TGCFNM -Chapter 547 An Imperial Edict in the Dead of Night

Bai Su was startled by Chu Ling’s expression. Other than stepping forward to hold her, she was completely helpless.

Chu Ling pressed a hand to her forehead, her eyes bloodshot as she stared at Chu Yue. “I wasn’t wrong, was I? In my previous life, my parents were killed by Grand Tutor Fu, and I was killed by you. And in this life, you were worried that our family would affect you, so you deceived us and killed us… wasn’t that it?”

Chu Yue frowned tightly. “Are you testing me? You don’t know? Are you really any different from me and Chu Rou?”

Chu Ling’s lips turned pale. Fragmented memories flooded her mind all at once. It felt like a needle piercing her chest; every breath brought unbearable pain.

“You must have thought I was already dead, but I wasn’t. Back then, you probably wondered why I hadn’t died and yet didn’t come to seek revenge… Every time you came after me, you were testing step by step. Only after confirming that I might have forgotten some things did you manipulate me to help you accomplish certain tasks.”

Struggling to maintain composure, Chu Ling said coldly, her gaze piercing Chu Yue.

“Later, you decided I was useless and wanted to kill me in a hurry… Why were you so anxious to kill me? What could I possibly affect of yours?”

Chu Yue tightly closed her lips, saying nothing.

At this moment, Lu Shi had already approached. Looking at Chu Yue tied up on the ground, he furrowed his brows slightly. “From your expression, it’s clear you think I have to openly interrogate you, so you won’t die just yet.”

Chu Yue remained silent.

Lu Shi continued, “You have a backing, don’t you? And your backing would surely help you, right?”

Chu Yue averted her gaze toward the ground. Tonight, she truly felt ashamed. She had never imagined that she would fall into a trap and be caught on the spot—but she knew she would be fine. She was certain of it.

“Su He!” Lu Shi called out lightly.

Su He was momentarily startled, then lowered her eyes and cupped her hands. “Reporting, I’m here.”

“Tonight an assassin came in the dead of night to attempt my assassination. I suspect there’s more to this story, so she will be held in the main prison and interrogated tomorrow. But this person is far too dangerous. To ensure a safe interrogation, you will nullify her martial abilities,” Lu Shi said, calmly waving his hand.

Su He responded, and before Chu Yue could react, Wan Sanjin restrained her arms. Su He shoved a pill directly down Chu Yue’s throat, forcing her to swallow it.

Chu Yue’s jaw clicked several times, her face flushing, but the pill had been swallowed.

“How dare you administer torture on your own?” Chu Yue’s eyes were bloodshot, tears brimming as she glared at Lu Shi in fury.

“Nonsense. Didn’t you hear what Lord Lu just said? Everything is according to the law. You came here to assassinate yourself—you asked for it,” Wan Sanjin snorted coldly, then suddenly released her, letting Chu Yue collapse to the ground.

Chu Yue gritted her teeth, about to speak, when suddenly her limbs went numb. Her dantian burned icy cold, and it felt as if invisible ropes bound her entire body. Even the slightest movement sent piercing pain through her bones.

Cold sweat soon beaded on her forehead.

Chu Ling swayed, gradually steadying herself. Wan Sanjin immediately went to support her. “Master, why don’t you just kill Chu Yue and avenge your parents?”

Chu Ling glanced at Lu Shi, then at Chu Yue lying on the ground. She had to admit, she really wanted to act—she wanted to just kill her!

At that moment, someone outside the Lu residence suddenly shouted, “An imperial edict has arrived!”

“An imperial edict… in the dead of night?” Lu Chong frowned, sheathing his whip as he strode toward the gate.

Lu Shi took a deep breath. “Someone has an even stronger move than we do.”

Bai Su frowned and let Chu Ling pull out the silver needles from her waist, then held Chu Ling’s hand.

Everyone saw Chu Ling suddenly squat slightly and drive three needles into the top of Chu Yue’s head in quick succession. Afterward, she slowly stood, looking at the unconscious Chu Yue, and said in a low voice, “She released poisoned needles intending to kill me. I worried she would be dangerous, so I made her lose consciousness.”

Su He wrapped the poisoned needles that Chu Yue had fired in a cloth and held them in his hand.

A short while later, Fu Qingyu arrived, striding along with the palace eunuch who carried the imperial edict.

The eunuch saw the tense atmosphere on both sides but didn’t say anything further. He simply delivered the imperial edict, instructing Lu Shi to release the prisoner.

Lu Shi looked at the bright yellow imperial edict handed over by the eunuch and asked in a deep voice, “She tried to assassinate me in the middle of the night, and I’m supposed to release her?”

The eunuch bowed his waist respectfully: “Lord Lu, His Majesty says it was all a misunderstanding and has nothing to do with the eldest daughter of the Chu family. The Chu family’s eldest daughter only acted rashly out of anger at being slandered. Moreover, Young Master Fu personally requested the edict, hoping Lord Lu can spare Miss Chu this once.”

“Misunderstanding? Where does the misunderstanding come from? I’ve never had misunderstandings while investigating a case,” Lu Shi said coldly to the eunuch, his eyes sharp. “I will hand over the person to this Young Master Fu, but tomorrow I will petition to see His Majesty personally and ask myself.”

The eunuch didn’t dare say anything. After all, his master, Elder Eunuch Zhang, had instructed him: among the ministers currently trusted by the emperor, only Lord Lu stands firm. He must be careful and not offend him.

So, the eunuch simply withdrew the edict and nodded in compliance.

Fu Qingyu glanced at Lu Shi, then looked at everyone else with a look of apology: “Miss Chu acted recklessly. I apologize on her behalf.”

As he spoke, Fu Qingyu also bowed respectfully.

Beside him, Qingtong was furious. He glared at everyone around him, then fixed his gaze on the collapsed, motionless Chu Yue, extremely anxious.

“What did you do to Miss?” Qingtong demanded.

Chu Ling looked at her coldly: “Who do you think you are? What right do you have to question this? If you dare speak nonsense again, I’ll cripple one of your arms. Let’s see if anyone will even be able to treat it!”

Qingtong was shocked.

Fu Qingyu looked at the unconscious Chu Yue, his gaze naturally falling on the three silver needles on her head, and asked, “I know she’s reckless. If she did something wrong, getting beaten is her own fault. But these silver needles…”

“They’ve blocked her meridians so she can no longer use her powers to harm anyone,” Chu Ling explained. She then motioned for people to step aside. “Young Master Fu, you may take her away.”

Fu Qingyu had no choice but to nod and let Qingtong carry her away.

At this moment, Su He handed the cloth-wrapped poisoned needles to Lu Shi.

Lu Shi’s eyes flickered slightly, as if he were angry: “She hid poisoned needles in her mouth intending to kill someone. This is definitely not a misunderstanding. Tomorrow, I must ask His Majesty for an explanation!”

Fu Qingyu glanced once more and then bid farewell to everyone before leaving.

The eunuch quickly left as well, taking the edict delivery staff with him.

The Lu residence returned to peace once more.

Lu Chong clasped his hands behind his back and said bluntly, “This person is probably going to suffer a lot, though it’s deserved. But tomorrow, when Lord Lu examines the case, it’s clear that the emperor is intentionally protecting her.”

“We’ll see when the time comes,” Lu Shi said, then looked at Chu Ling. “You probably have something to tell us.”

Chu Ling nodded.