Embroidered Uniform Guard: I Can Plunder Talents

"Not bad! Not bad!"

Watching this scene, Ye Liuyun nodded in satisfaction.

Some prisoners were still completely confused when they were first brought in.

Clearly, they hadn’t expected it.

They’d originally been just fine sitting in their local yamen’s jail cell—how did they suddenly get transferred to the infamous Imperial Prison of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?

The prison’s notorious reputation—

—was well-known throughout the entire Great Qian Dynasty. Everyone knew, hardly anyone who entered Imperial Prison ever walked out talking; in here, killing yourself might even be considered a kind of relief.

"Sir!"

A few Embroidered Uniform Guards in charge of Imperial Prison—

When they saw Ye Liuyun arrive, they immediately bowed in salute. Someone also hurried off to inform Xiao Yongning.

Because Ye Liuyun had been to Imperial Prison quite a few times now, those men were already very familiar with him, and recognized him instantly.

"Mm."

Ye Liuyun only nodded slightly, saying nothing more.

He continued sizing up the prisoners.

Soon enough, Xiao Yongning, the man in charge, arrived.

"Sir! Sir!"

Clearly, Xiao Yongning looked a bit flustered.

"My deepest apologies, so many people showed up at once. There are just too many things to deal with in Imperial Prison—that’s why I may have neglected you, sir!"

Worried Ye Liuyun might get the wrong idea—

Xiao Yongning quickly explained himself.

"No problem!"

Ye Liuyun waved it off carelessly. Of course, he wouldn’t blame Xiao Yongning for such minor matters.

"Well done."

Ye Liuyun was obviously referring to the matter with the prisoners.

"Transferring prisoners in from local yamens—that’s a good idea. Did you come up with it yourself?"

When Ye Liuyun said that—

Xiao Yongning realized the job was done.

"It was my men who were sharp. I just issued the transfer orders—that’s all!"

Xiao Yongning didn’t claim all the credit for himself, or say the whole plan was his idea.

If he actually did that, he’d be an idiot.

Xiao Yongning made it clear—the plan was suggested by his subordinates, and he was just the one executing it.

"Not bad."

Ye Liuyun nodded again, satisfied.

He patted Xiao Yongning on the shoulder, almost approvingly.

"As for what I promised before, I haven’t forgotten. Give it half a month or so, there’ll be news soon enough."

If you want the horse to run, you’ve got to feed it some grass.

Ye Liuyun wasn’t some heartless capitalist—if Xiao Yongning could prove his worth,

then Ye Liuyun didn’t mind tossing him a little reward.

"Thank you, sir!"

Hearing Ye Liuyun say that—

The joy on Xiao Yongning’s face was impossible to hide.

He’d made it!

Xiao Yongning realized, after this was done, he’d be branded as part of Ye Liuyun’s faction for good.

Back when the Southern Governor was still Qi Yuanliang—

Xiao Yongning had never thought about joining any faction; he just dutifully watched over his Imperial Prison.

The main reason being—

In Xiao Yongning’s eyes,

it didn’t matter if you sided with Qi Yuanliang or the Northern Governor, Lei Zheng—there wasn’t much future with either.

Even if both had backgrounds,

now things were different—following Ye Liuyun, the perks were right in front of you, bold as daylight.

Xiao Yongning had heard some stories,

those who followed Ye Liuyun all made out like bandits, eating so well their mouths dripped with grease.

When Ye Liuyun led his men to raid court officials’ homes,

who didn’t come back loaded down with bags of treasure? It made Xiao Yongning jealous and resentful as hell!

He figured he could guard Imperial Prison as an Embroidered Uniform Guard for his whole damn life and never make that kind of money.

With a boss who hands out real benefits to his men right out in the open, who wouldn’t want to follow?

"Sir!"

Xiao Yongning was no fool.

Even in a moment like this, he didn’t let the joy go to his head.

After calming down,

immediately he looked at Ye Liuyun with a serious face.

"Just now, there’s a batch of new prisoners arrived. According to Imperial Prison rules, every prisoner who comes in must first go through a round of punishments. Would you like to stay and watch, sir?"

’A round of punishments’—honestly, not much different from beating them to death.

"Since you put it like that, let’s have a look."

Ye Liuyun didn’t refuse.

He grinned at Xiao Yongning, waving his hand, basically saying: whatever you’re going to show me, just get on with it, no need to wait.

"Got it!"

Getting that answer from Ye Liuyun—

Xiao Yongning smiled readily, no hesitation at all, and immediately barked orders at his men.

"Hurry it up, don’t keep sir waiting!"

"Yes, sir!"

These men had been in Imperial Prison a long time, seen Ye Liuyun come over before, so they understood perfectly well what Xiao Yongning meant.

They all responded in unison.

Right then,

the only ones confused were actually the prisoners inside the Imperial Prison cells—most didn’t know what was happening at all.

Some of them even when dragged out and tied to the wooden rack were still completely lost.

"Wait! Wait."

"Don’t kill me! Don’t kill me!"

"Don’t you want to know where the money I stole is stashed?"

"I’ll talk, I’ll tell you everything—just don’t kill me!"

"..."

Some prisoners, when first sent to Imperial Prison, could still act tough for awhile.