Chapter 406

From before, Jiang Sheng knew about her big brother Xu Mo, but seeing him every day, she did not have any particular strong feelings.

Today, wearing the sixth-rank official uniform, coupled with Imperial College graduate Sun Xiaosheng and top scorer Fang Yuan accompanying him, Jiang Sheng only then realized how good-looking her big brother was, just falling short of her androgynous fifth brother Chang Yan by a tiny bit.

If only he could smile more.

At this time, Jiang Sheng and her brothers also discovered that their eldest brother was not happy at all. Beneath his seemingly tranquil expression lurked traces of loneliness, and there was no joy to be found in the depths of his eyes.

"I can understand why the Imperial College graduate and top scorer are sour-faced, anyone would feel inferior next to such an exceptional zhuangyuan (top scorer)," Zheng Ruqian clicked his tongue in wonder. "But why is big brother also glum, as if someone borrowed a few hundred taels of silver from him and never paid him back."

"I think it's more than just a few hundred," Fang Heng shook his head. "More like a few thousand."

It was common knowledge that the eldest son of the family, Xu Mo, felt extremely apologetic towards his younger siblings. Other than the hundred taels he earned as an instructor at Imperial College, he never contributed anything else to the family. Instead, it was always the opposite case of him depending on his younger siblings' support and provisions.

Although he had decided to become the family's pillar of support, what Xu Mo minded the most was still money, and what he hated the most was people borrowing money from him.

There had been several occasions where his fellow Imperial College classmates tried to borrow a couple taels of silver from him, only to be flatly rejected. If it was a request to borrow hundreds of taels of silver, top scholar or not, he would have severed ties.

Suddenly, seemingly alerted by an inexplicable sensation, Xu Mo lifted his head and looked left and right, finally spotting his siblings peeking out from the wide open window.

"Big brother!" Balancing on tiptoes, Jiang Sheng waved her little arms about vigorously, her body swaying precariously. "Big brother, I'm over here! Can you see me?"

Luckily Fang Heng reacted swiftly, grabbing hold of the hem of her dress in the nick of time while also seizing the back of her collar.

"Oh no, I'm choking--" Jiang Sheng barely managed to retract her tongue.

Fang Heng's faced flushed red as he hurriedly changed to supporting her properly, with Zheng Ruqian also chipping in to hold up their not very tall little sister on the other side.

On the other window, Wen Zhiyun still had no idea the brush with danger that had just occurred beside him.

These little rascals.

The heaviness weighing down Xu Mo's heart lightened substantially. Not wanting his siblings to worry, he forced out a faint smile.

"Ah..." Someone was so emotional they screamed out shrilly, mistakenly thinking the top scholar had smiled at them. Xu Mo quickly shifted his gaze, resuming his unfocused forward march.

But that brief smile had already been seared into the hearts of the young ladies nearby. Countless coin purses and handkerchiefs fluttered down. Even the scholar-officials passing by were not spared.

Imperial College graduate Sun Xiaosheng was already gnashing his teeth, jealousy swirling unrestrainedly in his eyes.

Top scorer Fang Yuan somehow managed to maintain his previous genial smile.

"I really didn't expect the top scholar to be so popular," someone muttered from behind, full of admiration and envy.

Recalling something, Fang Yuan gave another cold laugh.

Popular?

Perhaps. Some flowers were destined to be peerlessly vibrant, but were also fated to wither prematurely. For flowers and grasses though, enduring magnificence was the mark of a true winner.

The procession was scheduled to last two hours. By the time they passed by the Yuanyuan Residence, it was already nearing the end. Jiang Sheng specifically asked Jiang Jizu, finding out that after the parade, the scholars would all return to their respective homes. She thus decided to head back to Erjin courtyard as well.

But just before leaving, nostalgia arose in her heart and she quietly asked, "Daddy, where will you be going after this?"

While they were waiting for the procession, quite a number of people from the Jiang family rushed over to notify Jiang Jizu about the Jiang household's conflicts with Taihe Hall.

As a battle-hardened general who often waged war at the borders, Jiang Jizu typically did not interfere in family matters, fully respecting his younger brother's decisions.

Since Jiang Jizong had sent someone to look for him today, it appeared the situation was rather severe.

"Of course I will be..." Recalling something, Jiang Jizu changed his words. "Of course I'll be sending my precious daughter back home."

"Really, daddy?" Delight flashed across Jiang Sheng's face but soon melted into hesitation. "Second uncle came looking for you, so there must be important matters with the Jiang family to handle. Daddy should go attend to them, I can make my own way home."

While she dearly wished her father could accompany her, she could not monopolize his time when the Jiang household needed him even more.

"My younger brother can handle issues with the Jiang family. As for me," Jiang Jizu grasped her little plump hand. "I don't usually interfere with family matters. I'm only in charge of fighting battles and killing the Tatars out at the border."

For someone who was always outside, the time spent at home was thus extremely precious.

He would be leaving soon. Of course he wanted to accompany his daughter more.

Spending a little more time together wouldn't hurt.

In the end, Jiang Jizu still accompanied Jiang Sheng into the carriage. Chatting merrily all the way, they soon arrived back at Erjin courtyard. Just as Jiang Jizu finished tethering the horses, Zhang Xianglian's voice calling out to Xu Mo could be heard from outside.

It appeared the procession had ended and eldest brother had returned.

Jumping off the carriage gleefully, before Jiang Sheng could even get a word out, a thunderclap resounded. "I saw little fifth."

Still dressed in his official robes, catching the curious looks from the neighbors, Xu Mo retreated back into the small courtyard in three quick strides, telling his siblings who had just entered as well, "I saw little fifth in the imperial city just now."

This was no different from a sudden explosive thunder in clear weather, leaving all four siblings and even Jiang Jizu who was just about to bid farewell, shocked and uncertain.

What kind of place was the imperial city? It was the residence of the imperial household, the most mystifying and unfathomable courtyard in the entire Dayu Dynasty, and an supremely lofty existence in the minds of common citizens.

"How is that possible?" Wen Zhiyun's voice quivered as he spoke out.

They had imagined countless possibilities before, speculated about Chang Yan's status, and also considered the plight their little fifth brother might be facing, yet never once did they think he would show up in the imperial city!

"Don't tell me..." Jiang Sheng's expression drastically shifted. Heart achingly anxious, she was on the verge of tears. "Fifth brother was captured to be castrated?"

It was only last year after reading some storybooks that she found out all palace eunuchs had to be castrated, gradually becoming more feminine in their behavior and bearing as well.

Thinking back on Chang Yan's perfect blend of masculinity and femininity, this now provided an explanation.

Turned out her fifth brother was actually her fifth sister!

"What are you thinking?" Xu Mo was torn between laughter and helplessness, completely nonplussed. "He's not a eunuch."

"Then, then what is it?" Jiang Sheng asked with reddened eyes. "What exactly happened to fifth brother? Is he still alive? Is he still intact?"

After obtaining Xu Mo's affirmative nods, her anguish immediately turned to joy. "As long as he's alive and well, that's good enough!"

Even Wen Zhiyun heaved a long sigh, as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his heart.

Xu Mo was briefly dazed, also starting to feel relieved. No matter what Chang Yan's circumstances were, whether he acknowledged their sibling bonds or not, as long as he was doing fine and still alive, that was sufficient.

Details previously glossed over were now re-examined meticulously.

If Chang Yan truly did not recognize him, he could have easily denied the jade pendant instead of speaking as if deliberately distancing himself later.

If the fifth prince was not Chang Yan, there would also be no need to deliberately turn his back against them without revealing his face, even refusing to meet his eyes.

Compared to little fifth brother outright abandoning them as siblings, Xu Mo was more inclined to believe difficult circumstances prevented Chang Yan from having any contact with them.

But what sort of difficulties could he face?

Snippets of the scholar-officials' discussions during the conferment ceremony floated to mind. The awkward position the fifth prince was in was plain for all to see. Xu Mo could barely suppress his agitation. "Little fifth might be facing trouble. We have to help him, we can't just ignore him like this!"

But how could they help? The Spring Feast to raise funds was approaching, yet the fifth prince clearly lacked money and still refused to acknowledge their relationship.

Then they could only discreetly send money over without revealing themselves.

Xu Mo's gaze flickered briefly before finally settling on the thoroughly relieved Jiang Sheng.