219: Chapter 219 Family, Restrictions

The next day.

The morning light was faint, and a cold, pale white hue just began to tint the horizon.

On the long streets of the capital, the morning mist lingered like a light veil, permeated with the biting chill of early autumn.

The bluestone road, dampened by the heavy dew of the previous night, glimmered with a cold and deep luster.

The flying eaves and bracket sets on both sides appeared and disappeared in the mist, like ancient giant beasts dormant in the depths of time, silently overlooking this imperial capital that had experienced the vicissitudes of life.

Chen Ran pushed open the courtyard door, his green robe fluttering slightly in the morning breeze.

His pace was steady, and every step he took was silent.

Having just acquired the [Soft Bones] talent last night and undergone a transformation akin to cleansing the marrow and cutting the tendons, he now felt his entire body incredibly light, as if a heavy shackle had been stripped away.

Today, he did not head straight to the prison to report for duty as usual, but instead strolled into a slightly secluded alley, walking towards a teahouse at the street corner.

The teahouse was named "Clear Wind Pavilion." Its storefront was small, with only a green banner hanging that fluttered noisily in the morning breeze.

Although this place was not bustling, it excelled in being quiet and elegant, quite favored by the surrounding neighbors and off-duty yamen runners.

Although it was still early, the teahouse was already seventy to eighty percent full.

Chen Ran chose a secluded seat by the window, ordered a pot of coarse tea and two plates of vegetarian snacks.

As the tea was poured into the coarse porcelain cup, it emitted a faint white mist, blurring his handsome and cold face.

He picked up the teacup and took a light sip; the bitter tea fragrance spread on the tip of his tongue, making his mind increasingly clear.

His gaze passed through the half-open window lattice, looking at the pedestrians gradually increasing on the long street.

Suddenly, hushed discussions from a few tea drinkers at the neighboring table reached his ears.

"Have you heard? The Wang Family in the east of the city was raided last night," a middle-aged man wearing gray cloth short-sleeved clothes said mysteriously, his eyes filled with undisguised shock.

"Which Wang Family?" Others did not react for a moment.

"Who else could it be? Naturally, it's that branch of the Langya Wang Family, a Family of high officials for generations, having produced two Ministers and three Vice-Ministers!"

"Hiss."

As soon as these words were spoken, a sound of gasping for air arose all around.

"The Wang Family is a truly prestigious and influential Family with deep Foundations, and their students and former subordinates are spread throughout the imperial court. How could they be suddenly raided? Could it be that they committed the crime of treason?"

"Shh, keep your voice down!"

An elderly tea drinker with white hair and beard looked around, and seeing no government runners patrolling, he lowered his voice and said with a solemn expression:

"I heard it was an order issued personally by the lords of the Cabinet, who mobilized the City Defense Army overnight to surround the Wang Family mansion so tightly that not even water could trickle through.

All the men were imprisoned, the women were sent to the Music Bureau, and all their property was confiscated without the slightest mercy. That scene, tsk tsk, was truly tragic."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ran's eyes flickered, and the fingers holding the teacup paused slightly.

His expression remained as calm as water, but he listened attentively without changing his expression.

"The Cabinet? Why would the Cabinet take such ruthless action against the Wang Family?" someone asked, puzzled. "The old master of the Wang Family was once the Emperor's teacher, and he has countless students and old acquaintances. Is the Cabinet not afraid of causing a shock to the imperial court by acting like this?"

"You don't know about this, do you?" The elderly tea drinker sighed, a trace of worry flashing in his turbid eyes. "I heard the imperial court is going to implement a New Policy."

"New Policy?"

"Correct. It is said that the Cabinet has drafted a 'Family Tax,' specifically to be levied on the noble Families and powerful clans in the capital and even across the empire."

The elderly tea drinker paused, picked up his teacup to moisten his throat, and continued: "As long as it is a large Family, their land, shops, mines, and even servants must all be taxed according to regulations, and the tax rate is extremely high.

This Wang Family was caught by the Cabinet for colluding with several major noble Families in secret to resist paying this Family Tax, and they were directly raided and punished as a warning to others!"

The teahouse suddenly fell into a dead silence.

Everyone looked at each other, and all saw deep horror in each other's eyes.

The noble Families and powerful clans, with their tangled roots and massive influence, had always been a major headache for the imperial court.

These Families annexed land, controlled trade routes, and were wealthy enough to rival the state, yet they enjoyed many tax exemption privileges, causing the national treasury to become increasingly empty.

With the war at the border becoming critical, the imperial court could not produce the silver to reward the three armies, and this conflict had long been deeply rooted and difficult to resolve.

Now the Cabinet actually dared to directly wield the knife against the noble Families and implement this so-called "Family Tax." This was tantamount to disturbing the sleeping tiger and digging up the Foundation of the noble Families.

"This... are the eunuchs of the Cabinet crazy?" a young man dressed as a scholar muttered.

"Are the noble Families and powerful clans easy to provoke? Once this Family Tax comes out, it is tantamount to forcing the noble Families to rebel. I'm afraid the sky over the capital is about to change."

"Who is to say it isn't?" The elderly tea drinker shook his head. "The Wang Family is merely a target to kill the chicken to warn the monkeys; it counts as the beginning of the imperial court starting to restrict the noble Families and powerful clans.

The real storm is still to come. How could those top clans just sit and wait for death? I'm afraid there is going to be a bloody storm in this capital."

Chen Ran listened quietly, and he already understood the general situation in his heart.

The power struggles in the imperial court are often accompanied by bloody storms. With this "Family Tax" out, the situation in the capital will inevitably become even more treacherous and unpredictable.

He stood up, straightened his robe, walked to the table of those few tea drinkers, and bowed slightly.

"Greetings, elders."

Those tea drinkers were speaking with fear, and seeing someone strike up a conversation, they were stunned at first.

When they saw clearly that the person who came was Chen Ran, their faces immediately revealed a bit of familiar smiles.

Chen Ran often came to this Clear Wind Pavilion, and being a prison guard at the prison, he was considered a familiar face in this neighborhood.

"Yo, isn't this Master Chen?" The middle-aged man quickly stood up to return the salute. "Master Chen, how do you have time to drink tea today, and not go to the prison to report for duty?"

Chen Ran's expression was indifferent, and his tone was calm: "The time is still early, so I came to sit for a while. I just heard you all discussing the Wang Family matter. I don't know what the rules for this 'Family Tax' are? As I am in the official service, it would be good to have a bit more consideration."

Seeing Chen Ran ask, the elderly tea drinker did not hide anything and sighed:

"Master Chen, you might not know, but this Family Tax, to put it bluntly, is a means for the imperial court to weaken the noble Families. I heard it was a memorial submitted personally by the Chief Grand Secretary of the Cabinet. Your Majesty kept it in the palace without issuing it, but tacitly approved the Cabinet's actions."

"With the fall of the Wang Family, other noble Families will inevitably feel insecure. These few days, I'm afraid the capital will not be peaceful. Master Chen, you work in the prison, so you must be more careful. Do not get involved in the infighting of these big figures. When gods fight, Mortals suffer."

Chen Ran nodded slightly, his eyes deep and as calm as an ancient well.

"Thank you for the advice, elder. Much appreciated."

After speaking, he left a few pieces of silver on the table and turned to walk out of the teahouse.

The cold morning wind blew in his face, carrying a bit of a murderous aura, blowing his green robe until it fluttered noisily.

Chen Ran walked on the long street and faintly felt that the atmosphere in the capital today was much more serious than usual.

Although the shops along the street were open as usual, the faces of the shopkeepers and assistants lacked some composure and had a bit more caution.

On the long street, the City Defense Army patrolling the streets was more than twice as many as usual, all clad in armor and carrying sharp weapons, with cold and stern expressions.

In the air, a suffocating atmosphere of an impending storm permeated.

"Family Tax..."

Chen Ran silently recited these three words in his heart, his eyes clear and profound.

The conflict between the imperial court and the noble Families had been completely intensified.

This storm would sooner or later sweep through the entire capital, and no one would be able to stay out of it.

However, for him, these were still relatively distant for now.

What he sought was only the Dao of longevity and supreme strength.

As for the disturbances of the outside world, as long as they did not affect himself and his friends and Family, he would just watch from the sidelines.

Not long after, Chen Ran arrived in front of the prison.

...