Chapter 273: Chen Guanlou is definitely the culprit. If you ask why, it

"This matter cannot be separated from Chen Guanlou."

Liu Guanshi slammed the table in a rage.

Liu Wan Shi sipped her tea. "Master, why are you so certain this matter has anything to do with Chen Guanlou? Zhao Laosi clearly choked to death on his own vomit. If you want to blame someone, blame the servant by his side for being negligent in his duties."

"What do you know? How could there be such a coincidence in this world? Zhao Laosi had only been out of prison for two days, and then he died at home. Do you believe that?"

"Why wouldn't I believe it? He took a trip to the Embroidered Uniform Guard, escaped safely, wept with joy, and naturally drank a few extra cups of wine. It's normal to have a low tolerance for alcohol and vomit in the middle of the night. It's the New Year; the servants and maids also want to rest, so it's normal for them to slack off. Everything happened to coincide, and an accident occurred—no one wanted that. But the facts are just so. Master, how can you wrongly accuse others so casually? Don't forget, he is surnamed Chen, after all, and is registered in the Great Master's records."

Liu Wan Shi was reminding Liu Guanshi not to create extra trouble.

Zhao Laosi paid the money just to have the Hou Fu get him out. Once the person was out, the matter was considered done; money and goods were exchanged. Since the person died, it had nothing to do with the Hou Fu, and even less to do with Liu Guanshi. There was no need to stand up for Zhao Laosi. One could only say he was fated to suffer this calamity; he didn't die in the Zhao Yu, but died from drinking and vomiting—that was fate.

Heh!

Liu Guanshi sneered repeatedly, laughing at Liu Wan Shi's naivety.

Liu Wan Shi was unconvinced. "Then tell me, where would Chen Guanlou get the ability to kill Zhao Laosi in his home in the middle of the night without anyone knowing?"

"Chen Guanlou indeed doesn't have that ability, but he isn't short on money. Money can make the devil turn the millstone." Liu Guanshi spoke with conviction; he was set on Chen Guanlou and wouldn't consider anyone else.

Liu Wan Shi sighed and said slowly, "I remember the Zhao Fu has several guards, all of whom are second or third-rank warriors. Then tell me, where could Chen Guanlou find someone capable of not only avoiding second or third-rank guards but also killing someone without anyone knowing? Has any of the reputable gangs in the capital ever had such a capable person? If they really had that ability, who would still be mixing in a gang? They would have long since been recruited by noble families or entered the army to seek a future."

Liu Guanshi was suddenly speechless, unable to refute.

Gangs live off the strength of numbers; they are no good at one-on-one fighting. Even if they have warriors to serve as a facade, most are only first or second-rank. Warriors of the third rank or higher have long since been recruited and gone off to seek their futures. No fool would stick to the dead-end job of a gang.

Liu Guanshi gritted his teeth, and a flash of inspiration suddenly crossed his mind. "Don't forget, Chen Guanlou is a prison guard in the Heavenly Prison. The Heavenly Prison holds a group of great thieves and scum of the martial arts world. If he wants to find someone capable of assassinating Zhao Laosi, it might be difficult for others, but for him, it's just a matter of saying one word."

Liu Wan Shi:...

Now it was Liu Wan Shi's turn to be speechless.

"What reason would he have to kill Zhao Laosi? The two of them never even had any dealings."

"Hmph! Young people are hot-blooded and impulsive. Perhaps it was for so-called 'justice,' perhaps he couldn't stand the sight of him, or perhaps he was paid to do it. Whatever the reason, this fellow Chen Guanlou is no good. Knowing full well that Zhao Laosi was someone protected by the Hou Fu, he still dared to undermine us—he's rebelling!" Liu Guanshi cursed aloud.

Liu Wan Shi pondered for a while but still advised, "There is no evidence for this, so you must not go around talking nonsense in front of the Second Young Lady. If you ask me, regardless of whether it has anything to do with Chen Guanlou, it's better to avoid extra trouble. The Zhao family isn't even a proper relative of the Hou Fu; it's just a distant connection. There's no need to stand up for Zhao Laosi. Besides, Zhao Laosi was a scoundrel; it's good that he's dead, so he can stop harming people."

"You don't know a damn thing!"

Liu Guanshi paced back and forth in the room, looking as if his anger would not subside.

"Zhao Laosi snuck into the Capital Camp and also got involved with Jiang Tu. Now that he's dead, that line is considered broken."

"Hearing you say this, why do I feel a bit uneasy? How did this matter get involved with Jiang Tu again? Jiang Tu wouldn't even protect Zhao Laosi; how can you say he got involved?"

"You don't know a damn thing! Jiang Tu didn't dare to stand up for Zhao Laosi. He interfered with military power and has already violated the Old Emperor's taboo. He's too busy clearing his name to dare stand up for Zhao Laosi. Otherwise, Zhao Laosi wouldn't have spent a large sum of money to ask the Hou Fu to come forward and protect him. This matter was personally ordered by the Head Steward. The Head Steward represents the Great Master's will. Do you understand the deep meaning here?"

Liu Wan Shi seemed to understand but also didn't; she nodded and then shook her head.

Liu Guanshi sighed. "If you don't understand, forget it. Now that Zhao Laosi is dead, all subsequent arrangements are void. Chen Guanlou ruined a major event; how can we not hold him accountable?"

"You must consult the Head Steward about this. If the Head Steward doesn't speak, why are you worrying about it?" Liu Wan Shi said a truth; if this matter were really that serious, the Head Steward couldn't possibly be indifferent.

"I'll say it again: you must not go around talking nonsense about things without evidence. I think Chen Guanlou is quite an honest person; did you see him wrong? Where would he get the guts to hire a killer? And it's Zhao Laosi, who has nothing to do with him."

Liu Wan Shi thought of Chen Guanlou's face—what a handsome young man, how could he be so cruel?

Features determine one's worldview.

Liu Wan Shi stood firmly on Chen Guanlou's side, defending him with all her might. She firmly believed that a handsome boy must have a kind heart. Even if he worked in the lowly profession of a prison guard, his nature couldn't be bad. She trusted her own eyes and would never misjudge a person. As for her husband, Liu Guanshi, he was clearly biased and looked down on people. He was jealous, which was why he insisted on pinning a crime on Chen Guanlou.

She hated men like that the most.

"He has plenty of guts. His father was in the Heavenly Prison for many years, always sitting on the bench, barely earning any money, and just suffering insults. Look at him—in just a few years, he's been thriving in the Heavenly Prison, earning plenty of money, and even started a business in antiques and paintings, taking the opportunity to get involved with the Great Master."

The more Liu Guanshi thought about it, the more he was convinced that this person Chen Guanlou was not simple, and he felt that everyone was being played by him.

Liu Wan Shi rolled her eyes. "He's not as cunning as you think. Can't you allow people to have real ability?"

"Real ability, my ass. What real ability does the job of a Heavenly Prison guard need? It needs an eye for detail, knowing how to handle things, and being able to share the burden for one's superiors. You, you—don't be blinded by Chen Guanlou's appearance."

"Then what do you say we do now?" Liu Wan Shi was a bit unconvinced, but fortunately, she knew her limits.

Liu Guanshi was also thinking about this question.

He stroked his beard, his brows slightly furrowed, feeling irritable and hot-headed inside. After drinking a cup of cold tea, he felt even more uncomfortable.

"Even if you tell others your suspicions, I reckon the Zhao family won't appreciate your favor. Except for that concubine, Hua Niang. Besides, the Meng brothers are dead, and they died so miserably that they didn't even have complete corpses. Zhao Laosi at least has a complete corpse."

Liu Guanshi was stunned for a moment. "Did the Meng brothers really not have complete corpses?"

Liu Wan Shi sneered. "I went to pay my respects and asked secretly; it's true they didn't have complete corpses. Their manhoods couldn't be found, and the Zhao Yu side had long since thrown them away as waste." ===== CHAPTER 274 =====