Chapter 18 Execution by Beating (Please bookmark, recommend, and support!)

The scene was the same as when I left last time, with the execution rod falling from its stillness in the air as Li Xu took his place.

"Thud!"

An extremely dull sound quickly put Li Xu in the right state of mind, and made him realize—they intended to beat someone to death right there!

He'd already looked it up online, and it turned out this form of punishment was called "beating with cudgels," where the executioner used a stick two inches thick and five feet long to hit the back of the person being punished. If the executioner was skilled, the victim's internal organs could be ruptured within five strikes, yet the body would remain largely intact.

A long red welt?

That was its castrated version, used as a means for high-ranking Second Order concubines to discipline lower-ranked ones—a display of their authority and status, emphasizing intimidation and "visual appeal," obviously not as direct as the current situation.

Sure enough, after the second strike, the male and female victims no longer moved, and there were no additional bloodstains on their backs. Instead, two dark red lines of blood flowed from their mouths down to the stone floor, quickly forming two startling pools of blood.

The atmosphere at the scene was suffocating.

"Thud!"

Another hit, the sound dull, as if striking not human flesh but two water cakes filled with liquid. The eunuchs and palace maids surrounding Li Xu were all pale, most of them beginning to tremble and shake uncontrollably.

But no one dared move an inch or make any sound.

Li Xu understood them; it was a case of killing the chicken to scare the monkeys, and that included himself—they were those monkeys meant to be frightened into submission.

Yet, Li Xu was not intimidated; on the contrary, he felt an urge to move closer, so the live-streaming screen behind him would be nearer, allowing the reality-based audience to witness the blood and cruelty more clearly.

What is sensational? This was it.

"Thud!"

"Steward Bai, they're out of breath," a middle-aged eunuch standing above on the steps said, as if he had just snapped back to reality. His slender eyes surveyed the frightened "monkeys" in front of him and casually remarked, "You all saw it, this is what happens to those who don't follow the rules... Drag them away, clean up quickly!" With that, he yawned again, then, hands clasped behind him, strolled off with ease.

That was it?

No, what a waste of good material, to miss out like that. Such a pity!

"You, you, and you... stay behind. The rest of you may disperse. Remember, keep those mouths of yours shut!"

Perhaps it was Li Xu's conspicuous "calm" demeanor that made him stand out; he was one of the few singled out. Initially, he didn't even realize that he had been named, lost in his own regrets and what a pity it was until Little Anzi subtly reminded him.

Li Xu was startled but also a bit scared; pretending to be cowering and frightened, he went over to the corpses and, following the orders of a senior palace maid, lifted the upper body of the male corpse...

Now he could see clearly, as clear as could be!

The body was so limp it seemed boneless, with its head slumping onto Li Xu's chest, the eyes staring, blood-red with burst capillaries.

Combined with the ghastly expression and severely twisted facial features...

The little eunuch carrying the lower half of the body was so scared he was nearly crying. They struggled to move the body off the bench, and inevitably, it bent awkwardly. Perhaps the movement pressed on the damaged inner organs because then...

Suddenly, the body twitched, and large gulps of blood surged forth from the slightly open mouth, gushing out like a fountain.

Li Xu was stunned, and the little eunuch just collapsed!

"Wah~~, they're coming back to life, they're coming back to life..."

The outburst was abrupt, shrill, and piercing, like a wedge puncturing a hole in a dike, releasing all the suppressed negative emotions within people's hearts!

Screams, wailing, convulsions like boneless bodies on the ground, frantic running and shouting like headless flies...

Chaos, complete chaos, and even the shouts and scoldings of some of the influential palace maids and eunuchs had no effect. Only Li Xu still dumbly held the twitching body, motionless.

"Creak~~" The main house door opened, and Steward Bai, who had just left, came out again. Instantly, those screaming seemed as if their throats were choked, those crying as if their mouths were plugged, those crawling and kicking on the ground as if their bones were sucked out, and those running and shouting as if drenched by a bucket of ice water...

Extreme movement turned to extreme stillness in the blink of an eye.

"Summon people to take these..."

"Enough!" Steward Bai stopped his subordinate's outburst with a light wave of his hand, "Don't disturb the nobility."

"Yes, you always think things through."

"Let them all disperse... and, instruct the kitchen to boil some ginger soup to warm them up."

"... You really have a Bodhisattva's heart!"

"Hmm, just do as I said, and be smart about it."

A storm had thus dissipated into nothingness.

When Li Xu was directed to move bodies and throw them into a gloomy and secluded hut, everything had returned to normal; not a trace of the scent of blood could be smelt, and no signs of hysteria could be found.

The sun finally came out, the golden light poured down, and the majestic court bathed in it, resplendent in gold and jade!

A gentle breeze blew, branches and leaves swayed, rustling softly.

"Hey, I'm talking to you, what's your name?"

Li Xu snapped back to reality and quickly bowed as soon as he recognized the attire of the person in front of him, "To answer this... to answer this sister's question, my name is Lu Chun, you can call me Xiao Chunzi!"

The leading "female official" was startled, while the beautiful palace maid beside her covered her mouth and giggled, "Hee hee, sister, he called you sister..."

"What nonsense are you spouting?" scolded the "female official" towards her companion, but she regained composure facing Li Xu, "What duties are you currently assigned to now?"

"To... "Li Xu realized that this form of address was not appropriate. The female official appeared to be in her twenties, dressed exquisitely, with a gentle demeanor, tall stature, and beautiful features... But who was she, what was her background, and how should he address her...

"She is Mama Rong, who serves beside Mistress Chun!" the young palace maid gave Li Xu a hint.

Nani?

Mama Rong?

Li Xu really wanted to ask: Are you sure?

"To answer Mama Rong, I don't have a fixed duty for now, I'm just at the beck and call of a few eunuchs."

Mama Rong nodded and said, "I see you have some pluck. How about this, I'll assign you a task. Come with me."

"Ah? Oh~~"

"Mama, I don't think he's brave, but rather a bit foolish. Look at him..."

Li Xu followed behind them, his head down to hide the bitter smile on his lips.

"... Being a little foolish is good too."

"Mama, you're teasing me again. Is foolishness somehow better than intelligence?"

Li Xu felt ashamed; he indeed had been terrified just now. In that moment, he almost forgot his origin and the truth of this world.

He, too, wanted to scream, wanted to drop the corpse in his arms and run, but he did not. It was the virtual screen behind him that reminded him, giving him limitless courage and strength.

In a secluded spot, while no one was paying attention, Li Xu quickly turned back and said to the audience in the real world using sign language: "Hi, everyone!"

.........

(Dear new and regular readers, the status has changed with the signing of the contract. During the new book period, your every bit of support is greatly appreciated and encouraging, and it all determines the success of this book. Yue Ran gives thanks!!)