The three days of exams were quite an ordeal for the students of the Imperial Examination Hall, but in the eyes of outsiders, it was just a blink.
Jiang Sheng had sat eagerly in the carriage early on, sticking her buttocks out to watch outside, "The brother from the Qi Family has arrived, and also the brothers from the Zhao, Zhu, and Chu families. Oh, why is she here too?"
There weren't many young ladies who could surprise her.
Chang Yan stretched out her fingertips to flip open a corner of the carriage curtain, and with just a quick sweep, she saw in the crowd the young miss Jiang Chenghua from the Jiang Family, with whom they had clashed several times before.
According to the affection between the Jiang siblings, Jiang Chengming should also be here.
Chang Yan swept her gaze again, and sure enough, she saw the Jiang Family's eldest young master, who was still a scholar.
The Jiang and Fang families were both families of military origin for generations, but after General Fang died unexpectedly in the borderlands, the main room declined. The second room then took over the family power and smoothly shifted the younger generation onto the path of the civil service examinations, thoroughly transforming into a scholarly family.
The Jiang Family was different. General Jiang was still stationed steadfastly in the borderlands. How could he tolerate his only son abandoning the military for academia?
Chang Yan didn't understand, but she also knew there must be some twists and turns here.
The Jiang Family was a prominent household.
Although there weren't many direct descent members, with only two grandsons, the numbers of illegitimate sons and daughters were quite substantial. And they all held certain official positions at court. Along with General Jiang battling away outside, the family's status as a top household was very steady.
But this kind of stability only existed while General Jiang was still around. Once the Jiang Family had no one left in the military, relying solely on several official positions at court, their household status would surely decline.
Looking at it long term, it would be best for the Jiang Family to produce another general. But Jiang Chengming, the heir, had chosen the civil service examinations. Were people from the illegitimate lines like Jiang Chengfeng and the others going to join the army instead?
Chang Yan had just raised this doubt when her gaze fell upon the debauched second young master Jiang Chengfeng fanning himself with a folding fan, and she was immediately struck dumb.
With both the eldest and second grandson of the Jiang Family, Jiang Chengming and Jiang Chengfeng, not going to join the army, the even younger children would be even more unwilling. After all, that was the battlefield, where blades and spears were merciless.
Chang Yan sighed. It seemed she understood now why Jiang Chengming had abandoned the military for academia.
The Jiang Family must have a short-sighted elder who loved her child deeply. She had cut off Jiang Chengming's thoughts of joining the army and instead forced him onto the path of the civil service examinations, so that no matter how much the Jiang Family's status declined in the future, Jiang Chengming could live out his life in safety and comfort.
From a broader perspective, this kind of thinking was very detrimental to the Jiang Family's development.
But from a mother's point of view, hoping her child would be well was not wrong either.
"Why is it the mother and not the grandmother?" Jiang Sheng suddenly asked from the side.
Only then did Chang Yan realize she had been analyzing out loud without noticing.
Somewhat embarrassed, she pursed her lips. Seeing that both her fourth brother and little sister were utterly curious, she cleared her throat and answered, "Because if Old Lady Jiang really had such short-sightedness, there wouldn't be General Jiang today."
Old Lady Jiang had been able to support her son becoming a general but could not force her grandson onto the battlefield as well, because her grandson still had a mother whereas she was only a grandmother.
"What a great woman this grandmother is," Jiang Sheng said crisply from the side. "Just like me. I'm clearly very worried about Third Brother but still support him going to the borderlands."
Chang Yan held in her laughter and didn't say anything.
Wen Zhiyun blankly raised her head, for a time unsure whether her little sister was praising Old Lady Jiang or patting herself on the back.
Only Jiang Sheng remained utterly oblivious as she climbed back onto the little window to crane her neck around. She happened to meet the gaze of the Jiang family members she had just been muttering about.
"Little Jiang cabbage..."
Jiang Chengyuan, waving his folding fan, was utterly delighted to see her and about to go over to greet her. But catching sight of his expressionless little sister Jiang Chenghua from the corner of his eye, he halted abruptly in his tracks.
"What is it, big brother?" Jiang Chengfeng sauntered over lazily. "Spotted another young lady you've taken a liking to? I'll have Grandmother propose a marriage for you later."
Jiang Chengyuan gave him a knock on the head. "Speaking such nonsense in broad daylight."
"I understand, I understand," Jiang Chengfeng revealed a full mouth of white teeth. "We brothers can chat privately later and whisper about it stealthily."
Before Jiang Chengyuan could respond, the fourth young miss, Jiang Chengyu, became anxious. She fiercely stomped down on her eldest brother's toes and whispered through gritted teeth, "Second Brother, don't forget you've still got your little sister here."
Jiang Chengfeng sucked in a breath of cold air and used his folding fan to conceal over half his face.
Of the Jiang Family's two eldest granddaughters, although the third young miss, Jiang Chenghua, was a little too aloof, her manners in public were beyond reproach—always gentle and meticulous, only ever helping her brothers patch up their image, never stomping on her brothers' toes.
The fourth young miss, Jiang Chengyu, was much feistier. She had an unforgiving personality and often clashed with her elder brother, Jiang Chengfeng, over all kinds of matters, quarreling and bickering away for no reason when they had nothing else to do, both unwilling to yield to the other.
"I really envy you..." Jiang Chengfeng took the chance to mutter resentfully, "for having such a gentle little sister."
Jiang Chengyuan shrank back his neck.
His little sister could be quite gentle when she was happy, but when angered, she was much more terrifying than Fourth Sister. Sometimes he actually preferred to chase after and scuffle with his sister rather than having to carefully coax and placate her all the time.
But Fourth Sister was far too feisty and unforgiving.
If only the two of them could be combined...to be more like little Jiang cabbage instead.
Jiang Chengyuan took another glance in the direction of the carriage, but regretfully, the little girl had already pulled her head back in. He couldn't even catch sight of that round, smiling face anymore.
What difference would it make even if he did see it? He still could not slight his little sister again just for the sake of someone else.
Jiang Chengyuan drooped his head dejectedly as he waited for the exam to end so he could ask the other students for some tips.
Even Jiang Chengfeng, who seldom kept his mouth shut, fell silent.
When the surroundings fell entirely quiet, the distant conversation turned from muffled to clear.
"Hey, there used to be a wonton stand here yesterday. How come it's gone today?"
"I heard it offended some noble and, shh, don't ask about it."
"I was there at the time. Seems it offended an old madam, but fortunately a young miss helped smooth things over..."
Upon hearing these crucial three words, the Jiang brothers simultaneously lifted their heads, and whether dejected or regretful over toes, all now wore severe and icy expressions.
It was only last night that they had found out their grandmother had actually gone out in plain clothes some days ago to eat at a wonton stand and had nearly gotten scammed by the owner. Fortunately a young miss had stepped in to lend a hand and saved her.
By rights, the more people who knew about such an embarrassing affair the better, but for some reason, Grandmother had informed all four Jiang grandchildren about it and exhorted them not to retaliate against the wonton stand owner.
Jiang Chengyuan had obediently assented, but the wonton stand was nevertheless gone now.
His gaze swept past Jiang Chengyu, who couldn't keep matters to herself; Jiang Chenghua, who wasn't close to Grandmother; and finally landed on the visibly guilty Jiang Chengfeng. Assuming his authority as the eldest brother, he demanded, "Speak. What exactly happened?"
"We're the Jiang Family. Grandmother was bullied—we had to retaliate, for the sake of our reputation."
But the wonton seller had no idea of Grandmother's identity and indeed had not gone so far as to warrant losing his own livelihood.
"I believe Grandmother wanted us to thank that young miss who came to her aid instead," Jiang Chengyuan said heavily. "Not retaliate against the wonton seller."
Right then, Jiang Sheng hopped out of the carriage. The commoner from earlier happily pointed at her. "That's the one, that's the one! She even called me uncle! Such a sweet-talker."
