Ning Yuan looked at him and sneered sarcastically, "Have you never thought about this? Even Rong Zhaonan, your adopted 'brother,' was so angry that he beat up your fourth brother once, but why has the Ye family never caused you any trouble after Ye Qiu died?"
She paused for a moment: "In the end, she was driven away by your fourth son. Her family didn't even get to see her one last time. Didn't they feel any grief or anger? Don't forget, Ye Qiu was the child they had placed their hopes on!"
Xiang Ziye choked, suddenly recalling the cold, resentful looks Ye's parents and other relatives gave them at the funeral.
Ning Yuan said softly—
"Because after someone learned the truth, they said not to cause trouble for you and your family, so even though her relatives were very sad and didn't understand, they all held back and simply stopped having any contact with your family."
Xiang Ziye froze, his pupils contracted, and he exclaimed, "You mean the person who knows is..."
...
"Grandpa Ye..."
A few days ago, in the Ye family courtyard, in the study.
"I've already taken control of most of those who harmed Sister Qiu back then; all that's left is to close the net." A cold, slender figure placed a thick stack of files on the table.
A tall, white-haired old man sat by the window. He lowered his head and reached out with trembling hands to touch the thick files.
He stared blankly for a while, then his body hunched slightly as he slowly stood up, holding his cane.
Rong Zhaonan immediately stepped forward to help him up: "Grandpa, let me help you."
Grandpa Ye helped him slowly walk to a bookshelf, reached out and took out a key to unlock a glass door.
He forbade anyone to touch or open this bookcase.
No one in the Ye family dared to disobey his orders, so for many years, even when cleaning, no one dared to open this bookcase.
There was a photograph covered with a black cloth in the cabinet.
Old Ye lifted the black cloth, revealing a black and white photograph inside. In the photograph, a young girl smiled brightly and cheerfully, her expression both firm and gentle.
Old Ye's aged eyes slowly began to redden.
He closed his eyes briefly, then shakily reached behind the photo and pulled out a thick leather notebook.
The notebook looked like an encrypted workbook, and it even had a lock.
However, the notebook seemed to have been crushed or hit by something; the leather cover was tattered, and the lock was broken.
Old Ye turned to the first page, where two neat and elegant characters were written: "Ye Qiu".
He looked up at the photograph, his aged eyes red, and said softly—
“Little Qiu’er, you can rest in peace now. It was all my fault. I only found this diary after you left, while sorting through your belongings. I only then realized how much you suffered, how many injustices you endured… Now, Grandpa is here to seek justice for you…”
This is his first granddaughter, his most beloved granddaughter, his most sensible, considerate, and outstanding Xiao Qiu'er.
As he spoke, tears streamed down his face.
Rong Zhaonan looked at the old man, his eyes reddening instantly, and said in a hoarse voice, "...I'm sorry, if I hadn't kept it from you back then, maybe those bastards wouldn't have had a chance to escape. We almost lost all the clues, and we only caught them now!"
When Grandpa Ye saw this diary and summoned him for questioning to explain the pros and cons, three or four years had passed since that nightmarish rainy night at the reservoir.
The place was deserted long ago, all traces had vanished, and there were no clues whatsoever.
Old Ye closed his eyes briefly and said gently but wearily—
"Grandpa never blamed you... You were just sixteen years old then, still a child..."
He said softly and sadly, "Xiao Qiu'er has always been strong-willed; it's our fault... I had too high expectations of her. She always wanted to be 'perfect' according to our expectations, so she wouldn't tell us, her family, what happened..."
"We are the ones who have let her down. She took care of everyone, but she herself is just a girl in her twenties."
Rong Zhaonan, his eyes red, lowered his head: "...Grandpa..."
When Old Master Ye opened his eyes again, he had regained his usual dignified and profound demeanor, and gently patted his shoulder—
"You're a real man. You've kept your promise to Xiao Qiu'er for over ten years, but you also promised Xiao Qiu'er and me that you would find the murderer."
Old Master Ye sighed deeply and wearily: "If we seize this opportunity, we will inevitably have to go through the public security, procuratorial and judicial procedures. Even if I request a confidential trial, these case files will definitely be reviewed by the relevant authorities. Xiao Qiu'er... will understand you."
He looked at the girl in the photo, his gaze deep and sharp, and said, word by word, "Only by bringing evil to justice can the souls of the good find true peace and tranquility."
Rong Zhaonan said in a deep voice, "He Su's matter is not only about the evil she did back then. She is very likely involved in the Tang Jun case in Shanghai. I have reason to suspect that she is involved in an espionage case."
Old Master Ye looked at Rong Zhaonan with a somber expression: "Do you know what you're saying? She is, after all, your father's wife. Once she's involved in an espionage case, not only your father, but you too will be stripped of all your positions and subject to investigation. It will profoundly affect you all..."
"I know," Rong Zhaonan replied without hesitation, his voice deep and resonant. "But as a former soldier, I will always remember my duty and why I fought my whole life!"
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