Chapter 213: When a Man Dies, All Affairs End

In the middle of the afternoon, the Ministry of Justice finally sent an elderly medical officer down to the Heavenly Prison, who reached the same diagnosis as the previous physician: this matter had occurred within the past two days; he might not even survive the night.

"So serious?"

The medical officer held a handkerchief over his nose and mouth. "Isolate him. Prevent transmission."

"This illness is contagious?"

"Better safe than sorry. Monitor all jailers who had contact with him over these days. If any signs of infection appear, immediately seal off the Jia-cell block and report it without delay. Do not harbor false hopes. Of course, I'm speaking hypothetically—it may not be contagious at all."

"Can't this be confirmed?" Chen Guanlou asked. He had been in contact with Liu Daowen, yet he showed no symptoms whatsoever; nor had any of the other jailers displayed any signs of illness.

"Given the severity of this prisoner's condition, we must consider the possibility of an epidemic," the medical officer said solemnly.

Chen Guanlou understood immediately. The illness had struck with terrifying speed—caution was warranted.

He immediately issued orders: first, clean and disinfect the premises; second, all jailers who had contacted Liu Daowen must be reassigned and confined within the Heavenly Prison; third, closely monitor all other prisoners—if any show symptoms, report immediately; fourth, notify Deputy Warden Niu and have him prepare in advance.

Everything proceeded in orderly fashion.

Chen Guanlou did not return home; he spent the night in the Heavenly Prison.

Half-asleep, he heard commotion outside and shot upright. He had slept fully clothed, so he needed no time to dress—he rushed to the door. "What's happening?"

"Report, Chen Tou: Liu Daowen is dead."

"Send for the medical officer."

The jailers were baffled. Deaths in the prison were common. If the man was dead, why summon a physician?

Chen Guanlou's expression darkened. He glared sharply. "Liu Daowen is not an ordinary prisoner. He is a condemned man, scheduled for execution. Now that he's dead, we must have the medical officer confirm his death in person, issue official documentation, and report it to the Ministry of Justice. Understood?"

"Yes, yes, sir!"

"Then go at once!"

The jailers obeyed, braving the night to fetch the physician from his home and bring him to confirm Liu Daowen's death.

Chen Guanlou entered Liu Daowen's cell. Before stepping fully inside, he saw the man was lifeless. He pressed a finger to Liu Daowen's neck—definitely dead.

But his word didn't matter. Only the physician's verdict counted.

The medical officer, still wearing his outer robe, arrived with a sour expression. Clearly, he'd been dragged from his bed—perhaps even from his concubine's. No wonder his face looked like everyone owed him eight hundred taels and refused to pay.

"Chen Tou, why drag me out at this hour?"

"The weather is hot. I fear an epidemic. Let's finish here quickly and remove the body before anything happens," Chen Guanlou replied, his reasoning solid. The physician had no choice but to sigh and enter the cell.

"Dead. Completely dead."

"Please issue a formal document. I'll submit it to the Ministry of Justice first thing tomorrow."

"No problem."

The physician agreed and went to the duty room to draft the paperwork.

Chen Guanlou immediately ordered the body to be prepared for burial and added: "Send someone to notify the Liu household. The disposition of the corpse awaits higher orders. Tell them: if they wish to bury him, they must wait patiently."

Chen Quan took on the task and set out with two jailers for the Liu residence.

The body was moved out of the cell and placed in the coldest, most secluded mortuary.

Standing at the mortuary's entrance, Chen Guanlou asked Xiao Jin: "Have you found anything in your investigation?"

Xiao Jin replied solemnly: "I questioned everyone on night watch. All testimonies match. I can guarantee no one had unauthorized contact with Liu Daowen. Chen Tou, perhaps you're overthinking it—Liu Daowen simply died of illness. Since his sentence was handed down, his mental state had been off. As the old saying goes, worry breeds illness. Add exposure to cold, and his rapid decline was inevitable. Even if we step back a hundred paces: Liu Daowen's execution was certain. Who would bother killing a man already marked for the chopping block? It makes no sense."

"I'm just being cautious. Liu Daowen was a notorious corrupt official. If he dies in prison, and we want to avoid blame, we must be meticulous—leave no oversight unexamined."

"Are you worried the higher-ups will investigate the cause of his death? After all, he was going to die anyway—just sooner or later. Why would they care?"

"Who knows? So better to work harder now than leave room for accusations of negligence. Remember that."

Who knows? So it's better to work harder than leave any excuse for incompetence. Understood?

Dawn broke.

Chen Guanlou arranged for word of Liu Daowen's death during the night to be reported to the Ministry of Justice.

He expected a routine procedure—that the Liu family would soon retrieve the body.

But within half a day, the Embroidered Uniform Guard arrived—and so did emissaries from the palace.

Instantly, the Heavenly Prison jailers felt as if under siege.

Deputy Warden Niu was drenched in sweat. It was his first encounter with the Embroidered Uniform Guard—he trembled with fear.

"No tea. Where is Liu Daowen's body?"

"Your Excellency, Liu Daowen's body is in the mortuary," Chen Guanlou stepped forward, easing Niu's burden. Niu instantly felt as if he'd been revived.

"Your Excellency, Liu Daowen's body is in the morgue," Chen Guanlou stepped forward voluntarily to ease Niu Yucheng's burden. Niu Yucheng instantly felt as if he had come back to life.

A group of Embroidered Uniform Guards, plus two palace eunuchs.

Chen Guanlou led them to the mortuary.

Why would Liu Daowen—a mere prisoner—draw such attention from the Embroidered Uniform Guard and palace eunuchs? It made no sense.

Xiao Jin felt a chill of relief. He was profoundly grateful for Chen Tou's foresight and thoroughness—every detail had been handled. Had they been careless, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard questioned them, they'd have had no answers.

Strangely, the Ministry of Justice sent no investigators—yet the Embroidered Uniform Guard and palace emissaries treated this with such gravity. Something was amiss. But they were too lowly to know.

Liu Daowen's death from illness was certain. The body lay in the mortuary, open for inspection by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and palace eunuchs.

"Did Liu Daowen have a martial meridian?" the Embroidered Uniform Guard suddenly asked.

Chen Guanlou paused, then realized the question was directed at him. "Your Excellency, he had no martial meridian."

Chen Guanlou paused, then realized the man was asking him. "Your Excellency, he indeed has no martial vein."

"At the third watch of the night. The medical officer can confirm."

"Was there an outbreak of plague?"

"No."

The Embroidered Uniform Guard and the two palace eunuchs exchanged a glance—perfectly synchronized. Then they turned and left.

The Embroidered Uniform Guards exchanged a glance with the two eunuchs inside the palace—perfect understanding passed between them—then they all departed.

They're just… gone?

They arrived abruptly—and departed just as suddenly.

They came in full force, yet seemed only to confirm Liu Daowen's death.

They arrived at Tianlaomiao with great fanfare, seemingly only to confirm Liu Daowen's death.

As he returned to the courtyard, Deputy Warden Niu suddenly emerged. "Have the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the two eunuchs left?"

"Your Excellency, they've all departed."

"What did they say?"

"They only asked about the time of death and whether there was an outbreak of plague."

"That's it?" Niu was stunned.

"Yes! I'm just as confused. I have no idea what's going on."

"That's right! I'm just as confused, don't understand what's going on."