TGCFNM -Chapter 339 Testing Again

Prince Rui’s gaze was heavy as he looked at Chu Ling. After a long moment, he finally spoke slowly, “I never thought you would dare act so recklessly. Do your family know that you wander outside at will? Or did they silently permit it?”

Chu Ling was taken aback.

What kind of question was that?

Her family was at the Chu residence—they were all surrounded!

Ghost Scholar furrowed his brows slightly, his eyes showing a trace of surprise as he looked at Prince Rui. “Something’s off, Your Grace… this is another test.”

Chu Ling’s eyes darted, and she said bluntly, “I have no family.”

“No family?” Prince Rui pondered. “According to your household registration, your ancestral home is Nanyuan County. You had no father or mother. Your grandfather ran a small business, and after his death, worried that you would have no one to care for you, he arranged a minor official post for you.”

Chu Ling’s expression remained unchanged as she answered normally, “Yes, my ancestral home is indeed Nanyuan County. My parents died early, and my grandfather was fond of gambling; he later accidentally fell into the water and died. My grandmother used the compensation money to arrange an official post for me. After the post was confirmed, my grandmother passed away from overwork. My uncle and aunt still live in Nanyuan, and haven’t come to Sishui. I’m not close with them, so they don’t count as family.”

Bai Su was astonished. “Wasn’t this fabricated?”

Ghost Scholar shook his head. “Prince Rui is testing Your Grace’s background, asking specifically about your household registration. Your answer is fine… Moreover, Young Master Wan has already secured Your Grace’s information; no one knows it.”

Cui Xi let out an awed sigh. “So no one really knows, huh? Even a prince can be kept in the dark?”

Prince Rui tilted his head and asked her humorously, “You come from such a small place, yet possess such audacity?”

“Your Grace, that’s the fearlessness of the ignorant,” Chu Ling smiled awkwardly and bowed, then lifted her head sincerely, “I come from a minor household and am closest to the common people. How could I ignore their suffering? Naturally, my actions may seem eccentric and fearless.”

Prince Rui let out a cold laugh, his expression showing disbelief.

Ghost Scholar’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he suddenly thought of a possibility. “Prince Rui’s test is not about Your Grace’s identity, but about your face.”

Her face?

Chu Ling instinctively touched the hat on her head. What’s wrong with her face?

Ghost Scholar said gravely, “Prince Rui doesn’t know that you are the Chu family’s second daughter. In his understanding, you are just a minor official appointed to Sishui County, with a clean and proper household record.”

Bai Su looked confused. “But Xiaoling carries Prince Rui’s token everywhere. Why doesn’t he hold her accountable?”

Ghost Scholar said, “Perhaps we’re overthinking. Prince Rui may simply believe that what Your Grace does benefits the people and is also advantageous to him, which is why he allows it.”

Gathering her courage, Chu Ling looked into Prince Rui’s eyes. She suddenly felt that Ghost Scholar’s guess might be correct.

But why did he look at her face and ask about her family?

Ghost Scholar’s eyes tightened. “So, the issue really lies with her face.”

Bai Su turned to Cui Xi. “Do you know what’s wrong with your mistress’s face?”

Cui Xi shook her head. “I don’t know what’s wrong with it, but after the mistress left the capital, she rarely bothered with her appearance.”

Bai Su’s heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously looked at Chu Ling. “If her grooming is deliberate… could it be to hide her face?”

Chu Ling simply pretended not to understand and deliberately asked Prince Rui, “Your Grace, why do you keep staring at my face? Does it resemble someone you once knew? Did you do something wrong to the queen?”

Prince Rui frowned in disgust. “What nonsense are you talking about!”

Chu Ling let out an honest “oh,” letting her hands hang in front of her—it was obvious she was pretending.

Prince Rui was nearly laughing with anger. He raised a hand and pointed at Chu Ling for a long while, without uttering a single word, then simply turned his back and gazed solemnly at the lake ahead.

Ghost Scholar quietly moved to the front to carefully observe Prince Rui’s expression.

“Your face… is fine, but the things you’ve done out in the world are numerous, some even catching the attention of a few people in the capital, and you act without restraint!” At this point, Prince Rui’s tone noticeably rose; he was clearly quite irritated. “However, since you’re already here in the capital, I’ll tell you a way to stay alive.”

Chu Ling tilted her head to glance at Ghost Scholar’s expression, then bowed respectfully: “I humbly ask Prince Rui to save my life.”

“Be bold, fearless—that is, whatever demeanor you have outside, maintain it in the capital as well.” Prince Rui slowly turned to face her, his voice chilling slightly. “Remember: the more you try to hide, the more likely it is to be discovered.”

Chu Ling understood—he wanted her to just be herself.

“You can keep my token for now. Once the Emperor’s birthday celebrations are over, leave immediately… The capital isn’t a place for you to linger. Go.” With a wave of his hand, Prince Rui dismissed her, urging her to leave quickly.

Chu Ling cupped her hands and, showing she understood, turned and left.

Ghost Scholar floated to her side, urging her to pick up her pace.

Chu Ling then broke into a jog.

Under the moonlight, Prince Rui watched Chu Ling’s retreating figure and murmured, unable to comprehend: “…How could she be so similar… how could she?”

—

Ghost Scholar spoke slowly beside Chu Ling: “Currently, besides the main branch of the Chu family, only three people in the capital know your identity: Wan Xing, Wan Sanjin, and Fu Qingyu.”

Chu Ling nodded.

Ghost Scholar continued: “You, my lord, have the profit-sharing contract from Yunyan Tower. That implies your mother may have already been acquainted with the Wan family. Based on what Wan Sanjin said earlier, I can confirm one thing: the person who locked away your information should actually be the father of Wan Xing and Wan Sanjin.”

Chu Ling’s steps halted. “My parents knew the Wan family?”

She looked toward Cui Xi as she asked.

Cui Xi shook her head: she didn’t know.

Chu Ling frowned—this was very strange.

Ghost Scholar lightly tapped his folding fan: “The Chu family is a general’s household holding military power, so it’s impossible for them to be close with members of the royal family. That is to say, Prince Rui could not have known your parents… Yet just now, his expression was one of recollection—remembering someone who resembles you closely.”

But Prince Rui also said her face was fine, which meant very few people had seen it before.

Chu Ling furrowed her brow and muttered, “It’s too messy.”

Ghost Scholar turned to her: “My lord, if it feels confusing, don’t overthink it. In any case, since the Wan family is willing to lock away your information, your official household registration will be fine. Prince Rui is also willing to conceal it, and with his token given to you, you can act as you wish.”

Chu Ling let out a faint, light laugh: “The prince said it himself—whatever I am like outside, I’ll be the same in the capital.”

Then she might as well act freely.

Once the dust settles in the capital and the new emperor ascends, she could just pat herself on the back and run.

Chu Ling reached the end of the road. “Uncle Ge, will you escort me out?”

Ge Chong didn’t understand why this master seemed so relaxed after coming and going, but he respectfully agreed and went ahead to guide the way.