Chapter 287

Dawn had broken, but the capital was like a dead city, refusing to wake up for a long time.

Every family closed their doors and windows, regardless of whether they were wealthy or poor. Everyone hid behind the cracks in the doors to observe the movement; on the street, let alone people, there wasn't even a ghost shadow.

Even the people who collected night soil hid in their homes. As a result, in some areas of the city where environmental hygiene was poor, a smell of human and animal feces permeated the air. The smell was so stimulating that even the officers and soldiers of the Divine Artifact Battalion were unwilling to step closer.

The sanitary condition of the Heavenly Prison could still be maintained.

However, in another ten days or half a month, the Heavenly Prison would also degenerate into a cesspool.

Hundreds of people eating, drinking, and defecating—no one dared to think deeply about that quantity. If the night soil collectors didn't work for one day, the Heavenly Prison would sooner or later face the terrifying situation of being surrounded by feces.

Chen Guanlou couldn't stand the stimulation of various smells mixed together. For the sake of his nose, he sealed his five senses early and became a dull person.

More officers and soldiers took to the streets. Through their uniforms, one could identify the Imperial Guards and the Shenrui Battalion. The Embroidered Uniform Guards also took to the streets, but the officers and soldiers of the Wucheng Military and Horse Division were nowhere to be seen, nor were the officers and soldiers of the City Defense Battalion.

A group of prison clerks hid in the artillery tower, looking into the distance. Everyone couldn't figure out the situation outside; so many officers and soldiers were on the street, yet they didn't see a single official come forward, letting this group of soldier-rogues wreak havoc—what exactly was going on?

It couldn't be that all the officials were dead.

"Should we send someone out to ask around?"

"Where to ask?"

"The Embroidered Uniform Guards next door."

"Be careful of being killed as a spy. At this time, the Embroidered Uniform Guards don't care about the law when they kill; dying would be for nothing."

"Find a familiar face to go. We can't just wait here in such an unclear way. Even if it's a rebellion, we must know who exactly is rebelling."

"We should send someone out to scout. Anyway, the Zhao Prison is next door, and they are well-informed."

But who should be sent?

Everyone looked at each other.

Looking at one another, everyone cherished their lives, and no one was willing to stand out voluntarily.

"I'll go."

After a long silence, Chen Guanlou stood out. He wanted to take the opportunity to go outside and get some air; he didn't want to be kept in the dark. He also wanted to go to his eldest sister's house to take a look; he had been worried about them all along. He also wanted to go home, take a bath, and get two sets of clothes to change into. He even wanted to sneak into the Imperial Palace to take a peek, but he was worried about being discovered by a Grandmaster and dying without a burial place.

"Little Chen, are you sure?" Xu Fugui was very surprised; a person who had just been promoted, logically speaking, should cherish their life the most. He hadn't had time to enjoy the benefits brought by power, so why was he willing to risk his life? If he died outside, it would be too much of a loss.

According to Xu Fugui's idea, sending a prison guard out would be enough, such as Lu Datou—it had to be Lu Datou, it must be Lu Datou. If this thorn in the side could be resolved by taking the opportunity, it would save a lot of trouble.

Chen Guanlou said firmly, "No one is more suitable than me. At least I still have some ability to protect myself. In case I encounter a situation, by virtue of my identity as a member of the Chen family, I still have a glimmer of survival. Others don't have this amulet."

Xu Fugui:...

He couldn't refute it at all.

In terms of family background, indeed no one could compare to Chen Guanlou. A member of the Chen clan in the capital, a relative of the Marquis of Pingjiang. By virtue of the Marquis of Pingjiang's prestige in the military, and so many martial generals who had once received care from the Marquis's mansion, as long as Chen Guanlou revealed his identity, he believed no one would make things difficult for him.

"Little Chen, I'll leave the matter to you. If it's not feasible, don't force it." Xu Fugui was sincere for a rare moment.

Other prison clerks also offered encouragement and blessings one after another.

Only Xiao Jin and a few others firmly opposed it.

They belonged to Chen Guanlou's direct line; Chen Guanlou's safety was related to everyone's safety and future. How could they let him go out and take risks?

"Boss, let me go; my life is cheap!" Liu She was the first to volunteer.

"What nonsense are you talking about! My surname is Chen; just by this surname alone, I can save my life. For so many years, there has been no precedent of any government office arresting and convicting a member of the Chen clan to be beheaded. Even if it's a rebellion, no matter who the person rebelling is, they must try their best to win over the nobility.

What's more, my Great Master is leading troops outside at this moment and can mobilize troops back to the capital at any time. Therefore, my head is very sturdy, and no one can take it away. Those officers and soldiers can't take it away either. Moreover, I practice martial arts every day, so at least I have the ability to protect myself. What do you have? Aside from a cheap life, you have nothing; if you die, you die—what a loss! Alright, alright, say less."

Chen Guanlou changed into casual clothes, brought his waist saber and identity tag, and left the Heavenly Prison by sitting in a hanging basket.

Once the gate of the Heavenly Prison was closed, it would never be opened until the day of peace. This was a rule set from the very beginning. Therefore, Chen Guanlou could only rely on the hanging basket to enter and exit.

Stepping out of the hanging basket and stepping on the ground, he felt a rare sense of stability.

He had never realized before how happy it was to get off work and go home; it was very ordinary, wasn't it? It was like that every day. But after being locked in the Heavenly Prison for a day and a night, he suddenly realized the true meaning of happiness: being able to get off work and go home normally.

Guarding hundreds of prisoners with fear and trepidation—although only a day and a night had passed, it was enough to make one's heart suffer.

He looked around and ran quickly along the wall toward the Zhao Prison next door. He couldn't run too fast; he couldn't reveal his true strength. He wasn't wearing his 'vest' now, so he couldn't expose himself.

Running to the entrance of the Zhao Prison, he banged on the door knocker.

"Next door, it's me, Chen Guanlou, just promoted to prison clerk, good brother of Lu Datou. Open the door quickly and let me in."

"Don't know you!" A roar of impatience came from inside, "Get lost!"

"Old man's surname is Chen, the Chen of the Marquis of Pingjiang, the Chen Guanlou who has read books." Chen Guanlou shouted at the top of his lungs, but he couldn't shout too loudly; he still had to keep his voice down.

There was no movement for a long time.

Chen Guanlou was impatient from waiting, and just as he was about to bang on the door again, a hanging basket dropped from above.

Chen Guanlou:...

It had to be the name of the Marquis of Pingjiang's mansion that was useful; the gossip about a scholar becoming a prison guard seemed to have spread far and wide, much more useful than his name.

One might not know him, Chen Guanlou, but everyone knew that there was a guy in the Heavenly Prison who had read books, a relative of the Marquis's mansion, who had voluntarily degenerated into a prison clerk. This matter had long spread among his peers, and even to the major government offices in the capital.

Mention Chen Guanlou—don't know him. But mention the gossip about voluntarily degenerating into a prison clerk—that must be known! A rare piece of gossip that would be remembered even ten or twenty years later.

Chen Guanlou sat on the hanging basket, rose slowly, and finally entered the Zhao Prison.

In an artillery tower of the same form, a group of Zhao Prison guards and Embroidered Uniform Guard agents surrounded him and looked him over as if looking at a curiosity.

"You are that member of the Chen clan?"

"Have you really read books?"

"Losing the face of your ancestors—did the Marquis's mansion not remove your name?"

"Looking like a pretty boy, why did you think it through to become a prison clerk? Finding a rich woman to eat and drink luxuriously for a lifetime would be much better!"

Chen Guanlou's mouth twitched, "Everyone, I came to ask what exactly happened outside? You are well-informed; I heard that the Embroidered Uniform Guards have already taken to the streets—can you tell me a little?"

"What else could it be? Rebellion, obviously."

"Who is rebelling?"

"It could be the Crown Prince, or it could be someone else."

"The Embroidered Uniform Guards don't know either? Don't you find it absurd? Everyone is talking about rebellion, but no one has figured out who exactly is rebelling, and the capital is already in chaos."