Chapter 479: Favor

Chapter 479: Chapter 479: Favor

In the afternoon, several people came looking for Shen Hao, but Shen Hao made up excuses to avoid them. The only person in the Thousand Households Station who had to see him was Kuang Shengyuan; the others wouldn’t dare barge in if he didn’t want to meet them. Kuang Shengyuan, however, hadn’t come to see him about this matter.

"Sir, Lord Tang came earlier to ask for you. He left after hearing you weren’t in, didn’t leave any message."

"Got it." Shen Hao sat down and picked up the palm fan by his side, fanning himself. He paused, then asked, "Did those people spill anything yet?"

"They talked. They’re soft as mush. The first one hadn’t even started and already spilled everything. The woman was worse, pissed herself the moment she saw the torture instruments. Haha, we’ve finished recording their testimonies and locked them up in the cells.

But sir, that woman’s pretty timid. If she stays locked up any longer, she’ll have problems."

Wang Yiming poured Shen Hao a cup of cold tea and handed it over, all while talking about the few Qin Family members who’d been thrown in the dungeon two days ago.

"Scared till she’s messed up? Since when are you so soft-hearted?" Shen Hao fanned harder, only to find the palm fan wasn’t enough to beat the heat anymore. He set it aside, drank a big gulp of tea, and cast Wang Yiming a sidelong glare, knowing the guy was hinting at something.

"Sir, you’re wise. Someone came to me for help, and I really couldn’t dodge it, so I just put in a good word."

"Used your connections? How much did you get paid?" Shen Hao leaned back in his chair, listening with interest.

Wang Yiming didn’t intend to hide anything, and answered respectfully, "Sir, you’re joking—how could I dare take any benefit? The Qin Family contacted my elders, they were colleagues back in the day, so the favor was hard to refuse. In the end, my family sent a Thousand-Mile Sound to ask me to do them a courtesy."

"But sir, though I was nudging on someone’s behalf, honestly, the woman seems genuinely traumatized."

Is the Xuanqing Guard’s Punishment Room scary? Absolutely! Those torture devices alone would make anyone’s skin crawl. And explaining how each is used—nine out of ten would break out in cold sweat. Not to mention using them on you; that’s not something anyone can handle.

That’s why they say, if a normal person ends up in the Xuanqing Guard’s dungeon, odds are they don’t leave alive. Or, if they do, it’s as a corpse—or mad, not quite a person anymore.

"The testimony?"

"Right here, sir." Wang Yiming handed over a not-so-thick file. "Qin Wenhe has held his post for years, connections everywhere. Now that his own kin’s involved, he’s going all out. According to what I heard, if you don’t let them go today, Qin Wenhe is planning to confront Commander Pang at tomorrow’s Great Court Assembly."

Shen Hao grunted, opened the statement Wang Yiming handed over. Sure enough, there wasn’t anything special in it. According to their accounts, they really had just come out with their elder brother for leisure, only familiar with daily family business, nowhere near knowing any secrets.

He tossed the statement aside, then laughed, "So what are you hoping I’ll do?"

"I wouldn’t dare!" Wang Yiming’s knees weakened at the question. He’d never dare tell his superior what to do. But his elders had told him repeatedly to get the message across, otherwise he wouldn’t meddle this much.

"Speak when told to speak."

"Well... I think the Qin Family isn’t just any noble house. They’re in power now, so it’s better to leave some room if possible." Wang Yiming had learned to be cautious, not saying things too bluntly. It was just advice, after all; whether Shen Hao released them or not, he didn’t care, nor did he dare decide for him.

"You think I should release them?"

"It’s entirely your decision, sir."

"Alright, let them go. Your idea, so you’ll personally fetch them." Shen Hao waved his palm fan, smiling, half teasing or perhaps warning Wang Yiming.

"Thank you, sir!" Wang Yiming didn’t dare take offense, so he took it as a joke, bowed, and went to release the prisoners.

Once Wang Yiming left, Shen Hao picked up the statement he’d tossed aside and reread it. He still felt something was off. But judging by the testimony, this was just the Qin Family’s routine business—he just happened to stumble on it.

"Is it really just a coincidence?"

Despite his doubts, Shen Hao had to admit—everything seemed like coincidence now. That pair he dealt with weren’t coming for him; they just habitually looked down on slaves and acted arrogantly.

Shen Hao quickly put the matter out of his mind. Qin Family’s revenge? Or pressure from inside Xuanqing Guard? He hadn’t even considered it.

From the Qin Family’s attitude these days, it was obvious: they sent people to plead, not to confront him directly. It was clear they didn’t want a direct clash with Shen Hao.

Are they afraid? Maybe, maybe not. At the very least, it showed Shen Hao was no longer just another "Hundred Households Officer" in the eyes of these big shots.

Meanwhile, Wang Yiming, carrying out Shen Hao’s orders, sent a Thousand-Mile Sound back to his elders, saying Shen Hao had agreed to release the prisoners; they could relay the news to the Qin Family. This was a hefty favor, and since Shen Hao had gone with the flow, Wang Yiming gladly accepted it.

Afterward, Wang Yiming went to the Black Banner Battalion’s dungeon to fetch the Qin Family members. Only the man and woman, and two servants who hadn’t taken part; the three who’d gotten physical were left behind—they were already dead.

The man and woman had long lost their arrogant airs—hunched over, arms wrapped tightly, faces pale as paper, shuffling and staring at their toes. They dared not look sideways even for a second.

As soon as they left the premises, they saw someone waiting with a carriage. Wang Yiming recognized him—had dealt with him a few times back in the Imperial City. It was Qin Hanliang, a member of the Qin Family’s main branch.

"Brother!"

"Waaah..."

The pair finally found their pillar in Qin Hanliang, rushed over, and let out all their pent-up grievance, sobbing their hearts out. But this clearly wasn’t the place to talk, so Qin Hanliang ordered the servants to get them on the carriage. He thanked Wang Yiming effusively, then made his farewells and headed straight for the Teleportation Array in Fengri City.

"Xiaoyu, they didn’t do anything too much to you, did they?" Qin Hanliang comforted his sister in the carriage while asking a question he’d always worried about.

"No."

"Good. The family wants you to forget this ever happened when you go back. Act like nothing happened, understand?"

The woman paused, confused. "Why? Brother, how can we just let this go? They..."

Qin Hanliang raised his hand to cut her off, his voice low and stern. "Can’t you use your head? You’re about to enter the Prince Mansion—if this makes the Prince wary of you, then what? If you want revenge, you have to endure for now, right?"