The situation became too chaotic in an instant.
Zhu Zhi's malicious intentions went beyond their imagination. His fists came out fast and fierce, as if wanting to vent all the resentment that had built up over this period of time.
An Jun, a slender and weak student, was punched until his nose bled and his teeth fell out.
Xu Mo and Qi Huai were shocked and turned pale. One went up to stop Zhu Zhi, the other used his body to block the foot that was kicking down.
Even Zhu Sihuan, who was queuing, rushed over while shouting, "Uncle San, Uncle San, what's wrong with you, why are you beating people in broad daylight?"
The surrounding commoners retreated again and again, not even caring about the fried chestnuts they were about to get, only to avoid the noisy trouble.
Zhu Zhi still wanted to press the attack, but was held tightly by Qi Huai and Zhu Sihuan with both hands and feet, unable to move anymore.
"Brother An, Brother An," Xu Mo softly called the bruised and swollen An Jun, feeling both annoyed and upset in his heart.
He had originally said that it would only be a verbal conflict, and at most some shoving. He never thought it would escalate to such seriousness.
Seeing a big white tooth getting kicked around on the ground, Xu Mo only resented that it was not him who was beaten.
Abruptly, a call rang in his ears, and a trembling hand reached out, "Brother Xu, now, you have to bring me the candied chestnuts..."
Xu Mo looked down in astonishment and saw An Jun's calm smile and satisfied composure.
At that moment, they both understood each other's desire for revenge.
Like a high mountain meeting a flowing stream, and like Boya and Ziqi, they smiled at each other, with everything implied without words.
The other two were not so fortunate.
After Zhu Zhi found he could not move his body, he switched to yelling mode. Under his short mustache was a mouth like a wine pot spout, pouring out torrents.
It was a pity that instead of fine wine, what spewed from Zhu Zhi's mouth was smelly saliva.
Zhu Sihuan could still endure it, but Qi Huai was already rolling his eyes, almost nauseous.
Finally, Zhu Sihuan could not stand it anymore and shouted angrily, "Third Uncle, don't get angry. If people find out you openly assaulted someone on the street, how would this be good for the Zhu family!"
Zhu Zhi's cursing stopped abruptly. His whole person became wise and shrewd again, without the slightest trace of frenzy.
First he glanced at An Jun lying on the ground, then looked around at the commoners, and slowly covered his abdomen with his hand, crying out in pain, "It was this guy who attacked me first. I was merely fighting back. Everyone can testify that he injured me first."
Xu Mo's expression immediately darkened.
According to the Great Yu Dynasty's laws, the initiator was considered unreasonable. Even if An Jun did it unintentionally, Zhu Zhi could claim he fought back in self-defense. Even if reported to the Imperial Court, it would be difficult to make a verdict against him.
Therefore, Zhu Zhi acted recklessly without scruples, beating mercilessly with his fists. Not only did he vent his resentment and hatred towards An Jun these days, he could also make it impossible for An Jun to sue while forcing him to take the blame for the fight.
His heart deserved to die, his intentions were vicious.
Fortunately, An Jun was not an ordinary commoner. He was an Imperial College student appointed by the court to study there in preparation for the exams. More importantly, he was Zhu Zhi’s informant who exposed Zhu Zhi and caused him to lose his upper-level degree qualification.
As Zhu Zhi finished speaking, An Jun, missing a tooth, struggled to stand up. He knelt towards the imperial palace and cried out, "Your student An Jun was viciously attacked by the Zhu family on New Year's Eve on Tian Street Corner. I have failed to live up to the imperial favor. I will now repay it with my life!"
After speaking, he rushed towards the nearest pillar.
Xu Mo and Qi Huai desperately held him back with all their hands and feet, naturally trying to persuade him not to do so.
Zhu Sihuan turned his head and looked at his usually arrogant uncle who had turned pale, staggering. He smiled meaningfully.
The Zhu family publicly retaliated against an informant in broad daylight.
When this matter came out, the entire Fengjing Capital would shiver.
The powerful families glared wide-eyed in disbelief. They could not believe how stupid the Zhu family was. Now everyone was wary of An Jun, so how could the Zhu people be so bold as to retaliate against him right under the court's nose.
The Zhu family was also frustrated, unable to understand why Zhu Zhi would provoke An Jun at this juncture, beating out one of his teeth in public for all to see.
The person concerned, Zhu Zhi himself, was even more confused, not understanding how he ended up beating An Jun.
Indeed, if it was an ordinary person instead of An Jun, he could only suffer this beating in vain.
While feeling the situation was laughable, Xu Mo did not forget to advise his younger siblings to keep their distance from the powerful families, and even avoid bumping into them.
Jiang Sheng listened obediently and took it to heart.
With the entire Fengjing Capital watching the Zhu family and An Jun, the street beating completely intensified the contradictions between both sides. Even the court could not gloss things over.
The siblings in the small courtyard were even more nervous, eagerly waiting for their brother to avenge this revenge, so he could focus on the exams with peace of mind.
The next day, the court summoned the Zhu family members into the palace.
Four days later, after repeated struggling, the Zhu family finally removed Zhu Zhi's name from the family tree, and announced to the entire Fengjing Capital that Zhu Zhi had been expelled from the Zhu family.
Abandoning the knight to protect the king was within expectations for many people.
Zhu Zhi had lost his upper-level degree qualification. He would no longer be able to participate in the imperial examinations in the future, and his engagement to the Tao family had ended in failure. He also had a concubine and illegitimate child. His entire life could be considered wasted.
The only reason he still had a place in the Zhu family was because he was of the main descent line, protected only by his older brother and sister.
Now that he had provoked An Jun and attracted the court's attention, even the closest siblings could no longer shield such a younger brother. They could only watch him get expelled from the Zhu family and lose the family's protection.
But so what? Zhu Zhi was still perfectly fine living in a separate courtyard with his pampered wife and young children, lacking neither money nor food and entertainment.
With the Zhu family no longer his backing, the wife from the Fang family and the current Zhu family head still secretly looked after this useless younger brother.
In order to completely avenge this revenge, there was still the last step left.
The fifteenth day of the first month.
Lantern Festival.
While others were cooking sweet rice balls and eating them along with lanterns on the night of the Lantern Festival, Xu Mo was sharpening his blade.
He was originally a refined scholar with a slender and tall figure. When he lifted his writing brush, his whole body exuded the aura of books. At this time, holding a whetstone to sharpen his blade made one feel a sense of disharmony.
But Xu Mo was completely unaware, wholeheartedly thinking of sharpening the knife even more sharply, so it would be convenient to cut off Zhu Zhi's tendons and take his dog life.
Zheng Ruqian, Wen Zhiyun, Chang Yan, and Jiang Sheng stood on both sides with worried expressions on their faces.
"With Eldest Brother's frail body, can he beat Zhu Zhi? What if he gets killed instead?" Second Brother Zheng’s brows were tightly knitted, unable to focus on business these days.
"Or or, let me go instead." Fourth Younger Wen shivered as he took out two packs of newly researched poisons.
Xu Mo's knife-sharpening motion paused, and before he could speak,
Chang Yan opened his mouth on his behalf, "No one is going, Eldest Brother is not going either."
The whole family turned back in shock and puzzlement.
In order to take revenge, Xu Mo had racked his brains. Just a few days ago when he visited An Jun, he even gave ten catties of candied chestnuts. Victory was imminent. How could he say not to go just like that?
The Zhu family had already abandoned Zhu Zhi. The only things the oldest siblings could provide were money and valuables. This was the best time to attack decisively. As long as they were careful enough not to leave any traces, the Imperial Court would not be able to track it down.
"But what if they do track it down?" Chang Yan asked gently. "Eldest Brother wants to take the exams and be the champion. You must keep your past clean and avoid bloodshed."
Revenge was certainly important, but it must not affect a bright future.
Besides, how could those fair, slender hands that held the writing brush take a life?
"Eldest Brother, would Prefect Xu and his wife be willing to see you sacrifice your original path for revenge?" Chang Yan's words stabbed the heart. "To kill with your own hands, will it really not shake your original beliefs and affect the knowledge you have accumulated after ten years of hardship in study?"
A person raised with Confucian teachings to love the people and the country, how could he be willing to deliberately take a life with his own hands?
Xu Mo's knife-sharpening motion paused again, almost losing his grip on the handle.
Yet letting Zhu Zhi enjoy carefree days was also too unwilling to accept.
Chang Yan expected this earlier and smiled lightly. "Eldest Brother, there are others who also hate Zhu Zhi deeply."
Apart from An Jun, in the distant Anshui Prefecture, there was another family who also hated Zhu Zhi bitterly .
Their daughter was murdered, their son harmed, but their son-in-law could still enjoy leisure. Yet they had no way to sue, only able to stifle their anger.
Gao Jingsan who left in a hurry on the first day of the Lunar New Year was on an urgent trip back to Anshui Prefecture. He secretly gave Zhu Zhi's whereabouts to the Gao family members before following them all the way to Fengjing Capital.
On the 20th of that month, Zhu Zhi who went out looking for pleasure, was hacked to death by blade with several cuts, ending his worthless life. This also completely eliminated Xu Mo's inner obsession.
