TGCFNM -Chapter 205 A Favor of a Meal

Chu Ling looked at Cheng Yunshu, who still seemed intent on avoiding the confrontation, and directly summoned Xiu’er.

“Xiu’er, tell everything that happened back then, down to the last detail,” Chu Ling said.

Xiu’er knelt and kowtowed, then carefully recounted the testimony once more. When she finished, she said, “My lord, I swear to heaven that everything I’ve said is true.”

After speaking, Xiu’er raised her fearsome-looking face and stared at Cheng Yunshu.

“Miss, you believed the false words of your husband back then. To seize all the Cheng family’s wealth and cover up the truth, you even ordered someone to kill me. Do you remember? If you don’t, you can look at the scar on my face and think carefully.”

“That’s enough!” Nanny Wang shouted. “Miss didn’t do it on purpose. Miss… Miss just—”

“She was just weak and incompetent,” Chu Ling added coldly.

Xiu’er wiped her tears and looked at Nanny Wang, continuing, “Master was such a good man. How could you be so cruel? How could you?”

Nanny Wang gritted her teeth and said, “Miss is Master’s cherished daughter. Protecting Miss would bring peace to Master’s spirit in heaven.”

“He won’t be at peace, because he was killed by his own daughter,” Xiu’er shouted.

Cheng Yunshu’s crying abruptly stopped. She looked at Xiu’er in disbelief and whispered, “It was me… I killed him?”

“Yes, it was you!” Xiu’er cried out.

Chu Ling suddenly paused, glancing at the kneeling Xiu’er below, then toward Xiao Hua standing by the side of the rear gate of the manor.

Xiao Hua stuck out her tongue and smiled sheepishly.

Yu Furong had left, and the one kneeling in the hall was the real Xiu’er, bravely coming forward to testify herself.

Chu Ling pretended to be angry and gave Xiao Hua a glare, then looked back at the hall.

Xiu’er wiped her tears and looked at Cheng Yunshu. “I thought you had finally become smart, that you would seek justice for Master. But in the end… you remain unrepentant! You abandoned your father who loved you, disregarded your loyal servants, and together with Nanny Wang, threw yourself blindly into that fire pit. What did you gain? What do you have?”

Tears streamed down Cheng Yunshu’s face. “I… what did I gain? What do I have?”

A Si family that despised her merchant origins, Si children who looked down on her bloodline, a husband who was never home, and her family estate that had been completely schemed away?

She had gained nothing, and everything she once had was gone without a trace.

Cheng Yunshu’s face instantly drained of all color. She collapsed, staggering, into Nanny Wang’s arms, hoarse as she cried out, “Nanny Wang… it was me… I killed father… I killed father.”

Nanny Wang, tears streaming down her face, held Cheng Yunshu tightly and whispered, “It’s not your fault, Miss. It’s not your fault.”

Chu Ling took out the testimony, had the real Xiu’er sign it, and pronounced the judgment in court.

“This official hereby sentences the murderer Si Qìng to imprisonment, to be executed in three days.”

At this moment, Si Qìng finally came to his senses. “You actually dare sentence me? I am a member of the Si family!”

Chu Ling directly gestured to two constables and ordered, “Shut his mouth, and take him straight to prison. No one is allowed to visit him.”

“Wait!”

Someone shouted from outside, trying to rush in.

Chu Ling looked at the two constables and said, “Who’s the master here, them or me? Do we need to listen to them? Take him down immediately!”

“Yes, my lord!”

The people of the Si family charged in with all their might, a group of them directly blocking the constables as they grit their teeth and shouted at Chu Ling, “How dare you pass judgment on the Si family’s people, and still keep our old master imprisoned until now! Where did you borrow such audacity from?!”

Chu Ling suddenly smacked her forehead. “Ah, right, the Si family’s old master is still locked up. But… since you’ve been so insolent, I suppose we can extend that imprisonment by another month.”

“You—!”

Chu Ling raised an eyebrow. “Yes, me. The courage the heavens gave me—what can you do about it?”

“People of the Si family, hear my order!” one of them bellowed, eyes blazing.

Chu Ling lifted a hand. “Constables, hear my order: if anyone from the Si family dares to storm the prison to seize someone, that is blatant defiance of the law. Such a crime adds one degree of guilt—feel free to act without hesitation! I want to see whether this world truly belongs to His Majesty, or to the great families!”

The Si family members froze in place.

If this were the capital, the Si family would certainly have someone to exert pressure. But here, in Dongle City, none of the Si family’s branches held official positions, so naturally no one could suppress Chu Ling.

“Lord Chu, think carefully—these are members of the Si family you are judging!” one spat through clenched teeth.

Chu Ling nodded, entirely composed. “Thanks for the reminder. I haven’t judged the wrong person.” With that, she waved her hand, and the constables began to escort the prisoners away.

The Si family members glared red-eyed, fury burning as they shot a venomous glance at Cheng Yunshu, venting their anger. “Ignorant woman! Your husband is dead because of you—are you satisfied now?!”

Cheng Yunshu looked up in shock. “Weren’t you the ones who told me to report this?”

“You’re talking nonsense! You jinx, you are the bane of your husband’s life!” the man raged, then swept his sleeves and stormed off.

Chu Ling glanced at the Si family and immediately issued a new order: “Si Qing is to be beheaded this afternoon.”

Thinking about going to the capital to save him? Forget it.

Cheng Yunshu suddenly let out a bitter laugh, her voice rising. She struggled to her feet, tears streaming down her face as she looked at Chu Ling. “Lord, I am grateful that you captured the true murderer of my father. I am willing to give all of the Cheng family’s property to you.”

“Nanny Wang!” Cheng Yunshu called.

Nanny Wang wiped her tears, took something from her sleeve, and personally handed it to Wan Sanjin.

Wan Sanjin received it and looked to Chu Ling.

Chu Ling smiled and whispered, “See if Qinglong has woken. If he has, let him go to the Si family for money. This is his chance. If he handles it well, and I’m in a good mood, I might consider giving him the account books.”

Wan Sanjin nodded and went ahead to the rear office.

“Miss Cheng, constant avoidance and compromise are not the right path. Take care of yourself,” Chu Ling said, standing.

“Withdraw!”

Cheng Yunshu bowed slightly; Nanny Wang immediately supported her.

Cheng Yunshu looked at Xiu’er, whose face bore scars, and felt a pang of guilt. “Xiu’er, I am sorry.”

Xiu’er wiped her tears. “Miss, Miss Yu asked me to tell you that she never intended to enter the Si household. She only approached Si Qing because of the kindness your father once showed her. Miss, Xiu’er takes her leave.”

Cheng Yunshu sank, sorrowful. “I am worse than outsiders. Outsiders knew how to catch my father’s true killer, yet I only cared about protecting my own reputation.”

“Miss,” Nanny Wang called tenderly, “your heart is pure—you wouldn’t understand these things.”

Cheng Yunshu wiped her tears, forced herself to stand straight, and her eyes blazed with hatred. “The Si family… a fine Si family indeed. Since they are merciless, they cannot blame me for being unjust.”

All the humiliation she suffered, she would reclaim!

These ungrateful bastards who spent her wealth? She would make them pay!