Green Mountain-Chapter 713 - 568: Pure Stream

After leaving the Qian Mansion, Chen Ji rode north; the Duke Cheng Mansion was even more secluded than the Qian Mansion.

Faxiang Square was home to many noble families with hereditary titles, grand and imposing facades, yet the claws and teeth of the stone lions at the entrances were worn smooth, and the vermilion doors had lost their luster.

Chen Ji reined in his horse, stopping before the Duke Cheng Mansion, quietly observing.

One of the stone lions at the mansion's entrance was missing half an ear, while the pedestal of the other was cracked. The plaque with "Duke Cheng Mansion" calligraphed by the Grand Ancestor had faded, exposing the ebony beneath.

There were no grand servants at the door, only a gray-haired old gatekeeper dozing on a small stool, who raised his head slowly upon hearing the sound of hooves.

Before Chen Ji approached, the old gatekeeper slowly stood up, bowed and greeted him: "This must be Mr. Chen; the Lord Duke has awaited you for some time, please follow this old man."

Having said this, the old gatekeeper limped forward and pushed open the vermilion door, which creaked under the strain of its decaying wood and brass fittings.

Chen Ji did not dismount; he rode up the stone steps into the Duke Mansion, the iron-shod hooves of his horse clattering crisply on the stone.

A horse treading into the Duke Mansion.

The old gatekeeper turned back to see his defiance without anger, instead marveling: "The mansion records that when the Ning Dynasty was founded, the old Lord Duke also charged on a horse like this. Coincidentally, the mansion retains a portrait of the old Lord Duke; also with a Qilin Badge... fortunate, some of the spirit of the Ning Dynasty still remains."

Chen Ji felt a stir in his heart, realizing this Duke Mansion was not quite as rumors suggested.

The old gatekeeper limped ahead, with Chen Ji riding behind.

Passing through the entrance hall, the view opened wide.

The arrangement of Duke Cheng Mansion was personally decided by the Grand Ancestor, with five courtyards and grand halls.

But upon closer inspection, the columns' paintings had faded, the glazed tiles atop the eaves missing pieces. Passing a screen wall, the stone-carved inscription "Loyalty and Diligence to Serve the Country" was vigorous, but its edges were weathered and blurred.

Before they turned past the screen wall, Chen Ji heard the sound of a cane slicing the air, followed by muffled grunts.

As he rode past the screen wall, he saw a middle-aged man facing away from the main gate, wielding a cane as thick as two fingers, striking a kneeling man on the ground.

The kneeling man's brocade clothing split open with each strike, his back cringing with each blow, yet he dared not cry out in pain.

The old gatekeeper reminded from a distance: "Lord Duke, Mr. Chen has arrived."

Holding the cane, Duke Cheng continued to strike the brocade-clad man a dozen times before stopping, panting as he tossed the cane aside, turning to look at Chen Ji.

Duke Cheng's square face, sparse brows, straight nose, somewhat lean; dressed in a half-old crow-blue Daoist robe, with a leather belt faded to whiteness.

This person seemed more like a schoolmaster than Duke Cheng.

While Chen Ji scrutinized Duke Cheng, Duke Cheng similarly observed him.

Seeing him ride in, Duke Cheng wasn't angry, instead feeling: "Mr. Chen is younger than I thought, living as I had wished. If I had lived similarly back then, there would be no regret today... my family's misfortune, allowing Mr. Chen to see a joke."

Chen Ji showed no intention to dismount, his gaze shifting from the kneeling brocade-clad man to Duke Cheng: "What is the Lord Duke doing?"

Duke Cheng smiled: "My younger brother speaks recklessly outside, bringing disaster to the Duke Mansion, so he must be disciplined."

Chen Ji held the reins loosely, asking indifferently: "Where did the disaster arise from?"

Duke Cheng responded: "There are four disasters in life: unchecked greed, reckless arrogance, stubbornness unbroken, among them, speech causing disaster ranks first."

Chen Ji pondered: "These four disasters, I nearly harbor them all, ashamed... but Lord Duke, playing the pity tactic doesn't work on me; if you wanted to discipline your brother, you should've done so yesterday, not waited for my arrival."

Duke Cheng, smiling, sat down beside a stone table: "Mr. Chen misunderstood. If today you rushed off to find Feng Xi in anger, then you are but a minor role, not worth me employing the pity tactic; however, if you didn't rush off, indicating you are a formidable character, even if I overused the tactic, it would be futile. Family discipline is family discipline, and why I beat him in your presence was to give you an outlet for anger... I did discipline him yesterday, but my resentment today warranted another session. Peide, show Mr. Chen."

The second master Zhu Peide silently stripped off his clothing, as Chen Ji looked closely, he saw his body covered densely with cane welts.

Cane welts only turn yellowing at the edges after 24 hours.

Duke Cheng had not lied, yesterday's beating was harsher.

Chen Ji held the reins, contemplated for a moment: "Why does the Lord Duke say that anger would involve trouble with Feng Xi?"

At this moment, the old gatekeeper limped over with a tray, on it freshly brewed tea.

Chen Ji's expression shifted.

Duke Cheng laughed heartily, explaining: "Mr. Chen misunderstood; it's not that this grand Duke Mansion lacks maids or servants, nor is it impoverished to feign pitiful, but those with any backbone don't wear pity on their face. Today, the words I have for Mr. Chen, they cannot hear."

Then, Duke Cheng removed a string of Buddhist Treasure from his wrist, tossing it to Chen Ji: "Here are fifty thousand taels of silver, Mr. Chen needn't exert effort frightening us; I am a Ning Dynasty Duke, not like the Qian Family's dandies easily scared."

...

...

Chen Ji caught the Buddhist Treasure, silently rubbing it.

He came to gather silver, unexpectedly finding it so effortless. No threats, no pressure, no intimidation, yet the other had calmly revealed fifty thousand taels of silver.