Chapter 134: The Situation as It Is, What Can You Do?

Seeing someone he shouldn't have seen, Chen Xi's mood was extremely bad. If it weren't for needing to stay in Jizhou for a few more days to wait for news from Madam Zhang, he would have already returned to Taishan.

Since meeting Zhen Mi, both Zhao Yun and Mi Zhu noticed the gloomy expression on Chen Xi's face. Though neither asked, they were both curious. Despite Chen Xi's previous explanations, they found them hard to believe. They couldn't understand why Chen Xi, who normally showed no interest in beauties, reacted so strongly to Zhen Mi. No matter how they looked at it, this was a big piece of gossip!

"Military Advisor, Madam Zhen and Zhen Mi have come to visit," a soldier came running to inform Chen Xi as he sat in his room, lost in thought.

"Let them in," Chen Xi said, dressed in white, lounging lazily on his chair. Hearing that Madam Zhang and Zhen Mi were visiting, a complex expression flashed across his eyes.

"Advisor, this isn't appropriate," the soldier hesitated. Most of the soldiers following Chen Xi to Jizhou were Zhao Yun's personal guards and were well-educated. They knew that meeting guests in a bedroom, especially female guests, was highly inappropriate.

"They will come," Chen Xi said, his gaze fixed on a potted plant nearby. Deep down, he vaguely hoped that his poor hospitality would cause Madam Zhang to take Zhen Mi and leave, never to appear before him again.

"Understood!" The soldier saluted, accepting Chen Xi's decision.

"Governor of Taishan County, Military Advisor to Liu Xuande, Chen Zichuan, you truly have a grand demeanor!" Zhang's voice came before she even arrived, now having secured the situation in Jizhou, she was vastly different from a few days ago.

"Have a seat," Chen Xi didn't even lift his head.

Chen Xi's attitude nearly made Zhang leave in a huff. As the actual ruler of the Zhen family, she had never been treated this way before.

Suppressing her anger, Zhang smiled lightly and said, "I've heard that Chen Zichuan is full of resourcefulness and never misses a target, always planning ahead. So why did you let go this time?"

"Aren't you here?" Chen Xi straightened up, his gaze sweeping over Zhang before finally resting on Zhen Mi.

"Just because I am here doesn't mean things will go as you planned," Zhang retorted coldly.

"Perhaps Yuan Shao said he would give you a hand. If I hadn't let go, in such a situation, you wouldn't have chosen that path. Your Zhen family isn't at the end of its rope. As a local family in Jizhou, choosing Yuan Shao is merely choosing your fate in the world." Chen Xi's eyes were cold as he spoke, "It's just a case of 'lending a way to extinguish a kingdom.' Until absolutely necessary, would your Zhen family rely on Yuan Shao? Who in your Zhen family can serve as a pillar? You'd merely be a target for annexation!"

"Aren't you trying to annex the Zhen family too?" Zhang sneered.

"There's no essential difference. You can choose Yuan Shao," Chen Xi's gaze didn't waver. He had already seen some familiar expressions on Zhen Mi's face.

"You!" Zhang was furious. "Aren't you afraid I'll turn to Yuan Shao?"

"..." Chen Xi didn't respond, simply glancing at Zhang before turning his attention back to Zhen Mi. However, the disdain in his eyes deeply stung Zhang.

"What does Liu Xuande want?" Zhang composed herself, using her authority as the head of the Zhen family to face Chen Xi.

Chen Xi withdrew his gaze from Zhen Mi and focused on Zhang. "We want to do business with you. We don't want Yuan Shao to quickly gain full control of Jizhou, so we need a spokesperson, and the Zhen family is suitable."

Zhang stared at Chen Xi without speaking. She didn't believe this reason.

"Don't underestimate Yuan Benchu. The combined strength of the Hebei families is no match for Yuan Shao alone. Where are Xu You, Shen Pei, and Feng Ji now? The defense along the northern front relies mainly on Tian Feng, and the southern defense on Ju Shou. Where are those confidants who took Jizhou?" Chen Xi might not have been fully focused on this matter now, but he had done a lot of preparation beforehand.

"Jizhou belongs to Yuan Benchu. It's just a matter of time. No matter how the Jizhou families struggle, they can't escape this fate." Chen Xi spoke slowly. "I only hope you families can hold out a little longer. As for the rest, I have no expectations. My actions this time are merely a wake-up call. There are too many ways to bring you down in this world."

"Is the Yuan family's power really at that level?" Zhang didn't entirely believe Chen Xi, but she couldn't help but have doubts. Thinking for her family's sake was an instinct for every member of a noble family.

"It's not the Yuan family; it's Yuan Benchu. In times of chaos, the strength of a noble family sometimes can't compare to an individual. The Yang family, with its five generations of high-ranking officials, was played by Dong Zhuo. The world no longer adheres to the rules of the noble families. For example, when I pressed my troops on Jizhou, if I had written to Yuan Shao to take the lives of over a hundred people in the Zhen family, Yuan Shao would have had to consider it." Chen Xi's calm words sent chills down Zhang's spine.

After a long period of contemplation, Zhang finally made her decision. Indeed, this was no longer a time for adhering to old rules. "Fine, I agree, for the sake of my Zhen family and all the noble families in Jizhou!" Zhang's eyes showed clear resentment as she spoke about the noble families in Jizhou. The Zhen family still needed the strength of the entire Jizhou aristocracy.

"Madam, you are indeed a heroine among women," Chen Xi said absentmindedly.

"Hmph, don't be so perfunctory!" Zhang said discontentedly. "Now let's talk about the alliance between my Zhen family and Taishan."

At this, Zhang's eyes glimmered. Over the past ten days, with extensive investigations, she had obtained the information she wanted. Whether it was white paper, white porcelain, or white wine, Zhang was very interested.

"Alliance?" Chen Xi glanced at Zhang, then turned his head back to admire Zhen Mi. After watching her for a while, he noticed that Zhen Mi had started to exhibit a slight resemblance to a familiar demeanor.

"My Zhen family is the top merchant family in the world," Zhang said with a trace of pride. Merchants were often looked down upon, but when wealth reached a certain level, perspectives had to change.

"Zi Zhong would disagree," Chen Xi said without lifting his head from watching Zhen Mi, who was becoming increasingly shy under his gaze.

Zhang was left speechless. The wealth of the Mi family had to be reassessed, as all the noble families believed. This upstart merchant family had gained everyone's attention after the battle with the Zhen family, and its wealth was no joke.

"You surely don't want my Zhen family to become a vassal of Taishan like the Mi family," Zhang said angrily.

"It's just not necessary. The Zhen family can establish a branch in Taishan," Chen Xi said firmly, unaffected by Zhen Mi's presence.

"..." Zhang looked at Chen Xi, then at her daughter. "Fine, it's settled!"