Chapter 77 The Yan family, as betrothal gifts, wield immense power in the capital!

Chapter 77 The Yan family, as betrothal gifts, wield immense power in the capital!

The day after the celebration banquet, a gleaming black Hongqi sedan silently pulled up in front of the Lu family's courtyard.

The old steward of the Yan family personally got out of the car, holding a beautifully crafted gold-embossed invitation in both hands, and respectfully handed it over.

The invitation is extremely brief.

To express their gratitude for being saved, the Yan family prepared a small banquet and invited Lu Zhanting and his wife Su Wanqing to attend.

The time is three days later.

At the end of the inscription, the two characters "Yan Yun" were written in his own hand, with vigorous strokes and ink penetrating the paper, exuding an undeniable sense of authority.

This was no ordinary family dinner.

This was a "thank-you banquet" announced to the entire capital.

Su Wanqing ran her fingertips over the still-wet ink on the invitation and instantly understood.

At the victory banquet, Soong Tse-ven's attack, and the "Ouroboros's" direct probing, were like a boulder thrown into the center of a lake, stirring up towering waves.

The Yan family is going to support her in this most direct and grand way.

"Go."

Lu Zhanting appeared behind her without her noticing, his warm chest pressed against her back, his arm around her shoulder.

"This is my grandfather's heartfelt wish, and also a form of protection."

He called his maternal grandfather with perfect naturalness.

Su Wanqing leaned against him with a sense of security and nodded gently.

She understands.

This protection is not only for her personally, but also for the nascent "Kunlun" military unit.

With the Yan family as an impregnable shield in the open, they will sweep away countless obstacles.

Upon learning of this, Lu Zhenguo burst into a rare hearty laugh over the phone, repeatedly urging the two to take it seriously.

The Lu and Yan families, pillars of the military and political worlds respectively, were finally bound together in an unprecedentedly close manner because of these two young people.

This was undoubtedly a stabilizing force for the impending storm.

Three days later, at dusk.

Lu Zhanting drove the military jeep, carrying Su Wanqing, and headed on time to the Yan family's old residence at the foot of the Western Hills in Beijing.

Su Wanqing wore no makeup, only a moon-white long dress that Lu Zhanting had accompanied her to buy a few days ago. Over it, she wore a beige cardigan, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, her temperament as aloof and serene as the moon.

For her, it was simply a visit to a respected elder.

Lu Zhanting was dressed in a crisp military uniform, his epaulets gleaming with a steady light in the setting sun. He wore no medals, but his imposing, mountain-like aura was the most dazzling medal in itself.

The car was stopped by a sentry halfway up the mountain.

After verifying his identity, the sentry's expression turned serious, he suddenly stood at attention and saluted, and quickly let him pass.

The further in you go, the tighter the security becomes, with guards every three steps and sentries every five.

The jeep eventually stopped in front of a very large traditional courtyard house.

With its vermilion gate and stone lions resembling coiled dragons and crouching tigers, this is the foundation of the Yan family—a former royal palace that has witnessed a century of vicissitudes.

As soon as the car came to a stop, the heavy vermilion gate swung open from the inside.

Grandpa Yan himself, leaning on his cane, led his eldest son Yan Zhengmin, second son Yan Zhengjun, and other core members of the Yan family to stand at the door to greet them!

Such a spectacle caused some guests who happened to be passing by to stop in their tracks, their eyes filled with shock and bewilderment.

"Grandpa." Lu Zhanting stepped forward and gave a standard military salute.

"It's good that you're here!" Old Master Yan's face was beaming, and his laughter was loud. He stepped past Lu Zhanting, grabbed Su Wanqing's hand, and patted the back of her hand affectionately, as if she were his most beloved granddaughter.

"Come on, it's windy outside, let's go inside and talk."

The warmth emanating from my palm is a genuine expression of love and gratitude, without a trace of falsehood.

"Grandpa Yan," Su Wanqing called softly.

"Still calling me Grandpa Yan?" Old Master Yan feigned a fierce glare. "Zhan Ting has changed his address. You little brat, do you not recognize me as your maternal grandfather?"

Su Wanqing paused for a moment, her cheeks instantly flushing slightly, and she changed her address somewhat shyly: "Grandpa."

"Hey! That's right!" Grandpa Yan was as happy as a child and pulled her inside.

Lu Zhanting stood beside him, watching this scene. His usually cold and hard lips unconsciously curved into a gentle smile.

The Yan family's old residence has five courtyards and five exits. Passing through the screen wall, through the covered corridors, pavilions and towers, with carved beams and painted rafters, every step is imbued with the weight of history.

The banquet was held in the main hall, "Anyuan Hall".

As they entered the hall, Su Wanqing realized that the guests tonight were on a much higher level than those at the victory celebration banquet.

Besides the military's top generals, there are also several faces that can only be seen in financial and political news—the heads of the country's core economic departments.

These people constitute the true power center of this country.

They have gathered here tonight for one purpose: to bear witness.

Witness the Yan family's gratitude to Su Wanqing, and even more so, witness the unbreakable alliance between the Yan and Lu families.

Grandpa Yan personally led them to the main table and arranged for them to sit to his left and right.

The significance of this position made everyone in the room jump.

The banquet began, and after several rounds of drinks...

Just as the atmosphere was getting lively, Grandpa Yan, leaning on his cane and supported by his grandson, slowly stood up.

The once noisy hall suddenly became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

All eyes turned to the old man.

"I've invited you all here today for no other reason than this," the old man said in a low voice, yet his voice struck each of you with the clarity of a great bell. "It's for my old life, and for the sake of my Yan family, to thank a benefactor of immense kindness."

He turned around, his gaze gentle as water, and fell on Su Wanqing.

"As all of you old friends here know, not long ago, this old man of mine was on the verge of death. The experts at the General Hospital were helpless, and I was ready to make my final arrangements."

“It was that girl Wanqing,” he raised his hand, pointing to Su Wanqing, his voice filled with barely suppressed emotion, “It was she who, on my deathbed, remained calm and collected, and with just a few silver needles, snatched me back from the jaws of death!”

"It is a doctor's duty to save lives and heal the wounded. But this kindness will never be forgotten by the Yan family!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the old man bowed deeply to Su Wanqing amidst the astonished gazes of everyone.

"Grandpa! You mustn't!" Su Wanqing was shocked and immediately got up to help him.

All the guests, including Lu Zhenguo, suddenly stood up, their faces solemn.

No one expected that Old Master Yan would perform such a grand gesture!

"Very well." Old Master Yan straightened up, grasped Su Wanqing's hand tightly, and wouldn't let her sit down. "This bow of mine is not only for myself, but also for the Yan family. You saved me, which is to say, you stabilized the Yan family's ship that was about to capsize!"

He turned his head, his gaze sharp as lightning, sweeping across the entire room, his voice suddenly becoming stern.

"Today, in front of everyone, I am announcing three things."

The entire audience held their breath.

"First! From this day forward, Su Wanqing is my granddaughter, Yan Yun's own granddaughter! Seeing her is like seeing me, and her words are my words!"

"Secondly! Her affairs are the affairs of my Yan family! Anyone or any force that dares to make things difficult for her is an enemy of my Yan family! I, Yan Yun, will risk my old bones to make sure he is reduced to ashes!"

The chilling aura of brutality emanating from his words, reminiscent of a battle fought amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood, sent a shiver down the spines of everyone present.

This is the most domineering warning, and the most unreasonable declaration!

"third!"

The old man paused, then gave the butler a wink.

The butler immediately presented a tray made of Phoebe zhennan wood.

There are three things on the tray.

A land deed, a sandalwood box, and a blood-red chicken-blood stone seal.

Those present who knew their stuff saw the seal, their pupils contracted sharply, and they gasped.

“Wanqing, I know you don’t care about fame or fortune.” Old Master Yan picked up the land deed. “This is a three-courtyard house from the previous dynasty in the capital. I’ve had it renovated and named it ‘Renxin Hall.’ From now on, that will be your place.”

He then picked up the sandalwood box and opened it.

Inside was a bronze token with an antique design.

"This is the highest authority of my Yan family business. With this authority, you can mobilize all of the Yan family's trade routes, connections, and resources across the country for your use, and no one will dare to stop you."

Finally, he picked up the blood-red seal and solemnly handed it to Su Wanqing.

It feels smooth and warm to the touch, and it has two ancient seal characters on it: "Yan Yun".

Old Master Yan's name seal!

"Girl, this is my personal seal, which I've used for most of my life." The old man's eyes were extremely solemn. "From today onwards, it is yours. In the future, if you encounter any problems that even this token can't solve, just take it and come to me. As long as I, Yan Yun, have a breath left, I will do anything for you, whether it's going to heaven or hell!"

The entire Anyuan Hall was deathly silent.

Everyone was utterly shocked and terrified by the Yan family's terrifying move.

The land deed represents a mansion, the token represents wealth, and this private seal... represents Old Master Yan's personal connections, power, and a lifelong commitment!

This is not a thank-you gift.

This is handing over power, status, and half of the Yan family's future!

Su Wanqing was completely dumbfounded.

Holding the heavy seal in her hands, she felt it was burning hot and weighed as heavy as a thousand pounds.

“Grandpa, this is too precious, I can’t accept it.” She instinctively declined. She saved lives out of a doctor’s compassion, not for these things.

"You must accept it."

At this moment, Lu Zhanting stepped forward, his warm hand covering Su Wanqing's hand, stopping her from refusing.

He bowed deeply to Old Master Yan.

"Grandpa, we appreciate your kind gesture."

Without offering any further thanks, he raised his head, his gaze unwavering, and spoke each word clearly and firmly.

"From this day forward, the Lu family and the Yan family will stand together."

This statement carries just as much weight as Old Master Yan's announcement just now.

It represents the Lu family, and the military genius Lu Zhenguo, as a final confirmation of this alliance!

Thus, the two top wealthy families in Beijing, witnessed by the central authority, officially formed the strongest alliance of offense and defense.

The core of maintaining this alliance is Su Wanqing.

After a brief period of deathly silence, the atmosphere of the banquet was instantly pushed to an unprecedented climax.

Countless people came forward to offer their toasts, their words filled with undisguised reverence.

They knew that from tonight onwards, the landscape of the capital was truly about to change.

This young granddaughter-in-law of the Lu family and granddaughter of the Yan family has risen to prominence and become someone that everyone must look up to.

...

On the way home, Su Wanqing leaned against the passenger seat, looking at the night view rushing past the window, still somewhat dazed.

He still tightly gripped the warm, smooth bloodstone seal in his palm.

“It feels like a dream,” she said softly. “I never imagined I would have these things.”

Power, status, and wealth.

In her past life, she exhausted all her efforts to obtain what she desired, and it all vanished in the end. In this life, when she was least expecting it, it all piled up in front of her in an irresistible manner.

"This is not a dream."

Lu Zhanting freed one hand and wrapped it around her hand that was holding the seal.

"You deserve this. You have earned everyone's respect with your kindness and medical skills."

He parked the car at the entrance of the courtyard and left the engine running.

He turned around, his dark eyes shining brightly in the night, staring at her intently.

“Wanqing, don’t feel any burden. What your grandfather gave you is a gift of gratitude, but more importantly, it is a weapon. With these, you will be safer, and we will be able to deal with those venomous snakes lurking in the shadows without any worries.”

Looking into his deep eyes, Su Wanqing's heart, which had been restless due to receiving such a generous gift, gradually calmed down.

yes.

She was no longer the helpless Su Wanqing from her previous life.

She has a lover, family, and comrades-in-arms.

She no longer needs to face all the storms alone.

"I understand." She smiled at him, and in that instant, it was as if all the stars in the night sky had fallen into her eyes.

Returning home, I shed the hustle and bustle.

Su Wanqing carefully put away the land deed and the token, but she placed the "Yan Yun" private seal on her bedside table.

It represents an elderly person's most weighty entrustment and their most solid support.

It was late at night.

After processing an encrypted document sent by the "Kunlun" preparatory group, Lu Zhanting returned to his bedroom.

Su Wanqing was still awake, leaning against the headboard, flipping through a yellowed medical book by the light of the lamp.

He walked over and embraced her from behind.

"What are you looking at?"

“An ancient book records some methods for preventing and controlling ‘miasma’ and ‘evil spirits’,” Su Wanqing said softly. “I’m thinking that since the ‘Ouroboros’ can find the ‘Heart of Immortality’, perhaps our ancient books also contain clues to restrain them.”

"Have you found anything?"

“Not yet,” Su Wanqing shook her head. “But my intuition tells me that this is the right path.”

Lu Zhanting rested his chin on her fragrant shoulder without saying a word.

From the moment they accepted the appointment from "Kunlun", they formed the most tacit division of labor.

He established a powerful army to confront the enemy head-on.

She was in the shadows, digging deep into the secrets of ancient books, searching for weaknesses.

One light and one dark, one hard and one soft.

They are husband and wife, but more importantly, they are comrades-in-arms who share life and death.

"Don't overwork yourself." He kissed her cheek, his voice low and gentle. "We still have time."

"Um."

Su Wanqing closed the book and turned off the light.

In the darkness, the two slept in each other's arms.

With the Yan family's public support, they finally had the most secure rear base in their game in the capital.

Now it's time to take the initiative and let those enemies hiding in the shadows taste what it's like to be hunted down.