75: Questionable

"What did you do next?" another officer asked.

"Yan Qinghe had already returned, so our subsequent plans were ruined. I went to ask the people from that organization, but they didn't explain. I could only give up on that plan and wait and see."

"Are you still in contact with that organization?" Officer Liu pressed.

"Yes." Zhao Mingting remembered something, a twisted and inexplicable expression appearing on his face. "Because of Yan Zhuohua."

"Yan Zhuohua?"

"Yes, that fake young master. He was too sensitive; he noticed something was wrong with Sun Qian almost immediately. Not long after, he tested Sun Qian and even investigated her. Fortunately, his own situation was quite dire at the time, so his methods weren't that sharp yet, but he still drove Sun Qian into a corner. So, the people from that organization contacted me and asked me to cooperate in silencing Sun Qian."

"Did you kill her?"

"No, she followed her superior's orders and committed suicide. I only helped make her death look like it was from an illness."

"What happened next?"

Zhao Mingting replied, "Next, Yan Zhuohua left the Yan Family. For five years, he showed no intention of returning, so I gradually relaxed. Until news came from the Yan Family that Yan Qinghe had perfectly completed several years of heir training and was about to take over the Yan Family. Then, I discovered someone was investigating that car accident case."

"I was very worried because I led that case, and the traces couldn't be wiped clean; it could be said to be the only breakthrough point. It would be found out sooner or later. When the time comes and it leads further, all my affairs might not be hidden."

"I could only take the old path and try to form a marriage alliance with the Yan Family. That way, even if things came to light, I could use the Yan Family's power to protect myself. At the very least, if Zhao Zijing married into the family, she would definitely protect Zixing, and the Zhao Family wouldn't fall."

"Zhao Zijing? The one we caught in the room that day was Zhao Zijing."

"Initially, it was Zhao Zijing who was chosen to marry directly and become the Mistress of the Yan Family." Zhao Mingting's throat was a bit dry, and he took a sip of water. "But before we could act, news spread that Yan Qinghe and Yan Zhuohua had already gotten married."

"I thought it was a rumor at first, but the Yan Family actually added them to the Genealogy and held a wedding. However, time was getting tighter. Just a few days after their wedding, the person investigating the car accident even started uncovering other things. I couldn't wait any longer."

"So I discussed with my confidant to arrange a trap to force Yan Qinghe to have relations with my granddaughter and use medical means—even if it meant IVF—to make Zhao Zijing pregnant with Yan Qinghe's child to save the Zhao Family. That was the incident at the banquet; I've already confessed to that."

Officer Liu stopped writing and asked carefully, "Then why was it changed to Zhao Zijing?"

"When I was discussing it with my confidant, that wretched girl Zhao Zijing overheard. She told Zhong Kai that she wanted to replace her sister as the future Mistress of the Yan Family. For the sake of his pair of illegitimate children, Zhong Kai forced me to change the candidate to Zhao Zijing." At this point, Zhao Mingting suddenly gave a self-deprecating laugh. "The child I pampered for decades, to whom I gave all my love, still found a mistress outside while my father's illegitimate son was causing trouble. He betrayed the wife who had sacrificed so much for him and fathered another pair of illegitimate children."

"He's even brought those illegitimate children home now, giving them status and wanting to hand the Zhao Family over to them." Zhao Mingting looked tired and chuckled with his head down. "Maybe this is retribution? He's so much like my father, as if my father were reincarnated."

Immediately after, Zhao Mingting retracted his words.

"But it's still different. My father was capable in everything except for his 'love brain.' Unlike my son, who is useless in everything except for his 'love brain.'"

Officer Liu's expression didn't change. When it comes to human nature, who can say for sure?

"Tell us about the information regarding that organization."

Zhao Mingting took a deep breath, and his expression suddenly turned serious.

"I don't know much about that organization. Their contact with me was almost entirely one-sided. When I contacted them, it was through a single contact person."

"Where is that person?"

"He's gone. Over half a month ago, he seemed to know I was about to be caught, so he left quietly without a trace. He contacted me via mobile phone, but the number was processed and untraceable. I don't have any other information or evidence about them. Because I cleaned up the traces of everything they did, so thoroughly that even I can't find any evidence."

"However, I have something else to say."

Officer Liu was somewhat surprised and gestured for him to continue.

"I suspect that organization's ultimate goal involves state secrets. The last order they gave me was to investigate the collaboration project between the Yan Family and the Fu Family. Although I am untalented, I have a vague understanding of the relationship between these two families and the government. I've lived for many years and have done plenty of bad things, but no matter how much we squabble within the family, I will never commit treason."

"I wanted to warn the Yan Family that someone was targeting their secrets, but it wasn't convenient for me to step forward. So, I used Zhao Zichuo's hand to orchestrate a case of stealing commercial secrets as a way to remind them that someone was making a move. The person who was caught should still be held at another police station, right? I set it up well enough that it wouldn't be traced back to me."

Officer Liu sat up straight. "I will coordinate with the police station you mentioned regarding this case."

"Good." Zhao Mingting nodded, then added, "When will the Yan Family find out about my interrogation records? If possible, I hope—or rather, it's necessary—that they are informed as soon as possible so they can take precautions."

"They will."

"Also, remember our condition. I want to see my grandson as soon as possible to pave the way for him before everything becomes public knowledge."

The video ended there.

Throughout the whole process, Yan Zhuohua and Yan Qinghe remained silent. Things weren't much different from what they had guessed, except for the cause of Qin Yue's car accident.

It turned out that the mother who would occasionally smile at him had died such a tragic death. She wasn't a person who sought death intentionally because she couldn't bear life or wanted to abandon Yan Qinghe, as everyone said; she was a mother who died unjustly while trying to find the truth and her real child. She had simply been unwittingly entangled in a massive conspiracy, and at the moment of her death, she probably only thought that the children had been accidentally swapped.

Since returning to the Yan Family, Yan Qinghe hadn't been this sad and vulnerable for a long time.

A pair of hands suddenly embraced Yan Qinghe.

Yan Zhuohua didn't speak; he just quietly held Yan Qinghe, letting the other's head rest on his shoulder.

He was different from Yan Qinghe; he had never met Qin Yue. The first time he heard the name was when he was investigating Yan Qinghe's past. Later, his focus on her was to use the car accident case as a starting point to find the truth behind everything.

Now that the truth was right before his eyes, Yan Zhuohua finally felt an inexplicable sadness.

It turned out that someone had been doing their utmost just to see him once.

The two of them embraced like that, not speaking for a long while.

Until Officer Liu finally knocked on the office door.

Yan Zhuohua hurriedly pulled away from Yan Qinghe and sat a bit further away in a poor attempt to hide his actions.

"Are you finished watching?" Officer Liu belatedly realized the atmosphere in the room.

"Yes."

"Good, we will continue to follow up on the subsequent matters. As for that organization, we have already reported it, and more elite forces will be deployed to investigate. However, I will likely still be the one to contact you. Also, the official announcement will probably be released around New Year's Day, but for now, the parts regarding state secrets and that organization must be kept hidden; those cannot be made public."

There were still many questions that hadn't been answered by Zhao Mingting; perhaps the answers could only be found once that organization was investigated.

Yan Zhuohua composed his emotions. "It's fine, we understand. We've finished the video, and I've learned what I wanted to know. We'll be heading back now."

Officer Liu knew they weren't in a good mood right now, so he agreed immediately.

"Sure. Looking at the weather, it's about to snow. Do you need us to send someone to drive for you?"

"No need, we can manage," Yan Zhuohua declined.

"Then please be very careful."