Chapter Fifty: A New Storm of Public Opinion!

“Do you still want to sue? Fine, go ahead.”

A cold voice came through. “But before you sue us, you should first address your own issues.”

Peng Liang was taken aback and turned his head. He then saw Ye Yuan approaching, accompanied by Ye Yan’an, Cong Gui, and Sun Ting.

The earlier words had come from Cong Gui.

“Me? What issues do I have?”

Peng Liang’s eyes darted around nervously. “Sir, you shouldn’t speak recklessly.”

“Reckless?”

Cong Gui sneered coldly. “On the show, you stood up and accused Hero Ye’s notebook of being fake. Do you even realize how much harm such accusations can cause?”

“Shouldn’t people be allowed to question?”

Peng Liang retorted sharply. “Since the old man appeared on the show, he should be prepared to face such scrutiny! Besides, I was only expressing a reasonable doubt. What’s wrong with that?”

“Putting aside the fact that you disrupted the live broadcast, Hero Ye’s identity has been certified by General Wu, and his commissioning ceremony is currently being prepared.”

Cong Gui stepped forward, his eyes sternly fixed on Peng Liang. “If that’s the case, are you also going to question General Wu’s identity? Do you think General Wu’s rank is fake as well?!”

Peng Liang was speechless.

“Hmph! It’s better to come clean now. If you continue to resist stubbornly, your fate will be far worse.”

Cong Gui said calmly, “You can either be a tainted witness or take the fall for someone else. The choice is yours.”

Peng Liang’s eyes flicked around, and with a thud, he knelt before Ye Yuan. “Hero Ye, I beg you. I really didn’t mean it. I just doubted your identity a little. Why must you be so aggressive?”

Peng Liang’s reaction took Ye Yuan and the others by surprise.

“Get up first, then we’ll talk.”

Ye Yuan spoke softly.

“No, I won’t get up.”

Peng Liang shook his head, still kneeling. “I truly only have some doubts about your identity. I mean no harm. Please, you must believe me.”

Ye Yuan looked helplessly at Cong Gui.

“Put away that act!”

Cong Gui frowned. “No normal person would do such a thing on a show. Even if you don’t speak now, you will one day.”

But Peng Liang continued feigning ignorance, dodging the issue and pleading for leniency.

Cong Gui was resigned.

In the end, they had Peng Liang temporarily detained.

The four left the police station. Cong Gui looked seriously at Ye Yuan. “Hero Ye, rest assured. I will investigate this matter thoroughly.”

---

Ye Yuan waved his hand gently. “I’m afraid this is a trap within a trap.”

Cong Gui and Sun Ting exchanged glances, both seeing the gravity in each other’s eyes.

...

The next morning, Sun Ting arrived at Ye Yuan’s home.

“Xiaoting, why are you here so early? Yan’an hasn’t gotten up yet.”

Ye Yuan chuckled softly.

“Grandpa Ye, there’s trouble.”

Sun Ting’s expression was anxious as she spoke quickly. “Someone has started smearing you online again. They’re saying a concerned viewer questioned you on the show, but you immediately had them imprisoned, claiming your place is a one-voice chamber.”

“Although most people still support you, if this can’t be explained clearly, it will seriously damage your reputation!”

While she was speaking, a noise came from outside.

Ye Yuan and Sun Ting stepped out and saw a woman kneeling at the door.

The woman was crying uncontrollably, tears and snot streaming. When she saw Ye Yuan, she crawled over on her knees and desperately pleaded, “Please, release my husband. He won’t dare question you again.”

Sun Ting was furious. “You! Your husband slanders a war hero! How can you say it’s us who won’t let go?”

The woman said nothing, only continuing to kowtow, looking truly like an oppressed commoner with nowhere to turn.

A crowd had gathered.

Countless eyes were fixed on them, making Sun Ting feel like she was sitting on pins and needles.

At that moment, Sun Ting finally understood why Ye Yuan had said last night, “I fear this is a trap within a trap.”

“Your husband will be released.”

Ye Yuan replied calmly. “But he still needs to undergo investigation.”

The woman, disheveled and wild-haired, looked straight at Ye Yuan. “If anything happens to my husband, I’ll smash my head against your house! Even if you’re a hero, so what? Debts must be repaid. Murder must be punished. That’s the way of the world!”

With that, she turned and left.

“Grandpa Ye, what do we do now?”

Sun Ting’s face was filled with worry. “So many people are watching. If we don’t give an explanation quickly, things will only get worse!”

“If we release him now, those people will say you’re guilty and cowardly. No matter what we do, we’ll be at a disadvantage!”

“Let’s go back first.”

Ye Yuan frowned deeply, momentarily at a loss for a solution.

---

That afternoon, Cong Gui came to Ye Yuan’s home, holding a newspaper.

“Hello, Tingting.”

Cong Gui greeted Sun Ting before striding over to Ye Yuan. “Hero Ye, the situation is extremely bad now!”

He handed Ye Yuan the newspaper.

The headline in bold black letters jumped out:

“War Veteran’s Family Monopoly: Why the Silence? The Dragon-Slaying Hero Becomes the Tyrant—When Will Justice Come?”

The article exaggerated the events of last night and the morning woman’s accusations at Ye Yuan’s doorstep, painting Ye Yuan as a villain.

“This is the small newspaper printed this morning. Commander Xiao sent it over as quickly as possible.”

Cong Gui spoke with deep remorse. “Hero Ye, I’m sorry... If I hadn’t been so impulsive yesterday... none of this would have happened...”

Ye Yuan waved his hand slightly. “Even if you hadn’t arrested anyone, the other side would have found other ways.”

“It must be Liu Debao!”

Sun Ting gritted her teeth. “No one else would target you like this but him!”

“Innocent until proven guilty.”

Ye Yuan waved his hand again.

“But what should we do now...?”

Ye Yan’an was on the verge of tears.

“If there’s really no way, then put me out front!”

Cong Gui’s face was ashen. “Anyway, all this was my personal decision. It has nothing to do with Hero Ye. Punish me or expel me from the military—I have no objections!”

He had decided to take all the blame.

“Uncle Cong, doing that will only make things worse.”

Sun Ting smiled bitterly. “People will just say Grandpa Ye wields too much power and that you’re being used as a scapegoat!”