Chapter 320: Issuing the Good Guy Card

With Chen Chen Guanlou's help, withdrawing money, exchanging it, buying gold and silver jewelry, and hiring a bodyguard agency for protection—everything was done in half a day.

Part of the money was handed to Zhang Zhang Yushi, and the rest was sent to the Zhong family.

The Zhong family had over twenty people; each person hid a little on themselves, and it was quickly distributed.

Until now, the Zhong family had been muddled and unclear about Zhong Zhong Susu's situation. Only in the past two days did they learn the truth—Zhong Zhong Susu had been spared and wouldn't be exiled with the whole family. But the reason certainly wasn't a private account; it was because of her beauty.

The Zhong family's young ladies were so angry their eyes turned red, and the Zhong family's young men only regretted not being women themselves. Three thousand li ahead, everyone was afraid—afraid of dying on the road. They clung to Zhong Zhong Susu and cried hard, a mix of jealousy and the sorrow of parting.

"Zhong Susu, you must write to us!"

"The whole family is counting on you, Zhong Susu. You won't let everyone down, will you?"

"Zhong Susu, take good care of yourself. If there's any news in Jingcheng, write to us promptly."

"Can you exchange for some more dry rations? I'm worried the yamen runners in charge of escorting will skimp on everyone's food. Wei Xiaobao is so small, he can't bear hunger—I'm really worried he won't make it to the destination."

So Chen Chen Guanlou took on the errand-running task again, preparing dry rations for the Zhong family—all food that was easy to carry and could be preserved for a long time.

After that, he escorted Zhong Zhong Susu back to the female prisoners.

Zhong Zhong Susu, perhaps thinking she'd never see her family again from now on, clung to Chen Chen Guanlou and cried for a while. Chen Chen Guanlou took the chance to reach out and hold her, offering a few words of comfort.

Unfortunately, Zhong Zhong Susu's emotions came and went quickly—in the blink of an eye she stopped crying and pulled herself out of his embrace.

Chen Chen Guanlou was quite regretful. The young miss held in his arms smelled lovely. Their heights were a perfect match too—her head fit just right on his shoulder. They were simply a match made in heaven, a talented man and a beautiful woman, a proper divine couple.

Hehehe!

He's quite pleased with himself!

On the day of the formal exile, as the future son-in-law, Chen Chen Guanlou personally saw Zhang Zhang Yushi out of the heavenly prison, personally arranged things with the escorting yamen runners, gave them plenty of money, and asked them to look after the Zhong family—to at least make sure everyone arrived at the exile destination alive, and definitely not die on the road.

The yamen runners took the money and gave full assurances.

"Brother Chen, rest assured—your father-in-law is my father-in-law!"

Bah!

Watch your mouth.

"Prison clerk Chen can rest easy. We do this job all the time. We guarantee we'll deliver everyone to the exile destination in one piece."

Escorting exiled prisoners was actually a grueling job—three thousand li on foot there, and three thousand li back. Six thousand li round trip, with most of half a year spent hurrying on the road. Ordinary people really couldn't handle it. It required someone young, strong, and healthy, with plenty of experience, and someone who was a marginal figure the yamen didn't value. Tsk tsk, every debuff stacked to the max.

Anyone with connections, money, or backing would never take on the job of escorting exiled prisoners.

The job was too miserable.

Therefore, the yamen runners in charge of escorting were basically broke. They were easiest to bribe with money.

If Chen Chen Guanlou could bribe them, naturally others could too. So it was very necessary to hire experts from the bodyguard agency to secretly escort them.

He pulled Zhang Zhang Yushi aside and gave him a few names and a letter. "I don't know if these people can help you all. They were exiled a few years earlier than you, to the same exile destination. If they're alive, they must have settled in by now. Once you arrive, having someone familiar to lead the way is a good thing."

The names he gave were Luo Luo Jingtian's family members and fellow disciples—coincidentally, both families were exiled to the same place. Even if the specific locations differed, the distance certainly wasn't far. Having someone familiar to lead the way would save a lot of detours.

Zhang Zhang Yushi cried again, clutching Chen Chen Guanlou and refusing to let go. "Son-in-law…"

It was just like wailing at a funeral.

Chen Chen Guanlou's face immediately darkened.

"You must not forget me, old man! The only people I can count on in this world are you and Zhong Susu. Son-in-law, treat Zhong Susu well—she's a sensible miss."

A loving father! Even now he didn't forget to plan for his daughter.

Before Chen Chen Guanlou could agree, Zhang Zhang Yushi continued his funeral wailing: "Son-in-law, you must remember to remind Zhong Susu—the whole family is counting on her."

Having said that, Zhang Zhang Yushi leaned close to Chen Chen Guanlou's ear and whispered: "Remind Zhong Susu to send money. The Zhong family cannot die."

Chen Chen Guanlou's mouth twitched. "Lord Zhong, go in peace. Zhong Susu and I will miss you all in Jingcheng."

Zhong Zhong Susu's brothers also gazed at him eagerly. "Brother-in-law…"

Chen Chen Guanlou: …

He'd really brought a pile of trouble upon himself. He felt that among the Zhong family, apart from Zhang Zhang Yushi, not a single one of the old and young could be relied on.

Fortunately, it was soon time to depart.

The yamen runners had KPIs to meet too and didn't dare delay, urging everyone onto the road.

Chen Chen Guanlou waved his hand, watching the Zhong family set off on the road to exile.

That same day, Zhong Zhong Susu was released.

Prison clerk Hu handled things impeccably—all procedures were properly completed, with no hidden risks. No matter who came to investigate, they couldn't find any problems.

In terms of identity, Zhong Zhong Susu was now a commoner. From palace maid to commoner in just one shichen. Releasing palace maids from the palace was a long-standing rule—who would dare say Prison clerk Hu did wrong? Too young and unsuitable to leave the palace? Who said that? The palace had no such rule. Zhong Zhong Susu's "leaving the palace" was because she was ill, and the higher-ups graciously gave special permission to release her.

Chen Chen Guanlou took Zhong Zhong Susu home.

Not the home in the back alley of Hou Fu.

He had purchased a small, two-courtyard residence in advance—delicate and charming. Small as a sparrow, it had all its organs—front and rear courtyards, plus a little flower garden. The residence found tranquility amid the bustle; the surrounding residents were all urban middle class of similar economic standing, mostly merchants, with the occasional one or two scholarly families. Overall, the surroundings were very nice. Most were owner-occupied, with few outside tenants, ensuring everyone knew each other's background—safe and quiet enough.

Chen Chen Guanlou asked her whether she was satisfied with the residence.

Zhong Zhong Susu's mind seemed elsewhere, somewhat distracted.

Chen Chen Guanlou suggested that in a couple of days, he would invite Eldest Sister's family over, so the two sides could formally meet and discuss the marriage. Since he was taking a wife, there ought to be a proper ceremony. He also needed to find a matchmaker on short notice. They couldn't bully her just because Zhong Zhong Susu was an orphan girl—they weren't short on money, and besides, she came with a generous dowry.

Zhong Zhong Susu started to speak several times, but whenever Chen Chen Guanlou asked her, she shook her head and said nothing.

Chen Chen Guanlou busied himself. It was his first marriage in two lifetimes, so he was inevitably a little excited. Failing to notice some details was unavoidable.

In the evening, he ordered a table of dishes from a restaurant outside—their first meal together.

Chen Chen Guanlou personally poured the wine. "Zhong Susu, come—first, let's celebrate your escape from prison and your newfound freedom."

Zhong Zhong Susu raised her cup and downed it in one go. "This cup I toast Brother Chen. Thanks to your help these past days, I will remember it in my heart."

Then she poured herself another drink and took the initiative to drink a second cup. "This cup I toast our meeting, and to Brother Chen's character. You're a good man!"

After saying that, she downed it in one go again.

What the heck!

Out of nowhere, she gave him the "good person" card. In an instant, Chen Chen Guanlou had an ominous premonition.

The "good person" card is hardly a good thing!