Yan Chen shook his head upon hearing the words and then said, "Speaker, what Minister Qiu has accused me of is a fabrication. I am not aware of the attack on my convoy by the Lianzhen Special Combat Team that he's mentioned."
Listening to the two of them each standing their ground, Liu Xiongyuan glanced at both and then spoke up, "Since that's the case, let's have someone look up both their files."
At this moment, Liu Fuping, who was standing behind Liu Xiongyuan, nodded slightly and responded, "Yes."
After speaking, she turned and left the meeting room.
Not long after, Director Zhao came into the meeting room drenched in sweat, carrying a box of documents.
Seeing so many high-ranking officials in the room, including the State Speaker, he was obviously very nervous.
Therefore, he hurriedly placed the documents on the floor and saluted everyone there.
Known for his thunderous disposition, Liu Xiongyuan clearly disliked such formalities. So he waved his hand and asked directly, "Deputy Director Zhao, Minister Qiu said he had submitted two written materials in the past few days. Is that true?"
Hearing Liu Xiongyuan's question, Director Zhao nodded hastily and said, "Yes, yes."
Liu Xiongyuan asked further, "Have you seen those two materials, Director Yan?"
Director Zhao, who clearly remembered what happened that day, nodded vehemently again and said, "Yes, Bureau Chief has seen them."
Hearing this, Liu Xiongyuan looked expressionlessly at Yan Chen, who still sat calmly, and then said, "Then trouble you to look for those two documents. I'd like to see them."
Upon hearing Liu Xiongyuan, Director Zhao quickly replied, "Right away, Speaker."
After speaking, Director Zhao began searching through the documents.
In a short while, Director Zhao found one document. He handed it to Liu Xiongyuan with both hands and said, "Speaker, here are the documents."
As Liu Xiongyuan read quickly, without even lifting his head, he asked, "Why is there only one? Where is the other one?"
"This...this..." Director Zhao, upon hearing this and sweating even more profusely, stole a glance at Yu Zhengyi and then whispered, "Speaker, Director Yu took the second document to write a report."
Hearing Director Zhao's words, Liu Xiongyuan looked up at Yu Zhengyi and then inquired, "Director Yu, is the report with you?"
Noticing that he had eventually been dragged into this matter, Yu Zhengyi, who had been keeping his eyes closed, slowly opened them.
All eyes in the room were focused on him, including those of Qiu Tu and Yan Chen.
Yu Zhengyi, as if frozen in time, remained silent for a full two seconds before slowly shaking his head, "I don't have it, Speaker. I've never taken that report."
Hearing Yu Zhengyi's words, Director Zhao was dumbfounded.
He exclaimed, "Ah?" and then said in bewilderment, "But, Director Yu, you clearly took that report yourself."
"You said you wanted to write a summary, so you took it."
Yu Zhengyi looked expressionless as he stared at Director Zhao and said earnestly, "Director Zhao, you must be mistaken."
"Last night, after I finished reading the report in your office, I returned it to you and left the office empty-handed."
"If you don't believe me, check the surveillance footage."
The other high-ranking officials: ...
Silence filled the meeting room.
The high-ranking officials present were all Old Foxes; the situation made it clear who was lying—
Director Zhao almost had "guileless" written on his face; of course, he wouldn't deceive anyone.
Thus, the only one who could be lying was Yu Zhengyi.
They quickly pieced together the chain of events in their minds.
Clearly, Qiu Tu must have indeed written that report, but... Yu Zhengyi took it away when he went to check yesterday.
Although the real reason Yu Zhengyi helped Yan Chen conceal the truth about sending Lai Shun to his death wasn't clear, it could only be a few things: personal relationship, Yan Chen having something on him, or factional interests...
Anyway, Yu Zhengyi's decision to aid Yan Chen must have been a weighing of pros and cons.
Lai Shun was dead, and the dead hold no benefits. But Yan Chen was alive and still in a high position...
With these thoughts, the looks from several high-ranking officials towards Qiu Tu even carried sympathy and mockery.
After all, they felt Qiu Tu had been meticulous but had failed to account for human nature. He hadn't anticipated that Yu Zhengyi would stand by Yan Chen's side at the critical moment.
But at this moment... Hearing Yu Zhengyi and Director Zhao speak in this way, Qiu Tu simply chuckled.
He said, "Director Yu. Since you have read that material, may I ask if I wrote about the Lianzhen Special Warfare Squad intending to attack Director Yan?"
Yu Zhengyi, having chosen Yan Chen's side, obviously could not waver. So, with his eyes closed, he resolutely shook his head, "I didn't see that part of the content."
"I only saw that the report detailed the situation at the United Front Base."
Hearing Yu Zhengyi's words, Qiu Tu's smile grew wider.
He said, "Director Yu, perjury is a serious matter. Are you sure you don't want to change your statement?"
Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Yu Zhengyi hesitated slightly, but ultimately shook his head and said, "I am not committing perjury."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu applauded and said, "Good. Since Director Yu is so committed."
"Then I believe you must have even burned that document, making it impossible to summon with the Treasure, right?"
Yu Zhengyi visibly jolted, clearly hit by Qiu Tu's words where it mattered.
Yet, at that moment, Qiu Tu slowly added, "Director Yu, the call that prompted you to check the document was made by me."
"Do you think, if I did not have a backup plan to ensure the document's safety, that I would have lured you into checking it?"
Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Yu Zhengyi's eyes flared open in disbelief, staring at Qiu Tu.
Qiu Tu continued, "After I finished writing that document, I intentionally had Director Zhao come to my office to collect it."