Chapter 1112: You're Done For

Emperor Jian Shi frowned, pondering deeply as he sized up Wei Wubing.

"You believe that keeping the Jixia Academy, even tacitly allowing them to rise, would be better than the present situation."

Wei Wubing weighed his words and ventured:

"Jixia Academy at least knows the rules. After a few years of suppression, they act with more propriety than before. Switching to another house may not necessarily be better. Especially those sects — wildly ambitious, they cannot be left unguarded.

"And those noble families — every generation of emperors has stressed that the clans must never be allowed to grow too powerful. The lesson of the Great Yu Dynasty is a profound one. Jingcheng needs a benchmark, and Jixia Academy has shouldered this duty admirably. This servant believes that keeping Jixia Academy brings more benefit than harm."

Speaking from the big picture truly moved the Emperor.

The Emperor wished to surpass his predecessors and become a wise ruler; he could not afford to ignore the overall situation.

Had this been last year's Emperor, popping enhanced pills with a violent temperament, he naturally would not have heeded counsel.

This year's Emperor was clearly much calmer.

He rubbed his brow, looking visibly irritated. Intellectually he agreed with the other's argument. But emotionally, he wanted to clip Jixia Academy's wings — keeping them was a bane in the end, robbing him of sleep and appetite.

Wei Wubing clearly read the Emperor's misgivings. He chose his words carefully: "Your Majesty need not worry on Jixia Academy's account. Setting aside that for now no one has advanced to Grandmaster, even if one day someone succeeded, to catch up with this servant — they likely could not in a lifetime.

"It is not this servant's arrogance, but the Grandmaster path is too profound and subtle. What can be stated for certain is that the younger one is, the greater the chance of breakthrough. The older one gets, one may well be stuck in place for life.

"That person at Jixia Academy is already old. Without a stroke of fortune, there is simply no chance. Even with a stroke of fortune, it would only mean one extra opportunity, nothing more."

Emperor Jian Shi heard this and his face lit up. "Truly?"

"This servant would not dare deceive Your Majesty." Wei Wubing bowed slightly to show respect.

Emperor Jian Shi burst out laughing, his mood lifting.

The palace attendants throughout the hall laughed along, finally coming back to life. The vast palace had human warmth again — a cause for celebration!

At this moment a palace attendant reported that Gentleman of Ceremonial Jiang Linchuan had arrived and was waiting outside the hall.

The Emperor's smile grew all the more genuine at the news. "Summon him at once!"

He also said to Wei Wubing, "The new Gentleman of Ceremonial — have a look at him for me in a moment."

A moment later, Jiang Linchuan entered the Cool Breeze Hall and bowed. "Your servant pays respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty enjoy blessings and longevity."

"Minister Jiang has arrived — rise quickly. Eunuch Wei, look here — this is my Gentleman of Ceremonial. Is he not a fine and talented gentleman?"

Wei Wubing's gaze was knife-like, stabbing straight at Jiang Linchuan. "My lord Jiang, under which school and which sect did you study?"

"No school, no sect. I merely learned a few tricks of fancy footwork from an elder at home." Jiang Linchuan's manner was neither humble nor overbearing. His face was exceedingly fair, his bearing exceedingly upright — he did not look like a flattering minister who served with his looks.

Wei Wubing took no liking to Jiang Linchuan. A man with a woman's face was nothing good. He feared the Emperor might be bewitched.

But he said nothing. Instead, going along with the Emperor's wishes, he praised Jiang Linchuan a few times.

Emperor Jian Shi was indeed overjoyed. Those he valued, he naturally hoped everyone would speak well of.

Whoever spoke ill of them would earn his lasting grudge.

Wei Wubing found an excuse and took his leave first.

Jiang Linchuan held his book and read with great solemnity, slipping in personal observations and seizing the chance to insert some private goods.

The Emperor paid it no heed at all — merely gazing at that face left him thoroughly content. As for the content of the reading, the smuggled private goods were of no consequence.

Before leaving the imperial lodge, Wei Wubing instructed his adopted son Wang Hai to go to Jixia Academy to deliver a message.

Wang Hai received the order and dared not delay. He first hurried to Jixia Academy to complete his task, then rushed off to the Heaven Prison to find Chen Chen Guanlou.

"You're done for."

Eunuch Wang Hai, the moment he saw Chen Chen Guanlou, opened with a voice meant to seize the upper hand — he had to deliver a shock.

Chen Chen Guanlou unhurriedly invited the man to drink. "Tell me, why am I done for? By all reason, even if you were done for, I couldn't be."

Wang Hai chuckled, mocking the other's self-importance.

"Eunuch Wei is going to protect Jixia Academy and Grandmaster Qi, and he's even persuaded His Majesty. Tell me — aren't you done for?"

Chen Chen Guanlou's expression was calm, looking quite unbothered. "Many thanks to Brother Wang for thinking of me. Come, I'll toast you a cup."

Wang Hai frowned. "You really aren't worried at all?"

"What's the use of worrying? I've told you — I have the means to protect myself. You really won't believe me!"

He feigned annoyance. "I'm your senior, after all. Could you have a little faith in me?"

Wang Hai, glum, stressed: "That's a Grandmaster!"

"Yes, yes, yes — Grandmaster, very impressive."

Chen Chen Guanlou was somewhat disdainful. Spoken as if he himself could not advance to Grandmaster.

For him, Grandmaster was a matter of one final push. It was only Wang Hai making a fuss over nothing.

He pulled the man along. "Come on, come on — I'll take you out to have some fun."

He dragged him straight to a brothel and, in one go, called over seven or eight pretty Misses to fawn over Eunuch Wang.

Eunuch Wang, juggling so many women at once, was run ragged — and his feelings were complicated too.

He was a eunuch, so this really was…

Fortunately, he wasn't asked to pay.

Chen Chen Guanlou was very generous — good brothers must share good fortune. He paid for the overnight fee and let Eunuch Wang enjoy to the fullest. As for himself — he slipped away first!

The weather was hot, and everyone was on edge! Cases were piling up!

Prison Block C was bursting at the seams.

Xu Xu Fugui only handled the money; everything else he refused to have anything to do with.

Chen Chen Guanlou occasionally went down to Prison Block C to inspect, and overall he was satisfied.

Huang Ye had flaws, but in terms of management, he did a fine job.

"If there are any difficulties, raise them in time. Whatever can be resolved for you will be resolved."

Huang Ye hesitated, then said: "Reporting to my lord, it's still the same old problem. The medicinal supplies exceed the budget by a portion every month."

Chen Chen Guanlou grunted. "Hot weather, wounds get infected easily — understandable. What did Xu Xu Fugui say?"

"Warden Xu says it's his duty, and told me not to meddle in other people's business."

Chen Chen Guanlou thought it over. "I went through the ledgers of the Third-Grade Prison Block. It's clear Xu Xu Fugui is very diligent when it comes to handling money. The issue of overspending on medicinal ingredients — I'll take care of it."

Passing by a cell, the prisoner inside was writhing and wailing nonstop.

Chen Chen Guanlou asked, "What's going on?"

"Reporting to my lord, the prisoner was subjected to punishment and can't stand the pain."

"No medicine used?"

"It was used! Medical Officer Mu applied a painkiller, but the effect wore off."

Chen Chen Guanlou said expressionlessly, "Painkillers are very expensive. Anyone who isn't going to die — don't use painkillers on them. If they can bear it, let them bear it. If they can't, drag them to the back. When they stop howling, transfer them back out."

"Yes!"

The jailer immediately dragged the howling prisoner off to the back.

Without the noise, the filthy, squalid Third-Grade Prison Block looked, in Chen Chen Guanlou's eyes, fresh and pleasing — quite a sight for sore eyes.

Passing the cell of a prisoner convicted of annihilating a household, he was puzzled: "How long has it been? Why hasn't this person been beheaded yet?"