Chapter 370: Master! This is a Master!

I already told you, this can't be done—why won't you listen? The Six Ministries are summoning you; can I stop them? No. Can I storm in and halt their interrogation? No. Can I fly over to save you if they're out to kill you? No! Do your job, but don't break the rules.

Instead of giving me money, give it to Yang the Chief. Give him more—don't be stingy. If he takes your money, maybe your life will be spared. Alright, alright, I'll tell the jailers to deliver your message to your sworn brother. Who is your sworn brother?

Chen Guanlou gave Liu Xianghe ample face, patiently explaining the logic to him.

After hearing it, Liu Xianghe nearly wept.

"I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm definitely dead this time." He paced frantically, as if he'd already seen his final fate.

"Chen jailer, please help me."

"How can you not understand? Is it that I won't help you? It's that the conditions don't allow me to. First tell me—who exactly is your sworn brother?"

"My sworn brother is Zhou Tongpan of the Jingzhao Prefecture." Liu Xianghe slumped to the ground, looking like a man already dead.

Chen Guanlou: …

Zhou Tongpan of the Jingzhao Prefecture?

That name sounds familiar.

He must have heard of this person somewhere before.

He remembered—the bandit's second-in-command had provided the clue that led to the complete version of the Sheng Tian Lu, found inside the cave.

The second-in-command and Zhou Tongpan were sworn brothers; in the end, Zhou Tongpan betrayed him, had him imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison, and ordered his immediate execution. He took money and saved the man's wife, Yin Siniang, and her unborn child. Whether Yin Siniang still lived, he didn't know. The child was sent back to the second-in-command's sect—now probably a little sprout.

This connection… truly…

"Do you trust your sworn brother?" Chen Guanlou decided to ask a few more questions.

"When I swore brotherhood with him, he was still poor, not yet risen. He's an extremely clever man. Many of my problems were solved thanks to his advice. Of course I trust him."

Tsk!

Was this another victim deceived by Zhou Tongpan?

"Is your case connected to your sworn brother?"

"Of course not. It's because I was too showy and drew envy. I accepted the consequences. Do you know my sworn brother, Chen jailer?"

"Of course not. I only heard his name from others. Once, in the Yi-cell prison, a bandit confessed he was sworn brothers with Zhou Tongpan."

"Absurd!" Liu Xianghe fiercely defended his sworn brother's honor. "My sworn brother is a high-ranking imperial official—how could he possibly swear brotherhood with bandits? You must have misunderstood. Or the bandit lied to slander him. My sworn brother is a true man, upright and honorable, generous and righteous—don't believe the nonsense of unknown sources!"

"Hmm, what you say makes sense."

Chen Guanlou felt his teeth ache.

Zhou Tongpan was impressive! The man's ability to manipulate minds was something Chen Guanlou genuinely admired. The bandit's second-in-command being deceived was understandable—he'd saved the man's life.

But Liu Xianghe? A seasoned veteran of officialdom, yet still deceived—spouting nonsense about his sworn brother being a noble man. Deeply poisoned.

All one could say was: Zhou Tongpan was brilliant. For years, no one had seen through his true face.

A hypocrite who maintains hypocrisy his whole life—is he truly noble, or a villain?

If Zhou Tongpan could preserve his image of integrity for life, was he still a treacherous villain?

But to Chen Guanlou, Zhou Tongpan had long lost all image. The bandit's second-in-command's case was clearly Zhou Tongpan's scheme.

Everyone in officialdom was a genius.

Chen Guanlou sighed again.

"If your sworn brother's so powerful, have him find a way to save you," Chen Guanlou suggested.

But Liu Xianghe shook his head wildly, as if under a spell. "My sworn brother's achievements came at great cost—I can't drag him down. Besides, my case has nothing to do with him. I brought this on myself. Sigh…"

Chen Guanlou tsked—more loyal than real brothers.

"Fine. Just make up your own mind."

Wu the Squad Leader had delayed long enough—he could delay no longer. He had to bring the Six Ministries' men to retrieve the prisoner.

Chen Guanlou nodded at the Six Ministries' men. "Are the documents in order? Let me see. Yes. The prisoner is here. Verify his identity, sign and stamp, then take him away."

Since they presented official paperwork, Chen Guanlou had no reason to obstruct them—official business, handled officially.

The Six Ministries' men confirmed Liu Xianghe's identity, signed and stamped, and took him away.

Liu Xianghe stopped crying, but still stared hopelessly at Chen Guanlou, wishing he'd change his mind.

Chen Guanlou didn't even look at him. He handed the documents to Wu the Squad Leader. "File them."

Wu the Squad Leader muttered, "What did Liu do? Why are the Six Ministries so invested?"

"Who cares what he did? Our duty is guarding prisoners. That's enough. Everyone, disperse."

Chen Guanlou stepped out of the Heavenly Prison, basking in the sun to shed the gloom clinging to him.

If a convict's family came to visit, the jailers would handle it.

But some convict families had delusions—seeking him out, begging him to help reduce their loved one's sentence.

Chen Guanlou: …

What exactly was his reputation outside?

Why did everyone think he could do anything, solve any problem?

"Reducing a sentence? You need to speak to the Ministry of Justice's chief officer. Coming to me is useless. I'm just a lowly jailer—my duty is guarding prisoners. I can't handle other matters. Go home!"

"What if it's exile? Could you help change the destination? Something closer. Not three thousand li—could one thousand li work?"

"Are you joking? List the places a thousand li from the capital. Every one's a major, prosperous city. You think you can get away with one thousand li? Why not five hundred?"

"It's not impossible."

"Go home. Go to sleep. You'll find everything in your dreams." Chen Guanlou didn't even want to talk anymore. These days, people were truly bizarre.

The convict's family fidgeted. "Chen jailer, please help us. We still have some Qian Cai."

"Is this about Qian Cai?"

"Isn't it?"

"It's bullshit! It's about ability—I don't have that ability. Do you understand?"

"But everyone says nothing's impossible for you. In the Heavenly Prison, going to the jail supervisor won't help—only you can do it. Others can't accomplish what you can. Others can't save people—you can."

"Who told you that? Go find them. The jailer Chen Guanlou has none of those abilities. I can't accomplish anything, can't save anyone. Go, go, don't waste my time on real work."

The rumors were growing more absurd!