TGCFNM -Chapter 493 Still a Step Too Late

Liangzhou, Fulai Inn.

As usual, Xuanwu sent off Zhuque and then came to Fulai Inn, intending to gather information before heading back. However, he was unexpectedly ushered into the back courtyard by the innkeeper.

When Wan Sanjin saw him, he warmly pulled him inside: “Xuanwu! Long time no see~”

Xuanwu looked at the people seated in the courtyard, surprised: “When did you all get back?”

“Last night,” Chu Ling said. “Cangning reported something was off, so we hurried back. After all, there are only five of us; we can’t possibly take them on directly.”

Xuanwu sat down with a serious expression. “Are there really rebels?”

Chu Ling nodded heavily. “There are indeed quite a few hiding, but you don’t need to worry. By the time we left, Young Lord Xiao and Sir Fu had already gone ahead.”

Xuanwu let out a small sigh of relief. “So… should we go help them?”

Chu Ling shook his head slightly. “If we go now to help, it would just be stealing credit—credit that belongs to Young Lord Xiao and Sir Fu.”

Wan Sanjin immediately nodded. “Exactly. So we’ll continue investigating the cases we’re responsible for. Once that’s done, we’ll return straight to Lozhou.”

Xuanwu agreed, seeing the sense in it.

From that day on, Zhuque could finally see the figures of Chu Ling and the others, who had been hiding in secret. She watched them go out daily, asking around about grain prices, conducting investigations, and, three days later, they decided to return to Lozhou.

But just as they were preparing to leave, Zhuque suddenly bid farewell and rode alone at high speed toward Cangning.

Xuanwu, unaware of what had happened, continued as usual, escorting Chu Ling’s carriage from Liangzhou back to Lozhou.

Inside the carriage, Wan Sanjin lowered his voice and took out a secret letter sent by Tianxia Zhi.

Indeed, a group of rebels had been discovered near Cangning, hiding in Qilin Mountain just outside the county. They were now completely surrounded. Earlier, another group had quietly left Cangning; their whereabouts were unknown, and no one was investigating.

Chu Ling exhaled slightly in relief. Then, upon opening the secret letter, she was so surprised she nearly shouted: “Fu Qingyu and Chu Yue returned to the capital first to report, leaving Young Lord Xiao to guard?”

Su He skimmed the letter and murmured, “The capital is about to change hands… Chu Yue planned this on purpose.”

Chu Ling’s expression darkened. She threw open the curtain, and once Zhang Dong had the carriage slowly stop, she called out: “Xuanwu! The evidence I’ve uncovered is extremely important. We must head to the capital immediately to protect it. We’re not going back to Lozhou.”

Xuanwu nodded immediately and turned to instruct his men to increase their speed.

Thus, the group minimized rest stops and pushed themselves relentlessly. Four days later, they finally returned to the capital.

Upon arriving, Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin took the evidence to Lord Lu’s residence, while the others returned to the Wan household.

Lu Shi looked at the two, dust-covered and weary, and had his servants prepare tea. He then took the items Chu Ling handed over.

“These are all evidence of court officials colluding, secretly buying and selling stored grain. It’s all here,” Chu Ling said.

Lu Shi gave a slight nod. “With this evidence and testimonies, this case is easy to judge. Tomorrow, I’ll present it at court myself. But you two have little influence; returning here could expose you to retaliation. No wonder you were so worried you fell ill.”

Chu Ling frowned. “Lord Lu, have you already heard something?”

Lu Shi nodded heavily. “This time, if Sir Fu succeeds smoothly, it’s not because he was lucky—it’s because the Emperor wants him to succeed.”

Chu Ling found that all the words she had wanted to say suddenly couldn’t come out, so along this path, there was very little she could actually do.

The outcome for Heir Xiao was already destined.

She didn’t truly care about whether Heir Xiao lived or died; she only wanted to stop Chu Yue—but in the end, she had still failed.

Ghost Scholar lightly patted Chu Ling’s shoulder. “You’ve already done very well, my lord, in saving that group of Chu family soldiers.”

Lu Shi let out a deep sigh, patted Chu Ling’s head, and then Wan Sanjin’s as well. “Let’s go back. You’re both exhausted and getting sick.”

After Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin cupped their hands in respect, they left the Lu residence, with Lu Chong personally driving the carriage to escort them home.

“Lord Lu is making us avoid…,” Wan Sanjin murmured softly, a bit sorrowfully. “Otherwise, we would become knives in someone else’s hands, right?”

Chu Ling looked at Wan Sanjin and spoke gently, “If you don’t hold onto any illusions, you won’t be disappointed.”

Wan Sanjin fell silent, closing his mouth.

A little later, Lu Chong suddenly brought the carriage to a halt. His expression turned startled as he looked at the formation in front of the Wan residence. He knocked on the carriage a few times. “Lord Chu, we’ve arrived.”

Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin exchanged a glance, then slowly lifted the curtain and stepped out, one after the other.

The last time they had been picked up, Elder Gao had greeted them with a smile. His powdered face was creased with laugh lines, showing deep furrows.

“Lord Chu, you really kept this old servant waiting,” Elder Gao said with a cheerful smile.

Chu Ling forced a smile, her voice slightly cold. “I am here under the Emperor’s orders to investigate the issue of the stored grain warehouses. I have already obtained concrete evidence. This matter implicates multiple officials and is no minor affair… Therefore, I immediately reported it to Lord Lu to inform His Majesty. I didn’t expect to have wasted your time, Elder Gao.”

Elder Gao’s expression changed. He bowed. “Lord Chu, you’ve worked hard on the journey, but the Empress Dowager has issued an order. Please accompany this old servant into the palace. In addition, Master Wan must also enter the palace.”

Chu Ling slightly nodded, and together with Wan Sanjin, they boarded the carriage behind Elder Gao.

At a command from Elder Gao, the carriage slowly moved forward.

Ghost Scholar looked at Chu Ling, his expression slightly cold. “Still one step too late. Pretending to be sick won’t work now.”

Wan Sanjin frowned at Chu Ling. He lowered his voice. “Into the palace. To examine the case.”

“Why the rush? Examine what… the case of Empress Hexiao?” Wan Sanjin closed his eyes in disappointment. “We really have become knives in their hands.”

Ghost Scholar looked at Chu Ling. “Examine this case carefully, based on evidence and witnesses.”

Chu Ling nodded slightly.

“Currently, Fu Qingyu’s identity is that of the late Crown Prince’s orphan. So examining the case of Empress Hexiao will inevitably involve the previous Crown Prince. If His Majesty suddenly orders a full investigation into the previous Crown Prince’s case… I hope, my lord, that you can take on this case,” Ghost Scholar said with a note of sorrow.

Chu Ling immediately agreed. Investigating the previous Crown Prince’s case was not only to restore the Crown Prince’s honor but also to seek justice for the souls who had died wrongfully.

“Master Wan,” Chu Ling called softly, “if we are to examine the case, then we shall do it properly, earnestly. As for the outcome, we can quietly observe.”

Wan Sanjin nodded, rubbing his face and forcing a normal expression.

“Fu Qingyu and Chu Yue are currently the only people they can use for this case. No one else can, and no one else dares. So the investigation of the previous Crown Prince’s case will probably also fall to us… And once we take on this case, we are certainly in danger. So we should ask your brother to provide more protection for us,” Chu Ling decided to prepare in advance.

Wan Sanjin’s expression turned serious. He nodded. “No problem.”