Chapter 81: The Case Has Broken

Every night, Chen Guanlou disguised himself and went out, returning home only deep into the night.

The duties at Tianlaomiao were stable, and Wan Yuli had passed him another prisoner beaten into disability—his family had been seized, not a single copper coin left. Yet he still demanded Chen Guanlou hand over the money as per regulations.

This time, Chen Guanlou did not confront him directly; he only asked for a few more days’ grace.

Wan Yuli gave him a long look. “Fine. Five days. If you still can’t pay by then, and superiors ask, I’ll have to hand you over. Don’t blame me—I’m just following the rules. In Tianlaomiao, everyone must abide by the rules.”

“Thank you for the reminder, Wan Yuli. I will uphold Tianlaomiao’s rules.”

Qian Fugui and the others all felt indignant on Chen Guanlou’s behalf—it was clearly targeted harassment.

Money was Tianlaomiao’s bottom line. If you couldn’t pay, Fan Yucheng wouldn’t protect you. Wan Yuli had made up his mind to force Chen Guanlou out of the Jia Cell Block through legitimate means, using the rules as a weapon.

Everyone was deeply worried. If Chen Tou left, and a new head guard came in who was greedy as a snake swallowing an elephant, they’d all be back to suffering.

“Chen Tou, should we ask Li Shiyeh for a solution?”

“We can’t go running to Li Shiyeh every time trouble comes. Relationships are blades—you use them only when necessary. If I can’t handle this small problem myself, what will Fan Yucheng think of me?”

Chen Guanlou’s expression was calm, his manner confident. The other jailers assumed he was putting on a brave face, pretending everything was fine. How could anyone remain unbothered when targeted by a superior?

Li Dahong also came over, slinging an arm around Chen Guanlou’s shoulder. “Chen Tou, want me to speak up for you in front of Wan Yuli?”

“Thanks, Brother Li. I’ll try to solve it myself first. If I truly can’t, I’ll ask you to step in. Don’t you dare refuse me then.”

“Hahahaha… Don’t worry. Just say the word—I’ll get it done. I’ve got some face with Wan Yuli.”

What face?

Who knows who better?

Chen Guanlou didn’t take his words seriously. Li Dahong was just blowing smoke, seeking attention. With his stingy nature, even buying Wan Yuli a drink required careful calculation—what face did he have?

Among the head guards of the Jia Cell Block, Li Dahong was the tightest-fisted and most calculating, desperate to drain every copper coin from his subordinates. The jailers grumbled endlessly about him but were powerless to act.

Li Shiyeh had been waiting for Chen Guanlou to ask for help—but no word came.

He muttered to himself, “This kid’s got patience. Let’s see how long he can hold out. Wan Yuli’s gotten smarter too—he knows how to use rules to torment people. Either poor or crippled—tough to crack!”

He worried about Chen Guanlou for two seconds. Before the man showed up begging for help, a big scandal arrived instead.

Wan Yuli’s younger brother-in-law killed someone.

Pfft!

It was Wan Yuli’s mistress’s younger brother who killed someone—and Wan Yuli was implicated too, because the body was found in a house under Wan Yuli’s name.

When Wan Yuli’s wife received the official notice, she was utterly confused. Her own brother was either on duty or bedridden with illness—he couldn’t possibly have gone out chasing women and gotten someone killed.

After much back-and-forth, they finally figured it out: it wasn’t her brother—it was Wan Yuli’s mistress’s younger brother.

Her fury exploded. She gathered her family and stormed straight into Tianlaomiao, demanding Wan Yuli be sacrificed to heaven.

The scene was so wild, every jailer rushed out to watch and eat their snacks.

Wan Yuli’s wife was a shrew. If a jailer’s wife wasn’t fierce, life wasn’t bearable.

She grabbed Wan Yuli by the collar, demanding an explanation. She’d worked her fingers to the bone managing the household, caring for his parents until their deaths, bearing his children—and he went out to keep a mistress? Now, with a murder case, the whole family had to pay.

Just thinking about it made her furious!

“You bastard! I served your parents, raised your children—what have I ever done wrong? You wanted concubines? I got you some. Still not enough? Now you keep a mistress? I can’t live like this anymore!”

The couple tore at each other inside the yamen, her family cheering her on, the jailers gathered around watching.

Chen Guanlou watched with great interest.

Lu Datou slipped silently beside him and whispered in his ear, “You did this?”

“Big Head, don’t talk nonsense. Food can be eaten carelessly, but words can’t. Besides, I don’t have that kind of power.” Chen Guanlou flatly denied it, not admitting a single word.

Lu Datou was half-skeptical.

He was a fool, but not an idiot.

A while back, Chen Guanlou had specifically asked him about Wan Yuli. Now, Wan Yuli’s mistress scandal broke, and his brother-in-law was suspected of murder. No doubt, Wan Yuli would be implicated.

Seeing Lu Datou still doubted, Chen Guanlou insisted again, “It’s got nothing to do with me. This is heavenly retribution—Heaven itself couldn’t bear it anymore.”

Hmph!

If Heaven really had any sense, why did it always lose? Lu Datou didn’t believe a word Chen Guanlou said—but he couldn’t figure out how he’d done it.

Had he paid someone to do it? Didn’t he fear leaving evidence?

“You better have nothing to do with this. The Six Ministries’ men are like dogs—their noses are sharp. Watch yourself!”

“Thanks for the warning, Big Head. I walk upright and stand straight—I’ve nothing to fear from investigation.”

Chen Guanlou spoke with solemn righteousness, his aura upright and pure.

Lu Datou briefly doubted his own judgment—could it really not be Chen Guanlou? Then why had he been asking about Wan Yuli earlier?

The scene was too disgraceful. Fan Yucheng intervened to restore order, then summoned Wan Yuli and his wife into the office to talk. Afterward, he ordered Wan Yuli to take leave—clear up the mistress’s brother’s case first, so it wouldn’t disrupt Tianlaomiao’s duties.

Wan Yuli took three days’ leave.

Before his leave ended, another scandal broke.

New evidence had surfaced: this wasn’t just about the house implicating Wan Yuli—there was proof he had participated in the murder.

The yamen constables gave him no face whatsoever—they threw him straight into the county jail, not Tianlaomiao.

The jailers were stunned.

“Wan Yuli’s rich—why would he kill someone?”

“I heard the woman killed was a notorious shrew. Wan Yuli really doesn’t care—he’ll take anything, good or bad.”

“I heard the victim was a virgin.”

“Wan Yuli’s mistress’s brother has a reputation—he’s had prior offenses of harassing virtuous women. He’s definitely behind this.”

“Beauty ruins men!”

“Better to keep your original wife. When trouble comes, Mrs. Wan runs around fixing things to save him. His mistress? Not a trace of her.”

“Now that Wan Yuli’s locked up, will he keep his post?”

Finally, someone hit the key point.

Instantly, everyone fell silent—each mind now turning over the same thought.

If Wan Yuli loses his post—who will replace him? Could it be me?

What’s the point of chatting? Go hustle connections now!

This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance!