My daily cultivation progress is calculated.

Chapter 54 The New Official's First Three Actions

Winter days are short and nights are long, and the setting sun has already left only its last rays.

The two were walking slowly toward the prison.

"Master, do you think it might be against the rules for us to arrive at the prison so late?"

"Master Dong, there's no need to be so polite to these lowly officials in the prison. Just let them wait a day to temper their arrogance."

"You're right. After waiting for twenty years, I've finally managed to get a chance from my master. Even though I've come to this filthy place, the Heavenly Prison, I must still make a name for myself."

……

These two men were none other than the newly appointed prison warden Zeng Wenyuan and his advisor Yao Jing.

Zeng Wenyuan was a relative of Zeng Shihong, the Left Chancellor, and could be considered a distant relative. Yao Jing was Zeng Wenyuan's cousin.

It was Zeng Wenyuan's father who, by sacrificing his reputation, managed to secure the position of prison warden.

Otherwise, how could a mere scholar like him have become an official?

Although Zeng Wenyuan was serving as an official for the first time, coming from a family of officials, he was well aware of the basic principles of officialdom.

This behavior was exactly what his advisor had suggested. As the saying goes, a new broom sweeps clean, and Zeng Wenyuan had already burned his first fire before even arriving at the prison.

When Zeng Wenyuan arrived at the prison, he found that no one was there to greet him.

His expression immediately darkened, and his thin face scrunched up.

The advisor standing to the side also looked displeased, after all, it was he who had offered this plan.

Now he's in an awkward position, which makes him look like an incompetent advisor.

Before Zeng Wenyuan could even launch an attack, Yao Jing had already taken the initiative.

He angrily said, "These lowly officials of the Lord Dong have no respect for you at all. They must be dealt with properly."

Zeng Wenyuan didn't say anything, but just walked silently into the prison.

After entering the Heavenly Prison

Seeing the bustling activity inside, the prison guards were all diligently performing their duties.

Zeng Wenyuan felt a little better.

He thought to himself, "It seems I misunderstood them; they were just doing their duty."

The fact that the usually lazy jailer is now in this state is naturally at the behest of Shen Yan and his men.

The jailer, having been out in the cold wind for half a day, had a premonition that the new jailer would be difficult to deal with.

Naturally, they wouldn't dare to provoke such bad luck today; they had to pretend to get through it.

Zeng Wenyuan identified himself.

Shen Yan, Ma Danian, and Lü Youcai hurriedly summoned the prison guards to the office.

Shen Yan said, "Lord Zeng, the prison guards have all assembled, and sixty-four are on duty today."

When Zeng Wenyuan saw the wall of people in front of him, he felt like an official for the first time.

A surge of heroic spirit welled up within me.

"I apologize for keeping you all waiting. I was delayed on my journey and have kept you waiting for a while."

"With the arrival of the prison warden, the prison finally has a leader. What harm is there in waiting a few more hours?"

When Zeng Wenyuan heard the prison guards say this in unison, he thought to himself.

"As expected, the advisor's plan worked. If they don't feel the superior's authority, how can they say such heartfelt words?"

Although Zeng Wenyuan tried his best to suppress his laughter, his distorted old face had already betrayed him.

He was already in his early forties, and had spent most of his life taking the imperial examinations without ever passing the provincial examination.

Otherwise, given his connections, how could he have failed to obtain an official position for decades?

Now that the earth has buried halfway up the hill, his wish has been fulfilled, and he is naturally overjoyed.

"Before I came, I heard that the Heavenly Prison was a place of chaos and corruption. Seeing it today, I can see that people's prejudices are indeed too deep. Rest assured, under my rule, the Heavenly Prison will surely be restored to peace and tranquility."

"From now on, you must never take money from others again. As for what happened before, I am not unreasonable, so I will just let it go."

Hearing this, the jailer didn't cry out, but his face fell.

Zeng Wenyuan was still immersed in the joy of becoming an official, completely oblivious to the jailer's expression.

He began to lecture the three prison guards without a second thought.

Looking up, I saw Shen Yan. Although he was dressed in a traditional attire, his charisma was undeniable. He stood at the head of the line alongside Ma Danian and Lü Youcai.

Zeng Wenyuan came to serve as an official in the prison, so he naturally had some understanding of the prison's situation.

He immediately knew in his heart that it was Shen Yan.

"What's your name?"

"My name is Shen Yan, sir."

"It's a pity. I heard you had some schooling. Why did you come to the prison to serve and demean yourself?"

Shen Yan was speechless. Zeng Wenyuan's words were an insult to all the prison guards in the imperial prison.

He thought to himself, "I'm really unlucky to have a boss like this."

After a moment's thought, he replied, "Whether one enters officialdom or serves as a clerk in the imperial prison, in my view, both are contributions to the Great Zhou Dynasty, and there is no distinction between noble and lowly."

Zeng Wenyuan chuckled dismissively, "Heh! I didn't expect you to have some debating skills."

He then shook his head and said, "As a member of the Shen clan, to be so unambitious is a disgrace to your surname."

"Disperse, all of you! I am not one to indulge in formalities. Go and do your jobs well! Remember, obey the law and change your old bad habits."

Shen Yan was puzzled as to why Zeng Wenyuan was targeting him, as the two clearly had no connection.

It can only be attributed to something wrong with his brain.

After Zeng Wenyuan and Yao Jing left, the prison guards groaned with long faces.

"This new prison warden is trying to cut off our livelihood!"

"Who says otherwise! What should we do now?!"

"Boss Shen, please say something. Tell us what to do, and we'll do it."

Seeing that they were all looking at him, Shen Yan said irritably.

"Go away, go away! Didn't you hear what the prison warden said? Go and do your job properly."

The jailers were somewhat disappointed that Shen Yan hadn't drawn a path.

They could only disperse for the time being, since Zeng Wenyuan had just lectured them for a full hour.

The prison guards hadn't stood like this for many years, and they were about to give up.

Ma Danian and Lü Youcai hadn't left yet; they also wanted to see if Shen Yankou could deal with Zeng Wenyuan.

They had all witnessed what happened.

Although they didn't know why Zeng Wenyuan was targeting Shen Yan, it was actually a good thing for them.

Only then will Shen Yan take dealing with Zeng Wenyuan seriously.

After all, those who offend Shen Yan never end up in a bad way.

Ma Danian and the others knew perfectly well what was going on, but they just wouldn't bring it up.

Just as I was about to ask Shen Yan, I saw him leave in a hurry for some reason.

……

……

The imperial prison, the jailer's cell.

Zeng Wenyuan said to Yao Jing with an excited expression:

"Master, how was my performance just now?"

"Master Dong, you are simply born to be an official. If you had arrived at the prison twenty years earlier, it would have become a place praised by everyone."

Zeng Wenyuan nodded in satisfaction.

"In the prison, I don't care about anyone else, but that Shen Yan is a bit of a problem. Not only is he a member of the Duke of Dingguo's clan, but I also heard he's a rank-one martial artist. If my father hadn't risked his reputation this time, this position would probably have been his."

"Don't worry, sir. You've given him a good talking-to today. Give him some sweet treats tomorrow, and he'll be obediently at your beck and call."

……

Shen Yan, who was outside, had overheard the entire conversation between Zeng Wenyuan and Yao Jing.

The conversation between the two left him somewhat amused and exasperated.

He thought to himself, "Are these two just following the instructions in the book?"

Hearing this, Shen Yan felt there was no need to listen any further and left directly.

He knew that someone in the cell must be anxiously waiting for him.