Nothing suspicious was found in Grandpa Li’s study.
But that hadn’t been Yun Qingya’s real objective.
She was looking for the hidden chamber.
And, against all odds…
She actually found it.
The original novel had only mentioned that the Li family possessed two secret rooms—one in Father Li’s study and one in Grandpa Li’s. It had never explained how to open them.
The fact that Yun Qingya managed to find the mechanism was nothing short of pure luck.
Rubbing her chin thoughtfully, she mused,
Ever since transmigrating, my luck seems to have improved.
If that’s really the case…
Doesn’t that make me Heaven’s favorite daughter?
Just the thought was enough to make her grin.
Thus, under Li Jingye’s stunned gaze, Yun Qingya opened the hidden chamber.
“How did you know Grandpa’s study had a secret room?”
Even he hadn’t known.
Without blinking, Yun Qingya lied through her teeth.
“I didn’t.”
Seeing that Li Jingye was about to question her further, she waved him off.
“Oh, that’s not the important part. The important thing is making sure none of this falls into their hands.”
Li Jingye thought about it for a moment.
She was right.
If the authorities uncovered this much wealth inside the Li residence, the label of “capitalist” would be impossible to shake.
“I’ll contact someone to move it,” he said immediately.
Yun Qingya shook her head.
“It’s too late.”
Li Jingye frowned.
She was right.
Even now, he could hear a chaotic chorus of hurried footsteps drawing closer from outside.
“Quick, close the secret room. Maybe they won’t find it.”
The words sounded hollow even to himself.
He had witnessed house raids before.
Those people would search every room from top to bottom, inspect every corner, and even dig several feet into the ground if necessary.
He looked at Yun Qingya awkwardly.
She knew he was simply clinging to a last shred of hope in a desperate situation.
Instead of pointing that out, she calmly said,
“Li Jingye, go downstairs right now and tell Grandpa and Father that if the secret room is discovered, they must say they know nothing about it.”
“As for everything inside…”
“I have a way to deal with it.”
“What way?” Li Jingye blurted out.
“There’s no time to explain. Go!”
She shoved him toward the door.
Li Jingye glanced back at her once before taking a deep breath and walking downstairs with composed steps.
He had barely finished quietly explaining the situation to his father and grandfather when—
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The Li family’s front gate shook under a series of violent blows.
“Open up! Open the door!”
The voices outside were rude and overbearing.
Li Jingye glanced at his family before walking over and opening the gate.
Several people wearing red armbands immediately strode inside.
At the center of the group was the Revolutionary Committee director himself—
Li Hong.
“What wind has brought Director Li here today?”
Li Jingye’s tone dripped with sarcasm.
Li Hong merely smiled meaningfully before swaggering straight into the Li family living room with his entourage.
Li Jingye narrowed his eyes.
The Li family certainly rated special treatment.
Even Director Li had come personally.
Li Hong swept his gaze across every member of the household.
Then his eyes landed on Yun Qingya, who had just come downstairs.
His eyes lit up.
She wore a light green dress that accentuated her slender waist.
Her face was as lovely as a blooming lotus, her brows delicate as willow leaves, her lips red as cherries.
Her clear, gentle eyes were as pure as still water, and her small, straight nose was exquisitely shaped.
Li Hong had seen many beautiful women.
But someone this flawless…
This ethereal…
As though untouched by the dust of the mortal world…
This was the first time.
“And this young lady is…?”
He turned toward Father Li, Li Kuncheng.
Li Kuncheng stepped forward, deliberately placing himself between Yun Qingya and Li Hong, blocking the man’s intrusive gaze.
“This is…”
He had intended to say she was a friend’s daughter.
Instead, Yun Qingya introduced herself.
“I’m the Li family’s daughter-in-law.”
“My name is Yun Qingya.”
“Qingya!”
Mother Li cried out in shock.
Hadn’t her daughter-in-law been desperate to cut all ties with the Li family?
Why would she openly acknowledge her marriage to Jingye at a moment like this?
The other three Li men also stared at her in disbelief, as though seeing a complete stranger.
Even Cao Zhizhi, who had just entered from outside, froze.
Has Yun Qingya gone crazy?
How can she be saying something like this now?
Li Hong frowned.
Li Jingye’s wife?
He turned toward Li Jingye, who had just walked in behind him, his smile unreadable.
“Commander Li certainly enjoys remarkable good fortune.”
Li Jingye had heard Yun Qingya’s declaration as well.
Only now did he truly realize—
Everything she had said in the bedroom had been genuine.
She really wasn’t going to divorce him.
But…
Why?
One moment she had been willing to die rather than remain married.
The next she had firmly declared she wouldn’t divorce him.
Still…
Now wasn’t the time to dwell on that.
Since Yun Qingya had publicly acknowledged her identity, then as her husband, it was his duty to protect her.
Walking forward, he took her hand and gently pulled her behind him.
“Director Li has a discerning eye.”
As Yun Qingya’s husband, there was no need for false modesty regarding her beauty.
Li Hong nearly choked.
He hadn’t expected Li Jingye to be so shameless.
Clearing his throat, he adopted an official tone.
“We’ve received reports from concerned citizens alleging that the Li family maintains improper connections with overseas elements.”
“For the sake of protecting your family’s reputation, we’ve come to conduct an investigation.”
Li Kuncheng immediately denied the accusation.
“Impossible.”
“The Li family has served in the military for three generations. Our loyalty to the nation has never wavered.”
“My father fought the Japanese.”
“I fought in the Korean War.”
“My son fought in Vietnam.”
“The countless scars on our bodies are proof of our loyalty to this country.”
Listening to those words, Yun Qingya felt her blood surge with emotion.
She had come from an era of peace.
Raised beneath the red flag and growing up in a prosperous nation, she understood better than anyone the unimaginable sacrifices countless martyrs had made with their flesh and blood to build such a future.
Though this was the world of a novel, history was astonishingly similar to the one she knew.
Aside from different names for the national leaders, every major historical event had unfolded almost exactly the same.
Li Hong smiled faintly.
“As the Great Leader said, ‘Without investigation, there is no right to speak.'”
“Since someone has reported your family, we have a duty to investigate.”
“Otherwise, how could we answer to the people?”
Resting one hand on his belt, he swept his gaze across the Li family.
“If we find nothing…”
“Wouldn’t that simply prove your family’s innocence?”
Grandpa Li—Li Hongxin—had maintained a straight, unyielding posture throughout.
But the moment he heard the words overseas connections, his back seemed to bend ever so slightly.
He slowly closed his eyes.
If fortune is meant to come, it cannot be avoided.
If disaster is destined, there is no escaping it.
The day he had long expected…
Had finally arrived.
“Since Director Li has put it that way,” he said calmly, “trying to stop the investigation would only make us appear guilty.”
He gestured for his son to step aside.
“Very righteous of you, Old Master.”
Li Hong gave him a thumbs-up.
Li Kuncheng helped his father onto the sofa.
Mother Li sat beside her husband.
Li Jingmo took a seat next to his mother, silently watching the young couple across from him.
Li Hong issued his orders.
“Search carefully.”
“Not a single room is to be overlooked.”
“Pay special attention to every corner and hidden space…”
He was still delivering his lengthy instructions when Yun Qingya interrupted him.
“Director Li.”
He turned toward her.
She smiled politely.
“You should remind your people to be careful while searching and avoid damaging anything in this house.”
She looked earnestly at Li Hong and the men behind him wearing red armbands.
“If your search uncovers evidence, then everything in this house will naturally become state property.”
“In that case, anything your men damage would be damage to public property.”
“But if you find nothing…”
“That would prove the Li family has been falsely accused.”
“We would, of course, thank Director Li for clearing our family’s name.”
“And in that case…”
“Anything your people damage would belong to the Li family.”
“Which means compensation would be required.”
She smiled pleasantly.
“Director Li…”
“Wouldn’t you agree that I’m right?”