In the depths of the backyard of the Marquis Yong'an's Estate lived an Aunt Lin identity was quite special.
This seemingly frail Aunt Lin is none other than Lin Ruoxi, the princess of Duke, who has been in a standoff with the Wei Kingdom in the Northern Frontier for many years.
She met Zhang Jiuling on the Northern Frontier battlefield, and after several clashes, a dramatic romance unexpectedly blossomed between them.
However, reality is cruel; their different backgrounds destined them to be unable to be together.
Later, the ambitious Old Marquis Zhang Yuanfeng plotted to go further and forced Zhang Jiuling to marry Qin Xuehua was pregnant out of wedlock.
Zhang Jiuling married Qin Xuehua for the Qin Household's support, outwardly showing deep love for her, but inwardly filled with contempt.
Furthermore, when Qin Xuehua was giving birth to Zhang Yu, he devised a plan to destroy Qin Xuehua's fertility, unwilling to let her bear his child.
Not long after, due to changes in the political situation in the State of the Zhao Kingdom, Lin Ruoxi resolutely risked her life to infiltrate the Wei Kingdom and found Zhang Jiuling.
What followed was the melodramatic plot Zhang Heng had described.
Moreover, because of Lin Ruoxi's connection, the Zhang Family had long been colluding with the Zhao Kingdom in the north, so it's not an exaggeration to say that they were harboring bandits to enhance their own power.
The Zhang Family's southward expedition included a large number of skilled warriors from the Zhao Kingdom.
"Mother..."
A shout startled Lin Ruoxi, who was lost in thought gazing at a withered plum tree in the courtyard.
"Xiao Heng."
Upon hearing this, Lin Ruoxi quickly stepped forward and pulled Zhang Heng aside, her voice extremely low, "Don't shout, walls have ears, what if someone hears us..."
Years of lying low and disguising herself had ingrained caution into her very being; she was always careful in her actions.
Zhang Heng, however, was full of vigor and said nonchalantly:
"Mother, don't worry."
Things are different now. My eldest sister has joined East Green Mountain and become Direct Disciple of Great Grandmaster Lian Juehai. We no longer need to endure this."
What?
Great Grandmaster's Direct Disciple?
Lin Ruoxi was stunned, somewhat taken aback.
Zhang Wanning excitedly chimed in, embellishing the story with extra details.
Grandmaster Jian Wuwei and Huichen stood not far away, their expressions calm, which could be considered as tacit acceptance of this statement.
Lin Ruoxi listened quietly, her initial bewilderment turning to shock, and then to unbelievable ecstasy.
Her body trembled slightly, her eyes instantly welled up with tears, and she gripped Zhang Heng's arm tightly, her nails almost digging into his flesh.
"Really... is this real?"
Her voice was choked with sobs.
She had waited for this day for far too long and with great suffering.
For years, she watched helplessly as her beloved husband was deeply in love with another woman, as her son could only call another woman "mother," and as the woman who had taken her place held a position of power above her... Every day was agonizing.
"Hahaha! Good! Good! Good!"
Lin Ruoxi suddenly threw her head back and laughed, her laughter filled with the release of years of pent-up frustration, and also carrying a chilling, sinister undertone.
"Qin Xuehua, you stole my man back then, forcing my son and me to separate. Did you ever imagine this day would come!"
She laughed until tears streamed down her face, but her expression was contorted:
"I just didn't expect that your bastard son would be so capable. I don't know what kind of luck he had, but he actually managed to stir up some trouble."
It's a pity, he hates you to the core.
Tsk tsk, karma really works.
The husband you stole doesn't love you, the son you raised hates you. Qin Xuehua, you are destined to die of heartache and grow old alone.
This is your retribution.
She unleashed the resentment that had been building up for twenty years, as if she wanted to pour out all the forbearance, pain, and jealousy she had endured over the years.
After the initial euphoria, Lin Ruoxi quickly calmed down, though worry still lingered in her eyes:
"Xiao Heng, I understand how you feel."
But now that our identities have been exposed, the Imperial Family and the Qin Household will certainly not let this go easily.
This is, after all, the Capital City, the territory of the Xiao Family and Qin Household. Although we have two Grandmaster, we can't fight against so many opponents. We're in danger."
Mother is right.
Once we reunite with my father and grandfather, and with the help of my sister from East Green Mountain and the experts from the Zhao Kingdom, we will surely be able to crush the Xiao Family and Qin Household.
"I will bring Qin Xuehua here then, and Mother can do whatever she wants with her."
His expression was arrogant, as if Qin Xuehua was already meat on a chopping board, at his mercy.
"That's right, I want Qin Xuehua to suffer a fate worse than death."
And his son, Zhang Yu, must also be killed."
Lin Ruoxi hated Qin Xuehua and her son to the core. Over the years, Zhang Heng and the Zhang Family sisters had been targeting Zhang Yu, and she had secretly done a lot to help them.
She especially enjoyed watching Qin Xuehua torment her own son, Zhang Yu, in order to protect Zhang Heng; she never tired of it.
Then she changed the subject, looking at Jian Wuwei and Huichen:
"Two Grandmaster, just to be on the safe Senior, shall we leave the city first and wait to rendezvous with the Marquis's army?"
After all, there are too many variables in the capital.
Jian Wuwei and Huichen exchanged a glance and nodded.
Although they were not afraid of the Imperial Family, Zhang Yu in the Heavenly Prison was always a variable, and who knew if he would really be unable to leave the Heavenly Prison.
"There's no time to lose, we must leave the city immediately," Jian Wuwei said succinctly.
With two Grandmaster in their ranks, the city's defense troops and Imperial Family spies along the way discovered them, but intimidated by the Grandmaster' power and even more so by the East Green Mountain behind them, no one dared to step forward to stop them.
As for Xiao Xuan, without Zhang Yu's help, he wouldn't dare to show his face alone.
Zhang Yu, on the other hand, was already dizzy and weak-kneed by Xiao Fenghua and Xiao Meier. Even if he could get out of the Heavenly Prison, he probably wouldn't have much Combat Power left.
After Xiao Fenghua and the other person broke through to the Ninth Rank, they found that continuing to exploit Zhang Yu was no longer very efficient. They could only wait for Zhang Yu to break through again before continuing to reap the benefits.
As the two walked out of the Heavenly Prison, they encountered a young woman with a rosy complexion.
This young woman was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. Her skin was as white as snow, her eyebrows and eyes were like paintings, and she exuded endless charm with every glance and smile. Every frown and smile revealed the unique charm and elegance of a mature woman.
"Auntie?"
Xiao Fenghua and Xiao Meier blurted out almost simultaneously, both showing surprise on their faces.
Thousands of miles away, at the Zhang Family's military camp.
Zhang Yuanfeng sat in the main seat, while his two sons, Zhang Jiuling and Zhang Jiuming, sat to one side. The three of them were discussing important matters.
Zhang Jiuming frowned slightly and spoke first:
"Eldest Brother, Father, don't you both feel that Lingyun has been a bit too cold and distant towards us since she came back this time?"
She was even unwilling to participate in this important discussion.
Also, the five black-robed figures following behind her were quite unsettling.
Zhang Jiuling pondered for a moment and said:
"That girl has always been aloof and quiet since she was little, and she doesn't like to get close to people."
Back then, she was of mediocre talent and not valued in the household, so she became closer to... to that wretched boy.
A flicker of disgust crossed his eyes when Zhang Yu was mentioned.
Zhang Yuanfeng stroked his beard, his eyes thoughtful:
It's strange, really.
When Lingyun was young, the tutors in the manor tested her many times, and they all said that her physique was average and her aptitude was only slightly below average.
Later, for reasons unknown, it was discovered that he possessed a cultivation physique with Sword Bone, a trait rarely seen even once in a millennium.
This has been a question that has always been on the Zhang Family's mind.
It was the discovery of the Sword Bone that made this originally inconspicuous eldest daughter a genius who attracted the attention of the entire Zhang Family and even the Wei Kingdom. As a result, she was noticed by the Great Grandmaster of East Green Mountain and taken as his Direct Disciple.
"Eldest Brother, father,"
Zhang Jiuming lowered his voice, a hint of worry in his tone:
"This girl was close to that bastard Zhang Yu back then. When we deal with that bastard Zhang Yu, will she secretly help him? Wouldn't that mean we're all..."
They were unaware of what was happening in the Imperial City and assumed that Zhang Yu was still that useless First Rank.
"Jiuming is overthinking it."
Zhang Jiuling interrupted him, his tone firm:
"In any case, Zhang Yu is nothing but a bastard of unknown bloodline, and he is not worthy of being presented to the public."
But we are Lingyun's blood relatives.
Even if Lingyun is sentimental, we can at least show her some respect and spare Zhang Yu's life.
As long as we face the Xiao Family, Lingyun and others will represent East Green Mountain in supporting us.
"That's true. Zhang Yu, that bastard, doesn't affect the overall situation. The Zhang Family can just consider him another dog they keep."
Zhang Yuanfeng nodded slightly.
"Jiuling, you are her father, spend more time with her."
At present, keeping her calm and leveraging her status and strength as a disciple of East Green Mountain is the top priority.
Zhang Jiuling nodded in agreement. "Father, rest assured, I understand. I will handle things with Lingyun."
Meanwhile, in another camp.
Zhang Lingyun sat cross-legged, with five people standing behind him, all shrouded in black robes.
She seemed to have overheard the conversation between the Zhang Family father and son, and said to herself with a charming smile, "Did you hear that? Your grandfather and father are plotting how to deal with your beloved eldest Eldest Brother."
"By the way, I'm quite interested in your Eldest Brother."
He can actually refine mysterious Pills that can help you develop Sword Bone Houtian; it seems he's hiding quite a secret.