TGCFNM -Chapter 408 Looking at the Character Map

Knock, knock~

“Master, I’ve brought the tea.”

Xiao Hua spoke, then pushed the door open and walked in. She placed the tea and snacks on a side table, then stepped back out.

Chu Ling poured herself a cup of tea and dragged a chair to sit in front of the relationship map.

“One word from the emperor, and this case ends here.” Chu Ling squinted as she looked at the nameplate of Xuanyuan Hong, which she had cut off.

Ghost Scholar said, “The courtesan case was interrupted; clearly someone from above interfered. It’s enough that we understand this.”

Chu Ling gave a nod and turned her attention back to the Si family.

The purple lines from the Si family connected them to numerous officials. Some were relatives by marriage, while others were pulled onto the same “boat” through financial support.

Judging by the colors alone, the Si family had the closest ties to the officials, though this was also related to their frequent practice of marrying off daughters strategically.

But among all of this, one figure stood out even more: Grand Tutor Sun.

“I’m even considering drawing a separate line just for Grand Tutor Sun…” Chu Ling muttered. Aside from the aristocratic royal families, it seemed that nearly every official had some connection to him, and all were apparently friendly.

Ghost Scholar chuckled lightly. “Grand Tutor Sun doesn’t hold actual power. His family has no male heirs needing officials to pave the way, so naturally, people gravitate toward him… Moreover, the emperor likely trusts him a lot. If someone else had formed these ties with officials, their hat would have been snatched long ago.”

Chu Ling nodded immediately—this was blatant faction-building.

“Master~ Master~ Master~”

A voice, almost like a soul-calling chant, came from the courtyard. Each call drew closer until it reached outside the door, followed by the sound of knocking.

Chu Ling frowned, turning her head with a look of annoyance. “Master Wan, are you summoning spirits?”

“Master, I’m coming in.” Wan Sanjin called out, then pushed the door open. After glancing at Chu Ling, he dragged over a chair and even moved the table holding the tea and snacks closer to himself.

“Luckily, there’s an empty tea cup.” Wan Sanjin muttered and poured himself a full cup.

“Did you bring back the medicine?” Chu Ling crossed her legs and teased him as she looked at Wan Sanjin’s vacant expression. “Or… did you not see the person?”

“Mm.” Wan Sanjin nodded. “Qingtong brought the medicine in. I instructed Qingtong to make sure Qingyu drank it all, then I prepared to come back.”

“Mm… ‘prepared to come back’ but didn’t actually return…” Chu Ling’s eyes shifted. “Did you climb over Master Fu’s courtyard wall?”

Wan Sanjin’s head snapped around in shock. “Master, how did you know?”

Chu Ling clicked her tongue with disdain. “Qingyu is at the Fu residence. What could happen? And you climbed over someone else’s wall to get in? Aren’t you afraid of being reported to the authorities?”

“No~” Wan Sanjin hesitated, then sighed deeply. “Master Fu is very strict. I was afraid he’d hit Qingyu.”

Chu Ling asked hesitantly, “With the ruler?”

Wan Sanjin nodded.

Chu Ling reassured him, “Don’t overthink it. Qingyu’s already grown. How could he still be hit with the ruler? Besides, did he commit a serious mistake? No, he didn’t~”

Wan Sanjin thought about it, and it made sense. “Qingtong said he was copying books. I worried he wouldn’t have eaten… Anyway, I just lingered a bit, then left.”

However…

Wan Sanjin frowned. “This trip to the Fu residence felt strange. It seemed like someone was secretly watching me.”

“Didn’t you notice it before?” Chu Ling asked with amusement.

Bai Su suddenly seemed to recall something: “He didn’t know martial arts back then and hadn’t practiced internal cultivation.”

Wan Sanjin sighed. “I didn’t notice it before either, but I never really liked going to the Fu residence. Their steward is extremely strict—every servant walks without making a sound.”

Chu Ling thought for a moment, then mentioned Wan Sanjin’s current internal cultivation: “Perhaps because of that, your perception has become more sensitive, which is why you felt like someone was watching you…”

Wan Sanjin looked at Chu Ling, a bit confused. “So my feeling wasn’t wrong?”

Chu Ling nodded. “Exactly.”

Wan Sanjin froze. “The guards at the Fu residence hide in the shadows—isn’t that unusual?”

Chu Ling nodded. Of course, it was unusual… “Wait, did you see Fu Qingyu?”

Wan Sanjin shook his head. “No, I didn’t. I just ran into Qingtong while dealing with the ink. Qingtong said that their young master was copying books and that he’d be watching to make sure he finished taking his medicine.”

Chu Ling pressed her chin thoughtfully. “So, even before you entered the backyard, you already felt someone was watching you… It turns out the Fu family sees you as a potential threat and has gone on high alert.”

Chu Ling looked at Wan Sanjin with amusement. Wan Sanjin angrily turned his head away.

“It’s not that… it’s more like… killing intent?” Wan Sanjin said hesitantly.

Chu Ling was taken aback. “Why would the Fu family have killing intent toward you?”

Wan Sanjin didn’t understand either. “It’s just that… they’re constantly on guard, watching for any malicious intent, preventing trouble before it happens.”

Chu Ling seemed to understand. “They’re protecting Fu Qingyu, and if anyone makes a move, they won’t hesitate to act?”

Wan Sanjin nodded immediately. Exactly like that.

Bai Su, watching from the side, suddenly laughed: “Sanjin might just be naturally sensitive to danger. After practicing martial arts, this perception has become even more pronounced.”

“This isn’t necessarily a good thing,” Ghost Scholar said quietly. “Fu Qingyu is just a student. Why would so many people need to protect him, even treating Wan Sanjin, who grew up with him, with caution?”

Chu Ling bit her lip and looked at Wan Sanjin: “Don’t mention this in front of Fu Qingyu. Just… act like you don’t know.”

Wan Sanjin nodded. “I definitely won’t say anything. It’s just a bit strange, and once you start thinking it’s strange, you can’t help but keep thinking about it.”

Chu Ling patted Wan Sanjin on the shoulder, unsure what else to say.

“By the way, do you know about Uncle Hong’s friend’s son who caught that cold?” Chu Ling changed the topic.

Wan Sanjin shook his head. “If Uncle Hong hadn’t mentioned it today, I wouldn’t even know he had friends. And when we parted ways, he seemed to be heading out of the city.”

Chu Ling was surprised. “Out of the city? So he’s not in the capital?”

“The rent in the capital is too expensive. He probably moved to the suburbs. And since he’s sick, I guess he’s probably poor too,” Wan Sanjin speculated.

Chu Ling nodded in understanding. “Makes sense.”

Ghost Scholar looked at them helplessly. “You two are idling around. How about doing some proper work? The case hasn’t been solved yet—be careful, Lu Shi might give you trouble, especially since you both did something foolish this morning.”

Chu Ling felt a chill on her neck and instinctively hunched. “Master Wan, let’s do something serious—let’s look at the character diagram.”

Wan Sanjin glanced at Xuanyuan Hong, whose section had been cut out. “Xuanyuan Hong is dead… won’t his friend, Prefect Fang, be furious at us?”

Chu Ling sighed and followed Prefect Fang, tracing the lines connected to him…

“Ah, Prefect Fang’s wife is the second daughter of the Si family? So she’s actually related to the Si family by marriage,” Chu Ling said in surprise.