Chapter 239: Meeting an Acquaintance in Tianlaomiao

The old emperor's sanity was unclear, but the Tianlaomiao had just entered its peak season.

Twenty or so corrupt officials were locked up all at once. The neighboring Zhaoju, it was said, held even more; cells were insufficient, and single cells became shared ones.

Chen Guanlou flipped through the roster while assigning cells, going down the list one by one—four squad leaders, each with their share.

As he distributed, he suddenly froze.

"Chen Tou, is there a problem?" Shi Hong asked from beside him.

Chen Guanlou collected himself and shook his head. "No problem. I just saw someone I know."

"You know an official?" Shi Hong was stunned. "None of these prisoners are from Hou Fu, are they?"

He stared at the list, double-checking. All were civil officials—not a single noble or military general. Nobles had endured in court for centuries not just for military merit, but because they rarely meddled in factional struggles. Whoever sat in the chancellor's seat had to treat noble power with caution.

Shi Hong didn't believe Chen Guanlou could know any court official—he suspected Chen was lying.

Hmph!

He was just a jailer; his cousin was Fan Da Ren's concubine, and even he didn't know many officials. Chen Guanlou couldn't possibly be better than him.

Definitely trying to puff up his image. Shi Hong expressed strong contempt.

Chen Guanlou paid no attention to Shi Hong—he had indeed seen a familiar name on the list: Zhao Mingqiao. The scholar who once rented a room with Chunxiang Sao, later moved out after studying under a renowned master. He'd heard Zhao passed the imperial exam last year. Never expected that after just one year in office, he'd end up in Tianlaomiao.

Without hesitation, he assigned Zhao Mingqiao to his own jurisdiction. After all, an old acquaintance—better to lend a hand where he could.

After a full day's work, Chen Guanlou claimed he was inspecting the cells and went to Zhao Mingqiao's cell.

He tapped the cell bars with his water-and-fire staff. Zhao Mingqiao, sitting on the plank bed, dazed and lost in thought, snapped back to awareness and turned to see him.

Stunned.

As if he couldn't believe it.

Chen Guanlou cleared his throat. "Young Master Zhao, don't you recognize me?"

"Ah!" Zhao Mingqiao finally realized. "Chen Tou! I thought you looked familiar, but my mind was foggy—I didn't recall right away. My apologies!"

Zhao Mingqiao suddenly beamed, grinning broadly, casual and carefree.

Chen Guanlou told him, "If you need anything here, just speak up. If I can help, I will."

Zhao Mingqiao grinned. "Actually, there is one thing. The jailers told me, by rule, I must pay six hundred taels of silver, or I'll suffer. But I've only been in office a year, spent heavily, and have little left. Could I owe it for now? When my servants gather the money, I'll pay in full."

Still the same courteous Young Master Zhao—who never judged by status or rank.

"No problem. I'll tell my men not to harass you. If you truly can't raise the silver, just tell me—I'll find a way. We know each other; that's fate." Chen Guanlou was quick to agree.

In truth, when Zhao Mingqiao rented from Chunxiang Sao, their interactions were few—they were both too busy to meet often. But Chen Guanlou had always liked him: no haughty scholar's arrogance, cheerful and witty, never flaunted his education, could debate lofty ideals or mingle in the marketplace, adaptable, genuinely talented yet grounded.

In this age, a grounded scholar was as rare as a grounded celebrity in later times. To most officials and scholars, common folk were grass, ants, devoid of joy or sorrow, born to be enslaved.

Chen Guanlou hoped for more officials like Zhao Mingqiao—more grounded officials meant better lives for the people.

Too bad.

Only one year in office, and already in Tianlaomiao.

What rotten luck.

"Chen Tou, you're still so righteous. If I truly can't raise the silver, I'll definitely ask you for help." Zhao Mingqiao accepted the favor without pretense, his eyes still clear, though now shadowed with weariness.

"Don't be formal—we've shared meals together." Chen Guanlou paused, then asked gently: "Your case—I remember you passed the imperial exam last year. How did you end up here after just a year?"

He couldn't help himself—he had to know.

Zhao Mingqiao's expression turned solemn. "Jiang Tu controls the court, blinds the Son of Heaven, plunders Dongzhou for personal gain, sparks rebellion among the people, and lets heretics rise to ravage three prefectures and twelve counties. Jiang Tu deserves death. As a minister, how can I stand idle? Though I am insignificant, I join my colleagues in raising my voice, so more people learn of Jiang Tu's crimes. If killing Jiang Tu is the price of entering Tianlaomiao, I accept it gladly."

What a righteous, impassioned speech!

Chen Guanlou's lip twitched—he couldn't bear to look.

"Wait—you really think Jiang Tu can deceive the Son of Heaven? You really believe Jiang Tu plundered Dongzhou for personal gain and caused the rebellion?" Chen Guanlou pressed. "You officials are among the smartest in the realm. You don't actually believe that, do you?"

"I understand what you mean—top-down corruption. But some things, even if understood, cannot be spoken of or acted upon." Zhao Mingqiao's tone was solemn. "The elders will advise the Son of Heaven. I am but a mere ant in the bureaucracy—I must direct my efforts at Jiang Tu. Without removing Jiang Tu, the realm will never know peace."

"But even if Jiang Tu is gone, there will be Li Tu, Zhang Tu. How can you be sure the next will be better? More likely, they'll be worse."

Chen Guanlou didn't speak of inevitability or historical patterns. With his shallow historical knowledge, he knew one thing: when a dynasty decayed, it only grew worse. You thought you'd hit basement level one—then found eighteen more levels below. Restoring order couldn't be done by any single minister.

History proved only two could reverse such a situation: an emperor who ruled absolutely, or a powerful minister who held real authority. But these two could never coexist.

Clearly, the current situation was an absolute monarch who refused to change—he'd walk this path to the end. As for a powerful minister? Sorry—none existed. As long as the old emperor lived, no minister would rise. When the new emperor ascended, perhaps a powerful minister would emerge—then another round of bloodshed would begin.

"Even if the next is worse, we must remove Jiang Tu first. We can't let him continue harming the court and the people." Zhao Mingqiao spoke with righteous fervor, full of passion.

Chen Guanlou sighed inwardly and said something cutting: "You didn't remove Jiang Tu—you ended up in Tianlaomiao instead."