Chapter 99: Rumors of the old Emperor practicing Daoism to seek immortality

Chen Guanlou briefly recounted his experiences over the recent period. Finally, he sighed, "I was naive at the beginning, thinking this prison guard profession was easy to do. Now I know, if a prison guard wants to mix well and mix until old age, it's not easy!"

Master Du held his wine cup and was silent for a moment. "Every profession has its difficulties; outsiders don't know the inside story and just speculate. That Lord Yu Zhaoan you mentioned, judging by your meaning, is a narrow-minded person who seeks revenge for the slightest grievance. You must be careful."

"Does Master Du know Yu Zhaoan?"

"How would this old man have the opportunity to know such a figure? However, once, in the Master's study, I saw the name Yu Zhaoan."

Chen Guanlou was not surprised at all to hear this. Liu Guanshi was secretly colluding with Yu Zhaoan; he had already discovered this, but he never spoke of it.

Although Liu Guanshi was nominally from the second branch, who dared to guarantee that he wasn't doing things for the Master in private? A great steward of the Hou Fu like him always had to reserve a way out for himself.

"Is the Master wondering if it's possible that Yu Zhaoan is colluding with the Hou Fu, secretly plotting something?"

"These words cannot be spoken randomly, absolutely cannot be spoken randomly." Master Du was scared to death and waved his hands repeatedly to deny it. But after drinking wine, he couldn't hold back his words in his heart. Just after denying it, he couldn't help but open his mouth and whisper, "In the early years, the Master was very clear and flagrantly supported the Crown Prince. But, ever since he broke his leg, the Master has not been to the Donggong, and he hasn't gone to pay his respects during festivals. Today, when you mentioned Yu Zhaoan, I couldn't help but think, has the Master already lost hope in the Donggong?"

"Why lose hope? Most officials in the court still support the Crown Prince; the Crown Prince is, after all, the orthodox heir."

"You are in the Heavenly Prison and cannot reach the matters above; perhaps you don't understand. I once heard a word or two of grumbling, saying that the Crown Prince is becoming more and more like His Majesty."

"Do you mean the Crown Prince is as mean and ungrateful as His Majesty?"

"Do you not want your life?" Master Du was so scared his heart was about to jump out. He hurriedly got up and ran to the door to look around. The old servant was in the kitchen, and there was no one in the courtyard, so he felt relieved.

He stroked his chest, panting. "This mouth of yours really has no gate; you dare to say anything. Do you know that if today's conversation were spread out, you might have to take a trip to the Imperial Prison? That would still be the good outcome. The worse outcome is that neither of us would have the chance to enter the Imperial Prison and would be snapped away directly."

Chen Guanlou laughed. "Master, rest assured, I am not a reckless person who doesn't understand anything. I am sure there is no one around, and the surroundings are very safe, so I am chatting with you about these things. I also firmly believe that the Master will not spread our conversation."

"This old man's mouth is very tight. Hmph!" Master Du snorted coldly. "How are you sure there is no one around?"

"I have been practicing martial arts for such a long time; I dare not say anything else, but my five senses are still very keen. In this residence, there are only the three of us."

"That's good, that's good." Master Du was relieved. "This capital city is good in every way, only one must be careful in speaking and doing things. Those Embroidered Uniform Guard spies are everywhere; perhaps there are Embroidered Uniform Guard spies in the Hou Fu."

Chen Guanlou agreed very much. "That is certain. Those who are emperors all have phobias. They will certainly try every means to plant spies around their ministers to monitor every move of their ministers. There is another way: directly bribe the servants of the Hou Fu to record the words and deeds of the masters of the Hou Fu."

"Therefore, we must also be careful in our private words and deeds." Master Du still had lingering fears. "Since you are convinced that Yu Zhaoan is very dangerous, stay away from this person; don't try to be brave and fight with these officials. Don't look at them as prisoners now; they can still remotely command others to do things for them. The energy mastered by these people is not something we ordinary people can speculate about. Being extra careful is always right."

"Master Du's words are those of an experienced statesman; the junior will toast you a cup. It is a pity that the Master has such great talent but is not an official." Chen Guanlou casually flattered him.

Master Du was very happy and humble repeatedly. "How would I have the qualifications to be an official? If my meager ability entered the officialdom, it would also be the outcome of being locked in the Heavenly Prison. That sentence you said before was excellent: the end of an official's career is the Heavenly Prison. This old man must remember this sentence. You say you, clearly having extraordinary insight and often having warning words, why do you want to mix in the Heavenly Prison?"

"The days in the Heavenly Prison are easy to mix."

"Now there is less money in the Heavenly Prison; don't you mind?"

"It's only temporary. Sooner or later, the income will return to the previous amount. Yu Zhaoan's character is not good, but I don't deny that his analysis makes some sense." Chen Guanlou lowered his voice this time and whispered, "Although I am not in the court and cannot feel the movements of the upper echelons of the capital, according to the unusual quietness of those disgraced officials in the Heavenly Prison recently, I think Yu Zhaoan's analysis is very likely to become true. You must know, those disgraced officials rely on their status and usually make a fuss about everything. Recently, they have been surprisingly cooperative; such an abnormal matter must mean a major event is about to happen."

Master Du said "Ah," very astonished, and also received a little fright.

He appeared extremely nervous. "Will such a major event as forcing the palace really happen? Will it involve the Hou Fu?"

"Is the Master wanting to know if the Master will participate in forcing the palace? Rest assured, the Master has not been to court for many years and has not asked about court affairs for many years. Even if the Master couldn't think straight for a moment and was fooled into participating in forcing the palace, he certainly wouldn't come forward personally to be the bird that sticks its head out. At most, he would arrange for people below to wave flags and shout, expressing an attitude."

"It is best if it is so. I observe that the Master is quiet but wants to move. I am afraid that the Master has been depressed for too long and will suddenly explode. Sigh, the court is unstable, and small figures like us will also be affected. I don't know what is wrong with His Majesty; in the early years, he was wise and martial, a wise monarch recognized by the world. Now that he is old, his actions are becoming more and more muddled, and he is actually obsessed with practicing Daoism to seek immortality. How can there be immortality in the world?"

Chen Guanlou:...

A living immortal is right in front of him, but it is a pity that Master Du doesn't know.

The only immortal in the world—Chen Guanlou felt a little smug while also feeling a little lonely. There is no one to share with! And he must try hard to hide his secret.

"Was the old Emperor fooled by someone? Why would he suddenly be obsessed with practicing Daoism to seek immortality?" Chen Guanlou was very curious.

Master Du shook his head. "Not very clear. I have heard some rumors saying that the old Emperor dreamed of a god one night, and then he started practicing Daoism to seek immortality."

"Just had a dream, and then started practicing Daoism to seek immortality? Why is this rumor so unreliable?" Chen Guanlou didn't quite believe it; it was too outrageous.

How can a person change 180 degrees in one day because of a dream? That is the Emperor, mastering the top resources of the whole world.

Master Du shook his head. "Anyway, that's what the rumor says. Even if there is an inside story, it is not something that small figures like you and me can glimpse." ===== CHAPTER 100 =====