Then let them offer their loyalty!

Page 318

After the position of the presiding judge was clarified by the investigators, most of the onlookers came to the same conclusion.

"This time... the Tang faction, formed by Tang Feifei and Qiu Tu, has achieved a resounding victory..."

"It seems the New Territories City Investigation Department has truly changed its ways..."

With the emergence of this idea, the entire New Territories City Investigation Bureau's political climate shifted dramatically, and countless eyes began to turn to the two figures, a man and a woman, seated on the bureau's throne...

However, compared to the lower and middle levels who are concerned about the change of government in the Investigation Bureau.

Several senior officials of the Investigation Bureau are more concerned about Huang Shangzong's behavior after his arrival today.

Like the lower and middle-level officials, several high-ranking officials were also somewhat confused as to why Huang Shangzong, despite being in the same faction as Yan Chen, chose to suppress Yan Chen.

Huang Shangzong's exaggerated criticism made them feel somewhat apprehensive...

So they started using their connections to try and find out the truth...

However, compared to the other executives, Qiu Tu was the calmest and luckiest.

Because he doesn't need to know the truth at all. The "truth" will come to him on its own...

......

6 pm.

12th floor, Qiu Tu's private lounge.

Qiu Tu sat on the sofa, looking at Liu Fuping standing in front of him with a smile on his face.

Liu Fuping rolled her eyes at him with a hint of coquettishness, then said in a slightly coquettish tone, "My dear minister, you really have the prestige."

"The Speaker went to meet with Committee Member Jiang from the City Hall tonight. He was worried that there were some things you didn't understand, so he specifically sent me to talk to you..."

Upon hearing Liu Fuping's words, Qiu Tu didn't immediately get to the point. Instead, he asked cryptically, "So... you belong to me tonight?"

Upon hearing Qiu Tu's words, Liu Fuping chuckled.

After a month or two, her chest seemed to have grown even more impressive. Beneath her uniform, her heavy breasts were full and round, trembling as she laughed.

After laughing, she gazed at Qiu Tu with deep affection in her beautiful peach blossom eyes. Her eyes seemed to be veiled by a layer of mist, hazy and indistinct.

Then she looked at Qiu Tu, as if persuading him, yet also as if enticing him, "Minister Qiu~~ I am now the judge who handles all cases in Dongye Prefecture~"

"You don't want me to do anything to this judge, do you?"

As she spoke, she sat down in the chair opposite Qiu Tu. She first exaggeratedly crossed her legs, which were clad in black stockings, and then placed her hands on her legs.

She was wearing only a loose judge's uniform, and her slender legs peeked out from under the uniform, making them appear even longer and tempting one to explore what lay beneath.

Qiu Tu's gaze lingered on those beautiful legs for a moment before he said, "Judge Liu, as the head of the Political Department, how could I possibly do anything to you?"

"I just wanted to remind you... it's been a long time since we last saw each other. You should make the most of this opportunity."

Hearing Qiu Tu's slightly risqué joke, Liu Fuping couldn't help but smile.

She looked at Qiu Tu with a smile, then said with a hint of provocation, "Am I the one who wants to seize the opportunity, or... do you want to delve deeper into the legal knowledge I learned in the shelter?"

To be honest, they were already mutually attracted to each other. And with absence making the heart grow fonder, their eyes were already brimming with longing...

If it weren't for other important matters weighing on my mind, we'd probably be locked in a passionate embrace by now, pouring our hearts out to each other...

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However, the two knew that business was more important, so after flirting with each other for a while, they started talking about serious matters.

Liu Fuping looked at Qiu Tu, her smile unusually vanishing, replaced by a serious expression.

She said to Qiu Tu, "Qiu Tu, do you know why Speaker Huang came?"

Hearing Liu Fuping's words, Qiu Tu nodded slightly.

"If you don't know, then I'll explain it to you..." Liu Fuping didn't actually think Qiu Tu would know. So, after saying the first sentence, she immediately followed up with the second.

She had barely begun the second sentence when she realized that Qiu Tu wasn't shaking his head, but nodding.

So she swallowed her words. This made those beautiful eyes blink slightly, and she asked with some surprise, "Do you know why Speaker Huang came?"

Qiu Tu nodded slightly and then said, "What else could it be? Of course, it's because Yu Zhengyi attracted it."

Upon hearing this, Liu Fuping blinked, somewhat surprised.

Qiu Tu leaned back on the sofa, fiddling with a box of matches in his hand, while his gaze drifted far away as he mentally reviewed the entire incident.

If he's not mistaken.

After Yu Zhengyi reviewed the report, Director Zhao must have called Yan Chen to report the matter.

The shrewd and calculating Yan Chen most likely sensed something amiss from Yu Zhengyi's unusual behavior.

Therefore, Yan Chen took the initiative to find Yu Zhengyi and then had a deep conversation with him.

Qiu Tu speculated that during the conversation, Yan Chen probably weighed the lesser of two evils and admitted to the assassination attempt, while denying the fact that he had sent Lai Shun to his death.

However... this clearly did not fool Yu Zhengyi.

Yu Zhengyi is a cunning and shrewd man, and like Shi Youxin, he is a well-known "non-stick pan".

But to be a good "non-stick pan", you must have one skill: to identify dangers.

Since Yan Chen advanced to the pseudo-fourth rank and failed to win the vice-chairmanship, he has become somewhat extreme.

They assassinated Qiu Tu before, and now they're sending Lai Shun to his death.

Who can guarantee that the next person won't silence Yu Zhengyi?

Moreover... Yu Zhengyi was completely unaware of the cooperation between the "academic faction" and the "Fengtian Clique".

He was probably thinking: Now that Lai Shun is dead, Yan Chen has been transferred, and Tang Feifei hasn't yet gained real power, he's the most suitable person to become the director...

Therefore, although Yu Zhengyi outwardly reached a consensus with Yan Chen and promised to stand by Yan Chen's side, he turned around and reported the matter to Huang Shangzong...

Who is Huang Shangzong? He is one of the few dozen people who truly stand at the top of the shelter.

What kind of schemes and tricks hasn't he seen over the years?

He only needed a little thought to roughly guess the truth of the matter: the conflict between Yan Chen and Qiu Tu had escalated to a fever pitch, and the two sides had likely begun to assassinate and frame each other, and had also dragged other high-ranking officials into the mess.

For a state legislator, this is absolutely unacceptable.

In particular, the New Territories is now the center of the entire Tung Yip state and a key focus of the shelter.

If the New Territories are in such a state of chaos, will the "Boundless Ocean of the Heart" project still proceed?

What is the image of the newly established Dongye Prefecture in the shelter area?

How should the other cities in Dongye Prefecture be managed?

Especially from Huang Shangzong's perspective, it was Yan Chen who first started this "war," and it was also Yan Chen who betrayed his own faction's teammates after the assassination attempt failed.

Therefore, how could he possibly tolerate Yan Chen?

So... he probably spent the whole day communicating with the top brass of the "Fengtian Clique" to see how to reach a new cooperation with the "Fengtian Clique" while adjusting Yan Chen's position.

If Qiu Tu wasn't mistaken, the bargaining chip the "Fengtian Clique" originally offered wasn't just a presiding judge. It was very likely a position second only to the vice speaker, or even one with more power than the director.

Otherwise, given Huang Shangzong and Yan Chen's shrewdness, they would never have agreed to such an arrangement.

As a result, Yan Chen probably never expected that despite all his scheming, he would ultimately be betrayed by a high-ranking member of his own faction.

As for why Yu Zhengyi, despite betraying Yan Chen, still sided with Yan Chen at the meeting just now.

Of course, it's because... he knows "family scandals shouldn't be aired in public." The fact that Yan Chen sent his own faction's colleagues to their deaths must remain a secret within his own faction.

In public, he would definitely cover for Yan Chen.

Moreover... given Huang Shangzong's temperament, after listening to his report, it was impossible for him to tell him the outcome of his decision.

So, Yu Zhengyi has actually been waiting and gambling all this time.

This is the reason why he has been so hesitant and conflicted...

Thinking this, Qiu Tu also raised his head and shared his guesses with Liu Fuping, picking out the parts he could say.

Liu Fuping was completely shocked after hearing Qiu Tu's guess.

Because what Qiu Tu said was more detailed than what Liu Xiong Yuan had told her.

This left her momentarily speechless.

At this moment, Qiu Tu seemed to notice her embarrassment and took the initiative to start a new topic with a smile.

He said, "Actually, no matter how you look at it, we can say that we have won a great victory this time."

"Lai Shun, a member of the 'academic school,' died, and Yan Chen was transferred—ostensibly a transfer but actually a demotion."

"Another 'academic' deputy director, Yu Zhengyi, failed to take over as director; instead, Tang Feifei from the 'Fengtian Clique' obtained the position."

"But you must understand that the 'Fengtian Clique' doesn't have a single high-ranking member in Dongye Prefecture. Without a leader, they are completely disorganized and very easy to win over."

“With my connections, I think Speaker Yoo has a very good chance.”

"Moreover, and more importantly, the infighting between Yan Chen and Yu Zhengyi successfully lured Huang Shangzong over."

"Now is the time when Dongye State has just been established and the speakers of various councils are vying for power. Wasting a whole morning will at least prevent him from contacting one less councilor."

"This is a perfect opportunity for Speaker Liu, who has already secured the New Territories City Investigation Department and can save half a day."

“There are only about 40 members of parliament in Dongye State. Getting one more member is equivalent to getting one more vote.”

Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Liu Fuping nodded slightly, then said with delight, "That's definitely right."

“However…” Liu Fuping paused, then said, “We weren’t entirely without losses in this matter.”

Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu looked at her curiously.

Liu Fuping coughed and said, "Actually... Huang Shangzong is not only very annoyed with Yan Chen, but also very annoyed with you."

"During the closed-door meeting with Speaker Liu, he described you as having the ambition of a wolf, and your heart is worthy of being condemned!"

"Furthermore, they say you are the culprit who has affected the stability and unity of the entire New Territories City Investigation Department."

"To be honest, if Speaker Liu hadn't covered for you, he probably would have transferred you as well."

Qiu Tu heard this: .....

At this point, Liu Fuping brushed a stray hair from her cheek and said, "But even so, he still told Speaker Liu."

"They said that unless you make a great contribution, you won't be allowed to get promoted for five years. You have to work hard in your current position to temper your character."

"After all, he is the speaker of a state council, and Speaker Liu couldn't argue too much, so he had no choice but to agree."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu's face darkened completely.

No promotion allowed for five years...

This punishment may seem insignificant at first glance. After all, many people wouldn't get a promotion within five years anyway.

However... that depends on the current situation in the New Territories and Tung Yip Chau.

Now that Dongye Prefecture has just been established, it is a time when everything needs to be rebuilt and various positions are vacant.

The New Territories City has made numerous contributions to the "Boundless Ocean of the Heart" project.

In addition, there is still a vacancy for the Deputy Director of the New Territories City Office.

So... normally speaking, even if Qiu Tu doesn't have anyone above him, he can accumulate merits and gain experience, and he can be promoted again within two or three years.

However, everything was interrupted by Huang Shangzong's statement that "he cannot be promoted for five years."

Moreover, what is the officialdom? If you're slow on one step, you'll be slow on every step.

If you don't take the opportunity when there's a vacancy, you won't be able to get a spot later once someone else has taken it.

Therefore, it can be said that unless Qiu Tu makes a great contribution, his future will be cut off by Huang Shangzong!

It's not unreasonable for a state legislator to have the power to decide the future of a department-level official with a single word...

However, Qiu Tu was definitely still unwilling to give up!