Chapter 1284

Zhu Yanyi actually wanted to go back, but she knew it wasn’t the right time to be willful. She would decide later based on the situation.

After lunch, she sat for a while longer, chatting with Zhu Shunyao and the others. Then she said her goodbyes and left quietly, just as she had arrived. She didn’t cause a stir. Even if neighbors were nearby, they likely thought she was just a relative or friend visiting.

Once in the car, Zhu Yanyi looked through the documents Zhu Zhibin had secretly given her. She turned to Luo Gang and said, "Brother Luo, please investigate a man named Taishu Yuanxiang."

"Taishu Yuanxiang? Seventh Master?" Luo Gang was slightly surprised. He then explained, "Miss, I know him. Taishu Yuanxiang is the head of Taishu Industries. On the surface, he is a businessman, but he is also very powerful in the underworld. He once went alone to Kyoto, Tian City, and Lu City, building his foundation there. Currently, he is the most respected figure in the northern underworld of Huaxia. He is cold, cunning, and shows no favoritism, even to family."

"I heard she killed her three fiancées. What happened there?" Zhu Yanyi asked.

"There are many rumors," Luo Gang said. "Most say these three women were daughters or sisters of his enemies. They were not chosen by him, but forced upon him by some old elders in Taishu Industries who thought they knew best. Taishu Yuanxiang is proud and refuses to be controlled. He had these women investigated and found they had bad reputations and many lovers."

Luo Gang sighed. "So, naturally, he didn’t want such women as wives. He had them killed."

Luo Gang then asked curiously, "Miss, why are you interested in Taishu Yuanxiang? Did something happen?"

Zhu Yanyi sighed. "It’s not a big thing, but it is something. When I went home for dinner, Doumiao told me my sister has a boyfriend. Doumiao saw them acting very close while buying materials. Although my sister didn’t say anything at home, Doumiao is smart and can tell the difference. She asked Brother Niu Jiu to investigate, and she found out the man is Taishu Yuanxiang."

Luo Gang raised his eyebrows. "If Taishu Yuanxiang truly cares for Miss Yanli, I think you can rest easy."

"Oh?" Zhu Yanyi noticed the respect in Luo Gang’s tone. "It seems you have a good opinion of her."

Luo Gang smiled. "Miss, you don’t know. Taishu Yuanxiang can be described in one sentence: 'Cold eyes watching the world, a heart full of passion for those who understand him.' People in the underworld fear him, but if he weren’t feared, he couldn’t stand firm. However, he has one trait, which can be seen as both a strength and a weakness: he is very protective of his own. Once he accepts someone, he will protect them with all his heart. I remember when he first took control of the northern underworld, it wasn’t stable yet. A childhood friend of his was beaten by the heir of a famous northern family. The friend was left disabled. His subordinates advised him to wait, and even the friend said to wait for revenge later. But Taishu Yuanxiang didn’t wait. He picked a few trusted men, planned an attack, and crippled that heir. He took double revenge. That man is still lying in a hospital abroad today."

Zhu Yanyi listened silently, nodding slightly. Luo Gang saw her thinking in the rearview mirror and asked, "Miss, do you not want Miss Yanli to be involved with Taishu Yuanxiang?"

"You might as well ask if I have class prejudice," Zhu Yanyi laughed.

"It’s better to ask indirectly," Luo Gang smiled, teasing her slightly.

Zhu Yanyi said, "Our family comes from humble beginnings. We have no class prejudice. My only wish is that my sister’s marriage goes smoothly. I don’t want her to suffer her whole life." In her past life, Zhu Yanli had suffered too much.

She thought for a moment and said, "Brother Luo, can you arrange a meeting with Taishu Yuanxiang? I want to meet her and ask her myself."

Regardless of what others said, Zhu Yanyi trusted her own feelings. She wanted to meet this person personally.

"Miss, if I go, Taishu Yuanxiang might not know who I am. But if Master Yan goes, he will definitely agree," Luo Gang reminded her.

Yan Aohan’s status was such that even Taishu Yuanxiang would give him some face.

Zhu Yanyi tapped her head. "I’ve been so busy lately that I forgot. Your Master Yan is the Yanluo of Kyoto." She laughed. "I’ll call her when I get home."

Zhu Yanyi didn’t hesitate to ask Yan Aohan for help. She hadn’t called earlier because she knew he was likely busy today.

Yan Aohan was indeed busy. He was busy becoming the nightmare of the Zheng and Yang families.

The Zheng and Yang families, after being hit by Yan Aohan, decided to hold a gathering on New Year’s Day to discuss how to deal with him and announce their alliance through marriage.

So, the joint banquet held by the two families was very lively. They invited everyone they could, and those who could return did so. From today on, the two families would temporarily act as one.

Yang Buyi, the current head of the Yang family, had a smile on his face.

Zheng Xiang’en, the actual controller of the Zheng family, also looked very pleased.

Both held wine glasses and moved through the crowd. They felt that after today, they would have the strength to resist the Yan family.

Amidst the clinking of glasses, no one noticed that Yan Aohan had arrived quietly at the door with his men.

The guard at the door saw Yan Aohan and his face changed. "Master Yan… Master Yan, why are you here?"

"Can’t I come?" Yan Aohan’s face remained calm, like jade. His eyes in the night gave people a chill that rose from the bottom of their hearts.

"N-no, of course not," the guard denied quickly.

"Announce my arrival," Yan Aohan said softly, but his tone allowed no refusal.

"Master Yan has arrived!" The guard thought, Better they die than me. He quickly sent the Yanluo inside, hoping to slip away unnoticed.

Yang Buyi and Zheng Xiang’en, surrounded by flattery, both froze. They stopped, looked at each other, and spoke at the same time: "Why did you invite him?"