History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 228 Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals
Just then, Cui Yu, the prison's physician, arrived and reported, "The three poisonous lice have all been tested, and their purpose has been confirmed as using them to perform a Gu poison technique!"

The poisonous lice were delivered late last night by Liu Shun, the adopted son of the eunuch Liu Teng.

Liu Teng had a nunnery called Fashu Temple outside the palace, which was built on a house. The famous nun Zhi was arrested, and her disciples were scattered. One of them, a nun named Lin Li, went to Fashu Temple to worship Buddha.

The monks at Fashu Temple noticed Lin Li's suspicious behavior and suspected that her worship was a pretense, with ulterior motives. They informed Liu Teng of their suspicions. Liu Teng instructed the monks to keep Lin Li calm for the time being, while he himself frequently visited the temple during his rest days, giving Lin Li opportunities to meet him.

Lin Li was indeed fooled. Just last night, she took the initiative to approach Liu Teng and said that she was willing to donate the jewelry and wealth of the monk Zhizang to Fashu Temple. In this way, she begged Liu Teng to use the three black lice she raised to help her put them on a commoner girl named Wei Yao.

Liu Teng outwardly agreed, but inwardly he was terrified because he suspected that the black lice were poisonous creatures related to witchcraft. Therefore, he dared not delay and ordered his adopted son Liu Shun to send the lice to the Tingwei prison overnight.

Of course, everything mentioned above is what Liu Shun said; only Liu Teng and Lin Li know the true story.

Now, Cui Yu recounts the process of examining the lice: "These poisonous lice are larger than ordinary lice. The wooden boxes used to raise them have holes drilled in them, slightly smaller than the lice's body. When fresh blood approaches the wooden box, the poisonous lice will swarm out of the small holes with a ferocious appearance and swift speed, vying to feed on the blood, and then crawl back into the wooden box!"

Chang Jing: "This is the legendary raising of Gu, which not only makes the poisonous creatures stronger by cannibalizing and fighting each other, but also trains them to be intelligent, and in the end, a strong and human-like one survives."

Cui Yu: "Yes. When I traveled to various places before, I also heard that such poisonous creatures are not only terrifying in their own poison, but can also be tamed to kill in unique ways. So I tried all sorts of methods that I could think of, and finally discovered the vicious killing method of the poisonous lice!"

"Drill into the ear canal and take a life!"

Upon hearing this, Gongsun Liang, Cui Zhen, and Chang Jing all unconsciously tightened their shoulders and backs, wanting to cover their ears.

Cui Yu then added, “Sir, rest assured, when I tested this method, I plugged the prisoners’ ear canals beforehand and used blood-soaked spider silk to quickly lure out the lice. No prisoner died from the lice.”

Chang Jing asked, "Are we arresting Lin Li now?"

Gongsun Liang nodded and ordered, "First, find Liu the eunuch and ask him to help capture Lin Li alive. Cui Yu, take my token and the poisonous lice to the Divine Department and ask the officials there for detailed instructions on the lice-poisoning technique."

Chang Jing asked again, "Taming these poisonous lice must have taken a lot of effort. Why would Lin Li use poisonous lice to kill a commoner girl? Should we summon Wei Yao to the prison to inquire?"

Gongsun Liang: "No need. Wei Yao is no ordinary commoner. She holds a public office, teaching poetry at the palace academy. Furthermore, the female warrior who saved the Grand Commandant and the Minister of Works the other day is Wei Yao's mother. Just thoroughly interrogate Lin Li!"

Everyone understood that the "furthermore" mentioned by the Minister of Justice was the reason why Wei Yao was not summoned to the prison.

In the section on encouraging learning.

When Wei Yao returned home, she told her father everything that had happened in the palace, including the help that Commander Zhang had given her. Then she stopped thinking about things randomly and focused all her attention on her studies.

It wasn't that Wei Yao was arrogant, but rather that her knowledge and experience were limited. The clues she could analyze and deduce from what Commander Zhang had mentioned were already the limit of her thinking.

As for who killed Jiang Shunu, whether Gong Ai was really practicing witchcraft, and whether Gong Ai had any accomplices, Wei Yao believed that Changqiu Temple could find out the answers to these questions. Even if Changqiu Temple couldn't find out, there was still the Court of Justice, which was in charge of handling suspicious cases. Why should she rack her brains over this matter?

What she needs to do is study hard, read more books, and learn more principles so that she can solve similar problems on her own when she encounters them again!

Luoyang is a bustling and picturesque city by day, but at night it transforms into a deep lake with turbulent undercurrents, where shrimp soldiers and crab generals in every nook and cranny bar their fangs and claws, each displaying their unique abilities.

Hozu Temple.

Lin Li, who lived in a thatched hut, had been reciting scriptures continuously for an hour, waiting anxiously. In the darkness, the door was pushed open.

Lin Li looked at the newcomer. "Minister Liu."

The visitor was Liu Teng. In addition to his position as a palace eunuch, Liu Teng also served as a minor official in the main palace.

Behind him followed his adopted son and bodyguard, Liu Shun, who carried a candle in one hand and handed the empty wooden box to Lin Li. Liu Teng spoke, his voice soft and gentle: "Today we had the opportunity to go to the Xi official's residence. I had a young eunuch take this item near Wei Yao, and the eunuch watched as three black lice crawled onto Wei Yao's clothes. We agreed beforehand that I would only release the lice; whether those three little creatures could kill Wei Yao was none of my concern."

"Thank you, Minister Xie, for granting my wish to avenge myself."

"Aren't you afraid I'll lie to you and not help you at all?"

Lin Li: "I have my own way of finding out."

Liu Teng: "It seems there are also disciples of Master Sengzhi in the harem."

Lin Li lowered her eyes and responded with silence.

Liu Teng: "I did what you asked me to do, but what about the promises you made to me? You can't just thank me with empty words."

“I… Master Sengzhi didn’t leave me any valuables.”

Liu Shun was furious and scolded on behalf of her adoptive father: "You nun, how dare you deceive my father!"

Lin Li quickly defended herself: "I know how to tame lice! Once the Minister sees how tragically Wei Yao died, he will know how powerful the lice-taming technique is. I am willing to write down the method of taming poisonous lice and give it to the Minister!"

Liu Teng chuckled: "I knew it. Lin Li, remember, this is the last time I'll trust you."

He waved his hand dismissively, and Liu Shun, his face cold, pulled out a pen and paper tucked behind his waist, walked closer to Lin Li and said, "Write now! If you dare to lie again..."

Before he could finish speaking, Liu Shun threw away the candle, first dislocated Lin Li's jaw, then twisted her arm behind her back. As the candle went out, Tiger Warriors and jailers poured in from outside the door.

Lin Li has no chance to commit suicide; what awaits her is torture that will leave her unable to live or die.

After the officers from the Court of Justice took Lin Li away, Liu Shun asked worriedly, "Father, her crimes don't involve us, do they?"

"What's involved? As soon as I got the poisonous lice, I had you hand them over to the Court of Justice. I gave the eunuch three ordinary lice to lure the remnants of Sengzhi into revealing their weaknesses. Whether I did as Lin Li said or not, it wouldn't have killed Wei Yao. It would have only provided the Court of Justice with a few more wicked people who use witchcraft to harm others. So, I still have merit to claim."

"My father is amazing!"

Liu Teng shook his head: "Sengzhi is the real formidable one. She's been dead for so long, and I still have to fight her."

Jingyi Lane, outside the city gate of Dongyang.

Former Imperial Censor Li Biao's residence.

Li Biao's most glorious period was during the late emperor's southern expedition against Xuanhu, when he, along with former Minister of the Imperial Secretariat Li Chong and Prince of Rencheng Yuan Cheng, jointly managed the affairs of the court.

Li Biao used to be very successful, but after being dismissed from his post, he became very disappointed. In particular, minor officials such as You Zhao, Chang Jing, and Zhang Lun, who lived in Jingyi Lane, used to treat him with utmost respect, but now when they met him on the way out, he had to give way and bow to them first.

Without an official position, there was no salary. The Li family's resources dwindled, and their lives gradually became difficult. Li Biao had no choice but to swallow his pride and beg the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, Wang Su, to allow him to temporarily work as a commoner in the Secretariat to compile history.

Li Biao returned home at night. Usually, his son Li Zhi would wait for him at the door with a lamp lit, but tonight it was his ten-year-old daughter Li Yin who was waiting for him.

Li Biao asked, "What's the matter?"

"Father, is there a lady in the palace named Wei Yao?"

(End of this chapter)