TGCFNM -Chapter 337 No Antidote

Chu Ling released Sun Yang’s hand and slowly stood up, her gaze sweeping over the students in the prison.

She didn’t dwell on the others—among them were a few she knew, all reasonably well-educated, and of course, there was Fu Qingyu.

“Ah, I see.” Chu Ling muttered this without preamble, then turned back and locked the cell behind her.

The students in the opposite cell: “……”

That casual?

Fu Qingyu frowned and asked, “Lord Chu, what is it that you know?”

Chu Ling leaned against the bars, smiling, “Master Fu, you’re smart—don’t you understand why?”

Fu Qingyu sighed helplessly and cupped his hands, “The one involved often sees unclearly. Indeed, I haven’t figured it out.”

“In the end, this is just an unfortunate disaster for you. The authorities won’t really investigate this case. You’ll be released soon, so don’t worry.” Chu Ling said, then turned toward the pile of straw and sat down casually.

Wan Sanjin followed curiously and sat opposite her, asking, “Lord, why are you being so cryptic?”

“You should be somewhat familiar with the capital. Let me ask you—who had helped Du Fuzi in the past?” Chu Ling asked.

Wan Sanjin folded his arms proudly, “If you asked others, I might not know, but I do know about Du Fuzi. He’s kind, erudite, and came from a humble background. He failed repeatedly in exams, but he achieved what he has today thanks to the head of Canglan Academy taking him in.”

“Who is the head of Canglan Academy?” Chu Ling asked again.

“The head of Canglan Academy was originally a royal prince—the mentor of today’s dukes. Later, his only daughter married Prince Su, and he established Canglan Academy, becoming its head,” Wan Sanjin explained.

Chu Ling leaned slowly against the wall, “At this time, with endless struggles between families, and with next year’s spring exams, everyone wants to maximize the chances of their people entering the court. So the favors start early.”

Wan Sanjin looked puzzled, “What do you mean?”

Chu Ling pulled out a few pieces of straw, some bundled together, some tied in different knots.

“This represents the person in charge above,” Chu Ling said, pointing at a bundle.

“These represent the princes and the aristocratic families.”

Wan Sanjin nodded, “And then?”

“To compete for power, the princes must ensure they have many people on their side, so they show favors to some students. The aristocratic families, to maintain their positions in the court and avoid suspicion, also cultivate students. If a student passes the exam and becomes an official, they then marry a daughter from their branch, forming familial ties,” Chu Ling explained.

Wan Sanjin nodded, now understanding.

Chu Ling picked up another bundle and tossed it over, “Now, who rules? This bundle represents the ruler. Would he tolerate people scheming under his nose?”

Wan Sanjin’s eyes widened, and he shook his head frantically.

The emperor is still alive. If someone tried to cultivate students under his nose, aiming to slowly control the court, wouldn’t the next step be forcing him to abdicate?

How could the emperor allow that!

Chu Ling gathered the bundles representing the royal family and aristocratic families into one ball, holding it in her palm. “The emperor is reprimanding them. The similar essays, the leaked questions—it’s all deliberate.”

Wan Sanjin asked in a low voice, “So the examiners were acting on orders, and the goal was simply to keep them from overreaching?”

Chu Ling shook her head, “The students are innocent victims—they’ll likely be released. But the emperor’s anger won’t subside. If I’m not mistaken, tomorrow in court, the emperor will surely punish a number of people.”

The Ghost Scholar praised from the side, “Exactly so.”

Chu Ling deliberately tilted her head and looked inside, “It’s just that I don’t know how serious it is this time.”

The Ghost Scholar flicked his folding fan with a flourish, “The emperor will definitely place the blame on the royal family and aristocrats. Whether they cry injustice or not, if the emperor wants to punish them, he will… What’s uncertain is whether the court’s balance will change this time, and if so, how—and what the emperor’s ultimate aim is.”

Chu Ling clicked her tongue. The capital really was chaotic.

In the cell opposite, Sun Yang was pressed tightly against the door, muttering under his breath, “What are they saying? The voices are so low… can Master Fu even hear?”

Fu Qingyu shook his head. “The Lord is deliberately not letting us hear.”

Sun Yang gave up, but seeing Fu Qingyu’s calm and composed expression, he couldn’t help asking, “Master Fu, is what the Lord said true? Will we really be let out?”

Fu Qingyu nodded, eyes fixed on the two figures in the opposite cell. “The Lord never lies. We will leave safely—and very soon.”

Sun Yang exhaled in relief. “If we get out, then it should be fine.”

The other students also relaxed and, in small groups, leaned against the wall to rest.

Shangguan Cheng leaned close to Shangguan Shi and whispered, “Little brother… really?”

Shangguan Shi glanced at Fu Qingyu and nodded. “Really.”

“Why… why is it that after Chu Ling asked just a few questions, he could be so sure we’d be released?” Shangguan Cheng couldn’t understand.

Shangguan Shi lowered his gaze, recalling that when they were captured, there was no trace of worry in their father’s eyes.

Right—Lord Chu had once had a secret letter sent over, concerning someone secretly mining iron. At the time, he had wondered why their father hadn’t acted immediately… so their father had been waiting—waiting for this moment?

Thinking this through, Shangguan Shi lifted his head and looked at Chu Ling.

What was Lord Chu doing in the capital at this time?

At that moment, Fu Qingyu suddenly shouted, “Sanjin, someone’s here!”

Wan Sanjin scrambled up, brushing off the dry grass clinging to him, and peered at the door. “Lord Mei? Master, Master, Lord Mei has come to get us!”

Chu Ling’s face lit up. “They’re here! They’re here!”

Mei Gao gripped the cell bars, letting out a deep sigh. His expression was filled with pain and helplessness as he looked at the two of them. “Lord Chu, Master Wan, I’m here to let you out.”

Chu Ling, still brushing off bits of grass from her clothes, patted the door. “Lord Mei, hurry up! I need to get out for dinner.”

Mei Gao resignedly unlocked the door, not forgetting to admonish Chu Ling, “Lord Chu, you shouldn’t act so recklessly. The Song family could have handled things themselves, yet you had to stick your nose in.”

Fu Qingyu looked at Wan Sanjin with curiosity. “By the way, you said earlier that you… also beat people up?”

Wan Sanjin patted his chest proudly. “That instructor of the Imperial Guards, he went to the Song family to cause trouble with his guards. The Lord and I together took down more than thirty of them, and then we got captured.”

Fu Qingyu: “…”

The students: “…”

Why would government officials go beat up the Imperial Guards?!

And were the Imperial Guards in the capital really that weak?!

Chu Ling stepped inside and looked at Mei Gao. “Lord Mei, those people… we can’t release them, right?”

“They’ll all be released. After all, they didn’t start it—it was the Lord and Master Wan who acted,” Mei Gao said helplessly.

Wan Sanjin was furious. “How could they not have started it? They used their knives too!”

“But now their faces are bruised, they’re poisoned, and they’re lying in the cell unable to move. The key thing is… they’re still smiling…” Mei Gao shivered as he recalled the eerie scene just now.

Wan Sanjin let out an “oh” and, hands on his hips, said mischievously, “No antidote, huh? Let them keep smiling, then.”

Mei Gao: “…”