Chapter 528: Setting the Tone

Chapter 528: Chapter 528: Setting the Tone

Jiang Cheng was left a bit stunned by Shen Hao’s words.

"Expose? What do you mean?" ℴ

"Sir, don’t you think Qin Xiuyuan comes across as both fearful and angry in his letter?"

Jiang Cheng picked up that half-letter and read it over again. He had to admit, with Shen Hao’s reminder, he really could spot some anger in the text. Why would he be angry? Considering the context before and after, and what Qin Xiuyuan went through when he wrote the letter, this anger must be closely tied to those experiences.

"I can see some of that. But how are you so sure it’s ’exposing’? If he wanted to expose someone, wouldn’t he write to the Ministry of Justice, or to us? What’s the point in writing to his own family to expose anything?"

"Sir, if he’s exposing outsiders, of course he’d write to us. But if he’s exposing his own, then naturally he’d write to the Patriarch of his family."

"Exposing his own? Are you saying Qin Xiuyuan thinks he ended up a fugitive because his own family betrayed him?"

"It’s not impossible. If there really is someone like that, then the emotions expressed in this letter make perfect sense."

Jiang Cheng didn’t ask Shen Hao what evidence he had for this suspicion, because what mattered was whether they could obtain the rest of the letter; that was the real key. Now, he needed to consider how to reply to Prince Shou.

Of course, speculations about the letter could serve as an aid in making decisions.

"Leave the letter with me, and head back for now. As for the case, just investigate as you normally would, don’t let Prince Shou’s actions sway you. If anything changes, I’ll inform you."

"Understood, Sir. I will take my leave now."

After Shen Hao left, Jiang Cheng had no intention of resting. He sat in the study and read that half-letter two more times, and the more he read, the more he felt Shen Hao’s assessment was spot on. Indeed, the letter’s tone really felt like the opening lines of "feeling aggrieved, wanting to expose the scum in the clan to the Patriarch."

Jiang Cheng knew there were things Shen Hao had kept to himself. He didn’t push him, and he understood that even in front of his own teacher, Shen Hao had reservations. Human nature—people don’t bare their souls even to their parents, let alone teachers. But it didn’t affect Jiang Cheng’s appreciation for Shen Hao.

A young man who knows how to keep just the right distance.

If Qin Xiuyuan’s letter really was meant to expose someone in the Qin Family, what would happen? Prince Shou valued this letter so highly and used it as a bargaining chip—what direction could things take?

Honestly, Jiang Cheng wasn’t sure, but at least he was certain the Civil Servants would hate the Xuanqing Guard for this debacle, would wish to tear them apart.

He deliberated back and forth, and in the end decided not to rush off to report to Pang Ban in the middle of the night. Though urgent, it wasn’t a matter of utmost urgency, and it was indeed late; Jiang Cheng decided to wait and report as an Upper Emissary at dawn.

Still, the anxiety kept Jiang Cheng awake all night. Early next morning, he went straight to the Commander’s Office and waited. As soon as Pang Ban arrived, he was called in.

"You’re here first thing in the morning. What’s so urgent?"

"Sir, Shen Hao met with Prince Shou yesterday. They discussed something serious. I didn’t dare make a decision on my own, so I wanted you to oversee it." As Jiang Cheng spoke, he placed the letter Shen Hao had brought onto Pang Ban’s desk.

At the same time, Jiang Cheng explained, "Prince Shou presented this while speaking with Shen Hao. He wants to use the contents of the latter half of the letter as a pretext to forge a ’good relationship’ with us of the Xuanqing Guard."

"Good relationship? Heh. Princes are all taught imperial skills, believe in themselves, when did they start trusting fate? A good relationship? Interesting." Pang Ban dared joke about the Prince so bluntly, while Jiang Cheng could only smile awkwardly, not daring to chime in.

There were only a few hundred characters, finished quickly. After reading, Pang Ban’s smile never faded, and he asked, "Did Prince Shou say anything else?"

"Prince Shou’s intention is that this letter would let the Xuanqing Guard seize the initiative in this case, and could utterly crush the arrogance of the Civil Servant Group. But he requests that, in describing the case externally, we write him in as the ’Assistant’."

"Assistant? So he wants to shake off his own burdens, then turn around and retaliate against those civil servants?"

"Yes, Sir. How should we reply?"

Pang Ban didn’t hesitate, tapping the letter on the table and smiling, "Why refuse a knife when it’s handed to you?"

"But if we take this knife, won’t that disrupt things with the Civil Servants—plus our relationship with Prince Shou?" Jiang Cheng had his own concerns. Once Pang Ban decided, Jiang Cheng needed to say everything—if something went wrong and someone higher up pinned it on him, the blame would be undeserved.

"Relationship disrupted?" Pang Ban shook his head: "When have the Xuanqing Guard and the Civil Servants ever had a good relationship? Just look at this case—the Civil Servants are just using it as a pretext to weaken Your Majesty’s influence at court. They make the first move; why can’t we make the fifteenth?"

It’s just wielding a knife—what’s there to fear?

Besides. Prince Shou thinks he can just use this single knife to tie himself to us? He’s too naive. Who knows if this is truly his intention, or just a smokescreen? Your Majesty crushed Yang Yansi and seized control of the Ministry of War without real evidence—who would dare reason with someone so resolute? He is the law. Prince Shou’s troubles aren’t something he can cover up with a few tricks.

But that’s none of our Xuanqing Guard’s concern. If he wants to put on a show, we’ll play along. Let’s see who he can actually fool."

To Pang Ban, Prince Shou’s actions were laughable. Relationships between factions, great powers—none of this is child’s play. Trying to cover your nose and fool your eyes—that’s for children. Useless. Or perhaps Prince Shou merely wants to preserve his own reputation? For the sake of appearances?

That last guess struck Pang Ban as most likely.

Pang Ban went on: "Since it’s Shen Hao who made contact with Prince Shou, let him continue. No need for any shady dealings—since he wants a ’good relationship,’ let’s do it openly. I want to see if Prince Shou has the courage to approach the fire that is the Xuanqing Guard.

And tell Shen Hao: once he gets the goods, I don’t care about whatever ’dirt’ is on them. I have only one demand—the entire Qin Family, not one left alive. Wipe them out. The dossier can have blemishes; I don’t care, as long as everyone’s dead. Not just anyone can throw mud on the Xuanqing Guard. A mere Vice Minister takes himself too seriously."

When Pang Ban spoke of these matters, his tone grew icy cold, and his expression revealed murderous intent.

A mere Vice Minister? Perhaps only in Pang Ban’s eyes could he be so worthless.

Jiang Cheng cupped his hands and accepted the order; this was pretty much what he’d anticipated. The Qin Family was doomed unless Your Majesty personally intervened—otherwise, no one could save them. He trusted his disciple; when it came to handling cases, he was an expert, no matter which side he worked for. There was no way the Qin Family would escape.

The only mildly surprising part was Pang Ban’s attitude toward Prince Shou—he really seemed not to care one bit.