A few minutes later.
Police sirens wailed outside the hotel, red and blue lights flashing in the night.
Ye Zhengnian, dressed in a white shirt, strode into the hotel. He was a significant figure in Jiangning's education system, ranking among the top three. However, compared to the old patriarch, the Ye family had declined considerably. Thus, the Ye family pinned their hopes on their vast network to propel Ye Zifeng to another peak and solidify the family's status.
Now, Ye Zifeng was in trouble!
Ye Zhengnian's face was grim, his mind racing with thoughts of making the perpetrators pay a heavy price.
On his way to the hotel, Ye Zhengnian had called Ye Zifeng several times, but no one answered. This filled him with an ominous premonition, and his steps unconsciously quickened.
Arriving outside the private room, Ye Zhengnian's expression was so dark it seemed to drip with water.
He pushed the door open and walked in, his eyes immediately falling upon his son and daughter-in-law, forced to kneel on the ground. Enraged, he roared, "Zifeng, get up! Who the hell did this to you?"
Ye Zifeng and Yun Yixue were overjoyed.
They quickly rose. Yun Yixue sobbed, "Dad, it was this man and woman. They even stuck chopsticks into Zifeng's wrist! Look, they're truly insane."
Ye Zhengnian lowered his head and saw a chopstick brutally impaled through Ye Zifeng's wrist. His lips trembled with heartache. "Zifeng, bear with it for now. Dad will find the best hospital for you."
Ye Zifeng gritted his teeth, enduring the pain. "Dad, I'm fine."
Ye Zhengnian nodded and looked at Chen Jinzhao, his pupils contracting as he spotted the firearm on the table.
"Good, you dare to use illegal weapons! I'll see you locked up for life!"
Shangguan Yu'an chuckled mockingly. "That belongs to your son."
Ye Zhengnian froze, momentarily speechless, but quickly sneered, "Ridiculous! How could my son possess a firearm? Don't deny it. You can explain yourselves to the police."
After saying this, Ye Zhengnian glared at Ye Zifeng, warning him for his carelessness. If he hadn't arrived in time, what would have happened if this had been exposed?
Ye Zifeng dejectedly lowered his head.
"Trying to frame us? Heh, you've miscalculated. We hold firearms legally. My gun is right here." Shangguan Yu'an placed her service pistol on the table, making Ye Zhengnian's heart race.
Shangguan Yu'an was Chen Jinzhao's deputy and was authorized to carry a firearm.
Cold sweat beaded on Ye Zhengnian's forehead. He realized the identities of the two before him were likely not simple. After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "May I ask where you two are from?"
"No comment!" Shangguan Yu'an replied.
Ye Zhengnian's eyes darted around. He was convinced Shangguan Yu'an was bluffing. If these two had any real backing, with their youthful and arrogant demeanor, they wouldn't be able to resist revealing their identities immediately.
"Heh heh..." He chuckled.
"You don't even dare to state your identity, afraid of being exposed?"
"I gave you a chance. If you don't cherish it, you'll have to talk to the police."
Ye Zifeng whispered a few words in Ye Zhengnian's ear. Ye Zhengnian's gaze fell on Qian Deshui, and then he smiled, "As for Qian Deshui, let's stay and talk business. Any objections?"
Qian Deshui dared not have any.
At that moment, many uniformed officers entered the private room, evidently summoned by Ye Zhengnian.
Ye Zhengnian smiled, "These two have guns on them. In my opinion, shouldn't we shoot them on the spot? To prevent them from resisting and spraying our comrades indiscriminately."
The uniformed officers immediately became vigilant. They were unaware of the conflict and genuinely believed Chen Jinzhao and Shangguan Yu'an to be criminals.
Shangguan Yu'an's face turned icy cold. "Abusing public power, a crime punishable by double penalty!"
Ye Zhengnian smiled faintly. "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm merely seeking police protection. On the contrary, you openly carry firearms in the city. Executing you on the spot would not be an exaggeration."
"Ye Zhengnian, you're finished," Shangguan Yu'an declared.
Ye Zhengnian didn't take it to heart.
Ye Zifeng jeered, "Weren't you guys acting all tough just now? Why aren't you so tough now? Open your dog eyes and see what 'connections' mean!"
Shangguan Yu'an turned to look at Chen Jinzhao, finding him as calm as ever. This guy! Even at this moment, he could remain composed. Truly a peculiar person!
"Act! Arrest them and take them back for interrogation!" the captain of the criminal police declared.
Shangguan Yu'an had intended to act, but seeing Chen Jinzhao make no move, she decided to accompany them to the police station first. She understood what Chen Jinzhao was concerned about.
Just then, an argument erupted outside the private room door.
"Make way!"
"If that person has any trouble, all of you will be finished!" Li Zengqi's domineering voice echoed in the corridor.
Shangguan Yu'an finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Ye Zhengnian's expression changed slightly. He wondered who dared to speak so boldly in Jiangning. He sternly eyed the doorway, and soon, Li Zengqi, dressed in military uniform, along with several soldiers, entered the room.
This scene made the uniformed officers in the room even more bewildered, completely unaware of what was happening.
Li Zengqi surveyed the room, held up his identification, and said to the captain of the criminal police team, "Li Zengqi of the Jiangnan Military Region. I order you to immediately drop your weapons and withdraw from the room!"
The captain's eyes widened. After examining Li Zengqi's ID a few times, his face paled dramatically. Without even looking at Ye Zhengnian, he waved his hand at his subordinates and said, "All personnel, withdraw from the room and await further orders!"
Before leaving, the captain saluted Li Zengqi.
Ye Zhengnian's mind was still reeling, utterly confused about the current situation. Only after all the police officers had withdrawn from the room did Ye Zhengnian slowly regain his senses and cast a look of awe at Li Zengqi.
"Secretary Li, what is this..." Ye Zhengnian dared not even breathe loudly. Li Zengqi was Wu Dingfeng's secretary, and Wu Dingfeng was the head of the Jiangnan Military Region, a man powerful enough to crush the entire Ye family! Seeing Li Zengqi was like seeing Wu Dingfeng himself! He vaguely guessed something and said weakly, "Secretary Li, I believe this is a misunderstanding."
Li Zengqi narrowed his eyes and stared at Ye Zhengnian, intensifying the pressure on his shoulders. Li Zengqi sneered, "A misunderstanding? Your Ye family's precious son pointed a gun at our important military officer without restraint. Do you know what crime that is? Don't even think about getting him out. I will report this matter truthfully to Old Master Wu and send Ye Zifeng to a military tribunal!"
"What?!" Ye Zhengnian's face turned ashen. He turned to look at Chen Jinzhao and Shangguan Yu'an, asking incredulously, "Secretary Li, are you joking with me? He's so young, how can he be a general?"
"You are not qualified to know that," Li Zengqi said coldly. "You only need to know that I will not and cannot lie about such matters. As for the person sitting next to Chen Jinzhao, do you know who she is?"
"Shangguan Yu'an, the most beloved granddaughter of Elder Shangguan from Yanjing."