Chapter 53: Exploiting the Incident

The words “good” and “evil” clearly stumped Yu Zhaoan.

In the days that followed, he never again fixed Chen Guanlou with a murderous gaze.

Chen Guanlou: ...

Thank heaven and earth!

If he could use this opportunity to dissuade Yu Zhaoan from wanting to kill him, he wouldn’t have to risk himself trying to figure out how to kill a third-rank martialist, a disciple of the Jixia Academy.

Let each of us mind our own business; peace is far better.

He stays in his official post, I stay as a jailer—peace throughout the realm.

As the weather grew hot, the stench of the Tianlaomiao grew even worse.

When convicts were punished and covered in wounds, every time they passed the cell doors, guards had to cover their noses and mouths. Seeing maggots crawling from the wounds, fearing an epidemic, Chen Guanlou ordered the jailers to summon a physician to clean the wounds and apply medicine.

This small act, however, became a major issue for Wan Yuli.

He summoned Chen Guanlou to the official office and berated him loudly: “Do you even have a brain? Do you understand the rules? Decisions made by superiors—when did it become your place as a mere jailer to interfere? Every expense in the Tianlaomiao is strictly fixed. Who gave you permission to summon a physician and buy medicine for convicts? Did you even consult me, your superior? How dare you act on your own initiative? Chen Guanlou, do you still want to remain a jailer?”

Chen Guanlou would never make such a mistake as not knowing the rules.

He had no choice but to defend himself: “Respected Wan Yuli, ten days ago I submitted a formal report requesting medicine for punished convicts to prevent epidemic. The wounds have already bred maggots—if no medicine is used, the death of a convict is minor, but an epidemic in the prison would be catastrophic. Everyone knows the Tianlaomiao’s conditions are ideal for deadly diseases. Though these are all convicted officials, who can say one of them won’t be reinstated one day? To avoid unspeakable consequences, I took necessary measures.”

“So now you have a point? Are you accusing me of ignoring the convicts’ lives, ignoring the jailers’ lives, and letting an epidemic fester in the Tianlaomiao? Chen Guanlou, how dare you!”

Wan Yuli was furious.

He knew Chen Guanlou was only outwardly obedient, secretly full of scheming tricks—no telling what evil he was plotting. Epidemic? Unspeakable consequences? Who are you trying to scare?

The Tianlaomiao has always been this way. Even if all of Jingcheng died, the Tianlaomiao would remain peaceful.

Nonsense!

“I have no such intention!” Chen Guanlou slowly lowered his head.

“You know best. I tell you this: the A-Cell Block is never your domain to rule. Since you refuse to follow the rules, you no longer need to be head of this shift.”

Wan Yuli’s mask slipped—he finally revealed his true intentions.

He had long sought an opportunity to seize Chen Guanlou’s fault, to drive him out of the A-Cell Block, even out of the Tianlaomiao entirely. But he had no good chance.

Chen Guanlou followed every rule of the Tianlaomiao, never joined gambling, showed up for duty on time, took his share of money, and knew when to adapt without being rigid. This made Wan Yuli deeply frustrated—he hated Chen as a stone in the latrine: stinking and hard.

Now, he finally had Chen Guanlou’s fault—he wouldn’t let it go to waste.

Chen Guanlou was straightforward: “I have a clear conscience. If you can’t stand me, please transfer me back to the C-Cell Block—I won’t object.”

“Hah! You really think Fan Yucheng’s backing protects you? Just wait and see. Get out.”

Chen Guanlou turned and walked away without a word of farewell, giving Wan Yuli not the slightest respect.

Wan Yuli flew into a rage and hurled the documents in his hand at him.

Chen Guanlou, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, caught the flying documents and tossed them precisely onto Wan Yuli’s desk.

Wan Yuli: ...

He sat stunned for a moment. Fortunately, he didn’t chase after him.

He was seething—he was determined to drive Chen out this time.

But this matter required Fan Yucheng’s approval, for Chen was personally recommended by him. As a subordinate, he had to maintain the appearance of respect for his superior.

Chen Guanlou returned to the duty room, boiling with anger.

Several jailers gathered around him, all worried, but none spoke.

Compared to the old Zhao Tou, they all preferred working under Chen Tou.

Chen Tou upheld rules, never forced them to do personal errands, never embezzled their silver. He paid exactly what was due—no embezzlement, no delays, never forced them to gamble.

When Zhao Tou was in charge, as soon as they received their pay, they were forced to gamble—and each had to lose a portion to Zhao Tou before he’d let them go.

Moreover, because of Chen Tou, this shift had never been fully staffed. As a result, each man received double his share. These past months, everyone had made a little fortune and lived comfortably.

They were just planning to save up this year, buy a small courtyard, and settle down—then Wan Yuli showed up to cause trouble again.

What a mess.

If Chen Tou leaves and someone else takes over, he’ll be just like Zhao Tou—always scheming to squeeze money. Not just from convicts, but from us lowly jailers too. Life would return to how it was—utterly meaningless.

“Chen Tou, want to have a drink with Master Li?” Xiao Jin suggested.

Chen Guanlou said nothing—he weighed whether to stay in the A-Cell Block or seize this chance to leave for the C-Cell Block. Even the B-Cell Block seemed better than staying here.

But... someone who keeps being transferred like him must be an oddity in the Tianlaomiao.

He only wanted to blend into the crowd, occasionally do a little private business—why was it so hard?

“Any deaths today?”

“Chen Tou, don’t worry—today was peaceful, no deaths. Thank you for quickly summoning the physician to treat the punished convicts.”

“This damn weather—it’s only March, but it’s as hot as July or August. The cells reek all day.”

“Chen Tou, if things get too bad, maybe pay off Wan Yuli.”

Chen Guanlou sneered, “Do you all think the conflict between me and Wan Yuli can be solved with money?”

The four jailers stayed silent.

Chen Guanlou continued, “If I had over a thousand taels, I might temporarily ease tensions. But why should I spend so much? Even if I spent it, it wouldn’t resolve the conflict. This isn’t a petty feud—it’s a conflict of livelihood. Even if I say I forgive the past, will Wan Yuli believe me?”

Hard to say.

The jailers had no solution.

Chen Guanlou comforted them again: “Do your duty well. Don’t let my situation affect you. Wan Yuli won’t easily get rid of me. Disperse now—don’t all crowd here.”

The four jailers left the duty room and returned to their posts.

Chen Guanlou calculated his silver reserves—he still had enough. Going through Master Li was certainly possible. But should he stay in the A-Cell Block or not?