TGCFNM -Chapter 173 No One Deserves to Die

Chu Ling brushed her hair aside and said loudly with disdain, “Advisor Wan, this is the place you brought this official to inspect?”

After speaking, Chu Ling raised her brows meaningfully at Wan Sanjin.

Wan Sanjin immediately caught on and replied in a clear voice, “My lord, you are the people’s magistrate. You must inspect every place. Only then will it be convenient to handle matters later.”

Chu Ling let out a cold snort and said irritably, “Nangong Jue is dead. Bai Hu has to escort his body back, so I’ve been sent here to guard this place for the time being. I don’t even understand what there is here worth guarding.”

“My lord, after all, it was Lord Bai Hu who personally requested you. And Lord Bai Hu also said that once she arrives, she will certainly present you with a generous gift,” Wan Sanjin said respectfully.

Chu Ling frowned impatiently. “Fine. We’ll just take a quick look and head back.”

“My lord, your token!” Wan Sanjin was startled and hurriedly reminded her.

Chu Ling took out her official token and waved it briefly before tucking it back into her sleeve. “Alright, it’s put away. Let’s just stroll around and go back.”

After speaking, she deliberately showed a look of contempt, sweeping her gaze coldly around before turning and walking off, as if she utterly disdained the place.

Yet despite her attitude, not a single one of the men drinking nearby dared to cause trouble. Some even lowered their eyes in fear and shrank back.

Bai Su commented, “They bully the weak and fear the strong.”

Chu Ling sneered inwardly: Isn’t that the truth?

Wan Sanjin leaned closer and asked in a low voice, “My lord, how do you plan to investigate?”

Chu Ling put on airs. “Of course we’ll investigate openly and aboveboard.” As she spoke, she searched the surroundings. Upon spotting a relatively clean brothel, she immediately headed toward it with Wan Sanjin.

Wan Sanjin hurriedly pulled her back. “My lord, that’s a brothel!”

Chu Ling shot back, “Well then? There isn’t a teahouse here.” With that, she dragged Wan Sanjin along.

The madam inside had already noticed Chu Ling. Seeing them approach, she cursed under her breath, but plastered a broad smile on her face. Swaying her waist, she came downstairs, personally opened the door, and called out in a fawning tone, “Two young masters, here to enjoy yourselves~?”

Chu Ling openly gave a small nod. “We want the best girl.” After speaking, she signaled Wan Sanjin to pay.

Wan Sanjin had no idea what the prices were here and, to avoid being treated like a fool, casually handed over one tael of silver.

The madam’s eyes lit up. “Please come in, young masters. I’ll have Miss Siyu come down to receive you at once. Would you prefer tea or wine?”

“Tea,” Wan Sanjin answered briefly.

The madam responded and immediately called for someone to fetch Miss Siyu and prepare the room.

Wan Sanjin hesitated. “Did I give too much?”

Chu Ling lowered her voice. “I don’t think so. But for the girls here, it counts as a lot.”

Soon, a servant led the two of them upstairs to a room. A charming woman with half her fragrant shoulder exposed opened the door.

She was just about to complain coquettishly when, upon seeing Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin clearly, she asked in surprise, “Do you two have some special hobby? You actually came here?”

Chu Ling gave an awkward smile. “Miss Siyu, may we come in?”

Siyu draped her shawl over her shoulders, invited the two of them inside, and then closed the door.

“Go on then, young masters. You didn’t come here for pleasure, did you?” Siyu smiled, her slender fingers brushing past her temples, where two or three fine wrinkles had already begun to show.

Chu Ling got straight to the point. “We’re here to investigate a case. We’re staying in the Tao family’s former residence on Zhumen Street. Before I rented it, there was a murder there.”

Siyu froze for a moment. “Are you an official, sir?”

Chu Ling replied proudly, “Of course I am. I’ve only been here two or three days.”

A faint smile appeared on Siyu’s lips. She looked at Chu Ling with genuine sincerity. “Then, this newly arrived official, I suggest you stop investigating.”

“Why shouldn’t I?” Chu Ling asked with a smile. “Is there someone here more powerful than a court-appointed official?”

Instead of answering, Siyu countered, “What do you think, sir?”

Chu Ling said calmly, “I believe there isn’t. Because I don’t allow anyone to step on me. If someone does, I will certainly retaliate.”

Siyu was taken aback. “Are you serious, sir?”

Chu Ling casually took out the Bihu Token, waved it briefly, then quickly put it away. “Naturally.”

Siyu didn’t recognize the token, but judging from its craftsmanship, it clearly wasn’t something an ordinary person could possess. She believed him three parts out of ten for now.

“The person you mentioned—I know of her. Her name was Yu Luo, wasn’t it? From the look of her, she used to be a courtesan, like I once was.”

Chu Ling nodded. “Deceived by a poor scholar—tricked out of both her feelings and her money. In the end, she even lost her life.”

Siyu clicked her tongue and gave a bitter smile. “Truly foolish. Who would willingly marry a woman from the pleasure quarters? Especially a scholar. Let me tell you, sir—women like us, no matter how tragic our origins or how pitiful we seem, at most it only earns us a few extra coins from clients. If someone redeems us, it’s usually a merchant who takes us home as a concubine—just a plaything to be beaten half to death by the main wife…”

Wan Sanjin nodded earnestly. “Many women in brothels are truly pitiful. Forced to be sold in, compelled to live there against their will. And once they grow old, lose their looks, or suffer some injury, they’re discarded immediately. The lucky ones spend money to redeem themselves, only to find they still have nowhere to go in the end.”

Siyu paused, then lowered her eyes slightly. The corners of her eyes reddened.

“But what can we do?” she said softly. “We just endure. Just survive.”

Wan Sanjin thought of the prescriptions their lord had provided. Though he didn’t know what the final outcome would be, nor whether they could truly save anyone—

As long as they were given, there would at least be a sliver of hope.

“Miss Siyu, do you know anything else? Please tell our lord,” Wan Sanjin asked sincerely.

Siyu slowly raised her head and gently shook it. “Sir, stop investigating. It was just a cheap life. Perhaps one day I’ll die too—without even a mat to wrap my corpse in, thrown naked into a mass grave, dying miserably.”

Chu Ling pressed her lips together. “I believe that every person only lives once. Life is precious. I don’t care who the deceased was. As a magistrate, it is my duty to stand up for the people. No one deserves to die. No one’s life is cheap.”

Siyu still shook her head. “Sir, how can you possibly win against them?”

Chu Ling smiled. “Why do you assume I can’t?”

“Are you willing to give up your career?” Siyu asked. “What if, after you uncover the truth, the great families make things difficult for you? Their influence is deeply rooted. Many high-ranking officials in the court are connected to them.”

Chu Ling lightly slapped the table. “To be honest, my career really isn’t that important to me.” She didn’t dare advance any further anyway—she valued her life, after all.

Wan Sanjin nodded as well. That was true.

It was one thing for their lord to wander around out here. But if she were to soar all the way to the capital—that would be real trouble.