TGCFNM -Chapter 314 Are You Sure About This Decision?

Chu Ling kicked Prefect Xue again and shouted, “Master Wan, are you done yet?”

Wan Sanjin suddenly pushed open the door. “Finished long ago, waiting for you, my lord.”

“All right, help him onto the chair, and place the steward and the master next to him in our seats. Put the meal box by the steward,” Chu Ling instructed.

Wan Sanjin immediately dragged the men inside. Together with Chu Ling, they arranged the three people as instructed, then clapped their hands and left, closing the door behind them.

“Su He and the others must have poisoned something. Let’s go straight to the study,” Chu Ling said, leaping onto the eaves of the roof to survey the area. After confirming a spot, she jumped down and ran with Wan Sanjin.

Meanwhile, Su He, along with Zhang Dong and Xiao Hua, scattered the powdered drug wherever they saw people. By the time they were exhausted, they went to the kitchen and put the medicine into the soup and boiling water.

Xiao Hua looked at the table full of dishes and complained, “So many dishes for just a few people?”

Su He glanced over and casually said, “There’s a basket over there. Just cover it with a plate and take everything away.”

Xiao Hua’s eyes lit up, and she immediately started packing.

Zhang Dong went over to help as well.

“Giving it to them would be a waste. Better to give it to the common people,” Xiao Hua said happily as she worked.

Back with Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin, they finally found the study. Behind the desk, inside a box used to prop up the table leg, they discovered a map.

They certainly couldn’t understand the map.

But a circle was drawn on it, very conspicuous.

Without hesitation, Chu Ling took the map and returned the box to prop up the table.

At that moment, Wan Sanjin pulled out an account book from a vase. After glancing at it briefly, he tucked it into his robe.

After putting the box back, Chu Ling said, “This map should be enough. Let’s go.”

The two of them left the room and ran toward the back door. When they reached it, they saw the wide-open door and the horse-drawn carriage waiting outside, and immediately got on.

Zhang Dong had secured the back gate, donned his straw hat, and drove the carriage away with them.

Chu Ling sat down, catching her breath. She wrinkled her nose and sniffed lightly. “Why does it smell like meat?”

“My lord, I brought it from their kitchen,” Xiao Hua said proudly.

Chu Ling looked at the two baskets, astonished. “You even had time to fetch the dishes?”

“Coroner Su had us sprinkle the medicine into the tea, the simmering soup, and on the ingredients. We just had to carry the cooked dishes away. They’ll have to remake everything, and all the medicine will be wasted,” Xiao Hua said, hands on her hips, clearly delighted.

Chu Ling gave a thumbs-up. “Impressive!”

“My lord, can I deliver all these dishes? There are so many poor people who have no food, even their porridge is watery,” Xiao Hua said pitifully.

Yesterday, when she went out with her brother, she saw the commoners—they were truly pitiful, extremely thin, as if they had never eaten a proper meal.

Chu Ling nodded. “Of course, but first give the dishes to the innkeeper at Fulai Inn. Then have the innkeeper serve them for free, claiming the restaurant has reopened.”

Xiao Hua nodded. “I’ll trouble Uncle Hong when I go back. I’ll help out then.”

“Cook more rice as well. Your lord is particularly rich right now,” Chu Ling said proudly.

Xiao Hua’s eyes sparkled. “Yes, my lord!”

After carefully returning to the inn, the people inside finally started moving. Soon, a carriage stopped in front of Fulai Inn, and guards stood on both sides.

Chu Ling and the others walked out of the inn and got into the carriage in front of the commoners, heading toward Tiansheng Grand Bank.

Inside the bank, Uncle Hong looked at the account book Wan Sanjin pulled out, so astonished that he nearly dropped it. “My young master, where did you find this?”

“In the vase,” Wan Sanjin said casually.

Uncle Hong was shocked, staring at Chu Ling: “This is the list of officials bribed by Prefect Xue. It clearly records how much silver was passed up and down the chain, and it even involves two scholars from the Imperial Academy.”

Chu Ling took it and glanced over it. She immediately saw Tao Jing’s name and allowed herself a faintly triumphant look at Ghost Scholar.

Ghost Scholar shook his head: “When we first met, you already said this person was a major corrupt official… and it turns out you were right.”

Chu Ling nodded in affirmation. This man was indeed a big-time corrupt official. More importantly, in this life, he had yet to retire and leave the capital.

But something was off. In the book, Tao Jing had retired after becoming Minister of Works. In this life, he was still only a Vice Minister.

Currently, the Minister of Works was the father of the Shangguan brothers.

“Tao Jing is a Vice Minister of Works, so I’m not sure if he knew about the iron mine, but as Minister of Works, Lord Shangguan will likely be implicated… Uncle Hong, deliver this account book to Lord Shangguan,” Chu Ling instructed.

Uncle Hong was taken aback: “Master, you know Lord Shangguan?”

Chu Ling shook her head: “No, but I know his two sons.”

Uncle Hong didn’t understand: “Master, why give this account book to Lord Shangguan?”

Chu Ling spread her hands: “I just want to do a favor. After all, I know the Shangguan brothers a little.”

Ghost Scholar, listening from the side, was surprised: “I thought this was part of your plan—to let Lord Shangguan catch the traitor himself, handle these corrupt officials, and at the same time, without going through Prince Rui, give Heir Xiao a blow. It would also force the Shangguan family to side with Prince Rui. Since you decided to support Prince Rui and have a history with the Shangguan brothers, it seems like a win-win strategy.”

Chu Ling’s eyes widened as she listened. So it could be done this way!

She cleared her throat, looking solemnly at everyone: “Actually, everything I do is planned. I didn’t just hand it to the Shangguan family casually, thinking only to curry favor…”

Then she repeated Ghost Scholar’s analysis word for word.

Uncle Hong sighed: “As expected of you, Master—far-sighted and strategic. We’re in awe!”

Wan Sanjin was also surprised: “So Master, you really aren’t just doing a favor. I thought it was so that later in the capital you’d have a high-ranking official to cover you.”

Chu Ling was startled. She had indeed considered that, but she couldn’t reveal it.

“Ahem. Anyway, Uncle Hong, this will still be hard work for your team,” Chu Ling said earnestly.

Uncle Hong cupped his hands: “Rest assured, Master. I’ll make sure the account book and Prince Rui’s letter are safely delivered to Lord Shangguan.”

Chu Ling nodded gravely, then pulled the blueprint from her sleeve and handed it over. She asked solemnly: “Uncle Hong, what place is this marked in a circle?”

Uncle Hong blinked, as if only just realizing, and said: “This… is the iron mine.”

Chu Ling’s eyes lit up: “This is that small iron mine?”

Uncle Hong let out a small whistle: “But this circle is so big… Could this entire area be the mine? A large iron mine?”

Chu Ling nodded: “Yes, a large iron mine. Uncle Hong, you’re amazing. I’ll need you to send people to investigate. Give me results by tonight; I’ll start the trial tomorrow.”

Uncle Hong nodded instinctively, then asked: “How will the magistrate interrogate the prefect?”

Chu Ling put on a profound expression: “Aside from being the county magistrate, I’m also a special imperial commissioner appointed by Prince Rui.”

Uncle Hong paused: “Master… you’re lying, aren’t you?”

Chu Ling awkwardly nodded, then said: “This Prince Rui’s seal… it can be used this way, right?”

Wan Sanjin shrugged: “Sure. The emperor is far away; he can’t teleport here instantly. Better to proceed with the trial first.”

Chu Ling nodded: “Yes. Handling the case now is also helping them. They won’t investigate further. It’s settled happily then.”

Uncle Hong: “…….”

Is this decision really okay?!