Chapter 85

Chapter 85: What Does That Have to Do with Me

Morning light rose. The sky was barely bright.

In the garden, fresh petals drifted onto the beds. A cool wind swept through, carrying a faint fragrance into the hills.

Lin Zhao pinched a petal that had landed on her shoulder and asked, “Elder—is there something wrong with the Lin Family’s flowerbeds?”

Lei Yuan didn’t answer. Instead, he asked, “After the Lin Family left the lands of the noble houses, why did you settle here?”

“Father said the You Lan Empress introduced this place,” Lin Zhao replied, “and that’s why my marriage to Crown Prince Ning was arranged.”

Lei Yuan lifted a hand.

The flowers—already slightly withered—shattered into dust, destroyed so thoroughly not even stems remained.

“The Lin Family’s flowerbeds formed a formation,” Lei Yuan said. “The one who set it up had deep intentions.”

Lin Zhao’s brows drew together. “A formation? Father said the estate’s design was handled entirely by the You Lan national preceptor.”

The You Lan national preceptor had no relationship with the Lin Family.

She looked down at the ruin of petals. “May I ask, Elder—what formation was it?”

Lei Yuan’s eyes were cold. “The flower-king peony suppressed as the core in the central bed. The flower-minister peony in the east. The flower-queen rose in the west. The flower-champion plum in the south. The ‘national fragrance’ orchid in the north. This formation is called Stealing the Heavenly Prodigy.”

His gaze cut to Lin Zhao. “It targeted you.”

Lin Zhao’s jaw tightened. “Stealing the Heavenly Prodigy… is this a formation from the Heavenly Phoenix Continent?”

“Assigning a woman’s position through flowers.” Lei Yuan shook his head slightly. “This is likely from the Ancestral Dragon Continent.”

A chill seeped into Lin Zhao’s bones.

“The Ancestral Dragon Continent has been plotting on the Heavenly Phoenix Continent without stopping,” Lei Yuan said. “It may not only be for the Ancestral Dragon intent. It may also be for you.”

But why?

The Ancestral Dragon Continent’s inheritance wasn’t based on fate-luck. And Ancestral Phoenix fortune didn’t truly benefit them.

Unless… they had some other method.

If so, this had to be reported to the Ancestral Phoenix Continent.

Stealing the Heavenly Prodigy wasn’t truly high-level. It relied on one thing: most people on the Heavenly Phoenix Continent didn’t understand such feng shui formations. And even if they did notice, few would dare destroy spiritual flowers planted with care.

But once a high-level cultivator saw through it, it was as fragile as paper.

“To prevent any lingering danger,” Lei Yuan advised the Lin Family Old Ancestor later, “after you relocate, burn this estate to the ground.”

This wasn’t the Lin Family ancestral land. They had lived here barely over ten years. Attachment was thin.

They agreed at once.

News from the main strike force arrived soon after.

The messenger dragged in a Nascent Soul cultivator wearing Yao Chi Sacred Land holy robes.

Faced with three Spirit Transformation experts, the man could only force himself to speak through cold sweat. “Greetings, three Immortal Venerables.”

“When will Yao Chi Sacred Land hand her over?” Han Yan stood, gaze sharp as ice.

The man wiped his brow, drew a shaky breath, and said, “Elder Ling Yao said Immortal Maiden Wang Shu must personally come to request her.”

Han Yan raised a brow. “Since when did Yao Chi Sacred Land grow that bold?”

The man dropped to his knees with a thud. “I’m only delivering the elder’s words! Please spare my life, Immortal Venerable!”

Lei Yuan’s voice came low. “Young lady Zhao—don’t go alone. Otherwise your mother truly won’t be saved.”

This was a trap meant to force Lin Zhao to show herself. If she fell into their hands and their goal was met, would they still care whether her mother lived or died?

Lin Zhao’s gaze turned colder. “Tell Immortal Venerable Ling Yao and Shen Yu Han—me going alone is impossible. If you can’t give the Lin Family an answer today, then as long as I, Lin Zhao, live, Yao Chi Sacred Land will never have peace!”

Before the Nascent Soul cultivator could react, a gentle yet icy voice drifted in from behind him—soft as silk, sharp as a knife.

“The Lin Family Young Lord has quite a big mouth.”

The soldiers parted automatically.

A middle-aged beauty in yellow palace robes walked forward, calm as a storm held back by restraint.

Immortal Venerable Ling Yao looked at Lin Zhao and sighed. “If I’d known you—this crippled phoenix—could grow to this point, then no matter what, I would never have let you leave Yun Ding’s mountain back then.”

In the end, guilt still gnawed at her—toward her brother-in-law and her sister’s final request.

Lin Zhao stared at her, something sour burning behind her ribs. “If I’d known Yao Chi Sacred Land was a pack of thieves—colluding with other continents to harm our own—then no matter what, I wouldn’t have let Mother and Father agree to your marriage alliance.”

Shen Yu Han, standing beside Ling Yao, swayed.

Ling Yao’s expression twisted, half pain and half fury. “Yu Han—do you see clearly now? Does this woman have even the slightest feeling for you?”

Shen Yu Han raised a hand.

Ling Yao fell silent instantly.

To everyone else, it looked like doting. But Lin Zhao watched too closely to be fooled. In Ling Yao’s eyes, beneath the affection, there was reverence—like a subordinate looking at someone above her.

Shen Yu Han was only in the Enlightenment Realm. In seniority, he was her nephew.

So why did she look at him like that?

As Lin Zhao’s thoughts turned, Shen Yu Han spoke, voice rough. “Zhao Zhao… if I tell you that on our wedding day—and before that—none of my actions were under my control… do you believe me?”

“I believe you.”

The crisp answer stunned everyone.

Lin Mang’s face tightened. “Zhao Zhao…”

Under shocked and hopeful stares alike, Lin Zhao smiled faintly and added, “But what does that have to do with me?”

Hardship didn’t mean he could grind her face into the dirt.

On their wedding day, with every major force of the Heavenly Phoenix Continent watching, Shen Yu Han had abandoned her and left.

Whatever his reason, Lin Zhao had promised to repay that humiliation a hundredfold.

She meant it.