How did I, a mere son-in-law lying down, become a "Fenglang Juxu" (a legendary martial art

Ge Yuniang's face was deathly pale. She knelt on the ground and kept kowtowing. "My lord, everything I just said is true. There is not a single falsehood in it. Please, my lord, see the truth!"

Song Bowen slammed his gavel down, shouting angrily, "Since you refuse to confess the truth, don't blame me for using some special methods! Guards, bring the torture!"

Ge Yuniang was so frightened that she trembled and couldn't utter a single word.

The bailiff grinned and brought over the finger-crushing instruments (an old-fashioned torture device), excitedly slipping them onto Ge Yuniang's ten fingers.

"Wait!"

At the critical moment, Liu Shan stepped forward.

However, no one in the hall paid any attention. The yamen runners continued to carry out the punishment, and even He Qiong simply shook her head imperceptibly.

Soon, Ge Yuniang's heart-wrenching screams echoed through the hall.

Looking at the "Sunrise over the Sea" painting, Liu Shan felt a deep sense of irony. He even had an impulse to rush up and smash the plaque above Song Bowen's head, and then trample the four characters "A Bright Mirror Hangs High" under his feet.

Fortunately, Ge Yuniang pulled through. Even though her ten fingers were covered in black ink, she did not give in and recanted her testimony in court.

Song Bowen said angrily, "Fine, fine, I see you won't shed a tear until you see the coffin. Men, bring red-hot iron needles and continue the torture until she tells the truth!"

Ge Yuniang was horrified!

She could endure the excruciating pain of having her fingers pierced, but the torture of pricking her breasts with red-hot iron needles not only tormented the female prisoner's body but also crushed her will.

She didn't even dare to hesitate, fearing she would suffer this humiliating punishment again.

"My lord, I confess!"

Liu Shan's objections were on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them back forcefully.

Don't tell others to do good without their suffering.

Similarly, since Liu Shan was not the one who suffered torture, he had no right to demand that Ge Yuniang insist on recanting her testimony.

Liu Xinian hurriedly stepped forward, took out the confession he had written earlier from his pocket, and placed it next to Ge Yuniang.

After she pressed her fingerprint, he couldn't wait to stamp the county magistrate's seal on it.

Only then did Song Bowen show a satisfied smile and ask, "Chen An, do you know your crime?"

Not long after, Chen An also "quickly" pressed his fingerprint on the confession.

Song Bowen clapped his hands and said with feigned compassion, "Guards, take them back to the prison and let the doctor treat them properly."

After Ge Yuniang and Chen An were taken away, Song Bowen said again: "With the confession, it is enough to prove Ge Yuniang and Chen An's crimes. The evidence is conclusive and irrefutable."

Liu Xinian, with a broad smile, cupped his hands and flattered, "Your Excellency is wise!"

Song Bowen smiled smugly and ordered, "Magistrate Liu, listen to my command: execute these two criminals shortly, without fail!"

Liu Xinian: "Yes, sir!"

Liu Shan shouted, "No!"

Ok?

Song Bowen was taken aback and looked at Liu Shan with an unfriendly expression.

He Qiong was also taken aback, and quickly took over the conversation, "Lord Song, this is indeed inappropriate."

Song Bowen's expression grew even more unpleasant. "Lord He, is there something wrong?"

He Qiong smiled and said, "The prefect is paying special attention to this case. Shouldn't we be more cautious? Otherwise, I won't know how to explain it to the prefect."

He Qiong's meaning was clear: after this case, he intended to file a complaint with Prefect Yin.

Song Bowen also understood the meaning behind the words; He Qiong was trying to use the prefect to exert pressure.

However, he didn't care. With Chen An and Ge Yuniang's fingerprints on the confession in his hand, what could Yin Nantian do even if he knew that he had tortured and forced a confession?

By then, the perpetrator will have been executed, and he will have powerful backers in the court. At most, Yin Nantian will only be able to use this opportunity to reclaim some power from him.

Compared to the complexities behind this case, it's utterly insignificant.

So Song Bowen raised his voice and said, "I have come here to make this case airtight! Now the evidence is conclusive, the facts are clear, and the applicable laws are correct, so you need not say any more."

Liu Shan had never felt so aggrieved. He couldn't help but mutter to himself, "This Song Bowen, how could he confuse right and wrong and force a confession out of me? Doesn't he fear retribution?"

He Qiong had sharp ears and was close to Liu Shan, so she happened to hear what Liu Shan said.

He was immediately startled. Although the young man's voice was soft, what if Song Bowen heard it?

Insulting one's superior in court is punishable by having one's hair shaved off according to the law!

(The punishment of shaving the head was primarily a psychological punishment, such as shaving off a person's eyebrows and beard, in order to humiliate the criminal.)

In severe cases, the offender may be sentenced to life imprisonment and have words tattooed on their face!

He Qiong was furious, thinking, "This brat, don't jump into the pit yourself!"

Liu Shan really wanted to point at Song Bowen and start cursing, but when he looked up, he met He Qiong's gaze, which contained three parts helplessness, three parts admiration, and four parts warning...

He sighed heavily in his heart, suppressing his impulse.

At this moment, Song Bowen also saw Liu Shan, following He Qiong's gaze.

On his way to the county government office, he received a secret report and learned that Liu Shan had played an important role in the trial of this case.

In his view, if someone like Liu Shan could not be used by him, then he should destroy him as soon as possible.

Thinking of this, a smile appeared on his face as he looked at Liu Shan. "I've observed that you have a knack for solving cases. You shouldn't be a clerk anymore. How about I recommend you to be the jailer in the prefectural government?"

The prison administration office?

From a ninth-rank official?

This time it was Liu Xinian's turn to suffer the consequences. He couldn't tell whether Song Bowen genuinely wanted to recommend him or was just saying it, but he was extremely unwilling for Liu Shan to enter officialdom.

This little guy doesn't look like a good person. Don't be fooled by his thick eyebrows and big eyes; he's probably plotting some wicked scheme.

He Qiong didn't speak, but just looked at Liu Shan quietly, waiting for him to make a decision.

Don't underestimate the position of the prison warden in the prefectural government. It's just a minor, low-ranking official. It's a formal entry into the Xia Dynasty's officialdom. Once you're in the officialdom, you have to choose sides. Being a fence-sitter will only lead to your quicker demise.

Liu Shan remained calm. There was no way he would agree. He not only wanted to bring down Liu Xinian and clear Jiang Ruolan's name, but he was also the son-in-law of the Li family. Even if he entered officialdom, he would still carry the label of faction. There was no way he would join Song Bowen's faction.

Liu Shan bowed respectfully, saying, "Lord Song, I am grateful for your appreciation, but now I am the son-in-law of the Li family, and my father-in-law has been kind to me, so I can only fail to live up to your expectations. However, if you ever need my help in the future, please do not hesitate to ask."

Liu Shan's answer was watertight, and Song Bowen could only pretend to be somewhat regretful, but he soon came up with another plan.

He said magnanimously, "That's a pity, but I still appreciate you. The task of supervising the execution of Ge Yuniang and Chen An will be entrusted to you later."

The words had barely left his mouth when Song Bowen was already inwardly gloating. He loved watching those who defied him struggle on the edge of morality, utterly powerless to change their fate.

You, Liu Shan, wanted to save them, didn't you? I'll make you oversee their execution, make you watch them die a horrible death, and make you blame yourself and wallow in self-pity for the rest of your life!