Chapter 314: Handsome, Well-Educated, Unstoppable!

Zhong Yuli was said to have been a stunningly handsome man in his youth, so handsome it was unbearable.

With his face alone, he married the legitimate daughter of a Censor.

Later, thanks to his father-in-law, his official career soared, and he quickly rose to the position of River Censor. He held that post for over a decade, turning down multiple promotions.

The wealth of the River Censor's office was well known to anyone who had ever dealt with river transport, waterworks, or canals. The graft wasn't measured in tens of thousands—it had to be counted in millions.

Liu Daowen was once a massive corrupt official, but the amount he embezzled paled beside the River Censor's loot—it barely deserved to carry his shoes.

Jiang Tu clung to the Ministry of Works and refused to move elsewhere, showing no interest in the Ministries of Personnel, Revenue, or Rites—because only through the Ministry of Works could he meddle in river projects, and thus in river transport.

The river was a god of wealth, a golden bowl. As long as river transport flowed, silver poured in endlessly. A single word could halt river transport for three or five days—how much silver would be lost? How many wealthy merchants scrambled to find a way to bribe Jiang Tu?

Nothing on the river escaped the River Censor's eyes. Zhong Censor disliked Jiang Tu, but had no qualms about making money with him.

Publicly, he acted like every other censor—denouncing Jiang Tu, submitting memorials to impeach him. Privately, he exchanged glances with Jiang Tu; their men worked together, nearly monopolizing river transport.

He thought no one knew what he'd done—but had it not been for his father-in-law's protection, his crimes would have been exposed long ago.

Only last year, when the riverbank collapsed, the truth became impossible to hide. Then, in a desperate bid to save himself, he started biting wildly at everyone, turning fellow officials against him. Local officials joined forces to retaliate, and his secret collusion with Jiang Tu was exposed—he was finally finished.

Even his father-in-law couldn't save him, and was himself implicated, stripped of office, and now lived in retirement at home.

Now, his father-in-law was doing everything he could to get Zhong's wife out—but he refused to lift a finger for Zhong's children. Even when his daughter pleaded, he flatly refused.

Not holding Zhong Censor fully accountable, not crushing him outright—his father-in-law had already done more than enough. To expect him to save Zhong's entire family? Dream on.

Don't even think about it.

Over the years, Zhong Censor had grown fat and bloated from greed; the once-handsome man was now just greasy. After nearly a year in the Heavenly Prison, he'd lost two rounds of weight—enough to glimpse traces of his former beauty.

Chen Guanlou stood before the cell door, studying him carefully. He had to admit: even with his eyes still sleazy and greasy, Zhong Censor's features were well-proportioned and pleasing to look at. If he lost another two rounds, he might even recover the breathtaking handsomeness of his youth—almost enough to rival Chen Guanlou's own looks.

"I hear Master Zhong wants to see me?"

"Master Chen, my daughter is beautiful—I swear it. She takes after me, a true beauty."

Chen Guanlou raised an eyebrow slightly. Zhong Censor was blunt.

"Most families worry about sons. You're obsessed with your daughter? That's rare. Aren't you worried about your sons? The family line depends on sons."

"Of course I'm worried. But my daughter still has a chance—my sons have no hope at all. Master Chen, believe me: my daughter is talented and gentle, a perfect wife and mother. If you disdain her status as the daughter of a disgraced official, even making her your concubine would suffice. I beg you—save her. I will repay you handsomely."

"Your whole household has been seized. Where's your 'handsome repayment' going to come from?" Chen Guanlou chuckled.

Zhong Censor glanced around, motioned for Chen Guanlou to come closer, then whispered: "I'll tell you this only once: before I was locked in the Heavenly Prison, I hid a stash of silver. If you save my daughter, I'll tell you where it is. What do you say?"

Chen Guanlou narrowed his eyes, studying Zhong Censor. The man was greedy, lustful, corrupt, and had blood on his hands. The best he could hope for was exile; the worst, immediate execution. Hiding silver? He'd certainly done it.

But why?

Was his daughter truly that precious?

He didn't believe it.

Ignoring his sons, going to desperate lengths to save his daughter—this might be believable in the future, but in this time? It wasn't just rare—it was gold in a latrine, unique.

"I need time to consider."

"Please decide quickly, Master Chen. My case will be judged soon. Once the verdict comes, there'll be no more room to maneuver. While it's still pending, there's still a chance."

"Why do you think I can help you? I'm just a lowly jailer."

"Master Chen, you're too modest. You're of the Chen family, backed by the Hou Fu—you have connections no one else can match. You're stuck in the Heavenly Prison only because your ambitions tower above ordinary men. I trust you have the ability to rescue those in peril!"

Chen Guanlou laughed. The man could speak well indeed. With just his face, he'd won the daughter of a Censor—clearly, he had some talent.

By the way, Zhong Censor's family was modest. Before marrying and rising, they owned barely a hundred mu of land—barely a small landowner. With his background, even with his jinshi degree, he'd never have caught the Censor's eye under normal circumstances.

The Censor had countless other candidates of equal status.

In the end, it was his face—and his eloquent tongue—that won him over.

Handsome, well-read, unstoppable!

Chen Guanlou had agreed—for now—not because the man spoke well. He simply wanted to see what Zhong Censor was really up to.

Out of curiosity, he secretly visited Zhong's daughter. She was indeed breathtakingly beautiful, a true beauty.

The Zhong household had dismissed most servants, keeping only two elderly ones. Their house was sealed; over twenty family members now crammed into seven or eight rooms in the rear courtyard, near the back gate.

Thanks to his father-in-law, the family was under house arrest instead of being thrown into the Heavenly Prison.

Zhong Censor's wife—the Censor's daughter—had been taken back to her parents' home. Having a powerful father meant one extra life.

Zhong's wife worried for her children and occasionally sent food, oil, meat, and vegetables. But she could do no more—she herself was confined by her family, forbidden to leave.

Either die with the Zhong family, or stay with her parents and enjoy comfort for the rest of her life—Zhong's wife chose the latter without hesitation. She was still young, in her thirties, with time to remarry and bear more children.

Zhong Censor had many sons, but only two legitimate ones—and neither had come of age. His beloved daughter was not born to his wife, but to a concubine.

That was interesting.

Was Zhong Censor truly in love with the concubine? Was he going to such lengths to secure his daughter's future just to save her?