Judge Dee leaned back in his chair. Stroking his beard he thoughtfully surveyed the men who had faithfully served him during the critical days that lay behind. Then he spoke:
'Headman, you and the men under you were engaged under an emergency, but you have loyally served the tribunal. Since conditions have now returned to normal, I release you of your duties, with the understanding that those among you who wish to enter permanent service shall be welcome to do so.'
'All of us', Headman Fang replied respectfully, 'owe a debt of gratitude to Your Honour, and I myself more than anyone else. I would beg Your Honour to continue to employ me in my present position, were it not that I owe it to my daughter to leave a city where she is constantly reminded of the tragedy that struck our family.
'Candidate Woo Feng has offered me the position of chief steward in the mansion of one of his father's friends in the capital. I feel all the more inclined to accept that generous offer since I have learned through an intermediary that Candidate Woo intends to marry my second daughter Dark Orchid as soon as he has passed his second literary examination.'
'What black ingratitude of the girl!', Ma Joong muttered indignantly to Chiao Tai. 'I saved her life! And what is more, I saw her as only her husband ought to see her!'
'Shut up!', Chiao Tai whispered, 'you had a nice view of the wench, that is sufficient reward!'
'I beg to be allowed', the headman continued, 'to leave my only son here in Lan-fang. For nowhere in the Empire could he find such a master to serve as Your Honour. I beg Your Honour to accept him, despite his slender capacities, in the permanent service of the tribunal.'
Judge Dee had been listening gravely. Now he spoke:
'Headman, your son shall continue to serve here as a constable.
'It rejoices me that August Heaven in its infinite mercy has so willed it that a dark crime will in due course result in the happiness of two families. When the red candles are burning on your daughter's wedding, the auspicious atmosphere of a new bright future will put a healing salve on the old wounds in her father's heart.
'I regretfully accept your resignation as from tomorrow!'
Headman Fang and his son knelt and knocked their heads on the floor several times in succession.
Three constables reported that they wished to return to their original trades. All the others requested to be engaged on a permanent basis.
When these formalities had been completed Judge Dee closed the session.
Outside the tribunal a dense crowd was waiting. Yoo Kee and Mrs. Lee had been placed in the open cart of the condemned. The placards with their names and crimes were there for all to see.
Then the gates opened and Judge Dee's palanquin was carried out into the street. Ten constables marched in front and ten behind. Ma Joong and Sergeant Hoong rode on the left, Chiao Tai and Tao Gan on the right. Four runners carrying placards marked 'The Magistrate of Lan-fang' took up their position at the head. The guards sounded their copper hand gongs and the cortege moved along heading south.
The cart of the condemned surrounded by the military escort brought up the rear. The crowd followed behind.
As the cortege crossed the marble bridge, the red glow of dawn shone on the pagoda in the lotus pond.
The execution ground was situated just outside the southern city gate. Judge Dee's palanquin was carried through the gate in the palisade. As he descended the garrison commander came to meet him.
The commander led the judge to a temporary bench that had been put up there during the night. The soldiers formed a square in front.
The executioner stuck his sword in the ground and took off his jacket. The heavy muscles rolled on his naked torso. His two helpers climbed on the cart and led the two criminals to the centre of the execution ground.
They loosened Yoo Kee's ropes and dragged him to a pole with two cross bars that had been stuck in the ground. One bound his neck to the pole, the other fastened his arms and legs to the bars.
When they were ready the executioner selected a long, thin knife and stood himself in front of Yoo Kee. He looked up at the judge.
Judge Dee gave the sign.
The executioner plunged his knife straight into Yoo Kee's heart. He died without uttering a sound.
Then Yoo Kee's body was sliced to pieces. Mrs. Lee swooned when she saw them start on this horrible process, and several spectators hid their face in their sleeve.
Finally the executioner held the severed head up to the judge who marked the forehead with his vermilion brush. It was thrown into a basket together with the remains of his body.
Mrs. Lee had been revived by burning strong incense under her nose.
The two assistants dragged her in front of the dais and threw her on her knees.
As she saw the executioner approach with the scourge Mrs. Lee burst out in frantic screams. In abject fright she begged him to spare her.
The executioner and his men were accustomed to such scenes, they paid not the slightest attention to her entreaties. One of the assistants loosened her hair. He took the long tresses in his hand and pulled her head forward. The other had ripped off her upper garment and bound her hands behind her back.
The executioner tested the balance of the scourge. This fearful instrument has thongs bristling with iron hooks, it is seen only on the execution ground for no one ever survives its blows.
When Judge Dee had given the sign the executioner raised the scourge. It fell down on Mrs. Lee's bare back with a sickening thud, lacerating the flesh from neck to waist. Mrs. Lee would have fallen on her face by the weight of the blow if the assistant had not taken a firm hold on her hair.
When Mrs. Lee had regained her breath she started screaming at the top of her voice. But the executioner struck again and again. The sixth blow laid the bones bare, blood oozed from the torn flesh. Mrs. Lee lost consciousness.
Judge Dee raised his hand.
It took some time before she had been revived.
Then the executioner raised his sword while his helpers pulled Mrs. Lee up on her knees.
A DEPRAVED CRIMINAL ON THE EXECUTION GROUND
As the judge gave the sign the sword swung down and severed the head from the body in one fearful blow.
Judge Dee marked the head with his vermilion brush. Then the executioner threw it into a basket. Later it would be exposed nailed by the hair to the city gate and remain hanging there for three days.
Judge Dee left the dais and ascended his palanquin. As the bearers hoisted the shafts on their shoulders, the first rays of the sun shone on the helmets of the soldiers.
Judge Dee's palanquin was first carried to the Temple of the City God, the military commander following behind in his open sedan chair.
There the judge reported to the tutelary deity the crimes that had been committed in his city and the capital punishments meted out to the evil-doers. Then the judge and the military commander burned incense and prayed.
They took leave of each other in the temple yard.
Once returned to the tribunal Judge Dee went straight to his private office. After he had drunk a cup of strong tea the judge told Sergeant Hoong that he could go and have his breakfast. Later in the day they would draft the report on the execution for the higher authorities.
Sergeant Hoong found Ma Joong, Chiao Tai and Tao Gan standing talking together in a corner of the main courtyard. As the sergeant joined them he found that Ma Joong was still grumbling about what he insisted on calling Dark Orchid's infidelity.
'I had taken it for granted all along that it was I who should marry that wench!', he said sourly. 'She nearly knifed me during that attack on our party in the mountains. I really liked her!'
'Consider yourself lucky, brother!', Chiao Tai said consolingly. 'That girl Dark Orchid has a mighty sharp tongue, she would have led you a terrible life!'
Ma Joong clasped his hand to his forehead.
'That reminds me!', he exclaimed, 'I'll tell you what I'll do! I shall buy myself that girl Tulbee. That is a fine
