Chapter 530: Clarity

Chapter 530: Chapter 530: Clarity

These thoughts had been swirling in Shen Hao’s mind for a long time. Ever since he happened to encounter the Qin family members at Lin Xin’Er’s shop and got into a conflict, he had felt something was off.

Lin Xin’Er, him, and the Qin family—they basically had no direct connection, so the fact that they collided so awkwardly was already strange in itself.

But at the time, it was just a vague sense of unease—he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was wrong.

Now, after reading this complete letter written by Qin Xiuyuan to Qin Wenhe, he finally understood the cause. Of course, it still wasn’t concrete evidence, but Shen Hao judged that it was highly likely to be real, and he would follow up with the investigation.

According to Qin Xiuyuan’s recollection, the Qin family’s business got involved with Fengri City because Qin Yurou brought it up—she said there was a very good clothing shop there, and since the Qin family’s fabric shop was planning to venture into clothing, it made sense to try for cooperation.

Then Qin Yurou suggested that since Qin Xiangyu’s wedding was approaching, she could travel too to relax and see the sights elsewhere. The family had always recognized Qin Yurou’s insight and trusted her, so they followed her instructions and sent people to Fengri City.

There was indeed some element of coincidence, but there were also traces of suspicious, deliberate manipulation. Qin Xiuyuan originally hadn’t suspected his own family, but after coming to his senses, it was already too late. The look in his eldest sister’s eyes—when she learned he had made a huge blunder in a key affair—was like she wanted to devour him alive, chilling him to the bone. On further reflection, something felt off.

And it wasn’t just the beginning; every step of the subsequent schemes was all orchestrated by Qin Yurou. Qin Xiuyuan even said, "I originally just wanted revenge and to teach that Shen from Fengri City’s Xuanqing Guard a lesson, but under my eldest sister’s plan, things completely changed."

If Shen Hao put himself in Qin Xiuyuan’s shoes, he could relate to how complicated Qin Xiuyuan’s feelings must have been.

On one hand, Qin Xiuyuan himself was largely responsible for his own predicament. If he hadn’t been too soft-hearted and let those troublemakers—the ones who spread the initial news—escape, he wouldn’t have ended up like this. On the other hand, he really was set up.

Maybe it was out of fear, or maybe anger, Qin Xiuyuan was coaxed by a strategist in Prince Shou’s Mansion to "send a letter home, report your safety, and clarify some instructions. Because who knows when you’ll see your family again once you leave."

Under that strategist’s coaxing, Qin Xiuyuan wrote this letter. He didn’t really have anything to instruct, but the suspicions in his heart couldn’t be buried, so he needed to warn the patriarch to beware of the family turning up a treacherous wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Yes, Qin Yurou was the daughter of the Qin Family’s patriarch, Qin Wenhe, but so what? The family’s main branch wasn’t centered on Qin Yurou, and the Qin family itself wasn’t built by the main household alone. As patriarch, Qin Wenhe’s position and authority in the family were extremely high. At least Qin Xiuyuan believed his uncle would make a just decision for the sake of the family, rather than favor his own daughter.

This was the main content of the letter.

Does it count as concrete evidence? No.

Can it be used to take down the Qin family? Yes.

In someone else’s hands, this is merely some "information"—useful to guide investigations and reconstruct motives. For example, after this letter emerged, Qin Yurou could be listed as a major suspect in Qin Xiuyuan’s death.

But in the hands of the Xuanqing Guard, it’s totally different. It isn’t direct evidence, but it is enough for them to "detain and interrogate"—serving as a "pretext." It’s rough and senseless, but that’s exactly how the Guard operates. This is also why the Xuanqing Guard has been criticized by local government offices and the like.

"What’s your plan? Detain the suspect now or wait a bit?" Jiang Cheng was relaxed now—the higher-ups had set the tone, so he just needed to make sure Shen Hao doesn’t screw up.

"I plan to wait a bit longer. This letter isn’t ready to be revealed yet."

"Oh? So you’ve got some leads?"

Shen Hao nodded, not hiding anything: "Before coming here, I was already suspecting the Qin family members were killing each other—mainly Qin Yurou. I’ve dealt with her and know how ruthless she is, so I’ve been investigating along these lines. I’ve actually found some things. Once I get solid evidence, I’ll detain her, and that’ll be a good chance to slap the Ministry of Justice in the face."

"Hahaha... You’ve suffered losses in the Major Case Department’s hands?" Jiang Cheng knew his disciple’s temperament—he’s not one to let things go easily, and he remembers every slight.

"You’re perceptive, Lord. The Major Case Department guys really treat people like dirt; they left me hanging for a whole day. I wasn’t angry, but I think this grudge should be repaid, right? Otherwise, wouldn’t they see the Xuanqing Guard as an easy target?" Shen Hao replied with a smile to Jiang Cheng’s teasing—it was genuinely how he felt.

"You know, you’re quite a bit like Lord Commander."

"Huh? Lord, what do you mean?" Shen Hao thought he must have misheard. He and Pang Ban—alike? In what way? Both funny?

"You dislike the Ministry of Justice, so you want to get back at them. That mentality is quite similar to Lord Pang." Jiang Cheng paused, then continued, "Lord Pang told me to deliver a message to you: whatever’s in this letter that Prince Shou brought back, not a single one in the Qin family is to be spared. Kill them all. A flaw in the case file is fine—but the people must be wiped out, no exceptions."

See? Aren’t you two really alike?"

Shen Hao didn’t know how to respond. He understood Jiang Cheng’s point: he and Pang Ban both liked to repay every grudge. But Shen Hao couldn’t tell if Jiang Cheng saw that as a compliment or a criticism. He just warned himself inwardly not to express his true thoughts so openly again—these ambiguous issues are exhausting.

"You go about the case your own way; I trust your ability with the process. But you must guarantee the result is flawless. And what I said wasn’t a joke—Pang Ban seriously tasked me to deliver his instructions. No one in the Qin family is to be spared—not even a dog or a chicken."

"Understood, Lord. I won’t let you down."

"Let’s hope so. This is the perfect chance to settle the accounts the Qin family owes us. The extra deaths are just interest. All right, hurry up and get on with it. This time you can pull people from Fengri City or the Jingxi Town Governor’s Office—the issue of lead jurisdiction is no longer critical."

Shen Hao responded and then took his leave.

Back at the barracks, just as Jiang Cheng said, Shen Hao no longer bothered with "assisting the investigation" restrictions. He issued an order and sent it to Fengri City—a soldier from the Black Banner Battalion, under the Little Banner Battalion, arrived at the Imperial City that afternoon, lodging near the barracks where Shen Hao stayed.

The investigation finally entered proper track.