The Later Three Kingdoms: Slaying Deng Ai, and Reviving the Han Dynasty

The Chen family's carriage returned to the city. Chen Yong's face was dark, and his left hand gripped the hilt of the sword at his waist tightly.

Chen Xi gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, pursed his lips, and felt humiliated.

Sensing their master's thunderous rage, the surrounding servants and warriors dared not even breathe loudly, lest they incur bad luck.

The atmosphere was terrifying.

Once inside the house, Chen Yong completely erupted in anger. As he got out of the carriage, he cursed, "What a disgrace! What a disgrace! I... I may not be a scholar, but I am presentable and well-dressed. How dare they look down on me! How dare they look down on me!"

A maidservant came out to greet him, and upon seeing Chen Yong's anger, she was shocked and looked at each other in bewilderment. What happened? Wasn't he supposed to be at a gathering? Why is he returning in such a rage? Our master is known for his good temper.

Chen Yong cursed loudly while simultaneously feeling ashamed. Merchants, oh merchants. During the Warring States period, merchants were still a powerful force, traveling between states. But now the world is at peace.

The imperial court mostly prioritized agriculture and suppressed commerce. We merchants...we merchants.

Chen Yong's anger dissipated, leaving him utterly dejected. He pressed his lips tightly together, his face darkening, and strode into the mansion, gripping his sword hilt.

Chen Xi followed closely behind.

The head maid and the attentive servants dared not neglect their duties and followed.

Chen Yong entered the study without even taking off his shoes. Chen Xi, not daring to be presumptuous, took off his shoes and followed him.

A thoughtful maidservant wanted to come in and serve him, but Chen Yong turned her away.

"roll."

The servant girl shuddered immediately, bowed respectfully in trepidation, and ran away as fast as she could.

After Chen Yong sat down, his veins would bulge, he would grip the hilt of his sword tightly, and he would pant heavily.

Chen Xi knelt down, without saying a word.

After a long while, Chen Yong's anger subsided somewhat, and he looked up at Chen Xi and said, "The Chen family is extremely wealthy, with a large retinue of attendants. But in the eyes of scholars, they are nothing more than vulgar, money-grubbing people. In the eyes of the court, they are even more lowly. That's why I sent you to study and to associate with scholars. You've done well, but progress has been slow."

Chen Xi nodded and then shook his head, saying helplessly, "Father, we have no foundation, and haste makes waste. Our family needs to build up its reputation before we can become officials. We need at least three generations of scholars."

Slow? I know it's slow. But… Chen Yong nodded, his left hand gripping the sword hilt tightly, his fingers trembling. His eyes flashed with anger, and his words seemed to carry sparks as he said, “Son, I want to use our family fortune to befriend Huang Hao, and then scheme for an official position in the court. What do you think?”

If possible, he would prefer Chen Xi to become an official. Chen Xi was educated, but he was too young. He couldn't wait, so he had to take charge himself.

Chen Xi trembled, shaking his head vigorously as if it were a rattle-drum, and bowed to Chen Yong, saying, "Father is confused. Studying, associating with scholars, and accumulating reputation to become an official is the right path. But associating with eunuchs and using money to pave the way to an official position is the wrong path. It will lead to endless troubles. Even if we don't take the right path, we must not take the wrong path."

"But I can't wait any longer. I want to become an official, I want to make those who look down on me..." Chen Yong's mind flashed with He Sui's arrogant attitude, and his heart was instantly torn apart. He trembled, stood up and paced back and forth, saying hatefully.

Chen Xi remained silent. A poor family? A businessman? The right path or the wrong path. If you want to take the right path, you can only take it one step at a time; there are no shortcuts.

Suddenly, Chen Yong stopped, turned to Chen Xi, and said, "Yesterday, I heard that Consort Li is asking for a wealthy man as her daughter-in-law. I'm willing to offer half of my fortune to marry your younger sister to Young Master Chen. What do you say?"

Chen Yong's eyes gleamed as he said, "Forming marriage alliances with the princes has elevated our social standing. More importantly, it has made us relatives with the Li clan."

"The Li family is a prominent clan in the south, renowned throughout the region. Li Hui was appointed Governor of Yijiang, enfeoffed as Marquis of Hanxing, and appointed General of Anhan. The Li family is both a gentry clan and a family of meritorious officials. It would be entirely beneficial for us to form a kinship alliance with the Li family."

As Chen Yong spoke, he became more and more animated and finally calmed down completely. After taking a deep breath, he sat down cross-legged in his seat and looked intently at his son.

Isn't this still taking a shortcut? Chen Xi sighed inwardly. However, this whole thing was rather bizarre.

Logically speaking, these merchants should not have had such an interaction with the feudal lords.

Even if their family was incredibly wealthy, and his sister was fair-skinned and beautiful, given their social standing, they could only offer her as a concubine to a feudal lord.

This is determined by social class, and human effort cannot overcome it.

When feudal lords, especially princes, married, they were supposed to marry daughters of meritorious officials, such as those from the Zhuge, Zhang, or Guan families. Prince Chen, in particular, was more likely to marry a woman from his maternal clan, that is, a cousin.

In short, merchants had no connection with feudal lords. But this time... the whole of Shu was shaken, and countless wealthy merchants were eager to make their move.

It's no wonder that the wealthy merchants were eager to make their move. For them, establishing marriage alliances with feudal lords was secondary.

Unless Prince Chen becomes emperor, things will be very different. The Chen family, being imperial relatives, has completely deviated from the proper path, yet they have a similar advantage, rising directly to the top of the Liu Han dynasty.

Our predecessors included He Jin, a butcher who rose to the rank of Grand General. The Chen family's lineage is certainly superior to that of a butcher.

But the probability of Prince Chen becoming emperor is extremely low. Although neither of the two Empress Zhangs had children, and all the emperor's sons were born of concubines, there is still a strict order of seniority. Even if there is a crown prince now, and his position is threatened and he is deposed, Prince Chen, being the fifth son, would not have a chance.

Even if we take a step back and assume that all of Gongzi Chen's brothers died suddenly within a few years, and it was Gongzi Chen's turn, his character...

Chen Xi shook his head at this thought. Prince Chen was stingy, greedy, and fond of hunting. He boasted that he would marry the daughter of a wealthy merchant and receive the largest dowry, and he was probably also lecherous. His reputation had been severely damaged; only a blind court would appoint Prince Chen as heir.

In short, Prince Chen had no chance of becoming emperor.

Marrying Prince Chen would elevate the family's status, but it wouldn't have much to do with the family's future.

On the contrary, establishing an indirect marriage alliance with the prominent Li family in southern China is of paramount importance.

Just as his father said, the Li family was both a noble clan and a family of meritorious officials. Although they could not compare to Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhuge Liang, they were still a top family in the Liu Han dynasty.

If this succeeds, it can save one or two generations from struggling.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Chen Xi, upon considering this, was also tempted. However, he hesitated and said, "Father, it is said that high-ranking families marry off their daughters, while lower-ranking families take wives. It makes sense to marry my sister up to a higher social class, but our family is far inferior to the princes and kings. Judging from everything, Prince Chen is not a good-natured person. If my sister marries Prince Chen, I'm afraid..."

Chen Yong was silent for a moment, but then said decisively, "It may be cruel, but this is her fate. I will immediately send someone to Chengdu to persuade the Li family to contribute half of their wealth as dowry. I will also immediately find someone to teach your sister etiquette and manners. According to ancient customs, she should be given five concubines from her family and relatives to accompany her in her dowry, including at least two beautiful widows."

"We're going to be climbing the social ladder."

"Yes." Chen Xi was silent for a while before sighing.

The Chen family was incredibly wealthy, with half of their assets amounting to an astronomical sum. But neither the father nor the son cared; they weren't misers, and for them, money was just a number.

Concubines are an ancient practice. When a daughter of a prominent family marries, she is always accompanied by concubines as part of her dowry, preferably those who are related to her by blood.

For example, women from the clan, such as women from the maternal uncle's family or maternal grandfather's family.

They were either born out of wedlock or came from families of low social status.

Secondly, there were the beautiful maids and singing girls within the family.

It can secure a loyal pet.