TGCFNM -Chapter 87 Borrowing Men

Early the next morning.

The first thing Chu Ling did after breakfast was to go to the Sun residence to confirm whether those magpies were still there.

But there was one troublesome point—she had no one available under her command. Adviser Liu had not only taken the servants away, but had also summoned the constables to leave as well.

“Adviser Liu was probably worried that you’d feel uncomfortable, Your Excellency, and think these men wouldn’t work wholeheartedly. So he simply called them all away to rest,” Wan Sanjin spread his hands.

Chu Ling pinched the bridge of her nose. “With just the few of us, we definitely can’t storm into the Sun residence.” And as long as Grand Tutor Sun remained standing, nothing would happen to the Sun family.

“I’ve got it!” Chu Ling slapped the table and stood up. “Let’s go borrow men from the newly arrived Mei Gao. Let’s move.”

At the city gate, Mei Gao, who was earnestly patrolling, was stunned for quite some time after hearing Chu Ling’s request. He then reconfirmed, “Your Excellency wants to borrow men to go to the Sun residence… to rescue magpies?”

“That’s right!”

“Miss Magpie is that important to you, Your Excellency?”

Chu Ling: “…A magpie is a bird. It feeds on pests. There’s a locust infestation in the surrounding villages right now, and the Sun family, in order to celebrate the marriage of their young master, ordered people to capture all the magpies.”

A flash of anger crossed Mei Gao’s face. “Rest assured, Your Excellency. I’ll arrange men at once.”

About a quarter of an hour later, Mei Gao personally led twenty men to follow Chu Ling toward the Sun residence. Such a grand procession immediately drew curious passersby, who followed along.

By the time they reached the gates of the Sun residence, the crowd had grown even larger.

“Magistrate Chu?”

Chu Ling turned her head and found the man somewhat familiar. “You’re the student who asked questions last night?”

The student straightened abruptly and cupped his hands. “This student is Ye Bisi.”

“When you escorted those villagers back last night, did you ask along the way?” Chu Ling asked.

Ye Bisi flushed red and bowed again. “Last night, this student spoke rashly. After asking around, I learned the pest infestation is severe. The grain has all been eaten.”

Chu Ling nodded and looked at him. “Originally, swallows and magpies feed on these insects. But because the Feng family previously ate the left wings of swallows, the swallows never returned. And now the Sun family has captured all the magpies within the area. That’s why the pest infestation has spread.”

Ye Bisi exclaimed in shock, “How can they capture all the magpies?”

“They’re relatives of Grand Tutor Sun. Naturally, they can disregard the lives of the common people,” Chu Ling said with a faint smile. Ignoring the colorful expressions of the surrounding crowd, she directly told Wan Sanjin to knock on the door.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Wan Sanjin pounded forcefully, but there was no response from within.

Mei Gao’s face darkened. “Your Excellency, allow me.” He stepped forward, gripping his spear, and slammed the door hard. Still, there was no answer from inside.

Chu Ling’s expression shifted slightly. “Xiao Hua, kick the door.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

Xiao Hua stepped forward, pulled Mei Gao aside, and delivered a fierce kick.

With a cracking sound, the great gates of the Sun residence shook. The door bar snapped completely, and Xiao Hua easily pushed the doors open.

Mei Gao’s expression turned uneasy. “Your Excellency, at dawn today, just as the city gates opened, some people left the city, claiming someone at home was ill and they had to depart.”

Wan Sanjin said in surprise, “The Sun family didn’t run away, did they?”

Mei Gao thought carefully. “Those who left the city this morning departed in several groups. They were dressed as ordinary commoners, and those leaving the city are not inspected.”

Chu Ling was startled. They really ran?

“And what about Sun Wu and the others?” Chu Ling asked.

Mei Gao cupped his hands. “Rest assured, Your Excellency. They are being guarded.”

Chu Ling nodded, then turned to everyone and said, “Go in and search for the magpies. Once found, gather them in one place first.”

“Yes, Your Excellency!”

Mei Gao waved his hand, and more than twenty men charged inside at once. The onlooking townsfolk followed right behind them.

Ye Bisi also said, “My lord, I’ll go in and help as well.” With that, he entered the Sun residence too.

Chu Ling looked at the others. “We’re going in as well.”

“Yes, my lord,” everyone responded in unison.

After stepping into the Sun residence, Chu Ling’s eyes trembled. The Sun estate was actually this large?

A finger suddenly poked her.

Chu Ling gave a soft hum and turned around. “It’s just too big—I was only sighing over it. Let’s search over here.” With that, she started walking forward.

Just then, someone tugged at her sleeve.

Chu Ling paused and looked at Wan Sanjin. “What is it?”

“What do you mean, what is it?” Wan Sanjin asked, puzzled.

Cui Xi covered her mouth and pointed at Chu Ling’s arm in horror, whimpering incoherently.

Chu Ling swallowed hard. After bracing herself mentally, she slowly turned her head.

Not far from Wan Sanjin stood a male ghost. Much of his face had been gnawed away. He was staring at her, his vacant eyes seeming to hesitate.

Bai Su shuddered. “How did he end up dying in such a horrific state?”

The Ghost Scholar’s expression also turned grim. Steadying himself, he said, “Before death, he must have suffered greatly.”

Chu Ling nearly choked on her breath and burst into a violent cough. Hugging her arm, she forced a dry laugh. “What’s going on with the Sun family? They actually abandoned their estate and ran. Aren’t they afraid their belongings will be stolen?”

“They are relatives of Grand Tutor Sun, after all. Who would really dare to kick their doors in? Only you, my lord, would be so lawless,” Wan Sanjin said, shivering. “My lord, the sun is blazing overhead—why do I suddenly feel cold?”

“You didn’t eat enough for breakfast,” Chu Ling said seriously.

Wan Sanjin suddenly understood. “So that’s it.”

The male ghost finally moved. He stepped toward Chu Ling and cautiously poked her arm. Chu Ling casually waved her hand as if by accident, knocking it away.

“My lord, this area doesn’t seem like a place where magpies would be hidden,” Wan Sanjin said hesitantly, glancing around. “Shall we check the kitchen over there?”

The male ghost stretched out another finger and poked Chu Ling again.

Chu Ling glared at him silently: What do you want?

The ghost opened his mouth. It seemed he hadn’t spoken in a long time; his voice was terribly hoarse, like an old machine grinding into motion. “Ah… ah… ah…”

Chu Ling rolled her eyes and continued walking, wondering where the magpies might be hidden.

The ghost had no choice but to follow. As he trailed behind her, he kept testing his voice with strained “ah” sounds and repeatedly poked her arm.

Suddenly, the ghost screamed, “Ah!”

Chu Ling jumped in fright and glared at him. “What are you shouting for!”

Wan Sanjin also jumped. “My lord, what happened?”

“Ma… g… pies… are… there,” the ghost said, enunciating each word slowly.

Chu Ling pressed a hand to her forehead and mouthed silently: Lead the way.

The ghost let out a couple of “ah” sounds and slowly walked ahead.

Chu Ling followed behind him, then waved to Wan Sanjin and the others. “My intuition tells me to head this way. Follow me.”

After walking for a while behind the ghost, they arrived at a somewhat dilapidated courtyard. The ghost still did not stop but continued forward until he reached the gate of another yard. There he halted, turned around, and looked at Chu Ling with more soft “ah” sounds.

The gate was locked. The lock was newly replaced, but the door itself was worn and shabby.

Zhang Dong pressed himself against the door and peered inside. “My lord, I think I hear birds chirping.”

Chu Ling said, “Xiao Hua, kick the door down.”