TGCFNM -Chapter 305 The Purse

Chu Ling felt as if she had fallen into a dream; the happiness was almost unreal.

Wan Sanjin was dumbstruck too, then suddenly grabbed Su He by the shoulders and shook him violently, shouting, “We don’t have to rely on Big Brother to support us anymore! We can support ourselves!”

Su He looked completely bored as he was shaken, merely muttering an indifferent “Hmm, hmm,” signaling that he’d heard.

Uncle Wu watched the group and couldn’t help but laugh. “Now that you have money, what do you want to do?”

Chu Ling pinched her own cheek, thought for a long while, and finally managed to say, “Repair the county office in Sishui County, and also fix the roads.”

Su He raised his hand and called out, “I want the biggest charitable estate in all of Great Zhou!”

Wan Sanjin also raised his hand, “I want a big room, big enough to hold the underground dragon!”

Uncle Hong couldn’t help but laugh too. “Your wishes are really simple. How about this: I’ll leave a Tian Sheng Grand Bank in Sishui County. Whenever you need money, you can just withdraw it from there.”

Chu Ling happily cupped her hands. “Thank you, Uncle Hong.”

Uncle Wu looked at them with a smile. “Then I’ll shamelessly ask for thirty thousand taels from their gold and silver. With that, we can build a block of houses for Fuxiang and the others to live in.”

Chu Ling waved her hand generously. “No problem. This official has money.”

Uncle Wu patted the three on the head, as if they were his own children, then turned to Uncle Hong. “Since that’s settled, I’ll head to Ping’an Village first. You can take them back to Sishui County.”

Uncle Hong nodded. “I’ll send them.”

Chu Ling tugged at Wan Sanjin. “Does Uncle Hong know the way?”

Wan Sanjin hesitated. “He should know… he can’t be less familiar with the roads than Uncle Wu, right?”

Uncle Wu: The relief and attachment in his heart vanished in an instant.

Su He tilted his head to look at Chu Ling. “Once we’re back in Sishui County, life will settle down.”

Chu Ling nodded. They really should return.

As for whatever scheming happens in the capital, that’s their business. She had no intention of getting involved and becoming cannon fodder.

“By the way, there’s one more thing.” Uncle Hong looked at Chu Ling, unable to hide the smile on his face. “Everything is going smoothly with the eldest young master in Dongle City. The evidence is already being collected, and the land is secured. As for the evidence, the eldest young master will personally handle it in the capital.”

Chu Ling raised an eyebrow. “Looks like there’s going to be a show in the capital.”

“The eldest young master asked if Master Chu, would want to send a message to Prince Rui’s side?” Uncle Hong asked.

Chu Ling thought for a moment, then shook her head. “I don’t think it’s necessary. I guess Prince Rui is already involved, and everything is likely under his control.”

In the book, Prince Rui was a ruthless character. If it weren’t for the male lead’s aura as Heir Xiao, who would end up on the throne wouldn’t even be certain.

Ghost Scholar patted Chu Ling. “A message should be sent.”

Chu Ling suddenly said, “Alright, let’s send a message then.”

Uncle Hong nodded in agreement.

Only then did Ghost Scholar explain: “After all, you are under Prince Rui’s protection. Even if you plan to stay in Sishui County for the rest of your life, it’s important to maintain good connections above. Since this connection from Prince Rui has been offered to you, you should accept it.”

“Even if it seems trivial, and Prince Rui himself might already know about your collaboration with Wan Xing, by proactively stating it, the nature of the matter changes. It becomes clear that you were working for Prince Rui, collaborated with Wan Xing to complete the task, and only then reported back to him.”

Chu Ling couldn’t help but tilt her head, eyes widening slightly. It can work like that?

Ghost Scholar chuckled lightly. “Even if you want to spend your whole life in Sishui County, you can’t guard against higher officials who might come looking to give you trouble. Maintaining this connection is all benefit for you and no harm.”

Chu Ling remembered—this was a feudal dynasty.

After handling the matter, Uncle Wu led them back.

On the road, Uncle Wu looked at them and instructed, “From here on, follow your Uncle Hong’s arrangements and return obediently to Sishui County.”

Wan Sanjin looped his arm through Uncle Wu’s. “Don’t worry, Uncle Wu. We’re reliable.”

Uncle Wu let out a chuckle, clearly not believing them at all.

Chu Ling smiled and looped her arm around the other side. “Uncle Wu, when you retire and come to Sishui County, we’ll support you. We’re well-off now.”

Uncle Wu’s nose tinged with emotion. “I know. When the time comes, I’ll come to you for retirement support.”

Su He nodded. “Don’t worry, Uncle Wu. When that time comes, we’ll install a ‘Di Long’ in your house. You’ll live even more comfortably than Sect Leader Mei—he only has a thatched hut.”

Uncle Wu laughed and cried at the same time, about to respond, when his gaze suddenly sharpened.

At the entrance of the Fulai Inn, which had long been closed to guests, people were now packed inside and outside, three layers deep, shouting and screaming. The group felt a sudden sense of dread and rushed in.

Inside the main hall, tables and chairs were overturned, the young attendants lay on the floor clutching their stomachs, and blood was splattered everywhere.

Uncle Wu immediately found the innkeeper lying by the counter, helped him up, and asked anxiously, “What happened?”

The innkeeper held his stomach, cold sweat covering his forehead. “A group… a group of soldiers broke in, kicked over the tables and chairs, beat people, and rushed upstairs…”

Chu Ling’s expression changed. She immediately ran up the stairs.

On the second floor, the blood was even more widespread—on the railings, on the floor, even splattered across the window paper.

Su He and Wan Sanjin followed close behind.

The metallic stench of blood filled the air, and their expressions grew increasingly grim.

When Chu Ling stopped in front of a room, her entire body froze as if chilled to the bone. For a moment, she thought she must be dreaming, imagining things—the scene before her seemed unreal, like an illusion.

But the bloodstained floor, the muffled, trembling cries echoing in her ears, made denial impossible.

She stared in shock at Fuxiang, lying on the floor in disheveled clothes, a blood-stained sheet haphazardly covering her. Her wide, terrified eyes stared blankly at the ceiling; tears clung to the corners of her eyes, but she no longer breathed.

Around her, several other women, battered and bruised, huddled in pain, trembling as they clutched her hands, biting their fists to keep from crying out.

Chu Ling stepped forward, her shoes sinking into the fresh blood.

“Where’s Fuxiang’s Father? Where are the others?” she asked softly.

A woman with tangled hair shook as she replied, “Master… they… they were taken…”

“Taken where?” Chu Ling asked.

“To the government office… they said… said we, the lowly people, stole things…” The woman finally broke down, sobbing.

“Sister Fuxiang hid us… sob, sob… and then they tied her up and took her away. We tried to save her, the innkeeper tried to help… it didn’t work… it wouldn’t work… They’re generals. They have… so many… so many men…”

Chu Ling stepped closer and noticed a small box lying on the ground. An unfinished pouch had fallen out, stained with Fuxiang’s blood.

Inside the pouch were embroidered flowers, an image of ‘Chasing the Wind,’ Wan Sanjin’s ingots, mugwort that Su He liked, and her own character ‘Chu.’ Unfortunately, the embroidered auspicious clouds were not finished—they had been soaked in blood, blending into a single grim pattern.