Chapter 94 Weighing the Pros and Cons

Zhen Rong's gaze was vacant, her soul lost in a daze, when she heard Zhen Mi call out, "Sister."

Zhen Rong snapped back to reality and followed Zhen Mi's finger, just in time to see Yuan Xi get out of the carriage, which startled her greatly, and she quickly hid behind the window.

Zhen Mi saw this and found it both amusing and exasperating, "Sister, don't panic. He probably isn't here to interrogate us."

Zhen Rong was taken aback, "How do you know?"

Zhen Mi covered her mouth and smiled, "If he really wanted to do that, he would have completely severed ties with you. He wouldn't be visiting at this time."

Hearing this, Zhen Rong felt a little relieved, but her mood was extremely complicated.

Even if he was willing to let her off the hook, what good would it do?

Her husband would never come back.

Yuan Xi followed the servant, crossed the threshold of the mansion, and walked inside.

The servant holding his calling card hurried towards the inner residence.

Yuan Xi thought to himself that the Yuan family's reputation was indeed useful. The gatekeeper saw the name on the calling card and didn't dare to make him wait outside, but instead welcomed him inside first.

After many twists and turns, Yuan Xi and Wu Zhao arrived in front of the main hall, where the matriarch of the Zhen family, Zhang Shi, was already waiting with her people.

Yuan Xi looked closely and saw that Zhang Shi was probably in her forties, but she must have taken good care of herself, because her skin was very fair and her appearance was dignified and graceful.

The silk jacket and skirt she wore accentuated her figure, making her look only in her thirties, still charming, indicating that she must have been a beauty when she was younger.

Seeing Yuan Xi approaching, Zhang Shi was about to kneel down and said, "This sinful woman, Zhang Shi, greets the Second Young Master."

Yuan Xi winked at Wu Zhao, and Wu Zhao quickly stepped forward and helped Zhang Shi up before she could kneel.

He thought to himself, 'Good heavens, if I really accepted this kneeling, it would be troublesome later on.'

Immediately, Yuan Xi smiled and said, "What crime has Madam committed?"

Zhang Shi still wanted to kneel, but Wu Zhao firmly held her up, so she had no choice but to stand up and say, "This old woman has failed to educate her daughter properly, causing her to commit a great disaster. I hope that the Young Master will punish her."

Yuan Xi smiled and said, "I have come today precisely for this matter."

Zhang Shi's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly said, "Please, Young Master, come inside to discuss this."

The group entered the house and sat down according to their status. Yuan Xi glanced around and noticed that the surroundings were carved with beams and painted rafters, and the furnishings were mostly antiques. He thought to himself that this was indeed a wealthy family.

If he were still in Beixin City, he would have made this kind of merchant family contribute more grain no matter what.

Seeing Yuan Xi curiously looking around the house, Zhang Shi said, "This crude dwelling is not worthy of the Young Master's attention, and it is a laughingstock."

Hearing this, Yuan Xi said in surprise, "Madam's conversation is extraordinary. I have heard that both men and women in the Zhen family are literate and read books. It seems that Madam has educated them well."

Hearing this, Zhang Shi forced a smile and said, "The Young Master is too kind. Only my daughter likes to read. Other women mostly do needlework and are ignorant of reason, which is why they have caused such a great disaster. It is all due to this old woman's poor education."

Seeing that they had gotten to the main topic, Yuan Xi said directly, "I would like to see Madam Zhen Rong."

Hearing this, Zhang Shi sent a servant girl to call Zhen Rong, feeling even more uneasy in her heart.

Speaking of which, this matter was no longer a question of whether it was a big or small issue, but a question of how big the issue was.

Regardless of whether Gao Lan was killed by Yuan Xi or not, the Zhen family could only accept it, because the Yuan family was the lord and had the power to kill or spare their subordinates.

Qu Yi and Lu Bu, who did not have the background of local gentry, were killed without hesitation, regardless of whether they were great generals. Even Lu Bu, who was already considered the highest-ranking vassal, could only flee.

The Yuan family had a reputation for benevolence and would not easily attack the gentry, but if the Yuan family really wanted to kill someone, the family being killed could only accept it.

Moreover, the Yuan family was considered good to the gentry. At that time, Cao Cao, Sun Jian, and others killed the great gentry at will. Gongsun Zan, Yuan Shu, and others even dared to openly kill members of the Han imperial family.

Now that the order of the world has been disrupted, the gentry can only choose a better lord to rely on, and the Yuan family is already the tallest among the short.

Zhen Rong's matter involved framing the son of the lord. If handled poorly, it could lead to the destruction of the Zhen family, which was also possible. Therefore, Zhang Shi was uneasy. The fate of the Zhen family was now entirely in the hands of Yuan Xi in front of her!

After a while, Zhen Rong, dressed in plain white mourning clothes, walked out.

However, Yuan Xi's gaze was attracted by the young girl supporting Zhen Rong.

The girl's hair was styled in a drooping bun, and she lowered her head. A bright red ruqun accentuated her slender figure. When she slightly raised her eyebrows, the two lines of poetry immediately appeared in Yuan Xi's mind.

"Graceful like a startled swan, gentle as a swimming dragon, radiant as autumn chrysanthemums, flourishing as spring pines."

"Faintly, she is like a light cloud veiling the moon, floating like swirling snow in the flowing wind."

Yuan Xi thought to himself that this must be Zhen Mi. As expected, she lived up to her reputation. In terms of appearance and image alone, she was indeed the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

Wu Zhao, however, carefully examined Zhen Mi's eyebrows, confirming that she was the girl who had disguised herself as Zhen Rong's maid and came to see Yuan Xing last time.

It seemed that this girl, Zhen Mi, had a lot of ideas.

At this time, Zhen Rong knelt down with a thud and kowtowed, saying, "This criminal woman knows that her sins are deep. I beg the Young Master to punish me, but only me. Please do not implicate the Zhen family."

At this time, Zhen Mi also knelt down and said softly, "I am willing to be the Young Master's concubine, only to save my elder sister's life."

As soon as these words came out, Zhang Shi and Zhen Rong's expressions changed drastically, and they said in unison, "No!"

Although women of the gentry often referred to themselves as concubines at that time, this concubine and being someone else's concubine were completely different concepts.

Because concubines were different from the original wife, their status was extremely low, equivalent to goods. People of the gentry often used concubines to entertain distinguished guests, so it can be said that concubines had no dignity.

Yuan Shao's biological mother was like this. She was originally Yuan Cheng's concubine. When Yuan Cheng's younger brother, Yuan Fang, came to visit, Yuan Cheng used her to entertain Yuan Fang, and only then did she give birth to Yuan Shao.

Later, Yuan Cheng died early without a son, and Yuan Shao was adopted by Yuan Cheng. Therefore, the Yuan family's adoption had its accidental aspects, but it also had some inevitability.

But it also reflects that concubines have no status, which is unacceptable for women from prominent families.

Therefore, concubines of prominent families are mostly from poor backgrounds, or even from brothels, such as Liu Bei's Lady Gan and Cao Cao's Lady Bian.

Yuan Xi listened and said noncommittally, "Please, Madam and Miss, rise and speak, and dismiss the irrelevant people."

Madam Zhang nodded, and the maids hurriedly brought two armrests for Zhen Rong and Zhen Mi to lean on, and then they all retreated.

Seeing that there were only Madam Zhen and her two daughters in the room, Yuan Xi coughed and said to Zhen Rong, "Madam, please tell me in detail the causes and consequences of your plot with my third brother."

Zhen Rong hesitated slightly, wondering if the Zhen family would incur Yuan Shang's revenge if she spoke.

Seeing this, Zhen Mi said softly, "Fourth Sister, don't forget, the Third Young Master is already prepared to use you as a scapegoat."

Hearing this, Zhen Rong no longer hesitated and told everything that Yuan Shang had said to her.

Some of the details were unknown even to Madam Zhang. Now, hearing Zhen Rong's explanation, she couldn't help but feel furious and shouted, "Undutiful daughter, you have ruined the Zhen family!"

Zhen Rong hurriedly knelt down again, her face pale.

Yuan Xi tapped the bamboo mat on the floor lightly with his finger. Madam Zhen and her daughters were uneasy because, in principle, Zhen Rong was not qualified to avenge Gao Lan.

Yuan Shao had the final say on Gao Lan's fate. Even if he was killed like Qu Yi, the Zhen family would never dare to say anything.

Yuan Xi withdrew his finger and smiled at Zhen Rong, "Why did Madam believe the Third Young Master's words and think that General Gao was certainly dead?"

As soon as he said this, everyone was stunned.

Zhen Rong stammered, "Isn't he?"

"The Third Young Master has a reputation for benevolence and trustworthiness within Ye City. How could he deceive me?"

Yuan Xi smiled and said, "What did Third Brother say at that time?"

"He said that my husband was very likely to be killed by the Young Master," Zhen Rong stammered. She suddenly realized that Yuan Shang had not said anything definitive!

Yuan Xi sighed and said, "My third brother can plot several things at the same time when he does one thing. His doing this is to drag me and the Zhen family into the water at the same time."

"I am still being calculated against, let alone Madam."

"This matter involves some grievances between me and my third brother. Madam was only used, so being deceived is not Madam's fault."

"Also, Brother Gao is still alive and well. Madam can change out of this mourning dress."

Tears welled up in Zhen Rong's eyes, and she covered her mouth and said, "My husband is really not dead?"

Yuan Xi nodded and said, "He is doing well in Beixin City, but a little accident happened."

Only then did Zhen Rong relax, her body swaying, and Zhen Mi hurriedly supported her.

Madam Zhang also breathed a long sigh of relief. Gao Lan's survival was secondary. The key was that in this way, there was still room for maneuver, and the Zhen family could still be saved!

Otherwise, according to Yuan Shang's planning style, let alone preserving the Zhen family's property, it would be difficult to say whether a few of them could survive!

Madam Zhang thought that she could no longer get involved in the Yuan family's affairs. The Second and Third Sons were fighting for some reason, and the Zhen family, caught in the middle, would not gain anything.

No, she couldn't let her daughter marry into the Yuan family, or it would eventually implicate the Zhen family!

Thinking of this, she resolutely said, "My daughter is not worthy of the Young Master, so let's forget about this marriage."

Yuan Xi listened and smiled, "No."

Madam Zhang was stunned, and then she understood. She decisively gritted her teeth and said, "I can expel my daughter from the family and send her to the Young Master as a concubine."

As soon as she said this, Zhen Rong's face changed, and she exclaimed, but Zhen Mi lowered her head and remained silent.

Madam Zhang thought very clearly that since Yuan Xi had seen Zhen Mi's beauty, it was normal that he did not want to let go. Moreover, Yuan Shang's targeting of the Zhen family was very likely to be for the sake of competing for Zhen Mi.

Now that Zhen Mi was a hot potato, it was better to cut her off decisively and let the two sons compete!

For the sake of the Zhen family's future, they could only sacrifice Zhen Mi!

Yuan Xi thought that Madam Zhang's heart was very hard, but unfortunately, Madam Zhang did not know what he wanted to do.

He wanted both the person and the Zhen family's property.

After so much effort, the Zhen family still wanted to stay out of it, no way!

Yuan Xi sighed and said, "Unfortunately, Madam will miss a very good opportunity."

"I heard that the Zhen family is the richest merchant in the world, with business houses all over several states, thousands of servants, and many trade routes."

"If the Zhen family supports me with money and food, it would not be a problem to raise tens of thousands of soldiers."

"Does Madam really think that even if you send me the young lady, the Third Brother will not think about the Zhen family's property?"

"Moreover, the Zhen family has already stepped in. It is easy to enter the game, but difficult to get out."

"The Third Brother is holding the Zhen family's handle. Does Madam think that he will talk to the Zhen family properly in the future?"

"I came only to point out a clear path for the Zhen family, but Madam wants to stay out of it. Isn't that thinking too well?"

Madam Zhang broke out in cold sweat. The Yuan family's sons were indeed extraordinary. They were more powerful than the Zhen family and had meticulous plans. How could their group of orphans and widows, plus an only son, Zhen Yao, negotiate with them?

Comparing the two evils, it was better to choose the lesser one. Although Yuan Shang was more powerful than Yuan Xi, the other party had already made it clear that he was trying to harm the Zhen family. Cooperating with the other party would only result in being eaten without leaving any bones.

It was even very likely that Yuan Shang wanted to swallow the Zhen family, turn Zhen Mi into a sinner, and take her as a concubine!

Seeing that Zhen Mi also nodded slightly to her, Madam Zhang finally bowed and said, "Please, Young Master, show me the way."

"If I can continue the Zhen family's bloodline, I am willing to do anything for the Young Master."