The moment the ceremony proceeded according to ritual, Shen Ruoyue lit the incense first and knelt in prayer before the small Buddha statue.
Just as the incense was about to burn out, something strange happened.
Blue-silver butterflies—previously fluttering playfully among the flowers—slowly drifted toward the altar, circling around Shen Ruoyue.
All other colored butterflies, however, continued behaving normally.
These blue-silver butterflies were commonly seen in temples, often associated with Buddhist halls, and were therefore regarded as an auspicious omen.
“As expected of Miss Ruoyue… she truly is blessed by the Buddha…”
“Even the Buddha Sound Butterflies are drawn to her! This is an extremely auspicious sign!”
Those unaware of the truth were deeply shocked.
【Such a childish trick, and yet everyone is so easily fooled?】
【Cold Bamboo simply added white sandalwood fragrance—the scent the Buddha Sound Butterflies like—into Shen Ruoyue’s incense. That’s why they were attracted to her.】
Shen Zhiyi sighed inwardly.
【Scam tactics change every day. One must stay vigilant!】
Shen Jingxuan, who had originally believed Shen Ruoyue was truly blessed, felt his face burn with embarrassment.
Chen Wanran frowned slightly, letting out a cold sneer inwardly.
This mother-daughter pair was truly laughable. In order to use Zhiyi as a stepping stone, they would stop at nothing.
If she had not prepared in advance after hearing Zhiyi’s inner voice, this spectacle would have elevated Shen Ruoyue to the heavens—while Zhiyi would have been pushed into an irreversible abyss.
After Shen Ruoyue finished her prayers, the butterflies gradually dispersed, and she appeared radiant and glowing.
Kongwu smiled and nodded.
“Benefactor, you are favored by the Buddha and clearly a person of great destiny. Your future will be smooth, and you will rise step by step.”
“Those who are connected to you will also receive part of your blessings.”
Upon hearing this, even those who had no prior connection with Shen Ruoyue began to think differently.
With the butterfly phenomenon and Kongwu’s divine pronouncement, Shen Ruoyue now appeared bathed in a sacred halo. Even her faint smile seemed almost holy.
She glanced lightly at Shen Zhiyi, her gaze filled with condescending pity, as though looking at something filthy.
Shen Zhiyi calmly lit her incense, showing no sign of impending doom. Instead, she felt a faint sense of excitement.
【Although the gossip fields of the capital are rich, other places must be just as interesting.】
She had already left a letter behind, hoping her mother would eventually awaken and escape her tragic fate. As for her second brother’s doomed emotional entanglement—she truly had no way to help.
【The Great Xia is vast and full of wonders. After leaving the capital tomorrow, I’ll go to Baiyu City. I hear it’s full of handsome men and beauties—more, more, I want more!】
Unlike her relaxed demeanor, Xu Jiangchen was extremely tense.
The countdown to a dead-end was approaching. It felt eerily similar to what had happened five years ago.
The only difference was that this time, there might still be a slim chance of resolution.
He stared unblinkingly at the altar in the center of the pond, his mind racing.
He prayed desperately that Shen Zhiyi would stop thinking about her future travels and instead reveal more details about Cold Bamboo’s methods.
If he could uncover everything here and capture her in the act, perhaps the investigation into the Ninth Prince case could finally be reopened.
Because of Shen Ruoyue’s so-called auspicious omen, the crowd’s curiosity toward the true heiress of the Marquis Residence only deepened.
Countless eyes turned toward the altar—some concerned, but most filled with mockery and anticipation.
Shen Ruoyue may not be the true daughter of the Marquis Residence, but she was famous, beloved, and seemingly blessed by the Buddha. Meanwhile, the true heiress—though not as ugly or crude as rumors suggested—could she possibly match Shen Ruoyue’s spiritual grace?
This banquet, originally intended to clarify identities, now seemed to tilt in Shen Ruoyue’s favor.
If Shen Zhiyi could also receive Buddha’s blessing, things might still be manageable.
If not…
Then this grand banquet would become her greatest humiliation.
Amid shifting thoughts and rising tension, fate seemed unwilling to disappoint the crowd.
Sure enough, another phenomenon occurred.
This time, however, it brought fear.
Shen Zhiyi’s incense was only halfway burned when a sudden gust of wind blew past, scattering ash.
The next instant—
The glass Buddha statue on the red altar suddenly shattered.
As if struck by an invisible force, it exploded into fragments.
The once solemn Buddha statue broke apart, its serene face distorted into something eerie.
It fell from the altar as ash drifted down like falling debris—like a young girl plunging into an abyss.
The scene was horrifying.
The entire garden fell into an eerie silence.
So silent that even a pin drop could be heard.
The girl on the cushion remained kneeling with eyes closed, still in prayer, seemingly unaware.
But the crashing sounds echoed violently in everyone’s minds, like a verdict being hammered down upon her fate.
Then a scream broke the silence.
“Divine punishment! This is divine punishment!”
Like a stone thrown into a lake, the crowd erupted.
Fear, shock, and hysteria spread instantly.
“Buddha is angry!”
“She has offended the Buddha!”
“Shen Zhiyi is truly a person of great misfortune!”
“This scene… it’s just like five years ago!”
“The Buddha statue breaking is an omen of great disaster—she must not remain in the capital!”
“Miss Ruoyue is blessed, while Shen Zhiyi has angered the Buddha. This must mean the Marquis Residence has violated heavenly order!”
“She is an ill omen! The Marquis Residence will surely suffer disaster!”
Shen Ruoyue listened to the chaos around her, outwardly pretending shock, but inwardly exulting.
Shen Zhiyi—after today, you will be the cursed woman driven out of the capital!
You will be cast aside, scorned even by beggars.
While she, Shen Ruoyue, blessed by the Buddha, would be loved by all.
This is the fate of anyone who opposes her.
Amid the uproar, Kongwu’s calm voice rang out, instantly quieting the crowd.
“Everyone, please remain calm.”
His expression was serene, almost divine, though he was clearly enduring some discomfort. Yet he maintained his composed, enlightened demeanor.
“Illustrious Buddha is merciful.”
“The decree has been given: this young lady is an ill-fated, inauspicious person.”
“If she remains here even one more day, she will bring misfortune to those around her.”
“Therefore, for the sake of all, she must leave immediately.”
With that, the verdict was delivered—her fate seemingly sealed.
At that moment, a piercing alarm-like voice exploded in the ears of those who could hear Shen Zhiyi’s thoughts.
【WHAT?? There’s a grown man hiding beneath that altar?!】
【No wonder nothing can be seen from outside—it’s a hidden, manually triggered miniature bomb mechanism inside that Buddha statue!】