Chapter 1617: What are you guarding against?

"In your opinion, Brother Yang, was Xiao Jincheng's tenure as Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard a success?"

Chen Guanlou asked with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

Yang Deguang didn't know what he was really getting at, but he still replied fairly, "Commander Xiao was indeed a success. To be highly valued by two generations of emperors is rare in the history of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He is my senior; I respect him and admire him."

There was nothing wrong with that statement.

No one could find fault with it.

Chen Guanlou raised an eyebrow and smiled, gaining an intuitive understanding of Yang Deguang's character and temperament.

He gave a light cough and said solemnly, "Since Xiao Jincheng is the benchmark for success, why is Magistrate Yang so troubled by it? Why mind walking the same path as your predecessor? Xiao Jincheng has already used his own experience to tell those who came after that this path is viable and can lead to career success. Even if you don't emulate him, there's no need to reject it. After all, this little path of mine is not some shameful, illicit trade of power for sex."

"The cooperation between the Heavenly Prison and the Imperial Prison has always been mutually beneficial. It is a transaction that can be spoken of openly and brought into the light. I truly cannot fathom why Magistrate Yang is so bothered by it. Could it be that you have a grudge against Commander Xiao, and therefore want to walk an entirely different path, blazing a trail of your own?"

Yang Deguang was very angry.

He felt that the other party looked down on him.

"I am not that arrogant! Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen, you are underestimating me too much. I am not the type to deny every decision made by my predecessor."

"Oh! Since that is the case, why is Magistrate Yang unwilling to cooperate with the Ministry of Justice? Is it so difficult for you to give the Minister of Justice some face?"

"The Minister of Justice has not made things difficult for me; on the contrary, it is you, Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen, who are being aggressive and making things difficult for this official."

Yang Deguang was very displeased!

He was a new official in a new post, and although he hadn't achieved much yet, he wouldn't tolerate being sneered at by a warden of the Heavenly Prison.

Chen Guanlou chuckled, "Magistrate Yang, calm your anger. I have no intention of making things difficult for you. Since you don't mean to shun the Heavenly Prison, everything is negotiable. I will make a bold guess: are you shunning me? Is it my status, the fact that I reach too far, or do you doubt my character and worry that I will betray you?"

Yang Deguang remained silent.

Silence was his attitude.

Silence represented affirmation.

Chen Guanlou understood in his heart; it had been a long time since he'd been shunned, and the feeling was somewhat fresh.

He coughed lightly and laughed, "So you really were doubting my character. We haven't dealt with each other properly before, so you don't know me very well. Let me formally introduce myself: I am a man who takes money to get things done, and I never cheat the young or the old. When I promise something, it's as good as a nail driven into wood."

If you don't believe me, you can ask around the Embroidered Uniform Guard; as long as I, Chen Guanlou, make a promise, I have never gone back on it halfway. As for keeping my mouth shut, that is even more well-known.

You can call me lecherous, you can call me greedy, you can call me selfish and narrow-minded, but you cannot doubt my character. My character can stand the test of time."

"Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen, you are overstating it; I have never doubted your character. I have been in the military since I was young and never make decisions lightly." Yang Deguang explained patiently, "I have also looked into the history between the Imperial Prison and the Heavenly Prison; the two sides have cooperated many times."

"So, Magistrate Yang, do you agree to continue the cooperation?" Chen Guanlou climbed up the pole, his attitude softening slightly.

He didn't need to fall out with the other party.

Both were in the business of criminal justice; who knew when there might be an opportunity for cooperation.

Maintaining a good relationship with each other was beneficial to both sides.

Unless they despised each other.

Under normal circumstances, Chen Guanlou was still willing to communicate more; everything was negotiable.

Yang Deguang was expressionless. He was also thinking about this problem: should he continue to cooperate with the Heavenly Prison? Should he follow Xiao Jincheng's old path, maintain a transactional relationship with Chen Guanlou, and give Minister Sun of the Ministry of Justice some face?

What was the Emperor's attitude?

The Emperor was pointing his sword at Prince Ning, Minister Sun was a pawn of Xie Gechen, and Xie Gechen was at odds with the Emperor...

But he couldn't openly offend the Secretariat.

The Emperor was in a difficult position now; if he offended the Secretariat, the Emperor might not be able to protect him in his current situation.

The Emperor was not Emperor Jian Shi, nor was he Emperor Taixing.

The previous two emperors could protect anyone with just a word. Emperor Renzong hadn't reached that level of power yet.

If one didn't grasp the measure of this, it would be a matter of losing one's head.

He probed, "What if this official does not give you face?"

Chen Guanlou lowered his head and smiled, "I am a Ninth Rank warrior. I don't know if you have ever encountered a Ninth Rank warrior before."

"What do you mean?" Yang Deguang frowned deeply, his heart thumping wildly; he had a strong, bad premonition.

"To speak a shameless truth, in the capital, the only people who can stop me are those two in the palace. If those two don't come out, no one can stop me if I want to do something. If you don't believe me, you can try."

This was changing from negotiation to military threat.

"You... how insolent!" Yang Deguang was both angry and furious.

As the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he was actually being threatened to his face.

How unreasonable!

The other party clearly didn't put him in their eyes!

This was a naked provocation!

"Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen, do you know what you are saying?"

"Magistrate Yang, you misunderstand. I am just kindly reminding you that there is no harm in cooperating with me. My destructive power is very strong; accordingly, my assistance is also very strong. Are you sure you want to give up such a powerful assistant? I won't usurp power, and I won't compete with you for profit. What exactly are you guarding against?"

Chen Guanlou couldn't understand.

He was a man without official ambition, such a good assistant, yet he was being guarded against. Had he lost his mind?

He wouldn't do anything that harmed others without benefiting himself.

Yang Deguang froze instantly.

That's right!

What exactly was he guarding against?

Why did he subconsciously conclude that Chen Guanlou was trouble?

Could it be that he really minded Xiao Jincheng, and subconsciously didn't want to walk the path the other had walked?

He picked up his teacup, his mind wandering.

Chen Guanlou didn't disturb him, waiting for the other party to think it through.

For a person as good as him, aside from a poisonous mouth and strong martial arts, he could be called a model friend.

Yang Deguang thought for a long time, put down his teacup, and said as expressionlessly as possible, "I can give Minister Sun some face and agree to the transfer. However, what benefits can I get?"

"What benefits do you want?" Chen Guanlou asked with a smile. He wasn't afraid of the other party making demands; he was only afraid they wouldn't.

Yang Deguang had already thought it through, "You owe me a favor."

This time it was Chen Guanlou's turn to frown.

He hated owing favors the most.

Because favor debts were the hardest to repay.

"Can you change the request?"

"No! You owe me a favor, and I will agree to transfer the people on the list to the Heavenly Prison. Other than that, there is no room for negotiation."

"I owe you a favor, what do you want me to do?"

"I haven't thought about it yet. When I need it, I will find you." Yang Deguang laughed, laughing very proudly. Having been suppressed by the other party the whole time, being able to counter-suppress them now felt great!