Chapter 407

There are not many pure people in this world, and Jiang Sheng can be considered one.

Compared to Eldest Brother's melancholy loneliness and suspicion, she only cares about whether Fifth Brother is intact, cares about whether Fifth Brother is alive.

For her, even if Fifth Brother really ran away and abandoned them, it doesn't matter.

"As long as you are healthy, anywhere is fine," the little girl said with satisfaction on her face. "Eat well, dress warmly, that's enough."

From beginning to end, she was always afraid that the frail Fifth Brother would not fare well.

Next to her, Wen Zhiyun also nodded, with relief flowing in his watery eyes.

It was Fang Heng and Zheng Ruqian who heard the key point, and gathered around with solemn expressions.

In the Imperial City, the amount of information was too complex, making their breathing unconsciously hold.

"I was too worried that my concern was chaotic, and I was not as perceptive as my younger siblings," Xu Mo said with a wry smile while describing, "I had suspicions during the imperial examinations, and when I went to identify during the conferment, little Wu did not recognize me, and his attitude was extremely cold. At first there was anger and loss, before I came around, he must have had difficulties to speak of."

While protecting big brother, also sever ties.

It shows that his situation is not good, and it also shows that there are many intricate relations in the deep palace.

"Now that little Wu is in trouble, I, as the eldest brother, cannot sit idly by," Xu Mo clenched his fist. "Second and third brothers, what do you think?"

In self-reflection, he had led the younger siblings for five or six years, and most of the time he would help to make suggestions and give advice, but he would only put it forward without presumptuously deciding.

They were siblings, but also independent individuals with their own ideas and thoughts.

Respect starts from little things.

"Of course it is to help, you are the eldest brother, and I am the second eldest brother," Zheng Ruqian yelled hoarsely, "But big brother, you talked for so long without mentioning the key point, what exactly does little Wu do in the Imperial City?"

It can't be a eunuch, don't tell me he's a palace maid?

Jiang Sheng and Wen Zhiyun nodded at the same time, obviously also curious beyond endurance. Only Fang Heng had a wooden face, thinking of that most unlikely possibility.

"Of course... he is a prince," Xu Mo said bitterly.

The expressions of all the younger siblings changed. It was inconceivable that the surrounding environment distorted along, the brain muddled, vaguely feeling that it was because they missed little Wu too much and had a strange dream.

How is that possible?

The backgrounds of Fang Heng and Jiang Sheng were already shocking enough, who would have thought little Wu was even more amazing.

Just thinking of such a noble status, yet having to eat steamed buns and pickles with them, sleeping on bed boards, wearing ill-fitting grey jackets, it felt unrealistic.

"Could it be... a mistake?" For the first time, Zheng Ruqian gave up his official merchant collusion ideas.

"It won't be wrong," Xu Mo said with certainty. "He is little Wu, he is the brother we lived together with for five years."

In the current era where average life expectancy is fifty years old, five years takes up a tenth of one's life.

There is no need to mention the years of relying on each other, the understanding from conspiring smiles has also seeped deep into the bones.

"No wonder I occasionally felt that little Wu had a kind demeanor, and was indifferent towards the glamorous fireworks." Fang Heng murmured. "He was indifferent to money, as well as indifferent to power."

The impoverished Zheng Ruqian would swear to become wealthy and desperately earn money.

The fallen Xu Mo would strive to progress and become a pillar of support for the younger siblings.

Only Jiang Wu was carefree and natural, never minding poverty or wealth, never fearing coercion from power.

It turns out he himself once stood at the pinnacle.

"Little Wu actually concealed it from me. He clearly said there should be no secrets between brothers," tears began welling up in Wen Zhiyun's eyes again. "He broke his promise, he lied to me."

The one who warned everyone not to hide secrets back then turned out to conceal deeper and bigger secrets than anyone else.

No wonder Xu Mo was angry and depressed, no wonder Wen Zhiyun's tears were gushing.

Only Jiang Sheng blankly lifted her head. "Fifth Brother did not leave for no reason. He said he did not like the Imperial City. He said he loved freedom."

The last sentence remained unsaid — he went back for our sake.

But it was enough to pain Xu Mo.

The elegant youth pounded the table with his fist. "I'd rather not have this Hanlin Compiler position, rather be an ordinary second-rank scholar, if I had known little Wu would go against the Crown Prince like this." All the glory and pride was gained by sacrificing his brother.

How can he stand it?

"Big brother," Zheng Ruqian stretched out his hand to stop him. "There's no use saying more now. We should think about what to do."

Things had come to this point. Indulging in inconsolable pain is a foolish choice.

Xu Mo was very smart, and immediately told them about the Fang family's threat for donations during the conferment. He also said, "My classmate mentioned that the Fifth Prince has no wealth or power, and his maternal clan is destitute without support. We cannot let little Wu lose face at the Spring Appreciation Banquet."

Thousands of words boiled down to two — "send money".

Zheng Ruqian took on everything. "Second brother doesn't have much else, but has a little money that can buy meat for Third Brother, and can also donate to Fifth Brother."

According to the standards of the Second Prince and Third Princess, it was only ten thousand taels.

Only... ten thousand taels.

Someone gasped, their calves shivering along.

"The taxes from Fengjing and Anshui Prefecture these two years, as well as last year’s lychee silver, should be enough to pool together." Zheng Ruqian gritted his teeth. "For my Fifth Brother, anything goes."

"Yes, anything goes," Fang Heng also stood out.

How do their family status and identity as a prince compare to the intimacy built from relying on each other in Anshui for many years? It could not restrain them at all.

"Little Wu lied to me. I will settle accounts with him," Wen Zhiyun wiped his tears clean. "But when a brother is in trouble, I as his elder brother cannot ignore him. I can take out all the income from my clinic."

They seemed quite well-off, with no worries about food and clothing.

But they did not have that much money, ten thousand taels still needed pooling together.

Fortunately, they could pool enough.

Zheng Ruqian heaved a long sigh of relief, finally coming to the most critical link. "Who will send the money to little Wu? Big brother will you go?"

Xu Mo shook his head.

Their ordinary brotherly status was nothing much in Fengjing. Even with a second-rank Compiler position, only children of prestigious families were familiar with little Wu. After deliberation, only the ethereal daughter of the Jiang family was most suitable. The Jiang family worried their legitimate daughter would suffer losses, and it was not impossible for them to obstruct.

Jiang Sheng was even prepared to coax and pester.

Until Jiang Jizu revealed a helpless smile. "You children think I'm old so I ought to be stubborn and rigid, forsaking all for safety?"

Don't forget, every middle-aged person has walked the impassioned and fiery path of youth before.

Who hasn't been young before?