Chapter 559

Without any major commotion, the news that Grand Tutor Zhuang had returned to the capital alive spread silently throughout the entire court.

Emperor Jian Shi issued an imperial decree to reward the Zhuang family.

There was no fanfare, no grand celebration; the Zhuang family gave people the feeling that they just wanted to quietly take back Grand Tutor Zhuang to spend his old age.

Chen Guanlou, who knew the inside story, naturally understood that all of this was at the instruction of Emperor Jian Shi. Was it that the Zhuang family didn't want fanfare? It was clearly that Emperor Jian Shi did not want the news of Grand Tutor Zhuang's return to become the center of attention.

As for the case of Grand Tutor Zhuang's disappearance, no one mentioned it either.

Since Emperor Jian Shi wanted to keep a low profile, the court officials naturally knew how to be tactful.

As for whether the disappearance back then was the work of the late Emperor or if there were other inside stories, it was no longer important.

He had thought that the matter of the Grand Tutor had come to an end.

He never expected that half a month after the Grand Tutor returned to the Zhuang family, news would spread that he had died of an incurable illness.

When he learned the news, Chen Guanlou was drinking tea, and a mouthful of tea almost sprayed out.

"Dead?"

"The news came from the Zhuang family; it can't be wrong." Medical Official Mu nagged at him.

"How did he die?"

"Of course he died of illness. Ever since the Grand Tutor returned to the Zhuang family, the imperial physicians have practically been living at the Zhuang family to treat him. Unfortunately, the Grand Tutor's illness was truly too severe, and he eventually died of his illness."

Chen Guanlou:...

At the beginning of the year, when he saw the Grand Tutor at the imperial villa, although he was a bit disheveled and had developed senile dementia, his spirit looked like he could at least live for another year or two; if he was well-cared for, living for two or three years would be no problem.

He didn't expect that returning to the capital would instead cost the Grand Tutor his life.

He couldn't help but think that if he hadn't brought the Grand Tutor back to the capital, would the Grand Tutor still be alive, living well, not worrying about food or drink, having people to serve him, and not being disturbed by anyone?

He opened his mouth and said casually: "With so many imperial physicians with superb medical skills in the Taiyi Academy, they couldn't cure the Grand Tutor's illness? Was the Grand Tutor really that severely ill?"

Medical Official Mu said: "It is said that it was quite severe; when he was brought home, he couldn't even speak and couldn't get out of bed."

Chen Guanlou:...

He took a deep breath, his expression cold, and gave a mocking smile, "Those who get in the way are indeed annoying and don't live long."

"Prison Warden Chen, you seem to have something behind your words?" Medical Official Mu asked curiously.

Chen Guanlou waved his hand, "I was just speaking from feeling. There's nothing else today; I'm leaving first."

He got up and left the Heavenly Prison, wandering all the way to the Ministry of Justice to pay a visit to the newly appointed Minister, Sun Daojing.

Sun Daojing had been promoted and become wealthy, and his official authority was full.

Chen Guanlou did not indulge the other party and said straight to the point: "The Grand Tutor is dead!"

Sun Daojing had originally wanted to put on official airs, but seeing that Chen Guanlou didn't buy it at all, it would be himself who lost face if he put on official airs.

He struggled in his heart for a while and was very unhappy. He had a kind of dissatisfaction that he had been promoted but couldn't show off.

He thought to himself that the other party was indeed here to restrain him.

If he had known today would come, he should have sent someone else to find the Grand Tutor's whereabouts back then.

He coughed lightly, endured his dissatisfaction, and said: "When a person dies, it's like a lamp going out."

Chen Guanlou sneered, "My lord should remember very clearly what the Grand Tutor looked like when he first returned to the capital. How much time has passed, and he is already gone. Has my lord never thought about the deep meaning in this!"

"What if I have thought about it? Is this something you or I can think about? I wish I knew nothing and had never seen the Grand Tutor. The water here is deep; I am anxious to withdraw. Could it be that you still want to get involved? Chen Guanlou, don't think too highly of yourself."

Sun Daojing looked like he was bursting with anger.

Upon learning the news of the Grand Tutor's passing, he trembled twice on the spot, so scared that his heart went cold.

It was only after he finally stabilized his emotions that Chen Guanlou came to provoke him again.

Chen Guanlou didn't make a sound; anyone could see that he was depressed, and it was best not to provoke him.

Sun Daojing was afraid that he would do something irreversible in a moment of impulse, so he calmed his emotions and softly comforted him: "Don't think too much. The Grand Tutor was old and had fallen ill. Leaving at this time might not be a kind of luck."

Chen Guanlou nodded and didn't make a sound.

Sun Daojing continued: "We must all recognize our own identities; matters at that level are not for us to manage. As the saying goes, 'If you are not in that position, don't discuss that policy.' You have always practiced this sentence; why are you so excited this time?"

Chen Guanlou glanced at the other party, "The Grand Tutor disappeared in the Heavenly Prison and was found by me. Sigh... I don't know if the Grand Tutor knew the whole truth before he died, and if he left peacefully."

"What truth is there to speak of? The Grand Tutor's greatest wish when he had his accident was to hope that His Majesty could successfully ascend the throne. His Majesty has done it; the Grand Tutor should be able to close his eyes in peace."

These words made a lot of sense.

Chen Guanlou could not refute them.

Sun Daojing continued: "If the Grand Tutor knew that sacrificing him could exchange for His Majesty's smooth succession to the throne, do you guess the Grand Tutor would be willing to sacrifice? I think the Grand Tutor should be willing. He has no regrets!"

From the moment the Grand Tutor was sent to the Heavenly Prison, Emperor Jian Shi established a perfect victim image.

After being deposed from the position of Crown Prince, he did not complain about heaven or blame others, but was willing to be a filial son and grandson. The perfect victim image moved the world, and the court officials were indignant, one after another wanting to stand up for him and take back everything he had lost.

By the time the late Emperor died suddenly and he was poisoned and fell into a coma, almost missing the throne, the perfect victim image once again went deep into people's hearts.

Chen Guanlou gave a light laugh and changed the subject, "Congratulations to my lord for getting what you wanted, being promoted and becoming wealthy."

Sun Daojing turned from cloudy to sunny and said happily, "I have received your gift; you have a heart."

"My lord has been promoted, why not hold a banquet to celebrate?"

"No need for fanfare."

"My lord seems to have hidden worries?"

Sun Daojing sighed immediately and continued: "There have been many personnel changes in the court this time, and I am not the only one who has been promoted. Do you know who the newly appointed Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue is?"

Chen Guanlou looked thoughtful, "I heard it seems to be surnamed Zheng, transferred to the capital from the provinces."

Hmph!

Sun Daojing snorted coldly, looking very indignant, as if he had accumulated great resentment.

"This person's name is Zheng Daochong; he is a figure similar to Jiang Tu, but even more difficult to deal with than Jiang Tu. Saying this is actually a bit of an insult to Zheng Daochong; Jiang Tu isn't even fit to carry his shoes in front of him. But they are all the same kind of villains, equally despicable, equally greedy. The one surnamed Zheng is even worse."

Ah?

Is the resentment that great?

"Old Sun, do you have a conflict with him?" Chen Guanlou was very curious.

"I don't have a conflict with him. But I can't stand such villains causing chaos in the court. His Majesty is truly muddled; clearly, the Secretariat opposed it repeatedly, yet His Majesty acted arbitrarily, overriding all objections to promote Zheng Daochong as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Absurd!"

Sun Daojing was so angry that he smashed a fist onto the desk.

The Ministry of Justice Minister's desk was made of top-quality wood with solid craftsmanship, and could even be passed down as an heirloom. But under the attack of the martial artist Sun Daojing's angry fist, a shallow mark was still left on the desktop.

Chen Guanlou clicked his tongue twice. How capable is the one surnamed Zheng to be able to make Old Sun so angry that he lost his shape? Back in the day, even Jiang Tu didn't have that ability.