TGCFNM -Chapter 390 What Is There to Fear

The rain gradually lightened, and everyone decided to seize the moment to leave. If it started pouring again, they might not be able to make it back.

Chu Ling thought the same. She called for the chairs inside the house to be returned to their places and then led everyone out.

Just before getting into the carriage, Chu Ling glanced once more at the residence before stepping inside.

Although the woman had not seen her son, she had slowly dissipated in the end. Since she faded away peacefully, she must have come to terms with it. Having resolved her regrets and entering the cycle of reincarnation, no longer left alone in the world—perhaps that, too, was a good thing.

“Let’s go. Back to the capital,” Chu Ling said.

As soon as her words fell, Zhang Dong urged the horses forward at a light trot.

About an hour later, they returned to the capital and bid one another farewell at the city gate before parting ways.

Wan Sanjin had also returned, holding his small jar carefully. Not a single drop of water had spilled, and the little fish inside was still swimming energetically.

“I thought you wouldn’t be coming back so soon,” Chu Ling said, reaching a finger into the jar.

The little fish flicked its tail and splashed water out.

Wan Sanjin shifted the jar aside and looked at Chu Ling in disdain. “My lord, how old are you? And you’re still poking little fish!”

Chu Ling sheepishly withdrew her hand. “I couldn’t resist.”

Wan Sanjin moved farther away with his jar. “It seems Teacher Fu has returned, so Qingyu had to hurry back. Teacher Fu is very strict.”

Chu Ling looked at him in surprise. “Then didn’t you get beaten?”

“My family is wealthy. The classroom where Teacher Fu teaches—the desks, chairs, and all the furnishings—were donated by the Wan family,” Wan Sanjin replied.

Chu Ling gave him a thumbs-up. “Your family is impressive.”

Wan Sanjin nodded proudly. “So Teacher turns a blind eye to me. As long as I carry the title of Teacher Fu’s personal disciple, that’s enough. Besides, I’m not planning to become an official.”

Chu Ling couldn’t argue with that. Wan Sanjin’s reasoning was sound and well-supported.

—

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the carriage slowly came to a stop—they had arrived at the Wan residence.

“My lord, it’s Miss Shiyu!” Zhang Dong called out.

Startled, Chu Ling lifted the curtain to look. Shiyu stood outside the Wan residence with her maid, seemingly having waited there for quite some time. The hem of her skirt was soaked, and her face had turned pale from the cold.

Chu Ling jumped down from the carriage. Wan Sanjin handed the fish jar to Xiao Hua and followed her down.

“Miss Shiyu?” Chu Ling asked in surprise. “What happened?”

Wan Sanjin also walked over. There were tables, chairs, and hot tea set outside the Wan residence—likely Steward Liu had invited them inside, but Shiyu had insisted on waiting outside. That meant it must be urgent.

Sure enough, Shiyu’s eyes reddened, and tears fell.

“My lord, Yunliu—Yunliu cut her wrist with scissors. Although she was saved, she no longer wants to live.”

A chill flashed through Chu Ling’s eyes. “What happened?”

Crying, Shiyu recounted everything from beginning to end.

After she and Yunliu had taken the money back and redeemed their families, they rented two neighboring cheap houses in the western part of the capital and settled there temporarily. Those in their families who were able had gradually begun working, and Shiyu had thought—they had finally endured the worst of it.

But unexpectedly, something happened on Yunliu’s side.

It turned out that before Yunliu had been selected as courtesan queen, she had once had a well-matched engagement. However, both families were convicted at the same time and banished to Sin Street.

For the sake of her family—and for the sake of their long-standing family friends—Yunliu chose to enter Canghua Tower. Later, with the help of Chu Ling and Shiyu, she received money in advance and later got an additional share, allowing her to rescue both families from Sin Street.

Originally, that family had been grateful. Moreover, since Yunliu was a courtesan queen yet still untouched, they had intended to finalize the engagement between the two children. Even Shiyu thought Yunliu’s suffering had finally come to an end.

But no one expected that the family would suddenly have their sentence revoked and their official positions restored. After that, they began to look down on Yunliu. Although their titles were reinstated, their former residence required repairs, so they temporarily rented a place near Yunliu’s home.

And that was when things went wrong.

Members of their household began speaking in veiled insults every day, expressing dissatisfaction and spreading rumors. They claimed Yunliu had been painted—that portrait might be hanging somewhere, stared at daily by who knew which man.

“They said what kind of man could endure being cuckolded like that? It’s utterly humiliating. They even said Yunliu insisted on marrying into the Wei family—shameless beyond belief.”

Shiyu cried so hard she could barely catch her breath, her eyes red and swollen.

“When my elder brother heard about this, he sent me to persuade Yunliu. Yunliu said if the marriage wasn’t meant to be, then so be it—there was no need to turn it into enmity. She wanted the elders of both families to speak openly and settle things… But unexpectedly, they escalated matters. They came to Yunliu’s door to hurl insults and slander her in front of the neighbors. It angered Yunliu’s grandmother so much she collapsed. Yunliu didn’t want to drag her family down with her, so she tried to take her own life. If her younger sister hadn’t discovered her in time, Yunliu… Yunliu would be gone…”

“Your Excellency, what did Yunliu do wrong to deserve this kind of bullying?”

Chu Ling drew in a deep breath, her voice icy. “She did nothing wrong. She simply saved a pack of ingrates.”

Shiyu wiped her tears with her sleeve. “Your Excellency, what should we do? Yunliu’s family doesn’t have the money to move elsewhere.”

Chu Ling’s gaze shifted slightly. She asked Shiyu a few more questions, then turned to Wan Sanjin. “Call Han Jin and Han Yin, Wang Wei and Wang Yan too—no, get Steward Liu as well. Bring more people!”

Wan Sanjin’s eyes lit up. “Got it!”

Xiao Hua had been standing beside Chu Ling the whole time, holding little Yuer while Shiyu cried. When she heard her mistress was finally going to take action, her eyes sparkled. “Your Excellency, are we going to beat them up?”

“Yes. Put Yu’er somewhere safe—we’re going to teach them a lesson!” Chu Ling was furious. She was determined to show that pack of ingrates what retribution looked like.

Xiao Hua happily responded and ran inside.

Chu Ling looked at Shiyu. “Don’t worry. I’m not acting recklessly. Since they’re neighbors, if this blows up too much, it won’t be easy for Yunliu’s family to continue living there. So we need to act with reason and evidence on our side.”

Shiyu nodded immediately.

“I’m bringing more people to hold the scene—to make sure they don’t dare act rashly. So you don’t need to go home to call for help,” Chu Ling said.

Shiyu looked embarrassed; she had indeed been planning to do just that.

“Go find Su He and ask him how to draft a formal complaint. Tell him we’re filing a lawsuit. The Wei family, right? Their official positions have just been restored—they won’t dare let things escalate. Just scare them.”

Shiyu nodded slightly, lifting her skirt as she hurried off.

Bai Su asked curiously, “Why have Shiyu be the one to speak?”

Ghost Scholar stroked his beard, already understanding Chu Ling’s plan. “Yunliu and Shiyu were both rescued from Canghua Tower. But Shiyu is stronger—more fearless. Yunliu is gentle; the only solution she could think of was dissolving the engagement, yet that would still leave her subject to endless gossip.”

“So Your Excellency wants Shiyu to set an example. Shiyu is in the same situation, but if she dares to stand up, then Yunliu will surely break her shackles and stand up bravely as well.”

“These so-called worldly shackles are placed only upon women, as if gripping their lifeline and forcing them to bow their heads.”

“But since they are without fault, and carry filial duty upon their shoulders—what is there to fear?”