NOVPUBChen Xi and Zhao Yun walked straight in, and soon the servants of the Zhen Family came charging at them, surrounding Chen Xi and Zhao Yun. Unfortunately, the power gap was too great, and their formation was far too weak. In almost an instant Zhao Yun defeated them all.
"Lady, this is hardly the proper way to treat guests!" Mi Zhu called out to the empty space, not believing for a second that the Zhen Family would be unaware of such a commotion in the front hall.
"Why can’t we treat unwelcome guests this way?" a voice from the main hall, belonging to the Zhang Clan, responded.
"Zhang Clan, if you don’t want to provoke a grand war between the Yingchuan Chen Family and the Jizhou Zhen Family, then stop now. Otherwise, I don’t mind getting tough with you. Your Zhen Family’s connections are, to put it rudely, something I wouldn’t mind confining within Jizhou!" Chen Xi’s chilling voice reached the ears of the Zhang Clan.
"Yingchuan Chen Family, very well!" came the angry response from the Zhang Clan.
Chen Xi was unconcerned about the wrath of the Zhang Clan. As for using the name of the Yingchuan Chen Family, it was no issue; he had used it many times before without interference from the Chen Family, and after pacifying the Yellow Turbans, he had even more right to use this intimidating title.
The Zhang Clan didn’t doubt the veracity of Chen Xi’s words, either. In the entire Central Plains, only three families had the power to ostracize the Zhen Family, and with the Liu Family busy with their own affairs and the Yuan Family having no time to play with the Zhen Family, only the Yang Family remained in chaos. Thus, in the whole of the Central Plains’ Aristocratic Clan, only the Chen Family and Xun Family were left as the barely possible ones capable of cross-province combat.
"Zilong, render them all combat-incapacitated!" Chen Xi, seeing that the Zhen Family’s servants were still resisting, turned his head to Zhao Yun and said.
"Pfft!" The sound of multiple stabbings rang out.
"Well, now we can have a talk," Chen Xi said with a mild expression as he walked toward the main hall.
"I presume you must be Lady Zhen." Chen Xi gave a slight bow to the woman seated at the head of the room. "Chen Zichuan pays his respects to the Lady."
"This general is not bad indeed!" the Zhang Clan ignored Chen Xi, instead fixing her gaze on Zhao Yun.
"Heh heh heh, the second-best Zhao Zilong in the world is seen as merely ’not bad’ by the Zhen Family members. Should I call that arrogance, or should I say your vision is too narrow?" Chen Xi’s face was the picture of mildness, but his words fell like an insult in the Zhang Clan’s eyes, accusing the Zhen Family of missing true talent.
After speaking, Chen Xi clapped his hands. The people with Mi Zhu hurriedly carried over a solid wooden armchair for Chen Xi, placing it opposite the Zhang Clan in the main hall. Chen Xi then slowly sat down, his seat higher than that of the Zhang Clan. The sunlight behind him was blocked by the tall back of his chair, casting a shadow over Zhang Clan who was kneeling in the main hall.
"Let us talk then!" Chen Xi propped up his head with his hand as he looked at the Zhang Clan.
"What is there to talk about with your Chen Family?" the Zhang Clan was holding back a breath of anger. She found Chen Xi’s dismissive attitude unbearable, but Zhao Yun standing beside him prevented her from making any rash moves. With just these two men, the entire Zhen Family was suppressed.
"There’s a lot to talk about. For instance, this incident, or the Lady herself – anything, really. I’m here to discuss these matters, and you wouldn’t want me to leave empty-handed, would you?" Chen Xi spoke leisurely, his gaze sweeping over the Zhang Clan not as if admiring a beautiful woman, but as if appraising a piece of merchandise, sending chills down her spine.
"Hmph, a mere two billion coins is something my Zhen Family can still afford!" the Zhang Clan stated defiantly.
Chen Xi felt a jolt upon hearing these words, but luckily he was not facing Zhang at the time and was instead indiscreetly surveying the Zhen family’s hall, so his reaction went unnoticed by her.
"Let’s be honest here, how many more times can your Zhen family withstand this?" Chen Xi put his leg down from where it had been casually rested, and after sitting up straight, he looked at Zhang and sneered.
"In this world, when status are equal, the comparison is one of intelligence, and I consider myself not lacking in that regard," Chen Xi spoke with strong self-assurance that filled Zhang with a sense of dread as he continued, "The affairs of the Zhen family were facilitated by me alone, without borrowing the slightest bit of the main family’s power. Therefore, even if the Zhen family relocates to Bingzhou next to the Wang family, believe me, the outcome would be no different."
"So your Chen family wishes to enter this grand game and fight it out in person, rather than just placing bets?" As if captivated by Chen Xi, Zhang took a long while before she could finally speak.
"That’s not quite it. I’m just preparing a gift for the person I favor, and after much consideration, only the Zhen family seems appropriate. What do you think, madam? Does the Zhen family wish to move forward another step?" Chen Xi asked, still staring at Zhang.
"..." Zhang did not reply, realizing the gravity of the situation—the power and connections of the Zhen family were already severed, insufficient to stand against the man before her.
"If you don’t speak, I’ll take it as consent. To put it simply, I need your Zhen family. Give me two billion coins, and I will make a deal with you," Chen Xi said with indifferent ease, "You may have other options, but I think the land of Jizhou is most suited for the Zhen family. This time, I’m just showcasing my capability. The stores and land previously obtained by the Zhen family are a gift. As for future goods, the price won’t be higher than what you paid before."
Chen Xi’s casual demeanor shocked Zhang profoundly—it was not arrogant but rather nonchalant and serene, yet his words exuded a confidence that she couldn’t dismiss lightly.
"You can mobilize the merchants of the aristocratic families under heaven?" Zhang faltered, adding, "If so, the Chen family has likely accumulated wealth enough to buy a whole province, and considering further, this family has serious history—six hundred years ago, didn’t the Chen family purchase one of the warring states, Qi State, with wealth and along with the tripartition of Jin, ended the entire Spring and Autumn period, ushering in the era of the Seven Warring States? Although they were then surnamed Tian, this aspect alone speaks to the Chen family’s vast experience..."
"It’s but about guiding with profit," said Chen Xi offhandedly, "What do you think, madam? The Yuan family is no easy adversary to deal with."
After much reflection, Zhang realized that the man before her might not be such a bad choice, and with the assets he mentioned earlier, the Zhen family would have fully laid out their position in Jizhou. Even in the face of an accident, their resistance wouldn’t be as powerless as it was now. Moreover, given his magnanimity, the person he chose would certainly not be weaker than Yuan Shao, and so it might well succeed!
"Please wait a moment, Young Master Chen, as such a significant matter cannot be decided by myself alone," Zhang said as she rose and bowed gracefully, "The Zhen family will provide an answer shortly."
"I’ll wait right here, but my time is limited," Chen Xi said with a smile.
Chen Xi sat leisurely in the living room, and shortly after Zhang left, a banquet was served, with maids surrounding him, serving with calm expressions, showing no signs of fear from Zhao Yun’s earlier actions.
Chen Xi was unrestrained, eating and observing. The Zhen family’s reception of him was nonchalant or, more precisely, he knew his actions would surely be reported to Zhang, who was also investigating his identity. It wouldn’t take long for her to know about the entire Yellow Turbans of Qingzhou incident through the information he had previously scattered, and then she would understand why the whole of Jizhou had made such a choice.
While Chen Xi observed with abandon, a little girl biting her lower lip approached carrying a tea tray. Her gaze was fearful yet determined, which caught him off guard, and he extended his hand toward her almost involuntarily.
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