Chapter 447: Comforting Someone? The Kind That Stabs Right Through the Heart

The Great Ming Prince had never felt so desperate before.

Chen Guanlou urged him to be more resigned.

"The court understands how to manipulate hearts—it's had centuries of experience. How could a man of merely a few decades hope to resist? If you'd raised your rebellion with even a hint of foresight, instead of just burning, killing, and looting, you wouldn't be in this position today."

This remark was half advice, half driving a knife into his heart.

The Great Ming Prince would rather he hadn't spoken at all—he felt even worse.

"In the end, it's still my incompetence—I lost to the court."

"And twice, I lost to the same man. Tsk tsk…" Chen Guanlou smirked, "Actually, you needn't worry too much. The north is now under the control of the Pingjiang Marquis. I know him a little. He doesn't care much for common folk, but he won't arbitrarily exploit or slaughter them. He's a man with boundaries."

Meeting someone with boundaries is a stroke of luck.

The most terrifying are those who stop at nothing to achieve their goals, with no boundaries at all.

The Great Ming Prince was not comforted.

Chen Guanlou mocked him, "The Embroidered Uniform Guard scared you with a few words, and you're already terrified. You're a coward! You're already locked in Tianlaomiao, and next year you'll be executed—what's there to fear? It's just death! If your life is truly unbearable, dying might even be a blessing—no more suffering."

"You shouldn't be saying this," the Great Ming Prince stared at Chen Guanlou. "You were born into a wealthy clan; though your family is poor, you still got to read, grew up safely, now hold an official post, and everything goes smoothly for you. You've known no hardship, no twisted life experiences, not even witnessed many grand scenes. Where do you get all these life insights, all these grand truths?"

"Can't I learn them from books?"

"Why can't I learn these from books? Don't we read the same texts? Don't your academies teach the same things?"

The Great Ming Prince was filled with confusion.

"For example, your three-step rebellion plan—how could a young man with a smooth life come up with that? You're a strange man. You have too many secrets."

"Looks like you're fine then," Chen Guanlou laughed. "You've got enough energy to care about my secrets—you're not going to die. Keep pondering. I've got work to do."

"Don't leave. Chen Jail Clerk, you're a talented man—can you help me?"

"What is it?" Chen Guanlou asked casually.

"Can you send some money to my family back home? Warn the local officials not to harass those innocent people. I'll owe you."

Chen Guanlou pointed at the man, then at himself. "Do you think I'm omnipotent?"

"You only need to tell the Pingjiang Marquis, and the matter is settled."

"Who am I? You overestimate me too much, Great Ming Prince. I'll report your request to the Ministry of Justice and see what they decide. Don't count on me—I'm not Guanyin Bodhisattva come to save the suffering."

Chen Guanlou spoke, then turned and left.

These people have insatiable appetites and love to freeload. No wonder they lost halfway through their rebellion! With nothing but empty words, they won't even offer a pie—yet still expect free favors. Dream on.

There are plenty of pitiful people these days.

The Great Ming Prince's family is pitiful—does that mean others aren't?

Who isn't struggling desperately in this dusty, worldly realm?

He went home after work.

His elder sister was waiting early.

Chunxiang's sister told him that Elder Sister Chen Xiaolan had been there half the day, cleaning the house inside and out.

Chen Xiaolan, the moment she saw him, grabbed him and checked his whole body, terrified he'd been hurt.

He repeatedly insisted he was fine, not a scratch on him, and only then did his elder sister stop. But she remained deeply anxious.

"Why did Hou Fu and Jiang Fu suddenly clash? And someone even died. My heart is pounding. When will this be resolved? Has the clan heard anything?"

"Hou Fu can't decide this. Jiang Tu can't decide it either."

"Then who can?"

"The old emperor can," Chen Guanlou bluntly shattered the truth.

Chen Xiaolan was instantly startled. "How did this get tied to the emperor? Don't speak nonsense."

"Would I lie about something this big? Jiang Tu isn't a fool. Why would he suddenly target Hou Fu for no reason? If the palace hadn't ordered it, would he act so mad? Doesn't he know this is a move that harms himself a thousand while injuring the enemy eight hundred? Hou Fu's strength could crush ten Jiang Tus easily. Yet he still attacks—because if he doesn't, he'll die."

Chen Guanlou was also growing irritable.

He too wished this ordeal would end soon—even eating wasn't peaceful. He paid Chunxiang's sister some money as meal expenses; lately he didn't cook at all, eating and drinking entirely at her place.

The owner across the street, fearing association, had moved his whole family into the shop and dared not return home. A tiny fish, afraid to surface.

Chen Xiaolan grew even more uneasy, more terrified.

"Then what should we do?"

"As long as Hou Fu stands, there's nothing to fear. Elder sister, don't come here anymore. Stay safe with the Su family—I won't have to worry about you. If you come here, and run into those madmen, I'll have to worry about you too."

"I'm just worried about you."

"I'm fine! My little brother has a strong fate—no one can harm me."

"But…"

"No buts. While it's still light, I'll walk you home. Until this is over, don't come. If anything happens, pay someone to deliver a message."

"If I leave, what will you do?"

"If you don't leave, I'm the one who won't know what to do. When you're not here, I can act boldly. When you're here, I get distracted—and distraction leads to disaster."

Hearing this, Chen Xiaolan understood fully. Concern was one thing—but she couldn't hold her brother back.

"Fine, fine, I'll go. But you be careful too—don't rush ahead, let others go first. Stay behind. Everyone says you're capable, that you've killed so many, they praise you. But all I hear is fear. You used to be afraid to kill a chicken—now you're killing people. What's come over you?"

"My good elder sister, you forgot I work in Tianlaomiao? Death is normal there. Even if I once feared killing a chicken, after years of training in Tianlaomiao, killing a few people is nothing. You just worry too much."

Chen Guanlou escorted his elder sister out the door and walked her home. He gave her several silver ingots, telling her to spend freely, not to hoard.

He brought her to the Su family's front gate. "Sister, I'll watch you go in."

"Won't you come in?"

"I won't enter. It's a sensitive time—I won't bring trouble to the Su family. If they think I'm bad luck, you'll be caught in the middle. Go on, hurry inside. I still have night patrol."

"Then be careful!"

"I won't be harmed!"