Chapter 1333: How Absurd the Reason for Killing Is

Chen Chen Guanlou pointed to the sky and swore, insisting this was absolutely not the case.

"What do I stand to gain? Gain from Old Wu Wu Dashou being old? Gain from him dying quickly? Old Sun, after all these years, do we not even have this much trust?"

"Don't talk to me about trust. I know you well. Xiao Xiao Jincheng would not shoot without a target, suddenly coming to test you. There must be a reason. You just need to tell me, in the Wu Wu Dashou case back then, did you really tamper with things? What exactly is the deal with that Zhang Kang?"

"No tampering. If you don't believe me, I can swear on the Heir's daughter."

Sun Sun Daoning looked at him, finding it hard to express his feelings in a single word.

"Meeting you is truly a great misfortune for the Heir's daughter. Even swearing a poisonous oath involves her." He paused, then continued: "You had better tell me the truth."

"The truth is there is none. When have you ever seen me meddle in others' business? That surname Xiao clearly wants to frame me and shift the blame. Who else but the Ministry of Justice stealing the spotlight before, causing the Embroidered Uniform Guard to take a loss?"

Chen Chen Guanlou was referring to the Song Shizheng case.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard were bribed by the natal family of the Dongping Wang Fei, acting as spokesmen for the Wei family. The Emperor was furious.

His own trained hawks and hounds had become someone else's hired hands; how could this be tolerated? Punishing the Wei family was not enough; he also gave the Embroidered Uniform Guard a thorough beating. As the head of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Xiao Xiao Jincheng could not escape blame and suffered for a long time. Only recently had things improved.

This is a grudge!

If Sun Sun Daoning had not exposed this matter to the Emperor, there would have been no subsequent events.

Sun Sun Daoning pondered carefully; this indeed matched the Embroidered Uniform Guard's style of conduct, holding a grudge and seeking revenge for the slightest slight.

At this moment, he already believed most of what Chen Chen Guanlou said.

After all, Chen Chen Guanlou's reputation for taking money to do jobs had spread throughout the great rivers and the north and south. At that time, the entire Wu family was imprisoned; it clearly looked like the rhythm of exterminating nine generations, and their home was thoroughly confiscated.

Under such circumstances, it was impossible for Wu Wu Dashou to offer silver to bribe someone.

Besides, after rescuing a child, where would one raise him, and how?

Chen Chen Guanlou's whereabouts these years were traceable; he was either in the Heavenly Prison or in a brothel. Occasionally taking a few days off, he just lay flat. Besides, what could one do in a few days off?

The rebel Zhang Kang was obviously not cultivated overnight. Judging by his fighting style, he must have received a good education. Although the scale was small, he had a mature team, and his path to rebellion was very steady.

Chen Chen Guanlou looked completely unreliable, and his knowledge was only at the half-barrel level. He could not teach students.

What a huge misunderstanding.

However, speaking of it, it was no wonder Sun Sun Daoning had this misunderstanding.

The fact that Chen Chen Guanlou possessed profound and practical theories on rebellion was known only to a few rebel leaders who were already dead. For example, the Great Ming Wang!

Back then, the Great Ming Wang wanted so much to recruit him to inherit the mantle. A natural body for rebellion, yet because he could not endure hardship, he stubbornly refused to rebel!

What a waste!

At this moment, Sun Sun Daoning basically believed Chen Chen Guanlou's explanation.

They are all people who do not rise early without profit. Even if one pities the poor and weak, the premise is that there must be benefits to gain. What benefits could there be in saving Wu Wu Dashou's grandson? See, pulling out a rebel leader suspected to be Wu Wu Dashou's grandson would implicate a whole area. Not a shred of benefit was seen; instead, one attracted a stench all over oneself.

He did not believe Chen Chen Guanlou would do such a stupid thing.

How could he have thought that there is a type of person in the world who enjoys watching a show and makes the situation worse? Unable to endure hardship himself, he does not rebel, but instead encourages others to rebel.

"You had better have no connection to the Wu Wu Dashou case. Let me tell you the truth, if this matter really blows up, once the rebel Zhang Kang's identity is confirmed, a large number of heads will fall in Jingcheng. You are clear on the risks involved."

"My lord, do I look like a fool to you? Knowing the risks involved, I would still rush into it? I am not that stupid."

Chen Chen Guanlou pointed to the sky and swore, stating that the so-called Zhang Kang had absolutely nothing to do with him.

Sun Dao made a humming sound, indicating his trust.

"If the Embroidered Uniform Guard trouble you again, come and tell me. I will definitely impeach them."

"Must impeach them. Surname Xiao crossed the line, sticking his hand into the Ministry of Justice's territory; he broke the rules. Old Sun, as the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, you must show him some color, let him know how many eyes the Horse King has."

At this moment, Chen Chen Guanlou seemed like a great villain, using his three-inch unrotten tongue to bewitch Sun Sun Daoning into speaking up for him.

"What Horse King, do not talk nonsense. I am an official of the court, wholeheartedly worrying for Your Majesty, worrying for the court. If I discover someone acting illegally, when necessary, I will definitely impeach them. To prevent Your Majesty from being deceived!"

"Old Sun, you still have the awareness!"

Chen Chen Guanlou flattered greatly, making Sun Sun Daoning feel thoroughly comfortable, further strengthening his determination to impeach Xiao Xiao Jincheng.

He rested for a few days.

Chen Chen Guanlou began to resume his daily work, touring the cells in the great prison, caring about the guards' work, and the situation of the prisoners.

Everything in the Type-A great prison was normal, except that Anping Wang talked nonsense a bit more and complained a bit more.

Chen Chen Guanlou gave him a big shock: "You will definitely spend the New Year in the Heavenly Prison; do not expect to get out."

Anping Wang hit his head against the wall, looking very depressed.

Next, touring the Type-B great prison.

Looking cell by cell, until he saw a weakling, he stopped his steps.

"What is this?" Chen Chen Guanlou pointed at the thin prisoner inside the cell.

Prisoners locked in the Type-B great prison of the Heavenly Prison are all vicious and evil.

This person in front has no two taels of flesh, is small in stature, and could be beaten to death with a single punch; where does he deserve the four words 'vicious and evil'!

Absurd!

The jailer Huang Ye hurriedly said: "Reporting to my lord, there is a hidden story to this matter."

"What hidden story?"

"This person's stepbrother committed a crime; he voluntarily came to take the blame, and the matter has already been officially cleared with the Ministry of Justice."

Hearing this, Chen Chen Guanlou raised his eyebrows.

"Are you saying this person is taking the blame for someone, or is it the stepbrother?"

"Exactly! Here is the Juan Sect, my lord, please take a look."

Chen Chen Guanlou glanced at the prisoner inside the cell, then opened the Juan Sect in public to look. A murder case!

Truly bloody!

The prisoner inside the cell surnamed Ming; the Ming family's stepson was tall and burly, had a bad temper, loved to drink, and after drinking, loved to cause trouble. He fancied a Miss, sent a matchmaker to the door to propose.

The girl's family hadn't taken a liking to this stepbrother, finding him incompetent, bad-tempered, and a woman-beater. They flatly refused the marriage!

The matchmaker faithfully conveyed the girl's family's attitude.

As a result...

This stepbrother, unwilling to accept it, drank some wine, his blood surging, grabbed a cleaver and went straight to the girl's family. He hacked the girl's parents, brother, sister-in-law, and niece to death in their home. The girl, bringing her nephew home, saw the scene, screamed in terror, and drew the attention of nearby neighbors, which finally stopped him from continuing his killing.

This case was far too bloody, far too violent, truly shocking to hear. The reason for the killing was even more absurd to the extreme. He had taken a fancy to the girl, so the girl's family wasn't allowed to refuse—what kind of nonsense was that!

The county yamen arrested this stepbrother right away.

Because of the sheer number of killings, the case alarmed the Ministry of Justice.

Who could have expected that the Ming family actually had connections in the Ministry of Justice. The stepmother pressured Old Man Ming to protect the stepson, making the child born to his first wife take the blame for the stepson. With silver paving the way and relatives vouching as guarantors, they actually managed to pull it off.