Chapter 687

Emperor Jian Shi had two great favored officials: one was Xiao Jin, and the other was Zhao Jinming.

One was ignorant and incompetent, relying on his sister, the Imperial Consort, as well as his skill in flattery and a dashing face, to win the Emperor's deep favor.

The other was a Second-Rank successful candidate, backed by the Profound Heaven Sect, skilled at gathering wealth, with a rotten reputation, rejected by the literati and civil officials, yet equally favored by the Emperor.

These two did not get along!

The servants of the Zhao Fu and the servants of the Xiao Fu fought with weapons in the street, fighting to the death.

The Capital Prefecture received the report, arrived at the scene, took one look, realized they couldn't afford to offend them, and quickly hid.

They kicked the mess to the Wucheng Military Command.

The Wucheng Military Command knew their own limited capabilities and also couldn't afford to offend them, but they were slightly bolder than the Capital Prefecture. They arrested both sides, sent them to the Embroidered Uniform Guard, dropped them off, and turned to run.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard:...

Disaster from heaven!

Of course, the Embroidered Uniform Guard was certainly more responsible than the Capital Prefecture and the Military Command.

They didn't throw the people out, but went into the palace to report the case.

At the same time, Xiao Jin learned that his servants had fought with the Zhao Fu's servants and had actually lost, so he decisively ran into the palace to complain.

He didn't go to his sister, the Imperial Consort, to complain, but went directly to Emperor Jian Shi.

He accused Zhao Jinming of indulging his servants in violence, treating human life like grass, and engaging in corruption and law-breaking!

Zhao Jinming had been determined to humiliate Wu Laoqi to avenge the humiliation of that year. Until Wu Laoqi was beheaded, he hadn't been able to fulfill his wish.

With his mental knot untied, he took too many pills, was overcome by rage, and suffered a Qi deviation.

Later, he was saved, but his cultivation regressed, his body was weak, and it took a period of recuperation before he improved.

His body had just gotten a little better when Xiao Jin, the villain, complained first, making him vomit blood on the spot in anger.

The physicians all advised him that if he wanted longevity, he had to broaden his mind, be generous to others, and take everything lightly. The implication was that being petty and narrow-minded was a recipe for an early death.

Rivers and mountains are easy to change, but nature is hard to move; this certainly couldn't be changed by a single word from a physician.

Thinking that Xiao Jin, a mere petty person, a shameless scoundrel like Jiang Tu, could also ride on his head and run wild, he was filled with rage.

Emperor Jian Shi wanted to mediate and smooth things over.

He called the two before him, hoping the two favored officials would shake hands and make peace.

Xiao Jin was accustomed to acting and deeply understood how to please the Emperor, performing remarkably well; even lies could be spoken with utmost sincerity.

Zhao Jinming had a bad temper and felt nauseous in his heart; he knew he had to bow his head to coax the Emperor into happiness, but looking at Xiao Jin's smug face, he couldn't hold back for a moment and made a few sarcastic remarks.

Xiao Jin seized the opportunity to complain, saying Zhao Jinming was dissatisfied with the Emperor and harbored ulterior motives.

Emperor Jian Shi's face sank immediately, and he also felt some dissatisfaction with Zhao Jinming in his heart. As a dignified monarch, mediating in the middle, yet not being given face—this was outrageous!

Zhao Jinming had now offended the Emperor; even if he bowed his head to plead guilty, it would be difficult to salvage the situation for a while. He had to leave the palace in embarrassment.

The result was that the Xiao family's servants were released, and the Zhao family's servants were sent to the Heavenly Prison to be detained and tried.

Chen Guanlou:...

What a sin!

The Zhao family's servants were all detained in the C-grade prison cells.

Originally, they should have been detained in the B-grade prison cells, but Chen Guanlou said one sentence: "They don't deserve it!" and changed the cell block.

He had Xu Fugui take people to the Zhao family to demand the customary fees; this was the rule of the Heavenly Prison, and no one could be an exception.

Xu Fugui looked troubled, clearly not wanting to go.

"Master, spare me. The C-grade prison cells have always held Jianghu bandits; I have never dealt with official families. As for demanding money, I don't even know how to go about it!"

It was clear he wanted a share of the money but didn't want to put in the effort.

Chen Guanlou gave a cold snort, "The people are in the C-grade prison cells; as a prison clerk, if you don't show up to demand the money, do you want me to go personally? How about this: I'll let the Zhang Yuli next door, or the Chen Yuli, go for you, and give them half of the money collected. How about that?"

"This, this, this... this isn't good!" When Xu Fugui heard that half the money would be given away, he couldn't bear it.

Chen Guanlou gave a cold laugh, "You don't want to put in the effort but still want the money; how can there be such a cheap thing? Why don't you introduce me to one?"

Xu Fugui gave an awkward laugh, "Hehehe..."

Chen Guanlou couldn't even be bothered to look at him, "Either you go demand the money yourself, or you ask someone to do it for you and give away half the money. Two paths, choose one."

In the end, Xu Fugui chose to go demand the money himself, bringing along the most imposing Lu Datou from the C-grade prison cells and over a dozen strong and sturdy prison guards, marching spiritedly toward the Zhao Fu.

Medical Official Mu was a bit worried, "Can Xu Fugui do it?"

"Regardless of whether he can or not, he must make this trip."

Chen Guanlou felt deep regret; last year, when the Wu family was beheaded, Zhao Jinming suffered a Qi deviation but didn't die, surviving and even recovering his health.

Tsk tsk!

Evildoers live for a thousand years; the old saying does not deceive!

This time, Emperor Jian Shi was biased, clearly favoring Xiao Jin; I wonder if the one surnamed Zhao will suffer a Qi deviation again—it would be best if he died.

He had thought Xu Fugui's trip wouldn't go smoothly.

Zhao Jinming was a man who looked down on everyone; how could he take a few prison guards seriously? He feared Xu Fugui and his men would get a beating.

Never did he expect that Xu Fugui and his group not only didn't get beaten but very smoothly obtained the silver. The Zhao Fu's steward received them politely, and upon learning their purpose, decisively offered the silver and even said a cartload of nice things.

Lu Datou stood in the office and vividly recounted the process of going to the Zhao Fu to demand money to Chen Guanlou.

"Didn't see Zhao Jinming?"

"Didn't see Master Zhao. It was the Zhao Fu's steward who received us."

"How did you find the atmosphere in the Zhao Fu?"

Lu Datou was stunned for a moment, recalled it, and then said, "The servants were all very disciplined, a bit nervous."

Upon hearing this, Chen Guanlou smiled immediately.

If the servants felt nervous, it must be because their master was in a bad mood.

That is excellent!

There was finally someone in the court who could deal with Zhao Jinming.

Evildoers need other evildoers to grind them down!

Zhao Jinming should be dealt with by Xiao Jin, that sycophant.

Xu Fugui was very proud; it was his first time demanding money from an official's house, and it had gone so smoothly, giving him tremendous confidence.

He ran to see Chen Guanlou happily, "Master, how should those servants from the Zhao family be dealt with?"

According to the rules, prisoners in the C-grade prison cells had to enter the torture room and taste the torture instruments.

Chen Guanlou said expressionlessly, "Handle it according to the rules!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Fugui showed hesitation, "Is this appropriate?"

"What's inappropriate about it? A few mere servants, fighting with weapons in the street, openly violating the law. If we don't beat them, are we supposed to keep them as masters?"

Xu Fugui said in a dilemma, "But they are Master Zhao's servants after all; as the saying goes, to beat a dog, one must look at its master..."

"It's precisely their pack of mad dogs that I'm beating!" Chen Guanlou raised an eyebrow and smiled, giving a warning, "Prison Clerk Xu, whose bowl you eat from, you must think clearly. Don't be muddle-headed and lose the watermelon while picking up sesame seeds."

Xu Fugui's heart jumped, and he gave an awkward laugh to cover his inner guilt. His eyes darted around, and he quickly lowered his head, "Master is right. This matter will be handled according to Master's instructions. Regardless of whether they are human or dog, once they enter the Heavenly Prison, they are prisoners, and should be treated equally!"

"Very good!"