Chapter 137: Delivering a Letter to the Prince's Mansion

"Willing to spare your lives? That's not impossible."

The second young master lifted his cup, pouring and drinking for himself. Since being poisoned, all his food and drink had been strictly inspected to ensure no such incident would occur again.

Thus, he could drink with complete peace of mind.

If I really die? Ha! Everyone in the imperial prison will be executed along with you—plus a bonus nine-clan extermination package.

Chen Guanlou gritted his teeth and bowed deeply. "Please, Second Young Master, give your orders."

The fish on the chopping block can only obey its master's will—even if it means walking through mountains of blades and seas of fire, he must go.

The second young master studied his expression and laughed. "Relax, it's not difficult. Deliver this letter to the Prince's Mansion. Remember: you must hand it personally to Grand Eunuch Ping—no one else is acceptable."

"Is that all?" Chen Guanlou confirmed again.

The second young master nodded. "Exactly. Complete this task, and I swear I won't make a sound or hold you accountable—your lives are safe. Otherwise, the Embroidered Uniform Guard will storm the prison at any moment, and every single person inside will be purged—including the guards in the neighboring Yi- and Bing-class detention cells."

A threat!

And one that could be carried out at any moment.

Chen Guanlou took a deep breath. "I understand. I will personally deliver the letter to Grand Eunuch Ping."

"Excellent! Wait outside for now. I'll call for you once I'm done preparing the letter."

"Yes, sir!"

Chen Guanlou stepped out of the cell and waited in a corner. About half an hour later, he received the letter, sealed with a red wax stamp bearing a qilin emblem—the simplest yet most effective method to deter tampering.

"Remember: you must hand it directly into Grand Eunuch Ping's hands," the second young master warned solemnly.

Yet Chen Guanlou's heart grew uneasy—was there some hidden trick here?

He lowered his head slightly, concealing his inner turmoil. "Second Young Master, rest assured—I will complete this mission."

"Good! Go!" The second young master lifted his cup again, sinking into drunken oblivion.

Holding the letter, Chen Guanlou wrestled with doubt for two seconds—then made his decision.

He returned to the guard room, dismissed everyone, locked the door, pulled on a clean pair of gloves, lit a candle, and gently held the wax seal over the flame. His movements were steady, unhurried, carefully controlling the distance to melt the wax without leaving traces.

When the wax softened sufficiently, he took a small, clean knife and slowly sliced along the edge of the seal.

The envelope opened. He carefully extracted the letter inside and unfolded it.

In the end...

He took the letter straight to Deputy Warden Fan and informed him of the second young master's demands.

"This is the letter?" Deputy Warden Fan stared at the letter on the desk as if it were a burning coal. "Do you know what's written inside?"

Chen Guanlou shook his head. "I have no idea. Would you like to take a look?"

Deputy Warden Fan:...

He slowly extended his hand—then snatched it back as if the letter were a monstrous beast. He trembled with fear and dread. How could he even entertain the thought of reading the second young master's letter? It was reckless, suicidal.

He gave Chen Guanlou a long, piercing look, then shook his head. "No. Absolutely not. You and Warden Fan must go to the Jin Prince's Mansion together and deliver the letter personally to Grand Eunuch Ping. No mistakes allowed."

"With Warden Fan? But..."

Chen Guanlou pondered the implication—was Deputy Warden Fan still planning to use Warden Fan as a scapegoat?

Yet the letter contained no order to execute the prison guards.

Then... in Deputy Warden Fan's eyes, was he himself merely a disposable tool?

Deputy Warden Fan spoke solemnly: "At the mansion, watch your words. If necessary, you know what to do."

Chen Guanlou hesitated, then nodded. "I understand."

Early that morning, he and Warden Fan rode in a carriage to the Jin Prince's Mansion.

Warden Fan sat as if nails were stuck beneath him, restless and jittery.

"After we deliver the letter, will the second young master really spare us?"

"Don't worry, Warden Fan. The second young master keeps his word—he won't harm the innocent."

"That's reassuring. But what if the Prince's Mansion learns the second young master was poisoned in our prison? Will they blame us? I heard they have private dungeons for punishing disobedient servants. If the Prince orders us thrown in, what then?"

No matter how Chen Guanlou reassured him, Warden Fan remained on the brink of collapse—his eyes bloodshot, face pale, mind sluggish from days of sleeplessness and poor appetite.

Amid the tense atmosphere, the carriage finally arrived at the Jin Prince's Mansion. The grand main gate was far beyond their station. They passed it, turned a corner, and reached the side entrance, where they announced their purpose and presented their official credentials.

The gatekeeper scrutinized them, then said, "You can hand the letter to me—I'll deliver it for you."

"Forgive us, sir. The second young master insisted the letter must be delivered personally to Grand Eunuch Ping. Please, kindly announce our arrival."

As he spoke, a silver ingot slipped into the gatekeeper's hand.

Worried the gatekeeper might look down on them, Chen Guanlou had prepared three taels of silver—five times the usual amount he gave at a marquis's mansion. Surely this would satisfy him.

The gatekeeper weighed the silver in his palm and smiled inwardly, muttering under his breath: "These prison dogs really have money."

"Wait inside. I'll send someone to notify him. Whether Grand Eunuch Ping will see you? I can't guarantee."

"Thank you, sir."

The two entered the mansion and waited in a side chamber. After roughly two cups of tea, someone finally arrived.

Led by a servant, they walked deeper into the mansion.

Chen Guanlou's first impression of the mansion was its sheer size—it felt like they walked for ages before reaching a flower pavilion.

Throughout the journey, Warden Fan trailed closely behind him, treating him as the de facto leader, sweating profusely, nervously tripping over his own feet, his head spinning.

Had Chen Guanlou not steadied him, Warden Fan would have collapsed right there in disgrace.

They reached the pavilion unharmed—and waited again.

A servant came to collect the letter, but Chen Guanlou refused. "The second young master insisted the letter must be delivered personally to Grand Eunuch Ping. Please understand."

They waited and waited. Tea was refilled three times. They arrived in the morning, and by noon, still hadn't eaten. Finally, Grand Eunuch Ping arrived.

Grand Eunuch Ping was in his early fifties, clean-shaven, slightly plump, dressed in dark red brocade robes, wearing a gilded crown and official boots, stepping slowly into the pavilion with measured, dignified strides.

The previously empty pavilion instantly filled with maids and servants. Cold tea was replaced with hot tea, and snacks and fruit were served. Servants helped Grand Eunuch Ping settle into the main seat.

Grand Eunuch Ping studied the two men. "You two wish to see me?"