Chapter 800

On the way, they called for Old Man Zhang, and the three of them headed to the morgue together.

Medical Official Mu's ointment was very effective; applied to the nostrils, one could basically not smell the stench.

The morgue was filled with a large amount of ice, and the entire room, including the courtyard, was permeated with a chill, gloomy and eerie. It was a natural scene of horror.

Although he couldn't smell the odor, Chen Guanlou still took out a handkerchief to cover his mouth and nose and asked, "Do you see any problems? Is it really death by heatstroke? Mu Qingshan has a point: the Jia-block prison is gloomy all year round, and even in the middle of summer, it feels chilly. Why would these prisoner officials die of heatstroke one after another? Even if their bodies aren't up to it, heatstroke... could it be that they were roasted by a fire?"

It was a rule and common knowledge that one could not roast a fire in the prison cells.

Roasting a fire in an enclosed space—were they in such a hurry to die?

"I won't lie to you, My Lord, it truly matches the signs of heatstroke," Medical Official Mu said.

"I don't see anything unusual," Old Man Zhang also said. "Or should we dissect them to see the internal organs? We should be able to know more."

"Don't talk to me about dissection," Chen Guanlou said with disgust. "The families won't agree, and the Ministry of Justice won't agree either. The current conclusion is that these people indeed died of heatstroke, right?"

"That's correct; they indeed died of heatstroke."

"It's very strange!" Chen Guanlou muttered. "Given the environment of the Jia-block prison, do you believe anyone would die of heatstroke?"

It would be a miracle if they didn't freeze to death, so how could heatstroke occur?

Yet, nothing unusual could be seen.

Bizarre!

"If it is or isn't, one look after dissection will make it crystal clear." Old Man Zhang clearly had a strong obsession with dissection, itching to pull out his knife immediately.

That was true, but it didn't conform to the rules.

The deceased are the most important; leaving a complete corpse after death was a very important matter in this era. If something went wrong and the lawsuit reached the Emperor, everyone would be in deep trouble.

These people who died were all prisoner officials; death didn't mean the family was destroyed. As long as the family existed and the connections remained, a lawsuit was a certainty. Even if they didn't die, they would lose a layer of skin.

"Don't you add to the chaos!" Chen Guanlou waved his hand irritably.

Did he not want to dissect them and take a look? He wanted to!

"Alright, let this matter end here. I will urge the Ministry of Justice to approve it as soon as possible."

Once the families claimed the bodies, the matter would be completely settled.

He was only responsible for guarding the prisoners, not investigating cases; although he knew there was something fishy, he didn't want to pursue it.

A group of elderly prisoner officials—if they died, let them die.

Perhaps those above were purging the ranks of officials, perhaps the conflict of interests had reached the point where the dagger was revealed, or perhaps it was just a natural death.

Heatstroke?

So what if it's heatstroke?

Whoever raises the question bears the burden of proof!

After dragging it out for another two days, the Ministry of Justice finally responded. They sent an official and two coroners to the Heavenly Prison to examine the bodies. After confirming there were no problems, they signed off on it!

"Why did it take so long this time? It caused twice as much ice to be used. You have to make up for this money."

As soon as they met, Chen Guanlou directly accused them and demanded money! He didn't indulge them in the slightest.

The Ministry of Justice official said coldly, "Prison Clerk Chen might not know, but the imperial court has been chaotic recently, and everyone is busy. We couldn't spare the manpower for a while, which is why it was delayed."

"Busy with what?"

"Naturally, busy investigating cases! With the war in the South, to prevent spies from causing trouble, the Ministry of Justice is cooperating with the Brocade Uniform Guard to launch a large-scale investigation. At that time, if there is not enough manpower, we will have to transfer some prison guards from the Heavenly Prison. If nothing goes wrong, the official document will come down by tomorrow at the latest. Now that the matter is handled, I will take my leave."

The Ministry of Justice official came and went in a hurry, but he brought back an important piece of news.

The capital had over a million people.

The so-called investigation was to go door-to-door to register everyone; this was a massive project.

Was it really just to prevent spies from causing trouble?

"My Lord, prisoner official Zhao Mingqiao requests an audience. Does My Lord want to see him?" a prison guard reported.

"See him! Of course I want to see him!"

Chen Guanlou went down to the Jia-block prison.

Zhao Mingqiao was on his third stint in prison; being locked up in the Heavenly Prison was like returning home.

However, he wasn't doing well. It wasn't that anyone was mistreating him—everyone in the Heavenly Prison knew he was Prison Clerk Chen's friend and treated him with extreme courtesy, providing the best food they could. It was mainly because he couldn't get over things himself; his spirit had been listless, and he didn't tidy himself up. After a period of time, he looked exceptionally haggard.

His face was covered in a messy beard. Coupled with his equally messy hair, he was no different from a beggar on the street. If he changed into tattered clothes, he could go out on the street and beg for food.

"Is it really necessary?"

As soon as Chen Guanlou saw him, he couldn't bear to look.

"How long has it been, and you still haven't thought it through? Can you stop being so stubborn?"

Zhao Mingqiao said sonorously, "I'm not being stubborn. These days, I've been thinking: am I not suitable to continue leading the Youth Society? Should I step down and let someone more capable take over? Brother Chen, your ideology, your vision, your breadth of mind, and your perspective—I believe you are the most suitable president for the Youth Society. Why don't you take over as the second president of the Youth Society? I will follow your lead and absolutely obey your arrangements."

"Are you crazy? Let me see—you don't have a fever; what kind of nonsense are you talking about? I'm a perfectly good prison clerk, and you want me to run off and do your damn Youth Society? I must be crazy."

He was very disgusted!

The path had gone astray!

"How can you call it a damn society?" Zhao Mingqiao looked very angry. He roared, "From the very beginning, the Youth Society has upheld your ideology, your plans, and the blueprint you designed. If I am the founder of the Youth Society, then you are the foundation of the Youth Society. Without the foundation you laid, there would be no Youth Society.

Now, the Youth Society has reached a crossroads; how can you irresponsibly call it a damn society? It is your child; why would you despise it? Even if it has done wrong and taken the wrong path, you should patiently correct it, not pick and choose. You are too disheartening! Brother Chen, one cannot betray their own class—that's what you said. I return the same words to you: one cannot betray their own society."

After listening to the other party finish his nonsense, Chen Guanlou patiently retorted, "Stop, stop, stop! First, the Youth Society is not my society. Second, I just said a few things casually and provided a few ideas; you can't force me onto this sinking ship of the Youth Society just because of that, and then call me the foundation. You're really something else. Third, if the path is wrong, replan it; if you've done something wrong, reflect on it!"

"I have reflected; I have done deep reflection." Zhao Mingqiao held his head in pain, squatted on the ground, and wailed, "The result of the reflection is that I discovered I am simply not suitable to be the president of the Youth Society. Actually, I am most suitable to be the second-in-command, without having to take the helm, without having to calculate the direction, route, and structure.

Just as you said, I don't have the brain of a top scholar; I was forced into this, and after stumbling all the way, I have finally reached a bottleneck. I am unable to advance and unable to retreat. Stuck in the middle, I am miserable! Brother Chen, can you bear to watch the Youth Society become a laughingstock and a tool for others?"