Chapter 967: Take the Money, Release the Man—Flawless

Zhang Yulang’s illness fluctuated for several days before finally slipping into a critical state.

Congratulations!

Report it to the Ministry of Justice immediately and notify the Zhang family to throw money at it.

You can’t pull someone out without enough silver.

Although Sun Daoning deeply wished to rid himself of Zhang Yulang—the burning coal—right away, outwardly he demanded even more ruthlessly and cruelly than in any other case, naming an astronomical sum; the Zhang family was so furious they had no retort left.

Fortunately, Zhang Yulang was favored at home; after haggling, Sun Daoning “reluctantly” conceded. Amid tense silence, they secretly reached an agreement—Sun Daoning, feigning great personal loss, pinched his nose and signed the documents, then sent word to Chen Guanlou to release him.

Chen Guanlou released him without hesitation—the moment the money arrived, the man was freed.

In effect, the Zhang family had to pay an astronomical sum to the Ministry of Justice and another sum to the Imperial Prison to retrieve their precious young master. Ah, having paid the big sum, they couldn’t possibly withhold the prison’s small fee.

The saying goes: the King of Hell is easy to deal with; it’s the minor demons who are hard to shake off.

If the prison deliberately delayed things by a day or two, their young master might die inside the cell.

The Zhang family paid promptly; Chen Guanlou immediately ordered the jailers to carry Zhang Yulang out of the Jia-cell prison.

“Hurry up, hurry up! He’s nearly dead—what bad luck!”

“Young Master!”

The Zhang household steward, seeing his young master unconscious, turned pale with fear. He didn’t bother arguing with the prison, hurriedly ordered servants to load Zhang Yulang onto a carriage, and rushed home to summon a physician.

He must not die!

Even if he must die, let it be at home!

Leaving aside the steward’s inner panic.

Having completed his duty, Chen Guanlou felt light as air.

He summoned Physician Mu and asked in a low voice, “The medicine—no problems, right? Don’t actually kill the man.”

Physician Mu was annoyed, silently rolling his eyes. “Do you distrust my medical skill, or my medicine?”

“I trust you, I trust you, I trust everything. I’m just worried something might go wrong. Zhang Yulang may be young, but he spends his days in debauchery, drunk and dreaming—his body isn’t in good shape. He hasn’t been completely drained by wine and women yet, but he’s close!”

“Rest assured, my medicine was tailored precisely to Zhang Yulang’s condition—he won’t die. Moreover, I’ve planned ahead: even if he returns home and hires physicians for careful care, he won’t recover quickly. It will take time…”

“Good! Perfect!”

Chen Guanlou gave a thumbs-up, utterly satisfied with Physician Mu’s work—he considered not just the present but the long term. Even if the Zhang family grew suspicious, seeing their precious son pale, weak, and slowly taking medicine day after day, they’d dismiss all doubts.

This is how you handle affairs!

He immediately decided to reward Physician Mu handsomely.

“Start at a thousand taels!”

Physician Mu inwardly gasped—so much?

He couldn’t help but ask quietly, “How much did the Zhang family pay? Why are you so generous? Did you squeeze out their entire mountain of gold and silver?”

“Squeeze out? Can you even speak properly? Do you want the thousand taels or not? If not, I’ll put it in the public account for everyone’s bonus.”

“Who said I don’t want it!” Physician Mu loved medicine most, and money second.

Chen Guanlou laughed heartily—it was a good day indeed.

He went to the Ministry of Justice to split the spoils with Sun Daoning.

Sun Daoning was truly ruthless.

He never acted unless he struck big. In extortion, ten Chen Guanlous couldn’t match one Sun Daoning.

Sun Daoning was always stingy with money and refused to share, complaining incessantly that the Ministry had been overwhelmed by the corruption case, with no funds left for operations; without squeezing the Zhang family, they couldn’t even pay salaries this month.

In short: no money, only death.

Chen Guanlou laughed bitterly, picking at his ear. “My lord, listen to yourself—does that sound reasonable? When did the Ministry of Justice start collecting and disbursing salaries on its own? If you mean bonus, I accept. But salaries? Arrears are standard across all imperial bureaus. If a bureau didn’t owe salaries, it wouldn’t dare call itself a capital office.”

Before the late emperor turned tyrant, capital officials’ salaries were mostly paid on time.

When he became a tyrant, payments became erratic—there were always several months late each year.

Now, under Emperor Jian Shi, delaying capital officials’ salaries has become routine.

The Imperial Prison is no exception.

Without bonuses to look forward to, everyone would be eating wind and dust.

Sun Daoning rubbed his temples wearily. “I’ve been swamped lately—I spoke carelessly. I truly have no money now. Please understand.”

“I understand nothing. I went through hell to get this done. Even if the prison staff don’t share, at least give me my personal cut.”

“You’ve already taken money from the Zhang family—how dare you ask me for more?” Sun Daoning was furious; no one should profit from both sides.

Unthinkable!

Greedy to the core!

Ask every official in the Ministry of Justice—who dares come to me openly demanding money?

No one!

Not a single one!

So far, only Chen Guanlou—the odd one out—fearless and brazen—comes every time demanding money with perfect justification.

Absurd!

Chen Guanlou ignored whatever Sun Daoning said—he had one goal: money.

He was fixed on one thing: getting paid.

“One thing at a time. I took money from the Zhang family—that sum goes mostly to the public account, with the Ministry taking a cut. What’s left for me is barely a labor fee. Shouldn’t you compensate me for my effort?”

“Next time there’s a job like this, leave it to me. Old Sun, don’t monopolize the business! You can’t just do the Zhang family’s case and then quit. Do you trust someone else to handle this death-penalty work?”

Sun Daoning fell silent.

Chen Guanlou pressed on: “With the Chu Prince’s defeat imminent, the Ministry will be swamped again. Don’t you need me? I have experience dealing with fallen rebels—I’ve sent hundreds, if not thousands, to their deaths. The famed Great Ming himself? I personally escorted him to the executioner’s blade.”

“Enough, enough! I’ll approve a thousand taels—go to the accounts and collect it!”

“Old Sun, a thousand taels? Are you paying off a beggar?”

“Which beggar is worth a thousand taels? Show me one.”

Chen Guanlou sat down angrily, arms crossed—he wouldn’t leave until he got the full amount.

Sun Daoning’s head throbbed—he had countless tasks pending and no time to waste!

“Here’s the deal: I’ll issue you a five-thousand-tael voucher—one thousand from the Ministry’s account, the rest from the prison’s. You collect it directly from the prison’s public funds—how’s that?”

Much better!

Chen Guanlou smiled broadly as he took the money.

Sun Daoning’s face was black as ink, his mood foul—he couldn’t resist a jab: “What if Zhang Yulang dies the moment he gets home?”

“He won’t! Physician Mu’s medicine is precise—no such mistakes.”

“Best not. If he dies within three days of returning home, I’ll hold you responsible.”