Green Mountain-Chapter 714 - 568: Pure Stream (2)

Fifty thousand taels are almost enough to buy half a street in the Outer City.

Chen Ji replied nonchalantly, "The Duke Mansion doesn't seem as downfallen as rumored, tossing out fifty thousand taels at will. But, Lord Duke's motive is somewhat puzzling to me."

"A lean camel is still bigger than a horse, there are still some family resources," Duke Cheng gestured to the seat opposite the stone table, "If Mr. Chen thinks my sincerity is sufficient, feel free to dismount and have a chat."

Chen Ji retorted, "Am I not considered a treacherous member of the Eunuch Party? Aren't you avoiding suspicion, Lord Duke?"

Duke Cheng laughed heartily, "Mr. Chen, in the eyes of those Clean Flow Officials, you're a treacherous member of the Eunuch Party, and I am a national profiteer. It seems fitting for us to share a table."

Chen Ji pondered for a moment, then dismounted calmly to sit opposite Duke Cheng, "What does Your Grace wish to discuss with me?"

Duke Cheng shifted the conversation, "Mr. Chen, do you know what Clean Stream refers to?"

Chen Ji thought for a moment, "Noble families?"

Duke Cheng shook his head and tapped the stone table with his fingers, "Mr. Chen, the Pure Stream is the standard on this court; the morality, the principles of etiquette and rites, all must be determined by them. They want to hold the power of deciding moral ethics. The common folks think that among the Six Ministries, the Ministry of Personnel is paramount; no, it is the Ministry of Rites."

Chen Ji glanced at Duke Cheng, "You seem to hold quite a grudge against the Pure Stream, Your Grace?"

"More than a grudge," Duke Cheng sneered, "They say merchants shouldn't wear silk and satin because it violates the rules of etiquette. They say women's skirts shouldn't exceed three panels because it's indecent. They say drinking without rules is promiscuous. But at their own feasts, thirty-six courses are called 'frugal,' drinking games are 'elegant gatherings,' all-nighters are 'poetry parties'—they have spun all the words to their liking."

Chen Ji interrupted, "Your Grace, our acquaintance is shallow, yet the words run deep, and I have no intention of debating this."

Duke Cheng smiled, "Mr. Chen, you are more cautious than rumors suggest, but even if you avoid them, they don't avoid you. If you want to save Princess Bai Li, how can you evade the Qi family? Do you know, the silver you've painstakingly risked your life to raise, they can wave a hand and summon. Of course, it's not that simple, as noble families are not supposed to collude with merchants, so they have to discreetly allocate funds as well."

Chen Ji seemed pensive. The Qi family was different from others; while the servants of the Chen, Xu, Hu, and Yang families engaged in business, the Qi family openly had no industry, and even their servants and stewards were forbidden from engaging in commerce. The Qi family possessed only prestige and official positions.

Yet the luxury of Pellucid Tower was no less than any other family.

Duke Cheng, seeing him thoughtful, smiled and explained, "In the Pure Stream, extortion is not called extortion but ice tribute and charcoal gift. Their industries are also hidden, not in their own hands."

Duke Cheng picked up the tea on the table, sipping lightly while observing Chen Ji's expression over the rim of the cup.

After a moment, he set the teacup down and continued, "Mr. Chen, although the Qi family openly has no assets, no one would leave so much current silver idle without movement. Yet the amount of silver they can mobilize within five days is undoubtedly more than you expect. Thus, Mr. Chen, in your effort to save Princess Bai Li, the Qi family is an insurmountable mountain.

Chen Ji remained impassive, "So, Your Grace is persuading me not to contend with the Qi family?"

Duke Cheng shook his head, smiling silently. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Chen Ji murmured, "So, Duke Cheng intends to use me as a Daozi."

Duke Cheng laughed aloud, "I just want Mr. Chen to understand what he's up against. That's a group of Clean Flow Officials even His Majesty finds troublesome. How can you dare provoke them lightly?"

Chen Ji also picked up a teacup, took a sip, and said calmly, "Presumably, Your Grace has been waiting for me for some time, not just to ridicule me."

Duke Cheng composed himself once more and shifted the conversation, "But the term Clean Stream is also a double-edged sword. Can Mr. Qi visit a brothel to listen to music? No, he's revered as the nation's literary heart. Can the Qi family heirs gamble on fights or ride races? No, they're bound by tradition. Can they engage in business to amass wealth? No, they must maintain a frugal family image. Mr. Qi has been in office for over forty years; have you ever heard of him engaging in corruption or selling official positions? No, because he cannot afford to."

Chen Ji remained expressionless, "I do know a Qi family member who is frequently at the Eight Great Hutongs, quite a regular there."

Duke Cheng chuckled with interest, "Mr. Chen, are you referring to Qi Zhenzhuo? That was a ploy by his elder brother Qi Zhenwu to spoil him deliberately for fear that others would contest the family's power."

Chen Ji was startled.

Duke Cheng suddenly asked, "Mr. Chen, what do you think the Clean Flow Officials fear most?"

Chen Ji did not answer.

Duke Cheng answered himself, "What they fear most is inconsistency between their words and actions. They promote loyalty, piety, integrity, and honor, meaning they themselves must embody these qualities; this is their foundation. But this is so tedious—they have to act like saints for a lifetime, living more like statues than people. Others find it insufferable, and they themselves live in discomfort."

Chen Ji brought his teacup to his lips, unwilling to continue the conversation.

Duke Cheng continued regardless, "Mr. Chen, the Clean Flow is cautious and cherishes their reputation, always ensuring to keep themselves very clean. If you want to use Feng Xi to catch them on any wrongdoing, it's wishful thinking; such a small fry as Feng Xi is not privy to their secrets."

Chen Ji casually remarked, "What if we investigate their industries, exposing to the world that the Clean Stream is not clean?"

Duke Cheng shook his head once more, "The money they allocate passes through many hands before reaching them. You won't catch any evidence directly linking to them."

Chen Ji stared at Duke Cheng, "So, there is no solution?"

Duke Cheng earnestly replied, "There's only one way: first let them become arrogant because only when people become complacent do they reveal flaws."

Chen Ji shook his head, "I can't wait that long... why is Your Grace telling me this today?"

Duke Cheng stood up, gazing at the neatly pruned podocarpus trees in the courtyard, "The situation of my Duke Mansion now, Mr. Chen might not know or perhaps knows a bit. But Mr. Chen likely doesn't understand why my Duke Mansion has fallen."

"I would like to know the details."

Duke Cheng sighed, "When the Grand Ancestor founded the dynasty, he granted ten hereditary Duke titles without discontinuation, and now, including my Duke Mansion, only three remain. Regardless of others, my Duke Mansion fell for two reasons: the Clean Stream."

Chen Ji's heart stirred.

Duke Cheng smiled and asked, "Currently, my Duke Mansion receives an annual salary of two thousand stone from the court, equivalent to fifteen hundred taels of silver. Mr. Chen, do you think fifteen hundred taels is enough for what? It's not enough for anything, so we have to find ways to sustain ourselves."

"My Duke Mansion has a manor in Tongzhou, where we grow some fruits and vegetables and raise chickens and ducks. Whatever we can't consume, we send to sell in the Imperial Capital. Within a month, the Imperial Inspection Office's impeachment arrived at the Imperial Court, accusing my Duke Mansion of 'competing with the people for profit,' sullying the nobles' reputation."

"Later, my Duke Mansion joined merchants in horse breeding and trading. The Imperial Inspection Office accused us of 'colluding with merchants,' intending to sell horses to the Jing Dynasty, which scared me into halting the operations overnight."

"The Clean Flow Officials watch us closely, and as soon as they catch a mistake, it's 'arrogant nobles violating the national law.' If we form ties with ministers, it's 'a big tail that cannot be wagged, plotting against the system.' From then on, I understood. We nobles who rose through the military success cannot have money, power, prestige, nor even opinions."

Duke Cheng met Chen Ji's eyes, his gaze deep, "How could my Duke Mansion not decline? The Clean Stream and I are sworn enemies..."

Chen Ji interrupted, "The explanation you give is rather clumsy. I have no desire to get entangled in the struggle between the nobles and the Clean Stream, nor do I wish to be involved in the infantry and civil officials' conflicts."

Duke Cheng spoke meaningfully, "Lord Chen, you are now a noble as well; you should stand with us."

Chen Ji rose and cupped his hands, "Farewell."

With that, he mounted his horse, tugged the reins, and rode towards the exit of the Duke Mansion.

Duke Cheng watched him leave and called out aloud, "Regarding the matter of the payment today, does Mr. Chen wish for my Duke Mansion to keep it a secret or spread the word out?"

Chen Ji didn't turn back, "Please spread the word for me; to have extracted such a large sum from the Duke Mansion is quite a boast."

Duke Cheng smiled and said to the old gatekeeper beside him, "Youthful and impulsive. If I had his boldness and decisiveness at his age, that would have been something."

The old gatekeeper, while tidying up the teacups, chuckled, "Your Grace wasn't necessarily inferior to him in your youth."

Duke Cheng shook his head, "Far from it. Now, I'm just like that podocarpus tree in the corner, pruned, unable to grow tall or short, living yet not truly alive."

The old gatekeeper changed the subject, "Your Grace, Qigong just sent a message asking what you plan to do next."

Duke Cheng strolled to the podocarpus, touching its neatly trimmed crown, "Let the Eunuch Party and the Pure Stream have a go at each other first."

He drew his hand back and headed towards the inner courtyard, "We await the opportune moment."