Above the Galaxy
Chapter 354 - 229, The Child Who Was Burned to Death!_2

Chapter 354: Chapter 229, The Child Who Was Burned to Death!_2

Zhong Jiayuan’s smile had long since vanished, and he asked his close confidant in a grave tone, "Do you think it’s better for Tang Fei to be suspected or to be free of suspicion?"

Zhao Xizhi hesitated, then quickly replied, "It’s better to be without suspicion, better without suspicion..."

If Tang Fei were suspected, they would have to take action against him.

This would inevitably offend Her Highness the Princess and Great Grandmaster Xuanyuan Mingjing, and now the Finance Minister’s daughter...

Although this was in service to the nation, why did it have to be them doing it?

Others might take action, but Zhong Jiayuan himself did not want to get involved.

Besides, they had already cleared Tang Fei of suspicion in the afternoon and refused to search his house.

If they decided in the evening that Tang Fei was indeed harboring an assassin, then they would be committing dereliction of duty.

They had not gone home for the holidays, braving the wind and snow for most of the night, all to capture a murderer and achieve commendation.

If the person apprehended were Tang Fei, not only would unit five receive no merit, they might all be summoned by the Internal Affairs Department to check if anyone there was in cahoots with him.

Otherwise, why hadn’t they searched Tang Fei’s house?

Once in the Internal Affairs Department, a stain left on their records, how could they ever hope for promotions or raises?

Who would sabotage their own future?

Zhong Jiayuan might not know how to handle cases, but he knew how to navigate bureaucracy.

Sure enough, as soon as Zhong Jiayuan posed the question, Zhao Xizhi instantly grasped the crux of the matter.

Having easily let Tang Fei go in the afternoon and maintained good relations with unit five, being free of suspicion was most beneficial to them.

Even if there were suspicion, they would have to find a way to clear it; if unit six came along and confirmed Tang Fei was harboring the culprit...

Then no one in unit five from top to bottom would escape unscathed.

Not only would Zhong Jiayuan, head of unit five, be in jeopardy, but could his position as the team leader of division three be secure? Wouldn’t any new leader want to promote their own people?

"What should we do now?" Zhao Xizhi asked.

"Let’s wait," Zhong Jiayuan said, "wait for the inspection results."

"Yes. I’ll have the brothers reinforce surveillance and dismiss all suspicious individuals."

Zhong Jiayuan patted Zhao Xizhi’s shoulder and said, "If we find any suspicious individuals, we might as well detain a few... It’s the festive season after all, we should earn some merits for the brothers. It’s important to show the higher-ups that unit five diligently handles its duties."

"Yes," Zhao Xizhi bowed in response.

Sheng Xinhua, holding Tang Fei’s arm with bright eyes, surveyed Tang Fei’s profile and asked, "How about it? Was my timing not perfect?"

"Our meeting was scheduled for nine o’clock, and you were late," Tang Fei complained playfully.

Tang Fei, wanting to ensure his plan was foolproof, had especially called Sheng Xinhua before dinner, inviting him to attend the New Year’s event at Imperial Square.

One reason was to create an impression that he was busy dating and had no time for their nonsense, that these matters were unrelated to him.

Moreover, with the identity of the Finance Minister’s daughter, even if minor issues arose, people would likely be more tolerant due to the Finance Minister’s influence.

Zhong Jiayuan clearly recognized Sheng Xinhua—just now, he had been extremely respectful to him, and he knew well that he stood not just with Her Highness and the Great Grandmaster but also the Finance Minister behind him...

Tang Fei, you truly are a ruthless pretty boy.

Tang Fei had even started to despise himself.

"Yo, you still dare to blame me?" Sheng Xinhua said indignantly, "Look how many people are on the roads, it’s impossible for cars to get out..."

"I don’t have a flying car, and even if I did, it would be impossible to find a parking space today... I walked all the way here, Miss."

Tang Fei, looking at Sheng Xinhua’s slightly flushed cheeks and the fine beads of sweat on her forehead, realized that it was indeed a challenge for the young lady.

Sheng Xinhua wasn’t skilled in spiritual practice—walking from her home to Phoenix Square must have been quite a distance.

With strong winds and heavy snow, it truly wasn’t easy.

"It must have been hard for you, Mr. Sheng," Tang Fei said.

"How about it?" Sheng Xinhua slightly tilted her face upwards, her voice tender and magnetic, "Are you moved?"

"I dare not be moved."

Sheng Xinhua rolled her eyes and retorted, "Coward."

"..."

Seeing Tang Fei speechless, Sheng Xinhua giggled brightly.

After laughing for a while, Sheng Xinhua asked, "How did the people from the Monitoring Bureau find you?"

"Do you know them?" Tang Fei curiously asked.

"I’m not an idiot, they were wearing uniforms from the Monitoring Bureau. Plus, Zhong Jiayuan, being one of the prominent young figures of Phoenix City and coming from the Royal Family, working in a powerful department like the Monitoring Bureau... naturally, he wouldn’t lack exposure."

"They suspect me of harboring a murderer," Tang Fei said.

"A murderer?" Sheng Xinhua’s eyes sparkled with increasing brightness, clearly very interested in the topic, "What murderer? Who was killed?"

"It’s about the recent high-profile murder case in Phoenix City," Tang Fei said with an aggrieved look, frustrated, "When they were chasing the murderer, he escaped... Then they suspected the wounded murderer might be hiding in our area."

"This afternoon, the people from the Monitoring Bureau have already searched house by house. I invited them into my home to search, but they declined... And in the evening, they said I had brought out the murderer."