Chapter 979: Life and death game

Zhang Yushi Geng was in the Heavenly Prison, but his heart was in the court.

He also ran to burn incense at Imperial Consort Xiao's hot stove, wrote a memorial, and entrusted someone to send it to the palace.

The specific content of the memorial could be summarized in two sentences: the Emperor is a wise monarch of the world, and Imperial Consort Xiao's three sons are all capable of great responsibilities. He did not mention the Empress's son.

It seemed like he hadn't offended the Empress, but in reality, not mentioning him was a disparagement!

After much tossing and turning, this memorial finally fell into the Emperor's hands.

Emperor Jian Shi had seen many memorials that flattered him. But memorials from censors singing praises were very rare.

Censors all value their integrity; it would be good enough if they didn't spray the Emperor to death, let alone flatter him—that was a dream!

Zhang Yushi Geng taking this step clearly showed he had made a great determination, gambling his future and reputation. It was very likely he would be expelled from the censor team.

Clearly, Zhang Yushi Geng didn't care. He just wanted to be an official; whether he was a censor or not didn't matter! He could continue to shine and heat up for the court in other positions.

The Emperor was overjoyed!

Added to the pillow talk from Imperial Consort Xiao, the release document was soon issued, and Zhang Yushi Geng could leave prison.

"Congratulations!"

Chen Guanlou stood before the cell door. "Zhang Yushi Geng leaving prison is a great joyous event. I have already ordered the kitchen to prepare a table of wine and dishes. After you wash up in a while, why not have a drink? The hour is still early anyway."

Zhang Yushi Geng was naturally unwilling.

He wished he could immediately change out of his foul-smelling clothes and leave the Heavenly Prison right away.

"No need! Does Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen have nothing else to be busy with?"

Chen Guanlou smiled. "You still have some money left in your account. If you don't use it up, the Heavenly Prison will not refund it."

Zhang Yushi Geng showed a look of disdain; he knew it must be for money. The prison guards of the Heavenly Prison, regardless of their status, could never change their habit of loving money, and they asked for it so straightforwardly.

"No need to refund! This official doesn't lack that bit of money; just consider it a hard-work fee for the prison guards."

Chen Guanlou laughed. "Since Zhang Yushi Geng is so generous, I thank you on behalf of the Heavenly Prison guards. Please, I will personally see you out. Hot water has already been prepared, and after a simple wash, the people coming to pick you up should arrive."

As for the wine and dishes, they would naturally be enjoyed by his own people, with the money coming from Zhang Yushi Geng's account.

Zhang Yushi Geng had only just regained his freedom and hadn't even finished the exit procedures before he started putting on official airs, full of official prestige. With an expressionless face, he signaled for Chen Guanlou to lead the way.

Walking with a square step, he looked coldly at the prisoners in the cells along the corridor; most were acquaintances, but there were also unfamiliar faces. He snorted coldly in his heart, suddenly having an idea: these people all deserved to die!

Chen Guanlou didn't know the other man harbored the idea of borrowing a knife to kill, so he led him out of the A-grade prison, arranged for him to wash up, change clothes, and sent him out of the Heavenly Prison.

The Geng family carriage had been waiting for a long time.

"Zhang Yushi Geng, walk slowly! If you have time, come back and visit!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yushi Geng was furious, his face turning iron-blue!

He cursed in his heart: Shameless!

He was actually cursing him to be imprisoned a second time.

"Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen, is this how you perform your duties?"

"You cannot look back!" Chen Guanlou said hurriedly. "Zhang Yushi Geng, don't look back at me. There is a saying that looking back means you will be imprisoned a second time in the future. Hurry up, hurry up, walk faster! You're dawdling even after leaving prison; are you missing the prison life here?"

Zhang Yushi Geng was so angry he nearly fell backward on the spot!

How would he know the saying about looking back leading to a second imprisonment? He had never even heard of it.

He had already looked back; what should he do?

The other man must have done it on purpose! Saying those words on purpose to tempt him to look back. Sure enough, he harbored evil intentions and was not a good thing.

He gritted his teeth and managed to refrain from looking back. "Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen, take care of yourself. If one day your Heavenly Prison has an accident, this official will definitely investigate to the end."

"Whatever! The Heavenly Prison has accidents every day; Zhang Yushi Geng, feel free to investigate every day. By then, your colleagues will all be investigating those high officials and nobles, and only you will be targeting the Heavenly Prison to crusade against. I'd like to see if you lose face or if the Heavenly Prison is unlucky!"

Chen Guanlou was all smiles, but the words he spat out were like soft knives, stabbing into Zhang Yushi Geng's heart one by one.

Zhang Yushi Geng was in such pain that he nearly disregarded the saying about looking back leading to a second imprisonment and wanted to turn back to scold the other man. Fortunately, the Geng family servant was sensible and hurriedly persuaded him, telling him to get on the carriage and return to the manor!

Arguing and quarreling at the gate of the Heavenly Prison was too shameful! People from the neighboring Imperial Prison were already sticking their heads out to watch the fun. It probably wouldn't take long for what happened at the gate to spread through all the major yamen in the capital.

After sending off Zhang Yushi Geng, Chen Guanlou called for Mu Qingshan. "Process the paperwork for Zhuang Yifei in the C-grade prison and let him get lost! Living in the Heavenly Prison for so long, the person is already stinking."

"Zhang Yushi Geng just left, and the Master is releasing the one surnamed Zhuang; aren't you worried about what might happen between them..."

"Too much nonsense, hurry up and process the paperwork."

Mu Qingshan said "Oh," and recently he had become a bit smarter, starting to learn how to keep his mouth shut.

Zhuang Yifei learned the news of Zhang Yushi Geng leaving prison and was somewhat impatient.

After finishing the paperwork, he hurriedly came to the office to pay his respects.

"During this period, many thanks to Jiang Jiang Yucheng Chen for your care, which saved me from the suffering of being hunted down. Your great kindness is unforgettable! If I am lucky enough to survive, I will come back to listen to your orders in the future."

Chen Guanlou raised an eyebrow slightly, signaling for the other man to sit down and talk, and to drink some tea to moisten his throat. "Have you thought it through? Killing an official is equivalent to rebellion; if it's serious, you will be executed by slow slicing!"

"If I don't avenge the hatred of my family being destroyed and my relatives dying, I am not a man! The one surnamed Geng must die!" Zhuang Yifei gritted his teeth, clearly hating him to the core.

These two had hated each other for ten or twenty years; it was time for a conclusion!

Chen Guanlou nodded, indicating understanding.

"Go! If you are caught, don't implicate this official. If you have money, I will operate for you in advance to try to get you locked in the Heavenly Prison. If you enter the Imperial Prison, to tell you the truth, it would be better to be sliced five hundred times!"

Zhuang Yifei's expression was serious. "I have long heard of the Imperial Prison's notoriety; is it actually more terrifying than slow slicing?" He couldn't believe it.

Slow slicing was already the most terrifying method of death known to the world; what punishment could actually exceed it?

Chen Guanlou snorted coldly. "You people, you have seen too little. Slow slicing takes at most three days, or one day if it's fast. That is to say, you suffer at most three days of sin, and it's all over.

The Imperial Prison has a hundred ways to make you wish you were dead year after year, which is more terrifying than slow slicing! By then, even if you want to die, you won't be able to. So, do you want to buy a Heavenly Prison package in advance? You can pay a deposit first; it's not much, just five hundred taels!"

Five hundred taels, just?

Zhuang Yifei smiled bitterly repeatedly.

The Heavenly Prison was indeed a money-burning cave; five hundred taels was actually just!

In the Jianghu, five hundred taels was enough to buy the lives of a family of ten or more! In the Jianghu, money was money, and money was truly valuable!

Money here in the Heavenly Prison seemed worthless; the prices were on another level, far higher than the Jianghu. ===== CHAPTER 980 =====