Mythical Three Kingdoms

”Let’s adjourn the meeting for now. You should all discuss it among yourselves before making a decision. This matter is not mandatory,” Zhen Mi said, observing the hesitation in the others present.

It was clear that Chen Xi’s decision had greatly influenced their judgment, but Chen Xi offered too little, creating a conflict between rationality and years of experience, forcing them to think carefully.

All the prominent merchants present stood up, bowed, and quickly left, leaving only a few people behind.

”This matter seems to be resolved, thank you all for your help,” Zhen Mi said, bowing slightly toward Liuu Luo and the others.

”No need for thanks,” Liuu Luo replied, shaking her head. She was undoubtedly the most complex among the group. A few years ago, she was merely a manager at the Fragrance Pavilion, and now she had reached this position by sheer luck. Others thought her backing was Chen Xi, but she knew well she had no backing at all!

Even though half of the maids in Chen Xi’s family were sent by her, Chen Xi had never touched them. She had no opportunity to connect with Chen Xi, so all she could do was remain vigilant, appear strong in public, and cautiously avoid any dangers in private.

Yet, the scope had become too large, and she could not control it anymore. It wasn’t her intention to crush her peers; being the origin point, she overshadowed other theaters opened by others these years, leading hers to thrive wherever they opened.

Concerning tarnishing her own reputation, that was out of the question. In recent years, the Liuu Clan’s theaters had opened in every county, due to both their careful and meticulous management and the lack of competition from others.

Once the Liuu Clan established a presence, others gave up resisting. The major families and merchant houses, on one hand, were saving face for Chen Xi, while on the other, acknowledging they couldn’t compete and stepped back as long as the Liuu Clan didn’t meddle in other industries. Theater was left to the Liuu Clan alone.

As a result, Liuu Clan’s theaters now span the entire region. In an era with limited entertainment options, her theaters almost monopolized the industry.

Additionally, as she couldn’t connect with Chen Xi and knew well she had no backing, she dared not act recklessly, avoiding any unsavory business. By now, she had cleaned up her image and indeed helped many women.

But lacking backing means just that—no matter how wide she spread her reach, how numerous her people became, or how much profit she gained, the more deeply rooted she became in each county, the more anxious she felt as she ascended. There’s an underlying sense of instability in this precarious position.

As for relying on others, Liuu Luo realized that if she were to depend on someone else, not only was she unsure if anyone would take the mantle, even if they did, she wouldn’t dare!

Feigning a backing on one hand while knowing she had none on the other, Liuu Luo felt that continuing this way would lead to eventual ruin. She must find a time to reveal everything.

The problem was, she couldn’t even meet Chen Xi, uncertain if she could ever enter the gates of the Chen family. Although she was now a well-known merchant, honestly, she felt like offering to be Chen Xi’s shoe-bearer without finding any shoes to hand over, which was embarrassing!

”Liuu Clan, I noticed you’ve hesitated since the others left. Do you have something to say to me?” Zhen Mi asked with a frown, observing Liuu Luo sitting there. Her relationship with Liuu Luo wasn’t exactly good.

After all, seeing Chen Yun organizing the study for Chen Xi, and Chen Ying cooking for Chen Xi left Zhen Mi conflicted. Technically, the study was a place even concubines shouldn’t enter—only the legal wife and personal maids of the family head could.

Both these people were placed by Liuu Luo, leaving Zhen Mi, not yet married into the family, feeling conflicted. She often felt Liuu Luo was creating trouble for the Chen family, and combined with Liuu Luo’s background, Zhen Mi disliked her even more. However, she knew better than to cause trouble for Chen Xi.

Not only did others think Chen Xi was Liuu Luo’s backer, but Zhen Mi also believed Liuu Luo was working for Chen Xi. After all, Liuu Luo’s operations over the years were too clean, lacking any gray areas—completely unlike other businessmen who rapidly expanded.

This cleanliness, combined with her occasional funding of educational causes, caring for orphans, following official orders, and engaging in non-profit activities in line with new governmental decrees, made Zhen Mi, despite her dislike for Liuu Luo, consider Chen Xi’s sentiments. Besides, their relationship was merely distant, seeing each other only a few times a year.

Of course, during festive seasons, Chen Yun would occasionally visit Liuu Luo, making it difficult for others to disregard Chen Xi’s position. Everyone knew the beautiful maid was Chen Xi’s personal maid and the stewardess of the Chen family’s inner court.

”About when will the Marquis Chen be returning home? I have some matters I need to discuss with him,” Liuu Luo hesitantly said, uncertain of how much longer she could delay without being discovered.

”What matters do you have with him?” Zhen Mi raised an eyebrow, speaking with slight displeasure, ”Even though some of the Chen family’s maids have left, the remaining ones are sufficient to take care of the inner court.”

Liuu Luo instantly sensed Zhen Mi’s hostility towards her, inwardly smiling bitterly. She indeed wanted to place people with Chen Xi, but after the initial wave, Chen Xi had refused her subsequent offers. She hadn’t dared since then, understanding well when not to overstep.

”It’s not that, just some matters requiring Marquis Chen’s advice,” Liuu Luo thought wryly, outwardly maintaining her composure. However, Zhen Mi could still detect some pretense, but since it involved Chen Xi, she dared not make decisions lightly.

”Recently, he’s been at home during normal hours,” Zhen Mi thought for a moment and said. Chen Xi left early in the afternoons and arrived late in the mornings, and since she thought Liuu Luo was Chen Xi’s subordinate, she didn’t mention anything about visiting cards, just told her the time.

After all, in Zhen Mi’s view, visiting cards might be necessary for other wealthy merchants, but as Chen Xi’s subordinate, why would Liuu Luo need them? So Zhen Mi brought Liuu Luo along to visit in person.

By the time Chen Xi returned, Liuu Luo was already waiting in the drawing room, and the Chen Family didn’t treat her lightly. Chen Yun, Chen Ying, and other daughters brought by Liuu Luo also inevitably came to have a look. Naturally, when everyone met, there was laughter and conversation, but it couldn’t hide the disappointment in Liuu Luo’s eyes.

To Liuu Luo’s dismay, Chen Xi hadn’t touched any of them. Men uninterested in beauty were something Liuu Luo really had no way to deal with.

”What are you all doing here?” Chen Xi asked habitually as he saw the gathering of people in the drawing room when he returned, then quickly realized the situation.

”Greetings to the Family Head,” Chen Yun and the others immediately saluted, and Liuu Luo also rose to return the gesture.

”Alright, alright, Chen Yun stay, the rest of you return,” Chen Xi gestured to dismiss the other maids to the inner courtyard. Chen Yun naturally poured tea for Chen Xi and stood quietly behind him.

”So, Liuu Clan, what brings you to me? I heard your business is doing quite well,” Chen Xi said with a smile. He had heard plenty about the Liuu Clan’s success, with their theater expanding to all corners of the Thirteen Provinces of the Great Han and countless new scripts being introduced.

The Liuu Clan’s perceptiveness pleased Chen Xi greatly. He didn’t regret putting in appearances during New Year’s with Chen Yun. So when they came seeking him, Chen Xi was inclined to lend a hand where he could, understanding that their path wasn’t easy.

”I ask the Marquis Chen, please accept the Fragrance Pavilion!” Liuu Luo immediately knelt and said to Chen Xi.

”Huh?” Chen Xi was taken aback, turned to look at Chen Yun, and found her expression just as baffled. He immediately put on a serious face and said to Liuu Luo, ”Stand up and speak.”

”I implore the Marquis Chen to agree!” Liuu Luo said with her head lowered.

”Stand up first!” Chen Xi said with a deeper voice, his expression turning stern, ”Speak on your feet; we don’t tolerate such acts here. I want to see who’s acting recklessly!”

Liuu Luo, trembling with fear from Chen Xi’s cold words, stood up, unsure of how to begin.

”What’s going on? Speak up. Is someone threatening you or what?” Chen Xi crossed his hands, rested his arms on the chair’s arms, and looked at Liuu Luo. The aura of someone long in a position of power, able to decide life and death with a single word, was unmistakable. Chen Xi wasn’t one to be trifled with.

Having recently dealt with some people, Chen Xi wouldn’t mind adding a few more to that number.

Confessing everything, Liuu Luo looked down, while Chen Xi looked at her in silence, unsure if she was entirely clear-headed or utterly confused.

”Chen Yun, explain it to her,” Chen Xi said with a sigh, then left directly.

”Mother, really, this kind of thing should be said by me,” Chen Yun said helplessly to Liuu Luo. ”You really lost your head this time. The Family Head’s status doesn’t allow him to overtly help you, but his regular visits to your theater at New Year’s are his silent endorsement.”

”But...” Liuu Luo looked flustered. Seeing Chen Xi leave, she was truly shocked, fearing she’d not only failed to gain his support but also offended him, making it a real tragedy.

”No buts, Mother. Remember, the Family Head can’t support you as overtly as you’d like, but when he takes me to your place, that’s his silent backing. Just do what you need to do; no one will take risks,” Chen Yun advised Liuu Luo solemnly.

”But in this way, I haven’t really gained any support,” Liuu Luo said sadly.

”No, this is a lot of support. Do you really think your theaters expanding across the Thirteen Provinces of the Great Han was just your own ability?” Chen Yun sighed as she explained.

”But in this way, there’s still no guarantee.” Liuu Luo remained anxious, clearly afraid that without any assurance, reaching this degree of success meant she was truly frightened of something happening. Compared to her previous life, she no longer wanted to return to the old days.

”You’re overthinking it. The Family Head doesn’t offer such support, and even if he did, it wouldn’t help if you’re not aware. Just focus on what you should be doing,” Chen Yun sighed and tried to reassure her, ”The greatest support the Family Head has ever offered in all these years was bringing me to your place!”