Nominal: The Handong Game, the Energy System's Counterattack

"Old Gao," Wu Huifen said anxiously, "my sister insisted on coming to find you, I couldn't stop her..."

Gao Yuliang was still seething with anger, and when he saw the two women, he choked.

He glanced at Qi Tongwei, who was still standing in front of the desk. Qi Tongwei was also looking at him, and the two exchanged glances.

Qi Tongwei lowered his head first—the teacher couldn't keep him here, nor could he send him away, but keeping him would be even more embarrassing.

"Xiao He, you can go out now." Gao Yuliang waved his hand, then forced a smile at Wu Xinyi. "Judge Wu is here? Have a seat."

Wu Xinyi did not sit down.

She strode to the desk and slammed her bag down on it with a loud thud, startling Qi Tongwei, who was still somewhat dazed from being scolded.

"Secretary Gao," Gao Yuliang knew he was in for a tough time as soon as Wu Xinyi addressed him, "Where's my daughter?"

Before Gao Yuliang could speak, Qi Tongwei instinctively wanted to shrink back—he had personally witnessed Lu Yike being taken away by the Discipline Inspection Commission.

Gao Yuliang stood up, walked around the desk, and said, "Sit down first, have some water, and I'll explain it to you slowly."

"I won't sit!" Wu Xinyi raised her voice. Her face looked terrible, and her eyes were red, clearly from crying.

"Secretary Gao, I went to the procuratorate today. Ji Changming said that my daughter's case was a decision made by the provincial party committee, and he couldn't interfere."

"Let me ask you this: you are the Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, the highest-ranking leader in the province's political and legal system. What law did my daughter break?"

"On what grounds did you suspend her from her post? On what grounds did you take her away?"

"She's an anti-corruption investigator who's spent her whole life arresting corrupt officials. What problems could she possibly have?"

"If she really has a problem, is there anyone in Handong who doesn't?"

"Gao Yuliang, let me tell you, if you don't explain yourself clearly today, I'm not letting this go!"

Upon hearing Wu Xinyi's announcement of a full-scale attack, Gao Yuliang and Qi Tongwei's expressions turned sour.

But they couldn't say anything to Wu Xinyi.

Wu Huifen also felt embarrassed for Lao Gao, and tugged at her sleeve, saying, "Sister, keep your voice down, Tongwei is still here—"

Wu Xinyi turned her head: "What's wrong with Qi Tongwei?"

Judge Wu didn't care about any of that; she simply didn't like Qi Tongwei.

Feeling a little embarrassed by being ignored by a retired judge, Qi Tongwei coughed lightly.

"Judge Wu, Director Lu... she is indeed rushing things. As for Ding Yizhen's case, procedurally, there might be—"

"Maybe? What do you mean, maybe?!" Wu Xinyi's anger flared even more. "Ding Yizhen's escape was caused by your delays!"

Judge Wu pointed at Gao Yuliang, then looked at Qi Tongwei.

"Given Yi Ke's personality, he would have been detained that very night. Would he even have had a chance to board the plane?"

"Now look what's happened, they're arresting the investigators! Qi Tongwei, let me ask you, as the Director of the Public Security Bureau, did you know beforehand that the Discipline Inspection Commission was taking people away from your area?"

What? The Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection is handling a case, and they want to notify me, the head of the Public Security Bureau?

Qi Tongwei was taken aback when Judge Wu directly attacked him, and for a moment he didn't know what to do.

He mentally slapped himself, thinking, "Serves you right for being so talkative. Why did you have to open your mouth at a time like this?"

He opened his mouth, but didn't say anything more. He couldn't afford to mess with a woman like that.

Seeing Wu Xinyi's unreasonable demands for Lu Yike's sake and her tendency to argue with anyone, even Gao Yuliang was at a loss.

He raised his hand to press his temples, and asked Wu Huifen to help Wu Xinyi onto the sofa first. He then sat down opposite her, and Wu Huifen quickly went to the tea room to pour tea.

Gao Yuliang sat down opposite Wu Xinyi, suppressing his impatience and adopting a more patient tone.

"Judge Wu, please don't worry."

"I know about what happened. The investigation is a normal procedure, not a conviction."

"She will come back once the truth is found out."

"Normal procedure?" Wu Xinyi's voice shrieked.

"What kind of normal procedure is it to arrest someone without even giving prior notice? What kind of normal procedure is it to label a prosecutor who has served for ten years as 'ineffective in handling the case'?"

"Secretary Gao, you can't just stand by and watch Yi be bullied!"

"Sister, calm down." Wu Huifen put the teacup on the coffee table and pulled Wu Xinyi's arm. "Old Gao will handle it. Let him finish speaking first."

"After the Standing Committee meeting adjourned yesterday, Comrade Guofu arranged for the Discipline Inspection Commission to take action—not targeting Yi Ke personally."

"You know how bad the impact of Ding Yizhen's escape was. The new Secretary Sha has inquired about it, so an investigation is necessary."

"The provincial party committee's intention this time is to suspend the person first, cooperate with the investigation, and let them come back once the investigation is completed and there are no problems."

"We know what kind of person Yike is. She might be a bit impulsive, but she should be fine."

"Then why suspend him? Suspension means there's a problem!" Wu Xinyi's eyes reddened.

"Her father is in the army and rarely home, so I raised her by myself."

"The day she joined the anti-corruption bureau, I told her, 'It's better to handle a case poorly than to have people gossip about it.'"

"Has she ever felt guilty, all day long?"

"Gao Yuliang, tell me the truth, isn't it? Is someone using this to frame our family?"

She glanced at Qi Tongwei, who was still standing, and said, "Let's hope we don't end up being used as scapegoats."

Qi Tongwei felt a little uneasy under Judge Wu's seemingly undirected gaze and lowered his head slightly.

"No," Gao Yuliang answered decisively, "It's Secretary Sha's intention, and also the provincial party committee's intention."

"Ding Yizhen's case has had a very bad impact. If someone with ulterior motives uses the case of a department-level cadre fleeing abroad to make a fuss, our entire Handong Provincial Party Committee will be in a very passive position."

"This matter must be investigated."

"I'll keep an eye on things over there; I won't let her suffer."

"But these are extraordinary times, and we must obey the provincial party committee's decision."

"Trust me, as long as Yike is alright, she'll be back soon."

"I've already spoken to Secretary Guofu; the investigation team was jointly dispatched by the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Procuratorate, so they won't make things difficult for her."

He paused, then added, "If she really takes on something she shouldn't, I, as the secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, will be the first to object."

These words reassured Wu Xinyi, but only half of them.

Wu Xinyi was an extremely intelligent person. She understood the implication in Gao Yuliang's words, "Secretary Sha's meaning"—that Gao Yuliang couldn't cover this up either.

Gao Yuliang brought up the newly appointed provincial party secretary, Sha Ruijin, which finally calmed down the unreasonable Judge Wu.

Wu Huifen picked up a cup of tea and handed it over, trying to smooth things over: "Sister, Lao Gao has said everything he could. He's caught in the middle between the Provincial Party Committee and the Discipline Inspection Commission, so it's not easy for him."

"With Ji Changming overseeing things at the procuratorate, the child won't be wronged."

"Go back first, don't make a scene here at the provincial party committee building, or someone will see you—"

Before Wu Xinyi could say anything more, Wu Huifen held her back tightly.

Wu Huifen winked at Gao Yuliang: "Old Gao, you go ahead with your work, I'll go back with my sister."

Wu Xinyi was half-pulled to her feet by Wu Huifen, but as she left, Wu Xinyi still gave Qi Tongwei a deep look.