122: Chapter 122 Rescuing the Framed

Xiao Bei took the disc labeled with Qin Ruoxi's name.

"Notify Director Zhao Ming, and tell him to arrange for people to protect County Magistrate Xuan Lingyu and all the witnesses before he leaves. Do not trust anyone easily."

That night, Xiao Bei's car headed towards the provincial capital.

Meanwhile, in an interrogation room at the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, Qin Ruoxi remained calm in the face of questioning by the investigators:

"I have never accepted any bribes. Those so-called pieces of evidence are all frame-ups."

"Everyone who comes in says that. Now, please explain these photos."

The investigator pushed a stack of photos over. "Are these private gatherings between you and these business owners?"

Qin Ruoxi glanced at them and sneered, "These were all normal working meals when I led teams to inspect enterprises. The photos have clearly been cropped and spliced."

She raised her head, her gaze piercing, "I would like to ask, who provided these so-called reporting materials?"

The investigator was intimidated by Qin Ruoxi's aura and avoided her gaze. "That is not convenient to disclose."

Qin Ruoxi's voice rose an octave. "It's Zhang Qimin, isn't it? That Commissioner Zhang from the Provincial Public Security Department! He's afraid because he knows the evidence Secretary Wang Chunlin left behind is enough to ruin him completely!"

The interrogation room door was suddenly pushed open, and a staff member rushed in, whispering a few words into the ear of the Special Investigation Team leader. The team leader's expression changed drastically, and he immediately announced a temporary suspension of the interrogation.

In the hallway, the staff member handed over a fax that had just arrived: "On a list found in Secretary Wang Chunlin's old residence, Commissioner Zhang's name is at the top. And... in the basement, photos were found of Commissioner Zhang and Secretary Wang Chunlin together... involving multiple women."

The team leader gasped. "Report this to the Provincial Party Secretary immediately! Also, strengthen the guard around Qin Ruoxi to prevent her from being in danger!"

...

However, regardless, Qin Ruoxi's suspicion had not yet been cleared, and the interrogation had to continue.

Inside the interrogation room of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, the air was so thick it felt like it could be wrung out. Qin Ruoxi sat upright on the metal chair, her back straight. Whether from extreme exhaustion or anger, her fingertips trembled slightly.

It had been three days. They had taken turns, trying to pry a non-existent "confession" out of her.

"Qin Ruoxi, confirm one more time, did you really not accept the 500,000 yuan transfer on August 15, 2016?"

Director Wang, the investigator, pushed up his glasses, the lenses reflecting a piercing white light.

Qin Ruoxi lifted her chin, a trace of exhaustion flashing in her eyes, yet she remained sharp. "I have said it before. That was when I had just arrived in Jinhe County to take office. After discovering the sudden influx of money, I immediately requested the finance department to return it through the original channels. All procedures have records that can be checked."

"Then why was it returned three months later?"

Director Wang was relentless.

"Because it had to go through the auditing process!"

Qin Ruoxi slammed the table, her voice exploding in the enclosed space. "Do you not even have basic common sense when investigating cases? Abnormal large fund flows must be confirmed by an audit before they can be processed!"

Director Wang was stunned by this sudden outburst and was momentarily at a loss for words. Just then, the interrogation room door was pushed open, and a young staff member walked in quickly and whispered a few words in his ear.

Director Wang's expression shifted from surprise to solemnity, and finally, a hint of embarrassment appeared.

He cleared his throat and changed his tone. "Mayor Qin, regarding that sum of money, we have just verified the bank statements and the audit report from that time... It is indeed as you said."

Qin Ruoxi sneered and did not respond. She knew that this sudden change in attitude must mean someone had intervened.

Outside the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection building, Xiao Bei leaned against the car door, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the roof. He had just handed the disc to the Deputy Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission and could only wait now. The setting sun stretched his shadow long, like a drawn sword.

"County Magistrate Xiao!"

Team Leader Zhang Yining trotted out from the side door of the building, her cheeks flushed from the hurried run. "They have started to re-examine all the evidence! Director Zhao Ming just sent a message saying that the newly dispatched Special Investigation Team has already questioned all the personnel mentioned in the reporting materials."

Xiao Bei straightened up. "And the results?"

"It has all been confirmed that Mayor Qin was framed!"

Team Leader Zhang Yining lowered her voice. "Mayor Qin reported those 500,000 yuan at the time. As for those photos, they were all from normal work occasions and had been maliciously edited and spliced. The people who appeared in the photos have all provided the original images."

Xiao Bei's tense shoulders finally relaxed a little. He looked up at the high-level windows of the Discipline Inspection Commission building, where silhouettes were vaguely moving.

"What about Zhang Qimin?"

"He has already been detained."

A flash of satisfaction crossed Team Leader Zhang Yining's eyes. "And it is said that they found some things at his mistress's house. When they went to search, his mistress was in the middle of burning documents for him."

Xiao Bei nodded and took out his phone to dial Secretary Ma Wendong:

"Secretary Ma, the matter has been cleared up... Yes, I understand... Okay, I will convey it."

Hanging up the phone, he gave Team Leader Zhang Yining his first genuine smile in days:

"Secretary Ma said that Mayor Qin will be able to come out very soon. He also specifically approved our leave—his exact words were 'Get lost and rest for a few days, don't hover in front of my eyes'."

Team Leader Zhang Yining chuckled, then looked at the building worriedly. "Then Mayor Qin..."

"She will be fine."

Xiao Bei's voice was low and firm. "She has weathered storms bigger than this. Besides... on the first day she arrived in Canglan City to take office, we were already schemed against..."

"Oh? It seems... you two have a history?"

As they were speaking, the main door of the Discipline Inspection Commission building suddenly opened. Qin Ruoxi walked out alone, the setting sun gilding her with a golden edge. Her suit jacket was draped over her arm, and her shirt was slightly wrinkled, but it did not diminish her innate aura in the slightest.

Xiao Bei straightened his posture subconsciously, his Adam's apple bobbing. He hadn't seen her for three days; she had lost weight, and there were obvious dark circles under her eyes, but her eyes remained as clear as ever.

"County Magistrate Xiao,"

Qin Ruoxi stopped in front of them, a tired smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "It seems I owe you a favor."

Xiao Bei shook his head and took her jacket. "Didn't you save me once a while ago too... Hehe, I'm just doing my job."

"Doing your job does not include disobeying orders and running to the provincial capital."

Qin Ruoxi's gaze lingered on his face, as if to confirm something.

"Secretary Ma of the County Party Committee was so anxious on the phone just now that he almost deafened me, saying that you, a cadre, actually ran here to 'go on vacation'."

Team Leader Zhang Yining tactfully stepped back a few paces. "I'll go get the car."

A brief silence fell inside the car. Qin Ruoxi leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes to rest. Xiao Bei stole a glance at her through the rearview mirror, noticing a vein slightly throbbing at her temple.

"They didn't let you sleep?"

He couldn't help but ask.

Qin Ruoxi opened her eyes and chuckled softly. "I did, but the chair was too hard, so I couldn't sleep."