Chapter 335: A High-Stakes Gamble

"That's exactly what you think it means!"

Chen Guanlou didn't hide or obscure anything; he openly admitted it.

"What exactly do you know?" Xie Changling said, half-skeptical. He knew Chen Guanlou was backed by Hou Fu, but he didn't believe Chen Guanlou had the ability to uncover what was happening inside the palace.

How could Chen Guanlou possibly know something he himself didn't know?

It couldn't be that someone from Hou Fu secretly told him. What merit does Chen Guanlou have to be so trusted? If Hou Fu were willing to reveal such secrets to him, why would they let him remain a lowly jailer in Tianlaomiao?

Logically, it made no sense.

He suspected Chen Guanlou was bluffing, yet also suspected he had another source of information—even considered the Zhong family. Had Zhong Susu's sudden disappearance something to do with it?

A genius is a genius; with just a few traces, he was already one step away from the truth.

Unfortunately, he never guessed that Zhong Susu was also a genius—a hidden lineage member, taken as a final disciple by a Grandmaster while still a child, and even personally fetched from the capital by the Grandmaster herself. The Grandmaster's other identity? She had once been an Imperial Consort of the late Emperor, who seemed to harbor unspeakable feelings for her.

The melodrama here was one disaster after another, one secret piled atop another.

Xie Changling was clever, but he didn't write romantic novels—he didn't understand the essence of melodrama, so he could never guess the truth. One step away became an impassable abyss.

He was desperate!

If there truly was someone who could stop the old Emperor from deposing the Crown Prince, and if they, as subordinate officials, had overlooked this person because of their incompetence, he would hate himself, hate all his colleagues—especially Zhuang Taifu.

"I don't know much, but it's enough to turn the tide. Too bad—it's already too late!"

"How could you possibly know what's happening inside the palace? Are you lying to me?"

"Master Xie, why would I lie to you? What purpose would it serve? Just to laugh at you? I have no grudge against you. It's not worth it. You agree, don't you?"

Xie Changling frowned in thought. Chen Guanlou had no reason to deceive him—unless someone behind him was directing him. But according to his knowledge, the only person who could truly command Chen Guanlou was the head of Hou Fu's main branch—the Grand Master of Hou Fu.

The Grand Master of Hou Fu had even less reason to target them, the Crown Prince's officials. After all, Prince Zhong had already been deposed; everything was settled, with virtually no chance of reversal.

"Then tell me—where did we go wrong? Who can possibly change the Emperor's mind?"

"I can't say—it's a matter of life and death. But I can tell you: someone truly can sway the outcome. Master Xie, you needn't blame or torment yourself. It's already over. Even if you know, what can you do? You can't change Prince Zhong's fate—and you might even put yourself in danger."

Chen Guanlou sincerely advised him. He felt a small pang of regret—he shouldn't have said so much. Talking to clever people sometimes meant learning to keep your mouth shut. Clever people think too well; they hunt for loopholes, trace the faintest clues, and inch closer to the truth.

That was very bad!

There was no more pleasant conversation to be had.

"Is it connected to Zhong Susu's departure?"

"Master Xie, Miss Zhong is just a sixteen-year-old girl."

"The one who took Zhong Susu must be no ordinary person. No wonder you're not angry." Xie Changling grew even more certain. "That person—you're talking about him as the key figure, aren't you?"

Chen Guanlou was speechless. He didn't deny it. He feared that even if he denied it, the man would deduce even more from his words.

"Think whatever you like—I won't admit it." Chen Guanlou raised an eyebrow slightly and left abruptly.

"Master Chen, if—if one day Prince Zhong gets a chance to turn things around—would you help?" Xie Changling suddenly asked.

Both felt profound surprise.

Xie Changling regretted it instantly—how could he have been so impulsive?

Chen Guanlou thought: this man must be plotting revenge. Isn't staying alive enough? He'd be mad to get involved in the succession struggle.

"Master Xie's regard is an honor to me. My answer is no."

"Why?"

"Why should I help?"

"I won't ask you to help for free—I'll reward you handsomely afterward. All you need to do is bring out that key figure…"

"I don't know what you're talking about, and I don't need any reward. Today, pretend I never came. Master Xie, take care of yourself. Your head isn't as secure as you think."

Chen Guanlou snorted coldly and left, deeply displeased.

These officials always push for more, never considering how much trouble they cause others.

He was a jailer, not a fanboy of the deposed Crown Prince, nor some righteous hero—why should he help?

He decided to add Xie Changling to his blacklist and ignore him for the foreseeable future.

…

After Wu Dashou was dismissed as Chancellor, the position of Right Chancellor remained vacant. Every official eligible to compete for it schemed endlessly, deploying every possible tactic.

This was one reason the court had become chaotic since the Crown Prince's deposition.

With the court in disarray, the provinces naturally grew unstable. The old Emperor realized he could no longer tolerate this—he must appoint a Right Chancellor quickly and take all necessary measures to stabilize morale.

Fortunately, the year had been kind: the heavens had blessed them with good weather. Spring planting and summer harvest went smoothly. Even the usually arid northwest received several rains during the spring planting season.

Jiang Tu also coveted the Right Chancellor position.

But ever since he'd proposed easing the old Emperor's burdens, the Emperor had grown cold toward him. For a full month, he hadn't been granted an audience.

That had been unthinkable in the past.

Jiang Tu was terrified—he feared he'd lost favor.

After much thought, his chief strategist gave him an idea—a wildly reckless one.

A gamble!

A high-stakes gamble!

Jiang Tu pondered for half a month, then finally made his decision.

He submitted a memorial, becoming the first to dare it: he urged the old Emperor to immediately appoint a Crown Prince—and named Prince Zhong as the ideal candidate.

Fortunately, the memorial didn't pass through the Political Council, or it would have caused an uproar in court.

Jiang Tu personally entered the palace, went to Taiji Palace, and asked the eunuchs there to deliver his memorial directly to the old Emperor's desk—and place it on top.

The eunuchs of Taiji Palace weren't a unified bloc. Someone always wanted power or money and would run errands for a bribe. A single memorial wasn't a big deal—if the money was right, the task was easily accomplished.

After all, Qiu Defu couldn't be at the old Emperor's side every moment; he had too many duties, and his time with the Emperor was limited. That left openings for other eunuchs to exploit.

When the old Emperor saw Jiang Tu's memorial, he nearly tossed it straight into his alchemical furnace as firewood—this bastard dared to offer him advice? He wanted to die!

Still, he opened the memorial. He wanted to see what this scoundrel had to say.