Chapter 979

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

He also went to fawn over Imperial Consort Xiao, writing a memorial and sending it into the palace through an intermediary.

The memorial’s essence boiled down to two sentences: the Emperor was a wise ruler in this age, and all three of Imperial Consort Xiao’s sons were fit to shoulder great responsibilities. He made no mention of the Empress’s son.

It seemed he had not offended the Empress, but omitting her son was an insult in itself!

After much maneuvering, the memorial finally reached the Emperor’s hands.

The Jian Shi Emperor had seen many sycophantic memorials before. But memorials praising him from a Censor were rare indeed.

Censors prided themselves on integrity; merely refraining from cursing the Emperor was already commendable—dare they flatter him? Dream on!

Geng Yushi had taken this step with great resolve, staking his future and reputation. He very likely would be expelled from the Censor Corps.

Clearly, Geng Yushi didn’t care. He only wanted to be an official; whether he remained a Censor was irrelevant! He could shine for the court from any other post.

The Emperor was overjoyed!

Coupled with the pillow talk from Imperial Consort Xiao, the release order was swiftly issued: Geng Yushi was free to leave the prison.

“Congratulations!”

Chen Guanlou stood before the prison gate. “Master Geng’s release is a momentous occasion. I’ve already ordered the kitchen to prepare a feast. After you’ve washed up, why not share a drink? The hour is still early.”

Geng Yushi naturally refused.

He longed to strip off his stinking clothes and leave the Heavenly Prison at once.

“No need! Is there nothing else for you, Warden Chen, to attend to?”

Chen Guanlou smiled sweetly. “There’s still some money left in your account. If you don’t spend it, the prison won’t refund it.”

Geng Yushi sneered—he knew it was all about money. Prison guards, no matter their rank, could never shake their greed, and they demanded it so bluntly.

“No refund needed! This official doesn’t lack for cash. Consider it a tip for your guards.”

Chen Guanlou laughed. “Master Geng, your generosity moves us. On behalf of the prison guards, I sincerely thank you. This way, I’ll escort you out personally. Hot water is ready—wash up quickly. Your people should arrive soon.”

As for the feast, it would be enjoyed by his own men, paid for from Geng Yushi’s account.

Geng Yushi, barely free and still unfinished with his release procedures, immediately put on his official airs, radiating authority. With a cold, expressionless gaze, he signaled Chen Guanlou to lead the way.

Striding with measured steps, he glanced coldly at the prisoners in the cells along the corridor—mostly familiar faces, some strangers. He snorted inwardly, suddenly struck by a thought: all these people deserved to die.

Chen Guanlou knew nothing of his intent to use others as knives. He led him out of the Jia-class prison, arranged for washing and new clothes, and saw him out of the Heavenly Prison.

The Geng family’s carriage had been waiting long.

“Master Geng, take care! Come visit again sometime!”

Hearing this, Geng Yushi was furious, his face dark with rage.

He cursed inwardly: Shameless!

He was cursing him to be imprisoned again!

“Warden Chen, is this how you perform your duties?”

“Don’t look back!” Chen Guanlou hurriedly said. “Master Geng, don’t turn to look at me. There’s a saying: turning back means you’ll be imprisoned again. Hurry, hurry, walk faster! Lingering after release—do you miss prison life?”

Geng Yushi nearly fainted from rage.

He had never heard of such a superstition about turning back leading to re-imprisonment.

He had already turned back—what now?

This man must have planned it! Deliberately saying those words to lure him into turning. Clearly, he harbored malice—he was no good.

He gritted his teeth, barely restraining himself from turning back. “Warden Chen, mind your own conduct. If the Heavenly Prison ever suffers an incident, I will pursue it to the end.”

“Be my guest. The Heavenly Prison has incidents every day—go ahead and pursue them daily. When your colleagues are chasing down high officials, you’ll be the one fixated on the prison. I’d love to see who ends up humiliated—the prison or you!”

Chen Guanlou grinned, his words like soft daggers, each one piercing Geng Yushi’s heart.

Geng Yushi ached so badly he nearly turned back to scream at him—until Geng’s servants, ever dutiful, quickly restrained him and ushered him into the carriage, back to the mansion.

Arguing at the prison gate was too humiliating. Even guards from the neighboring Imperial Prison had stuck their heads out to watch. Within no time, this scene would spread through every government office in the capital.

After seeing off Geng Yushi, Chen Guanlou summoned Mu Qingshan. “Process Zhuang Yifei of the Bing-class prison. Let him go. He’s been here too long—he stinks.”

“Geng Yushi just left, and now you’re releasing Zhuang? Aren’t you worried they’ll…”

“Enough nonsense. Get the paperwork done.”

Mu Qingshan grunted. Lately, he’d grown smarter—learning to keep his mouth shut.

Zhuang Yifei, upon hearing Geng Yushi had been released, grew impatient.

After completing the paperwork, he hurried to the office to thank Chen Guanlou.

“Thank you, Warden Chen, for protecting me these past months and sparing me from being hunted. Your kindness I shall never forget. If I survive, I’ll return to serve you again.”

Chen Guanlou raised an eyebrow, gesturing for him to sit and drink tea. “Have you thought this through? Killing an official is treason—punishable by slow slicing.”

“If I don’t avenge my family’s destruction, I’m no man! Geng must die!” Zhuang Yifei snarled, his hatred burning fierce.

These two had hated each other for twenty years—it was time to settle this.

Chen Guanlou nodded, understanding.

“Go. If you’re caught, don’t drag me into it. If you have money, I’ll arrange things ahead of time to get you locked up in the Heavenly Prison. If you end up in the Imperial Prison—honestly—it’s better to be sliced five hundred times!”

Zhuang Yifei’s face turned grim. “I’ve heard the Imperial Prison’s reputation—but is it truly worse than slow slicing?” He couldn’t believe it.

Slow slicing was the most terrifying death known to men—what punishment could surpass it?

Chen Guanlou snorted. “You still lack experience. Slow slicing lasts at most three days—sometimes just one. You suffer for three days, then it’s over.”

The Imperial Prison has a hundred ways to make you suffer month after month, year after year—far worse than slow slicing! By then, even if you beg to die, you won’t be allowed. So, would you like to pre-purchase a Heavenly Prison package? A deposit is all you need—just five hundred taels!”

Five hundred taels? Just that?

Zhuang Yifei let out a bitter laugh.

The Heavenly Prison truly was a money pit—five hundred taels was “just that”?

In the Jianghu, five hundred taels could buy the lives of a whole family of ten or more! In the Jianghu, money was real money—it had true value!

Here in the Heavenly Prison, money felt worthless—the prices were on an entirely different scale, far higher than the Jianghu.