TGCFNM -Chapter 119 A Deal

In the courtyard, Tao Sanniang was crying in a suppressed, choked voice. Cui Xi supported her, gently patting her back, yet unsure of how to comfort her.

“If those three insist on not letting go, the Gao family really might walk away unscathed,” Ghost Scholar frowned.

Chu Ling pressed her fingers to her forehead. The imperial decree about exterminating nine clans was just words, but the Gao family truly had the means to carry it out—that was why people feared them.

Ultimately, it came down to one thing: the Gao family was powerful, and she was only a minor county magistrate.

“Aunt Su, can I sell the hemostatic prescription you gave me?” Chu Ling suddenly asked.

Bai Su replied, “Of course, but who are you going to sell it to?”

“Naturally, Wan Xing,” Chu Ling said. “I want to exchange the hemostatic prescription for information.”

As night gradually fell, after Wan Sanjin returned to the government office, he went straight to find Chu Ling.

“My elder brother said we should go to where he lives,” he said.

“All right.” Chu Ling stood up with her cane, and Wan Sanjin stepped forward to support her. The two of them exited through the back gate of the office and went straight to the carriage.

The driver was Steward Zhu. The moment Chu Ling saw him, she thanked him. “I really appreciate it, Steward Zhu. Otherwise, those three might have gotten away.”

“It is my honor to assist you, Madam,” Steward Zhu said cheerfully as he drove the carriage toward the Wan residence.

After a short while, the carriage came to a stop.

Wan Sanjin got out first, then helped Chu Ling slowly down.

“Feng’s residence?” Chu Ling froze for a moment, looking at Wan Sanjin in surprise. “Your elder brother bought the Feng family’s house?”

Steward Zhu smiled. “We had already received news that someone would be coming to Changzhou. Since My Lord was planning to sell the Feng residence, he simply bought it—just to temporarily use as the Wan residence.”

Chu Ling looked at the newly replaced Wan residence plaque and could not help but sigh at such extravagance.

Once inside the mansion, Steward Zhu led Chu Ling to a private study in the back courtyard.

As soon as Chu Ling entered, she smelled the fragrance of ink. Unlike Fu Qingyu’s study, this room was not for practicing calligraphy or reading; it was for reviewing and recording accounts.

After they entered, Steward Zhu closed the door and invited Chu Ling in. “Second Young Master, Master Chu and the Young Master have arrived.”

“All right.” Wan Xing looked up and smiled at them. He set down the account book in his hands, walked around the desk, and invited them to sit.

“The matter you wish to investigate, Sanjin has already told me about,” Wan Xing said as he also sat down. He looked at Chu Ling seriously and asked, “Have you decided? Do you really want to investigate?”

Chu Ling replied firmly, “Yes, I want to investigate.”

“Very well.” Wan Xing nodded and continued, “I’ve already had people check. Recently, only five relatives of the Noble Consort Gao traveled from the capital to Yushui County to pay respects to the family. They claimed it was a visit of filial piety, but in truth, the Noble Consort’s relatives had long since passed. They only went to disturb the earth and build a larger tomb.”

Wan Sanjin was stunned. “So the five people on horseback—they are the Noble Consort Gao’s relatives?”

“Exactly.” Chu Ling tapped the table lightly, looking at Wan Xing. “Second Young Master, I want to make a deal with you.”

“A deal?” Wan Xing guessed. “Madam wants to know more information?”

“Yes.” Chu Ling nodded and drew from her sleeve a prescription she had prepared in advance. “This is a hemostatic prescription I happened to come across. Gold is hard to find, but its effect—you can ask your brother about it.”

Wan Sanjin nodded. “Indeed, it stops bleeding very effectively.”

Steward Zhu took it and handed it over to Wan Xing.

Wan Xing glanced at it and smiled. “My lord actually trusts my brother so much that he let him write down the prescription himself. Aren’t you worried I might bypass you and take it directly from him?”

Chu Ling: “…I wrote it myself.”

“My lord’s handwriting isn’t good—worse than mine,” Wan Sanjin said cheerfully.

Wan Xing: “…My lord’s writing has a certain free-spirited elegance, not bound by any constraints.”

Chu Ling struggled, “It’s the pen’s fault.”

Wan Sanjin laughed and leaned closer. “Brother, if you can’t read it, I can translate it for you. I can understand it.”

“All right!” Wan Xing immediately agreed, then tucked the prescription into his sleeve. “What does my lord wish to ask?”

Chu Ling asked, “I want to know what kind of person Noble Consort Gao is, whether she is favored in the palace, what her relationship is with the Gao family behind her, what kind of prominent family the Gao family is in the capital, and who would be her—or the Gao family’s—enemies?”

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Wan Xing’s mouth. “My lord, you truly want to investigate this case.”

“Brother, you didn’t even see—the person buried alive also had a five-year-old child. Those people are utterly insane,” Wan Sanjin gritted his teeth, cursing.

“As far as I know, the Gao family didn’t take action. How can you determine their guilt?” Wan Xing asked Chu Ling.

“I’m not worried about convicting them; I’m worried the Gao family will take a liking to these people and wouldn’t hesitate to come after me,” Chu Ling smiled. “I still value my life.”

Wan Xing folded his hands on his knees and spoke slowly, “Noble Consort Gao is very much favored in the palace. She just gave birth to a young prince, which greatly pleases the emperor. He even considered granting a general amnesty across the land. Though the ministers persuaded him not to, generous rewards were still issued. One could say that the Gao family is now at the height of its power.”

“But the Gao family today isn’t her maternal family—it’s a distant branch of the Gaos. Since there’s no one left in the main branch, the emperor, concerned that Noble Consort Gao would have no one to rely on, has supported this branch.”

Chu Ling nodded, signaling understanding.

Wan Xing continued, “In the palace, the one in conflict with Noble Consort Gao is Consort Rong, who gave birth to a princess around the same time. Consort Rong is the younger cousin of the fourth branch of the Queen of Prince Qi’s family. She’s remarkably beautiful and immediately won the emperor’s favor upon entering the palace. Although she bore a princess this time, her rewards were no less than those of the prince, and in fact, the emperor favors her even more.”

“Why?” Chu Ling asked.

“Consort Rong resembles the late empress,” Wan Xing said.

Chu Ling raised an eyebrow slightly, understanding.

“I cannot help my lord with the case, only provide information,” Wan Xing said, standing and walking to the desk to retrieve a letter. “In the palace, Noble Consort Gao and Consort Rong fight constantly, but neither has overstepped. This shows the emperor is balancing the two families.”

“But recently, because Noble Consort Gao bore a prince, the Gao family has become arrogant, even daring to challenge Prince Qi. Their repeated provocations seem deliberate, and having a prince has made them entertain ambitions they shouldn’t.”

Wan Xing handed over the information in his hands.

Chu Ling took it, tore it open, and read it quickly.

“The emperor is already advanced in years, and there are several young, strong princes below him, each with heirs of their own. What business does a newborn infant have with this?” Chu Ling sneered. If the story followed its previous trajectory, the one who would eventually take the throne would be Prince Qi’s son, Xiao Lengjue.

If the Gao family waited until Xiao Lengjue ascended, they would inevitably face retribution.

But at this moment, she could use this to make a favorable move for Prince Qi.