Chapter 5: “Ming Fei, Do You Confess?”
The layout of the Huifu Gardens apartments was quite standard. From the entrance, one could see the display cabinet in the living room and the bright, clean balcony.
Therefore, Ming Fei immediately recognized the person holding the gun.
—A dark uniform, an unfamiliar face, hawk-like amber eyes, and the unmistakable emblem of the Court on the right shoulder.
While Executive Officer Min Man allowed Ming Fei to take her in, another Court Executive Officer, Lan Lubai, stepped forward and efficiently handcuffed her.
“Ms. Ming, please come with us.”
Their tone brooked no refusal as they escorted Ming Fei inside.
Shock and bewilderment gave way to a frantic review of her recent actions. Aside from rushing home last week and not having time to assist a sanitation robot near the university bridge, Ming Fei couldn’t think of anything she’d done wrong that would warrant… a visit from the Court.
This thought made her even more worried about her daughter.
Ming Zaozao was so young; seeing so many armed strangers would surely frighten her.
She couldn’t help but ask, “Excuse me, may I ask—”
The gun barrel, previously pressed against her forehead, was now at the back of her head. Min Man, her expression unchanged, warned, “Please keep moving.”
Having no other choice, Ming Fei suppressed her questions.
As they reached the hallway, Ming Fei noticed someone sitting on the sofa. Judging from the woman’s back, she also belonged to the Court, but her position was likely higher than the two escorting her.
Uncertainty and fear churned within Ming Fei.
…What had she done?
Why were so many Court officials at her door?
As far as she knew, the Court, answering only to the current monarch, oversaw and balanced the government and military. They didn’t involve themselves in the affairs of ordinary citizens. And she was absolutely a law-abiding citizen, paying her taxes on time each month, working diligently to contribute to society, and even volunteering with Ming Zaozao in her spare time.
…What possible reason could the Court have for pointing a gun at her head?
Soon, they reached the sofa. The gun barrel moved away from the back of her head. As she looked up, she met a pair of indifferent, deep-set eyes.
A flowerpot on the balcony suddenly fell to the ground. The dull thud reverberated through Ming Fei, her pupils contracting sharply. Her mind blanked, a ringing sound echoing in her ears.
How… How could it be her?
The warm interior lighting usually softened a person’s features, but on this unfamiliar woman’s face, it had the opposite effect. Her striking beauty, captivating enough to be painted, was intensified by the lighting to the point of aggression. Her cool sapphire eyes made her resemble a snow leopard lurking in the high mountains, leisurely awaiting its next hunt.
Ming Fei’s mind was still a blank canvas, her body frozen in place.
It wasn’t until the other two officers gently pressed her onto the sofa that she snapped back to reality.
Her first words were still about Ming Zaozao: “Hello, may I ask where my daughter is now?”
The woman stood up, the medals on her uniform glinting coldly. She didn’t answer, only scrutinized Ming Fei from above, toying with a black Vai M2410 pistol in her hand.
Executive Officer Min Man didn’t let the silence linger.
She got straight to the point. “Hello, Ms. Ming. The Court suspects you of involvement in a gene theft case.”
“And according to Article 43 of the Citizen Protection Law, those who steal or traffic the genes of military personnel shall be convicted according to the highest level of sentencing, punishable by life imprisonment or death.”
Ming Fei was completely dumbfounded.
Gene theft?
The gene theft case that had been all over the news recently?
But… what did that have to do with her? Why would they suspect her?
She was about to defend herself when the woman set down the gun and slowly removed her white gloves. A voice, smooth as jade, suddenly broke the silence.
“—Ming Fei, do you confess?”
Ming Fei had only seen this face on public screens.
—Zhu Yiqiao, the Chief Justice, whom everyone in the Independent State revered and feared.
Compared to her stunningly beautiful face, the public often focused more on her god-like marksmanship, her countless military achievements during her service, and her brilliant career after retiring from the military, appointed as Chief Justice—the youngest in history.
And now, this iron-fisted Chief Justice was asking her if she confessed.
—What crime had she committed?
Ming Fei frowned, asking in return, “Hello, Chief Justice Zhu. I think I need to understand what I’ve supposedly done wrong before I can answer your question.”
“Where were you on May 25, 164 New Era?”
Ming Fei answered truthfully, “The government’s gene cultivation center.”
She remembered it clearly because it was a pivotal moment in her life. Five days later, she was informed that she had passed the gene matching screening test.
“What about September 1, 164 New Era?”
Ming Fei continued, “That morning I was at home. The university semester had just started, and I didn’t have any classes scheduled yet. At 3:30 pm, the gene cultivation center called to inform me that the gene matching was successful. Around 4:00 pm, I drove to the North District.”
A cold glint flashed in Zhu Yiqiao’s eyes.
She picked up the Vai M2410 pistol again and walked directly to Ming Fei. Her dark cape billowed slightly. Before Ming Fei could react, the gun barrel was pressed against her chin, forcing her to look up and face the woman holding it.
“You’re lying.”
The power dynamic was clear; Ming Fei had no room to resist.
Meeting her gaze, she said, word by word, “I’m not lying. Everything I said is true. If you have any doubts about my statement, please present evidence.”
“Even the Court doesn’t have the right to arbitrarily arrest citizens.”
Zhu Yiqiao’s grip on the pistol was firm and elegant. She shifted the gun from beneath Ming Fei’s chin to above, her slender index finger resting on the trigger, ready to unleash the sound of gunfire.
“Waaah, waaaah, waaaah—”
A child’s cries echoed from the bedroom. Zhu Yiqiao’s eyes darkened, her grip on the gun tightening slightly. “On September 1, 164 New Era, after being informed of the successful gene matching, you went to Jing’an Gold Shop, owned by the SE Group, in Minghu Plaza in the North District.”
“According to our investigation, Jing’an Gold Shop is a key location in the SE Group’s gene theft operation.”
“Ming Fei, can you explain this coincidence?”
Samantha Eden, or SE Group, had been the largest multinational corporation in the Yi Meng Independent State since the beginning of the New Era. Its businesses were diverse and its internal power structure intricate. The CEO frequently attended charity events, topping the list of outstanding entrepreneurs for several years running, with a near-perfect image in the media.
If not for the solid evidence traced directly back to them, the public would never have associated SE Group with treason and gene theft.
Hearing her daughter’s cries, Ming Fei spoke urgently, “I was overjoyed after the successful gene matching and eagerly awaited her arrival. Jing’an Gold Shop in the North District is the best gold shop in Xi He City. I went there simply to buy a safety lock pendant for my daughter in advance.”
“I didn’t know Jing’an Gold Shop was involved in any of this. You can check the surveillance footage from that day. I spoke with the manager on the first floor and left. My only contact with the gold shop was for the custom design and picking up the finished product. I truly have nothing to do with the gene theft you mentioned.”
“Unfortunately,” Zhu Yiqiao said coldly, “until this matter is fully investigated, you must come with us.”
Ming Fei understood the severity of gene theft and was willing to cooperate with the Court’s investigation, but she was deeply concerned about Ming Zaozao. So she pleaded, “Could you please give me a few minutes? My daughter is only two years old, and I want to—”
Zhu Yiqiao cut her off. “You don’t have the right to make demands.”
The color drained from Ming Fei’s face.
As if thinking of something, Lan Lubai, while restraining Ming Fei again, murmured, “Don’t worry. Secretary-General Wei Lingyu is inside looking after your… daughter. She knows your friend Li Xing and will take her to Li Xing’s place until this matter is resolved.”
At eight o’clock in the evening, as predicted, the autumn rain arrived.
The downpour, deepening the autumn chill and shrouding Xi He City in mist, didn’t cease until noon the following day. It relented only briefly, resuming as a light drizzle the next morning.
“September 13, 167 New Era, 09:05, weather—”
The daily broadcast on the display screen was paused. Executive Officer Lan Lubai removed her uniform jacket, gathering her long, wavy hair into a bun.
She fetched two cups of coffee, one for her friend Min Man.
“Min Man, what do you think the boss is thinking right now?” She recalled the image of Ming Yi. “That little girl is so adorable, with her round face and round eyes. I thought she’d look more like our boss, but she’s surprisingly cute.”
Min Man took a sip of coffee and then pulled up Ming Yi’s file, which they had received earlier.
The file, sent by the government’s gene cultivation center and updated every three months, documented the child’s development.
She read it carefully, Lan Lubai leaning in, equally absorbed.
“Zaozao, such a cute nickname.”
*Zao means “jujube” or “date” (the sweet, red fruit), Doubled as Zaozao, it becomes a playful term of endearment, like calling someone “little date” or “sweet jujube.”*
“Haha.” Lan Lubai patted her friend’s shoulder. “Min Man, the little girl is just like you! You both love grapes and strawberries.”
“She also likes playing with toy guns, that’s like our boss.”
The two executive officers, formidable figures on the battlefield and second-in-command at the Court, spent ten minutes poring over this simple personal file, eight of those minutes discussing Ming Zaozao’s developmental milestones.
Closing the file, Min Man asked with interest, “When do you think Wei Lingyu will call us?”
“Call us?” Lan Lubai looked confused. “Why would she call us?”
“Weren’t you paying attention?”
“What?”
Min Man propped her chin on her hand. “In Zaozao’s file, the ‘favorite things’, ‘favorite person’, and ‘favorite gift’ sections are all filled with her mother’s name. She’s smart; she must have sensed something was wrong yesterday afternoon. So, when do you think our Secretary-General Wei will bring her over?”
“Not necessarily. The little girl might still be asleep.”
Min Man: “Let’s wait and see.”
“Fine, I’ll bet on it.” Lan Lubai lowered her voice. “But we’ve investigated everything, and we haven’t found anything suspicious about Ming Fei. All the data and surveillance footage actually prove her innocence. According to Court regulations, detention is limited to 48 hours. Do you think it might really just be a coincidence?”
“What did the interrogator say?”
“Impeccable.”
Min Man raised an eyebrow and pulled up the interrogation video from the internal system. But after only thirty seconds, she received a video call request from Wei Lingyu.
“So soon?” Lan Lubai urged. “Answer it!”
Min Man accepted the call, and the display screen showed the view from the other end. Wei Lingyu wasn’t indoors, but seemed to be in a vehicle.
“Is the Chief Justice available?”
“Yes.” Min Man asked, “Where are you?”
A small figure popped into view—Ming Zaozao, her little face red from crying. She was dressed in a pale yellow penguin outfit, her curly hair loose. Seeing them, she immediately explained, “Hello, Aunties.”
“Baby misses Mama, Baby wants to see Mama.”
“Baby knows Mama is with you.” Ming Zaozao dramatically declared, “If Baby can’t see Mama, Baby will get sick, catch a cold, won’t be able to eat or sleep, and have bad dreams.”
“Baby wants to see Mama.” Ming Zaozao’s eyes welled with tears. “Please, Auntie.”
Lan Lubai opened her mouth to speak but then sighed, turning her head.
This wasn’t their decision to make. According to regulations, visits weren’t generally allowed during this type of detention unless there were special circumstances. Of course, there was an exception—with the approval of the Chief Justice, the highest authority in the Court.
Min Man looked at Ming Zaozao for a moment and then explained, “Zaozao, do you remember the auntie with the blue eyes? The one who helped you pick up your toys?”
Ming Zaozao nodded.
“Auntie has to ask her before I can answer you because she’s our boss.” Min Man tried to soothe her. “Can Zaozao wait a little while?”
Ming Zaozao wiped her tears, her docility tugging at their heartstrings.
“Okay, thank you, Auntie.”
She sniffled and, determined to see her mother, managed to string together a full sentence. “Auntie, can Baby talk to that auntie? Baby wants to tell her that Mama is the bestest person ever.”
Min Man didn’t hesitate. The request wasn’t unreasonable, and besides, they both knew about the mother-daughter relationship.
“Alright.”
Ming Zaozao thanked her again. “Thank you, Auntie.”
The Chief Justice’s office was on the sixteenth floor of the Court building, six floors above the executive officers, second only to her in rank. After passing through the carved dragon stone pillars, the surrealist art gallery, and the grand emblem symbolizing the connection between Yi Meng Independent State and the Court, Min Man and Lan Lubai finally reached the office door and pressed the access panel.
The high-security door slid open, granting them entry after verifying their identities.
Inside, they found the woman, dressed in her uniform undershirt, standing by the window, overlooking the fog-shrouded Aylona statue and the entire South District.
Her back was straight, the belt accentuating her narrow waist and long legs, her proportions flawless. Hearing their approach, she didn’t turn, her gaze still fixed on the view outside.
“Is there a new investigative update to report?”
Ming Zaozao’s voice came from the video call, “Auntie, are we there yet?”
At this, the impassive Zhu Yiqiao finally turned, her gaze meeting Ming Zaozao’s on the display screen.
Ming Zaozao, unaware of Zhu Yiqiao’s other role in her life, filled the screen with her chubby little face. She greeted the auntie politely, followed by a string of compliments, before finally summoning the courage to ask, “Pretty Auntie, can Baby go see Mama?”
Her eyes reddened again. “Baby really misses Mama.”