The night was as dark as ink, torn by the fierce wind. The bean-sized raindrops, like a mighty army, pounded against the window frames with a crackling sound. Inside, the candlelight flickered under the assault of wind and rain, like a weak heart struggling to beat, casting a dim and fragmented light on Su Jinli's pale, tear-stained face.
Su Jinli's hands trembled slightly as she held the tattered letter, as if it were the most precious, yet most heartbreaking, treasure in the world. The delicate lotus pattern on the edge of the letter, delicate and gentle, was exactly the same as the pattern on the sachets she had painstakingly embroidered as a child. Her gaze slowly traced the now-blurred handwriting. The worry and concern embedded between the lines were like countless blunt knives, repeatedly grinding against her heart, sending pain radiating through her entire body.
"So mother had noticed it a long time ago..." Her voice trembled slightly, filled with uncontrollable grief and shock, as if all the strength had been drained away. Before she finished speaking, a scalding tear burst out of her eye, slamming heavily onto the words "Take good care of Li'er" on the letterhead, instantly spreading, as if to melt away her mother's deep love and endless worry.
Just then, a faint sound of footsteps could be heard. Siyan rubbed his sleepy eyes and cautiously poked his head out of the doorway. His small body was wrapped in loose pajamas, and he was still holding the abacus he usually couldn't let go of tightly in his arms. He looked naive and adorable. "Are mom and dad looking for treasure?" the four-year-old asked in a baby voice, his childish voice particularly abrupt in the silent and oppressive atmosphere.
Si Yan's bare, tender white feet carelessly stepped over the scattered files. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he squatted down to pick up a piece of broken porcelain, excitedly exclaiming, "This is beautiful!" On the porcelain, half a red plum blossom was faintly depicted. Although the petals were broken, they still exuded a delicate and elegant charm. It was exactly the style that Su Jinli's biological mother loved when she was alive.
Seeing this, Young Marquis Su sighed softly, squatted down, and cradled his nephew on his lap. The boy, usually playful, had rarely put aside his playful nature, his expression filled with solemnity and emotion. He gently traced the jarring crack on the porcelain with his fingertips, as if stroking an unhealed wound, and whispered, "This belonged to your grandmother." Then, he looked up at the endless darkness outside the window, a flicker of determination in his eyes. "Tomorrow, Uncle will take you to destroy the Jishidiang sign!"
"Don't smash it!" Su Jinli's expression shuddered, and she quickly reached out to hold down her brother's sword-wielding hand. Her gaze swept across the mess, her mind racing. "Doctor Zhou must have someone behind the scenes. Back then, Liu was able to come and go freely in the clinic, and even Old Lady Wang couldn't have so easily controlled everything..." Her voice was low and firm, revealing an unquestionable resolve. Suddenly, she remembered the eerie, cold smile Liu had worn before her death in her past life. A chill crept up the back of her neck, and she shuddered.
Jiang Yan pushed up his glasses on the bridge of his nose, his eyes behind the lenses steady and sharp. He bent down and picked up an account book from the pile of debris that looked like a ruin. The cover of the account book was already worn out, the corners were badly worn, and it had an old smell. "Father-in-law, this is the secret account that was missed when the Wang family was raided. Last month, a sum of money was also sent to Jishiditang." He turned over the yellowed pages, and the pages made a slight crisp sound. The ink was an eerie blue-gray color under the flickering candlelight, as if hiding countless unknown secrets. "It was made of dense-grained paper purchased by the Ministry of War."
Prime Minister Su had been lowering his head, but upon hearing this, he suddenly looked up. His cloudy eyes instantly flashed with bloodshot, like an enraged lion, a mixture of anger and shock on his face. "The Ministry of War...it's Minister Gao!" he gritted his teeth, his voice filled with anger and resentment. With that, he suddenly grabbed the wine cup on the table and smashed it against the wall. With a loud "clang," the cup shattered into pieces, the fragments flying like his broken heart. "Back then, when he married into the Wang family, he even recommended Doctor Zhou to serve in the palace..."
At this moment, a crisp laugh broke the tense and oppressive atmosphere. Nianli came in hopping, holding a golden pepper pendant. There were a few pink petals on her pigtails, like the cutest elf in spring. "Is Daddy angry?" She tilted her head and looked at Su Xiang, whose face was full of anger, with innocence and concern in her eyes. Then, she carefully put the pendant into Su Xiang's hand and said in a baby voice: "Nianli will give you the hottest pepper, and you won't feel any pain after eating it!"
Su Xiang looked at the golden chili pendant in his hand, then at Nian Li's innocent little face. His originally angry expression instantly eased. His eyes were slightly red, and a warm current surged in his heart. He gently hugged Nian Li in his arms, and said with a choked voice, "Good child, thank you."
Su Jinli watched this scene with mixed emotions. She knew that even though the truth was gradually coming to light, the road ahead was still fraught with difficulties and obstacles. The complex forces behind Doctor Zhou, including Minister Gao of the Ministry of War, undoubtedly made things even more difficult. However, looking at the determined eyes of her family, especially the innocent and trusting eyes of her children, a firm belief surged in her heart. No matter how many difficulties lay ahead, she would seek justice for her mother and protect this family.
Jiang Yan walked to Su Jinli, gently held her hand, and whispered, "Madam, don't worry. We will face it together and will definitely uncover the truth." Su Jinli nodded slightly, held Jiang Yan's hand in return, drawing strength from his warm and powerful hand.
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