Chapter 290: The True Face of the Cunning Old Thief

A quarter of an hour, two quarters, half an hour...

Time flowed as slowly as a snail.

There was no movement.

Chen Guanlou dared to twist his neck, like a broken machine that hadn't been maintained in years, looking back with great difficulty.

No one!

In the sky, no one!

In front, no one!

Looking all around, no one!

The Grandmaster senior had left, just as silently as they had arrived.

Chen Guanlou let out a long breath; he had survived a brush with death.

Dawn was approaching, so he decisively left.

If he ever came to the Imperial Palace again, he was a dog.

Escaping this disaster was due to his good fortune. Next time? There would never be a next time.

Changing his appearance and restoring his original look, he returned to the Heavenly Prison with a haggard face.

Everyone gathered around, asking questions all at once.

"Brother Chen, are you alright?"

"Why were you delayed for so long? Did you encounter danger?"

"What exactly is happening outside? How long do we have to keep watch?"

"Boss, everyone is very worried about you."

"Prison Clerk Chen, did you find out any news? Say something."

Chen Guanlou raised his hand, stopping everyone's chatter.

"Listen to me. According to reliable news I've gathered, both the Divine Artifact Battalion and the Divine Sharp Battalion were mobilized into the capital by His Majesty's order. Furthermore, the court officials are all in the palace, kneeling outside the Taiji Palace gates. I heard several have already died, and no one has collected their bodies. The Crown Prince is in the Donggong, protected by Donggong guards. That's all."

"I don't understand."

"I don't understand either."

"Prison Clerk Chen, so is anyone rebelling or not?"

"I don't know, I'm not clear. If the higher-ups say someone is rebelling, then they are. If they don't say so, then no one is. Understand everything according to the requirements of the higher-ups."

Chen Guanlou didn't reveal the whole truth; some things were better kept to himself. There was no need to say them out loud and add to everyone's burden or increase the probability of death.

Disaster comes from the mouth; the ancestors never lied.

"When can we get out?"

"Soon, soon. We should be able to get out very soon."

"The Divine Artifact Battalion is acting recklessly; is no one going to stop them?"

"The civil and military officials are all in the palace; no one is in charge."

"The officials are all trash."

"The Crown Prince is trash too!"

"How can you call the Crown Prince trash?"

"If the Crown Prince wasn't trash, could he have been Crown Prince for thirty years? He would have done..."

"Shut up! You dare to say such things? Do you not want your life? What place is this? This is government territory. You're spouting nonsense on government territory; are you tired of living?"

Chen Guanlou shouted to stop everyone's nonsense. He knew everyone had been locked up for so many days and their emotions were volatile. Especially with the current situation showing no signs of calming down, a single spark could cause an explosion. They didn't really want to do anything; they just wanted to vent their inner panic and unease.

"Everyone, rest assured. We have food and drink. Even if the sky falls outside, it won't endanger the Heavenly Prison. Even if the entire capital is destroyed, the Heavenly Prison won't be in chaos. Everyone, have confidence in yourselves."

"Brother Chen, tell us the truth: can this end in ten days or half a month?"

"It should!"

"That's all I need to hear. Everyone heard him; there will definitely be a result within ten days or half a month. Disperse, disperse. Those who need to sleep, sleep; those who need to be on duty, be on duty. Manage your respective prisoners well; don't let them make noise."

Everyone slowly dispersed, filled with pent-up emotions.

Chen Guanlou returned to the office to rest and looked at Lu Mingchuan, who was already able to get out of bed.

"Mr. Lu, if you want to go out, I can arrange it now. Don't worry, it's very peaceful outside."

"My body is unwell, and it is not suitable for me to move about. I can only shamelessly remain in the Heavenly Prison; I hope Brother Chen can understand."

Chen Guanlou drank his hot tea and gave a laugh. "Zhao Mingqiao always says you are a great Confucian, upholding public justice, and that your lifelong pursuit is to spread the words of the sages across the world. May I ask, sir, did the sages teach people to be opportunistic, to fish for fame and compliments, to be treacherous and unfaithful, or to trim their sails to the wind?"

He looked at the other man with a half-smile, waiting for a brilliant performance.

Lu Mingchuan's expression didn't change; he didn't even move his brows. "The sages teach people to be kind and to pursue truth, goodness, and beauty. They certainly wouldn't teach people to be opportunistic, to fish for fame, to be treacherous, and certainly wouldn't teach them to trim their sails to the wind. These are the evils of human nature, the inherent flaws that people are born with. Such people must lack the teachings of the sages. If you are willing to join my school, I will do my utmost to teach you and make you an upright person."

"By your meaning, sir, is human nature inherently evil?"

"Of course! This is a matter beyond doubt."

"Why does the world say human nature is inherently good?"

"That is an excuse for hypocrites to defend themselves, blaming everything on the environment and others. It is simply absurd! Brother Chen, you seem to have entered the wrong path of 'nature is inherently good'; turn back before it's too late. If you turn back now, I will definitely do my utmost to help you."

Chen Guanlou laughed. "If I were to join your school, how much tuition would you charge me? I'll state this first: I'm a pauper, and my entire net worth is only a few taels of silver."

Lu Mingchuan's mouth twitched. "Brother Chen, you joke. The world knows that prison guards are greedy, and money flows into their pockets like water. Brother Chen, don't tease me."

"Sigh, indeed, you are different from the rumors outside. In short, I have no money for tuition, and you certainly wouldn't be willing to teach me for free. You are a great Confucian, yet you don't even have this much awareness; are you worthy of being called a great Confucian?"

"If I am unworthy, are you worthy?" Lu Mingchuan snapped. "You brat, you clearly have a fortune, yet you pretend to be poor to tease me. What is your intention? You are a prison guard who has read the words of the sages, yet you dare to question me and question the words of the sages. You have a lot of nerve."

"Don't put labels on me!" Chen Guanlou suddenly darkened his face. "In this life, I hate it most when people put labels on me. Believe it or not, I'll throw you out right now."

"You, you, you, you are simply unreasonable." Lu Mingchuan was furious but helpless.

"A play that let me see how profound your skills are, sir; it is truly impressive. Your wishful thinking is also breathtaking." Chen Guanlou suddenly changed his attitude and smiled.

Lu Mingchuan frowned, looking at him with vigilance, far more nervous than before. His brain raced to rethink and review: had he fallen into this brat's trap?

"Sir, you always forget that my surname is Chen. Things others can't find out, I have ways to find the truth. I also know why you hid in the Heavenly Prison. You aren't hiding from government troops; you are hiding from entering the palace. You are evading your stance and your mission, yet you don't want to bear the name of a deserter or a cunning old thief, so you used visiting a prisoner as an excuse to hide in the Heavenly Prison to avoid the storm in the palace. Tsk tsk..."

Chen Guanlou mocked and ridiculed him without any restraint.

"The world really should see your ugly face." ===== CHAPTER 291 =====