Watching Li Hong lead his men away, all the strength seemed to drain from Grandpa Li’s body at once.
He slumped onto the sofa, his voice filled with despair.
“I’ve… brought disaster upon the Li family…”
Ever since the political movement had begun, he had witnessed far too many families destroyed—homes confiscated, loved ones separated, lives ruined—all for one reason or another.
He had spent years walking on eggshells.
Yet the Li family had still failed to escape.
Looking at the old man, who had devoted most of his life to serving both his country and its people, Yun Qingya couldn’t help feeling a pang of sympathy.
But with the heroine still present, there were certain things she couldn’t say.
Instead, she turned to Cao Zhizhi.
“Cao Zhizhi, I’m curious about that photograph.”
She blinked innocently, looking every bit like someone asking out of simple curiosity.
“Dad and Mom didn’t even know about it.”
“So how did you know?”
“Would you mind telling me?”
Her question immediately drew everyone’s attention.
That’s right.
The photograph dated back fifty years.
Grandpa Li hadn’t even told his own son or grandsons about it.
So how could Cao Zhizhi—a girl adopted into the family much later—possibly know?
After giving birth to two sons, Mother Li had always longed for a daughter.
Unfortunately, children weren’t something one could simply choose.
Then, at just the right time, Cao Aiguo had fallen in the line of duty.
Not long afterward, his widow remarried.
Young Cao Zhizhi’s life in the Cao family became increasingly difficult.
As Cao Aiguo’s commanding officer, Li Kuncheng couldn’t bear to watch a martyr’s daughter go hungry or cold.
He proposed adopting her.
When he mentioned the idea to his wife, it fulfilled the dream she’d always had of raising a daughter.
The adoption procedures were completed soon afterward.
Out of respect for Cao Aiguo, Cao Zhizhi was entered into the Li family’s household registration, but her surname remained Cao.
She had been only ten years old when she arrived at the Li household.
Now, ten years later, the timid little girl had grown into a graceful young woman.
Li Kuncheng and his wife had always believed they had fulfilled their duty to their fallen comrade.
At least…
They hadn’t let a hero down.
“Cao Zhizhi.”
Mother Li still hadn’t recovered from the shock of the betrayal.
“Search your conscience and tell me honestly.”
“Has the Li family ever treated you badly?”
“They’ve treated me very well,” Cao Zhizhi admitted.
“But that’s only because my father’s martyr’s pension and government subsidies came with me.”
She straightened her back proudly.
“I believe that with enough money…”
“I would’ve lived just fine even without the Li family.”
Her words struck like knives.
Mother Li staggered backward before collapsing onto the sofa.
She pointed at Cao Zhizhi with trembling fingers, unable to speak.
The entire Li family was stunned.
After ten years…
Even raising a dog would create affection.
Let alone a person.
Yun Qingya curled her lips into a faint smile.
This is nothing.
What she’s done is far more horrifying than what she’s saying.
Cao Zhizhi had been secretly observing Yun Qingya the entire time.
Today’s Yun Qingya felt… different.
She carried herself with a quiet elegance and calm confidence she had never possessed before.
“Weren’t you supposed to leave the Li family today?”
Yun Qingya smiled.
“Li Jingye and I are legally married.”
“Li Jingmo personally brought me from the Lin family to the Li family on behalf of his elder brother.”
“So I’m the Li family’s daughter-in-law.”
“This is my home.”
“Why should I leave?”
(Her natal family was the Lin family rather than the Yun family because the original host’s father had married into his wife’s family.)
Under the astonished gazes of everyone present, Yun Qingya looked directly at Cao Zhizhi.
“On the contrary…”
“The Li family has never wronged you.”
“So why did you betray them?”
That question completely shattered Cao Zhizhi’s composure.
“They never wronged me?”
“They treated me well?”
She laughed bitterly.
Then she pointed straight at Li Jingye.
“Then why…”
“When I wanted to become the next mistress of the Li family…”
“…did none of you agree?”
Mother Li suddenly understood.
She clutched at her chest.
“But you’re brother and sister!”
“How could you possibly marry?”
“We’re not related by blood!”
“You’re still family! You’re on the same household register!”
“My registration was moved out when I turned eighteen!”
Yun Qingya couldn’t help laughing.
“So you’ve been planning this ever since you were eighteen?”
Only now did she truly understand.
When someone was rendered completely speechless…
Sometimes all they could do was laugh.
Believe her.
Cao Zhizhi didn’t deny it.
Her silence was answer enough.
Yun Qingya pointed toward Li Jingye.
“Then did you know…”
“…that Li Jingye was already engaged?”
“So what?”
Cao Zhizhi lifted her chin proudly.
“What does that have to do with you?”
“As his fiancée…”
“You openly tried to steal my man.”
Yun Qingya folded her arms across her chest and leaned casually against the sofa.
She looked at Cao Zhizhi as though she were nothing more than a ridiculous clown.
“And you’re asking whether it has anything to do with me?”
The Li family stared at Yun Qingya in astonishment.
Those words…
Were unbelievably bold.
“So I made sure all of you would be sent into exile together.”
Cao Zhizhi smiled triumphantly.
“No need to thank me.”
Then she looked at Li Jingye.
“I told you.”
“You’d regret it.”
A flash of killing intent crossed Li Jingye’s face.
“I do regret it.”
“I regret not objecting when my parents decided to adopt you.”
“You…”
Cao Zhizhi’s expression finally cracked.
“You hate me that much?”
“Not really.”
Li Jingye’s voice remained as calm as still water.
“If my family hadn’t adopted you…”
“…you would’ve been nothing more than a stranger to me.”
His tone carried not the slightest ripple of emotion.
Those indifferent words hurt far more than anger ever could.
“Well then.”
Yun Qingya stood up.
“Take care.”
“We have packing to do.”
“So you do know what’s coming.”
Cao Zhizhi gave a cold snort before turning and walking out of the Li residence.
Only after she disappeared did Yun Qingya let out a long breath.
This day—
No…
This half day—
Had utterly exhausted her.
Not physically.
Mentally.
She had barely transmigrated before being thrown into a house raid and impending exile.
Talk about starting a game on nightmare difficulty.
Suppressing a yawn, she covered her mouth.
“You should let Grandpa and the others read that letter.”
“I’m going upstairs to rest.”
The Li family fell silent.
Her nerves are unbelievable…
Li Jingye watched her until she disappeared into the bedroom.
Only then did he take the folded letter from his pocket and hand it to Grandpa Li.
Grandpa Li accepted it with confusion.
The moment he finished reading, his hands began shaking uncontrollably.
“W-Where…”
“…did this come from?”
Father Li leaned over to read it as well.
His face instantly turned deathly pale.
Treason?
Colluding with foreign enemies?
Both father and grandfather looked toward Li Jingye.
He gave a helpless smile.
“It was hidden inside the photo album in Dad’s study.”
Grandpa Li looked at his son.
Father Li immediately shook his head.
“I don’t know how it got there.”
“My study is always locked.”
“Ordinarily, no one can get inside.”
Li Jingmo suddenly remembered something.
“Actually…”
“I saw Cao Zhizhi wandering around outside Dad’s study last night.”
“But I didn’t think much of it.”
“What time?”
Li Jingye asked.
“Around ten o’clock.”
Li Jingmo scratched the back of his head.
Li Jingye poured himself a glass of water and drained it in one gulp.
“Before that…”
“Cao Zhizhi came to see me.”
“I rejected her.”
Li Jingmo blurted out the conclusion without thinking.
“So after being rejected, she acted out of spite and framed the Li family to get revenge on you?”
The room fell silent.
No one argued with that assessment.
It was simply…
A little too blunt.
Li Jingmo shrank his neck sheepishly.
“That’s how it always happens in novels…”
Mother Li ignored him.
Instead, she pointed upstairs toward Yun Qingya’s room and looked at her eldest son.
“So…”
“What exactly happened between you and Qingya?”