Chapter 405

Taihe Hall was the place for both the imperial examination and the conferral of titles. It was divided into the Main Hall and the Side Halls, connected by corridors.

Subjects and students entered through the front gate, while members of the imperial family and princes entered from the Side Halls.

The same applied when leaving after the events.

Xu Mo considered himself quite fast on his feet. He hurried to the back door of the Side Hall, only catching a glimpse of the teenager's disappearing back.

It was so slender, so delicate, so familiar.

He grew more certain and excited, quickening his pace to catch up. At the same time he pulled out the small jade pendant from his sleeve, preparing it for future need.

If the Fifth Prince was attending a long banquet, there would naturally be no need to say more.

If the Fifth Prince was not at a long banquet, it would be inappropriate for a minister to request to see the prince without reason.

For example, having picked up a lost jade pendant and wishing to return it.

Xu Mo suppressed his emotions, catching up in two or three quick steps as the prince turned the corner. Just as he was about to request an audience, he heard the familiar voice that he knew so well, "Thank you, Fourth Brother, for hearing me out and not publicly donating silver on the spot."

"It was effortless," the Fourth Prince, who had been waiting for some time, responded. "It is thanks to Fifth Younger Brother's clever intervention that stopped me, or it would have been making clothes for Eldest Brother."

To spend his own money to build up good deeds for someone else, even blood brothers could not tolerate such an insult.

Only now did Xu Mo realize that the Fifth Prince's breathlessness earlier was not an act, but because he had pulled the Fourth Prince aside to stop him. By forming an alliance against it, there would be no isolated donation to criticize.

Humans tend to go along with the crowd, whether it be good or bad. Anyone who stands alone will inevitably draw some discussion.

"But even if we do not donate now, we will still have to at the Spring Banquet," the Fourth Prince said, rather displeased. "The Fang family wants to look good themselves, while forcing everyone else along. I wonder what they are after."

What they wanted was to curry favor with the imperial family, to backstab their opponents, to hit two birds with one stone.

If the Fifth Prince had not stopped the Fourth Prince, and instead proposed the Spring Banquet, the Jiang and Dou families would not have been able to withstand the pressure, donating silver as well. The Fang family would become the biggest winner.

They would please the imperial family, wash away the disgrace of buying the top scholar title with money, and even take on the shining image of caring for the country and people. In his mind, Xu Mo had already prepared the Fifth Prince's response, but unexpectedly he avoided the question, glancing slantingly over as he sternly shouted, "Who is it!"

Eavesdropping on the conversation between princes was a crime worthy of the third degree punishment. Even if unintentional, even if coming to seek an audience.

From the corner of his eye Xu Mo saw guards approaching, so he immediately held up the jade pendant pleading guilty. "This inferior minister has just been appointed as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy. I picked up an ornament dropped by the Fifth Prince outside the Main Hall and chased after to return it, with no intention of being presumptuous towards Your Highnesses."

Fortunately he had prepared in advance.

The guard skeptically took the jade pendant and presented it to the two princes. Judging only by the quality, the jade ornament was quite ordinary overall, not something the imperial family would choose to wear.

However, a little compiler from the Hanlin Academy following them to eavesdrop was no different than seeking death.

The Fourth Prince was full of suspicion. "Brother, is this thing really yours?"

At this point, the Fifth Prince's answer was critical.

If he answered that it was, it would prove Xu Mo's sincerity in returning it, and he would have to thank Xu Mo in turn.

If he said it wasn't, then Xu Mo would go from helpful to eavesdropping, and it would take some effort to completely clear the allegation.

In the silence, the Fifth Prince finally opened his mouth. "It is."

The Fourth Prince relaxed with a sigh. "Then we must thank this scholar. Otherwise, the prince's belonging would have been lost."

Xu Mo was equally moved to tears. The answer in his heart was affirmed - his lost sibling had returned to his side after all this time.

They had not been far away at all.

They had brushed past each other so many times before.

In Xu Mo's estimation, since the prince had claimed the jade pendant, he would surely send the Fourth Prince away to recognize and catch up with him alone. Failing that, he would at least ask about his elder brother and sister at home.

However, right after claiming it, the Fifth Prince indifferently added, "But I had no intention of keeping this jade pendant when I dropped it. Why bother Scholar Xu to dutifully run over to return it. Since you picked it up, you may as well keep it."

Xu Mo instantly felt his whole body turn icy cold with chills.

Beside them the Fourth Prince also laughed. "This jade pendant is muddled with impurities and cotton fuzz throughout, the quality is indeed average. It would be beneath my Fifth Brother to wear something like this. I say we can just let it get lost as it already did."

With a few careless words between them, the ownership of the mediocre jade pendant was decided.

Just like that festive night long ago, when the teenager had left behind a few bold words before withdrawing.

Could it be that he and his siblings were truly burdens on the Fifth Prince that could be casually abandoned without a second glance, like a forgettable piece of jade?

Xu Mo's heart roiled with turmoil, sour bitterness and numbness hitting him at once. And yet with the Fourth Prince present, he could not even voice a question.

He could only slowly raise his head, hoping to examine the familiar face, to know whether his younger brother was well. But all that entered his eyes was a cascade of black hair over the back - he did not even show his face.

On the other hand, the Fourth Prince revealed some goodwill. "This has wasted the Hanlin scholar's time for no reason. There is still the procession after receiving the titles. You are the top scholar and should not miss your moment in the limelight."

Xu Mo did not speak. In his heart there was still some expectation left.

Not until the Fifth Prince with his back to him opened his mouth again, "Then, Fourth Brother, let us return first."

"Alright. We can discuss back home how much silver we should donate at the Spring Banquet." The two princes drew farther and farther away in tandem.

Xu Mo clenched his fists tightly, watching that familiar, slender back. He caught sight of the jade pendant on the ground again, feeling unspeakably bitter in his heart.

He left dejectedly, returning to the scholar procession preparing for the parade.

Qi Huai and An Jun were craning their necks looking around. Catching sight of the top scholar from afar, they immediately squeezed through the crowd to ask in hushed voices, "Brother Xu, where did you go? We were looking everywhere for you just now!"

"Right, Brother Xu. If you did not show up, the second and third scholars would have had to walk in front. What a loss of style!" An Jun clicked his tongue. "Hurry, the parade is about to start!"

This was the most glorious moment for hundreds of scholars, the grandest scene to happen once every three years.

Led by the top scholar, the new scholars rode tall horses draped with red silk shawls and flower garlands, shuttling down the wide stone-paved avenues of Fengjing to comfort ten years of lonely studying in the cold.

The common people of Fengjing loved such lively events the most. Those with money booked private rooms in teahouses with a good view, while those without squatted along the roadsides for a gratuitous sight.

Bolder young ladies would take the rare opportunity to embroider purse handkerchiefs, taking aim at the young scholar of their admiration, throwing them with gusto.

The scholars would also compete with each other through the number of purse handkerchiefs received, to compare youthful grace and popularity.

As the top scholar, Xu Mo was tall and handsome, refined and elegant. Though not a bewitching beauty that brought calamity to the country, he was still extraordinarily eye-catching among the scholars of his age.

Originally the second and third scholars could still be considered elegant, but stood in front of him they immediately appeared much plainer.

"Good heavens, this year's top scholar is so fair and refined!"

"A sixteen year old top scholar, such would be rare even in ancient times!"

"Sixteen years old... old enough to marry!"

Usually shy and bashful young ladies from prestigious families took the rare chance to let loose, biting their lips as they secretly threw all kinds of embroidered purse handkerchiefs.

Of the dozens thrown out, nine out of ten targeted Xu Mo. Lacking martial arts mastery, his chest was soon filled with the scent of fragrant face powder.

Seated early on at the You Ran House in anticipation, Jiang Sheng had eaten and drunk her fill, almost unable to move. Suddenly she heard cries of "Eldest Brother is here!"

She immediately sprang up from the couch to rush to the window. Sure enough, at the head of the slowly passing convoy of white horses, aside from the armed guards on both sides, was the dazzlingly upright figure of a young scholar she knew so well as her dear elder brother.