and don't get caught, Master Zhang can't do anything to us!"

Seeing that Tao Hua was determined not to, Yang Yun also felt that the murder plan was not thorough enough, so he gave up.

It was almost the end of the year. Ji Zu informed his father that he was going to collect debts in another place and buy some New Year's goods on the way back. Suddenly, Zhang

Xin had a brilliant idea. He said, "This time I'll go with you. You go to collect the debts, and I'll turn back halfway. Those

two scoundrels, Yang and Zhang, will surely come to harass your stepmother once they see my father and I have left. Tonight, I'll suddenly appear, catch them

in the act , and humiliate them. At dawn, I'll make sure they pack their bags and get out!" Father and son finished their discussion and went to prepare.

Ji Zu, unaware that his wife Liu was also involved, told her about it. Liu, being perceptive, thought, "Although

I was forced into this situation, if I catch them in the act, I'll lose all face!" So,

at dawn, she relayed her father-in-law's entire plan to Yang and Zhang, only warning them not to come back that night. Upon

hearing this, the two men flew into a rage, cursing the old man as a scoundrel: "We haven't even laid a hand on you yet, and you're already trying to provoke

us!" Fueled by anger, they conspired, "Since the old dog already knows, why not strike first and kill him

to avoid future trouble?" They immediately closed the shop, and Zhang Xiu went back to his room to get a small axe for self-defense. He and Yang Yun then followed

Zhang

Xin and his son. The father and son parted ways shortly after leaving the county town. The son went east to Jiugong Bay to collect debts, while the father went west to

Wangjiang Bay to meet a friend, planning to return home in the evening to catch his stepmother in the act. Before parting, the son instructed his father, "Father,

be careful tonight. They are all scoundrels. It would be best if you invited the village head Xu Fu and neighbor Xiao Hua to go

with you, so you could have backup."

"Alas! Family scandals shouldn't be aired in public! How can we let outsiders interfere in such matters! If word gets out,

how will your stepmother face anyone?" It seemed Zhang Xin still loved Tao Hua and didn't want to harm her.

"But I still have some lingering worries," Ji Zu said, still somewhat concerned.

"It's alright. They're guilty, while we're in the right. Evil can't prevail over good, so what's there to be afraid of?"

Meanwhile, Zhang Xin arrived at Wangjiang Bay, met with a few old friends, chatted for half a day, and then, seeing the sun beginning to set, took his leave and

returned. Although it was deep winter, the area of Luzhou Prefecture in the south was still lush with vegetation, and

the streams remained unfrozen. Zhang Xin was humming a Huangmei opera tune as he hurried along the stream in the woods. Suddenly seeing Yang Yun and

Zhang Xiu approaching, he was startled: "Why are they here?"

"Oh dear! Godfather. You're not young anymore, why didn't you tell us you were coming out? How could Jizu be at ease leaving you?

If something had happened to you, how could we be at peace? If I had known this would happen, it would have been so much better if one of us had come with you.

Now we've come to take you home." Zhang Xin was puzzled: "How did they know I was here? How did they know I

was going home that night?" The two men had already grabbed him, one on each side, and dragged him into the dense forest.

"What are you going to do?" Zhang Xin struggled and asked.

"You old dog, I'll make sure you die knowing why!" The two men revealed their ferocious faces. "Let me tell you the truth,

we two have been having an affair with your slut and your daughter-in-law for a long time. Your scheming plots

were all told to us by your precious daughter-in-law! You can be ruthless, so we can be ruthless too! Don't blame us for being merciless; today is your

death day, and next year this day will be your death anniversary!" After saying this, Zhang Xiu swung his small axe and chopped it down on Zhang Xin's head.

Perhaps it was his first time killing someone, and he was a little nervous, so he used too much force, and the small axe became embedded in his skull, unable

to be pulled out for a long time. Suddenly, the wind rustled through the bamboo, and they thought someone was passing by. In a panic, they pushed the corpse and the small axe together into the lotus pond

by , and then, fearing the body would float to the surface, they threw a large rock down to hold it down. The two men hurriedly left the dense forest and returned home.

When they arrived home, it was already late. The two men sneaked into Peach Blossom's room, feeling smug, and told her what had happened.

Hearing this, Peach Blossom

sobbing uncontrollably. Zhang Xiu, seeing this, angrily said, "What a woman's view! Don't you think about it? If

that old dog catches us in our affair, won't we be handed over to the authorities? Adultery is a crime punishable by death, and we'll have nowhere to be buried!"

"That's true," Peach Blossom complained worriedly, "but murdering one's husband is punishable by a thousand cuts! Aren't you pushing me to my death

? And what if the neighbors ask, 'Where is your husband?' How am I supposed to answer? " " 　　That's easy," Zhang Xiu replied. "My husband went out to visit friends. How would we know where he went? Everyone will say the same thing, 'I n't know,' deny everything, and who can do anything about it then!" "Yang Yun offered his suggestion . 　　"No, this approach is somewhat inappropriate. There's still Ji Zu alive." Zhang Xiu was not only meticulous but also ruthless. "With Ji Zu still alive, the Zhang family's property won't fall into our hands. And the Liu family won't be on our side either." After pondering for a moment, Zhang Xiu instructed Tao Hua, "This is the only way now. When Ji Zu returns, ask him first. If he doesn't know anything, take him to the authorities and falsely accuse him of plotting to seize the family property and murdering his father . If we can get him to death, wouldn't that be perfect?" 　　"This plan is excellent, let's do it immediately." Yang Yun clapped his hands in approval. At this point, Tao Hua had no idea what to do and could only do as they said. Zhang Xiu also instructed them, "This plan must not be known to the Liu family, lest they speak carelessly and bring trouble upon themselves." 　　Several days later, Ji Zu returned from collecting his debts. Tao Hua asked, "Where is your father? Why didn't he return?" "Ji Zu was astonished and said , 'That day, not long after I left, father and son parted ways. I went to Jiugong Bay to collect debts, while my father went to Wangjiang Bay to visit a friend. He returned that very evening!' Tao Hua suddenly changed her expression and shouted angrily, 'Stop with your sweet talk! You say my father has returned home, but where is he now? Why can't I find him? I deduce that you want to monopolize all the family property and take your father away!'"

"You tricked him out of his home, then murdered him outside. Do you agree?" Ji Zu,

honest and simple-minded since childhood, was not good with words. Tao Hua's baseless to the point of turning red in the face, yet

he couldn't utter a word. Tao Hua grabbed Ji Zu and rushed to the home of the village head, Xu Fu, demanding a fair judgment. Seeing it was a murder case, Xu Fu dared not presume to make a decision alone, and could only call upon

his neighbor , Xiao Hua, to escort Ji Zu and Tao Hua to the county yamen to file a complaint.

Magistrate Li of Huoshan County held court, and Tao Hua recounted the murder. Magistrate Li asked Ji Zu, "

Although are not blood relatives, they raised you from childhood, their kindness is immeasurable. Why did you forget their kindness and secretly murder your father

? Where is his body now? Confess the truth!"

Ji Zu cried out his innocence, "I have something to report, I hope Your Honor will investigate thoroughly." That day, my father and I went out together, but we parted ways

halfway . I went to Jiugong Bay to collect debts, while my father went to Wangjiang Bay to visit a friend. He said he would return that evening, but for some reason

, he hasn't returned yet. My stepmother falsely accused me of murdering my father, which is a complete fabrication. I have been deeply indebted to my adoptive parents since childhood. They raised me, helped

me get married, and treated me like their own son. I have always wanted to repay them, but I have never had the chance. How could I bear to turn against them and murder them? Wouldn't that be worse than being a pig or a dog?

I beg Your Honor to investigate carefully and clarify my innocence.”

The county magistrate then asked Peach Blossom, “You say that your adopted son murdered his father, what evidence do you have? Tell me everything.” Peach Blossom,

being from the streets, was good at making a scene, arguing, and sophistry. She was also very good at talking nonsense. Without thinking, she started to spout a string

of lies: “This son has always been unfilial, indulging in eating, drinking, gambling, and squandering the family fortune. My adoptive father often scolded him, so he held a grudge

.” My master has told me several times that he is unwilling to entrust the shop to him, because he is afraid of not

inheriting the family property, which is why he killed his adoptive father. I beg you, Grandfather, to torture him severely, force him to confess, retrieve the body for examination, and make him pay for his father's life!"

The county magistrate summoned the village head Xu Fu and the neighbor Xiao Hua and asked, "What is Ji Zu's character like?" The two replied,

"Ji Zu has always been dignified and has never done anything dissolute. He treats his father like his own child. We dare not be biased." "

This Lady Li, whose full name is Li Qiang, was originally a clerk under Prefect Bao Zheng of Luzhou Prefecture. Because of his incorruptibility and selflessness

, he was highly regarded by Bao Zheng and promoted to Lady Li of Huoshan County. During his tenure, he was known for his clean governance and strict enforcement of the law . Although he wasn't highly educated, he had learned a great deal about case-handling skills by observing Bao Zheng for many days. Now, after listening to both sides' testimonies and observing the expressions of the fortune teller, he pondered, 'This case is somewhat strange. The master of the house was visiting friends, and it's common for him to stay at his friend's house for several days. Why is he so certain that he was murdered? Looking at Zhang Jizu, he's pale-faced, thin, honest, and doesn't seem like the kind of wicked person he'd be. Besides, he already had control of the Zhang family's shops; the motive of murder for money seems rather far-fetched.'" Looking at this peach blossom, her face flushed with spring, her eyes gleaming with lust, she was clearly a former prostitute. As the saying goes , "Prostitutes are heartless, actors are unrighteous." Zhang Xin was old, and she was young; could it be that she had an affair, conspired with her lover, and murdered her husband? After much thought, these were all just speculations and judgments, not conclusive evidence. Recalling the wisdom and ingenuity of Judge Bao in his trials, a sudden inspiration struck him. He slammed his gavel and summoned the head constable: "Wang Sheng and Li Biao, listen to my command! You two are to lead the constables and yamen runners to search every place Zhang Xin had been and every person he knew. Conduct a thorough search of the wilderness, the mountains, and the forests. Find Zhang Xin within three days, alive or dead ." The two constables accepted the order and left. 　　The county magistrate turned to Ji Zu and shouted, "You brat! Why not live a good life instead of engaging in these petty thefts , murder, and other nefarious activities?" "Find your father within three days, or else your murder charge will be confirmed . Guards, give him thirty strokes of the cane and throw him into the death row!" With a shout, the bailiffs threw Ji Zu to the ground and began to beat him with the canes. Those in official positions were used to acting according to their masters' wishes; judging from the county magistrate's expression , they knew it was a sham beating, so they raised the canes high and brought them down hard, mostly hitting the floor with a deafening sound, rarely touching his skin. This terrified Xiao Tao Hong, who dared not raise her head or utter a word, for fear of getting herself into trouble. After the beating, they took a long cangue and bound Ji Zu. Ji Zu cried out, "Injustice!" "But Magistrate Li ignored him and sent him straight to the death row. 　　After beating Ji Zu, he reprimanded Xu Fu and Xiao Hua, saying, 'You two must have been bribed by Ji Zu to dare to give false testimony. You should each be fined twenty strokes, but considering your age, I will spare you for now. Go back quickly and never come here again !' The two were terrified and nodded obsequiously, then left the courtroom and went home. Magistrate Li then recovered and comforted Tao Hua, saying, 'Go home and rest first. After I solve this case and find out the real culprit, I will definitely give you justice.' Wang Tao Hua was overjoyed and quickly kowtowed, flattering him, 'Your Excellency is truly a wise and discerning judge. You have seen through the villain's heartless nature . Your Excellency is a good man. In the future, you will surely have many children and grandchildren, enjoy long life and good fortune, be promoted and become wealthy, and be a nobleman for generations to come.'" 　　After the court session ended, Magistrate Li summoned the head constables, Wang Sheng and Li Biao, to the back office and gave them instructions . The two then followed Tao Hua straight to the Zhang family's tailor shop. As darkness fell, the two discussed their plan, then scaled the walls and rooftops, lying in ambush on the roof of Tao Hua's house to observe the situation. As Magistrate Li had predicted, less than half an hour later, people arrived. 　　First, her daughter-in-law, Liu, entered her stepmother's room, followed by bursts of sorrowful weeping. Later, Yang Yun and Zhang Xiu also entered the room, followed by bursts of hearty laughter. Wang Sheng and Li Biao lifted a tile from the roof and peered inside. They saw two men and two women drinking together. Tao Hua was vividly describing the court proceedings to everyone. When she mentioned that the magistrate had severely punished Ji Zu with thirty strokes of the cane and thrown him into the death row, Zhang Xiu laughed loudly: " Without my brilliant plan, there would be no such thing as today! With Ji Zu dead, we can rest easy." " 　　Peach Blossom was still a little worried and said, 'The master has given the constables three days to find Zhang Xin, alive or dead. If they find him in three days, they will conclude that Ji Zu committed murder and he will be sentenced to death. I wonder where you two have put ? Is it hidden? Don't let them find it and cause trouble!' 　　Yang Yun replied, 'You can rest assured, that old dog's body has been thrown into the depths of and weighed down with a large stone. It will rot beyond recognition in a few days. Haha!' 　　Everyone laughed, but Liu was displeased and said, 'You are having fun here, but my husband is being tortured innocently in prison. How can I be at peace with myself?' 　　Zhang Xiu laughed and said, 'As long as the four of us can enjoy this happiness for a long time, what does it matter? Besides, his life is not long . Come, come, come, let's all drink this big cup so we can go and do some happy things soon.' Saying this, he drank a big bowl."

Taking advantage of his drunkenness, he grabbed Liu and pressed his foul mouth against her face. Liu was angry but

unable to speak , and could only endure his ravaging.

Peach Blossom, her lust aroused, blurted out, "People say Master Li is an upright official, but it turns out

he's a corrupt one. This has made things perfect for us!" She then threw herself into Yang Yun's arms. What followed

was unspeakable.

Wang Sheng and Li Biao rushed back to the yamen and reported the situation to County Magistrate Li. The magistrate was furious upon hearing this and immediately beat the drums to muster her

troops, who rushed to the tailor shop, surrounded it, broke through the front door, and surged in.

Meanwhile, Peach Blossom and Yang Yun, Liu and Zhang Xiu, were engaged in

passionate lovemaking, when suddenly the soldiers burst in. All four were stunned, bewildered and at

a loss . Before Yang Yun could even pull the spear out of the peach blossom's secret hole, a rope bound their

naked bodies together. Zhang Xiu, quick-witted, scrambled to her feet and tried to escape, but Wang Sheng tripped her, causing her to fall

and also become bound into a ball. Meanwhile, Liu was also bound hand and foot by the soldiers. The four adulterers were carried,

dragged, and pulled together and taken to the county government office.

The next morning at dawn, Ji Zu was released from the death row cell. After comforting him, the county magistrate asked, "When your father parted from you, where

did he say he was going?"

Ji Zu replied, "To visit a friend in Wangjiang Bay, and I will return that evening."

The magistrate then asked, "Are you familiar with the route between Huoshan and Wangjiang Bay?"

Ji Zu answered, "I frequently travel this route and am very familiar with the scenery."

The magistrate asked, "Is there a lotus pond along the way?"

Ji Zu pondered for a long time before saying, "There is only one lotus pond deep in the dense forest, not by the roadside, so few

people go there. The water is not deep, only about a meter high. I don't know why you ask about this place, sir?"

The magistrate shook his head and sighed, "Your father's body is in this lotus pond!"

Upon hearing this, Ji Zu burst into tears. The magistrate then ordered him to lead the way, personally leading about twenty constables and constables to

the lotus pond. It was indeed remote and rarely visited. It was also a case of justice prevailing; Yang Yun, Zhang Xiu, and the others were guilty of heinous crimes and

could not be tolerated by Heaven . The lotus pond was not large, and the water was not deep. A dozen strong men went into the water to search, and in no time they found a large

rock. Underneath the rock lay Zhang

Xin's body. They lifted it and carried it ashore, finding a small axe embedded in the back of his head, with Zhang Xiu's name carved on the handle. The county magistrate asked, "Who is this Zhang Xiu? What is his connection to your family?" Ji Zu

explained . The magistrate laughed heartily, "Now the case is solved!" Indeed,

adultery was caught in the act, and the murder was confessed by the perpetrator himself; now there were witnesses and physical evidence.

The facts of adultery, murder of the husband, and murder for money were undeniable.

The next morning, the county court convened, and amidst shouts of "Majesty!", the four men and women were brought to the court.

Before any questions were asked, the yamen runners were ordered to drag Yang Yun and Zhang Xiu to the ground and give each of them forty heavy lashes,

leaving them with torn skin and screaming in agony. Even now, they remained oblivious, unaware that their scheme had been exposed. They continued

to plead, "Your Honor, spare us! Don't beat us! What crime have we committed to anger you so much? Explain yourselves

, and we will die without regret." The county magistrate ordered his men to throw the murderous axe in front of them. Only then did they realize their mistake,

their minds reeling, and they were speechless.

Seeing that the two men remained silent and stubbornly refused to admit their guilt, the magistrate was furious and shouted, "You're truly like dead pigs unafraid of

boiling water ! Come on! Use the clamps! Let's see if your skin is tougher or my rods are stronger!"

With a shout, the bailiffs clamped them up in court. The two men, in unbearable pain and torture, could only beg, "

Your Honor, spare us! We'll confess!" They confessed, "We had an affair with Peach Blossom, which Zhang Xin discovered. Fearing

further trouble, we killed her." They then confessed everything—how they committed adultery, how they plotted, how they killed her, and how they

framed Ji Zu—leaving no detail unrecorded.

The county magistrate shook her head and sighed, "You two are ridiculously foolish. Knowing your affair has been discovered and that there might be consequences,

you don't realize that murder is an even greater calamity. It seems you two are possessed by death ghosts, have lost your reason, and are heading

straight for your deaths! Guards, give each of these two criminals another forty strokes of the cane and have them escorted aside to await sentencing." After saying this, the bailiffs

knocked Yang Yun and Zhang Xiu down again and gave each of them another forty strokes of the cane, until they were covered in blood and unconscious several times.

The county magistrate then turned to Tao Hua and asked, "Colluding with your lover and murdering your husband, isn't your heart far too cruel

?"

Tao Hua had witnessed the entire interrogation and was already terrified, her soul nearly leaving her body. She kept

kowtowing repeatedly. She murmured, "Grandpa, spare me! Grandpa, spare me! I was bewitched

by these two thieves and deceived by them, losing my virginity to them. Now I am filled with remorse. But the murder of my husband was not

my idea; it was all their doing. I only found out after he was killed, and it was too late to stop them.

I beg you, Grandpa, to investigate and have mercy on me!"

The county magistrate slammed her gavel and shouted angrily, "Knowing your husband was murdered, you should have come to the county office to report it immediately!

Why did you collude with these two thieves, having you implicate them to frame your successor? " "You want to put your ancestors to death? Remember your

arrogant, fabricated, and foul-mouthed manner in court last time? Can you really say you're innocent?" Peach Blossom was speechless

. "A vile and shameless woman like you is truly despicable! Guards, strip this harlot of her pants and give her

thirty . Stand aside and await judgment!" The bailiffs roared like wolves, pushed Peach Blossom to the ground, pulled down

half of her pants, revealing her pink and white buttocks. Each stroke left a red welt; the second stroke raised it an inch higher

. In just a few blows, she was covered in welts. Although Peach Blossom wasn't a pampered noblewoman, her frail body

couldn't withstand such torture. She cried out in agony, screaming for her parents, and spitting out excrement and urine all over the ground.

After knocking down the peach blossoms, the magistrate stood aside and asked Liu, "You and your stepfather have been husband and wife for over ten years. Don't you have

any affection for each other? How could you conspire with thieves to frame your husband? How could you be so heartless?"

Knowing she couldn't escape punishment, Liu confessed, "Your Honor, I truly did not conspire in this matter. First,

my stepmother was having an affair with them, which I discovered.

They then plotted to drug and rape me, forcing me to keep quiet. I feared exposure and loss of face, so I had no choice but to comply. Later, they plotted to murder my father-in-law and frame my husband, all of which I knew nothing about. I beg Your Honor

to investigate and forgive my crime."

The magistrate said, "Initially, you were coerced, but later you should have told your husband the truth. Even if you didn't conspire, you shouldn't

have lied. It seems you deserve your punishment. Come to the side and hear the verdict."

Then, the magistrate summoned Ji Zu to the court and offered him words of comfort: "To lower the thieves' guard, they inadvertently revealed

the truth , and I had to act this way. I'm sorry you suffered such injustice. You

are hereby rewarded with thirty taels of silver and released on the spot!" Finally, Magistrate Li slammed the gavel and pronounced the sentence: "Yang Yun and Zhang Xiu,

out of lust and greed, conspired with Wang Taohua to murder their godfather Zhang Xin and framed others. Their crimes deserve beheading.

Wang Taohua, in collusion with her lover, plotted to murder her husband and, according to the law, shall be executed by slow slicing. Although Liu did not conspire, she committed adultery and framed her husband, and her crime is unforgivable

. Her sentence is reduced to hanging. The above judgments will be carried out after being reported to the Ministry of Justice for approval." After the verdict was pronounced, a shout rang out, and the four

men and women were placed in wooden cangues, shackled, and handcuffed, and taken to the death row to await their execution.

The news that Xiao Taohong, the once beautiful and charming courtesan who was the top courtesan at the Lichun Brothel, was

imprisoned like wildfire throughout Luzhou. Xiao Taohong's beauty was

universally acknowledged, as was her exorbitant price. In the past, even a simple meeting was incredibly difficult; now, her fortunes had plummeted, naturally attracting many

opportunists . First, officials with connections to the county government, under the guise of official business or personal favors, secretly sneaked into

the death row cell to peek at her from outside the bars, all marveling at her beauty. This then drew in

the families and friends of these officials, and more and more people flocked to the prison, putting the warden and guards on edge.

Because Prefect Bao of Luzhou was known for his strict prison regulations, fearing punishment and the loss of his position, he had no choice but

to report the matter to Magistrate Li. The county magistrate pondered for half a day, thinking hard, when suddenly a brilliant idea struck him. Wasn't there

a precedent of publicly displaying prostitutes and sluts in cages? Why not start on the fifteenth of the first lunar month and

publicly display Xiao Taohong in the women's prison courtyard for three days, allowing everyone to freely observe? Wouldn't this both uphold Lord Bao's rules

and satisfy the people's desires? Having made up his mind, he posted a notice, and the news spread like wildfire.

People from all around flocked to see her. Xiao Taohong, bound and displayed in the open, had to pose in various ways,

which was naturally very arduous. To avoid harming her body, it was stipulated that there would be four displays each day, each lasting no more than half

an hour, and each person would be charged five coins per display.

The first scene depicts Xiao Taohong naked, limbs spread wide, exposing her private parts, bound to a rack for

public display. The second scene uses a different binding method, with her limbs spread out like a horse's hooves. The third scene involves hanging her upside down. The final scene,

the most spectacular, shows Xiao Taohong with her limbs outstretched, hooked with a nose hook and tongue clamp, copper

bells tied to her nipples, and her labia minora pulled out and weighted, turning her beautiful, flower-like body into a grotesque spectacle. The audience watches

with glee and delight, while poor Xiao Taohong suffers excruciating torment. What

can she do? She has committed a grave crime, becoming a prisoner, a caged beast,

helplessly .

Two months later, the Ministry of Justice's reply arrived, stating: "The case of Wang Taohua murdering her husband is clear in facts,

conclusive in evidence , and all the perpetrators have confessed without error. Therefore, it is hereby approved that Magistrate Li Qiang of Huoshan County supervise

the execution and report back on the spot as soon as possible."

This reply put Magistrate Li in a difficult position. Huoshan was a small county with only tens of thousands of people,

mostly farmers, and its people were simple and honest, resulting in a very low crime rate for many years, with very few serious offenders. Therefore,

the county had never prepared an execution ground or instruments, nor did it have an official executioner's staff. In the past, when

half of the prisoners were sentenced to death, they were always escorted to Luzhou Prefecture for execution. Now, the Ministry of Justice's reply demanded the on-site execution of

four prisoners, using all methods of beheading, hanging, and dismemberment! Magistrate Li was helpless and had no choice but to personally go to Luzhou Prefecture

to meet Prefect Bao and request that the prisoners be transferred to Luzhou Prefecture for execution. Unexpectedly, Lord Bao went out on an inspection tour. Only

the guards Zhang Long and Zhao Hu, who were left behind at the government office, burst into laughter after hearing Li Qiang's words.

Zhang Long said, "For a small county like Huoshan to be able to host such a large-scale execution is all

thanks to Lord Bao! Don't let Lord Bao down!"

Zhao Hu added, "Don't you think about it carefully? How many spectators did you attract and

how much money did you make by publicly displaying Xiao Taohong for three days? With Xiao Taohong's fame in Luzhou, her execution will surely attract thousands

of tourists and bring in tens of thousands of taels of silver! This is a once-in-a-lifetime business opportunity, and you're

giving it up Wouldn't you be a complete fool?"

"But our county is small. We have neither an execution ground nor executioners, not even a wooden donkey for parading people through the streets. Executing prisoners

is no joke; the law is strict, and lives are at stake! If anything goes wrong, I won't be able to cover it up!"

"You really are stupid! Bringing a dead person back to life isn't easy, but killing a living person is a piece of cake!"

Li Qiang, Zhang Long, and Zhao Hu had all worked under Judge Bao, sharing the same pot of food, so they were always very

casual . "Your Huoshan isn't the capital or a prefecture, and it's not some earth-shattering treason case. We

're not killing any imperial relatives, officials, or wealthy people. It's just a few ordinary people. Why all the rules? If you behead someone

, you behead them; if you strangle them, you hang them. Why bother with dismemberment? Just cut off a few pieces of flesh and kill them,

that's enough! As long as everyone is happy, the goal is achieved."

Li Qiang was relieved that the trip was over. Although he hadn't met Judge Bao, he had gained some

valuable experience , which reassured him and gave him confidence. Back in Huoshan County, he summoned Wang Sheng and Li Biao, ordering them to

prepare for the execution. Three days later, they were to behead the prisoners and act as executioners. The two men were startled and hurriedly said, "Oh dear!

My sir, you're good at fighting, running errands, and arresting people, but sending us to

the execution ground to kill someone is really putting us in a difficult position. Please have mercy on us

, sir!" "You're really foolish. It's not easy to bring a dead person back to life, but killing a living person is

a piece of cake !" Magistrate Li relayed everything he had heard from Zhang Long and Zhao Hu to Wang Sheng and Li Biao. The two men

were somewhat relieved, but still uneasy. However, they had to obey their superior's orders and went to prepare. After

leaving the county office, Wang Sheng and Li Biao still had doubts, so they found an old yamen runner who had once served in the government and was now retired and living in

Huoshan and asked him for advice. After receiving his teachings, the two men felt as if they had found a treasure and went to prepare as instructed.

Three days passed quickly. On the day of the execution, just as dawn broke and the sun rose in the east. Wang Sheng and Li Biao led a group

of twenty- odd constables and yamen runners, carrying pre-prepared prisoner restraints, to the prison. County Magistrate Li had ordered his head constable to lead

fifty soldiers, who were already stationed there, armed and ready. The group first went to the men's prison and brought out Yang Yun and Zhang Xiu.

Their upper garments were stripped off, and they were bound tightly with hemp rope, tagged with a scepter, and placed aside to await execution. Next, they went to the women's prison and brought out

Liu . Liu, however, was self-aware, knowing that she had committed such a disgraceful act and had no face to live in the world; she preferred an early

and painless death. Therefore, she calmly and willingly spread her arms, allowing herself to be bound. Wang Sheng and Li Biao, one on each side, put

the hemp rope around her neck, across her shoulders, and gathered her arms. These two were former constables; killing was their forte,

but binding was their forte. In no time, they had Liu Suzhen firmly bound, tagged with a scepter, and placed aside.

Finally, they brought out Tao Hua from the death row. She was the one everyone had hoped for, the focus of everyone's attention, and

the main target of this execution. Therefore, all eyes in the room were on her. Unfortunately, they were greatly disappointed!

The once youthful, beautiful, lively, and adorable Xiao Taohong, after a long period of imprisonment and the nervous tension before her execution,

was now: her face pale and disheveled, her delicate limbs convulsing, her body trembling, her soul seemingly scattered, her face bitter and her heart

broken. Like a mangy dog stripped of its spine, she would have collapsed to the ground long ago if not for the jailers holding her.

Someone carried over a bench, a temporary wooden donkey made by a carpenter hired the other day, based on the old yamen runner's suggestion, using a

three-foot- wide, ten-foot-long plank of wood with four legs nailed on. The men

stripped Xiao Taohong naked, lifted her up, and laid her on the bench, spreading her arms and legs and binding them to the four legs.

They then bound her several times around her shoulders, armpits, knees, and thighs, making sure it was secure. Finally, they tied her long, black hair

into a bundle and nailed it to one end of the bench, then tucked her desperate dart into the hair. Because the bench was made

too Xiao Taohong's body was completely stretched out,

exposing her armpit hair, pubic hair, and most private parts.

This series of actions inevitably involved touching her flesh, but it wasn't unbearable

pain . However, Xiao Taohong feigned suffering, shouting and struggling desperately to elicit

pity, but this backfired, arousing disgust and causing the abuse to intensify. When two

wooden sticks forcefully inserted into her anus and vagina, she let out a hysterical scream.

A cart was pushed over, and the constables lifted her, bench and all, and stood her upright on it, leaving

Xiao Taohong spread wide on the bench. At this point, her entire weight was

supported only by a few hemp ropes, which constricted her muscles and tore at her joints. The real suffering began

. Little Peach Blossom couldn't even scream, as all her willpower was used to fight the pain throughout her body; only unconscious groans escaped

her lips .

At this point, everything was ready. Several musicians specially hired for weddings and funerals

played a funeral dirge. Soldiers and constables, following the order of beheading, hanging, and dismemberment, dragged the prisoner out of

the prison and paraded her through the streets!

Zhang Long and Zhao Hu were right; the small county of Huoshan had witnessed

the execution a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that certainly attracted a large number of tourists. After the execution notice

was posted , word spread quickly, and tourists from within a hundred miles flocked to the county. Food, clothing, lodging, and

transportation were all readily available, turning Huoshan County into a grand temple fair. Inns

and restaurants were overflowing with guests, and local specialties sold out completely. Huoshan County merchants made

a fortune the county government's tax revenue surged. Magistrate Li, having tasted the sweetness of success, couldn't stop smiling.

The execution day was the climax of the event. Huoshan County was small, with four main roads forming

a large crossroads; anyone with good eyesight could see from east to west and from south to north at a glance. In the center of the crossroads,

a five-foot-high, ten-foot-square platform made of stones and mud served as a temporary execution ground, ensuring

a good view for onlookers from all directions. From the very first light of dawn, Huoshan City was already

teeming with people , shoulder to shoulder, with even the rooftops and tree branches of neighboring streets overflowing with them. The talk, the conversation,

the discussions—everything revolved around Xiao Taohong. Traditionally, when a female prisoner with some beauty was executed, while the audience

would express hatred, curses, mockery, and ridicule, the prisoner's beauty would always elicit some

voices of admiration, pity, and sorrow. But this time was a major exception. Xiao Taohong was undeniably

beautiful, and her plight was undeniably pitiful, yet not a single person spoke a kind word for her. Some said: she reeked

of a vixen's stench; some said: she contracted venereal diseases like syphilis in a slutty brothel;

some said: she murdered her husband, possessing a vicious and cruel heart; some said: she repaid kindness with enmity, a

heartless, treacherous, and wicked adulteress. Furthermore, those who could abandon their lives to come here and join in the spectacle of this murder

were mostly idle young scoundrels or good-for-nothing hooligans; playing with beautiful women was their hobby and

habit . Therefore, many had already prepared some malicious plans to amuse and humiliate this young, beautiful,

yet promiscuous female death row inmate, Xiao Taohong.

When Xiao Taohong's prison cart appeared on the streets of Huoshan, it was immediately subjected to a relentless barrage of attacks

from Mud, tiles, and scraps were hurled at her naked body, leaving

her covered in dirt and grime. Then came a barrage of curses, insults, mockery, and sarcasm from all directions:

"You wretched woman, may you be torn to pieces and die a horrible death!", "You ungrateful, ruthless little slut!",

"You shrewish, wicked woman who conspired with her lover to murder her husband!", and so on—almost every vicious and derogatory term used against a woman

was employed. But neither beatings nor verbal abuse mattered to Xiao Taohong anymore.

The grim scene before her execution had dulled her senses, and the physical pain left her no time for anything else.

In fact, according to some veteran executioners, the most unbearable aspects of parading female prisoners through the streets were, firstly,

the humiliation of being naked—a blow to their spirit; and secondly, the physical assault of the wooden stick inserted into their vaginas.

But for Xiao Taohong, a lowly prostitute who had been ridden and violated by thousands, these punishments were not humiliation or pain, but rather a kind of stimulation, a kind of enjoyment. Therefore, the expected scenes of uncontrollable pain and unrestrained lust that were anticipated

during the entire parade did not occur.

But

people were still overjoyed, laughing, jumping, shouting, and making a ruckus there, because they had finally seen

the real, beautiful Xiao Taohong, glimpsed the mysterious and hidden private parts of a woman, and heard her warbling

moans and her coquettish mannerisms.

Enough of the small talk, let's look back at what Little Peach Blossom looks like on the prison cart now: her

dark hair is filthy, her slender body is stripped naked, her

snow-white arms are bound, her jade-like

legs hang down, her delicate waist sways, her full breasts sway,

her fair neck is sweating, her bright cherry-like mouth is shouting, her pink

face is sad, her rosy cheeks have turned yellow, her arched eyebrows are

mournful, her smooth almond-shaped eyes are full of tears, her

fragrant genitals are swollen, and her white, sticky crotch is dripping with fluid.

Huoshan County is small, with four roads running east, west, north, and south, none of which are more than a mile long. Although the crowds along the way

are huge and congested, the procession moves very slowly, taking more than an hour to complete.

After the condemned prisoner is taken to the execution ground, the bamboo pole in the center of the execution ground is still standing upright, indicating that the time for execution has not yet come. So

the bench with Peach Blossom bound to it is taken off the cart and placed aside for people to admire. The other three knelt there, heads

bowed, waiting.

Suddenly, a mournful cry rang out. It was Zhang Jizu bidding farewell to Liu Shi. The couple embraced and

wept uncontrollably, unable to bear parting. A little while later, Yang Yun and Zhang Xiu also bid farewell to their wives and children who had just arrived from their hometown of Tongcheng.

Waves of weeping and wailing filled the air. Only Xiao Taohong had no relatives left in this world. Her

former brothel friends, jealous of her leaving the brothel and marrying, had long since ceased all contact. Now,

as a condemned prisoner to be tortured, no one dared to approach her. At this moment, Xiao Taohong was filled with sorrow

and grief. Reflecting on her short twenty-three years of life, although there had been

times when she was regarded as a treasure and cherished, it was only because of the madam's manipulation and the playthings of the patrons. The only person who had truly loved her was her benefactor, Zhang Xin, who had redeemed her with

a large sum of money , and it was precisely because of her infidelity that her benefactor had lost his life. Thinking back and forth,

reflecting on the past and present, Xiao Taohong was filled with remorse and shame. She hated herself for being heartless and ungrateful, even

worse than a pig or a dog. The more she thought about it, the more ashamed she felt, her face burning with embarrassment. Her

cheeks ,

which had turned sallow from the torture of being paraded through the streets, regained a faint blush. The audience, seeing this but not understanding the reason, thought she was aroused by lust and, amidst roars and curses, countless bricks and tiles were thrown at her. Even

the relatives of Yang Yun and Zhang Xiu were convinced that this vixen had seduced their men, causing their misfortune and

the destruction of their families . They rushed over, slapping her and spitting on her. A commotion arose on the execution ground.

Finally, the moment of truth arrived. The constables lit several firecrackers and set off a few loud bangings.

In the execution tent, Magistrate Li shouted, "It's noon! Report the execution of the condemned prisoners immediately!" Amidst

the beating drums, the bailiffs dragged Yang Yun and Zhang Xiu to the execution platform. One faced east, the other west, kneeling back

-to-back, their execution tags removed. Wang Sheng and Li Biao, each responsible for one, were hastily appointed

executioners. Wang Sheng, strong, swung his blade, sending Yang Yun's head flying a few feet. Li Biao,

weaker , took three blows before beheading Zhang Xiu—a cruel act by nature, a punishment from heaven for

the extra pain.

Next, another round of drums sounded, and Liu Shi Suzhen was brought to the execution platform, kneeling facing north. Her tag was removed, and

her long hair , revealing her face. Previously, everyone's attention had been focused on Tao Hua; Liu Shi, with her head bowed and

face obscured by her hair, hadn't attracted much attention. Now they could see clearly that Liu Suzhen, though not as charming and playful as

Tao Hua , possessed a more dignified and beautiful air, definitely a stunning woman. A

commotion and clamor erupted from the crowd. A constable stood behind her, extending one leg towards Liu's crotch, lifting it

up close to her buttocks. Liu naturally straightened up, stretching her neck. Wang Sheng and Li Biao, one on each side, placed the noose

around her delicate neck, inserting a short stick into each side, and slowly began to twist. Before long, she felt

short of breath, dizzy, seeing stars, and coughing dryly. Just as she was about to reach the point of unbearable

agony, the noose suddenly loosened again. Liu instinctively gasped for breath, her mind clearing, tears

streaming . She pleaded with Wang Sheng and Li Biao, "Gentlemen, please have mercy! Stop torturing me! Let me

die a quick and painless death!" Wang Sheng replied, "The laws of the land are absolute; a third strangulation is the prescribed death penalty!" Li

Biao added, "It won't take long; just bear with it!"

The second strangulation began. Liu Suzhen's face flushed crimson, her almond-shaped eyes wide open, her cherry-like mouth gaping open,

blood seeping from the corners of her lips. She was on the verge of death when the noose loosened again. Liu looked at the executioner with pleading eyes, struggling

to breathe, unable to utter a sound. The third strangulation followed. Liu Suzhen's face had turned a

deep purple, her eyeballs bulging from their sockets, and a long, three-inch-long tongue protruding from her mouth. Suddenly, a loud fart was heard

, followed by a gush of excrement and urine. A gurgling sound came from her throat, and she breathed her last. Her soul drifted away,

floating away to heaven.

In the end, only Wang Taohua remained as the condemned prisoner. Most of the crowd who had come to witness the execution were there for her

; she was the protagonist of today's execution. Therefore, when the bailiffs carried her, along with the bench binding her, onto the execution platform,

standing her facing south, the surrounding crowd erupted in commotion, shouting and clamoring as

they surged towards the platform. The dozens of soldiers trying to suppress the turmoil were no match for the overwhelming tide and were quickly

submerged , losing their ability to maintain order. The officials, including Magistrate Li, were greatly alarmed, fearing something might go wrong.

They hastily ordered, "Wang Sheng, Li Biao, kill the condemned prisoner! Quickly! Quickly!" Once the condemned prisoner was dead,

the task would be complete, and everyone would be absolved of responsibility. Fortunately, the crowd was also aware that disrupting the execution ground

was an unforgivable crime. They pushed their way to the edge of the execution platform, but when they couldn't push any further, they stopped, and the execution ground quieted down again.

Wang Sheng and Li Biao, not daring to delay, quickly pulled out their razor-sharp

, pre-sharpened knives from their shoe covers and approached Tao Hua. The old bailiff who had advised them had said, "The key to executing a female prisoner by slow slicing is to

cut off her genitals; that's how you arouse the crowd's interest!" So they decided to start with her breasts.

Seeing the bluish blade, carrying a chilling aura, about to touch her flesh, Xiao Tao Hong shivered under

intense tension and fainted. Wang Sheng and Li Biao each grabbed one of her nipples and

simultaneously cut towards the base of her breasts with their knives. The sudden sharp pain brought Xiao Tao Hong back to consciousness, and she looked at her two...

She plunged the dagger into her own body, drawing out a pool of bright red blood that trickled down her white skin in several streams

. Though not yet in great pain, she involuntarily screamed. Urged on by the county magistrate,

the two executioners tried to quickly cut off her breasts, but due to a lack of training and their rough skills,

they were unable to manage it After a dozen or so back-and-forth cuts, they finally severed Xiao Taohong's large breasts from her body. The increasingly intense

waves of pain forced her to scream hysterically, her voice shrill and her expression filled with anguish. In rhythm with the executioners'

cutting , the audience below the execution platform shouted and cheered, creating a

huge open-air concert.

The executioners on the platform continued their work. Wang Sheng used the dagger to cut around Xiao Taohong's crotch,

preparing to remove her vulva and anus. Unfortunately, he didn't understand the structure of different parts of the human body and accidentally

pulled out her uterus and ovaries as well. A gaping hole was torn in her groin, and her intestines and internal organs

spilled out, hanging precariously. The extreme pain made her muscles tremble, and with her last

ounce of strength, she pleaded, "Kill me! I can't bear it anymore!" Then she fainted again. Seeing this,

Li Biao rushed over, plunged a sharp knife into her chest, and cut downwards to the wound in her genitals, tearing open

her abdomen. Instantly, her internal organs spilled out, falling to the ground, splattering drops of blood mixed with a strong,

stench that spread all around.

Those standing near the execution platform, who had been smug about their excellent viewing position, now found themselves covered in blood and grime. They tried to retreat, but the crowd

prevented them from moving, and they were filled with regret, uttering curses and insults. Some, however, were

proud to have been stained with the filth and excrement of the beautiful woman, shamelessly boasting about it to others.

The punishment of disembowelment, with her liver and intestines spilling to the ground, was far more cruel and bloody than the previous mutilation of her breasts and genitals. However, Peach Blossom no longer struggled and screamed

as frantically as before. The unbearable pain had exhausted her strength, leaving

her incapable of such futile actions. All that remained were trembling bodies and weak moans.

A man standing by the platform said to Wang Sheng, "Sir, this Little Peach Blossom has a disease; removing her genitals

is only natural. But she also has body odor; her armpits should be removed too!" Upon hearing this, Wang Sheng immediately stepped

forward and used a sharp knife to cut off two clumps of soft flesh with armpit hair from Little Peach Blossom's armpits, casually tossing them to the man who had spoken

. The man treasured them, clutching them to his chest. Immediately, shouts erupted from all directions, clamoring, "I want a piece! Give

me a piece! I want a piece too!" Wang Sheng and Li Biao laughed heartily,

cutting off numerous large and small pieces of flesh from her shoulders, arms, legs, and buttocks, and throwing them forcefully off the platform. Some of the onlookers, afraid of staining

their clothes with blood, quickly moved away; others scrambled forward to grab them like a scrambled ball.

Chaos erupted officials overseeing the execution in the tent, the executioners on the platform, and the surrounding bailiffs became spectators, watching

a monkey show, gesticulating wildly and laughing gleefully.

Looking at Xiao Taohong, still bound to the bench, her head drooped to one side, her body covered in blood, riddled

with holes, silent and motionless. The two executioners probed her nose with their fingers, finding

no breath; they couldn't determine whether she was alive or dead. Wang Sheng said, "Who cares if she's dead or alive? Just give her

a stab, that'll be the end of it!" Li Biao, hearing this, stepped forward, grabbed her hair bun with one hand, and used the other to

slit her throat. Suddenly, Tao Hua opened her eyes wide, staring at the executioner with a peculiar

gaze . Li Biao, terrified, panicked and retreated. Wang Sheng, bold as ever, snatched

a broadsword from a nearby soldier, swung it horizontally, and severed her neck, instantly separating her head from her body, blood splattering everywhere. It was thus:

Her tender skin was slashed, her youthful life lost everywhere;

her soft belly and delicate chest were dissected, and with the fall of the knife, she died a licentious death.

Her three souls wandered aimlessly, her spirit returning to the city of the unjustly dead;

her seven spirits drifted aimlessly, her god going to the palace of the underworld.

Her phoenix-shaped hair was torn loose, her black hair flowing freely; her head was severed from her neck;

her slender waist was split in two, wet with flowing blood;

her wide-open starry eyes were dull and lifeless; who could appreciate her 　　jade-like face and flower-like countenance? Her cherry-red

lips were half-open, silent; to whom could she tell her myriad regrets? Her snow-white skin reeked of blood; her full breasts and alluring buttocks were separated; her internal 　　organs and soft intestines were smeared on the ground; her lustful heart and passionate liver were wrapped in red blood; 　　her three inches of breath still gave her a hundred charms. Today, this beautiful woman has become a ghost of death; 　　pitifully, this lovely young woman has become a vengeful ghost on the execution ground. 　　After the execution, the crowd dispersed. Liu's body was taken back for burial by her stepfather, and Yang Yun and Zhang Xiu's funeral arrangements were handled by their families. Only Wang Taohua, without relatives or friends, was left unclaimed. The severed head was displayed to the public, and the mutilated body and its internal organs were thrown into a mass grave, where they were either fed to wild animals or something else— (The End) 　　(This text is adapted from the 85th case of "The Cases of Judge Bao*: The Cases of Longtu")

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