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Lie Fan studied him. The truth was, he didn't need the Zhen Clan. Not really. The North was his, with or without their influence. But a house divided was easier to topple, and the Zhen Clan, for all their desperation, still had their influence and large connections, connections that could be useful for him in the long run.
Zhen Yi felt the sweat trickle down his spine despite the cool evening air in the hall. Lie Fan's gaze was like a blade pressed against his throat, unmoving, unblinking, measuring the exact pressure needed to draw blood without killing.
The merchant lord had faced down rival clans, negotiated with warlords, and even stood before Yuan Shao at his most temperamental, but never had he felt so thoroughly seen and intimidated.
When Lie Fan finally spoke, it was with the calm finality of a judge passing a sentence.
"Alright then, Master Zhen Yi. The Zhen Clan will be given the right to sell mirrors, bronze mirrors, fruity wine, and beer in the northern markets."
The words hit Zhen Yi like a reprieve from the executioner's block. His shoulders, which had been tensed to the point of trembling, slumped slightly as the suffocating pressure lifted. He exhaled sharply through his nose, the breath he hadn't realized he was holding escaping in a quiet rush.
We survive. That's what passed through Zhen Yi's mind.
Bowing so low his forehead nearly touched the floor, Zhen Yi replied with carefully measured fervor, "Thank you, my lord! We, the Zhen Clan, will forever serve you and your descendants loyally for generations to come!" He pressed his palms together in a solemn oath. "If I or my descendants break this promise, may lightning strike us from the heavens and end the Zhen Clan's fortune!"
Lie Fan chuckled softly, the sound devoid of true amusement. To him, such oaths were theater, pretty words that might bind a man's lifetime, perhaps his son's, but no further. Bloodlines diluted, memories faded, and loyalty withered when tested by generations. The Zhen Clan's allegiance would last only so long as their profits did.
But he let the moment linger, watching the way Zhen Yi's fingers trembled slightly against the floor.
"Good, Master Zhen Yi," Lie Fan, said at last, his voice smooth as polished jade. "From now on, I expect the Zhen Clan to act as my loyal subjects. Remain steadfast, and you may yet reach the heights the Mi Clan and Yu Merchant Group enjoy under my rule."
Zhen Yi straightened, his aged face alight with something dangerously close to hope. "Yes, my lord! We will prove worthy of your trust!" Then, hesitating only a heartbeat, he ventured, "And... the matter of my daughter, Zhen Ji? Does my lord wish to proceed?"
Silence.
Lie Fan's expression gave nothing away, but internally, the scales tipped back and forth.
Zhen Ji.
Even in this life, her reputation preceded her, whispers of a beauty whose grace outshone the moon, whose intellect matched the most learned scholars is what spread in the northern province. In his past life, historically, in the novel, and in the game, she might have been Cao Pi's empress. Here, she was a widow, a political pawn, and potentially, a key to the north.
But he already had four wives, women he respected, women who had borne his children and stood by him through blood and fire. Taking another, especially one tied so blatantly to political maneuvering, felt like a betrayal of the unspoken pact he'd made with himself.
And yet...
The north is restless. The Yuan clan's remnant of followers still whispers in Ji Province's shadows. A marriage could silence them faster than any army.
His fingers tapped once against the armrest.
"I require time to consider the marriage," Lie Fan said at last. "But you may have Zhen Ji reside here in Xiapi while I deliberate. Let her see the city, acquaint herself with my capital." He paused, then added with deliberate weight, "If she agrees to the match. Should she refuse, we will speak no more of this."
Zhen Yi's smile tightened imperceptibly. A test, then. Lie Fan was giving his daughter the illusion of choice while ensuring she understood the consequences of refusal. The Zhen Clan's newfound trade rights dangled like ripe fruit, close enough to taste, but easily withdrawn.
"Of course, my lord," Zhen Yi murmured, bowing again. "Zhen Ji is... strong willed, but she understands duty. I will send for her at once."
Lie Fan just nodded when he heard what Zhen Yi said and told Zhen Yi that he could leave now and inform Mi Zhu that the Zhen Clan had been given the rights, so that Mi Zhu could handle the formalities and documents needed for the Zhen Clan. Zhen Yi, hearing that, cupped his hands respectfully to Lie Fan and then left the hall to meet with Mi Zhu.
Outside the main hall at this time, Lu Su and Mi Zhu were standing together, waiting for the result of the meeting between their lord and Zhen Yi. Lu Su turned to look at Mi Zhu and said, "Master Mi, do you think our lord is considering Zhen Yi's marriage offer? Even though it's a political marriage, the impact on the lord's reputation and prestige will be bad! Rumors will spread that the reason our lord attacked Yuan Shao and destroyed the Yuan Clan was all just so he could gain Zhen Ji and take her as his own."
Mi Zhu, at his side, turned to look at Lu Su and said, "Master Lu, have trust in our lord. Surely, you know our lord is not someone to be tempted by such things. If he is thinking it over, that means he sees some benefit in the long run for his rule, both politically and economically. Having another of the richest merchant clans serve our lord with their utmost loyalty, like me and the Mi Clan, brings vast wealth that could be used to support all of our lord's endeavors and more. Controlling the market of the land becomes much easier with their support."
Lu Su, hearing that, nodded his head. Of course, he understood that their lord wasn't a person who would be controlled by his desires, and he also knew the benefit of having the Zhen Clan truly loyal to their lord. But the reputation and prestige that their lord had built for so long could be toppled or shaken if the marriage offer was accepted.
Mi Zhu could see that Lu Su was just worrying about their lord's decision, but after serving Lie Fan for years and even having the chance to befriend him, he believed in him and could see as well that their lord was weighing the risk and benefit for him. At this time, the two of them suddenly saw Zhen Yi leaving the hall and approaching them.
As for Zhen Yi, the moment he stepped out of the main hall, he found himself facing Mi Zhu and Lu Su. When Zhen Yi reached them, he bowed slightly, his aged frame moving with practiced grace. "Master Mi Zhu, Master Lu Su. Lord Lie Fan has granted the Zhen Clan rights to trade mirrors, bronze mirrors, fruity wines, and beer in the northern markets. He instructed me to seek you out, Master Mi Zhu, to formalize the arrangements."
Hearing that, both Lu Su and Mi Zhu had expected that their lord would give the Zhen Clan the right, but now the question was whether their lord accepted the marriage offer or not.
Before Mi Zhu could reply to Zhen Yi, Lu Su cut him off and asked, "Master Zhen Yi, since my lord has agreed to give you and the Zhen Clan the right to sell in the northern market, does my lord also accept the marriage offer?"
Zhen Yi, who had anticipated the question, kept his expression neutral. He was a merchant, and a good merchant never revealed all his cards too soon. But the momentary pause before his response betrayed his uncertainty.
"Lord Lie Fan has stated that he requires time to consider the marriage," Zhen Yi finally answered, his voice even. "However, he has invited my daughter, Zhen Ji, to reside in Xiapi while he deliberates. He wishes for her to see the city, to acquaint herself with the capital. More importantly, he has given her the right to refuse."
Mi Zhu and Lu Su exchanged glances. This was indeed a test. Lie Fan was granting Zhen Ji an illusion of choice while ensuring she understood the consequences of refusal. Her presence in Xiapi would allow Lie Fan to gauge her character, her intelligence, and whether she could fit into his household, both politically and personally.
"I see," Mi Zhu said carefully. "That is wise of our lord. Master Zhen Yi, I will personally oversee the documentation process to ensure everything is in order. The rights granted to the Zhen Clan will be finalized without delay."
Zhen Yi bowed slightly in gratitude. "Thank you, Master Mi. The Zhen Clan shall not disappoint the trust put by lord Lie Fan."
Lu Su, still thoughtful, turned his gaze towards the hall. "Our lord is playing a long game, as always." he thought to himself, if there is one person he could never see in the depth of his mind, would be his lord because he always surprises him with his decisions.
With that, the merchant lord departed to make arrangements for his daughter's arrival, while Mi Zhu and Lu Su remained, contemplating the ripples of their lord's latest decision.
Meanwhile, Zhen Yi's footsteps were heavy as he made his way through the bustling streets of Xiapi, the weight of the day's negotiations pressing upon his shoulders like a yoke.
The cool evening air did little to soothe the lingering tension in his bones, the memory of Lie Fan's piercing gaze still fresh in his mind. He had survived the encounter, more than survived, he had secured the Zhen Clan's future in the northern markets. But the cost of that survival was yet to be determined.
The Serenity Inn loomed ahead, its elegant wooden façade a welcome sight. It was one of the finer establishments in Xiapi, frequented by wealthy merchants and minor officials, its rooms spacious and its staff discreet. Zhen Yi had chosen it deliberately, a man of his standing could not afford to lodge in anything less, especially when conducting business with a ruler like Lie Fan.
As he stepped inside, the innkeeper, a plump man with a perpetually ingratiating smile, bowed deeply. "Master Zhen! Welcome back. Shall I have food and wine sent to your chambers?"
Zhen Yi waved a dismissive hand. "Later. For now, I require privacy."
The innkeeper nodded knowingly and scurried off, leaving Zhen Yi to ascend the stairs to his rented quarters. The room he had taken was the largest the inn offered, a spacious chamber with a low table for writing, a cushioned seating area, and a screened off sleeping space.
His escort, a dozen trusted men from the Zhen Clan's household guard, occupied the adjacent rooms, their presence a silent assurance of security.
Once inside, Zhen Yi slid the door shut behind him with a quiet click. Only then did he allow himself a moment of exhaustion, his shoulders sagging as he exhaled sharply. The meeting with Lie Fan had been a gamble, one that had left him feeling like a mouse dancing beneath a cat's paw. But the gamble had paid off, for now.
Crossing the room, he knelt before the low table where a prepared brush, inkstone, and several scrolls lay waiting. His fingers trembled slightly as he ground the ink, the rhythmic motion steadying his nerves. There was much to do, and little time to waste.
He unrolled a fresh scroll, the blank parchment a stark contrast to the whirlwind of thoughts in his mind. The first matter to address was the most delicate, his daughter, Zhen Ji.
Zhen Ji, who had lived as a ghost for months, hidden away in the family's countryside estate, her existence scrubbed from the records, her name whispered only in mourning.
And now, he would drag her back into the light.
Crossing to the low writing desk near the window, Zhen Yi unrolled a fresh scroll with deliberate care, his fingers smoothing the parchment as though it were a fragile thing.
The brush lay beside it, its tip sharp, the inkstone dark and waiting. He hesitated only a heartbeat before dipping the brush, the ink pooling like spilled blood against the pale surface
"To my most honored wife,"
The characters flowed from his hand with practiced precision, each stroke carrying the weight of a decision that would unravel years of deception.
"The time has come. The mourning act for our daughter must end."
His hand did not shake, though the words tasted like ash on his tongue.
Zhen Ji had never died in that fire.
The night Nanpi fell, when Lie Fan's armies pressed against the city walls and the air was thick with the scent of smoke and panic, Zhen Yi had orchestrated a spectacle. His daughter, the widow of Yuan Xi, had been the last tether binding the Zhen Clan to the crumbling Yuan regime. A symbol. A hostage. A liability.
And so, he had cut her loose. Not with a blade, but with flame. Zhen Ji had slipped out that evening under the guise of taking air, her face hidden beneath a servant's hood, her handmaidens forming a shield around her.
One of them, Lian, a girl with sharp eyes and sharper loyalty, had volunteered to stay behind, to don Zhen Ji's robes and play the part of the grieving widow in case anyone came looking.
No one had expected the fire.
But Zhen Yi had.
He had paid a desperate servant, a man with debts too large to ignore, to ensure the blaze started in the right wing of the residence, far enough from the main halls to allow escape, close enough to make the tragedy believable.
Lian had died in Zhen Ji's place, her body burned beyond recognition. And in the chaos of Nanpi's fall, no one had questioned it.
Yuan Xi, broken by the news, had gone crazy coupled with the pressure of the Yuan Clan losing Nanpi and having to retreat. The Zhen Clan had publicly raged, how could the Yuan Clan let their daughter perish? While privately, Zhen Yi had exhaled in relief. The tie was severed. The Zhen Clan was free to pivot its allegiance to Lie Fan without the stain of betrayal.
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Name: Lie Fan
Title: Overlord Of The Central Plains
Age: 33 (200 AD)
Level: 16
Next Level: 462,000
Renown: 1325
Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)
SP: 1,121,700
ATTRIBUTE POINTS
STR: 951 (+20)
VIT: 613 (+20)
AGI: 598 (+10)
INT: 617
CHR: 96
WIS: 519
WILL: 407
ATR Points: 0