Chapter 268: Killing Is Illegal

Early in the morning, on duty, most jailers were yawning; clearly, they'd spent another all-nighter at the gambling table.

At the gate, he ran into Lu Datou and asked casually, "How much did you lose?"

"Heh, I won," Lu Datou boasted, preening.

Chen Guanlou raised an eyebrow. "Can a gambling den let you win money? What nonsense."

Lu Datou pulled him into the corner and whispered, "I did Old Zhao a small favor. He specifically told the house to go easy on me. So last night, I won ten or so taels. Tonight, I'll treat you to dinner."

"What favor could you possibly do Old Zhao?"

"What kind of question is that? You forgot who's locked up in the Bing-cell block? Old Zhao's a man of the underworld—he's got a few useless nephews and young cousins who need looking after. It's nothing."

"With Old Zhao's influence, is there anyone he can't reach?"

"I don't know. Forget me—what about you? Any hard-to-please bigwigs lately?"

"Since the Grand Tutor was kidnapped, the Jia-cell block has gone quiet."

"Still no word on the Grand Tutor? And no one's holding you accountable?"

"Even if they do hold someone accountable, it'll be the Crown Prince's guards. They failed to protect him—that's why the Grand Tutor was snatched. In broad daylight, someone raided the Heavenly Prison and stole a man, and even the Embroidered Uniform Guard found not a single clue. Tsk…"

Chen Guanlou sighed. This setup was crude. Any sharp-eyed person could see the stink in it. But everyone pretended not to notice.

There were fools in court willing to speak up, but they weren't clever enough to see the truth. They'd barely opened their mouths when powerful hands shoved them back down.

The Grand Tutor's whereabouts were still being investigated.

Besides the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Dalisi had also gotten involved.

Only the Ministry of Justice stayed out of it, refusing to touch this mess.

As a Heavenly Prison jailer, just do your duty.

After parting with Lu Datou, he descended into the Jia-cell block, met Shi Hong, exchanged a few boasts, then gathered the jailers for morning roll call, inquired about the prisoners under their watch, dismissed them, and got back to work.

Chen Guanlou patrolled alone and came to the cell of the Meng brothers.

"The letters you wrote have been delivered to the Meng family. They'll reply soon. Any other requests? Say what you want—this chance won't come again. Once you're healed and sent back to the Imperial Prison, these privileges vanish."

The elder Meng opened his mouth, making incoherent sounds—his tongue had been cut out.

The younger Meng bit his finger, dipped it in blood, and scrawled a single character on the wall: "Kill."

"Kill? Who do you want to kill?"

Zhao Si!

Zhao Si!

Kill Zhao Si!

Though neither could speak, Chen Guanlou read their lip movements clearly: Zhao Si.

Chen Guanlou said solemnly, "Killing is illegal!"

The Meng brothers burst into tears, their hollow mouths grotesque to behold.

"But out there, there are always men who don't fear death. Offer enough silver, and someone will take your contract."

This twist…

The Meng brothers stared blankly at Chen Guanlou.

Chen Guanlou couldn't bear their gaze—he looked away.

The underworld has rules. One bottom line: never kill an official. No amount of silver changes that.

Chen Guanlou's claim that "someone out there fears no death" was pure bluff.

But there are many ways to make a man die—no need for a blade.

"Come, write down your story. Those who take contracts—especially this kind—will verify the facts."

Ink and brush were brought.

The Meng brothers wrote furiously, detailing the full sequence of events. Though exaggerated and partially concealed, the gist matched what he already knew.

The fact that Hua Niang's son couldn't be added to the clan register wasn't something the Meng family alone could accomplish. It was Zhao Si's father who held back, refusing to enroll the boy, hoping to pressure Zhao Si into submission.

Zhao Si was a stubborn mule—he refused.

Hua Niang dared not hate her father-in-law, so she blamed it all on the Meng family. She wanted the Meng woman dead. Not enough—she wanted the entire Meng clan destroyed, every male line wiped out. A fight to the death, no room for reconciliation. They'd burned every bridge.

Zhao Si was a madman. Hua Niang was a woman who didn't understand reason—did he not? In truth, he was a scoundrel. He hated his stepmother, his wife, every single Meng. Hua Niang suggested it—he agreed instantly.

What a perfect pair of lunatics!

Never break them up. Lock them together.

Chen Guanlou took the Meng brothers' manuscript and tucked it into his pocket.

That night, at midnight, Qi Wuxiu scaled the wall and entered. Chen Guanlou handed him the manuscript.

Qi Wuxiu stared blankly. "You sent for me… just to show me this?"

"Isn't this entertaining? More fun than chasing seventh-rank river dragons every day? By the way, how's your hunt for those river dragons going?"

"No leads at all. Like he never existed. If not for a ninth-rank martialist personally identifying him, I'd think he was made up."

"What about the Grand Tutor's whereabouts? You don't care? Seems the seventh-rank river dragon matters more than the Grand Tutor."

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard works in teams. Other squads are hunting the Grand Tutor. Don't tell me you're asking me to do something about this?"

Chen Guanlou chuckled. "Cutting tongues and castrating—those are your Imperial Prison's handiwork. For a few pieces of silver, you humiliate men like this? Is it worth it? And now you've moved them to the Heavenly Prison to heal? Tsk… even a normal person would find it unbearable."

"It is a bit excessive," Qi Wuxiu admitted, offering no defense for the Imperial Prison.

The Imperial Prison had many ways to break men, but unless ordered by superiors, they rarely cut tongues or castrated.

Other methods might be crueler, but at least they preserved a shred of dignity.

For a man, two ounces of flesh mattered more than life itself. Cut that, and you strip him of his very foundation in this world—he's no longer fit to be called a man.

A man who's no longer a man—what a deep wound.

"You want me to punish those bastards in the Imperial Prison?"

"No! You couldn't punish them even if you tried. I won't ask that of you. What do you think of Zhao Si?"

"He's no good. But he's tied to Jiang Tu—this won't be easy."

Chen Guanlou sneered. "You're supposed to be Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"You want me to settle a personal grudge? Are you related to the Meng family? Why take their side? When did you, Chen Guanlou, become so righteous?" Qi Wuxiu teased, baffled.

Chen Guanlou held his teacup, gazing at the stars. It was a night without the moon.

"A man must know what to do—and what not to do. I won't ask you to help for free. The Meng brothers are willing to pay a fortune. Will you do it?"