【Isn’t the Great Xia Dynasty still fighting wars with cold weapons? I’ve never heard of any signs of firearms being developed. So how did they actually manage to invent bombs just for some fake mysticism?】
【Whoever made this device is probably a genius!】
If she could connect with this person and get ahead of the times, would she ever have to worry about money or a life without food, drink, and entertainment again?
Shen Zhiyi’s thoughts drifted, and she quickly asked the system to investigate.
Unexpectedly, the system said dejectedly:
[Host, I’m sorry. This part involves an important plot point. Since the story hasn’t progressed to this stage yet, I can’t find any information about this person. I can only confirm that the Great Xia Dynasty has begun using gunpowder in the military, but likely due to technical limitations, it is still experimental and has not yet been used in actual combat.]
Shen Zhiyi was speechless.
This was already the second time.
Previously, because she didn’t know the appearance or name of the gossip subject, she had spent a long time trying to find “Leng Zhu.”
Now it was even more ridiculous—she was just trying to investigate a bit of information, and it was blocked by the plot lock again.
Shen Zhiyi was speechless for a second, then continued happily enjoying the gossip right in front of her.
【To think they actually triggered a bomb switch to blow up a Buddha statue during my prayer ceremony—and now this eight-foot-tall strong man has actually fainted from hunger?!】
【Are you sure? Can that even be called an eight-foot-tall strong man? Hahahahahaha】
Xu Jiangchen: “……”
The tension in his nerves was suddenly disrupted by Shen Zhiyi’s inner voice. Strangely enough, he no longer felt as restless as before.
As Monk Kongwu’s ominous prophecy spread, the crowd, though temporarily comforted, began to panic again. However, they now had a direction and joined a new round of condemnation against Shen Zhiyi.
“Marquis, Madam, what are you waiting for?”
“If the Marquis household insists on defying the Buddha’s will, then you will be making the entire capital your enemy!”
“We beg the Marquis household not to harbor such an ominous person!”
Shen Jingxuan was frantic.
He knew his younger sister had been framed by that vile Leng Zhu, but how could he expose the truth?
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Madam Chen Wanyan struggled to suppress her anxiety.
Just in case, she had even increased the dosage slightly—but why was it still not taking effect?
As the condemnation became the dominant sentiment, Shen Honglang prepared to step forward to take control of the situation, but Wang Zimo beat him to it.
“Shen Zhiyi, how could someone as unlucky and ominous as you ever enter my Wang family’s door?”
Wang Zimo rushed out from the crowd aggressively, but as if afraid of being tainted by misfortune, he did not approach the center of the pond. Instead, he pointed across the water channel at Shen Zhiyi with a disgusted expression.
“Today, I, Wang Zimo, officially announce—our engagement is annulled!”
Seeing his son’s decisiveness, Madam Wang finally felt relieved.
With Shen Zhiyi being so inauspicious, severing ties was clearly the best choice.
After this dramatic annulment, the entire Marquis estate seemed frozen. The atmosphere grew oppressively heavy.
All the guests showed undisguised disgust. Their malice turned into invisible blades aimed at the seemingly fragile girl, pressing down on her as if to force her into submission.
Even though she stood upright, her slender frame seemed unable to bear such overwhelming pressure.
For the first time, the usually calm girl showed a different expression.
Wang Zimo felt greatly relieved, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
The humiliation he suffered earlier at the hands of Shen Jingxuan was finally restored!
He really was blessed by heaven!
Seeing her change in expression, he grew even more pleased.
This woman’s earlier words about breaking off the engagement were clearly just a trick to get his attention.
Now that she had truly lost him, her real feelings were exposed—she must be full of regret, wishing she were dead!
Heh, but it was useless now. He had even considered magnanimously taking her as a concubine before, but since she dared to be so ungrateful and wanted to be his only wife, she no longer deserved any connection to the Wang family!
The guests also assumed Shen Zhiyi could not bear the humiliation. After all, being declared a disaster star and publicly dumped by her fiancé would be unbearable for anyone with even a shred of dignity.
Only Shen Jingxuan looked strange.
After spending time with Shen Zhiyi these past days and “eating gossip” with her, he keenly sensed that she was probably just suppressing excitement because she had heard some explosive gossip again.
Seeing his sister so calm—and even interested in watching the drama—his anxious heart relaxed slightly.
His attention shifted too.
What exactly was going on with the Wang family? Why wasn’t she sharing the gossip?
Shen Zhiyi was indeed struggling to hold back laughter.
She cleared her throat and stepped back, as if drawing a clear boundary with Wang Zimo.
“Wang Zimo, I was the one who wanted to break off the engagement.”
“The annulment letter was sent to the Wang family two days ago, but your family refused to accept it and even sent it back.”
Madam Chen Wanyan coldly took out the annulment letter from a maid and displayed it to everyone.
“Your Wang family was previously begging us not to annul the engagement, yet now that the situation has changed, you are quick to kick us while we’re down.”
The crowd erupted in shock.
Xu Jiangchen caught the implication in her words and commented, “Young Master Wang’s behavior of twisting facts and taking advantage of others is truly ungentlemanly—likely out of shame and anger.”
The crowd nodded in agreement.
“The Wang family’s behavior is truly disgraceful.”
Wang Zimo, who had been triumphant moments ago, once again crashed down into humiliation.
His worst fear had come true.
He didn’t want to hear it, but the voices of the crowd pierced his mind like needles, unbearable to withstand.
He felt his blood surge violently to his head. He wanted to faint, but the pressure stuck in his throat wouldn’t let him.
He glared at Shen Zhiyi with deep hatred.
It was all this woman’s fault!
She had destroyed his reputation—how could he ever stand in the capital again?!
His body felt unbearably uncomfortable, and all his chaotic thoughts condensed into one conclusion:
Since this woman had ruined him, he would never let her go.
She must die with him!
Wang Zimo erupted with unprecedented strength and charged at Shen Zhiyi.
In the blink of an eye, the crowd gasped. When they reacted, Wang Zimo was already within a meter of her, his hands about to grab her snow-white neck.
Everyone—Chen Wanyan, Xu Jiangchen, Shen Jingxuan, Xie Yu, Shen Jingqian, and others—rushed forward in shock, but it was already too late!
【Oh my god, Wang Zimo’s father actually…】
Shen Zhiyi was still absorbed in gossip when she was startled.
【What the hell, is he going crazy already?!】
She instinctively closed her eyes and kicked forward with all her strength.
A sharp pain shot through her right foot, followed by a dull thud. Then came a series of crashing sounds.
She had only intended to kick and run, but the force was unexpectedly immense.
Chaos erupted on the altar platform.
The incense table was overturned, red silk fell to the ground.
Besides Wang Zimo rolling on the ground, there was also an unfamiliar burly man lying spread-eagled, seemingly unconscious.
The incense burner rolled across the ground, scattering ash until it stopped at Monk Kongwu’s feet.
Leng Zhu’s expression had never been so ugly before.