TGCFNM -Chapter 530 An Old Acquaintance with the Surname Qin

As soon as Prince He said this, Chu Ling’s face immediately darkened.

Ghost Scholar carefully observed Prince He’s expression and movements, then reminded her, “You can get angry and question him. Prince He needs that kind of reaction.”

“The Chu family is still under confinement. How could a young master who is both talented in literature and martial arts suddenly appear? Who recognized him as a young master? Who confirmed his identity?” Chu Ling asked one question after another.

Prince He looked at Chu Ling and smiled faintly. “You—are quite clever.”

Chu Ling said nothing and simply stared at him.

Prince He raised an eyebrow slightly. “Naturally, it was Young Master Fu. And Grand Tutor Fu is also helping.”

Chu Ling frowned. If Fu Qingyu had intervened, the matter would become difficult to deal with. After all, the Emperor currently granted him almost anything he asked for.

But were they really going to let an unknown person represent their second branch of the family?

What was Chu Yue trying to do this time?

“Ask Prince He what should be done,” Ghost Scholar said again.

Chu Ling asked in a roundabout way, “Your Highness, if someone impersonated a member of your family and went around doing disgraceful things, ultimately damaging the reputation of your residence, what would you do?”

Prince He’s expression grew slightly colder. “Naturally, I would kill him directly.”

Chu Ling bowed. “Your Highness is right. He should be killed outright to eliminate future trouble.”

Prince He looked at Chu Ling’s face and suddenly felt a bit dazed. His expression softened unconsciously. “The portrait is here. As for where the person is, you’ll have to investigate that yourself.”

Chu Ling respectfully accepted it with both hands.

“I came to the capital specifically to inform you of this matter,” Prince He continued as he slowly stood up while supporting himself on the armrest. His voice carried a trace of melancholy. “On the road that must be taken to reach the capital, there is an abandoned residence. That house belonged to an old friend of mine. But one day, my friend’s entire family was brutally massacred…”

Wan Sanjin’s expression changed dramatically. Wasn’t that the place where they had discovered the Sandalwood Wrathful Buddha?

Chu Ling was equally shocked. She had never expected that the abandoned house where she hid the official silver and the tiger tally actually belonged to Prince He’s old acquaintance.

“I want Magistrate Chu to investigate it thoroughly,” Prince He said, his face filled with pain and the corners of his eyes slightly moist. “Find out who slaughtered my friend’s entire family.”

“And more than that,” he added, “please find out whether any surviving descendants are still alive in this world.”

Chu Ling bowed. “Since Your Highness has entrusted me with this task, I will certainly do my utmost, even if it costs me my life. However, does any case record remain for the owner of that residence? Where should I begin my investigation?”

“Start with the Qin family.” Prince He looked at Chu Ling. “Go ask your Lord Lu, and you’ll know.”

With that, Prince He waved his hand and left.

After seeing him off, Chu Ling slowly straightened and looked at Wan Sanjin and Su He. “So… it’s the house where I hid the things?”

Wan Sanjin immediately nodded. “It has to be that one. There aren’t any other abandoned houses along that road. I just didn’t expect that even Uncle Hong, who’s seen so much in life, didn’t know who the house originally belonged to.”

“It seems the owner must have had quite an extraordinary background. After all, for His Highness to call him an old friend, the identity must be far from ordinary,” Su He said quietly.

Chu Ling hummed in agreement. But when she turned around, she suddenly saw the shocked expression on Ghost Scholar’s face and the blood tears streaming from Bai Su’s eyes.

Her heart trembled. A guess rose to her throat, but she dared not voice it rashly.

“The Crown Princess… it’s the Crown Princess,” Bai Su cried. “The Crown Princess’s surname was Qin—Qin Wanyan.”

Ghost Scholar tightened his grip on the folding fan. “It was said that the Crown Princess was recuperating at an estate in the distant suburbs. Who would have thought it was actually so close to the capital…”

Bai Su wiped away her tears of blood. “So the ‘distant suburban estate’ mentioned back then was merely a smokescreen, meant to protect the Crown Princess’s safety. But in the end…”

In the end, the Crown Princess was still killed.

“Xiangtan’s Wrathful Buddha…” Chu Ling said softly. “The Wrathful Buddha belonged to the Empress Dowager. She lured people there, claiming she wanted to reopen the case of the former Crown Prince. But when those people truly went there, they realized that place was actually hell…”

Wan Sanjin couldn’t help asking, “Those people trusted the Empress Dowager just like that? They didn’t suspect anything at all?”

Chu Ling shook her head. “No. It was because the owner of that residence made them believe it—believe that the Empress Dowager truly intended to help them.”

Su He seemed to think of something and stared at Chu Ling in shock. “The only person who could make the Crown Prince’s followers trust unconditionally and go there… wouldn’t that be the supposedly sick and recuperating Crown Princess?”

Chu Ling nodded. “It could only be her.”

“Then… shouldn’t we go find Lord Lu immediately?” Wan Sanjin licked his dry lips. “To confirm whether the homeowner surnamed Qin that Prince He mentioned is actually the former Crown Princess?”

Chu Ling unfolded the portrait in her hand. Looking at the two characters Chu Yan written beside it, what came to mind instead were Wan Xing’s earlier words: killing with a borrowed knife.

“Deal with this person first.” Chu Ling’s eyes turned icy. “We cannot give Chu Yue even the slightest opportunity. The Chu family must remain imprisoned.”

“I’ll go to Tianxia Zhi to investigate this person!” Wan Sanjin grabbed the portrait and was about to leave.

Chu Ling reached out to stop him. “No. I have another method—one that can not only eliminate this person, but also conveniently wipe out Chu Yue’s forces as well.”

As she spoke, she summoned two people and whispered instructions to them. After that, Wan Sanjin left with the portrait.

Su He also returned to his pharmacy to begin preparing medicine.

Ghost Scholar looked at Chu Ling with satisfaction. “My lord’s strategy is brilliant. This truly is killing with a borrowed knife—without spilling any blood.”

Chu Ling looked at Ghost Scholar and Bai Su, her expression serious. “Regarding the Crown Princess, whether it’s for Prince He or for you, Aunt Su and Master, I must investigate it. So I want you to tell me more information.”

Bai Su nodded and began speaking from the Qin family.

“Back then, when the Crown Prince chose his consort, it was actually a direct imperial marriage decree. The chosen bride was the daughter of the zither master who taught the Crown Prince music—Qin Wanyan.”

Chu Ling asked, “So the Emperor already began to fear the Crown Prince at that time?”

Ghost Scholar smiled and shook his head. “No. It was the Crown Prince who set the scheme—and the Emperor fell for it.”

Chu Ling immediately understood. The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess had already been in love with each other for a long time. But how could the daughter of a mere zither master possibly become the Crown Princess, or even the future Empress?

So the Crown Prince played a small trick and successfully embraced the beauty he loved. Moreover, it became a marriage personally bestowed by the Emperor—no one dared question it.

Ghost Scholar continued, “After the Crown Prince and Crown Princess married, they did live comfortably for a time. But once the Crown Princess became pregnant, court officials gradually began to lean toward the Crown Prince. After all, he now had an heir… And this aroused the Emperor’s dissatisfaction. More than once, he deliberately embarrassed the Crown Prince in court.”

“The Crown Princess worried every day and eventually fell gravely ill. At that time, nearly the entire Imperial Medical Bureau stayed in the Eastern Palace to treat her, and only then did she barely recover. But from then on, her health was never good again. She coughed constantly, grew thinner by the day, while her belly kept getting bigger. It was heartbreaking to see.”

Chu Ling looked at Ghost Scholar and asked cautiously, “The Crown Princess did that on purpose, didn’t she? To dispel the Emperor’s suspicions and ensure the child could be born safely?”

Ghost Scholar nodded. “That’s right. It was the Crown Princess’s idea. It was risky, but there was no other choice. Otherwise, neither the child nor the mother would survive.”

Chu Ling clenched her teeth slightly.

“This Emperor… is truly not human!” 😠