TGCFNM -Chapter 486 All of This Was Actually Orchestrated

The scene fell silent for a moment. “Master Du” and “Captain Hu” stared blankly at Chu Ling, not yet able to process what had happened.

Outside, their family members, who had been anxiously waiting, all wore expressions of disbelief. In the next instant, they rushed in.

“Y-you… who are you?”

Master Du’s wife clutched his shoulders in agony, shaking him desperately. “Who are you? Who are you really! Where is my husband? Where is my husband?”

Captain Hu’s family also crowded around him, shaking him frantically, crying and shouting, “Who are you? Who are you? Who are you…?”

Chu Ling stepped back, watching the faintly apologetic and regretful expressions on their faces. She exhaled softly and turned away.

Sure enough, in the next moment, both of them bit down on the poison they had hidden in their teeth and ended their lives, collapsing to the ground.

Chu Ling walked over to the desk and struck the judge’s gavel once: “The real Captain Hu and Master Du were probably killed a long time ago. These two substitutes colluded, insisting that Prefect Yang committed suicide out of fear of punishment. Clearly, someone was orchestrating this from behind the scenes. I will continue to investigate thoroughly.”

Zhuque’s expression tightened—so all of this had been planned by someone?

Chu Ling glanced at Zhuque, then ordered the two bodies to be carried away.

Once Wan Sanjin led the men to dig up the stolen silver, the trial continued. With the evidence left by Prefect Yang confirmed as genuine, it was certain that the grain warehouses were connected to the Wang family matter. Chu Ling decided to first investigate Liangzhou, and then move on to Cangning.

With that, the case concluded, and the court was dismissed immediately.

Back at the rear office.

Chu Ling slightly bowed to Heir Xiao and Fu Qingyu: “Young Master Xiao, Young Master Fu, tomorrow I will take people to Liangzhou first.”

“Master Chu, you’re checking Liangzhou before Cangning?” Heir Xiao asked curiously.

Chu Ling’s expression was serious: “Yes. I plan to work with Lord Xuanwu to trace the secret route that Prefect Yang had drawn and follow it all the way. But I will need Young Master Xiao and Young Master Fu to help me with one thing.”

Fu Qingyu looked at Chu Ling and asked, “You want us to stay behind and guard Luozhou?”

Chu Ling nodded: “Exactly. You two will stay in Luozhou to prevent everyone from speculating recklessly, while I secretly investigate the rebels to avoid alerting them.”

Heir Xiao was about to speak further, but Chu Rou interjected: “That works. I suppose Master Chu will also need manpower, so let Zhuque go with you to help.”

Heir Xiao thought that sounded reasonable and nodded in agreement.

Chu Ling naturally agreed as well, then turned to Fu Qingyu with an unmistakable expression: do you want to send someone too?

Fu Qingyu nearly smiled but only shook his head slightly.

Thus, the plan was happily set. Heir Xiao would leave first with his men, Zhuque would go back to prepare, and be ready at the city gate early the next morning for Chu Ling and the others.

Fu Qingyu couldn’t stay long either, so he took his leave. Before departing, he asked Chu Ling, “Do you know if Coroner Su is around?”

“Coroner Su? Busy, I suppose. Don’t know what he’s doing—he’s been nowhere to be seen all day,” Chu Ling replied casually.

Fu Qingyu pinched the bridge of his nose in mild frustration, bid farewell to the group, and left.

Once everyone had gone, Zhang Dong quickly closed the door.

Wan Sanjin lowered his voice nervously: “Does Young Master Fu suspect Su He?”

“I administered the poison. If he suspects Su He… let him. Su He’s expression gives nothing away anyway,” Chu Ling said calmly, pinning the matter on Su He.

Wan Sanjin let out a soft hiss. “This doesn’t add up. Didn’t Su He say the medicine wouldn’t do anything…? But judging by how Young Master Fu looks, it’s like he’s committed a huge crime.”

Chu Ling lowered her voice. “Right… this medicine shouldn’t have done anything… So, the two of them just had a disagreement and fought? Fu Qingyu lost?”

Wan Sanjin thought for a moment, feeling it was somewhat possible.

At this moment, Fu Qingyu, sitting in the carriage, pressed his temples with a headache. Last night, Chu Yue had gone completely mad—rushing into his room in a frenzy, violently pulling at his clothes, suddenly trying to kill him. While chasing him, she had scraped against the pillar, even leaving scratches and bleeding on her own neck—absolutely insane.

Of everyone he knew, if anyone could concoct a “madness poison,” it would probably only be Su He.

But Lord Chu said Su He hadn’t left, so… could it be that Chu Yue herself tested the poison and ended up poisoning herself?

The thought alone gave Fu Qingyu an unbearable headache.

Meanwhile, the two culprits were off performing their “drama” in front of someone else.

Xuanwu, seeing the serious expressions on Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin’s faces, realized this matter was not trivial and didn’t hesitate to agree.

“Lord Chu, Master Wan, don’t worry. I will accompany you to investigate the case!” Xuanwu declared with a determined expression, as if going into battle. Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin were deeply moved.

Wan Sanjin let out a light sigh. “It’s a pity Heir Xiao doesn’t trust us and sent Zhu Que to follow us.”

Xuanwu waved his hand. “No matter, leave him to me.”

Taking the opportunity, Chu Ling asked, “The Four Elephants’ assassins… they’re not close to each other, right…?”

Xuanwu frowned. “It’s not that they’re close. Once selected, we were taught by different people and rarely encountered one another. Later, when the Emperor granted us to several princes, it was tacitly understood that we were enemies.”

Chu Ling’s eyes widened. This is explicitly stated by the Emperor? And those princes are all enemies too?

“In short, Lord Chu, if you want to work without being watched, just tell me, and I’ll keep her in check,” Xuanwu said.

After thanking him, Chu Ling gave the departure time for the next day, then grabbed Wan Sanjin and left.

Back at his residence, Wan Sanjin whispered, “If they’re enemies… doesn’t that just encourage them to fight?”

Chu Ling nodded. “The Emperor probably wants to pick a victor, the next successor.”

Wan Sanjin was silent for a moment, then sighed, “Power is truly terrifying.”

Chu Ling exhaled. Terrifying indeed—Fu Qingyu had seemed like a completely different person in such a short time.

“By the way, do you want to tell your brother that we’re leaving tomorrow?” Chu Ling asked.

Wan Sanjin shook his head. “If my brother wants to know, he’ll find out. Our priority now is to tell Su He that we’re leaving tomorrow.”

Chu Ling exchanged a glance with Wan Sanjin, wearing a completely exasperated expression, then immediately rushed to find Su He.

Su He opened the door with an iron-blue expression, glancing at the two of them, snorted coldly through his nose, and slammed the door shut.

“Got it.”

Wan Sanjin jumped. “Su He won’t poison us, right?”

Chu Ling looked uncertain. “We only disturbed him while he was refining medicine… shouldn’t… poison us.”

“I’ll go ask my brother for two bottles of Divine Water to take with us,” Wan Sanjin said, then hurriedly left the prefecture.

Chu Ling also ducked her head and quickly departed.