Her words hitting their mark, Xu Zhongfang could no longer maintain his composure and burst out cursing, “What kind of damn noble family! The Chu State was destroyed years ago, yet they still think of themselves as aristocrats! If they were aristocrats, why would they run to Xiang Town to compete with us for food?! They’re nothing but a bunch of servants!”

As he cursed, he watched Liu Zhen’s expression, afraid of hurting her feelings.

Liu Zhen looked laughingly at her uncle’s passionate and well-acted tirade, knowing in her heart that he was doing it for her. It would be a lie to say she wasn’t moved. “Uncle, I already expected this. What kind of family is the Ji Family? How could they allow their descendant to associate with the family of a fugitive? In truth, it’s nothing. I befriended Ji Ci from the beginning, not the Ji Family. As long as Ji Ci remains the same, what do the Ji Family’s views have to do with me?”

Xu Zhongfang let out a breath. “It’s good that you don’t mind. To be honest, it’s not worth getting angry over. I think young Ji Ci is a good lad, it’s a pity he’s stuck with such a family!”

Liu Zhen let out a chuckle. She felt her uncle was truly singing his own praises. In reality, the Ji Family’s actions were not wrong at all. Rather, it was Ji Ci running off to associate with the family of a fugitive that would seem incredible to outsiders.

What Liu Zhen didn’t know was that she had unwittingly hit upon the Ji Family’s mentality. At that very moment, Ji Ci’s father was staring, filled with rage, at his son kneeling on the floor.

This branch of the Ji Family was once flourishing with many offshoots, but after the tragedy of their state’s destruction, the Ji Family scattered. Some died, some dispersed, and in the end, only Ji Ci’s grandfather, along with his three sons, came to settle and live in seclusion in Xiang Town. After more than a decade of propagation, their descendants gradually grew in number, so the family no longer looked so sparse.

Because of this, Ji Ran and his father Ji Zai—that is, Ji Ci’s grandfather—regarded the continuation of the family line with extreme importance. They would absolutely not tolerate anyone, as a descendant of the Ji Family, doing anything detrimental to the family.

“Previously, your grandfather and I both warned you not to visit the Lius again. It seems you didn’t take my words to heart.” His son was thirteen, practically half an adult already. Ji Ran did his utmost to suppress his anger, speaking in a level tone.

Ji Ci bowed. “Father, please forgive me. The Master said, ‘In dealing with friends, be true to your word.’ Since I promised Miss Liu I would bring her books to read, I cannot go back on my word. This is also what Father taught me in the past. Your son dares not forget for a moment.”

Ji Ran said coldly, “You’re quite capable of quoting classics. Let me ask you, for a mere Liu, are you prepared to send the Ji Family to its death?”

Ji Ci was stunned. “Father, why would you say such a thing!”

Ji Ran: “Liu Yuan is now a rebel. You are mingling with a rebel’s family. Could it be that you want to be a rebel too?”

Ji Ci kowtowed. “Please, Father, hear me out. The tyrannical Qin is without virtue, and righteous men across the land have risen to strike it down. Now that the Liu family’s father has joined the ranks against Qin, and the grand army is winning victory after victory, perhaps the heavens and the earth will truly be overturned...”

Ji Ran interrupted him without a shred of courtesy. “If they fail, they are rebels! Only by fighting their way to Xianyang, destroying the Qin ruler, taking the throne, and commanding the world can it be called a victory! Where are Chen Sheng and his group now? They’ve only occupied a small piece of Chen Commandery! How dare they speak presumptuously of the Nine Tripod Cauldrons?! Until that day arrives, Liu Yuan is a rebel!”

“Ah Ci, you are still young and do not understand the stakes. If the Changshe County Magistrate were to arrest the Liu family now, it would be perfectly justified. His inaction is because he is waiting and watching. If Chen Sheng’s group fails, or if news of Liu Yuan’s death arrives, the Liu family will instantly become ghosts under the executioner’s blade. I know you admire the Liu family’s daughter, but you are a son of the Ji Family. You must have your own judgment and not place your personal feelings above the family!”

After a pause, he finally softened his tone. “Do you know that a few days ago, Chen Sheng sent someone to find your grandfather?”

Seeing the confusion, then shock, on Ji Ci’s face, Ji Ran knew he understood. He felt a little gratified. Ji Ci was exceptionally talented and quick-witted. If he hadn’t been born at such an unfortunate time, he would have been the son of a high minister from birth, with no need to linger in this poor, remote countryside.

“Do you know what the visitor came for?” Although he knew his son understood, Ji Ran still asked. He wanted to use this incident to thoroughly knock some sense into his son, lest he make the same mistake again and get mixed up with the Liu family.

Ji Ci: “Did he want to invite Grandfather to come out of seclusion and assist in the great cause of opposing Qin?”

Ji Ran nodded. “Correct. But your grandfather refused.”

Ji Ci was stunned again. “Why?”

Ji Ran: “What was Chen Sheng’s status before he rebelled? Merely a Garrison Chief. How can someone of such status command the world? Although Chen Sheng has proclaimed himself King of Zhangchu, he is of humble birth. Your grandfather saw clearly that even if his Zhangchu army seems powerful for a time, it will not last. Not to mention, he established Zhangchu but does not serve any of the former rulers of the Six States. How can he win the hearts of the people?”

Ji Ci frowned. “Father, since the tyrannical Qin is without virtue, anyone in the world can oppose it. Why must we be constrained by old statuses? If the King of Zhangchu can stabilize the situation, that is his own ability. Have you not heard, ‘Are kings, marquises, generals, and chancellors a matter of birthright?’...”

Ji Ran sneered. “I see you have truly been bewitched by Chen Sheng. He only said that to cover up his own wild ambitions. Besides, if there were no noble births, you would be as crude and ignorant as that Liu family mob, not here eloquently debating with me!”

Ji Ci could not bear the contempt for Liu Zhen, and indeed the entire Liu family, laced into his father’s every word. But he was also keenly aware that as a son of the Ji Family, standing before the father who had raised him, he could not argue with him out of filial piety. Moreover, with Ji Ran’s deeply ingrained beliefs, arguing would likely be useless anyway.

“If Father has no other instructions, your son will take his leave.” He bowed, then rose and exited before Ji Ran could speak.

Ji Ran was about to erupt in anger, but after a moment’s thought, he sighed.

As a father, he was vaguely aware of Ji Ci’s feelings of admiration for the Liu girl. It was perfectly normal for young men to notice beauty and feel attraction. However, between Ji Ci and the Liu girl lay an insurmountable chasm—their status.

If this were the past, when Liu Yuan was still the County Commandant, even though the Liu girl was from the countryside, her great-grandfather had at least been an Elder San. She would have been a barely acceptable match for Ji Ci. Or, if Ji Ci’s status wasn’t that of the eldest grandson of the direct line, Ji Ran actually wouldn’t have demanded he marry any particular kind of wife.

But now, there was absolutely no possibility between the Liu girl and Ji Ci. Whether it was Ji Ci’s grandfather or Ji Ran himself, they both hoped Ji Ci’s future wife would come from a scholarly family or be the daughter of a noble house, someone who could support Ji Ci in the future and restore the prestige of the Ji Family.

Regarding his father’s refusal of the heavy gifts sent by Chen Sheng’s men to win the Ji Family over to their cause, Ji Ran did not feel his father had done wrong. Chen Sheng was short-sighted and vainglorious; it was doubtful he could last long. The Ji Family would absolutely not bet the fate of their entire household on a rebel who was likely to fail.

In that case, Liu Yuan, who had joined him, would certainly not come to a good end.

Therefore, from the very beginning, they had to completely sever any of Ji Ci’s notions about the Liu girl, lest any trouble arise in the future, Ji Ran thought to himself.

Regardless of what Ji Ci was thinking, just a few days after this incident, the Ji Family welcomed another problem.

Someone else had come to their door to ask them to come out of seclusion.

The visitor was not Chen Sheng, but a man who claimed to be the nephew of Xiang Liang.

With the world in chaos, anyone with a bit of skill was stirring with ambition, either rebelling themselves or following others in rebellion. As the son of Xiang Yan, a famous general of the Chu State, Xiang Liang was gilded with this status from birth. Of course, he was not one to be left behind. He directly slaughtered his good friend, Yin Tong, the Governor of Kuaiji, who had suggested they rebel together. He then said to the soldiers outside, “Look, your leader is dead. If you value your lives, surrender quickly!” Seeing that they were a flock without a shepherd, and with Xiang Yu having killed a few more of them, the men were all thrown into a panic and could only obey Xiang Liang’s orders. And just like that, Xiang Liang earned his first pot of gold—oh no, his first army.

The Ji Family were people of Chu, and Xiang Liang was also from Chu. Moreover, they were originally from ducal and ministerial families, so of course they had more in common.

Unlike the cold treatment they gave Chen Sheng’s envoy, the Ji Family received this nephew and emissary of General Xiang with the highest honors. Not only were Ji Ran and Ji Ci in attendance, but the men from the second and third branches of the family were also seated at the banquet, participating in this feast to welcome their old countrymen from Chu.

Xiang Yu was only in his early twenties, but he was already tall and powerfully built, his stride full of vigor. His features were not those of a handsome, jade-like young master, but were heroic and sharply defined. His lips were a little thick, his chin a little long. This combination of features, while not conventionally handsome, possessed a unique charm.

To put it plainly, he was the kind of protagonist who would be recognized at a glance in a crowd, not some extra with a generic face.

The moment Ji Ci’s grandfather, Ji Zai, saw him, he felt this man was exceptionally different and praised him several times. The two sides toasted and drank, cups clinking, as they enthusiastically recalled the friendship of their ancestors in the Chu State. They also made introductions, with the younger generation calling each other brother. Xiang Yu also conveyed his uncle’s deep regards for Ji Zai.

Finally, at the end of the banquet, Xiang Yu at last revealed his purpose: His uncle Xiang Liang was not short of soldiers, but he was short of people with whom to plan great deeds. He had heard that the Ji Family’s ancestor was greatly trusted by the King of Chu in the past, and that the Ji Family was a great family of Chu. He hoped Ji Zai would come out of seclusion to assist him. “Let’s welcome back the grandson of the King of Chu, overthrow the tyrannical Qin, and revive the glory of our ancestors!”

At that, Ji Zai’s expression became subtly awkward. It wasn’t that he hadn’t considered Xiang Yu’s intentions, but he hadn’t expected the invitation to be so direct. To refuse would be to offend Xiang Liang. To accept...

Ji Zai said, “Young General, please allow this old man a few days to consider.”

Xiang Yu was a little displeased. What was there to consider? The Ji Family had received great favor from the King of Chu for generations. Now that there was an opportunity to restore their old state, they were still hesitating and making excuses. Such womanly conduct suggested they would likely not achieve anything great.

But he remembered his uncle’s advice before he left, so he nodded and said politely, “Naturally, please consider it carefully, Grandfather Ji. However, the military situation at the front is urgent, and I’m afraid I cannot stay long. I must return to rendezvous with my uncle as soon as possible. How about this: I will leave a few of my attendants here for now. When Grandfather Ji has an answer, you can send someone to inform me.”

Ji Zai naturally agreed.

After Xiang Yu left, the Ji Family held a family meeting that very night.

Unlike last time when Chen Sheng sent people to recruit them and the entire Ji Family was resolute in their refusal, this time, from Ji Zai on down, different voices emerged within the Ji Family.