TGCFNM -Chapter 329 I Have a Way

Chu Ling looked at Wan Sanjin, and after a moment of silence, raised her eyebrows in anger and said, “So the Empress Dowager was the mastermind behind everything!”

Uncle Hong could only patiently explain, “Back then, when the Empress Dowager broke through the siege to help the Emperor secure the throne, it was a path soaked in blood and turmoil. Even after the Emperor ascended, she ruthlessly dealt with a large number of the old ministers. It scared the Four Great Families so much that they all withdrew to their homes, feigning illness, and resigned from court affairs altogether.”

Chu Ling listened, dumbfounded.

Uncle Hong felt it necessary to explain a little more, lest the younger generation misunderstand.

“The Empress Dowager’s iron-handed methods effectively controlled the court. Many thought she would rule from behind the screen. But later, the Emperor gradually eased relations with the Four Great Families and regained power from the Empress Dowager… Doesn’t that sound a bit off?” Uncle Hong asked.

Su He silently raised a hand and said, “One plays the red-faced role, the other plays the black-faced role.”

Uncle Hong nodded. “Exactly.”

Suddenly, Chu Ling said, “So, did the former Crown Prince move against the Great Families? If he did, the Emperor would think the Crown Prince wanted his throne, and naturally the Empress Dowager wouldn’t allow it, so…”

Uncle Hong nodded in agreement.

“But the Crown Prince was only doing it for the people…” Chu Ling said softly.

Uncle Hong didn’t see it that way. “Lord, one must look at things from different perspectives. From the Emperor’s and Empress Dowager’s standpoint, they did nothing wrong. From the Crown Prince’s standpoint, he did nothing wrong, acting for the people. As for us, we are merely insignificant ants under imperial power. How could we see everything and judge right from wrong?”

Ghost Scholar narrowed his eyes, studying Hong Shiyuan. The more he looked, the more familiar it seemed, and the more he realized… no wonder, no wonder…

“Listen to Uncle Hong, he’s not wrong,” Ghost Scholar suddenly said.

Chu Ling nodded. “Uncle Hong, I’ve taken note.”

Then Ghost Scholar spoke, “I once encountered an old man, simply dressed, accompanied by a disciple. The former Crown Prince treated him with great respect. Later, I learned that they were writers of unofficial folk histories. You can think of them as people who, outside the palace, recorded history with their own pens.”

Chu Ling’s eyes widened: the Wan family really does hide talented people.

Uncle Hong looked at Chu Ling. “I’ll take these things back and hide them. For this lifetime, they should never be brought out. Even though you’ve heard all this, you must keep it in your stomachs—don’t speak a single word about it to anyone.”

Wan Sanjin asked curiously, “Uncle Hong, if you’re so worried, why tell us all this?”

“Precisely because you’re reckless!” Uncle Hong gritted his teeth. “I know you love causing trouble, and sometimes I can’t stop you, so at the very least I hope you have some reverence, to know there are things you must not touch.”

After finishing, Uncle Hong cast a stern glance over the group.

But he found that they looked completely innocent and clueless, and that very expression made him itch to strike.

At this moment, Chu Ling slowly raised her hand. “If we take these things and hide them, won’t the Empress Dowager investigate?”

Uncle Hong shook his head. “She won’t, because it doesn’t matter.” In present-day Da Zhou, no one could threaten the Emperor or the Empress Dowager—not even those princes.

At this, Wan Sanjin quietly raised his hand as well. “So as long as we don’t anger the Emperor or Empress Dowager, if we offend others, my eldest brother’s half of the family fortune should be able to save us, right, Uncle Hong?”

Uncle Hong couldn’t bear it any longer and grabbed the mat, swinging it at him.

Wan Sanjin quickly dodged.

Then Su He stepped forward again. “If these things can be hidden, then what about the scrolls from back when people were killed, the Golden Dragon Order, and Ma Zhao’s secret letters? Can we hide those too?”

Uncle Hong: “…”

He felt an urge to just knock all these people out and escort them straight back to Sishui County.

“How could Young Master possibly allow—” Hong Shiyuan paused mid-sentence, then turned his head and said, “Ah, never mind, never mind, do as you wish.”

Su He tugged on Hong Shiyuan’s sleeve again. “Actually, I’ve been researching a kind of fake-death medicine lately. If we can find a way to keep our bodies intact, then maybe we won’t even need to rely on Young Master’s wealth to save—”

Wan Sanjin immediately cut in, “If we don’t need our big brother’s help, will the confiscated money be returned to us?”

Hong Shiyuan fell silent for a moment. “I finally understand why they transferred me to the capital.”

“Why?” asked Wan Sanjin.

“Because Old Master Yuan is getting on in years and he’s afraid you lot might drive him to an early grave!” Hong Shiyuan ground his teeth in frustration.

Chu Ling waved her hand. “Uncle Hong, it’s not that serious. We’re all so afraid of dying that we’ll behave ourselves. We just want to see with our own eyes how chaotic the capital has really become.”

“That’s right. Once the newly enthroned emperor is confirmed, we’ll leave immediately,” Wan Sanjin said, raising four fingers in oath.

Hong Shiyuan: “……”

At that moment, Zhang Dong walked over and said to Hong Shiyuan, “Uncle Hong, my sister has finished cooking. Why don’t you eat a bit first? I’m worried you won’t have an appetite later.”

Hong Shiyuan, touched, stood and went with Zhang Dong to the fire, still reminding the others behind him, “Once we enter the city tomorrow, I’ll go to the bank first. Someone else will take you to your lodgings.”

Xiao Hua asked, “Uncle Hong, is it still the Fulai Inn?”

Hong Shiyuan smiled kindly. “We bought a house. It’s quiet, and there are plenty of places nearby to buy food and stay.”

Xiao Hua cheered and handed over some roasted jerky.

Su He looked at Chu Ling. “Sir, you’ll behave, right?”

Wan Sanjin immediately stomped his foot. “No way! The one who causes the most trouble is definitely Sir!”

Chu Ling kicked him lightly. “Not true, it’s all Master Wan’s bad luck.”

Su He gave the two of them a disapproving look, then returned and sat next to Hong Shiyuan, watching him eat the jerky. He asked, “Uncle Hong, are there many corpses in the capital? Would it be easy to pick up bodies from the mass graves?”

Hong Shiyuan almost choked, but seeing Su He’s earnest expression, he had no choice but to lie through his teeth. “Go at night. Easy pickings.”

Su He was relieved and happily began his dinner.

Wan Sanjin leaned toward Chu Ling, turning his back to her and whispering, “Sir, do you plan to visit the Chu family?”

Chu Ling shook her head. “For safety, not for now. We’ll find another opportunity later.”

“My big brother once told me, as long as Young Master Xiao doesn’t dissolve the engagement, for the sake of royal face, the people surrounding the Chu family will probably withdraw… Although the Chu family will likely never serve in the court again, keeping them around forcibly isn’t a problem,” Wan Sanjin said.

Chu Ling pursed her lips. Not dissolve the engagement? That’s doubtful.

By now, Ghost Scholar’s emotions had stabilized. He glanced at Hong Shiyuan and said gravely, “Since we’ve all come to the capital, doing nothing would be a wasted trip.”

Bai Su worriedly asked, “Will it affect the children?”

Ghost Scholar shook his head. “No, because I have a way.”