Chapter 613: Already Arranged an Escape Route

The murderer was dead, and Chen Guanlou hoped the Ministry of Justice would close the case.

But the Ministry of Justice was not satisfied, including Sun Daojing.

"A Head Constable dies, so he dies; where is the list I wanted? Without the list, how can I close the case?"

"Head Constable Wang was the mastermind; with him dead, the trail is broken."

"Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen, you are derelict in your duty!"

"Old Sun, food can be eaten indiscriminately, but words cannot be spoken indiscriminately. The Heavenly Prison's duty is to guard prisoners; I have never heard that we are also responsible for investigating cases. Head Constable Wang refused to hand over the list; could I have tortured him? I am a law-abiding citizen, not an agent of the Six Shanmen."

Chen Guanlou was righteous and confident.

Yes, he had known early on that Head Constable Wang would choose suicide, sacrificing one to protect everyone. So what? He was just a small Jiang Jiang Yucheng of the Heavenly Prison and really wasn't responsible for investigating cases, let alone making arrests. He had already fulfilled his duty by reporting the case in time.

Sun Daojing wanted to pick bones from an egg, but no matter what he said, he wouldn't agree.

"You may withdraw!" Sun Daojing's expression was beyond words.

Chen Guanlou was not so easily dismissed. "Close the case! From now on, don't come to harass anyone in the Heavenly Prison, are we clear?"

Sun Daojing raised his eyelids. "When did it become your turn, a small Jiang Jiang Yucheng, to question how the Ministry of Justice handles cases? Withdraw immediately! You can't even handle a small matter."

Chen Guanlou didn't leave; he just lingered.

Sun Daojing was left speechless by him. "Fine, fine, have someone come to collect the body tomorrow. I really shouldn't have counted on the Heavenly Prison to assist in investigating cases."

"My lord has eyes like torches; this small one admires you!"

If you had realized this earlier, there would have been no trouble at all. You had to cause a death before you were willing to stop.

Having received a definite answer, Chen Guanlou left the Ministry of Justice.

He arranged for the prison guards to go to the Wang residence first to set up the mourning shed.

"Tomorrow morning, take a few people to the Six Shanmen to collect the body and handle the funeral first," he instructed Chen Quan and Liu She.

No one was a fool.

Everyone knew clearly that with Head Constable Wang dead, his successor would inevitably be chosen from Chen Quan and Liu She. Both had hopes of sitting in the Head Constable's position; it just depended on who performed better in these few days.

Therefore, the two were polite on the surface but competed extremely fiercely in private.

Chen Guanlou was happy to see this.

Without competition, the Heavenly Prison would be like a stagnant pool of water. He didn't want to work with a stagnant pool of water.

He also arranged for Mu Qingshan to go to the Wang residence to help, assisting in registering and greeting the guests who came to mourn.

"Someone in the Heavenly Prison has passed away, so everyone should help each other. You are my Private Secretary, so naturally, you cannot stay out of it. You will represent me and sit at the Wang residence, and help me observe carefully to gain more experience."

Mu Qingshan's face was pale; he hadn't fully recovered yet. Hearing the instruction and having something to do, he regained some spirit.

He still had doubts in his heart and couldn't help but ask: "Since 'suicide' was already written, and Master also withstood the Ministry of Justice's investigation, why did Head Constable Wang still choose suicide?"

"I withstood it, but I didn't withstand it completely; I only withstood most of it. In the end, a human life was still needed to close the case."

"If 'swallowing gold to commit suicide' had been written truthfully in the document that day, what would have happened?"

"What would have happened? Head Constable Wang and the dozens of prison guards under him, everyone on duty that day, would all have had to die! Now you know how heavy the weight of the pen in your hand is, right? Back then, when I was on duty in the Grade-C prison, the Grade-A prison was cleaned up several times in just a few months, and a whole string of prison guards died. It was only after I arrived at the Grade-A prison that such things became fewer. This time, only one person died; you should be thankful!"

Chen Guanlou patted Mu Qingshan on the shoulder, hoping he could think it through. Such things would inevitably be encountered frequently in the future. Being in the Heavenly Prison, one had to cultivate a strong heart early on, strong as steel.

Medical Official Mu said dismissively: "Still lack experience! Studied so much that he almost became a fool."

Mu Qingshan gave a bitter smile, didn't refute, packed up, and got up to go to the Wang residence to help with the funeral.

Early the next morning, they successfully collected Head Constable Wang's body and hurriedly transported it back to the Wang residence, using the ice cubes prepared in advance. In such hot weather, the body already had a smell.

The funeral proceeded in an orderly manner.

Head Constable Wang's wife and children were kneeling in the mourning hall, crying and wailing.

Chen Guanlou went to burn a stick of incense, comforted them, and gave a generous funeral gift.

"If you encounter any difficulties in the future, sister-in-law, just tell me. I worked with Head Constable Wang for many years, and seeing him like this, I truly cannot bear it."

He also exhorted Head Constable Wang's three sons: "If any of you want to work in the Heavenly Prison, following your father's footsteps, come find me after the funeral. We are small households and don't have the same requirements as scholars, like observing mourning for three years; we can't afford to wait. If the hands stop, the mouth stops; we must find work."

Head Constable Wang's three sons just thanked him, and looking at their expressions, none of the three seemed to have the idea of following their father's footsteps into the Heavenly Prison.

Chen Guanlou raised his eyebrows slightly, very surprised.

Could it be that Head Constable Wang hadn't revealed his income in the Heavenly Prison? That wasn't right! Even if he didn't reveal it, the Wang family had to spend money to live; where did the money come from? Even a fool should know.

A job with a future right in front of them, yet they weren't moved.

"Could it be that Head Constable Wang had already arranged your future before he passed away?"

"I dare not deceive you, my lord. The year before last, my father operated a bit and changed our status to that of farmers, registered in a village outside the city, making us eligible to study for the imperial examinations."

"Oh! I really didn't know about this; Head Constable Wang was truly far-sighted. Does this mean all three of you brothers intend to study for the imperial examinations?"

"The third brother studies the best, and the teacher also said he could try the examination and has hopes of passing. As for me, I have already found a job as an accountant at a warehouse," the eldest Wang son said truthfully.

Chen Guanlou looked at the second Wang son.

The second Wang son bowed slightly and said: "I have made up my mind to join the army. After the hundredth day, I will report to the army."

If nothing unexpected happened, the second Wang son's future had been arranged by Head Constable Wang long ago, taking the path of the master behind the scenes.

No wonder he would rather die than spit out the list.

The futures of his three sons were all held firmly by others; if he spat out the list, even if he could protect his own life, the futures of his three sons and his entire family would be finished.

Of two evils, choose the lesser!

Head Constable Wang made the best choice in his view.

Chen Guanlou had no way to blame him.

"Fine! Since you all have your own futures, I won't mention the job in the Heavenly Prison. However, if you encounter difficulties in the future, don't be shy. Just come to the Heavenly Prison and find me."

"Will you always be in the Heavenly Prison, my lord?" the eldest Wang son asked curiously.

Chen Guanlou twitched the corner of his mouth. "If nothing unexpected happens, I will be in the Heavenly Prison for a very long time."

"Thank you, my lord!"

Chen Guanlou patted the three of them on the shoulder. "Work hard! If you are short of money, just say the word; don't be shy." ===== CHAPTER 614 =====