Martial Arts Secret Realm: Only I Can Know the Plot?

"What?!" Sun Fan suddenly stood up, splashing tea from his teacup all over the table.

They seemed genuinely panicked.

"Sit down," Ling Tuisi gestured, "Let me finish."

Sun Fan took a deep breath and slowly sat back down, but his expression remained tense.

"What did he do wrong?" Sun Fan's voice was very low, as if he was restraining himself. "What could a scholar like him have done wrong?"

Ling Tuisi did not answer directly, but instead took out a file from the drawer, opened it, and pushed it in front of Sun Fan.

"See for yourself."

Sun Fan looked down. The file contained Chu Huai'an's name, followed by several charges—"colluding with bandits," "concealing stolen goods," and "resisting arrest and injuring an officer."

Each one is a serious crime.

Sun Fan's hands began to tremble. He looked up at Ling Tuisi, his eyes filled with anger, confusion, and pleading.

"Lord Ling, this...this is impossible." His voice was hoarse. "Huai'an...he's been timid since childhood, he wouldn't even watch a chicken being killed, how could he possibly be in league with bandits?"

Ling Tuisi looked at his expression, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes that was barely perceptible.

"Young Master Sun, I don't believe it either." His tone softened. "But these charges are supported by both witnesses and physical evidence. As the prefect, I cannot disregard the law."

Sun Fan lowered his head and remained silent for a long time.

"Lord Ling," he suddenly spoke, his voice very soft, "May I...see him?"

Ling Tuisi did not answer immediately.

He leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping on the armrest again.

"Young Master Sun," he finally spoke, "this is a heavily guarded prison; outsiders are not allowed to enter. That's the rule."

Sun Fan raised his head and looked at him, his eyes full of pleading.

"I know," he said, "but Huai'an... he's an only son. His parents are very old; they've been waiting for him at home for over half a year, and their hair has turned white. I just want to see him, to see how he is, and to give his family a message. Lord Ling, is this request... too much?"

Ling Tuisi remained silent for a long time.

The sound of a watchman's drum came from outside the window; it was getting dark.

"Young Master Sun," he finally spoke, his voice tinged with difficulty, "you are a scholar, and I respect your talent and understand your feelings. But rules are rules, and I cannot make an exception for you."

Sun Fan's eyes darkened.

"However—" Ling Tuisi changed the subject, "if you're willing to stay in Jingzhou a little longer and do some things for me, I might be able to think of a way."

Sun Fan raised his head and looked at Ling Tuisi.

Ling Tuisi was also looking at him.

The two stared at each other for a few seconds before Sun Fan spoke first.

"What does Lord Ling wish me to do?"

Ling Tuisi smiled.

"No rush." ​​He stood up, walked to the window, his back to Sun Fan. "Young Master Sun, go back and think it over first. Come back to me when you've made up your mind."

Sun Fan stood up, bowed, and turned to leave.

As he reached the door, Ling Tuisi suddenly called out to him.

"Young Master Sun."

Sun Fan stopped and turned around.

Ling Tuisi stood by the window, the afterglow of the setting sun shining on his face, half bright and half dark.

"Your classmate didn't suffer much in prison. I had someone look after him."

Sun Fan was stunned for a moment, then bowed deeply.

"Thank you, Lord Ling."

As he left the Ling residence, Sun Fan's expression gradually calmed down, returning to his usual composure.

He glanced back at the gate of the Ling residence, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Hooked.

Upon returning to the Shen family home, Sun Fan did not immediately go to find Shen Zhaoyuan, but instead went back to his own courtyard.

Dong Dahai was already waiting.

"How is it?" he asked in a low voice.

Sun Fan sat down, poured himself a glass of water, slowly drank it, and then said, "Ling Tuisi has taken the bait. But he wants to test me one more time."

"What are you testing?"

"He was testing me to see if I really wanted to see Chu Huai'an," Sun Fan said. "He told me to go back and think it over, and then go see him again. This wasn't giving me time to consider; it was giving me time to verify—to verify if Chu Huai'an was really locked up in jail, and to verify if what I said was true."

Dong Dahai frowned: "Then what should we do?"

"There's not much we can do," Sun Fan said. "We weren't lying. Chu Huai'an is indeed in jail, and I really do want to see him. Ling Tuisi can't find anything wrong with it."

"Then... what about the things he asked you to do for him?"

Sun Fan did not answer immediately.

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the night outside.

"He wanted me to stay in Jingzhou and do things for him," he said. "He didn't say exactly what, but I guess it's related to the Shen family."

"The Shen family?" Dong Dahai was taken aback.

"Ling Tuisi and the Shen family are at odds; everyone in Jingzhou knows that." Sun Fan turned around. "But he needs a reason—a reasonable reason that won't give others grounds for criticism—to suppress the Shen family. I just happen to be a ready-made tool."

Dong Dahai thought for a moment: "You mean... he wants to use you against the Shen family?"

"It's not about dealing with them," Sun Fan shook his head. "It's about maintaining a balance. The Shen family is deeply entrenched in Jingzhou, and Ling Tuisi can't touch them. But he needs to let the Shen family know—in this territory, he is the prefect. I help Shen Zhaoyuan with his studies, and the Shen family is happy. I help Ling Tuisi with his work, and Ling Tuisi is happy. I don't offend either side, and I please both—that's what Ling Tuisi wants."

Dong Dahai nodded thoughtfully.

"So...when are you going to see him again?"

"No rush," Sun Fan said. "Let him wait a couple of days. The longer he waits, the more he'll think that I, as a 'scholar,' have backbone and won't easily bow down. When I go back, he'll trust me even more."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Dahai, keep an eye on the Ling family's movements for me these next few days. Ling Tuisi will definitely send people to the prison to investigate Chu Huai'an's affairs, and he will also send people to inquire about my every move at the Shen family. Don't stop him, let him investigate."

Dong Dahai nodded and turned to leave.

"Wait a minute," Sun Fan called out to him.

Dong Dahai turned around.

"How's Mu Xue'er doing?" Sun Fan asked. "Any news about Ling Shuanghua?"

Dong Dahai shook his head: "Mu Xue'er said that Ling Shuanghua hasn't been to Qingxu Temple for the past few days. Miss Liu sent someone to inquire, and the Ling family said that the young lady is unwell and is recuperating at home."

Sun Fan frowned slightly.

Ling Shuanghua is "sick"—something's not right.

In the original story, Ling Shuanghua would go to Qingxu Temple to offer incense every fifteenth of the month without fail. This was her only chance to go out, and also her only chance to "see" Ding Dian. She wouldn't give it up easily.

Unless—something happened to her.

"Have Mu Xue'er go and inquire again," Sun Fan said. "Try to find out whether Ling Shuanghua is really sick or has been locked up by Ling Tuisi."

Dong Dahai nodded, turned around and left.

Sun Fan sat by the window, watching the moon slowly rise.

He was thinking about something—if Ling Shuanghua was imprisoned by Ling Tuisi, then Ding Dian wouldn't be able to see that pot of flowers in his cell.

What does this mean for Ding Dian?