Chapter 2319

Zhu Yanyi’s indifferent expression made Yan Aohan understand. Although Zhu Yanyi regretted that Zhang Yanhong hadn’t revealed the Masked Man’s secrets, she knew there wouldn’t be much valuable information anyway. Thus, she decided to give up. Yan Aohan, following his wife’s lead, also abandoned the matter.

Back home, Xie Xinlian saw them return and asked, “Didn’t you go to see Yanhong? Why are you back so soon?”

“We saw her. It was just like that,” Zhu Yanyi shrugged. “Mom, did you know? Broken Zhang was actually killed by Zhang Yanhong.”

“Yes, they say it was self-defense. But I always felt Broken Zhang wasn’t that kind of person. Looks can be deceiving,” Xie Xinlian sighed.

“Looks can be deceiving, but not about Broken Zhang. It’s about Zhang Yanhong,” Zhu Yanyi revealed the truth. “Zhang Yanhong didn’t kill Broken Zhang in self-defense. It was intentional murder.”

“What? Intentional murder?” Xie Xinlian was shocked. “Where did this girl get the guts to kill?”

Zhu Yanyi looked helpless. “Fame and wealth tempted her, so she went astray. Broken Zhang trusted her, loved her like a daughter. But what does that matter? In Zhang Yanhong’s heart, Broken Zhang was just a scavenger—poor and low-status. How could she respect her? How could she be her father?

“To gain freedom, to build her own future, to get more wealth, she had to break free from Broken Zhang. So, killing her became her choice. And I think her goals went beyond that.” Zhu Yanyi sighed. “We just haven’t uncovered the other motives yet.”

Xie Xinlian clicked her tongue. “This girl is only nineteen. Nineteen years old, killing her adoptive father. What was she thinking? Does she not want to be a decent person for the rest of her life?”

Zhu Yanyi smiled lightly and sat down. Yan Aohan went to the kitchen, poured a glass of juice, handed it to Zhu Yanyi, and then went to play with Little Northwest in Zhu Shunyao’s arms.

“Her ambitions are huge. She just didn’t think it through. If she had wanted to leave, she could have talked to Broken Zhang nicely. I believe she would have let her go. But her method was indeed cruel,” Zhu Yanyi commented.

“Not just cruel. It’s inhumane,” Zhu Shunyao said. “Thank goodness she has the surname Zhang. If she had taken our Zhu family name, she would have shamed all of us.”

Zhu Yanyi laughed. “Dad, you care about that too?”

“Of course. It’s about reputation. A family’s reputation is crucial. Building a good name is hard, but destroying it is easy. Once ruined, it’s nearly impossible to restore,” Zhu Shunyao said sternly.

Zhu Yanyi nodded in agreement. “It’s like our daily lives. It’s easy to go from frugal to lavish, but hard to go from lavish to frugal. That’s the same logic.”

“Exactly,” Zhu Shunyao said. “But Zhang Yanhong’s guts are huge. How did she do it?”

“The method was simple. Just a bowl of Mapo Tofu made by Zhang Yanhong herself,” Zhu Yanyi explained. “Broken Zhang loved Mapo Tofu. Zhang Yanhong knew this. She cooked it, added my colorless, odorless poison, and served it. Broken Zhang trusted her completely. She ate it without suspicion. That’s how it happened.”

“How could she do that?” Old Li sighed. “she raised her. They say adoptive love is greater than biological love. Instead of being grateful for saving her life, she killed her. This girl is no good.”

Old Li had seen through many people, so he spoke with certainty.

Zhu Yanli added, “Right. Zhang Yanhong looked cute as a child. How did she become so terrifying?”

Zhu Yanyi shrugged. “Zhang Yanhong is also pregnant. Only fifteen days, but a blood test could confirm it.”

“Whose?” Xie Xinlian asked curiously.

“Don’t know,” Zhu Yanyi shrugged. “But definitely not Broken Zhang’s.”

Everyone sighed again, mostly pitying Broken Zhang. It was heartbreaking that she raised a girl only for her to kill her. It made people feel that biological children were better.

The news spread to the Zhu family. Zhu Yanyi was packing her luggage when she heard it. She raised an eyebrow, unconcerned. “If biological children are better, didn’t Gan Juhua die at the hands of Zhu Yinkui?”

Zhu Shunyao苦笑 (bitterly smiled) at his daughter’s words. “Ani, the Fourth Branch is gone. You don’t need to be so dismissive.”

“Who said? Zhu Jinkui is still alive. Shi Xiong has half Fourth Branch blood. And Zhang Yanhong? Isn’t she actually from the Fourth Branch?” Zhu Yanyi’s eyes lit up. “Do you think Zhang Yanhong killing her adoptive father is inherited from her aunt’s bloodline?”

“Ani,” Zhu Shunyao looked at Zhu Yanyi disapprovingly. “Ani, you are married. I shouldn’t say this, but remember: sincerity is key in relationships. Why are you gloating?”

Zhu Yanyi froze. Was she gloating? She had just spoken without thinking. She lowered her head.

It seemed she was. She really was gloating.

Zhu Yanyi harbored a hidden disgust and hatred for the Zhu Family’s Fourth Branch, carried over from her past life. Due to her different status, she hadn’t noticed it. Since the Fourth Branch was gone, she thought it was over. But hearing that those with Fourth Branch blood were ending up this way, she realized she wasn’t as detached as she thought.

She resented the Fourth Branch. Because they were now in different worlds, she couldn’t do anything to them. But deep down, she hoped they wouldn’t have a good ending. Hearing the news, she started gloating. The problem was, she hadn’t realized she was gloating until Zhu Shunyao pointed it out.

As a cultivator, she had no heart demons, which was lucky. But if her mortal heart didn’t change, breaking through would be hard. Without Zhu Shunyao, she wouldn’t have discovered the reason for her future stagnation: her selfishness and petty mindset.

Zhu Yanyi stared blankly at Zhu Shunyao’s words. Zhu Shunyao, seeing her daze, hesitated. “Did I speak too harshly?”

Yan Aohan stepped forward, tapped her shoulder, and said to Zhu Shunyao, “It’s fine, Dad. Ani had an epiphany from your words. It’s good for her. It strengthens her state of mind.”

“Epiphany? What is that?” Zhu Shunyao waved his hand. “No need to explain. I don’t understand your stuff. As long as she’s okay.”

Yan Aohan smiled lightly. He hadn’t noticed Zhu Yanyi’s petty mindset either. But now, with her epiphany, it was gone. He realized that without Zhu Shunyao, Zhu Yanyi might not have had this realization. Good parents have a profound impact on their children.

Zhu Yanyi came to her senses and looked seriously at Zhu Shunyao. “Dad, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have gloated. I didn’t realize how much I hated the Fourth Branch, wishing them eternal damnation. If you hadn’t woken me up, I might have gone astray.”

“Nonsense,” Zhu Shunyao said, dissatisfied. “You are my daughter. You won’t go astray. Even if a bean sprout bends, you won’t.”

Zhu Zhibin felt wronged. “Dad, just say what you mean. Why use me as an example? Besides, I’m not bent.”

“You’re not bent, but your occasional goofy behavior is annoying,” Zhu Shunyao said, showing his dissatisfaction with his son.

Zhu Zhibin said, “Dad, you’re really biased. From childhood, I’ve seen that in our family, daughters are treasures and sons are grass.” He looked pitifully at Nuan Nuan beside him. “Nuan Nuan, let’s have a daughter in the future, okay?”

Nuan Nuan looked at Zhu Zhibin and said, “Having a daughter is fine. But are you sure you can accept your daughter getting married in twenty-plus years?”

Zhu Zhibin paused, then said, “No. We won’t let our daughter marry. I’ll keep her by my side. Any little wolf dog who wants to marry her must pass my tests. Otherwise, forget it. And my son-in-law must be smarter than me. If he’s less smart, I won’t consider him.”

“Haha~” Zhu Yanli sneered from the side. “Are you sure you’re picking a son-in-law? I feel your unborn daughter will be so scared she won’t reincarnate into your wife’s womb. You’ll probably only have sons in the future.”