Chapter 1049: Wield the Law Like A Blade

Gu Zi resisted the urge to hurl expletives and forced herself to read on.

The article painted her as a rural nobody who had clawed her way into city life, a peasant girl masquerading as a phoenix.

It claimed she had exploited the generosity of her adoptive parents, using their resources to secure a first-rate education, only to repay their kindness with heartless ingratitude–even going so far as to sever ties with them at her own university admission banquet. Cold. Calculating. Unforgivable.

Then came the real character assassination: according to this scandalous piece, she had shamelessly married some middle-aged man from the countryside just for money, stepping into the role of a stepmother to three children before she was even out of her twenties. “Such a disgraceful woman,” the article insisted, “had no business being admitted into one of the nation’s top universities.”

Every word dripped with contempt, turning Gu Zi into a caricature of social-climbing opportunism.

She didn’t know exactly when she had offended the editors of Education Daily, but she knew with certainty who was behind this. Sure enough, by the time she reached the end of the article, she spotted Zhang Mei’s name. Gu Shan and Lin Miao’s names were absent, but she didn’t need them there to know–this was the handiwork of the Gu family.

The shopkeeper shook her head. “I just think this is too much. I don’t know much about your personal affairs, but after interacting with you these past few days, I can tell you’re not the kind of person they’re making you out to be. I was planning to send this back, but Gu Zi, you need to find out who’s behind this smear campaign. If you don’t clear your name, this could have serious consequences for you.”

Gu Zi exhaled slowly. “I’ll buy the paper. I’ll handle this. Thanks for letting me know.”

Taking the newspaper with her, she went straight home and called Jin Long, asking for the number of a high-profile lawyer. That very afternoon, Education Daily received a legal notice from Gu Zi’s attorney.

Whoever had orchestrated this attack, she didn’t care. If petty villains wanted to play dirty, then she would wield the law like a blade.

Su Shen was livid when he heard about the article. Without hesitation, he stormed over to Captain He’s office. After all, it had been Captain He who had handled Lin Miao’s theft case. Now that someone was trying to obliterate Gu Zi’s reputation, Su Shen had no choice but to collaborate with him. Together, they arranged for Public Security Daily to publish an official statement.

Meanwhile, Jin Long was equally incensed. He rushed home to his father, urging the old man to leverage his business connections and rally influential figures to issue a joint statement. Their goal? To condemn Education Daily’s old editorial team and install a fresh, more honorable leadership.

The moment Professor Xu caught wind of this debacle, he, too, flew into a rage. Turning to Su Jing, he commanded, “Find me a top-tier journalist immediately. I want to release a statement. I may not know the full details of the Gu and Lin family disputes, but I do know one thing–I trust my own judgment of character. For someone to publish such slander, intending to ruin Gu Zi completely, is utterly unacceptable. I won’t allow it.”

Before Su Jing even stepped out of the hotel, she ran into Guan Xin, who had also rushed over upon hearing about Gu Zi’s predicament. Without missing a beat, she took Guan Xin to see Professor Xu.

That evening, Guangcheng Daily published his statement: [Imperial Capital University has stood for decades, its student admissions guided by rigorous selection. Any public remarks that seek to tarnish the reputation of our students, or prospective students, will be pursued to the fullest extent of the law.]

The controversy erupted like wildfire, sending shockwaves through political, business, and academic circles alike.

The police wasted no time in detaining Sun Qi, the lead journalist behind the defamatory piece.

At first, Sun Qi remained defiant, relying on her family’s deep-rooted ties to both the political and corporate worlds. She refused to admit to any wrongdoing, convinced that she had nothing to fear. That confidence lasted precisely two days.

Locked in a detention center, with no word from her well-connected relatives, she finally began to panic. Then came an unexpected visitor–Madam Fang. Sitting across from her, Madam Fang sighed, her tone cold and pragmatic. “This scandal has blown up far beyond what anyone anticipated. It won’t just go away. Even your father needs to lay low for now. So, tell me, is there anyone you can sacrifice to take the fall for you? Someone we can offer up as a scapegoat to smooth things over?”

After Madam Fang left, Sun Qi wasted no time in naming Huang Fei as the mastermind behind the article.

The police wasted no time either. When they came for Huang Fei, she was in the middle of a glamorous social gala, toasting glasses with high society elites.

The scandal crashed over the Xu family like a tidal wave, forcing the event to a screeching halt. As Huang Fei was dragged away by the authorities, she barely had time to process her disgrace. Worse yet, her husband, Mr. Xu, remained rooted to his spot, making no move to accompany her.

The moment Captain He got the news, he contacted Su Shen.

Su Shen, in turn, went to fetch Gu Zi.

As they prepared to leave, Su Li eagerly trailed behind them. “Mommy, I changed my mind!” he declared, his little face scrunched up in determination. “When I grow up, I’m going to be a police officer and arrest every single liar in the world!”

Gu Zi ruffled his hair with a laugh. “Alright, alright. But for now, you and your brother stay home and protect your little sister, okay? Mommy and Daddy have things to take care of.”

Su Bing, donning an apron, chimed in from the kitchen. “Su Li, watch over our sister and, while you’re at it, go buy me a bottle of soy sauce. Here, take this money.”

Su Li, clutching the coin from his older brother, gasped in delight. A whole yuan! Soy sauce didn’t cost that much. That meant he had extra money to buy some treats for himself and his sister. When Mommy and Daddy got home, they could all feast together!