Bai Jin called out that something was wrong, and several police officers immediately rushed in from outside, working together to help Baofu up.

Baofu was foaming at the mouth, his eyes rolled back, already drawing in breath but no longer breathing out.

“Where is Forensic Examiner Ren? Come quickly and save him.”

Baofu was swiftly carried to the forensic examination room. Though a forensic examiner was not a doctor, their first aid techniques were certainly more professional than an ordinary person’s, their knowledge far greater, and they could prove useful in critical moments.

“He’s been poisoned,” Forensic Examiner Ren said with a grave expression. “The dosage is considerable. I’ll see what I can do.”

On the other side of the glass, those who had been observing immediately broke into discussion when Baofu collapsed.

“To think that the attendant at Yanque Tower was the real culprit all along — Young Master Li was wrongly accused.”

“But this Baofu is just a mere attendant. He went through all this trouble to frame Young Master Li — what could he possibly gain from it?”

The question was met with silence. Everyone had their own scale of judgment and their own conclusions to draw.

“Sir, which newspaper are you from?” A young man with slicked-back hair and glasses beside him turned to look at Zhao Gang.

Zhao Gang quickly replied, “I’m not from any newspaper.”

“I thought you were from a newspaper — I was hoping to discuss headline ideas with you.” The bespectacled young man’s face lit up with excitement. “This is my first time attending an interrogation at the Military Police Division. The evidence laid out one piece at a time, the deductions presented one after another — even if the criminal had three heads and six arms, they could only bow their head and accept defeat.”

Someone nearby chimed in, “I’ve long heard of Director Shi’s reputation. He truly lives up to it.”

“Are you all from the newspapers?” Zhao Gang asked curiously.

“We’re all from different papers.” The surrounding men and women each gave him a nod. “We were invited by Director Shi to sit in as observers.”

“By the way, what do you all think of this headline I came up with…”

The group quickly huddled together again, whispering amongst themselves, apparently working out what headlines each of them would draft when they returned.

This was the first time Zhao Gang had seen the Military Police Division allow newspaper reporters to observe an interrogation. And it wasn’t only the reporters — had he himself, an officer from the Inspection Bureau, not also been seated here? As for why Shi Ting had made such an arrangement, even if Zhao Gang were slow-witted, he understood it completely by now.

His admiration for this Director Shi only deepened.

Rumors were swirling wildly outside. If the Military Police Division had closed its doors to handle the case, no matter how solid the evidence, public opinion would still twist it — people would say the Division dared not offend Li Yongqi and had bent the law for personal gain, deliberately finding a scapegoat to take the blame for Li Haotian.

Now, the entire interrogation process had been open and transparent, especially with the participation of these newspaper reporters. The Military Police Division only needed to wait for them to wrap up the case. By early the next morning, newspapers proclaiming Li Haotian’s exoneration would be scattered across every street and alley.

Zhao Gang also believed now that Li Haotian had not fled — he had very likely been taken under the protection of the Military Police Division. But where Li Haotian was no longer mattered, because his suspicion had been completely cleared.

About half an hour passed before someone walked out of the forensic examination room. From the expression on that person’s face, everyone could vaguely guess the outcome.

A moment later, a police officer entered the room and said apologetically: “We’ve kept everyone waiting. The suspect, unable to withstand the pressure of the ironclad evidence, took his own life out of guilt. The forensic examiner found traces of poison in his teeth — he had concealed the poison in a cavity beforehand.”

As the officer spoke, he displayed the evidence for everyone to see. Reporters from the various newspapers rose to photograph it.

“Thank you all for your hard work. The branch office has prepared a simple meal — please go and have something to eat.”

The reporters, however, had no appetite for food. Their minds were set on returning to write their articles for the next day’s paper. Li Haotian’s grievance had been cleared and the true culprit had met justice — this was major news, and newspaper sales were sure to soar.

Everyone expressed their thanks and then gradually took their leave from the branch office.

In the end, only Zhao Gang and a few officers from the Inspection Bureau remained, standing there in a somewhat awkward silence.

The young police officer was exceedingly courteous. “Officer Zhao, please go ahead and eat. Director Shi is still handling a few matters and won’t be free for some time.”

Zhao Gang led his people to eat. After the meal, Shi Ting was still inside. Not wanting to disturb him — and frankly having no face to do so — he said to the young officer on duty: “Since there’s nothing more for us here, we’ll head back to Shun Cheng.”

The young officer smiled and produced several train tickets from his pocket. “The tickets have already been purchased. Director Shi said that you’re all new to this area, and the train station is a mixed crowd of all sorts — it would be troublesome if something like last time were to happen again.”

Zhao Gang could hardly miss the sarcasm in those words. But this time it was they who had disrupted the other’s plans, so he could hardly blame anyone for the veiled jabs.

He accepted the tickets, offered his thanks, and quickly departed with his subordinates. Once back, he would still have to figure out how to explain everything to Director Xie — and after learning the outcome, Director Xie would surely not be able to sit still either.

The young police officer returned inside and saluted Shi Ting, who was speaking with Director Li: “Director Shi, everything has been arranged.”

“Noted.” Shi Ting glanced at his watch. “I’ll leave the remaining matters to Director Li. I’m going to check on Li Haotian.”

After Shi Ting returned to the Wen Mansion, Wen Xu hurried over immediately, with Yan Qing and Wen Yan at his side.

Everyone knew that Shi Ting’s return at this hour meant the case had progressed, and they were eager to hear the news.

Of course, none was more impatient than Li Haotian himself.

Li Haotian had spent the better part of the day at the Wen household in a state of anxious restlessness. Wen Xu had specially ordered a generous spread of food and wine for him, but he had barely touched any of it.

The moment he heard footsteps outside, Li Haotian leapt to his feet.

When Jin Shan outside the door said “Young Master,” he knew it was Shi Ting who had arrived.

At this moment, Li Haotian had placed all his hope in Shi Ting. To him, Shi Ting was a savior — a living Buddha he could put his faith in.

When Shi Ting entered the room, the first thing he did was hand a key to Jin Shan. Jin Shan stepped forward immediately and unlocked Li Haotian’s handcuffs. From having worn them so long, a ring of red marks had risen on his wrists.

“I apologize for that,” Shi Ting said.

Li Haotian paid no mind to such a minor injury and asked urgently: “Director Shi, how did the case go? Has the culprit been found?”

“Found.”

At Shi Ting’s words, not only did Li Haotian let out a long breath of relief — Yan Qing, Wen Xu, and the others all broke into smiles.

Shi Ting gave a brief account of how Baofu had committed the crime, and finally added: “Baofu took his own life out of guilt.”

This was something no one had anticipated, though most assumed he had known he would not escape death regardless and preferred to end things swiftly.

Yan Qing, however, furrowed her brow slightly, lost in thought.

Li Haotian looked puzzled. “Director Shi, although I was acquainted with that Baofu, we had no entangled interests. I actually tipped him better than the other servants at Yanque Tower. I cannot fathom why he would go to such elaborate lengths to frame me — what could he possibly gain from it?”

Shi Ting said: “Baofu is dead, but our people are still investigating. He was methodical, though, and likely left nothing behind. Determining his true motive will be no easy task.”

“Forget it.” Li Haotian sighed. “It’s either money or some grudge he held against me. Over the years, I’ve been indulging in pleasure and debauchery, and I’ve used my status to wrong quite a few people. Those people may not have dared offend me to my face, but who’s to say they wouldn’t stab me in the back.”

Li Haotian was still thinking in too simple terms. He did not know that he had been nothing more than a pawn in someone else’s struggle for power and influence — and that his status made him a very convenient pawn at that.

“Master, someone has come from outside,” Tongshun rushed in, “It’s the military — Deputy Aide Dai, the same one who came before.”

Li Haotian’s eyes lit up. “It’s my father.”

Tongshun said with some difficulty: “Deputy Aide Dai is asking for Director Shi. He says Colonel Li has invited Director Shi to the Li Mansion for a meeting.”

Li Haotian’s face fell with disappointment, and a flicker of confusion crossed his eyes.

Shi Ting rose to his feet. “I happen to have something to discuss with Colonel Li as well. What a coincidence.”

He turned to Li Haotian: “Young Master Li, I’m headed to the Li Mansion — it’s on the way.”

At this, Li Haotian hesitated. To speak truthfully, he both longed for Li Yongqi to come for him and feared going home to face punishment under house rules, leaving him caught between wanting to go and not daring to.

What was more, Deputy Aide Dai had asked specifically for Shi Ting by name — how could he shamelessly tag along?

Seeing his hesitation, Jin Shan couldn’t help but interject: “When our Young Master was at the branch office earlier, Colonel Li’s people didn’t come for him. Now that he’s back at the Wen Mansion, the Colonel’s men arrived right away. My guess is that Colonel Li knows perfectly well that our Young Master is together with Young Master Li.”

Jin Shan’s words gave Li Haotian a very convenient stepping stone. Hearing Shi Ting speak as he had, Li Haotian set aside his pride. “Then I shall accompany Director Shi. Director Shi is a guest, and I am half the host — it is only right that I extend proper hospitality.”

Tongshun said: “Deputy Aide Dai also extended an invitation to the master, the young mistress, and the guest young mistress to come as guests as well.”

Upon hearing that Colonel Li had invited him as well, Wen Xu’s face immediately brightened. He had been worrying over the matter with the newspapers, which had taken a tone of high moral indignation that made it seem as though he had orchestrated the whole thing. While he had indeed wanted the culprit found quickly, it was merely to put his wife at ease — who would willingly offend the commanding officer of an entire region over something like this? When Shi Ting had then asked Li Haotian to take refuge at his home, Wen Xu had agreed immediately, even at the risk of being charged with harboring a suspect, simply because he had no wish to make an enemy of the Li family. He was a merchant; the Li family was in power. To offend the Li family would be like throwing an egg against a stone — it could very well make his position in Taishan untenable.

Now hearing that Colonel Li had invited him personally, Wen Xu was naturally pleased. At the same time, he quietly wiped cold sweat from his brow. It was a relief the culprit had not turned out to be Young Master Li — otherwise he truly would have been caught between two fires.

The group made their preparations and set off in two automobiles for the Li Mansion.

—