The flickering candlelight, like a frail heart, laboriously beat in the silent night, cast a dim glow that cast a hazy shadow across the room. The golden chili pepper pendant in Nianli's hand, reflected in the soft candlelight, a delicate and captivating light, like twinkling stars. Su Xiang's gaze, drawn to this light, slowly fell on Nianli's innocent little face. That face, brimming with innocence and warmth, resembled the brightest sunshine on a spring day.
Yet, at that very moment, Su Xiang felt as if an invisible force had drained all his strength from him. His legs gave way, and he slumped down amidst the clutter on the floor. His eyes grew hazy and dazed, his thoughts unleashed like a wild horse, instantly traveling through time and space, returning to those distant yet unforgettable years. "Your grandmother was like that back then..." His voice, choked with uncontrollable sobs, seemed entangled by countless threads of pain. He slowly reached out his hand, trembling as he grasped the golden chili pendant that Nian Li had handed him, as if holding onto a lifetime of regret and longing. "She always said, no matter how hard the day was, a taste of sweetness would help you get through it..."
Young Marquis Su stood aside, watching his father in such grief, a pang of bitterness welling up in his heart. He quietly raised his hand and wiped his slightly red eyes, trying hard not to let the tears fall. The anger and sadness in the young man's heart surged like a raging tide. Suddenly, he plunged the wooden sword in his hand into the ground fiercely, and the blade sank into the ground, buzzing. "Dad! Let's go and file a complaint with the emperor now!" The young man's voice was a little broken with excitement. "I'll take Si Yan to block the palace gate and say that Minister Gao is plotting..."
"Nonsense!" Su Jinli frowned, anxious and grabbed her brother's ear, her eyes full of anxiety and severity, "Without any evidence, do you want your whole family to die with you?" She knew very well that in this intricate official struggle, the slightest mistake would lead to eternal damnation. The impulse at this moment would only put the family in a more dangerous situation. She let go of her hand, gently rubbed her brother's ear, and then picked up the crucial account book in Jiang Yan's hand. Her eyes, as sharp as a hawk, swept across the blurred lines on the account book, and fell into deep thought. "Remember what mother said in the letter, 'Don't trust the Zhou family'? Perhaps, in addition to Doctor Zhou, there are other people from the Zhou family involved..."
Before Su Jinli finished speaking, Si Yan suddenly raised his abacus high in the air, his chubby face gleaming with excitement, as if he had discovered a new world. "Mom! There's a 'Zhou' character here!" He poked his chubby finger at an inconspicuous spot in the corner of the account book. "On the 15th of every month, Zhouji Silk Shop collects the money!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yan's eyes immediately fell on the place where Si Yan pointed. He pushed up his glasses on the bridge of his nose, and the lenses flashed a faint light in the candlelight, as if sparks of wisdom were dancing. "The silk shop is in the East Market. I'll go check it out tomorrow." His voice was steady and firm, echoing in the room like a huge bell. He inadvertently glanced at Su Xiang and subconsciously reached out to touch the wine jar, and a trace of worry flashed in his eyes. He gently moved the wine jug away without leaving a trace, turned his gaze to Su Xiang, and said earnestly: "Father-in-law, if you really want to atone for your sins..."
"I'm going to the ancestral hall." Su Xiang seemed to wake up instantly. He supported himself on the table and stood up with difficulty. His steps, though unsteady, were filled with an unusually firm determination, as if this step would lead to the other side of redemption. "I'll burn some incense for your mother." He lowered his head and looked again at the golden chili pendant that Nian Li had stuffed into his hand. A smile suddenly appeared on his face. That smile was filled with endless bitterness and relief, but tears flowed uncontrollably along the deep and shallow wrinkles on his face. "Back then, your grandmother loved spicy food and said that if you ate spicy food, your tears wouldn't taste salty..."
Su Jinli looked at her father, feeling a mixture of emotions. She knew that for all these years, her father had been burdened with the guilt he felt towards his mother, like a heavy mountain. Now that the truth was gradually coming to light, the mountain seemed even heavier, weighing down her father, making it almost impossible for him to breathe. She walked forward, gently supported her father, and said, "Dad, let's go together."
Jiang Yan also nodded and said, "Father-in-law, Madam, I will go with you."
Young Marquis Su pulled the wooden sword from the ground, held it tightly in his hand, and said with a firm look in his eyes, "I'll go too."
So, in the quiet of the night, the family slowly walked towards the ancestral hall. No one spoke along the way, only the sound of the pattering rain seemed to silently accompany their sorrow and determination.
Arriving at the ancestral hall, Su Jinli gently pushed open the heavy door. The hinges creaked, a startling sound in the still night. A faint scent of sandalwood filled the air, and the faint glow of oil lamps on the walls cast a solemn and dignified light on the ancestral tablets.
Su Xiang slowly walked to his mother's tablet, picked up the incense and candles with trembling hands, lit them, and bowed deeply. His eyes were filled with regret and longing, and tears welled up again. "Madam, I am sorry for you. All these years, I failed to detect the conspiracy around me, allowing you to die unjustly. Now that the truth is becoming clear, I will seek justice for you and will not let those evildoers go unpunished." Su Xiang's voice, deep and firm, echoed throughout the ancestral hall.
Su Jinli, Jiang Yan, Young Marquis Su, Nianli, and Siyan all stepped forward and bowed before the tablet. Su Jinli said softly, "Don't worry, mother. We will definitely find out the truth and let your soul rest in peace."
Jiang Yan looked at the tablet and swore silently in his heart: "Mother-in-law, I will do my best to protect Jinli and give you justice."
Young Marquis Su gritted his teeth and said, "Grandmother, I will personally bring those bad guys to justice and avenge you."
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