TGCFNM -Chapter 313 Concealing the Truth

The middle-aged man froze for a moment, instinctively raising his hand in defense, glaring at Chu Ling as he asked, “Weren’t you here to apologize?”

“I am, after all, someone under Prince Rui, and I have a temper too!” Chu Ling brushed him aside and moved toward the carriage to leave.

The middle-aged man stumbled, nearly falling. He was fuming, but when he saw Chu Ling’s indifferent expression and glanced at the food box, he gritted his teeth and said, “At most, two people.”

Chu Ling paused mid-step, looking at Wan Sanjin. “Master Wan, hold it carefully.” Then she looked at the middle-aged man, sizing him up from head to toe with a look of disdain, and said, “Lead the way.”

The middle-aged man snorted and stepped ahead to guide them.

Chu Ling, walking behind, deliberately spoke in a voice neither too loud nor too soft: “Why send someone so casually to receive guests? Clearly, they have no manners.”

Wan Sanjin muttered from the side, “The backyard guard of some lousy Ningzhou prefect—you really expect him to know etiquette, sir?”

Chu Ling furrowed her brows. “True enough. Small places really can’t compare to the capital.”

The man leading the way flushed with anger but gritted his teeth and said nothing, because the two behind had mentioned the capital.

Could it really be officials from the capital?

When they arrived, the middle-aged man stiffly extended a hand, inviting them inside, then gave a subtle signal to the servant at the door before stepping back.

The servant immediately bowed and allowed them in, stopping the maid who was about to serve tea. He slightly adjusted the lid of the first cup before letting her enter.

Prefect Xue raised his small mustache and smiled at the visitors. “Please, sit. Bring the tea.”

The maid carefully brought in the tea, placing it down quietly before retreating.

Prefect Xue noticed the slightly askew tea lid, picked it up without showing any emotion, gently brushed the leaves, tasted a bit, and asked, “Chu Ling, today you come for the purpose of…”

“To deliver a gift,” Chu Ling said bluntly, signaling Wan Sanjin to bring out the food box.

Wan Sanjin slammed the gift box onto the table with a heavy thud, startling everyone in the room.

Prefect Xue was momentarily taken aback, then suddenly smiled, eyes narrowing as he looked at Chu Ling with subtle cunning. “Chu Ling, are you seeking peace?”

“Yes, peace. Recently, my brothers in the capital passed on some news. Otherwise, I’d never have come here even kicking and screaming.” Chu Ling wore an expression of exaggerated reluctance, as if compelled by unavoidable circumstances.

Prefect Xue: “…Chu Ling, you are indeed honest.”

Chu Ling crossed her legs, casually lifted the tea lid, blew on the leaves twice, and set it back down, visibly displeased, yet she still spoke: “I hope you, Prefect Xue, can be magnanimous. Let’s just call this settled. I’ve brought the apology along with the gift.”

Prefect Xue was curious. “What news did your brothers in the capital bring you that made someone under Prince Rui come personally to apologize to me?” His eyes glanced at the food box.

Chu Ling answered straightforwardly, “The Lian family’s adopted daughter has entered the palace and is much favored. Also, the emperor is visiting Tiantan Temple soon, and it seems confirmed that Young Master Xiao will be in charge of the guard.”

Prefect Xue was shocked, springing to his feet so quickly he almost knocked over his teacup. “Chu Ling, surely you’re tricking me!”

Chu Ling put on an innocent expression.

Prefect Xue snorted, his beady eyes fixed on her, filled with hostility.

Chu Ling lowered her gaze and let out a derisive laugh. “Otherwise, why do you think I came here? With my connections in the capital, I wouldn’t even need to look at your face!”

Her anger rising, Chu Ling slammed the table. The teacup shattered on the floor.

For a moment, Prefect Xue’s eyes darted about, and he turned his back, slightly flustered.

“Just say it—do we reconcile or not!” Chu Ling said impatiently. “If you agree, take this small token from me, and we’ll let this matter drop. No one ever brings it up again.”

Prefect Xue turned around, frowning. “The Lian family has no daughter.”

“An adopted daughter!” Chu Ling frowned.

“The Lian family has no adopted daughter either,” Prefect Xue said sharply.

Chu Ling’s expression darkened. She stood up and called back loudly, “Nonsense. Of course they don’t—they chose a girl of pure background internally, sent straight from the Little Deer Sect. Now she’s serving beside the emperor, holding the lamp.”

Prefect Xue froze. This person was giving far too many details—could everything she said be true?

“The adopted daughter isn’t important. What matters is that the emperor’s only designated escort on his travels was Young Master Xiao. Even though it didn’t happen in the end, the emperor’s trust in him is obvious,” Chu Ling said, turning her back in anger. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come here myself.”

By now, Prefect Xue was already about sixty percent convinced. He forced a smile. “Brother, it was just a momentary impulse. How could I possibly hold it against you?”

Chu Ling’s features tightened together, and after a long pause, she turned calmly. “So, the gift—will you accept it or not?”

“Yes, yes, of course I’ll accept it. It’s just…” Prefect Xue hesitated. “Brother, where did you get this information…”

Chu Ling’s eyes flicked, and she deliberately spoke vaguely: “Isn’t there an Observatory Pavilion in the capital…”

Prefect Xue’s confidence rose to eighty percent. So the news came from the Observatory Pavilion—no wonder, no wonder.

Clearly, this person in front of him had a powerful backing.

Well, after all, a mere county magistrate holding the Prince Rui’s token…

Ghost Scholar looked at Prefect Xue and laughed. “He’s hooked. Get ready to pull him up.”

Chu Ling cleared her throat and looked at Prefect Xue. “I have one more thing to say. Everyone else must leave.”

Prefect Xue waved his hand, dismissing everyone from the room.

Chu Ling also sent Wan Sanjin out, preparing to act.

When only the two of them remained in the room, Chu Ling spoke openly: “My brother asked me to do a favor, so I’m reminding you—and Young Master Xiao as well.”

Prefect Xue composed himself. “Please, go on.”

“The iron mines in Dongle City used to be controlled by the Nangong family, but it seems the emperor wants to hand them over to Prince Su,” Chu Ling said quietly.

Prefect Xue’s eyes widened. “No… no, how could that be…”

“How could it not be?” Chu Ling said lightly, smiling, and tore open a packet of powdered medicine, scattering it at him.

Prefect Xue collapsed to the ground, and in a dizzy haze, he looked at Chu Ling’s vaguely strange face before sinking into a deep sleep.

“Master, I just said that one line. What could that line possibly reveal?” Chu Ling asked, kicking Prefect Xue.

Ghost Scholar shook his folding fan gently. “If the Dongle City iron mines go to Prince Su, it means his power will rise dramatically, disrupting their original plan. According to their previous arrangement, their iron mines would have been the largest, giving them the most weapons.”

Chu Ling’s eyes lit up. “So it wasn’t a small mine at all. Prefect Xue was covering his tracks.”

Ghost Scholar nodded with absolute certainty. “Definitely.”