Chapter 500: Countermeasures

Chapter 500: Chapter 500: Countermeasures

Wang Jian had not expected things to escalate so quickly. The agents he had stationed in the Imperial City rushed back with the latest news, saying someone had stopped the Minister of Justice, Ma Xuanlin’s carriage to file a complaint, accusing Xuanqing Guard’s Deputy Thousand Households, Shen Hao from Fengri City, of wantonly slaughtering innocents.

And Ma Xuanlin really did dismiss his guards on the street, carefully questioned some details from the petitioner, and then led his people straight back to the Ministry of Justice—seemingly preparing to open a formal case.

Because this happened in the street, gossip spread extremely fast. Coupled with the Xuanqing Guard’s longstanding unsavory reputation—often associated with "vicious" and "ruthless"—most people took pleasure in the Guard’s misfortune, even gloating at their predicament.

Wang Jian specialized in intelligence work and understood the huge crisis hiding within this affair. He immediately ordered his "Four Divisions" to move at full speed, and had all his operatives in the Imperial City mobilized as well—determined to uncover even the tiniest clue.

Without waiting for the Four Divisions’ analysis, Wang Jian took the news and went straight to Shen Hao, who was still having breakfast at home.

Wang Jian rushed in so frantically that Shen Hao knew something was wrong at first glance. He waved Xia Nu and the others out, then signaled Wang Jian to get to the point.

"Sir, there’s been a development!"

"Speak to the point." Shen Hao glared at Wang Jian, hands not stopping, picking up another flatbread and continuing breakfast.

"The families of those three Black Shirts who died in the dungeon have just stopped Minister of Justice, Ma Xuanlin’s carriage on Junhou Street, to accuse—accuse Fengri City Xuanqing Guard of wanton killing of innocents. Ma Xuanlin already took those people’s petition in public."

Upon hearing this, Shen Hao’s hand paused with the flatbread. Then, without a word, he finished the meat pastry with soy milk, and said, "We’ll discuss at the Garrison," before getting up and heading out.

Arriving earlier than usual, he found Doorman Liu still boiling water at the Garrison and instructed him not to let anyone in.

Wang Jian stood uneasily, not daring to sit. Shen Hao sat down, rubbed his brow, and after a moment asked, "Where are the people?"

"The petitioners have all been taken back to the Ministry of Justice by Ma Xuanlin and are being protected there."

"I mean, the people spreading the rumors—haven’t you found them?" Shen Hao’s tone was frosty. Those familiar with him knew that in such moments he was agitated and best not provoked. ℯℯ𝘭.

"We’ve got some leads. Those people are some non-tiered riffraff in the Imperial City, probably paid to spread the word—not professionals. But they’ve all left the city, scattered in all directions. The Impermanence Department is hurrying to track them in secret. The earliest we could get word back is this afternoon."

Shen Hao sneered, "A bunch of filth dare throw mud at me? Heh, interesting. Tell Zhang Liao to hurry—I want everyone involved in spreading the first batch of news caught by the end of the day. No mistakes!"

Wang Jian was shocked and quickly agreed, taking out a Thousand-Mile Sound right in front of Shen Hao to transmit the order to Zhang Liao.

"No mistakes"—it was extremely rare for Wang Jian to hear those words from his master. He knew that failure here was very likely to mean losing his head.

And that wasn’t all. Shen Hao continued, "Spread the previous testimonies of those two Qin Family siblings and their servants—discreetly. Use the same method Qin Family used before, and make sure the good folk of the Imperial City get plenty to gossip about."

"Understood, sir."

Their testimonies contained no Qin Family secrets, but many private matters; once publicized, though not criminal, they would definitely disgrace the Qin Family and make the people reassess this household of nobles.

You want to confuse the people’s tongues and truths? Who can’t play that game? Xuanqing Guard’s reputation is rotten enough as it is—what’s a little more stench? But your Qin Family, holding itself up as the model of literary nobility, will have no standing left once that stench gets out.

"Also, keep a close watch on the Qin Mansion—especially Qin Yurou. Shadow her wherever she goes." Things were no longer simple. Based on the enmity between Qin Family and him, only Qin Yurou, the woman who hated him to her core, could have put so much effort into this setup. Having dealt with her, Shen Hao believed she was capable of laying out such a ploy.

Of course, this was only Shen Hao’s personal judgment. He wasn’t yet sure what the other side was really planning—he needed to think more and see how things played out.

"Very well, sir, any other orders?"

Shen Hao shook his head and waved him off. Right now, besides harassing the opponent, the critical thing was to capture those first-batch rumor-mongers; with them in hand, he’d have leverage—otherwise, the situation would be passive.

How laughable, to set up such a huge trap and yet leave so glaring a flaw—Shen Hao didn’t know what to say. If this truly involved Qin Yurou, perhaps she’s still a bit too softhearted. When she meets her end, she can’t call it injustice.

As for the rest, Shen Hao knew better not to stir things any further.

The Xuanqing Guard had always operated like this. If Shen Hao were to summarize it, it’d be: overbearing, savage, bloody, sinister... Hard to think of anything positive. If any, perhaps only "loyal hound," wagging for the Emperor. No wonder the scholars held the Guard in such contempt.

Given all that, had no one ever filed suit against the Xuanqing Guard?

Of course they had—such things never ceased. But though petitions were filed, few dared accept them, and even then, nothing ever came of it. The Xuanqing Guard’s way fundamentally differed from law: the law says all are equal; Xuanqing Guard operates solely by imperial decree.

With such a fundamental difference, how could the Emperor judge?

Why must it be the Emperor? Because across the realm, only the Emperor has the right to mete justice to the Xuanqing Guard. No one else has the authority.

Still, just knowing this didn’t mean Shen Hao wasn’t worried. Clearly, the enemy’s real moves hadn’t even begun. Worse yet, Ma Xuanlin’s acceptance of the petition signaled the Civil Servant Group was making a play. This probably meant more than just himself was being targeted—it could be designed to implicate the whole Xuanqing Guard.

There was also the Fifth Prince—this Prince who had a grudge with Shen Hao. Would he join in this time, to trample him together?

All of this remained to be seen.

At the same time as Shen Hao’s countermeasures, the event of someone blocking Ma Xuanlin’s carriage to file a complaint quickly replaced the recent Minister of Revenue, Bai Changqing’s grand wedding as the latest gossip in the Imperial City, spreading in all directions at lightning speed.

The common people watched for amusement, outsiders sought the inside story, and insiders readied themselves for a vicious fight. There were even those who fondled the daggers in their coats with a smile, wondering if they could slip in for a taste of profit...

PS: Chapter 500. Thank you all for accompanying Shen Hao thus far! Bow and salute!