TGCFNM -Chapter 543 My Heart Hurts… Seriously

Chu Ling propped her chin up and spoke softly: “Since Nangong Jing returned, there hasn’t been much movement. Even when Nangong Han learned some things about the ‘future’ from Chu Rou, she didn’t seem to react at all.”

Wan Sanjin speculated, “So, Nangong Han told Nangong Jing about the future, prompting her to be summoned back and married off to Young Master Xiao… But Nangong Jing was too furious, so she teamed up with Chu Yue to kill Young Master Xiao. That way, she wouldn’t have to get married?”

Chu Ling widened her eyes: “Master Wan, I don’t know whether what you just said is ridiculous… or plausible.”

Yuan Luo, unaware of what the two were discussing, simply kept watch for them, just in case someone approached.

Meanwhile, Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin heatedly debated the fact that Nangong Jing might not have sided with anyone. Eventually, both agreed that there was at least a 60% chance this theory could be true.

At this moment, the Ghost Scholar joined in: “So, does that mean the Nangong family is necessarily loyal to the Emperor? Could it be possible they’re actually allied with the Empress Dowager?”

Chu Ling clenched her fists: “Highly possible!”

“Master, what do you mean by ‘possible’?” Wan Sanjin asked, confused.

“It means the Nangong family may also have sided with the Empress Dowager. That would mean under her influence, she has not only Chu Yue, but also Nangong Jing. So it’s quite likely they really did work together,” Chu Ling said, then remembered something.

The official silver in the Chu General’s mansion had been tampered with; its color was impure.

This should have been evidence of the Crown Prince’s ‘rebellion’ back then, but the General worried that the mansion might be implicated, so he never presented it.

Nangong Rong from the Nangong family had been the one who betrayed them at that time and provided proof that the Crown Prince had hoarded wealth under the guise of rebellion.

Now, with Fu Qingyu’s appearance and the confession of Prince Qi, the former Crown Prince’s innocence had already been publicly vindicated. Yet no one ever brought up the matter of the tampered official silver.

The old general trusted Chu Yue so much that he even told her about secretly raising troops. There’s no way Chu Yue wouldn’t know about the fake silver.

Chu Yue never gambled without assurance. Having lived an extra life, she had approached Fu Qingyu early on, because she was certain of his identity as the heir…

So, the official silver might be a bargaining chip for Chu Yue—a form of insurance.

Insurance… the Nangong family would steadfastly side with Fu Qingyu, because only by doing so could they protect themselves.

Otherwise, the Emperor would definitely take revenge.

This also explains why, even though the Crown Prince case was reopened, the Nangong family remained unharmed—someone intervened to protect them, and no further inquiry was made… that someone was Fu Qingyu.

Hence, the key to breaking the deadlock was: the fake official silver!

But the one ultimately connecting all of these people was the Empress Dowager!

“Why was Chu Yue so certain of Fu Qingyu’s identity?” Chu Ling murmured softly. Of course, it was because of the Empress Dowager!

Although Chu Rou had told her a lot about the previous life, she was ultimately murdered, so she wouldn’t have known what happened afterward.

Chu Yue may have lived longer and successfully taken revenge on everyone. Perhaps Young Master Xiao had even died at her hands in a previous life.

Thus, after Young Master Xiao’s death, the Empress Dowager of the previous life supported Fu Qingyu’s succession. This was why Chu Yue firmly believed in Fu Qingyu’s identity and why she steadfastly stood by the Empress Dowager!

Chu Ling swallowed hard: “I think I’ve guessed something incredible.”

“An intuition?” Wan Sanjin asked nervously.

“Sort of,” Chu Ling said, uncertain. Because if this were true, her direct opponent would be the Empress Dowager herself.

The Empress Dowager was terrifying… and she had a demon by her side.

Chu Ling wanted to cry but had no tears.

Wan Sanjin was also scared: “It’s over. Master’s intuition is always accurate, and the look on your face… it’s scarier than your intuition itself.”

Chu Ling composed herself and looked resolutely at Wan Sanjin: “Actually, it’s not that big of a problem.”

“Master, when you said that, your eyes were darting all over the place—you didn’t even believe yourself. And you expect me to?” Wan Sanjin pitifully said. “Looks like my older brother’s half of the fortune can’t be protected after all.”

Chu Ling suddenly let out a sigh of relief. “Oh, right—we still have half our fortune left to save ourselves.”

“Your Highness, that’s really a last resort,” Wan Sanjin said, a hint of disgust on his face. “Aren’t you going to struggle a little?”

Chu Ling widened her eyes. “I am struggling! I’m struggling really hard!”

“Someone’s coming!” Yuan Luo suddenly called out. “It’s Coroner Su, and two other elders who look really angry.”

Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin practically jumped into the air, retreating several steps at once.

Yuan Luo turned to look, still a little stunned, when the prison warden unlocked the cell and let them in.

“Where do you think you’re running? Get over here!” Uncle Hong shouted, his face red with anger, teeth gritted as he glared at the two of them.

Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin cautiously inched forward a little.

Lu Shi snorted and glared with his tiger-like eyes. “Come here!”

Immediately, Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin jogged back, obediently lowering their heads to await a lecture.

Coroner Su set down the food box he was carrying and noticed the snacks in Yuan Luo’s arms. He couldn’t help but ask in surprise, “You were all ordered by His Majesty to be locked up in the Dali Temple, and yet you went out to buy food on the way?”

Yuan Luo blinked blankly and nodded. “Your Highness, Sanjin and master said it would be boring.”

Hearing this, Su He secretly glanced at Lu Shi and Uncle Hong, then looked over at Wan Sanjin and Chu Ling with a slight shake of his head: hopeless.

Uncle Hong drew in a deep breath. Whether it was anger or amusement, his expression twisted. “On the way here, I already found out everything you did in the harem. So, can you tell me—what were you thinking, getting into conflicts in the harem and even poisoning someone?”

Wan Sanjin struggled briefly before replying, “Uncle Hong, thanks to our master’s words, we actually escaped disaster. Now, we just need to stay locked up for three days, and we’ll be free.”

“You’re proud of that, aren’t you?” Uncle Hong nearly flew off the handle. “You accused the Empress Dowager of ordering you, and already some ministers are preparing to file a formal complaint! Even if His Majesty lets you off, can he ignore the civil and military officials?”

Chu Ling turned to Lu Shi. “Your Highness, really?”

Lu Shi nodded solemnly.

Chu Ling pondered for a moment. “Grand Tutor Fu was imprisoned, and a few of the well-known ministers were his students… so… is it Fu Qingyu? Or Chu Yue?”

Lu Shi frowned. “Even if you figure it out, it doesn’t matter. You just need to know that this is serious because you accused the sitting Empress Dowager herself!”

“But the truth is the Empress Dowager, not an accusation,” Chu Ling said, putting on the look of someone wrongly accused.

“What can you do?” Uncle Hong snapped. “Who’s going to question the Empress Dowager?”

Wan Sanjin looked at Su He with trust and patted his shoulder. “Su He, we’re counting on you. Go poison those troublemaking ministers tonight, and no one will be able to file a complaint tomorrow.”

Su He considered it for a moment. “That could work.”

Uncle Hong: “…”

Lu Shi suddenly turned to Su He. “Fine. Just make sure it’s safe.”

Uncle Hong was shocked. “You’re actually letting them go poison people?”

“Sometimes when words don’t work, you have to resort to actions. Poisoning is more convenient,” Lu Shi said, hands clasped behind his back, looking at Chu Ling as he instructed, “For now, just behave, and watch the situation.”

Chu Ling nodded vigorously, then looked at Uncle Hong. “Uncle Hong, help us out—it’ll get us out sooner.”

Uncle Hong eyed them warily. “What are you planning?”

“Connect Lanyue and Chu Yue together,” Chu Ling said, smiling brightly. “Young Master Wan will surely have a way.”

Wan Sanjin immediately nodded. “Chu Yue started all this, so Uncle Hong, you have to help us get back at her. Otherwise, we’ll waste away in three days—aren’t you worried?”

“I feel sorry for nothing!” Uncle Hong gritted his teeth, glared at them, and left to find Wan Xing for help.