Chapter 274

Liu Guanshi hadn't decided whether to pursue the matter; he only said, "Think it over, think it over."

In thinking it over, the Lantern Festival passed in the blink of an eye. The yamen reopened for business, and officials went to court to handle state affairs. The Hou Fu's chief steward remained silent, and Liu Guanshi finally made up his mind.

Zhao Laosi was dead; with death, all matters fade. The chief steward didn't want to stir up trouble, so he went along with the flow. But from now on, he kept a sharper eye on Chen Guanlou.

Beijing's January was cold; the Tianlaomiao was colder.

But Chen Guanlou's heart was burning hot.

For he had been officially promoted to jail clerk. Once, his father's position as jail clerk had been seized by another; now, through his own ability, he had reclaimed it.

Niu Yucheng overruled all opposition and promoted him to head clerk of the Jia-sized prison, placing him on equal footing with Xiao Fan my lord. One managed money; the other managed people.

He had fulfilled his earlier promise.

Chen Guanlou was deeply grateful.

He loved officials like Niu Yucheng—fewer tasks, kept promises, got things done. Clear-cut, no nonsense.

After his promotion, he went straight to the official office to thank him, bringing a generous gift to express his gratitude.

Niu Yucheng, in high spirits, waved Chen Guanlou closer the moment he saw him. "The Jia-sized prison is now yours. I trust your ability to silence the noise. Later, talk with Fan Yuli and reach an understanding. Don't disrespect him—his uncle serves in the Ministry of Justice. Keep your paths wide; only then will you have a future."

"Your teachings are etched in my heart. Your kindness is beyond repayment. This small token is all I can offer—please don't refuse."

Chen Guanlou presented the gift list.

To prepare this gift, he had specifically consulted Du Fuzi, who wrote out the list in his hand.

Du Fuzi's script was upright, refined by time. Compared to his rough demeanor, it was clearly better suited for a gift list.

Niu Yucheng flipped through the list, his eyebrows lifting slightly. Then he closed it, smiling warmly. "I knew you were a sensible man. My promotion of you was not in vain. Among hundreds in the Tianlaomiao, I alone value you—don't disappoint me. Do your duty well. Don't make a misstep."

"I will remember your teachings. I will serve with diligence and never bring shame upon you."

"Excellent. Also, I'm about to be transferred from the Tianlaomiao. You may know this, but don't tell anyone else." Niu Yucheng smiled.

Hearing this, Chen Guanlou felt a pang of regret. Another jail warden to replace? How troublesome. He'd gotten along well with Niu Yucheng; they'd reached a mutual understanding. Now he'd have to figure out how to win over the new one.

In any workplace, such things were unavoidable. One had to accept them.

"May I ask, sir, to which yamen will you be transferred? Will I still have the chance to serve under you in the future?" Chen Guanlou asked.

Niu Yucheng was in excellent spirits. "I can tell you: I'm being transferred to the Jingzhao Prefecture yamen, still handling criminal affairs. But this time, I'm promoted two ranks."

Ah!

Chen Guanlou quickly bowed and congratulated him. "Congratulations, sir! May your future be bright as brocade!"

"Hahaha…"

Niu Yucheng laughed heartily. "I've just been lucky. I ran into an old acquaintance who told me the Jingzhao Prefecture had an opening. I hurried to pull strings, spent a hefty sum, and finally secured the post. The official decree should arrive in a few days. Before it does, not a word must leak out. Otherwise, people will say I'm frivolous and reckless."

"I understand, sir. I swear to keep my mouth shut. I'm truly happy for you. By the way, this office seems quite auspicious—former Fan Yucheng was promoted, and now you, sir, are too. The fortune here is rising."

"Oh? Really?" Niu Yucheng glanced at the chair beneath him. "Truly auspicious?"

"Very auspicious! So many events happened, yet none touched the Tianlaomiao—that's fortune at work. Now this fortune has settled on you. When you arrive at your new post, everything will go smoothly. Your official luck will soar."

"Hahaha… That makes sense. The rebel sects attacked the prison, the Grand Tutor was kidnapped—yet the Tianlaomiao remained untouched. You're right. The fortune here is truly strong."

As he spoke, Niu Yucheng pondered whether to set up an incense altar to draw more good fortune, to ensure a strong start in his new post. He didn't know much about it—he planned to consult a specialist. If needed, he'd even invite a Daoist priest to perform a ritual.

But Chen Guanlou advised, "The Tianlaomiao has its own nature, its own qi. Outsiders forcibly stirring its fortune might disrupt this luck—and even affect your own. Better to let it flow naturally; good fortune will follow."

Niu Yucheng thought carefully. "You have a point. To others, this place seems cursed. But those within understand its true meaning. Whether it's truly cursed or not, the wealth fortune has always been strong. Where wealth flourishes, fortune flourishes. If outsiders tamper with the feng shui, it might backfire. Fine—I'll follow your advice. Let it be natural."

Niu Yucheng's reasoning convinced him. He abandoned the idea of inviting a Daoist priest and of setting up an incense altar.

The Tianlaomiao had its own nature—its feng shui must differ greatly from the outside world. Setting up an altar out of season might ruin its fortune. That would be disastrous.

After taking leave of Niu Yucheng, Chen Guanlou went to see Xiao Fan my lord.

Xiao Fan Yuli was drinking alone in broad daylight.

No one expected that after waking up, the world had turned upside down. The Jia-sized prison, once entirely under his control, now had another man sharing half his authority.

The former underling had become his equal.

He regretted giving up power. He regretted trusting Chen Guanlou, giving him the chance to curry favor with Niu Yucheng. The two had conspired together, completely sidelining him—taking his authority, taking his money.

It enraged him.

The more he thought, the angrier he became.

The more he thought, the more bitter he felt.

So when Chen Guanlou entered the official office, he saw Xiao Fan Yuli with a dark, resentful face.

He cleared his throat.

Xiao Fan Yuli snapped back to awareness, saw him, and immediately narrowed his eyes, ready for battle.

Chen Guanlou bowed. "Happy New Year, Fan my lord!"

Xiao Fan Yuli raised an eyebrow, sneering. "Congratulations, Jail Clerk Chen. They say joy lifts the spirit—true enough."

Chen Guanlou smiled, ignoring the barb. He walked straight forward and sat on the other side of the desk—exactly opposite, on equal footing.

Xiao Fan Yuli snorted coldly. "In the past, you only stood to speak. I didn't let you sit—there was no seat for you in this room."

"You're right, Fan my lord. All these years, thanks to your care and trust, I am where I am today. I'm on duty now, so I can't drink. I'll offer tea in place of wine—first, I toast you."

Chen Guanlou adopted a friendly demeanor. They'd still have to work together—he didn't want to tear things open right away. Besides, Xiao Fan Yuli was easy to placate. With care, he was confident he could win him over.