Chapter 1141: Buck Up, Buck Up

"Xiao Changsheng is thinking of ways to get out of prison. What about you? For such a long time, what have you been doing? Do you want to sit in the Heavenly Prison until the end of time?"

Chen Guanlou was like a teacher of a graduating class who hated that his students wouldn't improve, standing in front of Gu Yiyang's cell door, criticizing him bitterly, just hoping this student could buck up, catch up, and not let everyone's expectations down.

"What way could he have? He was disrespectful to His Majesty; his charges are nailed down. What right does he have to get out?"

Gu Yiyang seemed to have determined that Xiao Changsheng couldn't get out and was half-believing his words. The subtext was that he refused to improve and continued to rot. He was living quite well in the Heavenly Prison, and it didn't matter if he didn't get out for the time being.

Chen Guanlou was angry to death; with this attitude, no wonder he couldn't beat Xiao Changsheng.

He said angrily, "You don't think about catching up, you only know how to say 'what right'. Don't worry about what right he has; don't wait until he gets out while you're still sitting in prison—I'll see what face you have left to see people. You'll shame your ancestors!"

"How could he possibly get out? Brother Chen, don't try to fool me."

"With one order from His Majesty, he can get out." Chen Guanlou said decisively, "Even if the Three Judicial Offices try to stop it, they can't stop His Majesty's will. If His Majesty is determined to let him out, may I ask, who can stop Xiao Changsheng from getting out of prison?"

Gu Yiyang frowned, still not daring to believe it.

He had his own set of logic, "Impossible. Since he entered, it proves that someone in the court is exerting force. He hasn't been in prison for long, and the cell bench hasn't even warmed up yet, and he wants to get out—this is a slap in the face. Those people in the court would rather reject the Emperor's face than be slapped in the face."

"These words make sense. However, there are exceptions to everything." Chen Guanlou nodded and shook his head, "Think about it, from Imperial Consort Xiao to Xiao Changsheng, can their affairs be inferred according to conventional experience?

According to conventional experience, Imperial Consort Xiao should have died eight hundred years ago, and Xiao Changsheng should still be a street hoodlum. But look at them now, how glorious the brother and sister are. It shows they are extraordinary people!

Since they are extraordinary people, they cannot be inferred with conventional experience. In them, miracles exist, fortune exists, and things that don't conform to reason exist! Brother Gu, don't pin all your hopes on the so-called court rules; you also have to think of a way to get yourself out early. I'm still waiting for you to treat me to drinks!"

Gu Yiyang said, "After I get out, I'll treat you to drinks on a painted boat, with the most beautiful girls serving you."

"Don't just talk about it, you have to do it! If you don't think of a way to get out of prison, I'll have to wait until the year of the monkey to drink your wine." Chen Guanlou was very disgusted.

Just talking nicely with the mouth without any actual action was useless!

"Don't rush, don't rush. It's coming, it's coming. Brother Chen, help me keep an eye on Xiao Changsheng and see what movements he has. No matter what, I won't allow him to get out of prison before me."

"Eh, that's right! You need to have this spirit, this boldness. Can you endure your enemy living better than you? No, you can't endure it at all. What to do? Just dry him. Find people if you need to, smooth out relationships if you need to; don't wait until the end and be snatched ahead by someone else. Sitting in prison is a small matter, face is a big matter!"

Chen Guanlou bluffed him, just hoping the other party would fight with Xiao Changsheng.

It was originally a competitive relationship; a little bit of provocation and sarcasm, and he imagined it would be very lively later on. Maybe he could take the opportunity to make a fortune.

Whether he made money or not didn't matter; the key was to watch the show.

Xiao Changsheng's life was well-provided; even if he was sitting in prison, he tried his best to ensure his daily needs. Therefore, his expenses in the Heavenly Prison were among the top—a proper big client, a high-quality resource. The prison guards all liked to serve him, and from time to time, they could get tips.

"Buying people's hearts!"

Chen Guanlou saw through the other party's intention at a glance.

"It's just that he doesn't need to do this at all. He isn't escaping prison, so why spend money to tip the guards? Even without tips, the guards would look after him well for the sake of the bonus."

"Maybe he has too much money and nowhere to spend it." Medical Official Mu joked.

"Impossible!" Chen Guanlou denied it flatly, "Imperial Consort Xiao has three sons, three whole sons. What is that? Are they just simple sons? No! They are three gold-swallowing beasts. Who can the three princes rely on? They can only rely on their uncle, Xiao Changsheng. No matter how much money there is, the three princes can toss it all away. Usurping the throne is about usurping hearts, luck, and even more so, money. Without money, you're a pauper; let's see who will sell their lives for you!"

The Xiao family were upstarts, lacking foundation, which meant lacking accumulation. The money was all saved up over these years. Like a castle in the air, it wasn't solid! How could he dislike having too much money?

After hearing this, Medical Official Mu also felt it made sense.

"Then why do you say he tips the guards?"

Chen Guanlou couldn't think of it and could only order Chen Quan to watch more closely and report any abnormal situation immediately.

He also asked Medical Official Mu to check the bodies of the two "brothers-in-law" to ensure they were healthy and not poisoned.

"Do you suspect Xiao Changsheng is going to poison them?"

"I suspect everyone. There isn't a single person locked inside who is a good character. As the saying goes, if something is abnormal, there must be a demon. Xiao Changsheng has money, but it's not spent this way!"

Chen Guanlou didn't even trust Mu Wenxu, worried that his medical skills weren't up to par. He only trusted Medical Official Mu's examination results.

Medical Official Mu worked hard every day, going down to the Grade-A cell to check the bodies of the two "brothers-in-law".

Every result was "Everything is normal!"

"They are far healthier than their peers. The prison environment isn't good, but for the two of them, it actually had a nourishing effect. No debauchery, no paper-drunken gold-obsessed life; they are even stronger than when they first entered prison."

When Chen Guanlou heard this, he instantly became sour.

Why, why!

Sitting in prison can actually nourish the body.

Too much!

"No signs of poisoning?"

"Absolutely none! Three meals on time, normal diet. Except for not getting sunlight and the skin being a bit abnormally white, everything else is very healthy. Minister, should we continue to watch?"

"Continue! Check once a day. These two are not people who will stay safe and sound; don't have any illusions about them. It is very necessary to maintain vigilance."

Two natural trouble-making bodies—how could they stay safe and sound in prison?

Not making trouble wouldn't fit their persona and consistent style.

Privately, some people complained that he was making a fuss and was suspicious, but when it was time to perform duties, he didn't mess around.

Occasionally, Chen Guanlou himself couldn't help but suspect that he was thinking too much.

Until...

Someone invited him to drink flower wine, and he was delayed in the brothel until early morning.

After washing his face and rushing to the Heavenly Prison to perform his duties, the prison guards on duty in the Grade-A cell were all unconscious!

Chen Guanlou splashed a basin of cold water down, and Chen Quan woke up in a daze.

"What's going on? Why did everyone get hit? Who came last night?"

Chen Quan wiped his face, his brain still a bit fuzzy, trying hard to recall, "Last night, last night, I remember last night..." ===== CHAPTER 1142 =====