The waitstaff not only failed to recognize the coal delivery worker from that night, they also had no recollection whatsoever of the attendants from Yanque Tower.

After having Tongfa sign the statement, Bai Jin reminded the manager that if anything came to mind, he should call the precinct immediately. The manager was very cooperative, nodding and agreeing repeatedly.

Once Bai Jin had finished her instructions, she and Shi Ting walked out of Darunfa.

Outside, the cold was bitter, the north wind howling. Pedestrians hurried along the streets, and judging by the darkening sky, it looked as though snow was coming again.

Bai Jin pulled her coat collar tighter and jogged in quick, doubled-up strides toward the car parked at the roadside.

She opened the door and got in. Cold air enveloped her from all directions — every surface within reach was frigid.

“Seventh Brother, it seems the suspect disguised himself as a coal delivery worker that night, killed Mo Xiangrong inside the private room, then falsely claimed he had suffered heatstroke and carried him out.” Bai Jin clicked her tongue in disgust. “This person really is meticulous.”

Shi Ting removed his hat and set it aside, his right hand lightly running along the brim. “The killer not only knew that Mo Xiangrong liked to bathe, but specifically that he preferred those large vats you can sit inside. He planned the murder in advance, then lured Mo Xiangrong to Darunfa. Disguised as the coal delivery worker, he entered the private room. When he arrived, Mo Xiangrong happened to be sitting in the large vat, so he removed the insulating device underneath and covered the mouth of the vat with the padding on the side. Mo Xiangrong was slowly cooked alive.”

Thinking of how Mo Xiangrong had died, Bai Jin couldn’t help but shudder. They said in ancient times there was a form of punishment called steaming — palace maids who had committed offenses would be placed in large steamers and cooked to death.

Of course, the killer clearly hadn’t dared to truly steam Mo Xiangrong. He had simply chosen to suffocate him with the heat, knowing this manner of death would be difficult to detect and could conveniently be used to frame Li Haotian — after all, Li Haotian had never visited the bathhouse that night.

“This person is clever. He disguised himself as a coal delivery worker — just some smearing on his face and a hat, and it would be very hard for anyone to recognize him. Besides, coal workers are filthy and disheveled; no one wants to get close or take a second look.” Shi Ting thought for a moment. “The face can be disguised — but what about the voice?”

“The voice?” Bai Jin’s eyes lit up. “Right, Tongfa mentioned that the coal delivery worker had exchanged a few words with them.”

“It seems we’ll need to ask Tongfa and the others to come to the station.”

Just as the two of them had settled into their seats, someone knocked on the car window. It was Monkey from the precinct.

Bai Jin quickly opened the door and let him in. Monkey’s face was flushed red from the cold. Upon seeing Shi Ting, he immediately said respectfully, “Director Shi, there’s an urgent matter. Chief Li sent me to notify you.”

“A development?”

Monkey shook his head. “The people from the Inspection Office have arrived.”

Bai Jin was startled. “The Inspection Office?”

The Inspection Office was a department within the government that operated outside the control of any superior department and reported directly to the Marshal. Its purpose was to oversee the conduct of all departments, serving a supervisory and accountability function.

Director Xie Zhiming of the Inspection Office was known for his absolute impartiality. Once he had his eye on you, even if you had three heads and six arms, there was no escaping punishment. Director Xie would not even spare the Marshal’s face — there had been an occasion when the Marshal asked him to go easy on a subordinate who had committed an offense, and Xie simply stripped off his uniform and told the Marshal to shoot him. Against a man like this, even the Marshal was helpless.

Though Xie Zhiming was inflexible to the point of stubbornness, the Marshal had never moved against him. This made many who knew Xie avoid him at all costs.

As for Xie Zhiming himself, Shi Ting both admired and respected him. Though the man was rigid — even pedantic — he was upright and incorruptible. Rumor had it that Xie Zhiming never rode a car to work, instead cycling on a bicycle where everything rattled except the bell. His home was a modest three-bedroom apartment, and his uniform was the same one he had worn for ten years — patched but never replaced.

Monkey continued, “Director Xie sent people over and said they want to take Li Haotian back to Shun Cheng to be dealt with according to the law. He also said…”

Monkey glanced at Shi Ting, seeming to find it difficult to continue.

“Go ahead, it doesn’t matter,” Shi Ting said calmly.

Monkey then lowered his voice. “Director Xie said that Director Shi has been bending the law out of favoritism, and that his reluctance to convict Li Haotian stems from fear of offending Commander Li. He intends to report this truthfully to the Marshal and have Director Shi punished alongside Li Haotian.”

“Damn that old man.” Bai Jin said angrily. “He’s from the Inspection Office — does he even know how to solve cases? And as for Military Police affairs, when did it become his place to interfere?”

Shi Ting showed no anger. “Strictly speaking, the Inspection Office does have supervisory authority over the Military Police. If they choose to intervene, we cannot obstruct them.”

“Seventh Brother, if we let that old Xie take Li Haotian back to Shun Cheng, that’s essentially convicting him, isn’t it? From what the clues tell us, Li Haotian was most likely framed. He cannot be taken away.”

“Are the people Director Xie sent at the precinct now?”

“Yes. Chief Li is stalling them, but they’re insistent — they’re determined to take Li Haotian.”

“I understand. I’ll go back now.”

Shi Ting told Bai Jin to turn the car around.

“Seventh Brother, we’re all the way out here in Tai Shan. How would anyone in Shun Cheng know the details of this case so clearly?” He had already grown suspicious, and couldn’t help connecting the dots.

Shi Ting said, “The newspapers applying pressure was only the first step. Xie Zhiming is the second. The other side simply doesn’t want to give us a moment to breathe.”

“They’re really closing in from every direction.”

Shi Ting didn’t reply. Instead, he turned to look out the window, his deep eyes clouded with thought.

When they returned to the precinct, they could hear the sounds of arguing before they’d even reached the door — Chief Li’s voice was booming, and most of what could be heard was him.

“This is against protocol. The case isn’t finished — how can you expect us to hand over a suspect?”

“This is Tai Shan! Aren’t you reaching a bit far?”

“If you want to take anyone, you’ll have to step over my dead body first — otherwise, not a chance.”

When Shi Ting walked in, Chief Li rushed over like a young bride who had just found her savior. “Director Shi, you’re back just in time! Look at these people from Shun Cheng — they’re absolutely lawless.”

The men sent by Director Xie saw Shi Ting and softened slightly in manner, though their purpose remained firm. “Director Shi, I am Zhao Gang. I am here on Director Xie’s orders to take the suspect Li Haotian into custody.”

“Director Xie must have a lot of free time lately, if the affairs of Shun Cheng aren’t enough to keep him occupied.” Shi Ting’s half-smiling remark sent a tremor through Zhao Gang. He still held a deep respect — and a measure of fear — for this son of the Marshal’s household, the swift and decisive Director Shi of the Military Police.

Zhao Gang quickly said, “Director Shi surely understands Director Xie’s character. Whenever he sees any department acting in violation of the law, he must intervene and see it through to the end.”

“Acting in violation of the law… are you referring to my Military Police?” Shi Ting’s gaze swept over him — calm on the surface, yet the sudden sharpness that flashed beneath it made Zhao Gang flinch.

He quickly lowered his head. “I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare. I was merely speaking in general terms.”

Shi Ting withdrew his gaze and returned to his usual composure. “May I ask where Director Xie obtained his information?”

Zhao Gang did not conceal it, answering frankly, “Director Xie received a telegram detailing the particulars of the case.”

“And who sent the telegram?”

“The sender was anonymous.”

Shi Ting had already suspected as much — the question had been little more than a formality. Whoever was behind this would never leave a trail for him to follow.

“Director Shi, Li Haotian may be Commander Li’s son, but Shun Cheng’s laws dictate that the law shows no favoritism. No matter who has broken the law, they must be dealt with accordingly. Is it not against protocol for you to continue sitting on this case without reaching a verdict?”

Shi Ting gave a light scoff. “You seem so certain that I’m the one sitting on the case. Could it not simply be that the case has complications yet to be resolved?”

“The evidence is conclusive. What complications could there possibly be?”

Whether it was Xie Zhiming or Zhao Gang, both understood perfectly well why the matter had dragged on this long — it was simply because Shi Ting didn’t want to offend Li Yongqi.

Even if Shi Ting had once dared to bring down the Finance Minister, that was only because that particular minister had not been his man — he had wanted him replaced. Li Yongqi was different. The Li Family Army answered to Li Yongqi and Li Yongqi alone. No one else could replace him.

“Director Shi, please don’t make things difficult for me. This is Director Xie’s directive. If I fail to carry it out, I won’t be able to answer for it.”

“And once Li Haotian is taken back to Shun Cheng, what does Director Xie intend to do with him?”

“He will naturally be handed over to your Military Police to be convicted according to the law.”

Tai Shan was far from the center of power. They had no way to monitor things from distant Shun Cheng. But once back in Shun Cheng, it would be different — with so many eyes watching, Shi Ting would not openly defy the laws he himself had helped formulate. The Military Police would be forced by public pressure to handle the matter impartially.

“In that case, I won’t make things difficult for Officer Zhao.” Shi Ting looked toward Chief Li. “Chief Li, hand the person over to Officer Zhao.”

Chief Li was stunned. “Director Shi, this…”

“The Inspection Office is a supervisory body. We are obligated to cooperate.” Shi Ting offered no further explanation. “Hand him over.”

Zhao Gang exhaled heavily with relief. He had known this mission would be challenging — Director Shi was not someone easy to deal with. Now, to be able to take the man away smoothly was as good an outcome as he could have hoped for.

“Officer Zhao, please wait a moment while I have the arrangements made.” With that, Shi Ting walked out with Chief Li.

Zhao Gang and the men he had brought were shown to a separate room, where someone brought tea to receive them.

“Director Shi, you truly intend to hand Li Haotian over to them?” Chief Li couldn’t contain his frustration. “He’s going to be handed back to the Military Police in Shun Cheng anyway. Why are they going through all this trouble if they have nothing better to do?”

Shi Ting said, “I only agreed to hand him over to them. Whether they can successfully bring him back to Shun Cheng is another matter entirely.”

Chief Li thought for a moment, then suddenly slapped his own forehead. “I understand now.”

“I’ll have a few words with Li Haotian first. After that, hand him over to them.”

“Yes, sir.” Chief Li walked away in high spirits.

—