Chapter 799

The Head Steward did things thoroughly, from beginning to end.

Knowing that Chen Guanlou loved money, the day after they drank, he sent someone to deliver a stack of silver banknotes, saying it was a small token of his sincerity!

Chen Guanlou:...

He was very satisfied with this token of sincerity.

They could express a bit more; he really wouldn't mind having more!

This pent-up energy had finally been vented, and he felt completely refreshed. Being smoothed out like this was finally done right.

In life and in work, the older generation is still more thoughtful.

That Chen Guanxu, who bragged so impressively about being smart, steady, and magnanimous, ended up showing his true colors after just a few words of provocation.

Hah!

He went to work early in the morning, humming a little tune as he walked into the office. Anyone with a brain could see the situation and know he was in a good mood. If there was any urgent matter to report at this time, it was guaranteed to be approved.

Mu Qingshan was the most proactive.

As soon as Chen Guanlou saw him, he immediately showed a look of disgust. He hadn't forgotten that the other party had treated him like a door god and a protective talisman.

"What could you possibly have? Have you finished processing the official documents? Have you checked the accounts? If there's nothing, don't come and harass this official."

"Sir..."

"Call me 'My Lord'!" Chen Guanlou didn't like it.

Mu Qingshan:...

After hesitating for two or three seconds, he fidgeted and called out, "My Lord!"

Oh my, this made Chen Guanlou feel extremely comfortable. Today was a good day; everything was going smoothly.

He cleared his ears. "Speak, what kind of nonsense is it this time?"

"My Lord, rest assured, this time it's not about an extra prisoner. The Yi-block prison is short of guards, and Prison Clerk Zhang has mentioned it several times, but you haven't said a word. The student just wanted to ask: are we filling the position or not?"

"Did Prison Clerk Zhang send you?" Chen Guanlou asked softly.

Mu Qingshan nodded. "Whether we fill it or not, there should at least be an answer. Is it really good to keep people hanging like this?"

"Do you know why I'm keeping him hanging?"

"The student is dull; the student does not know."

"Since you don't know, don't ask about this matter. Next time he comes to find you, just play dumb. You know how to play dumb, right?"

Mu Qingshan was stunned for a moment, then came to his senses and nodded. He knew how to play dumb—it was nothing more than asking three questions and knowing nothing.

"Is there anything else?" Chen Guanlou began to flip through a newly released novel. Recently, booksellers had been competing fiercely, and to obtain high profits, they had introduced color printing. The technology was very impressive, and the illustrations were very realistic! The booksellers had accurately grasped the customers' preferences. Very good, very good indeed. Even at five taels of silver per book, he would support it.

A hardcover set was thirty taels; he could get a few more sets. If there were private customizations, it would be even more perfect.

"There is!"

Chen Guanlou:...

He stared at the other party; sure enough, it was the same familiar formula and the same familiar taste—he knew he would just climb up the pole.

"What else is there?" he asked casually.

"Reporting to My Lord, the fighting among prisoners in the Bing-block prison has intensified. The medical expenses reported are significantly higher than in previous months. The student believes it is necessary to carry out a thorough rectification."

"What did Xu Fugui say?"

"Prison Clerk Xu told me not to meddle in other people's business. The student has reason to suspect that the fighting is being instigated by the guards of the Bing-block prison for the purpose of using it as an excuse to embezzle medical expenses for their own pockets. My Lord, should we send someone to check Prison Clerk Xu's expenditures?"

"Oh, I know about this. Prison Clerk Xu's son is grown up and needs to get married."

"That is not a reason for him to embezzle!" Mu Qingshan said sonorously. "At the very least, he shouldn't be doing it so blatantly and brazenly. He should at least try to cover it up a little."

"Like how they cover things up in the Yi-block prison?" Chen Guanlou put down the novel in his hand. "You're wrong! From my perspective, I appreciate Prison Clerk Xu's approach more—greed that is blatant and traceable. That is much better than the Yi-block prison, where things are hidden for years at a time. Don't worry about Prison Clerk Xu's affairs. No matter how much he stirs up trouble, he won't cause a big enough scene to pierce the sky. Instead, you should keep a closer eye on Prison Clerk Zhang's side."

The biggest problem with the Bing-block prison was that jailbreaks occurred frequently.

Fortunately, those locked up were all a bunch of scoundrels from the martial world; it didn't matter if they escaped or died—it wouldn't affect the big picture. Xu Fugui could mess around, and most of the time he would just turn a blind eye. Occasionally, he would give him a knock, and the other party would be well-behaved for a while.

Just like a toad—poke it, and it jumps!

That was acceptable!

Conversely, if a jailbreak were to break out in the Yi-block or Jia-block prisons, that would be a truly major disaster.

"Is there no problem with the Jia-block prison?" he asked casually.

"Reporting to My Lord, Prison Clerk Chen Quan of the Jia-block prison was personally trained by you; he is very cautious and careful in his work, and currently, no problems have been found. As for whether there are problems in the accounting office, I am not sure. However, a few elderly prisoner officials in the Jia-block have passed away due to heatstroke, and it has already been reported to the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Justice has not yet approved it. The morgue needs more ice, otherwise, the stench will spread and affect the entire Heavenly Prison."

"Go find Qian Fugui and have him approve the funds to purchase ice; don't be stingy. On such a hot day, what is the Ministry of Justice doing? Why haven't they approved it yet? Do you know the reason? Tell him to urge them every three days; it doesn't matter if it's useful or not, he must ensure the Ministry of Justice understands the difficulties of the Heavenly Prison."

"Could it be that the Ministry of Justice is dragging its feet on the approval because there is something unusual about the cause of death of those few prisoner officials who died of heatstroke?"

Chen Guanlou was suddenly filled with anger and warned, "What could be unusual? Heatstroke is heatstroke—it's a fact set in stone. Don't go messing around!"

"The student is not messing around. It's just that half of the prison is underground, which is already gloomy. Heatstroke... this way of dying is probably hard to believe," Mu Qingshan tried to explain.

"People are old, their physical functions are declining, and it's normal for a few people to die from being a little hot or a little cold. Don't be paranoid. If you don't believe the coroner, do you not even believe your uncle? Medical Official Mu personally examined them; how could there be a mistake?"

"The student naturally wouldn't doubt my uncle's medical skills. It's just that, what if... he missed something..."

"What exactly are you trying to say?" Chen Guanlou simply interrupted the other party. "Don't hem and haw; speak your mind."

Mu Qingshan weighed his words and said solemnly, "The few elderly prisoner officials who died of heatstroke all entered the prison in the fiftieth year of Taixing—the year His Majesty ascended the throne. It's too much of a coincidence; the student couldn't help but think more about it."

Upon hearing this, Chen Guanlou frowned slightly. "Go and invite your uncle; I want to talk to him. As for you, do your job honestly and stop trying to stir up trouble. Last time you stirred things up, dozens of people died. You must learn your lesson. If something happens again, it won't help you to treat me like a door god; you'll scare yourself to death sooner or later."

After giving a warning, he chased the person away. It was both a knock and a protection.

A moment later, Medical Official Mu arrived at the office.

"Does My Lord have something to ask me?"

"It's your nephew who suspects that those few elderly prisoner officials who died of heatstroke are somewhat unusual. Whether there is anything unusual or not, you are the medical official; I trust your judgment."

Huh?

Medical Official Mu was clearly stunned for a moment; he never expected it to be for such a trivial matter.

"The symptoms of death indeed match those of heatstroke. Or should I go take another look?"

"Take a few more looks. I'll go with you."

"It stinks terribly in this weather. My Lord, apply this ointment under your nostrils; it can be of some help."