When the dust settled, only a mess remained ahead.
Shen Jing and the others quickly alighted from the carriage, which had been pushed to one side.
"Are you all alright?"
Lao Quan quickly ran over to check on their condition.
"We're fine."
Su Yourong gently shook her head, looking at the wreckage ahead with lingering fear.
After the carriage separated from the horses, it continued to move forward a short distance due to inertia.
They only had minor bumps and scrapes, but no serious injuries.
However, if Lao Quan hadn't cut the harness straps in time, and if they hadn't jumped out of the carriage, the collapsed wall would have fallen right onto the carriage compartment!
If that had happened, even if they didn't die, they would have probably been severely injured.
Clearly, this was a carefully orchestrated accident.
Besides the Zhao and Song families, she couldn't think of anyone else.
Shen Jing didn't speak, just quickly scanned the surroundings.
However, after looking around, he didn't find any suspicious individuals.
Instead, the commotion attracted many residents of the alley to peek out and watch.
"What happened here?"
"Are you blind? Can't you see Li Lao San's wall collapsed!"
"That wall at Li Lao San's house, it was only propped up by a few broken pieces of wood; it was bound to collapse sooner or later!"
"What do you know? Li Lao San is fishing! Look, he's caught a fish, hasn't he? Now, Li Lao San will definitely blame these people for knocking down his wall, and he'll probably extort a lot of silver…"
"Isn't that person the Shen Family's prodigal son?"
"Shen Jing? No wonder! I heard that Su Yourong has consecutively jinxed three men to death. No one in the capital dared to marry her, so she quietly ran to Luochuan Prefecture…"
The onlookers discussed animatedly, pointing fingers at Shen Jing and the others.
When Shen Jing swept his gaze over them, many people fearfully pulled their heads back, but cursed him inwardly.
Why so fierce!
Isn't it obvious that Su Yourong jinxed him?
If you have the guts, be fierce with Su Yourong!
Being fierce with us common folk, what kind of skill is that?
Just then, a dirty man rushed out of the house with the collapsed wall, wailing and crying, "My wall! Who knocked down my wall! How am I supposed to live…"
"Stop wailing!"
Su Yourong glared at Li Lao San impatiently, "Tell me, how much silver do you want?"
"Tw…"
Li Lao San looked at their attire and immediately changed his mind, "Fifty taels of silver!"
They were dressed so splendidly; fifty taels of silver shouldn't be too much.
"Twenty taels, take it or leave it!"
Su Yourong couldn't be bothered to haggle with him. She directly took out twenty taels of silver from the tilted carriage but didn't give it directly to Li Lao San. Instead, she pointed at the tilted carriage and said, "Come and lend a hand!"
Li Lao San hesitated for a moment, then eagerly stepped forward and helped them right the carriage.
"Have any suspicious people been lurking around here these past two days?"
Su Yourong asked Li Lao San.
Li Lao San's eyes were fixed on the silver in Su Yourong's hand, and he kept shaking his head.
Su Yourong wanted to ask more, but Shen Jing gently shook his head, "Forget it! The intention was to create an accident; anyone even slightly clever wouldn't leave clues!"
Su Yourong thought about it, then handed the silver to Li Lao San.
Li Lao San's face immediately broke into a triumphant smile upon receiving the silver, and he proudly looked at the onlookers.
These fools!
They had no idea of the purpose of him keeping that dangerous wall!
Now, he had the silver to rebuild the wall, and plenty left over!
Seeing Li Lao San's smug expression, many people showed disdain but secretly envied him, wondering if they should also make their own walls dangerous, to make a fortune like Li Lao San.
Shen Jing also quietly watched Li Lao San, and a new idea suddenly sparked in his mind.
Li Lao San's situation had indeed given him a new line of thought!
At this time, Lao Quan also brought the horse over.
The horse had sprained its leg when it bolted, so it definitely couldn't pull the carriage anymore.
Shen Jing pulled Su Yourong and the still-shaken Chi Chi aside, patted Chi Chi's hand to comfort her, then turned to ask Su Yourong, "Have you ever considered that the three men you supposedly jinxed to death actually died in deliberately manufactured accidents?"
He had always found it too far-fetched that Su Yourong had consecutively jinxed three men to death.
Today's encounter made him suspect that those three men were actually murdered!
Even the Zhao and Song families could orchestrate such a meticulously planned accident; those capable people in the capital could create accidents even more easily!
"I did suspect it at one point!"
Su Yourong gently nodded, "However, I don't know what anyone's motive was for doing that. Spending so much effort, it couldn't just be to give me the reputation of a husband-killer, could it? Moreover, the imperial court investigated and found no traces of foul play…"
Her father was an upright man, and the Su Family wasn't without enemies in the capital.
Even if the Su Family's enemies wanted to wipe out the Su Family, she could understand that.
But going to such lengths to give her the reputation of a husband-killer, what meaning would that have for those enemies?
To torment their mother and daughter?
That seems a bit far-fetched!
"No traces found doesn't mean it wasn't foul play!"
Shen Jing shook his head, "Anyway, I think the idea of consecutively jinxing three men to death is simply unbelievable!"
"I don't have the mind to care about that right now."
Su Yourong bit her lip, saying fiercely, "Right now, I only want to beat up the people from the Zhao and Song families!"
"Let's go to the workshop first!"
Shen Jing smiled, "We're going to make the first batch of white sugar today; we can't let this little accident delay us!"
This little… accident?
Su Yourong slightly tilted her head, secretly wondering.
This accident had left even her with lingering fear, yet Shen Jing acted as if nothing had happened?
Someone so calm must have seen big scenes, right?
But as far as she knew, Shen Jing hadn't really seen any big scenes!
Could someone truly be born to remain calm in a crisis?
"Why are you looking at me?"
Shen Jing asked Su Yourong with a smile.
"Aren't you scared at all?"
Su Yourong asked, and Chi Chi also looked up at Shen Jing.
"What's the big deal?"
Shen Jing said dismissively, "Didn't we already guess someone wanted to harm us when we were in the carriage?"
Is that so?
Su Yourong was suspicious but said nothing more.
Since Shen Jing insisted on going to the workshop, they continued on their way.
However, this time they were much more careful.
Fortunately, no further incidents occurred along the way, and they safely arrived at the workshop.
Upon reaching the workshop, Shen Jing called Du Heng and the others to get busy.
At the same time, Zhao Jianzhi also received the news.
"He didn't die?"
The moment he received the news, Zhao Jianzhi felt utterly distraught.
Damn it!
How could he not have died?
According to their plan, even if Shen Jing didn't die, he should have at least been severely injured!
Was this good-for-nothing's life too tough, or was their meticulously designed accident slightly lacking?
Hmph!
If once isn't enough, then twice!
If twice isn't enough, then thrice!
He wanted to see just how tough this good-for-nothing's life truly was!
If he truly angered him, he would directly ask the Prince for help and have the Prince send someone to finish off this good-for-nothing!
Song Lianxin was right; Shen Jing must die!
Otherwise, they would never have peace!