TGCFNM -Chapter 553 Do You Really Think So?

Three days later.

The Emperor’s birthday banquet officially began.

In the afternoon, Chu Ling changed into her official attire and entered the palace together with Lu Shi.

Outside the palace walls, the officials queued up to enter, and those specially permitted by the Emperor to attend the banquet were separated clearly into two lines. After the eunuchs checked their invitations, they were allowed in one by one.

Chu Ling glanced over and saw Wan Xing entering with Wan Sanjin and Su He, while Zhang Dong, Xiao Hua, Steward Zhu, and Uncle Hong carried gifts and followed along.

Lu Shi cleared his throat lightly, and Chu Ling immediately refocused, following him inside.

Lu Chong, holding a congratulatory gift, walked behind Lu Shi, roughly at the same position as Chu Ling. He whispered, “Master Chu, you have to guard against hidden arrows, and even more so against open attacks.”

Chu Ling remembered that at the banquet, Chu Yue would probably appear disguised as Shi Lanyu. No one could predict what she would do at that moment.

“Uncle Lu Chong, don’t worry. I’ve already thought through what to do,” Chu Ling reassured him with a confident look.

Lu Shi glanced back: “Don’t worry about her. She won’t suffer any losses.”

Lu Chong smiled, relieved.

Soon, Lu Chong followed the eunuchs to another area, while Lu Shi led Chu Ling and other court officials to pay respects to the Emperor.

The Emperor was in an exceptionally good mood today, radiating vitality. He laughed heartily, spoke at length, and praised many people—including Chu Ling.

When Chu Ling came forward to receive the Emperor’s thanks, she felt many eyes upon her. She chose to ignore them and, after the ceremony, returned to her designated spot.

After the officials paid their respects, the Emperor had them proceed to the banquet while he, laughing, strode away.

Chu Ling carefully glanced at the Emperor’s retreating figure before Lu Shi pulled her along.

“A few days ago, it wasn’t like this…” Chu Ling murmured.

Lu Shi tilted his head at her. “Did you see what Fu Qingyu was wearing?”

Chu Ling nodded. She had seen it.

Fu Qingyu, dressed in a ceremonial dragon robe, stood at the very front. Looking up, he faced the Emperor seated on the dragon throne. He seemed only a decree away from being formally recognized.

“How could the Emperor agree to this…” Lu Shi couldn’t understand. He guided Chu Ling to the banquet and slowly sat down.

Once most officials and guests were seated, the sounds of silk-and-bamboo instruments began, and the dancers performed gracefully. The officials at the upper seats started to sip their drinks, while the specially permitted guests at the lower seats began chatting in small groups.

Lu Shi lifted his teacup, sipped, and whispered, “Go ahead.”

Chu Ling acknowledged him and moved from the upper seats downward. She found Wan Sanjin and the others and sat down.

“Master, what do we do now?” Wan Sanjin asked anxiously.

Wan Xing leaned slightly to shield the few behind him who couldn’t see clearly and reminded them softly, “Be careful, everyone.”

Chu Ling nodded to reassure him, then turned to Wan Sanjin and Su He: “Commander Xiao said he’s been checking on that memorial tablet recently. He’s searched all over, but it’s nowhere to be found. The only place he hasn’t gone is where Gui Wushuang makes his medicines—the place where we fought last time.”

“So… we have to fight again?” Wan Sanjin asked.

Chu Ling shook her head. “That won’t work. There’s a banquet today. But once the banquet starts, Gui Wushuang will definitely come. If he isn’t there yet, that’s our chance.”

Su He nodded. “Then when he shows up, we sneak away and find the tablet.”

Wan Xing couldn’t help but grit his teeth and warn softly: “Do you even realize how famous you’ve become? If all three of you disappear at once, wouldn’t that raise suspicion?”

Chu Ling: “Ah… right.”

“So what do we do? We can’t exactly poison everyone at the banquet and then wait until they pass out to make our move,” Wan Sanjin suggested.

“Do you think you haven’t died fast enough yet?!” Wan Xing gritted his teeth, almost losing his mind.

Wan Sanjin: “Oh… so that won’t work either.”

Su He said, “No matter what we do, people will suspect us. Right now, for example, there are already quite a few eyes on us.”

Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin both turned to look, only to lock eyes with those who were staring at them.

For a moment, the people across awkwardly averted their gaze, and Chu Ling and Wan Sanjin sulkily looked away.

“Whatever we do, someone will notice. So why not go all out?” Wan Sanjin said, his expression fierce. “Let’s just leave—right now!”

Chu Ling couldn’t help but glance up at the beams of the hall. Tonight, it seemed they were all doomed. Half of the Wan family’s fortune was probably lost.

Wan Xing suddenly looked at Chu Ling: “Why did you come over at this moment?”

“Lord Lu agreed…” Chu Ling suddenly realized, “Wait, there’s an opportunity.”

“What opportunity?” Wan Sanjin asked immediately.

“Lord Lu had me come over. That will definitely draw a lot of attention. So no matter what we say right now, people will notice. We might as well use that attention to our advantage,” Chu Ling explained, beckoning Wan Sanjin and Su He closer.

“Listen, we won’t disappear together. Instead, we’ll go one by one, act separately,” Chu Ling said quietly. “Su He, you blend into Commander Xiao’s squad and find the memorial tablet. Sanjin, you wander around aimlessly—but remember to be mysterious. I’ll handle Chu Yue; she’s bound to cause trouble for me, and I won’t let her get away.”

There was one person she didn’t mention: Nangong Jing.

There had been no news of Nangong Jing, which meant only one possibility—she had been kept in the palace by the Empress Dowager.

If Nangong Jing was with Chu Yue, then with Bai Su and the Master, she might still put up a fight.

“In short, we’re bold enough to be seen, but confusing enough that no one can figure us out,” Chu Ling said.

Wan Sanjin and Su He nodded and prepared to return to their positions.

At that moment, Wan Sanjin suddenly grabbed Wan Xing, lowering his voice nervously: “Big brother, you share the same birthday… I wonder if…”

Chu Ling and Su He both said in unison: “Shut up.”

Wan Sanjin wisely fell silent. Wan Xing could only laugh and cry at the same time: “You two do your thing, don’t bother others.”

The three nodded in agreement and then separated.

Their movement drew even more attention; many began to speculate what the three were talking about.

Just then, Fu Qingyu strode in, accompanied by the mysterious female disciple of Grand Tutor Fu, Shi Lanyu—also known to Chu Ling and the others as Chu Yue.

But now, her identity was Shi Lanyu, the granddaughter-in-law favored by the Emperor, so her status and treatment were exceptional.

Everyone stood and bowed in unison.

Fu Qingyu returned the courtesy and then led Chu Yue to her seat.

When Chu Yue passed by Chu Ling, she hesitated slightly and smiled at her: “Your little tricks don’t work on me.”

Chu Ling looked up fearlessly.

Indeed, on the surface, everything they did that night hadn’t caused Chu Yue any real harm. Chu Yue’s beauty was flawless, her figure graceful, and she even exuded a subtle, suppressive aura of strength.

“Is that so? You think so?” Chu Ling smiled mysteriously and strode ahead.

Chu Yue paused, then quickly followed.