TGCFNM -Chapter 6 Someone, Apply the Torture

Chu Ling propped her chin up, listening absentmindedly. She poured herself a cup of old tea and clicked her tongue bitterly—life really was inconvenient without a maid. There wasn’t even any fresh tea to drink.

“Someone who used a heavy tool and killed with a single blow—doesn’t that sound like a blacksmith?” Chu Ling took a makeshift sip of the stale tea and looked toward Ghost Scholar, waiting to hear his opinion.

Ghost Scholar stroked his beard and nodded slightly. “Judging by common sense, it is indeed quite possible.”

Cui Xi looked at Chu Ling in confusion. “But Miss, I’ve only followed you here for just over a month. I’ve had no dealings with any blacksmith shop. The only people we’ve had contact with are Xiao Sanzi, who ferried us here by boat, and Zhao Er, who helped repair the roof.”

Chu Ling immediately sensed something amiss. Her expression turned grave as she stared at Cui Xi. “After Zhao Er repaired the roof, did I pay him?”

“Yes, yes, you did. Miss was very generous.”

Chu Ling slapped her forehead. She remembered now—when she had first arrived in Sishui County, she had been extremely generous. She’d brought plenty of silver from the General’s Manor and spent it freely without a second thought.

Later, after the General’s Manor fell and her life grew difficult, someone conveniently came to bribe her, and she accepted it. The first time, she’d been a little nervous; afterward, she even began to feel the bribe money wasn’t worth much.

“Are you familiar with Zhao Er? What kind of person is he?” Chu Ling asked, now reassured.

Cui Xi immediately frowned, her expression unpleasant. “I don’t like him. He’s cold and unfriendly, looks fierce too. His arms are very thick.”

“Strong arms, repairs roofs, has been to the residence before, familiar with the layout—it really is possible,” Ghost Scholar agreed. “We need an excuse to arrest him and interrogate him.”

“What excuse do we need to arrest someone?” Chu Ling stood up, went to the kitchen herself, fetched a basin of cold water, and washed the blood and dirt from the back of her head and her hair. After wringing it half-dry, she put her official hat back on and went to the front yamen.

Qi Daxian was resting in the rear courtyard. When he saw Chu Ling arrive, he sprang up from his chair at once.

“Has the coroner reached a conclusion?” Chu Ling asked.

“Yes, my lord. Take a look.” Qi Daxian handed over the coroner’s autopsy report.

Chu Ling took it, flipped through it casually, and confirmed her suspicions. The victim hadn’t drowned—she’d been struck hard on the back of the head and killed instantly, then thrown into the river.

“Go arrest someone. Zhao Er, the one who once repaired my roof. I suspect he stole the official silver,” Chu Ling ordered. Then she went to the front hall and sat upright beneath the plaque, waiting for Qi Daxian to bring him in.

By the time Zhao Er was brought over, a crowd of curious townspeople had already gathered outside the yamen, craning their necks to peer inside.

Qi Daxian forced Zhao Er to kneel. Only then did Chu Ling truly see the cold, intimidating Zhao Er Cui Xi had described.

Judging by his appearance alone, he was indeed not someone to mess with. There was a knife scar on his brow ridge, his cheekbones jutted sharply, and his lips were pressed downward. He clenched his teeth tightly, glaring at Chu Ling with clear defiance.

Chu Ling wasted no words. She slammed the gavel and barked coldly, “Zhao Er, do you know your crime?”

“My lord, this commoner does not know what crime I have committed.” Zhao Er stiffened his neck, his face flushed red. “I was sleeping at home when the officers barged in and tied me up. They didn’t even explain anything.”

“My maid Cui Xi was murdered, and her bundle was stolen. Inside that bundle was silver, so I am investigating the case. I and my maid have only been in Sishui County for a month. We’ve only met Xiao Sanzi, who ferried us by boat, and you. Xiao Sanzi has a broken leg and is lying at home—so that leaves only you.”

As Chu Ling finished speaking, her eyes swept outward like blades, coldly glancing at the peacock-like man standing outside.

He even dared to come to the yamen to watch the spectacle!

Zhao Er felt utterly wronged. His face flushed crimson as he shouted angrily, “My lord wrongs me! I’ve been at home the whole time. I’ve never seen any maid or any bundle! My lord, you can’t just kill the innocent!”

Chu Ling looked at him indifferently, one brow lifting slightly as she asked casually, “Did I kill you? Whose life have I trampled?”

“My lord, my lord—when did your maid die?” Zhao Er struggled violently as he shouted forward.

“Last night.”

“My lord, I—I have witnesses! I was—I was—”

“Where?” Chu Ling asked calmly, her gaze light.

“At—at Qian Sanyang’s house. With—with his wife. I gave Qian Sanyang thirty copper coins. Qian Sanyang and his wife can both testify that I was there last night.”

As soon as Zhao Er said this, the crowd erupted in shocked cries. Waves of noise surged forward, overwhelming the hall.

“Who would’ve thought? Qian Sanyang looks so honest, yet he’d do something like this?”

“Tsk, Qian Sanyang needs medicine, but where would he get money?”

“It really is true…”

“They’re all rotten. I heard his wife’s always seducing men.”

“Silence! Silence!” Chu Ling shouted loudly. She slammed the gavel, suppressing the crowd at once, then immediately ordered Qi Daxian to arrest Qian Sanyang.

The crowd outside continued murmuring, though much more quietly now.

Chu Ling propped her chin, gazed past Cui Xi—who was nervously twisting her handkerchief—and looked toward Ghost Scholar, who had been calmly observing the farce. Covering her mouth with her sleeve, she asked softly, “Teacher, what do you think?”

Ghost Scholar folded his fan and looked at Zhao Er struggling below. “It shouldn’t be him. He has witnesses. But it seems my lord also feels Zhao Er isn’t entirely innocent.”

“Teacher, what did I say when I went to Xiao Sanzi’s house today?” Chu Ling prompted.

“You said the official silver was lost…” Ghost Scholar suddenly realized something was off. His expression shifted as he looked at Chu Ling. “It wasn’t official silver?”

“The General’s Manor did indeed have official silver, and I did bring some out—but am I stupid enough to tell a maid where official silver is hidden?” Chu Ling smiled smugly.

No matter what, she was still the second branch’s daughter of the Chu family. Having lived for over a decade amid the treacherous currents of the capital, she understood the dangers facing the General’s Manor. Taking the official silver might have been for another purpose, but it certainly wasn’t to spend it—otherwise, she wouldn’t later have accepted bribes.

“In fact, I didn’t bring the official silver to Sishui County at all. I buried it somewhere. So what Cui Xi took wasn’t official silver in the first place.” Chu Ling smiled at the utterly stunned Cui Xi, then turned her head with interest, waiting for Qi Daxian to bring the next person in.

After a brief moment’s thought, Ghost Scholar immediately understood.

“My lord has truly opened my eyes.” He clasped his hands in a solemn salute.

Just then, Qian Sanyang was escorted in and forced to kneel on the ground.

Chu Ling followed the same procedure, slamming the gavel and shouting coldly, “Qian Sanyang, this official asks you: Zhao Er claims he paid thirty copper coins to sleep with your wife, and that you and your wife can testify that he stayed at your place last night. Is that true or not?”

Qian Sanyang looked as though he had suffered the greatest humiliation. He broke free of the officers and kicked Zhao Er hard in the chest, raging furiously. “Zhao Er, are you even human?! You said you had no one at home to care for you, that no one mended your clothes. I pitied you and took thirty copper coins so my wife could buy some cloth and make you a new set of clothes. And now you—you’re utterly heartless!”

Zhao Er was kicked senseless. This wasn’t what they had agreed on at all.

Qian Sanyang wailed as he crawled forward a few steps. “My lord! My lord, please seek justice for this commoner! What sin has my wife committed? My lord, save us—save us!”

Chu Ling slammed the table, fury blazing. “Fine, Zhao Er! You dare lie before this official. Guards—apply the torture!”