Chapter 136: Owed Chapter One
Mr. Cao saw President Shi and Old Yu Xing out of the room. After watching the two leave through the ceremonial gate, he turned and looked at Prefect Liu.
Prefect Liu rubbed his temples, looking troubled. He tapped his fingers, gesturing for Mr. Cao to sit, “With so much business in the world, why pick selling fine cloth!”
“Esteemed Master, what business can bring such great profit as fine cloth? The profit is immense.” Mr. Cao chuckled.
Prefect Liu sighed, “The scheming of this family, tsk! They scatter the looms among households. If a household has no more than five looms, it’s not considered a weaving workshop, tsk!”
“Fifty percent tax. This tax alone makes the profit immense,” Mr. Cao said, waving his five fingers.
“What should we do?” Prefect Liu glanced at Mr. Cao’s five fingers and asked.
“Esteemed Master, tell me, does the Young Lord know about this matter?” Mr. Cao leaned forward, lowering his voice.
Prefect Liu looked at the ceiling beams for a moment, then slapped the table, “Whether he knows or not, we must act as if he doesn’t. I need to go to the villa. You come too, help me keep an eye on things.”
“Alright.” Mr. Cao agreed. They left one after another, changed their clothes, and headed straight for the Prince’s Estate villa.
Prefect Liu had visited the villa to see the Young Lord at least eight or nine times, but this was the first time the Young Lord was actually in.
Prefect Liu could hardly believe his ears. As he was about to ask again, he saw the doorman already scurrying inside. He swallowed the words that had reached his lips.
Before long, a servant hurried out, bowed slightly, and with a politeness tinged with respect, led Prefect Liu and Mr. Cao into a flower hall next to the second gate.
As soon as the two sat down, a servant brought tea and a dish of pastries.
Prefect Liu and Mr. Cao had drunk half a cup of tea. Mr. Cao was about to try the pastries from the Prince’s Estate villa when Gu Yan, wearing a long, straight robe of ramie gauze and fanning himself with a folding fan, emerged from behind the rockery.
It was the first time Mr. Cao had seen Gu Yan at such close range, and he stared, mesmerized.
He had heard countless times about the Young Lord’s exceptional demeanor. Although he was prepared, seeing the Young Lord before him still filled him with excitement and emotion. The words that rushed to his lips, however, were only three: “So handsome!”
“Young Lord!”
Upon seeing Gu Yan, Prefect Liu quickly stood up, rushed out of the flower hall, down the steps, and bowed in greeting.
Mr. Cao, a step behind, hurried to catch up.
“No need for formalities. It’s hot here, let’s talk over there.” Gu Yan was extremely amiable. He pointed with his folding fan, signaling Prefect Liu and Mr. Cao to follow.
Turning a corner, Gu Yan entered a small hall built over a narrow stream. Water flowed like a curtain from the eaves on both sides of the hall, falling into the narrow stream below.
The hall was very cool.
“Please sit. This is this year’s autumn tea, please try it. Everything is good in Pingjiang Prefecture, except the summers are too long and too hot.” Gu Yan sat in a large armchair, relaxed and at ease.
“What the Young Lord says is absolutely true.” Prefect Liu sat respectfully.
Gu Yan chuckled, “Don’t be so formal.” He laughed again, “My words are not considerate enough. How can one be both formal and at ease?”
Gu Yan said, shifting slightly to sit up straighter, and smiled, “Prefect Liu, you never come to see me without a reason. Tell me, why have you come today?”
“We dare not!” Prefect Liu bowed and rose from his seat, repeatedly saying he dared not. Looking up, he saw Gu Yan raising his eyebrows with a speechless expression. He quickly sat back down, awkwardly saying, “Your subordinate, well, there is indeed something.”
“Please speak freely, directly. Mr. Cao, have some tea, try a pastry, don’t be shy.” Gu Yan tapped Mr. Cao with his fan, smiling and gesturing.
“Yes.” Prefect Liu placed his hands on his knees and briefly explained the matter of the silk brocade guild reporting to the prefectural yamen, cautiously looking at Gu Yan.
Gu Yan listened attentively. Seeing that Prefect Liu had stopped speaking, he gestured, “Please continue.”
Prefect Liu blinked several times.
Continue? How to continue? He had already finished. The rest of the matter could only be understood implicitly, not spoken aloud!
Gu Yan looked at Prefect Liu, puzzled, “What’s wrong? Is there something difficult to say? I’m a straightforward person, speak your mind.”
“Yes.” Prefect Liu swallowed and subconsciously looked at Mr. Cao. Mr. Cao had accepted Gu Yan’s invitation to try a pastry and was currently eating one.
“Well, the owner of the Yueyang Cloth Shop is that Miss Li.” Prefect Liu gritted his teeth and said it.
“I know that. What’s wrong? Is there a difficulty with her being the owner? What difficulty? Just tell me.” Gu Yan still looked puzzled.
“This, please advise the Young Lord, how should this matter be disposed of.” Prefect Liu steeled himself and finally spoke plainly.
The smile on Gu Yan’s face disappeared, and he frowned, “I have been stationed in Jiangnan for a long time, and my duty is that of an Imperial Inspector. I have no authority to interfere in local governance. Your governance matters should not be referred to me for advice.”
Cold sweat broke out on Prefect Liu’s forehead.
“Your concern is that Miss Li is my friend, isn’t it?” Gu Yan asked directly.
“Yes.” Prefect Liu was a little stunned.
The Young Lord’s words were too direct.
“You govern a region. Externally, you have laws and decrees. Internally, you have the teachings of the Sages, conscience, and moral integrity. These cannot be sought from outside, nor need they be sought from outside.
“Indeed, one cannot live in this world without human affection. However, considerations of human affection must be within the framework of laws and decrees, and above conscience and moral integrity. By asking for my advice, where do you place the law? And where do you place the teachings of the Sages, conscience, and moral integrity?
“I will consider this request for advice as if you never said it.” Gu Yan’s expression was stern.
“Yes.” Prefect Liu’s forehead was covered in cold sweat.
His request for advice just now was indeed a moment of foolishness.
“Secondly, Prince Rui’s Mansion prospers with the Empire. If the Empire prospers, Prince Rui’s Mansion naturally prospers. If the Empire declines, Prince Rui also declines. To undermine the law with human affection, to dig one’s own foundation, is something Prince Rui’s Mansion cannot do. I am not foolish, am I?”
Prefect Liu nodded continuously. Upon hearing the last sentence, he paused for a moment, then quickly continued nodding.
The Young Lord is indeed not foolish; he must nod.
“Thirdly, Miss Li is indeed my friend. But if she breaks the law or violates decrees, she must be dealt with accordingly. My friendship with her means that if she is imprisoned, I will bring her food and water, and visit her a few times. It absolutely does not mean shielding her from the crimes she has committed.
“Are these three points clear? Do you have any further questions?”
Gu Yan looked at Prefect Liu.
“Clear, clear. Your subordinate understands everything. Your subordinate was wrong, your subordinate knows he was wrong.” Prefect Liu quickly stood up and bowed deeply.
“You are an intelligent person, perhaps too clever. In life and in office, one must stand firm, with roots and backbone.”
After speaking, Gu Yan stood up and walked out. As he passed Mr. Cao, he patted his shoulder with his folding fan and asked, “How was the tea? And the pastries?”
“Excellent!” Mr. Cao had not expected Gu Yan to ask such a question and answered instinctively.
“Pack some tea leaves and a few packs of pastries. Shi Gun, please see Prefect Liu and Mr. Cao out for me.”
Gu Yan gave the instructions, descended the steps, and drifted away.
