Chapter 958

“My lord seems very confident that this cheating case will not involve you!”

Chen Guanlou felt a flicker of interest—was the man truly innocent, or did he hold some crucial evidence?

“I am clean and upright, so I have no fear of investigation. I only wait for the Three Judicial Departments to clarify the facts, and then I shall walk free from here. All your efforts are wasted—I need no one to deliver messages or help me escape guilt. Go find someone else.”

Chen Guanlou clucked in admiration. “My lord, you are truly admirable. In my many years in the Heavenly Prison, I’ve managed the Jia-class cells. You are the first official I’ve ever met who possesses such righteous spirit and fears no investigation. Officials inevitably have dirt under their seats. Even if you have no connection to this cheating case, if other illegal evidence surfaces, you’ll still struggle to escape.”

Wang Huaimin let out a scoff. “In your eyes, not a single official in this realm is clean.”

“Perhaps there are. I just haven’t met one yet,” Chen Guanlou replied honestly.

A high-ranking Minister of Rites—he didn’t believe the man rose solely on moral integrity.

Wang Huaimin wasn’t from a great clan, merely a mid-tier family from the provinces. With such a background, no matter how learned or capable, without patronage or fortune, he could never have become Minister of Rites at barely fifty.

To gain recognition, to catch a stroke of luck, learning and ability alone aren’t enough. You need something else to rise above the rest and advance smoothly in your career.

He smiled warmly at the man—Wang Da Ren was truly multi-layered!

“You haven’t seen any because your horizons are narrow. Spend more time reading and associating with learned men, and you’ll understand how vast the world is. Don’t let a bit of martial skill make you look down on everyone else.”

Wang Huaimin lectured him as a seasoned official, a servant of the court.

Chen Guanlou listened with a smile, not angry, nodding frequently.

“My lord speaks truly! Since you have no needs here, I’ll take my leave.”

“Bring me several books, and ink, brush, paper, and inkstone.”

“No problem. Check the price list—I’ll fulfill every request if you pay enough.”

Wang Huaimin watched as the man pulled out a price list in an instant, his face turning livid, eyes blazing with fury. “Anything you want costs money.”

Chen Guanlou smiled sweetly, dismissing it lightly. “My lord, you’re joking. In this age, what can you get without spending money? When you studied, did you ever read without paying? Did you ever own writing tools or books without spending?”

Just because you’re locked in the Heavenly Prison doesn’t mean these things become free!

The Heavenly Prison is poor—we can’t afford such losses. You’re a Minister; you must care about the Ministry of Rites’ expenses. You should understand how hard it is to manage a household. As Warden of the Heavenly Prison, I must also consider the livelihoods of over a thousand people here. Let’s show mutual understanding—you pay, I provide service—no one makes things difficult for the other.”

Wang Huaimin snorted, swept his sleeve aside. “Fine. Deduct it from my account. I want top-grade writing tools—don’t dare bring me shoddy junk to pollute my eyes!”

“Rest assured—once the money arrives, everything you request will be fulfilled.”

Chen Guanlou tucked away the price list, confirmed no further needs, and left without delay.

Next, he went to see the genuine aristocrat, Young Master Zhang Yulang.

This man was a regular at brothels; Chen Guanlou often met him there, drank with him, and enjoyed himself alongside him—barely a drinking buddy.

“Yulang!”

“Brother Lou!”

Zhang Yulang was ecstatic!

Seeing Chen Guanlou was like seeing family.

“Thank heaven I’m in the Heavenly Prison with Brother Lou looking out for me—I’m at ease!” Zhang Yulang exclaimed.

Chen Guanlou studied the man’s disheveled appearance. “Tell me, how did you get tangled in the examination cheating case? You’ve got no ties to the Ministry of Rites!”

“I’m cursed! Brother Lou, you don’t know how unlucky I am. I got drunk in a brothel and blabbed a few things, and those students overheard me—and then… ah… Last year, a fortune-teller warned me this year I’d face the Grand Duke’s wrath and legal trouble. I didn’t believe him. Now it’s come true.”

“Which fortune-teller was so accurate? Tell me—I’ll go find him and get my own reading.”

Zhang Yulang gave a forced laugh. “Can’t remember! Brother Lou, you’ve got to help me!”

“How can I help you?”

They were only drinking buddies—help came at a price.

“Can you move me to another cell? This one’s filthy, crawling with bugs—look at me, my whole body’s swollen and red. If this goes on, I’ll be bitten to death.”

“Exaggerated! In the past, nobles and princes were locked in the Heavenly Prison during summer and endured it. Don’t worry—you’ll adapt soon. I’ll have someone bring you some ointment to ease the itching. But it’s not cheap.”

“Thank you, Brother Lou—money’s no issue. Can you send it right away?”

Chen Guanlou nodded and immediately ordered a jailer to fetch the ointment.

This Young Master must be treated well.

He’s a genuine god of wealth—the kind with endless money. Even if he’s broke himself, his family isn’t. And he’s got a doting mother and a wealthy, adoring grandmother.

This kid was raised in a honey pot.

Honestly, Chen Guanlou was stunned when he heard Zhang Yulang was implicated in the examination scandal.

Sure, Zhang Yulang might be short on cash—but he wouldn’t risk selling exam answers.

All he had to do was visit his mother, charm his grandmother, and both women would open the vaults and let him pick out anything valuable.

Besides, he came from a great clan—other things aside, he knew how to weigh consequences. Raised with such exposure, his political instincts must be sharp. Why would he commit such a grave crime?

“Yulang, do you realize how serious this examination cheating case is? It could cost you your head. Tell me honestly—was it really just because you blabbed in a brothel? That’s impossible!”

Chen Guanlou’s implication: he’d seen countless absurd, bizarre cases in the Heavenly Prison. Don’t lie to him—he wasn’t some child to be fooled. It was pointless.

Zhang Yulang’s face twisted in anguish. “Brother Lou, I’m truly innocent! I’ve said this countless times, and no one believes me. I’m still confused—why did they arrest me? Just because I casually said I knew who’d pass and who’d fail this exam? It’s absurd!”

Chen Guanlou didn’t believe him.

Zhang Yulang never spoke the truth.

They were drinking buddies—who didn’t know who the other was?

This fellow seemed a spoiled brat, but he had some cunning. His depth was limited, but he wasn’t stupid—just young and lacking experience.