Today they had the rare fortune of witnessing the Military Police Division solve a case on the spot. None of them had expected that something they’d only ever read about in newspapers would unfold right before their very eyes — truly an eye-opening experience.

What also left a lasting impression on them was the Seventh Young Mistress of the Shi Family. Not only was she strikingly beautiful in an otherworldly way, but the words that came from her mouth were like something from another world entirely, leaving them utterly baffled while simultaneously filling them with admiration. When she stood beside Director Shi, they truly looked like a perfect match — a talented man paired with a beautiful woman, as though destined for each other.

“Mr. Huicun, about the ball…” the Marshal said with a smile, looking toward Huicun.

Although Huicun had just been through a harrowing ordeal, he thought about how this was the Marshal and Madam’s pearl wedding anniversary celebration, and he did not want his own troubles to dampen their spirits. He smiled and said, “Of course, it continues.”

The Marshal laughed heartily. “I apologize for giving Mr. Huicun such a fright.”

Huicun looked at Shi Ting with a gaze full of admiration. “With Director Shi here, I can rest a hundred percent at ease. The Marshal has truly raised a fine son.”

“Mr. Huicun flatters us.” The Marshal also glanced at Shi Ting and gave a satisfied nod. “Mr. Huicun, please sit over here.”

After Mr. Huicun took his seat, Madam Shi noticed how lavishly he praised Shi Ting, and a surge of resentment rose within her. Everyone knew the Marshal intended to cultivate ties with this man from the Di Nation. If Shi Ting were to earn his favor, what would become of Shi Guang and Shi Qian?

She thought of how Mr. Huicun had mentioned having a daughter — one who was not yet married — and immediately began hatching a scheme in her mind.

If Shi Qian were to marry Huicun’s daughter, then Shi Qian would have Huicun as his father-in-law, which would make him look exceptionally well-connected in the Marshal’s eyes in the future.

With this thought in mind, Madam Shi smiled and asked, “If I may ask, how old is Mr. Huicun’s daughter?”

“My daughter is seventeen this year,” Huicun replied. “She is still studying.”

“Studying here in Shun Cheng?”

“She has loved medicine since she was young, and she has a particular fondness for traditional Chinese medicine. So she enrolled in the medical school at Shun Cheng University — she is already in her third year.”

“What a coincidence. Our household happens to have some rare ancient medical texts and out-of-print editions. If your esteemed daughter does not mind, she is welcome to come and take a look.”

“That would be wonderful,” Huicun said with great pleasure. “We shall certainly pay a visit some other day.”

Though the ball had encountered a setback in the middle, it ultimately passed without serious incident. The Marshal and Huicun had a most congenial conversation and agreed to meet again in two days to discuss matters further.

With the matter of the ball resolved, the two individuals being held at the Military Police Division remained tight-lipped, refusing to say a single word.

Shi Ting did not favor the use of torture to extract confessions. When it came to stubborn prisoners, he was more adept at exploiting their weaknesses.

“Seventh Brother, these two aren’t saying anything.” Bai Jin had grown somewhat agitated after conducting a round of interrogation. “The interrogation room hasn’t been used in a long time — why not reopen it for them today?”

Everyone knew that these two were no ordinary criminals. The forces behind them had to be extraordinarily powerful. They were sworn loyalists — the kind who would sooner take poison and die than open their mouths and confess.

Shi Ting toyed with a steel pen in his hand and fell into thought for a moment. “That thing Huantong said to my eldest sister at the time — I have a feeling it was not so simple.”

“Does Seventh Brother think that Eldest Sister and Huantong are working together?”

Shi Ting shook his head. “Although Eldest Sister married into Xi Nan, it is unlikely she would betray the Marshal so quickly. I believe all of this is the doing of her husband, Liao Wenfa. You still remember the incident in which First Madam framed my father-in-law, don’t you? That batch of white medicine my father-in-law procured was sold to the Xi Nan warlords. First Madam was based in Bei Di — her reach could not have extended that far. So in all likelihood, it was my Eldest Sister who handled that.”

Bai Jin said, “Eldest Sister is only a woman. How could she have forged ties with the Xi Nan warlords on her own? So there must have been someone pulling the strings behind her — and that person must be her husband, Liao Wenfa. If Liao Wenfa could persuade the Xi Nan warlords to cooperate with him, it means his relationship with them runs quite deep.”

“Exactly.” Shi Ting set down the steel pen. “Huantong is Liao Wenfa’s person, so naturally she takes her orders from him. After Huantong arrived in Shun Cheng, Eldest Sister was almost immediately driven back to her parents’ home in a fit of anger. That is absolutely no coincidence. Liao Wenfa deliberately arranged for Eldest Sister to return, then had Huantong seek her out — using her identity as a cover and a means of infiltrating the ball. If Huicun had not died at the time, Huantong would have found another opportunity to make her move.”

“So you are saying there is no need to continue the interrogation?”

“There is no need. Further interrogation will yield nothing. Even if you put every instrument in the interrogation room to use on them, you will not pry their mouths open.”

These were sworn loyalists. A sworn loyalist is someone who goes in with an absolute determination to die. They are not ordinary prisoners.

Although Qin Peipei and Huantong would not speak, the evidence in his hands was enough to prove that this affair was connected to the Xi Nan warlords. To seize power and profit, the Xi Nan warlords had wanted to assassinate Huicun and thereby destroy the relationship between Bei Di and the Di Nation people — then sit back and reap the gains.

“It does not matter that they will not talk. You and Zheng Yun have people investigate these two — investigate them thoroughly and meticulously. There will always be something that connects them to the Xi Nan side. Oh, and that Huantong has a very thorough understanding of Di Nation culture. I believe she once lived there.”

“Does Seventh Brother mean that Huantong is one of the students the Xi Nan warlords sent to the Di Nation to study?”

Shi Ting nodded. “We in Bei Di do the same — every year we send a group of students to the Di Nation. On the surface, it is to study Di Nation culture, but in reality, it is to understand and gather intelligence on the Di Nation.”

“If that is the case, then it should be easy enough to handle.” With a clear target, the investigation would be far simpler.

“This time, it was all thanks to Sister-in-law. If she had not noticed something off about that Huantong, we never would have traced this back to her.” Bai Jin sighed with feeling. “Sister-in-law is sharp and meticulous, and even the maids by her side are remarkably clever. Sister-in-law is truly our great lucky star.”

Bai Jin’s flattery came out in full force, but Shi Ting, unusually, remained unmoved.

Bai Jin leaned over to peer at him. On any ordinary day, no matter what Shi Ting’s mood was, he would always respond in some way the moment Yan Qing was mentioned. Today, however, he had been silent the whole time.

“Seventh Brother, is there something still troubling you?”

“That line Huantong said — what exactly did she mean by it? Why was she so certain that Eldest Sister would save her?” Shi Ting furrowed his brow. “Judging by Eldest Sister’s reaction, she should not have known Huantong’s true identity. So what could possibly be coercing Eldest Sister into compliance…”

“I understand now.” Shi Ting suddenly stood up, reached for the cap beside him and put it on. “I am going back. Something has happened at home.”

Something had indeed happened at the Shi household.

Shi Yuan had just returned from the ballroom and gone straight to the room to check on Qing’er — only to find that Qing’er was not there at all.

His little bed had its covers folded neat and tidy. A rattle drum he normally played with sat alone and forlorn on the headboard.

“Where is Qing’er?” Shi Yuan grabbed a maid, asking in a panic.

The maid was startled and answered quickly, “Was Qing’er not taken away by Miss Huantong? She said the Old Mistress wanted to see him.”

“Huantong left with me. When did she…” Shi Yuan suddenly remembered.

After Huantong got in the car with her, she had suddenly noticed that one of her earrings was missing. Shi Yuan assumed it had fallen somewhere along the road and sent Huantong back to find it.

When Huantong returned, more than ten minutes had passed. She said the earring could not be found, so she went back to the room to fetch a new pair. It must have been during that time that she carried Qing’er out and handed him to someone outside the mansion.

Qing’er had always been especially fond of Huantong and would do whatever she said.

“Mother — I need to see Mother.” Shi Yuan’s legs nearly gave way beneath her, and it was only the maid beside her who caught her in time. “Quickly — quickly take me to see Mother.”

Madam Shi hurried over upon hearing the news. Seeing Shi Yuan weeping with eyes swollen red, she immediately felt her heart ache. “I have already sent people to search inside and outside the compound. Do not cry first — perhaps Qing’er is just playing and hiding somewhere.”

Madam Shi knew that this possibility was extremely unlikely, since it was already eleven o’clock at night and they had just returned from the ball, so their minds were still clear — yet Qing’er, a toddler barely over a year old, would have been fast asleep by now.

“Mother, what are we to do? It must have been Huantong. Huantong took Qing’er and hid him away. She is using Qing’er to coerce me — she wants me to go save her.” Remembering the look in Huantong’s eyes at the time, Shi Yuan felt a chill run through her.

“You said Huantong is your husband’s person, didn’t you? Qing’er is your husband’s legitimate son — Huantong would not dare do anything to him.” Madam Shi tried to soothe her. “I am going to find the Marshal right now and have him think of something. If all else fails, we can only ask the seventh one to release her. Whatever it takes, saving the child comes first.”

“Thank you, Mother.” Shi Yuan clung to Madam Shi, weeping through her tears. “Mother, I am so fortunate to have you — otherwise I would not know what to do. Qing’er is my son, he is my life. Even if I have to sacrifice myself, I will save him no matter what.”

“Mother knows. Mother knows.”

Madam Shi brought Shi Yuan to the Marshal’s study.

Upon hearing that Qing’er had gone missing, the Marshal was also greatly alarmed, and soon turned to outright fury. “What audacity. These people have a great deal of nerve.”

“Marshal, what do we do now? Where Qing’er is right now — only Huantong probably knows.” Madam Shi pressed anxiously. “Why not go and ask her at once?”

Just then, someone came to report from outside. “Seventh Young Master has arrived.”

The moment Shi Yuan heard this, she rushed out to meet him. Seeing Shi Ting, she fell to her knees with a thud. “Seventh Brother, you must save your nephew. Whatever wrongs your Eldest Sister may have done in the past, those were her own faults. Qing’er is innocent — please, you must save him.”

Shi Ting quickly helped Shi Yuan to her feet. “Eldest Sister, please stand up first.”

Seeing that Shi Ting had arrived, the Marshal asked, “Have you already spoken with that Huantong? What did she say?”

At these words, both Madam Shi and Shi Yuan turned to look at him with expressions full of anxiety and anticipation.

—