Chapter 96: Structure of the Imperial Prison

The Imperial Prison of Great Qian was an enormous complex.

However, it was not the only place of detention within the Imperial Capital.

The capital was simply too vast, and the number of people living within its boundaries was too great for a single prison to accommodate every criminal.

Throughout the various districts of the capital, there were numerous government offices, commonly referred to as yamens, each possessing the authority to handle certain criminal cases and detain suspects temporarily.

Most ordinary criminals would never come into contact with the Imperial Prison.

Only after their crimes had been confirmed or when their circumstances warranted special attention would they be transferred there.

Some were involved in cases that attracted the attention of the Imperial Court while others possessed considerable backgrounds, influential connections, or cultivation that made ordinary detention facilities unsuitable.

There were even cases in which the accused had yet to be convicted but were too dangerous to be left in the hands of local authorities.

Such individuals might also be sent to the Imperial Prison.

Naturally, there were limits even to the capabilities of the Imperial Prison.

Those who committed particularly serious crimes, threatened the stability of Great Qian, or possessed cultivation and status powerful enough to warrant special treatment would generally be sent to the Heavenly Prison.

The Heavenly Prison was under the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Guards, one of the Four Directions Great Guards.

Compared to the Imperial Prison, it was considerably more secretive and far more dangerous.

There were rumors that once someone entered the Heavenly Prison, their chances of leaving alive were almost nonexistent.

Lu Yang had heard many such rumors over the years, though he had never been particularly interested in investigating their authenticity.

After all, he had only just begun his official work in the Imperial Prison.

There was no need to concern himself with places that had nothing to do with him.

...

"Remember this, Yang’er."

Lu Hai walked ahead with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression as stern as ever.

"The Imperial Prison is not an ordinary government office. Its purpose is to detain people, but the people detained here are not necessarily ordinary criminals."

Lu Yang followed beside him, listening quietly.

"Some have powerful families behind them, and some are cultivators who believe their strength allows them to disregard the laws of Great Qian. Others may appear insignificant, only for you to discover later that their involvement in a case is far more complicated than you imagined."

Lu Hai turned his head and glanced at his grandson.

"Therefore, regardless of who you encounter, you must remember the rules."

He spoke slowly, emphasizing each word.

"Do not abuse your authority, do not accept bribes to alter prison records, do not release prisoners without authorization, and most importantly, never assume that someone is harmless simply because they appear weak."

Lu Yang nodded.

"Understood, grandfather."

Lu Hai was satisfied with his response.

He had spent decades working in the Imperial Prison. Although his cultivation was only at the Ninth Stage of the Body Tempering Realm, his experience in dealing with people was considerable.

He had seen too many individuals ruin their lives because they underestimated someone they should have feared.

Likewise, he had seen people bring disaster upon themselves by becoming arrogant after acquiring a little power.

The Imperial Prison was not a place where one could afford to act carelessly. At least, that was how Lu Hai saw it.

For Lu Yang, however, these warnings were nothing new.

He had already spent years accompanying his grandfather, observing the guards, familiarizing himself with the prisoners, and learning the general procedures of the Imperial Prison.

He knew that its rules were not merely formalities, but also a means of protecting the people who worked within it.

A prison guard might appear to possess little authority, yet the moment he handled a prisoner incorrectly, he could become entangled in a case far beyond his ability to resolve.

And if the prisoner happened to possess a powerful background, even a seemingly insignificant mistake could become a serious problem.

Lu Yang had no intention of making such mistakes.

As they continued forward, Lu Yang gradually became familiar with the Imperial Prison’s internal layout once again.

The prison was divided into four main sections, corresponding to the north, south, east, and west.

Each section was under the jurisdiction of one of the four Prison Wardens.

Lu Hai was responsible for one of these directions, the south, specifically.

Every section contained eighteen lanes of prison cells. Each lane had twelve cells, and each cell was approximately the size of an ordinary bedroom.

The cells were not particularly spacious, but they were sufficient for their purpose.

Of course, the conditions varied depending on the circumstances.

Some prisoners were kept alone and others were confined together when their crimes were relatively minor and there was no particular reason to separate them.

There were also special arrangements for cultivators whose strength, background, or behavior required additional precautions.

Beyond the prison cells, the complex contained interrogation rooms, torture chambers, offices, living quarters for the guards, halls for receiving important higher ups, and several guard posts used during night duty.

The Prison Supervisor’s office was situated in a separate administrative area, along with the offices of the four Prison Wardens.

The entire structure resembled a small town enclosed within walls.

There were people coming and going, guards patrolling the corridors, clerks carrying documents, and prisoners being escorted between different areas.

Despite its name and somewhat bad reputation among noble circles, the Imperial Prison was not a place of constant chaos.

It was a government institution, and like any other institution, it depended on procedures, records, personnel, and the cooperation of people who performed their duties every day.

Without these things, even a prison filled with powerful cultivators would eventually descend into disorder.

Lu Yang understood this principle well.

A powerful individual could suppress others through strength, but maintaining an institution required something more.

It required an established system, and systems, once sufficiently large, could continue functioning even when the individuals who had created them were no longer present.

Of course, this did not mean they would always function well.

That was another matter entirely.

"Each lane has a Prison Guard Leader." Lu Hai explained as they passed through a corridor.

"These leaders are responsible for the guards under them and must ensure that the prisoners remain properly confined. They also report any unusual incidents to the Prison Warden responsible for their section."

Lu Yang glanced at the guards standing near the entrance to a nearby lane as Lu Hai spoke.

"Usually, each leader commands between five to ten guards. The exact number depends on the circumstances."

Lu Hai paused briefly before continuing.

"Most of them are only at the early stages of Body Tempering Realm. The Guard Leaders are generally at the middle stages of Body Tempering Realm."

He spoke matter of factly.

"None of them hold official positions, not even the Guard Leaders. Their authority comes from their assigned duties rather than a formal rank in the Great Qian bureaucracy."

Lu Yang nodded thoughtfully.

He already knew all this.

The guards were essentially employed personnel.

Their positions were useful, and the work could provide a steady income, but they were not genuine officials of the Great Qian Imperial Court.

Some were recruited because they possessed cultivation, and others had connections or had previously served in similar positions. A few simply needed a livelihood and pulled all strings to get in.

The Guard Leaders earned more than ordinary guards, but they also carried greater responsibilities.

There were opportunities to make money in the Imperial Prison, and there were also opportunities to lose one’s life.

The treatment of prisoners, the handling of valuable information, and the occasional appearance of influential figures meant that the people working here inevitably encountered temptations.

Some resisted them, some could not.

Lu Yang had already witnessed enough to understand that the distinction between the two groups was not always determined by cultivation.

A person could possess considerable strength and still be foolish.

Likewise, someone with little cultivation could survive for decades through caution and sound judgment.

The cultivation world had never been as simple as the difference between strong and weak, at least not at the lowest levels.

...

"From today onwards, you’ll be an ordinary prison guard."

Lu Hai’s voice brought Lu Yang out of his thoughts.

He turned to face his grandson.

"Your cultivation is already at the Fourth Stage of Body Tempering Realm, and that’s sufficient for the position of Guard Leader. However, you are still young, and you haven’t accumulated enough experience to take responsibility for an entire lane."

Lu Yang nodded without objection, having already expected this arrangement.

Even if his grandfather wanted to promote him immediately, doing so would attract unnecessary attention.

A twelve year old boy becoming a Guard Leader in the Imperial Prison would inevitably raise questions.

His actual cultivation was far beyond what anyone here believed, but that was precisely why he needed to be careful.

There was no reason to turn a quiet beginning into a public spectacle.

Besides, an ordinary guard’s position was more than sufficient for his current needs.

He would have an official reason to remain within the Imperial Prison, access to its daily operations, and opportunities to observe the people who entered and left.

He could continue cultivating without drawing attention to himself, what more could he ask for?

"Grandfather, I have no objections."

Lu Hai studied him for a moment.

"You really don’t mind?"

"Why would I?"

Lu Yang asked, tilting his head slightly, making his expression resemble that of an ordinary child.

"I’m only twelve. It would be strange if I were immediately made a leader."

Lu Hai stared at him before suddenly laughing.

"Good! As expected of my intelligent grandson, at least you understand that much."

He reached out and patted Lu Yang’s shoulder.

"Don’t worry, you won’t remain an ordinary guard forever. When one of the Guard Leaders retires, I’ll arrange for you to take his place, provided you’ve demonstrated that you’re capable of handling the responsibilities."

Lu Yang smiled obediently.

"Thank you, grandfather."

He had no particular attachment to the position of Guard Leader.

If the opportunity came naturally, he would accept it. If it did not, he would not lose sleep over it.

A Guard Leader was still a relatively insignificant position within the larger structure of Great Qian.

There was no need to pursue it too aggressively.

Nevertheless, Lu Hai’s arrangement was reasonable.

By the time an opportunity arose, Lu Yang’s cultivation would be considerably stronger, and his age would no longer be such an obvious disadvantage.

He would then be able to command respect through his own abilities rather than relying solely on his grandfather’s influence.

That was preferable.

People might obey someone because of their background, but genuine respect was another matter.