Chapter 250: Alleviating the Superior

"Report to Grand Tutor, according to the rules of the Tianlaomiao, everyone who enters must pay a safety fee. Not much—just six hundred taels."

Chen Guanlou stepped forward.

Alleviating the burden of one's superior is the duty of a subordinate.

Seeing Sun Daoning awkwardly fidgeting with his toes, he feared the man's incompetence might lead to blame being dumped on the prison, causing trouble for everyone—like another increase in kickbacks—so he bravely stepped forward. Even if it meant carrying a massive black pot, he had to take it on.

He believed that if he took the blame and rescued Sun Daoning from embarrassment, Sun Daoning would surely repay him in some way.

"Six hundred taels? Indeed, not much." Grand Tutor Zhuang nodded. "If the money is paid, will the jailers no longer harass the imprisoned officials?"

Grand Tutor Zhuang seemed to have a strong thirst for knowledge, fond of probing to the root of things.

Chen Guanlou glanced at Sun Daoning and, seeing no signal from him, chose his words carefully: "Without orders from above, the jailers will not harass imprisoned officials."

"Hahahaha…" Grand Tutor Zhuang laughed loudly, clearly seeing through the hidden meaning in Chen Guanlou's words.

"Then, if I am to reside in such a fine cell, must I pay double?" Grand Tutor Zhuang appeared deliberately difficult, always asking questions beneath the table.

Chen Guanlou felt internally awkward but had to speak: "Grand Tutor, you humiliate us jailers. Grand Tutor, you have devoted yourself heart and soul to the court and to His Majesty. Now that you face hardship, though we jailers are lowly, we still possess a heart that discerns right from wrong."

"Well said! Even you jailers can discern right from wrong, yet the lords of the court only scheme and crawl like flies!" The Grand Tutor's temper flared, launching into indiscriminate curses. In his view, the Crown Prince's current plight was directly tied to the inaction of the court ministers.

Sun Daoning pinched his nose, masking his embarrassment and disagreement, then spoke: "Grand Tutor, please calm down! The court's atmosphere is not something that changed overnight—it will improve in time."

"With Jiang Tu, that villain, stirring up trouble in court, how can things improve? Sun Vice Minister, your Ministry of Justice is utterly incompetent."

Grand Tutor Zhuang was indeed launching indiscriminate attacks.

Sun Daoning smiled apologetically: "The Ministry of Justice has its own difficulties. We cannot simply open investigations against people without cause. We cannot match the Censorate. But even the Censorate cannot investigate whomever it wishes."

The Censorate could freely impeach any official—even the Emperor lay within their range. But impeachment was not the same as opening an investigation, nor did it mean judicial intervention. At this level, no one could investigate any official without the Emperor's approval. Still, the censors' impeachments carried immense deterrent power. Once a reputation was ruined, a single opportunity could send one tumbling eighteen layers into hell.

Grand Tutor Zhuang snorted, clearly rejecting Sun Daoning's excuses. In his view, it was the inaction of lower officials that had allowed court morals to decay further, blinded the old Emperor with treacherous ministers, and left the Crown Prince constantly thwarted and humiliated.

Heaven's Dao is unjust!

Sun Daoning had no desire to say more; he found an excuse and hurriedly left the prison.

Chen Guanlou personally locked the cell door. "Grand Tutor, should you have any needs, just give the word. If you have special dietary preferences, say so—I'll have the kitchen prepare them."

"May my servants deliver meals daily?" Grand Tutor Zhuang was a gourmet, accustomed to his household cook's food. He could endure anything in the prison except the meals—he wanted a private stove.

"This… under normal circumstances, the prison does not permit inmates to eat outside food. A meal or two occasionally is fine, but daily delivery would be inappropriate. What if we arrange for your household cook to come to the prison kitchen and prepare meals solely for Grand Tutor?"

Grand Tutor Zhuang frowned. "Wouldn't that be too troublesome?"

Chen Guanlou hurried to say: "Not at all, not at all."

Having Zhuang's household deliver meals daily would be the most troublesome. If something went wrong, who would be held responsible? Such matters fear not the one-in-a-thousand, but the one-in-ten-thousand. If any link in the chain failed, the prison would inevitably bear the blame.

By having the prison kitchen purchase meat and vegetables daily with standardized seasonings, and letting the Zhuang household's cook prepare only Grand Tutor's meals, safety was maximized.

Even if something still went wrong, every step would leave a trace, allowing precise identification of where and by whom the fault occurred. The smaller the scope, the shorter the transport distance, the fewer opportunities for tampering—and the easier it would be to investigate.

Grand Tutor Zhuang considered it, then nodded decisively: "Then please inform my household steward to arrange for the cook to come daily to the prison kitchen. If additional payment is needed, just say the word. The prison has its rules—I understand, and I won't make things difficult for you."

"Thank you, Grand Tutor!" Chen Guanlou immediately relaxed. It seemed the Grand Tutor was quite reasonable, not deliberately targeting the prison jailers.

After arranging all matters, Chen Guanlou went to the office to report to Chief Warden Niu. That was when he learned Sun Daoning had not left after departing the prison.

"Little Chen, come quickly," Chief Warden Niu called. "Master Sun has been waiting for you a long time—hurry over."

Waiting for me?

Chen Guanlou was startled. "Greetings, Chief Warden Niu, greetings, Master Sun! May I ask why Master Sun has been waiting for me?"

"Did the Grand Tutor give any instructions?" Sun Daoning asked.

"The Grand Tutor has rather peculiar tastes, so he requested that his household cook come to the prison kitchen to prepare his meals daily. Master, I've already agreed to this—no problem, right?" Chen Guanlou's final words were directed at Chief Warden Niu.

Chief Warden Niu looked to Sun Daoning.

Sun Daoning paused, then said: "This matter is not problematic. The Grand Tutor's diet is of paramount importance—you must be extremely careful and ensure no mishaps. If you detect anything suspicious, report it immediately—no Jiaoxingzhixin allowed."

"Yes!" Chen Guanlou thought the same. Grand Tutor Zhuang was the spiritual leader of the Crown Prince's faction—calling him the faction leader was no exaggeration. His safety had far-reaching implications. That was precisely why he had refused the meal-delivery request: everything must be contained within the prison, fully controlled.

Later, he would visit the kitchen to instruct the staff: keep a close watch on the Zhuang household's cook—do not allow him to bring in any seasonings or ingredients from outside.

It wasn't that he distrusted the Zhuang cook—it was that food preparation offered too many loopholes.

Sun Daoning suddenly gestured for Chen Guanlou to come closer.

Chen Guanlou stepped forward two paces. "Master, what are your orders?"

Sun Daoning suddenly asked him: "If an accident truly occurs, what will you do?"

Chen Guanlou raised an eyebrow slightly. What did that mean?

He weighed his words carefully before answering: "Report it, seal the news, and keep everyone in place—no one moves."

"Correct—and incorrect. All matters concerning the Grand Tutor, you and Chief Warden Niu, may report only to me."

Huh?

Chen Guanlou stole a glance at Chief Warden Niu.

Chief Warden Niu also frowned, pondering the implications.

"Chen Guanlou, I have high hopes for you," Sun Daoning suddenly switched to a warm tone. "I hope you won't disappoint me."

Chen Guanlou grew even more puzzled. "Master, could you be more explicit?"

"You dare to push your luck? You actually demand explicit instructions? No explicit words—I'll only remind you: the Grand Tutor's safety concerns your very lives."

"Someone wants the Grand Tutor to die in the Tianlaomiao?" Chen Guanlou's words struck like thunder. Chief Warden Niu fell off his chair in shock, crashing loudly.