Her destiny stolen? The Divine Witch Ancestor has returned!

Wu Zhao's idea is good.

To her surprise, it was Shen Jiaojiao who moved first.

Or rather, the Shen family.

Since moving from Haicheng to the capital, the Shen family has kept a low profile.

This was once a banquet held in the capital city, a place teeming with wealthy and powerful families.

Looking at the invitation Lan Yao brought in, Wu Zhao asked Gu Chen with some curiosity, "How could they invite you to a banquet of this caliber?"

“…No,” Gu Chen replied.

The Shen family is quite bold, daring to send an invitation to Gu Chen.

Perhaps they've forgotten that Huo Tingchen is Gu Chen's nephew!

Thinking of something, Wu Zhao said, "Oh, right. How are your two good nephews doing?"

The term "nephew" made Gu Chen's lips twitch slightly. He said with a hint of helplessness, "Tingchen is back. With him in the Huo family, no one can touch Jinchen's unborn child."

"And I'm aware of this matter as well; the Huo family won't act recklessly."

It seems that Gu Chen's name is indeed more useful, Wu Zhao nodded.

"Are you going to the Shen family's banquet?" Gu Chen asked, seeing her holding the invitation. "This banquet was held suddenly and doesn't seem to have any particular purpose."

Wu Zhao touched the name of Gu Chen in the audience, "What pretext do you need? Isn't it just a trap?"

"It's so obvious, it's making me a little curious. What exactly are they trying to do?" Wu Zhao looked out the window.

Outside, in the Ye family's courtyard, the bamboo house has already been built.

"Ye Linyan will probably go too."

Upon hearing this name, a hint of coldness flashed in Gu Chen's eyes.

"They're really persistent..." Wu Zhao sighed. "You don't need to come with me, so as not to embellish the Shen family's reputation. I can go by myself, but don't worry, I won't do anything reckless."

This is the capital city, protected by the dragon's aura of national destiny. She doesn't want to be struck by lightning and charred in public.

Wu Zhao thought about it and then pursed his lips.

“…Okay, then I’ll wait for you at home.” Gu Chen nodded, then asked, “Does Zhao Zhao need to recover some of her strength?”

Subconsciously glancing at his lips, Wu Zhao jumped up and took two steps back: "No, no need! I already said I'll know my limits this time and won't do anything reckless!"

She glanced around nervously, then said, "You, you go check on Huo Jinchen and the others. And while you're at it, give them the amulet I drew for his wife to help with the pregnancy!"

Seeing her turn and leave in a hurry, Gu Chen sighed, "She's retreated again..."

……

Sure enough, a little later, Wu Zhao learned from Lan Yao that Ye Linyan wanted to see him.

She was grooming Phoenix's feathers inside the house when she heard Lan Yao's voice outside the door and almost plucked one of Phoenix's beautiful tail feathers.

"Ouch, Master!" Phoenix cried out in pain and flew up. "That Ye Linyan is so annoying!"

Both his aura and appearance made Phoenix feel extremely uncomfortable.

I want to breathe fire at him!

"Sorry, sorry." Wu Zhao poked Phoenix's head and said to Lan Yao outside the door, "Tell him I'm not interested in what he wants to say, and tell him to give up on other ideas as soon as possible."

"Oh, by the way, tell him that I won't be going to the Shen family's banquet with him either. Let him go wherever he wants."

Upon hearing her blunt refusal, Ye Linyan, who was standing outside the villa, froze for a moment.

He asked, "Does she really not want to see me?"

“Yes, Miss Ye, my young lady said that you should leave.” Lan Yao said very bluntly, “In the end, my young lady has no relationship with Mr. Ye, and my family head is also here. If the young lady needs anything, our master will naturally take care of it.”

The dark green snake coiled on Ye Linyan's shoulder extended its tongue, its cold, vertical pupils fixed on Lan Yao.

A red shadow flashed by swiftly, and scalding flames landed precisely in the snake's eyes.

"Hiss—" The little snake winced in pain, shrinking back as it tightened its grip on Ye Linyan's neck.

Phoenix's small figure landed on Lan Yao's shoulder, staring intently at Ye Linyan.

Caught off guard and suddenly being strangled, Ye Linyan's expression turned cold. "Very good, it seems she has made her choice."

Of course! Lan Yao didn't even think about it, but his breath hitched when he met those cold eyes.

Ye Linyan looks so eerie...

Ye Linyan looked up and quickly met Gu Chen's eyes, who was standing on the terrace.

A faint golden light appeared in both of their eyes.

Don't assume you've won.

—I will not give up easily.

Gu Chen's eyes were somewhat indifferent, but soon the corners of his mouth seemed to twitch, raising a very faint smile.

—You were never even in her eyes.

—What is the point of winning or losing?

Gu Chen quickly withdrew his gaze. "Lan Yao, see the guest out."

He turned and went back to his room.

Ye Linyan sneered, "No need."

After he disappeared, Lan Yao touched Phoenix on his shoulder and thanked him, saying, "Thank you so much for earlier. I didn't expect that little snake to be so powerful."

"Don't be afraid, if it dares to stick its tongue out again, I'll roast it and make snake soup!" Phoenix flapped its wings. "It won't dare to do it next time!"

Lan Yao smiled and said, "Then I'll leave the young lady in your care during the banquet!"

Wu Zhao specifically instructed that she would not bring anyone with her to the Shen family's banquet this time, and asked them all to wait for her to return at the villa.

Fortunately, after Gu Chen's persuasion, she agreed to take Phoenix and the little paper doll with her and promised that she would not do anything reckless and would protect herself.

Lan Yao was still a little worried about the thought of her going to such a dangerous and uncertain place.

"No one in this world can hurt Master, so don't worry." Phoenix spread its wings and patted her head reassuringly. "Master is very powerful!"

Lan Yao took it from his shoulder and held it in his hands. "Of course I know, but I'm still worried."

"Oh, you little girl, you've always been so worried—"

Before Phoenix could finish speaking, Wu Zhao suddenly came down from upstairs.

It immediately stopped talking, flapped its wings, and flew to Wu Zhao's shoulder.

Lan Yao frowned, puzzled, as it seemed to be fleeing in disarray.

...What do you mean by "from the past"?

Did she know the prostitute before?

As she thought this, her gaze towards Wu Zhao gradually became more complicated.

As if ignoring her confusion, Wu Zhao said, "I'm a little hungry. Is there anything to eat?"

"Yes, I baked some cookies, I'll bring them over right away!" Lan Yao said hurriedly, running into the kitchen.

Wu Zhao nudged Phoenix from behind: "You almost gave yourself away, didn't you?"

"I'm sorry, Master, I spoke too quickly."

With a soft chuckle, Wu Zhao said, "Still as easy to talk to as ever..."