The Qi family’s carriage glided through Chessboard Street in the twilight, the wheels clattering over the bluestone road.

The Hospital Director sat inside the carriage, tilting his body to lift a corner of the curtain and look outside. Pedestrians on the street were becoming scarce, and shops were starting to close.

The Dean softly spoke beside him, "Sir?"

The Hospital Director let the curtain fall back and turned to look at him.

The Dean lowered his voice, "The Qi family hasn’t let any Imperial Physicians visit in the past few days. So why, having awakened today, would they invite us to the Qi family? There’s something..."

The Hospital Director glanced at him, speaking with deep meaning, "One mustn’t be muddle-headed; sometimes it’s wise to play the fool. Whatever illness Mr. Qi has, we’ll see soon enough."

The carriage turned into Fuyou Street, slowing its pace. Fuyou Street was tranquil, with high gray walls on both sides, from which withered wisteria branches reached out.

Eventually, the carriage stopped in front of the Qi family residence.

A servant led the Hospital Director and the Dean over the high threshold. Instead of heading to the Pellucid Tower meant for receiving guests, they went towards the inner residence.

As they entered the corridor to the inner residence, the Dean looked up to see a plaque above the entrance, with gold characters on a black background that read "Shouzhuo."

Moving deeper, the two followed the servant across a long covered bridge, reaching the second gate, which also had a plaque reading "Yangwang."

At the third gate, the Dean again noticed a plaque that read "Mingduan."

This was the Three Gates of the Qi family’s inner residence. The Dean paused, struggling to grasp the deeper meaning for a moment. He simply felt that while government offices had three gates, the Qi Mansion also having three made it seem like a government office itself.

The servant turned back to urge, "Please hurry, my lords."

The Dean snapped out of his thoughts and hastily continued forward.

Before the main house, Li Xuan, Qi Zhenwu, and Qi Zhenzhuo were standing by the door, a small bamboo curtain shielding the entrance. The servant stopped at the door and announced, "Second Master, the Hospital Director and Dean have arrived."

The bamboo curtain lifted, and Qi Xianzun stepped out, scrutinizing the two of them for a moment, "Please, my respected seniors."

His eyes were slightly bloodshot, looking as if he hadn’t slept well for several nights.

Taking a deep breath, the Hospital Director bowed and slipped through the gap in the lifted curtain.

Behind the curtain lay a modest hall, its furnishings simple, just a table and two Taishi chairs, with a few paintings hanging on the walls. Mr. Qi sat upright on one of the Taishi chairs, his attire immaculate, contrary to the appearance of someone unwell.

Yet upon closer inspection, the Hospital Director noted his shallow, nearly imperceptible breathing and countenance like gilded gold, as if he had just been dragged back from the Ghost Gate.

From behind the two, Qi Xianzun spoke, "Gentlemen, what ailment afflicts the old master?"

The Dean cupped his hands, "To answer Second Master, we can’t tell yet; I must check the pulse carefully to be certain."

Qi Xianzun suddenly protested, "No."

The Dean was taken aback, "Without checking the pulse, how can we discern the illness? Even diagnosing the nobility in the palace requires pulse-suspension diagnosis."

Just as Qi Xianzun was about to speak again, Mr. Qi placed his wrist on the table, "Check the pulse then."

The hand was skeletal and clear-jointed, resembling a dried branch.

The Dean whispered, "I’m the big pulse specialty; I should do it."

But the Hospital Director shot him a glance, "I’ll handle it."

The Hospital Director stepped forward in front of Mr. Qi, placing his fingers on the wrist, remaining silent for a long time. The pulse was floating and weak, particularly feeble in the chi position.

Curiously, though weak, the pulse still clung to a thread of vitality, as if someone forcibly anchored this breath.

The Hospital Director’s fingers twitched slightly; this pulse, he had seen before with the Xu family.

Qi Xianzun again asked solemnly, "Hospital Director, what illness befalls the old master?"

The Hospital Director’s fingers lightly tapped on Mr. Qi’s wrist before slowly speaking, "What ailment do you suspect afflicts Mr. Qi?"

The room fell silent.

Mr. Qi gazed at the Hospital Director for a long while, his voice raspy, "Regardless of the illness, I implore you to do your utmost, for I must look after Qi family affairs. I cannot fall ill."

The Hospital Director pondered for a long time before rising to cup his hands, "Mr. Qi is merely troubled by national concerns and exhausted from overwork. Resting for a while should suffice, it is not serious."

Mr. Qi nodded faintly, "The Hospital Director is of exquisite skill. Xianzun, see the guests out on my behalf."

Qi Xianzun opened the bamboo curtain again, saying to the Hospital Director and Dean, "Please."

The Hospital Director turned and left, but before leaving, Qi Xianzun discreetly slipped a string of Buddhist Treasure into his hand, "Hospital Director, say inside what we said, and repeat outside the same. Don’t ruin your own reputation."

The Hospital Director tucked it swiftly into his sleeve, "Understood."

...

...

In the main hall, Qi Xianzun had just let down the bamboo curtain before rushing forward a few steps to support the tottering Mr. Qi, half dragging and half carrying him to the bed inside.

Mr. Qi lay on the bed, staring at the bed canopy for a long time, "Call Li Xuan, Zhenwu, and Zhenzhuo in."

Qi Xianzun responded quietly, "Yes, sir."

He went and pulled back the bamboo curtain, summoning the three into the room.

Mr. Qi continued staring at the bed canopy, softly instructing, "Kneel."

Without needing to mention names, Qi Xianzun and Qi Zhenwu knelt naturally before the bed, while Li Xuan and Qi Zhenzhuo glanced at each other, bewildered.

Mr. Qi hoarsely asked, "Do you understand why my Qi family estate is built with the Three Gates?"

Qi Zhenwu hastily answered, "As the Ritual says, in ruling the world there are three important matters: setting rules, establishing proper etiquette, and verifying texts. Our Qi family’s ancestors built the Three Gates in the estate to instruct future generations, emphasizing that the key to managing the family lies in the precepts written on those gates."

Mr. Qi remained expressionless: "What is written on my Qi family’s Three Gates?"

Qi Xianzun lowered his head: "Shouzhuo, Yangwang, Mingduan."

Mr. Qi asked, "What does Shouzhuo mean?"

Qi Xianzun replied, "Craftiness and deceit are not as good as simple sincerity. When dealing with others, it is wise to reveal seventy percent and keep thirty percent secret."

Mr. Qi asked again, "What does Yangwang mean?"

Qi Xianzun replied again, "Reputation is a public asset of the world. Even if one is virtuous without proof, the people will not follow. If one is virtuous but not respected, the people will not comply. Without reputation, one cannot stand firm."

Mr. Qi inquired once more, "What does Mingduan mean?"

Qi Xianzun answered, "Discern between benefit and harm, make decisions at critical moments. Hesitating in decision-making will inevitably bring chaos."

Mr. Qi let out a gentle sigh, so light it was almost inaudible: "So, you do know. I thought you had forgotten."

Qi Xianzun crawled forward on his knees, his forehead touching the ground: "Father, I know it all, I simply lost my way for a moment."

The main room where Mr. Qi lived alone was neither as luxurious as Pellucid Tower nor as bustling as the Qi Family’s Hanbi Mountain House; it was just a small, humble chamber.

Mr. Qi turned his gaze to his gray-haired second son: "You failed in being simple; your cunning is written all over your face. You failed to maintain our reputation, tarnishing the Qi Family’s good name. Reaching such a state, you should have fought enemies to establish might, so the world wouldn’t dare look down on our family, preventing predators from encircling us to devour...you failed too."

Qi Xianzun lay on the ground, unable to speak for a moment.

Mr. Qi turned to look at Qi Xianzun: "His Majesty knows among Qi Xun’s sons, only Qi Xianshu is truly capable, hence sent him to Jiaozhi, waiting for the Qi Family to destroy its own Great Wall. I once thought you lacked ambition but had ample stability; I did not expect His Majesty to wait this long. Now the world knows Qi Xun is gravely ill, the Qi Family is weak, and has lost the support of the literati across the land. Zixuan, what do you propose should be our course?"

Qi Xianzun cried out inconsolably: "I deserve death."

Mr. Qi sighed deeply: "Your death is of little importance, but even in death, you cannot save the Qi Family. Stand up and speak."

Qi Xianzun and Qi Zhenwu stood up, hands hanging by their sides.

Mr. Qi slowly instructed, "Remove Qi Xianzun and Qi Zhenwu from the family registry, have them return to Ji State to engage in agriculture. What’s left of the hidden properties in the Imperial Capital, hand it all over to Ritual Supervision’s Wu Xiu."

Hearing these words, Qi Xianzun’s face changed dramatically, collapsing before the bed, "Father, how can this be allowed?"

Mr. Qi propped himself up with effort, looking down at his eldest legitimate son beside the bed: "If the Qi Family does not make a decisive sacrifice, how will we win back the hearts of the people?"

Qi Xianzun hurriedly said: "I’ve already instructed that no one is to mention the Li’s Pawnshop affair..."

Mr. Qi lamented bitterly: "You’re being clever, suppressing public opinion is more challenging than damming a river. You may be able to silence one person, but can you still silence the countless voices of the world? Craftiness cannot surpass simple honesty; you must admit your mistakes so others will believe you’ll change!"

Qi Xianzun stood dazed on the spot, kneeling by the bed, looking up at his father.

Mr. Qi looked down at his son: "Zixuan, if you admit your mistakes, those wrongs will be yours and Zhenwu’s concerns. If you don’t admit them, they are the Qi Family’s issues. I don’t have much time left to protect the Qi Family for years; I can only sacrifice one side to safeguard the other. I need you and Zhenwu to retreat to Ji State; our family must consider fallback options, perhaps one day we can rise again."

Qi Xianzun hung his head, silent for a long while, eventually agreeing: "Yes."

Mr. Qi asked, "Is Qi Zhong in the Imperial Capital?"

Qi Xianzun replied: "Yes, I called him to the capital when we dealt with the Chen Family’s bastard son."

Mr. Qi waved his hand: "Go, summon Qi Zhong; I have something for him to do."

"Yes," Qi Xianzun rose, leading Qi Zhenwu step by step as they retreated.

Once only three remained in the room, Mr. Qi looked towards Qi Zhenzhuo, beckoning and patting the bedside.

Qi Zhenzhuo pointed at himself in confusion, then approached and sat at the bedside: "Grandfather?"

Mr. Qi gripped his hand tightly: "Your father is far away in Jiaozhi, and your second uncle and elder brother are incompetent. Now the Qi Family relies on you."

Qi Zhenzhuo, startled by the unexpected responsibility, instinctively tried to pull back his hand: "Grandfather, I haven’t managed family affairs...I am merely a Yulin Army Commander."

Mr. Qi, using all his strength, tightly grasped Qi Zhenzhuo’s hand: "Don’t refuse, I will arrange for your transfer to the Five Cities Military Department to command the Capital Guard. Later, you’ll be sent to lead troops at the border. Should the Jing Dynasty march south again, you’ll have the chance to achieve great merit and find an opportunity to receive a noble title on horseback. Zhenzhuo, the past prosperity and wealth are no more, the Qi family’s future prosperity depends on you.

Qi Zhenzhuo observed Mr. Qi’s earnest expression, hesitated, and agreed: "Alright."

Mr. Qi then turned to look at Li Xuan: "Our family has lost influence in the Capital; there is no one left to rely on. I hope you will wholeheartedly support Zhenzhuo. When he accomplishes meritorious deeds, your son with Zhaoyan may take your Li Family’s surname."

Li Xuan was briefly stunned, then quickly clasped his hands in a gesture of respect: "Li Xuan will wholeheartedly assist."

Mr. Qi’s face showed signs of fatigue: "Go, summon Qi Zhong."

Qi Zhenzhuo helped him to lie back on the bed, and then he and Li Xuan left together.

Moments later, a middle-aged man lifted the bamboo curtain and entered quietly: "Master, Zhong’er is here."

The man wore a half-worn gray cotton robe, looking like a tenant, ordinary enough to be lost in a crowd.

Mr. Qi, gazing at the bed curtains, murmured to himself: "Shouzhuo, Yangwang, Mingduan...Zhong’er, it’s time to establish might. Even if our family is in decline, we can’t be bullied by just anyone."

Qi Zhong stepped forward a few steps, leaned close to Mr. Qi’s side, and brutally asked: "What should be done?"

Mr. Qi’s voice lowered, so quiet only the two could hear: "You personally go to Luocheng City..."