TGCFNM -Chapter 446 Striking First

Chu Ling took a deep breath and looked at Wan Sanjin. “I seem to remember bits and pieces of something. I’m not sure if it was said by my parents or someone else, but it might be useful.”

Wan Sanjin glanced at the character chart and asked excitedly, “Is it something we can use against them?”

Hearing this, Su He also stood up and walked over.

Chu Ling nodded slightly and began to recount the incident of the noble families framing each other. Then, feigning a headache, she said, “I don’t know if it was something my grandfather muttered or if my parents overheard and told me, but there might be such a thing… I’m not sure if it can be investigated.”

“It can be investigated!”

A voice came from outside. Wan Xing strode in, crossing the threshold, and looked at them with a helpless smile. “You three are discussing secrets… and yet the courtyard gate isn’t closed, nor is the room?”

“It’s the Wan residence, so it doesn’t matter,” Wan Sanjin said naturally. “But elder brother, is it true that we can investigate the noble families’ mines?”

“I didn’t catch the beginning, I only heard that you weren’t sure if it could be checked, so I answered—anything can be investigated,” Wan Xing chuckled lightly as he looked at Chu Ling.

Chu Ling repeated her explanation.

Wan Xing nodded and confirmed, “It can be investigated.” Then he looked over at the character relationship chart.

Chu Ling relaxed. As long as it could be investigated, the noble families had to be torn apart, and once they were at odds, perhaps even the Empress Dowager and the Emperor would start having a rift behind the scenes.

At that moment, Wan Xing suddenly pointed at the chart and asked curiously, “Are you performing some sort of spell here?”

Chu Ling was taken aback: “?”

Wan Sanjin was also puzzled: “?”

Only Su He understood what Wan Xing meant, so he kindly explained, “This is your younger brother’s handwriting. It’s writing, not a drawn charm.”

After a long pause, Wan Xing slowly said, “…Sanjin, you really should learn to write properly.”

Wan Sanjin, unwilling to admit defeat, dragged his elder brother over to the chart. “Brother, this is the imperial official character relationship chart I had Tianxia Zhi make. Uncle Hong should have told you, right?”

Wan Xing nodded. “Yes, but I didn’t expect the finished product to… look like some kind of spell.”

“No, it’s not,” Wan Sanjin began explaining seriously. “For example, this person is here, and that person is there; the lines show the relationships between them. As for the empty spots, that’s the Si family and the Shangguan family—the connections on both sides have been cut. And Grand Tutor Sun is everywhere, pulling strings—the lines connect everywhere…”

“Now that you explain it, I understand what you’re trying to do. Just looking at the chart is shocking. You’ve done so much, and it must have been exhausting…” Wan Xing said, feeling briefly gratified, then hesitated and asked, “So, do you recognize this writing yourself?”

“Both I and the master can read it,” Wan Sanjin said proudly.

Chu Ling wanted to separate the relationships, so she feigned a headache. “Actually, since that day, my memory isn’t that clear… for example, I don’t recognize this particular writing.”

“Master, you can’t even read names anymore? Could auditory hallucinations affect your mind?” Wan Sanjin showed a faint trace of worry.

Su He pointed at two people. “Only these two can understand this chart… And master, don’t pretend either. Your handwriting and Sanjin’s are about the same—one draws pictures, the other draws charms.”

Wan Xing: “…”

“Ahem, ahem. Let’s talk about normal matters. Aside from these two noble families, what else are you planning to do?” Wan Xing asked.

Chu Ling glanced at Wan Xing. She could fool Wan Sanjin, but there was no way she could fool Wan Xing. Yet, since Wan Xing hadn’t even asked about the background of this secret matter, she decided to be straightforward.

Raising her hand, she pointed at a few people. “Young Master Wàn, check these few carefully. They’re involved in the Former Crown Prince case; their hands aren’t clean. Once you investigate, just let them blame each other.”

Wan Xing paused briefly at the mention of the Former Crown Prince case, but quickly composed himself and looked at Chu Ling seriously. “So… who exactly are these people?”

Wan Sanjin, excited, said, “I know, big brother! Let me tell you—this is Tian Chì, this is Prince Qi, and this one is Liu Yuansheng… Big brother, none of them are clean, so just investigate them all.”

Wan Xing nodded, showing he had noted it down.

Chu Ling exhaled in relief. Leaving this matter to Wan Xing would definitely make things easier.

Wan Sanjin was also very pleased with the character chart he had made—he really was both clever and handsome.

Wan Xing looked at the two of them. “So you want to get ahead of Chu Yue. After all, Chu Yue is the legitimate daughter of the General’s mansion and favored by the old general. Whatever she wants to do, it’s best to act first and disrupt things directly.”

Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin nodded in unison. They really were smart!

Wan Xing chuckled lightly. “It’s a good plan, simple to execute. Don’t worry.”

“By the way, big brother, what were you doing just now?” Wan Sanjin asked.

Wan Xing’s gaze shifted slightly. “Nothing, just some private matters… Oh, by the way, you two can go out freely for the next couple of days. Otherwise, people might really think you’re connected to Miss Chang’s case and be afraid to step outside.”

Chu Ling suddenly remembered, “Right, I also asked Zhuang Tianyou and Tang Yang to help me check on someone. I wonder if they’ve found anything. I should ask them tomorrow.”

“Oh, right! I also need to buy gifts for big brother and Qingyu. I should get them early and deliver them early.” Wan Sanjin smiled brightly at Wan Xing. “Big brother, this time I’ll get you the best gift. I’ve earned some money.”

Wan Xing thought of the money spent on perfumes and sticks, feeling a mix of amusement and exasperation. “Alright, I’ll be waiting.” With that, he didn’t disturb the three any longer and left.

After they were gone, Su He asked, “Why buy and give gifts early?”

Wan Sanjin realized he’d never explained before. “My big brother never celebrates his birthday. On the actual day, he’s always busy with business, so I usually give gifts early.”

“And what about Fu Qingyu? Why give him gifts early too? To be faster than Shi Lanyu?” Chu Ling teased.

Wan Sanjin straightened his face. “Shi Lanyu? That’s the Great Demon Chu Yue—mysterious, sneaky, always scheming against us.”

Su He was surprised. “You even gave her a nickname?”

Chu Ling studied Wan Sanjin’s expression. “No, probably when they were kids he called Shi Lanyu the Great Demon because she was clever and competed for friends. Now it just transferred to her real identity, Chu Yue.”

Su He nodded. That made sense.

Wan Sanjin cleared his throat, his expression slightly odd. “It’s strange, Qingyu doesn’t even celebrate him birthday. He said his birthday is the anniversary of his mother’s suffering, so he doesn’t want to celebrate. I usually invite him to a meal a day or two early and give him a gift.”

“Then why don’t you think of inviting your big brother for a meal and giving a gift?” Chu Ling asked curiously.

Wan Sanjin sighed. “Big brother is either busy with business or locked himself in his room. When I was little, I could never find him on his birthday.”

Chu Ling nodded, then pushed all of that aside. “Never mind that. Tomorrow, we first check with Tang Yang and Zhuang Tianyou, then buy gifts and deliver them.”

Wan Sanjin and Su He nodded in unison. “Got it!”