"You're quite the planner! You think by latching onto the Ding Prince's estate, you can rest easy?"
"What kind of person do you think I am, Big Brother? My seeking refuge with the Ding Prince's estate is not to contend for power and profit with you. It's because I believe many of the corrupt elements in Jinling City have long deserved to be dealt with."
Initially, Chi Lingyou was somewhat intimidated by Chi Zimò, as he had been accustomed to for so many years.
But as he spoke, his fear subsided. He believed his actions were for the sake of justice. He wasn't afraid of his elder brother's punishment, nor of jeopardizing his future.
Thus, he began to speak.
"For years, Grandfather kept you by his side, never showing any concern for me or my sister. When I was young, I resented it. Why should you, as Grandfather's grandson and the legitimate heir, receive all his affection, while my sister and I were reprimanded even for getting close? Coupled with Grandmother and Father constantly speaking ill of you, I once saw you as a formidable rival, wanting to achieve great things so Grandfather would see that he had more than just you to be proud of."
Having finally voiced the words hidden in his heart for years, Chi Lingyou felt a sense of relief.
When he looked at Chi Zimò again, his eyes held a newfound emotion.
"But fate had other plans. No matter how hard I tried, I always fell far short of you. So, three years ago, in a fit of anger, I ran away from home and went to Dongdu City, intending to achieve something before returning. Who knew I would unexpectedly encounter the Prince. At that time, he was already planning to eradicate the collusion between officials and merchants and the corruption in Jinling City. By chance, due to my identity as a member of the Chi family, he naturally engaged with me more."
Chi Zimò listened to him speak, without interruption.
In truth, he was aware of Chi Lingyou's resentment towards him all these years.
Similarly, he had once harbored hatred for the bloodline of the fifth branch, for his sister and younger brother, because his parents and uncle had been harmed by Madam Lan and Chi Wulang.
Why could they enjoy the warmth of family, while he could only reminisce about the past through memories and ancestral tablets?
When he took over part of the Chi family's assets, he had considered eradicating them all, wiping out Madam Lan's entire lineage.
However, after his grandfather perceived his intentions, he employed various methods to help him dissipate much of this hatred. The deceased were gone, and blood ties remained. The fate of Madam Lan and Chi Wulang was their just deserts.
But this matter should not have implicated Chi Lingying and Chi Lingyou.
Therefore, despite his stern demeanor and harsh words, Chi Zimò had privately made arrangements for their futures.
When Chi Lingying was to be married into the Zhu family, he had objected.
Not for any other reason, but because the Zhu and Cao families had been blinded by power and wealth over the years and were deeply involved in the corruption of the漕运司 (Cao Yun Si - River Transport Administration). If the truth were to surface, it would inevitably implicate Chi Lingying.
But such was the way of the fifth branch; the more he objected, the more determined they were to marry her off, seeking power to counter him.
So, upon learning that Chi Lingyou had sought refuge with the Ding Prince's estate, his first reaction was: was Chi Lingyou also going to provoke someone he shouldn't, in order to deal with him?
He was naturally furious!
Who would have thought that this younger brother, more than ten years his junior, would suddenly open up and speak his heart?
As Chi Zimò listened, many past events came to his mind.
After a long silence, he finally spoke to comfort him.
"Who is the Ding Prince? He was a prince carefully nurtured by the late Emperor, skilled in both civil and military arts, adept at governing and managing the nation, and weighing pros and cons. What has he not learned? What has he not seen? You, a mere stripling, dare to approach him. Aren't you afraid of being schemed against?"
Even with his own sharp mind, he couldn't fully fathom this Ding Prince, let alone the young Chi Lingyou.
"Big Brother, I know you're worried about me. But do you know how those colluding officials and merchants have lived all these years?"
When he spoke of these matters, he felt that if Jinling City wasn't thoroughly investigated, it would rot to the core.
"You disdain to associate with them, so naturally, many people restrain themselves in front of you. I accompanied Father to several banquets, each more extravagant and cruel than the last. Dishes costing five hundred gold per table, do you know why? Thousands of fish, their bellies cut open, only the two inches of spinal meat around the head used for cooking. Live ducks, their feet washed clean, then directly fried in oil, and then plunged into water, repeating this four or five times until the duck feet were crispy, then served directly. Is this eating? This is clearly indulging in the pleasure of tormenting life!"
As he spoke with emotion, Chi Lingyou's anger flared.
"And the live-simmered sea turtle and live-roasted donkey meat, do you know how they are prepared? A small stove is placed directly on the table with an iron box above it. The sea turtle inside is bound with wire. As the iron box heats up, the turtle opens its mouth to breathe. The attendant beside it pours the prepared sauce into the turtle's mouth. The contents inside are already seasoned, and the turtle is still alive! After torturing it like this for half an hour, only when the turtle is no longer able to move is it taken out and its abdomen cut open to be eaten. A live donkey is tied to a nearby pillar. The chef carves the meat on the spot, its screams echoing. When the meat is served, it still twitches. The donkey, separated by a partition, is left with only half a skeleton but still clinging to life. Big Brother! Tell me, can a human being do such things?"
"They don't consider themselves cruel; instead, they eat with relish. After those few banquets, I understood one thing: if one day human flesh were edible, then geese, turtles, and donkeys would suffer the same fate as the common people!"
Though young, Chi Lingyou possessed a righteous spirit.
After hearing his words, Chi Zimò felt both happiness that the Chi family's descendants had not been corrupted, and immense worry that his brother's overly black-and-white nature would lead to suffering in the future.
Thus, he began to counsel him.
"The decadent atmosphere in Jiangnan has existed since ancient times, yet it always resurfaces after a period of suppression. Have you considered the reasons why?"
Chi Lingyou did not know and shook his head.
"When one is not in a position of power, one can naturally resist temptation. But when one is immersed in it, not everyone possesses the backbone to stand firm."
"According to Big Brother's meaning, these people should not be managed?"
Chi Lingyou's voice suddenly rose. He detested the idea of not punishing wrongdoing. If everyone were to offer excuses, what order and law would remain?
"You are mistaken. It's not that they shouldn't be managed, but how should they be managed? Managing them only for them to reoffend is equivalent to not managing them at all. I don't need to teach you this basic principle, do I?"
Chi Lingyou fell silent. What his elder brother said was indeed reasonable. "Then, how can future troubles be prevented?"
"This matter is difficult, yet not impossible. Where does the decadent atmosphere originate? Who opened the door for the abuse of power for personal gain? For whose benefit do officials and merchants collude? Once you have thought through these questions, you will naturally find a way to eradicate them."
Chi Lingyou lowered his head in thought. What he always considered was how to curb problems after they arose, rather than completely eliminating the possibility of their growth before they even formed.