Chapter 114 Let's get going

Jiang Zhi knew that Wang Yuru would definitely agree.

After all, she must have a backup plan to deal with me, so I will grit my teeth and persevere no matter what.

Sure enough, Song Mama soon brought news that Wang Yuru had agreed.

The next morning, before dawn, Jiang Zhi followed Wang Yuru and watched as she, pale-faced, gritted her teeth and began climbing up from the foot of Puzhao Temple, prostrating herself with each step.

It took her more than two hours to finally kneel and pray on the more than 1,000 steps. When she saw the gate of Puzhao Temple, she was completely pale and swaying. The wound on her forehead was mixed with dust, and her hands and knees were covered in blood. She looked extremely disheveled and pitiful.

Jiang Zhi didn't even blink, just watched coldly.

"Young Miss, may I go to my sister's memorial tablet now?" Wang Yuru asked through gritted teeth, the hatred in her heart almost burning away her sanity.

She had never suffered such humiliation.

She knelt and prostrated herself up the steps, one by one. The scrutinizing and disdainful looks from the lowly people who came to offer incense made her want to gouge out their eyes and trample them into the ground.

Jiang Zhi gave a perfunctory "hmm" and, supported by Qing Xing, stepped into Puzhao Temple.

The young novice monk guarding the gate of Puzhao Temple smiled immediately upon seeing her.

"Benefactor Jiang, are you going to the Hall of Rebirth to offer incense today?"

Jiang Zhi nodded, and the young novice monk happily led the group inside, without even glancing at Wang Yuru behind them.

Wang Yuru was filled with resentment.

You bastard, is it only because you donated too much money for incense that these bald monks treat you differently?

Once I take your life and seize both Feng Lanzhen's and your dowry, no one in the entire capital will dare to look down on her anymore!

Wang Yuru finally mustered some strength and lifted her heavy legs to catch up.

Inside the Hall of Rebirth, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood incense, and the lighting was dim.

Jiang Zhi respectfully lit three incense sticks in front of Feng Lanzhen's memorial tablet, then turned to look at Wang Yuru.

Wang Yuru also stepped forward to light incense, then suddenly burst into tears, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed three times to the memorial tablet.

"Sister, it's my fault. I shouldn't have been so blinded by greed and caused your death, and even stole Master from you. Over the years, I've often dreamed of the times we spent together. You were so good to me, yet I still betrayed you..."

While she was crying her heart out, she kept glancing at Jiang Zhi's reaction out of the corner of her eye.

But she stood there coldly to the side, her face unmoved, as if the matter before her had nothing to do with her.

Wang Yuru cried even louder, pounding her chest and stamping her feet as if she wished she could go with Feng Lanzhen.

"I still remember the first time I saw you. You were sitting in a tall carriage, and I was just a nobody who had to look up to you. I thought to myself then, if I could be like you, I would be willing to give anything..."

"Sister, it's my fault, I'm so sorry!"

She cried uncontrollably, then suddenly got up from the ground and banged her head against the table, only to be stopped by Song Mama behind her.

"Madam, why are you doing this to yourself!" The two, mistress and servant, embraced and wept bitterly.

Jiang Zhi watched them act quietly.

As expected, after crying for a while, Wang Yuru knelt at Jiang Zhi's feet. "Miss, Princess Qinghe, I am not worth dying for, but my two children are innocent. Please spare them..."

She clung tightly to Jiang Zhi's skirt, her posture humble to the core, as if she were truly repenting for what she had done.

Jiang Zhi took a step back to avoid her pulling, "Are you done crying? If you are, then please go on your way."

She looked down at him with an indifferent expression.

"Wh-what?" Wang Yuru's face was still covered in snot and tears, her eyes wide open.

Jiang Zhi curled her lips cruelly, "Don't worry, I won't kill anyone inside Puzhao Temple. I've found a crooked tree for you on the back mountain, along with a dagger and poison. It's up to you which one you want to choose."

Wang Yuru could hardly believe her ears.

She actually wanted to take her own life right here!

"Jiang Zhi, I've begged and pleaded so desperately, why won't you let me go? Do you think your mother will come back to life if I die?" Wang Yuru's eyes were bloodshot with rage. "Disrespecting your elders and driving your stepmother to her death, will this kind of thing do you any good for your reputation if it gets out?"

"What use is fame to me?" Jiang Zhi laughed coldly. "I just want you dead."

"Jiang Zhi!" Wang Yuru could no longer bear it. She crawled forward on her knees, grabbed Jiang Zhi's ankle, and before anyone could react, pulled a dagger from her sleeve and stabbed it viciously into Jiang Zhi's abdomen!

Jiang Zhi was already on guard and kicked her arm away.

Wang Yuru sneered, gripped the dagger in her hand tightly, and lunged forward to grab Jiang Zhi's ankle.

Jiang Zhi let out a soft cry and lost her balance, falling to the ground.

"You bitch, you're just as useless as your bitch mother. You want to take my life? You're dreaming!" Wang Yuru sneered, her face full of undisguised smugness.

Jiang Zhi tried to get up, but found that her limbs were weak and she could not get up after several attempts. She could only fall to the ground helplessly.

The green apricot beside her had fallen to the ground silently at some point.

"You think I'd really just surrender and let you do whatever you want? You're too naive," Wang Yuru laughed. "You've been drugged with the incense, don't you feel weak all over now?"

Jiang Zhi gasped for breath, "There's something wrong with the incense you just lit..."

“Not too stupid. Granny Song and I took the antidote long ago. Our pretense just now was just waiting for the effects of the drug to take hold,” Wang Yuru squatted down, the cold dagger pressed against Jiang Zhi’s cheek. “Tell me, should I kill you first, or slash your face?”

Jiang Zhi's gaze was calm as she looked at the rooftop.

Wang Yuru laughed heartily, "No need to look, I know you have someone by your side, but I went to great lengths to get this sleeping incense, even an ox couldn't stop it..."

Before she could finish speaking, two black figures fell from the roof beam. Upon closer inspection, they were indeed Ruying and Anyue.

The two of them struggled for a while, but still couldn't get up from the ground.

"Now I'd like to see what other tricks you have up your sleeve?"

How could she possibly sit idly by and willingly accept death? She hasn't lived enough yet.

That damned little bitch is the one who should be dying.

Even at this point, the person opposite her showed no sign of panic. Instead, he looked at her calmly and indifferently, as if he was not afraid of the dagger in Wang Yuru's hand at all.

"You little slut, still pretending!" Provoked, Wang Yuru immediately ordered the nanny Song beside her, "Hold her up. I want to slash her face, poke dozens of holes in her hands and feet, and then take her life!"

Granny Song couldn't help but urge, "Madam, you'd better hurry up and get started. What if someone comes?"

Wang Yuru sneered, "I'll make you do what I say. Today I'll make her kneel down and beg for mercy!"

Having no other choice, Granny Song helped the weak Jiang Zhi sit down on a chair next to her.

Wang Yuru grinned maliciously, "Let's start with this beautiful face..."