Chapter 55: Special Pardon

At the command, the executioners all stripped the red cloth from their executioner's blades, then took the strong liquor handed over by the attendant runners. Each took a whale's gulp and sprayed it onto the blade, drained the rest in one swallow, and promptly smashed the bowl on the ground.

The moment the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review cast the command arrow to the ground, an executioner plucked the wooden placard marked with the character "Prisoner" from behind the condemned man's neck, gave a sharp "Hah!", and brought the blade down.

The common folk below the platform roared their approval at the sight, feeling only that the execution of these corrupt officials' families was a deed that satisfied all righteous hearts.

The faces of the many court officials on the platform, however, grew increasingly grim. Aside from Xu Xianchun, every one of them feared that such a day would come for them too.

Yet fear was fear — they still had to keep their posts. Given this Chongzhen Emperor's murderous disposition, if anyone dared resign, men from the Embroidered Uniform Guard would likely be at their door first.

When the ten executions were done, men immediately cleared the corpses from the platform, then dragged over another ten to continue the executions, in order from older men to younger men, then older women to younger women.

By now, the platform had dissolved into a chorus of weeping.

From the distance beyond the execution ground came the urgent beat of hoofbeats — clearly, the rider was spurring his horse hard.

The hoofbeats drew nearer and nearer, and gradually the rider's figure became visible. The man was dressed in the robes of a palace eunuch. A closer look revealed it was none other than Wang Cheng'en, who ordinarily never left Chongzhen's side.

At full gallop, a horse covers ground with tremendous speed, and in the blink of an eye it reached the edge of the execution ground. Wang Cheng'en urged his horse on even as he bellowed at the top of his lungs: "His Majesty commands: stay the executions!"

The soldiers of the Five Wards Military Command who formed the outer cordon dared not be slow. They hurriedly parted the crowd to open a path so Wang Cheng'en could ride through.

Seeing the path open, Wang Cheng'en did not rein in or halt his horse but charged straight through, only pulling the reins tight when he reached the execution platform, letting out a long "Whoa!"

Seeing the many court officials on the platform turn toward him and the executioners halt their blades, Chongzhen — for it was Chongzhen who had ordered Wang Cheng'en to race back to the palace and draft an edict — dismounted, strode swiftly onto the platform, and declared in a ringing voice: "His Majesty's decree!

All kneel and hear it!"

When the officials, executioners, and others on the platform, along with those nearest to it, knelt, the people farther away who had no idea what was happening all knelt as well.

Only then did Wang Cheng'en address the executioners: "In a moment, when this servant reads aloud His Imperial Majesty's decree, you lot will repeat each line at full voice after me. You must ensure every commoner below the platform hears it. Understood?"

Once the executioners had shouted their assent in unison, Wang Cheng'en unfurled the imperial edict in his hands and read: "The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven, decrees: The family dependents of the convicted officials Zhou, Qian, Hou, Luo, Chen, and others are, by law, to be executed together.

Yet what crime have the infants committed? We, in Our compassion, do hereby grant them a special pardon.

It is so ordered: all males and females under the full age of ten shall be pardoned their capital crimes, and in consideration of their tender years, their mothers shall likewise be pardoned. All those with child shall also be pardoned.

Yet though the death penalty is remitted, punishment for the living is not escaped: let the Embroidered Uniform Guard take them into custody and confinement to await disposition.

For the remainder, the original sentence stands unchanged — it is fitting that they be executed together. Thus decreed."

As Wang Cheng'en read the edict aloud, the ten executioners repeated it line by line, their voices carrying far so that every condemned person and every commoner beneath the platform could hear it clearly.

Below the platform, an old licentiate who had lived through three reigns stroked his graying beard and smiled. "A humane sovereign, a humane sovereign indeed. Our Great Ming has hope once more."

A troublemaker teased him on purpose: "Hey, old sir, these wretches took bribes and twisted the law — wouldn't it be better if they all died out?"

The old licentiate, however, was not one to take a joke. His eyes bulged and his beard fairly bristled with indignation.

"What do you know!

When the sage-kings of antiquity hunted, they still surrounded the game on three sides and left one open, and they did not harm pregnant beasts — this is the Way of benevolence and forbearance.

His present Majesty's conduct bears the legacy of those sage-kings; the governance of the Three Dynasties may be expected again. Were it you on that platform facing execution, could you bear to watch those young children and pregnant women go to their deaths?

And if among them were your own kin, what then?"

The man who had teased him shuddered abruptly at these words and gave an embarrassed laugh. "You're right, old sir, you're absolutely right."

Only then did the old licentiate stroke his beard and smile.

"As the saying goes, 'Do not do to others what you would not have done to yourself' — that is precisely the principle.

Those on the platform sought their own deaths; even if the extermination extended to nine degrees of kinship, it would not be improper in law or principle.

Now that their young children have received His Majesty's special pardon, even men of beastly nature ought to feel gratitude for the Son of Heaven's profound grace."

At that moment, when the womenfolk on the platform heard this, it was as if they had been transported from hell to heaven in an instant. They could scarcely believe their ears.

The mothers of the young children all clung to their little ones and wept bitterly.

As for those youthful matrons still able to hold their infants, they kissed their children without cease, their hearts repeating prayers of thanks to High Heaven and gratitude for His Majesty's profound grace.

One child, kissed to the point of irritation, even stretched out a tiny hand to push its mother away.

Wang Cheng'en, observing the crowd's reaction, inwardly admired Chongzhen's benevolence. He turned to the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review and the other officials on the supervisory platform and said, "His Majesty's decree has been proclaimed.

My lords, receive the edict, so that this servant may return and report."

The assembled officials knelt and acclaimed "Long live the Emperor!" in a mighty chorus. The Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review received the edict, then ordered the runners to go and unlock the heavy cangues from those children and their mothers.

Together with the young matrons holding infants and those who were pregnant, they were all led out of the execution ground and handed over to the Embroidered Uniform Guard to be taken away.

Once those granted the special pardon had departed, the executions on the platform resumed, still hacking down ten at a time.

From the second floor of the wine shop, Chongzhen watched the scene before him play out, and seeing the executions continue on the platform, he was overcome by a profound sense of ennui.

Chongzhen did not know whether he had done right or wrong. By law, every one of these people deserved to die.

From a selfish standpoint, the children and female prisoners he had released were hidden dangers for the future. What if one of them turned out to be another Nie Siniang?

Could he ever sleep soundly again?

Yet no matter what, he simply could not get past the barrier in his own heart. Enough, enough — let it be. He would take things one step at a time. With that thought, he resolved to return to the palace.

This chapter is today's bonus update. Counting this one, that's two chapters paid back. How many I still owe — ask the old madam in the group; even We are no longer sure.

After writing this chapter, the author himself feels thoroughly sickened. But from the perspective of a father, the author truly could not bring himself to write a scene where even toddlers and infants were not spared.

They are not foreign tribesmen, after all. To all my brother and sister readers, I offer my apologies.

(End of chapter)