Chapter 225: Black! Too black!

How is the situation?

Chen Guanlou asked the physician.

The physician turned to glance at Yu Zhaoan inside the cell, then pulled Chen Guanlou aside to speak, "The situation is not good. He received no timely medical treatment in the Imperial Prison. But I have here a fine remedy—a family-secret formula passed down through generations, specifically for external injuries, with excellent results. With my medicine, I can't promise full recovery, but at least he'll have a chance to walk normally without permanent disability."

"Then use the medicine," Chen Guanlou said bluntly.

The physician immediately grew agitated. Using medicine wasn't something decided with a single sentence.

"Will there be trouble?"

Chen Guanlou nodded. "The Prince of Jin requested this favor—there'll be no trouble."

Hearing this, the physician relaxed and added, "My medicine isn't cheap."

Chen Guanlou grinned. "Old Mu, when did you start acting like this? Every word out of your mouth is about money. That's Yu Zhaoan—the former Vice Censor-in-Chief."

"You said it yourself—it's the past! Don't you understand things have changed? I'm not robbing you—ten taels of silver per dose."

Chen Guanlou sucked in a sharp breath. "How much? Old Mu, look at me—can you really charge so high?"

Ten taels of silver for a single ointment? Why not just rob him? Old Mu's heart was blacker than the prison cells—he'd learned his greed from the jailers of Tianlaomiao.

The physician rolled his eyes. "Do you know how much this secret formula would fetch outside? Fifteen taels, and I wouldn't even look at the buyer. If it weren't for you, Chen Tou, I'd never have brought it out."

Chen Guanlou clicked his tongue. "How many doses will Yu Zhaoan need to recover?"

"Tendons and bones take a hundred days to heal—especially when his legs are broken and bones are exposed. One dose lasts two days. He'll need at least a year of treatment. Do the math—how much silver will that cost?"

Black!

Too black!

"Too expensive!"

"Why are you saving silver for the Yu family? It's not your money. Hurry up—I'll go prepare the medicine. If he doesn't get treatment now, he'll definitely be crippled, maybe even die."

The physician hurried off.

Chen Guanlou entered the cell. Yu Zhaoan still slumped against the wall, half-dead, numb and dazed.

He waved his hand in front of the man's eyes—ah, the pupils moved.

"Old Yu, Lord Yu, your legs can be treated. After healing, you'll be a normal man again—no permanent disability. It's just expensive. Write me a note—I'll send someone to your family for the silver. You don't want to be a cripple, so snap out of it."

Yu Zhaoan finally stirred. He was half-conscious, as if hearing someone call his name. Then he heard: his legs could be healed, he could become normal again, he wouldn't be crippled.

He shuddered, like a drowning man gasping for air after surfacing, expelling the heavy air from his chest, coughing several times, and finally regaining his voice: "I… can still be saved?"

"Yes! The physician's ancestral skill can treat your injuries. It's just expensive."

"Expensive doesn't matter—as long as it can be cured."

"Definitely curable. Have full confidence. But you must cooperate with the physician—no reckless behavior."

"I won't cause trouble. Thank you, Chen Guanlou!" Yu Zhaoan, as if reborn from death, suddenly broke into sobs.

Chen Guanlou was startled—this outburst came too fiercely, too suddenly. Who would have thought the proud Yu Zhaoan could cry?

Ah!

Thinking about it, it was truly tragic. Backed by the Jixia Academy and the Prince of Jin, born into a prestigious clan, yet once in the hands of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he couldn't even die—only suffer.

"Write a note—I'll send someone to your family for the medical fees," Chen Guanlou cut in. "Healing comes first. Cry later."

Yu Zhaoan felt utterly humiliated—how could he ever face Chen Guanlou again?

Fortunately, his hands weren't broken. He picked up a brush and wrote a note, handing it to Chen Guanlou.

Chen Guanlou took the note, concerned: "You're sure they'll pay? Don't pull any tricks."

Yu Zhaoan's face darkened. He clenched his teeth, filled with fury and hatred—as if recalling some unbearable past. He declared firmly: "Don't worry—they'll pay. The Yu family values reputation. They dare not refuse. If they won't pay, tell them: though I've lost power, I still have ways to kill a few people."

Eh!

Chen Guanlou was astonished—he was threatening them outright. Clearly, Yu Zhaoan had clashed bitterly with his family during his time in the Imperial Prison. Look at his expression, look at the fire in his eyes—the conflict must have been severe.

"Good. With your word, I'm at ease. Lord Yu, you've suffered in the Imperial Prison. Now you're back in Tianlaomiao—things will improve. After all, Tianlaomiao is better: food, drink, books—no torture. You all should cherish your good days here!"

Saying this, Chen Guanlou walked off calmly.

The imprisoned officials in the cell: …

Had to admit—Chen Guanlou's words made perfect sense. Compared to everything else, Tianlaomiao was still better! The environment was rough, but no Embroidered Uniform Guard. Food was poor, but no Embroidered Uniform Guard. Life was dull, but no Embroidered Uniform Guard.

As long as there were no Embroidered Uniform Guard, life could go on.

Chen Guanxin returned from the Yu family with silver. Chen Guanlou sent him back again.

"Take this note to the Yu family for the medicine fee. Tell them: either pay up quickly, or let Yu Zhaoan out to kill someone."

Chen Guanxin was bewildered, worried. "Brother, Chen Tou—that's the Yu family. Really say that?"

"Yes. Say exactly that."

"But I already told them the two thousand taels I just took covered the medical fees," Chen Guanxin said, embarrassed—he felt like a traitor.

Chen Guanlou snorted. Weakling. Been in Tianlaomiao this long and still hasn't toughened his skin. This is nothing.

Do Tianlaomiao guards even need an excuse to renege on a deal?

He said: "Tell the Yu family the two thousand taels covered only basic medicine and nursing. The silver you're collecting now is for treating Yu Zhaoan's legs—giving him a chance to walk normally again, just like before."

Besides, Yu Zhaoan was a martial cultivator. If his legs recover, his comeback is inevitable. If the Yu family refuses to pay, they're deliberately delaying his healing—intending to cripple him. That's a death feud. Then don't blame us if we let Yu Zhaoan go kill."

Chen Guanxin nodded eagerly—the logic opened up. But he was still curious: "Chen Tou, can you really let Yu Zhaoan go kill?"

"What do you mean 'let him go'? We're jailers—we have no authority to release prisoners. Watch your words. But if a prisoner walks out on his own… and walks back in later—is that too much?"

Chen Guanxin froze, unsure how to answer.

Chen Guanlou patted his shoulder. "New Brother, learn more! The ways of Tianlaomiao run deep."