Chapter 1362: Firmly in control

Chen Mengan successfully passed the trial.

Following what Chen Guanlou taught him, he refused to admit guilt in court, constantly crying injustice and pretending to be innocent. As for riding a horse through the street, that was because the horse suddenly went crazy. Subsequent inspections revealed that the horse had been tampered with, almost costing him his life. Regarding the injured people, the Hou Fu actively provided compensation.

As for letting his retainers commit crimes resulting in death, that was a few retainers acting privately in his name, and he was completely unaware of it beforehand. Afterwards, he also actively compensated the victims' families. Since then, he has strictly restrained the retainers around him.

He is a great law-abiding citizen of the Great Gan; no one understands how to write the two words "law-abiding citizen" better than him.

With such a mess of quibbling, plus the assistance of people sent by the Hou Fu, he barely managed to muddle through.

Chen Guanlou specially came to the prison cell to praise him to his face, "Well done, the child is teachable. It seems you aren't that stupid after all."

Chen Mengan was beaming with joy, very proud, "I followed exactly what Uncle Lou taught me to entangle with those officials from the Ministry of Justice. Uncle Lou, now that I've passed the trial, am I okay? When can I get out of prison?"

"Get out of prison? You're dreaming. You think this case is just a simple matter of riding a horse through the street and injuring people? In reality, someone is using you as a raft, pointing their sword at the Hou Fu, directly at Marquis Pingjiang. It's a pity you are a descendant of the Hou Fu; you don't even have this bit of political sensitivity. Having studied for so many years, could it be that you've learned it all into a dog's belly?"

Chen Guanlou's barrage of ridicule left Chen Mengan stunned.

"I, I, I... could it be that I have to be locked up in the Heavenly Prison forever and continue to serve time?"

Chen Guanlou waved his hand, telling him to come closer, but he didn't dare.

Chen Guanlou glared, and he immediately moved closer.

"I ask you, does riding a horse through the street count as a crime? Even if there was a reason, were those people injured because of you?"

Chen Mengan wanted to say no, but couldn't get the words out.

Chen Guanlou continued his output, "Letting retainers commit crimes resulting in death, was that done by the few retainers around you? Regardless of whether you knew beforehand, as the master, shouldn't you bear responsibility? Two charges, sentencing you to prison, is that excessive? If it were someone without status who committed these two crimes, immediate execution would be mandatory, and a lenient one would be exile. What else do you have to complain about?"

"But I am a descendant of the Hou Fu; sentencing me to prison is slapping the Hou Fu in the face." Chen Mengan was indignant.

As a dignified descendant of the Hou Fu, for mere horse-riding and injuring people, why should he be locked up forever?

Does the Hou Fu not want face?

Chen Guanlou sneered and mocked, "If they don't sentence you to prison, how can they answer to the Marquis? I tell you, don't think that just because you passed the trial, you can sleep soundly. The Marquis still has to submit a memorial of apology to His Majesty, and only after His Majesty reprimands him can it be your turn. You being able to serve time in prison is thanks to you being a descendant of the Hou Fu."

Chen Mengan felt aggrieved, "I am just a small person; when big people fight above, why should they implicate me?"

"Who told you to carry the surname Chen! Having enjoyed the wealth of the Hou Fu, naturally, you must share the worries for the Hou Fu. Just honestly cultivate your character in the Heavenly Prison; don't think about getting out of prison. If you are bored, take the opportunity to read more books and strive to earn a degree after you get out."

"I've already become a criminal; how can I earn a degree?"

"Others can't, but you certainly can. After all, you carry the surname Chen!" Chen Guanlou said with a chuckle.

Chen Mengan was powerless and furious, helpless, "Uncle Lou, can you give me an accurate time? How long do I have to stay in prison?"

"This is hard to say. It depends on how the people above play the game, and it also depends on the Marquis's attitude. If things remain deadlocked, just wait slowly."

"Great Grandfather will definitely submit a memorial of apology, right?"

"Not necessarily!" Chen Guanlou smiled enigmatically, "If he submits a memorial of apology, what if His Majesty takes the opportunity to seize the Marquis's military power? What then?"

Ah!

Chen Mengan was dumbfounded.

Why is there no accurate statement for anything? It can be east or west, left or right. Can't you give him a reassurance pill?

Chen Guanlou indicated he couldn't!

He also wanted to eat a reassurance pill, but who would give him one?

He didn't have one to eat, so why should Chen Mengan be able to eat one?

Chen Mengan was about to collapse.

He thought that passing the trial was the hurdle; as long as he passed that hurdle, everything ahead would be smooth sailing.

As a result, he found that there was one hurdle after another, and every hurdle was difficult to pass. He feared there were eighty-one difficulties waiting for him ahead.

Despair!

A heavy sense of despair rushed toward him.

He felt he couldn't find a way to live and would waste his whole life in the Heavenly Prison.

He was so scared that he wailed!

Chen Guanlou felt irritable listening to his wailing, "Don't wail at me! Cultivating your character and reading books for the imperial examination is your mission."

"I can't pass!"

"Then read books until you die; one day you will pass. You can't really be incompetent in both literature and martial arts for a lifetime. At least learning literature is not as bitter as learning martial arts."

"Must I learn!"

"If you don't learn, I'll kill you." Chen Guanlou glared, enough to stop children from crying at night.

Chen Mengan tremblingly agreed, promising to turn over a new leaf from now on, study seriously, and read until he died.

After dealing with Chen Mengan, he went to see Master Hu.

Having suffered, Master Hu had come back to life, but he appeared weak.

"Medical Official Mu said that your body needs to be slowly recuperated; it will be fine in half a year or a year."

Master Hu showed a bitter smile, "I really poked a hornet's nest. The case is still under investigation, and not everyone has been arrested, yet they were so impatient to kill me. Could it be that if they kill me, their case can be covered up? The account books can disappear, but the silver cannot disappear; it's just transferred from the left hand to the right hand, and it will be found sooner or later."

"Killing you cannot cover it up, but it can vent their anger! If it were me, I would kill you too." Chen Guanlou said with a smile, "Master Hu, you must be prepared; there will be a second and third assassination attempt later, until you die, the assassinations will not end."

Master Hu nodded in agreement, "I'm afraid this life of mine can't take many more tosses."

Chen Guanlou said solemnly, "I will protect you until the verdict comes down. After that, you must seek your own blessings."

Once the verdict is down, Master Hu will have to leave the Heavenly Prison, either for the death penalty or exile. In any case, he won't continue to serve time in the Heavenly Prison.

With him, Chen Guanlou, in the Heavenly Prison, he says he protects whoever he protects. Those officials above find it annoying; it takes too much effort to kill someone. It's better to transfer them, which is convenient for killing and venting anger.

Master Hu was about to cry from fear, looking like he regretted it too late.

He felt he had fallen into Chen Guanlou's trap.

If he had bitten the bullet and refused to admit guilt, and didn't expose anyone, would it have been a different situation?

Chen Guanlou told him, "I take money and do things, and I never cheat. I never take the initiative to push my clients into a fire pit. Without me, you would have already been tortured into a confession, signed and fingerprinted, and lost your head. As for your family, they would have already been broken and dead. With me, you have a glimmer of hope. Your family also received the news in advance and hid, also having a glimmer of hope. Therefore, don't waver. If you waver, I won't be polite!"

Master Hu suddenly realized he had entered a dead end.

Outside, there were people who wanted to kill him, and here in the Heavenly Prison, Chen Guanlou was threatening him. He could neither advance nor retreat, and could only accept his fate! ===== CHAPTER 1363 =====