TGCFNM -Chapter 540 The Lord Really Knows How to Speak

“There’s a problem—you’re slandering me!” Gu Wushuang snorted coldly. “The person is in there. I let you go in and check yourself. If you find no gu worms, you’ll pay with your life.”

“You already said that, so the worms must be hidden by you. What can I possibly find in there?” Chu Ling sneered, her expression saying don’t even try to make this up. Calmly, she continued, “I’m already certain—you’re raising gu worms. Someone told me this.”

“Who?” Fu Qingyu asked.

Chu Ling’s face showed trust. “The person is a woman, claiming to be the eldest daughter of the Chu General’s Mansion. She said she was sent by the Empress Dowager and instructed us to catch whoever is breeding the gu worms.”

“You’re lying!” Commander Ban barked.

Chu Ling shook her head. “I cannot lie. We don’t even know the paths inside this palace. If someone hadn’t guided us, how could we have found this place?”

Once Chu Ling said this, no one could refute her. Fu Qingyu hadn’t expected her to speak this way.

“The Chu family is currently under lockdown. How could this so-called eldest daughter get out and come into the palace?” Fu Qingyu questioned quietly.

“How would I know? That’s what she claimed,” Chu Ling said innocently. “She even showed me the phoenix seal. Otherwise, would I have believed her? You might as well ask the Empress Dowager if she has someone named Chu Yue under her command.”

Wan Sanjin displayed a pitiful expression at just the right moment. “We’re only following orders, trying to protect His Majesty. His Majesty is so good; even during the hunt, he helped us.”

Now, these people had nothing more to say.

Gu Wushuang took a deep breath, his gaze like freezing ice. “My father is my father, I am myself. I am someone serving His Majesty, yet you slander me for no reason, and even went so far as to kill soldiers inside the palace. That is a grave crime!”

Chu Ling: “We are—”

“Whether you were deceived is none of my concern. All I know is that I’ve been slandered, and indeed the palace soldiers were poisoned by you!” Gu Wushuang shouted coldly.

“…They only fainted,” Wan Sanjin said innocently. “We were certainly planning to leave them alive so His Majesty could interrogate them personally. These people wanted to harm His Majesty, so we couldn’t poison them recklessly.”

A murderous gleam filled Gu Wushuang’s eyes. “When I sowed the cinnabar sand, I could not be disturbed. That is why His Majesty sent troops to protect me—because if I lost control, those women would die, and you would bear the responsibility for their deaths. Can you bear that guilt?”

“No, you’re wrong,” Chu Ling said seriously. “It’s your failure that endangered lives. Don’t shift your incompetence onto others as if it’s their crime. You are the one at fault.”

“Sharp-tongued, so many words? Let’s see how many you speak once you’re captured!” Gu Wushuang glared at Commander Ban. “Commander Ban, aren’t you going to seize them?”

Commander Ban raised his hand to give the order, but Chu Ling was quicker to respond: “I am the esteemed Prefect of the capital. Are you the one who can pass judgment on me? Dare you apprehend me without His Majesty’s consent? Are you trying to rebel?”

Commander Ban’s face turned dark as coal; he could barely restrain the urge to crush Chu Ling and the others.

Chu Ling frowned slightly. “I’ve given so much information, yet you don’t even investigate, just stand there listening to someone with a record spout nonsense?”

Gu Wushuang gritted her teeth, ready to act, but Chu Ling tilted her head and said, “This matter involves His Majesty and the Empress Dowager. It cannot be resolved so casually. We must see His Majesty and report everything truthfully.”

At that moment, Eunuch Zhang finally arrived. He looked at the group and issued an imperial decree: they were all to go to the Imperial Study. His Majesty wished to see them.

Thus, the stalemated group, unable to decide right from wrong, followed Eunuch Zhang to the Imperial Study.

Fu Qingyu stepped back and looked at Chu Ling. “Lord Chu, such courage, such intelligence. Are you really not coming to serve by my side?”

Chu Ling forced a smile onto her face. “As a minister, it is my duty to devote myself entirely to serving His Majesty. As for others, what concern is that of mine?”

“Lord Chu really know how to speak,” Fu Qingyu said with a faint smile, stepping ahead.

Chu Ling composed herself, glancing at the wounds on her body. After a careful check confirmed there were no insects or poison, she showed her findings to Wan Sanjin and Yuan Luo.

Once she was certain everyone was fine, Chu Ling finally breathed a sigh of relief.

At that moment, Gui Wushuang suddenly turned to Yuan Luo. “The senior disciple of the Tianjian Sect has appeared in the palace? What do you intend to do?”

“They said they wanted to recommend him as my guard, but Lord Chu didn’t mention it—perhaps he forgot,” Fu Qingyu said with a smile.

Chu Ling shook her head. “It’s not that I forgot. I thought, rather than introducing him to you, it’s better to introduce him to His Majesty. The reward from His Majesty will surely be greater, and this way we do not betray the trust he placed in us by coming to the capital.”

Fu Qingyu glanced at Chu Ling before turning back. “Lord Chu really know how to choose.”

Chu Ling’s face showed admiration. “Because our emperor is too kind. I have complete trust in His Majesty and believe that He will clear my name. Even if I act rashly sometimes, it is always with His safety and well-being in mind…”

Wan Sanjin and Yuan Luo walked at the rear. Hearing Chu Ling’s words, Yuan Luo finally felt his anxiety ease.

Wan Sanjin whispered, “Don’t say anything later. Let the master speak. When our master opens his mouth, everyone else has no choice but to yield.”

Yuan Luo nodded vigorously, agreeing with him.

A short while later, they arrived at the Imperial Study.

Eunuch Zhang went in first to report, but he stayed a long time. When he finally came out, he even cast a glance at Chu Ling.

Chu Ling returned the look confidently, feeling completely untroubled.

Eunuch Zhang bowed and gestured for them to enter one by one.

Once inside, everyone knelt in unison. “We pay respects to His Majesty. May Your Majesty be well.”

“Well?” The emperor snorted coldly. “In my harem, under broad daylight, a conflict occurs—how can I feel at ease? This time it was discovered; next time, will someone dare to take my head directly?”

“Who would dare!” Chu Ling was filled with righteous indignation. “Do not fear, Your Majesty. This humble servant can enter the palace to protect Your Majesty’s safety. As for those useless ones, drag them out and execute them all!”

Commander Ban’s face went pale in shock. How could this person be so vicious and shameless at the same time!

The emperor was momentarily stunned, apparently never expecting someone to speak like that. His anger froze and would not rise any further.

Eunuch Zhang spoke just in time. “Lord Chu is truly devoted to His Majesty. Lord Lu has taught him well.”

The emperor exhaled lightly. After glancing sharply at Chu Ling, he looked at the kneeling group. “Rise.”

Everyone thanked the emperor and rose.

The emperor’s gaze swept over everyone below, cold and sharp. “I now understand the situation. Wushuang was following orders to apply rouge sand for the new concubines. These people were meant to pray for the Empress Dowager at the Longevity Banquet, not to use any insects or curses.”

Chu Ling realized the emperor was trying to shift the topic to cause trouble, so she responded quickly: “Then what was the Empress Dowager worried about? She even sent someone—Chu Yue, the eldest daughter of the Chu family—to lead me there and help resolve this major crisis for Your Majesty?”