Chapter 569: Pure Stream |
Leaving the Qian Estate, Chen Ji rode his horse north. The Cheng Duke Estate was even more secluded than the Qian Estate.
Auspicious Origin Ward. Most of the residences here belonged to nobles whose titles had been passed down through generations. The courtyards were largely magnificent, but the claws and teeth of the stone lions in front of many estates had worn smooth, and the vermilion doors were much dimmer.
Chen Ji reined in his horse and stopped in front of the Cheng Duke Estate, silently observing.
Of the two stone lions in front of the Duke Estate, one was missing half an ear, and the base of the other had a crack. The plaque on the lintel bearing the four characters 'Cheng Duke Estate' was written by the Founding Emperor himself, but the gold paint was visibly peeled off, revealing the natural color of the ebony underneath.
There were no arrogant servants guarding the door, only a gray-haired old gatekeeper dozing on a small stool. He didn't slowly raise his head until he heard the sound of hooves.
Before Chen Ji could approach, the old gatekeeper slowly stood up and bowed appropriately, "This must be Lord Chen. The Duke has been waiting for a long time. Please follow this humble servant."
With that, the old gatekeeper limped over to push open the vermilion door. The rotten wood and copper fittings on the door emitted a creaking sound of being overwhelmed.
Chen Ji did not dismount. Instead, he rode his horse up the stone steps and stepped into the Duke Estate. The iron-shoed hooves made a crisp sound on the stone steps.
Riding a horse into a Duke Estate.
Chen Ji's heart stirred. This Duke Estate did not seem to be like the outside rumors.
The old gatekeeper limped ahead, while Chen Ji followed on horseback.
Passing through the entrance hall, the space suddenly opened up.
The regulations of the Cheng Duke Estate were set by the Founding Emperor himself: a five-courtyard layout with towering halls.
But upon closer inspection, the painted colors on the pillars had faded, and a few glazed tiles on the roof were missing. Passing by the screen wall, the inscription 'Loyal, Diligent, and Serving the Country' carved on it had vigorous strokes, but the corners had been blurred by the wind and rain.
Before turning the corner of the screen wall, Chen Ji heard the sound of a cane slicing through the air, along with muffled grunts.
He rode past the screen wall and saw a middle-aged man with his back to the door, holding a cane as thick as two fingers, whipping the back of a person kneeling on the ground one after another.
The fine clothes of the kneeling man were split open by the beating. With every strike of the cane, the man's back trembled, but he didn't dare to cry out in pain.
The old gatekeeper reminded from afar, "Duke, Lord Chen has arrived."
The Cheng Duke, holding the cane, whipped the finely dressed man over ten more times before stopping. Panting, he threw the cane on the ground, turned around, and looked at Chen Ji.
The Cheng Duke had a square face, sparse eyebrows, a straight nose, and was somewhat thin. He wore a semi-old raven-green Daoist robe, with a washed-out leather belt completely tied around his waist.
This person didn't look like the Cheng Duke, but rather a school teacher.
When Chen Ji scrutinized the Cheng Duke, the Cheng Duke was also scrutinizing him.
Seeing him ride his horse in, the Cheng Duke also wasn't angry, only sighing emotionally, "Lord Chen is younger than I thought. You've lived to become the person I wanted to be. If I had lived like this back then, I wouldn't have to waste time now... It's a family misfortune, making Lord Chen see a joke."
Chen Ji had no intention of dismounting. His gaze swept over the finely clothed man kneeling on the ground, and then looked at the Cheng Duke, "What is the Duke doing here?"
The Cheng Duke smiled, "My foolish younger brother spoke nonsense outside and brought disaster to the Duke Estate, so naturally he must be disciplined."
Chen Ji held the reins and said casually, "Where does the disaster come from?"
The Cheng Duke replied, "There are four disasters in life: greed without end, arrogant and fearless madness, clinging without breaking through, and finally, disaster coming from the mouth, which ranks first."
Chen Ji was thoughtful, "I've almost collected all of these four disasters, I'm ashamed... But Duke, a bitter flesh trick won't work on me either. If the Duke wanted to teach his younger brother a lesson, he should have done so yesterday. There was no need to wait until I arrived."
The Cheng Duke smiled and sat down at the stone table, "Lord Chen misunderstood. If you had let it go to your head today and went to find Feng Xi first, then you would just be a minor character, not worth me using a bitter flesh trick; but if it didn't go to your head, it means you're a ruthless character, and even if I used the bitter flesh trick to death, it would be useless. Family law is family law. As for why I had to beat him in front of you, it's naturally to let you vent your anger... I already taught him a lesson yesterday, but I was so angry today that I decided to teach him another lesson. Pei De, show it to Lord Chen."
Zhu Peide, the Second Master of the Duke Estate, silently took off his clothes. Chen Ji looked closely and saw crisscrossing cane marks densely covering his body.
The welts from a cane whipping only formed a pale yellow color around the edges after twenty-four hours.
The Cheng Duke had not lied; he had beaten him even harder yesterday.
Chen Ji held the reins and pondered for a moment, "Why did the Duke say that I would have lost my mind to go and cause trouble for Feng Xi?"
At this moment, the old gatekeeper limped over carrying a tray, which contained freshly brewed tea.
Chen Ji's expression turned strange.
The Cheng Duke laughed heartily and explained, "Lord Chen misunderstood. It's not that my huge Duke Estate doesn't even have a maid or a servant. My Duke Estate is not so shabby as to play pathetic. Anyone with a bit of backbone wouldn't write 'pathetic' on their face. It's just that what I'm going to say to Lord Chen today, they shouldn't hear."
At this moment, the Cheng Duke took off a string of Buddhist Prayer Beads Currency from his wrist and tossed it through the air to Chen Ji, "This is fifty thousand taels of silver. Lord Chen doesn't need to waste any more effort intimidating us. This humble one is a Duke of the Ning Dynasty, and won't be scared like the spoiled heir of the Qian Family."
...
...
Chen Ji caught the Buddhist Prayer Beads Currency and silently stroked it.
He had come to raise money, but he didn't expect it to be this easy. No threats, no pressure, no intimidation, and the other party frankly took out fifty thousand taels of silver.
Fifty thousand taels was almost enough to buy half a street in the outer city.
Chen Ji said casually, "The Duke Estate doesn't seem to be as down and out as the rumors say, throwing out fifty thousand taels so easily. It's just that the Duke putting on this show has thoroughly confused me."
"A starved camel is still bigger than a horse, there are still some family assets," the Cheng Duke pointed to the seat across the stone table, "If Lord Chen feels that my sincerity is sufficient, you can dismount and have a chat."
Chen Ji asked in return, "I am now a treacherous official of the Eunuch Faction. Doesn't the Duke avoid suspicion?"
The Cheng Duke laughed heartily, "Lord Chen, in the eyes of the Pure Stream Faction, you are a treacherous official of the Eunuch Faction, and I am a national thief who consumes state stipends. You and I should rightfully sit at the same table."
Chen Ji thought for a moment, frankly dismounted, and sat across from the Cheng Duke, "What does the Duke want to say to me?"
The Cheng Duke changed the subject, "Does Lord Chen know what the Pure Stream Faction is?"
Chen Ji pondered for a moment, "Noble and uncorrupted families?"
The Cheng Duke shook his head and tapped the stone table with his finger, "Lord Chen, the Pure Stream Faction is the standard in this Imperial Court. The ethics, morals, poetry, books, and etiquette are all determined by them. They want to control the power to judge ethics and morals. The common people generally believe that among the Six Ministries, the Ministry of Personnel should be the head, but no, it's the Ministry of Rites."
Chen Ji shot a glance at the Cheng Duke, "The Duke seems to have quite a bit of resentment towards the Pure Stream Faction?"
"More than just resentment?" the Cheng Duke scoffed, "They claim that merchants are not allowed to wear silk and satin, because it oversteps the bounds of propriety. They claim that women's skirts cannot exceed three widths, because it corrupts public morals. They claim that playing drinking games while drinking is forbidden, to prevent promiscuity and leisure. But a family banquet of thirty-six dishes is called 'frugality' by them, playing drinking games is called an 'elegant gathering,' and staying up all night is called a 'poetry gathering.' They have all the words to themselves."
Chen Ji interrupted, "Duke, we're talking too deeply for people who just met. I have no intention of discussing this matter."
The Cheng Duke smiled, "Lord Chen is indeed more cautious than the rumors say. But you avoid them, and they don't avoid you. Lord Chen wants to save Commandery Princess Baili, how can you bypass the Qi Family? Do you know, the silver that you are working so hard and risking your life to gather, they can mobilize with a wave of their hand. Of course, it's not that simple, after all, noble and uncorrupted families are not allowed to be involved with merchants, so they have to move their silver secretly."
Chen Ji was thoughtful. The Qi Family was different from other families. The servants of the Chen Family, Xu Family, Hu Family, and Yang Family were all doing business. Only the Qi Family had no visible industries. Even the servants and managers in the family were not allowed to do business. What the Qi Family had was only reputation and official positions.
But the luxury of the Bright Zither Building was no less than any other family.
Seeing him thinking, the Cheng Duke smiled and cleared his doubts, "When a noble and uncorrupted family demands a bribe, it's not called demanding a bribe. It's called an Ice Gift and a Charcoal Gift. The industries of noble families are not in their own hands either; they are all hidden in the dark."
The Cheng Duke picked up the tea on the table and took a short sip, scrutinizing Chen Ji's expression over the rim of the cup.
A moment later, he set down the teacup and continued, "Lord Chen, although the Qi Family has no visible industries, no one would let so much ready silver sit idly in the accounts. But the silver they can mobilize within five days is definitely more than you expected. Therefore, Lord Chen, if you want to save Commandery Princess Baili, the Qi Family is a high mountain you cannot bypass."
Chen Ji remained impassive, "So the Duke wants to persuade me not to fight with the Qi Family?"
The Cheng Duke shook his head, smiling but not speaking.
Chen Ji let out an "oh", "So the Cheng Duke wants to use me as a knife."
The Cheng Duke laughed heartily, "I just want Lord Chen to know what he is facing. Those are the Pure Stream censors that even His Majesty finds troublesome. How dare you provoke them so casually?"
Chen Ji also picked up his teacup and took a sip, his expression calm, "I presume the Duke has been waiting for me for a long time, not just to mock me."
The Cheng Duke reined in his expression, "But the words 'Pure Stream' are actually a double-edged sword. Can Elder Qi go to a brothel to listen to music? No, he is the literary heart of the world. Can the sons of the Qi Family cockfight and ride horses? No, their family holds poetry and etiquette as traditions. Can the sons of the Qi Family do business to accumulate wealth? No, they must maintain a poor family style. Elder Qi has been an official for over forty years, have you ever heard of him perverting the law for bribes, or selling official positions and titles? No, because he cannot have these."
Chen Ji said impassively, "But I know of a son of the Qi Family who often goes to the Eight Great Hutongs, and is a regular customer there."
The Cheng Duke said with interest, "Lord Chen is talking about Qi Zhenzhuo, right? That was his older brother Qi Zhenwu intentionally spoiling him for fear that someone would fight for the family's power."
Chen Ji blanked.
The Cheng Duke suddenly asked, "Lord Chen, what do you think the Pure Stream censors fear the most?"
Chen Ji did not answer.
The Cheng Duke answered himself, "What they fear the most is inconsistency between their actions and words. They preach loyalty, filial piety, chastity, and righteousness, so they themselves must be loyal, filial, chaste, and righteous. This is the foundation of their establishment. But how boring is that? They have to play the Saint their whole lives, living not like human beings, but like clay statues. It's uncomfortable for others to look at, and it's uncomfortable for them to live."
Chen Ji brought the teacup to his mouth, unwilling to continue the conversation.
The Cheng Duke didn't care and continued, "Lord Chen, the Pure Stream Faction is cautious and cherishes their reputation. They wipe their asses completely clean every time. If you want to use Feng Xi to grasp their weaknesses, it's just wishful thinking. A minor character like Feng Xi is not worthy of knowing their secrets."
Chen Ji said casually, "What if we trace their industries, let the people of the world know that the Pure Stream is not pure."
The Cheng Duke shook his head again, "The silver and money they mobilize will definitely pass through many hands before reaching them. You won't be able to trace it to them."
Chen Ji stared at the Cheng Duke, "So, there's nothing we can do?"
The Cheng Duke said sincerely, "There is only one way: first make them arrogant, because people only reveal flaws when they are carried away."
Chen Ji shook his head, "I can't wait that long... Why is the Duke telling me this today?"
The Cheng Duke stood up and looked at the neatly trimmed Buddhist Pine in the courtyard, "Lord Chen may or may not know what situation our Cheng Duke Estate is currently in. But Lord Chen probably doesn't know yet why my Duke Estate is down and out."
"I am willing to hear the details."
The Cheng Duke sighed, "When the Founding Emperor established the dynasty, he conferred titles to ten Dukes with perpetual inheritance. Today, including my Cheng Duke Estate, only three remain. Setting others aside, my Cheng Duke Estate is down and out because of just two words: Pure Stream."
Chen Ji's heart stirred.
The Cheng Duke smiled and asked, "Our Cheng Duke Estate now receives an annual stipend of two thousand shi from the Imperial Court, which converts to one thousand five hundred taels of silver. Lord Chen, what do you think this one thousand five hundred taels of silver is enough to do? It's not enough for anything, so we have to find a way to support ourselves."
"Our Cheng Duke Estate has a farmstead in Tongzhou, where we grow some melons, fruits, and vegetables, and raise some chickens and ducks. Because we couldn't finish eating them ourselves, we sent them to the capital city to sell. In less than a month, an impeachment from the Chief Surveillance Bureau was presented to the Emperor, stating that our Duke Estate was 'competing for profit with the common people' and tarnishing the noble reputation."
"Later, our Duke Estate took shares to raise and sell horses with merchants. The Chief Surveillance Bureau stated that our Duke Estate 'colluded with merchants' and intended to sell horses to the Jing Dynasty, which scared me into stopping the matter overnight."
"The Pure Stream censors stare at us. As long as they catch a single mistake, it is considered 'noble arrogance, disregarding the law.' If we associate with courtiers, it is 'a tail too big to wag, plotting rebellion.' From then on, I understood. Those of us nobles who rose by military merit cannot have money, power, or reputation, and cannot even have our own thoughts."
The Cheng Duke looked at Chen Ji, his eyes profound, "How can my Cheng Duke Estate not decline? I have a multi-generational blood feud with the Pure Stream Faction..."
Chen Ji interrupted, "The reason the Duke gave is a bit too lame. This humble one does not want to be involved in the struggle between the nobles and the Pure Stream Faction, nor the struggle between civil officials and military generals."
The Cheng Duke said meaningfully, "Lord Chen, you are also a noble now. You should stand on our side."
Chen Ji stood up and cupped his hands, "Farewell."
With that, he mounted his horse, shook the reins, and walked out of the Duke Estate.
The Cheng Duke looked at his departing back and said loudly, "Regarding the matter of giving silver today, does Lord Chen hope my Duke Estate keeps it a secret or makes it known?"
Chen Ji said without looking back, "Please help me make it known. Taking such a large sum of silver from a Duke Estate gives me a lot of face."
The Cheng Duke smiled and said to the old gatekeeper beside him, "Young and frivolous. If I were his age, having his boldness and decisiveness would be great."
The old gatekeeper cleared up the tea set by the side and smiled, "The Duke was not necessarily worse than him when you were young."
The Cheng Duke shook his head, "Far worse. I am now like that Buddhist Pine in the corner, trimmed by others, unable to grow tall, down, or sideways. I am living as if I'm dead."
The old gatekeeper changed the topic, "Duke, Lord Qi just had someone pass a message over, asking what you plan to do next?"
The Cheng Duke walked up to the Buddhist Pine, reached out and stroked the neatly trimmed canopy, "Just let the Eunuch Faction arm-wrestle with the Pure Stream Faction for a while."
He withdrew his hand, turned, and walked toward the inner courtyard, "We will quietly wait for heaven's time." (End of Chapter)