TGCFNM -Chapter 177 A Wise Man Knows the Times

Seeing that Zhao Linlang had already dispelled her doubts, Chu Ling finally relaxed slightly.

“Then why would Doctor Gu harm people?” Zhao Linlang asked, still puzzled.

Chu Ling’s voice grew serious. “Even Nangong Jue trusted him so completely, and yet he was struck through the heart by an arrow. It just goes to show—knowing a person’s face doesn’t mean you know their heart. No one can truly know what his intentions are.”

Zhao Linlang suddenly sneered. “Here, anyone from the prominent families has seen him for treatment.”

Chu Ling drew in a sharp breath. That meant it would all depend on Bai Zhuoxing’s mood—whether he had eliminated everyone or spared one or two.

Zhao Linlang escorted them to the door, glancing at Chu Ling with a low voice. “Sir, I still want an autopsy.”

“That’s fine. If you don’t want to upset your mother, I can send someone secretly tonight. What do you think, Miss Zhao?” Chu Ling asked.

Zhao Linlang nodded. After setting a time with Chu Ling, she returned to her residence.

At this moment, Bai Su began explaining the reason for what had been said earlier. “If you really scrutinize this prescription, a doctor should have been able to spot the problem. But no one spoke up for one reason only—they didn’t want to.”

“As for the prefect’s mansion, I don’t need to elaborate, but the fact that no doctor in the entire city dared tell the truth shows just how evil this man was. So, in a way, it’s good he’s dead.”

Chu Ling suddenly lowered her head and smiled.

Wan Sanjin looked surprised. “Sir, what’s so funny?”

“Funny… what’s there to investigate about Prefect Zhao?” Chu Ling glanced at the vermilion-red main gate and strode forward.

Wan Sanjin hurried after her. “I also think it’s unnecessary to investigate. How much could the prefect’s salary have been to build such a large residence? He must have extorted a lot from the common people, or colluded with the wealthy families.”

Chu Ling raised an eyebrow. “Has our Master Wan suddenly gotten so clever?”

Wan Sanjin: “……”

“But, sir, why investigate anyway? What if it turns out he was a good man poisoned to death?”

Chu Ling understood Wan Sanjin’s concern and replied, “Prefect Zhao definitely didn’t die unjustly, but I want to find out the purpose of the person who killed him.”

Moreover, no ghost had appeared, which meant he had no lingering attachment—or perhaps he simply didn’t have time to form one, and naturally ‘died of illness.’

“And besides, only by investigating Prefect Zhao’s case can I assert my identity, take over the prefecture office, and begin handling cases,” Chu Ling said.

Wan Sanjin sighed. “Sir, you work too hard.”

Chu Ling shook her head with a smile, her eyes glinting with a touch of madness. “I’m not working hard at all. I happen to be free these days, and I plan to turn this rigidly stratified Dongle City upside down.”

Soon after Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin returned to their residence, the Shangguan brothers arrived. Following Chu Ling’s instructions, they had already uncovered quite a lot.

Chu Ling took the information they recorded, nodded slightly, and smiled. “Good work.”

Shangguan Shi asked, “Sir, are you planning to report this case tomorrow?”

“No. I plan to try the case tomorrow.” Chu Ling invited them to sit. “Prefect Zhao suddenly fell ill and passed away, so I’m temporarily taking over his duties.”

Shangguan Shi was genuinely stunned. “Why didn’t I know this?”

“Oh, right. Madam Zhao is also from the Shangguan family. Didn’t she say anything?” Chu Ling asked.

Shangguan Shi awkwardly smiled, offering no reply.

Shangguan Cheng, on the other hand, gulped down a large mouthful of tea, pointed at the information they had gathered, and cursed, “This Sun Yuanze is truly a heartless man!”

Wan Sanjin also said, “Exactly—one corpse, two lives lost!”

Shangguan Cheng’s eyes widened. “One corpse, two lives… not even sparing his own child?”

Wan Sanjin nodded in disgust.

Shangguan Cheng immediately cursed, “A person like that deserves execution!”

Chu Ling looked at Shangguan Shi and said gently, “With the information you’ve brought, the details I’ve investigated, and the autopsy results from our family’s coroner who retrieved bodies from the mass grave, we can basically be sure that one of the culprits is definitely Sun Yuanze. But Sun Yuanze is connected to someone else behind the scenes.”

“You… retrieved bodies?” Shangguan Cheng recoiled as if they were perverts, jumping back three feet, afraid to come closer.

Wan Sanjin looked at him with disdain. “It’s not like we’re collecting ghosts. What’s there to be afraid of?”

Shangguan Cheng hugged himself tightly. “Even if it’s ghosts, I can’t see them. But the bodies… they’re real!” He stared at Wan Sanjin as if he had lost his mind.

Wan Sanjin said, “Is that so? Ghosts are ghosts, but a corpse won’t come back to life.”

Shangguan Cheng hugged his arms tighter. “Are you crazy?”

Wan Sanjin rolled his eyes in contempt. “I think you are the crazy one.”

Shangguan Shi lowered his head, took several deep breaths, and finally looked up at Chu Ling. “Please don’t mind, my lord. Let’s continue—just now you said Sun Yuanze is connected to someone else?”

“Zhang Bozi,” Chu Ling said. “He’s the local thug around here, supposedly working for the Xuanyuan family.”

Shangguan Shi frowned. “I don’t know this Zhang Bozi. But the Xuanyuan family is indeed arrogant here; they even monopolize quite a few businesses. They’re the wealthiest family in Dongle City.”

Chu Ling raised an eyebrow, slightly excited. “Really?”

Shangguan Shi nodded earnestly. “It’s true. The Xuanyuan family in the capital can afford to ignore outside affairs because this branch is quite clever in business.”

“How do the Xuanyuan family compare to the richest, the Wan family?” Chu Ling asked deliberately.

Shangguan Shi thought seriously. “In business, of course, the Wan family is superior. But in terms of influence, the Xuanyuan family can accomplish more.”

Chu Ling understood immediately—this branch of the Xuanyuan family uses the power of their prestigious lineage to bully others in business, completely contrary to the Wan family’s approach of harmony above all.

“My apologies, then,” Chu Ling said lightly. Since they had no salary and were entirely supported by the Wan family, the Wan family still needed to keep earning money.

Since the Xuanyuan family behaved so arrogantly, they would be the first target.

The beginning is always the hardest, so there must be a sacrificial lamb.

Shangguan Shi sensed something off in Chu Ling’s sudden, casual remark. Especially paired with that expression, he felt someone was about to get into trouble.

“My lord… what… what are you planning?” Shangguan Shi asked tentatively.

Chu Ling smiled warmly at him.

Shangguan Shi shivered involuntarily.

“Shangguan family in Dongle City… aren’t you being suppressed by the Xuanyuan family? As members of your own clan, seeing your branch in such a pitiful state… doesn’t it feel humiliating?” Chu Ling asked with a smile.

Shangguan Shi was thinking how to answer when Shangguan Cheng immediately shouted, “The Xuanyuan family is full of useless people, yet they dare compete with my Shangguan family! Shameless!”

Chu Ling glanced at Shangguan Shi. Shangguan Shi gave a wry smile. “We will follow your orders entirely, my lord.”

“I’ve just arrived in Dongle City and am unfamiliar with everything, so I need the Shangguan family to stand unconditionally by my side,” Chu Ling said.

Shangguan Shi stood. “Yes, my lord.”

Chu Ling nodded with satisfaction. That’s right—a wise man seizes the moment!