Xu Mo was not the only one who planned to take down the Fang family.
It was Xu Mo and Fang Yuan who made their moves at the same time, one overtly pointing out mistakes while the other set traps in secret.
After being abandoned by the clan, Fang Yuan harbored resentment and sought revenge. This seemed to be a good reason to incite the Zhu family and the Tao family to counterattack.
Now that the Fang family had completely collapsed, what about the Zhu family and the Tao family?
Where could Fang Yuan go with these two top families?
Jiang Sheng and Zheng Ruqian were full of confusion, exchanging glances several times but still could not figure it out.
It was Xu Mo who whispered, "The Second Prince."
The Second Prince, who had been reflecting in his residence since the imperial concubine selection banquet, seemed to have completely disappeared, lying dormant in some unknown corner.
Along with Fang Yuan's disappearance, the Tao family and Zhu family had also calmed down, almost in a state of desireless tranquility.
But if they were really desireless and tranquil, why did they follow the Fang family in the first place?
"I don't believe these two families are without any utilitarian motives. The only thing that could make them betray the Fang family is an even greater benefit than sticking with the Fang family," Xu Mo said softly. "For example, fully supporting the Second Prince and obtaining the supreme honor that only the Fang family could previously boast of."
"Why can't it be the Eldest Prince?" Jiang Sheng asked innocently.
"I know this one," Zheng Ruqian interrupted. "If they were secretly supporting the Eldest Prince, the Ju family would not have spoken for the Fang family. The only possibility is that the Fang family defected to the Eldest Prince while Fang Yuan defected to the Second Prince."
It was lamentable that this father and son turned against each other and killed for hatred.
"Most importantly, both Fang Yuan and the Second Prince understand strategic retreat and concealment to build strength," Xu Mo closed his eyes. "They should be waiting, waiting until their power grows strong enough, waiting to take advantage of the situation."
Choosing the right time to make a move is the wisdom of those who hide and wait.
"They won't be waiting half their lives, right?" Jiang Sheng wrinkled her face.
Xu Mo shook his head. "Don't worry, they won't."
One thing was particularly noteworthy — the Fang family members who were beheaded were killed one year later after reinvestigation.
Among those who were beheaded was Fang Yuan's mother, Lady Zhu, who was the principal daughter of the Zhu family and knew of Fang Yuan's escape.
A mother would die for her child without question.
But how could Fang Yuan allow his mother, who was the link, to die when he intended to lead the Zhu family to support the Second Prince? He had countless ways for Lady Zhu to escape, yet he just watched as Lady Zhu fell deep into prison.
Xu Mo had no way to discern whether this was Lady Zhu insisting on sacrifice or Fang Yuan being confident of rescuing his mother within a year.
If it was the latter, there would certainly be turmoil in Fengjing this year.
"Let's wait and see," he whispered. "With the Fang family, Zhu family and Tao family gone, the Ju family only has the Min family left, their wings clipped by more than half.
The Third Princess's reputation was ruined by the He family, so her marriage was shelved.
The whole Fengjing city was in turmoil.
The only things worth celebrating were probably the booming business at the lamb restaurant and Jiang Chengfeng and Zhao Yuan successfully becoming scholars.
Even Zhu Sihuan passed the scholar exam this time and had the qualification to take the imperial exam next year.
The few gathered at Hundred Flavors Raw to thank Xu Mo together.
Zhu Sihuan raised his cup, forcibly suppressing the urge to choke up, "I'm not a good person and can't say I'm upright, but I would never willingly do anything harmful against Brother Xu in my life. Scholars have their own pride, and one wrong is enough."
After speaking, he downed the cup in one gulp.
Zhao Yuan drank tea instead of wine, "Brother Xu is the most diligent and excellent student I've ever seen, and also the person I respect the most in my life. Unfortunately my mother said I can't drink wine, otherwise I would have broken the thick club behind our door."
Everyone couldn't help but laugh.
"In my opinion, whether it's tea or wine, they express the same sentiment. The key today is to thank Brother Xu," Jiang Chengfeng said smoothly. "Brother Xu's excellence is a model for us. But most importantly, he is generous and magnanimous at heart. Without Brother Xu's help in advance, where would Scholar Jiang be today?"
The most important guidance and instruction are not what every person is willing to teach.
Even teachers conceal things, let alone classmates.
What Xu Mo had done was worthy of everyone's admiration.
As wine glasses clinked inside the private room, knocking sounds came from outside. A waiter from Hundred Flavors Raw came to interfere but was scolded away and pushed aside.
Xu Mo put down his teacup, Zhao Yuan glared angrily, Zhu Sihuan clenched his fists, and Jiang Chengfeng stood up directly.
The former arrogant and aloof Fang Yuan of the Fang family had disappeared without a trace. The officials had searched high and low but could not find him. He could not possibly appear here.
Could it be Eldest Prince Zhu Changhong?
Or were the sons of the Ju family and Min family here to cause trouble?
Xu Mo was raising his brows pondering when the door of the private room was pushed open and Qi Huai came in with An Jun.
"Good for you guys, eating meat secretly without me. Are we still brothers?" He laughed and scolded, sitting down very naturally.
An Jun was a little embarrassed, not knowing how to blend in with these sons of prestigious families.
It was Xu Mo who went over to pull him by the wrist and settled him down beside himself, ordering the waiter to bring more meat and chopsticks.
Whether from an elite family or common people, once you emerge victorious from the imperial examination, you are no longer your former ordinary self.
An Jun had already gotten a sixth-rank official position in the Hanlin Academy. His literary talent and eloquence could enable him to easily integrate after relaxing.
As youths in their early twenties, possessing ideals and passion, they clinked glasses and sang to the music in the lamb aroma filling the room.
The sounds reached outside, where Jiang Sheng who was fiddling with an abacus paused and seriously commented, "Not bad singing."
Zheng Ruqian grinned beside her and smacked the back of her head.
That must have attracted scolding, possibly also a chase around the counter, one pursuing and one fleeing, taking delight in it.
When Jiang Sheng was tired from chasing, hands on her hips panting, "Brother Lamb is probably tired of this meat, but Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother haven't tried it yet. Should we bring them some?"
To be precise, bring some for Wen Zhiyun.
As a prince, Zhu Changhou could eat the lamb sold in the imperial city.
Poor little Fourth Brother Wen could neither openly appear in the Fifth Prince's residence nor sneak back to the small courtyard.
His days alone in the Imperial Medical Office were a bit lonely, but thinking of Fifth Brother who was also deep in the palace, he felt his days were still bearable.
Jiang Sheng really sympathized with Fourth Brother and secretly wrapped two fist-sized lamb legs to have Wu Ziyou of the Wu family deliver them.
Wu Ziyou swallowed as he smelled the aroma, "Miss Jiang, is there a share for me too?"
Jiang Sheng smiled with crescent eyes. "Hundred Flavors Raw welcomes Master Wu anytime. Grilled, fried, boiled or stewed, everything is there. Just put it all on my tab."
Generous and forthright.
Wu Ziyou happily tucked the meat into his clothes and headed into the imperial city, then turned into the Imperial Medical Office and finally stuffed it into Wen Zhiyun's hands at the door.
"Eat up. Your sister gave it."
Those seven words nearly brought Wen Zhiyun to tears.
But he could not cry. He had to go massage Emperor Tianjia's shoulders and neck, unblocking his channels.
"Going again?" Wu Ziyou clicked his tongue. "It seems your massage skills have some tricks, capturing even the emperor's heart."
Wen Zhiyun smiled faintly. "Actually I haven't gone that many times. Just granted an audience two or three dozen times since the new year."
"That's not many times?" Wu Ziyou exclaimed. "My father only sees His Majesty three to five times a year. You have..." He stopped himself. "Forget it, you go massage, I'll go eat my lamb at Hundred Flavors Raw."
He waved as he turned to leave, looking both lonely and excited.
Wen Zhiyun knew it was his Second Brother's new restaurant and felt even more delighted in his heart. He walked to a secluded spot and could not help taking out the meat to smell it.
He was reluctant to eat it, and there was no time to take it back to the Imperial Medical Office either, so he could only wrap it in a handkerchief and hide it at the bottom of the medicine box.
The cooled lamb aroma was very faint, covered up even more by the medicinal fragrance.
But Wen Zhiyun was timid, sniffing it lightly with his nose several times, afraid of letting out any scent.
After entering the emperor's bedchamber, the attendant who led the way bowed and retreated. He curled up behind the gauze screen again and inhaled deeply to check.
It was at this time that a woman's charming voice came, full of coquetry and infatuation. "Your Majesty... it's been twenty years. Won't you give me a status, so I can live and die together with you?"
