Fan Li, the only “audience” to this blatant display of selling official positions, took a sip of his tea. A bold guess gradually formed in his mind.
With his status as a Chu merchant, he had become “neighbors” with the son of the Great Ming’s Grand Secretary.
Was this a coincidence?
Only someone completely unfamiliar with the workings of the officialdom would believe that.
Fan Li had been wondering how to befriend Yan Shifan. It seemed there was no need. Tonight, he was bound to meet Yan Shifan. In fact, Yan Shifan would likely initiate the meeting. Therefore, he would simply wait and see.
“The next item for auction is provided by Junior Grand Secretary Xu’s son.”
Fan Li chuckled. So, it was his turn now?
Yan Shifan’s performance had just ended. Now it was Xu Fan’s turn. Once again, a scroll was presented. It was unclear whether it contained calligraphy or a painting.
Xue Susu slowly unfurled the scroll, and instantly a wave of Righteous Qi, as warm as a spring breeze, flowed out.
For a moment, the pleasure barge seemed to be filled with blooming flowers. A vibrant spring scene replaced the cold and harsh winter. As the Righteous Qi’s effects faded, the guests finally saw the scroll’s contents.
Fan Li hadn’t expected those words. But everyone present, especially the Ming citizens, immediately understood their significance.
The calligraphy was Xu Jie’s. And “Rule by Inaction” was a praise for Emperor Jiajing.
It was an unspoken truth throughout the Great Ming Dynasty.Emperor Jiajing had reigned for many years. But since his ascension to the throne, he had dedicated himself to Daoist cultivation, entrusting state affairs to Grand Secretary Yan Song.
“Rule by Inaction” was a euphemism.
True “Rule by Inaction” meant not disturbing the people, not creating trouble, allowing them to live and prosper.
But Emperor Jiajing’s “Rule by Inaction” meant doing nothing, only taking.
He focused solely on his cultivation. All the spirit treasures, pills, and other cultivation resources produced in the Great Ming were collected by Yan Song and his son, then delivered to the Emperor.
It was the people’s hard-earned wealth that had created this so-called “strongest man in the world.”
The Emperor was nourished by the nation. Throughout history, virtuous rulers had all been frugal and humble, not daring to truly enjoy being “nourished by the nation.” They had turned the phrase into an empty saying.
But in a thousand years, Emperor Jiajing was the only ruler who truly embodied the meaning of “nourished by the nation.”
He was well-fed and pampered. Yet, he was incredibly vain. He knew he only took and didn't contribute, but he still loved to boast about his “Rule by Inaction.”
Fan Li felt disdain. He despised Emperor Jiajing, and he also despised Xu Jie.
This was the Great Ming’s Junior Grand Secretary, Yan Song’s future successor, the leader of the “clear stream”?
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“Grand Secretary Xu’s own calligraphy, ‘Rule by Inaction.’ Starting bid, eight hundred taels.”
Xue Susu announced the start of the bidding. The starting price was two hundred taels lower than that of Grand Secretary Yan Song’s calligraphy.
This woman was truly meticulous.
“Three thousand taels.”
“Seven thousand taels.”
“Ten thousand taels…”
Fan Li noticed that the “clear stream” and the “muddy stream” were indeed different.
The “muddy stream” clearly had more money. They were more generous with their bids.
Earlier, the corrupt officials vying for Yan Song’s calligraphy had quickly driven the price up to hundreds of thousands of taels of silver.
But now, the honest officials bidding for Xu Jie’s calligraphy struggled to push the price of “Rule by Inaction” past ten thousand taels.
A burst of unrestrained laughter came from Yan Shifan’s private room next door.
From Xu Fan’s room, the sound of something shattering echoed once more, accompanied by curses in the local dialect of Huating County, Songjiang Prefecture.
“Eleven thousand and three hundred taels. Any higher bids?”
Xue Susu began the countdown.
Compared to the seven hundred and fifty thousand taels Yan Song’s calligraphy had fetched, the price for Junior Grand Secretary Xu Jie’s work was a great insult.
But Fan Li suspected that even if Xu Jie heard of this, he wouldn’t be truly angry. After all, Xu Jie had spent decades enduring Yan Song’s dominance. He must have learned to swallow his pride.
“Eleven thousand and three hundred and one taels.”
Yan Shifan, still intent on humiliating Xu Fan, joined the bidding, increasing the price by a single tael.
“Yan Shifan, you!?” Xu Fan’s roar came from his private room.
“What? You want to fight? You, a mere third-rank Divine Transformation Realm cultivator?”
Facing Xu Fan’s anger, Yan Shifan wasn’t afraid. He continued to provoke him.
“Come on then! Everyone in the capital knows that I, Yan Shifan, indulge in wine, women, and wealth. I’m the Grand Secretary’s prodigal son. You, Young Master Xu, are a diligent cultivator, following in your father’s footsteps? Let’s have a duel. Let’s see who’s more capable – a gentleman or a prodigal son?”
Fan Li was surprised to notice that the more arrogant Yan Shifan became, the quieter Xu Fan grew.
He immediately understood. Yan Shifan’s cultivation level was likely higher than Xu Fan’s third-rank Divine Transformation Realm.
After a long silence, Xu Fan finally shouted, “Yan Shifan, you’re nearly fifteen years older than me! You’ve been cultivating for fifteen years longer! Otherwise, would I be inferior to you?!”
Yan Shifan laughed. “Inferior is inferior. I was born fifteen years before you. That’s because my father is more capable! If you want to blame someone, blame your father for his weak constitution. He was a full fifteen years late in producing you, you little brat!”
Yan Shifan’s words were truly venomous.
Junior Grand Secretary Xu Jie ran a strict household. He had raised Xu Fan to be a model Confucian scholar, obedient and rule-abiding. When it came to verbal sparring, ten Xu Fans wouldn't be a match for Yan Shifan.
“You… You disgrace your official robes!”
Xu Fan trembled all over and his words became incoherent. They were both officials. Now, they were both at the Smoke and Waves Pleasure Barge. He shouldn’t have said that.
Yan Shifan sneered but didn't respond.
At this moment, Xue Susu spoke. “By chance, I received a gift today, a rare Xiaofengtuan tea. This tea is excellent for calming the mind, reducing anger, nourishing the stomach, and soothing the spleen. I, Susu, dare to offer a cup to Young Master Yan and Young Master Xu.”
Servants from the barge quickly delivered cups of freshly brewed tea to the two distinguished guests’ private rooms.
Even as the servants walked past the corridors, the fragrant aroma of the tea filled the entire barge.
“It’s actually Xiaofengtuan tea?”
Fan Li was also surprised. Xiaofengtuan tea was a rare and valuable tea. It wasn’t simply dried tea leaves. It was meticulously crafted with various spices and countless spirit herbs. Its quality was comparable to an Earth-grade medicinal pill.
Xue Susu had offered the tea to stop the argument between the sons of the Grand Secretary and the Junior Grand Secretary. Both private rooms, giving face to the courtesan, fell silent.
The bidding for Xu Jie’s calligraphy continued, the final price settling at two hundred thousand taels of silver.
Fan Li heard the guests whispering that the buyer was a wealthy student of Xu Jie’s.
The auction continued.
Three items had already been sold, but Fan Li hadn’t bid on any of them. He knew he had to make a gesture. Otherwise, word would spread that the Fan Clan Trading Company was stingy, attending the auction but not contributing. It would damage their reputation in the Great Ming.
But to simply give money to the enemy nation was unacceptable to Fan Li. He thought for a moment and decided to follow Yan Shifan’s example.
‘A goose feather sent from a thousand miles away is a small gift, but it carries great meaning.’
‘Couldn’t my calligraphy, the work of the Great Chu’s Duke Jin, also fetch a good price?’
Fan Li smiled and retrieved his storage box…