TGCFNM -Chapter 124 Who Should It Be Sent To?

After the business meeting ended, Wan Sanjin immediately arranged for someone to deliver the letter, then sent Chu Rou on her way.

Once she left, Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin returned to the rear courtyard of the government office.

“Your Honor, is what Chu Rou said true?” Wan Sanjin frowned. “And how could she know half a month in advance? Does she have the gift of foresight?”

Chu Ling pondered for a moment. “We can’t be sure if it’s true or not, but the information needs to be sent out.”

“Sent out? To whom?” Wan Sanjin asked.

“To Young Master Xiao, one copy, and sell another to Qinglong. Just say the information came from Chu Rou,” Chu Ling stopped in her tracks, speaking meaningfully.

Such a troublesome person needs to be closely watched.

Wan Sanjin clapped his hands and laughed. “Alright, I’ll take care of it immediately.”

“No, wait. Deliver the message when your elder brother meets her…” Chu Ling suddenly remembered. “By the way, how can you just promise something on your brother’s behalf? She wants to see him, and you just let her?”

“Your Honor, do you know who my elder brother is? Who can gain favor in front of him?” Wan Sanjin gave a knowing look.

Chu Ling realized belatedly—indeed, that’s Wan Xing, a man with a hundred thousand schemes; no one could curry favor with him.

“Alright then. Let’s split up; I’ll go meet Qinglong,” Chu Ling said, parting ways with Wan Sanjin and heading straight to where Qinglong was staying temporarily.

Inside the room, Qinglong was hastily packing his belongings, leaving Mei Gao staring at him in disbelief.

“Lord Qinglong, the gold has indeed been transported, but it was just finished this morning. Are you leaving now? Your wounds haven’t healed yet,” Mei Gao said.

Qinglong turned his pale face toward Mei Gao, eyes burning with anger. “You don’t understand.”

Mei Gao said regretfully, “It’s a shame that Lord Chu is handling a case elsewhere. I don’t know if there will be a chance to say goodbye, after all, you two are friends.”

Qinglong sneered coldly. He’s no friend of that corrupt official!

“Oh, Lord Mei,” Chu Ling said as she entered through the open door, smiling warmly at Mei Gao as she greeted him. “Business is done; you must feel relieved now.”

Qinglong stiffened, eyes wary as he watched her.

Mei Gao exhaled, feeling significantly more relaxed. “Yes, that matter was truly terrifying, but fortunately it’s finally over.”

Chu Ling smiled, acknowledging his hard work, then turned her gaze to Qinglong with an even brighter smile. “Lord Qinglong, I have some news for you. Do you want to buy it?”

Qinglong wanted to simply refuse, but the corrupt official’s expression made him hesitate.

“What kind of news?” Mei Gao asked.

Qinglong cast him a grateful glance.

Chu Ling composed herself and said seriously, “It concerns the Salt Transport Commissioner. Someone just told me about it.”

“The Yuan family?” Qinglong asked immediately. “Is your information reliable?”

“Reliable? Not exactly, and yet, somewhat,” Chu Ling replied, propping her chin in thought, privately frustrated. “What to do… Young Master Xiao also knows about this matter.”

“Xiao knows? Xiao Lengjue?” Qinglong frowned.

Chu Ling nodded, her expression serious. “There’s always a woman accompanying him. This trip to Changzhou to investigate the silver mine was because she got the information, so we can’t let our guard down.”

“I’ll buy this information,” Qinglong said with a grave expression.

Mei Gao immediately went outside, standing at the door to keep watch.

Chu Ling held up a finger. “Friendship price: three thousand taels.”

Qinglong gritted his teeth. “Deal.”

“The Salt Transport Commissioner Yuan Jiedu will be killed in less than half a month; the murderer is his deputy,” Chu Ling said. As soon as her words left her mouth, Qinglong’s face changed drastically and he sped up packing his things.

“I need to leave immediately.”

Chu Ling cautiously asked, “Is it really that serious?”

“Yuan Jiedu is currently neutral. If he’s killed, whoever ends up responsible for the salt transport affair will have big trouble,” Qinglong said as he packed away his concealed weapons and put on his mask. “If he dies, the court will be thrown into chaos—but it’s not time yet.”

Chu Ling understood. The court was unstable right now, so regardless of whether the news was true, it needed to be verified immediately.

Qinglong stepped past Chu Ling and opened the door. After giving a brief farewell to Mei Gao, he left with a grave expression.

Chu Ling turned and walked out, looking at Mei Gao. “Will you stay at Changzhou’s city gates the whole time?”

“No. Once things here are settled, there will be other orders,” Mei Gao replied. Then, looking at Chu Ling, he added, “The same probably applies to you, Lord Chu.”

Chu Ling smiled faintly. Perhaps.

—

Afternoon, the hour of Wei.

Chu Ling personally escorted the coffin of Master Zhou’s family out of the city. The scholars of Yushui County, dressed in hemp garments and sorrowful expressions, supported the coffin and bowed to Chu Ling.

“Thank you, Lord.”

Chu Ling felt a pang in her chest. Looking at the scholars before him, she carefully instructed, “Your master always worried about you most of all. It’s natural to grieve, but you must not fall into despair—and you must not waste all the care and effort your master put into you. After the memorial, remember to come study at Cangzhu Academy.”

Xue Yang, leading the group, bowed deeply. “Lord Chu, rest assured—we will never fail our master’s expectations.”

Chu Ling nodded. “Go on, then.”

Sniffling, Xue Yang signaled the scholars to lift the coffin and steadily, step by step, head toward Yushui County.

Tao Sanniang bowed to Chu Ling, tears brimming in her eyes. “Lord, thank you.” With that, her figure gradually faded away.

Chu Ling exhaled deeply and turned back to the city.

Mei Gao approached, holding his spear, and asked with concern, “Lord Chu, are you alright?”

Chu Ling looked up and smiled lightly. “I’m fine. Just a bit sentimental, that’s all.”

Mei Gao sighed softly. “Yes… such a good master.”

Chu Ling nodded. As she was about to leave, she tilted her head toward the city gate and asked with amusement, “Mei Gao, did you get a dog?”

It was small and black, looking rather thin—probably underfed.

“A dog?” Mei Gao was taken aback. Following Chu Ling’s gaze, he saw nothing.

“Dogs are good—keen noses, easy to train, excellent helpers, and they can even alert you,” Chu Ling said with a smile, looking at the little black dog and waving his hand.

Mei Gao pondered for a moment. “Lord Chu is right. Dogs are indeed good for alerting.”

“But you have to feed it well. It looks so thin,” Chu Ling said, watching the black dog wag its tail excitedly at her feet and couldn’t help laughing.

Mei Gao nodded in agreement. “Yes, it should be stronger. I’ll have them pick a few more to train later.”

“Huh?” Chu Ling looked at him in confusion. Why pick more? There’s already one here that hasn’t even been properly raised yet.

“Miss!” Cui Xi called anxiously. She was half-squatting, looking at the black dog, which happily rubbed against her palm and barked with joy.

“Woof! Woof woof!”

Chu Ling looked down again, shocked.

In this day and age… even ghost dogs come looking to seek justice for her? How was she supposed to communicate with a dog?

“Lord Chu, what are you looking at?” Mei Gao asked, lowering his head.

“I… just noticed how clean this place is,” Chu Ling said dazedly, then took her leave.