Chapter 427

Xiao Jin's second investigation yielded no results, as expected.

As per protocol, report to the Ministry of Justice: the Great Ming Prince was poisoned but did not die; the Ministry will merely go through the motions.

Unexpectedly, Assistant Minister Sun Daoning arrived in disguise at the Heavenly Prison, seeking Chen Guanlou.

Chen Guanlou first paid his respects, then asked directly: "My lord, shall I descend into the Heavenly Prison to inspect the Great Ming Prince's condition?"

"Is he dead?"

"He's not dead!"

"As long as he's not dead, I won't go down."

Chen Guanlou was puzzled—wasn't he here for the Great Ming Prince? But that didn't make sense! Aside from the Great Ming Prince, there should be no one else in the Heavenly Prison worth special attention.

"My lord, if you're inspecting the Heavenly Prison, do you have any orders? I'll gladly risk life and limb."

"Talk's cheaper than singing. I hear you secretly poisoned the Great Ming Prince?"

"I won't hide it from you, my lord—many outside are secretly eager to kill the Great Ming Prince. Rather than let outsiders act chaotically, it's better for the Heavenly Prison to strike first and save ourselves much trouble. Moreover, Physician Mu can control the dosage precisely, ensuring he doesn't die and survives safely until next spring."

"Hmm. I'm not here to punish you. Since your method works, carry it out." Sun Daoning's expression was indifferent, impossible to read.

Chen Guanlou pondered deeply, weighing possibilities: "Does my lord wish the Great Ming Prince to die in the Heavenly Prison?"

"Insolent!" Sun Daoning glanced at Chen Guanlou. "How dare you slander my reputation? Chen Guanlou, don't overstep your bounds."

"My lord, forgive me! I spoke without thought. Your grace is vast—please don't hold it against a lowly servant."

"I'll spare you this time. Since the Great Ming Prince is now in your hands, watch him closely. I'll send a batch of medicinal herbs; instruct the physicians to care for him properly and ensure no mishaps occur. Understood?"

Chen Guanlou nodded firmly in agreement, then watched Sun Daoning depart.

He came suddenly and left just as swiftly, secretive, giving the impression of something hidden from the light.

After much thought, he summoned Physician Mu; the two whispered privately: "What do you think Sun Assistant Minister really wants? Does he want the Great Ming Prince dead—or alive?"

"Perhaps both." Physician Mu sipped his tea casually. "If the Great Ming Prince dies in the Heavenly Prison, it might not be a bad thing."

Chen Guanlou raised an eyebrow. "You're hoping the Heavenly Prison gets blamed, aren't you?"

"Next year's Heaven Worship Ceremony—given the current stir, I have a feeling it won't be peaceful. Think: if the Great Ming Prince dies here, next year's ceremony won't involve the Heavenly Prison at all. We can stay completely out of it."

"The Heavenly Prison only transports prisoners near the ceremony site; what happens after is none of our concern. No matter how prestigious we are, we can't enter the ceremony grounds. You're overthinking."

Physician Mu chuckled. "You're oversimplifying. If they want to fabricate charges, it won't matter whether you were near the ceremony site—they'll heap a basket of accusations on your head."

"I'm just a jailer. Those above have no reason to target me."

"True, they have no reason to target you—but if they use this as an opportunity to stir up trouble, a storm of that scale won't be stopped by the Hou Fu. That's why I say: if the Great Ming Prince dies in the Heavenly Prison, it might not be a bad thing. At least, the storm won't be so fierce."

Chen Guanlou fell into thought.

"So your idea is to strike first—kill the Great Ming Prince outright?"

Physician Mu's face twisted. "My point is, Sun Assistant Minister and his kind haven't yet decided their final course of action. They're still undecided."

"These officials are always hesitant—no wonder they never accomplish anything." Chen Guanlou sneered.

"When Sun Daoning comes back to the Heavenly Prison, that'll be when he's made up his mind. Then you'll need to decide."

Chen Guanlou gritted his teeth. Being someone else's blade brought no benefit—this kind of losing deal was not to his liking.

But Physician Mu urged: "Don't hesitate at the critical moment. You're too low to reach higher circles. Better to follow one path to the end—loyal to the Ministry of Justice, loyal to Sun Daoning—for your own safety."

"Old Mu, is your advice reliable? I feel like you're digging a pit for me, eager for me to kill the Great Ming Prince. If you want him dead so badly, why not just poison him yourself?"

"If I wanted him dead, I wouldn't need poison—I could make it vanish without a trace. You'd never get a chance to catch me out." Physician Mu snorted, utterly confident. With his medical skill, reviving someone was easy; killing him was easier.

Chen Guanlou grimaced.

He knew Physician Mu wasn't straightforward, but he had no intention of digging deeper—or stopping him. If Physician Mu truly meant to kill the Great Ming Prince, Chen Guanlou might even help cover it up.

"When you act, let me know ahead of time—I'll handle the cleanup," he joked.

Physician Mu stared at him in disbelief. "You're joking, right?"

"Treat it as a joke. So—are you going to kill the Great Ming Prince?"

Physician Mu frowned. "I have no grudge against him. Why kill him?"

"To make money! Outside, plenty of people are paying silver to buy the Great Ming Prince's life. Let me tell you—less than five thousand taels, and you won't take the job. Do it for less, you lose. If I were doing it, you'd need ten thousand taels—don't even think about it otherwise."

"Why is your price double mine?"

"Because my value is higher than yours." Chen Guanlou spoke as if stating the obvious.

Physician Mu stared, speechless, then asked curiously: "Someone approached you?"

"Has someone approached you?"

They probed each other, played guessing games—then both burst into chuckles.

"Then wait."

"Wait!"

"Wait for Sun Daoning's decision. I suspect these people won't decide until next year. No wonder everyone says: scholars plotting rebellion take three years to fail."

"Have you never thought of helping Sun Assistant Minister make up his mind?"

Chen Guanlou sneered. "I'm not his father!"

They finished their tea and parted.

Chen Guanlou didn't want to descend into the Heavenly Prison—he didn't want to hear the Great Ming Prince's endless, repetitive nonsense. Every meeting, the man tried to incite him to rebel, showing no sign of giving up. He deeply admired the willpower and determination of those who pursued rebellion. He doubted he could match such endurance and resilience.

After work, he carried wine and food home.

His clan's elder uncle invited him for wine, to thank him.

Chen Guanlou gladly accepted.

The struggle for power within the clan elders was nearing its end.

Hou Fu's heir, Chen Guanfu, personally took charge of clan affairs. He removed several elders and brought in new ones; Chen Guanlou's uncle made the list and achieved his goal of becoming one of the permanent deputy clan leaders.

"Congratulations, Uncle!"

"Thank you, thank you! Alas, the heir promoted not only me, but two others as well."

Chen Guanlou understood. "The heir holds military power—he understands the balance of authority. A triangle is most stable. No matter what, Uncle, your wish is fulfilled. I'll rely on your protection."

"Hahaha… This time, thanks to you—for creating such a perfect opportunity. Don't worry: as long as I'm here, no one in the clan will dare interfere with your business."