Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chapter 2136: Chapter 1894: Shangxiang

Chen Xi quickly put these words out of his mind, merely remembering a few points, such as his requirements for the executors, his own requirements, and most importantly, if it really came to that situation, it should be left to Liu Bei to handle.

Although he didn’t want to admit it, Chen Xi had to acknowledge that the plan proposed by Chen Ji was indeed the most suitable. Although Chen Ji’s perspective was still somewhat narrow, his experience and insight provided Chen Xi with the best answer when facing such matters.

On this point, Chen Xi couldn’t help but complain once more that sociology is truly a pseudoscience, and one without bottom lines.

The following days passed with Chen Xi’s detailed interpretation, and after this part of Chen Xi’s work was completed, the old men within the court assembly had mostly disappeared. Those remaining were the civil and military officials who would truly work according to Chen Xi’s orders.

In Eastern Wu, Zhuge Jin had already received Sun Ce’s urgent orders on horseback and also learned about the series of events occurring in Chang’an, while also congratulating his brother for successfully becoming the youngest Marquis of Military Merit in the Han Dynasty.

Of course, Zhuge Jin’s own official position had also been elevated slightly. Although Zhuge Jin’s abilities in military affairs were abysmal and his aptitude in internal affairs was not as great as Zhang Zhao or Zhang Hong, it must be admitted that Zhuge Jin, due to his early arrival and adeptness at handling interpersonal relations, steadily controlled the civil officials in the internal affairs sector.

After all, Zhuge Jin himself excelled at harmonizing interpersonal relations, and his Spiritual Talent could ignite sparks of wisdom in others.

Therefore, though Zhuge Jin remained in the central government and did not do many tasks, he managed to stabilize the chaotic situation in Jing, Xiang, Yu, and Yang caused by Yuan Shu and Sun Ce’s rash actions, and gradually the government orders also spread to all parts under his jurisdiction.

It seemed that Zhuge Jin didn’t do much work, but Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong gradually discovered that the efficiency of the government orders in Jing, Xiang, Yu, and Yang was continuously improving, thus compelling them to admire this young man, and consequently admitting that a new generation surpasses the old.

"Should we protect Yuan Gong?" Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong furrowed their brows. Though the decree was from Sun Ce and communicated to Zhuge Jin, Zhuge Jin had to discuss such major matters with the Zhang brothers.

"Regardless of Yuan Gong’s actions, for a minister to disobey the sovereign’s order is a failure to abide by the ministerial duty," Zhuge Jin said with a faint smile. Hearing this, Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong stopped protesting and allowed Zhuge Jin to prepare rare treasures.

Naturally, Zhuge Jin, on one hand, took out some treasures from the government treasury, and on the other hand, as Sun Ce instructed, went to the Sunx Family to consult with Old Lady Sunx.

Old Lady Sunx herself was a reasonable person. Upon seeing Sun Ce’s handwritten note, she handed the storeroom keys to Zhuge Jin, letting him help himself to the items.

After all, Old Lady Sunx had known Yuan Shu for more than twenty years. Although she disapproved of Yuan Shu’s arrogance back in the day, when Sunx Jian died, Yuan Shu protected the Sunx family without any impropriety. Though he coveted the Jade Seal, he never did more than glance at it.

This alone was enough for Old Lady Sunx to look at Yuan Shu differently, not to mention that in the years that followed, he never bullied the widows and orphans, and even considered adopting Sun Ce as a foster son. Although it didn’t work out in the end, it did allow Sun Ce to inherit his own foundation.

Naturally, if Yuan Shu were in trouble and needed to spend money to arrange things, these people would naturally not refuse. After all, part of Sun Ce’s foundation was given by Yuan Shu. If Yuan Shu were in difficulty and the Sunx family did not help, what face would the Sunx family have to hold one domain?

"Oh, greetings, Mr. Zhuge." Just as Zhuge Jin was heading toward the government treasury, he suddenly heard Sun Quan’s voice.

"Greetings, Second Young Master." Zhuge Jin greeted with great respect, without a hint of disdain.

Upon hearing this greeting, Sun Quan inexplicably felt somewhat irritated. Although Zhuge Jin treated him with utmost respect compared to others, the title "Second Young Master" indeed made him feel vexed.

"What are you doing here?" Although Sun Quan felt agitated, he still behaved courteously.

To Sun Quan’s inquiry, Zhuge Jin did not conceal anything, explaining everything in detail.

Upon hearing this, Sun Quan inwardly scoffed at his brother’s actions, thinking: [Such a good opportunity and you’re going to save someone like Yuan Shu who is of no use? These regions of Jing, Xiang, Yu, and Yang were fought for and won by our Sunx family alone. Yuan Shu has been suppressing our Sunx family all this time. Instead of kicking him out now, my brother chooses to rescue him. This proves he doesn’t use his brain at all.]

Nonetheless, Sun Quan’s surface expression remained unchanged, and he said to Zhuge Jin, "In that case, please follow me, Mr. Zhuge."

Soon Sun Quan led Zhuge Jin into the Sunx Family Treasury, where row after row, shelf after shelf filled with various rare treasures were packed into boxes by servants. Before long, nearly half of the vast Sunx Family Treasury was empty, and Sun Quan, who was registering the items on the side, matched the items and then affixed the record onto the boxes.

Seeing this, Zhuge Jin couldn’t help but inwardly laugh. The Sunx family’s Second Young Master was indeed stingy. Regardless of Zhuge Jin’s identity, verifying these in front of others wasn’t appropriate. Only someone like Zhuge Jin wouldn’t mind it; if it were someone else, they might have felt quite embarrassed.

"If the Second Young Master finds everything in order, I’ll send someone to prepare the gift list and send it to Chang’an." Zhuge Jin smiled as he spoke, [such unwise behavior, truly need to have less contact with him.]

"Hmm, who will escort these items to Chang’an?" Sun Quan inquired.

"Pan Wenqui," Zhuge Jin said gently.

Sunx Quan hesitated for a moment but didn’t say anything. He then ordered the servants to carry the boxes outside, while the others guarded the door. They didn’t notice that after the two left, a little girl of about seven or eight peeked out, looking at the treasury and then at the backs of Zhuge Jin and the others.

"Heng, stinky second brother, I’ll show you for not playing with me." The little girl quickly ran into the treasury. Even though the Sunx Family’s guards outside the treasury saw their little lady, they didn’t stop her.

Because Sunx Ce spoiled her a lot, many things inside the treasury had been taken out and broken by Sunx Shangxiang.

However, whenever something went missing or got broken, Sunx Bofu would laugh it off upon learning about it, pretending not to see, and wouldn’t let others stop her. Their father had passed away, and the eldest brother acted as a father. In such trivial matters, spoiling her was what he did, as it’s very hard to scold his only sister.

But after Sunx Ce went north, Sunx Shangxiang was forbidden by Sunx Quan from going to the treasury, and even her keys were taken away. As for Sunx Quan’s brothers, they were sent to learn martial arts by Sunx Quan.

Naturally, Sunx Shangxiang was extremely unhappy, and besides, Sunx Quan didn’t play with her. Da Qiao was pregnant and couldn’t play with her, and all her other brothers were gone. Sunx Shangxiang was left bored at home, having nothing to do but wander around.

After all, Sunx Quan was very strict in his discipline. Previously, even if Sunx Shangxiang wanted to go out and play, Sunx Ce would only ask people to ensure her safety. Now being trapped, Sunx Shangxiang was very frustrated.

"Henghengheng, this is the second brother’s favorite treasure." Sunx Shangxiang looked at the Jade Seal on the shelf with a proud face. After secretly observing for so long, she had already noticed that her second brother liked to come over every few days and touch this thing with a fascinated look.

She quickly took the Jade Seal, wrapped it in silk cloth, and ran out with it, while the other servants kept their eyes down and remained indifferent.

When Sunx Ce was in charge, whenever Sunx Shangxiang took something from the treasury, the servants would follow and report to Sunx Ce.

Ever since Sunx Quan took over the Sunx Family, these people could only stand there, knowing if anyone entered the treasury, they’d be dead. Therefore, standing guard was all they did. As for anything that went missing, as long as the little lady took it, it wasn’t their concern as long as they kept their lives.

"Ha, if I break this thing, second brother might cry. How should I break it?" Sunx Shangxiang, who was less than 1.2 meters tall, was thinking, but the Jade Seal, often touched by Sunx Quan, was blessed with the nation’s fortune, not breaking no matter how she tossed it around.

"So annoying, why isn’t it breaking?" Sunx Shangxiang panted with effort but still couldn’t manage to break it.

In desperation, Sunx Shangxiang held onto the object and headed to the kitchen, intending to chop it up with a kitchen knife. After all, Sunx Shangxiang, being so young, wasn’t given a knife or dagger by Sunx Ce, fearing she might hurt herself.

As she passed through the main hall, she happened to see Sunx Quan and Zhuge Jin. She quickly hid behind a pillar, waiting for them to leave before tiptoeing her way back in, only to find many large boxes piled on the ground, unguarded.

Nonetheless, this was the main hall of the Sunx Family and indeed didn’t require guarding. Besides, Sunx Quan had gone to make seals and would be back shortly.

Sunx Shangxiang, holding the Jade Seal in one hand, struggled to open a box filled with all sorts of rare treasures, yet she felt nothing special about them.

"Shangxiang, what are you doing?" Just as Sunx Shangxiang wondered if she should take a small item, a soft voice suddenly startled her, causing the Jade Seal wrapped in silk cloth to slip into the box, with the lid closing shut.

"Ah, it’s you, Little Qiao. You scared me to death," Sunx Shangxiang jumped, turning to find it was Little Qiao. She relaxed instantly and reached to open the box again to retrieve the Jade Seal.

But at this moment, Sunx Quan emerged from the back hall and scolded upon seeing Sunx Shangxiang struggling to open the box, "Shangxiang, what are you doing again?"

Sunx Shangxiang was very unhappy due to Sunx Quan always reprimanding her, and she had earlier thought of smashing Sunx Quan’s favorite treasure. Now upon seeing Sunx Quan, she naturally felt very afraid, and immediately turned to run, bumping into Little Qiao and hugging her leg to hide behind her.

"Second Young Master," Little Qiao patted Sunx Shangxiang’s little head and bowed to Sunx Quan.

"Lady Zhou, I apologize for Shangxiang’s intrusion," Sunx Quan bowed in return, then pointed at Sunx Shangxiang, "You come here!"

"I won’t," Sunx Shangxiang made a face at Sunx Quan, pulling on Little Qiao’s clothes, indicating for her to help her sneak away.

"Alright, Shangxiang, be more restrained. Zhongmou, don’t hold it against Shangxiang," Little Qiao’s voice, like a soothing magic, quickly calmed both of them down. Even Sunx Quan’s agitation upon seeing Little Qiao was pacified.