TGCFNM -Chapter 320 He Does Not Regret

After confirming that Chu Ling was serious, Old Lin didn’t intervene further—after all, if the sky were to fall, the eldest young master would bear it.

After these matters were discussed, everyone gathered around a table for a simple meal, and then returned to their rooms to rest.

That night.

After tidying up briefly, everyone boarded the carriage and went to the dock to get on the ship.

In the cabin, Chu Ling leaned against the window, gazing at the moon hanging high in the sky, and softly asked, “Why is it so difficult to seek justice in this world?”

“Are you worried about the case, My Lord?” Ghost Scholar asked.

Chu Ling nodded at him.

Ghost Scholar rose slowly, staring at the moon outside in silence for a long moment before speaking: “You have prepared more than enough, My Lord. I believe there’s a full chance of victory. But if there isn’t… Lian Wu’s father, Lian Sheng, once, on the border battlefield, in his greed for glory, led five hundred men chasing Dayuan soldiers and fell into an enemy trap. Only he returned alive.”

“He survived because he agreed to a condition—Chu General’s tactical deployment that time… that battle was brutal. Though Great Zhou won, it was a costly victory. Yet there were no real gains on that front, and both sides have rested since, avoiding another battle.”

Chu Ling was taken aback. “Master, you even know such things?”

“Few people know about it, and I am one of them. Afterward, Lian Sheng fought to the death countless times, and approached the gates of death more times than anyone can count. So when the evidence was presented, that man simply burned it… innocent soldiers died, but when the higher-ups don’t pursue it, what can you do?” Ghost Scholar sighed.

Chu Ling asked, “Master, are you telling me this because Lian Sheng himself doesn’t know he was once accused? Is this a leverage to control him?”

Ghost Scholar responded lightly, “Yes.”

“I’ve noted it, Master,” Chu Ling said.

“Under imperial power, human life is like grass… I know how difficult it is for ordinary officials to handle cases, so I never demand that you strictly follow the rules. But one thing I only realized after my death,” Ghost Scholar said, looking at Chu Ling, “is that imperial authority is nothing more than that!”

Chu Ling nodded solemnly. “I will give it my all.”

The two-story luxury ship slowly docked, and reception personnel were already waiting by the roadside.

Uncle Hong disembarked first, scanning the surroundings cautiously before allowing the others to come down. The group then stayed at the Fulai Inn in Yuanzhou once more.

At the inn, the innkeeper personally handed a letter to Chu Ling: “After the eldest young master learned of this, he ordered us to investigate. My Lord, please take it.”

Chu Ling thanked him sincerely and then opened the letter.

Wan Sanjin leaned over to peek. “What does it say?”

Chu Ling clenched the letter tightly, reading it with fury:

“Lian Ci is the second son of his family. His mother spoiled him excessively. Previously, when the Lian family was in decline, he had restrained himself somewhat. Later, as the family regained power, his temperament returned to what it once was. This time, Lian Wu decided he could no longer tolerate it, so he forcibly brought him from the capital to Yuanzhou and kept him under strict supervision. Lian Ci, powerless to resist, vented his anger on ordinary people. After being warned by Lian Wu several times, he turned his attention to the lowliest of the populace. Among those who passed through his hands, about twenty-three men and fifteen women were killed…”

Su He’s face went cold. “What a beast!”

“…Besides that, he collected tolls from the people of Yuanzhou City—ranging from three to ten taels per traveler, and fifty taels from the lower-class citizens. On top of that, he accepted bribes from the local prefect and wealthy gentry. In just half a year in Yuanzhou, the total bribes he received amounted to twenty thousand taels,” Chu Ling read with a frown.

“His older brother—is he dead?” Wan Sanjin couldn’t help but grit his teeth. “All this happened right under his nose, his own younger brother committing so many crimes, and he didn’t know at all?”

“Perhaps he really didn’t know,” said the innkeeper of Fulai Inn with a helpless expression. “Lian Wu was indeed obsessed with military training. He often conducted tactical drills in dangerous terrain and sometimes wouldn’t return for months. Besides… Madam Lian followed him all the way from the capital, fearing her son would suffer. After several interventions, no one dared to say anything in front of Lian Wu.”

“They’re all Lians. Who would dare speak up? What if he just protects his own?” Wan Sanjin frowned.

“Yes, so without being certain of Lian Wu’s character, we can only temporarily consider him a detrimental factor,” Chu Ling said softly.

At that moment, the innkeeper lowered his voice and looked at Steward Hong: “Steward Hong… we’ve brought him back.”

Steward Hong shivered, opened his mouth, but couldn’t utter a word.

The innkeeper let out a deep sigh, his eyes filled with sorrow, shaking his head.

Chu Ling watched the two of them exchanging unspoken signals and, unable to contain his curiosity, asked, “What happened?”

Wan Sanjin, Su He, and the others also looked over.

The innkeeper looked at Chu Ling and the others, wanting to speak but unsure how to explain.

Steward Hong forced a calm expression and addressed them: “I’ll say it.”

Seeing the expressions of Hong and the innkeeper, Chu Ling felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding.

Steward Hong looked at them: “Fuxiang’s father… is dead.”

“Dead? Didn’t Uncle Wu personally send him to Tianjian City?” Wan Sanjin looked at Uncle Hong with a mix of grief and disbelief, then at the innkeeper. “Uncle Hong, you—you must be joking, right?”

Uncle Hong, eyes red, stared at them and said, “When Old Wu persuaded him that day, he had already made up his mind. Then he took a Crane Blood Pill from our medicine depot. This medicine accelerates the healing of injuries but at the cost of life—it is extremely poisonous.”

“Fuxiang’s father went to assassinate Lian Ci?” Chu Ling could only think of this possibility.

Uncle Hong closed his eyes and nodded.

The innkeeper sighed: “The assassination failed. He died and was thrown to wild dogs by Lian Ci. We tried to recover the body, but it was severely damaged. We could only secretly store it temporarily at the charity hall, planning to have it personally delivered to Tianjian City to be buried with Miss Fuxiang.”

“Why?” Chu Ling stood frozen. “I clearly said I could seek justice for Fuxiang. Why… why?”

Uncle Hong looked at them, eyes blazing red: “Old Wu and I knew this all along. Old Wu said Fuxiang’s father’s situation was too similar to his own. One by one, his loved ones died. Only a daughter remained, yet she was cruelly killed. If he did not take revenge, he would be unworthy as a father.”

“Old Wu said that although he no longer had family, he was fortunate to meet you all. If one day you were also cruelly harmed, he would risk his life to avenge you. Forget any petty judgments of innocence—what he wanted was vengeance!”

Uncle Hong choked back a sob and tilted his head to stop his tears.

“Fuxiang’s father died without regrets. He does not regret it.”