Chapter 1241: Stingy Yet Generous

"Did the Three Judicial Offices say anything? How are these people to be dealt with? Did the higher-ups give any instructions?"

Chen Guanlou was worried about whether the Emperor was impatient, eagerly wanting to end this case. Regardless of civil officials or military generals, just behead them all and be done with it.

"The Three Judicial Offices have to enter the palace to ask the Emperor for instructions. There were no instructions on how to deal with them specifically."

"Since there are no instructions, everything remains as usual. Take them down and treat them well. As long as the higher-ups don't speak for a day, we will act as if we know nothing."

With Chen Guanlou's order, the prison guards all moved.

Mu Yiguan finished the diagnosis and came to the office to report.

"They were beaten with technique; it's very clear the Yamen Runners performing the punishment received benefits, and someone was playing little tricks privately. Those civil officials only have skin injuries and will be able to recover after resting for a few days. On the military general side, they were beaten quite ruthlessly and have internal injuries, so they need careful recuperation."

"Is there any danger to their lives?" Chen Guanlou frowned and asked.

"With this old man here, they won't die."

"That's very good!"

Chen Guanlou thought to himself, what is Chen Guanfu doing, letting people drill holes and play tricks.

Later, he learned that on that day, Chen Guanfu didn't go to listen in. He was the heir, backed by the Marquis of Pingjiang; under the situation of being watched by everyone, going once to express his stance was enough. It was impossible to go listen in every court session.

He wasn't there, so people drilled holes and played tricks, playing games.

Anyway, there was nothing to do, so Chen Guanlou went down to the Grade A prison, first to visit Wu She and the other three.

Today they suffered a great crime, and all four were lying on the bed, listless.

Chen Guanlou clicked his tongue twice, angry at their lack of ambition.

"Don't move, just lie down properly. It's just a board beating; they didn't give you proper torture, which is already considered very polite. The doctor said you have internal injuries and need to recuperate well. For the next few days, be peaceful."

"Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen, today it wasn't that we were dragging our feet, but that someone came from the palace, and everything was uncontrollable." Bai Yushu was in pain, but didn't forget to explain.

"I know you tried your best; you have a bit of progress. Next time you go to court, strive to perform better. If you have any needs, just tell the prison guards; I will satisfy you as much as possible."

Seeing there were no big problems, he continued to patrol the prison and came to the cell door where Tian Youfu was locked.

"Lord Tian, good luck!"

"Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen, don't mock this old man."

It was indeed a light injury; Tian Youfu could still sit on the bed board to rest.

"How can it be called mockery? I am sincerely congratulating you. Looking at today's court session, your side is definitely stable."

Tian Youfu, however, shook his head and said: "Until the very end, no one can say for sure. If one day this old man is beheaded, I still ask Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen to do a good deed, help this old man collect the body, place it in the righteous village, and wait for the Tian family to come to the capital to send me back to fall into the roots."

Chen Guanlou, upon hearing this, raised his eyebrows slightly. "Old Tian, why are you so pessimistic? It might not necessarily be beheaded."

Tian Youfu, however, smiled and shook his head. "The Emperor's heart, sigh, having watched for so many years, I can still guess one or two. If the case were tried in the Northwest, this old man wouldn't dare say anything else, but I could still manage to retreat completely. This place in the capital is extremely evil. This old man has done statistics; over these years, of the criminal officials escorted to the capital for trial, nine out of ten main culprits are beheaded immediately. This old man is very unfortunate; as the main culprit of this case, haha..."

Speaking of life and death, the old guy could still laugh. He was worthy of being an old oil stick who had been immersed in the officialdom for decades; his psychological quality was strong, and ordinary people couldn't compare at all. Those blockheads like Wu She weren't even worthy of carrying his shoes. No wonder the grain and fodder area had always been suppressed and beaten by this group of civil officials.

"It doesn't necessarily have to be death; maybe you are that exception." Chen Guanlou comforted him half-heartedly.

"Don't comfort me; I know my own affairs. This case cannot be settled well." Tian Youfu, through today's court session, had clearly basically seen through the situation in the capital and had prepared in his heart.

"Alright! If you are really beheaded, I will arrange for someone to collect your body, help you sew it up nicely, and ensure the body is complete. However, you have to give money."

Worthy of being a Heavenly Jiang Jiang Yucheng, dead set on money!

Tian Youfu lowered his head and smiled. "Money is a small matter. Although the family was raided, at least there are a few things to rely on."

He beckoned for Chen Guanlou to walk closer, then whispered: "I know Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen acts with principles and never reports. Therefore, I am willing to trust you."

Chen Guanlou patted his chest to guarantee. "You can trust me 100%. Back then, when Jiang Tu was locked in the Heavenly Prison, his affairs were also handled by me. Look, have I ever reported him? Jiang Tu had a feud with the Hou Fu, and they fought for a whole winter, with heavy casualties on both sides, and I could still tolerate him. How could I not tolerate you, a criminal official?"

Tian Youfu finally felt relieved; coming to the capital, this was the only thing that made him feel at ease.

He said softly: "Sorry to trouble Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen to go to the Sanfu Inn on Willow Lane in the south of the city to find the shopkeeper; this is the token, and he will give you enough silver."

Sure enough, it's a cunning rabbit with three burrows; money can be taken from anywhere.

This group of officials, their brains are just good. Worthy of being reading elites!

"Just collecting the body?"

Just collecting the body doesn't cost much money. Chen Guanlou felt the money was a bit little and wasn't very willing to run errands.

"Is there nothing else that needs help?"

A little more work, so he could collect more money.

Tian Youfu smiled, and he hadn't seen him get angry. Old guy, smiling tiger, no wonder he could compete with the Marquis of Pingjiang in the Northwest. However, the Marquis of Pingjiang was still one move higher, throwing out a few military generals to pit this group of civil officials.

This is the real willingness to give up!

Civil officials are just too unwilling to give up, so they jumped into the pit. Everything swallowed over the past ten or twenty years has to be spat out. I don't know if they regret it!

"This case reaches the ears of the Emperor, so I won't trouble Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen. Rest assured, your hard work fee won't be missing."

Chen Guanlou reluctantly accepted. "Fine! Little money has little money's way. Tomorrow, ask the doctor; if it's okay, I'll add a meal for you. Don't blame me for being vulgar; the Heavenly Prison has this rule."

"This old man understands! Many thanks for Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen's help! If this old man dies one day, if there is a spirit in heaven, I will definitely bless you."

"Forget it. You bless your descendants; no need to worry about me."

He didn't care for the blessings of the dead.

Chen Guanlou left the Heavenly Prison, and the next day, he instructed Qian Fugui to take the token to get the money.

He originally thought it was a small business of at most one hundred taels.

He never expected that Tian Youfu was generous, actually giving one thousand taels.

"Collecting a body, giving one thousand taels. Could it be a golden body?" Chen Guanlou complained in a low voice.

Qian Fugui was quite happy. "Corrupt officials' money, not taking it is not taking it."

"Not so! This official suspects the old guy surnamed Tian has no good intentions."

An old fox in the officialdom, not seeing a rabbit and not releasing a hawk, running an errand to collect a body and giving one thousand taels. What for? Bribing him? One thousand taels couldn't possibly bribe him.

Besides, whether he dies or not is still an unknown.

Maybe that group of civil officials will stir things up, and the situation will have a turning point.

"Warden, this money?"

"Keep it first! When he dies, prepare a top-class coffin to bury him, and then hire a top-class corpse-sewing craftsman."

"Alright! The small one understands!" ===== CHAPTER 1242 =====