Chapter 1589: Matters are accomplished through secrecy

"I didn't do anything, so am I still at fault?"

Chen Guanlou didn't raise his voice; he asked back with a cold face.

"People die in the Heavenly Prison every few days; what is so special about the Xiao mansion's steward that he can't die?"

"Precisely because the Xiao Changsheng case is personally supervised by His Majesty, he cannot die. I told you to watch them well; did you do it? The Xiao mansion's steward died of incurable injuries, and now Xiao Changsheng is gravely ill. If there is no one playing tricks here, I will unscrew my head and let you kick it like a ball."

Sun Daoning was furious, slamming the table and applying pressure.

In a place like the Heavenly Prison, if Chen Guanlou was determined to do something, there was no way to prevent it. The only way to protect Xiao Changsheng's life was to force Chen Guanlou to give up.

Transfer him?

Transferring him at this time would be equivalent to telling the world that there was something fishy in the Heavenly Prison.

No matter how anxious Sun Daoning was, he couldn't slap the Ministry of Justice in the face himself. He had to maintain the image of the Ministry of Justice. This matter had to be solved internally.

Chen Guanlou poured a cup of tea. "Old Sun, don't be in such a hurry to get angry; drink some tea and cool off. We both know full well that the Emperor wants Xiao Changsheng to die. When he dies, or how he dies, doesn't matter. What matters is that he must die with value. For example, implicating the three Prince Ning brothers. That is the Emperor's ultimate goal.

The late Emperor's last edict can save his life, but it didn't say it could save his title. As long as there is a handle, and a justified reason, the Emperor issuing an edict to strip him of his title is also reasonable, and the Secretariat cannot block it. I'm not wrong, am I?"

Sun Daoning didn't make a sound; silence meant agreement.

The Emperor wants to deal with Xiao Changsheng, but in reality, he is pointing his sword at the three Prince Ning brothers. The Emperor dreams of killing Prince Ning to vent the hatred in his heart.

How deep the hatred between the brothers is, outsiders can't easily guess, but it's estimated to be at least bone-deep.

As the Emperor, watching his enemy right before his eyes yet unable to take wanton revenge, being restricted at every turn—the stifling frustration in his heart can well be imagined.

During the previous two interrogations, the Ministry of Justice was very measured and didn't use torture. Those in the palace were already dissatisfied. A few days ago, the Brocade Uniform Guard suddenly ran to the Heavenly Prison to interrogate him; in fact, it was Emperor Taixing using the Brocade Uniform Guard's hand to beat the Ministry of Justice, to beat Sun Daoning.

The Emperor didn't want to see a gentle interrogation; he wanted to see a bloody and cruel interrogation scene like a blizzard.

Sun Daoning was under great pressure!

At this time, Xiao Changsheng was gravely ill, which was why he couldn't control his temper and was furious.

"What exactly are you trying to say?" He gnashed his teeth in questioning.

Chen Guanlou kindly reminded the other man, "Old Sun, have you forgotten that Xie Xiang's meaning is stability! Stability overrides everything! If you handle the case according to the Emperor's wishes, can the imperial court still be stable? At that time, what will Xie Changling think? You are disobeying in public while complying in private, betraying the organization, and privately defecting to the Emperor. You are a double-crosser!"

The tone became more severe with each sentence. When the words "double-crosser" were spoken, Sun Daoning clearly sensed a thick killing intent. It was just for a moment, and then everything returned to normal.

He thought it was an illusion!

But when he looked at Chen Guanlou, he clearly saw in the other man's eyes: It's not an illusion! I am performing as Xie Changling! Do you guess whether Xie Changling will kill you or not!

"Nonsense! A pack of lies!" He was anxious, he was angry!

His heart was constricted with pain. "Chen Guanlou, you are bewitching the public; what exactly do you want to do?"

"I am saving you. Old Sun, think about it yourself: if you handle the case according to the Emperor's wishes, how long will this case drag on, and how many people will be implicated? Are you sure you can keep it stable?"

Sun Daoning's face turned cold. "Don't try to bewitch me! I don't buy that."

"Why must you be like this?" Chen Guanlou sighed softly; he was truly anxious for the other man.

Old Sun was sometimes truly too stable, stable to the point of stubbornness.

He lacked flexibility in doing things.

He tempted him step by step, speaking with earnestness and sincerity. "For the Emperor, a living Xiao Changsheng is very valuable; once the three axes fall, he will definitely be able to get the confession he wants. With the confession, striking at Prince Ning will be logical. However, this clearly doesn't conform to the Secretariat's interests, and doesn't conform to Xie Xiang's requirements.

Old Sun, your current situation is extremely dangerous; one step forward is a cliff. One step back, perhaps there is still room for salvation. You must not be confused and bury your bright future! You must think clearly: the reason the Secretariat let the Ministry of Justice handle the Xiao Changsheng case, and blocked the Brocade Uniform Guard from intervening, is to control the scale of the case and control the direction of the case. At this time, you absolutely cannot be rigid.

Listen to me! I definitely won't harm you. We have cooperated for so many years; when has my judgment ever been wrong? If you don't believe me, who can you believe?"

The current situation is that the Emperor and the Secretariat are not in the same boat, belonging to two interest groups. The Emperor is colluding with the Jixia Academy, which has already infringed upon the Secretariat's interests.

If the Xiao Changsheng case isn't handled well, the Secretariat will have to continue to cede territory and pay compensation, and give up interests.

Sun Daoning frowned and pondered.

Chen Guanlou bewitched him in his ear. "Loyalty to the Emperor is a subject's duty. It's just that you have to look at the quality of the Emperor. You can't have a tyrant sitting on the throne and still be a loyal subject. True loyalty is loyalty to the country, loyalty to the world, loyalty to the people of the country, not to any specific person. Old Sun, your realm needs to be elevated; you need to learn more from Xie Changling."

Sun Daoning's head was buzzing. "Chen Guanlou, you are truly wasting your talent as a prison warden; you should enter the Secretariat and compete with Xie Changling. You would definitely be able to fight him to a draw. You are both good at bewitching people's hearts, using grand principles to package your own selfishness. Packaging yourself as exceptionally righteous, while inside it's all private feelings and private interests!"

"As expected of the Minister of Justice, your eyes are like torches. If I really entered the Secretariat, there would truly be no place for Xie Changling." Chen Guanlou looked smug.

Sun Daoning's mouth twitched. "If I say you're fat, you really start panting. Your face has thickened by another two inches."

"Nothing can escape your eyes; my face has indeed thickened a little recently. Old Sun, you have to think openly; life presents many choices, you must not be a double-crosser, do not be a fence-sitter."

"Nonsense!" Sun Daoning cursed angrily. "When did I ever want to be a double-crosser, when did I ever want to be a fence-sitter? Don't you dare slander me! Now, I want a truthful answer from you: Xiao Changsheng's illness was personally concocted by you, right?"

"Old Sun, how can you slander my innocence for no reason?" Chen Guanlou firmly refused to admit it; things can be done, but they cannot be said! It stops at words!

As the saying goes, if a ruler is not secretive, he loses his subjects; if a subject is not secretive, he loses his life; if matters are not secretive, they lead to failure.

Keeping one's mouth shut is a basic quality of a Heavenly Prison person. ===== CHAPTER 1590 =====

"Nonsense!" Sun Daoning cursed angrily. "When has this old man ever wanted to be a turncoat, or a fence-sitter? Stop trying to slander me! Now, I want a straight answer from you: this illness of Xiao Changsheng's was concocted by your own hands, right?"

"Old Sun, how can you slander my innocence for no reason?" Chen Guanlou firmly refused to admit it; things could be done, but they could not be spoken of! It must end with words!

As the saying goes, if the ruler is not discreet, he loses his ministers; if the minister is not discreet, he loses his life; if secret matters are not kept discreet, the plan will fail.

Keeping one's mouth shut is the basic professional standard for a man of the Heavenly Prison.