Chapter 973: Madness Invites Disaster

Chen Guanlou didn’t see the madness of the morning court.

But he had his own sources of information.

The Jingzhao Prefecture listed him as a suspect in the Zhang Yulang murder case, and Lu Datou informed him immediately.

Brother, those useless fools at Jingzhao Prefecture can’t solve the case or find the killer, so they’re trying to pin the blame on you. Luckily, the Jingzhao Magistrate had some sense and didn’t issue a warrant for your arrest. I heard he went to see Minister Sun, but no one knows the details.

When Chen Guanlou heard he was now a suspect, he laughed bitterly.

“I’m a suspect? Because a few days ago I ran into Zhang Yulang at a brothel and exchanged a few words, my tone a bit sharp? Is that their so-called motive for murder?”

Lu Datou glanced around, then whispered, “My brother inside Jingzhao Prefecture told me Zhang Yulang was involved in the imperial examination fraud case, yet he was released from prison midway—there’s definitely something shady going on. We’re all officials in the justice system; anyone who understands knows.”

“They suspect you and Zhang Yulang might’ve failed to agree on a price, so you killed him. That’s the real motive!”

“Absurd! Everyone in the capital knows I, Chen Guanlou, take money to do jobs—there’s no way I’d kill someone over a failed price negotiation. This is slander, a grave blow to my reputation! Who’s handling this case at Jingzhao Prefecture? Send him to me—I’ll have a proper chat with him!”

“Brother, you can’t meet him! The case is still unclear—better to wait and see what Jingzhao Prefecture does next.”

Chen Guanlou thought that made sense.

Better to stay still than act rashly!

Just now, anger had clouded his mind—he’d lost his head.

That bunch of useless fools at Jingzhao Prefecture can’t investigate a case, but they’re experts at framing people.

This stillness lasted until the brothel burned down and people died.

Then, before noon, he heard that at the morning court, a group of officials led by Xie Changling had launched a fierce attack on the Zhang family and their allied officials.

Huh?

The turn of events completely surprised everyone!

The entire capital was shaken!

Everyone expected today’s court session to target Jingzhao Prefecture and unearth the Zhang Yulang fraud case—no one imagined it would take this completely different direction?

What’s going on here?

Why did Xie Changling and the Zhang family break apart?

Could it really be because of the brothel arson? Is Xie Changling going to champion justice for dozens of lowly dead people?

Listen to yourself—that sounds like something a human would say?

Could Xie Changling really be that righteous?

Impossible!

Mu Yiguan said, “Dogs biting dogs—what’s surprising? Neither side is good. But regardless of motive, at least the dozens who died in the arson now have some explanation.”

Chen Guanlou clicked his tongue. “For the lives of twenty or thirty brothel workers, would Xie Changling go this far? Latest news: Minister Sun was the fiercest, playing the key role—he exposed almost all of the Zhang family’s dirt.”

“Minister Sun oversees the Ministry of Justice. Aside from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he holds the most dirt on every household and official family in the capital. He usually keeps it hidden, never uses it lightly. This time, he tore off the mask and dumped the Zhang family’s secrets—he clearly acted on someone’s orders.”

Mu Yiguan said this.

That “someone” was obviously Xie Changling.

Chen Guanlou sighed. “Old Sun hid his cards well—he quietly switched sides to Xie Changling and now charges ahead for him.”

“He’s the Left Chancellor!” Mu Yiguan reminded him.

The Left Chancellor was the head of all officials.

Most crucially, Xie Changling was young—the youngest chancellor in the dynasty’s history. At barely forty, he held the highest office; few dared believe it.

He started high: a top imperial examination scholar, a courtier of the Crown Prince. Though he lacked experience governing the provinces, he alone enjoyed the Emperor’s favor—something no one could envy.

Even the famed favorite minister Xiao Jin had to bow low and greet him: “Left Chancellor, may you be well!”

Xiao Jin’s favor from Emperor Jian Shi? He was just a plaything.

Xie Changling’s favor from Emperor Jian Shi? He was a pillar of the court!

They were entirely different kinds of men, favored in completely different ways.

…

After noon, Chen Guanlou went to the Ministry of Justice to find Sun Daoning.

As soon as he saw him, he blurted, “Old Sun, I’m innocent.”

Sun Daoning silently cursed inwardly, then said, “Whether you’re innocent doesn’t matter—no one will mention the Zhang Yulang case anymore. The Zhang family is fighting for its own survival; the case is shelved.”

“Shelved? Not investigating anymore?”

“What’s left to investigate? Dozens died in one night at the brothel—isn’t that enough to repay Zhang Yulang’s life? His life is life, but aren’t the lives lost in the arson also lives! He defied the law—Zhang family deserved this fate!”

Sun Daoning spoke with righteous indignation, but inside he was delighted.

That pest Zhang Yulang was finally dead!

Now the case is shelved—ha ha! Who dares dig up the fraud case again? Whoever tries, even accidentally, will earn Xie Changling’s hatred.

As long as Xie Changling sits in court, no one may use any excuse to reopen the case and disrupt his political layout.

If Zhang Yulang had died and the Zhang family had acted calmly, with discipline—not gone mad and set fire to kill—perhaps Xie Changling would’ve soothed them, even granted them favors.

But the Zhang family didn’t. Their arrogance was terrifying!

In broad daylight, they set fire and killed dozens. In any place, this was a major case.

If this case wasn’t countered, Zhang Yulang’s fraud involvement would be exposed, and the entire fraud case might be reopened.

This direction could not be allowed.

What to do?

Crush the Zhang family to death—that solved the problem.

Crush them with lightning speed!

Sun Daoning exhaled deeply—his greatest fear had not come to pass. Thank heaven!

One Zhang Yulang dead saved countless others—Zhang Yulang died as he deserved!

Chen Guanlou inwardly whistled, muttering, “You all played this one big.”

Sun Daoning rolled his eyes at him. “When your life and family are at stake, you don’t hold back—you wait until the enemy comes to kill you before you fight back? The Zhang family brought this on themselves. They knew the waters were deep; they should’ve kept quiet. Instead, greed blinded them, and they acted like lunatics. Don’t blame us for striking first and catching them off guard.”

“Won’t the Zhang family retaliate after this?”

“Too late!” Sun Daoning grinned smugly. “The Zhang family must leave the capital.”

His satisfied smile made it clear Xie Changling had promised him a huge reward—and that reward would arrive soon.

“Will the Zhang family willingly leave the capital?”

“They’ve angered everyone—they must retreat, slink out of the capital. It’ll take ten or twenty years to recover. Ten or twenty years from now? What will the court look like? Ha… let’s wait and see!”