TGCFNM -Chapter 96 Someone Reports a Case

Chu Ling pointed at the chess pieces on the stone table and asked in surprise, “Linglong chess? The Empress Dowager’s chess set?”

“My lord, I’m certain,” Wan Xing said with a grim expression.

Chu Ling drew in a sharp breath. “How could the Empress Dowager’s chess set end up in the locked, ruined courtyard of the Sun family? There’s even blood on the pieces.”

“As far as I know,” Wan Xing said, “after the Empress Dowager obtained this set, she was overjoyed and ordered it locked in her Phoenix Treasury. She rarely ever took it out.”

Chu Ling raised her brows and asked hesitantly, “Is the Empress Dowager still alive?”

Wan Xing felt a chill at his neck. “Her Majesty is in good health.”

Chu Ling lowered her eyes and fell into thought.

If it had been inside the imperial palace, then few could have entered—only members of the imperial clan. That meant the chessboard must have been stolen by someone within the royal family.

As for why the inner palace had not made any public announcement about its disappearance, that was unclear. Perhaps it was to cover up the matter, or perhaps to protect the royal family’s reputation.

But since everyone under heaven knew the set had been gifted by Prince Su, then if someone saw the chessboard along with the scroll, wouldn’t they immediately know that it was Prince Su who had secretly dealt with the Crown Prince’s faction?

Was this a case of diverting disaster eastward—shifting blame onto someone else?

Yet back then, this hidden pawn seemed to have never served its purpose. It had simply been forgotten.

“Lord Chu.” Wan Xing looked at her solemnly. “We bear no grudges between us. Because of my younger brother, we even share a bit of goodwill. You can trust me.”

Chu Ling nodded. She did trust him.

In the book, Wan Xing, as the second male lead, might have seemed somewhat lovestruck—after all, he had given half of the Wan family’s wealth to the female lead, Chu Yue. But because of that, once Xiao Lengjue ascended the throne, the Wan family’s position in Great Zhou was further consolidated.

The Wan family had given up wealth, yet gained far more intangible resources in return.

So Wan Xing was extremely shrewd.

Indeed—how could a man who expanded the Wan family’s influence across the entire Great Zhou not be clever?

Wan Xing frowned deeply and pointed at the stone table. “My lord, regarding this chess set, I suggest I take it with me and lock it in the Wan family treasury. No one can enter that place except myself and Sanjin. Naturally, it won’t leak out.”

Chu Ling understood. In short, the item was dangerous and needed to be locked away in a vault.

“Then I’ll trouble you, Young Master Wan,” Chu Ling said, cupping her hands in thanks.

Wan Xing glanced at the limp Steward Zhu, then picked up the chessboard himself. His gaze grew noticeably more sincere. “To be honest, Lord Chu has truly made me see you in a new light. It’s true what they say—hearing is false, seeing is believing.”

Chu Ling smiled. “Young Master Wan, a pleasant cooperation.”

“A pleasant cooperation,” Wan Xing replied.

After Wan Sanjin escorted Wan Xing and Steward Zhu out, he returned.

“Where is your elder brother staying?” Chu Ling asked. “Steward Zhu isn’t in any condition right now. Your brother will probably have to look after him.”

Wan Sanjin took a sip of tea. “Elder Brother bought a residence. He’s also purchased servants and attendants. By tonight, the Wan family members should all be here. The money house will open tomorrow.”

Chu Ling: “… The life of the richest family in the land—this official truly envies it.”

Wan Sanjin added, “Elder Brother also said he’ll select four capable men tomorrow to serve as constables under you. Otherwise, it’s inconvenient to handle cases. He also reminded me that Changzhou isn’t as calm as it appears on the surface.”

Chu Ling set down her teacup. Naturally.

The next day.

Chu Ling went to the prison to interrogate the Feng family’s eldest son, Feng Shou.

Feng Shou was notorious—there was little to say in his defense. The common people had waited far too long for his punishment. So Chu Ling opened court, tried the case, and sentenced him to death by hanging, to be carried out in half a month.

The townspeople cheered, finally letting out their frustration.

Meanwhile, the Feng family mansion was decisively put up for sale by Chu Ling. After selling it, she not only compensated the unfortunate victims but also gave a portion of the proceeds to Wu Xiaoxiu, ensuring she had no worries and could continue her experiments.

Once these matters were handled, Chu Ling had just removed her official hat and was rubbing her neck when Zhang Dong came running over.

“Sir, someone has filed a report!” Zhang Dong said, his expression grim.

Chu Ling was startled and immediately followed him to the front of the government office.

A tattered straw mat wrapped a body, left right at the office gate. The body inside the mat seemed small.

Chu Ling crouched down, her fingers trembling as she unfolded the mat. A child, no older than six or seven, appeared before her—bruised, battered, and covered in blood.

Her eyes welled up, and she clenched her fists.

“Who reported this?”

“It’s me. I’m Lu Dahu, a butcher from Guihua Street.” Lu Dahu wiped the sweat from his brow, blood stains still on his shoulders from carrying the child over.

“This child…” Chu Ling asked with difficulty, “where was this child found?”

Lu Dahu replied, “Sir, I was out carrying a pig today. Passing through Da Qian Street, I tripped and fell. When I got up, I saw a blood-stained straw mat. I opened it—and it was a child!”

Chu Ling turned to Zhang Dong. “Take the body inside and have Su perform an autopsy.”

“Yes, sir.”

Chu Ling slowly stood up and looked at the onlookers. “Does anyone know who this child is? Do they have family?”

The townspeople exchanged glances and all shook their heads.

At that moment, a small hand tentatively tugged at Chu Ling’s pinky.

Chu Ling hooked her finger. “Master Wan, go find Young Master Wan. Ask him for some constables, then search around the city—see if any family has lost a child.”

Wan Sanjin immediately nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“Su He, you go perform the autopsy,” Chu Ling said.

Su He nodded silently and, with Zhang Dong, carried the body inside.

Back in her courtyard, Chu Ling crouched down again, studying the child in front of her. “Who are you? Where do you live? Has anyone hurt you?”

“Ah… ah ah…”

Oh no, the child was mute.

Chu Ling sighed and asked, “Can you gesticulate? How old are you?”

The child shook their head.

The Ghost Scholar glanced at the child. “The clothes look like cloud brocade. Cloud brocade isn’t cheap. And this jade pendant at the waist is high quality, plus the shoes—they’re tied with jade as well. This child is either from a wealthy or noble family.”

Chu Ling’s mind raced. This child might have been kidnapped, but the ransom attempt failed, leading the culprit to kill them brutally.

“A child of such status shouldn’t be hard to trace here in Changzhou,” Chu Ling said, standing up. “Zhang Dong should inform Wan Sanjin and focus the search on the major households.”

The child suddenly tugged at Chu Ling’s hand again, shaking their head urgently and trying to lead her outside.

“Where are we going?” Chu Ling asked. “To your home?”

“Ah ah… ah ah!” The child pointed outside frantically, then tapped their own head.

Chu Ling guessed, “You mean… you just remembered something? You want to take me outside?”

“Ah ah!” The child nodded vigorously, urging her to hurry.

“All right,” Chu Ling said. “I’ll go with you.”