There are two kinds of calculations in this world.
One is called conspiracy, racking your brains to get results.
The other is called overt plot, where your opponent knows full well yet is helpless to do anything about it.
Back then when Xu Mo revealed Xie Ming’s identity at the entrance of the Tribute College, guiding the resentful students to set traps, that was an overt plot.
And now, Long Yan pushing the concubine selection situation is also an overt plot.
No matter how helpless the pig pretender feels, the power brought by the Queen is far from insignificant, he would definitely not be willing to give up.
And in Fengjing, there really aren’t many girls of marriageable age who can satisfy his ambitions.
Jiang Sheng delivered a message to Jiang Chengyu, Xu Mo passed on Miss Dou’s instructions, even the rest like the He and Ho families had covert stakes keeping an eye out, waiting for this prince to make his move.
Whether a chance encounter or heroic rescue of a damsel in distress, some tricks are so clichéd it’s embarrassing, but they work well precisely because of that.
But before the prince could make his move, Jiang Sheng received a letter from her dear second brother.
From setting off in September last year to returning in January this year, Zheng Ruqian’s long trip could be said to be arduous, even missing the reunion festival.
Fortunately there was still the Lantern Festival coming up, they would definitely be able to have a reunion dinner.
Jiang Sheng excitedly opened it, only to discover the letter was written at the end of last year, when Zheng Ruqian was halfway through the journey. The huge number of sheep had pushed open the wooden frames. With just the two masters and servants, plus the newly hired sheep herder, all five were covered in dirt and dust before they barely managed to gather the scattered sheep.
After that they had to rebuild the wooden frames, walking while feeding the sheep, occasionally having to clean up sheep dung, Zheng Er nearly being driven mad with irritation.
He roared in the letter, “From now on whoever wants to herd these sheep can herd them, I refuse to get involved ever again, I won’t eat mutton either.”
But when she turned to the back, he changed his tune, “No, I have to eat more. We went through all that bitter effort to herd them back, I must eat more to make it worthwhile.”
Jiang Sheng deeply agreed.
Second brother didn’t just meet wind and frost, he clearly met snowstorms. The goose feather heavy snow at New Year still hadn’t completely melted. Sunlight couldn’t reach places that still had thick layers of snow. The wild children were delighted at the prospect of snowball fights, grabbing handfuls of snow to toss at each other, slowing down the melting even more.
She continued reading. The letter described how they had travelled nearly half the journey in a month, according to plan they could make it home before New Year. If they didn’t make it back then they had been held up on the road again. He told the family not to worry and to prepare to welcome them back.
It was clear Zheng Ruqian also anticipated this sheep herding trip would not be simple.
But despite all the precautions, no one expected they would encounter once-in-a-decade heavy snow.
“If you deduct the time they were snowed in, and use the previous pace to calculate, wouldn’t second brother be back soon?” Jiang Sheng put down the envelope, her small face flushed with excitement.
“What are you planning?” Zhang Xianglian reminded her, “Little Mo isn’t home now, you can’t make decisions on your own.”
Remembering this, Jiang Sheng deflated again.
In the past when it was just her three older brothers who were busy, fourth and fifth brother would always accompany her, whether suggesting up to no good or doing naughty things, they would always go in together and out together.
But time slipped by. They grew taller, their figures thinning, yet they could no longer huddle in corners to whisper discuss plans.
Jiang Sheng’s eyes reddened as she pursed her lips, missing the past and lamenting the present.
They couldn’t return to the past, they also couldn’t control their growth. People continuously changed in the long river of time, eventually becoming unrecognizable.
As long as second brother was still hers, that was good enough!
That night when Xu Mo returned, Jiang Sheng hemmed and hawed for a long time before finally revealing her intentions, “I miss second brother. I want to go receive him. I won’t go too far, starting from the north city gates it’s at most half a day’s journey.”
Calculating by the speed of a carriage it would still be within Fengjing territory.
Xu Mo contemplated, slightly worried inside.
Jiang Sheng grabbed his wide sleeve, shaking it left and right, “Big brother, I’ll bring Jiang San and Jiang Si, and I’ll bring He Rui. We’ll just go half a day’s distance. If we don’t see second brother I’ll come back, okay?”
Who could resist a little girl’s cajoling?
Xu Mo smiled wryly as he pulled his sleeve out from her grasp, carefully admonishing her, “Pay attention to safety on the road. Bring more people, in case there are a lot of sheep they can help out. Oh right...tell Er that I miss him too.”
After being apart nearly half a year, who wouldn’t be missed?
The next day, Jiang Sheng called up three strapping “men”, driving two carriages rushing north.
They passed through the north city gates, across the moat, through village after village, heading towards Zheng Ruqian’s direction.
He Rui hadn’t gone out much before, asking all along the way, “Miss, we really won’t miss Young Master Zheng right? What if we take a wrong turn?”
Earning a huge eye roll from Jiang San, “There’s only one main road, how could we take a wrong turn?”
“That’s right, merchants all take this main road now. There are even officials patrolling, it’s very safe.” Jiang Si in the other carriage yelled out.
Otherwise Xu Mo wouldn’t have dared to let Jiang Sheng go out alone.
Old Lady Jiang even more wouldn’t have felt assured agreeing.
Speaking of danger, reining in the horses tightly to avoid collisions with other people and carriages was the most important thing.
He Rui completely relaxed. The three took turns driving the carriage, escorting their little princess galloping along.
When the sun had risen from morning to noon, nearly half the day had passed. There was still no sign of the sheep.
Jiang Sheng grew anxious, her already round eyes widening even more, looking all around hoping to catch sight of second brother.
Looking and looking, still not a wisp of sheep hair seen!
But the carriage suddenly accelerating from behind did catch her attention.
Having grown up experiencing all sorts of tumbles and struggles, while never encountering something before might be dangerous, having eaten losses before would become experience.
She still remembered last time when they were transporting lychees and Liao Family had collided into them just like this.
Jiang Sheng immediately became alert, warning Jiang San and Jiang Si, “Be careful of that carriage.”
Her voice had just faded when the accelerating carriage suddenly swerved and charged at them.
Jiang San paled in fright, whipping the horse’s butt. The horse neighed in pain and shock, speeding up and narrowly dodging disaster.
Behind them Jiang Si’s eyes had reddened too. Similarly controlling the carriage, he took initiative to slam into the other.
Poor He Rui who only knew how to do odds and ends was following him. His heart nearly leapt out of his throat. His two legs went soft and limp, unable to do anything but jolt around violently inside the carriage.
Then, to Jiang Sheng’s bulging eyes of astonishment, Jiang Si drove the horse to crash into the latter’s carriage.
With a bang, Jiang Si grabbed the limp He Rui and leapt off the carriage. Behind them wood fragments flew as horses neighed in pain.
Jiang San swiftly pulled the carriage to a stop, warily surveying their surroundings to confirm no new dangers before daring to stride forward and angrily shout, “Who’s the blind fool daring to provoke our young miss!”
That was Jiang Sheng!
The little granddaughter the Jiang family felt guilty over for a decade. The newly ranked top scholar’s most beloved. The fifth prince’s most cared for sister. The workshop women’s precious darling.
Not to mention anything else, if Jiang Sheng really got injured General Jiang would rush back from the borderlands in anger. It would be more than enough for that person to drink a bitter cup.
It was really hard to fathom anyone daring to provoke Jiang Sheng!
Jiang Si released He Rui and walked over to check the person tossed out of the carriage, eyes faintly indignant, “Investigating clearly will make things obvious.”
He stepped forward alone, just about to stomp on that person’s head.
A delicate, bewildered voice spoke up, “Please...may I ask if you’ve encountered some difficulties?”
