Gu Tingyu nodded after hearing Yiyi’s words and said, "Yes, at that time, Old Master Ding searched for a long time but couldn’t find the person. Later, they found the charred remains of a baby girl in an abandoned mansion in the suburb of Beijing, wearing a golden necklace originally belonging to Ding Yahan. Because there was an inscription on the necklace, everyone knew that the eldest daughter of the Ding Family, Ding Yahan, was gone."
Yiyi’s face darkened slightly upon hearing this.
"It seems that old woman from the Ding Family had ill intentions since she married into the family."
Gu Tingyu agreed, saying, "That old woman is indeed not simple."
However, the events of that year were too long ago, and many things are difficult to investigate. He only managed to uncover the basics and still hasn’t figured out how Ding Yuejun disappeared and ended up in Z Province in the south, nor what happened with the baby girl in that abandoned mansion.
Yiyi was also pondering over this matter.
"It seems there is something strange about the events of that year. I suspect that Chen Meilian intended to harm Mother from the start, but Mother ended up safe and wandered off to Luwei Village, which means someone helped her back then."
"That should be the case. I will continue to investigate this matter carefully and will let you know once I have news. Don’t overthink it now; focus on healing properly." At the end, Gu Tingyu patted Yiyi’s head and had her lie down to rest.
Yiyi couldn’t help but wrinkle her nose.
"I feel like my bones are rusting."
She had been lying in bed for the past few days and felt quite dispirited.
"Your ribs are broken, where do you think you’re going if not lying down? I will have Aunt Ding keep a good eye on you; we can’t let you be careless."
Upon hearing Gu Tingyu’s words, Yiyi couldn’t help but sigh.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Chen Meilian, full of resentment, looked at Old Master Ding and said, "Ding Wenzhi, what do you mean by this? My nephew was originally supposed to be transferred to Shangjing, but I heard it was because of you that he was sent to the Northwest instead."
She hadn’t found Old Qi and the others, and upon hearing about her nephew’s situation, her anxious heart became even more restless. She immediately went to confront Old Master Ding upon hearing the news.
Old Master Ding looked at Chen Meilian with deep and intense eyes and said, "Yes, I intervened. Don’t think I don’t know how your nephew initially got his position. Now, I’m just returning him to his original place."
"You..."
Chen Meilian was furious, clutching her chest in anger, pointing at Old Master Ding, "Even if he’s your nephew, aren’t you going to support him? Instead, you’re pulling him down. What are you thinking?"
Old Master Ding said nothing, just looked at Chen Meilian deeply and walked away without turning his head.
"Ding Wenzhi..."
Chen Meilian was extremely angry, but thinking about that final glance Old Master Ding gave her, she felt a chill in her heart. What was wrong with this old man? His gaze seemed a bit off earlier. She immediately thought about the task she had given Old Qi and the others, finally becoming a little uneasy.
She had planned well—to secretly take the token and have Old Qi and the others handle Ding Yuejun, then quietly return the token. She would instruct Old Qi properly, and everything was supposed to be seamless. But now, Old Qi and the others haven’t returned, and Old Master Ding’s attitude has changed. Had her plan been exposed?
Thinking this, Chen Meilian could not sit still, and she immediately sent someone to investigate Old Master Ding’s recent activities.
"Madam, Old Master Ding hasn’t met with Old Qi or Lao Liu recently. It’s like they’ve all disappeared into thin air." Sister in law Chang spoke with a touch of disbelief.
Upon hearing that Old Master Ding hadn’t met Old Qi and the others, Chen Meilian relaxed a bit, but with things unresolved, she remained overwhelmingly irritable. "Keep looking, and if our people can’t find them, find a way to get outsiders to help search."
"Yes, Madam."
But before Chen Meilian could locate Old Qi and the others, she heard that something happened with her family.
This time, even Ding Yating returned to the Ding Family.
"Mom, what happened with Uncle? I heard he was taken away by the Discipline Inspection Commission."
With a gloomy face, Chen Meilian said, "I don’t know the details; we should go to your uncle’s place to see. Your aunt just called, asking us to go back."
Ding Yating nodded quickly, "Mom, let’s go now, then."
When the mother and daughter arrived at the Chen Family, Miao Guizhi gave them a cold look. "You came here really leisurely, only showing up now."
Hearing this, Chen Meilian’s face turned a bit ugly. But considering her brother was still under control, she suppressed her anger and said coldly, "What happened? How was Shengguo taken by the Commission people?"
Miao Guizhi couldn’t hold back any longer and turned to Chen Meilian, "What happened? What do you think happened? It’s all your good husband’s doing! I’ve heard, it was brother-in-law Ding Wenzhi who personally reported Shengguo, which got him investigated by the Commission. Ying Jie was already sent to the Northwest, and now he’s not letting Shengguo go. Does your Ding Family intend to ruin ours?"
Ding Yating looked incredulous.
"How could that be? Why would Father do this? Aunt, are you mistaken?"
Miao Guizhi sneered, "How could I be mistaken? Ding Wenzhi didn’t cover up this matter, and now everyone knows except you. Why don’t you go ask him why he’s doing this?" At the end, she was filled with hatred.
Now that the Chen Family was falling apart and others were taking advantage of their misfortune, Miao Guizhi was having a tough time and naturally wouldn’t let the Ding Family, the culprits in her eyes, go easily. Ironically, Ding Wenzhi was their own brother-in-law.
Seeing the hatred in Miao Guizhi’s eyes, Chen Meilian believed her words, reminding her of her nephew’s demotion earlier.
Why would Ding Wenzhi do such a thing?
Soon, Chen Meilian thought of the disappearance of Old Qi and the others, and felt a slight panic in her heart. She had a hunch that something had indeed gone awry.
"Mom, we should hurry back and ask Father if there’s some misunderstanding here."
Ding Yating noticed the hatred in Miao Guizhi’s eyes as well and couldn’t help but feel anxious. She planned to quickly head back with her mother.
Hearing her daughter’s words, Chen Meilian snapped back to her senses, nodding and preparing to leave.
Miao Guizhi stopped them, "I don’t care if there’s a misunderstanding or not, you must save Shengguo, or I won’t let you live peacefully." Toward the end, her eyes were slightly bloodshot.