Chapter 188: Chapter 180: Princes and Commoners Are Equal Before the Law
When Wu Shuang spoke, it was even more shocking than what Xia Xue had said or done before. Who is Qu Haobo? The young son of Vice Secretary Qu, a member of the Qu Family in the Capital City. Elder Qu had just stepped down from the ranks of national leaders four years ago. The Qu Family is considered a powerful force in Huaxia’s political arena, forming a small group.
Qu Haobo himself is also a figure within the system, being the manager of the Yanjing branch of a major state-owned enterprise. At less than thirty years old, he has become a full director. If things go smoothly next year after the transition, at the age of thirty-two, he would step into the hall-level cadre. Although the hall-level cadre in a state-owned enterprise does not wield as much power as a government hall-level cadre, for a family like the Qu Family, changing a hall-level cadre from enterprise to government is merely a matter of issuing a transfer order.
Everyone just felt that their intelligence was simply insufficient. The Yanjing Special Police Team indeed had the authority to arrest Qu Haobo, but didn’t they know whose son Qu Haobo was? Even if they didn’t know, now it’s obvious that Qu Yongbo is together with Qu Haobo, and even a pig should know that Qu Yongbo is Qu Haobo’s father. Qu Yongbo is the full-time Vice Secretary of the Yanjing Municipal Committee, the third highest official in Yanjing. Although he doesn’t oversee the public security and legal aspects, it’s not something that a mere group of special police could arrest.
Moreover, not to mention the family lineage of the Qu Family, even Qu Haobo himself is a distinguished full director. The procedures for dealing with system insiders are more complicated than for ordinary people, let alone for the young son of the Qu Family.
"Does the special police team actually know who they’re trying to arrest? Even if these people don’t know, doesn’t Lin Zhifang know? Does Lin Zhifang still want to be the bureau chief?"
"Heavens, did I hear wrong? Arresting Secretary Qu’s son in front of Secretary Qu? Do these special police think they are what? Celestial Gods?"
Almost no one had any confidence in the situation. As Elder Xia, the central figure of the Xia Family, he naturally wouldn’t let Wu Shuang take the person away so easily. He said in a low voice, "Officer, may I ask if you have an arrest warrant? Why are you taking my guest away?"
Wu Shuang ignored Elder Xia’s question and moved directly with the four special police officers to Qu Yongbo and Qu Haobo’s side. People around, including Wang Zhantian and Wang Zhanting, involuntarily stepped aside to let Wu Shuang in. Without understanding Wu Shuang’s identity or origins, or before Qu Yongbo spoke, the Wang Family wouldn’t recklessly question, not to mention there were more pressing matters weighing on their minds, leaving no room to care about these.
"Originally, it was just an ordinary traffic case, but the driver fled directly after clearly knowing they hit someone. After multiple investigations, the police suspect you are involved in this intentional murder case. Please cooperate with the police and come with us to assist in the investigation. This is the investigation assistance order!" With that, Xia Xue opened the investigation assistance order she had been holding, upon which was prominently stamped the steel seal of the Yanjing Police Station and the handwritten signature of Director Lin Zhifang.
Qu Haobo’s face was very agitated, almost flushed red. Now, he finally understood why that small doctor at the school hospital said he wouldn’t be able to go home tonight, and he finally confirmed that Secretary Luo and Xiao Lin weren’t together without reason. But he didn’t believe, with his father Qu Yongbo around, he would be taken away.
When Qu Yongbo saw Wu Shuang, he was a bit puzzled internally. When did this girl become a special police officer? Wasn’t she always in the traffic police brigade before? Moreover, judging by her position, it’s not low, at least at the deputy team leader level.
No one present, except for Qu Yongbo, recognized Wu Shuang, not even Qu Haobo himself. The recognition from Qu Yongbo was merely from having briefly seen her at a birthday banquet of a certain major figure in Huaxia’s political arena, and from hearing her name and origin from others.
"Officer, you need to know what you’re doing!" Qu Yongbo spoke. Even though he knew where Wu Shuang came from, the Qu Family isn’t one that can be easily manipulated by anyone, especially since this is the territory of the Hua Family, and Wu Shuang, like himself, is an outsider.
"Secretary Qu, I know what I’m doing. If you have any instructions, please contact my superior!" Wu Shuang said, neither servile nor overbearing, then ordered the four members of the special police team beside her: "Take him away!" Although Wu Shuang didn’t show any signs of nervousness outwardly, she was indeed quite tense internally, as she was facing the third highest official in Yanjing, taking away his son, and the Qu Family was not a small family; it was a powerful political entity in Huaxia.
The four special police team members were absolutely trusted confidants of Lin Zhifang, but in such a situation, they were still somewhat apprehensive. Upon hearing Wu Shuang’s order, their movements became a bit hesitant; the pressure at the scene was simply too immense.
"Dad, save me, they are falsely accusing me!" Qu Haobo shouted loudly. Now, he finally felt a bit scared. He feared that his father might abandon him to preserve some bigger picture, which was commonplace in political struggles.
Although Qu Yongbo was angry with his son’s foolishness, in such a situation, he couldn’t let Wu Shuang just take him away. If he allowed Wu Shuang to take him away, then he would become a laughingstock in Yanjing’s official circles as the Municipal Committee’s full-time Vice Secretary, losing not just his own face, but the Qu Family’s face entirely.
"I cannot let you take him away because he is my son!" Qu Yongbo did not back down, taking a step forward and standing in front of Qu Haobo, emanating the aura of ’if you want to take away Qu Haobo, you’ll have to step over my corpse first’.
Wu Shuang glanced at Qu Yongbo, slightly backing down. She had imagined countless scenarios of what Qu Yongbo might do: calling Hua Muyun, contacting the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee, calling Lin Zhifang, or even mobilizing other forces of the Qu Family in Yanjing to obstruct. But she never imagined that Qu Yongbo would use his body, his identity, his status as Qu Haobo’s father to obstruct, using the love of a father for his son.
This was extremely irresponsible to himself, his career, his political life, and more so was letting down the Qu Family that had cultivated him.
However, it was unquestionably true that Qu Yongbo’s actions were currently the most correct and effective, for Wu Shuang did not have the power to topple Qu Yongbo or bypass him to arrest Qu Haobo.
People in such positions are indeed not simple characters, capable of making the most correct and decisive counteraction in the shortest time under extreme disadvantage.
Qu Yongbo blocked Wu Shuang and others from arresting Qu Haobo with his own body, leaving Wu Shuang clueless and at a loss. Before arriving, Wu Shuang had not anticipated that Qu Yongbo would also be present. With this situation, even if Lin Zhifang were here, there might not be a better solution.
Wu Shuang had such thoughts, let alone the four special police officers alongside her. Seeing Wu Shuang slightly retreat, they retreated even more significantly.
Others present saw Qu Yongbo actually make such a move, and most were extremely puzzled. With the identity and status of someone like Qu Yongbo, did he need to go up personally to block? Was it necessary to joke with his political life? Especially when facing just a few special police officers, which is worlds apart from Qu Yongbo’s status.
However, those who could stand at that level of understanding knew the purpose behind Qu Yongbo’s actions. People at that level were certainly not simple.
Subconsciously, Wu Shuang turned her head to look at Xiao Lin, as Xiao Lin was leading this matter, and now they were in a dilemma, naturally seeking assistance from Xiao Lin. At this moment, Wu Shuang not only saw Xiao Lin but also saw Xia Xue wearing a dignified and sexy little dress, looking noble like a fairy, holding Xiao Lin’s arm. Unknowingly, a slight jealousy arose in her heart, even a bit of envy.
"What’s wrong with me? This damned thought!" Wu Shuang was suddenly scared by her deep inner thoughts. Why would she be jealous of the woman next to Xiao Lin? Because she’s beautiful? Yes, it’s just because she’s beautiful, wearing a beautiful dress, just because she is beautiful, nothing else.
Wu Shuang dared not think any further. She absolutely couldn’t agree that she seemed to like that man who constantly put her in awkward situations. It’s simply impossible, especially now when beside that man is a very beautiful and noble woman; they truly are a perfect pair.
From the moment Xiao Lin entered, he hadn’t spoken a word, nor had his expression changed. But now, with the move made by Qu Yongbo, Xiao Lin slightly furrowed his brows. This old fox was indeed skilled.
And everyone’s eyes naturally focused on Xia Xue, because ever since they entered, Xia Xue had been the one speaking. Thus, everyone’s attention naturally fell on Xia Xue, with Xiao Lin and Liu Xuan practically becoming invisible.
Not for any other reason, but because despite Xiao Lin’s handsome appearance, he dressed too plainly. Furthermore, since Xia Xue was the one speaking upon entering, the focus was not on him. Judging by his attire, he was likely just a child from an ordinary family; it was simply because Xia Xue was mesmerized by his good looks.
However, when Wu Shuang turned to look at Xiao Lin, it immediately drew everyone’s attention towards him. Only then did everyone realize that Xia Xue’s boyfriend seemed quite unusual; even the special police officers needed to ask this young man’s opinion, and these special police officers were there to arrest Qu Yongbo’s son.
For a moment, everyone’s thought process couldn’t keep up. Who exactly is Xia Xue’s boyfriend? Besides his handsome face, there’s nothing unusual to be seen.
At this point, Xiao Lin nodded to Wu Shuang and said: "A prince should be punished for the same crimes as commoners. I assume Secretary Qu understands this principle!" His tone was unequivocal, as if he were an emperor admonishing his ministers from high above.
Wu Shuang had a somewhat fascinated look in her eyes, she hadn’t expected Xiao Lin to face a local dignitary like Qu Yongbo without any fear. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to visit Qidian () to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)