Chapter 101: Madness before death

Chen Guanlou stood in front of the cell door, his face as calm as water.

Just now, he had notified Lord Jiang Fengyu of the verdict of immediate execution.

"His Majesty personally issued the decree. The decree reached the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Justice tried its best, but no one could change His Majesty's decision. I heard that someone proposed to go to Taiji Palace to petition, asking His Majesty to withdraw the order."

Jiang Fengyu had been sitting on the bed board. Since Chen Guanlou notified him of the news of immediate execution, he hadn't said a word, just sitting there motionless, like a clay sculpture.

"Lord Jiang, do you have any unfulfilled wishes? If you have words to tell your family, I will prepare the four treasures of the study for you and help you mail the letters."

Chen Guanlou rarely sympathized with an official who was about to be beheaded. Jiang Fengyu was a poor capital official, so poor that his official robe had patches and he relied on borrowing money to eat. Just because he signed the memorial impeaching Jiang Tu, he was arrested and thrown into the Heavenly Prison. The only fortunate thing was that the Imperial Prison was overcrowded, so he entered the Heavenly Prison, escaped the wolf-like Embroidered Uniform Guard, and did not suffer physical torture.

Pitiful, sigh-worthy, and sad.

A single signature cost him his life.

And he wasn't a rebel!

The old Emperor's favor for Jiang Tu was simply without bottom line. In order to vent his anger for Jiang Tu, he actually disregarded the facts and wanted to behead all the officials who signed. Was the old Emperor complaining that the court wasn't making enough of a fuss? Was he complaining that the rebels in Jinzhou weren't making enough of a fuss?

"Lord Jiang, what do you want to eat? Forget it, when you think of it, call out, and I will try my best to satisfy you."

Sympathy could only give Lord Jiang a little convenience, but it couldn't change the outcome. He left silently, hoping Jiang Fengyu could wake up as soon as possible and arrange his affairs.

Passing by Yu Zhaoan's cell door, Chen Guanlou did not stop.

Yu Zhaoan, however, was not willing to be lonely and muttered to him, "It's getting chaotic!"

"Lord Jiang is being beheaded, you seem quite happy?" Chen Guanlou narrowed his eyes and stared at the other party.

Yu Zhaoan laughed. "Chen Tou, you are finally willing to talk to this official. This official thought you would remain silent forever."

Chen Guanlou remained silent.

Some things don't need to be exposed; it's enough for both sides to know it in their hearts.

Yu Zhaoan smiled knowingly, everything under control. "Jiang Fengyu and the others being beheaded is just the beginning. Just wait and see, it will get more and more chaotic later."

Chen Guanlou opened his mouth, but still asked, "The outcome cannot be changed?"

Yu Zhaoan shook his head. "No one can change His Majesty's decision, no one! Unless..."

"Unless what?"

"Unless it were the His Majesty of ten years ago, perhaps there would be a glimmer of possibility."

The old Emperor of ten years ago could still listen to the remonstrances of his ministers and occasionally reflect on himself. The old Emperor of today is stubborn, suspicious, cold, and willful.

No one can change the old Emperor's decision, not even Jiang Tu. Jiang Tu's rise was just a coincidence. If it weren't Jiang Tu, it would be Xu Tu, Li Tu, or Zhang Tu. There would always be someone who would become the old Emperor's favorite lackey to do some dirty work for the old Emperor.

"Since you have no way, why are you talking nonsense? No time to chat with you." Chen Guanlou retorted impolitely.

Yu Zhaoan smiled, smiling very triumphantly. "Chen Tou is holding a grudge against this official! I intended to illuminate the bright moon with my heart, but the bright moon illuminates the ditch. Chen Tou, oh Chen Tou, you know not what is good for you, you know not a good heart. This official actually had a time when I misjudged; I truly was blind."

"If I knew what was good for me, the grass on my grave would already be half a person high by now." Chen Guanlou snorted coldly.

"Do you really think the death of that prison guard surnamed Hong was my doing?" Yu Zhaoan simply laid it out and asked directly.

Chen Guanlou stared at the other party, speculating what tricks the other party had at this moment and what purpose he had.

"It is hard on Lord Yu to actually remember the surname of a lowly prison guard."

"You are indeed convinced it was my doing. Hmph, this official doesn't bother to haggle with a lowly prison guard." Yu Zhaoan was as arrogant as ever. "In this prison, there is more than just this official who wants to pass messages out. Chen Tou, you cannot, because of prejudice, conclude that this official killed your man. To use your words, this is subjective consciousness, not objective at all."

Using his own spear to attack his own shield, Chen Guanlou laughed.

"Whether it was your doing or not, actually, it doesn't matter. What matters is that I know what kind of person you are and what kind of things you can do. If Lord Yu has no other high opinions, farewell!"

Chen Guanlou did not want to entangle with the other party and left quickly. As for Yu Zhaoan's defense, he didn't believe a word of it. Even if the other party might perhaps disdain to lie, so what? Hong Zhuangshi died; this is an indisputable fact. The money in the firewood pile, of unknown origin, is also a fact.

After a day and a night of silence, Jiang Fengyu finally came to his senses.

He looked at Chen Guanlou with tears in his eyes.

A big man, originally ugly, this crying made people even more unbearable to look at.

Jiang Fengyu had been an official for so many years and had never been successful; there was a reason for it. Officials qualified to stand in the court, regardless of their ability, were at least all imposing in appearance. For example, Yu Zhaoan in the neighboring cell, that appearance, even at sixty, was a handsome old man.

I heard that Jiang Tu, who was deeply favored by His Majesty, had a face comparable to Pan An, which was pleasing to the eye.

Case solved, the old Emperor is just a face-dog!

Those who are ugly are directly forked out.

Chen Guanlou rubbed his eyebrows, worried! "Lord Jiang, if you have any unfulfilled wishes, just say them. The Heavenly Prison is sometimes very humane and will try its best to satisfy you."

Jiang Fengyu said while sobbing, "I have been in the capital for more than ten years and have never returned home, only communicating by letter. I am unfilial!"

"Do you need the four treasures of the study? I will order someone to send them now."

Jiang Fengyu nodded and shook his head, crying with snot and tears, telling of the grievances in his heart. "On the first day I arrived in the capital, I passed by Zhang's Roast Duck, and the fragrance is still unforgettable to this day. I planned that when I had money, I would go eat a roast duck until I was so full I couldn't eat anymore. More than ten years have passed, and it is pitiful that I have never tasted Zhang's Roast Duck to this day. I am about to die, yet I haven't tasted the flavor of Zhang's Roast Duck; I cannot close my eyes even in death!"

Ah, just this?

Chen Guanlou was silent!

It shouldn't be like this!

He took a deep breath and promised solemnly, "It's just Zhang's Roast Duck; I'll arrange it. I'll arrange it for you tonight, and I guarantee you'll eat until you're full."

Jiang Fengyu nodded gratefully to Chen Guanlou, then wiped his snot and tears with his sleeve. "Thank you, Chen Tou. Also, I still owe money..."

"When a person dies, the debt is cleared; no need to worry about the debt."

"That's good, that's good." Jiang Fengyu was relieved, but tears kept falling; he was truly afraid! Everyone in the world is afraid of death; why did it have to be his turn, a poor capital official?

"Thunder, rain, and dew are all favors. However, why am I not convinced in my heart? I want to submit a memorial, I want to, I want to, I want to impeach Jiang Tu. Since I am going to die, before I die, I want to write an impeachment memorial myself. Please, Chen Tou, help me transfer it to the General Secretariat. Even if I go to hell, I will keep my eyes open and watch Jiang Tu's end. I want to see how long he can be arrogant."

Chen Guanlou hesitated for a few seconds and asked a redundant question, "Does Lord Jiang really want to impeach Jiang Tu?" ===== CHAPTER 102 =====