Chapter 514: Making Things Difficult

Chapter 514: Chapter 514: Making Things Difficult

This was Shen Hao’s first time at the Ministry of Justice. Just the scale and façade of the Ministry’s Government Office were already far grander than that of the Xuanqing Guard. Not to mention the Governor’s Office—even Pang Ban’s Commander’s Office couldn’t hold a candle to the Ministry’s extravagance.

Even a single constable here carried a formidable air; when he saw Shen Hao in his Xuanqing Guard black robe, he showed no sign of intimidation. He meticulously inspected Shen Hao’s waist token, then led Shen Hao to the teahouse at the side entrance to wait.

He waited there for a full hour, almost until the lunch break.

But the one who arrived wasn’t Xue Gui inviting him in, but rather a servant, asking if Shen Hao needed a meal. The Ministry’s rule was that if one had to wait in the teahouse during mealtime, they’d provide a meal. The implication: Will you keep waiting? If so, have food now—because you’ll likely keep waiting in the afternoon as well.

"Never tried the Ministry’s fare before, let’s have a taste."

A flicker of surprise flashed in the servant’s eyes, but he bowed in response, then Shen Hao continued to wait. After roughly the time it took for a stick of incense to burn, the food finally arrived, already somewhat cold, merely lukewarm.

If scrambled eggs counted as a meat dish, then this was a meat, a vegetable, and a soup—looked all right, but for Shen Hao, the portions were far too meager. Still, he didn’t ask for more; just enough to pad his stomach. If one wanted something good to eat, that was clearly impossible here.

After eating and having the table cleared, it wasn’t until mid-3:00 p.m. that someone finally arrived to inform Shen Hao that Lord Xue would see him.

"Very well, let’s go." Shen Hao replied with a placid smile, still keeping his composure. So they wanted to make him wait—that kind of trick was a bit petty. Thinking about what he himself was planning to do to the other side, he truly didn’t feel annoyed at all.

Following the governmental official out of the teahouse, they passed through the bustling Public Office area, finally stopping outside a relatively secluded door.

"My lord, Lord Shen of the Xuanqing Guard has arrived." The official raised his voice slightly, announcing through the door.

"Come in."

The official pushed open the door and let Shen Hao enter, then, after closing the door, stood waiting outside.

Just as yesterday, Xue Gui looked the same as before: the same clothes, the same mask, exuding an icy, unapproachable demeanor.

"Lord Shen, make yourself comfortable. I’ll be done with these in a moment." Xue Gui didn’t even look up, merely pointed at a chair beside him, ignoring Shen Hao thereafter.

Shen Hao replied with an ’alright,’ found a chair, and sat down, smiling as he observed Xue Gui in front of him.

Whether this person was giving him a show of strength, or just making things difficult because he didn’t like the Xuanqing Guard, Shen Hao didn’t mind. He had his own plans. What piqued his curiosity was a rather fuzzy fluctuation of mana he sensed from Xue Gui. It wasn’t the kind of "blurring" one could attribute to a vast difference in cultivation—it felt more as if there was some membrane in between, hazy and indistinct. That meant either Xue Gui was using some special magic to deliberately conceal it, or he had some magical artifact on him that could blur his aura.

Could it be the mask on his face?

And Shen Hao also wondered what Xue Gui looked like beneath the mask—how hideous did he have to be to cover his face? Could he possibly be uglier than Flying Dragon?

Apparently having decided to keep Shen Hao dangling, Xue Gui kept on "intensely writing at his desk" for yet another hour, until finally the gatekeeper knocked on the door to remind him it was already time for Lower Emissary duty.

"My apologies, I was so absorbed in work that I forgot Lord Shen was still here. Please forgive me."

"It’s nothing. I’ve long been aware of Hawkeye’s style, all perfectly normal, just as I expected. But seeing as it’s time for Lower Emissary, are you leaving, Lord Xue?"

"There are still case matters I need to attend to; who knows how late I’ll be working tonight. Lord Shen, aren’t you heading back to rest?"

Shen Hao noticed that, while this man seemed cold, his words were edged and sharp, almost vicious. ’Aren’t you heading back to rest?’—such shamelessness reminded Shen Hao once again of the long-unseen Flying Dragon.

"I’m here under orders from the Jingxi Town Governor’s Office to participate in the Qin Xiuyuan case. I’d like to see the initial file you handed up to the Ministry superiors, Lord Xue. I need it now—original or stamped copy, either is fine. If that’s inconvenient, I can follow you and wait until you’re free."

Xue Gui’s voice was hoarse, unpleasant, but with a hint of a chuckle: "Lord Shen, you know how urgent the case is. Once the files are handed up, there’s no chance to see them again."

"Oh? Doesn’t the Ministry keep copies in such cases? No matter. Could I trouble Lord Xue to sign a ’Statement of File Unavailability,’ then? That way, when my own superiors ask, I can explain clearly—it’s not that I failed to borrow it, but that the Ministry itself doesn’t even have one. Lord Xue?"

Shen Hao wasn’t joking—he pulled out a pre-prepared "statement" for Xue Gui to sign. This was something he’d written out of boredom while waiting in the teahouse earlier.

Would Xue Gui dare to sign this? If he did, it’d be an open admission that he was deliberately keeping the Xuanqing Guard from the case—a blame not easily shaken off.

"Lord Shen, you came prepared, I see?"

"Naturally. Otherwise wouldn’t I return empty-handed and make myself a laughingstock? Come, come, Lord Xue—since you’re busy, let’s resolve this little matter. We’ll both have one less thing on our plate."

Xue Gui: "...I suddenly recall there might be a stamped copy. Lord Shen, please wait a moment."

"Oh? Then that’s splendid."

Xue Gui turned back to his desk, retrieved a stamped copy of the file from a drawer, and handed it to Shen Hao.

"Since this is a rubbing, may I take it with me?"

"Of course, Lord Shen, feel free."

Shen Hao tucked away the file without hesitation, bowed, and headed for the door—leaving behind Xue Gui with eyes full of unconcealed menace. He’d never expected this Deputy Thousand Households of the Xuanqing Guard to be so troublesome.

Xue Gui had spent nearly the whole day trying to wear down the other’s patience, but Shen Hao kept smiling the whole time, which irked him immensely; he was convinced this man harbored ill intentions. And at the end, he’d pulled out a damned statement to force the issue—such a thing Xue Gui had never even heard of before.

Still, this at least proved one thing: this Xuanqing Guard "Evil Star" was no simple figure, absolutely no pushover. Moreover, from his bearing, it was obvious he wasn’t just here to pad his resume—he certainly had ulterior motives.

Fortunately, for now, the situation was still under control. Xue Gui already had a conclusion on the case, but he hadn’t written it into the rubbing he just handed over—he’d held something back. He’d only officially notify the "assisting" Xuanqing Guard if new developments happened through the Ministry’s own channels.

"So you want to seize the lead in this investigation? Heh—let’s see you try," Xue Gui sneered inwardly.

...

File in hand, Shen Hao finally left the Ministry of Justice after an entire day; outside, Wang Yiming was already fretting. He’d wanted to ask upon seeing Shen Hao come out, but was silenced by a glance.

"Let’s go, return to the barracks, gather everyone—I have something to say."

"Yes, my lord!"

Once in the carriage, Shen Hao took out the stamped file and flipped straight to the last page; seeing "Compiled by Xue Gui" at the end brought a bright smile to his face. Just as he’d expected, with such a major case, Xue Gui would never let anyone else draft the initial report.