Chapter 248: His Highness the Crown Prince Visits the Heavenly Prison

The imprisonment of the Crown Prince's own uncle, Zhuang Wenlin, Zhuang Taifu, seemed to blow the charge for deposing the Crown Prince.

Various imperial princes and kings, and all kinds of careerists were eager to move, but none of them were in a hurry to move.

There were many opportunities to be deceived, so one had to learn a lesson. What if the old Emperor was playing a game of luring the snake out of the hole, and he jumped out to step on the Crown Prince at this time, wouldn't that be exactly what he wanted? Perhaps, in the end, the Crown Prince wouldn't be deposed, but he himself would have to go to the Shaofu prison for advanced studies.

There was also a group of people who were very excited. That was a group of officials who couldn't get benefits from the Crown Prince and feared that the world wouldn't be chaotic, wanting to fish in troubled waters.

Around the Crown Prince were a group of high officials and nobles, vested interests. Ordinary officials simply didn't have the qualifications to get close to the Crown Prince and share the burden for the Crown Prince. It also meant that when the Crown Prince ascended the throne, they wouldn't get any benefits, and might even suffer damage.

After all, after the Crown Prince ascended the throne, he would definitely reward a group of meritorious officials. Official positions belong to one radish and one pit. To reward meritorious officials, it meant that some officials had to give up their positions to make room for the meritorious officials. Who could guarantee that they wouldn't be asked to make room? Who could guarantee that after the Crown Prince took power, they could still sit in their current positions? Who could guarantee that after the Crown Prince succeeded to the throne, their future would be better and better?

Since it couldn't be guaranteed, it was better to take chestnuts from the fire.

Then add a fire to the deposed Crown Prince!

How to add firewood and fire?

What could be more stimulating to the hearts of the world and make the Crown Prince's position precarious than the old Emperor executing Zhuang Wenlin? You know, Zhuang Taifu was the leader of the Crown Prince's party and the backbone of the Crown Prince. Without Zhuang Wenlin, the Crown Prince would be equal to losing his arm.

As a result, suddenly, the wind direction in the imperial court changed greatly, and memorials flew into the palace and onto the old Emperor's desk, all impeaching Zhuang Wenlin.

Zhuang Wenlin, as the Crown Prince's teacher and Grand Secretary, must have had a lot of black material after so many years, which couldn't be washed clean. The impeachments of the court officials were all based on facts and were never wrongly accused or slandered.

The old Emperor looked very satisfied; there were still clear-headed people in the imperial court, not blindly speaking for the Crown Prince or pleading for Zhuang Wenlin.

However, whether pleading or impeaching, the old Emperor left them all without sending them out, and no one could guess his thoughts.

Chen Guanlou had a headache.

Zhuang Wenlin, as the Crown Prince's teacher, Grand Secretary, and the Crown Prince's own uncle, didn't live in the Imperial Prison but came to live in the Heavenly Prison.

Niu Jiang Yucheng was extra careful in treating this lord. He didn't trust other squad leaders and designated Chen Guanlou to take over.

"Take good care of Zhuang Taifu, and don't let him suffer any grievances. As long as the requirements are reasonable, satisfy them all. Taking good care of him might not be a merit. But, if the Taifu gets hurt in prison or any accident occurs, we will all be unable to eat and walk around, you know?"

Chen Guanlou agreed repeatedly, promising to complete the task.

For this special prisoner, the Jia-grade prison reopened the VIP cell. The floor was cleaned, disinfected, and sterilized to ensure there were no annoying insects. Beds, bedding, mosquito nets, tables, chairs, benches, bookshelves, books, four treasures of the study, copper candlesticks, everything was available.

Rather than saying it was sitting in prison, it was better to say it was coming to be grounded and reflect.

The yamen runners of the Six Shanmen personally sent Zhuang Taifu to the Heavenly Prison, finished the handover procedures, and ran away in a hurry.

Chen Guanlou took a deep breath and stepped forward, "Taifu, please this way."

Zhuang Wenlin was fifty-something, not old. He glanced at Chen Guanlou and was about to move, but heard a shout, "Taifu, wait a moment."

Sun Daoning, Sun Vice Minister, rushed over, "Your subordinate is late, I hope Taifu will forgive me."

Zhuang Taifu looked at the other party, not angry but majestic, "I have already ordered that no one is allowed to send me off. Why didn't you listen?"

Sun Daoning was slightly embarrassed, wanting to explain but not knowing where to explain.

Chen Guanlou looked at this scene, thinking, Zhuang Taifu is so majestic, his status in the imperial court. Presumably, all the officials in the imperial court have to bow down in front of him.

No wonder Zhuang Taifu was suddenly sent to prison, and the world said that half of the Crown Prince's party had collapsed.

While Sun Daoning was embarrassed, the sound of a carriage sounded outside the gate, and finally stopped slowly outside the gate.

Sun Daoning didn't explain, stepped forward quickly, and stood in front of the carriage, "Your Highness, Taifu is inside."

Your Highness? Which Highness?

Chen Guanlou didn't have time to think, gave a wink to the prison guards under his command, and hurriedly asked them to invite Niu Jiang Yucheng.

Niu Jiang Yucheng had been infected with a cold recently, fearing that he would pass the disease, so he hid in the duty room and didn't come out. However, a 'Highness' came, and even Sun Daoning had to serve carefully, so it was inappropriate for Niu Jiang Yucheng to continue hiding in the duty room. Even if he was sick, he could stand a little further away and not come forward. Not showing up was a great disrespect.

The carriage door opened, and the footstool was placed. A moment later, a slightly fat middle-aged man walked out of the carriage.

Zhuang Taifu saw this and was shocked, "A filthy place, how can the Crown Prince come personally. I said, don't let anyone send me off, why didn't you listen?"

The Crown Prince looked apologetic, "It's me who implicated Taifu. Taifu suffered this disaster, how can I not come. I'm not afraid of things; at worst, I'll be grounded, it's not like I haven't been grounded before."

The Crown Prince, who looked slightly gentle and had a mild temper, spoke with unusual toughness. The image contrast was a bit big!

The prison guards of the Heavenly Prison, presumably everyone was seeing the Crown Prince for the first time. Everyone was shocked.

Chen Guanlou reacted quickly, and he took the lead, "Welcome, Your Highness the Crown Prince! Please pay respects to Your Highness, may Your Highness be well!"

The prison guards came back to their senses, followed suit one after another, each burying their heads, not daring to breathe.

Niu Jiang Yucheng, hiding behind the crowd, breathed a sigh of relief. Just now, seeing the prison guards standing stupidly, he was anxious. He was sick and couldn't pass the disease to His Highness, couldn't come forward, couldn't lead, and was almost anxious to faint. Fortunately, Chen Guanlou reacted quickly, thank God.

"Exempt from courtesy!"

The Crown Prince didn't care about this group of prison guards; his whole heart was on Zhuang Taifu.

Zhuang Taifu sighed secretly, "Your Highness must not go against His Majesty; His Majesty eats soft but not hard, you just have to bow your head and it will be fine. As for me, it's just a mere Heavenly Prison, don't worry."

"How can I not worry. Sending Taifu to prison for no reason, it's unreasonable."

"Be careful!" Zhuang Taifu scolded sharply, "Pay attention to the occasion, don't talk nonsense. Your Highness, don't worry about me, hurry back."

"What can I do if I go back? There is no place for me in the vast imperial court." The Crown Prince was like a willful middle-school youth, and he couldn't see any wisdom or martial arts. However, the Crown Prince's true feelings for Taifu were moving. For Taifu, he complained about the old Emperor one after another; if this reached the old Emperor's ears, I'm afraid he wouldn't be able to escape a scolding.

"You... why don't you listen to advice. Even for the sake of letting me rest assured, please hurry back, Your Highness, don't delay."

Zhuang Taifu directly moved to drive people away. ===== CHAPTER 249 =====