The last time I stood before this gate was three years ago.
Back then, Chen Jinzhao still held respect for the Li family, genuinely believing that three generations of the Li family had dedicated themselves to serving the nation with utmost loyalty.
However—
Three years later, he stood before the Li family gate once more.
He felt that everyone in the Li family was utterly greedy, their avarice and possessiveness for certain things reaching a pathological degree.
If this were a feudal era, the entire Li family would be tyrants!
Yu Mengzhi’s feelings mirrored Li Ziqing's; they both harbored incredibly complex emotions towards the Li family.
On one hand, this was their home.
On the other hand, they loathed seeing the Li family become what it was now.
After standing for a while.
The gate of the Li family compound was pushed open, and Li Tiannan appeared before the three of them.
Li Tiannan spoke with a cold expression, "Grandfather knew you would come, so he sent me to wait at the gate. I didn't expect you would actually show up."
"Tiannan, are you involved in this matter?" Li Ziqing retorted.
Li Tiannan remained silent.
Yu Mengzhi and Chen Jinzhao stood by, observing, and did not speak.
Li Ziqing choked back a sob, "Li Tiannan, I once treated you as my own child, believing you to be a loyal and honest boy. How have you become this way? Must you watch the Li family descend into madness before you awaken?"
"If that day comes, it will truly be too late."
Li Tiannan's eyes flickered, but he still did not speak.
Li Ziqing asked again, "I only want to know, were you involved in this matter or not!"
Her tone was accusatory.
After a long pause.
Li Tiannan suddenly sighed and retorted, "Aunt, does it matter whether I was involved or not?"
Li Ziqing was stunned, and then she understood everything.
Li Tiannan's heart was always with the Li family. Anything that benefited the Li family, he would do, even at the cost of his own life.
From this, it was evident that Li Tiannan was deeply implicated.
Thinking this, Li Ziqing shook her head in disappointment, "Tiannan, you weren't like this before."
"You've changed."
Li Tiannan, however, said with a complex expression, "I have indeed changed, but what in this world is eternally immutable? The once flourishing Wu family collapsed with a bang. Tracing back 120 years, even the Qing Dynasty, which reached its zenith in the feudal era, has not vanished into the dust of history? I merely wish for the Li family to endure for a longer time. Is that so wrong?"
Li Tiannan understood some of these principles, but for the Li family to prosper for generations, he had to act against his conscience.
"I understand," Li Ziqing said dejectedly, saying no more.
Yu Mengzhi, standing beside them, spoke, "I want to know, when Chen Jinzhao returned from Dongying that day, did the Old Master instruct Jiang Yangping to tamper with the private jet?"
*Swish!*
The temperature around them plummeted.
Making the already cold night even more biting.
Li Tiannan did not meet Yu Mengzhi's eyes and said expressionlessly, "I know nothing of those matters. They have nothing to do with me."
Absence of denial was tantamount to an admission.
Li Ziqing and her mother felt a chill run through them once more. The Li family of the past was not like this.
No!
The Li family had always been like this.
It was just that they had never seen the true face of the Li family.
Li Tiannan no longer lingered in conversation with the three of them. As he turned and stepped over the threshold, he said, "Come inside with me. Grandfather has been waiting for you for a long time."
Chen Jinzhao took a step to follow.
Yu Mengzhi suddenly grabbed Chen Jinzhao's arm.
Chen Jinzhao turned to look at Yu Mengzhi, who subtly shook her head at him.
This trip might be dangerous.
She felt it would be safer to prevent Chen Jinzhao from taking risks.
"Jinzhao, why don't you go back first? We are all part of the Li family; they won't do anything to us. As for you..." Li Ziqing also spoke.
Chen Jinzhao shook his head, "I am the one they care about the most. Uncle Yu was implicated because of me. How can I back down?"
"Let's go."
He walked ahead, and the other two no longer said anything, immediately following.
Li Ziqing couldn't help but sigh, "You are exactly like your father. Once you make up your mind, no one can change it."
Chen Jinzhao's steps faltered.
It was a while before he continued forward.
Led by Li Tiannan, the group of three arrived at the Li family's discussion hall.
Li Buyan and Li Tiance were both seated in the hall, awaiting their arrival. Seeing this scene, Chen Jinzhao realized the rumors outside were true. It was said that the Li family placed their hopes on the third generation, with the second generation merely serving as a cover.
The current situation was precisely that.
Li Tiance was the Li family's second-in-command, second only to Li Buyan.
If nothing unexpected occurred, Li Tiannan would be the third-in-command.
As for the other members of the Li family, they were merely supporting leaves.
Li Ziqing said angrily, "Li Buyan, you must give me a clear explanation today. Why did you send Wendong to prison?"
"If you don't give me a reason, I'll hang myself at your Li family gate!"
Li Buyan frowned.
Then he said sternly, "Ziqing, you're already fifty years old. Why are you still like a little girl?"
"You arrested my husband, and now you ask why I'm doing this?" Li Ziqing roared.
Li Buyan shook his head.
Li Ziqing attempted to press further, but Chen Jinzhao and Yu Mengzhi immediately stopped her.
Chen Jinzhao said calmly, "I know your target is me. Therefore, I wish to speak with you alone."
Yu Mengzhi instantly became nervous.
Li Buyan gave Chen Jinzhao a meaningful glance and said to Li Tiance beside him, "Tiance, entertain the two ladies. I have some matters to discuss with Chen Jinzhao privately."
Li Tiance nodded in agreement.
He stood up and said to Yu Mengzhi and Li Ziqing, "Aunt, cousin, let's go outside."
Li Tiannan stood in front of the two women, leaving them with no choice.
Chen Jinzhao said lightly, "Don't worry, I'll be fine. If anyone should be worried, it's the Old Master."
Li Buyan showed no reaction.
Yu Mengzhi suppressed her anxiety and left the discussion hall with Li Ziqing.
Only Li Buyan and Chen Jinzhao remained in the hall.
Li Buyan said in a voice devoid of emotion, "Sit down. I've been wanting to talk to you."
Chen Jinzhao did not stand on ceremony and sat down before Li Buyan.
"You have quite the nerve, sneaking into my manor in the middle of the night. Aren't you afraid I'll keep you here indefinitely?" Li Buyan looked down on Chen Jinzhao with a condescending air, which made Chen Jinzhao very uncomfortable. Chen Jinzhao retorted, "Like what you did to Elder Xu?"
Instantly.
Li Buyan fixed Chen Jinzhao with his sharp, hawk-like eyes.
He wanted to know what else Chen Jinzhao knew.
Chen Jinzhao tried to glean any subtle shift from Li Buyan's expression, but Li Buyan, a seasoned old man, showed no sign of emotion on his aged face.
Li Buyan shook his head, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Xu Hanchen's plight pains me, but I did not do it myself, nor do I have the capability."
"Let's talk about you."
Chen Jinzhao also said, "There's nothing to say about me. I just want to know what you want us to do so you'll let Uncle Yu go?"
"He is also your son-in-law."