Xuanqing Guard

Chapter 247: Chapter 247: Housewarming

October 17th, clear skies, Rest Day.

The Rest Day is fixed, occurring on the same day every month. All institutions under the Court, when conditions allow, suspend operations or leave only a few people to handle emergencies; the rest can rest at home.

However, Shen Hao couldn’t calm down even on this Rest Day. Because the Xuanqing Guard hasn’t been peaceful these days—there’s still no clue about what happened over in Tu Kui City. Hundreds of Xuanqing Guards can only wait anxiously outside that massive Restriction; no one dares to go in recklessly.

The second batch of array experts sent from Thousand Households Station, along with the previous three, studied it together for two days, but the results were minimal—they only managed to push forward half a li. The target, "Caiyuan Village", was still over fifteen li away.

One could say the progress was negligible. freёwebnoѵel.com

In addition, Shen Hao had instructed the Small Banner Officer of the Black Banner Battalion, who was left behind in Tu Kui City, to investigate the Local Government Office’s first reports about this case. The findings did come back, but instead of dispelling his suspicions, Shen Hao felt something inexplicably off about it all.

According to the records in the Government Office, the first to report the case was the Village Chief of "Caiyuan Village." At the time, the Village Chief said that several people had crawled out of a fish pond in their village, attacking and killing anyone they saw, and had already killed many people.

The governmental officials asked this Village Chief how many people had been killed, and the Village Chief said a dozen or twenty. Then the officials followed him to check.

Because the Village Chief seemed delirious at the time, as if frightened out of his wits—and how could people possibly emerge from a fish pond?—the Government Office thought the Village Chief had just been scared silly and was talking nonsense, reckoning maybe only one or two people had actually died.

So that first time, they only sent three officials to look into the situation.

After several subsequent groups went and never returned, the people at the Government Office realized that perhaps the Village Chief hadn’t been speaking nonsense, that maybe a dozen people really had died, and that it really was people crawling out of the fish pond committing the murders?

Someone can come out of a fish pond? Impossible, unless it wasn’t a person. And if it wasn’t a person...then what was it?

The worst guess would be Evil, wouldn’t it? So after losing three groups, the Government Office reported it to the Xuanqing Guard as "suspected Evil gatherings," requesting them to take over.

The Hundred Households of Xuanqing Guard in Tu Kui City were very cautious, preferring to be safe rather than sorry, so according to the Government Office’s information, they tentatively designated it: possibly more than a dozen villagers dead, plus twelve missing officials.

Originally, it was thought that sending two General Flag units would be enough, even if there truly were several Evil spirits involved—they should be able to handle it, right?

But after both General Flag units went in, it was like stones dropped into the sea—nothing surfaced at all. This frightened the Hundred Households Officer of Tu Kui City, who then reported to the Thousand Households Station for assistance. ƒгeewёbnovel.com

Shen Hao was very concerned about the progress of this matter, but for now it wasn’t his place as the Black Banner Battalion’s Hundred Households to intervene. Wu Changhe had personally taken over all investigative authority on this case, and the Black Banner Battalion was being deliberately excluded.

He changed into his regular clothes, then asked Xiaoma to prepare some gifts, and took the family carriage to Tang Qingyuan’s new residence.

Tang Qingyuan was originally settled in Li City; last month, when several major families in Fengri City were confiscated, he bought a large mansion at a low price. After renovating and redecorating it, he moved his family in. While Li City was a big city too, in all aspects it was still much inferior to Fengri City.

Arriving at the entrance, the tall courtyard walls and the red-lacquered gate were impressive at first glance.

Previously, Tang Qingyuan had asked Shen Hao if he wanted to buy a courtyard as well. After all, after a string of confiscations, this was the best time to buy cheap; mansions in Fengri City were rare in normal times. But after consideration, Shen Hao didn’t make any move. He was all alone—what would he want a mansion for? And whether he took advantage of the low prices or not didn’t matter to him. Holding a considerable stake in Wuliangye, money was just a number now.

"Lord Shen, you’re here! My master just peeked out and was talking about you!"

At the gate, a middle-aged man dressed like a butler welcomed him cheerfully, walking down the steps to the carriage and swiftly snatching the little stool from Xiaoma’s hand to put down for Shen Hao to step on.

Shen Hao had seen this man before and knew he’d been an old servant in Tang Qingyuan’s family for years.

"Heh, Old Man Wang, you’re looking well. It’s been over a year since we last met, hasn’t it?"

"Yes, yes, Lord Shen has a good memory. Please, my master brewed some tea for you—it’s just the right time to drink it."

"Am I arriving right on time?"

"Yes, yes! Please, this way."

Shen Hao stepped inside with a smile, while Xiaoma followed behind, carrying the gifts.

Once inside and through an elegant courtyard, they came to the main hall, where Tang Qingyuan greeted them outside with a beaming smile, calling from afar, "Lord Shen, your arrival truly graces my humble abode!"

"Lord Tang, aren’t you overvaluing me? Everyone knows I have a bad reputation in Fengri City—I’m lucky you still remember your old subordinate and invite me for a drink."

"Hahaha, come, come! The tea’s freshly brewed—let’s taste it first, and after the meal, I’ll have a drink or two with you."

Xiaoma handed the gifts to the butler at the side and then retreated; after eating with the kitchen staff, he waited on the carriage.

Shen Hao followed Tang Qingyuan into the main hall, where they sat as host and guest. Each had a cup of tea before them; the fragrance was refreshing—indeed as good as Tang Qingyuan claimed.

"Lord Tang, this courtyard is excellent, especially the decoration—very tasteful, much better than my place. Will you show me around?"

Housewarming meant showing guests around the new home; after a couple of sips of tea, the courtesies were fulfilled, and Shen Hao naturally asked to tour the house, giving the host a chance to introduce it.

Tang Qingyuan smiled his assent and led Shen Hao on a tour around the residence, except for the rear Moon Gate, which was inconvenient to enter; they went everywhere else. When they returned to the main hall, the table was already set.

Shen Hao was a bit surprised. He thought there would be other guests besides himself today, but it appeared he was the only one.

After three rounds of drinks, Tang Qingyuan laughed and said, "You can hold your liquor; you’re not used to these small cups, right? How about we switch to big ones, horn cups?"

"No, no, the small cups are fine."

"Hehe, then I won’t press you," he said, putting down his chopsticks.

Shen Hao immediately realized that Tang Qingyuan had something to say. The attendants at the side were perceptive enough to withdraw.

"If I remember correctly, after this year, you’ll be twenty-eight, right?"

Shen Hao was a bit puzzled by this, but nodded; after the New Year, he would indeed be twenty-eight. But why did Tang Qingyuan suddenly ask this?

"There aren’t many who reach your position by twenty-eight, especially coming from humble roots—and now you’ve even been granted a title. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call you a young hero. What’s more, you’re known as a talented scholar among the literary circles—a few of your poems are still being recited by countless people..."

"Lord Tang, if you have something to say, please say it straight. No need to beat around the bush." Shen Hao really didn’t like Tang Qingyuan’s overt flattery; it made him terribly uncomfortable and he had to interrupt.

Tang Qingyuan chuckled and said, "Then I’ll be direct. Someone asked me to sound you out—do you have any thoughts about getting married?"