Chapter 865

"Dead! Dead as can be!"

Sun Daoning said with annoyance.

Chen Guanlou did not delve deeply into this question, only saying, "I believe you! As long as it is what you say, I will certainly believe it."

He walked out of the office and closed the door behind him.

Leaving Sun Daoning to feel a second of self-reproach. In the blink of an eye, he thought that Chen Guanlou must have said it on purpose, just to make him feel guilty.

Hmph!

He would absolutely not fall for it.

The weather grew colder with each passing day.

On this day, Chen Guanlou called Old Zhang Tou's apprentice, Wang Youfu, to the office for a talk.

After this period of silence, Wang Youfu was clearly much steadier, and even his gaze had become restrained. He had a bit of the demeanor Old Zhang Tou had back in the day.

"How have things been during this time?" he asked casually.

Wang Youfu was very ashamed, "I have failed the official's high expectations!"

"There is no need to mention past matters; everyone has times when they make mistakes. How is it now? Is your hand steady?"

Wang Youfu nodded heavily, "The official can rest assured, I have always kept in mind that knowing shame leads to courage."

"I called you over today because there is a job, and I wanted to ask you about it."

"Please give your orders, official!" Wang Youfu was respectful, his attitude quite commendable.

Chen Guanlou hesitated for a moment, organizing his words, "It is like this: there is a Lingchi job in the neighboring Imperial Prison, and they want to find you to do it."

"Lingchi?" Lingchi again!

Wang Youfu said in astonishment.

"The Imperial Prison has its own executioners, why do they still need to find me? Could it be that someone wants to see me make a fool of myself?" he asked the question in his heart.

It was no wonder he was suspicious.

The Imperial Prison was full of talent, and a Lingchi job was nothing to them; why bother looking far away for an executioner from the Heavenly Prison to help? It didn't make sense.

Chen Guanlou glanced at him and said unhurriedly, "This job is not public; it will be carried out inside the Imperial Prison. At that time, eunuchs from the palace will be present to watch the execution! You also know that the executioners in the Imperial Prison do rough, bloody work, and the scene is very unsightly. They need someone who works with precision. You studied under Old Zhang Tou; although there was a mistake last time, overall, your work was very fine, and the scene looked good, which is why they thought of you."

After hearing this, Wang Youfu was still full of questions, "Eunuchs from the palace want to go to the Imperial Prison to watch the execution in person?"

Chen Guanlou explained casually, "I won't hide it from you, the person being executed is also a eunuch. Don't be curious or ask about what specific thing they did. You only need to do your own job well. The Imperial Prison side is willing to pay twenty taels of silver to ask you to make this trip. Whether you are willing or not, you make up your own mind; I won't force you."

Wang Youfu was very conflicted.

Twenty taels of silver—of course he wanted to earn it.

At normal prices, an executioner making a trip to the execution ground couldn't earn that much silver at all. A hardship fee of one or two taels was already generous from a superior.

Twenty taels of silver was enough for him to make a dozen trips to the execution ground and cut off dozens of heads.

He pondered for a moment and asked, "May I ask the official, how many cuts?"

"I asked for you, a total of five hundred cuts. However, this time there can be no mistakes. At least when the palace eunuchs are watching the execution, there must be no mistakes. You must do the work with precision, cleanly, fast, accurately, and ruthlessly, and it must also look beautiful. After the watching eunuchs leave, you can just listen to the instructions of the Imperial Prison people on how to operate. Don't force yourself with this job; it doesn't have to be you. You can refuse!"

"Does the official hope I take this job?"

Wang Youfu clearly still couldn't make up his mind.

He wanted to use this to practice, but clearly, with palace eunuchs watching, he couldn't afford to use the prisoner to practice; he had to be on point with every cut. Every cut had to be precise, and the work had to be beautiful. The requirements were very high. However, the pay was also not bad.

But, what if, what if he messed up again, what would he do? Could he escape smoothly?

Chen Guanlou said expressionlessly, "If you can ensure that every cut is precise and there are no slips while the eunuchs are watching, you can take this job. After the watchers leave, if there are any slips, I can ensure you are fine. It's just that the silver might be deducted a little.

You also know that the people in the Imperial Prison are barbaric, rude, and stingy; you can't reason with them. To be honest, I don't even like dealing with them. But thinking that I don't know when I might need them in the future, and both sides are neighbors, it is better to maintain a good relationship."

Understood!

Wang Youfu suddenly had an idea in his heart.

"I'll take this job! I will definitely do the work with precision, not lose face for Master, and not lose face for the official."

"The key is not to lose face for yourself. Since you agree to take the job, I will notify the Imperial Prison and let them contact you. If there are any problems you can't solve, come find me. As a Heavenly Prison person, don't be embarrassed. Occasionally my temper isn't very good, but no matter what, I will definitely protect the interests of my own people."

"This subordinate understands! Many thanks for the official's trust!" Wang Youfu thanked him solemnly, secretly resolving in his heart that this time, no matter what, he had to do the job well and absolutely not lose face. Even more so, he could not lose face in front of those executioners in the Imperial Prison.

The Imperial Prison job was carried out quietly in the middle of the night.

Without anyone knowing.

However, the identity of the eunuch responsible for watching the execution was still learned by Chen Guanlou. It was a capable eunuch by the Emperor's side. From this, one could tell that the person being executed tonight had an identity that was not simple, and it likely involved a great deal.

While he was drinking a little wine in the office waiting for news, an uninvited guest came to the door.

Eunuch Wang Hai.

Chen Guanlou raised his wine cup from afar, "Busy? Let's drink together!"

Wang Hai stepped into the office expressionlessly and said, "I heard there is a Lingchi in the Imperial Prison tonight, and the executioner was invited from the Heavenly Prison."

"Eunuch Wang's news is indeed well-informed. What have you been busy with during this time? How come I haven't seen you come to monitor me?"

"Do you know who the person being executed tonight is?"

"Who?" he asked casually, following the lead.

Wang Hai's expression was deep, vaguely suppressing anger, "It is my apprentice."

Chen Guanlou:...

He was shocked for a moment and dug his ears, "You are so young, how old is your apprentice?"

"The capable come first, how can one judge by age? Since when did Prison Warden Chen become so narrow-minded?"

"Why was your apprentice Lingchi-ed? What did he do? Why didn't you save him, watching your apprentice being Lingchi-ed with your own eyes."

Wang Hai took a step forward, his anger almost impossible to hide, "How do you know I didn't save him. If you want to talk about what he did, it is all because of you."

"Me?" Chen Guanlou sat up from the soft couch, "Eunuch Wang, I respect you, but that doesn't mean you can spout nonsense in front of me. What did I do? What does your apprentice being Lingchi-ed have to do with me? You bully the weak and fear the strong yourself, not daring to be presumptuous in the palace, so you run to me to show off your power. I tell you, if you push me too far, not only will your apprentice be Lingchi-ed, but you will also die!"

"Want me dead, just by you!" Wang Hai was very disdainful.

Chen Guanlou sneered, "You can try, whether you will die or not. But before you die, say it clearly, what does your apprentice have to do with me?"

"Regarding the ancient tomb, you are the one with the most suspicion. We master and apprentice couldn't extract any useful information from you, His Majesty was furious, the apprentice was punished for me, and that is why there is tonight's Lingchi. Just say if it is because of you!"