TGCFNM -Chapter 53 Capturing Chen Huai

Early the next morning, except for Chu Ling, the others gathered the remaining constables from the county office and dispersed, planning to use the rough profile to narrow down their target.

Chu Ling, however, went straight to the county office to see Magistrate Zhao, intending to check the household registry.

“A Chen family?” Magistrate Zhao hesitated for a moment, glancing at the adviser beside him. “In Qingning County, isn’t there only one household with the surname Chen?”

“Which one?” Chu Ling asked immediately.

The adviser replied, “It’s the widow Chen’s family. Besides her, she has a five-year-old son and a three-year-old daughter. Her husband had an accident last year, and currently, the widow Chen makes a living washing clothes for others.”

Chu Ling fell into thought. Could it be that she guessed wrong—Chen Huai isn’t actually from Qingning County?

“Poor widow Chen, she really lives a hard life, and has no relatives to help her,” sighed Magistrate Zhao.

The adviser added, “You forget, sir, that the Chen family once had a relative go up the mountain with them. Later, when the Chen family suffered a death, that relative came to help once, bringing some supplies. But the relative’s own family was also struggling, so the two of them took the risk of going to gather medicinal herbs… and neither survived.”

“Relative?” Chu Ling’s heart skipped a beat, and he immediately pressed further. “The Chen family’s relative… doesn’t live in Qingning County?”

The adviser nodded, explaining, “The Chen family’s relative trades in night incense. He has an only son, who seems to be in poor health. They don’t live in Qingning County proper, but in a field hollow about ten li from the county seat. As far as I know, only their household is there.”

Chu Ling recalled that night when they first came to Qingning County, the streets were eerily quiet, and only the father-and-son incense vendor were around.

People who can freely move between all the mansions at night without raising suspicion—those must be them!

“Magistrate Zhao, does Qingning County happen to have a woman suffering from dwarfism?” Chu Ling asked.

Magistrate Zhao looked at him in surprise. “There is indeed such a person—the Sun family’s second daughter, Sun Qingqing, younger sister of Sun Miao’er. After Sun Miao’er passed away, the Sun family sent Sun Qingqing to live in the countryside… How would you know?”

Chu Ling asked directly, “Is the Chen family’s residence close to where Sun Qingqing lives?”

“Not very close… maybe close enough to pass by,” the adviser hesitated.

Chu Ling looked at Magistrate Zhao, handing over the notes he had organized the night before, his expression grave. “Magistrate Zhao, arrest them. The Chen father and son, along with Sun Qingqing, are the criminals behind ten major cases!”

After confirming the culprits, Magistrate Zhao did not dare delay in the slightest. He immediately called back the constables who had gone out and personally went to make the arrest.

Chu Ling, fearing something might have changed, also gathered Wan Sanjin and the others, deciding to go together.

The Chen family’s residence was about ten li from Qingning County. Walking would take roughly half an hour, but to save time and prevent Chen Huai from escaping, they decided to ride horses.

After about a quarter of an hour, they arrived outside the small house. The constables drew their swords, eyes alert.

“Isn’t it a bit too quiet?” Wan Sanjin whispered.

Magistrate Zhao pointed to two constables, telling them to scout ahead.

The two moved silently to the door, ears pressed against it to listen. After a moment, they exchanged glances and kicked the door open.

“Bang—”

As the door swung open, Chen’s father looked at the officials with wide, terrified eyes, taking a few steps back, panic written all over his face.

“Where’s your son?”

“Where is Chen Huai?”

“Sir… sir, you… you’re here on official business?” Chen’s father asked with a flattering smile, pulling out a chair for them to sit.

The two constables stepped inside, glancing around, then frowned and shouted coldly, “Where’s your son?”

Chen Huai’s father nervously rubbed his hands, pulling his stiff face into an awkward expression, and stammered, “Officer… officer, would you like some tea?”

The two constables, growing impatient, stepped forward and called for a search. Instantly, the room erupted into chaos—tables, chairs, and dishes were overturned everywhere.

Chen Huai’s father cried out in panic, “Officer! Officer! What are you doing… I—I haven’t committed any crime, sir…”

Hearing the commotion, Chu Ling suddenly realized what was happening. “County Magistrate Zhao, Chen Huai has escaped! His father is stalling for time!”

County Magistrate Zhao’s expression changed, and he immediately shouted for men, “Search along the riverbanks at once!”

“Yes, sir!”

Chu Ling’s face turned slightly cold. She immediately turned her horse and charged ahead, with Wan Sanjin raising his whip to follow closely.

“Sir, which way should we pursue him?” Wan Sanjin asked.

Chu Ling considered briefly and pointed forward. “He might try to escape via the waterways. Chase ahead.” If Chen Huai was truly trying to reach Qingyang as the documents suggested, he would have to take the river route.

“Yes, sir.”

About a quarter of an hour later, a dark figure ahead became increasingly visible. Chu Ling snorted coldly and urged her horse, “Zhuifeng, after him!”

Zhuifeng neighed sharply and, with a powerful stride, quickly closed the distance. Wan Sanjin couldn’t help but exclaim, “Zhuifeng really is a magnificent steed!”

As they got closer, Chu Ling shouted, “Chen Huai, where do you think you’re going!”

Chen Huai turned back with a sinister glance. Aside from Chu Ling, there was no one else in sight—the person investigating him was alone. Resolute, Chen Huai pressed his foot against the edge of the boat, leaped into the air, and dashed toward Chu Ling.

Chu Ling let out a sharp breath, turned her horse, and saw Chen Huai throw a bag of powdered medicine. Acting preemptively, she raised her hand, and a hidden sleeve dart shot out instantly.

The sleeve dart, concealed in Chu Ling’s sleeve, was aimed at Chen Huai’s uninjured leg, striking his knee and forcing him to collapse. The bag of powder fell to the ground along with him.

Chen Huai gritted his teeth viciously, trying to pull out the dart and strike again…

“Ah—”

A piercing, agonized scream suddenly tore through the air. Chen Huai broke out in cold sweat, collapsing weakly to the ground, trembling in pain. His face turned as pale as paper.

Chu Ling looked down from her horse, expression icy and silent. Only when Wan Sanjin and the others arrived did she order them to carefully secure the powder and apprehend Chen Huai.

A constable carefully wrapped the toxic powder in cloth, then, ignoring Chen Huai, yanked out the sleeve dart. After cleaning it, he handed it to Chu Ling.

“Lord Chu’s sleeve darts have barbs—truly a clever design.”

Chu Ling nodded in acknowledgment, cleaned the dart, and put it back in its holder. Its ingenious design allowed for repeated use, one shot at a time, just in case it might be needed again.

Wan Sanjin spat lightly. “I thought he was some cruel, sadistic maniac, but he’s just a cowardly scoundrel.”

“Which is why he always targets women,” Chu Ling said as she spurred her horse forward, instructing the constables, “No need to carry him. Tie him up and drag him back. County Magistrate Zhao wants me to preside over the trial personally.”

“Yes, Lord Chu!”

“Ah! You… you bastard! How dare you hurt me! You’ll die a terrible death! I’ll kill you!” Chen Huai shrieked, his face completely drained of color.

Chu Ling narrowed her eyes and assessed him briefly, then called for the constable who had retrieved the powder. “Spread that medicine over his wound. If he dies, he dies. If not, we’ll wait for the trial.”

“No! No! How dare you abuse your authority, you dog official…”

“Then what can you do to me?” Chu Ling sneered coldly. “Let’s go—back to the county office!”

“Yes, Lord Chu.”