Chapter 577

The Xu and Wei families finally reached a private reconciliation.

What unspeakable transactions lay within, there was no way to know.

Because Xu Jinsong failed to discipline his son, Emperor Jian Shi punished him by confining him to his home to reflect on his mistakes. Ten days later, Emperor Jian Shi summoned him, and the punishment ended there.

On the Xu family's side, they sent silver to the Heavenly Prison once more, asking Chen Guanlou to take good care of their third young master.

Chen Guanlou accepted the silver and asked the Xu family steward, "Why didn't your fourth young master come today?"

"Reporting to Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen, our fourth young master has left the capital; it is estimated he will return in a month or two."

"What a pity. This official still wanted to invite your fourth young master for a drink."

"Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen's kind intentions, this humble one will certainly convey to our fourth young master. Once our fourth young master returns to the capital, he will definitely notify Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen."

"That would be excellent!"

Having agreed to look after Xu Lao San, Chen Guanlou certainly kept his word, serving him good food and drink, and the prison guards also treaded carefully. As long as it wasn't excessive, he gave him whatever he asked for.

As it turned out, a problem still arose with the service.

Xu Lao San upset his stomach, vomiting and having diarrhea, nearly dying from it.

Medical Official Mu went down to the prison to diagnose him personally, confirming that Xu Lao San was poisoned, not just suffering from bad food. However, the toxicity was not considered too strong; if one's body was strong, one would at most suffer for a few days, barely managing not to die. As for those with weak bodies, whether they lived or died depended entirely on fate.

Upon learning the truth, Chen Guanlou was immediately furious.

He confirmed it repeatedly, "Are you sure it's poisoning, and not just simply eating something bad?"

"You may doubt this old man's character, but you cannot doubt this old man's medical skills. If this old man says he is poisoned, he is definitely poisoned."

Having received a definitive answer, Chen Guanlou was enraged. He gave orders for all prison guards to assemble. Even those on rotation today were all called in.

He asked Medical Official Mu again, "Can he be cured?"

"Rest assured, with this old man here, Xu Lao San won't die."

"About when was he poisoned?"

"It should have been last night. I asked the prison guards; he started having diarrhea last night and suffered all night long. If there are no surprises, the poison was likely mixed into his dinner."

Chen Guanlou came before the cell door, looking at Xu Lao San, who lay weak and powerless on the bed board, his eye sockets sunken, his complexion ashen, looking like he was about to kick the bucket at any moment.

The sturdy Xu Lao San had turned into a weak "Sister Xu" overnight; one could imagine that this poison could not only kill but also make one's life worse than death, with the whole body in agony. It was truly a fine method for torturing people.

"Third Young Master Xu, rest assured, with Medical Official Mu here, you won't die. You'll just be uncomfortable for a few days."

Xu Lin let out two wails, "Was it done by Wei Laosan?"

"Not yet certain. Of course, he is the prime suspect. Rest assured, I will investigate this matter personally and give you an explanation. I didn't expect the retaliation methods of you aristocratic descendants to be so despicable."

Xu Lin snorted coldly, but it lacked any momentum, permeated with a weak, sickly air; he had likely lost seven or eight jin in the span of one night, enough to torture a person.

"I'll remember this debt. Once I get out, I'll make Wei Laosan pay."

"Your two families have already reconciled."

"The Xu family is the Xu family, and I am me." Xu Lin wanted to crawl up, but his body wouldn't cooperate; he got halfway up and lay back down. "Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen, please ask the medical official for me, when will I be better?"

"Illness comes like a mountain collapsing and goes like pulling silk. It will take at least two or three days, don't be anxious. Being anxious is useless. First, I'll stop your diarrhea, then you'll need to recuperate. It's raining these two days, so I won't take you out. In two days when the sun comes out, I'll have someone help you out to bask in the sun and get rid of the moldy air."

"Many thanks!"

"You're welcome!"

After pacifying Xu Lao San, the prison guards had all arrived, standing in rows.

All four squad leaders were present.

Chen Guanlou kept a straight face, walked to the front, his gaze cold and sharp.

"Xu Lao San was poisoned, vomiting and having diarrhea, nearly dying in the prison. Is the money I give you not enough, or am I too harsh on you! To the point that despite my repeated injunctions, I still can't control your hands, and you insist on taking money from outsiders, secretly poisoning him, and causing me trouble. Do you really think I, Chen Guanlou, won't kill?"

"I have emphasized many times: take money, do the work, and be fair to all. Since you have already taken the Xu family's money, you cannot take the Wei family's money again. We in the Heavenly Prison must uphold principles; we absolutely do not allow double-dipping."

"Whoever took the outsider's money, stand out now voluntarily. I don't care how much money you took privately, poisoning Xu Lao San behind my back. Stand out now, and I can give you a minor punishment as a warning, and we can all still eat from the same pot in the future. Otherwise... don't blame me for turning hostile and not recognizing anyone."

Chen Guanlou's gaze swept across the face of every prison guard, observing everyone's expressions and movements.

"Those who took the money, stand out quickly, and you can still keep your rice bowl. If you don't stand out now and are found out later, not only will you lose your rice bowl, but you won't keep your life either." Wu Bantou Wu roared, staring at the prison guards under him, but not a single person stood out to confess.

"No one confesses? You'd better not let me find out." Wu Bantou Wu looked resentful.

Wu Bantou Wang tapped his pipe and said expressionlessly: "Although I can guarantee that none of the prison guards under me have the guts to poison Xu Lao San. However, according to the rules, we still have to investigate. Whoever feels guilty or knows anything can come to me privately. I'll put my words here: whoever knows anything and tells me quietly, I will help you keep your job afterward. Lord Chen, is there any problem with me saying this?"

"That's fine, no problem." Chen Guanlou did not quibble over these small details.

Shi Hong followed suit, reminding the prison guards under him that anyone who knew anything could secretly tell him privately, and not to count on being able to hide it forever.

Xiao Jin's forehead was dripping with cold sweat, "My lord, Xu Lao San is imprisoned in my jurisdiction; if something happens to him, I cannot shirk the blame. Please give me half a day, and I will certainly investigate this matter clearly."

"Is half a day enough? I'll give you one day. If there is no result after one day, I will investigate this matter personally."

Chen Guanlou had given Xiao Jin enough face.

"Don't think the Heavenly Prison has no interrogation experts." Chen Guanlou added weight to his words again, "Let me tell you, that bunch in the torture chamber are all interrogation experts. Don't force me to mobilize Old Zhang Tou, don't force me to send my brothers into the torture chamber to fully taste the feeling of life being worse than death. You only have one day; I hope you can seize this last opportunity."

Chen Guanlou got up and left the Jia-sized prison, but ordered the prison guards from the torture chamber to mingle within the Jia-sized prison to observe everyone's movements. Whoever acted abnormally was to be arrested and interrogated immediately.

This time, his temper was truly great.

The money had been collected and distributed. After eating the Xu family's money, they still poisoned Xu Lao San; this was not only eating inside and out, but also ruining the reputation of the Heavenly Prison.

Outsiders would think the Heavenly Prison was double-dipping.

Once the reputation was ruined, how would they do business in the future? They would have to return to the past days of beating for money in the torture chamber. With such behavior, what difference was there from the neighboring Imperial Prison?

He would never tolerate anyone breaking his rules.