Chapter 443

After severely scolding Jiang Tu, the old emperor could not simply ignore the matter.

But he could not show his face, and the imperial forces must not intervene. If the court got involved, the feud between the two families would escalate into a court struggle—something the old emperor did not wish to see.

He merely wanted to test the waters; if the Hou Fu suffered some losses in the process, so much the better. He had no intention of expanding the matter. Jiang Ping Hou was still leading troops in the north—he could not be pushed too far.

Jiang Tu was incompetent; his underlings alone could not possibly challenge the Hou Fu. The Hou Fu's century-old foundations were far beyond what a mere upstart could shake.

So the old emperor decided to give him some help.

Thus, the old emperor ordered Jiang Tu to seek out Xiao Jin of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and the two were to conspire together to handle the matter.

Jiang Tu alternated between joy and worry. "Your Majesty, would Your Majesty not consider my collaboration with Lord Xiao too conspicuous? If it stirs the court, it would be unfortunate."

"Do you think Xiao Jin is like you, unable to handle even minor tasks? Had he not been burdened with duties, why would I need you? Useless fool."

Jiang Tu lowered his head, crestfallen.

He believed himself quite capable—it was the old emperor's demands that were too high and too many.

The old emperor could not resist kicking Jiang Tu. "Get out, get out—I can't stand looking at you. If you fail again, come back with your head."

Jiang Tu felt a chill at his neck, shrank his head, and slunk out of the palace.

He did not go to the Embroidered Uniform Guard—he was too conspicuous.

Instead, he sent a formal invitation to Xiao Jin, asking him to come to his residence for tea.

Xiao Jin bore imperial orders; though he disliked Jiang Tu and had no desire to associate with him, he could not refuse the invitation.

After much negotiation, they exchanged information. Xiao Jin agreed to supply Jiang Tu with a group of martial artists—each one a skilled warrior—who would be fully obedient as long as payment was sufficient.

Nothing more than that.

To ask the Embroidered Uniform Guard to subtly assist, to tilt the scales—no such request had been received.

The opponent was not some cat or dog—it was the Jiang Ping Hou Fu.

The father and son of the Jiang Ping Hou were not easy to deal with.

Only if the old emperor issued a direct order to arrest someone would the Embroidered Uniform Guard openly target the Hou Fu. As long as the palace gave no such order, the Embroidered Uniform Guard would merely monitor the Hou Fu and take no action.

Jiang Tu was dissatisfied, but he had no choice but to grit his teeth and accept it. He had no power to command the Embroidered Uniform Guard, nor did he dare reach out to them.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard was the old emperor's private domain. Whoever reached for them was challenging imperial authority. Given the old emperor's obsession with power, he would surely execute anyone who dared, without mercy.

The second major clash between the Jiang Fu and the Hou Fu was about to erupt.

Chen Guanlou was summoned to the Hou Fu, to the same study as before.

The heir, Chen Guanfu, wished to see him.

Upon meeting, Chen Guanlou immediately noticed that the heir's demeanor was noticeably warmer than their first encounter.

"My family's prodigy, come, sit, sit."

Chen Guanfu invited.

Chen Guanlou politely declined once, then sat down.

A beautiful maid brought tea and pastries; the fragrance of tea filled the air.

"I hear you enjoy tea. I've recently acquired a fine batch of premium leaves—take some with you when you leave. Whatever you like, don't be shy."

"Your Highness's kindness—I shall not refuse."

"That's proper. We're brothers of the same clan—no need for excessive formality."

"Your Highness summoned me—is there a task?" Chen Guanlou asked directly.

"Your performance during night patrols has reached my ears. I personally inspected the corpses—your swordplay is nothing short of divine. I won't ask where you learned such superior martial arts, nor how you managed to kill martial artists in return. Such talent deserves a grander stage. Would you consider joining the military?"

Chen Guanlou was surprised by how accommodating the man was—he had suppressed his curiosity and refrained from asking about the origin of his skills. This earned him considerable goodwill.

As for recruitment, it was all old talk.

Chen Guanfu was not the first to recruit him, nor would he be the last.

He shook his head firmly. "I'm a man who enjoys comfort—I can't bear hardship. Joining the military is not for me."

"Oh? If you won't join the military, I won't press you. But would you serve the Hou Fu? As for compensation, rest assured—it's better than what you get in the Tianlaomiao."

"What exactly would you need me to do?" Chen Guanlou did not answer immediately, but asked about the duties first.

Chen Guanfu did not hide it. "If you join the Hou Fu, you won't be able to remain in the capital long-term—you'll need to travel on the Hou Fu's behalf. But these are temporary assignments. In a few years, if circumstances change, you may stay in the capital permanently if you wish."

Chen Guanlou smiled knowingly. "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but I must apologize—I prefer my current post in the Tianlaomiao."

"More pay, less work, close to home?" Chen Guanfu asked with a half-smile.

Chen Guanlou nodded openly. "Yes. That's exactly what I'm after—more pay, less work, close to home, and free."

"The Tianlaomiao isn't truly free."

"Compared to others, it's the freest. I rarely suffer disrespect. After all, the Tianlaomiao has a notorious reputation—officials cherish their dignity and rarely set foot there. And I rarely leave it myself."

No contact means no disrespect.

Unlike later eras, with phones and WeChat, you're controlled twenty-four hours a day. As a beast of burden, you never truly own your own time. One wonders whether the beasts of ancient times suffered more, or those of later eras.

Chen Guanfu laughed. "I never realized the Tianlaomiao had such advantages."

"Aside from the poor working conditions, everything else is fine," Chen Guanlou said honestly. The inmates in the Jia-class cells were all officials with ambition and hope—eager to preserve their futures, they cooperated fully with jailers, avoiding trouble whenever possible. Even when they caused trouble, it was done secretly outside, never within the Tianlaomiao.

They were the easiest group to manage—provided the jailers maintained proper attitude, posture, and clear identity. Don't act like you're the master, as in the Yi- or Bing-class cells. Do this, and everything runs smoothly, perfectly.

One could call it flawless.

"You won't leave the capital? Very well—I won't press you. But if the Hou Fu ever needs your help, I hope you won't refuse."

"Your Highness jests. The Chen clan's roots in the capital rest entirely on the Hou Fu. The Hou Fu is our pillar, our backing. Should the Hou Fu require anything, a single word is enough—I will not hesitate."

"With your word, I'm reassured. Jiang Tu has been acting erratically lately—the matter is far from settled. You'll need to lend strength again—to protect our clan's safety. If you face difficulties, speak up. I've never let a loyal man go hungry."