Chapter 171

On the first day of the execution, even though the autumn rain was dense, it couldn't stop the enthusiasm of the onlookers.

Under the rain shed built not far from the vegetable market, there were even vendors selling steamed buns.

The heat from the steamer basket intertwined with the murderous atmosphere in the rain curtain, appearing exceptionally unreal.

However, even more unreal was the red cloth banner supported by the fifteen-foot bamboo pole in front of the execution ground.

The words "Mortuary Shop Great Promotion" on it were more eye-catching than the ghost-head knife held by the executioner.

Some illiterate common people asked: "What is written on the cloth strip supported by the bamboo pole? It looks scary."

Someone who knew how to read and write replied: "The mortuary shop is offering discounts and credit sales, saying it's responding to the Autumn Execution, seasonal great feedback, only once a year, with better prices for larger quantities..."

"Mortuary shop, sounds familiar. What do they do?"

"Hey! Just a white-event shop, for people's funerals and burials."

"What the hell?"

I've never heard of a medical clinic soliciting business or a funeral shop coming out to solicit customers. Isn't this purely disgusting!

Looking at the side of the execution ground, there were really family members of the death row prisoners coming up to ask about collecting the corpses.

"Hey, it's really a long-lived sight. I've lived this long and it's the first time I've seen a funeral master soliciting business on the street..."

"And to think he could actually solicit some!"

Xu Qing held the banner, with flower cloth strips tied around his waist. Except for the gray robe on the outside, his inner lining and socks were all white without exception.

This is a common outfit in the funeral industry. When a person stands there, without saying much, those who know the trade know what you are doing.

Some family members of the death row prisoners were originally afraid of seeing living people being separated from their heads. If it were their relatives and friends, they would feel even more reluctant to part with them.

This is when the importance of the corpse collector is reflected.

Xu Qing held the register and the pen, looking like a judge in the Yama Hall, recording the families who wanted to collect corpses one by one.

Those who were bold, or didn't like Xu Qing's actions, didn't intend to come to him for help, but when these people heard that the mortuary shop had special offers today, and that collecting corpses would be gifted with the service of tidying up appearances and sewing heads, they all came over.

Xu Qing didn't refuse anyone. If he encountered customers who stared at him, he would also greet them with a smile.

"Thank you, usually it takes fifty wen deposit to collect a corpse, today it's only twenty-five wen."

"How much for the burial?"

"That depends on how you want to handle it. We have small, large, and special arrangements, and the price is naturally different..."

On the execution platform, County Lieutenant Dong's eyebrows jumped. He looked at Zhao Zhonghe standing on the side, thinking to himself, why don't you manage it? This is the big day of the Autumn Execution, and the state official is here to supervise the execution in person. How can you make such a scene?

Zhao Zhonghe turned to look at Zhao Yuan, who was responsible for the order of the execution ground. The latter looked around as if nothing had happened, not daring to respond at all.

Fortunately, Governor Lu and Assistant Prefect Li didn't care.

When noon arrived, with a gong sound, the Governor, who was sitting in the main seat, was about to announce the crimes when someone among the first batch of death row prisoners pushed onto the stage shouted:

"The Yaozhou Cang righteous army has already started an uprising, and the Southwest White Feather Army will break into the imperial city in a few days. Although the dog officials can kill us today, when the day comes, your families will also have their heads cut off. This is retribution! If I die, I will surely turn into an evil ghost and wait for you below!"

"Spreading rumors to confuse the public! Just a bunch of petty thieves, daring to alarm people!"

The execution supervisor ordered all the death row prisoners' mouths to be blocked, then took out the beheading token and threw it forward: "Execute!"

The executioner sprayed wine to sacrifice the knife, and the knife shadow flashed. Scarlet blood splashed all over the execution platform. The people below were quiet for a moment, and then someone clapped and cheered!

Then more people followed suit and cheered.

They didn't care what these people had done. Anyway, it wasn't them who were beheaded. By comparison, the people on the execution platform died in an instant, while they were still standing below watching. How could this not be worth celebrating?

Batches of death row prisoners died, just like cutting leeks. When those death row prisoners were pressed onto the neck pillow to be slaughtered, they happened to see the banner hanging in front of the execution platform.

Who is this? Who hung the sign at the execution ground? How immoral!

Looking down again, a white-faced young man was pushing a flatbed cart covered with a layer of straw and lime, on which were placed corpses separated from their heads.

And on that young man's face, there was full joy of harvest.

Autumn, what a nice season.

On the execution ground, huge heads rolled to the ground. Some with tenacious vitality still had spirit in their eyes even after being separated from their bodies.

Xu Qing was not afraid. He took the corpse-wrapping cloth and scooped it down, cleaning up the execution platform for the government office runners.

On the execution platform, Assistant Prefect Li looked at County Lieutenant Dong: "Is this person found by you?"

County Lieutenant Dong's heart skipped a beat. Just as he was thinking about how to make up for it, he saw Assistant Prefect Li stroking his beard and nodding: "Not bad, very good. This year is much more efficient than previous years. County Lieutenant Dong has heart."

"Where, where, it's all the duty of the subordinate."

County Lieutenant Dong breathed a sigh of relief, and then followed Assistant Prefect Li's gaze to look at Xu Qing, who was skillfully collecting corpses on and off the stage. It must be said that when it comes to collecting corpses, the professional funeral shop owner is still the best. Looking at those flowing movements, even the efficiency of the execution had improved a lot.

Over a hundred heads fell. During this period, Xu Qing also saw many acquaintances on the execution ground.

For example, the "filial son" of the Liu family, and the Liu family's young master's biological father, the butler Song Cai...

And the ungrateful husband of the Sai Yuxian, Liu Sheng.

Xu Qing didn't have a deep impression of this Liu Sheng, but the female emperor Sai Yuxian, who was obedient to him in the dream-making technique, left a deeper impression on him.

These people were all old acquaintances to Xu Qing. Now watching them beheaded, Xu Qing, as the mastermind behind the scenes, felt gratified for them from the bottom of his heart.

After waiting for so long, he finally waited for their corpses!

While Xu Qing was placing the corpses, some common people, like thieves, with steamed buns in their arms and bowls in their hands, gathered to the place where the corpses were stopped, wanting to take blood from the severed head.

"What are you doing! In broad daylight, are you trying to steal corpses? This is a serious crime!"

"Don't shout. I want to seek some medicine for tuberculosis..."

There is a rumor among the people that the blood of a death row prisoner after being beheaded can be used to dip steamed buns to treat tuberculosis, which is pulmonary tuberculosis.

So every year during the Autumn Execution, there are always ignorant common people holding steamed buns and bowls, wanting to hold some medicine, go back and wrap it on the steamed buns for the sick to eat. Some who are not sick also come to join in the fun, thinking that eating steamed buns can prevent diseases.

Xu Qing turned his head to look at the others who were holding bowls and steamed buns: "Does anyone in your family have tuberculosis?"

Someone said: "My family doesn't have tuberculosis, but I have a headache..."

"What about your family?"

"I have old problems of leg pain and waist pain."

Xu Qing sucked his teeth, poked the advertising banner on the ground, and shouted: "If human blood can cure all diseases, why don't you use your own blood!"

"I tell you, these corpses are now under my disposal. If you want to take blood, no way!"

"Understand, understand, we know the rules." As they spoke, someone took out a dozen copper coins and handed them to Xu Qing.

Seeing this, others followed suit. This scene made Xu Qing laugh with anger.

After he drove the crowd away with his advertising banner, those people ran to guard beside the execution platform, intending to wait for the execution to end, and then bribe the executioner to dip some blood on the neck pillow used for beheading the death row prisoners.

(End of chapter)