Chapter 29: She Made Me Do It

Although the conversation in the video just now didn’t make it clear what exactly Lin Zhiwei had done, seeing Xue Yuanyuan being tormented like that, everyone couldn’t help but suspect that Lin Zhiwei must have deliberately disguised herself and forced Xue Yuanyuan to use her beauty to seduce men.

Lin Zhiwei clearly didn’t want to get her hands dirty herself—surely because of the Lin family’s status. Now that she had an adopted daughter, she would, of course, use her ruthlessly. The Xue family had no support, and Xue Yuanyuan had no choice but to obey.

At this moment, Xue Yuanyuan was already covering her face and weeping. Between sobs, she stammered, “It was… it was Lin Zhiwei. She ordered me to do everything… She made me sabotage the Qi and Zhao families, made me use her name to approach Qi Heng. In fact, she harbored ulterior motives and wanted to destroy the alliance between the Qi and Zhao families.”

“And actually… actually Zhao Qianlu knew about this too, and the Zhao family… the Zhao family tacitly allowed it. I have photos here as proof—photos of Zhao Qianlu meeting Lin Zhiwei in private. They were obviously plotting together. Otherwise, how could they be so at ease if they were enemies?” Xue Yuanyuan’s voice gradually faded as she spoke.

Father Qi and Mother Qi shot a furious glare at Zhao Qianlu. No wonder Qi Heng had been trying so hard to curry favor with the Zhao family lately. So this was the reason. But since they were still in the hall, they held their tempers for now.

Zhao Qianlu, however, seemed utterly unruffled. Just a few photos—soon enough, the tables would turn.

“And there’s more. I truly fell in love with Senior Shen Qian. I explained myself, but he wouldn’t listen. Not only that, he even conspired with the Shen family to harm me. He… he… he was clearly bewitched by Lin Zhiwei into targeting the Zhou family. The Zhou family has been doing better than the Shen family in the arts these recent years, so… so the Shen family resorted to underhanded means to smear the Zhou family.”

“Especially after learning that Yiran and I were together, the torment only grew worse…” Xue Yuanyuan screamed hoarsely, her voice ragged with pain.

Then, photo after photo appeared on the large screen:

A contract for hiring a thug, signed by Shen’s father. Online evidence of Shen Corporation paying for smear campaigns against the Zhou family…

Every photo pointed directly at the Shen family. Shen Qian had stabbed the Zhou family in the back, intent on toppling them.

Everyone immediately recalled when Shen Qian was chosen as the last disciple by Master Zec at Fushi University, while Zhou Yiran had been forced to withdraw from the competition. Was there more to that story than met the eye?

To think the dashing, well-mannered Shen Qian could be so sordid in private…

When Xue Yuanyuan finished, the crowd below began to murmur among themselves. While rivalry between old families was nothing new, seeing it laid bare like this would certainly become the talk of the city.

The Shen family, long considered an upright and principled clan, was suddenly the subject of universal scorn.

Shen Qian took a deep breath, a faint smile playing at his lips, but there was no warmth left in his eyes. He saw through the woman in the witness stand at last—the lengths she would go to for her own ends, like a demon in all but name.

He glanced at Lin Zhiwei. Although her appearance had changed so drastically he could scarcely recognize her, he remembered what she’d said on the terrace, and their conversation in the gallery that day. He believed Lin Zhiwei would not retaliate against Xue Yuanyuan now.

“Witness, do you have any other evidence?” Elder Qiu pressed.

Xue Yuanyuan’s chest heaved as she caught her breath. “No… no, that’s all.”

She felt a surge of satisfaction. With this, Lin Zhiwei, Zhao Qianlu, Shen Qian, and Qi Heng were all finished.

With so many scandals exposed, the Zhao, Shen, and Qi families would be tearing each other apart. She would be left untouched, destined to become the Zhou family’s daughter-in-law.

Zhou Yiran looked at Xue Yuanyuan with tenderness and gave her a reassuring nod.

Yuanyuan, you’ve suffered enough. These people will all get what they deserve.

“Very well. According to the witness, you were threatened and exploited by Lin Zhiwei for her own gain, deliberately sabotaged others’ relationships, and incited strife among the clans. Her ultimate goal is unclear, but it can be surmised she seeks to undermine the ties between the major families of the Nameless Realm. Is that correct, witness?” Elder Qiu summarized, arching his brow.

“Yes, that’s right. She forced me into it. She always said herself she was only a branch member of the Lin family, and not well-off. The only way up was to step over other families. By splitting up the Zhou, Shen, Qi, and Zhao families, she could rise higher and higher,” Xue Yuanyuan declared.

She shot a glance at the man beside her and raised her voice, “Everyone, look at the man next to her—that’s Ling Ziheng of the Ling family. The Ling family is one of the oldest in the Nameless Realm, highly respected and uninvolved in clan squabbles for years. Now Lin Zhiwei is relying on the Ling family.”

Everyone nodded in agreement. Yes, Lin Zhiwei had latched onto the Ling family. Of course she would want to suppress the up-and-coming clans, set them against each other, and reap the benefits herself.

It was common knowledge the Lord held Lin Zhiwei in high regard, but with no clan support, she was powerless alone. If she joined forces with the Ling family, she could secure her position with ease.

Lin Zhiwei’s eyes flicked thoughtfully. Well, she had to admit, Xue Yuanyuan was quick on the uptake—immediately zeroing in on Ling Ziheng. She’d thought Xue Yuanyuan wouldn’t see that angle, but instead, she’d made perfect use of it.

Lin Zhiwei gazed pitifully at Ling Ziheng, as if to say, look at that—what a performance.

Ling Ziheng merely curled his lips in a faint smile and adjusted his collar, betraying no reaction.

Lin Zhiwei sighed to herself. That’s what it meant to be an actor of the highest caliber—composed even under direct attack, unruffled no matter what.