TGCFNM -Chapter 97 Jade Bamboo Grove

As soon as Chu Ling reached the entrance of the government office, a crowd came rushing toward her, forcing her to step back repeatedly until she was pressed against the doorway.

“Sir! Could it be… could it be that my grandson has been found?” An elderly lady wept uncontrollably, clutching Chu Ling’s hand so tightly that she nearly collapsed.

A man behind her supported her, tears in his eyes as he looked at Chu Ling. “Sir… I heard… I heard someone brought a child here. I… I want to see.”

Beside him, his wife was even paler from crying, gasping for air. If it weren’t for the people holding her up, she might have fallen as well.

Chu Ling quickly said, “Yes… a child was brought here. He’s covered in injuries, and his identity is unknown. He’s currently undergoing an autopsy.”

“Autopsy?” The woman rushed forward, grabbing Chu Ling’s sleeve, her voice trembling as she asked, “Are… are you going to… cut him open?”

Chu Ling felt a lump rise in her throat and for a moment didn’t know whether she should answer.

Then the child tugged at her sleeve, pointing frantically toward the outside, trying desperately to get out of the crowd, pulling at Chu Ling as if urging her to follow.

“Sir.” The man trembled all over, kneeling deeply before Chu Ling. “Sir… let me… just let me see him, just let me see if he… if he’s my child.”

Chu Ling felt her nose sting with emotion.

At that moment, the main door of the government office behind her was pulled open.

“Sir!” Su He stepped out, not even glancing at the crowd, eyes fixed on Chu Ling, speaking with a puzzled tone, “Sir, this is strange. The child is dressed in fine clothes, yet he’s so emaciated. His stomach is empty, and there are lice in his hair. He doesn’t look like a young master of a wealthy family… he looks more like a beggar.”

Chu Ling and the others froze: a beggar?

Su He handed over the jade pendant that had been removed and said to the man, “Look at this.”

The man immediately took it with both hands, choking back his sobs. “It… it’s my son’s.”

Su He said, “Then he’s probably not your son. He’s a little girl.”

The elderly lady exhaled in relief, her whole body relaxing as she grabbed her daughter-in-law’s hand. “No… no… it’s not my grandson, it’s not.”

Chu Ling gathered her scattered thoughts and looked at the man, asking, “Who are you? Your son went missing, right? When did it happen? Was anyone with him? Did you receive any ransom letters asking you to pay silver for his release?”

The man hurriedly replied, “Sir, my name is Zheng Ying. My son went missing the day before yesterday. His attendant was knocked unconscious. As soon as I found out, I sent people everywhere to search, but we didn’t find him, and I haven’t received any messages asking for ransom.”

Since this was a child from a wealthy family, he had enough staff to handle the search himself, so he hadn’t reported it immediately.

Chu Ling parted the crowd and happened to see Wan Sanjin approaching with people and a carriage. She immediately said, “Let’s go. Follow me to a place.”

Wan Sanjin exhaled and allowed Chu Ling to get into the carriage.

Chu Ling glanced back and saw Ghost Scholar holding the little girl as he got into the carriage as well.

Zheng Ying immediately called out, “Sir! Where are you going?”

“To investigate the case and find your son,” Chu Ling replied, standing outside while Wan Sanjin drove, with the little girl guiding the way.

Zheng Ying looked at his wife. “Take mother back. I’ll follow myself.”

Mrs. Zheng quickly nodded and supported her mother-in-law. “Husband, we must find our son.”

Zheng Ying nodded firmly, mounted a horse, and galloped forward. “Sir, the attendant was knocked out at Sanli River. I’ll guide the way.”

With that, he spurred his horse and raced ahead.

Chu Ling looked at the little girl. She nodded energetically.

“Master Wan, follow them,” Chu Ling said.

The group immediately dashed to the bank of the Sanli River. Chu Ling jumped down from the carriage and, as if guided by some invisible hand, made her way to the riverbank.

Zheng Ying came stumbling while running, “My lord, it’s right here by the river.”

“Why isn’t there a ferry on this river?” Chu Ling walked anxiously. “Master Wan, is there any way to get a boat?”

Zheng Ying immediately replied, “Our Zheng family has a boat. Back then, when the servant fainted by the river, we thought… we thought the child had fallen into the river, so we immediately rowed out to search, but we didn’t find anything.”

“Quickly, get the boat ready.” Chu Ling said, then glanced at the little girl, watching her gesturing with all fours, and added, “Bring a few more capable hands; this one might be tough.”

Zheng Ying’s face changed, but he immediately went to get the boat.

Only then did Wan Sanjin have a chance to introduce the four people in the carriage. “My lord, these were all brought by my elder brother. They’re temporarily serving as constables in our county office.”

“Wang Wei.”
“Wang Yan.”
“Han Jin.”
“Han Yin.”

“We pay our respects, my lord,” the four said in unison.

Wan Sanjin explained, “They’re all from the Wan family. My elder brother says they’re all capable. The four of them are two pairs of twins, and they work together seamlessly.”

Chu Ling let out a slight breath. “You’ll have a hard task this time.”

“We’ll follow your orders, my lord,” the four said together.

Soon, Zheng Ying returned with the boat and several men. As the boat touched the water, Chu Ling immediately stepped on board, followed closely by the others.

Besides the four constables with Chu Ling, Zheng Ying had recruited six or seven more, all broad-shouldered and sturdy-looking.

Standing at the bow, Zheng Ying looked at Chu Ling and asked, “My lord, which way should we go? To the left is Xiaoyu Village; to the right is the Jade Bamboo Grove… my lord, that Jade Bamboo Grove is extremely strange, it—”

“Jade Bamboo Grove,” Chu Ling said, pointing to the right.

Zheng Ying’s expression changed, and his face instantly went pale. “If we enter the Jade Bamboo Grove… my son, my son would be—”

Chu Ling frowned. “What’s wrong with the Jade Bamboo Grove? Why are you so nervous?”

“My lord… is it really the Jade Bamboo Grove?” Zheng Ying asked again, unwilling to give up.

Chu Ling nodded. “When the corpse was brought here, the clothes wrapped in the mat were wet, so it must have passed by the river. If the boat goes straight ahead, downstream is Xiaoyu Village. But the current gets stronger the further down it goes, so Xiaoyu Village is very close.”

Zheng Ying nodded. “Indeed, very close.”

He had thought they had finally found the place—Xiaoyu Village.

“It can’t be that close to Changzhou, so we need a location not too near, not too far,” Chu Ling said, looking to the right. “You mentioned two places. Since it’s not Xiaoyu Village, it has to be the Jade Bamboo Grove.”

Zheng Ying nearly lost his footing, and the boatman almost dropped the bamboo pole.

Chu Ling urged, “Why aren’t we moving yet?”

Swallowing hard, Zheng Ying looked at the boatman. “Twenty taels of silver. If we return safely, add ten more. If not… fifty.”

The boatman trembled all over, his face pale, but he gripped the bamboo pole and slowly guided the boat along the current.

“What exactly is wrong with the Jade Bamboo Grove?” Chu Ling frowned. “Does that place… eat people?”

Zheng Ying’s face was on the verge of collapse. “My lord… that place… really does eat people.”