TGCFNM -Chapter 424 Don’t Go Out Today

The next day.

After getting up and washing, Chu Ling went to the dining hall.

Inside, only Steward Liu was present, holding a letter in his hand. Seeing Chu Ling, he quickly approached and handed it over.

“This letter came from Uncle Hong. He says, ‘Master, don’t go out today.’”

Chu Ling was startled and instinctively asked, “What happened?”

“The eldest son of the Si family has died of poisoning. The Si family’s servants identified the perpetrator as Qiu Wu, the chief prison officer of the Dali Temple. Everyone who attended the banquet was poisoned as well. Although they’ve been treated, they are all still weak… Uncle Hong said the matter has escalated quite a bit and advised Master to stay in today,” Steward Liu explained.

Chu Ling was dumbfounded.

All this happened overnight—what on earth went on?!

“Master, you should read the letter yourself,” Steward Liu said.

Chu Ling immediately opened the letter and read it through at a glance. Finally, she understood what had happened.

“This… this is clearly a chain of traps,” Chu Ling said, shocked.

Ghost Scholar frowned as he read alongside her. “In the dead of night, in the dark, Wu Ting went to assassinate, not stroll around. How could someone clearly see his face, let alone identify him as Qiu Wu from the Dali Temple? This is completely abnormal.”

Chu Ling gripped the letter tightly. “If there are witnesses providing such testimony, it means they have a way to prove everything they’re claiming is true.”

Moreover, Si Yuanqi had died because of that poisoned dart, which meant Wu Ting was the killer.

As for the mysterious person who had initially shot the dart that appeared to save Si Yuanqi—the person Si Yuanqi knew—that figure had vanished without a trace.

“Those close to Si Yuanqi must know who that mysterious person is. After all, to earn Si Yuanqi’s trust and form such a deep bond…” Chu Ling murmured.

Ghost Scholar spoke up beside her, “Last night you already told Lu Shi about this mysterious person whose allegiance is unknown, and that it was he who shot the dart. Lu Shi will definitely investigate.”

Chu Ling felt helpless, yet she knew this was not the time to reveal herself; otherwise, the Feima Villa incident would surely drag her into this mess.

“Steward Liu, don’t worry. We won’t go out today. Let’s wait for any news from Lord Lu,” Chu Ling said.

Steward Liu nodded. “I’ll inform Uncle Hong.” With that, he turned and left.

Chu Ling remained alone in the dining hall. After a while, Xiao Hua brought breakfast over.

As Chu Ling ate, the others arrived. She handed them the letter so they could understand the situation.

Su He was shocked. “We’ve just witnessed a conspiracy being born with our own eyes.”

Chu Ling nodded, feeling frustrated.

Wan Sanjin took a sharp breath. “The mysterious person’s true target was the eldest Si son, while Wu Ting was used as a decoy. If Wu Ting’s identity were investigated, it would reveal an old case from eight years ago, which could be framed as revenge—meaning Wu Ting would have to die too.”

This was a double-edged scheme!

“How did Wu Ting and Si Yuanqi anger this person?” Su He asked, bewildered.

Chu Ling leaned back in her chair. “We still don’t know. All we can do now is rely on Lord Lu and wait for him to handle the case.”

—

Meanwhile, Lu Shi’s expression darkened as he examined several confessions and a nearby autopsy report, frowning deeply.

Lu Chong stood beside him, quietly reminding, “Lord, the Si family has been waiting for a long time.”

Lu Shi sighed heavily. “We have the evidence, the witnesses, and Wu Ting did indeed harm the victim. Once he learned of Si Yuanqi’s death, he confessed… But something’s not right.”

Lu Chong let out a soft sigh. “If I didn’t know that Your Excellency had asked Lord Chu to investigate the theft and that he had already uncovered quite a lot, I too would have believed this case—because it’s far too complete, without a single flaw.”

“Xiao Chu personally saw the one throwing the darts. That person has a rather close connection with Si Yuanqi, yet those around Si Yuanqi insist he has no friends skilled in martial arts. And the origin of those darts… can’t be traced at all!” Lu Shi said, gritting his teeth.

This was the second time in eight years!

Who, exactly, was repeatedly orchestrating these cases right under his nose?

“Your Excellency, what should we do now?” Lu Chong asked anxiously.

The Si family would surely demand an explanation, the Feima Villa case still needed to be examined, and the head of the prison would inevitably dredge up the case from eight years ago.

Lu Shi leaned on the table and slowly stood up. “I’m going to see them. I need to ask about that case from eight years ago again.”

With that, Lu Shi walked around the table and strode out, Lu Chong immediately following him.

At the same time, in front of the cell where Wu Ting was being held, an uninvited guest arrived.

Wu Ting looked at the newcomer, recalling the conversation with Chu Ling and the others, and asked, “Do you bear a grudge against me?”

“Not now, but in the future,” the man replied.

He smiled faintly, half-crouching to look at the pitiful Wu Ting, carefully taking in his current disheveled state.

“I want to ask you a few questions,” Wu Ting said, his eyes red as he stared at him. “You’ll tell a dying man the truth, won’t you?”

The man laughed heartily. “I know what you’re going to ask. You don’t even need to ask; I’ll tell you… and besides, I’m here to save you.”

Wu Ting looked at him blankly.

—

“Your Excellency! Your Excellency!”

Someone called urgently from outside. Lu Shi had no choice but to lean on the railing and stand up, quickly walking to the door.

After the messenger whispered a few words in his ear, he stood there with a grim expression.

Lu Shi’s face shifted slightly; after giving a few quiet instructions, the messenger quickly trotted away.

At that moment, the head of the Si family also slowly rose and approached. “Lord Lu, the jade Guanyin has nothing to do with this case.”

Lu Shi turned to him. “It is precisely because of this jade Guanyin that the Wu family lost their lives, and that Si Yuanqi died. And you say it has nothing to do with it?”

The Si family head shut his mouth tight, unwilling to say a single word more.

“Then tell me—did your Si family know about the ambush on the Wu family back then?” Lu Shi asked.

The Si family head shook his head firmly. “It had nothing to do with the Si family. We only learned of it afterwards.”

Lu Shi frowned. “Does the Si family have enemies?”

“The Si family has plenty of enemies,” the family head replied. “But as for this case, since it was truly Wu Ting who killed Yuanqi, he must pay the price!”

Lu Shi knitted his brows. “Yet there’s something strange about this entire matter. That person’s aim may not have been just the Wu family, but the Si family as well… Don’t you doubt the testimonies of those people? Don’t you doubt the people around Si Yuanqi?”

The Si family head ignored him and walked straight out. “Lord Lu, just focus on handling the case. The affairs of the Si family require no interference from outsiders.”

Lu Shi watched the head of the Si family’s retreating figure and thought of the message just delivered by his subordinate.

It said Wu Ting had escaped from prison.

But how could one escape so easily from the Dali Temple’s prison? This was clearly a setup.

“Hopefully Xiao Chu and the others will arrive quickly. They must reach Wu Ting before the Si family, otherwise… it will be too late.”