TGCFNM -Chapter 17 What Is Going On

Madam Cheng approached gracefully, supported by Nanny Zhao. She offered a slight bow, her face somewhat haggard. “Many thanks to the County Magistrate for honoring us with your presence.”

Chu Ling returned the salute with cupped hands and said with a smile, “Madam Cheng is too courteous. On my way here, I happened to meet Prefect Cheng. When he spoke of you, his face was full of deep affection. It truly made this junior envious.”

Madam Cheng lowered her eyes with a faint smile and guided Chu Ling to a seat.

Qi Da leaned closer and asked Chu Ling, “Your Excellency, for this literary contest to choose a son-in-law, isn’t Prefect Cheng attending?”

Chu Ling lowered her gaze, answering absentmindedly, “Perhaps Prefect Cheng is worried that if he were present, the scholars might not perform well.”

Qi Da thought that made sense and turned excitedly toward the stage.

“No, Prefect Cheng is likely troubled over the Feng family matter.” The “Wan Sanjin” had arrived at some point without anyone noticing. This time he openly sat behind Chu Ling, his tone slightly raised, as though deliberately trying to draw Chu Ling’s attention.

Chu Ling refused to indulge him and did not turn around.

Wan Sanjin cleared his throat twice and instead struck up a friendly conversation with Qi Da. “Constable, I saw your heroic bearing during the drowning case by the river last time. It was you who captured Zhao Er, bringing solace to the young woman’s spirit in heaven.”

Qi Da puffed out his chest, pride evident on his face. But catching sight of Chu Ling beside him, he immediately declared loudly, “It was our County Magistrate who was wise and mighty, uncovering the true culprit.”

Wan Sanjin sighed in admiration. “The County Magistrate of Sishui County eliminates harm for the people, upright and incorruptible. Constable Qi is brave and resolute, capturing criminals. Sishui County is even safer than many major cities. I imagine that in your daily patrols, you all carry out your duties with the utmost diligence.”

The smile on Qi Da’s face was impossible to suppress. If not for Chu Ling sitting beside him, he would have been grinning from ear to ear. But under Wan Sanjin’s relentless flattery, the two quickly fell into lively conversation.

“By the way, Brother Wan, you mentioned something happened with the Feng family?” Qi Da asked curiously.

Sishui County was remote and usually quiet. With so little happening day to day, any fresh gossip was enough to excite everyone.

Wan Sanjin beckoned Qi Da closer and spoke in a low voice—though Chu Ling could hear every word clearly.

“When Old Master Feng was alive, he not only honored the marriage agreement with the Cheng family and provided a dowry, but also funded Prefect Cheng’s journey to the capital for the imperial examinations. It left the Feng family a thread of survival. But after Old Master Feng passed away, his son began causing trouble everywhere, squandering money recklessly. He even relied on his brother-in-law’s position as prefect to act tyrannically, oppressing the townsfolk…”

“Later, that Eldest Young Master Feng brazenly abducted a woman in broad daylight. Unable to endure the humiliation, she took her own life. Her elderly father risked his life to petition the capital. As a result, Young Master Feng was immediately arrested and imprisoned. Now the Feng family is scrambling about, hoping Prefect Cheng will pull him out.”

Chu Ling’s brows knitted tightly. What a vile creature.

Qi Da gritted his teeth and cursed under his breath, “What a tyrant!”

Suddenly, Chu Ling turned her head and found herself face-to-face with Wan Sanjin at close range, startling her badly.

“If the Feng family can supply Yunchuan brocade to the palace, then the management cannot rest solely with the main Feng household. If Young Master Feng behaves so outrageously, do none of the other clan members intervene?” Chu Ling asked with a frown.

Wan Sanjin couldn’t help laughing. “Magistrate Chu, what are you talking about? The Feng family did supply Yunchuan brocade to the palace more than a decade ago. But for some reason, they fell out of favor with the nobles, and the family declined year by year. Now, the only one they can rely on is Prefect Cheng.”

Qi Da nodded thoughtfully. “No wonder Madam Cheng looked somewhat haggard. I thought it was because she was worried about Miss Cheng’s injuries.”

At the mention of Miss Cheng, Chu Ling began recounting the information she knew.

Qi Da was dumbfounded.

Wan Sanjin found it even more unbelievable. “Prefect Cheng said that himself?”

Chu Ling nodded. She also felt that what Prefect Cheng had said was extremely strange. Logically speaking, family scandals should not be made public—let alone by a prefect. Yet Prefect Cheng had laid out the entire matter to her, a mere county magistrate. The more she thought about it, the more something felt off.

Just then, the literary competition had already begun. Many scholars were eager to try their hand, their faces flushed with excitement. Each of them carried a scroll—whether poetry or painting, it was likely their proudest work.

But the contest was far too dull. After sitting for a short while, Chu Ling wanted to leave. She had a pile of questions she needed to return to the yamen immediately to ask Wu Lianzhi.

What exactly was the relationship between Wu Lianzhi and the Feng family?

The two looked identical. If they were truly twin sisters, why did they bear different surnames?

“I’m heading back first. You all stay and keep watching,” Chu Ling said as she rose to leave.

Wan Sanjin instinctively stood up to follow.

Chu Ling shot him a sideways glance and was just about to speak when a loud voice suddenly rang out: “Prefect Cheng has arrived!”

At the same time, a wild dog suddenly darted out from inside the Confucian temple. Baring its fangs, eyes bloodshot, it charged straight into the crowd.

The prefect’s steward stumbled out clutching his arm, blood pouring through his fingers, his face pale with terror. “Quick! This mad dog is going to kill someone! Run for your lives!”

Instantly, the onlooking townsfolk scattered in panic. Screams and cries for help mingled together as chaos erupted.

Qi Da and the others immediately surrounded Chu Ling protectively. Wan Sanjin also moved to her side, frowning as he studied the wild dog.

“Be careful!” Prefect Cheng suddenly shouted at Chu Ling, rushing forward. But his movement provoked the dog, which sprang up fiercely and lunged toward her.

Gritting his teeth, Qi Da stepped forward, drew the broadsword from his waist, and brought it down in a single strike.

A spray of blood scattered through the air. The wild dog let out a whimper and collapsed onto the ground. Its breathing grew fainter and fainter—it would not survive.

Qi Da was panting heavily, still shaken. He quickly turned to Chu Ling. “My lord, are you all right?”

Chu Ling did not answer. She stared in shock at the brocade pouch clamped in the dog’s mouth. It was made of Yunchuan brocade, covered in clumps of yellow mud, as though it had been buried for a long time.

Prefect Cheng strode over, first glancing at Chu Ling with concern. “It’s good that you’re unharmed.” He then patted Qi Da on the shoulder, praising him for a job well done.

Qi Da was still reeling with pride from the prefect’s praise when he turned and saw that Chu Ling’s face was taut and grim.

Only then did Prefect Cheng notice the pouch. He let out a soft sound of surprise and picked it up. His expression shifted slightly. Looking incredulous, he opened it—only to reveal a jade bi disc inside.

“Madam Zhen, look—doesn’t this jade bi look exactly the same as the one we exchanged as our betrothal token?” Prefect Cheng said, even touching the jade disc at his own waist to compare them. When placed together, the two fit perfectly without the slightest gap.

On the other side, Madam Cheng’s face suddenly turned deathly pale. She collapsed to the ground. The jade bi at her waist had, at some point, fallen onto the stage and shattered into two pieces.

This sudden turn of events left everyone utterly stunned and caught Chu Ling completely off guard.

Prefect Cheng slowly stepped forward and crouched down, looking at Madam Cheng.

“Madam Zhen… what is going on?”