TGCFNM -Chapter 427 There’s a Traitor

After asking her questions, Wu Huan half-squatted beside Chu Ling. “Master Chu, I want to wait until I find the Young Master before leaving.”

Chu Ling nodded slightly.

Wu Ting looked at Chu Ling. “Master Chu, inside the Jade Guanyin is a copper tube. Inside that tube is evidence of the Si family exploiting the former Crown Prince to amass wealth. The Si family secretly withheld disaster relief funds, imposed heavy taxes, and forced countless commoners into destitution, selling their children. That year, no one knows how many died…”

Chu Ling instinctively thought of Tao Niang.

Tao Niang’s family had left their hometown because they could no longer survive. Her younger brother fell ill and couldn’t afford treatment, so she was sold to a brothel.

Her brother had said it was because the former Crown Prince was extorting money on a massive scale—they simply couldn’t survive.

But now it turned out, it was the Si family?

Wu Huan looked at Wu Ting, her voice faltering slightly. “Brother, it’s time for you to go. You should enter the cycle of reincarnation.”

Wu Ting lifted Wu Huan gently, embraced her briefly, and choked out, “Brother will atone to you in the next life… I’m sorry, truly sorry…”

Chu Ling slowly stood up. In front of the Si family members, she instructed Wan Sanjin and Su He to lift Wu Ting and carry him to the cliff edge, then set him down.

Wu Ting bid farewell to Wu Huan and slowly walked to where his own corpse lay, looking at Chu Ling.

“Master, though our meeting was brief, I am sincerely grateful to have met you.”

With that, Wu Ting bowed deeply, then gradually disappeared.

Chu Ling pushed Wu Ting’s corpse off the cliff as well.

The Si family members widened their eyes in disbelief. They had thought these people were all working together—but in the end, they had actually killed Wu Ting themselves?

“Master Wan, Coroner Su, let’s return to the city,” Chu Ling said, stepping past everyone and leaving.

Wu Huan floated beside Chu Ling. “Master, should I forgive my brother?”

Chu Ling replied softly, “Follow your heart. If you want to forgive, forgive. If not, then don’t.”

Wu Huan nodded softly. “Master, when the day comes that I leave, could you help me change the name on my tombstone?”

Chu Ling replied, “Of course. I’ll change it back to Wu Huan for you.”

Wu Huan shook her head. “I want to take my wet nurse’s surname. I’m Yang.”

Chu Ling paused, then solemnly said, “I’ve noted it. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure it’s done.”

When Chu Ling and the others met up with Zhang Dong and Xiao Hua, who had rushed over, they immediately boarded the carriage and sent Zhang Dong back to the city.

Three quarters of an hour later, the Si family members regained their strength and also returned to the city.

After returning, Chu Ling led his group straight to the Lu residence and was admitted through the back gate by Lu Chong.

In the study, Lu Shi had been waiting for some time.

When Chu Ling and the others arrived, he had the doors closed and had them take a seat.

Chu Ling lowered her eyes. “Master Lu, after I found Wu Ting, he told me some things… This case, from the very beginning, was a setup.”

Lu Shi looked at her but then spoke of another matter. “The Si family’s crimes in the prison are documented in detail. The prefectural office also received some evidence, which revealed that the prefect had gone to the palace.”

Chu Ling nodded slightly and looked at Lu Shi. “Wu Ting told me—he said the Si family is certain to die.”

Then, Chu Ling carefully connected all the clues and experiences provided by Wu Huan and Wu Ting, stringing everything together, and recounted the entire story.

“…In other words, someone exploited the situation with the Wu family twins, using a switch to steal things, and hypnotized Wu Ting so he believed it was his own experience. This drew the attention of the Si family. But in reality, it was all orchestrated—this person’s targets were not only the Wu family but also the Si family.”

“Later, when Wu Ting barely escaped death, it was that mysterious person who saved him, taught him martial arts and poisons, and after lying low for eight years, assassinated Si Yuanqi, while also exposing the Si family’s deeds from back then. And now that Wu Ting is dead, having been thrown off the cliff by me with no witnesses, that mysterious person walked away unscathed and disappeared again.”

Lu Shi exhaled heavily. “This person’s cunning and strategy are beyond that of ordinary men.”

“Why wait eight years?” Wan Sanjin asked. “Why not act sooner?”

Taking advantage of Wan Sanjin’s question, Chu Ling feigned ignorance. “I don’t understand either. If he truly hated the Wu family, wouldn’t it have been easier to act earlier? But he specifically chose Wu Ting’s sixteenth year, as if it were a predetermined time.”

Lu Shi’s gaze sharpened. Predetermined time?

Chu Ling looked at Lu Shi. “Sir Lu, wouldn’t it be easier to investigate someone who is an enemy of both the Wu and Si families? Or, are there other cases that occurred at strange or specific times?”

“Given the current situation, this matter must be put aside for now,” Lu Shi said gravely, his brows furrowed into a deep crease. “This case involves the Si family at a high level. If the Si family were investigated, the Wu family would be dragged in unjustly… Wu Ting probably only wanted revenge, so he was persuaded, exchanging his life to clear the Wu family’s name.”

“Moreover, the Si family killed so many people. If Wu Ting had refused to die, the Si family would have escaped without evidence. So that person left Wu Ting with no choice but to die…”

Chu Ling’s eyes darkened with seriousness. Lu Shi had also figured out the purpose of this person.

As Lu Shi spoke, his expression grew extremely grim. “This person can reach into the prisons of the Dali Court. Could he also reach into Dali Court, into my own residence?!”

Just as Chu Ling had handed the case over to him, someone seized the opportunity…

Suddenly, Lu Shi slammed his hand on the table. “Lu Chong!”

Lu Chong knocked and entered.

“When I asked you to deliver something, did anyone know what it was? Did anyone clean the study when I wasn’t around?” Lu Shi asked.

Lu Chong cupped his hands in reply. “No one besides you and me would know. As for when you are absent, the steward would arrange for the servants and maid to dust, but they would never touch your belongings.”

“The three who came to check the documents that day—was it the steward who guided them?” Lu Shi asked.

Lu Chong nodded. “Yes.”

Chu Ling was surprised. “Sir Lu suspects the steward?”

Lu Chong was momentarily stunned. “The steward was rescued by Madam and has served in the residence for nearly ten years, always diligent… Sir, I’ll go arrest him for questioning right away.”

“No need to question him. Leave him here!” Lu Shi said sternly. “Once this leaves this door, it stays buried. This person will still be useful to me.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Lu Shi looked at Chu Ling. “This Si family case involves the former Crown Prince. None of you should make a move yet. Wait until this matter is resolved. Though I estimate it will be soon, because no one will allow this case to drag on too long…”

After speaking, Lu Shi had Lu Chong escort Chu Ling and the others back to the Wan residence, and reminded them once more not to leave for the time being.

“Sir Lu, if I secretly locate and bury Wu Ting’s remains, would that be a problem?” Chu Ling asked.

Lu Shi smiled. “If it’s secret, then don’t tell me… fine, go ahead. Wu Ting revealed the matter with his death; the Si family can’t touch anything. Go, but be careful.”

Chu Ling nodded and, with his team, cupped his hands and withdrew.