TGCFNM -Chapter 566 Finally Able to Go Home

When Chu Ling woke up again, it was already three days later.

Madam Xiao was sitting by her bedside, gently wiping her face. When she saw Chu Ling open her eyes, she hurriedly leaned closer and asked anxiously, “Xiao Ling, you’re awake? Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?”

Hearing this familiar way of being addressed, tears involuntarily streamed down Chu Ling’s face.

Madam Xiao was startled. She took a handkerchief and lightly wiped the tears. “What’s wrong? Does it hurt anywhere?”

Chu Ling slowly shook her head. When she tried to speak, her voice was hoarse and rough, almost just a whisper: “Why… am I… here?”

Madam Xiao asked cautiously, “Can you sit up?”

Chu Ling nodded slightly.

With the help of a maid, Madam Xiao helped Chu Ling slowly sit up, placing a soft cushion behind her back. Then she gently said, “My husband said that once you wake up, you’ll have a lot of questions. So he told me everything in advance so I could explain it to you.”

Chu Ling made a soft sound in acknowledgment.

Madam Xiao smiled. “Then, how about taking your medicine? It’s warm.”

Chu Ling nodded slightly and took the bitter medicine slowly, sip by sip. Once it was finished, she looked at Madam Xiao with some eagerness.

Madam Xiao wiped the corner of her mouth. “When you were sent to Prince Su’s residence, you really scared me. Fortunately, my husband said that you are the Crown Prince’s daughter, so in a way, you’re considered his sister…”

Through Madam Xiao’s explanation, Chu Ling’s thoughts gradually came into order, and she realized she had been unconscious for three days.

That night, after Fu Qingyu’s death, Qingtong suddenly appeared from somewhere, intending to kill Chu Ling to avenge Chu Yue. Before getting close, however, he was struck away by Xiao Hua with a single palm, and then stabbed to death by Xiao Yunsheng.

Shortly after Qingtong’s death, Uncle Hong led a group of people to rush into the palace, stabilizing the chaotic situation and rescuing Chu Ling and the others.

Because Chu Ling and the others were severely injured, they were temporarily sent to Prince Su’s residence, along with all the imperial physicians.

During this time, Xiao Yunsheng also learned that Wan Xing was the Crown Prince’s surviving orphan, realizing why they had reacted so quickly and managed to defend the capital.

“But my husband said,” Madam Xiao’s eyes brightened with admiration, “the greatest credit should actually go to Princess Rui. She wore armor, just like in the past, directing everyone to defend the city gates. Meanwhile, she led Wan Xing and the others through a secret side passage from the capital to join forces with Prince He’s troops, attacking from both sides and catching the Dayuan soldiers completely off guard.”

Chu Ling also looked pleasantly surprised.

“Once the city gates were secured, the follow-up work began,” Madam Xiao said softly. “Princess Rui led my husband and Wan Xing to handle the situation at the gates, declared war on Dayuan, issued orders to Lian Wu, and even ensured the supplies were sent ahead.”

Chu Ling nodded. “We definitely can’t let people bully us like that anymore; otherwise, morale would plummet, and it would be dangerous for Dazhou.”

Madam Xiao smiled. “Exactly. Also, now that the Empress Dowager and the Emperor have died, there’s no central leadership. So for now, Prince Rui and my father-in-law, Prince Su, are handling the affairs and stabilizing the court. My mother-in-law was originally keeping an eye on you, but since the two princes have always been quarreling, she had to go watch over them instead.”

Chu Ling couldn’t help but smile.

“Your friends recovered faster than you, so early this morning, they went out to bury some people outside the capital. As for the poisonous insects found in the palace, the fire in the Empress Dowager’s bedchamber burned them all to ashes,” Madam Xiao explained.

“What about the coffin under the Empress Dowager’s bedchamber?” Chu Ling asked.

Madam Xiao lowered her voice. “Your friend surnamed Wan led people to dig up the coffin and buried it along with the Empress Dowager, without letting her enter the imperial tomb.”

Chu Ling nodded slightly. “Good, she never wanted to enter the palace anyway.”

“There’s one more thing.” Madam Xiao hesitated before speaking. “Chu Yue killed the Emperor—it’s a grave crime—and a large amount of counterfeit official silver was also found in the Chu household. So Prince Rui ordered the household searched. All adults are to be executed, and those not of age are to be exiled. They’ve already been escorted away.”

Chu Ling let out a long, deep sigh.

“Since you’re awake, I’ll go tell my father-in-law and the others. They probably have something to say to you as well,” Madam Xiao said, then stood up and left with her maid.

Chu Ling looked around her side—empty. No one was there.

The teacher could no longer teach her, Aunt Su could no longer train her in martial arts, and she could no longer see Cui Xi and Wangcai playing around her. They were all gone…

“Master!”

Chu Ling was startled. She almost let the tears fall but held them back.

“Master, I’m coming in!” Wan Sanjin shouted again.

Chu Ling tried to speak, but her throat was hoarse and nothing came out. She managed with effort to say, “Come in.”

“Master, why aren’t you speaking? I’m really coming in now!” Wan Sanjin called out, carefully opening a crack in the door. “Why isn’t Madam Xiao here today? Should I come in?”

At that moment, Zhang Dong, holding some food, called out helplessly, “Master Wan, you can let Xiao Hua go in first.”

“Oh, right,” Wan Sanjin stepped aside, letting Xiao Hua enter first. “I completely forgot.”

Xiao Hua shook her head helplessly and pushed the door open. Seeing Chu Ling struggle to say “come in,” she hurried over. “Master is awake! You can come in now!”

As soon as the door opened, several people rushed in and gathered around Chu Ling’s bed.

“Master, you really scared us to death,” Wan Sanjin said, dragging a chair to sit beside her.

Chu Ling was about to tell them she was fine, not to worry.

But Wan Sanjin continued, “Master, you’re actually a princess. Being a noble didn’t give you a stipend, but as a princess, do you have wealth? Now that the Empress Dowager is gone, her treasury… do you have a chance to inherit it? I heard it’s full of treasures.”

The sadness in Chu Ling’s heart momentarily lifted. She looked at Wan Sanjin’s earnest face and began to think. “I don’t know… no one said whether I could inherit it.”

If she couldn’t inherit, at least she could get some money. Once back in Sishui County, she could repair the government office, widen the river channels, lay floor tiles, and even dig a cellar for storing ice—making both winter and summer much easier to endure.

“You’re right. This is important. I need to confirm it,” Chu Ling said seriously.

Wan Sanjin also felt this matter was crucial; otherwise, they’d really have to rely on earning money by writing.

He calculated that if they really depended on writing, their hands would give out, and they could at best lay tiles near the bed—not the whole house.

“So… we’ll be returning to Sishui County together, right?” Su He asked.

Chu Ling smiled. “Of course. We said when we left that we were going back.”

Xiao Hua beamed. “We can go home!”

Zhang Dong also smiled. “Yes, going home.”

Chu Ling felt a lightness in her heart. This time, they could finally return home.