It was already snowing in early January. Although the snowflakes were as light as goose feathers, the snowfall was extremely heavy, burying the ground up to people's ankles. Stepping on it made crunching sounds.
After half a year apart, the slender teenagers seemed to have grown quite a bit, from Jiang Sheng's shoulders to his ears.
On closer inspection, Zhu Changyan was even taller than Wen Zhiyun of the same age. If Xu Mo had not lined them up according to the order he had found them, it would have been hard to tell who was the older and who was the younger brother.
But this did not affect their deep bonds, nor did it stop Wen Zhiyun from staring blankly ever since he saw his little fifth brother, not uttering a single word up until now.
Even though Zhu Changyan tried to curry favor by calling out "Fourth Brother" again and again, Wen Zhiyun kept his head lowered, maintaining his dazed state.
"What's wrong with Little Four? His soul is wandering in the heavens," Xu Mo asked, somewhat concerned.
Jiang Sheng stood to the side with her arms crossed, watching the drama unfold. "What do you mean his soul is wandering? Fourth Brother is lovesick over Little Five."
Auntie had secretly run off on her wedding night. She had seen Eldest Brother and Little Sister, and secretly helped Third Brother. Even Second Brother had exchanged letters with Zhu Changyan through the messenger Li Zhi.
Only Wen Zhiyun had neither seen his younger brother nor had any contact with him.
His little companion who had accompanied him daily, his most intimate peer of the same age, had suddenly disappeared without a trace or any communication.
If it had been someone less sensitive, it would have been fine. But Wen Zhiyun had a delicate mindset, secretly shedding who knows how many tears at night.
The only person associated with his brother that remained was Imperial Physician Wu. For this reason, he had desperately studied medicine and tirelessly practiced acupuncture, getting up before dawn and resting only when the night was deep.
He had poured all his spirit into learning medicine. Other than studying, he did not even know what else to do.
He was useless, not as upright and proper as Eldest Brother, not as cunning as Second Brother, not as mighty in martial arts as Third Brother, and lacking the support of the Jiang Family like his little sister.
He had nothing, and was a burden to his brother.
So being ignored was normal, right?
Wen Zhiyun stood in a daze, his hands and feet icy cold without warmth. He raised his head, but his pupils were not focusing, as if staring into the void.
"Fourth Brother!" Zhu Changyan sighed, taking his brother's hand like he used to when they were young. "I didn't abandon you. I just went to take care of very serious business. I was afraid you would worry, so I didn't tell you."
Liar. He obviously just didn't want to be dragged down.
"It's not that I didn't want you to drag me down." As if reading his thoughts, Zhu Changyan went on. "I'm waiting for you to become a saintly hands of medicine and inherit Grandfather's legacy. The Yan Family's thick medical heritage would be too much of a pity to end with me. Fourth Brother is like a gift from heaven to me. The Yan Family's medical skills will surely thrive under your hands."
"What's more, Fourth Brother is so amazing. You will certainly surpass your teacher. In the future if I ever have a headache or fever, I can only rely on you to cure me. I wouldn't trust anyone else."
When it came to cajoling, it had to be Zhu Changyan.
His words came set after set, sounding pleasing to hear.
Seeing Wen Zhiyun's pupils gradually focus, Jiang Sheng and Xu Mo smiled.
"Little Five, you...you're lying again." The delicate young physician lowered his head. "I don't believe you. You're just a big liar."
"Fourth Brother, you have to believe me. I won't lie to you," Zhu Changyan patted his chest. "With over a decade of brotherly bonds between us, believe me, you absolutely won't go wrong."
"I can believe you, but on one condition." Wen Zhiyun suddenly changed his tune. "I also want to help with the thing you and Big Brother are secretly plotting."
Zhu Changyan, "......"
Xu Mo, "......"
They had let their guard down. Who could have expected that the usually weak, insecure Wen Zhiyun who cried at the slightest thing would have such shrewd moments.
He had understood the secret plot between the two brothers and was trying to meddle.
"But Fourth Brother..." Zhu Changyan struggled to explain. "This matter is very dangerous. Although I made light of it, no one can predict the wrath of the Son of Heaven. I don't want you to get implicated..."
Wen Zhiyun silently lowered his head. The snow on the ground inexplicably formed small pits, big and small, all clustered around his heels.
Zhu Changyan knew that what Fourth Brother feared most was loneliness and isolation, feared not being able to help the family, feared being useless.
He always desperately wanted to prove that he could also be capable, desperately wanted to contribute to the family, desperately wanted to become useful.
Even if it meant getting involved in the struggle for imperial power, even facing blades and swords.
Clearly his original nature was so timid, yet he insisted on being brave. Clearly he was originally so cowardly, yet he insisted on being bold.
"Is being useful that important?" Zhu Changyan sighed.
Wen Zhiyun raised his head. Traces of tears hung on his fair cheeks, while his eyes were as lovely as a deer's, only his gaze was so determined and persistent. "Very important."
He was learning to be brave in the face of the Heir Apparent and thousands of commoners.
He gradually became bolder, shielding Eldest Brother in front of the blushing students.
He kept changing, kept learning.
He was not a little white rabbit that needed to be taken care of. He was the big brother who could protect his younger siblings.
"Alright, I'll have Imperial Physician Wu arrange for you to start in the imperial hospital from the bottom." Zhu Changyan finally conceded defeat.
From another perspective, having his brother by his side would make the days in the palace not as difficult to endure.
"It's settled then." Wen Zhiyun finally smiled through his tears, the satisfaction evident in his curved eyes.
He would become useful. He was going to help his brother.
Only then did Jiang Sheng lower her arms and realize belatedly that she was the one left out.
"Hey! That's not right. How can you leave me behind?" The little sister charged over, baring her teeth.
The three children around the same age tussled and frolicked.
Xu Mo stood steadfastly to the side, smiling in his eyes and the corners of his lips.
It was just a pity that such beautiful times were always so fleeting.
As night fell, Zhu Changyan had to leave with his guards.
Wen Zhiyun's eyes welled up with tears again as he thought of being able to meet in a few days. He forcibly held back his tears and repeatedly urged, "You must take good care of yourself."
"Little Five, I can accept you leaving, but how can you take Fourth Brother away too?" Jiang Sheng felt the most heartache. "Eldest Brother is an official, Second Brother is busy with business, Third Brother is at the borderlands. The only one left at home is me!"
The sinister court politics of the capital were unavoidable. Parting was always inevitable.
Zhu Changyan helplessly ruffled his sister's hair, then looked to his two elder brothers. With the guards' assistance, he departed by scaling over the wall.
He couldn't even leave through the front gate...
"I hope these days will be over soon," Jiang Sheng prayed, regretting not kowtowing a few more times at Famen Temple.
"I'm going to comb through ancient texts. I remember reading acupuncture techniques can change the pulses, so Little Five won't have to risk misdiagnosis." Wen Zhiyun hurriedly got up, suddenly recalling something.
In the vast courtyard, only Xu Mo remained.
He brushed the residual snow off his shoulders, glanced at the gloomy weather, and thought of Zhu Changyan's exhortations. In the end, he still got up to prepare nice gifts.
This New Year, they not only had to pay respects to Master Dou, but to Mistress Dou as well.
Or perhaps, that young Miss Dou.
