Chapter 1584: Loyalty, Loyalty, and More Loyalty!

"Xiao Xiao Changsheng being locked in the imperial prison is the Zhengshitang's compromise to the Emperor. Do you admit this?" Chen Chen Guanlou asked.

Yang Deguang said nothing. Silence meant confirmation. But given his status, he could not make any overt statement. Silence was also his shield!

"The Emperor's purpose in urging a strict investigation of Xiao Xiao Changsheng's case—you and I both know in our hearts—is aimed at the Prince of Ning. The Emperor harbors deep hatred toward Imperial Consort Xiao and her four sons. Right after his accession, there was already a stir. If not for the Zhengshitang blocking it, the Prince of Ning would already be a prisoner by now."

"What exactly does Warden Chen want to say?" Yang Deguang was growing impatient, a flicker of unease crossing his heart. Reason told him he could not keep listening to Chen Chen Guanlou's wild talk, yet a voice inside insisted he had to keep listening.

"The late Emperor left an edict protecting Imperial Consort Xiao and her four sons, and Imperial Consort Jing and her two sons. As long as that edict remains unactivated, the Emperor cannot make a move. Otherwise, it would be gross filial impiety!"

Laozi died, and before dying left a final word. Fearing his descendants would not abide by it, he had it archived in writing, just in case.

Laozi has only been dead a few months, and his son already cannot resist moving to overturn Laozi's final word. This is textbook impiety—gross impiety!

The world all uses lines like, "Someone, while alive, had only one wish, hoping you would marry so-and-so…" and the like to "coerce" the living. Even if unwilling inside, nine and a half out of ten will still obey the final word and fulfill the deceased's wish.

Emperor Yuanding, being a son, while the edict remains in force, certainly would not dare commit an outrage against all under heaven by violating the late Emperor's edict, nor dare openly execute his brothers.

If he won't kill brothers, then he'll kill a minister to vent his fury.

Xiao Xiao Changsheng is first in line.

Kill a man to vent fury, and along the way look for evidence. If it can be tied to the Prince of Ning and his three brothers, he can seize the chance to make trouble. If he won't kill brothers, surely he can rebuke brothers who fail to respect Wang Fa—say, demoting a Prince of the Blood to a Prince of a Commandery, or a Prince of a Commandery to a commoner.

"My lord Yang, you should be very clear: His Majesty having you handle Xiao Xiao Changsheng's case—the real purpose is to use this case to deal with the Prince of Ning. Yet the Zhengshitang is dead-set on protecting the Prince of Ning. Even with His Majesty shielding you, if the Zhengshitang insists on pursuing it, you are first in line. With His Majesty's current ability, if the Zhengshitang is determined to kill you, the Emperor cannot protect you. You are doomed! Just promoted, not yet had time to get rich or lose your wife, and already you must go to your death. Dare I ask, my lord Yang, are you willing?"

Chen Chen Guanlou's expression was somewhere between a smile and not, as though he wanted to watch the other man make a fool of himself.

Yang Deguang lifted his teacup, pretending to sip tea, in truth to mask his inner feelings. Afraid of being seen through.

Chen Chen Guanlou paid no heed to the other's reaction and went on: "If I were you, I'd muddle through this case and be done with it! The Emperor can't possibly really let the Embroidered Uniform Guard investigate it. If the Emperor wants to use you, he won't kill you—at most a few reprimands and half a year's salary docked. Compared to death, surely a mere half-year's salary is something you can bear."

He was certain the other had taken his advice to heart.

After that, he fell silent and sipped his tea, waiting for the other to digest it and make his choice.

Yang Deguang slightly lowered his head, toying with his tea cup, his heart unsettled.

"The Zhengshitang wants to kill me?"

"Why wouldn't they?" Chen Chen Guanlou chuckled lightly. "If I were a court official, given any chance, the first office I'd want to destroy would be the Embroidered Uniform Guard! Once the Embroidered Uniform Guard falls into a state of frequently changing commanders, that means the Embroidered Uniform Guard can no longer handle cases."

When the boss keeps changing, the underlings below have no mind to investigate cases, no mind to share the Emperor's burdens. All of them thinking only of survival!

The prerequisite for handling cases is a stable team with cohesion! A chaotic team, with leaders swapped every few days, absolutely cannot handle cases well.

Yang Deguang gritted his teeth. "Since I took office, I haven't offended anyone, nor handled any major case!"

All the cases had been closed out by his predecessor Xiao Xiao Jincheng. Following the principle that less trouble is better than more, lately he had only been dealing with a few small, unresolved cases.

"It doesn't matter! In the eyes of court officials, as long as you wear the Embroidered Uniform Guard's skin, you are the enemy! As for what kind of person you actually are, no one cares." Chen Chen Guanlou gave him a dose of truth.

Opposition, much of the time, has nothing to do with right or wrong—only stance.

Officials and the Embroidered Uniform Guard are naturally opposed in stance; they are destined never to live in harmony.

Yang Deguang drew a deep breath. "This official must answer to His Majesty!"

"You can push all responsibility onto the Ministry of Justice!" Chen Chen Guanlou helpfully offered a plan.

For a moment, Yang Deguang could not tell whose side he was on—the Ministry of Justice's, or the Embroidered Uniform Guard's.

Knowing the other was confused, Chen Chen Guanlou kindly cleared it up for him. "My lord Yang, I said I'd help point the way, and I'll do what I said. This is the sincerity I'm offering! If you feel the sincerity is enough, from now on we cooperate with each other and don't make things hard for one another. We're all men of the prisons—none of us has it easy! Helping each other is the only way to last. Don't you agree?"

"This official is the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard personally appointed by His Majesty." Yang Deguang said through gritted teeth. He was reminding the other man: he is the Emperor's man, loyal only to the Emperor, and don't think you can buy him. He doesn't fall for that.

He hadn't been talked into a stupor by the other.

He always kept firmly in mind the three requirements of a Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander: Loyalty! Loyalty! Eternal loyalty to the present Son of Heaven! No second thoughts!

"I know, you don't need to emphasize it. I haven't asked you to stab the Emperor in the back—I'm only pointing the way for you. The seat of Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander is not an easy one. To last, you must handle things flexibly. Flexibly! You understand?"

Chen Chen Guanlou truly meant no harm at this moment.

He sincerely wanted to build good relations with the Embroidered Uniform Guard. You never knew when that connection might come in handy. The man had no grudge with him, so there was no need to humiliate him.

He believed everything could be negotiated!

If negotiation truly yielded no result, then considering the use of force would not be too late.

Yang Deguang grunted, his face iron-blue, but inwardly he acknowledged it. He was not a stubborn, rigid man. Truly stubborn and rigid, he could never have risen through the ranks.

"Warden Chen's proposal is indeed tempting. But, I have one request."

"Speak!"

"I want to see Xiao Xiao Changsheng. Not for an interrogation—just a private meeting, to ask him a few questions. Only then can I report back to the palace. I hope Warden Chen can do me this favor."

Chen Chen Guanlou did not answer right away, but instead asked, "What do you want to ask him?"

"Not convenient to disclose."

Chen Chen Guanlou gave a snort of laughter. "I'm a ninth-rank martial artist. If I wanted to eavesdrop, it would be no trouble at all. The reason I chose to ask you in person rather than eavesdrop is purely out of respect for a fellow professional. I hope my lord Yang can cooperate a little."

Yang Deguang clenched his teeth. "Fine, I can tell you. I want to ask him about a murder case from three years ago."

"Does it concern you?"

"There's a slight connection!"

"How does it involve Xiao Xiao Changsheng?"

"It has nothing to do with him, but he may know part of the truth."

"In that case, I agree. I'll let you meet him."