Chapter 997: The Way Changes with Time

Not long after Chen Xi left Liu Bei's residence, representatives of various aristocratic families, as if receiving some kind of signal, began donning their formal robes and heading towards the designated gathering place set by Chen Xi.

“Why are we heading out so early, my lady?” asked a personal maid, bowing respectfully to Zhen Mi, who was dressed in sunset-red silk attire with a layer of white fur draped over her shoulders.

“No matter the reason, we must be the first to arrive. From every angle, we must fulfill the duties of the host,” Zhen Mi said calmly as she donned the formal gown of the Zhen family’s matriarch, with her maid fastening the intricate clasps.

Perhaps among all the families under the heavens, only the Zhen family would have prepared a matriarch’s formal robe. This once illustrious family was now on the verge of extinction. Despite their unrivaled wealth, only women remained in the direct line of descent.

The maid, sensing her lady’s determination, stopped trying to dissuade her. Zhen Mi clasped her hands in front of her waist and, with deliberate, measured steps, walked outside. She boarded the carriage and knelt inside with the curtain gently lowered. The carriage, adorned with the Zhen family’s distinct emblem, began moving at a steady pace toward the courtyard that the Zhen family had provided for the gathering.

The carriage wheels moved smoothly, without the slightest bump. Once they arrived, Zhen Mi slowly opened the courtyard gate. She took off the golden token she had worn on her wrist, placing it inside her sleeve, and replaced it with the Zhen family’s emblem on a wristband.

“You stay here to greet the guests. I will be inside,” Zhen Mi's cold voice commanded as she walked towards the interior of the courtyard. The place had already been cleaned countless times, and everything had been thoroughly checked. Numerous guards stationed around the area ensured there was no need for concern.

The Zhen family’s servants responded in unison, while Zhen Mi, with a solemn expression, continued walking until she reached the second seat of honor. She gracefully flicked her robe and sat down, closing her eyes.

After sitting quietly for a while, Zhen Mi lifted her wrist and glanced at the shining Zhen emblem on the golden token, momentarily dazzled. She then raised her sleeve and took out another golden token. After staring at it for a long time, she removed the string from the token and hung it around her neck.

Once everything was settled, the hall returned to its former silence, and Zhen Mi, as if completing a task, closed her eyes and began to rest.

As time passed, more and more aristocratic families arrived. Most walked in on foot, mindful of the Zhen family’s carriage at the entrance but without commenting. Quietly, they entered, found their seats at the back, and closed their eyes to rest.

As the minutes ticked by, more families showed up, but very few made any noise. Nearly everyone who entered quickly chose their seat. The aristocratic families weren’t without self-awareness.

The aristocratic families under heaven were neither too many nor too few. Those worthy of being called aristocratic families, if traced back, were either of ancient surnames or nobility. These were truly ancient families. One notable characteristic of these families was that their ancestors either contributed to the advancement of Chinese civilization or had a hand in shaping the current map of China.

This was why Yuan Shu once said that today’s aristocratic families had betrayed their original path. The prestige of these families was not meant for acting as surrogate rulers, much less for oppressing the lower classes.

The legacy of the aristocratic families, as recorded in the annals of history, was their achievements. These achievements were not for a single person or group but for the entire nation.

If we go back far enough, their surnames represent those who once contributed to the progress of civilization. They were the inheritors of culture, the writers of history, and the pioneers of Chinese greatness.

Therefore, these families, in their heyday, had every right to enjoy all they possessed.

Unfortunately, not everything that was once great remains so forever. What saved lives 500 years ago—like bread from that time—would be poison to the people of today.

The Confucianism of the Spring and Autumn and Qin and Han periods was still progressive, but by the Song and Ming dynasties, Confucianism had become unbearable. This is the meaning of the phrase, “The Way changes with time.”

Any ideology that endures owes its survival to being suited to its era. Over time, even the greatest scriptures fade into irrelevance.

Take the Yuan family’s ancestral name “Mei,” which traces back barely 3,000 years. The rise of the aristocracy from nobility to its current state has only taken 400 years. In just 200 years, they have devolved from stabilizing society and mediating social tensions to becoming a toxic influence.

Each surname initially represented a person without a name who took a step toward expansion, contributing their part to the map of China. As the years passed, each surname also came to symbolize monumental achievements. The families gathered here today all had histories that could be traced back to ancient feats.

As the hall filled to nearly 90% capacity, only around 50 or 60 families had yet to arrive. These final arrivals represented the prestigious families of each prefecture under the Han. In other words, these families not only had histories stretching back more than a thousand years but also boasted corresponding power.

Simply put, the governors of these prefectures were typically chosen by these families, and any official who held sway in their regions was someone the families trusted. Without the government’s rules requiring the avoidance of conflicts of interest, even local officials would have found it hard to intervene in these prefectures.

Of course, the so-called avoidance rules—officials serving outside their home regions—were not infallible. Even families like the Chen family of Yingchuan or the Xun family had members who held office in their native lands. The Yuan family was no exception, as evidenced by Yuan Shu. This is why these families were considered to be at the top of the hierarchy.

As the Wei family from Hedong and the Wei family from Chenliu arrived together, the top-tier families finally began making their appearances.

Some of these families had recently suffered devastating losses, while others were merely fragments of their former selves. Still, others were in their prime. Yet no one mocked another’s failure.

Nor did anyone suggest revoking their status. An aristocratic family may fall, may fail, but as long as they retain their pride and heritage, time itself will vindicate them.

At this point, Zhen Mi knew she could no longer remain seated, letting others greet the guests. It was time for the last of the arrivals, and she had to welcome them personally.

Slowly opening her eyes, Zhen Mi, who had sat still like a statue at the second seat of honor, rose gracefully. With a composed and dignified expression, she went to greet the guests. The entire hall was silent.

As soon as the patriarch of the Hedong Wei family, Wei Ji, stepped into the courtyard, he saw Zhen Mi rising to walk towards the entrance. Although neither the Hedong Wei family nor the Chenliu Wei family had particularly good relations with the Zhen family, it wouldn’t do to be disrespectful in front of the gathered aristocrats. Seeing the Zhen family’s matriarch personally coming to greet them, Wei Ji hurried forward.

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