TGCFNM -Chapter 40 Watching the Show

“Have you heard? Our magistrate has a secret concubine!”

“I’ve heard! I’ve heard! They say that Mistress Xiao Lin is as gentle as water…”

“Our magistrate’s wife isn’t bad either… just… she has no children.”

“So what if she has no children? She could adopt a nephew from her family. That’s the Yang family! If Magistrate Zhang hadn’t aligned with the Yangs, how could he even become magistrate?”

“Exactly.”

…

Chu Ling sat upright on the second floor, sipping her tea, one eyebrow raised, enjoying the lively discussion below. “Master Wan, you’re quite capable.”

The more the rumors spread, the less chance Magistrate Zhang would have to trouble her.

Wan Sanjin leaned back in his chair. “It’s not me who’s capable, it’s Your Excellency. After staying a few days in the magistrate’s residence, you even discovered his concubine—and the secret room.”

According to the information from their informant, when the magistrate’s wife returned home, the first thing she did was tie up the concubine and give her a good beating. Then, following a tip from someone else, she found the secret room, which completely ignited her anger.

The Zhang family’s rise depended on the Yang family’s support. But this year, when the Yangs requested a favor, he refused. Unexpectedly, even with money, the Yangs received no help.

However, the Yang clan didn’t let their anger override reason; after all, Zhang is a government official and can’t be arbitrarily punished.

Still, the Yangs had ongoing business dealings with the Zhangs in Sishui County, so they cut off all cooperation.

Once the Yangs severed ties, other merchants watching from the sidelines also ended their dealings. After all, the Zhangs were only just gaining influence—they couldn’t compete with a powerful clan like the Yangs.

Chu Ling set down her teacup, a proud smirk on her lips. “Old Zhang will probably keep his head down for a while.”

“Though the Yangs acted so ruthlessly, they haven’t formally severed ties,” Wan Sanjin frowned. “I wonder if they’ll eventually set aside grudges and resume cooperation. When that happens, Your Excellency will be the first target.”

Chu Ling’s smile widened. “They haven’t severed ties because it maximizes their benefit, but there’s no way they’ll truly erase the grudges.”

“Why not?” Wan Sanjin was surprised. “Your Excellency seems overconfident.”

“I played a little trick,” Chu Ling said with a low laugh. “On the second shelf in Magistrate Zhang’s study, inside a celadon vase entwined with flowers, there are many pieces of paper. Every time Magistrate Zhang got angry at the Yangs, he’d write a note and toss it in the vase. That vase is full of grievances—those won’t disappear anytime soon.”

Wan Sanjin’s eyes widened in astonishment. “Your Excellency… you knew all this?”

“And on top, there’s a new note, freshly written by Magistrate Zhang. He was planning to frame the Yangs and her nephew in some unclear affair, hoping to use it as a pretext for a divorce and to marry Mistress Xiao Lin,” Chu Ling raised an eyebrow.

Wan Sanjin realized—while the other notes might just be Zhang’s grievances, this top one was likely written by the magistrate himself.

“The handwriting’s different… Your Excellency…” Wan Sanjin’s mind raced. Should they charter a boat and leave immediately? Staying might be dangerous.

Chu Ling said casually, “Don’t worry. The magistrate’s wife has already burned that note. She’ll keep this in her heart—it’s a thorn.”

Wan Sanjin was completely convinced. “Your Excellency, you planned everything intricately, set up numerous traps… yet you’re no less clever, calculating every step.”

“I calculate to survive!” Chu Ling said, swinging a fan at him.

Wan Sanjin raised a hand to block but deftly dodged.

Chu Ling said, “Let’s go. The show’s over. Time to return to Sishui County.” Staying longer would only give Magistrate Zhang a handle on them.

Wan Sanjin hurried to contact someone to secure a boat. After packing up and taking some local specialties, they boarded and prepared to leave.

On the boat back, Wan Sanjin still had a question. “Your Excellency came to Chengyang without an official order. Why didn’t Magistrate Zhang seize this as leverage?”

“I already explained in court that day. Magistrate Zhang himself invited me over, and the villagers outside heard everything. They’re all my witnesses,” Chu Ling said matter-of-factly.

“Will the common people testify for Your Honor?” Wan Sanjin hesitated. “Most of them would be afraid of getting into trouble, especially if they testify for an official.”

Chu Ling shook her head, her expression serious. “No, they will testify for me.”

“Because Your Honor solved the case and caught the real culprit?” Wan Sanjin’s eyes flickered with emotion.

Chu Ling nodded firmly, a faint smile appearing on her face. “The people are kind-hearted. If I do good deeds, they will stand on my side. Besides, there is only one magistrate in Chengyang, but there are tens of thousands of people.”

Public opinion can move mountains; even Magistrate Zhang would think twice before acting recklessly.

“Your Honor,” Su He hurried over and looked at Chu Ling. “When we head back, can we stop at Qingning County? There’s a blacksmith there—I want to have some tools made.”

“Why not in Sishui County?” Wan Sanjin asked.

Su He sighed. “They’re afraid of me.”

“Then let’s go,” Chu Ling said with a smile. “I’ve heard Qingning County is bustling—it can’t compare to our Sishui County at all.”

Su He nodded. “Indeed, the population is a bit larger.”

Wan Sanjin went to notify the boatmen, planning to stop at Qingning County for a day. After Su He finished making his tools, they would return to Sishui County.

Late at night.

The boat slowly docked. Wan Sanjin stepped onto solid ground, exhaled deeply, glanced back, and then turned to say, “Your Honor, let’s find an inn to stay at tonight.”

Chu Ling nodded. Staying at an inn would certainly be more comfortable than sleeping on the boat.

After packing up, they said goodbye to the boatmen and headed into Qingning County. But as soon as they stepped into the county’s borders, everyone unconsciously froze. Both humans and ghosts rubbed their arms instinctively, faces pale with shock.

“What… what is going on?” Wan Sanjin swallowed nervously, glancing at Chu Ling with fear.

Chu Ling also felt a bit pale, awkwardly chuckling twice. “Haha, the customs in Qingning County are… really interesting. Haha… at night, they hang red lanterns, row after row.”

Su He turned his head. “That’s not a real custom.”

A chill wind blew, and everyone hugged themselves tighter.

“Y-Your Honor… maybe we should just go back to the boat to rest,” Wan Sanjin suggested, trembling.

Chu Ling also found the scene strange. Returning to the boat seemed safest.

“No need to be afraid. Hanging red lanterns is to drive away evil spirits and to light up the streets.”

Chu Ling turned to a certain spot. A woman in a dark blue embroidered dress walked slowly out of the shadows. Over her dress, she wore an apron, seemingly made of some kind of worn, blackened leather.

“Thank you for letting me know,” Chu Ling said.

Wan Sanjin’s heart skipped a beat; his face went pale. “Your Honor… who are you thanking?”

Chu Ling glanced at Wan Sanjin, then at the ghosts beside her, and suddenly realized. Of course! Why would a woman be wandering around here in the middle of the night? The whole county was utterly silent!

“A figure just told me that the lanterns are to ward off evil spirits. But when I looked earlier, the person had vanished,” Chu Ling said innocently to Wan Sanjin.

Wan Sanjin’s eyes widened in terror. “Y-Your Honor… could it… could it be your imagination?”

Chu Ling sighed. “Perhaps.”

“T-Then… then we should… go,” Wan Sanjin hurriedly pulled Su He along.

Chu Ling shook her head. Now she really had to sigh. Ghosts have appeared—do they really want to run away?

“Let’s… head into the county,” she said.