“Commander Li should have received word long ago, yet he hasn’t sent even a single subordinate.” Director Li let out a cold laugh. “What you’ve done is something even your own father finds shameful — why would he come to rescue you?”

“That’s not true. He’ll definitely save me, he definitely will.” Li Haotian finally understood fear at that moment, his tears and mucus streaming down in fright.

Shi Ting pried his clutching hands off him and stood up. “Lock Li Haotian up first.”

“You can’t lock me up — I’ve been wrongly accused, I’ve been wrongly accused. I didn’t kill anyone, I didn’t kill anyone…”

Shi Ting walked out of the interrogation room, and Li Haotian’s voice gradually faded behind him.

He made his way to the entrance of the autopsy room and caught sight of Yan Qing just as she was coming out.

Xiang Lan’s autopsy was still being performed by Forensic Examiner Ren, with Yan Qing observing from the side.

“How did it go — have the cause of death and time of death been confirmed?” Shi Ting asked.

Yan Qing nodded. “The time of death was between two and three o’clock this morning. The upper horn of the victim’s thyroid cartilage was fractured, and there were clear ligature marks on the neck. She was strangled from behind using something like an electrical cord. I looked over the physical evidence from the scene — it was most likely a telephone cord.”

There was no doubt whatsoever regarding Xiang Lan’s cause of death. She had been strangled to death.

“The victim’s asphyxiation was rapid, with almost no signs of resistance. Combined with the significant muscle tearing and hemorrhage, and the fracture of the greater horn of the hyoid bone, all of this points to the killer being a physically powerful male.”

Shi Ting gave a sound of acknowledgment. “Has the cause of Mo Xiangrong’s death been determined?”

“Not yet. Mo Xiangrong did not die from freezing, and there are no open external wounds on the body — it was neither a death from external trauma nor from asphyxiation. However, the victim showed mild laryngeal edema, and the respiratory tract was discolored. I’ve already sent the victim’s brain tissue and organ tissue to Taishan Hospital for pathological testing. Doctor Chen said the results won’t be available until the day after tomorrow.”

After finishing her report, Yan Qing glanced toward the direction of the interrogation room. “Did Li Haotian confess?”

“As things stand, the evidence is solid, but Li Haotian refuses to admit to anything.”

Shi Ting took her hand. “It’s cold in here — let me take you home.”

“Alright.” Yan Qing slipped off her quilted vest and draped it over Shi Ting. “Take care of yourself. Don’t let yourself get chilled.”

When Yan Qing returned to the Wen Mansion, Wen Yan was already back. One look at her expression — she was clearly struggling to contain her inner joy — and it was plain that she had spent that half-day at the hospital in very pleasant company with Doctor Chen.

The two of them exchanged no more than a few words before walking side by side to Wen Xu’s courtyard.

Mo Yunhua, having suffered such a blow, was now lying in bed with tear-reddened eyes, while two maids stood before her attending carefully to her needs.

“Qingqing, you’re back.” Wen Xu, who had been sitting at the table, quickly rose. “Is there any news from the branch bureau? Was Xiangrong murdered by someone?”

At those words, Mo Yunhua, who had been quietly weeping, also looked over anxiously.

The case had not yet been concluded, and it was not appropriate for Yan Qing to disclose the progress of the investigation to outsiders. She said instead, “Whether Uncle-by-marriage was murdered is still unclear — the cause of death is under investigation. The military police division has also identified several suspects who are currently being questioned.”

“My poor brother.” Mo Yunhua heard this and began crying louder. “Who in the world would want to harm you?”

Wen Xu had the maids comfort Mo Yunhua while he and Yan Qing walked out of the side room together.

Outside, the sky had already grown dark. Snow had fallen again throughout the previous night, and a thick layer had accumulated on the courtyard ground and atop the gray walls.

The servants had swept the paths clear early that morning, and the remaining snow was piled along both sides of the walkways. Some of the more playful maids had quietly built a snowman, which stood lifelike beneath the base of the wall.

Yan Qing said, “Although the cause of Uncle-by-marriage’s death is still unclear, one thing is certain — someone killed him.”

Wen Xu seemed to have suspected this all along. Upon hearing it, he let out a long sigh.

“Uncle, the individuals involved in this case are rather unusual. Once the nature of the case has been determined, I will explain everything to you in detail.”

“Is the killer someone of standing?” Wen Xu had more or less guessed as much.

Yan Qing nodded. “If this matter isn’t handled carefully, the consequences could be disastrous.”

“I understand.” Wen Xu frowned. “Then I’ll simply wait for news. As for everything else — leave it to you and Xingzhi to handle.”

Yan Qing was deeply grateful for Wen Xu’s open-mindedness.

That evening at dinner, Shi Ting did not return. Mo Yunhua was also bedridden, and little Niannian was in the care of the maids. Only Wen Xu, Wen Yan, and Yan Qing remained at the table — and none of them had much of an appetite. They ate only a little before each retiring to their rooms.

Yan Qing had Xiang’er fetch copies of the Taishan newspapers from the past several years and sat in her room leafing through them.

Her impression of Taishan had been one of beautiful mountains and scenic landscapes — she had been entirely unaware that it was a strategic military stronghold. Not only that, but Commander Li of Taishan County held an important position and was someone every faction was eager to court. She believed that now that Shi Ting had come to Taishan, Shi Guang and Shi Qian would not sit idle.

“Miss, aren’t you going to sleep? It’s already past ten o’clock.” Jing Zhi noticed that the light in her room had been on continuously and knocked at the door.

When Yan Qing heard Jing Zhi’s voice, she finally rubbed her aching eyes — without realizing it, it had grown this late.

She glanced at the back window, which showed no sign of movement at all, and let out a quiet sigh. She supposed Shi Ting must have stayed at the bureau tonight.

“It’s fine. I’m going to sleep now.” Yan Qing set down the newspaper and pulled the lamp cord. The room plunged instantly into darkness.

But before she had even lain back down, she suddenly got out of bed again, put her shoes on, and walked step by step toward the back window. Even though she knew in her heart that he wouldn’t come, she couldn’t help herself — she unlatched the back window anyway.

Only after seeing the latch opened did she let out a quiet breath of relief. She made her way back to the bed by feel and lay down.

She had been flipping through those newspapers for so long. Although she hadn’t found much that was immediately useful, she had learned a few things about the Li family’s army.

Li Yongqi’s forces had grown increasingly powerful over the years — renowned not only in Bei Di but among the warlords across the entire country.

The Li family’s army was like the sharpest dagger in an assassin’s hand, yet not every assassin could wield it. Such a blade — used well, it was invincible; used poorly, it could easily wound its own wielder.

Yan Qing lay in bed letting her thoughts wander for a long while, not knowing when she finally drifted off into a hazy sleep.

Yet she never slept soundly, always with the vague sense that Shi Ting might come in the middle of the night. The moment the mattress beside her dipped, she opened her eyes at once.

In the darkness she could not see clearly, but his familiar brow and eyes quickly came into focus.

Joy lit up her face — she had not yet opened her mouth when he already leaned down and kissed her lips. His breath, mingling with the cold air from outside, made her instantly, thoroughly wide awake. As his kiss deepened, she couldn’t help but wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him back, boldly and ardently.

—