Sounds came from the distance, it was the opening of the Gongyuan's front gate, the students walked over one by one, starting identity and cheat sheet checks.
The carriage curtain behind was also lifted, Xu Mo carried a bamboo basket down from the carriage.
There was no time anymore.
Jiang Sheng suddenly lifted her head, her round big eyes full of sincerity.
Seeing this, Jiang Jizu stopped the guard who was given orders, striding to the Gongyuan gate and said something, he also showed an ID.
The originally calm and casual Gongyuan teacher immediately became polite, stood up and urged two yamen runners.
The deed was done.
Jiang Sheng excitedly shed tears, turned around to grab Xu Mo’s hand, and said, “Big brother, you will be fine, do well on the exam, we will wait for you outside.”
If they didn’t know better, they would have thought the big brother was thrown into prison.
Xu Mo didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, he also took a deep look at Jiang Jizu, although not knowing his identity, he could guess his close relationship with his sister.
It was a pity that he was about to enter the Gongyuan, he had no way to personally protect his sister, he could only look deeply at Chang Yan.
“Big brother don’t worry.” The little fifth brother understood, “Leave everything to me.”
Only then did Xu Mo join the remaining few students in line.
Next to him, Zheng Ruqian was a little jumpy, “What do you mean leave everything to you, can’t I as the second brother handle things?”
Xu Mo held back his smile, waved to his younger siblings, and looked regretfully north.
The teachers responsible for checking worked very quickly, first searching them then searching their belongings, finally making sure there was no cheating material hidden in the food before letting them in.
Xu Mo packed everything into the bamboo basket, and looked north again.
He thought it would be with regret, but unexpectedly a few agile youths appeared in the bustling streets. They couldn’t ride horses in the capital city, but they ran as fast as carriage horses.
Especially the one leading them, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, heroic spirit and tall, slender yet powerful figure, evading the crowd as nimbly as a leopard, finally arrived sweating at the Gongyuan gates.
“Big brother.” He called from afar, “Do well on your exam, I’ll wait for you out here.”
Xu Mo barely entered the Gongyuan, turned back the moment the last student was checked. The Gongyuan gates slowly closed, blocking the students and families’ sights, but it could not block their intertwined hearts.
When even the last gap in the great gates disappeared, the students’ families either sighed and turned away or found a corner to wait in.
In the surging crowds, only the five siblings stood still there, smilingly looking over each other.
Two years time, can’t say it was long or short.
Other than Zheng Ruqian who met Fang Heng in the northern border once, the others hadn’t seen this brave and resolute brother for seven hundred days.
He had grown much taller, two fingers taller than even the oldest Xu Mo. His figure was still slender, only revealing hidden strength when moving.
His looks had also changed, grown up, matured. The immaturity from young age was gone, replaced by steadiness and an heroic spirit, calmness and grace.
Many people passed by them and many noisy sounds, but they wholeheartedly sized each other up, comparing to their memories, then happily smiling.
The surging crowds could not stop their nearing steps, layers of difficulties could not block their yearning for intimacy.
When Fang Heng truly stood before them, not a dream or hallucination, nor thoughts of him carried in the wind.
Zheng Ruqian was first to tear up, going over to punch him, “Where have you been, little rascal, big brother’s already in the Gongyuan.”
Fang Heng solidly took the punch, embarrassedly explained, “Got the dates wrong, thought it was late February.”
Chang Yan next to him understandingly nodded, perfectly guessing right.
“How long is third brother staying this time, is it hard at the border? Tiring?” Wen Zhiyun squeezed to the front, quietly asking.
In the two years, the three older brothers had all grown up, with the air of young men, only the two youngest were still so tender, especially the little fourth, skinny and frail, loveable.
“Taking out the round trip of two months, I’m doing great at the border, not tiring.” Fang Heng ruffled his little head, “It’s you I heard, there’s a medical hall in Fengjing doing outstanding work, our family’s little fourth will definitely become a master physician.”
Wen Zhiyun shyly smiled, still the one easily carried on the shoulder from three, four years ago.
Fang Heng also smiled, his gaze falling upon Chang Yan. This youngest brother had the deepest thoughts, many matters of the family were also decided by him and big brother, becoming the leader between the siblings.
But people with heavy thoughts were destined to not be carefree.
Even at this momentous reunion, with visible joy on everyone, he remained composed and cool, not revealing happiness or anger.
But so what, as long as he was a younger brother, he would always be the younger brother.
Fang Heng stretched out both hands, to Chang Yan’s stunned look pinched his cheeks and tugged them to the sides, also leaning in to quietly say, “If something’s bothering you tell third brother, don’t keep it bottled up yourself.”
The pinching hands quickly let go, not painfully at all, but Chang Yan was flooded with complex emotions. It was as if no matter how lonely the child there would always be someone to rely on, his own mountain to stand behind.
He gently caressed his cheek with one hand, misty eyed, after awhile broadly smiling.
Finally it was the littlest sister’s turn.
Fang Heng had just glanced down when Jiang Sheng cocked her waist and said, “Don’t say I’ve gotten fat.”
Fang Heng had just opened his mouth again when Jiang Sheng added, “Or that I haven’t grown.”
When clearly already a twelve year old young lady, girls her age from good families were all tall and slender, graceful and elegant.
Even the beancurd seller’s daughter in the marketplace had stretched and grown, extraordinarily resembling a beautiful flower bud.
Only Jiang Sheng wasn’t very tall, still a bit chubby, cocking her waist looking exactly like a teapot, her actions often carrying some childishness.
Although the family didn’t dislike her, Jiang Sheng still heard murmurs when out and about.
Murmurs that she wasn’t slender enough, beautiful enough, tall enough or mature and steady enough.
But Jiang Sheng, you can’t grow taller because of the hardships in childhood. You grew chubby because you desperately craved food. You weren’t steady enough because brothers stood before you, as the littlest sister at home you should just freely live as you wish.
Fang Heng smilingly went over, easily lifting Jiang Sheng up tucked under an armpit, spinning her around two circles like holding a child before placing her back down.
“Who said you got fat.” He squeezed the little dark dumpling. “This is called having good fortune in our Jiang Sheng.”
Who doesn’t like perfectly round and smooth little sisters like white jade pearls.
“That’s right, our Jiang Sheng has the best fortune.” Zheng Ruqian squeezed over to cut in. “Every meal gets pork hock, which young lady in the entire Fengjing can accomplish that.”
“Second brother!” Jiang Sheng stomped angrily and ran after him to hit him.
Zheng Er ran even faster. You chase me, I evade. I dodge your blows. Using Fang San as a pillar, heartstoppingly playing.
The other two smaller ones pressed their lips smiling, filled with joy outsiders couldn’t cut into.
Turns out it was them, accompanying Jiang Sheng for five years of her life.
Jiang Jizu watched silently from afar, choosing not to disturb.
Until the guard behind quietly reminded, “General, third young miss...also came.”
