Chapter 90: The Crown Prince

“Later, they all died.”

Old Zhang Tou’s expression didn’t change as he spoke the cruelest words in the world with a cold tone.

“How could they all die? They were all the Crown Prince’s people. The Crown Prince is still sitting in the Eastern Palace.”

Lu Datou didn’t understand.

With such a powerful patron, how could they die?

Old Zhang Tou let out a cold laugh and looked at Chen Guanlou. “Surprised?”

Chen Guanlou nodded, then shook his head. “Grace comes from above; life or death rests solely on the whim of the noble.”

“You’re sharp, kid. No wonder you’ve read books—you understand more than others. Unlike Datou, who’s lived decades and still knows less than a youth.”

Old Zhang Tou looked down on Lu Datou.

Lu Datou protested, “Don’t trash me first—tell me how the Liu family died. I’m dying to know.”

Old Zhang Tou hesitated slightly, then continued his narration in a flat, emotionless voice: “Wang Shi, relying on being the Crown Prince’s wet nurse, meddled in Eastern Palace affairs, even disrespected the Crown Princess, and dared to interfere in the Crown Prince’s harem. Liu Mingchang wasn’t any better—he used his status as the Crown Prince’s wet nurse’s husband to secure a post in the Ministry of Finance, ostensibly managing the Crown Prince’s finances. In the end, both were despised.”

“Wang Shi was forced to drink poisoned wine. Liu Mingchang was executed by slow slicing—five hundred cuts. The Emperor himself issued the order. Most of the rest of the Liu family died—they all died, I believe.”

After speaking these words, Old Zhang Tou’s mood unexpectedly sank, as if recalling some unbearable memory.

Chen Guanlou’s heart lurched. Suddenly, he had a bold guess: “Liu Mingchang was slowly sliced—was it you, Uncle Zhang, who held the knife?”

Lu Datou: …

What? What did he just say? Old Zhang did the slicing?

Old Zhang Tou tapped his pipe and glanced at Chen Guanlou. “A clever man like you—how did you end up in the Heavenly Prison? What a waste.”

“That’s right. I don’t know what Liu Mingchang did, but the Emperor despised him so much he personally ordered him executed by slow slicing. The Embroidered Uniform Guard’s men were inexperienced—there hadn’t been a slow-slicing case in the capital for decades; the skill had been lost.”

“In the end, they summoned me. I performed the execution myself—five hundred cuts, not one more, not one less. Originally, the Emperor demanded a thousand cuts. Word is the Crown Prince knelt and begged, and it was reduced to five hundred. Since it was a royal family matter, it was never made public—you wouldn’t know, and that’s understandable.”

Lu Datou was stunned, mouth hanging open. He grew excited: “They say slow-slicing is a family trade passed down through executioner lineages. You have to slice off flesh without killing the man—some say the chest is stripped bare to bone, yet the heart still beats. Is that true? Old Zhang, you’re amazing—you actually know how to do this! You’re wasting yourself stuck in the execution chamber!”

Old Zhang Tou snorted. “Executioner? Pfft. Killing isn’t even a skill—it doesn’t deserve to clean the execution chamber’s shoes. Every executioner in the capital—every last one—I’m not boasting, none of them know true slow-slicing. Not one!”

“Old Zhang, you’re the only one in the capital who knows how to do slow-slicing, aren’t you?”

Old Zhang Tou said nothing. Silence was his answer.

“Liu Mingchang must have had brothers,” Chen Guanlou pressed. He wasn’t interested in the slicing technique—he felt he was now within reach of the truth, just one step away.

“Maybe,” Old Zhang Tou replied indifferently. “Even if he did, they’re all dead.”

Chen Guanlou turned and looked toward the back courtyard. Could Liu Shi be from the same Liu clan as Liu Mingchang? Could Liu Shi be the sole survivor of the Liu family case?

This case would never appear in any official record—it was a royal family matter, killing royal servants, and no court official was permitted to inquire.

If Liu Shi truly was from Liu Mingchang’s clan, then Li Dahong was insanely reckless—he’d risked his life for a woman. Then Li Dahong’s death might very well be tied to the palace.

But why was Liu Shi still alive?

He suddenly stood up, startling Lu Datou.

He raised a hand slightly, signaling Lu Datou not to panic. “I’m going to check the back. It’s dry and windy—watch the candles. We’ve received many condolence offerings lately; watch out for thieves.”

“That makes sense. We should guard against bold thieves coming to steal the condolence gifts.”

Chen Guanlou passed through the corridor and reached the arched gate. He called softly: “Come out. I know you’re hiding behind the wall.”

Under the moonlight, a frail figure slowly emerged—it was Liu Shi, who should have been resting.

Her face was streaked with tears, helpless and heartbroken, as if the heavens had collapsed.

Chen Guanlou sighed inwardly. “Who was Liu Mingchang to you?”

“My eldest uncle,” Liu Shi sobbed.

Chen Guanlou thought: So it was true—she was indeed a Liu family descendant.

“How old are you?” Could she be too young?

Liu Shi gently wiped her eyes. “My father was the late-born son of my grandparents—twenty years younger than my uncle. He was gifted in literature and greatly favored by the Crown Prince, traveling on his behalf. When the incident happened, we heard nothing. The Embroidered Uniform Guard came like wolves and dragged him away.”

“Then how did you end up marrying Li Dahong?”

“The Crown Princess secretly saved me and arranged for my husband to care for me.”

“Your brother really is still alive?”

“Yes—but he lives worse than death. The Emperor showed mercy and spared one Liu bloodline—my brother—but he was exiled a thousand miles away to work in the mines. If he survives ten years, he may be freed.”

At this, Liu Shi broke into uncontrollable sobs. Her body went limp, barely able to stand, leaning against the wall.

Chen Guanlou sighed inwardly again.

Anyone seeing Liu Shi’s state would feel pity, moved by compassion.

Yet he didn’t extend a hand to help her. Any man with ill intentions would have already pulled her into his arms.

“Your age—before the incident, were you not betrothed?”

According to custom, women married at fifteen or sixteen, and matchmaking began at thirteen or fourteen. Why hadn’t the Liu family arranged a match for Liu Shi before the incident?

Liu Shi seemed reluctant to speak, hesitating for a long while before saying: “I served the Crown Prince personally—I had no official rank.”

What?

Li Dahong had slept with the Crown Prince’s woman? How dare he? He deserved to die.

“Wait—you just said the Crown Princess saved you and arranged for Li Dahong to care for you?” Chen Guanlou realized something monumental.

“Yes.”

The Crown Princess harbored malice! She didn’t kill Liu Shi—she humiliated her this way. A former Eastern Palace woman, now the wife of a jailer. Her status had fallen from heaven to mud.

The Crown Princess’s method of humiliation was brutal—she shattered a woman’s spirit while earning a reputation for loyalty and compassion.

“You…” Are you truly naive, or is all this an act?

“The Crown Princess saved you—do you feel grateful to her?” Chen Guanlou asked gently.