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

"Through the normal channels," Sun Fan said. "Chu Huai'an was wronged. You know that, I know that, and Ling Tuisi knows that too. But he won't release him because he thinks Chu Huai'an is still useful. I need to make Ling Tuisi think—Chu Huai'an is useless now, so it doesn't matter if he's released."

"How do I do it?"

"Let him know that someone is investigating Chu Huai'an's case."

Shen Zhaoyuan's eyes lit up: "You mean..."

"The Shen family carries weight in Jingzhou," Sun Fan said, looking at him. "If the Shen family intervenes and says there are too many suspicious points in Chu Huai'an's case, demanding a retrial—what will Ling Tuisi do?"

Shen Zhaoyuan thought for a moment: "He will definitely refuse. But after he refuses, he'll start to wonder—why is the Shen family suddenly interested in this case? Have they caught them red-handed?"

"Yes." Sun Fan nodded. "Ling Tuisi is a suspicious person. The more you pressure him, the less he'll let go. But if you do nothing, he'll start to wonder—is the Shen family planning something big? Rather than keeping a hot potato, it's better to get rid of it sooner rather than later."

Shen Zhaoyuan hesitated for a moment: "I need to discuss this with my father."

"Of course." Sun Fan stood up. "I'll wait for Brother Shen's news."

The second thing: He went to see Ling Tuisi.

"Lord Ling, I would like to ask you for a favor."

Ling Tuisi was reviewing official documents in his study when he heard this. He looked up and asked with interest, "What are you busy with?"

"I want to get my classmate Chu Huai'an out of jail."

Ling Tuisi's smile faltered for a moment.

"Young Master Sun, you should know that Chu Huai'an's case is not yet over."

"I know," Sun Fan said. "That's why I don't want Lord Ling to release him, but I want you to expedite the trial. A letter came from home saying his father is seriously ill and might not last more than a few days. His mother is also nearly blind from crying. Lord Ling, even if he is truly guilty, is it too much to ask him to see his father one last time?"

Ling Tuisi looked at him and tapped her fingers lightly on the armrest a few times.

"Young Master Sun, you are a man of great loyalty and affection," he said slowly, "but do you know that Chu Huai'an's case involves more than just him?"

"I know," Sun Fan nodded. "That's why I didn't make things difficult for Lord Ling. I just wanted to expedite the case—to investigate what needs to be investigated and to try what needs to be tried. If he's truly guilty, then convict him. If he's innocent, then release him. Dragging it out is bad for everyone."

Ling Tuisi remained silent for a while.

"Young Master Sun, you've been getting quite close to the Shen family lately." He suddenly changed the subject.

Sun Fan felt a chill run down his spine, but his face remained impassive: "Young Master Shen is so hospitable, I cannot refuse."

"Shen Zhaoyuan treats you quite well," Ling Tuisi smiled. "Has he asked you to do anything for him?"

"No," Sun Fan shook his head. "Young Master Shen only asked me to guide him in writing policy essays."

Ling Tuisi nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

"I'll have people handle Chu Huai'an's matter quickly," he said. "But whether or not he's released isn't up to me—it depends on how the case goes."

"Thank you, Lord Ling." Sun Fan bowed.

As they left the Ling residence, Dong Dahai was waiting at the alley entrance.

"How is it?"

"He's become suspicious," Sun Fan said in a low voice, "but it hasn't reached the point of a complete falling out yet."

"And next—"

"Wait," Sun Fan said. "Wait for news from the Shen family."

The third thing: He went to find Mu Xue'er.

"Have you seen Ling Shuanghua recently?"

Mu Xue'er shook her head: "The gates of the Ling residence are being closed tighter and tighter. Lord Ling said that Miss is unwell and won't let anyone see her."

"What about Miss Liu?"

"Miss Liu can't get in either." Mu Xue'er sighed. "She sent people to deliver invitations three times, but they were all turned away."

Sun Fan remained silent for a while.

"Find a way to send a message to Ling Shuanghua," he said.

"What did you say?"

"Just say—'The flowers are still blooming, and people are still waiting. Spring is coming soon, it's time to repot the flowers.'"

Mu Xue'er was taken aback: "What...does this mean?"

"Ling Shuanghua understands," Sun Fan said. "Have Miss Liu's maid, Cui'er, deliver the message. She's young and won't attract much attention."

Mu Xue'er nodded.

Two days later, Shen Huaishan met with Sun Fan in person.

This was an elderly man in his sixties, with gray hair, but he was still very energetic, and his eyes were as shrewd as an old fox. He sat in a grand chair, looking Sun Fan up and down, without saying a word for a long time.

"You're Sun Fan?"

"This junior, Sun Fan, greets Elder Shen." Sun Fan bowed respectfully.

Shen Huaishan waved his hand: "Sit down."

Sun Fan sat down.

"Zhaoyuan told me about Chu Huai'an." Shen Huaishan picked up his teacup and slowly blew on it. "You want me to step in and force Ling Tuisi to release him?"

"It's not about forcing him," Sun Fan said, "it's about giving Lord Ling a way out."

Shen Huaishan smiled.

"Interesting." He put down his teacup. "Why are you, a scholar traveling abroad, meddling in this?"

"It's not a trivial matter," Sun Fan said. "Chu Huai'an is my classmate, and I promised his family that I would bring him back home."

"That's all?"

That's all.

Shen Huaishan stared at him for a long time, then suddenly asked, "Do you know why Chu Huai'an was imprisoned?"

Sun Fan shook his head.

"Because he always carried a collection of Tang poetry with him, and he cared about it a lot."

Sun Fan frowned slightly: "It's quite normal for a scholar to bring a collection of Tang poetry, isn't it?"

"I don't know." Shen Huaishan shook his head. "No one knows what Ling Tuisi is thinking, but I know he cares a lot about the Tang Poetry Anthology."

Sun Fan fell silent.

"So," Shen Huaishan looked at him, "are you still going to save him?"

"Yes," Sun Fan said. "He's a person, not bait."

Shen Huaishan stared at him for a long time, then suddenly smiled.

"Zhaoyuan is right, you are indeed an interesting person."

He stood up, walked to the window, and turned his back to Sun Fan.

"I can help you," he said, "but on one condition."

"Please go on, Mr. Shen."

"You helped Zhaoyuan pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi."

Sun Fan was taken aback: "This..."

"I know this is an unreasonable request." Shen Huaishan turned around, "But he's my only promising son. You've read his essays; he has the foundation, he just needs guidance. If you just give him some pointers and help him get into the top ten in the provincial examination, that will be enough."

Sun Fan was silent for a moment, then nodded: "I'll do my best."

"Alright." Shen Huaishan slammed his hand on the table. "I'll give you an explanation regarding Chu Huai'an's matter within three days."

Three days later, Chu Huai'an's case indeed came to a conclusion.

At the "suggestion" of the Shen family, Ling Tuisi reopened Chu Huai'an's case. The so-called "witnesses and physical evidence" proved riddled with flaws in the face of the lawyer hired by the Shen family. The case was concluded in less than a day—Chu Huai'an was found not guilty and released in court.

Sun Fan was waiting at the entrance of the yamen when he saw Chu Huai'an come out from inside.

He had lost a lot of weight, his face was sallow, and he walked with a limp. But his eyes were bright—the kind of bright light that comes from someone who has emerged from darkness.

"Young Master Sun... Young Master Sun." His eyes immediately reddened when he saw Sun Fan.

"Let's go." Sun Fan patted his shoulder.

Dahai, standing to the side, was somewhat puzzled: "Squad leader, Ding Dian clearly told you to release Di Yun, so why did you go to all this trouble and end up releasing Chu Huai'an instead?"

Sun Fan's lips curled up slightly: "Because some things always need a beginning."

"Only by having one can there be two."