Chapter 272

Early in the morning, Chen Guanlou sat at his desk in the office, his face stern. Anyone who came in to take a look would have their legs shaking.

Usually, everyone joked around freely, but today everyone tacitly shut their mouths; no matter if they had business or not, they all acted as if they were very busy. In short, they had to avoid the office.

Even Shi Hong, who usually didn't get along with Chen Guanlou, rarely provoked him.

"Chen Tou, you were looking for me." Chen Guanxin was a bit apprehensive.

Chen Guanlou narrowed his eyes and stared at him. "Close the door and sit down to talk."

Chen Guanxin obeyed, appearing cautious, his heart feeling cold.

"Tell me, how have I treated you?" Chen Guanlou was like someone chatting about family matters, but his tone was particularly cold, sounding like an interrogation.

"Quite, quite well," Chen Guanxin said in a low voice. "Thanks to Chen Tou's promotion, I have the money to buy a house, and my father is even planning to open a shop for me, specializing in goods from the north and south."

"Is that so? Congratulations. Since I have treated you so well, why do you return evil for good?"

"Chen Tou, what are you saying? When have I ever returned evil for good? You can scold me for being lazy or slippery, but you cannot accuse me of returning evil for good!" Chen Guanxin shouted excitedly.

Chen Guanlou gave a laugh. "The money handed over by the Meng brothers did not enter the public account; you were the one who leaked this, right? You were the one who told the Second Young Mistress of the Hou Fu; I didn't frame you, did I?"

Ah!

Chen Guanxin was shocked, his face turning from white to green, then from green to purple. He was panicked.

Immediately after, he reacted. "Brother Lou, listen to my explanation; things are not what you think. It's because..."

"Stop talking, I don't want to hear it. From today on, you don't have to come anymore. Don't worry, this month's wages will be calculated for you; let's just part on good terms."

"Brother Lou, don't drive me away; this matter was really an accident. At that time, everyone was chatting, talking about Zhao Laosi, and then mentioning the Meng family. I just said a few words casually. I didn't expect it to reach the Second Young Mistress. Brother Lou, believe me, I have absolutely no intention of harming you; I can swear to heaven."

"I believe you have no intention of harming me. However, this place is no longer suitable for you. Go, don't force me to turn hostile. Xiao Jin, come in. You take Li Xin to handle the procedures; from now on, he is no longer a person of the Heavenly Prison. Remember to notify everyone so that everyone knows about this."

Chen Guanlou's order meant that there was no room for negotiation at all. He could accept that the people around him were gamblers, scoundrels, or guys with all sorts of vices. But he could not accept betrayal. No matter the reason, betrayal is betrayal, and it is unquestionable.

Chen Guanxin clearly saw this too; he looked dejected. "Must it be like this?"

Chen Guanlou gave a laugh. "I said, don't force me to turn hostile."

Chen Guanxin gritted his teeth. "Fine, I'll go! But I want to make it clear: I have never actively done anything to wrong you, and I have never wronged any brother. I have a clear conscience."

Chen Guanlou couldn't be bothered to listen to his defense and waved his hand, signaling Xiao Jin to take the person away quickly.

Xiao Jin stood still, looking left and right—are they really going to drive him out?

Chen Guanlou picked up a pen and threw it at Xiao Jin's head. "What are you still standing there for? Why don't you take him out quickly?"

"Oh!"

Xiao Jin picked up the pen from the ground, knowing there was no room for negotiation, and said, "A-Xin, let's go. I'll see you out of the Heavenly Prison."

"Don't worry, I won't take anything that doesn't belong to me." Chen Guanxin gritted his teeth, turned his head, and left.

Xiao Jin followed behind, looked back at Chen Guanlou, and seeing that the other party had no intention of changing his mind, he could only sigh to himself and accept this task that offended people.

After sending Chen Guanxin away, Chen Guanlou returned to his smiling appearance, but all the prison guards dared not approach, and no one dared to offer advice. The more he smiled, the more panicked everyone became. It would be better if he had a gloomy face; at least his emotions and expressions would be consistent.

The smiling appearance makes people unable to grasp his thoughts.

Chen Guanlou cursed, "All of you are cowards!"

On New Year's Eve, Zhao Laosi was released and went home to celebrate the New Year.

Qi Wuxiu rushed to bring the news to Chen Guanlou before the New Year's Eve dinner.

"Zhao Laosi cleared the path through the Hou Fu and gave another sum of money to redeem himself; I had no choice but to release him."

"Understood!" Chen Guanlou said only this.

Qi Wuxiu was a bit worried. "Are you alright? I heard that the Meng brothers both hanged themselves and left very cleanly."

"They did indeed leave very cleanly."

"Although the matter wasn't accomplished, the money cannot be returned to you." It turned out Qi Wuxiu was worried that Chen Guanlou would ask him for the money.

Chen Guanlou rolled his eyes at him. "I didn't ask you for the money. Go back and celebrate the New Year; I have to celebrate it too."

"How are you going to celebrate it alone?"

"None of your business." Chen Guanlou unceremoniously drove him away.

During the New Year, he was sharpening his blade. Sharpening the blade could make him calm down, and his thoughts became particularly sharp.

After lying down for three days, he went to work on the fourth day.

During the Spring Festival, everyone was busy celebrating the New Year, and there were no major events in the Heavenly Prison. Prison Warden Niu wouldn't be back to work until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, and Master Xiao Fan hadn't shown his face since the Grand Tutor incident.

He sat under the eaves, basking in the sun.

The weather was good this year for the New Year, with bright sun every day; as long as the wind wasn't blowing, it wasn't cold at all.

He saw Liu Xiao Chuan peeking sneakily outside the gate and waved his hand, letting the prison guard bring him in.

"What did you come here for?"

"Just came to take a look."

"You've seen enough, you can get lost." Chen Guanlou was not polite at all.

Liu Xiao Chuan bared his teeth and said unwillingly, "Zhao Laosi is dead!"

"What the hell?" Chen Guanlou looked surprised. "He's dead? What does his death have to do with me? What is it, does Liu Guanshi suspect I did it?"

"No. Just came to take a look."

Chen Guanlou gave a cold laugh. "Do you believe that?"

Liu Xiao Chuan didn't speak.

Chen Guanlou twitched the corner of his mouth slightly and asked, "When did he die? How did he die?"

"The night before last. They said he choked to death on his own vomit."

"He vomited while drinking; didn't the servants clean it up for him?"

"The servants were all asleep. He vomited in the middle of the night, and no one discovered it. When they got up in the morning, the body was already stiff." Liu Xiao Chuan told him everything.

Chen Guanlou gave an "oh" sound. "Alright, I know about this. Anything else? Liu Guanshi sent you here; it couldn't just be to tell me the news of Zhao Laosi's death. Just say it directly, don't stutter."

"The Master asked me to come and ask—are you clear about this matter?"

"Clear my ass!" Chen Guanlou cursed on the spot. "I've been sleeping at home every day and haven't even stepped out the door. If he has evidence, let him bring officials to arrest me. If he has no evidence, don't try to frame me. Turning his elbow outward and joining outsiders to bully a Chen family member—he has a lot of nerve. If he still doesn't get it, I'll go to the clan to file a complaint and let the Grand Steward judge who is right."

Liu Xiao Chuan was dazed, and it took a while before he said, "I also think it wasn't you; you don't have that ability."

Chen Guanlou laughed loudly. "You have a good eye after all."