Chapter 280: A Rare Guest Arrives at the Heavenly Prison

Chief Warden Niu officially resigned and departed with his trusted subordinate Xiao Xu to take up a post at the Jingzhao Prefecture.

The new Chief Warden had not yet assumed office; according to rumors, no candidate had even been selected. Too many people were eyeing this position—truly low in rank but rich in bribes—and everyone wanted a piece of it, arranging their own people to replace Chief Warden Niu. The fierce competition had created a deadlock.

Thus, the Heavenly Prison unexpectedly fell into a power vacuum.

Fortunately, everyone had grown accustomed to life without a Chief Warden; daily, no one bothered to approach him. Work was fixed, daily tasks unchanged, and following routine guaranteed no mistakes.

In the Jia-cell block, with Xiao Fan absent, Chen Guanlou ruled alone. As long as he was present, the jailers felt at ease—those on patrol patrolled, those slacking off slacked, those gambling continued their card games. Daily life remained utterly unchanged.

But recently, everyone had become frugal, betting smaller amounts.

With the new Chief Warden about to arrive, everyone was saving their money to offer bribes and dared not spend freely.

Today, the Heavenly Prison welcomed an unexpected guest.

Lu Mingchuan, the teacher of Zhao Mingqiao.

Lu Mingchuan had come to visit his student Zhao Mingqiao for the first time—now, nearly a year after Zhao's imprisonment. His arrival was sudden and peculiar.

He simply appeared at the prison gate without prior notice or bribes paid. He brought only an old servant, rented his carriage, yet wore the extremely expensive Jiangnan fine cotton robes—comfortable, yet unostentatious.

His luxurious attire clashed sharply with the worn-out rented carriage.

Chen Guanlou narrowed his eyes, greeting this renowned scholar, studying him closely, assessing silently.

He had to admit: Yu Zhaoan's mouth was foul, but his judgment of people was sharp.

Chen Guanlou was certain—he disliked Lu Mingchuan. This man's sudden visit had nothing to do with teacher-student affection. If he truly cared, why didn't he come when Zhao Mingqiao was first imprisoned? Why didn't he pay bribes? Even if he was busy, he could have sent someone to comfort his terrified student.

Yet he did nothing, as if Zhao Mingqiao had never been his student. Until today, a year later, he suddenly appeared outside the prison.

"Mr. Lu, please step into the office for tea. Currently, the Chief Warden's post is vacant; our hospitality may be lacking—please forgive us."

"No need for formalities. I'm here today solely to visit my student Zhao Mingqiao. No pleasantries."

"At least drink a cup of tea to warm yourself. The prison is dark and damp—your health matters!" Chen Guanlou half-forced Lu Mingchuan into the office, brought out the prison's finest tea for guests, brewed a pot, and placed the teacup respectfully beside the man's hand.

"Why have you come to see Lord Zhao today? Has something happened?"

"Nothing at all. Lately, I've had some insights and wished to discuss them with Mingqiao. He has excellent scholarship and a solid foundation. Alas, I am powerless, and thus he remains imprisoned."

"Sir, you overstate it. Everyone knows you are devoted to scholarship—officialdom is fundamentally different from learning."

"I didn't expect a jail clerk like you to hold such insight."

"I, too, draw my salary from the state and have faced times when I had no choice. Drink your tea, drink your tea!" Chen Guanlou urged warmly, trying to probe his true intent through conversation.

But Lu Mingchuan was clearly an old fox—no matter how Chen probed, he refused to reveal anything, steadfastly claiming he came only to discuss scholarship.

One cup after another, Chen Guanlou had no choice but to send Xiao Jin to lead Lu Mingchuan down to see Zhao Mingqiao.

"Station men to guard him. Record every word spoken."

"Understood!" Xiao Jin caught the implication.

Zhao Mingqiao, upon seeing his teacher in the prison, grew tearful with genuine emotion.

Lu Mingchuan offered concern while making idle chatter.

Chen Guanlou sat in the office drinking tea, engrossed in a popular novel. As a jail clerk, his social obligations had increased, but his actual duties had diminished. Whenever anything arose, a single order sufficed—someone else handled it. He only needed to oversee the big picture: personnel and finances.

Just as he reached an exciting passage, a jailer rushed in, breathless: "Master Chen, something's wrong—the—"

"Slow down. Don't panic. The sky won't fall."

"Mr. Lu suddenly collapsed—he's taken ill!"

"What illness? What's his condition? Why did he suddenly collapse?" Chen Guanlou fired three questions at once. The jailer stared blankly—he knew nothing.

Chen Guanlou ordered: "Send for the physician immediately. I'm going down myself."

He descended directly into the prison. Around Zhao Mingqiao's cell, a crowd had gathered. Zhao Mingqiao shouted furiously: "Save my teacher! Save my teacher! Don't just stand there—help him!"

"Stop shouting!" Chen Guanlou barked, silencing Zhao Mingqiao. "None here are physicians. We don't know his condition—moving him rashly might worsen it. Calm down. I've already sent for the physician; he'll arrive soon. Everyone, step back. Bring a cup of hot water."

His presence gave the jailers a center. They moved with order.

Xiao Jin also exhaled inwardly. He'd just taken charge as head guard, and now this? He was utterly unprepared. Worse—this man was no ordinary figure; he was a nationally renowned scholar. If he died in the prison, Xiao Jin would have no defense.

Chen Guanlou knelt, attempting to feel the pulse, and asked Xiao Jin: "What happened?"

Xiao Jin glanced at Zhao Mingqiao before answering: "They were talking, and suddenly Mr. Lu clutched his chest and collapsed."

Chen Guanlou turned to Zhao Mingqiao: "Is that true?"

Zhao Mingqiao nodded frantically: "Master Chen, please save my teacher! He mustn't die! It's surely the prison's filthy, foul air—he's not strong enough to endure it!"

"Do you know what illness Mr. Lu has?"

"I think… his heart is weak."

Chen Guanlou acted decisively: "Get a stretcher. Move him out. This place has no airflow and is too cold—it's harmful to the sick. Bring the old servant. Tell him to return to the Lu household and arrange a carriage to take his master away."

Xiao Jin obeyed each order, directing the jailers.

They moved Mr. Lu to the office. Physician Mu arrived with his medical kit, administering needles and medicine. As he worked, Xiao Jin brought the old servant to Chen Guanlou.

"What's going on? Didn't I tell you to go notify the Lu household?"

Xiao Jin looked pained. "Boss, ask him yourself." He nodded toward the servant, as if unwilling—or unable—to explain.

Chen Guanlou frowned and stepped forward: "Why didn't you go notify the Lu household? Mr. Lu is gravely ill. The prison's yin energy is heavy—this isn't a place to stay."

The servant looked distressed: "It's not that I refuse to go—it's that there's no one at home."

"What?" Chen Guanlou nearly doubted his own ears.