Chapter 11 The Woman in White

  In front of the execution ground, a large wooden frame towered in the air, with black flags fluttering on both sides and torches standing like a forest.

  At the top is a huge "Xing" character, hanging on the wall, with iron hooks and silver hooks, like steel casting, showing a majestic and powerful brushwork that takes one's breath away.

  The hall was filled with servants from the Hou Shan Medicine Garden, all of whom had received orders to stop their work and come watch the execution.

  The rules of the Lü family, if someone is to be publicly punished, all fellow slaves, miscellaneous servants, and attendants must come to witness the punishment as a warning. This time, Lü Yang had violated the rule that on the annual inspection day, the medicine garden attendant must be present, was caught by the medicine garden manager, sentenced to public flogging, and soon was brought up by the guards of the mansion.

  "Lyusong? How could it be Lyusong?"

  Some of the pharmacists and servants who knew Lü Yang saw him and immediately began whispering to each other.

  "Ah Yang!"

  Lü Feng and several other companions who were close in age to Lü Yang and had a good relationship with him, stared at him in surprise with wide eyes.

  "What's going on? Isn't Lü Yang always law-abiding? How could he be the one punished?"

  "I don't know either, I was just working in the medicine garden earlier when someone suddenly called me down saying that someone had broken the household rules and would be publicly punished, we were told to come watch the punishment, never thought it'd be this kid Lü Yang."

  "What about you? Does anyone of you know what he did wrong?"

  Everyone really couldn't understand it. Lu Yang, who was usually cautious and diligent in his work, how could he possibly violate the rules of the medicine garden?

  In the entire rear mountain medicine garden, the one who performed the most diligently, the most peacefully and the most rule-abiding was Lv Yang. If it were said that he was lazy and idle, no one would believe it.

  No one knew that Lü Yang was infatuated with martial arts and neglected his own job of growing medicinal herbs.

  A sudden and unexpected encounter disrupted his peaceful life.

  "You guys don't know? Lü Yang has committed a major offense! He was late on the day of inspection and was caught red-handed by the supervisor! What's wrong with this kid, usually so diligent, but today he's late for just a short while? It's not right, it's really not right!"

  Some people who knew the inside story quietly told them the reason for what had happened.

  "It turns out it's like this, this kid's luck is really bad!"

  Many people's faces showed unbearable expressions.

  "No! There must be some mistake somewhere. How could Lv Yang have violated the rules of the Medicine Garden? It must be a mistake somewhere."

  Lü Feng and several other companions who were close to Lü Yang impulsively wanted to stand up and ask the manager if he had made a mistake, but were tightly held back by several pharmacists standing beside them.

  "You few silly kids, why are you so impulsive? Don't be reckless!"

  "It's just that Lü Yang hasn't been punished yet, let's wait and see what happens!"

  Everyone advised in seven mouths and eight tongues, and the scene was a bit chaotic.

  "Silence! Silence!"

  The head of the medicine garden heard the crowd discussing and couldn't help but scowl, shouting loudly.

  "The court is a solemn place, no loud noise is allowed."

  Everyone suddenly fell silent, and all became quiet.

  The originally noisy courtroom suddenly became so quiet that even the sound of people's breathing could be heard clearly.

  However, despite this, everyone couldn't help but exchange glances, they were extremely eager to know what kind of punishment the steward would use on Lü Yang.

  The penal civilization of the Great Xuan Dynasty is unparalleled in the ancient lands of Zhongzhou, and even throughout the entire Dahuang. Looking across the Eastern Sea and Western Plains, the Southern Wilderness and Northern Desert, among many nations and civilizations, there isn't one that can compare to it.

  Especially for a big family like the Lü's, they attach great importance to etiquette and have established many rules for governing their subordinates. They also stipulate the punishments that should be meted out when these rules are violated. These powers are delegated to various managers who are responsible for enforcing them, so that such a large family can be governed in an orderly manner, with everyone being content with their lot and diligently fulfilling their duties.

  These privately established punishments by the Lü family for their slaves and servants include five corporal punishments: flogging, caning, cutting off ears, cutting out tongues, and cutting off noses; three capital punishments: dismemberment, tearing apart with carts, and beheading; as well as branding, boiling to death, drowning, and countless other forms of punishment and discipline. The names are numerous, but the purpose is only one - to make sure that everyone knows their place and stays in line.

  In such a situation, even if the humble slaves made only minor mistakes, they could still lose their lives for it. This was why Lv Feng and others wanted to rush out to support Lv Yang, while the other Medicine Garden officials held them back.

  "Now everyone is here, let's begin the execution."

  The head of the medicine garden saw that everyone had quieted down and nodded in satisfaction, turning towards the wooden table in front of the criminal hall.

  On the wooden table, all kinds of torture instruments were placed, among which the most eye-catching was the three whips, large, medium and small. Each whip was made from a hundred-year-old poisonous dragon vine, with the smallest being as thin as a thumb and the largest as thick as an adult's arm. They were all covered in sharp thorns, on which faintly visible were bloodstains that had been left for many years, now darkened to a reddish-black color, sending shivers down one's spine at the mere sight.

  For hundreds of years, countless slaves and servants who made mistakes were flogged, suffering unbearable pain. Some were even beaten to death by this whip, and some had their corpses whipped into a pulp.

  Everyone watched as the manager of the Medicine Garden's hand swept over the three boxes, finally landing on the smallest one, and couldn't help but let out a collective sigh of relief.

  The tense atmosphere in the entire courtroom had obviously eased a lot.

  "Lü Yang's life is saved."

  "It's okay, the manager didn't intend to take his life."

  "I told you, you few silly kids, how could the Grand Master possibly deal with Lü Yang for no reason? Now you can rest assured, this Ten Great Whips won't take that little guy's life!"

  "After all, it's inevitable that the skin will be split and the flesh will burst."

  Everyone in their hearts knew that the top manager of the mansion had a great deal of power, could dispose of some subordinates who broke the rules, and even had the power to kill or pardon.

  Some cruel stewards, taking advantage of the power in their hands, drove to death slaves and servants who were not pleasing to them, inspiring fear in others, making them obey him unconditionally, and thus gaining personal benefits.

  However, the head of the Medicine Garden did not do so, because Lv Yang was only late this time and had not committed a capital offense. Moreover, he knew about Lv Yang's background and couldn't help but have some concerns in his heart.

  Lü Yang saw this scene and his heart was also clear as a mirror, knowing what was going on.

  "It's okay, just a small whip." He couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief, thinking to himself, "Bite the bullet and get through it. Hopefully the executioner isn't psychologically abnormal and won't use too much force."

  "Kneel down!"

  One of the guards kicked Lv Yang's leg with one foot, and Lv Yang's legs bent, kneeling down to the ground in pain.

  "Wait." Just then, a clear and cold voice came over.

  Lü Yang had made up his mind, gritted his teeth and endured the humiliation and beating, determined to keep the secret of his martial arts skills hidden, but just then, a sudden shout came from outside.

  "Fourth Miss!"

  "Fourth Miss!"

  "Fourth Miss!"

  Many guards, attendants and stewards hurriedly bowed their heads in greeting.

  "Fourth Miss, how did you come?" The manager of the Medicine Garden hurried to welcome her and paid his respects, showing unusual respect.

  Originally, as a slave who had risen to the position of steward, although still a slave in name, he actually held real power. When encountering ordinary members of the Lü clan, he didn't need to fawn or try to win them over; on the contrary, some discontented members of the Lü clan would even try to curry favor with him, the powerful steward.

  It's not that the steward's status is high, but the power he holds in his hands represents the power and majesty of the Lv manor, with a considerable amount of energy.

  Like just now choosing the penal whip, he could have chosen the big whip to beat Lv Yang to death, or choose a small whip to punish him and be done with it. This is what is meant by "power over life and death".

  But in front of the guests, this housekeeper who has the power to kill or spare the lives of slaves and servants also appears respectful and cautious, not daring to be even slightly slow.

  Lü Yang couldn't help but raise his head in surprise, wanting to take a look at who the newcomer was.

  As a result, he saw a woman in white clothes, like a fairy from the Moon Palace, standing in front of him. This woman, who was like a fairy from the Moon Palace, only supported his hand with her fingers, and Lv Yang felt an inexplicable force holding himself up, and involuntarily stood up.