Gu Chunzhi was the legitimate second son of Gu Mansion, holding the title of Marquis Chiping, a third-rank marquis.
Of course, this title had been secured by Father Gu—Duke of Xinning Prefecture Gu Yan—at enormous cost, using every possible means to obtain Military Merit and win the title for Gu Chunzhi.
Of course, it was merely a third-rank marquis title, without any fief.
In Great Zhou, obtaining a hereditary title with a fief was more than ten times harder than obtaining one without land. Without great merit, no fief would be granted.
This was also Duke of Xinning Prefecture's explanation to his legitimate second son, Gu Chunzhi. Though there was no fief, Duke of Xinning Prefecture had long made plans to carve out a county from his own fief and designate it as Gu Chunzhi's nominal fief, providing for his future livelihood.
However, this nominal fief would only be granted after the current Duke of Xinning Prefecture, Gu Yan, passed away and the heir, Gu Guangzhi, succeeded to the title.
That was beside the point. But when Gu Chunzhi hosted this banquet, he had indeed used the ceremonial standards of a third-rank marquis.
With Father Gu Yan's instructions, everything from the past had been put behind them.
Besides, given Gu Tieqi's current military achievements and influence, the brothers Gu Guangzhi and Gu Chunzhi had no choice but to view him in a different light.
That was reality.
Within a family, even between brothers as close as flesh and blood, status and treatment still depended on the person. That was reality.
Gu Tieqi arrived at the banquet on time.
Gu Chunzhi personally came out to greet him at the mansion gates, taking Gu Tieqi by the arm as they entered together.
Though he was unaccustomed to such warmth, Gu Tieqi was