TGCFNM -Chapter 196 The Crime of Resisting Arrest Upgraded

The elderly master of the Si family’s face turned deathly pale, and he spat out harshly, “We’ll see about this.”

Chu Ling curled her lips into a cold smile and gestured for Wan Sanjin to bring out the indictments Su He had written last night. She read them aloud directly in public.

“Si Qing, eldest son of the Si family, under the orders of the Si family patriarch, colluded with martial arts figures, intending to assassinate court officials. The evidence is conclusive, and Si Qing has already signed for it.”

“Madam Cheng Yunshu of the Si family entrusted Lord Chu to investigate the accidental death of Old Master Cheng. If the truth is revealed, all of Old Master Cheng’s assets shall be transferred to Lord Chu. Madam Cheng Yunshu has already signed for this!”

“All indictments of those admitting to their crimes are here. Each has been written on two separate sheets—everyone can take a look.”

Having spoken, Wan Sanjin deliberately spread out the papers and walked around, showing them to everyone.

The Si family patriarch gritted his teeth and asked Chu Ling, “You really don’t intend to let this drop, do you?”

Chu Ling raised her brow slightly. At the same moment, the constables behind her arrived, standing firmly in formation, exuding authority.

“Take the assailants Si Qing and Cheng Yunshu, and also the main conspirator, the Si family patriarch, and detain them in the jail. Await further trial!” Chu Ling raised her hand and ordered.

“Yes, Lord Chu!”

The constables obeyed immediately and went to apprehend them.

The Si family was startled and immediately began resisting, shielding their leaders in the center and resolutely preventing the arrest.

“The crime of resisting arrest is upgraded. Once inside, no one may visit,” Chu Ling said, raising her eyes to a certain spot.

The city guards ran over in formation—dozens of them. The clanging of armor and heavy footsteps sounded like drums pounding on one’s heart, forcing people to step aside in awe.

The leader stepped forward briskly. “Lord Chu, any instructions?”

Chu Ling looked at the unfamiliar man and gave direct orders: “The Si family intends to harm court officials. You are to capture them, detain them in the jail, secure them with chains, and leave a few guards to oversee them. No one is allowed to visit.”

“Yes, Lord Chu!”

The leader waved his hand, commanding the men to seize the prisoners, shouting loudly: “If there is resistance, use force immediately—life or death is irrelevant.”

At these words, the Si family’s faces changed dramatically, and they were soon subdued.

The leader then ascended the stone steps and stood before Chu Ling, clasping his fists in salute. “I am the newly assigned city garrison general: Jiang Wu.”

Chu Ling scrutinized him for several moments, then suddenly blurted out, “Qinglong!”

“…”

“Lord Chu, I am Jiang Wu.”

“Don’t pretend. I recognized you,” Chu Ling said, glancing at the Si family members being led away and the citizens’ barely concealed joy, her lips curving slightly.

Wan Sanjin whispered, “Lord Chu, I’ve never seen anyone just hand themselves over like this.”

Chu Ling nodded slightly. “Powerful families rely on their connections with court officials and the officials’ influence. But as long as someone is unafraid of death and can mobilize people to control them, even they are powerless.”

Qinglong seized the moment to speak. “Lord Chu, Jiang Wu will take his leave first.”

Chu Ling tilted her head and lowered her voice, threatening, “You’d better come with me to the back entrance of the yamen now and explain what’s going on.”

Qinglong stiffened—how had this corrupt official realized it was him?

Chu Ling instructed Wan Sanjin to recruit a few dozen more men while the crowd was still here, to go dig up the grave in the afternoon, then led Qinglong into the yamen, all the way to the back courtyard.

“Xiao Hua, bring two cups of hot tea. There’s an old acquaintance here,” Chu Ling said, a trace of mockery in her eyes.

Xiao Hua studied Qinglong carefully, then suddenly exclaimed, “Qinglong!”

Qinglong’s eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Xiao Hua, pointing to his own face: “Me! I even disguised myself!”

Xiao Hua said innocently, “But I’ve carried you before, so I know what your build is like.” With that, she went downstairs to bring some hot tea.

Chu Ling sat upright and looked at Qinglong. “Speak. When did you arrive? What’s your purpose? Does Prince Rui know I’m in Dongle City? What are you planning?”

Qinglong stubbornly replied, “I can’t say!”

Chu Ling crossed her legs, her expression calm. “Prince Rui didn’t even ask me to return the Bihu Token, and he let the city guards follow my orders. That means… there are some things you can tell me.”

Qinglong frowned but remained silent.

“Besides, you still owe me so much money, and after all this time, the only thing you’ve brought is news of Bai Zhuoxing. How can you even be proud of that?” Chu Ling said disdainfully.

Qinglong retorted, “This news wasn’t easy to get.”

Chu Ling gestured for Qinglong to sit and said, “Through investigating Nangong Jue’s case, I could already deduce that Bai Zhuoxing is in Dongle City. Yet after coming here, you find he’s vanished again.”

Qinglong’s expression darkened. “We still can’t track where he went.”

Chu Ling raised an eyebrow. She had guessed Bai Zhuoxing would go to Tianjian Mountain—but she couldn’t say so, or it might ruin their plans.

“So, tell me. What’s really going on?” Chu Ling asked.

Qinglong looked up cautiously at Chu Ling, then slowly said, “Prince Rui knew we were going to give you news of Bai Zhuoxing. He guessed you’d come to Dongle City but told us not to interfere, saying he wanted to see what you would do.”

Chu Ling folded her arms. “What have I done?”

“Investigating cases, looking into the Gao family, investigating the great families… doing everything to take down people you dislike,” Qinglong said.

Chu Ling didn’t comment; none of that was surprising.

“Prince Rui thinks you’re easy to read, so he didn’t reclaim the Bihu Token. He let you hold the token to assert authority, taking advantage of situations as you see fit,” Qinglong continued.

Chu Ling propped her chin on her hand. Seeing it this way, Prince Rui wasn’t such a bad person.

Qinglong added, “Dongle City may seem like the four great families are at each other’s throats, but in reality, they’ve been united, making it hard for outsiders to intervene. But after you arrived, Prefect Zhao died unexpectedly. You took over the prefecture, provoked all four great families, and that gave us the chance to step in.”

Chu Ling raised her hand to interrupt Qinglong, frowning. “So basically, I stir things up in the front, and you all swoop in?”

Qinglong nodded seriously. “Exactly!”

Chu Ling leaned back in her chair, displeased as she looked at Qinglong: so these people had really set her up as the vanguard.

“How long will you stay in Dongle City?” Chu Ling asked.

“Uncertain. I must be ready to follow the prince’s orders at any time. But if you command, you can directly deploy the city guards—they’re all under us,” Qinglong replied.

Chu Ling nodded, then lowered her brows, eyes down, thinking for a long while. Finally, she slowly looked up at Qinglong, as if hatching a plan.

Qinglong felt a shiver run through him and jumped up. “What are you going to do?!”

“Since you’re free anyway, you might as well help me investigate something while the Si family is being arrested and imprisoned,” Chu Ling commanded, leaving no room for refusal.

Qinglong frowned. “What is it?”

“Trace where the Si family’s money went. Once you figure that out, I’ll have a way to deal with those great families,” Chu Ling said.

Qinglong thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement.