Chapter 281: What a Cunning Old Fox

"You'd better explain that—what do you mean 'no one'?"

Chen Guanlou pressed the old servant.

Lu Mingchuan's sudden visit today had already felt suspicious; now, hearing the Lu family had no one left, that suspicion intensified.

Old rascal, truly cunning and deceitful—not a good man.

Though he didn't know what the other side intended, that didn't stop him from assuming the worst.

"After the Lantern Festival, everyone in the household—from the Lady down to the Young Masters—returned to their ancestral home for ancestral rites. Only the Master remained in the capital."

"What about the servants?"

"All the servants went back too. Only a gatekeeper and a kitchen old woman were left—both useless. Also, the household has no carriage; all carriages went with the Lady to the ancestral home."

Chen Guanlou laughed coldly, "No carriage? Couldn't you rent one?"

"But our Master's condition makes him too fragile to move! Please, Master Chen, have mercy—let him rest in the Heavenly Prison for now."

"What nonsense! This is the Heavenly Prison—is it a convalescent home? If he dies here, I'll bear full responsibility." Chen Guanlou scolded him sharply—this was pure madness.

The old servant shrank back, silent, yet stood rooted in place, refusing to go rent a carriage.

Chen Guanlou made an instant decision: better to spend money than suffer disaster. He ordered the jailers to rent a carriage outside and get Lu Mingchuan out immediately. Let him die however he wanted—just not inside the Heavenly Prison.

He didn't want to cause a major scandal before his new jail warden took office. Nor did he want to leave any evidence for the new warden to use as an excuse to remove him. He'd worked too hard to reach the position of overseer of the Jia-class prisons—no one would drag him down.

With the shallowest seniority and still so young, he'd shattered the Heavenly Prison's records. How many were envious, waiting for him to slip up, watching for any misstep to seize upon?

Was there a younger jailer in the Heavenly Prison?

Yes.

But the Heavenly Prison had never before had someone so young appointed as overseer of the Jia-class prisons. That position was the prison's treasurer.

Who wouldn't be envious? Who wouldn't wish for him to fall—preferably all the way to the bottom?

Lu Mingchuan, this huge problem, must be removed quickly.

He must die outside the Heavenly Prison gates.

He asked the physician, "How is he? What's his condition now?"

"His condition is poor. Master Lu hasn't rested well these past days, hasn't eaten properly—that's why he collapsed suddenly."

Physician Mu withdrew his silver needles.

"He needs quiet rest now. Any movement risks relapse—or worse."

"That won't do. He must be moved out immediately." Chen Guanlou's tone was firm, leaving no room for compromise.

Physician Mu raised an eyebrow slightly. "What's happened? Why so tense? That's not like you. You're a jailer now—you need composure."

Composure, my ass.

"I don't know what happened. But Master Lu's sudden arrival unsettles me. So he must be removed quickly. Just ensure he's alive when he leaves the prison. If he dies, let it be outside."

Chen Guanlou's tone carried a ruthless edge—he'd resort to extreme measures if necessary.

Physician Mu frowned. "Could your instincts be wrong? Outside, everything's calm. It's not as dire as you claim."

"I trust my instincts more than I trust this Lu Mingchuan."

Physician Mu seemed to understand. "Fair enough. A renowned scholar of the capital, visiting the Heavenly Prison only after his student's year-long imprisonment? It reeks of suspicion. Caution is never wrong. If you want him alive when he leaves, I'll needle him again. Honestly—if he dies outside, it won't implicate you or me, or even the prison."

"The Heavenly Prison isn't a soft persimmon anyone can squeeze. Do you think everyone's the Embroidered Uniform Guard next door?"

So far, only the Embroidered Uniform Guard next door could easily manipulate the Heavenly Prison, leaving its staff powerless. Other offices just ignored them—go away.

Hearing this, Physician Mu finally relaxed.

Everything was going smoothly—just wait for the carriage to arrive, and they could send him off.

But the jailer sent to rent a carriage returned empty-handed.

Chen Guanlou glared. The jailer stammered, "I went to three carriage yards—all shut. The streets? Suddenly empty. But at the city gates, I heard troops entered. I didn't dare ask details—I rushed back to report."

At these words, Chen Guanlou and Physician Mu exchanged a swift glance, then both turned sharply toward the unconscious Lu Mingchuan.

What a cunning old fox!

"Something's happened in the capital!"

They spoke in unison.

Though he didn't know the specifics, Chen Guanlou prepared for the worst. For a great scholar like Lu Mingchuan to flee to the Heavenly Prison meant catastrophe—sky falling, earth cracking.

He told Physician Mu, "Don't go back. Stay here. Lu chose the Heavenly Prison—clearly, it's now the safest place in the capital. Send for all jailers. Order the gates closed—no one in or out. Have logistics inventory supplies, count personnel, calculate how long food and oil will last. Everyone prepare for a prolonged siege."

At his orders, the entire Heavenly Prison stirred. Jailers grew anxious.

Other jailers, at first, paid no mind—didn't care for Chen Guanlou.

Who the hell was he? A newly promoted jailer—what right did he have to summon a meeting? What right to lead?

But when they learned troops had entered the city, they instantly lost their bearings—and gathered around Chen Guanlou, obeying his commands.

Closing the prison was essential. Inventorying supplies was even more vital.

"Many brothers are off-duty, at home—should we notify them to come here for safety?"

"We don't yet know the situation outside. Better to gather information first, then decide."

"What's there to investigate? Lu Mingchuan—you may not know him, but you know what 'renowned scholar of the capital' means. He faked illness to hide here—think how dire the situation must be."

"It's tied to the palace."

"Only palace affairs could drive a great scholar of this age to abandon dignity and hide in the Heavenly Prison."

"Everyone, quiet." Chen Guanlou raised a hand slightly. "My view: though we don't know what happened, we must prepare for the worst. First, clear out the two watchtowers and station patrols."

At each end of the Heavenly Prison stood a watchtower—abandoned for years, mere decoration. No one thought they'd ever be used again—yet today, they were needed once more.