Chen Xi and the others were now focused on one thing: intervening to disrupt the budding connection between Zhang and Liu Bei, pulling Liu Bei away from the prospect of a marriage to a woman of equal status and steering him back towards the simpler option of taking a maidservant as a concubine.
Chen Xi kept his head down, sipping tea. He finally understood why the beef was particularly delicious today. Liu Bei wasn't hosting this meal just for him and his group; rather, when Jia Xu and the others barged in, Liu Bei had been exchanging affectionate glances with Zhang. It seemed that Zhang Shiping and Su Shuang had been forgotten, and Liu Bei was thoroughly enjoying the company of the female family head. Though it might not seem proper to court someone with charm, the fact that Liu Bei was an ideal match couldn't be denied.
When Jia Xu led the others in, they walked in calmly after a brief awkward pause. All were thick-skinned enough not to make a scene, so they each took their seats and continued to eat and drink with Liu Bei as if nothing had happened. As for Zhang, after acknowledging the arrival of Jia Xu and the others with a polite bow, she was led by a maid to the inner courtyard, where Lady Gan, Liu Bei's only officially recognized concubine, would entertain her.
Of course, having Lady Gan, a concubine, receive Zhang was not entirely appropriate according to etiquette, but with Liu Bei lacking a formal wife, she was the only option. At Liu Bei's level, choosing a formal wife was a complex matter that required careful consideration.
Had it not been for Cai Yong's unfortunate actions, Cai Yan would have been the perfect candidate for Liu Bei's formal wife—her reputation, lineage, and background were all impeccable. However, due to Cai Yong's misdeeds, Cai Yan was no longer a viable option, leaving Liu Bei without a good solution. Cai Yan's status made it impossible for her to be a concubine, so Liu Bei could only lament his misfortune.
As for Zhang, she was actually a very suitable match for Liu Bei's formal wife. If the two truly found common ground, there was little that Chen Xi or anyone else could do to intervene. Even though it would disrupt the established historical dynamics of "Wei had good men, Wu loved young girls, and Shu was full of male camaraderie," political ambitions took precedence, and there was little that couldn't be justified.
Turning back to Cai Yan, Zhang, Mi Zhen, and Zhen Ji, these women had clear roles—either they could be married as wives or not at all. Mi Zhen could potentially become a concubine, but given how hard Mi Zhu was working to amass wealth for her dowry, making her a concubine was unthinkable. In Liu Bei's previous life, even after becoming the governor of Xu Province, he still took Mi Zhen as his legitimate wife, not a concubine. So, unless you were a prince of the blood, the idea of Mi Zhen as a concubine was purely a fantasy.
On the other hand, if you did reach the level of a prince, then those high-status women might indeed end up as concubines…
In short, it was extremely difficult to court these women unless you were single and of very high status. Someone like Chen Xi, if he were still an unmarried nobleman, might have a chance with any of these women. But now, with Fan Jian as his primary wife, that possibility was out of reach—no prominent family would risk their reputation by marrying their daughters into such a situation.
That's why Chen Xi now viewed Cai Yan and Mi Zhen purely with admiration, without any ulterior motives. Mi Zhu, knowing this, felt entirely at ease. Even when Mi Zhen visited Chen Xi's home, Mi Zhu had no fear that Chen Xi would suddenly lose control and take advantage of her.
After the usual banter and meal, Chen Xi finally stood up. "Lord Xuande, I have a request to make."
As soon as Chen Xi spoke, everyone else at the table, as if following a coordinated signal, set down their chopsticks. Liu Bei neatly arranged his own chopsticks on the plate, then straightened up in his seat. It was clear that his etiquette training had had some effect.
"Zichuan, if you have anything to say, please speak. If I have made any mistakes, I ask that you all help correct them," Liu Bei replied, showing no dissatisfaction despite not knowing what the issue was. He maintained his composure and nodded for Chen Xi to continue.
"I often read in historical records about emperors who, due to their love of luxury, led the national treasury to ruin and caused the people to suffer. This has always puzzled me," Chen Xi said with a troubled expression.
"This time, the fault is mine," Liu Bei immediately admitted, understanding that Chen Xi was referring to the incident with the lavish spending on the city's paving.
"Well, I believe that blaming the depletion of the treasury on an emperor's love of luxury is misguided. The lack of funds for disaster relief, too, shouldn't be placed solely on the emperor. After all, a nation employs so many officials to manage affairs—how much can an emperor really spend?" Chen Xi said, turning to glance at everyone present.
"May I ask, Lord Xuande, how much of the nation's tax revenue could a ruler possibly spend?" Chen Xi's question was strange, as it didn't directly blame Liu Bei for anything.
"About one percent of the state's tax revenue should be enough," Liu Bei hesitated briefly, even when considering extravagant luxuries and grand mansions. But one percent seemed more than sufficient.
"So where does the other ninety-nine percent go? That's the root cause of a nation's downfall. The emperor can't possibly spend that much, and the idea that luxurious tastes lead to national ruin is just a joke. How extravagant can one be?" Chen Xi said with a cold laugh. "To be blunt, if Lord Xuande wanted to build the most magnificent mansion in the world, not only could I do it without spending money, but I could even make a profit. So, luxury isn't the issue. Spending money isn't a problem either; the incompetence of officials is the real issue."
"The rulers always wish for everyone to live better lives. This can be said of emperors, the Three Dukes, and the Nine Ministers. They work for stability in the kingdom, whether for the sake of the country or their own families, they strive to keep the world in order," Chen Xi said, looking at Liu Bei. He wanted Liu Bei to understand that the world wasn't simply about right and wrong.
"The ambitions of a schemer aren't inherent; they're forced out by the pressures of the world. The fault lies with everyone. A world plunged into chaos is the fault of all its people. We shouldn't focus on the mistakes of those who came before us. Sometimes, even if one doesn't wish to do something, they may be forced into it by circumstances. Do you understand what I'm saying, Lord Xuande?" Chen Xi asked, smiling as he saw the confused look on Liu Bei's face.
Liu Bei nodded, then shook his head. Chen Xi looked around at the others. He knew Jia Xu and Li You understood perfectly. Guo Jia was also clear on the matter, while Liu Ye appeared to be overthinking it. Lu Su seemed to have some objections, and Man Chong looked dissatisfied. Each person had their own reaction.
"Lord Xuande, you don't need to fully grasp this right now. Just keep it in mind, and over time, it will become clear. But you did mention how much of the national tax revenue would be sufficient for an emperor's spending," Chen Xi said casually, scratching his ear as if he hadn't heard Liu Bei clearly.
"One percent of the nation's tax revenue should be enough for an emperor's expenses," Liu Bei repeated, prompting Jia Xu and Li You to exchange glances.
"Since Lord Xuande believes that one percent of the national tax revenue is sufficient for an emperor's spending, we will allocate the same proportion of our territory's revenue for your salary. I ask for your understanding in this matter, Lord Xuande. And I hope that you will continue to seek out capable ministers and talented officials, for the broader your rule and the more prosperous your people, the higher your salary will be," Chen Xi said with a bow.