Spring passed and autumn arrived, and Liu Zhen’s studies advanced to a new level.

By now, she had familiarized herself with both the large and small seal scripts. Though her writing was still far from fluent and she often forgot characters, she could at least read them without issue.

For these two scripts, Liu Zhen’s personal goal was simply recognition—she knew that clerical script would become the dominant writing style in the future, so she focused her practice on that. Over time, as her literacy grew, she could finally understand most of the bamboo scrolls she borrowed from An Zheng and Ji Ci.

Of course, the twin obstacles of classical Chinese and the lack of punctuation made every passage a struggle. But to escape the ranks of the illiterate as soon as possible, Liu Zhen forced herself to keep reading. During these moments, she missed modern books dearly.

When will I see those lovely horizontal, simplified characters again?

To be precise, in about 2,100 years.

Heh. What a depressing thought.

Alongside her academic progress, Liu Zhen grew a year older. Given her hobby of experimenting with food, Madam Zhang entrusted her with deciding the family’s daily meals.

During this time, drawing inspiration from the meat sauce sold by the Lin family to the east, Liu Zhen created her own version—the "Liu Family Meat Sauce." The main ingredient was pork, supplemented with salt, wine, fermented beans, Sichuan pepper, and dogwood.

Since chili peppers hadn’t been introduced yet, the only spicy seasonings Liu Zhen could find were Sichuan pepper and dogwood. This meat sauce was her first attempt, but the result was surprisingly tasty. After sampling it, both Liu Yuan and Madam Zhang gave their approval. Though the Liu family’s circumstances had improved, they still couldn’t afford meat dishes every day. The sauce’s greatest use was as a condiment for rice—with it, even the hard-to-swallow bean rice became more palatable.

Ji Ci had become a frequent visitor to the Liu household, often lending books and helping Liu Zhen with her studies. Feeling indebted, Liu Zhen sent him a small jar of the sauce via Liu Nan as a token of gratitude.

In return, Ji Ci invited Liu Nan and Liu Zhen to visit the Ji family.

Madam Zhang had given birth to her child—a boy named Jin, after the hibiscus flower. Since the infant was still under a month old and required constant care, Madam Zhang couldn’t spare the energy to look after Liu Wan and Liu Zhuang. So she asked Liu Nan to take his two younger sisters along to the Ji family. After checking with Ji Ci, who readily agreed, the four Liu siblings set off on a clear, sunny day.

The Ji family’s heritage far surpassed the Lius’. Though both lived in wooden houses, the Ji residence was noticeably more refined in construction. Liu Zhen observed that even the roof tiles bore faintly carved beast patterns—a far cry from the simple, functional design of the Liu home. Even Liu Xin, the wealthiest man in Xiangxiang, only built his houses taller and neater, with no such intricate details.

This alone justified the Ji family’s reputation as an aristocratic lineage.

Too bad they were a fallen aristocratic lineage.

The Ji compound was expansive, with over a dozen interconnected courtyards and buildings, each spaced apart yet clearly part of a grand family estate.

Ji Ci lived in the largest of these houses, as his father was the Ji patriarch’s eldest son—the clan heir destined to inherit the leadership. As the eldest grandson, Ji Ci held significant status within the family. Combined with his early intelligence and scholarly prowess, he was already the leading figure among the Ji’s third generation.

Sitting in a room even more exquisite than their grandfather’s, even the usually brash Liu Nan found himself breathing more carefully, his movements subdued. His gaze lingered on a sword hanging on the wall.

“Ji Ci, that sword is incredible. Can you take it down for me to see?”

Ji Ci shook his head apologetically. “I’m afraid not. That’s my grandfather’s most treasured sword, said to have been a gift from the King of Chu himself. Even I wouldn’t dare touch it without his permission.”

Hearing such a grand origin, Liu Nan whistled low and reluctantly tore his eyes away, not wanting to impose.

“Is your grandfather home today? Should we pay our respects?”

Seeing their nervousness, Ji Ci chuckled. “The governor invited him and my father to a banquet. Today, it’s just me hosting you—no need to stand on ceremony. Make yourselves comfortable.”

Liu Nan blinked. “The governor? You mean the Governor of Yingchuan?”

Ji Ci nodded. “Indeed.”

Liu Nan was stunned. As a growing boy who helped with household chores and trained in martial arts under Liu Yuan and Xu Zhongfang, he was no stranger to the outside world. Being invited by the Governor of Yingchuan was no small honor—even their father struggled to get an audience with the county magistrate, let alone the governor!

Rather than relaxing, this revelation made Liu Nan even more self-conscious. His usual boldness vanished, and his awkward kneeling posture amused Ji Ci.

As for Liu Wan and Liu Zhuang, their attention had been entirely captured by the honey-sweetened drink served to them. Each held a bowl in both hands, carefully licking the contents, torn between savoring the treat and devouring it all at once.

Ji Ci smiled at the sight before turning to Liu Zhen.

While Liu Nan chatted, Liu Zhen had been quietly kneeling to the side, a bamboo scroll in hand. She occasionally joined the conversation but mostly focused on reading, her eyes moving slowly across the text—large seal script was still challenging for her.

For a girl barely older than Liu Wan, Liu Zhen possessed a composure far beyond her years.

Ji Ci mused that even he hadn’t been able to sit still for hours reading obscure scripts at her age.

“Liu Nan,” Ji Ci asked, “I heard your father was promoted?”

“Yeah, you heard about that?” Liu Nan grinned, picking up his bowl and downing it in one go. He smacked his lips and feigned nonchalance. “This stuff’s for girls. Real men drink clear rice wine!”

Before Ji Ci could respond, Liu Zhen cut in with a glare. “Brother, do you even know what clear rice wine is? Or are you just parroting Father and Uncle’s words?”

Liu Nan scowled. “Oh yeah? Then what is it?”

Liu Zhen: “Clear rice wine is made from rice in Kuaiji. It’s clear as water, hence the name. Yingchuan doesn’t grow rice—where do you expect Ji Ci to get it? Even if he had some, only nobles could afford it. Didn’t Uncle Xu say they only tasted it once during their military days?”

Liu Nan gaped. “How do you know all this?”

Liu Zhen tapped the bamboo scroll meaningfully. “Books hold houses of gold, Brother. You’ve been in school far longer than I’ve been literate.”

Watching Liu Nan get schooled by his younger sister—clearly not for the first time—Ji Ci stifled a laugh. “Books hold houses of gold—that’s well said, Liu Zhen!”

Liu Zhen stuck out her tongue. “I didn’t come up with it.” The person who did won’t be born for over a thousand years.

Ji Ci frowned. “Where did you read about clear rice wine? I’ve never seen such records.”

Liu Zhen: “Father mentioned it.”

Liu Nan yelped. “Hey! So you lied about reading it in a book!”

Liu Zhen deadpanned. "Brother, you’re just too easy to fool.”

Ji Ci burst into laughter—he hadn’t laughed this much in ages.

Before the mirth faded, a voice called from outside.

“Eldest Brother, do you have guests?”

Three figures entered: two boys and a girl.

Ji Ci’s smile dimmed slightly, reverting to the polite, reserved demeanor Liu Zhen had first seen.

“Yes. These are the Liu siblings.” He introduced them briefly before turning back to Liu Nan. “These are my cousins—the children of my second and third uncles.”

Liu Nan recognized the two boys. The elder, Ji Yu, was the son of Ji Ci’s second uncle and slightly older than Ji Ci. The younger, Ji Hui, was the third uncle’s son.

Ji Yu was as accomplished as Ji Ci in school but had little patience for playful students like Liu Nan. Ji Hui was slightly better but still carried the arrogance of an aristocratic heir.

The girl was Ji Xuan, the third uncle’s daughter.

Liu Zhen studied the trio. Commoners could only wear plain hemp or silk, but even without official positions, the Ji family’s prestige was evident in their finer clothing. Ji Xuan wore not a short jacket but a long ruqun dress tied at the waist with a silk sash, already hinting at a budding feminine grace.

After introductions, Ji Yu’s gaze swept over Liu Nan and his three sisters—especially Liu Wan and Liu Zhuang, who clung to their bowls with milky foam around their mouths. His brow twitched in disdain, though his expression remained neutral.

“Eldest Brother, if Grandfather and Uncle knew you invited such guests, they’d be furious.”

Ji Ci frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Eldest Brother,” Ji Yu stressed, “the Ji family is a four-century-old aristocratic lineage, nobles of Chu. You are the eldest grandson—do not disgrace our name.”

Before Ji Ci could retort, Liu Nan shot to his feet. “You brat! What makes you so great? Are we not good enough to be your brother’s friends?!”

Ji Hui smirked. “Eldest Brother, this is your friend? Second Brother is right—your taste insults the Ji name. How can nobility mingle with lowborn trash?”

Liu Nan scoffed. “Trash? My father is now the Prison Warden of Changshe County!”

Liu Zhen facepalmed internally. Her brother really wasn’t cut out for arguments.

Sure enough, Ji Hui laughed mockingly. “What kind of rank is Prison Warden? A petty village official! The Ji ancestors served as chancellors of Chu—where was your father then?!”

Liu Nan flushed crimson. For the first time, he regretted not studying harder—he lacked the refined vocabulary to counter such taunts. Swearing would only confirm their “lowborn” image.

But his humiliation didn’t last long.

Liu Zhen’s calm voice cut in.

“A four-century aristocratic lineage? Trace back four centuries—what ‘aristocracy’? By blood, are we not all descendants of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors? Were kings and generals born noble? They rose by circumstance and opportunity! If the Ji family were truly mighty, why have you fallen to hiding in the countryside, living among the ‘lowborn trash’ you despise?”