The Capital, Xisi Pailou.
Xisi Pailou lies northwest of the Imperial City, less than four miles away. Ever since the Yongle Emperor moved the capital to Beijing, the Great Ming Dynasty had consistently used this site for the execution of criminals. During the Qing Dynasty, it would become known as Caishikou.
At this moment, the area around Xisi Pailou was a sea of people; the common folk had flooded into the streets to witness the spectacle. Today’s spectacle, however, was different from the usual. The Emperor was going to have officials beheaded, men among whom were aristocrats and high-ranking court ministers. Usually, these people stood high above, holding the power of life and death over the commoners. Today, they were prisoners, and the people had to see them die with their own eyes to feel satisfied.
Chapter 41