On the first day of the new year, everyone was resting, even the emperor rarely took a vacation.
Jiang Sheng basked in the warm sunshine, next to her were three brothers, helping Auntie Zhang make dumplings.
The dough had been prepared earlier and was divided into portions.
Eldest brother's hands were the most skilled. Holding a short, round rolling pin, he pressed the dough balls into thin wrappers with thicker centers, perfect for dumpling skins.
If Second Brother was here, he would definitely tease, "Worthy of a scholar's hands, even dumpling wrappers look better than ours."
Fourth and Fifth brothers were a bit clumsier, dipping the meat filling onto the wrappers, then carefully pinching them together, but only managing half-moons.
Looking at the dumplings Auntie Zhang made, each was delicate, round and plump, with neat, even pleats. Truly unparalleled.
Just as Jiang Sheng was praising them in her heart, she heard Fifth Brother call, "Little sister, you wrap a couple too."
She immediately shook her head vigorously like a rattle drum.
No no no, one must know their limits. When two brothers could only wrap half-moons, she would just ruin the dough and filling. Even if she managed to wrap them, they would burst in the pot.
The chubby girl put her hands on her hips righteously, "I'll go gather firewood."
She was familiar with this. During her years wandering, as soon as she grew a bit, she started gathering firewood, because only fire could drive away the cold and maintain warmth on freezing nights.
Even these last few years living comfortably with Auntie's care and doting brothers, Jiang Sheng had not forgotten how to build fires. In just a few moves, she lit the dried branches aflame.
She filled a clean iron pot with water and plenty of firewood, then left it to burn for a cup of tea.
Just as Jiang Sheng was about to relax, the courtyard gate was slammed loudly.
Slammed.
Like a large beast charging and ramming with its body, making enough noise to even wake the old man sunbathing next door.
In the yard, Xu Mo dropped the dumpling skin in his hand, dusting the table with flour. His palms flattened against his sides, eyes filled with wariness.
Jiang Three and Four grabbed sticks and moved forward, carefully peeking out the crack in the door.
Seeing the ferocious beast-like figure outside, Jiang Three's mouth gaped wide. Jiang Four quickly unlatched the door, and they both tumbled and crawled inside in tandem.
The sixteen or seventeen year old youth should have had high spirits and confidence, but now he was gritting his teeth with snot and tears streaming down his face. "It's bad, Brother Xu. People have come from the Golden Sacred Hall to arrest An Jun."
Not only An Jun, but his own elderly father was also detained, unable to advance or retreat, having to endure the slander and accusations from the Zhu family and other major clans, rendered speechless.
"Brother Xu, were we wrong? The implications of the civil service exam fraud are too far-reaching, it was never something we could intervene in. My father had warned me before, but I was too confident. Now I've dragged him into court politics, and even Brother An is to be arrested..." Qi Huai choked up.
It was clear he was too concerned about the Minister of Rites to even maintain composure, even doubting himself.
Xu Mo was relatively calm, slapping him on the shoulder and saying heavily, "Qi Huai, you must calm down first."
Jiang Sheng didn't know when she had brought over a cup of cold tea.
Xu Mo reached out and took it, pouring it over Qi Huai's forehead.
Jiang Sheng had originally wanted to refresh him with the cold tea... "......"
Fortunately the effect was very obvious, Qi Huai's snot and tears finally stopped as he quieted down.
"It's understandable you're nervous about your father, and worried about An Jun." Xu Mo said slowly. "The Zhu family colluding with other self-interested clans to slander is quite vicious, but don't forget, we still have the imperial family above us."
"If the imperial family was incompetent and cruel, how could the Dayu Dynasty have achieved today's prosperity? As long as the civil service exam fraud is factual, and the essays are indeed An Jun's, the imperial family will surely not let the cheaters off easily, much less indulge them in harming loyal officials."
This was reasonable.
No matter how turbulent the northern border was, central China remained peaceful and tranquil. The common people's lives were not exactly affluent, but they also did not wander displaced. The imperial family deserved much credit for this.
"Most importantly, as a minister for many years, how could your father recklessly gamble his career and life just to oppose his legal heir?"
With Xu Mo's questioning, stripping the issues layer by layer, Qi Huai finally realized, "I see, if my father had no backup plan, he would have been convicted already, rather than questioning An Jun first."
"But...but we wanted to protect An Jun. We swore to have him help us, yet now we're sending him to the Golden Sacred Hall for the ministers to interrogate him. Isn't this pushing him to his doom?"
Mentioning this, Xu Mo's expression also turned ugly.
He was not worried about the Minister of Rites. As a cunning old official for many years, it was impossible for him to surrender easily.
He worried about An Jun, this powerless and helpless scholar. If he tried to expose the civil service exam fraud to help them and was framed in retaliation, even losing his life, they would never have peace of mind.
But an imperial decree must be obeyed, or it would be a serious crime of defiance.
Xu Mo's face grew heavier and heavier. After a while, he clenched his fist and said softly, "The imperial family only said they wanted to see the essay's author, but don't know who it is. Just report that I am An Jun, An Jun is me."
He actually wanted to take all of An Jun's place.
Qi Huai paled in shock, unwilling, yet unable to find a better solution.
Just as the two were about to turn themselves in.
The one kneading dumplings finally sighed and spoke up, "Eldest brother, who told you that going to the Golden Sacred Hall means you'll definitely be targeted for revenge by all the powerful families of Fengjing?"
Xu Mo and Qi Huai's footsteps halted simultaneously.
An Jun had used his essay to expose fraud in the civil service exam, and the ones who wanted him punished were only the powerful families of Fengjing. Doing this would indeed offend those families, that was true.
"I'm not saying the powerful families of Fengjing are virtuous, I'm saying...would they dare retaliate?" As if knowing their thoughts, Chang Yan continued, "A scholar who entered the Golden Sacred Hall before even attempting the Palace Examination, he is the only one under heaven. Who would dare touch him?"
Xu Mo and Qi Huai thought protecting An Jun meant hiding him away, not letting anyone find him.
But in Chang Yan's view, true protection was placing him under everyone's watch, letting all recognize him, pay attention to him, so none would dare make covert moves against him.
When all was brought to light, who would still dare use underhanded means for revenge? Who would take the risk of offending the entire world?
"Besides, Eldest Brother, how could you think An Jun wants to miss this chance to cross verbal swords with the ministers at the Golden Sacred Hall?" Chang Yan smiled meaningfully. "When An Jun is unwilling to go, it won't be too late for you to go to the Golden Sacred Hall in his stead."
No matter their opinion, ultimately, it was An Jun's choice which path to take.
Qi Huai and Xu Mo looked at each other, then rushed to the Qi family's separate courtyard in unison.
Hearing An Jun willingly volunteered to provide evidence of the civil service exam fraud at the Golden Sacred Hall, they escorted him to the Qi residence.
There, people sent by the imperial family were waiting.
