TGCFNM -Chapter 227 Someone Has Taken the Blame

Chu Ling no longer concerned herself with the commotion up front. After instructing Wan Sanjin to properly secure the evidence, she prepared to adjourn the court.

But at that moment, someone suddenly rushed in, trembling as he looked at her.

“Your Excellency, the eldest young master of the Qi family has hanged himself.”

Chu Ling pressed her hand against the desk and looked down at the man below. “Qi Shizhao has hanged himself?”

“Yes—yes! The eldest young master dismissed everyone personally and returned to his room. When he was seen again, he had already taken his own life.”

Xuanyuan Ze said softly, “Perhaps he realized his sins were too grave.”

A realization dawned on Chu Ling. That’s right—there was still the matter of Qi Shizhao forcibly purchasing fertile farmland. She had intended to investigate it personally. Yet now Qi Shizhao had died just like that?

It truly caught her off guard.

Xuanyuan Ze glanced at Chu Ling’s expression and said leisurely, “Your Excellency, back then Master Qi insisted on joining the moneylending business. He constantly used his reputation as the enlightenment teacher of the Xuanyuan family’s descendants to issue loans. His hands were stained with more than a few lives.”

If Chu Ling had only suspected before, she was now certain.

Qi Shizhao’s suicide was because of the Xuanyuan family.

Qi Shizhao likely knew even more. So even if she had not yet uncovered it, he had to die.

“And in Patriarch Xuanyuan’s view, how should this matter be handled?” Chu Ling deliberately asked.

Xuanyuan Ze had not expected her to suddenly consult him. After a moment of thought, he replied, “Naturally, the family members should be expelled from Dongle City, and the Qi family property confiscated.”

Chu Ling put on a troubled expression and said softly, “Patriarch Xuanyuan speaks reasonably. It should indeed be handled that way… Very well. The Qi family members may pack their belongings and leave. No one is to make things difficult for them. Master Wan, take men to seal the Qi residence. When Nangong… when Baihu arrives, hand it over to her for handling.”

Wan Sanjin bowed. “Yes, Your Excellency.” With that, he led the constables away.

When Xuanyuan Ze heard the word “Nangong,” his pupils contracted. He clenched his fists, then suddenly pulled out a thorned branch from behind Xuanyuan He and viciously lashed it down.

Xuanyuan He could not endure it and let out a miserable cry, startling the surrounding townspeople, who hurriedly stepped back.

Chu Ling narrowed her eyes. “To know one’s mistake and correct it is the greatest virtue… But choosing one’s friends poorly—that is not so good.” With that, she turned and left.

Xuanyuan Ze paused for a few moments over the words “choosing one’s friends poorly,” then resumed striking again.

—

Back courtyard of the prefectural office.

Chu Ling slowly removed her official hat and said softly to Ghost Scholar beside her, “I hadn’t even finished investigating Qi Shizhao, and now he’s dead.”

“Let it end here,” Ghost Scholar said quietly. “The Xuanyuan family has gone this far to ensure you have nothing left to investigate. Continuing would only mean more deaths.”

Bai Su frowned. “These aristocratic families are as ruthless as ever. Even a collateral branch is no different from the main house.”

Chu Ling looked at the evidence delivered by the Nangong family.

The evidence had been used, and the Xuanyuan family had indeed suffered a small setback—but this was only the beginning.

Very soon, news of her interrogation of the Xuanyuan family would spread rapidly to the capital. And the matter of the Xuanyuan family profiting from moneylending and doing business with Great Yuan would immediately be magnified.

When that time came, that would be the true test for the Xuanyuan family.

“The ambiguous remark you made today, Your Excellency, must have caught Xuanyuan Ze’s attention,” Ghost Scholar said. “If the Xuanyuan family cannot resolve this matter cleanly, their first choice will be to drag the other great families into it. The muddier the waters, the safer they’ll be.”

Bai Su suddenly laughed, the more she laughed, the more delighted she became. “That clever little imp said she wanted to turn the noble families of Dongle City upside down. Now, that wish is practically within reach.”

Ghost Scholar sighed. “Yes. Who would have thought that pulling a single thread could bring everyone down with it?”

“In the end, it’s because these noble families aren’t united. That’s why I had the chance to make a move,” Chu Ling said, holding her official hat as she looked at Madam Qi.

“I will see to it that you are properly buried. I hope that in your next life, you’ll meet a marriage of your own choosing—or that you’ll be free to live your life in whatever way you wish.”

Madam Qi bowed gently, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at Chu Ling. “Your Excellency, if there is a next life, I only hope to be a free person.”

“Very well. May you be a free person in your next life,” Chu Ling blessed her softly.

Madam Qi bowed once more, and her figure slowly faded away.

Chu Ling watched her disappear, her gaze distant, as if she had fallen into deep thought.

It wasn’t until Bai Su gently drew her into an embrace and whispered by her ear, “You are not her. You can choose to live your life in your own way.”

Chu Ling nodded lightly. “Aunt Su, I also want to be a free person.” Not someone bound and constrained by feudal rites and conventions.

Ghost Scholar looked at Chu Ling. “The time is about right. When do you plan to leave Dongle City?”

After thinking for a moment, Chu Ling replied, “First, I’ll resolve the farmland issues affecting the common people. Second, we’ll wait for Wan Xing to arrive and add another spark to the fire. Once it burns even brighter, Nangong Baihu should arrive as well. At that point, we’ll leave the matters that need handling to her, and we’ll head to Tianjian Mountain.”

Ghost Scholar lowered his eyes, calculating the timing. “According to the letter from Master Wan, it should be within a day or two.”

Bai Su sighed with feeling. “That child is truly intelligent—and quite capable.”

“To become the wealthiest man in the storm-tossed Great Zhou speaks volumes about his methods,” Ghost Scholar said with emotion. “But the key is that his methods aren’t base. He’s simply clever and formidable. His eyes can see the entire grand scheme.”

Chu Ling suddenly looked at the two of them with curiosity. “Between Wan Xing and Fu Qingyu, who do you think is more formidable?”

“Both are formidable,” Bai Su said seriously. “The kind of formidable that’s deeply concealed. You’re no match for them.”

Chu Ling pouted. “I’m not planning to be their enemy. Naturally, I won’t be their opponent.”

Ghost Scholar added, “What makes them formidable is how deeply they conceal their ambition. On the surface, you can’t see it at all.”

Chu Ling nodded. Indeed, Wan Xing appeared to be nothing more than a genial businessman, while Fu Qingyu—needless to say—was the gentle, jade-like First Young Master.

Ghost Scholar then said, “By trying the Xuanyuan family, you won’t just throw the noble houses into chaos—you may also draw attention to yourself. So after we visit Tianjian Mountain, we’ll return to Sishui County.”

Unlike before, Chu Ling didn’t seem overly worried.

“I’ve already found someone to take the fall for this,” she said, folding her arms. “We’ll say I was coerced by Qinglong and had no choice but to intervene.” With that, she prepared to write another letter to Prince Rui.

Prince Rui loathed the noble families—he would certainly help her cover it up.

A short while later, Su He entered through the side door. “Your Excellency, Master Qi’s body has been taken away by the Qi family. They’ll likely bury him together with Qi Shizhao today. As for Madam Qi, I’ve arranged for someone to prepare a separate burial.”

Chu Ling nodded. “When Madam Qi is buried, let’s go personally and burn some paper offerings for her, so her journey will be peaceful.”

“Yes, Your Excellency,” Su He replied.