Meng Xiangyang arrived at the Marshal’s headquarters only to find the place empty — the Marshal was not in. So he set off again without pause toward the Blue Brick Building.

He had barely reached the courtyard of the Blue Brick Building when he saw a crowd gathered in a cluster, whispering among themselves.

“Good day, Minister Meng,” someone called out to him in greeting.

“What is going on up ahead?” Meng Xiangyang asked, frowning.

The Blue Brick Building was the government’s office compound, normally impeccably orderly. Today it had the air of a marketplace, which sent an unexplained irritation flaring up in Meng Xiangyang.

“It is—” the person managed one word before losing the nerve to continue. “Minister Meng, you had best go see for yourself.”

Meng Xiangyang shot the person an annoyed glare and strode toward the crowd.

“Minister Meng.”

“Minister Meng.”

Seeing him approach, the crowd hastily parted to let him through. At the end of this passage, at the foot of the steps leading up to the Blue Brick Building, a person knelt perfectly upright.

In this person’s arms was a black-and-white photograph. Before him lay a pistol. His expression was one of grief and fury.

Only when Meng Xiangyang drew closer did he recognize the kneeling figure — it was Xie Zhiming.

“Director Xie, what are you doing here?” Meng Xiangyang said in a stern voice. “This is the government office compound, not a marketplace.”

Xie Zhiming heard Meng Xiangyang’s voice, but his eyes showed not a ripple of reaction.

“Xie Zhiming, stop making a fool of yourself — if you want to kneel, go somewhere else to do it.”

Meng Xiangyang moved around to the front and saw that the photograph Xie Zhiming held was of his son Xie Jun — a surprise.

Xie Zhiming had only this one son. How could he have simply died?

Meng Xiangyang still did not know that among the two people Meng Xiangyang’s brother had killed, one of them was Xie Zhiming’s son.

“I beg the Marshal to deliver justice for my son and bring the murderer to account,” Xie Zhiming said, paying Meng Xiangyang no mind, his voice resonant as he repeated to the doors the words he had been saying countless times.

Meng Xiangyang was about to say more when the Marshal came walking out from inside, Liu Yin following behind him.

“Zhiming, get up and speak.” The Marshal walked to Xie Zhiming and reached out a hand to help him to his feet. “Whatever it is, stand up and say it. Kneeling like this only invites ridicule.”

“I beg the Marshal to give my son justice and bring the murderer to account.” Xie Zhiming raised his voice again. “If the Marshal refuses, I will take this pistol and end my life here before him.”

“Xie Zhiming, how dare you — threatening the Marshal.” Meng Xiangyang lost his temper. “Where are the guards? What are you all standing there for? Drag him out.”

By now the crowd of onlookers had grown larger — any one of them was a backbone official of the Blue Brick Building.

The Marshal waved his hand, stopping Meng Xiangyang. “Zhiming, say in front of everyone what exactly has happened to your son.”

Xie Zhiming raised the photograph of Xie Jun and spoke in a grief-stricken voice. “My son Xie Jun was murdered in the early hours of the 4th at Qingyuan Villa. The killer waited until he was relieving himself, then shot him twice in the back. Not only that — the killer also murdered a young woman who was in the car with my son, then set fire to the car to try to make it look like a spontaneous combustion and escape justice. By the time my son was found, he had been burned to a black cinder, his face unrecognizable.”

“Such a thing happened?” The Marshal was greatly shaken. “Does the Military Police Bureau know about this?”

“Director Shi personally came to the scene after receiving the report, and the murderer has already been found,” Xie Zhiming said, his voice firm and resonant.

“Someone, go fetch Shi Ting.”

Liu Yin hurried out to find Shi Ting, while Meng Xiangyang by this point had already guessed something. The subordinate’s report had said Meng Xiangyang’s brother had killed two people, but had not said who — now, seeing Xie Zhiming’s actions, he had a sinking feeling he knew. A creeping unease began to spread through him.

Could the person connected to Meng Xiangyang’s brother actually be Xie Zhiming’s son?

How could it be this way — of all people, Xie Zhiming’s son. Xie Zhiming’s character was no secret to anyone in the Blue Brick Building: the man would not stop until he hit a wall. He would stake his life to get justice for his son.

“Marshal, since this matter concerns Director Xie’s son, let us discuss it behind closed doors.” Meng Xiangyang saw that too many people were watching — if things turned ugly, it would not be in his favor.

“If the Marshal does not give me justice, I will kneel here until I die,” Xie Zhiming said, his voice steady and unwavering.

“Xie Zhiming, everyone knows you are in difficulty, but you cannot act like a bitter woman wailing on your knees in public — if word of this spreads, where does that leave the Marshal’s dignity?” Meng Xiangyang was growing anxious.

From within the crowd, someone said, “Minister Meng seems more anxious than anyone. The Marshal hasn’t even spoken yet and Minister Meng is already worked up.”

Meng Xiangyang turned a cold glare in that direction and saw it was Secretary Qin of the Political Affairs Office. His eyes chilled. “What is Secretary Qin implying? Do you not think Director Xie’s conduct is beneath him?”

“Director Xie has lost his beloved son — one can understand his state of mind. All he wants is justice for his son.”

“Enough, enough.” The Marshal cut through the quarrel between the two men. “You all know Zhiming’s temperament. If I do not stand up for him today, he truly will die by his own hand here. Let everyone stay and we will sort this out together. Zhiming has only one son, and that son cannot die in vain. What is more, Shun Cheng is a city of law — anyone who kills and burns will pay the corresponding price.”

Meng Xiangyang still wanted to say something, but he saw the Marshal give him a mild look that seemed to convey considerable displeasure at his behavior.

Meng Xiangyang had a vague sense that something was not right, but he could not say what it was. He had no choice but to stay and wait.

Before long, Shi Ting and Liu Yin arrived together, with Bai Jin following behind carrying a leather satchel.

“Shi Ting, the case concerning Zhiming — has the murderer been found?” The Marshal spotted him and immediately beckoned him over.

Shi Ting walked forward and first glanced at Xie Zhiming, still kneeling on the ground. “Director Xie, the Marshal cherishes talent deeply — you are his faithful and devoted subordinate, and he will not stand by and ignore your affairs. Please rise, and let us speak at length.”

Xie Zhiming shook his head. “Director Shi, I will not rise until I have the final answer. Since you have already found the murderer, then present the case before everyone here.”

The Marshal nodded. “Shi Ting, speak — who was so brazen as to harm the son of one of my veterans?”

Shi Ting had Bai Jin open the leather satchel. “These are the physical exhibits recovered from the scene of the crime — including a revolver, a bedsheet, and a candlestick. Every piece of evidence points to the person who committed the crime that night.”

“Who is the killer?” someone in the crowd called out impatiently.

“Yes, who is the killer?”

Shi Ting’s gaze came to rest on Meng Xiangyang’s face. His voice was pitched neither high nor low, but carried clearly enough for everyone present to hear. “Whether physical evidence or witness testimony, we can state with certainty that the murderer is Meng Xiangyang’s brother, Meng Xiangyang.”

“Chief of Staff Meng?”

“How could it be Chief of Staff Meng?”

All eyes turned as one toward Meng Xiangyang.

As everyone exchanged glances, Meng Xiangyang was the first to step forward and denounce the claim. “Empty words without proof — do you know what crime it is to slander a government official?”

Shi Ting’s gaze was unyielding, meeting his without flinching. “Minister Meng, the Shun Cheng Law was drafted by me and promulgated by the Marshal personally. What crime it is to slander a government official — I understand better than anyone.”

“You know, yet you dare slander Xiangyang’s brother?”

“Minister Meng is joking. Do you think I would casually point the finger at Meng Xiangyang’s brother without evidence?” He gestured toward the satchel on the ground. “Here are the physical exhibits. And there are witness testimonies as well.”

At that, a police superintendent escorted a man forward — the villa manager, Tian Jian.

In front of everyone, Tian Jian dutifully recounted what he had witnessed that night: Meng Xiangyang’s brother quarreling with Xie Jun, and then Meng Xiangyang’s brother following after Xie Jun when he left.

“Nonsense.” Meng Xiangyang suddenly drew the sidearm at his hip. “I will shoot you dead.”

The hand holding the gun was seized in midair by Shi Ting, who let out a cold laugh. “Minister Meng, are you trying to silence a witness?”

Meng Xiangyang glared at Shi Ting furiously. “This man was brought by you — planted here deliberately to frame Xiangyang’s brother.”

“Minister Meng, the facts of Meng Xiangyang’s brother’s crime are before you. No matter how you argue on his behalf, it changes nothing about the reality that he killed two people and then burned the car to destroy the evidence.”

Facing Shi Ting’s cold, impassive gaze, Meng Xiangyang’s chest heaved violently.

“So it truly was Chief of Staff Meng.”

“I had long heard that Chief of Staff Meng and Director Xie’s son had bad blood — yet to think he was this impulsive, actually killing the man. What a pity.”

Meng Xiangyang heard the muttering crowd around him, and felt as though a balloon were being inflated inside his skull, about to swell and split open. Thinking of his third brother being branded a murderer, his reason was eroding bit by bit.

“I will kill you.” Meng Xiangyang seemed to lose control, trying to break free of Shi Ting’s grip. In his mind, as long as he killed that witness and destroyed the evidence, Meng Xiangyang’s brother could be cleared.

But Shi Ting’s grip was like iron. Meng Xiangyang could not break free at all.

“Minister Meng, would you commit a crime in full knowledge of the law and before this many witnesses? Minister Meng brandishes threats of violence at the drop of a hat, removing anyone who displeases him — Meng Xiangyang’s brother truly learned some unfortunate habits from his elder brother.”

“Shi Xingzhi! What did you say?” Meng Xiangyang was so furious his face flushed scarlet.

“Enough.” The Marshal’s composed voice cut through the two men’s exchange. His expression was grave, etched with sorrow and reluctance. “Xiangyang, this is the Blue Brick Building — not a place for you to run wild.”

“Marshal…”

Xie Zhiming raised the photograph high and called out in a resonant, bell-like voice, “Shun Cheng is a city of law. The Shun Cheng Law promulgated by the Marshal is celebrated throughout the land — princes and commoners alike are equal before it. I implore the Marshal to give my son justice and punish the murderer severely, so that the law may stand.”

“Marshal.” Meng Xiangyang heard this and cried out in alarm. “Xiangyang’s brother has served the Marshal faithfully for years with wholehearted loyalty. Would the Marshal condemn him for the sake of a worthless scoundrel? Please do not chill the hearts of your veterans.”

Everyone was now watching the Marshal, for his word would decide the fate of Meng Xiangyang’s brother.