“Shen Zhiyi, Ruo Yue and I have been childhood sweethearts. She is the one I am truly willing to marry.”
“She is like the bright moon in the sky, while you are nothing more than an uncultured, coarse, country-born peasant woman. You are completely unworthy of marrying into our Wang family.”
“I advise you not to cling to unrealistic fantasies. You should know your place and return the engagement to Ruo Yue as soon as possible.”
The contemptuous and mocking voice struck like a violent storm, crashing into her ears.
Shen Zhiyi opened her eyes.
The man stood before her with his hands clasped behind his back, chin raised high, his nostrils practically pointing at her. His entire body radiated arrogance and superiority.
A flood of unfamiliar information surged into her mind, and Shen Zhiyi frowned slightly.
She had transmigrated into a novel—“The Fake Heiress of the Marquis Estate Is Loved by Everyone”—becoming the true heiress cannon fodder who had been replaced.
At this very moment, the plot had just reached the point where she had returned to the Marquis Estate, only to be chased down by her fiancé to break off the engagement.
According to the original storyline, the original host refused the annulment and, provoked by the fake heiress, ended up fighting her.
Protected by her “simp” fiancé, the fake heiress was not harmed at all. Meanwhile, the original host ended up disheveled and further proved the rumors that she was crude and ill-mannered.
The scene of her fighting the fake heiress just happened to be witnessed by her mother. As a result, the matriarch of the Marquis household grew to despise her. The guilt she once felt for losing her long-lost daughter vanished, replaced entirely with affection for the fake heiress.
After that incident, the original host’s reputation was ruined. She was cold-shouldered in the Marquis Estate and could not even hold her head up in the capital. Her only purpose became serving as a foil to the fake heiress.
She endured endless ridicule and cold stares, and in the end, she was framed for treason and reduced to a human swine (a punishment of extreme mutilation), kept alive merely for the fake heiress’s amusement.
Shen Zhiyi: “……”
Others could at least exit the stage after death—but how did she end up so miserably that even dying wasn’t clean, becoming someone’s grotesque plaything instead?
Ugh.
[Beep—System loading…]
Shen Zhiyi immediately perked up. Her golden finger had arrived!
[Hello host, the “Gossip System” is at your service!]
[No matter what gossip exists in this world—whether from imperial courts or martial worlds, the past or the future, living beings or even non-living things—if the host wishes to hear it, this system will deliver it to you, ensuring your satisfaction!]
Shen Zhiyi: “……”
What the hell? A gossip system? Did a cannon-fodder heiress like her need gossip?
[Warning! Warning! System malfunction detected, troubleshooting in progress…]
[Hello host, detection shows system binding error…]
The Gossip System sounded a little guilty.
It screamed internally: SOS—how did the counterattack system turn into a gossip system?! It doesn’t know how to do face-slapping or revenge at all!
Shen Zhiyi said bluntly, “Can you switch it back?”
[Detected: system already bound. Cannot be changed.]
[Please rest assured,] the gossip system said, gritting its figurative teeth, [this system will do everything it can to help the host overcome difficulties!]
Shen Zhiyi: “……”
Forget it. She would rely on herself instead.
She might as well find a way to fake her death and escape.
On the other side, seeing that Shen Zhiyi still hadn’t responded, Wang Zimo let out an impatient sneer.
He knew it. This uncultured village woman must be unwilling.
After just one meeting, she must already be infatuated with him—how could she possibly give up the chance to marry into his family?
“Shen Zhiyi, whether you are pretending to be deaf or mute, it’s useless.”
“Our Wang family is a scholarly household. Even the maids and servants are carefully selected and well-educated. Someone as vulgar and ignorant as you wouldn’t even be qualified to be a servant in our house, let alone the future madam of the Wang family.”
Just then, a soft, delicate voice sounded: “Brother Zimo.”
It was Shen Ruoyue, the fake heiress, who had arrived in the garden.
Wang Zimo turned to look at her, his gaze instantly filled with deep affection.
“My wife can only be someone like Ruo Yue—gentle, beautiful, well-educated, and a proper noble lady, the true daughter of the Marquis household.”
He then turned back to Shen Zhiyi, his nostrils practically speaking for him.
“You must understand the gap between you and Ruo Yue. A toad cannot eat swan meat. I advise you not to delude yourself.”
Shen Zhiyi: “……”
Indeed, this was a feudal society. This man was dripping with that patronizing arrogance—being loved by him would be truly unfortunate.
In her mind, the system quietly added: [Host, actually this man isn’t as devoted to Shen Ruoyue as he claims…]
[Oh?]
The system quickly pulled out its little notebook and began enthusiastically explaining.
At the same time, Shen Ruoyue, looking delicate and pitiful, glanced at Wang Zimo reproachfully and said softly:
“Brother Zimo, how can you say that about sister? She must be heartbroken hearing this.”
Footsteps sounded faintly outside the courtyard. Shen Ruoyue caught a glimpse of a dark sleeve from the corner of her eye and thought: Mother has arrived.
Looking at Shen Zhiyi’s unreadable expression, a slight push should be enough to completely shatter her pride…
As long as she provokes her into losing control, and lets Mother see her ugly behavior…
Then no matter what happens next, Mother will naturally stand on her side.
Thinking of this, Shen Ruoyue smiled gently.
“Sister has lived in the countryside for fifteen years and grew up among farmers and beggars, so she never received proper education and doesn’t understand etiquette.”
“But I know she is actually very kind. How could you compare her to servants? If she is hurt, I will also be heartbroken.”
[What a tea-scented white lotus.]
Shen Zhiyi rolled her eyes inwardly.
At that moment, Madam Chen Wanyan, who was standing outside, froze.
She hadn’t spoken aloud—so why could she hear Zhiyi’s voice?
And it didn’t sound like normal speech either.
Could it be… her inner voice?
Seeing that everyone else remained normal, it seemed only she could hear it.
Before she could process this strange phenomenon, the voice continued.
[Heh, others may not see it, but I can clearly hear this tea-flavored nonsense…]
Chen Wanyan was startled.
Could it be… she was overthinking?
[Next she will definitely say: “This engagement belongs to sister, I would never compete for it…”]
Before the thought even finished, Shen Ruoyue already said tearfully:
“Marriage is decided by parents and matchmakers. I know my place. This engagement belongs to the eldest miss of the Marquis family and the young master of the Wang family…”
She continued gracefully, giving up the engagement while subtly reinforcing her innocence and sacrifice.
[Translation: She’s implying she and Wang Zimo are deeply in love, and that Shen Zhiyi is the one who ruined them.]
Chen Wanyan’s expression darkened slightly.
Indeed, this girl was not as simple as she seemed.
Wang Zimo could no longer hold back.
He said affectionately, “Ruo Yue, don’t belittle yourself. You will always be the true young lady of the Marquis household in my heart.”
Then, he turned to Shen Zhiyi with disgust.
“If you continue to be stubborn and insist on marrying into our Wang family, then I will make it clear—you will only receive a divorce letter.”
Seeing Shen Zhiyi’s expression remain calm instead of breaking down as expected, Shen Ruoyue was slightly stunned.
However, things developed differently from what she expected.
The purple-clad girl smiled faintly, calm and composed.
“I never said I wouldn’t return the engagement.”
“But remember this,” she added.
“It’s not you breaking off the engagement.”
“It’s me looking down on you.”