Chapter 210

Before Chen Guanlou reached home, he saw from afar the Liu family's steward squatting by his courtyard gate, accompanied by a servant carrying gifts.

He laughed, full of disdain.

The Liu family's steward had been driven away by the jailers when he first approached Tianlaomiao. Since he couldn't wait for Chen Guanlou there, he came to the Chen household to lie in wait—and luck was with him: he caught Chen Guanlou on the very first day.

"Chen Tou, Chen Tou."

He hurried forward to meet him.

"Chen Tou, you've worked hard. You're finally back."

Chen Guanlou looked at him with a half-smile; the Liu steward grew visibly uneasy, his eyes darting left and right, unable to meet Chen Guanlou's gaze, forced to offer a stiff, awkward smile.

"Chen Tou, look at this, this—why not go inside and discuss it? I'll give you a satisfactory explanation."

"Fine. Let's go inside. I'd like to hear what you have to say."

He opened the courtyard gate and invited them in. In the yard, a table, two chairs, and a teapot stood in the shade, away from the blinding sun.

Chen Guanlou poured the tea himself; the Liu steward acted with trembling reverence, both hands cradling the teacup, his entire posture rigid with nervousness.

Chen Guanlou ignored him and spoke slowly: "Today I spoke with Lord Liu. Quite interesting. Liu steward, are you planning to betray your master?"

"Unjust accusation!" The Liu steward dropped his teacup, nearly falling to his knees, his face pale with panic, eyes wild. "Even if you gave me ten lives, I'd never betray my master. I'm a household-born servant—my family has served the Liu household for three generations. Even my surname was changed to Liu. If I betrayed my master, who in this world would ever hire me? Where would I go?"

Chen Guanlou smiled. "I don't believe you."

"Chen Tou, let me explain," the Liu steward pleaded urgently. "It's all my fault—I acted on my own. My master had nothing to do with it."

"Oh? So you know, do you? I thought you'd accidentally grabbed the wrong painting." His tone dripped with mockery.

The Liu steward lowered his head in embarrassment, waved his hand to send the servant outside, then said: "Chen Tou, you don't know—my master had already ordered me to destroy that painting, but I feared being held accountable later, so I hesitated. Then, when my master said the verdict was imminent and the outcome would be dire, fearing he might… I thought long and hard: if Lord Hou favored this painting, could it possibly help my master through this crisis?

That's why I took the liberty of placing the painting among the other valuables. I didn't dare tell you beforehand, fearing you'd refuse. Ah… I was foolish, I thought myself clever. Chen Tou, please don't blame my master—punish me, beat me, kill me if you must—I accept it!"

The Liu steward had begun with guilt, then grew calm, and finally assumed an air of righteous conviction. He believed that as steward, it was his duty to ease his master's burdens in Tianlaomiao. He owed Chen Guanlou nothing—but he owed his master, and the Liu family, everything. He had done his duty.

He had fulfilled his duty to his master—he had no regrets.

Chen Guanlou bared his teeth.

These days, people took pride in loyalty—and the Liu steward was no exception.

"Your plan has failed. Lord Hou will not interfere in Lord Liu's case."

The Liu steward's face fell with despair. "From the start, I knew it wouldn't work. But I still wanted to try—even if the chance was one in ten thousand, if it succeeded, it would be my master's fortune. In the end, I was too naive. I've brought trouble to you, Chen Tou—I beg your pardon."

He moved to kneel.

Chen Guanlou made a half-raised hand—the Liu steward could not kneel; an invisible force held him upright.

He looked up, eyes wide, utterly astonished.

Chen Guanlou had shown him this to remind him: "I have no martial vein, but I train daily without slack. I can handle seven or eight ordinary men. Your Liu household, as far as I know, has no martial cultivators. You dared scheme against me—did you truly believe I couldn't kill?"

"No no no, I never meant that!" The Liu steward broke into cold sweat—he hadn't expected Chen Guanlou to turn on him so suddenly.

"Please, Chen Tou, show mercy. If you must kill to vent your rage, kill me. No one else in the Liu household knows of this—not even Lady Liu knew the painting existed."

Chen Guanlou sneered, then released his hold.

The Liu steward barely caught himself on the table leg, preventing a fall. He gasped, slowly sat back down, and sipped tea to steady his racing heart.

"Thank you, Chen Tou, for sparing my life."

"I'm afraid I'd dirty the floor."

"Yes yes yes. A lowly worm like me shouldn't sully Chen Tou's home. You may take my life whenever you wish—I'll offer no resistance. But please, don't punish others. I did this alone—I alone bear the blame."

"You knew the painting was a curse, yet you didn't burn it. You dared scheme against me—how bold you are. To call you a traitor is no injustice."

This time, the Liu steward offered no defense. He sighed and said: "Burning the painting is easy—but what if, one day, the authorities investigate and demand an accounting? The Liu family would face disaster again."

"You're speaking in riddles," Chen Guanlou said, raising an eyebrow slightly.

The Liu steward looked at him. "Chen Tou, do you think Lord Jiang can remain in favor forever?"

Impossible.

Jiang Tu was a locust after autumn—inevitably destined for reckoning. The only question was whether it would be the old Emperor or the new Crown Prince who brought him down.

"One day, Lord Jiang will be purged by the court. That painting may surface, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard will pursue it to the end. Destroying it is simple—but when the Embroidered Uniform Guard comes knocking, how will you explain its absence? After much thought, I concluded: only transfer it."

"You're very practiced at shifting blame," Chen Guanlou sneered.

The Liu steward looked embarrassed and whispered: "Lord Hou has deep resources and strong foundations. For the Liu household, the painting could mean annihilation. But for Lord Hou, it's merely a painting—harmless. That's why I dared this desperate move. Chen Tou, rest assured: the Liu household asks for not a single coin. The entire lot is yours. If Lord Hou refuses the painting, return it. Even if it risks future investigation and punishment, I'd rather burn it."

At that moment, the Liu steward finally resolved: he must burn the cursed painting.

Chen Guanlou chuckled. "Money? I won't give you a single coin—even if you didn't ask. It's your Liu household's debt to me. As for the painting—Lord Hou wants it."

Joy descended like a gift from heaven; the Liu steward's hands trembled with delight. "Truly? Lord Hou truly wants the painting?"

"Yes. He wants it. You know this—don't tell your master."

"Why not?"

"You haven't visited Tianlaomiao these past days—you haven't seen Lord Liu. He can't bear any more shocks."

"Ah!" The Liu steward panicked.