TGCFNM -Chapter 306 Who Is It!

“Master?”

A weak voice came from behind Chu Ling, the muffled sobs tinged with surprise.

Chu Ling stopped and turned around.

Fuxiang stood there, her blood-stained dress clinging to her, swaying unsteadily. Cui Xi hurried to support her, half-carrying her in her arms.

Ghost Scholar silently gestured to Chu Ling to come over.

When Wan Sanjin and Su He entered and saw the horrific scene before them, they immediately rushed to Chu Ling’s side.

Su He knelt on the blood-soaked floor, his fingers trembling slightly as he reached for Fuxiang’s neck. After a long moment, he spoke in a low voice: “…She’s dead.”

Wan Sanjin collapsed to his knees, eyes wide with disbelief: “Sister Bodhisattva… dead? Why? Right now—right now Uncle Wu was supposed to take them to Tianjian City! Right now, they were about to start a new life!”

“Master,” Su He looked up at Chu Ling, “may I examine the body?”

Chu Ling glanced at Fuxiang. Fuxiang nodded.

Chu Ling responded with a calm, measured voice: “Master Wan, it’s not safe to examine her body in the inn. Help Su He find a place, arrange some people to guard it, and let him examine her body. Once that’s arranged, come with me to the prefecture office to get the people we need.”

Wan Sanjin gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stand, and strode outside.

Su He looked at the women and asked, “Who did this?”

The women doubled over in pain, crying out: “Soldiers… those… those soldiers who tricked us!”

Chu Ling closed her eyes, suppressing her fury: “I thought leaving Yuanzhou meant we were safe… I didn’t even dare to go out in Ningzhou… yet they came to our door…”

Truly lawless.

“Master,” Fuxiang whispered, tugging at Chu Ling’s sleeve, shaking her head through tears:
“Don’t investigate…”

Chu Ling raised her eyes, already red-rimmed and full of tears.

“Why shouldn’t I investigate!” Chu Ling roared.

The room fell silent. Su He suddenly turned to look at Chu Ling, who had her back to him.

Ghost Scholar looked at her with helpless pain: “Master, you know why.”

Chu Ling suddenly laughed, bitter and tragic: “Of course I know why. Because they are lowly people, they can’t even report it to the authorities. Even in death, no one dares to care. And I—just a mere county magistrate—am facing a general of the Yuanzhou army! The difference between us is like heaven and earth. A simple token from the Prince of Rui can never bridge it.”

Su He hurriedly stood, stepping forward to support Chu Ling.

Tears fell from Chu Ling’s eyes: “As an official in charge of the people, I face citizens who save me by rationing their own food… and I can’t even seek justice for her.”

Fuxiang looked at her sorrowfully, shaking her head desperately: “Master, it’s not worth it… Fuxiang isn’t worth it.”

Chu Ling wiped her tears with her sleeve, speaking slowly and deliberately: “Then I will! I will investigate, I will pass judgment!”

Just then, Uncle Wu and the others reached the doorway and heard her words. Tilting his head to look at the brutal scene inside, he said with eyes glistening: “The prefecture office needs you to go immediately, Master. I’ll handle things here.”

Chu Ling decisively rushed downstairs, meeting up with Wan Sanjin, who had already arranged the preparations.

The two left together and ran into Uncle Hong leading horses. Uncle Hong looked at them and said: “I know what happened. They’re currently tied up at the prefecture office and being punished. Also, Master Chu Ling, this prefect isn’t a good man.”

After hearing this, Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin immediately leapt onto their horses.

Uncle Hong slapped his horse’s rump and shouted, “They know the way!” Then, watching their figures disappear around the street corner, he immediately called over someone: “Go and deliver the news to the eldest young master.”

“Yes.”

As that figure melted into the crowd, Uncle Hong stepped through the doors of the Fulai Inn.

Outside the government office.

By now, quite a crowd had gathered. The sound of wooden boards striking down came sharply, one after another, each blow hitting flesh.

The gruesome scene made many people want to close their eyes, but the government constables stared intently—anyone who dared shut their eyes would be thrown in jail.

Prefect Xue, twirling his small mustache, bared a mouthful of yellow teeth: “You lowly scum! Not only do you dare to steal from the military lord, you even dare to hurt people! These one hundred blows are meant to teach you a lesson. Fortunately, the military lord is kindhearted, sparing your worthless lives—you should all be grateful…”

Before his words had even finished, a tiny arrow shot straight toward his eyes.

Terrified, Prefect Xue screamed and ducked, clutching his head.

Two shrill cries rang out; the crowd immediately parted as two figures dismounted with agility.

Chu Ling strode forward and directly brandished the Prince Rui’s token: “Stop, all of you!”

Prefect Xue, seeing the newcomer, tried to speak, but upon glimpsing the Prince Rui’s token, his legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground in a kneel.

Chu Ling looked coldly at the constables, then swept her gaze over the frightened, motionless crowd, letting out a scoff: “Amazing, huh? Strap a big sword at your waist, and suddenly you think you’re some important man. A little power and you dare to bully the common folk.”

“Who gave you the gall!”

The constables exchanged uneasy glances, but said nothing. Their prefect was already kneeling—what could they possibly do?

Realizing his own disgrace, Prefect Xue forced himself to stand and faced Chu Ling: “You are under the command of the Prince Rui…”

Chu Ling deliberately lowered her gaze, looking down at the prefect who was shorter than her: “I am merely a county magistrate under the Prince Rui. How could I possibly deserve such a grand kneel from Prefect Xue?”

Hearing this, Prefect Xue’s anger flared. He pointed at Chu Ling and yelled: “How dare you! You’re just a lowly county magistrate, and yet you dare to order me around?”

“I have the token. Why shouldn’t I?” Chu Ling waved the token in her hand.

Prefect Xue sneered coldly: “The Prince Rui’s token has been lost, and news of it has already spread like wildfire in the capital. Now it seems… a little thief like you has stolen it.”

“Seize him!”

Wan Sanjin raised an eyebrow: “My lord… he does have some skill at being a rogue.”

Chu Ling responded with a casual hum, then looked at the constables rushing forward. With a single kick, she sent Prefect Xue flying and shouted: “This token is clearly granted by the Prince Rui himself! Everyone in the capital knows it. And yet you dare commit an offense beneath its authority? I’d say you’re asking for death!”

Prefect Xue clutched his chest, unsure whether to be shocked or fearful.

Chu Ling turned to the constables and barked: “Drop your swords, hug your heads, and squat against the wall. If even one of you doesn’t squat properly, your time doubles!”

The constables jumped, still thinking to help Prefect Xue.

“Don’t want to live, huh?” Chu Ling raised the token threateningly.

Wan Sanjin stepped forward and kicked one constable flying: “My lord said, drop your swords, hug your heads, and squat against the wall! Didn’t you hear her?”