TGCFNM -Chapter 504 Don’t Understand Master Wan’s Thought Process

After leaving the Yunyan Pavilion, Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin casually wandered the streets, stopping now and then to chat briefly with commoners before moving on.

“Speaking of the treasury being empty, that’s not really the Xuanyuan family’s fault,” Wan Sanjin frowned and said.

Chu Ling shook her head. “It’s a big problem.”

Wan Sanjin couldn’t help but stop and look at her.

Chu Ling pointed to a large tree at the corner of the street. “No one’s there. Let’s go talk there.” With that, the two walked over.

Lowering her voice, Chu Ling said, “The Emperor naturally knows the treasury is empty, which is why he flew into a rage when the subject of silver came up. But how did the Xuanyuan family know the treasury was empty? Isn’t that essentially spying on the Emperor’s finances? That’s a huge problem.”

Wan Sanjin’s eyes lit up. “Yeah, that is a big problem.”

“Let’s go pick up Coroner Su,” Chu Ling said, and the two continued walking.

When they reached the charitable estate, they immediately got onto Zhang Dong’s carriage, and soon after, Su He arrived.

Su He lifted the curtain to look at them and handed over the autopsy report.

Chu Ling took it, flipped through a few pages, and whispered, “The autopsy report is done. Once we attach today’s testimonies, it can be submitted for imperial review.”

Ghost Scholar gently patted Chu Ling’s shoulder. “Go back and review the relationship chart. See which officials are closely connected to the Xuanyuan family, and have Tianxia Zhi investigate whether there’s evidence of embezzlement or bribery. With that added evidence, the Xuanyuan family will panic even more.”

Chu Ling instructed Zhang Dong to speed up and head back to the Wan residence.

Zhang Dong patted Zhuifeng, urging the horse to go faster.

Su He placed his tools aside. “How’s the investigation going? Can you move against the Xuanyuan family?”

“Absolutely,” Wan Sanjin said confidently.

Su He nodded, relaxing slightly. “Good. We need to investigate quickly, or this will get even more troublesome.”

“What happened?” Chu Ling asked urgently. “Was there something in today’s autopsy?”

“The Beauty Curse isn’t dead,” Su He said grimly. “We couldn’t even examine it—we had to burn it immediately.”

Wan Sanjin gasped and looked at Chu Ling. “Gui Wushuang is that good at raising insects?”

Chu Ling pressed her lips together. “We need to speed up.”

They had to force Gui Wushuang’s hand as quickly as possible.

The next day.

Chu Ling submitted a new case file along with a memorial to the throne, emphasizing the Xuanyuan family’s concern about the state treasury, which had led them to manipulate the court and entrap certain ministers.

Furthermore, the Xuanyuan family exploited the daughters of those guilty officials for profit, sending them into brothels—and even took their lives.

Of course, Chu Ling also didn’t omit the Xuanyuan family’s in-laws in the memorial, meticulously recording the silver these officials had embezzled or accepted as bribes in their jurisdictions.

At the very end of the memorial, Chu Ling added that even after being frozen, the cursed insects remained alive, and if someone raised them on a large scale, no one could stop them.

Upon reading the memorial, the Emperor’s hand veins bulged. Gritting his teeth, he threw the memorial aside. “Cursed insects appeared in the palace and even killed the Empress! If no one can stop them… then even I could die at the hands of these tiny bugs!”

Instantly, the hall was filled with people kneeling. Everyone trembled on the ground, fearing that any misstep might draw the Emperor’s wrath and cost them their lives.

“Issue an edict—surround the Xuanyuan family! Have Chu Ling continue the investigation for me!”

—

At the Wan Residence, after receiving the edict, Chu Ling dismissed the eunuchs and instructed Steward Liu to refuse all visitors.

Then, Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin went to the room with the relationship diagram.

Chu Ling examined the people connected to the Xuanyuan family and started tracing each line, cutting them one by one with scissors. “I’ve already handed all the evidence of their embezzlement and bribery to Lord Lu. If they are to be judged, it will only take a few days.”

Ghost Scholar, watching from the side, felt both sorrowful and amused: “Such a great Zhou dynasty, yet the number of honest officials could fit in one hand.”

Chu Ling let out a deep sigh, slowly setting down the tiles in her hand and putting the scissors away.

“In any case, we first need to sever all the roots of this great Xuanyuan tree before we prune the tree itself,” she said, turning to Wan Sanjin. “It’ll make things much easier, won’t it, Master Wan?”

Wan Sanjin, as if coming back to himself, nodded: “What you say is correct, my lord.”

Chu Ling walked over: “The emperor wants a thorough investigation of embezzlement and bribery, so no official connected to the Xuanyuan family will be spared—all have been arrested… Have you made sure the news reached the right people?”

Wan Sanjin nodded: “It’s all been spread, including the courtesan case, and the matters involving the Xuanyuan family and the cursed insects.”

Chu Ling studied Wan Sanjin’s expression: “Master Wan, what’s wrong? You seem upset.”

Wan Sanjin shook his head, hesitating to speak.

Ghost Scholar, however, guessed the reason: “Those officials tied to the Xuanyuan family—almost as soon as my lord requested evidence of their embezzlement, it was sent over immediately. Too fast.”

Chu Ling thought to herself: That explains it.

She gestured to a nearby chair for Wan Sanjin to sit, then sat herself and poured tea for both of them.

Chu Ling pushed the cup toward him. “Master Wan, I suppose you’re wondering when your elder brother started preparing that evidence, and why he prepared it in the first place.”

Wan Sanjin took the cup and nodded.

Chu Ling shrugged: “Of course, I don’t know your elder brother’s purpose, and he’s never revealed it. But one thing is certain—whatever he does, he won’t harm us, right?”

“Of course not!” Wan Sanjin said hurriedly. “And I’m not questioning his motives—I’m just worried.”

He lowered his head, a troubled look on his face.

Chu Ling looked at him and voiced what he was thinking: “You’re worried that one day he might no longer be your elder brother.”

Wan Sanjin’s eyes snapped up to hers.

Chu Ling raised an eyebrow and smiled lightly: “Worried about what? He still has the Wan family, doesn’t he?”

Wan Sanjin shook his head. “No. I’m worried that Mother is already selecting a bride for him. If one day he’s no longer my elder brother, won’t the marriage be canceled? And if it’s canceled, what if I’m expected to step in instead? I don’t want to get married!”

“You’re worried about that?” Chu Ling widened her eyes in disbelief.

Wan Sanjin sighed deeply. “Without my elder brother shielding me, I have so many things to handle. You wouldn’t understand, my lord.”

Chu Ling thought: Indeed, she doesn’t understand at all—she completely doesn’t get Master Wan’s thought process.

“You’re just bored, aren’t you?” Chu Ling snorted. “Perfect—tonight you can go patrol the walls and corners. Get some exercise.”

Wan Sanjin propped his chin with one hand and lifted his tea cup: “How many more days of leisure do I really have…”

Chu Ling: “……”