Chapter 50

Chen Xi smiled but did not respond. He was very clear about this point, and even more so about another: the Chen family now placed their bets on Chen Qun. Even if they saw him, they would only treat him as a spare piece, or to put it bluntly, a pawn to be discarded.

However, one could not deny Chen Qun's excellence. After Xun Yu's death, Chen Qun became the administrator of the internal affairs of the Wei kingdom, a rare statesman in the entire history of the Three Kingdoms. His Nine-rank system thoroughly completed the control of the aristocratic families over the state, almost becoming a banner for all the aristocratic families.

His talent and ability were beyond description, a genius of unparalleled talent, one could say he was a heaven-sent talent. Unfortunately, Xun Yu, from character to ability, completely outshone Chen Qun, which was a disaster, an unparalleled disaster for Chen Qun. Although Xun Yu and Chen Qun were from the same hometown, they rarely met, and Chen Qun's knowledge of Xun Yu's abilities came from information gathered by his family's retainers. In other words, Chen Qun had little understanding of his fellow townsman.

After Xun Yu joined Cao Cao's camp, Chen Qun, confident in his own talent, believed that he could do everything Xun Yu could do and even better. So he kicked Liu Bei, with whom he had a good relationship, and joined Cao Cao's camp, preparing to rely on his own abilities to make Xun Yu feel ashamed and step down, then offer him a deputy position out of consideration for their shared hometown. After all, the Chen family was a prominent family in Yingchuan, and it was only right to help a fellow townsman.

With this idea in mind, Chen Qun left Liu Bei and joined Cao Cao's camp. However, when he truly faced Xun Yu, Chen Qun realized that from top to bottom, from moral character to interpersonal skills, he was no match for Xun Yu. The most frustrating part was that his friend and comrade Sima Yi also seemed to be no match for Xun Yu's nephew, Xun You. Chen Qun felt utterly defeated.

In short, Chen Qun's downfall was due to his lack of thorough observation. Therefore, his friend and comrade Sima Yi learned from this and always kept his eyes open, which led to the downfall of Zhuge Liang.

In short, Chen Qun was a tragedy, and Chen Xi did not even want to describe the extent of his tragedy. If it weren't for Xun Yu's stubbornness, refusing to let Cao Cao become the Duke of Wei, and Cao Cao's brain malfunction, leading to his stubbornness, Xun Yu would have fallen, and Chen Qun would have had a chance to rise. Otherwise, with Xun Yu's physical condition, Chen Qun might never have had a chance to rise.

After Xun Yu fell, Chen Qun finally had his chance. Soon after, Xun You also died, and Sima Yi finally had the opportunity to shine. At that time, Cao Cao was already abnormal, thinking he was great when he was actually foolish.

Now, Chen Xi wanted to form a dream team, with the best generals and the best ministers. Was Chen Qun the best? Clearly not, as Xun Yu was still alive.

After Xun Yu's death, Zhuge Liang would shine, and the dream team would have to be formed again, and it must be the best. Chen Qun was not the best, so Chen Xi would not bother with a substitute unless necessary.

These were just Chen Xi's thoughts. Whether he could get Xun Yu was another matter. Chen Qun was still quite good, but unfortunately, he was from the main line of the Chen family, while Chen Xi was from a branch, making them incomparable. Going to the Chen family now would only result in being looked down upon.

Chen Xi was looking for a helper, not a master. His memories of the Chen family were vague, and what he could remember was the Chen family's plunder after his father's death. Merchants, their status was too low, even if they served the family, they would not be recognized when they fell.

Chen Xi had nothing to say about this. The relatives' actions were not wrong, money was dazzling, and it was normal. It was just that the young Chen Xi did not have the ability to protect the inheritance.

Therefore, although Chen Xi was grateful to the Chen family for giving him the opportunity to receive an education, he did not have much good will towards the Chen family. He had repaid what he owed, and he was waiting for the day the Chen family would come to him. He believed that day would not be far off.

Three days later, in the main residence of the Chen family, Chen Qun looked at the intelligence brought by the family guard, frowned slightly, and laughed contemptuously. He casually threw the white silk on the table, "There's no need to report such trivial matters in the future. Not coming to pay respects to the main family after returning to Yingchuan, does he really think he has found a wise lord? Has the Chen family's education been forgotten? Since he does not pay respects to the main family, he should not call himself a descendant of the Chen family of Yingchuan. Go and strike his name off, and send it back to Chen Zichuan's hands, to let him know that the Chen family does not need him, whether he is there or not."

Chen Xi sat in his home, with the steward sitting beside him. Chen Lan poured wine for Chen Xi, and Chen Xi was waiting.

Chen Xi was waiting for the Chen family's punishment. The Chen family valued propriety, and the "Three Gentlemen" were famous for their virtue and filial piety. Therefore, the Chen family's rules placed great importance on these surface formalities. Chen Xi wanted to know what punishment he would receive for being three days late: would he be ignored, or receive a light punishment from the clan, or be made an example of?

Seeing the Chen family servant announce his expulsion from the family with a look of disdain, Chen Xi smiled. He did not expect to be made an example of. He guessed that Chen Qun was the one who handled it, and the last thread of connection with the Chen family was severed. Chen Xi did not have many thoughts about it; the Chen family did not belong to him.

Chen Xi did not feel much about the servant's disdain. Being expelled from the family was just that. After all, his connection to the Chen family was already non-existent. When he heard the news, the steward's face turned pale, and after the Chen family servant left, he burst into tears, continuously bowing to the memorial tablet of Chen Liang's father.

"Get up, old sir, it's nothing. Family is just that; when we are strong enough, they will come to us. Look at Chen Qun choosing Cao Mengde; the Chen family will decline, and we will become the main family. It's just a joke." Seeing the steward's desolate state and Chen Lan's gloomy face, Chen Xi smiled.

They did not understand. In times of chaos, it was the turning point for the transfer of power among the aristocratic families. Each time a family passed down, it was bloody. Some people were always forced to make the wrong choice, so the family had to divide their excellent descendants, sending them to the lords favored by the family elders.

Chen Xi was sent to Liu Bei's camp through this division. Perhaps in the eyes of the Chen family's patriarch, Chen Xi would understand, as only the survivors were the main line, and the rest were servants. The bloodline of the aristocratic families was renewed in this way. Therefore, being expelled from the family in times of chaos, as long as one was the victor in the end, the patriarch would fall to them.

Chen Xi was too lazy to explain these things. He would rebuild the family when the time came, but he would not take any members of the Chen family. It was better to keep the path in his own hands!

Chen Xi was confident that Chen Qun would be defeated by him. The reason was simple: after he avoided all the troubles, Liu Bei would unify the world, and Chen Qun would not join Liu Bei's camp. It was that simple. He would settle accounts in the future. For now, let Chen Qun do as he pleased; there would always be a time when the Chen family would come to him.

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