“Suspended beheading” - basically, there were two types of death sentences - immediate and suspended. The immediate execution usually happened as punishment for heavier crimes (for example, there were cases when a person was executed immediately while their accomplices got a suspended sentence). The suspended execution would be reviewed and finalized at a later date - usually in autumn (related to auspicious/inauspicious times for various actions).

General Qiu was executed pretty much immediately after his sentencing, but his crime was also gravely serious - treason. Censor Lai’s crimes, while still serious enough to get him a death sentence, will still allow him some time…