TGCFNM -Chapter 365 Cui Wan Comes Calling

The next day, at the hour of Yin (around 3–5 a.m.).

The sky was still dark, heavy with blackness—the quietest time of night at the flower house.

Chu Ling and her group of nine changed into black clothes and covered their faces. They quietly boarded a carriage. Inside the carriage were the mother rats, already fast asleep after being fed medicine.

Steward Liu had also changed into night attire. Carefully guiding the carriage through the streets, he headed toward Canghua Tower.

Wan Sanjin stared at the black cages, gritting his teeth as he looked at Chu Ling. “Didn’t you say we’d go at night, my lord?”

“Who goes at night? Canghua Tower is bustling at night. Of course we go now, when it’s deepest in the night and no one’s around.” Chu Ling gave him a look as if asking whether he was stupid.

Han Jin quietly raised his head. “Aren’t there night patrols?”

Chu Ling looked surprised. “They still patrol the city in the middle of the night? That’s exploitation. Do they at least get paid extra?”

Han Jin was stunned by the question. “N-no, probably not…”

At that moment, Steward Liu slowed the carriage, his voice tense. “My lord, someone’s coming.”

Chu Ling cautiously lifted the curtain. Ghost Scholar calculated the distance and floated ahead to take a look before quickly returning. “It’s Mei Gao.”

Chu Ling immediately relaxed and called out in a moderate voice, “Lord Mei!”

Mei Gao, who had been walking forward, suddenly stopped. For a moment he even wondered if he had misheard. That voice sounded suspiciously like someone… “Lord Chu?”

Chu Ling waved happily as he approached. “Lord Mei, we’re going to—”

The moment Mei Gao came close enough to confirm it was indeed Chu Ling—and dressed in night raiding attire at that—he turned around on the spot and ran. He even beckoned his subordinates to hurry and switch to another street.

Steward Liu stared blankly at the now-empty street, then turned to Chu Ling. “My lord… Lord Mei ran away.”

Chu Ling blinked. “Why did he run?”

Wan Sanjin pulled her back into the carriage. “Steward Liu, let’s move.”

Steward Liu urged the carriage onward again.

Wan Sanjin folded his arms and looked at Chu Ling. “Isn’t it normal to run when you see you, my lord?”

Chu Ling stroked her chin thoughtfully. “This won’t do. If he runs every time he sees me, what if I need to find him for something? Next time, Xiao Hua can go greet him. Help Lord Mei relax a bit—he’s too nervous.”

Xiao Hua nodded eagerly. “I can do it!”

Chu Ling gave a thumbs-up. “Xiao Hua is the best!”

A short while later, Steward Liu guided the carriage close to Canghua Tower.

It was still deep night. Not a single person could be seen on the streets. The perfect time to release the rats.

Chu Ling gathered everyone together. “Although Master Wan and I have been to the flower house before, neither of us knows the layout. So everyone use your own judgment. Just remember to hide them well.”

Zhang Dong nodded. “My lord, I know where their warehouse is. I was invited to rest nearby once.”

Xiao Hua said, “Then I’ll follow my brother.”

Chu Ling nodded. “Alright, you two take two cages.”

Su He spoke up at that moment. “I’ll take Han Jin and Han Yin through the back door. I once carried a corpse out of the flower house—I know they usually store things in the rear courtyard.”

Chu Ling nodded. “Good. Wan Sanjin, Wang Wei, Wang Yan and I will split up and sneak into the building. Whenever you see some inconspicuous corner, stuff one in. Remember to wrap your hands well. Once you’re done, meet back at the carriage.”

Everyone answered in low voices, “Understood.”

The carriage shifted slightly as they disembarked one by one, faces covered, each carrying two cages as they began their task.

Steward Liu even extinguished the only light source, hiding himself completely in the shadows to keep watch.

About half an hour later, they gathered again in front of the carriage. After feeling their way back to it, they climbed aboard one after another.

Relying on years of experience, Steward Liu didn’t even light a lamp. He immediately drove the carriage straight back to the Wan residence.

By the time they returned, hot water had already been prepared. After washing up thoroughly, everyone went back to rest.

The next day at noon.

A carriage stopped in front of the gates of the Wan residence. A slightly plump man stepped down and ordered someone to knock on the Wan family’s door.

“Master, shall we unload the items first?”

Cui Wan nodded. “Take them down. Carry them carefully.”

“Yes.”

“Master, there’s no response from the Wan residence.”

“No response?” Cui Wan frowned. “Did they go out stealing last night or something? What respectable household doesn’t have someone guarding the gate?”

“Knock again. Louder.”

“Yes, Master.”

Just as the servants from the Cui household were pounding on the door, someone finally opened it.

A young attendant pulled the door wide. “Steward Liu will be here shortly.”

Cui Wan simply stepped up onto the stairs. “I’m from the Cui family. I made arrangements with Young Master Wan yesterday.”

“Oh, it’s you. The young master gave instructions—when you arrive, you’re to be escorted directly to the front hall.”

Cui Wan nodded. That’s more like it. He led his people toward the front hall.

After a while, Steward Liu arrived, ordered tea to be served, exchanged a few polite words, and then went off to summon the others. Once he had done so, he returned to rest.

And so Cui Wan saw, at the round dining table in the front hall, two people slumped over it.

One was Wan Sanjin—he recognized him.

The other must be that famous Lord Chu.

But the two of them now looked bleary-eyed and utterly exhausted, as though they hadn’t slept at all. It was hard not to suspect… “You two went out stealing last night?”

Wan Sanjin murmured vaguely, “We did.”

Cui Wan: “…”

“You came so early?” Chu Ling waved a hand as a greeting, then flopped back down. “Forgive the poor hospitality. Please, have some tea.”

Cui Wan: “…”

The attendant at his side whispered, “Master, this…?”

Cui Wan waved him off, signaling him to set the items down and withdraw. Once no one else was nearby, he tapped the table lightly. “If you’re going out to steal, tell me next time. One hundred taels.”

Chu Ling shot upright. “We went to Canghua Tower. Pay up.”

Wan Sanjin reacted a moment too late and missed the money, his face instantly twisting in anguish.

Cui Wan looked at them in amusement. “What, has Young Master Wan stopped giving you spending money? A mere one hundred taels can already make the latest celebrities of the capital bow their heads?”

“Celebrities?” Chu Ling asked, puzzled.

Wan Sanjin reminded her, “Didn’t we beat up the Imperial Guards and get thrown into the Court of Judicial Review? When has the Imperial Guard ever been beaten by court officials before? Of course we’re famous now.”

Chu Ling let out an “oh.” She had nearly forgotten about that incident.

Cui Wan studied the two of them with growing interest. “So you’re stirring up trouble in the capital?”

Wan Sanjin smoothly shifted closer. “Brother Cui, interested in joining? You provide the money, we provide the muscle.”

Cui Wan flicked open his folding fan and smiled. “I might be—but you’ll have to tell me what exactly you’re planning.”

Wan Sanjin glanced at Chu Ling: Can we tell him?

Chu Ling’s eyes flickered. “To enhance user experience and maintain a sense of freshness, we can’t reveal too much. If the novelty is lost, Brother Cui might lose interest in funding us—which would be an outcome we very much wish to avoid.”

“For mutual benefit, and to ensure Brother Cui can fully immerse himself, we’ve decided to temporarily withhold the more thrilling projects. We’ll begin with something light, then gradually unravel things step by step, allowing Brother Cui to enjoy the optimal experience.”

Cui Wan froze. “You’re scamming me, aren’t you?”

Chu Ling immediately sat up straight, looking utterly solemn. “How could that be? Don’t I look honest?”

Wan Sanjin also straightened. “Our yamen handles affairs properly. Brother Cui, rest assured—we’re extremely honest.”

Cui Wan: “…”

He was somewhat tempted—but what was with that intense, creeping sense of unease rising in his heart?