Chapter 1264: Whether He Lives or Dies Is Not Important

Da Wang was escorted to the Heaven Prison and locked in a cell of the third rank. He was actually still a bit dazed—collecting a security fee, how did that land him in the Heaven Prison? This was the Ministry of Justice's prison.

Their case—how could He Deheneng possibly warrant the Ministry of Justice stepping in?

A small case, was it really necessary?

He also realized something was off, but no one told them the inside story. His accomplice had an even duller head than his. At least he had followed Chen Chen Guanlou around and picked up a few useful things, and he had also attended school for a few years.

Sister Sister Chunxiang's eyes were swollen from crying.

At first, the daughter-in-law had simply gone back to her parents' home. Later, upon learning the case would be handled severely and Da Wang might lose his life, she decisively demanded a divorce.

Sister Sister Chunxiang couldn't stop her, and could only watch helplessly as her daughter-in-law went to the yamen to process the divorce papers. Even if it meant bearing a bad name, she wanted to cut ties with Da Wang's family.

If Da Wang's case implicated the whole family and they were sentenced to exile, as his wife she couldn't escape it either—she would have to go into exile too.

Better to take advantage of the fact that the case hadn't been sentenced yet, hurry to divorce and save herself, and also protect her maiden family. It might seem heartless, but it was her instinct as a human being to seek advantage and avoid harm.

Husband and wife are birds in the same forest—when disaster strikes, each flies away!

Save one if you can!

Da Wang was still dazed when he noticed someone standing before his cell door.

He looked up, "Lou Ge'er!"

"Call me uncle! I address your mother as sister-in-law, so you calling me 'brother'—is that appropriate? You've got the seniority all mixed up." Chen Chen Guanlou scolded sternly.

Da Wang actually laughed, feeling a long-lost sense of security, and then tears immediately fell. He was terrified! Although he had been holding on these past days, his heart had never been at ease, growing more and more panicked. Today, seeing a familiar face, he finally couldn't hold back and released the long-standing unease and panic inside him.

Seeing him cry uncontrollably, Chen Chen Guanlou handed him a water flask. "Drink some water, calm yourself down."

"Lou-ge, am I going to die?"

"Why would you think that?"

"This is the Heaven Prison, the Ministry of Justice's prison. Our case—how could it possibly warrant the Ministry of Justice taking over? Something big must have happened."

Chen Chen Guanlou hummed. "You're not that stupid. Whether you die or not, let's not get into that for now. At this stage of the case, you lot are no longer the key. The Censorate's sword points at the county yamen—they want to dig out the rot. You're all just incidental pawns."

Ah!

Da Wang's face was blank.

He hadn't really understood.

He asked in a small voice, "Is the county magistrate going to have bad luck?"

"Very likely!"

"Then what about us…"

"Don't expect to get out of prison anytime soon. Until the verdict from the people above comes down, you all have to wait your turn. Stay put in your cell. I've already instructed the jailers to take good care of you—no need to worry about being taken to the punishment room for torture. If the officials above come to interrogate you, just tell the truth. But when you speak, mind your measure—don't drag yourself in!"

Da Wang scratched his hair. "I'm afraid that once I get nervous, I'll start talking nonsense."

"If you're nervous, then keep your mouth shut tight." Chen Chen Guanlou's face was stern.

Da Wang nodded heavily. Then he asked about his family.

"Everyone at home is fine, they're all hoping you can get out of prison soon. So you have to do your part—think carefully about how to answer the interrogation, what truths to tell, how to get yourself out."

Da Wang committed it firmly to memory.

Chen Chen Guanlou didn't tell him that his wife had gone to the yamen to process the divorce. He was afraid the kid would, in a fit of impulse, spout nonsense and drag himself in.

Chen Chen Guanlou went to see Niu Er next.

Looking scholarly and refined, who would have thought he was a hot-tempered brute—killing at the slightest disagreement. Just past twenty years old, truly impetuous.

"Niu Er, you've caused a huge disaster!"

Niu Er raised his eyes to look, his expression full of contempt. "Nothing more than death."

"You're not afraid of dying?"

"Afraid! But when I think that so many people will be buried with me, I'm happy!"

Damn!

So he's the type who doesn't fear anything.

"So whether you die or not doesn't matter, as long as that group of bully-helpers who oppressed you dies."

Niu Er didn't deny it. "Back then, Bin-ge asked me if I was sure I wanted to blow this case wide open. I told him—I killed two people, no matter what it's a death sentence. But those bully-helpers who tormented me must also die. Otherwise I won't rest in peace. So, you say I've caused a huge disaster—do you see me afraid?"

"The Bin-ge you're talking about—that's the official from the Hanlin Academy."

"Yes!" Niu Er admitted very cleanly.

His relationship with Bin-ge couldn't be hidden from people, so better to admit it openly.

Chen Chen Guanlou nodded. "How many bully-helpers were tormenting you?"

"They're all in the same gang."

"But you can't tar everyone with the same brush."

Niu Er suddenly laughed. "My lord, among those bully-helpers there's someone you know, right? But I can't sort out that many details. I only know the people who bullied me were yamen bully-helpers. Don't worry about which specific individuals—in short, they're bully-helpers, all in the same gang."

Pretty clever.

"You've studied?"

Niu Er grinned. "Not only have I studied, I'm a xiucai."

"Since you're a xiucai, why would you do the work of a peddler or laborer?"

"Of course because I'm poor, and the money comes fast!" Niu Er's face was frank and open, not caring that people knew his xiucai status yet he made a living through trade.

Chen Chen Guanlou was silent for a moment, then asked, "To the death, no rest?"

"My lord, I have no choice in this matter! Things are already beyond my control. Even if I'm willing to go to my death, that group of bully-helpers at the county yamen can't escape either."

"You understand."

"Bin-ge analyzed it all for me—once this blows up, it will inevitably drag in the officials. A county yamen under the Son of Heaven's feet, even if it's a small matter, once it reaches the Son of Heaven's ears, it becomes a matter of cosmic proportions. The Censorate has moved, the Ministry of Justice has moved—what comes next is beyond the likes of us to control. Now I just wait for death in peace!"

After Niu Er finished speaking, he let out a heh-heh laugh, looking quite pleased with himself.

As a nobody, who could have imagined that one day he would be able to shake the local county yamen, and even reach the Son of Heaven's ears, with the Son of Heaven personally inquiring into the case. What an honor!

Even if he were beheaded, when people mentioned him Niu Er in the future, they would have to give a thumbs-up and say, "Badass!"

That's called fame in life and after death!

A person lives one lifetime, just for the sake of reputation!

After learning of Niu Er's attitude, Chen Chen Guanlou did not continue the conversation.

The difficulty of bailing out Da Wang increased a little more.

That unlucky Da Wang — even if he doesn't die this time, he'll have to shed a layer of skin. Running errands on the side is one thing, dabbling in gray areas is another, but at least be cautious, use your brain, and prepare a fallback for yourself early on.

But him? He got addicted to it. Ran into a tough nut, and oops — all ruined!

Returning to the office, hot tea was already prepared, and the stove was burning brightly.

He lowered his head and noticed something extra on the desk — a note. Wang Hai asked to meet him in the evening.

He casually destroyed the note.

"Old Mu, is there anything to eat?"

"Does my lord want some pastries? There are some ready-made."

"Any fruit?"

"Early this morning the kitchen got two baskets of oranges. I tried one — a bit sour. Does my lord want some?"

"Have the kitchen send half a basket over. I'll taste them."

He decided to eat some sour oranges to clear his head!