TGCFNM -Chapter 327 Hardly Anyone Knows

The night was pitch-dark.

On the quiet little road came the clatter of hooves, first faint, then growing louder, and soon two carriages appeared, one after the other, trotting along.

After a while, the carriages stopped.

Zhang Dong got down, carrying a lantern as he walked ahead for a bit. He looked back, then turned and returned, lightly tapping on the carriage door.

“Master, there is indeed an abandoned manor here.”

Chu Ling gave a soft hum in acknowledgment, lifted the carriage curtain, and stepped out. After putting on her hood, she also got off. “We’ll rest here for tonight and enter the capital early tomorrow.”

Zhang Dong acknowledged with a nod and handed over a lantern.

Chu Ling took the lantern and stepped ahead, while Zhang Dong led the carriage slowly behind her.

Cui Xi floated forward a bit. Once she saw the manor clearly, she called out, “Miss, it’s here. After we left the capital, we didn’t leave immediately because you said you wanted to rest here for the night.”

Chu Ling quickened her pace toward the manor but almost slipped on a damp stone.

Bai Su grabbed her and steadied her, saying, “It just rained. It’s dark and wet everywhere, slippery all around. You need to be careful walking.”

Chu Ling lowered her voice in acknowledgment, held the lantern a little lower, and stepped carefully along the overgrown path. She crossed the stone steps and reached the crumbling main gate of the manor.

The vermilion gates were already in ruins. One door hung crookedly, blocking the way, while the other had completely fallen down, splintering the frame.

Chu Ling stepped over the fallen door, warned the others to be careful, and went inside first.

Ghost Scholar surveyed the place. “It seems no one has been here since it collapsed. I also notice all the rooftops have slanted down; it’s very dangerous… Master, you’re quite fearless.”

Cui Xi hugged Wangcai and said, “Back then, when Miss and I temporarily stayed here, there was a small Buddhist hall inside. It was safe and quiet, without snakes, insects, or rats.”

“A Buddhist hall?” Bai Su asked.

Cui Xi nodded. “It’s a wooden Buddha statue, actually smells quite nice. There was incense in front of the Buddha, and before we left, Miss even placed three sticks and bowed.”

Chu Ling paused in her steps. A sudden image flashed in her mind, as if she had experienced it herself.

Seeing her stop, Ghost Scholar lightly tapped Chu Ling’s shoulder with his fan.

Chu Ling shook off the daze and continued forward.

Following Cui Xi’s guidance, Chu Ling finally reached the small Buddhist hall.

Though called a hall, it was truly small—barely enough for six or seven people to stand without feeling cramped.

Inside, there was a meditation mat and a small table. On the table sat a wooden angry Buddha. As Cui Xi had said, a faint fragrance lingered.

In front of the angry Buddha was a small incense burner, with three sticks of incense that had already burned out.

Cui Xi pointed under the table. “The incense Miss found is down there, in a little box.”

Chu Ling set the lantern aside, knelt on the mat, and looked underneath—empty.

Had someone taken the incense later?

If someone had taken it, why didn’t they take the angry Buddha as well? Judging by her current perspective, the statue looked quite valuable.

Ghost Scholar seemed to have a thought and cleared his throat. “Your Miss is impressive, even hidden underneath, she could find it.”

Cui Xi proudly said, “Of course, Miss is very smart. She led me all the way here.”

Another image flashed in Chu Ling’s mind. Without time to think it through, she slowly reached under the table and lightly tapped the floor.

Sure enough, a hollow sound echoed.

So, Chu Ling slid both hands in, feeling along the edges. After a moment, she found a slight raised spot, pressed carefully, and lifted the entire stone slab with caution.

Then Chu Ling froze.

Below was indeed a hollow space. Inside lay a wooden box, and atop the box, unmistakably, was a tiger tally.

Bai Su was startled. “It really is a tiger tally.”

Chu Ling licked her dry lips, first taking out the tiger tally, then lifting the wooden box as well. Unexpectedly, the box—meant for incense—was somewhat heavy.

While silently thinking no way…, Chu Ling opened the wooden box.

Inside, palm-sized silver ingots gleamed, and scattered atop them was incense, almost carelessly strewn, as if intentionally disguised yet utterly casual.

From outside came the sound of heavy footsteps growing nearer, followed by a voice shouting, “Master, Uncle Hong found a safe room. Zhang Dong even lit the fire. Are you done yet?”

Chu Ling quietly turned her head toward Wan Sanjin at the doorway. “I found it.”

Wan Sanjin exclaimed and leaned closer, curious. “Master, how much did you take?”

“Palm-sized silver ingots. Each is about fifty taels. I took ten, so that’s roughly five hundred taels.” After saying it, Chu Ling realized—how did she even know the exact amount?

Wan Sanjin picked up the tiger tally from the ground. “What’s this? A token? Why does it look like a tiger?”

“Oh, this is a tiger tally. I stole it from the general’s mansion,” Chu Ling said.

Wan Sanjin gave a low whistle. “So this is a tiger tally… it commands the soldiers of the Great Zhou… a tiger tally! Master, why did you steal a tiger tally?”

Wan Sanjin jumped in shock, his face turning pale.

Chu Ling shrugged. “I don’t remember.”

Wan Sanjin slapped his forehead, panicked. “Gotta… hide it.”

Chu Ling nodded, took the tiger tally from Wan Sanjin, and tossed it into the box. Then she looked at the angry Buddha statue and the incense burner, deciding to take them along as well.

As for the mat, leaving it there would be too conspicuous, so she took it too.

After gathering everything, Chu Ling restored the area to its original state and left with Wan Sanjin.

As they were leaving, Cui Xi remained behind, her eyes as if searching for something.

Chu Ling paused too.

Just as she was about to ask, another fragment flashed through her mind, and almost instinctively, she walked back inside.

Cui Xi asked, “Miss, is the item Lady gave you still here?”

Chu Ling said softly, “No, I thought about it… I should take it with me.”

She slowly approached the desk, moved it aside, pressed a brick loose behind it, and retrieved a silk pouch, tucking it into her robe.

Once done, Chu Ling closed the door of the small Buddha hall and hurried to catch up with Wan Sanjin.

On the way, Wan Sanjin reminded her, “Master, once we reach the capital, maybe you should hide it a bit.”

Chu Ling shook her head. “No need… hardly anyone knows me anyway.”

Wan Sanjin thought for a moment and relaxed. “Then in the capital, only Qingyu knows. That’s safe.”

Cui Xi added, “Miss doesn’t attend gatherings of the young ladies, doesn’t like going out, and spends her days at the estate with Second Master and Second Madam. Even if she returns home, she only likes to dress up at home and play Pai Gow with the master and madam… her handwriting isn’t good, the general doesn’t favor her, the old madam doesn’t even expect her greetings, and the main branch ignores the second branch…”

Cui Xi’s expression was heavy with sorrow.

“If Miss is still just Miss, it’s not just marriage that’s difficult… she doesn’t even have a sister she can confide in.”

Chu Ling: …Looks like she really doesn’t have to worry. Who could possibly know her?