Chapter 910: The soft rib of the Marquis mansion

Recognizing money but not people is the consensus of everyone in the Heavenly Prison.

When the money is in place, the treatment of the Prince of Cheng's heir is visibly getting better.

Recently, a batch of prisoner officials were released from prison, including those involved in the Prince of Cheng's rebellion back then. Some were exiled, some were released, some were expelled from the capital within a time limit, and some remained in the capital waiting for re-appointment.

Regardless of the treatment, Chen Guanlou sent them out of the Heavenly Prison politely.

He looked at the backs of the prisoner officials leaving, hoping that these people would enter the palace a second time.

Entering the palace a second time is good!

The prisoner officials who entered the palace a second time all know the rules, and giving money is also refreshing.

The A-grade prison was therefore emptied of part of the cells, appearing a bit empty.

Chen Quan said, find a way to get a batch of officials in.

Otherwise, what will everyone eat and drink?

"Master, can you ask the Ministry of Justice to work hard, the A-grade prison cannot be empty!"

Chen Quan shouted painfully, wishing he could rush to the street and catch anyone he saw who was an official. He was determined to add bricks and tiles to the performance appraisal of the Heavenly Prison.

Facing such an enterprising subordinate, although a bit too hard, Chen Guanlou still gave encouragement and praise, hoping the other party would continue to work hard and do his job well.

"It's only been empty for a few days, what's the panic. You have to believe that there is no cat in the world that doesn't steal fish. Which official doesn't commit crimes. In less than half a month, the A-grade prison will have an account!"

"Really?"

"When has this official ever lied to you." Chen Guanlou snorted coldly and waved his hand to send the person away. 【9

Emperor Jian Shi is likely in a good mood lately and hasn't been acting crazy, so naturally, fewer officials have been arrested.

The Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice have been slacking off lately and haven't come up with any major cases.

Without major cases, naturally, there are no strings of officials being thrown into prison.

Chen Guanlou has also been slacking off lately.

Arriving late and leaving early every day.

Occasionally running to the Hou Fu to mooch drinks!

The Head Steward can't stand him being so idle and wants to add to his burden, but he flatly refused.

"You all have the same bad habit—you can't stand seeing someone idle every day. It's as if being idle every day is a heinous crime. It's killing me! What do people live for? Aside from eating and drinking, it's nothing more than slacking off and enjoying life. You have a life of toil, so just toil yourselves; why must you drag everyone else down with you?"

"Being idle every day is a waste of time."

"I don't care! I have plenty of time to waste."

"You're just relying on your youth; sooner or later, you will have a day when you are old."

"I'll worry about that when I'm old."

It's likely he'll never have to wait for that.

The Longevity Dao Fruit ensures he never grows old.

"Lacking ambition!"

"Get drunk today while there is wine today!"

"Wasting time!"

"I'm wasting time, yet I'm already Ninth Rank. You all are so diligent, may I ask what rank your cultivation is?"

With one sentence, he killed the conversation!

The Head Steward was so angry he was blowing into his beard and staring.

Chen Guanlou clicked his tongue twice, "Instead of worrying about me, you'd better worry about the Master. I've heard even in the Heavenly Prison that the court is clamoring for the Master to return to the capital. If not for Xie Gechen maneuvering in the middle, I fear the decree summoning the Master back to the capital would have already been sent out."

"The Master's affairs are not for you to worry about. A general in the field is not bound by the orders of the sovereign!"

Chen Guanlou laughed it off, "Prince Cheng has lost! Only Guo Dachun remains, and he doesn't have enough face to make the court go all out to deal with him."

Using Marquis Pingjiang to deal with Guo Dachun is truly using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Back when Prince Cheng rebelled, his goal was to drag the court down.

Now that Prince Cheng has lost, how many chips does the Master have left in his hand? If he doesn't want to return to the capital, I fear the court won't agree, and Emperor Jian Shi is even more restless and unable to eat or sleep!

The Head Steward's expression darkened.

To outsiders, life in the Hou Fu is no different from the past; it is still flourishing and prosperous. Little do they know, the Hou Fu is privately bearing pressure unimaginable to the world. The Heir, Chen Guanfu, even has to send his daughter into the palace for the selection to ease the situation.

It's just that, many times, many things cannot be told to outsiders.

Outsiders can't help, but when they drag you down, they do it with perfect accuracy.

The Hou Fu must maintain its superficial prosperity while simultaneously resisting the pressure exerted by the court and the pressure from inside the palace.

Emperor Jian Shi not only wants to summon the Hou Fu's daughter into the palace for the selection, but he also wants to bestow a marriage upon the Heir, Chen Guanfu, and grant him beauties as concubines.

One cannot, of course, refuse an imperial reward.

The Hou Fu's inner courtyard is in for some trouble!

Chen Guanlou leaned close to the Head Steward and whispered, "Have you ever thought that if the Master insists on not returning to the capital, the court will only have one way left to force him back?"

The Head Steward raised an eyebrow slightly, "What way?"

"The Old Lady dies!" Chen Guanlou said with a resounding thud!

The Head Steward was instantly startled, his expression stiffening, "Stop talking nonsense!"

"Although the Old Lady is only a stepmother, as the saying goes, 'a mother for a day is a mother for life.' A stepmother is also a mother! Once the Old Lady passes away, the Master must return to the capital to attend the funeral and observe mourning. He cannot not return! If he doesn't return and His Majesty refuses to grant a dispensation, his reputation will be completely ruined. An unfilial descendant still wanting to lead troops and command the army, tsk... The Old Lady must be quite old now, is her health still good?"

"You really have no gate on your mouth; you dare to say anything." The Head Steward was exasperated, glared fiercely, and then got up to look at the door, fearing someone might be eavesdropping.

He closed the room door, "Stop talking nonsense! The Old Lady's health is perfectly fine; the things you worry about cannot happen."

"No matter how good her health is, she is not a martial artist; she cannot live to be a hundred. You must admit this. Even if she takes health-preserving pills every other day to prolong her life, how many more years can she hold on? Sooner or later, she will die; it is a fate no human can escape. You must plan early! What is most feared is that those in the palace won't be able to endure the loneliness and will attempt to take artificial measures to send the Old Lady to her grave early."

Head Steward:...

Chen Guanlou's mouth is truly beyond saving!

There is nothing he doesn't dare to say and nothing he doesn't dare to think about.

"Can you at least put a gate on your mouth, please?"

The Head Steward made a sincere request.

Chen Guanlou made a gesture of zipping his lips, yet he still opened his mouth to speak. It seems letting him shut up was just a formality.

"If I don't say it, you don't say it, and nobody says it, then when things happen, everyone will be in a panic, and people will take advantage of the gaps—is this what you hope to see? You are the Head Steward of the Hou Fu; you must check for leaks and fill the gaps for the Hou Fu. Let me tell you, the Hou Fu's biggest weakness and biggest soft spot right now is the Old Lady. Birth, aging, sickness, and death are natural laws; relying on avoidance alone won't work. You must face this situation directly, plan early, and set up plans one, two, and three."

Chen Guanlou drank his wine and ate his snacks, lightly speaking words that could decide the future and life or death of the Hou Fu.

The Head Steward broke into a cold sweat, "If I were even a little bit weaker, I would be angered to death by you on the spot! Some things, even if they must be said, should be handled with a bit of subtlety; don't be so blunt. If this gets out, it will be a disaster."

"With you, being subtle would be too distant. In front of an elder like you, I certainly speak my mind and never hide anything."

"Too blunt, be subtle, be subtle!"