Xuanqing Guard

Is Ma San Kui the focus of the case? Yes, but he’s not the goal.

Zhou Qing is also a key breakthrough target in the case, but breaking through Zhou Qing likewise isn’t the ultimate purpose of this case.

Even Vice Minister of the Ministry of War Xu Hong, whom we now have "live testimony" to identify, isn’t the ultimate aim of the Ma San Case.

Because, by Shen Hao’s deductions and speculation, Xu Hong doesn’t have the capability to control such a long-spanning plot. Combined with the missing details from Zhou Qing’s confession, it clearly corroborates Shen Hao’s earlier reasoning and deductions.

Xu Hong is not the ultimate mastermind; there’s someone behind him.

Yang Yansi—aside from this National Pillar General, Shen Hao truly can’t think of anyone else who could make an influential figure like Xu Hong work to the bone for him.

To be honest, Shen Hao deeply admires this National Pillar General whom he’s never met. All that he knows comes from the historical records in the Xuanqing Guard Library, and from military histories he’s only recently begun to study. What’s written in both about Yang Yansi reads like an outright legend.

Shen Hao even thinks that perhaps, if the Jingjiu Dynasty still lasts for centuries, children might forget who the emperors were, but they’ll definitely remember this National Pillar General.

However, due to past experience, Shen Hao isn’t too confident about capturing this foremost figure of the military. The "seventy to eighty percent certainty" he gave Pang Ban now seems like boasting; whether he can deliver is very much in question. Zhou Qing and the others were merely obstacles set up by the other side, intended to block possible investigations, and they indeed proved effective. If Shen Hao hadn’t taken a circuitous route and been rather lucky, he really could have been stopped there.

To call it a chasm is accurate, but "firebreak" might be even more apt.

Now, even though Shen Hao hasn’t personally dealt with Xu Hong yet, he can already conclude that Xu Hong is definitely another such "firebreak," and he doesn’t know if luck will favor him once more.

It wasn’t until Chou Chu (around 1 a.m.) that Zhou Qing’s statement was finally recorded. Chen Tianwen wrote over ten pages; in the end, Zhou Qing pressed his fingerprint and Shen Hao sealed it with his signature.

"I’ll arrange for your younger son right away. Before your execution, I’ll make arrangements for you two to meet."

"Forget it. No need; better to avoid trouble. The boy’s stubborn; if he harbors any resentful qi and you people pick up on it, he won’t live long. Better let him go on with his days peacefully. As his father, this is the last thing I can do for him," Zhou Qing shook his head, refusing Shen Hao’s offer. Now that things had come to this, there wasn’t any point in meeting; why bother?

"Oh? You don’t want your son to avenge you?"

"What have I got to avenge? You’re just doing your duty. I fell into your hands—hardly a grudge. Besides, if I can’t best you, he can’t either. Isn’t living a good thing?"

Shen Hao nodded—that was someone who understood the situation. He ordered the guard to bring Zhou Qing up; he was preparing to escort Zhou Qing back to Fengri City overnight.

Since Zhou Qing had confessed, it was no longer appropriate or proper to keep him detained in Beach Stone—even unsafe. And Zhou Qing’s injuries still needed proper treatment, which Beach Stone couldn’t provide as conveniently as Fengri City.

"Old Chen, you stay here and make sure to tie up all loose ends. Don’t go easy on those blustering types—take this chance during the rectification to deal with them."

"Yes, my lord. I know what to do."

"Good. Also, take extra care with your safety."

At mid-1 a.m., Shen Hao stepped out of the teleportation array in Fengri City. Of the more than ten guards traveling with him, three suddenly disappeared. Shen Hao noticed, but said nothing. The missing three were the bodyguards assigned by the Commander’s Office to his side. They’d posed as Shen Hao’s guards in disguise before, but after returning to Fengri City, they’d gone into hiding again. Most likely, those three would shadow Shen Hao even more closely now.

Zhou Qing was delivered to the Black Banner Battalion’s dungeon, right next door to Ma San Kui. These days, the Black Banner Battalion’s dungeon was the most heavily guarded place in the Xuanqing Guard Thousand Households Station, with a full Little Banner Battalion’s worth of posted troops, plus two Golden Sword Cultivators posing as ordinary soldiers.

So it was much safer here than at Beach Stone.

Moreover, the people in the dungeon had already talked—now just awaiting death. There was no longer any need for torture.

That night, Shen Hao summoned Wang Jian and gave him new orders: "Seal the Xinliang City Zhou Family list—except for that Zhou Ye kid; remove him. Next, take two-tenths of the Zhou Family’s assets, run them through several layers of laundering, and funnel them to Zhou Ye. Also, have someone destroy his cultivation foundation, but don’t harm his body—just use drugs. Get it done right away."

"Huh? Oh! Yes, my lord. Are we searching and confiscating the Zhou Family’s property?"

"Yes. A thorough search. But we’ll need the official warrant. At the latest, it’ll arrive by noon, right? Go prepare."

"Understood, my lord."

"Alright, get to it. Everyone’s been working hard lately—when this case concludes, reward your subordinates with a benefit. A little encouragement."

"Heh heh, on their behalf, I thank you for your generosity, my lord."

Once Wang Jian received the order, he hurried off to fulfill his tasks. Shen Hao settled into a chair in the Public Office, sipping his hot tea in small gulps, but his mind was anything but idle. There was no time to write up the report, but he had to draft it in his head; soon, he’d have to report this breakthrough directly to the Imperial City.

When the tea was finished, Shen Hao "rested his eyes" in the chair until 3 a.m. There was no time to delay further, so he rose, called his guards—including the three bodyguards who’d reappeared masquerading as guards—and led the group through the teleportation array to the Imperial City.

As it was not yet dawn, the security at the Imperial City’s teleportation array was intense. Even with special clearance, there were rigorous checks, especially since Shen Hao’s party was sizable; the scrutiny was even stricter.

Leaving the teleportation array, the local governmental officials of the Imperial City followed at a distance after being notified, seemingly to keep track of Shen Hao’s group. The guards inquired, and were told this was to ensure the capital’s order, and that Shen Hao’s actions would not be interfered with.

"Don’t mind them. If they want to follow, let them."

Shen Hao led his people straight to Jiang Cheng’s residence in the Imperial City, knocked in person, and after entering waited in the main hall. The other guards waited outside Jiang Cheng’s residence.

Shen Hao was somewhat surprised to see Jiang Cheng—not only was he fully dressed, but he wore a Xuanqing Guard uniform, complete with waist token.

"Your subordinate pays his respects, my lord!" Shen Hao stood to salute.

"Hm. Let’s go, we’ll go knock on Lord Pang’s door next." Jiang Cheng waved off Shen Hao’s courtesy, turning to head for the door.

"Ah?"

"What do you mean ’Ah’? Isn’t this an urgent case report? Lord Pang’s people came seeking updates even during the night. We’ll go together—save time." Seeing Shen Hao’s reluctance, Jiang Cheng added with a smile, "Relax, Lord Pang won’t mind. Let’s go."