Chapter 316: This Looks-Based World

The reasoning held up.

Chen Chen Guanlou silently ran through it again. The chain of logic Zhong Zhong Susu had given him was complete, the facts clear. A man like Zhang Zhang Yushi would certainly keep two sets of books — one for public view, one for shadow.

Thinking of Zhang Zhang Yushi's rise to power, it made sense that he trusted no one at his side. To him, accountants, stewards, legal advisors — all were outsiders.

Zhong Zhong Susu was his own daughter, clever as clever could be, and good with accounts. It made sense that Zhang Zhang Yushi had her keep the books. Accounts too unsightly to be seen — of course they'd be handled by someone he could trust. Who could be more trustworthy than blood? Especially a daughter who never stepped beyond the inner gates, a girl wholly dependent on him.

Only Zhang Zhang Yushi never expected his daughter to be too clever by half — secretly keeping a private ledger of her own.

How many evil deeds committed over the years, how much embezzled, how many families ruined, how many lives stained — no one knew better than Zhang Zhang Yushi himself.

Precisely because he knew, he understood that once that private ledger went public, being torn apart by five horses would be a mercy.

No matter what, the private ledger must never see the light of day.

"Did Zhang Zhang Yushi tell you the specifics of the deal?"

"You mean the deal about becoming your woman?"

Cough, cough, cough…

Chen Chen Guanlou hadn't expected the young lady across from him to be so bold and direct.

"Before I came, I was unwilling. After all, you're a woman, and I… though my family's fortunes have declined, the upbringing I received made it hard for me to accept at first. But after meeting you, becoming your woman doesn't seem so hard to accept." Zhong Zhong Susu finished speaking and laughed at herself first.

Chen Chen Guanlou took a sip of tea to cover his awkwardness. "You judge by looks?"

"Who in this world doesn't judge by looks?" Zhong Zhong Susu tilted her chin up slightly, looking curious. "Does Warden Chen not judge by looks?"

Chen Chen Guanlou: …

He was rendered utterly speechless. To think he'd been stumped by a young girl.

"Willingly?"

Zhong Zhong Susu considered for a moment. "To say it's willing would be a lie. But I'm just a sixteen-year-old girl. Once I'm out, I have no relatives to turn to, nowhere to go, no way to protect myself. Staying by your side, at least I'd have a place to land. I've heard you're educated — surely a man of manners, and you wouldn't make things too hard for me. Right? If it really comes to it, I can pay. As long as you don't find the money in my hands dirty."

"I never find money dirty." Chen Chen Guanlou spoke a great truth — he only found people dirty. Dirty people.

"You should understand that removing your name from the records is very difficult. It involves a great many people, and a great deal of money to grease the way."

"So you're saying you're willing to help me? Thank you!"

Zhong Zhong Susu laughed, her eyes sparkling, her smile pure and lovely.

Chen Chen Guanlou cleared his throat lightly. "As for the exact price, I'll discuss it with Zhang Zhang Yushi."

"No need. I've brought the money."

True to form, the little lady who kept the accounts.

Zhong Zhong Susu took two envelopes from her bosom, set them on the table, and pushed them toward him.

"One is for your trouble. One is for greasing the necessary connections. If it's not enough, just say the word, and I'll do my best to raise more."

Chen Chen Guanlou raised an eyebrow slightly, picked up the envelopes and glanced inside. Quite the generous gesture.

His fee for the trouble — a full two thousand taels. The money for greasing connections — a full ten thousand taels.

A young girl casually laying out twelve thousand taels — she really knew how to manage accounts.

"Could it be that all of the Zhong family's money is now in your hands?" he asked.

Zhong Zhong Susu had wanted to deny it, but after a moment's thought she nodded and admitted, "The house has been raided. The money on the public accounts was all confiscated. What little private savings remain are what I've painstakingly scraped together over the years. I told you — I'm clever. What my father did, I understood from a very young age would one day bring trouble. So ever since I took over the ledgers, I've been making preparations. I never thought the day would come so soon. Rest assured, the money I'm giving you is clean — it has nothing to do with that other money."

Chen Chen Guanlou sighed inwardly. A rich woman!

Compared to the rich woman across from him, his own bit of money wasn't even fit to shine her shoes.

Incompetents at the Six Doors — couldn't even finish a proper raid.

Such a big corrupt official — anyone with half a brain would know he had a private ledger. Did they not think to search, to interrogate? Or had the money on the public accounts already filled the Six Doors' bellies, so they didn't care about the private ledger?

"You're being so honest with me — aren't you afraid I'll change my mind later, press you for the whereabouts of your money? The Heaven Prison has many methods that can make a person wish they were dead. The world says the Imperial Prison is terrifying, but in truth the Heaven Prison's torture chambers are no worse than the Imperial Prison's — perhaps even worse. It's just that the Heaven Prison won't resort to extreme measures unless absolutely necessary."

"You yourself said extreme measures won't be used unless absolutely necessary. May I ask Warden Chen — have you reached that point? Besides, if I become your woman, what's mine is yours. When the time comes, even if you don't ask, I'll tell you."

Hmm?

Is there really such a good deal in this world?

Get a pretty girl, and get a pile of money on top of that?

Zhang Zhang Yushi, father-in-law, the money you embezzled, your son-in-law will graciously accept. Rest assured, father-in-law — your son-in-law will take good care of your precious daughter.

Only, the happiness seemed almost too unreal.

"Don't toy with me!"

A woman's lips — the devil's lies.

He was no greenhorn just out of the nest; he was a seasoned old fox.

Zhong Zhong Susu bit her thin lip lightly. "Truth be told, I don't dare trust you completely either. I'm afraid you'll sell me to claim credit, use me to climb the ranks and get rich. All men hunger for fame and fortune. Warden Chen — can I trust you?"

"I would never sell a woman to claim credit, and I'm not a man who hungers for fame and fortune. I have my own principles." Chen Chen Guanlou spoke with righteous severity, only short of swearing a blood oath.

Zhong Zhong Susu broke into a bright, sunny smile. "How wonderful! Father didn't misjudge you. He said Warden Chen was different from the rest — a man with a bottom line. Just as he said! Warden Chen, my future is in your hands!"

Having said that, she rose and gave him a deep bow.

Chen Chen Guanlou was in quite a good mood. Changing a young girl's fate seemed like a rather fulfilling thing to do. Especially when a beautiful young girl was about to become his woman — and bring a hefty dowry on top of it. So beautiful he could laugh himself awake from the dream.

"How about the two of us…"

"It's getting late. I should be getting back. If I'm late, people will notice, and it'll be hard to get out again in the future."

Zhong Zhong Susu put on her veiled hat and hurried to leave.

Chen Chen Guanlou quickly said, "How about I see you out?"

"No need! Under the Son of Heaven's feet, safety is still assured. Goodbye, Warden Chen. I hope to hear good news soon."

"Don't worry, I'll see this matter settled as quickly as possible," Chen Chen Guanlou assured her.

"I trust you!"

With those words, Zhong Zhong Susu hurried away.

Chen Chen Guanlou pinched the two envelopes, his palms growing hot. For the first time, the thought arose that he had to do something for a Miss. He absolutely could not stand by and watch such a clever little girl fall into the Court of Musical Entertainers, to be ruined by a bunch of fat-bellied, big-headed brutes.