Chapter 309: Chen Guanlou Is a Rebellious Traitor

Wu Dashou was dismissed from his post as chancellor and retired, causing a sensation throughout the land!

Li Liangcheng's position remained unchanged, and he was additionally granted the title of Grand Tutor.

The signal sent out was unmistakable: the old emperor felt a temporary sense of guilt toward the deposed crown prince and sought to make amends through this act. It was also a warning to certain individuals—some princes, some imperial sons—not to harbor unrealistic ambitions. Do not assume that because the crown prince has been deposed, your chance has come.

The true purpose behind the old emperor's deposing of the crown prince was to eliminate any check on imperial power. He would never again fall into the same pit—he would not appoint another crown prince to constrain him.

Yet many simply could not see this, always believing they had an opportunity.

The Zhongwang 's sinking ship attracted no new passengers, except those already aboard. Even those already aboard were scheming to get off.

What if you can't get off? Then you must walk the path to the very end.

You missed your chance during the military mutiny; now that the old emperor has extended goodwill, you must seize this opportunity.

How do you seize it?

Become a powerless, pure filial son!

The Zhongwangdianxia followed his ministers' advice: he began studying Daoist scriptures, composing pure poetry, seeking out Daoist priests, and even carved out a courtyard within his mansion, remodeling it into a Daoist temple. He also demanded that his princess consort study Daoist culture alongside him.

This spectacle drew mixed reactions from the outside world; most people watched with amusement, convinced the Zhongwang 's ambition had not died—that he was scheming to make a comeback, a fool's fantasy.

Yet the old emperor found this performance deeply pleasing.

The old emperor was so shrewd—could he not see through the Zhongwang 's flattery?

The old emperor knew perfectly well the Zhongwang was flattering him. Countless people flattered him daily, but the Zhongwang 's flattery pleased him Gewai.

In private, he told Qiu Defu: "Third son has finally come to his senses. He has not wasted my painstaking efforts."

"Your Majesty has worked hard."

"The world scorns me as foolish for deposing the crown prince. But third son sat on that throne too long—so long that everything became his due. I am deeply worried: if I hand the empire to him, who knows what fool he'll become under the influence of those court ministers? He's reached this age—he needs to suffer a little, to learn how treacherous human nature is, to stop blindly obeying those beneath him."

"The Zhongwangdianxia will surely understand Your Majesty's heartfelt intentions."

"As long as he doesn't hate me, I am content." The old emperor acted like a loving father, as if deposing the crown prince had been unavoidable—merely to make the Zhongwang suffer a little, not to truly strip him of his chance at succession.

This behavior was a textbook example of slapping gold leaf on one's face—pretending to be virtuous while acting vile.

Qiu Defu understood the old emperor's inner wound: he resented being cursed by the world and sought to use the Zhongwangdianxia 's embrace of Daoism to slap the world's face, to turn public opinion.

But the world—especially scholars and court ministers—was not fooled. We're all foxes of a thousand years; don't play Ghost Stories. Who doesn't know whom?

In wisdom and intellect, every minister in court was a genius, having risen above countless competitors. The old emperor's every move was instantly interpreted by them into a hundred and eight different meanings—always one that struck precisely at his hidden thoughts.

The old emperor was utterly shameless, yet obsessively concerned with appearances.

He committed every evil act, yet demanded the world pretend all was peaceful, forbidding any criticism or commentary.

But this deposing of the crown prince had consequences too far-reaching to silence. The old emperor grew desperate, scrambling to patch up his reputation like a tinkerer pasting paper over cracks—and those beneath him had no choice but to play along.

What if you refuse to play along?

Fine.

Either to the imperial prison, or to the Celestial Dungeon. One of the two will suit these stubborn officials.

Even officials whose bones weren't so hard couldn't escape prison.

Zhang Wenfu, second son of the Censor Zhang, was the close friend of Ye Young Master, cousin of the Hou Fu's eldest daughter-in-law. Two years ago, he secured a post in the Ministry of Imperial Stables through connections. Recently, he was accused of forcing virtuous people into slavery and inciting his servants to commit violence.

Normally, such cases would be suppressed at the first stage and vanish without a trace. But this happened to coincide with the unprecedented event of the crown prince's deposition. Zhang's father, the Censor, had made many enemies over the years—and now someone seized the chance to destroy the Zhang family. They dug up Zhang Wenfu's embezzlement during his tenure.

Embezzlement? Embezzlement is common among officials—who doesn't do it?

But when embezzlement tied into the Eastern Palace, it became a matter of grave consequence. A minor case became a major one; the Ministry of Justice took direct charge. Eventually, Zhang Wenfu was invited for tea by the Six Gate Guards—and unsurprisingly, he was thrown into the Celestial Dungeon.

Upon hearing his close friend had been imprisoned, Ye Young Master gathered two or three friends and personally visited the Celestial Dungeon.

Before arriving, he sent word to Chen Guanlou, hoping that since they were distantly related, Chen Guanlou might grant him some favor.

Chen Guanlou had no objection to granting favors—but he disliked Ye Young Master. Rather than openly harass him, he instructed Xiao Jin to follow all regulations strictly.

In other words: pay to get in!

As soon as Ye Young Master entered the Celestial Dungeon, he was met with a blunt refusal: no money, no entry. To visit a prisoner, you must pay.

He flew into a rage.

He had boasted to his friends that everything at the Celestial Dungeon had already been arranged. Who could have imagined Chen Guanlou would humiliate him so publicly—sending a mere jailer to shame him?

Ye Young Master nearly stormed out in fury.

In his hometown, with his temper, a single order would have ruined any such insolent man's reputation in the village.

But this was the capital—where even a gatekeeper might have powerful relatives. And Chen Guanlou bore the surname Chen—the Chen of the Hou Fu.

Over the years, Ye Young Master had thrived in the capital, riding the Hou Fu's influence—gaining reputation, official posts, and a bright future.

He could not publicly break with Chen Guanlou. He might ignore Chen Guanlou's face—but he could not ignore the Hou Fu's face, could not ignore the Chen clan's face.

In short—he had to swallow this insult.

Fuming, he paid the bribe and was finally allowed to see Zhang Wenfu.

Zhang Wenfu, Second Master Zhang, had never endured such hardship. In just a few days, he had lost weight dramatically, his face gaunt, his clothes reeking, utterly wretched and humiliated.

The two met, both still brimming with pride, speaking words that crossed boundaries. The jailers, aware of Ye Young Master's background, pretended not to notice.

If they had reported it, every one of these young lords would have been in deep trouble.

Ye Young Master grandly promised to get Zhang Wenfu out. He lacked the power himself—but he had the Hou Fu! With the Hou Fu's name, surely something could be done.

After returning to the Hou Fu, Ye Young Master met his cousin, the eldest daughter-in-law Lu Shi, and begged her to find a way to help Zhang Wenfu. He also complained about Chen Guanlou—how he had disrespected him, mocked him, and left him publicly humiliated.

To look down on him was to look down on Lu Shi, to look down on the main branch.

Chen Guanlou ate at the main branch's table, yet stabbed their kin in the back—he was a traitor, born with a rebellious bone.