TGCFNM -Chapter 60 The Token

Chu Ling leaned against the door, staring at Bai Su, her face full of anger and helplessness. “But Aunt Su, I don’t know martial arts. Can I just kill him directly?”

“You can’t.” Bai Su shook her head helplessly. “One has come, which means the remaining three know about this too. And the people behind them know as well. The trouble would be endless.”

The Ghost Scholar glanced at the throwing dart. “Since he didn’t come to take your life, the first step is intimidation. The second step is to make you do something.”

Chu Ling rubbed her fingers, thinking. “So he came for me because someone behind him wants me to do something. He can’t kill me… or rather, even if I wound him, he still can’t kill me immediately.”

“That’s right.” The Ghost Scholar confirmed.

Chu Ling let out a sigh of relief. Then she didn’t need to worry.

“Master!” Outside, Xiao Hua shouted, setting down the hot water in her hands.

Chu Ling yanked the door open. Xiao Hua rushed in just in time. “Master, are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” Chu Ling smiled reassuringly. “Xiao Hua, drag him into the wood storage. No need to feed him. Also, have your brother search him thoroughly—everything he has, I want it all.”

“Yes, Master!” Xiao Hua answered and, full of anger, kicked the bound and disheveled Qinglong on the ground. “Serves you right for bullying the Master!”

Chu Ling hissed, “I think I just heard bones breaking.”

Cui Xi crossed her arms. “Serves him right!”

Chu Ling closed the door again and looked at Cui Xi. “Does the General’s mansion have anything to do with this suicide squad?”

Cui Xi shook her head. How could she possibly know that?

“Does the General’s mansion have enemies?” Chu Ling asked in another way.

Although Wan Sanjin said she was safe for now and likely no one knew she was in Sishui County, one should never underestimate the possibility.

“Miss…” Cui Xi looked a little dazed. “Our General’s mansion is upright and incorruptible, not scheming with other officials. Even children in the capital know this.”

Chu Ling smacked her forehead. Indeed, there were quite a few enemies.

About a quarter of an hour later, Zhang Dong knocked on the door. “Master.”

Chu Ling opened the door and stared in shock at the items Zhang Dong was holding. “So many things?”

“Master, I was worried I wouldn’t search properly, so I brought Coroner Su and Master Wan to help.” Zhang Dong said, placing the items on the table. “Master, Coroner Su said all these hidden weapons are poisoned. Do not touch them.”

Chu Ling nodded. “Understood. You can go rest now.”

“Yes, Master.”

Chu Ling closed the door, sat back down, and looked at the rows of intricately crafted hidden weapons. She clicked her tongue. “What a pity… I can’t use them, and I can’t sell them either.”

Bai Su crossed her arms and lowered her head. “I remember the previous generation of Qinglong was a sword master. This generation seems to specialize in hidden weapons.”

The Ghost Scholar pointed with his folded fan. “Master, open that token for me.”

Chu Ling obeyed and, upon flipping it open, her eyes widened abruptly.

“The token of Prince Rui!”

“Prince Rui’s bronze token!”

Chu Ling and Ghost Scholar spoke in unison, then looked at each other.

Chu Ling naturally recognized the bronze token. In the original novel, it was described as having a fierce tiger engraved on the back, its eyes set with emeralds—this was Prince Rui’s token.

Ghost Scholar cleared his throat lightly. “The green-eyed one is indeed Prince Rui’s bronze token. No mistake.”

Chu Ling looked at the token with some curiosity. How had she been found by Prince Rui this time? In the book, Prince Rui discovered her by chance and personally came to see her across the screen. But now, he had sent Qinglong to deliver the matter.

“Miss, there’s a letter,” Cui Xi said.

Chu Ling picked up all the letters and found there were three in total. One was the thickest, and she opened it first, scanning through it rapidly.

“Governor Zhang of Chengyang has lodged a complaint, claiming that his subordinates—meaning me—refuse to obey his orders, and he hopes to have me removed from Prince Rui’s command, replacing me as the magistrate of Sishui County. He accuses me of greed, lawlessness, vanity, and craving glory…” Chu Ling flicked the letter aside disdainfully. “He even concocted all this about me.”

Ghost Scholar exhaled in relief. “It seems Prince Rui doesn’t actually know your identity. He only knows that the magistrate of Sishui County is under his command… So when the Old Madam used her connections to arrange everything, she erased all traces. Now you are simply the magistrate of Sishui County: Chu Ling.”

Chu Ling set that letter aside—it was indeed good news.

The second letter was brief: a secret letter from Prince Rui to Qinglong, instructing him to deliver it personally, without any mistakes.

The third letter was presumably from Prince Rui to the magistrate of Sishui County, under his command.

Chu Ling unfolded it and read through, then looked at it again in disbelief. “To prevent others from placing people in Changzhou, he wants me, as the magistrate, to temporarily handle affairs in Changzhou until he arranges a new governor to take office?”

Ghost Scholar narrowed his eyes, already understanding. “The previous governor of Changzhou was loyal to Grand Tutor Sun. Tutor Sun may not know which side to support, but he is definitely not aligned with Prince Rui. So Prince Rui is taking this chance to take control of Changzhou, sending his own people there.”

Chu Ling was stunned. Power struggles already? And so openly?

Ghost Scholar exhaled lightly, his gaze heavy. “In the court, the political winds shift swiftly. Even a subtle change can turn defeat into victory—or make one utterly ruined.”

Chu Ling looked at the prepared documents and orders, murmuring, “So this time, in the courtly dispute, Prince Rui has won.”

But why was she temporarily taking over? Did Prince Rui have no one under him?

“You will need to take the transfer orders to Changzhou. You must not arouse Prince Rui’s suspicion, because at this moment, you are a member of his command,” Ghost Scholar instructed.

Chu Ling held the letters and thought for a moment, then her eyes lit up as she finally understood. “Prince Rui is using me to confuse his opponents. After all, in Governor Zhang’s letter, the magistrate of Sishui County—me—is described as a great corrupt official.”

“Then why have Qinglong deliver the letter personally?” Bai Su asked, puzzled. “Are royal assassins so cheap now?”

“Corrupt officials are easier to manipulate. Bribes must be delivered personally, and what Prince Rui gives must come via Qinglong,” Chu Ling said mysteriously, producing another item and opening it for Bai Su to see.

“A map? A treasure map?” Bai Su asked disdainfully.

Ghost Scholar tapped his folded fan. “A mine! There’s a silver mine in Changzhou Prefecture.”

“You want her to mine it?” Bai Su was surprised.

“Depends on the situation,” Chu Ling said with a smile, somewhat eager. “Whether I can keep a portion for myself, or if Prince Rui will use it as a warning to show his power, remains uncertain… The only thing certain is that the silver mine is real and has never been exploited.”

“The Great Zhou dynasty is unstable. At this time, a silver mine represents money, and money is a weapon… no wonder Qinglong had to deliver it personally,” Ghost Scholar shook his head. Who would have thought this Qinglong was so inexperienced he was nearly counterattacked?

Chu Ling looked at Ghost Scholar, seemingly resolute. “Master, I should go… and I have no choice but to go.”

Ghost Scholar fell silent for a moment. Only when the candle flickered did he slowly lift his head to look at Chu Ling.

“If you call me Master, I will teach you how to navigate this and preserve your life.”