TGCFNM -Chapter 219 Switched

Inside the courtyard.

Chu Ling carefully walked to the study door and glanced at the lock. Just as she was wondering how to open it, Bai Su took hold of her hand, drew out a silver needle, and inserted it into the keyhole.

Click.

The lock opened.

Chu Ling stared at the silver needle in shock and turned to Bai Su. “Aunt Su, you’re amazing. You even know how to do this?”

Bai Su lightly smacked her in mock annoyance. “Hurry up and get inside.”

“Alright.” Chu Ling responded in a low voice, slipped the needle back, and pushed open the study door.

Qi Shizhao’s study was not small. The shelves were crammed full of books, but upon closer inspection, a thin layer of dust lay over them—clearly, they had not been touched for a long time.

Chu Ling walked past the shelves toward the desk. Behind it was a small cabinet, about knee-high, with a lock hanging from it.

Bai Su once again grasped Chu Ling’s hand and began picking the lock.

After it opened, Chu Ling pulled out the top ledger. As soon as she opened it, she found a piece of paper tucked inside that resembled a banknote. After careful comparison, she realized it looked extremely similar to the one found hidden in Master Qi’s clothing lining.

“So it’s not a banknote—it’s an IOU.” Chu Ling murmured, holding the paper.

The paper recorded the amount the debtor owed to the lender, and serving as the guarantor in the middle was Wantong Money House.

So Wantong Money House was merely a shell operation, a front used to legitimize private transactions.

Chu Ling’s expression turned cold as she continued flipping through the ledger.

The more she read, the worse her expression became. Even though she didn’t fully understand accounting, she could clearly see something was wrong just from the amounts loaned out and the profits earned—the interest rates were outrageously high.

“Master Qi used his own reputation to let his son lend money. No wonder they made so much,” Chu Ling said quietly.

“Then… what about Lin Zhu?” Ghost Scholar asked.

Chu Ling closed the ledger and explained softly, “The Lin family runs a business and has always had a solid reputation. It’s normal for people to go to them to borrow money.”

Ghost Scholar stroked his beard and sighed. “Who knows how many families in Dongle City are engaged in moneylending? With such crushing interest rates, who knows how many people have been driven to ruin?”

“The laws of Great Zhou don’t explicitly forbid private lending. Trade is free, and these are agreements signed and sealed by both parties. Even if the authorities want to intervene, it’s not easy,” Chu Ling said.

Bai Su looked puzzled. “Then why did you still have Boss Bao investigate?”

“If moneylending has become so commonplace in Dongle City, that means it must have the backing of powerful noble families. Otherwise, it couldn’t have grown to this scale,” Chu Ling replied. She took all the ledgers out of the cabinet, then went to a bookshelf, casually pulled out a book, and tore off its cover.

Ghost Scholar nodded. “Exactly. To run such lending operations smoothly, they must have support from noble families.”

Bai Su still didn’t understand. “And then? Even if they are backed by noble families, what of it?”

“It’s an opportunity.” As Chu Ling spoke, she tore off the cover of the ledger, swapped the two covers, slipped the ledger onto the bookshelf, and then put the ordinary book—now wearing the ledger’s cover—back into the cabinet.

Ghost Scholar understood her plan and explained to Bai Su, “Noble families may appear glorious and powerful, but they are actually walking on thin ice. If ordinary families engage in moneylending, it might not attract much attention. But if it’s tied to a noble clan, the capital will certainly investigate.”

In simple terms, when a noble family makes a mistake, the consequences are far more severe.

After finishing the swap between the ledgers and the books, Chu Ling locked the cabinet again.

“Our Holy Emperor has grown old. And an old ruler is most prone to wild suspicion. Even my grandfather, the Grand General, had no choice but to take his own life to prove his innocence—let alone the great families,” Chu Ling said with a trace of mockery.

Ghost Scholar lightly tapped Chu Ling’s shoulder with his fan and sighed helplessly. “You really dare to say anything. Aren’t you afraid the walls might have ears?”

“My walls have ghosts, not ears.” Chu Ling clapped her hands and looked with satisfaction at her handiwork. “That should do it. Now we can invite the gentleman into the trap.”

Bai Su cast a doubtful glance at the account book Chu Ling had hidden inside the bookshelf. “Will this really work?”

“As long as we don’t give the Qi family time to react, this account book will be smoothly ‘discovered’ during the search.” With that, Chu Ling quietly moved to the door, slipped out, locked it again, and in one swift motion leapt onto the top of the wall.

—

Fu Qingyu lifted his teacup, took a slight sip, and set it down again.

Qingtong stood with eyes lowered and nose aligned with his heart, noticing that his young master had already finished three cups of tea. He lowered his voice and excused himself, “Young Master, I need to relieve myself.”

“Go on. Don’t wander about,” Fu Qingyu instructed.

Qingtong gave a quick acknowledgment and hurried off.

Fu Qingyu sighed and looked at Qi Shizhao. “My little book attendant truly lacks manners.”

“Not at all, not at all,” Qi Shizhao replied with a smile. “The attendant of the Number One Young Master Under Heaven—how could he be ordinary?”

Fu Qingyu gave a bitter smile and shook his head. “You flatter me. If not for Teacher Qi giving me my early education, I would never have achieved what I have today. That is why I presumptuously came to your door today… It’s just that my words carry little weight. Magistrate Chu refuses to listen to me. I truly have no other choice.”

At this, Qi Shizhao frowned deeply, displeasure rising in his heart. “This newly arrived magistrate certainly puts on airs. He even dares to detain my late father’s body.”

“You haven’t tried asking for it again?” Fu Qingyu asked softly, lowering his gaze.

“The general guarding the city has ordered men to keep watch over the charity graveyard day and night. How am I supposed to retrieve it?” Qi Shizhao gritted his teeth and suddenly slammed his hand on the table. “Once this matter is over, I will entrust a friend to submit a memorial to the court and have him convicted of a serious crime!”

“In truth, Young Master Qi need not be so angry. In any case, Magistrate Chu will not be able to uncover anything. When the time comes, you can simply accuse him directly, can you not?” Fu Qingyu said deliberately.

Sure enough, Qi Shizhao shifted his gaze away somewhat guiltily. After coughing twice, he said, “Naturally… he won’t find anything.”

Fu Qingyu nodded lightly. “Then there is nothing to worry about.”

Suddenly, Qi Shizhao turned to Fu Qingyu. “When does Young Master Fu plan to depart?”

Fu Qingyu pretended to calculate on his fingers. “Soon, I expect.”

A troubled look crossed Qi Shizhao’s face. “My father’s remains are still at the charity graveyard. After that Magistrate Chu finishes investigating and returns him, we must keep the coffin for seven days. If Young Master Fu leaves by then, I fear my father’s spirit in heaven will not rest at ease.”

Fu Qingyu paused in surprise. “Surely not. I am only one of Teacher’s many students. I am not that important.”

“No, you are very important!” Qi Shizhao insisted. “So I ask that Young Master Fu remain a while longer—consider it fulfilling your deep respect for my father.”

Fu Qingyu gave an awkward smile. “It is only right. I shall stay a little longer.”

Qi Shizhao’s face brightened with joy. “Good, good.”

At that moment, Qingtong came jogging back and shot a meaningful glance.

Fu Qingyu rose as well. “In that case, I shall return to review my books. If Young Master Qi has business, please go to the rear gate of the yamen and call for Qingtong. We can speak outside.”

“Very well, very well. Young Master Fu, please.” Qi Shizhao personally escorted him outside.

After offering another polite bow, Fu Qingyu departed with Qingtong.