Because he made a trip to Pingshun City, by the time Shen Hao returned to Fengri City, it was already night.

Hu Tian got up to open the door for Shen Hao and said several waves of people had come by today—some from the Local Government Office, some from the Thousand Households Station—all looking for Shen Hao. But no one came by again during the night.

Shen Hao snickered inwardly. He didn’t need to guess why those people had come; was it not to get people out? Since no one came at night, it seemed when they couldn’t find him, they’d turned to Wu Changhe instead—the people should have already been released by now.

The night passed uneventfully. The next day, when Shen Hao reported for duty, he’d barely entered the gates of the Thousand Households Station when he was summoned to Wu Changhe’s Public Office.

When he saw Wu Changhe, the Thousand Households Officer was so furious his eyes were bloodshot.

"Shen Hao! Where did you get the gall to behave so recklessly? Bang!"

A palm slammed down on the table, leaving a hand seal, and the things on the table jumped from the shock. Accompanied by the oppressive aura radiating from Wu Changhe’s anger, Shen Hao, standing inside the Public Office, could feel pricks all over his body.

"Your subordinate was presumptuous; I don’t know what has made you so angry, Lord Thousand Households?" Shen Hao certainly would not admit fault, especially since he’d already prepared an escape route for all of this. Now Wu Changhe was simply acting as Shen Hao had expected.

"What? You still ask me what? The other day you arbitrarily detained Government Office Deputy Chen Xing and the third master of the Song Mansion, Song Zhizhou, sent them to the interrogation room, and locked them in your Black Banner Battalion’s dungeon.

If I hadn’t intervened in time, those two would’ve died in the dungeon!

What the hell were you trying to do?"

When Wu Changhe first heard the news yesterday, he thought he’d misheard it. He’d always considered Shen Hao arrogant and overbearing but at least mindful of boundaries. Even though Wu failed to clean up Black Banner Battalion internally, Shen Hao still left the Black Banner Camp Commander position for him to fill, which was a nod to his face. For the epidemic concealing case, both sides cooperated and benefited.

So why arrest a Government Office Deputy and the third young master of the Imperial City’s Song Family for no reason at all? Was it simply because a deal fell through?

Was it necessary to be this brazen?

Wu Changhe couldn’t make sense of it—felt Shen Hao was purposely causing trouble for him. Because after arresting them and tossing them into the interrogation room for a pounding, Shen Hao vanished, and the others couldn’t find him. The Black Banner Battalion wouldn’t release the detainees, forcing Wu to intervene himself. Outsiders would never know this Thousand Households Officer couldn’t control Shen Hao; all they’d think is Wu was in on it.

Shen Hao cupped his hands and said, "Chen Xing and Song Zhizhou touched upon sensitive matters of the Black Banner Battalion. According to our internal regulations, I had to take them in for questioning. At the time, both had a tough attitude and refused to cooperate, so I had no choice but to send them for interrogation. And considering their status, I specifically instructed that it would just be mild punishment, nothing serious. No need for you to worry, sir."

Wu Changhe looked bewildered.

"What did you say? Chen Xing and Song Zhizhou got themselves involved in your Black Banner Battalion’s sensitive matters?!"

"Yes, sir."

Wu Changhe took a deep breath, suppressing his urge to act, and pressed on: "Then explain to me what exactly they got involved in. It wasn’t your money bag, was it, Shen Hundred Households?"

Last night, after receiving the news, Wu Changhe rushed to release Chen Xing and Song Zhizhou from the dungeon. For that, he’d furiously reprimanded Black Banner Battalion Deputy Wang Yiming. From the trembling Chen Xing, he’d learned quite a bit—how they were nabbed during a business negotiation with Shen Hao.

As for Song Zhizhou, the Song Family had escorted him back to the Imperial City overnight; his expression was terrible, and his mind looked nearly shattered.

And now, with pent-up anger, Wu Changhe hears Shen Hao claim it’s about "sensitive matters"? Sure, there are such rules. But Chen Xing swore it was a business deal—since when did Shen Hao twist it into this?

"Sir. The Black Banner Battalion is advancing a top-secret plan, involving many external connections. The Zhang Family’s Wine Shop, lusted after by Chen Xing and Song Zhizhou, happens to be part of this plan. This is all I can say, and speaking even this much requires your secrecy."

"That’s all?! Shen Hao, is it because Lord Jiang values you that you think you can disregard me, your Thousand Households Officer?"

"How could I think so, sir? Your subordinate is terrified." Shen Hao bowed slightly again, cupping his hands in salute.

"Terrified? You? Terrified? Speak—what plan is it!" Wu Changhe lost his composure, mostly due to anger, but also scoffing at Shen Hao’s "top secret" claim—how could there be a true secret even he wasn’t privy to? Most likely just a fabrication as an excuse.

"Sir, it concerns Black Banner Battalion’s top-secret plan. I have been repeatedly instructed by Lord Governor not to reveal a single word. If you wish to know more, you may go in person to the Governor’s Office to question Lord Jiang. Or, if you can bring Lord Jiang’s signed authorization, I will reveal everything without reservation."

What Shen Hao referred to was "Black Water," and not a word was a lie. But "Black Water" was so critical it might become the very foundation of the Black Banner Battalion. Even if Wu Changhe begged Jiang Cheng for answers, he’d only get a "true" or "confirmed," but never the full picture—no chance.

Seeing Shen Hao’s serious expression, Wu Changhe’s heart jolted with alarm—could there really be a top secret?

Without knowing the inside story, Wu Changhe couldn’t continue scolding. He promptly dismissed Shen Hao. But still feeling dissatisfied, he sent an urgent note to the Jingxi Town Governor’s Office.

The reply came quickly enough; before the end of the day, Wu Changhe had his answer.

Coincidentally, the reply from the Governor’s Office was exactly what Shen Hao secretly expected—a single sentence, blunt to the extreme: Confirmed true.

Four characters, that was it.

Wu Changhe stared at those four characters stamped on the copper rod for a long time, finally crushing the rod in fury.

Utter humiliation!

Wu Changhe took a long breath and sat down again, venting some of his anger. But in his mind, calculations were already starting.

It had been nearly a year since he took office. Wu Changhe had a clear grasp of every corner of Fengri City—except for the Black Banner Battalion. That was the one potent force he not only failed to control but which grew more distant, to the point where even basic information exchanges were omitted. It had become almost a completely independent organization inside the Thousand Households Station.

Prince Shou had exerted great effort to get him transferred to Fengri City to keep things under control. But last time, when Shen Hao publicly rebuffed Prince Shou’s personal recruitment, refusing outright, Prince Shou was left deeply dissatisfied—both with Shen Hao’s lack of tact and with Wu Changhe’s "poor subordination management."

This could not be allowed to go on unchecked!

In the Governor’s Office’s perfunctory reply and in Shen Hao’s attitude, Wu Changhe sensed a mounting sense of crisis.