Seeing someone he should not have seen, Chen Xi’s current mood was extremely unpleasant. If it were not for the need to stay in Jizhou for a few more days, waiting for news from the Zhang Clan, Chen Xi would have already returned to Mount Tai.
Ever since meeting Zhen Mi, the melancholic expression on Chen Xi’s face had not gone unnoticed by Zhao Yun and Mi Zhu. Although neither had inquired about it, it wasn’t for a lack of curiosity. The remarks Chen Xi had made before were now completely disbelieved by Mi Zhu and Zhao Yun, and although they couldn’t understand why Chen Xi, who normally couldn’t care less about a Beautiful Lady, would have such a strong reaction to Zhen Mi, from any perspective this was big gossip indeed!
"Strategist, Lady Zhen, accompanied by Zhen Mi, has come to visit," reported a soldier breathlessly to Chen Xi, who was lost in contemplation at that moment.
"Let them in," responded Chen Xi, dressed in a white robe, without any preparation or grooming, lazily leaning back in his chair. However, a flicker of complexity passed through his eyes when he heard that the Zhang Clan and Zhen Mi were visiting.
"Strategist, this isn’t appropriate," said the soldier who had followed Chen Xi to Jizhou—all of them had been Zhao Yun’s trusted aides, well-mannered and educated enough to know receiving guests in a bedroom, especially female guests, was quite improper.
"They will come," said Chen Xi coldly, glancing sideways at the potted landscape beside him, vaguely hoping that his unwelcoming reception would prompt the Zhang Clan’s party to leave with Zhen Mi and never appear before him again.
"As you wish!" With a fist salute, the soldier conceded. Since Chen Xi had made up his mind, there was nothing more to be said.
"Governor of Mount Tai Commandery, Military Strategist Liu Xuande, Chen Zichuan, you really hold yourself in high regard!" The voice of someone from the Zhang Clan could be heard before their arrival; it was from the now firmly positioned Zhang Clan who had seen a drastic change since stabilizing the situation in Jizhou over the past few days.
"Take a seat," Chen Xi stated without even lifting his head.
The attitude of Chen Xi was enough to make the Zhang Clan’s representative almost turn and walk away in a huff. As the actual powerholder of the Zhen Family, when had she ever been treated in such a manner.
Suppressing the anger in her heart, the Zhang Clan’s representative said with a light laugh, "I have heard that Chen Zichuan is a man with boundless strategies and all his plans are meticulous, excelling at preparing for the unforeseen. Yet, I wonder why you seem to have given up so readily this time."
"Haven’t you come?" retorted Chen Xi, sitting up straight and sweeping his gaze over the Zhang Clan’s representative, then finally resting it on Zhen Mi.
"My coming here might not be for the reason you think," replied the Zhang Clan’s representative coldly.
"Nothing more than the Yuan Family claiming they want to lend you a hand. If I didn’t let go, in a situation with no choice, you would never choose that path. The Zhen Family hasn’t reached a point of desperation yet. As a native family of Jizhou choosing the Yuan Family, it’s simply deciding your own fate," Chen Xi declared with icy eyes, "Nothing but paving the way for your own doom. Without extreme circumstances, would your Zhen Family cling to the Yuan Family? Who among your Zhen Family could be a pillar? You’d just be devoured!"
"Aren’t you also trying to devour the Zhen Family?" the Zhang Clan’s representative scoffed.
"There’s no fundamental difference; you could choose the Yuan Family," Chen Xi’s gaze remained unchanged; he had already seen some familiar expressions on Zhen Mi’s face.
"You!" The Zhang Clan’s representative was infuriated by Chen Xi’s words, "Aren’t you afraid that I will switch allegiance to the Yuan Family?"
Chen Xi said nothing, merely raising his head to glance at the Zhang Clan’s representative before turning to look at Zhen Mi. But the contempt in that brief look deeply wounded the Zhang Clan’s representative.
"What does Liu Xuande want to do?" The Zhang Clan’s representative contained the coldness on her face and, summoning the authority of the Patriarch of the Zhen family, she stared Chen Xi down.
Chen Xi withdrew his gaze from Zhen Mi and focused on Madam Zhang, "I want to strike a deal with you. We do not wish for the Yuan Family to take full control of Jizhou so quickly, so we need a spokesperson, and the Zhen Family is suitable."
Madam Zhang looked at Chen Xi without speaking; she didn’t believe this reason.
"Don’t underestimate Yuan Benchu. Even all the Aristocratic Families of Hebei combined can’t stand against Yuan Shao alone. Where are Xu Ziyuan, Sheni Zhengnan, and Feng Yuantu now? The defense of the north relies mainly on Tian Yuanhao, and the south on Ju Gongyu. What about those confidants who originally took over Jizhou?" Although Chen Xi’s mind was no longer focused on this area, he had made many preparations in the past.
"Jizhou belongs to Yuan Benchu. It’s only a matter of time, regardless of how the Aristocratic Families of Jizhou struggle; they cannot escape this fate," Chen Xi said unhurriedly, "I only hope that your families can put up a little more resistance, to die a little slower. As for the rest, I have no expectations. And this time, my action is just a wake-up call to you, to remind you that there are many ways to bring you down in this world."
"Has the influence of the Yuan Family really reached that extent?" Although Madam Zhang didn’t fully believe what Chen Xi said, she couldn’t help but have doubts, as looking out for the family was an instinct for every Aristocratic Family Member.
"It’s not the Yuan Family, but Yuan Benchu. When chaos emerges, the strength of a family can sometimes be less than that of an individual. The Yang Family, with ’Three Dukes of Five Generations’ to their name, were played by Dong Zhuo alone, embarrassing them terribly. The world no longer abides by the old rules of the aristocracy. For example, when I pressed on Jizhou with my troops, I could have sent a message to Yuan Shao demanding the lives of over a hundred members of the Zhen Family, and he would have had to consider it," Chen Xi said calmly, his words sending chills down Madam Zhang’s spine.
After a long contemplation, Madam Zhang finally made up her mind. Indeed, it was no longer a time that adhered to the old rules. "Okay, I agree with you, for the sake of our Zhen Family, and for all the Aristocratic Families of Jizhou!" Madam Zhang’s eyes showed a clear unwillingness when mentioning the Aristocratic Families of Jizhou; after all, the Zhen Family still needed to rely on the strength of the entire Jizhou Aristocratic Families.
"Madam is indeed a heroine among women," Chen Xi congratulated absentmindedly.
"Hmph, there’s no need to be so perfunctory!" Madam Zhang said discontentedly, "Let’s talk about it now, the alliance between my Zhen Family and your Mount Tai."
At this point, a gleam flickered in Madam Zhang’s eyes. In the last ten days, after sparing no expense in her investigation, she had finally obtained the information she wanted. Whether it was paper, white porcelain, or liquor, Madam Zhang was very interested.
"Alliance?" Chen Xi turned his head to glance at Madam Zhang, then silently turned back to continue admiring Zhen Mi, who, after being looked at for so long, had begun to show a slight, that slight, resemblance in her charm.
"My Zhen Family is also known as the foremost wealthy merchants under heaven," Madam Zhang said with a hint of pride. Merchants are indeed looked down upon, but when wealth reaches a certain level, perceptions must be altered.
"Zizhong begs to differ," Chen Xi said, staring at Zhen Mi who was gradually becoming shy under his gaze, without lifting his head.
Madam Zhang was almost choked by his words. The wealth of the Mi Family needed to be reevaluated, which was the sentiment of all the Aristocratic Families. This upstart wealthy merchant family that has risen over three generations, and competed fiercely with the Zhen Family, had caught the eye of all those ambitious for power. Being rich enough to rival a state was no joke.
"You surely don’t want my Zhen Family to become a vassal of Mount Tai like the Mi Family did," said Madam Zhang, annoyed.
"I just don’t see the need. It’s enough for the Zhen Family to set up a branch in Mount Tai," Chen Xi said with a tone that brooked no argument, having completely shrugged off Zhen Mi’s influence.
"..." Madam Zhang looked at Chen Xi, and then lowered her gaze to her daughter, "Fine, it’s settled!"
ps: The author is launching on the platform late tonight and feels quite excited. I’m here to ask for pre-orders in advance... Heaven knows how many pre-orders my 27,000 followers will translate into...