CHAPTER 771: CHAPTER 89: IN THE CAPITAL, KINGS MEET_2

"I am a disciple from the Academy, Pharmacist Li. May I ask who you are?"

Ji Zichang glanced at the wine jug, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

Since childhood, he was unaccustomed to sharing a wine jug or utensils with others.

Over more than thirty years, this habit had become an imprint ingrained in his instincts. Even though Li Guanyi drank by tilting the jug without making contact, there was still a lump in his heart. Upon hearing the question, he smiled and said,

"I am Chang Wen, a disciple from the Academy. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting you."

He took the wine jug back and hid it to the side, quietly wiping it down with his hand.

There was a moment of silence; then he passed the wine jug over.

Li Guanyi, curious, asked, "What’s wrong?"

Ji Zichang replied with a warm smile, "I have always enjoyed bestowing favors upon others."

"Since Mr. Li likes this wine, I will give it to you as a gift for our meeting."

Li Guanyi felt that even the people from the Academy and the Qilin were particular about such matters. The Old Qilin gave presents upon meeting, as did Chang Wen, this uncle with a scruffy beard. Li Guanyi said, "Then I shall accept it without refusing."

"Should the opportunity arise, I will give you something in return."

Li Guanyi, admiring the wine jug, said, "It’s so exquisite; it must be expensive."

Ji Zichang’s mouth twitched.

What’s a jug?

The wine inside is even more valuable!

This fellow, true to the legends, was merely of humble origins. If he were an insightful son from a noble family, he would instantly recognize that this item was an imperial tribute, made from a whole piece of silver, hammered into shape, with beautifully crafted patterns.

The rich and mellow wine was also the highest quality tribute wine.

Without any hesitations, Li Guanyi took the wine jug from the Great Emperor’s hand, then strapped it to his waist and said, "Having accepted a gift from you, I cannot sit idly by without offering something in return, even if I cannot immediately reciprocate."

"I noticed you sitting here, deep in sighs. Are you troubled by something?"

There was still a part of Li Guanyi’s nature that was rough and heroic.

The main reason was that he felt indebted, unable to just walk away.

Ji Zichang was silent as he looked at the sixteen-year-old youth before him, seeing his high-spirited demeanor, he sighed internally.

What else could it be?

It was because of you, wasn’t it?

But he could not say that, and the education of kings had bestowed upon Ji Zichang a measure of magnanimity and cunning, stirring thoughts within him. The world is vast, having met this person, let you decide your own fate.

Ji Zichang spoke in a gentle voice, "Indeed, I face some dilemmas."

"I am alone, and it’s hard to see clearly. Fortunately, I’ve met you. Perhaps you could give me some advice and help me make a decision."

Li Guanyi laughed, "Alright, but I’m only good at wielding swords and practicing martial arts.

"Any advice I offer is unlikely to be of much use."

"Nevertheless, please share, I can still be a listener."

Ji Zichang gave a faint smile and sat in the shade of the tree, cross-legged, with a straight back, exuding a subtle grace and nobility. The youth leaned against the side of a rock, sitting in the sunlight with casual legs crossed and hands behind his head.

Ji Zichang said, "I am a noble son."

Li Guanyi nodded, "It’s apparent."

Ji Zichang asked, "How can you tell?"

Li Guanyi pointed at his posture and said, "Your manners are very well-taught. Even now, when nobody is watching, you maintain that bearing."

"And you’re very wealthy!"

Ji Zichang’s mood was interrupted, and the corner of his mouth curled in resignation. In a gentle voice, he said, "As a disciple from the Academy, you should know that a gentleman is cautious when alone.

"The more one is alone, the clearer one’s self-cultivation appears."

Li Guanyi exclaimed in admiration, "Impressive!"

Ji Zichang, watching the youth earnestly express his admiration, found it difficult to maintain the same atmosphere. He continued to sit upright and said,

"I am a son from an aristocratic family. And now, it’s my turn to take the reins of the family. However, even noble families do not always flourish."

"For the last hundred and eighty years, our family has finally begun to decline."

"The descendants of two old partners who grew the family business with my grandfather are slowly withdrawing their affections from us, planning to seize our shops and real estate. The elders in the family are just concerned with keeping up appearances."

Ji Zichang likened the Red Emperor’s World to a family and shortened the timeline to avoid Li Guanyi catching on, then continued,

"And now, there’s a new, young shopkeeper within our family’s business."

"This young shopkeeper is capable. Although our underground assets are still modest, he’s considered one of the most outstanding among his peers for starting from scratch at such a young age; it’s just a pity he’s rather young to match the older generation’s influence."

Li Guanyi asked, "So what?"

Ji Zichang looked at the young man before him and said, "So,"

"What should I do?"

"I have two ideas. The first is to follow what those uncles in the family think, to win over this young shopkeeper back into the main family by marrying one of the daughters of our house to him.

"Then control him, on the one hand, to prevent him from becoming powerful enough to want to swallow our property as the old partners’ descendants did, and on the other hand, to use him to confront the descendants of those two old partners and maintain the family’s face."

Li Guanyi was stunned, then swore unabashedly,

"That’s just stupid!"

Ji Zichang paused for a moment, feeling that these words expressed what he really thought about those so-called uncles and his own feelings, but still instinctively defended, "The family elders also have their own considerations."