For the first time, Li Hong realized he had completely misjudged someone.
He had thought Yun Qingya was a gentle, delicate flower who spoke with warmth and grace.
Instead, she was a crimson rose covered in thorns.
One careless move, and she’d draw blood.
“Did you all hear that?” he barked at the people behind him. “While you’re searching, be careful not to damage any public property!”
Yun Qingya lowered her eyes slightly, a trace of mockery flickering across her face.
Public property?
He hadn’t even begun the search, yet he had already decided the Li family’s belongings belonged to the state.
“Li Jingye, go with Dad.”
She gently nudged the man who still hadn’t let go of her hand.
Only then did Li Jingye notice the cold sweat coating her palm.
She wasn’t nearly as calm as she appeared.
She was forcing herself to remain composed—for the sake of preserving the Li family’s last shred of dignity.
Helping her onto the sofa, he then followed his father upstairs alongside the Red Armband officers.
The reason Yun Qingya had insisted they accompany the search party was simple.
What if they found nothing…
…and, out of desperation, planted evidence themselves?
“Qingya…”
Mother Li looked at her daughter-in-law as though she were meeting her for the first time.
She had never imagined those righteous, fearless words could come from Yun Qingya.
Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Yun Qingya offered a reassuring smile.
“Mom, it’ll be alright.”
Mother Li fell silent.
Oddly enough, at that moment, what concerned her most wasn’t the Li family’s fate…
…but why her daughter-in-law seemed like an entirely different person.
Led by Li Hong, the Red Armband officers searched every room on the second floor with painstaking thoroughness.
They came close to tearing up the floorboards.
Yet after searching high and low…
They found nothing they were looking for.
Li Hong frowned.
Wasn’t I told the evidence was hidden in the study?
How could it be missing?
Li Jingye noticed Li Hong repeatedly glancing toward the bookshelves.
His eyes narrowed.
So…
They had been working together all along.
Fortunately, they had discovered everything beforehand.
No…
Not they.
It was Yun Qingya.
She had insisted on dragging him to inspect the study themselves.
Otherwise, he never would have imagined that a forged letter accusing the Li family of treason had been hidden inside his father’s study.
Li Kuncheng spoke firmly.
“I’ll say it again.”
“The Li family has always been unwaveringly loyal to this country.”
Li Hong merely curled his lips.
Of course he knew the truth.
But truth wasn’t what mattered.
Their political positions were different.
The factions they supported were different.
That alone was enough.
Standing quietly near the doorway, Cao Zhizhi had been watching everything upstairs.
She couldn’t understand it.
The search was far too quiet.
There was none of the chaos or destruction that usually accompanied a house raid.
Could those few words from that bitch Yun Qingya really have worked?
Before she could figure it out, Li Hong and his men came downstairs.
“Although we didn’t uncover any evidence today…” Li Hong said slowly, “…flies don’t gather around an uncracked egg.”
The unfinished sentence carried far more weight than if he’d spoken plainly.
Sweeping his gaze across the living room, he continued,
“Wait for the decision from above.”
Li Jingmo immediately asked what every member of the Li family was wondering.
“If you found nothing, doesn’t that prove our family was falsely accused? Doesn’t that prove we’re innocent?”
Li Hong gave a dismissive snort.
“The higher authorities have their own considerations.”
“That’s not for people like us to question.”
Li Jingmo clenched his fists and started to rise.
Before he could, Yun Qingya quickly pressed a hand onto his arm.
She gently shook her head.
“Don’t act impulsively.”
Mother Li also silently urged him to stay seated.
Seeing that Li Jingmo hadn’t taken the bait, disappointment flashed across Li Hong’s face.
He waved his hand.
“Withdraw.”
“Wait!”
A voice suddenly rang out.
It was Cao Zhizhi.
Yun Qingya’s pupils contracted.
Damn…
The heroine is about to make her move.
In the original novel, the Red Armband officers had discovered the forged letter today.
The Li family had immediately been branded traitors collaborating with foreign enemies.
Every bit of their property had been confiscated.
Even the cash and ration coupons they had secretly hidden were exposed because of Cao Zhizhi.
But Yun Qingya’s arrival had changed the original storyline.
Everything had unfolded differently.
Which meant…
She had no idea what trick the heroine was about to pull.
Everyone turned to look at Cao Zhizhi.
A gleam flashed through Li Hong’s eyes.
“And you are…?”
“My name is Cao Zhizhi.”
“My father, Cao Aiguo, once served under Uncle Li and sacrificed his life for the country eight years ago.”
She stood ramrod straight, her face full of pride.
“So you’re the daughter of a martyr.”
“Your father deserves our respect.”
Li Hong spoke in his usual official tone.
“And what would you like to report, Comrade Cao?”
“I wish to report someone.”
She slowly raised her arm and pointed directly at Grandpa Li.
“He has a first cousin living overseas.”
Li Hong’s eyes instantly lit up.
He had thought today would end in failure.
Who would have guessed someone would hand him an achievement on a silver platter?
The entire Li family inhaled sharply.
They stared at Cao Zhizhi in utter disbelief.
It was as though they had never truly known her.
Yun Qingya sighed inwardly.
As expected…
The heroine really is the author’s favorite.
The Li family’s exile was unavoidable after all.
Because the plot had changed, the heroine—who had originally remained perfectly hidden—had now stepped into the spotlight herself.
In the original novel, her role in framing the Li family hadn’t been uncovered by Li Jingye until much later.
“Zhizhi… what are you saying?”
Mother Li hurried over and grabbed her by the arm.
She never could have imagined that the child she had personally raised would stab the Li family in the back at a time like this.
Cao Zhizhi shook off her hand.
Her voice remained unwavering.
“Grandpa Li has an old photograph.”
“It was taken fifty years ago before his cousin left for overseas.”
“The two of them went to a photo studio together to commemorate their parting.”
One of the Red Armband officers immediately stepped forward.
“Chief, we did find an old photograph of the old man with another young man in his bedroom.”
Li Hong rounded on him furiously.
“Idiot!”
“Why didn’t you report something this important immediately?”
Under normal circumstances, he would’ve slapped the young man across the face.
But today he was in too good a mood to bother.
“I’ll get it right away!”
The young officer hurried upstairs.
Grandpa Li’s back, which had remained straight his entire life…
Finally bent completely.
He had implicated the entire family.
He had implicated his children and grandchildren.
“Dad…”
Li Kuncheng looked at his father anxiously.
Grandpa Li waved a weary hand.
“It’s true.”
“I did have a cousin who went overseas.”
“But after he left, we never contacted each other again.”
“I don’t even know whether he’s alive or dead.”
“As for this relationship…”
“My own family knew nothing about it.”
Yun Qingya looked toward the ceiling with quiet irony.
See?
This is exactly the plot hole.
Even the Li family themselves hadn’t known about that relationship.
Yet Cao Zhizhi somehow did.
Such was the author’s blatant favoritism toward his precious heroine.
At that moment, the young officer returned with the framed photograph and handed it to Li Hong.
Li Hong removed the backing and pulled out the faded picture.
Written on the back were the words:
“Commemorative photograph with my cousin, Li Hongda.”
Date: May 4, 1924.
Li Hong flicked the photograph with his finger.
“Old Master Li.”
“The evidence is undeniable.”
“What else do you have to say for yourself?”
Grandpa Li let out a long sigh.
“I’ve already said everything I needed to say.”
“I accept the organization’s investigation.”
“I believe the organization will ultimately give me justice.”
A meaningful smile spread across Li Hong’s face.
A pretext was all we needed.
Once there was a pretext, those above would have plenty of room to maneuver.
Everything that followed…
Was no longer his concern.
With his Red Armband entourage trailing behind him, Li Hong swaggered out of the Li residence as proudly as a victorious general returning from battle.
Then again…
From their perspective, uncovering something that could be used against the Li family was a victory.