Chapter 114: Death by a Thousand Cuts

"You mean there might be a plague?" Su Ruoqing's face darkened. After hearing Li Zhe's words, although he was a bit surprised and raised his voice in question, he fell silent as soon as the words came out. Under Li Zhe's emotionless gaze, he felt rather helpless. With so many people dead and Qian Cheng's haphazard burials, the possibility of a plague breaking out was extremely high.

Li Zhe just glanced at Su Ruoqing and let out a sigh. "Leave it to me."

"?" Pan Yueqing and Su Ruoqing almost raised their heads at the same time. Unlike Su Ruoqing's distrust, Pan Yueqing was more surprised. In her impression, Li Zhe was a person with almost no emotions, having no interest in anything and even showing obvious distrust towards the people around him.

Perhaps sensing Pan Yueqing's confusion, Li Zhe lowered his eyes and turned to leave. "I'll trust you for now."

You said you would never give up on any subject of the Northern Qi.

Pan Yueqing smiled. After Li Zhe left, she let out a long breath and rested her chin in her hand. Su Ruoqing didn't even know why his cousin was happy. Looking at Li Zhe's retreating back, he frowned slightly, sat in front of Pan Yueqing, and blocked her view. He pursed his lips, suppressed the inexplicable displeasure in his heart, and said in a calm tone, "If we register everyone, it will be a hassle for them to get porridge next time."

"There are too many people. It's too cumbersome to find them one by one. Even if we're not bothered by it, the common people won't be willing to cooperate..." Before Su Ruoqing could finish speaking, Pan Yueqing placed the waist token at her waist on the table. She pointed at the token with the red tassel. "Then we can distribute number plates like in a restaurant."

"Distribute the plates on the spot and let people get the porridge immediately. Give the old, the weak, women, and children number plates with cyan tassels, and give young and strong people number plates with red silk. Mark the sequence on the back," Pan Yueqing pondered for a moment. "Have three people in a group to distribute the porridge. One person distributes the plates and registers the names, one person serves the porridge according to the plates, and one person is responsible for collecting the plates and recording the number of times the cyan plates are used."

"It should be feasible," Su Ruoqing nodded. They immediately put the plan into action. He led two or three soldiers to cut down two old trees on the mountain. The porridge distribution at the City God Temple was almost over. The clerk brought two thick notebooks. According to the list, he immediately ordered the soldiers to cut, polish, and mark the number plates. After Pan Yueqing picked up the finished product, she turned to look at the soldiers distributing the porridge. "Make sure to remember how many people are eligible to get two bowls of porridge. Also, if anyone dares to cause trouble, bring them directly to me."

"Yes, yes, yes!" Having witnessed the power of the young master of the Prime Minister Pan's family, these people no longer dared to act casually.

Pan Yueqing looked at the dark sky. She didn't realize it was already this late. She let out a slight sigh. "Let's go back."

In the courier station, Pan Haiyun had just ordered people to drag the huge Buddha statue from Fengxiang Temple into the courtyard. After the craftsman calculated its weight, he rubbed his forehead and faced Su Jing, who came out with a gloomy face from behind. "Has he confessed?" "He has," Su Jing clicked his tongue. "That bastard sold the relief food and supplies to the Rongdi people!"

Pan Yueqing turned her head and happened to hear this. She raised an eyebrow. "This is more than just dereliction of duty, isn't it?"

"It's treason," Pan Haiyun said somewhat gloomily. He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he always felt that Pan Yueqing showed joy when she heard the word "treason". "Are you happy?"

"Daughter is happy for you, Father," Pan Yueqing dusted the dirt off her clothes. "Father, this is an opportunity to stabilize the people's hearts."

"Execute him in public?" Pan Haiyun immediately thought of this idea. Indeed, the most important thing now was to stabilize the people's hearts, and it was impossible to achieve this just by distributing porridge.

"He's getting off too easily," Pan Yueqing shook her head. She looked at the night watchman who was dragged out like a dead dog by Lin Shuzhi with a cold gaze.

When the night watchman saw Pan Haiyun, he didn't know where he got the strength. He firmly pulled Lin Shuzhi towards Pan Haiyun. "Sir! Sir! You said you would spare my life if I confessed!!"

Pan Haiyun originally had no extra expression on his face. Now, looking at the person in front of him with a face full of blood and begging for mercy, he curved his lips as if the ice was melting. He let out a cold laugh and stared straight at the night watchman's face. "Yue'er, what do you think we should do with him?"

"Let him watch the execution tomorrow," Pan Yueqing said indifferently.

Pan Haiyun replied casually, "Sure." Pan Haiyun rolled up the account book in his hand and asked Pan Yueqing, "Go on. You just said 'he's getting off too easily'."

Pan Yueqing let out an "oh". Looking at the three-inch bluestone floor tiles in front of her, she thought of Grandma Sun's despair, the blind old woman's reluctance, the victims of the disaster who couldn't get enough to eat, and the despair of those who were as thin as skeletons... And the root cause of all this was that bastard who took the court's silver and relief food and supplies and sold them to a foreign race. Her thoughts raced. "Father, what do you think of the punishment of lingchi (death by a thousand cuts)?"

"..." Pan Haiyun looked up in shock. Looking at Pan Yueqing's calm words without a trace of emotion, he found it hard to believe that such a cruel word would come out of her mouth. After a long while, he lowered his head. "That's too much..."

Pan Yueqing knew what Pan Haiyun was worried about. Such a punishment was too cruel. But she didn't just want to calm the people's hearts; she also wanted to set an example. "But the people who have died, those who are trapped in despair, and those who have been forced to lose their humanity just to survive... The suffering they have endured is just like the punishment of lingchi. Death is just a matter of losing one's head. Qian Cheng's heinous crimes deserve to be cut into a thousand pieces!"

In the early morning, a prisoner's cart slowly drove to the front of the vegetable market. Qian Cheng, wearing a white prisoner's uniform, was pushed onto the execution platform. Unlike in the past, there was no solid wooden block on the platform. Instead, a tall frame was set up. Soon, Qian Cheng was tied to the frame. The people who had originally come to wait for porridge, holding bowls, looked at him in surprise.

The porridge distribution was carried out in an orderly manner. Pan Haiyun took a look at the orderly crowd from a distance and couldn't help but praise, "The person who came up with the idea of getting porridge according to the number plates is truly a talent! Who is that person? I'll promote him to be my adjutant immediately!"

"Son thanks Father," Pan Yueqing cupped her hands towards Pan Haiyun after hearing this. Outside, she always regarded herself as his son. Pan Haiyun was first stunned when he heard Pan Yueqing's words, and then he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He pointed at her and scolded with a smile, "You're being naughty!"

Pan Yueqing: "You're an imperial envoy. Once you say something, you can't take it back."

"..."

"A gentleman doesn't go back on his word..."

Pan Haiyun helplessly rubbed his forehead. "All right. From now on, you're the adjutant."

Pan Yueqing smiled like a fox. "Son thanks Father!" After thanking him, she rode her horse forward, bypassed the porridge shed, and saw the clerk registering the colors and numbers of the received number plates in an orderly manner. He was working so hard that he didn't notice Pan Yueqing's presence.

Pan Haiyun looked at Pan Yueqing's figure and couldn't help but sigh. It would be great if you were really my son.

Before they knew it, it was noon. After the second porridge distribution, Pan Yueqing followed Pan Haiyun. Qian Cheng had been hanging there for a whole morning, and from time to time, the passing common people threw stones at him.

Pan Haiyun ascended the main execution platform. The solemn sound of the drum attracted the people's attention. Pan Haiyun cleared his throat and pointed at Qian Cheng on the frame. "The criminal official Qian Cheng, the county magistrate of Suoyue City, during the natural disaster..." He listed several crimes such as deceiving the court, disregarding human life, embezzlement, and treason... When Pan Haiyun pronounced the punishment of lingchi, there was a thunderous round of applause from all around.

A beam of sunlight broke through the clouds above the always gloomy Suoyue City.