Yan Qing smiled serenely. “Through public opinion.”

“Public opinion?”

“All we need to do is get every newspaper to run a story announcing a major development in the Chengguan Railway robbery case from three years ago — that the stolen funds have resurfaced.”

Zheng Yun’s eyes brightened. “I understand. The Commander’s government has been repaying the bank for that missing sum right up to this day, and no one knows how many departments have suffered because of it. One hundred thousand is no small amount. If that money could truly be recovered, it would be like lifting a great burden from everyone’s shoulders. Even if the Commander didn’t want to act, the people beneath him would come forward to petition en masse.”

“For the sake of the money alone, the Commander would have no choice but to release Seventh Brother.”

An attractive face flashed across Yan Qing’s mind. “I know someone — a friend of mine. She’s a reporter at the New City Daily, and she’s always been a staunch supporter of the Military Police Division. If we leave this in her hands, we should get twice the result with half the effort.”

The person Yan Qing had in mind was Qiao Yiran — the Military Police Division’s most devoted little admirer.

Qiao Yiran was skilled not only at singing praises, but at pointed sarcasm as well, with a pen sharp enough to cut straight to the bone.

That same day, the edition of the New City Daily was printed and distributed, and nearly every shopkeeper along the main streets of the city had a copy in hand.

At the Commander’s residence, the Commander had just taken his medicine. Before the medicine bowl had even been set down, the head guard, Li Si, knocked at the door.

“Commander, Director Cai of the Accounting Bureau and Director Shao of the Statistics Bureau have come.”

“What is it?”

Li Si handed the Commander today’s newspaper. “The papers are saying that the funds stolen in the Chengguan Railway robbery three years ago have resurfaced.”

“The money’s been found?”

“The paper doesn’t go into detail — it only says it has resurfaced.”

The Commander considered. “Show them in.”

“Commander, congratulations are in order!” Director Cai and Director Li stepped through the door with cheerful smiles. “If that money is truly recovered, it will be cause for celebration across the land.”

For the sake of that missing sum, these departments had been forced to stretch every resource and tighten every belt. With military expenditure already enormous, every financial decision had required long and careful deliberation.

“Commander — a great general produces no unworthy son. Director Shi’s Military Police Division has fully lived up to its reputation.”

The Commander was puzzled. “What does this have to do with Shi Ting?”

The two men exchanged a glance and smiled. “Has the Commander not heard? It was the Military Police Division that broke this case.”

The Commander had only known that the Military Police Division was investigating Song Zixian’s murder — how had it suddenly become connected to the robbery from three years ago?

“Commander, when will this money be returned to the treasury?”

“Yes, we’ve all been waiting with eyes wide open.”

“News this gratifying — I feel as though even my rheumatism is beginning to clear up.”

Listening to the two men speak over one another, the Commander gradually grasped the underlying intention. He smiled quietly. “Go on back for now and wait for word. Once the funds are recovered, I’ll be in touch.”

“Then please ask Director Shi to move quickly — we’ve come here carrying the hopes of many.”

After seeing the two directors off, the Commander sat up from the head of the bed. “Go and bring Shi Ting.”

Shi Ting was in the courtyard feeding the birds. When he saw Li Si appear, he could not help but lift the corner of his mouth — his sharp gaze suggesting he had foreseen exactly this.

“Deputy Aide Li, something the matter?”

“Director Shi, the Commander requests your presence.”

“Of course. I’ll change my clothes and head over.”

As Li Si departed, the guards posted around the courtyard were taken with him.

Shi Ting went inside, and his attendant Jin Shan came forward with his uniform. “Young Master, the directors of the Accounting Bureau and the Statistics Bureau came by just now.”

“Mm.” Shi Ting appeared unsurprised. “Had they not come, the Commander would never have pulled those soldiers from around the courtyard.”

Jin Shan helped him into his outer coat. “Young Master’s wound is healing well.”

Shi Ting’s left arm was still immobile and held in a sling, but the wound had begun to scab over. Aside from the itch, there was nothing else to feel.

When he arrived at the Commander’s courtyard, Third Consort Du Linghua was placing small wedges of apple into the Commander’s mouth.

“Oh, Seventh Young Master has come.” Du Linghua looked up at Shi Ting and quickly rose to her feet.

“Third Consort.” Shi Ting gave her a glance.

Du Linghua, knowing well how to read a situation, set down the fruit dish in her hands. “You two talk — I’ll go check on whether the ginseng congee in the kitchen has finished cooking. Commander’s illness has really been responding well to the ginseng.”

The Commander watched Du Linghua leave, a faint smile lingering at the corners of his mouth. “This illness of mine has been a great deal easier to bear with Linghua looking after me.”

He gestured toward the chair opposite. “Sit.”

After Shi Ting took his seat, the Commander dabbed at his mouth with a handkerchief. “You know why I called you here, I imagine?”

“The Chengguan Railway robbery.”

“When did you begin looking into that case?”

“When I was investigating Song Zixian’s murder.”

The Commander’s brow creased. “What does that have to do with Song Zixian’s death?”

“Song Zixian colluded with a member of your government to engineer the robbery. Afterward, the two of them kept the one hundred thousand entirely for themselves.” Shi Ting looked at the Commander. “The plan for transporting those funds was known to only a handful of people, and the operation was classified at the highest level. The fact that the convoy would pass through Shanmiao Village — I doubt even you knew that, Commander.”

“This matter has always been riddled with suspicious points. I sent people to investigate it as well, but three years of searching turned up nothing.”

“In those three years, Song Zixian and the other man stayed hidden in the shadows, waiting for the right moment. On the surface, nothing seemed out of the ordinary — no matter how you investigated, it could never point back to them. If Song Zixian hadn’t been murdered, this case would have become a cold one, and the hundred thousand would have vanished without a trace.”

“The man you speak of…”

“I expect the Commander has already guessed in his heart.” Shi Ting’s gaze was penetrating. “I only suspected him before — I had not yet found evidence sufficient to convict him.”

“And now you have?”

“The Military Police Division would not have let word reach the newspapers unless they had already secured the evidence. But with their rank and standing, they are not yet in a position to confront that man directly — which is why they used this method to press you into releasing me.”

The Commander let out a long, heavy sigh. “Is it truly Han Qiren?”

“The evidence is conclusive.”

“This Han Qiren.” The Commander brought his palm down hard on the bed. “All the trust I placed in him — and he went behind my back to embezzle the funds. For three years, he knew full well how many people have been losing sleep over that shortfall of one hundred thousand.”

“If not for the confidence your trust gave him, he would never have dared to act with such reckless abandon.”

“Can you truly recover that money?” The Commander’s eyes were visibly agitated.

“I can.”

“Good. I am granting you special authority now — arrest Han Qiren, recover the funds. Anyone who tries to block you is to be shot on the spot.”

Shi Ting rose to his feet. “Please await good news, Commander.”

No sooner had Shi Ting left the Commander’s courtyard than one of the guards slipped along a back path toward Shi Guang’s residence.

Shi Guang was practicing calligraphy. When he saw Zuo Liang enter, he set down his brush. “What is it?”

“Seventh Young Master is searching for the funds that went missing three years ago on behalf of the Commander.”

Shi Guang’s brow furrowed. “Any chance of success?”

“Reportedly, it’s as good as certain.” Zuo Liang’s eyes shifted. “If Seventh Young Master really does recover that money, not only will the Military Police Division earn great merit, but the Commander’s regard for Seventh Young Master will rise considerably — which is not in Second Young Master’s interest.”

“Indeed it isn’t.” Shi Guang lifted the piece of calligraphy he had just completed, which bore the sweeping, iron-hooked characters: “The Human World in April.” “Go and make the necessary arrangements. Don’t let them recover that money without any difficulty. One hundred thousand — that’s more than enough to win him lasting recognition in the Commander’s eyes.”

“Understood.” Zuo Liang laughed coldly.

“Who was it that stole the money?”

“Finance Minister Han Qiren.”

Shi Guang’s brow furrowed, and a thought seemed to cross his mind. “If I recall correctly, this Han Qiren has a twin brother?”

“He does — though because that man is greedy, treacherous, and has accomplished nothing, the Minister cut ties with him long ago and has had no contact with him in years.”

“Go and pay that man a visit. He may prove useful to us.”

“Yes.”

After Zuo Liang left, Shi Guang picked up his brush once more and continued writing: You are the April of the human world — your laughter kindles the wind on every side.

—

Shi Ting had barely stepped through the gates of the Military Police Division before he noticed that the first-floor offices were entirely empty. He stood in quiet thought for a moment — and then a crowd of people erupted into the room at once.

“Welcome back, Seventh Brother!”

“We humbly receive Seventh Brother’s return!”

Led by Bai Jin, they sent a large bag of gold paper scraps raining down from above. Fluttering pieces drifted through the air in a festive shower.

Shi Ting, at a loss, plucked a scrap from his shoulder. “Show me the evidence.”

“It’s been ready and waiting.” Zheng Yun passed over the documents. “I’ve already deployed people to maintain a round-the-clock watch outside Fushan Bank. The moment Han Qiren appears, he won’t be able to escape even if he had wings.”

Shi Ting flipped through the documents in hand. “The expiration date on the safety deposit box is September 19th — that’s today!”

“Han Qiren doesn’t yet know we’ve traced things to Fushan Bank’s safety deposit box. And with the story we put out in the newspapers, once he reads it he’ll be on pins and needles. He’ll move quickly to retrieve the money and transfer it. Today is the final deadline — he will have to appear. When he does, we catch him with the goods in hand.”

Shi Ting nodded. “You’ve all worked hard.”

“Seventh Brother, this time it was largely thanks to Miss Yan.” Bai Jin’s eyes held genuine admiration. “She was the one who found the hidden safe where Song Zixian had kept the agreement, and she was the one who cracked the code.”

Shi Ting’s expression showed little surprise. “That’s also why I could rest easy.”

He handed the documents back to Zheng Yun. “The Commander has personally ordered that this money must be recovered without any further missteps. Have you had people keeping watch on both Han Qiren’s home and his office?”

Before he had even finished speaking, an officer came rushing in from outside. “Han Qiren has left his home.”

“The fish is taking the bait.” Bai Jin cracked his knuckles, ready and eager. “Let’s go cast the net.”

—