Some things once take root in one's heart, sprouting is only a matter of time.
After Wen Zhiyun thought it through, he looked at Chag Yan with smiling eyes, "Chang Yan, I'm fine now."
"That's good as long as you're fine." Chang Yan also smiled back.
The two brothers slept in the same room, close in age, and were equally doted on by their elder brothers, and equally doted on their younger sister.
They always understood each other better.
"Are your things packed up?" Jiang Sheng called out from the courtyard gate.
Wen Zhiyun immediately folded up the package and tied it into a nice little bundle to carry, and pulled Chang Yan out.
When they got to the yard, they found that Wang Fufeng was also there.
Wen Zhiyun's medical skills were a bit inferior to Doctor Wu's. Even Wen nourishing the body, Doctor Wu's prescriptions were better and more suitable for him.
According to Doctor Wu's calculations, Wang Fufeng would have to stay in Xieyang County for at least another half a year to try to make up for the deficiencies he was born with. How could he be leaving now?
But Wen Zhiyun didn't ask.
Because there was already a mouth in the house that had asked before him, "Is Brother Fufeng also coming back to the prefecture with us?"
Wang Fufeng's health was still too weak. Even after being wonderfully cared for by Doctor Wu for two months, he was still pale, with only a slight blush on his lips.
He looked at little Jiang Sheng and smiled faintly, with a different kind of frail beauty, "Yes, I'm going back. I should have gone back long ago."
He was just too reluctant to leave the tranquility and peace of Xieyang County, so he deliberately pretended not to know.
"Ah." Little Jiang Sheng covered her face in surprise, "I don't know what a mess the Wang family has become in these two months."
The third branch fighting for power, killing each other.
Battle flames and smoke, murder without bloodshed.
Wang Fufeng raised the corners of his mouth and glanced at Xu Mo sitting upright. His tone was light, "It's just mutually assured destruction."
Initially it was a struggle between the second branch and the third branch, one being the useless heir, the other being the promising son of a concubine, a five to eight ratio.
It was a pity that Wang Mingyu was so useless. First he let people set up a gambling game and lost tens of thousands of taels of silver.
The second young master of the Wang family desperately tried to cover the loss, but couldn't plug the hole, and had to reluctantly take it out of the public funds.
This was an obvious loophole.
The third branch seized it firmly and joined forces with the fourth branch to force the second branch to hand over power.
But that wasn't the end of it.
The illegitimate son of the third branch was so promising that he passed the prefectural exam in April and won the title of tongsheng in one fell swoop, making the third branch's position even more solid.
Wang Fufeng's father, Third Master Wang, was extremely pleased. He immediately took his concubine as a noble concubine, and his illegitimate son also leapt to become a recognized son.
It looked like the third branch's position was consolidated.
But the first branch wasn't just going to sit back and wait to die. While the third branch was smug, the eldest daughter of the Wang family became engaged to the heir of the Fang family.
With the Fang family's backing, the first branch would not fall. Plus, relations with the Sun family had eased, and neither branch had absolute advantage.
I heard that recently, Wang Yuyao's intimate letter with her friend was exposed, revealing that her affection was not for her fiancé. This damaged her reputation.
Right after that, the prefecture city became noisy with rumors that Wang Haoran, the third branch’s recognized son, had unclear origins and was likely not of Wang descent.
Both branches were declining, but neither was willing to make concessions.
This was not what Wang Fufeng wanted to see.
So half a month ago, he had someone play a dirty trick.
Counting the days, it was about time to watch the show and close the net.
"So Brother Fufeng, you're not going to nourish your health anymore?" After listening to this messy pile, little Jiang Sheng's eyes were almost mosquito coil-shaped, but she didn't forget to ask the key question.
Wang Fufeng's expression froze.
Compared to his physical condition, the liveliness of the Wang family was obviously more important.
But he had promised to live well before. Now he could not rashly go back on his word. He could only frown and ponder.
Just then, Wen Zhiyun and Chang Yan walked over hand in hand.
Wang Fufeng's eyes lit up and he smiled and pointed at Wen Zhiyun, "I trust Doctor Wen's medical skills."
Wen Zhiyun couldn't believe it. "I'm far inferior to Doctor Wu. How could I possibly...I can't do it."
"No, you can." Wang Fufeng said earnestly, "You and Doctor Wu are both excellent. What Doctor Wu can do, you can do too."
The humble inspire great ambition in others.
Wen Zhiyun was recognized by an outsider for the first time. Feeling sour but also gradually gaining courage and confidence.
"Well then, let's set off!"
With Jiang Sheng's happy childish words, several carriages set off in grandeur.
They came with trepidation, and left with great ambition.
Passing through the gates of Xieyang County, Bian Wenxuan was still there to see them off, just like when he welcomed them.
"Master Xu, you mustn't forget about me in the future." He shouted while waving vigorously.
Xu Mo smiled helplessly and lowered his head.
Wen Zhiyun looked on enviously, and was about to lower the carriage curtain when he inadvertently saw what looked like Doctor Wu in the crowd.
But when he took a closer look, the figure was gone.
At the same time.
Wang Family in Prefecture City
Lately Wang Yuyao felt something was off with her mother. She was behaving strangely, blushing, and spoke much gentler than usual.
Especially at night. Whenever Wang Yuyao went to look for her, she'd definitely get kicked out.
Wang Yuyao was not young anymore. Not only was she engaged, she'd be thirteen after the new year.
In this dynasty where girls could marry at fifteen and bear children, she was already a young lady.
She could feel her mother was hiding some big secret from her, one that would hurt their mother-daughter bond.
If it were normal times, Wang Yuyao would choose to preserve her mother's dignity and not pry into her affairs.
But now it wouldn't do. The first and third branches of the Wang family were vying for power, and were ruthless enough to disregard even the reputation of the young ones. Leaving such a huge loophole would only lead to the second branch's miserable downfall.
For the sake of the first branch and their future as mother and daughter, Wang Yuyao steeled herself to ambush her mother, breaking through obstacles until one night, she kicked open her mother's door.
As expected, tumultuous waves of passion, the room in disarray.
Unexpectedly, it wasn't some young lover, but a middle-aged man about her father's age.
"Mother." Wang Yuyao's face was weary. "Why? Why do this?"
Lady Wang gathered the blankets around herself, forcibly upholding her dignity. "Your father has been dead for four years. Why should I remain chaste for him and live as a widow?"
Wang Yuyao was stunned, and had yet to retort when sudden applause came from behind, along with Third Master Wang's laughing voice. "Sister-in-law tries so hard to seize control of the Wang family. Pretending it's all for elder brother, who knew it's actually for a filthy outsider. What an eye opener!"
It was over. The mantis stalks the cicada unaware of the oriole behind.
Wang Yuyao's body went limp as she knelt on the ground, heart filled with grief and regret.
Lady Wang pointed at Third Master Wang in terror, eyes rolling back as she fainted.
The first branch of the Wang family had fallen.
Third Master Wang looked back at everyone, tone arrogant and proud. "Among the Wang descendants, only my son Haoran is worthy. The position of Wang family patriarch shall fall to him. Isn't that fair?"
The others dared not speak.
Even the first branch with the Fang family's backing could be schemed against. What could the rest of them amount to?
Plus Wang Haoran did have some ability. Not even thirteen yet he'd obtained the title of tongsheng. Rumor was he'd be taking the county exam in August, promising future.
The rest of the Wang family stopped struggling and surrendered.
But just as they took out the ceremonial offerings and account books' keys,
a weak, willowy figure slowly emerged. "Wait."
