Chen Xi smiled but did not respond, well aware of one point—that the Chen Family was now staking their bets on Chen Qun. Even if they acknowledged his existence, it was merely as a spare piece, and to put it bluntly, as an expendable piece.
However, one couldn’t deny Chen Qun’s excellence. After Xun Yu’s death, Chen Qun became the one who regulated the internal affairs of the Wei Kingdom. He was rare a statesman in the history of the Three Kingdoms, and his Nine-Rank System solidified the control of the aristocratic clans over the state, representing a banner for all clans.
Describing him as immensely talented does not do justice to his abilities, and being labeled a prodigy doesn’t fully capture his innate gifts. It’s a pity that Xun Yu completely outshone him in every aspect, from morality to skill, which for Chen Qun was a disaster—an unparalleled disaster. Especially since although Xun Yu was from the same hometown, they hardly ever met, and Chen Qun’s knowledge of him was limited to what his retainers collected. In other words, Chen Qun had little understanding of his fellow townsman.
Following Xun Yu’s arrival at Cao Camp, Chen Qun, proud of his own talents, thought anything Xun Yu could do, he could do better. So, he ditched his quite agreeable interaction with Liu Bei to join Cao Cao’s ranks, hoping to shame Xun Yu into stepping down. Then, seeing as both were from the same hometown, he would graciously allow Xun Yu to serve as his deputy. After all, the old Chen Family was a renowned aristocratic clan from Yingchuan, and it was only right to give a fellow townsman a leg up.
With this idea in mind, Chen Qun kicked Liu Bei aside and defected to Cao Camp, only to realize upon facing Xun Yu that he was no match for him in any respect—from moral caliber to interpersonal skills. To make matters worse, his friend and comrade-in-arms, Sima Yi, appeared no match for Xun Yu’s nephew, Xun You, and Chen Qun was utterly disheartened.
In other words, Chen Qun’s downfall was due to his lack of careful observation. As a result, his comrade, Sima Yi, learned from this lesson, always keeping his eyes wide open to observe, and then Zhuge Liang died exhausted.
Simply put, Chen Qun was an outright tragedy, a tragedy so profound that Chen Xi didn’t even want to talk about it. Had Xun Yu not been so stubborn, refusing to allow Cao Cao the title of Duke Wei, and had Cao Cao not gone mad with stubbornness, Xun Yu would have bowed out, giving Chen Qun a chance to emerge. Otherwise, given Xun Yu’s physical quality, Chen Qun might never have had a chance to rise.
After Xun Yu’s fall, Chen Qun finally came into prominence. Not long after, Xun You also died, and Sima Yi finally had the chance to become active. By then, Cao Cao was no longer rational, convinced of his own brilliance when in reality he had become a fool.
Now, Chen Xi was set on creating a Fantasy Faction, demanding the best military generals and likewise the best civil officials. Was Chen Qun the best? Clearly not, Xun Yu was still alive.
In other words, by the time Xun Yu died, Zhuge Liang was already freely shining his radiance. The Fantasy Faction naturally needed to be refreshed with the best, and since Chen Qun was not the best, Chen Xi had no intention of bringing in a substitute unless it was absolutely necessary.
These thoughts crossed Chen Xi’s mind. Whether he could even recruit Xun Yu was up for debate. Chen Qun was admittedly not bad, but it’s unfortunate that the latter was from the main family lineage of the Chen Family while he belonged to a branch lineage. There was no comparison, and seeking help now would only lead to being trampled upon.
Chen Xi was looking for an ally, not a master. His recollections of the Chen Family were vague, the only clear memory being the Chen Family opportunistically plundering after his father’s death. The status of a merchant was too low. Even if he once served the family, at the moment of his downfall, he received no recognition from the family.
Chen Xi had nothing to say regarding these matters. It was not wrong for those relatives to add fuel to the flames. The allure of wealth was normal; it was simply that Chen Xi lacked the ability to protect the inheritance at that time.
Thus, while Chen Xi was thankful to the Chen Family for the educational opportunities provided to him, he did not harbor much goodwill towards them. All debts had been repaid, and Chen Xi was waiting for the day the Chen Family would come looking for him. Until then, he had no intention of seeking them out, believing that day was not far off.
Three days later, within the main residence of the Chen Family, Chen Qun looked at the intelligence brought by a Household General with a slight frown and scoffed in contempt before tossing the white silk onto the table, "There’s no need to report such trifles in the future. He has returned to Yingchuan and didn’t even come to pay his respects to the main family. Does he really think he has found a worthy lord? The education provided by the Chen Family must have been forgotten. Since he does not pay his respects to the main family, he shouldn’t claim to be a descendant of the Yingchuan Chen Family. Remove his name, then send it back to Chen Zichuan, so he understands that the Chen Family will be neither more nor less without him."
Chen Xi sat in his own home, with the steward seated beside him. Chen Lan was pouring wine for Chen Xi, who was waiting.
Chen Xi was waiting for the Chen Family’s decision on his status. The Chen Family held decorum in high esteem. "The Three Lords" were famed for their righteous filial reputation, which meant the family rules emphasized such superficial rituals. Chen Xi now wanted to know what the consequence of his three-day delay would be, whether it would be ignored, result in a mild familial punishment, or culminate in him being made an example of.
Seeing the look of disdain on the servant’s face as he announced Chen Xi’s expulsion from the family, Chen Xi laughed. He hadn’t expected to actually be made an example of. It must have been Chen Qun who dealt with his case. With the last link to the Chen Family severed, Chen Xi did not have many thoughts left. Ah, the Chen Family, it never truly belonged to him.
As for the servant’s disdain, Chen Xi was unfazed by his expulsion from the family. In any case, his connection to the Chen Family was as good as nonexistent. When the news came, the steward turned pale and, after the servant’s departure, broke into loud weeping, incessantly kowtowing before the spirit tablet of Chen Liang’s father.
"Get up, dear uncle, it’s all right. Such things as family, wait until we’re strong enough, they will come flocking to us," Chen Xi reassured, as he contemplated Chen Qun’s choice to follow Cao Mengde and the inevitable decline of the Chen Family. "Eventually, we will become the main family lineage. The rest is just a joke," he said with a smile to the forlorn steward and the downcast Chen Lan.
They did not understand that times of chaos were the critical junctures for the exchange of power within noble families. Every succession in the ancient families was marked by utmost bloodshed, and there were always some forced to make the wrong choice. Therefore, what the family needed to do was to dispatch promising descendants to side with the Feudal Lords favored by the elder statesmen.
Chen Xi was one such person, strategically placed under Liu Bei’s banner through this process. Perhaps in the eyes of the Chen Family’s patriarch, Chen Xi would understand that only the surviving members were of the Direct Lineage and the main family lineage; all others were but servants. Such was the way aristocratic clans refreshed their bloodlines. Thus, being expelled from the family in times of chaos simply meant that, should he emerge victorious, the position of patriarch would eventually be his.
As for these matters, Chen Xi couldn’t be bothered to explain. When the time came, he would simply rebuild the family. However, he would not accept anyone from the Chen Family. It was better to keep his own path firmly in his hands!
Chen Xi was confident that Chen Qun would fall to his strategies. The reason was straightforward: after avoiding all kinds of trouble, Liu Bei would unify the realm, and since Chen Qun would not join Liu Bei’s camp, the outcome was clear. Scores would be settled later; for now, they could do as they pleased, as there would come a time when the Chen Family would seek him out.