TGCFNM -Chapter 58 Not Necessarily

Cui Xi stood there, tangled in thought, seemingly unsure of how to speak.

Chu Ling waited for quite a while without a response, then moved her gaze away from the ceiling beams and turned to look at Cui Xi. “What’s wrong?”

“Miss… it’s… not necessarily,” Cui Xi said, twisting the hem of her clothes, speaking with difficulty. “Miss, you’ve forgotten… you used to really like a dignified makeup style.”

Chu Ling narrowed her eyes, instinctively sensing that this “dignified makeup” probably wasn’t a compliment.

“My memories are fragmented,” Chu Ling said. “For example, I remember when I escaped with you, I went to the storage room and took some official silver, then buried it somewhere along the road. But things in the General’s Mansion… those memories are a bit hazy.”

Cui Xi’s eyes reddened slightly. “Miss, I understand. You went through death’s door; naturally, your mind was affected.”

Chu Ling paused. “…Yes, my mind was affected.”

Cui Xi recalled the days in the General’s Mansion. “Our Master and Madam only had you, Miss. So from a young age, whatever you wanted, they would give you. And Madam especially loved dressing you up; any valuable item, she would gladly give to you…”

Chu Ling felt as if she was touching the edge of the truth.

“Madam liked to dress Miss in a dignified and bright manner, and you liked it very much yourself,” Cui Xi said cautiously.

Chu Ling understood, pressing her forehead with her hand, helplessly asking, “So… the me without makeup and the me with heavy makeup… are like two different people?”

“…Yes, Miss.”

Chu Ling looked up at the sky, her heart darkened with realization. She finally understood the image of the “useless Third Miss” that Wan Sanjin had described.

Thinking it through: a Third Miss of the General’s family, dressed extravagantly with heavy makeup, actually had her eyes on the First Young Master of the world and even thought of using the authority of the General’s Mansion to force him into marriage. No wonder Wan Sanjin traveled such a long distance just to save his friend.

So that was it.

Chu Ling let out a silent wail in her heart, then steeled herself. “Actually, this isn’t so bad. At least now, with this face, I’m safer going out.”

Cui Xi furrowed her brows in worry. “But Master Wan recognized you… that’s too strange. Logically, only Madam and Madam’s wise concubine Huizi should know.”

Chu Ling’s heart tightened.

Indeed… why could Wan Sanjin find her so accurately? And later, Prince Rui was able to locate her too.

According to Cui Xi, only the two of the main family should know.

“Last time, Wan Sanjin said the General’s Mansion was sealed, no one could come in or go out, meaning no one could pass messages out. So how did Wan Sanjin know?” Chu Ling felt she needed an answer immediately; she had to ask now.

On the west side of the county office, Wan Sanjin was helping Su He move things. Unexpectedly, when he turned around and saw Chu Ling, he was startled.

“Sir, did you encounter a ghost? Your face is so pale…” Wan Sanjin asked in surprise.

Chu Ling took a deep breath. If it were an actual ghost, she really wouldn’t be afraid.

“Master Wan, I want to ask you: now I’m completely different from how I was in the General’s Mansion. How did you recognize me? And, besides you, is there anyone else who knows the Third Miss of the General’s Mansion is serving as the county magistrate in Sishui County?” Chu Ling asked immediately.

Wan Sanjin shook his head. “No, there isn’t.”

Just as Chu Ling let out a sigh of relief, her heart jumped again at Wan Sanjin’s next words.

Wan Sanjin furrowed his brow. “The eldest mistress of the General’s Mansion wants to make a deal with Tianxia Zhi. Tianxia Zhi is the intelligence network my elder brother runs, and they take on certain tasks. The eldest mistress is willing to pay a fortune to take your life, and she even provided an address and a portrait.”

Chu Ling narrowed her eyes. “They want to kill me?” Why?

She was just the daughter of a minor second branch—what could possibly be worth the eldest mistress spending such a fortune?

“Because of Qingyu, I once asked my brother to investigate your background. After learning this, he told me about it. I thought you didn’t deserve to die, so I wanted him to refuse. He didn’t refuse, only said, ‘Just consider it a completed mission. The General’s Mansion can’t act anyway—why refuse free gold?’”

Wan Sanjin couldn’t help but sigh, impressed by his brother’s cleverness.

Chu Ling immediately reached out. “Half of that fortune goes to me.”

Wan Sanjin crossed his arms. “No. That’s Tianxia Zhi’s money.”

Chu Ling twitched at the corner of her mouth. “Tianxia Zhi is such an important organization, and you dare to tell me this… aren’t you afraid…”

Wan Sanjin raised a serious eyebrow at her. “You’re just a small county magistrate. Why would Tianxia Zhi be afraid of you?”

Chu Ling felt a pang of sadness, but had to admit he was right—she was just a petty magistrate. Threatening anyone wouldn’t work.

“Anyway, you can’t return for now. Better to stay in Sishui County as magistrate. The General’s Mansion is still sealed off,” Wan Sanjin advised.

Chu Ling thought he was right; at least she had freedom here. “Does your brother know why the eldest mistress wants me dead?”

Wan Sanjin recalled that night carefully; his brother’s expression had indeed been subtle.

“I remember asking my brother if it was because you were disguised as a man to serve as magistrate and might harm the General’s Mansion. My brother said for sure: no. Then he added, ‘It’s just one life sacrificed; for the General’s Mansion, nothing ventured, nothing gained.’”

Chu Ling’s expression darkened.

His brother’s words seemed to reveal some of the General’s Mansion’s intentions—but how could a businessman know so much?

And… Tianxia Zhi actually belonged to the Wan family?

Wasn’t Tianxia Zhi in the story the organization the heroine built later?

Wan Sanjin asked, “Why do you suddenly ask this, Madam?”

Chu Ling paused, then decided to confide. “When my maid discovered me, I hanged myself. Later, after being rescued, it turned out the wound at the back of my head was the fatal one—hanging was staged by someone.”

Wan Sanjin was shocked. “Your General’s Mansion was that ruthless? They hired our Tianxia Zhi… and even others?”

“For now, it’s still unclear who actually did it…” Chu Ling began, only to be cut off by Wan Sanjin.

“Madam, besides the General’s Mansion, who would want your life?” he said. “No one knows you. Everyone only knows the General’s Mansion’s two prodigies: Beijing’s top talent Chu Rou and Beijing’s most beautiful woman Chu Yue. The Third Miss, known as a fool, would never attract attention without the backing of the General’s Mansion.”

“Then why?” Cui Xi murmured. “Our master has no talent, no virtue. Even if the family split, there’s nothing to fight over. Miss certainly wouldn’t compete with the two ladies.”

“Exactly, why?” Chu Ling muttered suspiciously.

Wan Sanjin felt pity for their miss as well. “Whatever the reason, Madam, it’s better not to return to the capital.”

Chu Ling nodded. She definitely wouldn’t be going back.