"I know it's risky," Qing Lian admitted, her gaze flickering with uncertainty for the first time. "But if I can help him rise to power, I'll finally have the influence I deserve. Lin Zhenguan's favoritism is suffocating, and the competition among the other heirs is brutal. I can't just sit back and watch as they claw at each other's throats for control."
Wang Li nodded thoughtfully, his mind already working out the implications of what she had revealed. Qing Lian's ambition and her alliance with a lesser-known heir provided him with another potential avenue to exploit within the Lin Family. He could sense her desperation to change her circumstances, and he knew that he could use that to his advantage.
"You've made a smart move, Qing Lian," Wang Li said, his voice soothing as he brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "But you have to be careful. If the others find out what you're doing, it could spell disaster for both you and your chosen heir."