These words shocked those outside the courtroom.
What was going on? This was completely different from what was online!
Didn't they say the Li family treated Wen Yan like their own daughter?
Li Mengyao's face turned green.
Were these people crazy, saying such things here?
Li's mother was even more shocked, thinking she had misheard. Had these people lost their minds? They were slandering her Mengyao? Had they forgotten who was paying them!
One by one, they took turns recounting the Li family's misdeeds.
"The Li family is utterly heartless. In the dead of winter, I often saw Wen Yan washing clothes. Her hands were so red from the cold. When I asked, I found out the clothes were Li Mengyao's and her mother's. Oh, it was truly cruel. They shared the same blood, yet Li Mengyao couldn't stand Wen Yan. But I understand why; Wen Yan was excellent and beautiful from a young age, and Li Mengyao must have been jealous."
"Especially after this incident, Mengyao's mother even asked us to cause trouble for Wen Yan. At the time, we were living under the Li family's protection and dared not refuse. But now, we're in court, and we dare not lie. It has always been Li Mengyao and her mother who did wrong and wronged others. Wen Yan and her family were always honest and never did anything improper."
The last servant to speak directly nailed Li Mengyao to the pillar of shame.
"I have evidence proving that the knockout drug was indeed administered by Miss. Miss asked me to buy it at the time. I didn't know what she intended to do, but I was forced to obey her orders. Later, I found out it was meant for the cousin. I was also shocked. They are cousins, yet Miss was so cruel to her cousin! I have the transaction records and chat logs of Miss transferring money to me at the time."
The servant submitted the evidence.
Li Mengyao's pupils suddenly went blank.
Only two words echoed in her mind: It's over.
She knew that once this evidence was submitted, it would be an insurmountable weight pressing down on her, impossible to refute.
She just didn't understand why the situation had turned out this way. Hadn't her mother arranged everything? She looked pleadingly at Li's mother.
Li's mother was also anxious! She cursed these idiots to death.
Wen Yan, on the stand, was also nervous. After listening to the witnesses' testimonies, she felt a slight relief. Her gaze shifted to Leng Xunze. Among the crowd, she could spot him instantly. Seeing his dark eyes also fixed on her, Wen Yan inexplicably felt at ease.
This battle was already won.
Just yesterday, she had contacted these relatives one by one.
She knew their character very well; money was their top priority. They had always sided with Li Mengyao simply for financial gain. But now that the Li family was exposed, it would be difficult for them to get any dividends. So, Wen Yan bought them over with money.
Although it cost a considerable sum, Wen Yan felt it was worth it to end this matter.
The judge examined the evidence. "The evidence is valid. Does the defendant have anything further to say?"
What else could Li Mengyao say? The evidence was out.
Li's mother was pacing anxiously. Li's father even grabbed Wen Yan's mother's wrist.
"Why are you still standing there? Tell Wen Yan to withdraw the lawsuit!"
Wen Yan's mother hadn't expected the situation to reverse so drastically! For a moment, she didn't know what to do.
Li's father tightened his grip. "How have I treated you since childhood? I even took you in when you grew up; otherwise, you would have been wandering the streets. Sister, are you really going to stand by and watch Mengyao go to prison?"
"I..."
Another hand suddenly clasped Li's father's.
The force was so great that Li's father felt his bones might shatter. He looked up and saw Leng Xunze.
Leng Xunze's eyes were cold. "This is a courtroom. If you continue like this, you will be removed!"
Li's father indeed saw security guards approaching.
He gritted his teeth, knowing that causing a scene here was impossible, and reluctantly sat back down.
Wen Yan's mother breathed a sigh of relief, but her heart remained complicated.
Finally, the judge found Li Mengyao guilty. However, as the crime was not successfully committed, she was sentenced to one year in prison.
But even with just one year, Li Mengyao's life would be ruined once she was released.
What could a woman who had been to prison do afterward was a problem.
Upon hearing the verdict, Li Mengyao slumped onto the chair, her eyes vacant.
After it was over, everyone left the courtroom.
Reporters rushed to interview Wen Yan:
"Miss Wen, since you were framed, why didn't you clarify online?"
"Miss Wen, seeing your cousin go to prison, what are your thoughts?"
"Miss Wen..."
Wen Yan looked at the anxious reporters and curved her lips, snatching a microphone. "If I had clarified online, my voice would have been too weak. Do you think anyone would have believed me? The origin of this matter is a joke. A lie managed to cause such a huge stir online, as if the more people believe a lie, the truer it becomes. As reporters, did you ever try to investigate the truth of the matter? No, you didn't. You only cared about how to create more buzz, regardless of the truth or how many people were hurt!"
This strong accusation stunned everyone. Some faces showed guilt.
Just then, someone rushed forward.
"Wen Yan, I'm going to kill you!"
Li's mother had lost her mind. Seeing her daughter imprisoned, she was determined to make Wen Yan pay. She furiously swung her bag at Wen Yan. The studded bag could almost take someone's life in one blow.
There were people all around, and Wen Yan couldn't dodge. She could only raise her hands to shield her head, mitigating the impact.
The next second, she was pulled into a warm embrace.
The studded bag hit the man's back heavily.
Although Wen Yan was unharmed, seeing Leng Xunze groan, the sound struck her heart, causing a slight crack.
She knew that blow must have hurt.
Li's mother, seeing Leng Xunze arrive, didn't lessen her force. She cursed viciously, "Wen Yan, you truly are a slutty bitch. You are the bane of the Li family, causing your parents' divorce and Mengyao's imprisonment. Now go find a way to get Mengyao out, or I will never let you go!"
She raised the bag again, intending to strike.
A cold glint flashed in Wen Yan's eyes.
She was furious.
She directly grabbed the bag, ignoring the pain in her hand, and forcefully snatched the studded bag before smashing it heavily onto Li's mother.
Li's mother hadn't expected Wen Yan to fight back. She was hit hard in the face, her nose feeling as if it would shatter. Liquid flowed down. She wiped it, her hand covered in blood. She screamed, becoming even more like a shrew, "Wen Yan, you dare to hit me? I'll kill you!"
Leng Xunze was about to intervene, but Wen Yan stepped forward and kicked out.
She appeared docile, but once provoked, she would never let the person go.
Especially since Li's mother had just hit Leng Xunze.
She was very angry now.
This kick sent Li's mother sprawling to the ground. Li's mother, in pain, looked at Wen Yan in disbelief, as if she were looking at a stranger.
"Are you Wen Yan?" she couldn't help but ask.
"Surprised, aren't you? That the one you've always bullied is now fighting back." Wen Yan looked down at her. The wind ruffled her hair, but couldn't hide her reddened eyes, whether from anger or the grievances of the past. "We are also part of the Li family. We, my mother and I, shouldered all the household chores for the Li family, yet you still considered us parasites, hitting and scolding us, while pretending to be a loving family outside. Now, you even want to ruin my chastity and my reputation, wishing me to become someone everyone in Haicheng wants to beat!"