Han Qiren suddenly caught sight of Shi Ting, and a flash of shock crossed his eyes, though it quickly faded.

He put on a stiff face and forced a thin smile. “Well, if it isn’t Director Shi, gracing us with his presence.”

“Does Minister Han wish to hold this conversation in the hallway?”

Han Qiren noticed that people had already begun to gather and watch, and only then did he step back to clear the way. “Please come in, Director Shi.”

His subordinates withdrew and shut the door, standing guard carefully outside.

“What brings Director Shi to see me?” Han Qiren lit a cigarette and slid the case across. “Care for one, Director Shi?”

“I don’t smoke.” Shi Ting came straight to the point. “I won’t beat around the bush with you, Minister Han. Where were you on the night of September 10th, the night Song Zixian was murdered?”

“I was at home playing mahjong.”

“Who else was at the table?”

“The Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, two advisors, and Secretary Hu from the Secretariat.”

“How long did the game go on?”

“Until six in the morning.”

“You were at the mahjong table the entire time — did you step away at any point?”

“Are you interrogating me?” Han Qiren suddenly shot to his feet, fury written across his face. “Director Shi, I advise you to know when to stop.”

Shi Ting remained unmoved, his expression composed. “If Minister Han wishes to clear himself of suspicion, he must cooperate and answer my questions. I will ask you once more — were you at the mahjong table for the entire night?”

Han Qiren clenched his jaw, his rage clearly difficult to contain. “If you suspect me, then have the nerve to arrest me right now.”

“Was Minister Han’s next line going to be invoking the Commander?”

Han Qiren glared at him.

“Director Shi, you would do well to understand — the man you are interrogating is a minister personally appointed by the Commander, one of the people he trusts most. To suspect me is to suspect the Commander himself. Can you bear that responsibility?”

“The Shun Cheng Law was drafted by my hand, but it was promulgated by the Commander. Under the rule of law, I bear no responsibility whatsoever. As long as you have not broken the law, why should you fear my investigation?”

“Fine. Very well.” Han Qiren sat back down. “Then today I choose to say nothing at all. Let’s see whether Director Shi has any means of making me talk.”

Shi Ting looked at him, entirely unintimidated. “Minister Han is of course free to remain silent. However, the Military Police Division requires only sufficient evidence to secure a conviction without any confession. You may continue to hold your tongue, but our investigation will not end. I hope the next thing that arrives at your door is not an arrest warrant from the Military Police Division.”

Shi Ting adjusted his cap. “Minister Han — until we meet again.”

Only after Shi Ting had left did Han Qiren seize the ashtray from the desk and hurl it against the wall with a resounding crash.

His subordinates rushed in at the sound. “Minister Han, please calm yourself.”

Han Qiren’s face had gone crimson with fury. “Get the car ready for the Commander’s residence. I refuse to believe this Shi Xingzhi would go so far as to enforce the law over the Commander’s head.”

“Will Minister Han go to find the Commander?” Inside the Military Police Division, Yan Qing repeated Shi Ting’s words back to him.

Shi Ting said, “The Commander is his backing. He will certainly seek shelter there.”

“If the Commander intervenes to protect him, what will you do?”

Shi Ting looked at the people gathered before him, his expression solemn. “Zheng Yun, take charge of investigating the men who were at the mahjong table with Han Qiren. If they refuse to cooperate, use whatever necessary measures are appropriate. Bai Jin, continue searching for evidence — to convict the killer, we cannot rely on inference alone. With irrefutable proof, they will have no room to argue. Shi Hao, you move easily in certain circles — go and look into the band of outlaws from three years ago. Try to uncover whatever traces they may have left behind.”

Bai Jin listened to all of this, feeling that something was off, and he blinked. “Seventh Brother…”

Shi Ting cut him off. “Tomorrow, I may not be here. But whether I am here or not, the investigation into this case must continue.”

Shi Hao grew agitated. “Seventh Brother, if you won’t be at the Military Police Division, where are you going?”

“Guaranteed completion of the mission.” Zheng Yun gave a salute, and with a glance, signaled to Shi Hao, who understood only half of it but had no choice but to follow suit.

“All right — you’re all dismissed.”

After the others had left, a small hand gently tugged at Shi Ting’s sleeve, and his expression softened at once.

Yan Qing pressed a small paper packet into his palm. “These are the medicines you need to take over the next few days. I’ve wrapped each dose separately for each meal. As for the wound dressings, I’ve made them into adhesive patches — you only need to press them on and wrap them with gauze.”

“I’ll remember to take them.”

Yan Qing’s eyes were full of worry. “Will the Commander give you a hard time?”

“Whatever else he may be, he is still my father.” He gently ruffled her hair. “Don’t worry. It will be fine.”

“Then you rest easy too — we will make certain we bring the killer to justice.”

Shi Ting smiled. “Then I’ll be waiting for your good news.”

He had not guessed wrong. That very day, no sooner had Shi Ting returned to the Shi family residence than the Commander came in person.

The Commander had been confined to his sickbed for a long time, and this was his first time setting foot outside the courtyard. Han Qiren’s tearful complaints had sent him into a towering rage.

In the courtyard, a washbasin stand had been set up, and Shi Ting was washing his face. Seeing the Commander enter with his aide, he dried his face with a towel and said simply, “Commander.”

The Commander’s face was dark. Supported by his aide, he settled onto a stone bench to one side, and his eyes fell first on Shi Ting’s sling.

“What happened to your arm?”

“I was shot while apprehending a suspect.”

The Commander asked nothing more. “What is going on with Han Qiren?”

“I have found evidence linking him to Song Zixian’s death.”

“Song Zixian and Han Qiren have nothing to do with each other. You are being far too rash.”

“Two people who appear on the surface to have nothing to do with each other does not mean there is truly no connection.”

“I won’t stop you from continuing to investigate, but when your investigation reaches the door of the Minister of Finance, I have no choice but to step in. Han Qiren has followed me for many years and has been unswerving in his loyalty. I do not believe he is capable of something like this.”

“You are going on instinct. I am going on evidence.”

“Evidence — do you have any?”

“As long as the investigation continues, evidence will emerge.”

The Commander frowned. “You are investigating my Minister of Finance. What will the rest of my loyal subordinates think?”

“The lasting stability of Bei Di must rest on the rule of law, not on personal bonds.”

“Even law must make room for human feeling.”

“The law makes no exceptions for sentiment.”

The Commander suddenly slammed his palm on the table, startling his aide. “Shi Ting — I am ordering you now, in my capacity as Commander, to halt this investigation immediately. The Song Zixian case is to be closed as a suicide.”

“There is only one way to make me stop investigating, and that is to disband the Military Police Division.” Shi Ting’s gaze was resolute, and he did not give an inch.

“Very well. Very well then.” With agitation and fury, the muscles of the Commander’s face twitched continuously. “Someone — surround this courtyard. Place it under guard twenty-four hours a day. Without my order, no one is to let him out.”

The aide cast Shi Ting an apologetic glance, and Shi Ting waved him off.

After the Commander left, Shi Ting lay back in the rattan chair beneath the grapevine, turning over a white handkerchief in his hands. Embroidered on it were crooked, uneven bamboo leaves — a single glance made it clear the person who had stitched them was a complete novice.

Ever since he had “claimed” Yan Qing’s handkerchief for himself, he had kept it on his person at all times. Whenever he missed her, he would take it out and look at it.

“What, even I am not permitted inside?” A familiar voice came from beyond the gate, followed immediately by a string of apologies.

“Forgive us, Second Consort, but the Commander has given orders — no one is to enter.”

Luo Huaimeng, unable to set her heart at rest, called out from behind the closed gate: “Xingzhi, Xingzhi, are you there?”

Shi Ting tucked the handkerchief away and furrowed his brow lightly. “Mother, please go back.”

Luo Huaimeng urged, “Why make an enemy of Minister Han? I am on good terms with Madam Han, and we have been discussing a match between you and Miss Han these past few days. What do you gain from falling out with Minister Han?”

“I am merely enforcing the law impartially. If Minister Han can withstand my investigation, there is no need for him to invoke the Commander.”

“Oh, you impossible child, why can’t you be reasoned with.” Luo Huaimeng grew anxious. “Your father has placed you under house arrest in your own courtyard. What could you possibly do to continue the investigation from there? You might as well just let this go.”

Shi Ting gazed softly toward the gate, and his voice dropped low enough that only he could hear it. “The Military Police Division is not made up of me alone.”

Without Shi Ting, the Military Police Division felt like a piece of precision machinery that had suddenly lost its core.

Bai Jin had wandered through the office twice, and now sat in a chair sighing heavily.

“Stop sighing. Seventh Brother told us to find the evidence and solve the case as quickly as possible.” Zheng Yun was already fully dressed and ready. “Go back to the crime scene once more and look for any traces the killer may have left behind.”

“I’ve already looked for everything there is to find.” Bai Jin got to his feet, clearly exasperated. “Is the Commander out of his mind? He doesn’t lock up the criminal — he locks up Seventh Brother instead?”

“This is not the time for grievances. We need to move quickly and find the killer.”

“Zheng is right.” E’Yuan pushed Yan Qing through the door. “Bai, if we can recover a fingerprint from the killer at the scene, that will be the most compelling evidence to convict them.”

“I found no suspicious fingerprints at the scene. That tells us the killer wore gloves throughout.”

Yan Qing said, “After the killer shot Song Zixian, he remained in Song Zixian’s room for an entire night. During that time, he must have used the toilet, slept, and possibly done other things as well. The killer fired from behind Song Zixian — blood would certainly have spattered onto him, including his face. Consider this: if he needed to wash the blood from his face, he would inevitably have removed his gloves. If at that moment he touched something, he would have left fingerprints behind.”

“The bathroom?” Bai Jin leapt to his feet. “I really didn’t examine that area as carefully as I should have.”

Zheng Yun gave him a push. “Then what are you waiting for?”

“On it.” Bai Jin grabbed his investigation kit and vanished in a flash.

Zheng Yun turned to Yan Qing. “I’ll go and question the people who were at the mahjong table with Han Qiren. If Han Qiren truly was playing mahjong all night, he should have no alibi for the time of the crime.”

“Do you think those men will cooperate? They are all people of considerable power and standing.”

Zheng Yun allowed himself one of his rare, open smiles. “Seventh Brother said — necessary measures may be used when necessary.”

—