Li Weiyang’s gaze swept over Yuan Lie’s face, but her tone remained very calm: “I think regarding this matter, it would be better to invite Second Sister-in-law here and clarify everything face to face.”

Duke Qi looked at Li Weiyang, feeling that those clear, bright eyes seemed to reveal an extremely complex expression. He frowned. This matter before them was clearly already quite clear—why would Jia’er still say such things? He hesitated a moment, then out of trust, nodded: “Since Jia’er says so, then let’s invite the Chen family here and get to the bottom of this matter!”

Li Weiyang said nothing more. Madam Guo’s gaze grew increasingly puzzled, but no matter how she inquired, Li Weiyang didn’t reveal a single word.

An hour later, Chen Ling, Madam Chen, and Chen Bingbing all arrived at Guo Manor together. Maids served tea, then all withdrew. Duke Qi looked at Chen Ling and spoke: “Minister, do you know why we’ve asked you here this time?”

A flash of surprise crossed Chen Ling’s face. Could it be that the Guo family was pursuing the offense of their absence from Princess Chenliu’s birthday celebration? But the Guo and Chen families had already completely fallen out—if the Chen family didn’t come, what grounds did the Guo family have to object? Though he thought this in his heart, seeing his daughter’s pale face beside him, Chen Ling swallowed his anger. His face forced a trace of smile: “Brother Guo, today I had other urgent matters, so…”

Duke Qi waved his hand: “That’s not what I mean.”

Chen Ling exchanged a puzzled glance with Madam Chen before speaking: “Then what exactly does Brother Guo mean?”

Specifically inviting the Chen family here… would the proud Duke Qi lower his head to the Chen family? Even if so, he should only invite Chen Ling alone. Why summon everyone together? Chen Ling’s heart grew even more puzzled, but he could see nothing from Duke Qi’s face. He paused and continued asking: “Is it still about the matter between Guo Yan and Bingbing…” Before finishing his words, Chen Bingbing’s heart jumped, and she abruptly raised her head.

Duke Qi sighed: “Bring her up.” Immediately guards twisted a woman forward. The woman fell to the ground but said not a word, her complexion deathly pale. Madam Chen recognized this person at once and couldn’t help crying out: “Fu’er! How are you here!” Fu’er lowered her head, not daring to look at Madam Chen, blood still streaming from her shoulder in an utterly wretched state.

Chen Bingbing was most shocked. She glanced at her personal maid Fu’er, then at Duke Qi, a trace of surprise showing in her expression.

Duke Qi said coldly: “I believe you should recognize this maid—I need not introduce her.”

Chen Ling naturally knew that Fu’er was one of the trusted maids the Chen family had given Chen Bingbing as part of her dowry, raised at Bingbing’s side since childhood. Why would she now appear at Guo Manor in such a state? Madam Chen’s face darkened as she rebuked: “Vile servant! No wonder you were nowhere to be found since early morning. What are you doing here!”

Li Weiyang’s gaze was ice-cold, but her voice very gentle, making it impossible to discern even half her thoughts: “Madam Chen needn’t be angry. Today at the Princess’s birthday feast, something happened that Madam Chen probably doesn’t yet know about.”

The Chen family’s expressions grew more puzzled—clearly they still didn’t know what had occurred at Guo Manor.

Madam Guo’s expression was rarely gloomy and uncertain: “Today was originally the Princess’s birthday feast, but Prince Jin was suddenly attacked. Someone then said the assassin had fled into Guo Manor. For this reason, the Crown Prince summoned the Imperial Guards and searched the entire Guo Manor.”

Chen Ling’s heart jumped as he turned to Duke Qi: “Is this truly so?”

Duke Qi took a deep breath: “Not only that. Just as the Crown Prince was searching for the assassin, this girl suddenly ran out and told those Imperial Guards that our Guo family was harboring Guo Yan in the manor. She even personally led the way, finding a passage and accusing my Guo family of the crime of harboring a criminal condemned by imperial decree!”

Chen Ling’s temple veins bulged, throbbing. He quickly turned his head, staring at Fu’er and shouting sternly: “Vile servant! Did you truly do such a thing!”

Fu’er suddenly broke into tearful sobbing, prostrating herself on the ground in grief: “This servant was only thinking of the Second Young Mistress. Since the Young Mistress returned to the Chen household, she hasn’t been able to sleep peacefully, washing her face with tears every day. This servant truly couldn’t bear it…”

Chen Bingbing abruptly stood up, her face deathly pale as she slapped Fu’er across the face, striking her so hard that half her face turned aside. Rarely speaking with such severity: “What nonsense are you spouting? Did I tell you to frame your own master!”

Fu’er bit her teeth but said not a word.

Because of what had just occurred, Madam Guo had also developed a trace of irrepressible suspicion toward Chen Bingbing. She said coldly: “Bingbing, why must you still put on such an act! This maid clearly followed your instructions to accuse Guo Yan. I truly never imagined you would hate the Guo family to this extent! Harboring a criminal condemned by decree—how dare you even say such words! This criminal is your husband! Is your heart truly so vicious that you won’t be satisfied until we’re all dead, until you’ve vented your hatred!”

Each word and sentence from Madam Guo was like a blade, stabbing Chen Bingbing’s heart until it bled. Tears streamed down her face like a fountain as she said in disbelief: “Mother, what kind of person am I—don’t you know? These two years, when have I ever been less than wholehearted? Yes, I resent Nalan Xue. I don’t wish to see her again. But Guo Yan is my husband—why would I harm him? The Guo family is my husband’s family—why would I harm you all? What benefit would this bring me! After all, I haven’t left the Guo family. I’m still part of the Guo family, am I not?”

Madam Guo sneered coldly: “Yes, I also believe you wouldn’t do such a thing. But the facts are before us. If not for your instructions, how could Fu’er do such a thing? She’s merely a maid—how would she have such audacity!”

As Madam Guo spoke these words, all the Chen family members’ faces looked extremely ugly. Chen Ling said viciously to Fu’er: “Confess honestly—did your Young Mistress instruct you to do this!”

Fu’er only wept loudly but resolutely refused to say anything more, appearing utterly aggrieved. Seeing her like this, everyone couldn’t help suspecting that Fu’er, with so many people present, didn’t dare betray her master and was therefore taking all responsibility upon herself. Now under interrogation, she had grown fearful again, which was why she wouldn’t speak. Guo Cheng stepped forward, his gaze sharp as a torch: “I’ll give you one final chance. If you refuse to confess everything, today you won’t leave this hall alive!”

Fu’er’s entire body trembled, her teeth beginning to chatter. She looked at Guo Cheng with terrified eyes: “Third… Third Young Master, this servant… this servant…” Before she could finish, Guo Cheng shouted sternly: “Why won’t you explain clearly—what exactly happened!”

Fu’er seemed finally unable to endure it. As if completely breaking down, she cried out loudly: “Yes! Yes, the Young Mistress instructed this servant to do this. This servant had no choice!”

Hearing this, Chen Bingbing fell back into her chair with a thump. She looked at Fu’er in disbelief, crying out: “You… you girl! What nonsense are you spouting? When did I ever tell you to harm my husband!” She seemed to stand alone in darkness, this world so cold she could barely endure it.

But Fu’er only wept and wailed, her head striking the ground with resounding thuds as she sobbed: “Young Mistress, this servant didn’t want to betray you, but this servant fears death! You used to love Second Young Master so much, but now you hate him even more. Unable to have him, you won’t let Nalan Xue take your place either, which is why you did this!” Saying this, she turned her head, her forehead already bloody, continuously pleading: “Master, Madam! This servant truly had no choice. This servant tried earnestly to persuade Second Young Mistress, but she absolutely refused to listen to this servant’s advice. What status does this servant have to obstruct the master’s decisions? So this servant, risking death, could only make this trip for the master!”

Li Weiyang watched Fu’er’s excellent performance of singing and acting, but only smiled faintly: “Oh? Is the matter truly as you say?”

Fu’er looked at Li Weiyang and felt a trace of cold light emanating from those icy eyes. She instinctively shrank back, then mustered her courage: “Miss, this servant absolutely dares not speak half a lie. All of this was truly done at Second Young Mistress’s instruction!”

Chen Ling trembled with rage. He turned around and viciously slapped Chen Bingbing across the face: “Shameless thing!”

Madam Chen heartbrokenly pulled the completely dazed Chen Bingbing into her arms, rebuking angrily: “What are you doing? Have you lost your mind!”

Minister Chen sneered coldly: “Disputes between husband and wife are matters between the two of them. Yet she’s made such a scene—simply making herself a laughingstock! What a fine daughter you’ve raised! Now you dare reproach me! If not for you supporting her wholeheartedly back then, how could she have cried and made such a fuss at home, fasting for three days, insisting she must marry into the Guo family! After marrying over, instead of properly being their daughter-in-law, she constantly dwells on the past. That would be one thing, but showing no remorse, she even commanded her own maid to frame people. Does she truly want marital discord, family destruction—only then will she be happy! Such a foolish thing—how can she be a daughter of the Chen family!”

Chen Ling’s words were like snow, cold as knives. Chen Bingbing looked at her usually doting father’s stern appearance and was completely stunned. She truly couldn’t understand how things had reached this point! Why was everyone accusing her? What exactly had she done wrong? She couldn’t spare time to explain to Chen Ling. In one motion, she threw herself at Fu’er, gripping her sleeve tightly: “All these years I’ve treated you well. Why would you harm me like this? When did I ever instruct you to do such a thing!”

Fu’er, shaken by her until her face grew even paler, appeared extremely frightened: “Second Young Mistress, this servant has been wholeheartedly devoted to you. Now you cannot abandon this servant to die!”

Chen Bingbing didn’t understand why Fu’er was pushing all this guilt onto her. She had never instructed her to frame Guo Yan, much less told her to return to Guo Manor during Princess Chenliu’s birthday celebration. She was truly shocked—what person had given Fu’er such benefits that she would turn around and frame her like this? In a flash of lightning, everything from the past flashed before her eyes. She suddenly understood something and cried out bitterly: “Fu’er! You betrayed me long ago! Now you’re conspiring with outsiders to frame me!”

The other Guo family members didn’t believe Chen Bingbing’s performance. Actually, it wasn’t their fault—Madam Guo had already given Chen Bingbing too many chances. Once, twice, again and again. But Chen Bingbing had disappointed her every time, so much so that this time she could no longer believe this daughter-in-law. True, the former Chen Bingbing had indeed been innocent and beautiful, gentle and kind, also very lively and quite likable. But since Nalan Xue appeared, Chen Bingbing had already changed. She was completely unlike her former kind self. To drive out Nalan Xue, she had done many wrong things, to the point where everyone began to dislike her, wishing this marriage between the Guo and Chen families had never come to pass. By now, Madam Guo no longer believed a single word Chen Bingbing said. Chen Bingbing released Fu’er and threw herself at Madam Guo’s feet: “Mother, I didn’t! I truly didn’t!” Her eyes were full of sorrow, tears falling drop by drop, soaking her clothing. Her expression was also extremely pained. She wanted to shout something, but her voice was already hoarse and wouldn’t come out: “I did do wrong things in the past, but this time, it truly wasn’t me! Mother, believe me!”

Madam Guo lowered her eyes, not even glancing at her. Chen Bingbing turned around and grabbed Princess Chenliu’s hem, saying desperately: “Grandmother, for the sake of how long Bingbing has served you, speak a word for me!”

Princess Chenliu looked at her helplessly. Desolation showed on Chen Bingbing’s young face as one hand reached toward her, full of pleading… Princess Chenliu shook her head. In the end, she only spoke: “Bingbing, you’ve disappointed Grandmother too much. I thought you were a kind child, but I never imagined you would do such a foolish thing! If the Guo family falls, how can your Chen family endure? You’ve fallen for someone else’s scheme to sow discord—you truly are a foolish child!”

As Princess Chenliu spoke, she already wore an expression of absolutely refusing to believe Chen Bingbing. Chen Bingbing had no recourse. Turning her eyes, she saw Jiang Shi standing to the side, as if grasping a final lifeline. She crawled over on her knees and gripped Jiang Shi’s skirt tightly: “Elder Sister-in-law, I’m innocent! Believe me!”

Jiang Shi stared blankly for a long while. The corners of her mouth suddenly showed a trace of pity. No matter what wrong Chen Bingbing had done, Jiang Shi felt she could forgive her, because as fellow women, she could sympathize with that feeling. No one could tolerate their husband’s heart longing for another. But this time she had truly gone too far, to the point where even Grandmother and Mother refused to forgive her anymore. How could she say she believed her? So she said nothing, only gently pushed Chen Bingbing’s hand away.

Without support, Chen Bingbing fell to the ground in one motion. Her gaze swept over each Guo family member’s face. The grief and indignation that had rushed to the top of her head now receded. A despair deeper yet calmer than before slowly enveloped her, because not one person spoke up, not one person looked at her, not one person said they believed her. At this moment, she was isolated and helpless, desperate to the extreme. She didn’t understand how things had developed to this point!

Just then, she suddenly heard footsteps sound beside her ear. Abruptly raising her head, she saw the most impossible person who could appear before her. Li Weiyang helped Chen Bingbing up from the ground and said gently: “Second Sister-in-law, I believe you.”

Chen Bingbing looked at Li Weiyang. She never could have imagined that at this moment, the person standing up to speak for her would be the younger sister-in-law who had always defended Nalan Xue. Why? Didn’t Li Weiyang sympathize greatly with Nalan Xue? How could she now help her for no reason? Chen Bingbing looked at Li Weiyang, momentarily not knowing how to react.

Li Weiyang looked deeply at Chen Bingbing: “Second Sister-in-law, stand up first. Sit over there.”

Chen Bingbing gripped Li Weiyang’s hand: “Do you truly believe me?” Her eyes were full of despair. At this moment, Li Weiyang was already her last hope.

Li Weiyang nodded, her expression calm: “Yes, Second Sister-in-law. I believe you.”

Madam Chen hurried over to help Chen Bingbing to the side. Looking at Li Weiyang, her expression held shock and also a trace of gratitude. She hadn’t expected anyone in the Guo family would still speak for her daughter. Honestly, by now even she didn’t dare confirm whether Chen Bingbing was truly innocent. Because she knew her daughter was utterly devoted to Guo Yan. When a person loves to the extreme, doing foolish things isn’t strange.

Madam Guo looked at Li Weiyang: “Jia’er, what exactly do you want to say?”

Li Weiyang sighed gently: “Mother, I believe that though Second Sister-in-law is confused, she wouldn’t do what happened today.”

Guo Cheng couldn’t help speaking: “But the evidence is ironclad!”

Li Weiyang shook her head: “Third Brother, the most important reason I say I believe Second Sister-in-law is that she deeply loves Second Brother.” Nalan Xue was a romantic rival, which is why Chen Bingbing developed thoughts of eliminating her. But what about Guo Yan? Chen Bingbing was determined to marry him at any cost, even using a hunger strike as leverage. This showed she loved Guo Yan extremely deeply. After marrying in for two years, Chen Bingbing did everything possible just to make Guo Yan happy, to make every Guo family member accept her. Such a person—you could suspect her thoughts were vicious, suspect she would stop at nothing, even suspect she wasn’t a good person. But you absolutely couldn’t doubt her wholehearted devotion to Guo Yan. This was the most important reason Li Weiyang believed her. So Li Weiyang looked at everyone, her gaze indifferent: “Just based on Second Sister-in-law’s true feelings for Second Brother, I believe today’s matter has nothing to do with her.”

Hearing this, everyone’s expressions underwent tremendous changes. Madam Guo shook her head: “No, Jia’er. You’re only guessing. Your Second Sister-in-law has done more than one foolish thing. This Fu’er is her maid. Besides her, who else could instigate this girl to do such a thing?”

Li Weiyang sighed long and deeply: “Yes, who exactly would do such a thing, determined to put the Guo family to death?”

Hearing this strange remark, Madam Guo only looked at Li Weiyang, at those unfathomably deep pure black pupils, not knowing what she wanted to say.

Li Weiyang didn’t answer everyone’s doubts. She only looked toward the doorway and said quietly: “Second Brother, I think you should know everything, correct?”

Outside the door, sure enough, Guo Yan slowly walked in.

Seeing Guo Yan, the Chen family’s expressions all changed, especially Chen Bingbing. She stared at Guo Yan, tears falling like rain, almost having gone mad. Guo Yan glanced at Chen Bingbing, but his gaze ultimately fell on Li Weiyang, his expression extremely grave: “Yes. I know what today’s events are all about.”

Yuan Lie had been listening quietly on the side. After Li Weiyang stopped him from revealing everything, he witnessed the proceedings before his eyes and suddenly sighed leisurely. He saw Li Weiyang smile slightly: “Second Brother, are you willing to speak of everything?”

Guo Yan nodded lightly: “All of this arose because of me. It’s long past time to settle accounts.” Finishing this sentence, he instructed someone: “Go invite Miss Nalan here.”

Hearing this, Madam Guo’s expression immediately changed: “Yan’er, what are you doing?” Having Chen Bingbing and Nalan Xue sit together—this was something they could never imagine. After what had happened, these two were now like fire and water. Thinking this, Madam Guo was about to stop Guo Yan when she saw him shake his head at her.

Guo Yan’s expression was grave and serious: “Mother, given the current situation, I know very clearly what I must do. I hope you won’t stop me.”

Madam Guo’s expression was stunned, then she fell silent. Every Guo family member quietly waited. At this moment in the great hall, there was complete deathly silence. Even Fu’er cowered there, not daring to say a word. Before long, light footsteps were heard. Nalan Xue appeared at the hall entrance. Dressed entirely in white, she walked in step by step. She only calmly bowed to the elders in the hall, then looked at Guo Yan: “You summoned me—what’s the matter?”

Guo Yan looked at her deeply, his gaze unspeakably complex. He spoke: “Yes. Today I have something to say. Please sit.”

Nalan Xue sat to one side, far from the Chen family, her expression very calm, making it impossible to discern what thoughts lay in those tranquil eyes. Everyone had arrived. Yuan Lie’s gaze swept over everyone’s faces as he smiled lightly. It seemed this play had finally reached its climax today.

In everyone’s silence, Guo Yan finally spoke: “That year, I was wounded on the battlefield and separated from my deputy general. Having no choice, I disguised myself as an ordinary soldier, wanting to find a household to recover. The one who took me in was Nalan Xue. During those three months, I gradually fell in love with her and confessed my feelings. I originally thought she wouldn’t like someone like me who licks blood from a blade’s edge, but ultimately her answer made me overjoyed. In our brief time together, we had already privately pledged ourselves to each other for life. Later, the Nalan family discovered this matter. What surprised me was that Old Master Nalan didn’t blame me. He tacitly permitted my engagement with Nalan Xue, only specifically instructing me not to let down his daughter. To reassure the Nalan family, I wrote a marriage contract, guaranteeing that one year later I would come to marry Nalan Xue. Later, because military affairs were urgent, I hurriedly returned to the army camp. This matter was very secretive. Apart from writing to inform my parents, I didn’t mention it to anyone. But later, because Mother fell ill, I rushed back to the capital. Only then did I learn that Bingbing insisted on marrying me.”

When Guo Yan reached this point, his expression already carried an indescribable self-mockery: “At that time, I made quite a scene, absolutely refusing to marry Bingbing. One night I attempted to leave Guo Manor alone to seek Nalan Xue, but that very night Mother discovered me. I thought she would reproach me, even tell Father. But she only helped me pack my belongings, stuffed banknotes into my hands, and told me to treat Miss Nalan well in the future, not to let her down, and wherever I lived, never to return to the capital. After I rode two hundred miles and daylight came, I suddenly realized I couldn’t leave the capital like this. Mother could let me go with Father’s tacit permission. They acted from parental love. Similarly, I bore responsibility to the Guo family. I couldn’t be so selfish—I had to consider them. I loved Nalan Xue, but I also loved every Guo family member. I couldn’t watch my relatives suffer censure because of me. So I wrote Nalan Xue a letter, telling her I could no longer marry her. Afterward, I returned to the capital and married Bingbing. What happened later—you all already know.”

Chen Bingbing looked at Guo Yan, her expression seemingly holding indescribable pain.

Nalan Xue’s expression was calm. She could understand Guo Yan’s feelings then and could imagine how difficult making that decision was. But she still couldn’t forgive him. Precisely because of this unforgiveness, it had driven them to today. Now there was no turning back.

Li Weiyang looked at Guo Yan and suddenly smiled. Her features were very beautiful, rarely showing sharp expressions. But at this moment, her lips curved lightly upward in an exceptionally cold smile. In that cold smile, her thin lips formed a beautiful arc. Each word was ice-cold: “Second Brother, who was it that harmed you?”

Guo Yan’s face immediately changed color. He lowered his eyes without speaking.

“Second Brother, when the incident first occurred, I suspect you already knew everything. But you refused to say anything because you felt extremely guilty toward this person. You—already guessed who it was long ago, didn’t you?”

Guo Yan sighed. He could barely raise his head to look at his younger sister. Actually, he didn’t know much. Only today did he dare confirm his heart’s suspicions.

Li Weiyang slowly walked over, her long skirt trailing across the floor. She looked directly at him, saying coldly: “Second Brother, I hope you’ll speak of everything—speak of the suspicions in your heart!”

Facing such an aggressive Li Weiyang, even Guo Yan couldn’t help trembling.

Madam Guo looked at Li Weiyang with complete puzzlement. She didn’t understand at all why Li Weiyang was suddenly pressing Guo Yan like this. She spoke: “Jia’er, what exactly are you saying to your Second Brother? Why don’t I understand any of it?”

Li Weiyang turned her head. Her voice became extremely cold, even faintly suppressing a trace of unprecedented anger. She spoke: “The person who could make Second Brother feel such guilt, the person who could make him know everything yet refuse to speak—is there a second such person in this hall!”

Everyone’s gazes all shifted at once to fall on Nalan Xue. Nalan Xue wasn’t frightened by Li Weiyang’s imposing manner. She only smiled slightly: “Does Miss Guo mean she suspects me?”

Madam Guo was shocked. She restrained herself again and again but finally couldn’t help saying: “Jia’er, isn’t this suspicion too fantastical?”

Li Weiyang didn’t look at the others. She only stared at Nalan Xue: “Nalan Xue, everyone who does something has their own reasons. But when all the truth is exposed, one should at least have the courage to admit it. What—you dare act but won’t dare acknowledge it? I just said all that—what it means, you understand most clearly in your heart!”

Her light remark made Nalan Xue’s breathing catch, then grow still. Nalan Xue looked at Li Weiyang, a trace of smile showing in her gaze—only that smile was unspeakably indifferent. After a long while, she finally spoke: “You truly are a very intelligent woman. Nothing in this world can escape your eyes. Very well, then I want to see exactly what you know. Speak—tell everything you know.”

Li Weiyang took a deep breath: “I thought myself very clever, so I believed no one in this world could deceive me. But only now do I realize I was wrong. From the very beginning when you encountered me and treated my illness, it was already a trap. No—perhaps even earlier, from when the imperial physician tampered with my medicine, to my condition worsening, to your meeting me—all of it was merely a play, wasn’t it?”

Madam Guo looked at Li Weiyang in complete shock. Just recently, Li Weiyang and Nalan Xue’s relationship had been very good, like close friends. But now Li Weiyang’s repeated accusations left Madam Guo with no way to react. Immediately, her expression transformed in an instant to fury: “Miss Nalan, is what Jia’er says true?”

Nalan Xue sighed gently: “Miss Guo is mistaken.”

Li Weiyang raised her eyebrows: “I’m mistaken? Where am I mistaken?”

Nalan Xue only smiled peacefully: “Actually, even before the grasslands journey, I had already noticed you.”

This light remark transformed the entire hall’s atmosphere to extremely gloomy and murderous.

A trace of unusual color flashed through Li Weiyang’s eyes. Then she slowly began to smile: “So that’s how it was.”

Nalan Xue looked at her quietly, from beginning to end wearing a smile on her face.

Li Weiyang continued speaking. Her expression appeared very composed, but at this moment, the fingers hidden in her sleeves also clenched uncontrollably. Her voice was like seeds entangled at the bottom of the earth for many years, struggling and finally surfacing: “You treated my illness, then sought out the Guo family. Clearly knowing Second Brother had already married a wife, you still turned and left, deliberately arousing my curiosity about you, luring me to follow. Then you also arranged the meeting with Pei Hui, deliberately conspiring with him to perform a play, making me think Pei Hui intended to use you to strike at Second Brother and the Guo family. Next, I believed you and went to win you over, comfort you. You accepted my goodwill, even tearing up the marriage contract before me—naturally to gain my trust. How laughable—I actually believed you! I even gave you a medicine hall so you could justifiably remain in the capital.”

Just as Li Weiyang spoke, thunder suddenly rumbled outside with a tremendous roar, startling everyone. Immediately afterward, rain poured down violently, as if wanting to empty all its fury. The entire hall was completely silent. Everyone was struck speechless, voiceless. The only person speaking was filled with fury.

At this moment, Li Weiyang only felt extreme anger in her heart. In this world, no one had ever been able to deceive her! Never! Yet she had believed Nalan Xue. She didn’t even know how she could still maintain such calm now, so calm it was as if nothing had happened at all! Her voice grew increasingly cold: “To gain my trust, you truly expended considerable effort, even having that Pei Hui accompany your performance. What an excellent self-inflicted injury scheme, causing me to actively keep you under my watchful eyes for monitoring. Then came Fifth Brother’s injury. Even that Carefree Powder was within your calculations. Your plan pushed me step by step, making me inexplicably seek you out, gradually drawing closer to you of my own accord. This grasp of psychology, every fraction and measure flawlessly precise, so meticulous—it truly makes me sigh in admiration!”

Madam Guo was completely stunned. Looking at Nalan Xue, she truly couldn’t imagine all of this was actually a conspiracy, a trap. Moreover, this Miss Nalan didn’t seem like someone with such deep schemes! However, Li Weiyang had more to say.

“After you cured my Fifth Brother’s illness, I would naturally be grateful beyond measure. The original three parts goodwill also became eight parts. At this time, you deliberately arranged for Chen Hanxuan to come provoke, letting my Second Sister-in-law learn everything. Given Chen Bingbing’s temperament, what she would do was already quite obvious. You had this girl—” Saying this, Li Weiyang’s finger pointed at Fu’er, who had remained silent but with a deathly pale face, “You had this girl constantly sow discord beside Second Sister-in-law, alienating Second Sister-in-law from the Guo family’s relationships, turning every one of us into her enemy! Then you could induce Second Sister-in-law to move against you! I should have thought of this point earlier. Second Sister-in-law only wanted to drive you from the capital. She had no intention of taking your life. If she truly wanted to kill you, relying on the Chen family’s resources, even with my guards protecting you, you might not have escaped alive. Moreover, it was so coincidental—you actually encountered Yuan Lie! Escaping time after time! How can there be so many coincidences in this world! I really want to know how you managed to arrange everything so seamlessly, leaving no trace!”

Nalan Xue smiled faintly: “Not seamlessly without trace—rather, from the very beginning, you felt sympathy for me, which is why you believed me, isn’t that so?”

Li Weiyang wanted to sneer coldly, but unfortunately, before her lips could curve upward, it became a soundless sigh: “Yes. What came next was your severe injury, making my sympathy for you suddenly reach its peak. At the same time, I also increasingly blamed Second Sister-in-law, unable to forgive her. From my perspective, I originally needn’t have participated in such matters. But people all have compassionate hearts, all have hearts of righteous indignation. Perhaps you were precisely the one who stirred that heart of mine, causing me to completely stand on your side, even becoming blind to Second Sister-in-law’s pain and struggles. Then came Second Brother’s incident. He was framed—accused of killing the commander and attempting to defect with a hundred thousand troops. You forced him to return to the capital, then step by step forced him to hide back at Guo Manor.”

“Oh, that’s right. Last time, at the villa, just after you met with Second Brother, someone immediately searched that villa. This was done too obviously. Second Sister-in-law would naturally suspect you, mistakenly thinking you did it. You could instead exploit my suspiciousness, exploit the Guo family’s goodwill toward you, pushing everything onto Second Sister-in-law, saying she acted out of jealousy to frame you. In this way, our patience with Second Sister-in-law was completely exhausted. When Second Brother discovered everything, learned of your grievances, your helplessness, your pain, he naturally couldn’t possibly continue that marriage with Second Sister-in-law. When Second Sister-in-law left, that would be your best opportunity to act. Am I right?”

Li Weiyang spoke word by word. Fu’er seemed to have been reminded of some terrifying memory, trembling all over, her breathing suddenly becoming rapid.

Nalan Xue smiled lightly. Just then, a tremendous thunder crashed. In the instant of lightning and thunder, the flash nearly tore through the window paper, as if even each person’s heart split open along with it. Torrential rain poured down with a roar. Only Nalan Xue’s voice was extremely hoarse, each word seemingly forced out from between her teeth: “You’re not wrong. But do you have proof?”

Li Weiyang smiled, the smile holding an even colder indifference than Nalan Xue’s composure: “Actually, after the Crown Prince searched Guo Manor and found nothing, shouldn’t you have known the matter was already exposed? Why still ask me for evidence?”

Duke Qi spoke: “Jia’er, what exactly is your evidence?”

Li Weiyang looked toward Prince Xu Yuan Lie. Yuan Lie smiled slightly and tossed a letter from his sleeve. With a “smack,” it landed on the table before Duke Qi. Duke Qi pulled out the letter and read it carefully. His complexion immediately became extremely pale. He looked at Yuan Lie, his voice trembling slightly: “This… what is this?”

Yuan Lie only smiled, his eyes ice-cold: “This letter should have been found in Duke Qi’s study by the Crown Prince’s Imperial Guards. Fortunately, I acted in time and quietly hid the letter, so they found nothing. Tell me—if the Crown Prince had discovered this letter, what would have happened to the Guo family?”

Guo Yan bit his teeth, unable to say a word. He looked at no one and didn’t want to hear any sound, as if he had already become a stone statue.

Duke Qi’s face was unprecedentedly ugly. Madam Guo stepped forward, puzzled, and glanced at the letter’s contents. Princess Chenliu hurriedly asked: “What exactly is it?”

Madam Guo’s voice also trembled: “It’s correspondence between the Duke and the ruler of Hehe, along with a seal…”

Princess Chenliu’s teacup immediately shattered on the ground. Her entire voice shook, disbelieving: “What are you saying? How is this possible!”

Chen Ling understood everything. His gaze turned cold as he looked at Nalan Xue, saying coldly: “It seems this Miss Nalan placed this letter in Duke Qi Manor’s study, intending to frame the Duke for colluding with Hehe.” This would explain why Guo Yan would murder the commander, even lead troops to defect—it was equivalent to announcing to the world that Duke Qi’s manor had treasonous intentions!

After these words, everyone in the hall wore extremely grave expressions. Each person looked at Nalan Xue with extremely unfamiliar eyes. Especially Madam Guo—she didn’t understand at all why things had reached this point. So she clenched her fists, her body swaying as if about to collapse.

Li Weiyang said softly: “To hide this letter, this person had to be at Guo Manor. To know Second Brother was hidden in the passage, this person also had to be at Guo Manor! Ordinarily, the study is heavily guarded—common people would find it very difficult to succeed. When the incident occurred, the Crown Prince brought people to search for the assassin. Every Guo family member’s first thought was to protect Second Brother, absolutely not thinking someone would take the chaos to hide this letter in the study, giving Nalan Xue the opportunity. She precisely took this opportunity to hide the letter in the study, intending to have the Imperial Guards find it! All our attention was on Second Brother. No one would notice her actions—this was the greatest loophole. The reason I don’t suspect Second Sister-in-law is because she had no opportunity to do this. She left Guo Manor days ago—tell me, how could she have hidden this letter! The only person who could do this was Miss Nalan alone!”

By the time Li Weiyang reached this point, her voice was already ice-cold to the extreme. Outside the window, wind and rain raged as if there were no tomorrow. Bean-sized raindrops hammered the window paper, making people feel the next moment that wind and rain would burst through the window. This night, the entire hall fell into deathly silence. The air became bone-chillingly cold. Everyone remained silent for a long time.

Suddenly, Nalan Xue began to laugh. The laughter was leisurely, then gradually became self-mocking, cold laughter, finally bursting into loud laughter. Everyone looked toward her and saw Nalan Xue laugh until she could barely remain seated.