HCB Chapter 1804: Escape
Chapter 1804: Escape
The suffocating heaviness of the underground archives was stirred into an even deeper vortex by the words "account books" that Li Xiangnan threw out.
"Account books?"
Wang Defa stroked his stubble-covered chin and squinted, saying, "To be honest, the Mu family's elaborate escape wasn't just about escaping for their own lives; it might actually be about protecting that ledger!"
“Indeed! In those days, especially for a powerful and influential family like the Mu family,” Song Ziming, as a member of the Song family, was well aware of the core of a large family, “a single account book could contain much more than just transactions of money; it could involve an extremely vast and secretive network of connections, hidden resource channels, and even…”
"Even what?" Wang Defa swallowed hard.
“Even some shady deals and promises!” Song Ziming also narrowed his eyes as he looked at Li Xiangnan. “If this ledger threatens a larger power… or rather, if its very existence is a target that must be destroyed or seized, then the Mu family may truly be facing annihilation!”
Li Xiangnan nodded and slowly exhaled a puff of smoke.
In the dim light of the flashlight, the smoke twisted into eerie shapes, like a ghost that had claimed lives forty years ago.
"Zi Mo is right! Fake everyone's death to escape is too high a price to pay; it's equivalent to the Mu family giving up everything they've built up. Unless, what they're protecting is of immense value, even more important than the family's publicly known assets!"
Wang Defa took a deep breath and said in horror, "So, if they don't escape, their entire family will be wiped out! It seems that the ledger is indeed the key to the whole incident!"
None of them expected that from the beginning of Wan Shuisheng's case until now, the constant discovery of clues, the continuous associations and evidence, would give them a chance to get closer to the truth hidden by the Mu family.
“I’m even wondering if the gathering at the Mu family that night, that so-called coercion, was actually a result of various forces getting involved. They gathered at the Mu family’s residence to force them to hand over that ledger,” Li Xiangnan said in a low voice.
Wang Defa continued from this angle, "Then the Mu family refused, or rather, was unable to hand it over, so they had no choice but to take a risky tactic and burn everything that was in the open!"
Song Ziming said, "Then, they took the true core secrets and their family bloodline and disappeared into the dust and darkness!"
This conjecture made Wang Defa gasp again. "Damn it, if things are really as we think, then how hot a potato is this ledger!"
"So we must find it as soon as possible and figure out what it really means!" Song Ziming immediately chimed in. "Brother Nan, we can't give up on the Mu family line. Here's what we'll do: you take over the underground archives from me. I'll talk to my family and we'll need to work here long-term to keep digging deeper and see if we can find any clues about that ledger or another file! I refuse to believe that something this big won't leave a single trace!"
A warm feeling welled up in Li Xiangnan's heart. He patted Zi Mo's shoulder and said, "You've worked hard these past few days investigating the Mu family underground. It's been exhausting and demanding..."
"We're all brothers, why are you talking about this!" Song Ziming chuckled sheepishly.
"Defa, if it's alright, let's come and lend a hand. More people mean more strength. We can't let Zimo be a laborer in the underground world all by himself!"
"Haha, of course!" Wang Defa immediately patted his chest. "I'm good at treating patients, but as for catching criminals and solving cases... well, I'll have to learn from Xiao Song!"
The three smiled slightly.
At this moment, it was completely dark outside the window, and only three flashlights and a wall lamp were lit in the archives, making the night seem even more desolate.
"Brother Nan," Song Ziming glanced at his watch and urged, "You should hurry home. Your wife is heavily pregnant and waiting for you. You've been running around for the past two weeks, and you've finally made it back to Beijing. Hurry up and go home; she must be worried!"
Wang Defa grinned and said, "That's right, that's right. Hurry up and go back to keep Ruobai company. It's fine for us rough men to stay up all night, but she's pregnant!"
When his wife Qin Ruobai was mentioned, Li Xiangnan's calm gaze softened instantly, and his obsession with historical mysteries and his worries about the Mu family were replaced by a warmer sense of concern.
I really miss her!
"Okay, I'll head back first! You two should get some rest and not stay up too late!" Li Xiangnan straightened his clothes before turning and leaving the archives.
As Li Xiangnan stepped into his backyard, a familiar scent, a blend of faint soapberry fragrance and lingering aromas of food, wafted towards him, instantly washing away all his fatigue.
Under the warm light, Qin Ruobai leaned against the sofa, a thin blanket covering her knees. Her once slender body was now much rounder. She held a parenting book in her hand, her long eyelashes casting soft shadows under her eyelids. Under Liang Mei's guidance, she was discussing precautions after the baby's birth.
"Oh dear, the person in charge is back, I have to go!"
Hearing the noise, Liang Mei turned around, saw Li Xiangnan, jumped up and ran to the door, then poked her head in, blushing, and said, "Keep it down tonight, absence makes the heart grow fonder!"
"..."
Li Xiangnan and his wife exchanged a glance and burst out laughing.
"Xiang Nan! You're back?" Qin Ruobai's beautiful eyes immediately filled with surprise and tenderness when she saw her travel-worn husband.
Hearing his wife's soft, sweet voice, tinged with the languor typical of pregnancy, Li Xiangnan quickly stepped forward, pressed her down, and gently held her hand. "No need to greet me, you're carrying a heavy load!"
"I wanted to heat up your food!" Qin Ruobai let him hold her hand, feeling the warmth of her husband's fingertips, and looked up at him. "Knowing you were coming back today, Mom specially made chicken soup. I'll heat it up for you! Look at you, you've lost weight. Defa doesn't even know how to keep an eye on you when you're out..."
“I’ve already eaten!” Li Xiangnan said, looking intently at his wife.
Under the dim light, her skin was radiant, and her pregnancy added to her maternal glow and tenderness. A few strands of hair fell beside her cheeks, making her look gentle and endearing.
It's been more than half a month since I left, but it feels like a very long time has passed.
I miss you so much!
Li Xiangnan leaned down and placed a gentle and precious kiss on Qin Ruobai's smooth forehead.
The skin beneath his lips was slightly cool, carrying his wife's unique fragrance.
Qin Ruobai closed her eyes slightly, feeling her husband's long-lost intimacy. A faint blush rose on her face. She reached out and touched his stiff stubble, gently stroking it.
"Look at you, you don't even know how to shave!"
"Is it prickly?" Li Xiangnan smiled and rubbed his face against hers again.
"I'll give you a shave tonight!" Qin Ruobai reached out and hooked her arm around his neck, then gently stroked his brow. "Things didn't go well, did they? Your brow is still furrowed when you got home. I'll smooth it out for you!"
Her gentleness and thoughtfulness touched Li Xiangnan's heart, transforming into an unspeakable love. He gently shook his head, "It's alright, it's all taken care of!"
After saying that, not wanting those dark things to affect his wife, he lowered his head and put his ear to her pregnant belly, asking expectantly, "Little one, have you been good lately?"
"It was moving around a lot this afternoon, it probably knows Dad is coming back!"
Sensing her husband's childlike nature, Qin Ruobai smiled slightly.
Li Xiangnan closed his eyes and carefully felt the fetal movements.
All the fatigue and hardship vanished at that moment.
His wife, children, and warm home are his roots, his present and future, and the peace he is willing to protect with all his might.
late at night.
He held his soft, warm wife in his arms, his hands feeling her delicate skin.
Qin Ruobai twisted slightly, letting out a soft moan like a cat, tilting her head back, her lips slightly parted, her breath sweet as orchids.
Li Xiangnan's Adam's apple bobbed for a moment, then he lowered his head and captured those two soft lips.
At first, it was a gentle probe, like a dragonfly skimming the water.
Then came the longing that followed the separation, burning like wildfire, intense and lingering.
The air seemed to thicken, and his hand involuntarily slid down, lingering on the full, soft curves of her belly, his touch just right, a mixture of longing and tenderness.
Qin Ruobai's body went limp from the kiss, her cheeks flushed, but she managed to regain a sliver of reason and slap her husband's hand away.
"You're not being honest! The kid's all grown up now, he can't see his dad this early!"
Li Xiangnan paused, took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and buried his head in his wife Naixiang's arms.
"Then I'll hold you! I'll hold both of you!"
He embraced his wife again, treating her like a precious treasure.
A deeper and more peaceful feeling flowed between the two.
"It's so good to have you all!"