Guide to Rising to Power as a Wife in Beijing's Elite Circle

On the tenth day of the month, at the detention center of the Discipline Inspection Commission.

Fang Jingxiu has been here for three days now.

He was sitting by the window, holding a cup of tea. On the windowsill next to him was a birdcage containing a thrush, the owner of which was unknown.

He feeds it water and food every day, and occasionally makes it chirp. The thrush sings beautifully, melodiously and long, as if unaware that it is locked in a cage.

Fang Jingxiu looked at the bird, a slight smile playing on his lips. It was in a cage, he was in his room. It was fed, he was given meals.

It didn't know when it could go out, nor did it know. But it wasn't anxious, because it didn't know what freedom was. He did know, but he wasn't anxious.

Because he knew he was not a caged creature; this cage could not confine him.

He gained more freedom here than outside. Outside, every move he made concerned the Fang family and the Central Economic Review, but here he gained rare freedom. There were no cameras in this room.

The disciplinary inspection commission will not install cameras in the rooms of high-ranking officials. It's not that they don't want to, but that they dare not. The disciplinary inspection commission itself is an independent department with considerable power, but also significant risks.

If one day a high-ranking official's case is overturned, the first to be held accountable will not be those who reported him, nor those who submitted materials, but the disciplinary committee itself.

People often hate not the bad news itself, but the person who brings it.

The power behind Fang Jingxiu should not be underestimated. If such a person were to have his case overturned, the first to die would be the disciplinary committee that handled the case.

Therefore, Ning Zetong dared not, Cui Ming dared not, and no one dared to. They could only lock him up and interrogate him, but they dared not touch him.

Footsteps sounded outside the door; it wasn't just one person, but several. The door clicked open.

"Fang Si, someone has come to see you."

Fang Jingxiu did not stand up, but turned his head and looked at the door.

Fang Zhenguo walked in. He was wearing a dark gray civilian suit and no military cap, but he stood there with his back ramrod straight.

The assistant tactfully withdrew and closed the door. Only the father and son remained in the room.

"You seem to have a lot of free time."

"It's a rare day off. What would you like to drink? I'll make you a cup."

"Old Zhao has given us his reply," Fang Zhenguo said bluntly. "He can't help with this."

"Um."

"It's not that he doesn't want to help, it's that he can't. The Bai family, the Liu family, Liu Changhe, and Chief Meng—the four forces are united as one. The Bai family provides the money, the Liu family provides the manpower, Liu Changhe provides the outreach, and Chief Meng provides the effort. Each party gets what they need, and none of them are willing to back down."

Fang Jingxiu put down his teacup, slowly tracing his finger along the rim. "How's it going with Chief of Staff Meng?"

"His son, Meng Yan, has already taken over your position." Fang Zhenguo looked at him. "The head of the Central Economic Investigation Division is temporarily being handled by Meng Yan. Once your case is cleared up, we'll decide whether to return the position to you or make other arrangements."

What a fine alternative arrangement! It means no further arrangements. No arrangements mean we can never go back.

"Dad, do you know someone named Meng Yan?"

Fang Zhenguo shook his head.

Fang Jingxiu picked up his teacup and took another sip. The tea was completely cold, and a bitter taste spread across his tongue. "He's been in the Central Economic Audit Bureau for eight years, still only at the level of a division chief. It's not that no one recommended him, it's that he couldn't get promoted. He wasn't capable enough, he wasn't popular, and he didn't have anyone above him. Now, suddenly pushing him up there is just to make him a target. Once the heat dies down, they'll remove him. At that time, the position of director of the Central Economic Audit Bureau won't be mine anymore, nor his; it will belong to someone else."

He put down his cup and looked at his father. "Who are the others? I don't know. But they're definitely not from our side."

He knew his son was right. This wasn't a simple investigation; it was a purge. It wasn't just Fang Jingxiu being purged, but the Fang family's influence within the auditing system.

With Fang Jingxiu gone, the Fang family's power has been significantly diminished. And with the Fang family's power eroded, those eyeing their position will pounce on them.

One step wrong, step by step wrong.

Fang Zhenguo remained silent for a long time before speaking, "Jingxiu, do you know about Qin Yang's matter?"

"Know."

"You know?"

"I knew it from his very first words," Fang Jingxiu said calmly, as if he were commenting on the weather. "The tension in his voice meant something was wrong. And if something was wrong, it meant he wasn't the Qin Yang he used to be."

Fang Zhenguo fell silent.

"Dad, I don't blame Qin Yang for what happened. Everyone has their own ambitions. It's normal to make such a choice for one's own benefit. He's been with me for six years, and he's already paid back what he owed. Now he's chosen his path, and I'll choose mine. We'll go our separate ways, and neither of us owes the other anything."

Fang Zhenguo is gone.

He recalled the things he had said to Qin Yang. Those words were meant for the Discipline Inspection Commission. And when the Discipline Inspection Commission heard them, they were meant for the Bai family, the Liu family, Liu Changhe, and Chief Meng.

Layer by layer, like peeling an onion. Each layer was meticulously designed by him. They thought they had overheard a secret, but what they heard was what he wanted them to hear.

Fang Jingxiu picked up an orange from the table, peeled it, broke off a segment, and put it in his mouth. It was very sweet. He broke off another segment and put it in the birdcage's food trough. The thrush pecked at it and tilted its head to look at him.

"You're much more comfortable than me," he said to the bird. "Someone feeds me, someone takes care of me, I don't have to use my brain, except for the lack of freedom. I wish I were you."