Returning to the Capital to Report, Promoted to Three Threads; the Ministries of Rites and Personnel Visit Rongguo Mansion Again!

At dawn on the seventh day, Jia Huan returned to the Capital, travel-worn and dust-covered.

Office hours had not yet begun. He went alone to the Southern Commandant Office and waited quietly outside Officer Guo's office.

At the beginning of the hour of the dragon, Officer Guo passed through the covered corridor. The instant he saw that familiar figure, his face turned livid.

Lowering his voice, he raged:

"You deserted?"

"Utter foolishness!"

"Even if you couldn't solve the case, you should have waited until the eighth day to return. Abandoning a case midway makes you a disgraceful deserter fleeing the battlefield!"

"Who told you to overestimate yourself and pledge your rank before everyone? You're in serious trouble now!"

Officer Guo's spittle flew. He was bitterly disappointed.

He had admired this junior. When he learned that Jia Huan had taken on Commandery Princess Shouning's case, he had feared the young man would be punished with demotion to General Banner.

But that would only have been a little wind and frost. A young man with drive could always rise again.

Yet he had never imagined Jia Huan would desert!

Jia Huan respectfully cupped his fists. "I apprehended the murderer. He is already confined in the Imperial Prison."

What?

Officer Guo could scarcely believe it. He demanded skeptically:

"The round trip takes five days, and you only needed a day and a half?"

Jia Huan nodded with a smile.

"Fortunately, everything went smoothly."

"Come in!" Still half-doubtful, Officer Guo opened the door and urged:

"Explain everything in detail!"

Jia Huan handed over the dossier. It contained the investigation, the murderer's motive, and the course of the killing. Apart from concealing his gift of martial arts techniques, he had left out nothing.

Officer Guo read it carefully. His expression relaxed completely, and he praised: