Chapter 251: Transfer of Responsibility

"Chen Guanlou, don't speak nonsense."

Niu Yucheng, humiliated and furious, wanted to storm forward and slap him twice. This man's mouth had no gate—anything he thought of, he blurted out. Couldn't he show some restraint?

Chen Guanlou ignored Niu Yucheng's impotent rage and fixed his gaze on Sun Daoning. "Sir Sun, did I guess correctly?"

Before Sun Daoning could respond, Niu Yucheng's heart lurched. "This can't be done! This will get people killed! Sir Sun, save us! Everyone in the Heavenly Prison is a nobody—we can't bear such a massive responsibility. Please, Sir Sun, show us a way forward."

Niu Yucheng was far more flexible than Fan Yucheng. Fan always put on airs, clinging to the dignity of a scholar, and usually couldn't bring himself to lower his face.

Niu Yucheng was different—he rose from the bottom ranks, and face meant nothing. At critical moments, you had to be willing to sacrifice your face to seize opportunity.

Begging for your life isn't shameful!

In officialdom, you must be pliable: capable of being a great man, yet also willing to play the humble wife.

Sun Daoning put on a look of distress. "How could I possibly have a way forward? If the Grand Tutor meets harm in the Heavenly Prison, not only you, but I too will be implicated. Do your duties diligently—I'm certain everything will be safe."

Safe my ass.

Everyone knows the Heavenly Prison is a sieve. Most jailers can't even read—most are illiterate, and all are money-grubbing scoundrels. A little cash from a schemer can buy them; a few lies can turn them into fools. The jailers think they're just doing a small favor for money, but they die never understanding the hidden truth.

In short, the Heavenly Prison is riddled with leaks—impossible to guard against.

Hearing Sun Daoning's words, Niu Yucheng felt as if heaven had collapsed and earth had cracked. "Sir Sun, you can't handle this like this! Can't you find a way to move the Grand Tutor to the Imperial Prison? The Imperial Prison is safe—nowhere in the realm is safer than the Imperial Prison."

"What nonsense are you spouting? How could the Grand Tutor be moved to the Imperial Prison? The Crown Prince would never agree, nor would the court ministers. The Grand Tutor must remain in the Heavenly Prison." Sun Daoning flew into a rage, furious that Niu Yucheng didn't understand politics, didn't know how to pick sides, and just kept yelling like a fool.

Niu Yucheng was utterly wronged, pleading pitifully: "But the Heavenly Prison Temple can't hold such a mighty Buddha. Please, Sir Sun, give us a way to live."

"The way to live is to do your duty well, watch every detail, and ensure the Grand Tutor remains unharmed."

Niu Yucheng was desperate. He forgot rank and hierarchy and demanded: "What if? What if something happens? Are we to be the ones to die in his place? We're human too—we're not incompetent, it's just that the enemy is too powerful!"

Chen Guanlou nodded inwardly. Niu Yucheng was impressive—keep pushing. Niu Yucheng had far more backbone than Fan Yucheng. If Fan Yucheng were here, his first thought would be to find a scapegoat, to find any way to absolve himself.

Sun Daoning was furious—he wanted to kick Niu Yucheng into the next life.

Still, he soothed: "No one wants your head."

Niu Yucheng didn't believe him—he gave a look that said, I'm not a fool, don't try to trick me.

Sun Daoning rolled his eyes in exasperation. "It's not certain something will happen—it's just a precaution."

It's highly likely something will happen. I've seen this before—I spent twenty years in the county magistrate's criminal office, and without exception, the more you fear something, the more it happens.

This is Murphy's Law!

Chen Guanlou silently murmured the phrase in his mind.

Sun Daoning gave a solemn warning—he was certain someone would move against Grand Tutor Zhuang. In plain terms, it was Xiang Zhuang dancing with his sword, aiming for the Crown Prince. Never mind others—just consider the imperial princes: which one lacked ambition? Which one didn't want to be emperor?

A prince who doesn't want to be emperor isn't a good prince.

Whoever gets the chance to topple the Crown Prince will dare anything. Even if exposed later, they could sacrifice a few trusted subordinates. But if they could weaken the Crown Prince's power and shake his foundation, sacrificing ten or eight talents would be entirely worth it—excellent cost-to-benefit ratio.

These days, talent isn't scarce—it's opportunity that's rare, a once-in-a-millennium chance.

Grand Tutor Zhuang's imprisonment in the Heavenly Prison was that once-in-a-millennium chance.

The old emperor deliberately framed Grand Tutor Zhuang with charges of forming cliques and pursuing private gain, throwing him into prison—not without intent to give other princes an opening, to use this moment to strike at the Crown Prince.

He was breeding monsters—he wanted the princes to kill each other.

The more the princes fought, the more the old emperor benefited. He no longer had to fear the Crown Prince coveting the throne; merely defending against the other princes' attacks would drain the Crown Prince's every resource and energy.

This move was brutal—utterly devoid of father-son affection.

"Whether or not something happens, now that the Grand Tutor is in the Heavenly Prison, he is your responsibility," Sun Daoning finally threw down the gauntlet, losing patience. His stance was clear: he intended to use the heads of the Heavenly Prison staff to bear the blame.

Niu Yucheng's face twisted with rage, his features grotesque. The Heavenly Prison was a good place—money flowed in abundance, at least ten to twenty times more than the county magistrate's office.

But the risk had multiplied tenfold.

His head throbbed.

He came here to make money, not to die.

He suddenly turned to Chen Guanlou. "Little Chen, you're experienced—what should we do?"

Chen Guanlou secretly rolled his eyes. He had no experience at all—he'd never faced anything like this before.

He cleared his throat. "Sir Sun, could the Crown Prince send a few loyal, trustworthy men from the Eastern Palace to oversee the Grand Tutor's safety here? We in the Heavenly Prison simply lack the confidence to guarantee his safety completely. But if the Eastern Palace sends men, surely they can ensure absolute security."

This was classic deflection—shifting responsibility.

If the Eastern Palace sent men, and Grand Tutor Zhuang still met with misfortune, the Heavenly Prison could cleanly wash its hands of blame.

Look: if even the Eastern Palace couldn't prevent accidents, how could the Heavenly Prison possibly do so? This is fate—not human effort can change it.

Hearing this, Niu Yucheng's eyes lit up. This idea was brilliant. Chen Guanlou was truly experienced.

He quickly chimed in: "Exactly! We must ask the Eastern Palace to assign personnel to protect the Grand Tutor. I'm certain the Crown Prince won't refuse. Sir Sun, don't you agree?"

Sun Daoning: …

He gave Chen Guanlou a long, piercing look. What a brilliant fool.

"I never knew the Heavenly Prison had someone as clever as you. But this suggestion is indeed practical. I will petition the Crown Prince. Until the Eastern Palace sends men, you must ensure the Grand Tutor's safety."

"Hurry up! Don't delay!" Niu Yucheng bluntly urged Sun Daoning—this was a matter of life and death, not a time for face.

Sun Daoning shot him a venomous glare. "I share your concern for the Grand Tutor's safety. I don't need you to rush me—I'll act swiftly. Chen Guanlou, you will personally attend to the Grand Tutor."

"Yes, sir!" Chen Guanlou bowed deeply, and together with Niu Yucheng, respectfully saw Sun Daoning depart the Heavenly Prison.