Calculating the time, this expedition with the army has already lasted more than half a year. Upon his return, Shen Hao originally intended to go home first, but as soon as he arrived at Zhuo Huo Pass, he received an Order from the Commander’s Office instructing him to proceed at once to the Imperial City, so from Zhuo Huo Pass he boarded the Teleportation Array and traveled straight to the Imperial City without returning to Fengri City.
Even though it was already approaching dusk, Shen Hao was summoned immediately to the Commander’s Office, where Pang Ban and Jiang Cheng, seemingly waiting for him, were present.
"Your subordinate greets Lord Commander and Lord Governor!"
After a long separation, Pang Ban and Jiang Cheng both had the feeling that "three days apart, one must look at a man with new eyes." The main change was the shock from Shen Hao’s Cultivation. Second to that, the Evil Qi emanating from Shen Hao seemed even heavier.
Although it was already known that Shen Hao had stepped into the Primordial Pill Realm First Layer, knowing was one thing, but seeing it with one’s own eyes was quite another.
Unreal!
One could only marvel that a true genius always brings miraculous experiences. Meanwhile, one also wondered whether now that Shen Hao had entered the Primordial Pill Realm, his progress in Cultivation would slow down, or if he would continue to advance at his previous pace?
But these musings did not last long, for there were more pressing matters to be made clear to Shen Hao at present.
"No need for formalities, let us sit and speak." Pang Ban raised his hand, motioning Shen Hao to sit, and signaled Jiang Cheng to hand over a formal case dossier, then continued: "This is the case’s dossier, read through it first."
Due to lack of progress, there actually was not much in the case dossier, and Shen Hao finished reading it quickly.
"Finished? Don’t be in a rush to offer your opinion yet, listen to me first." Pang Ban said seriously, "By transferring you back, it is certain that we have offended Wen Mingju of the Ministry of War and Zuo Yuliang of the Border Army. The goodwill the Xuanqing Guard previously established with them will certainly be affected, even if it does not revert entirely. But even so, I have brought you back, for I value your resourcefulness as well as your good fortune."
Good fortune? Shen Hao understood this was genuine praise, for in this world, luck was considered part of one’s true strength, a belief almost universally accepted.
"This case is primarily handled by the Ministry of Justice Major Case Department. You’ve dealt with them before, so I won’t go over the details. I must remind you: this case was personally ordered to be thoroughly investigated by Your Majesty. You need not ponder the intent, you just need to understand that a result must be produced as quickly as possible.
Five days! I give you only five days—regardless of success or failure, you must give me an explanation."
"Understood!"
Afterwards, Shen Hao left the Commander’s Office with Jiang Cheng. According to Pang Ban’s arrangement, he had to immediately commence the investigation. Returning to Fengri City would have to wait until the case was solved.
Jiang Cheng’s presence at the Commander’s Office was by Pang Ban’s summons, to maintain the lines of subordination with Jiang Cheng as Shen Hao’s direct superior, so as not to make the scene awkward. Jiang Cheng understood this perfectly and did not take it to heart. Ever since Pang Ban had revealed his intentions of grooming Shen Hao, Jiang Cheng had already come to terms with it.
"Sir, what is Lord Pang intending? Why must the case be pursued to the end? If such a case is thoroughly investigated, won’t it drag out immense trouble?" Shen Hao entered Jiang Cheng’s carriage, and only once inside did he voice the question that had troubled him for long. Earlier, Pang Ban had even specifically told him not to ’ponder.’ But facing Jiang Cheng, Shen Hao felt little need to be wary.
Of course, Jiang Cheng found this attitude very gratifying. It felt like, "this is indeed the disciple I know."
Do not think Jiang Cheng is easily fooled. A battle-hardened military veteran, he had managed to climb his way to become Governor of the Xuanqing Guard; his insight and shrewdness were both exceptional. He well understood how fickle and inscrutable the human heart was. Shen Hao, whose Cultivation alone had advanced drastically, and with Pang Ban’s overt and covert favor, could easily have become arrogant. But as things stood, Jiang Cheng was very pleased; at least before him, his disciple had not become conceited, but remained as before.
Being forthright in speech was a sign of closeness. Shen Hao was well aware of this, and indeed treated Jiang Cheng as no outsider, so asking sensitive questions did not bother him at all.
"His Majesty is increasing the difficulty of the ’Major Examination.’ Does this make things clear to you?"
Shen Hao was startled and exclaimed, "Raising the difficulty of the ’Major Examination’?! But what if the investigation reveals that Prince Qian’s death is connected to some other Prince—what then?"
Jiang Cheng laughed and said, "What else? Since we’ve been ordered to investigate thoroughly, of course the real culprit must be brought to justice. In law, a murderer must pay with his life, whether commoner or prince—the law makes no distinction."
"No distinction? You mean that even if we uncover the truth, we will inevitably get the Prince’s blood on our hands? Wouldn’t that spell endless future disaster?" Shen Hao was no fool; he immediately realized the immense risk that could not be avoided in this affair.
In the end, the Royal Family’s ’Major Examination’ was a matter internal to the Yang Family; among common wealthy families, it was no different from brothers fighting for family property. The methods might be more bloody and ruthless, but their essence was the same.
So, whoever ascended the throne afterward would find it hard to forget the memory of this ’Major Examination.’ When kinsmen fought among themselves, matters could be settled, but if the ’blow’ from an outsider was involved, and that outsider’s hand had been stained with the blood of one’s own brother, would there not, on some future whim, arise a thought of avenging their kin and sending that outsider to the grave as well?
Never assume an Emperor would not commit such outrageous acts; what would they not dare to do? Shen Hao had read enough histories from both worlds to understand that, if anything, the Royal Family usually set the very lowest bar for humanity’s bottom line. He feared that if he got the Royal blood on his hands, then as soon as the new Emperor was enthroned, his own head would be next on the block.
Jiang Cheng, upon hearing this, naturally knew what Shen Hao feared; in truth, he too had shared such concerns before. But after Pang Ban’s reminder, he realized all had been arranged by the Emperor long ago. At the same time, he was profoundly glad that the Xuanqing Guard had always stood firmly on the Emperor’s side.
"No need to worry. Did you not examine the stamped copy of the case file just now? Did you not notice that its formatting was different from the ones used in our Xuanqing Guard?"
"Formatting? Yes, it didn’t follow our Xuanqing Guard’s filing habits; the watermark of the binding and paper was different, and the final seal was of the Ministry of Justice Major Case Department." As Shen Hao spoke, his eyes grew brighter—he thought he understood.
Sure enough, Jiang Cheng continued, "Heh, as you noted, it’s a Ministry of Justice dossier. I told you before the case is primarily theirs, we’re just assisting. So even if a Prince is implicated by the end, it’s the Ministry of Justice that takes action—what does that have to do with the Xuanqing Guard?"
Indeed, the Xuanqing Guard was only assisting in the investigation; should any thorny matters arise, it would be the Ministry of Justice on the front lines. What did it have to do with the Xuanqing Guard?