Chapter 366: Are a Few Coins Really Worth Dying For?

It's the third watch of the night—why are you bursting into Tianlaomiao unannounced? This violates protocol!

There's no major case right now, no urgent matter—no word of any case requiring expedited handling. No official notice has come from above ordering Tianlaomiao to cooperate with Liushanmen.

So why are these Liushanmen men breaking in at midnight? What's their real purpose?

"You're…"

"I'm Chen Guanlou, jailer of the Jia-class cells."

"You're the jailer Chen. I'm Yang Dudou of Liushanmen—you've probably heard of me."

"Ah, it's Chief Yang! A pleasure. I've long heard you're a seasoned investigator—no case you touch goes unsolved. By the way, when did you return to Jingcheng? I thought you were still on assignment out of town."

"I just got back two days ago."

"You just got back, and you're already working? Tonight's…?" Chen Guanlou eyed the six men—most faces were familiar, but only in the way you know someone exists without ever having dealt with them personally or professionally.

"We're here to interrogate a convicted official. Please grant us your cooperation, Jailor Chen."

"Who?" Chen Guanlou asked.

"An official named Liu Xiang."

Liu Xiang?

Chen Guanlou remembered—the man was locked up under Wu Bandou's jurisdiction, an obscure outsider official. His crime? Probably embezzlement or bribery. But rumors said he'd backed the wrong faction, and that's why he was being purged.

In officialdom, other charges might be questionable, but embezzlement and bribery? You can slap that on any official and never be wrong.

Chen Guanlou pulled on his clothes, called the jailers, and led the way. Could another big case have broken out?

He was just making small talk, trying to get the full picture.

But Liushanmen's men clammed up like clams. Only Chief Yang replied, "Hmm. Old case, new lead. Sorry to trouble you, Jailor Chen, at this hour."

"No trouble. Brothers in the same system—no need for formalities."

Chen Guanlou spoke politely, but inside he was puzzling: if it was an old case with a new lead, why the hell wake up at midnight to interrogate? How much does the court even pay them? Is it worth risking your life over? It's not even a fresh major case.

At the cell door, the jailers had already woken Liu Xiang.

Liu Xiang looked dazed, staring at Liushanmen's men—clearly confused, still half-asleep.

Chen Guanlou asked Chief Yang, "Will you question him here, or shall I prepare a vacant room? The interrogation chamber won't work—the guards aren't on duty, and I don't have the keys."

But Chief Yang said, "I'm taking him away. Please grant us your cooperation, Jailor Chen."

"Taking him away?" Chen Guanlou raised an eyebrow. "At this hour? Chief Yang, that's against protocol. No one takes prisoners out at midnight. Why not interrogate him here? I'll have a room ready for you immediately."

"That won't do. He must be taken to Liushanmen for questioning."

"No! Don't take me to Liushanmen! Don't take me!" Liu Xiang suddenly snapped awake, screaming, "Jailer Chen, I'm your man! You can't let Liushanmen take me! Jailer Chen, save me! I have money—I really do!"

"Shut up!" Chief Yang barked. One of his men drew his sword, threatening to cut Liu Xiang's throat if he spoke again.

Chen Guanlou saw this and laughed.

He gave Liushanmen's men a sly, mocking look. "Taking a prisoner out at midnight—never mind whether it's protocol. If you're taking him, then it must be done by the book. Show me the official document, complete the procedure, and you may take him."

"Jailer Chen… uuuh…" One jailer lunged forward, clamping a hand over Liu Xiang's mouth. "Don't disturb the officials—they know what they're doing."

That jailer was sharp, quick-witted.

Chen Guanlou glanced at him, memorizing his face.

Chief Yang stayed silent.

Chen Guanlou smiled. "Chief Yang, you didn't bring the document, did you? Then I'm afraid I can't let you take him. No document, no prisoner transfer—not even if the Embroidered Uniform Guard came. I'm not being difficult—you know how hard it is to serve these days. Without the document, without procedure, you take him, vanish, and tomorrow he turns up dead or missing? You'll deny it ever happened, and Tianlaomiao gets blamed. Follow the procedure. Bring the document, take him. No document? Then interrogate him here."

His demand was standard. Official business must follow official procedure. Liushanmen couldn't just demand a prisoner be handed over on their word alone.

What if the prisoner died outside? Disappeared? Killed someone? Who bears responsibility? If Liushanmen denies ever taking him, the blame falls entirely on Tianlaomiao. After all, without a document, without procedure—how can you prove they took him?

Above, they don't care about witnesses. They only care about documents. Documents exist to enforce procedure, to prevent blame-shifting and endless squabbling.

"Will you not grant us even a small favor, Jailor Chen?" Chief Yang asked.

Chen Guanlou looked pained. "I'm not refusing you, brothers—I'm bound by protocol. To take a prisoner, you need the document and the procedure. Chief Yang, understand me—if I let you take him without paperwork and something goes wrong, who takes the fall?"

"What if I write you a personal note?"

"No." Chen Guanlou sneered. A scribbled note? Think I'm a fool? A note means nothing—not unless it's signed by a third-rank official or higher. A Dudou's scribble? Take it to the Ministry of Justice and see if their clerks even glance at it.

They'd laugh in your face.

"Dawn's not far off. Why not go back now? Get the documents ready by morning, then send someone with the paperwork to collect him. Don't worry—he's locked in his cell. He won't go anywhere. Come anytime—I'm here these days."

Chen Guanlou was polite, eager to get rid of them quickly—so he could return to bed and sleep soundly.

Breaking in at midnight to interrogate a prisoner? Who even thought of that?

"What if I insist on taking him now?" Chief Yang smiled, but his eyes were cold and deadly.

Chen Guanlou's lips curled in mockery. "Didn't know Chief Yang told jokes. I'm enlightened."

The jailers sensed the tension—they shifted positions, surrounding Liushanmen's men.

Liushanmen's men gripped their sword hilts, ready to draw at any moment.