Located in the Fengjing Center, the avenue was only a short tea time away from the Imperial City. Lined on both sides were prosperous shops, with pedestrians who were either wealthy or noble.
Zheng Ruqian walked among them, still dressed in his flamboyant playboy attire, but his spirit was downcast and lacked the vigor he had when knocking on the Jiang family's door.
Jiang San and Jiang Si felt somewhat unbearable and wanted to offer some consolation.
Wang Xiaosong blocked them and said, "The young master is lovesick over the young lady."
A sister whom you see morning and night suddenly changing her status and being confined in a prominent household, having to announce yourself three times just to see her, who could accept that?
Thinking of Wang Xiaozhu suddenly wearing gold and fine fabrics, acting all dignified, Wang Xiaosong's tears became a bit uncontrollable.
Luckily Jiang San comforted him, "Brother Song, your sister is still at the medicine shop, she hasn't worn gold or fabrics."
Jiang Si nodded, "That's right Brother Song, stop dreaming, there's no chance of that happening."
Wang Xiaosong cried even harder.
In fact this was just the battle between selfishness and conscience. A selfish elder brother would want his sister to stay by his side, but his conscience would feel that his sister should enjoy glory and riches, and that a few years as siblings should not hold her back.
So the youths in the small courtyard pursed their lips and clenched their fists, reluctant yet unable to speak up,
Just like Zheng Ruqian at this moment.
He wanted to turn back, but was afraid it would make Jiang Sheng sad, so he could only forcibly restrain his impulse and painfully stumble on.
Until Wang Xiaosong's cry of surprise sounded in his ear, followed by what sounded like someone covering his mouth.
Could they have been ambushed at the foot of the imperial city?
But this was a good opportunity to turn back.
Zheng Ruqian carefully glanced over his shoulder, then carefully focused his gaze. Unexpectedly he saw a small, fair and rosy round face, and that familiar smile, brimming with joy, and engraved into her bones was "Elder brother!"
He was dumbfounded, he was astonished, he was confused.
Until Jiang Sheng called out again, "Elder brother!"
Only then did Zheng Ruqian come to his senses. In disbelief he asked, "Did you sneak out? Does the Jiang family know?"
You couldn't say they didn't think alike, their brains were wired the same way.
Jiang Sheng had her hands on her hips, half amused and half exasperated. "I didn't sneak out, I came home!"
Her arm was still holding an exquisite bundle, with something heavy inside, her hair was still neatly done up in double plaits on top her head, and her attire was still pink and extravagant, no different from how she looked at the Jiang residence.
But she said she had come home.
Then home it was.
Zheng Ruqian blinked away the wetness in his eyes, lightly picked up the bundle in his sister's arm, and towards Jiang San, Jiang Si and Wang Xiaosong huddled together, waved them over imperiously. "Come on, let's go home!"
The five people, both masters and servants, walked away in high spirits, accompanied by the girl's clear laughter, in an arrogant and pretentious manner.
The sky was blue, people were happy.
But this happiness came to an abrupt halt at the entrance to the small courtyard.
How delicious the food at the Jiang residence was, that was how embarrassed they currently felt.
Especially when they overheard the worried voices within after sticking themselves to the door frame. Their cheeks were flushed red from vexation.
"The rice has been reheated three times already, why isn't second elder brother back yet?" Xu Mo lightly rapped the table. "Could it be he was put in a difficult spot at the Jiang residence?"
"With his sister present, it's unlikely the Jiang family would make things difficult for him. Perhaps it's because those three trays of lychees were too conspicuous." Chang Yan frowned while fingering his wooden bead rosary.
Wen Zhiyun timidly added on. "The imperial laws prevail under the Son of Heaven's feet. It's unlikely second elder brother would meet with mishap. He's probably just been held up by some matters."
What followed next was a lengthy silence.
It couldn't be helped. All those who were usually chattering away were currently hiding outside the door, leaving behind three brothers sitting upright, racking their brains at a loss.
Even through the door one could imagine those three figures sitting formally and anxiously, deep in contemplation.
Jiang Sheng really couldn't bear it and poked Zheng Ruqian's arm. "Second elder brother, why aren't we going in yet?"
Zheng Ruqian looked back and slapped his forehead.
How could he have forgotten about this little ancestor. With her present, surely forgetting to return home and eat with his brothers couldn't be considered too huge a matter?
He spread his lips in a grin, grabbing Jiang Sheng with one hand and arrogantly slapping the door with the other.
The three seated brothers simultaneously raised their eyes. Wen Zhiyun was the most agitated. "Second elder brother is back, second elder brother is back!"
Chang Yan was the quickest to react, undoing the newly installed door bolt, only to see two figures grinning widely at each other.
"Little sister."
"Fifth elder brother."
It was a sound even more melodious than celestial music.
Even someone as profound and scheming as Chang Yan stood rooted to the spot, momentarily stunned.
Not to mention Wen Zhiyun behind, whose eyes instantly welled up with tears, his tear ducts turned into springs.
Xu Mo was even more speechless. "You all......you all......"
"We're back!" Zheng Ruqian started bragging. "I brought my sister back home, I brought her back, I did!"
Wang Xiaosong nodded behind him. "That's right, after the master had walked far away, Young Miss Jiang suddenly popped out saying she wanted to go home."
Jiang San and Jiang Si tried to intervene, but they were a bit too late.
Before Zheng Ruqian could even speak, Chang Yan and Wen Zhiyun had already rushed forth to tightly grab their clothes.
Xu Mo slowly made his way behind the four of them, his voice nasal from holding back his emotions. "Now, we're only missing third brother."
They just needed Fang Heng and their family would be reunited.
How wonderful indeed.
The few siblings warmly made their way into the small courtyard. Auntie Zhang had just finished reheating the fourth batch of dishes and brought them out. Seeing Jiang Sheng, she was dumbfounded. It was Xiao Zhu who helped to arrange the bowls and chopsticks properly. "Time to eat, time to eat!"
Everyone orderly took their seats, with no distinction between masters and servants, or hierarchy.
Auntie Zhang dabbed at her tears as she served the dishes. "Little Jiang Sheng, have some pork elbow, your favorite braised pork elbow."
The greedy little girl surprisingly shook her head. "No no, I'm not hungry. I already ate my fill at the Jiang residence."
The lychee feast was so delicious that she had accidentally eaten until her stomach bulged. Even tender bone-less braised pork elbow had to be reluctantly declined despite the sacrifice.
It made sense after all. How could the Jiang family possibly let her leave with an empty stomach?
Auntie Zhang's braised elbow took a detour and landed in front of Zheng Ruqian instead. "Ruqian must be starving, eat more."
Zheng ·Already Ate His Fill ·But Didn't Dare Admit It· Ruqian broke out into a sweat on his forehead. He looked around, wanting to decline. "Eldest brother should eat instead, he must be hungrier than me."
However, Xu Mo lowered his gaze. "Green vegetables are enough for me."
"Then let fourth brother eat." Zheng Ruqian said anxiously.
Wen Zhiyun waved his hands in surprise. "Second elder brother, you forgot I don't like to eat elbows."
"Then let fifth brother have it, he can eat it." At this point Zheng Ruqian was nearly in tears.
The completely unruffled Chang Yan quirked his brows and laughed. "Second elder brother, since Auntie served this to you, go ahead and eat it. After all, you also came back hungry."
In the end......he still......came back......hungry.
Zheng Ruqian vaguely felt like they knew something, but a Sichuan man was stubborn and refused to admit defeat all his life. How could he possibly acknowledge making a mistake?
He ate the pork elbow skin with the determination of someone walking towards death. The oil and meatiness simultaneously slid down his esophagus, along with the dishes from the lychee feast nearly about to surge upwards, only to be forcefully suppressed.
After just one bite, Zheng Ruqian began uncontrollably burping from being overly full.
Wen Zhiyun concernedly asked, "Second elder brother, should I brew you some digestive tea?"
Xu Mo and Chang Yan calmly looked at one another, smiling wickedly.
Serves you right for secretly eating outside and not telling the truth.
And for sneaking home leftovers into the kitchen when you thought no one was looking.
If you have two particularly smart elder brothers, then don't try to fool everyone. This was what Zheng Ruqian concluded as he slowly sipped on digestive tea.
