TGCFNM -Chapter 545 Her Big Trouble Has Arrived

Although Chu Ling was reluctant to admit it, what Wan Sanjin said wasn’t wrong.

Right now, the only thing that could break the deadlock was the government silver. Once it came into play, the Chu family, Chu Yue—everyone would be finished.

The problem was, she was also part of the Chu family. She had disguised herself as a man to donate the official silver, and had come to the capital… If things were examined closely, she would be in even more danger than Chu Yue.

So if she moved against the government silver, it would mean she was ready to perish along with Chu Yue. This was probably also why Chu Yue was so certain that she wouldn’t dare act.

Chu Ling pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling a headache coming on. “This isn’t going to be easy…”

“Master, why not have Su He poison Chu Yue?” Wan Sanjin suggested seriously. “This seems like the simplest method.”

Chu Ling looked at Wan Sanjin. “I don’t think there’s a chance. After all, she can detox herself.”

Wan Sanjin also frowned. Why were all their opponents so troublesome?

Yuan Luo looked at the two of them, both with worried brows, and tried to console them. “Take it one step at a time. Nobody knows what tomorrow will bring.”

Chu Ling forced a small smile at Yuan Luo, but then her mind drifted to the image of Gui Wushuang, and she asked him, “Don’t you think Gui Wushuang is… different somehow?”

Yuan Luo composed himself and nodded seriously. “A little strange.”

Wan Sanjin immediately spoke up as well. “Yes, very strange. Especially when he ordered those soldiers to kill us—it was extremely cold-blooded and ruthless.”

Chu Ling nodded. “Although we haven’t known Gui Wushuang long, he shouldn’t be that kind of person… And we didn’t offend him, so why would he try to kill us the moment we met?”

Yuan Luo furrowed his brows. “I’ve known him for many years, and today, seeing him again… something feels off. He looks like him, but he isn’t him. Yet, at the same time, he clearly is him… Also, when you mentioned his father, he said, ‘My father is my father, I am me.’”

Chu Ling’s eyes widened. “He’s never admitted that Bai Zhuoxing was his father, right? How could he say something like ‘my father is my father’?”

“That’s exactly why it’s so strange!” Yuan Luo frowned. “I even wondered—could it be that Gui Wushuang isn’t actually Gui Wushuang?”

“If it’s not Gui Wushuang, then who else could it be? Bai Zhuoxing?” Wan Sanjin hugged his knees and tilted his head toward Yuan Luo. “If he were Bai Zhuoxing, he would be working for the Empress Dowager. How could he be helping the Emperor?”

Chu Ling thought that made sense.

Yuan Luo continued, “Another thing is, I’ve never truly believed Gui Wushuang could be cruel enough to slaughter an entire Yun Palace, leaving not a single innocent alive.”

Chu Ling was momentarily stunned, and guessed casually, “If Gui Wushuang isn’t really Gui Wushuang, then Gui Wushuang is Bai Zhuoxing? But Bai Zhuoxing is already dead… Could his soul somehow possess Gui Wushuang’s body?”

Bai Su looked a bit surprised. “That can’t be, right?”

Even Ghost Scholar shook his head, and he even tried an experiment with Wan Sanjin. “If I die while Sanjin is alive, I can’t touch his body, so it’s impossible to take over his form.”

Wan Sanjin hugged himself coldly, thinking maybe he should ask the head warden for a blanket.

At this moment, Bai Su touched Chu Ling. “I can touch you, but I can’t take over your body either. I can’t enter it.”

Chu Ling thought: right… then what’s going on with this Gui Wushuang?

“Unless…” Chu Ling murmured, staring at the two of them. “Unless there’s some kind of spirit insect that can transfer Bai Zhuoxing’s memories into Gui Wushuang’s mind, or Gui Wushuang was brainwashed into believing he is Bai Zhuoxing… Could this count as another form of immortality?”

“Can it really work like that?” Wan Sanjin was somewhat shocked.

Yuan Luo shook his head. “I don’t know if such a spirit insect exists, or if your guess is correct. But one thing is clear: the Gui Wushuang we see now isn’t really Gui Wushuang.”

“So… Master’s speculation might actually be true!” Wan Sanjin drew in a sharp breath, feeling a chill run down his spine.

Chu Ling swallowed dryly, feeling a chill deep in her heart.

Yuan Luo exhaled lightly. “In any case, this person deserves to die, and they won’t be killed by mistake.”

“This time it didn’t succeed… next time, there might not be a chance at all,” Chu Ling said, resting her chin in her hand, unsure how to find the opportunity next time.

“The Emperor’s birthday banquet,” the Ghost Scholar reminded her.

Chu Ling remembered—the Emperor’s birthday banquet hadn’t taken place yet. That would indeed be an opportunity… but Gui Wushuang had mentioned that these women were for the Emperor, while the Emperor had said they were meant to pray for the Empress Dowager.

So… could it be that the banquet would be when both sides act against each other?!

“I’ve figured out what we should do next,” Chu Ling said, looking at Wan Sanjin and Yuan Luo with helplessness. “We should protect our own lives and wait for the right opportunity.”

Wan Sanjin frowned but slowly nodded.

The next day.

Chu Yue and Fu Qingyu waited for the ministers to offer their counsel, but it never happened. Half the officials were missing from the hall.

When asked, it turned out many had felt unwell the night before, and upon inspection, they had been poisoned.

The Emperor had never anticipated such a situation. After a brief verbal expression of concern, he said nothing more and left court after a few casual words.

Lu Shi went along to the Imperial Study and, after long discussions with the Emperor, decided to open an official investigation, with the prime suspect being Lanyue.

At the same time, Lu Shi pleaded for Chu Ling, requesting that she be allowed to assist in the investigation. The Emperor agreed and issued an edict releasing Chu Ling and her companions.

Commander Ban was so furious upon hearing the news that he nicked his sword out of anger.

Fu Qingyu was extremely curious—how could Chu Ling and the others act inside the palace and still escape unharmed?

Chu Yue, on the other hand, was unusually enraged. She hadn’t expected that even as her schemes were unfolding perfectly, this person could still escape unscathed. Who could be helping her?

Prince Rui? Prince Su? Or Prince He?

Unable to figure it out quickly, Chu Yue had no choice but to consider other methods. Chu Ling was already useless now; if she didn’t act quickly, more trouble would arise.

But just then, her own big trouble arrived.

Everything Lanyue had done had spread like wildfire, and every description of Lanyue conveniently led people to suspect the Chu family’s eldest daughter, who had never appeared publicly. Even Lu Shi began petitioning the Emperor, preparing to take someone from the Chu family.

Of course, this was the work of Wan Xing. He even twisted what Lanyue had done in the hunting forest into a conspiracy of rebellion, claiming it was revenge for General Chu.

The Emperor was furious and ordered Lu Shi to launch an immediate investigation.

Chu Yue had no choice but to temporarily return to the Chu residence and wait for Lu Shi’s interrogation, so as not to reveal any flaws.

This time, she found herself in a passive situation, unable to save herself. Fortunately, Fu Qingyu sent another letter, helping her out of the immediate crisis and allowing her to leave the Chu residence to take care of something important.

Chu Yue looked at the letter in her hands and held it by the candlelight, setting it aflame.

The matriarch of the Chu household asked anxiously, “Is it safe?”

“It’s fine. At this point, victory goes to the strongest, and I will be that victor!” Chu Yue said. With that, she lifted her quiver and left the Chu residence.