Reborn as a Noble’s Son
Chapter 1097 - Chapter 1097 Chapter 1053 Major Breakthrough

Chapter 1097: Chapter 1053: Major Breakthrough Chapter 1097: Chapter 1053: Major Breakthrough Provincial Detention Center

Its full name is the First Detention Center of Hongjiang Province.

Here, the primary responsibility is to handle some cases directly involving the Provincial Public Security Department. Generally, the security level here is comparable to a maximum-security prison.

Detention centers are entirely different from prisons. Prisons are for incarcerated convicts who have been sentenced, while detention centers mostly hold suspects awaiting trial and sentencing.

Naturally, there are interrogation rooms in this place.

At this moment, in the interrogation room, Chen Le was personally involved in the interrogation.

Sitting in front of the desk, Chen Le looked at the documents on the table. Yao Lecheng, male, 35 years old, married, with one son, an ordinary police officer at the provincial detention center. His career history was also very ordinary.

However, on the day Liu Zijian’s incident occurred, he was the one who delivered the meal, and among the four police officers, he was deemed the most suspicious.

After reviewing the materials, Chen Le raised his head and looked at Yao Lecheng with a sharp gaze that made Yao Lecheng’s eyes dodge. This anomaly tightened Chen Le’s heart–there was something there. It seemed this man was highly suspicious; otherwise, he wouldn’t have reacted like that.

“Comrade Yao Lecheng, don’t be nervous, treat this as an internal organization discussion. Currently, because of the issue with Liu Zijian, you and a few other comrades are suspects, but you shouldn’t worry. Trust the organization, trust that your superiors will give you a fair result,” Chen Le said with a pleasant expression and a gentle tone as if he was just chatting with Yao Lecheng.

Chen Le’s words calmed down Yao Lecheng’s somewhat nervous demeanor. He nodded and said, “Secretary Chen, I understand.”

As soon as his voice fell, Chen Le’s tone suddenly changed, and he looked straight at Yao Lecheng and said, “Comrade Yao Lecheng, why were you the only one delivering the meal the day Liu Zijian died?”

“At the time of delivering meals, it’s usually Zhou Bin and I doing it together. That day, Zhou Bin was held up with some matters in the second detention area, and I didn’t think much of it, so I just pushed the cart over by myself. In the past, we’ve done the same; sometimes the inmates in the detention area have some issues. This kind of thing is not uncommon in the provincial detention center,” Yao Lecheng paused for a moment before replying.

Subsequently, Chen Le pressed on quickly with a barrage of questions. Yao Lecheng managed to respond very appropriately.

Finally, after Chen Le finished questioning, he pondered for a moment, then smiled at Yao Lecheng and said, “Alright, Comrade Yao Lecheng, thank you for your cooperation. There’s nothing more for the moment, you may leave.”

After Yao Lecheng left, Chen Le’s expression turned serious, and he turned to the interrogation expert beside him and said in a deep voice, “Old Liu, what do you think? Yao Lecheng is probably the most suspicious.”

The expert named Liu also put down his pen and said, “Secretary Chen is right. During the one and a half hours of interrogation, I paid careful attention to the various subtle changes in Yao Lecheng.”

Here, Expert Liu paused, stood up, and said, “Secretary Chen, I think we should head to the surveillance room to watch the replay of the surveillance footage. It might give us a clearer picture.”

Both stood up and went directly to the detention center’s surveillance room. As soon as they sat down, Chen Le instructed, “Bring up the surveillance video of Yao Lecheng’s interrogation that just occurred.”

Soon, the interrogation conversations appeared on the monitor. Watching the video footage, Expert Liu said, “Secretary Chen, look at this part where you asked Yao Lecheng about his routine work at the provincial detention center. At this point, Yao Lecheng’s hands are obviously resting naturally on the table. Now, if we reverse and look at the subsequent questioning about Yao Lecheng’s interaction with Liu Zijian during the meal delivery and why there was a conversation in the surveillance, you’ll see Yao Lecheng’s hands are placed under the table.”

Having said this, Expert Liu seemed confident as he continued, “Secretary Chen, according to some professional understanding of criminal psychology and behavioral studies, when a person lies, unless they have undergone extremely rigorous lie detector training or possess very professional interrogation resistance experience, an ordinary person under normal circumstances will inevitably experience internal fluctuations when lying. These are usually manifested in changes in blood pressure, heart rate, and so on, which are the theoretical basis of a polygraph. Based on this, when a person lies, their body has an unnatural subconscious reaction. For example, when Yao Lecheng was answering some inconsequential questions earlier, aside from his fluent language and steady gaze, his hands were naturally on the table. However, on these few questions, although Yao Lecheng’s words were fluent, his gaze flickered slightly, and his hands naturally went under the table. It may look like a normal reaction, but I believe it’s a subconscious psychological cover-up.”

Listening to the expert say so much, Chen Le listened very carefully. After pondering for a moment, he slightly nodded and said, “Old Liu, what you mean is, Yao Lecheng is lying?”

Expert Liu nodded and said, “I think it’s very likely that Yao Lecheng is lying.”

At this moment, Chen Le also pondered for a while, and after a long pause, he turned around and said, “On the criminal investigation team’s side, the supervision of Yao Lecheng needs to be intensified, don’t miss any detail. Additionally, I suggest initiating an investigation into Yao Lecheng’s finances and family. This could be an important breakthrough.”

…

In the office of Nie Zhenbang, the provincial party committee secretary of Hongjiang Province, at this moment, Organisation Minister Li Wei and Provincial Party Committee Secretary-General Xu Hongzhuan were both sitting in the reception area.

Just now, Nie Zhenbang had just hung up the phone, a wry smile appeared on his face, and he looked up at the two and said, “That was a call from the Central Office, Director Fang.”

This piece of news instantly made Li Wei and Xu Hongzhuan turn serious; the position of Director of the Central Office denoted something that everyone was very clear about. Whom did this represent?

Xu Hongzhuan’s expression also turned solemn as he asked, “Secretary, what did Fang Li, Director Fang say?”

Nie Zhenbang, at this moment, appeared quite calm, smiling, he said, “What else could he say? Clearly, the leaders above are well aware of some things happening in Hongjiang Province. Director Fang’s message was that he hopes I can consider the bigger picture. At this time, many above are watching me. They’re putting pressure on me.”

Such matters were something Nie Zhenbang had anticipated long ago. With the situation dragging on, with Fang Yuanshan stirring things up here, and Old Fang, Fang Maotang, maneuvering there, the circles in Jingcheng were now being mobilized, and those who had grievances against him were surely getting restless. A concerted suppression was inevitable.

Listening, Li Wei also expressed his concern, “Secretary, we can’t drag this out any longer. If there’s no conclusion, we might not be able to continue this endless investigation.”

Nie Zhenbang nodded; this was the reality, the so-called involuntariness of life in the ‘Jianghu.’ Sometimes, even if you know who is manipulating things and are absolutely certain, without evidence, you can’t uncover the truth. Under immense outside pressure, it’s impossible to keep investigating, even with all your preparations complete and you’re just shy of the finishing blow. But under pressure, you have to back down; that’s politics.

After thinking for a moment, Nie Zhenbang also nodded and said, “Exactly. Now, including President Qiao, all are under considerable pressure. Stability and harmony are always the theme. Even we cannot escape this framework. Everyone plays the game within the circles drawn. No one dares to break the rules. It’s inevitable. Now, it all depends on the progress on Chen Le’s side. If it doesn’t work out, this matter may have to be dropped.”

Nie Zhenbang’s words, though not disheartened, had a hint of forlornness in them.

This remark made Xu Hongzhuan and Li Wei on the side feel somewhat disheartened. If there is indeed no progress, and the case is hastily concluded in the end,

Because they could proudly raise their heads and say with pride, “You, Nie Zhenbang, are influential, but in the end, didn’t you also withdraw in defeat?”

Xu Hongzhuan, at this moment, was the most anxious. After pondering a moment, he looked at Nie Zhenbang and said, “Secretary, are we just going to wait like this?”

Nie Zhenbang naturally understood the concern expressed in Xu Hongzhuan’s words. After a moment of thought, he slowly began, “Things haven’t reached that point yet. Now, we’ll look at the news from Chen Le and Gong Zheng. I think, with our efforts on two fronts and showing an unstoppable momentum, at this time, some people who are in the know might not be able to refrain from jumping out. That would be our chance. Even without such people, if either side shows any slack or breakthrough, that would be like tearing open a gap. With that gap, it would be enough.”

While Nie Zhenbang was concerned about the entire investigation and bearing the pressure from above, Chen Le was not having an easy time either.

In this period, Chen Le had practically moved his living quarters to the provincial department office building. Looking at the files on the table, Chen Le’s eyes had become somewhat sunken. He was trying to find some loopholes in these materials, to breach some people’s psychological defenses.

Just then, there came a sudden knocking at the door. Upon opening it, Executive Deputy Director Yu Jianshe walked in excitedly, holding a large envelope in his hand, and exclaimed, “Director Chen, there’s been a significant breakthrough in the case.” (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit to cast your recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.