Chapter 980: The Death of Inspector Geng

“Buy it?” Chen Guanlou asked, seeing the man seemed to think the price too high.

Lowering the price is impossible—never in this lifetime! The Tianlaomiao exists to make money from the rich; if we cut prices to boost sales, how will we ever run this business again?

Friendship is friendship, business is business—never mix the two!

Zhuang Yifei clenched his teeth. “I’ll buy it! Later, I’ll bring the money myself!”

“Good! Since you’re so sincere, I’ll throw in a freebie: buy one, get one free. When you die, I’ll collect your corpse for free, hire funeral clerks to chant sutras and bury you properly—full funeral package, isn’t that generous?”

Hearing this, Zhuang Yifei laughed bitterly.

“Chen Yucheng’s service is truly thorough.”

Chen Guanlou nodded vigorously in agreement. “After all, the Tianlaomiao is a service industry! I’ve always stressed to my jailers: prisoners aren’t just prisoners—they’re customers. Once you take their money, you must deliver quality service to satisfy them.”

Don’t worry—when you die, the funeral won’t be grand, but it’ll be solemn. If you’re willing to pay a little extra, I’ll even arrange a yinyang master to pick a good burial site and ensure you’re reborn with smooth sailing!”

Zhuang Yifei had no words left. This was nothing like the prison he’d imagined. Clearly, everything had become a business.

“Are you certain I’ll die, Chen Yucheng?”

Chen Guanlou smiled warmly at him. “If you were a ninth-rank martial artist, I might not be so sure you’d die. But you’re only eighth-rank. Kill the man named Geng, have no protection, and you’ll inevitably be caught. The court doesn’t lack ninth-rank fighters!”

His meaning was clear: killing was urgent, but planning your escape was even more critical.

Zhuang Yifei understood. He bowed slightly in thanks. “Thank you, Chen Yucheng, for your concern. I’ll take my leave. If I somehow escape, I’ll repay you later. If I’m caught, please collect my corpse for me!”

“Of course, of course!”

Chen Guanlou waved him off, watching until he disappeared.

Mu Qingshan slipped in from the adjacent room. “Why does everyone believe whatever the Lord says? Even if you told them shit smells sweet, they’d believe it.”

“Bullshit!” Chen Guanlou exploded. “Don’t slander me! When did I ever say shit smells sweet?”

“I’m just making an analogy. Whatever I say, people doubt. But you say even more outrageous things—and they still believe you. They don’t look stupid!”

Mu Qingshan couldn’t understand.

Is the gap between people really this wide?

Chen Guanlou smirked smugly. “Because I have reputation! I keep my word—every spit is a nail. What do you have? Just your mouth. Why should they trust you? Learn from me!”

Mu Qingshan said nothing, then asked: “If that Zhuang guy gets caught, will you really be able to get him out? Or are you just blowing smoke?”

“Blowing smoke?” Chen Guanlou sneered. “When have you ever seen me bluff without delivering?” His face brimmed with confidence.

“Forget the Ministry of Justice—don’t I have connections in the Embroidered Uniform Guard next door? Can I speak to Xiao Jincheng? Tell me, am I bluffing? Even if all these people turn on me, my skills alone are enough to pull someone out.”

“Are you talking about breaking him out of prison?”

“If you can’t speak properly, don’t speak,” Chen Guanlou said, visibly disgusted by Mu Qingshan’s mouth.

Do you even know what a transfer means?

Don’t talk about prison breaks!

As a prison official, do we even need to break in? It’s just moving a prisoner from one cell to another—that’s called a work handover! We just file the paperwork afterward—completely legal and compliant!

Far superior to the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s shady tricks!

…

After his release, Geng Yushi was full of pride.

He rolled up his sleeves, ready to make a big splash and show his fellow officials what he could do.

He never imagined that during his imprisonment, Zhuang Yifei had been hiding in the Bingzi cell, just a few hundred meters away.

Half a month later, a major case struck the capital!

The newly reinstated Geng Yushi was murdered in his home!

Emperor Jian Shi flew into a rage!

He immediately ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate.

Even Imperial Consort Xiao spoke up, claiming the killer targeted Geng Yushi because of her. Geng had praised her children, shown unwavering loyalty to the Emperor, earned his favor—and thus made enemies.

Her implication was clear: she wanted to ignite the fire against the Empress, targeting her faction, to stir up the succession struggle and pave the way for her own child.

Her intentions were obvious to anyone with eyes.

Yet Emperor Jian Shi either failed to see it—or saw it and chose to let it unfold.

Instantly, the long-dormant debate over naming the Crown Prince flared up again. Officials across the court buzzed with talk. Even local governors joined in, submitting memorials urging the Emperor to name the Crown Prince immediately, insisting the principle of primogeniture must not be broken.

Not a single word mentioned Imperial Consort Xiao—but every word pointed at her.

Imperial Consort Xiao bore three children and still held the Emperor’s favor—not merely because of her beauty, but due to other talents.

She went before the Emperor, wept, flattered, and manipulated him into issuing an edict to investigate the local officials who had petitioned for a Crown Prince. “They neglect their duties, fail to govern their regions, and spend their days fixated on court intrigues!”

Absurd!

Xie Changling, as Left Chancellor, watched coldly, refusing to take sides or speak out—his sole focus remained on destroying Prince Chu. Before Prince Chu’s fall, he would not touch the succession struggle.

Chen Guanlou cared nothing for court struggles or princely rivalries.

He focused only on the murder of Geng Yushi.

Zhuang Yifei had achieved his goal—he killed his enemy. Whether he’d hidden himself was unknown. If the Embroidered Uniform Guard caught him, trouble would be immense. Five hundred taels wouldn’t even cover the cost of running.

Chen Quan delivered a piece of news to Chen Guanlou.

“I heard from others that Xiao Jin has been shadowing Xiao Changsheng since leaving the Tianlaomiao. He’s been running around nonstop—apparently gathering dirt on officials, aiming to expand the Geng Yushi murder case and target those who support the orthodox succession.”

Chen Guanlou understood at once. “Xiao Jin’s gotten clever—he learned everything in the Tianlaomiao and now uses it to dig up officials’ secrets. He’s throwing himself into the succession struggle? The first one to die will be him.”

“Should we send someone to warn him?”

“Arrange it. Warn him: in matters of imperial power, we’re small people—stay far away, don’t get involved.”

“What if he refuses to listen?”

“Then it’s his fate! Winner takes all!” Chen Guanlou said impatiently. Xiao Jin had an insatiable hunger for fame and fortune—his recklessness was a bad omen.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard was focused on the case and had shown no signs of expanding it into a succession war.

Xiao Changsheng was jumping around like a nouveau riche—clueless, reckless, convinced he was invincible thanks to the Emperor’s favor.

Did he really think noble families were paper tigers?

Look at Xie Changling—just one order, and the resources mobilized were staggering. That’s how powerful the great clans truly are.

Behind the Empress stood not only her family, but entire clans aligned with her—even the military aristocracy naturally sided with her.