Chapter 271: Wronged! How DARE You Frame Me!

Hou Fu's steward Liu sent someone to invite Chen Guanlou to drink at the mansion, saying it had been too long since they last met and they should get together.

Chen Guanlou: …

What's there to get together for?

But since there was free liquor to be had, he went anyway—carrying a bundle of braised beef and a flask of wine to Liu's mansion.

The gatekeeper, Liu Xiaochuan, opened the door, his face as lifeless as ever.

Chen Guanlou stepped through the gate and asked curiously, "Have you ever been beaten?"

Liu Xiaochuan rolled his eyes at him, then said, "Next month I'm getting married. Don't forget to come to the wedding."

"You? Get married? Who'd have you? Who'd want you?" Chen Guanlou grinned.

"I'm marrying Xiujuan," Liu Xiaochuan said, smirking proudly—clearly asking for a punch.

Chen Guanlou grunted. Xiujuan—the maid from Liu Wanshi's household. Lucky bastard.

"You're lusting after Xiujuan too? Too late now!" Liu Xiaochuan's sarcasm was flawless.

"Lusting? Don't smear me," Chen Guanlou denied firmly.

Liu Xiaochuan chuckled, his face screaming: Go on, keep lying—I'll see if you can spin flowers out of it.

Chen Guanlou, furious, ignored him, swept his sleeve, and passed through the screen wall into the Liu mansion.

Liu the steward greeted Chen Guanlou with great warmth: "Little Lou, you're here! Sit, sit! You're such a rare guest. If I didn't invite you, would you ever come?"

"You're joking. You're steward of the Marquis's mansion, busy with affairs of state—how could I drop in uninvited? But if you call, I'll come. Here I am, rushing over the moment my shift ended." Chen Guanlou presented his gifts and sat down in the guest seat.

Liu the steward laughed heartily, pleased with Chen Guanlou's tone: "You came—that's enough. Why bring gifts?" He ordered servants to take the beef and wine away to warm.

"Little Lou, let's drink one cup first."

"I toast you!" Chen Guanlou raised his cup. "Back then, thanks to your help, I'm where I am today. I'll drain mine—you can drink as you like."

Liu the steward didn't drink casually—he drained his cup too. They drank and chatted casually; without the Master around, the Marquis's mansion had grown lively.

The way you talk, you'd think the Master was a flood or a ferocious beast.

The truth was, whenever the Master was home, neither the eldest nor second branch dared indulge in revelry. Many unnecessary banquets were canceled. Now that the Master was away, the second branch had revived—banquets were scheduled from New Year's Day to the Lantern Festival, every single day. Even in the twelfth month, they never rested—daily feasts and drinking parties.

Chen Guanlou grew more curious: the Marquis's mansion was this busy, yet Liu the steward had time to invite him to drink.

He kept his expression neutral, playing along with idle chatter.

His drinking capacity was too strong—Liu the steward couldn't keep up and shifted the topic to business.

"Little Lou, you know the Meng family, right?"

"Which Meng family?" Chen Guanlou feigned ignorance. He knew perfectly well—Liu had invited him to talk about Zhao Laoxi. Tsk…

"The two prisoners transferred to Tianlaomiao."

"Oh!" Chen Guanlou feigned sudden realization. "Those two are dead—committed suicide, couldn't be stopped. Honestly, those brothers were tragic. Not only were their tongues cut out, but their manhood too. They couldn't even remain proper men—no wonder they took their lives. I even had the physician try hard to save them at first."

Liu the steward frowned. "Really? Their tongues and manhood were cut?"

"The bodies were taken back by the Meng family. Didn't they say anything?"

Liu the steward lifted his cup. "Without seeing it myself, I can't believe it."

"A disgrace to the ancestors—how could they let outsiders see it?"

Liu the steward's eyes darted around, clearly weighing pros and cons.

Chen Guanlou casually asked, "I heard this is tied to Zhao Laoxi? Why hasn't the Meng family sought revenge on him?"

Liu the steward snapped back to attention. "The Meng family wants revenge—but they'd better check if they have the strength. But I heard someone's scheming behind Zhao Laoxi's back—the Embroidered Uniform Guard has moved." He stared hard at Chen Guanlou.

Chen Guanlou looked utterly confused, then snorted. "You don't think I'm scheming against Zhao Laoxi, do you? Commanding the Embroidered Uniform Guard? You're overestimating me. Liu steward, Uncle Liu—who's feeding you rumors that make you suspect me? I'm just a lowly jailer, useless as dirt."

"Don't belittle yourself, Little Lou. Your abilities are great. Though you're a jailer, the Jia-sized cells are under your command—this place is your domain. What you want to do, who can stop you?"

"No, don't flatter me to death. I don't know where you got your info, but I'll say this: Zhao Laoxi's affair has nothing to do with me. I don't know the Embroidered Uniform Guard." Chen Guanlou's face turned grim, utterly serious.

Liu the steward narrowed his eyes slightly.

Chen Guanlou snorted. "So the Marquis's mansion is going to take Zhao Laoxi's side?"

Liu the steward suddenly laughed. "Distant relatives came begging to the Marquis's mansion—we can't ignore them. Second Young Lady has her pride to protect!"

"But don't frame me."

"I heard the Meng family paid a sum to Tianlaomiao."

"You're well-informed. Yes, they paid a sum to Tianlaomiao—but that's standard. Anyone entering the Jia-sized cells, no matter their status, must pay. Considering the Meng brothers' misfortune, I gave them a discount. You suspect me over this, Uncle Liu?"

"But according to my sources, that money never entered the public ledger."

Chen Guanlou instantly narrowed his eyes.

There was a traitor in Tianlaomiao.

Only a few knew whether the money entered the public ledger. Liu the steward knew precisely—his intelligence was sharp. Tianlaomiao was truly a sieve.

He let out a cold laugh. "Whether it entered the public ledger or not—what's it to you? You're not a Ministry of Justice official. You have no right to question Tianlaomiao's accounts."

He dropped the pretense, tearing off his false mask.

Liu the steward was stunned—unable to believe Chen Guanlou would dare be so brazen in front of him, showing not a shred of respect. His face darkened. "Young man, impulsive passion is natural. But some people aren't worth provoking. You must know your limits."

"You're teaching me how to do my job?" Chen Guanlou tapped the table lightly, sneering. "First, what proof do you have that I schemed against Zhao Laoxi? Zhao Laoxi offended many—why single me out? Second, I'm Chen. You're steward of the Chen family. You're siding with outsiders to frame a Chen—how do you think the Master will react to that?"

"The Master isn't in the capital."

"So now you think you can do whatever you want? Zhao Laoxi's just one man—how much silver did he give Second Young Lady to make you fight for him and try to frame me?" Chen Guanlou's expression was half-smiling. "Aren't you afraid the silver will burn your hands?"

"Young man, don't think a little success means you can ignore others. Second Young Lady—you can't afford to offend her. If you're involved, I hope you'll back off now. If you're not, then consider it a misunderstanding."

Chen Guanlou laughed coldly, stood up. "This wine clearly can't go on. I've heard your advice, old man. Tell Second Young Lady and the Zhao family: this has nothing to do with me. Zhao Laoxi brought it on himself—does he think no one can punish him? Who the hell does he think he is?"