Chapter 2316

"But you saved me before the New Year. Otherwise, I would have died at the hands of Shi Xiong," Zhang Yanhong said seriously.

"Oh, I believe that part," Zhu Shun Yao nodded slightly. "So, what do you plan to do next? Or rather, what do you want from us by telling us this?"

"I just feel that since we are all from Ganshe Village, I should know how to be grateful," Zhang Yanhong said with a look of deep sincerity.

"Since that is the case, thank you. A Lian, bring out some cured meats," Zhu Shun Yao called out. When someone brings information, one must show gratitude, regardless of its usefulness.

Xie Xin Lian quickly brought out a portion of cured meats and handed it to Zhu Shun Yao. He passed the bag to Broken Zhang. "We are quite busy these days, so we won't keep you for tea. Please go back and rest early. I see Yanhong is not in good health; she needs rest. Come over early on the sixth day for the continuous banquet."

"Alright, you stay busy," Broken Zhang said. He knew the Zhu family was very busy with the banquet preparations. He did not refuse the cured meats, took them, and helped Zhang Yanhong leave.

Zhu Yan Yi and Yan Ao Han, who were nearby, had heard everything Zhang Yanhong said to Zhu Shun Yao.

Zhu Shun Yao looked at the two of them. "How much do you believe in what Zhang Yanhong said?"

"Half true, half false," Yan Ao Han said.

Zhu Yan Yi spoke up. "Zhang Yanhong is only nineteen, but her scheming surpasses many adults. If I hadn't experienced so much and seen so much, I might have admired her righteousness. But now I am more certain that Zhang Yanhong is connected to the Masked Man."

"But what exactly is the relationship between Zhang Yanhong and the Masked Man?" Yan Ao Han asked in confusion. "You came to Sicheng Town, and only spoke of it after returning from the capital. The layout here clearly wasn't set up in a short time. The Masked Man must have been colluding with Zhang Yanhong for a long time. So why is she turning against them now?"

"If Zhang Yanhong and that Masked Man were indeed colluding, this current move is likely to confuse us," Taishu Yuan Xiang added his opinion.

Yan Ao Han nodded. "That is what we need to know. The matter of Zhang Yanhong and Shi Xiong—I only had someone investigate casually, and the information came out. The data cannot be fake, so there is truth in it. The Masked Man she mentioned is also not fake, because she doesn't know the history between us and the Masked Man, so she couldn't have fabricated her. Therefore, what she says must have some truth. But how much truth? Honestly, it's hard to estimate right now."

Seeing this, Zhu Yan Yi said, "Since it's hard to estimate, let's put it aside for now. A fox will eventually show its tail. If not, on the day of the continuous banquet, we can startle the snake by beating the grass."

Zhu Yan Yi wasn't just saying this casually. She never liked to passively accept things. Once she found a problem, she didn't mind taking the initiative, just like with Zhang Yanhong. No matter what her purpose was, Zhu Yan Yi didn't mind striking the mountain to scare the tiger.

Hearing Zhu Yan Yi say this, Yan Ao Han relaxed. "Ani is right. We don't need to keep fussing. It's better to wait slowly. If that doesn't work, startling the snake by beating the grass will have the same effect."

Taishu Yuan Xiang and Zhu Shun Yao agreed. There was no need to overthink matters with no clues.

Night fell. On the evening of the first lunar month, the weather was still bitterly cold. In the middle of the night, the pale yellow glow of the streetlights carried a touch of cold silence. Zhang Yanhong came out, moving very fast. If Yan Ao Han and Zhu Yan Yi had been there, they would have known from her speed that Zhang Yanhong knew martial arts, and her skills were not low.

Zhang Yanhong passed through Ganshe Village and arrived at an abandoned field, where a black-clad Masked Man was waiting.

"Sir, I am here," Zhang Yanhong said, bowing to the black-clad Masked Man.

The Masked Man turned and looked at Zhang Yanhong. "The tasks you have completed these days have not been very good."

"Sir, please rest assured. I know my situation. The reason the mission has problems now is mainly because the Zhu family has returned. So, I plan to use the method of diverting trouble to the east, shifting their attention. As long as their attention is diverted, I can proceed with the next step of the plan," Zhang Yanhong said.

"Your strategy is not bad, but your thinking is too childish. Whether it is Yan Ao Han or Zhu Yan Yi, what they have experienced is not something a little girl like you can compare to. Even if you are smart and have a good IQ, you still cannot compare to them. You had better act within your capabilities." The Masked Man's voice was hoarse, with a hint of softness in the rasp. However, from his tone, one could feel that he was very familiar with Zhu Yan Yi and Yan Ao Han.

"Sir, please rest assured. I know. I am already doing it. Moreover, the real plan is on the sixth day of the first lunar month. As long as we get past the sixth day, they will shift their attention," Zhang Yanhong said seriously.

"Oh, looking at you, you seem very confident. Since that is the case, tell me. I want to hear what abilities you actually have." The Masked Man seemed interested.

Zhang Yanhong said seriously, "On the sixth day, I will go to the continuous banquet with my adoptive father. When we go, I will give my adoptive father a hidden poison. When the poison takes effect, it will be right at the banquet. Even if I am incompetent, I am still my adoptive father's adopted daughter, so no one will suspect me. And if someone poisons to ruin their continuous banquet, the Zhu family certainly cannot tolerate it. Naturally, their attention will shift."

"I originally thought you were smart, but I didn't expect your head to be full of tofu dregs." The Masked Man was annoyed upon hearing this.

"Have I not worked hard to cultivate you for so many years? You are seeking your own death. Don't you know that this continuous banquet is actually Zhu Shun Yao introducing his new son-in-law to people? It is also a wedding banquet for Zhu Yan Yi and Yan Ao Han in their hometown.

You actually want a dead person to ruin it. You don't want to live, but I do.

Also, do you know who Zhu Yan Yi is? Zhu Yan Yi is known as the Divine Doctor. No matter how powerful your hidden poison is, as long as there is a breath left, she will drag the person back from the line of death. You want to shift their attention through your adoptive father? I think you want their attention to focus entirely on you."

Zhang Yanhong was slightly stunned. "Are they that powerful?"

"Zhang Yanhong, I have cultivated you for so many years. Don't you know the simple principle of 'know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win a hundred battles'? Do I still need to tell you? You simply do not understand who Yan Ao Han and Zhu Yan Yi are. You actually designed such a plan. Are you seeking your own death? Even if you seek your own death, do not implicate me."

The Masked Man clearly had great fear of Yan Ao Han and Zhu Yan Yi. "Let me tell you, countless people have been destroyed by Yan Ao Han and Zhu Yan Yi. You had better not be too clever and cause trouble at their wedding banquet."

His tone was full of warning. "Otherwise, if something happens to you, I will not save you. Although I will regret losing a useful pawn, I do not want to risk myself."

The Masked Man's words startled Zhang Yanhong's heart. The Masked Man had appeared before her five years ago. At that time, she was injured, and she helped her. Afterwards, she became her subordinate. Over the years, it was undeniable that the Masked Man had indeed been cultivating her. But hearing her say this now, she realized that she was merely a dispensable pawn in the Masked Man's hands.

"Sir, please do not give up on me. I will work even harder," Zhang Yanhong said. She knew she could not fight back now, so the only thing she could do was submit. At least at this moment, she could not strike a stone with an egg.

The Masked Man snorted. "Think carefully about what to do, but absolutely do not go ruin Yan Ao Han and Zhu Yan Yi's wedding banquet. Otherwise, no matter how reluctant I am, I will abandon you as a pawn. Do you understand?"

"Yes, this subordinate understands." Zhang Yanhong knelt on the ground.

The Masked Man came over, lifted Zhang Yanhong's chin, and then patted her face satisfactorily. "So good. If you obey, I still won't bear to give up. After all, you still have qualities that fascinate me."

After speaking, she looked at Zhang Yanhong. Zhang Yanhong naturally understood what the Masked Man meant. Without saying anything, she walked into the weeds nearby. The Masked Man followed. Soon, the wind under the night sky covered some strange sounds.

On the sixth day of the first lunar month, it was the Zhu family's continuous banquet. The helpers arrived early. All Zhu Yan Yi had to do was put on makeup.

Zhu Yan Yi applied her makeup, looked at the clothes in the box in front of her, and frowned slightly. She said only to Yan Ao Han, "Don't you think wearing the phoenix crown today is a bit cumbersome?"

Yan Ao Han said, "Our main wedding day has already passed. Today is just to let everyone know us. If you don't want to wear it, don't. Change into a Tang suit." she had originally wanted to suggest a qipao, but her wife was too charming. If she wore a qipao, Yan Ao Han would never allow her to go out and see people. So she suggested a Tang suit.

Zhu Yan Yi thought about it. A Tang suit was at least much better than the phoenix crown and robes, and much more relaxed. So she nodded and went inside to change into a Tang suit.

After coming out, she looked at the wedding dress in the box and said, "This can still be kept as a souvenir for the Zhu family."

"Mhm." This had been discussed long ago, so Yan Ao Han naturally did not object.

"Ani, brother-in-law, are you ready?" Zhu Yan Li called from the door.

"Ready." Zhu Yan Yi went over and opened the door. Zhu Yan Li was also wearing a Tang suit, but Zhu Yan Yi's was red, while Zhu Yan Li's was purple.

"Weren't you supposed to wear the phoenix robes? Why aren't you wearing them?" Zhu Yan Li asked curiously.