Chapter 1074: See the quality first

"It depends on how low your bottom line can go, Official Su, and I also have to ask for Lady Lu's own thoughts."

Chen Guanlou said in a light tone, as if he were saying the weather was nice today, completely meaningless.

Su Xuezhi was a bit dazed; he didn't react for a moment and didn't understand the deep meaning behind these words.

"My bottom line?" He repeated subconsciously, "I hope Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen can speak plainly."

Chen Guanlou looked at him with a smile that wasn't quite a smile and picked up his teacup but didn't drink—this was the attitude of serving tea to see a guest out.

Su Xuezhi's cheeks instantly turned red. What did this mean?

Was the conversation today ending here?

This wasn't right; they hadn't reached a result yet.

Seeing that he didn't move, Mu Qingshan walked in. "Official Su, please this way. I will see you out."

"Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen..."

"My master is busy with official business; let's talk another day. Please do not make things difficult for me, Official Su."

Su Xuezhi had no choice but to leave first.

He thought to himself, perhaps it was because he had come too hastily today and hadn't prepared a gift. Next time he visited, he would definitely be well-prepared.

After seeing Su Xuezhi off, Chen Guanlou flipped through Lady Lu's case file again. Regarding the evidence, the Six Shanmen had handled it very carefully, from the purchase channels of the poison and the personnel involved to the poisoning itself; the whole process was handled very solidly. The chain of evidence was complete.

"Does the master really want to overturn the verdict for Lady Lu?"

Mu Qingshan returned to the office.

"When did I say I wanted to overturn the verdict for someone? I have repeatedly emphasized that the Heavenly Prison is a place to guard prisoners, not a place to try cases. Overturning verdicts or not, that matter doesn't fall under our jurisdiction."

"Does the master mean to refuse Su Xuezhi?"

"I didn't say I refused him either. His initial request was to get someone out. Getting someone out isn't just about overturning a verdict. Besides, Lady Lu's case has ironclad evidence and cannot be denied, so where does the talk of overturning the verdict come from? I hadn't paid attention to this case before, but I know it caused some waves in official circles, and imperial officials have a high degree of concern for this case. Moreover, that noble young lady is said to have put out the word that Lady Lu must die. She finally found a desirable husband, only for him to be poisoned to death. How could the noble young lady not hate her?!"

Chen Guanlou smiled, sounding like he was talking about the case, but one could also hear a bit of sarcasm.

Stealing someone's husband or wife, no matter how deeply affectionate or how deep the love is claimed to be, in essence, it is just robbery. It is the same nature as a roadside robber, perhaps even more serious. Because this belongs to home invasion robbery, which is a crime compounded.

Don't call it stealing! Don't defile the word "stealing."

Robbery is robbery; it has nothing to do with stealing.

"What does the master intend to do?"

"I haven't decided yet! I have to meet the person involved first before making a decision."

He had to see Lady Lu's quality first. He didn't take every commission, nor did he get everyone out! And the price varied from person to person. It could be hundreds or thousands of taels, or tens of thousands. The fluctuation range was large, mainly determined by the quality of the person involved and their demands.

Visiting a female prisoner in the female prison was easy.

He was a Jiang Jiang Yucheng of the Heavenly Prison, after all; although he didn't manage the female prisoners, it didn't prevent him from taking a walk through the female prison.

Furthermore, he had dealt with Prison Clerk Hu so many times; he still had that much face.

Of course, he wouldn't go empty-handed; he brought Prison Clerk Hu a portion of top-tier tea leaves. The tea leaves were naturally plucked from the Hou Fu; they couldn't be bought outside. They were comparable to tribute items, perhaps even better.

Prison Clerk Hu accepted the gift, and a rare hint of a smile appeared on his face.

It was just that for this person, whether he smiled or not, his appearance was quite ghastly.

"Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen is also paying attention to Lady Lu's case."

"I heard about it, so I came to take a look. It won't delay anything, will it?"

"No delay, no delay."

Prison Clerk Hu called over a little eunuch and ordered him to lead the Jiang Jiang Yucheng to the main prison.

"Lady Lu is a death row prisoner, so she isn't locked in the courtyard but in a cell. The cell is dark and damp; Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen, watch your step."

"Has Lady Lu's sentence been passed down? I looked at the case file and didn't see it."

"The sentence hasn't been officially passed down yet, but she will definitely go to the execution ground; this case cannot be overturned. I heard that she is the only one left in the Lu family; even if she has money, no one is running around for her."

"I heard her father was very famous when he was alive; aren't there any family friends or old acquaintances to save her?"

"How many years has Master Lu been dead? Lady Lu hasn't really gone out and socialized in all these years; the family friends and old acquaintances have probably long forgotten her. I reckon she herself is too embarrassed to ask for help." The little eunuch said casually while leading the way.

Not burning incense in normal times and only hugging Buddha's feet in an emergency—there is no such good thing in the world.

Blame Lady Lu herself; after getting married, she treated her husband as heaven, handed her life over to the man surnamed Wen, and planned wholeheartedly only for the man surnamed Wen, never thinking of herself at all. When trouble struck, she couldn't find a single helper.

If it weren't for Su Xuezhi, a former student of Master Lu, who still had a conscience and was willing to run around for her, hmph...

The female prison was similar in structure to the A-grade prison, with half of it underground. But it wasn't built as sturdily or securely as the A-grade prison, and the materials used were relatively ordinary.

After all, female prisoners had a courtyard. Noble people who committed crimes were all locked in courtyards. Only female prisoners without connections or money to grease palms, or dangerous female prisoners, would be locked in the main prison.

Entering the main prison and walking along the corridor, they finally arrived in front of the cell where Lady Lu was locked up.

"Lady Lu, this is Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen of the Heavenly Prison; he has a few questions to ask you. Answer truthfully. If you answer well, you will get meat soup for your next meal. If you don't cooperate and anger Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen, you will bear the consequences yourself."

The little eunuch dropped a harsh threat, then turned his head and bowed obsequiously to Chen Guanlou. "Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen, the one inside is Lady Lu. I will wait in the duty room. If you have any needs, just give a shout."

"Fine! Go do your work." After saying this, Chen Guanlou tossed a piece of silver to the little eunuch.

Oh my, five taels of silver at once, a whole piece. The rumors were indeed true; Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen was indeed generous. The little eunuch's mouth couldn't close from happiness, and after flattering him a few more times, he finally retreated in a hurry.

Lady Lu was a mess, clearly having not groomed herself for a long time. She raised her head slightly, revealing a palm-sized face; despite suffering the disaster of imprisonment, one could still see that she was very delicate, not a peerless beauty, but a beauty in the true sense of the word.

"Lady Lu, I have read your case file."

Lady Lu opened her mouth, and it took a long while before she found her voice. "May I ask why Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen has come? Is there still a question from the Ministry of Justice? I remember my case has already been investigated clearly, and I have already explained everything that needed to be explained."

Chen Guanlou's expression was a smile that wasn't quite a smile. "I am not here representing the Ministry of Justice; your case currently seems to have no questions. Lady Lu, have you ever thought that someone would take the initiative to stand up and call for justice for you, running around for you?"

"How could that be? There is no one left in our Lu family. Even if there were, they would be ashamed of me! I have lived a very failed life; who else would be willing to run around for me? Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen, please don't tease me."

"How could that be! If it weren't for someone's request, why would I make this trip? Among your father's many students, there are ingrates like Wen Huairen, but naturally, there are also those who remember your father's kindness. Su Xuezhi—is this name familiar?"

Lady Lu was stunned, and in the blink of an eye, tears welled up. "So it was Senior Brother Su; how could he... he..." ===== CHAPTER 1075 =====