Chapter 288

Chen Guanlou sat in the Zhao Prison office with a cup of clear tea by his hand, but his mood was very depressed.

There wasn't a single truthful word in the mouths of this group of Embroidered Uniform Guards; one moment they said the Crown Prince was rebelling, the next they said Prince Jin was rebelling, and then they said the Grand Tutor was rebelling.

However, from their attitude, he could be certain that these people definitely knew some inside information. It was just because their rank was low that they didn't know much inside information.

Not every Embroidered Uniform Guard had the qualifications to participate in major events. This group of Embroidered Uniform Guards who stayed in the Zhao Prison were purely internal affairs personnel who basically didn't go out for field work, so the secrets they could come into contact with were limited.

"When will this turmoil end? Hundreds of people in the Heavenly Prison are almost going crazy."

"When will it end? It depends on the attitude in the palace. If the palace says it ends today, it can end today. If the palace doesn't speak, the capital will continue to be chaotic."

"The capital is in turmoil—aren't they afraid of shaking the foundation?" Chen Guanlou actually wanted to say, the old Emperor has gone mad, digging his own grave—could it be that he still thinks he's very clever? Purely a stupid thing!

"I don't know the thoughts of the nobles."

The person accompanying him was Embroidered Uniform Guard Battalion Commander Yang, a typical agent style—smiling without warmth, looking terrifying.

He looked at the other person, "May I ask Battalion Commander Yang, can you give me a truthful word—is someone really rebelling?"

Battalion Commander Yang smiled without smiling, "If the higher-ups say there is, then there is. Little Brother Chen, are you doubting the decision of the nobles?"

Chen Guanlou had a breath blocked in his throat; he really didn't like the organization of the Embroidered Uniform Guards. None of these people could speak properly; they were all pointing fingers and ready to put a hat on someone at any time, treating it as a crime of disrespect.

"I don't know which noble's decision it is? With the capital in such chaos, people are panicking!"

"Haha... I didn't expect Little Brother Chen to have a heart that worries about the country and the people; you are worthy of being the Chen of the Marquis of Pingjiang's mansion. The Chen family is good; the Marquis is the pillar of the country, and Little Brother Chen is also devoted to the public. I admire you."

Hearing this, it felt blocked and extremely uncomfortable.

Chen Guanlou asked one question, "Can you speak human language?"

Then...

He was kicked out of the Zhao Prison.

If his surname wasn't Chen, Battalion Commander Yang would have had the heart to kill him.

Chen Guanlou rushed toward the Ministry of Justice.

As a result, when he arrived at the Ministry of Justice, the gate was tightly shut. He climbed over the wall and entered, but there wasn't even a shadow of a person. The Ministry of Justice had no food, and no one would be stupid enough to hide in the government office; it was also easy to be wreaked havoc upon by officers and soldiers.

Leaving the Ministry of Justice, he ran to the Ministry of Revenue next door, and there was no one there either.

He wasn't in a hurry to return to the Heavenly Prison.

He knew Sun Daoning's mansion, so he rushed to the Sun mansion and banged on the door. As a result, the gatekeeper told him that Sun Daoning had entered the palace, hadn't returned for two days, and no news had been sent back. At the moment, everyone in the Sun mansion was panicked and uneasy.

The gatekeeper also told him, "If Little Brother sees my master, please convey a message and ask my master to send someone back to report that he is safe, so that everyone can be at ease."

Chen Guanlou waved his hand and left decisively.

He went straight home.

Along the way, it was chaotic, and everything was a mess. Entering the territory of the Marquis's mansion was like entering a new world, as if it were a paradise, completely unaffected.

Chen Guanlou banged on the door of Sister Chunxiang's house, "The officers and soldiers didn't come?"

"Oh my, Brother Lou, you've finally returned; I've been worried about you. The officers and soldiers didn't come here. I heard that the Marquis's mansion had negotiations with the officers and soldiers, and the officers and soldiers retreated."

"Who came forward to negotiate?"

"Of course it was the Great Steward. The Great Steward held the Great Master's token, and the officers and soldiers were very polite when they saw it. Both sides negotiated for a while; it is said that the Marquis's mansion promised to send a batch of supplies, and the officers and soldiers retreated. Thank heaven and earth, Bodhisattva bless. I heard that some wealthy families were looted by officers and soldiers, and people died, and the women were also violated—it was miserable. Brother Lou, since you're back, don't leave. There is food and drink at home; even if you don't go out for ten days or half a month, it will be fine."

"I still have things to do; I must go out once."

Bidding farewell to Sister Chunxiang, Chen Guanlou went straight to Liu Guanshi's house.

The person who opened the door was the gatekeeper boy Liu Xiao Chuan, still with a look that invited a beating. Seeing him, he asked, "You didn't die!"

"If you didn't die, how could I die? Is Liu Guanshi at home? I have something to find him for."

"The master is not at home. At the moment, it's chaotic, and there are too many things to do at the Marquis's mansion; I'm going to the Marquis's mansion to gather in a while."

"Gather for what?"

"Gather for training, to be guards." Liu Xiao Chuan glanced at him, "You don't think the Marquis's mansion can make the officers and soldiers retreat just by relying on the Great Master's token, do you? If you want to go, I'll sign you up; there are fifty wen a day, including food and drink. The young and strong in the clan have basically all gone. If you don't go, it's too conspicuous."

"I am a prison clerk in the Heavenly Prison; I must guard the Heavenly Prison. I won't go to the Marquis's mansion."

"The Heavenly Prison isn't yours alone; you must distinguish between what's important and what's not. Now there is nothing more important than the safety of the clan. If you don't go, be careful of being hated by others; in the future, if there are benefits, it won't be your turn."

Chen Guanlou was too lazy to argue with him and asked, "Do you know what exactly happened outside? Who exactly is rebelling?"

"You don't know?"

"What should I know?"

Liu Xiao Chuan clicked his tongue twice, "No one is rebelling at all. Don't spread this word."

Chen Guanlou was shocked internally, "Tell me in detail." He pushed Liu Xiao Chuan into the room and closed the door.

Liu Xiao Chuan's expression was very disgusted, "You are in the Heavenly Prison; it looks like your news is very poorly informed, not even as good as mine."

"Less nonsense, what exactly is going on."

"What else could be going on? No one is rebelling; the officers and soldiers entered the city naturally because there was a mobilization order. The old Emperor went mad, determined that someone was secretly harming him, and decided to strike first to eliminate dissidents."

"So absurd?" Chen Guanlou couldn't believe it, "No one stopped it?"

"Who dares to stop it? In the first lunar month, the old Emperor said he was poisoned; whoever dares to oppose him is the real culprit behind the scenes."

This, this, this...

"How could a gatekeeper boy like you know such confidential matters? Even the great Confucian scholars who are famous in the capital don't know this inside information."

Liu Xiao Chuan laughed, "You don't look at where this is; this is the territory of the Marquis of Pingjiang's mansion. In the entire capital, who can be better informed than the nobility? The great Confucian scholar who is famous in the capital—does he have eyes and ears in the palace? Does anyone tip him off? Does he have in-laws and old acquaintances going back three generations? Comparing sources of information, in the whole capital, no one dares to compare with the nobility."

This was indeed true.

Anyone picked out of the palace could possibly be related to the nobility. This was an achievement that civil officials and great Confucian scholars couldn't reach even if they worked hard for a hundred years.

"Such a secret matter actually reached your ears." Chen Guanlou was still skeptical, always feeling that this kid Liu Xiao Chuan wasn't very reliable.

Liu Xiao Chuan sneered, "My master works under the Second Master, and my mistress helps manage the backyard, occasionally flattering and accompanying the Old Madam to talk. I am the master's godson, sharing worries for the master—is it normal for me to know the news in the palace?"