"If I fail you..." Gao Yan was about to swear an oath.
Wang Xiaozhu quickly reached out to stop him, and said gently, "Since we are going to be husband and wife in the future, we must have complete trust in each other. I won't hide from you that I used to admire Wen Doctor, but I also believe you will treat me well."
"Wen Doctor is like a cloud hanging in the sky, pleasing to the eye but hard to touch. You are the real one in this world, the one who will accompany me through half my life."
"From now on, don't say such oath-swearing words. A person's actions speak louder than words."
Gao Yan seemed to be startled by her words. After a long pause, he stammered, "Alright... I promise you, Xiaozhu."
A person's actions speak louder than words. Feelings are proven by deeds, not by heart.
Perhaps Wang Xiaozhu's heart was moved for a moment, but she returned to her senses even quicker.
All those complicated, dramatic stories had nothing to do with her. She just wanted to live a good, peaceful life.
That was all.
In the corner, the newlywed couple was still whispering to each other.
The long wedding banquet took a detour into the bridal chamber, with sincere blessings hanging in everyone's eyes.
This meal was destined to last a long time.
There were the sincere words between the Wang siblings earlier, and now the chatter between the four siblings.
Stories from their days apart had to be told to the family on this sunny afternoon.
The storyteller was matter-of-fact, while the listener was shocked.
The meal lasted from noon to dusk, and gradually progressed into the night.
Jiang Sheng stroked her round belly, staring blankly as she asked, "So 5th brother is the Crown Prince now? Shouldn't 1st brother have to listen to you too?"
This...
Chang Yan pondered deeply, unsure how to answer.
Sitting beside her, Zheng Ruqian laughed and slapped his thigh, "Haha, this is Xu Lao Da's comeuppance. I really want to see him humiliated and punished."
"The Imperial Academy is about to end the term. Let's go pick up Eldest Brother," he came up with an idea on the spot. "I want to see Xu Lao Da's comeuppance as soon as possible."
Chang Yan and Wen Zhi Yun looked at each other, neither rejecting the idea.
They did want to see Eldest Brother soon.
Jiang Sheng jumped down from her stool, "Then let's go!"
Many years ago, they had also picked up and dropped off Eldest Brother from school in this way.
Back then, in the village, the journey was extremely long, bumping along on a simple donkey cart.
Now, they finally had money in hand to buy the luxury carriage they once yearned for but could not obtain.
Jiang Sheng still remembered fondling it all over when they first brought it back, marveling at it for half a day.
Over the years they had ridden in quite a few nice carriages, like the two she owned at the Jiang house, but the one you buy with your own hard-earned money is just different.
"Come on, little Four and Five," Zheng Ruqian grinned. "Back then, Second Brother made you kids ride the donkey cart. Now that our fortunes have changed, we can sit in a carriage with soft cushions too."
The ones they had before were all gifts from others. Today's was the first they earned themselves.
Chang Yan smiled softly. With the help of Second Brother's arm, he climbed onto the carriage. Then he turned back and personally pulled Fourth Brother up.
One by one, they took their seats in the spacious carriage.
Jiang Sheng was already crouching over the small table inside, mysteriously taking out candy and nuts from a drawer and arranging them neatly.
"Can you still eat?" Wen Zhi Yun asked in surprise.
She paused. "I can't, but people serve these things, so we should too."
They couldn't just sit in the carriage staring at an empty table.
Wen Zhi Yun was convinced. He nodded deeply in agreement.
Chang Yan and Zheng Ruqian chuckled lightly beside them, feeling the luxury carriage start off smoothly. People and scenery steadily streamed by, but they felt no discomfort.
After two cups of tea, the carriage stopped outside the gates of the Imperial Academy.
Zheng Ruqian was the first to jump down, ready to receive his younger brother. As he did so, he heard Jiang San remind, "I always pick up Eldest Young Master from this spot. I've never gone to the main gates."
Cabinet ministers often came from the Imperial Academy, and people who could enter were usually wealthy or of high status. With Xu Mo's status, he really had no right to linger near the Imperial Academy.
But today was different from the past. The purpose of Chang Yan's visit to the Imperial Academy could not possibly be just to pick up Eldest Brother.
Zheng Ruqian made a big show of his status as the head of the household. Tilting his chin arrogantly, he said, "Jiang San, take a good look at who I'm leading. If he doesn't have the status to approach the Imperial Academy, how many others in this world do?"
Jiang San was suddenly struck with realization.
The attendant at his side kindly reminded, "The Crown Prince. Just invested."
Only then did Jiang San comprehend. They had a backer now.
They were no longer bullied petty merchants, struggling to make a living in this massive Fengjing City.
The future Son of Heaven backed them up. Walking with their heads held high would soon become reality.
"I was narrow-minded," Jiang San reproached himself severely. "With the Crown Prince here, what do we have to fear?"
"That's right, that's right," Zheng Ruqian said proudly, lifting his chin.
Perhaps this was the meaning of holding power, becoming the strongest pillar of support for one's family, ever majestic and unfalling.
Chang Yan chuckled lightly. As his heart gradually grew firm, he did not lose himself in the flattery.
The status of Crown Prince was a protective umbrella, but a prosperous era still required the efforts of all.
Just then, the Imperial Academy let out. The great black gates were pushed open, and excellent scholars of all ages walked out in groups of three or five, conversing cheerfully as they walked together.
Of them, Xu Mo, Qi Huai, and An Jun were the most conspicuous. The graceful, refined young gentlemen exuded the momentum and determination unique to the young as they authoritatively discussed certain issues.
Usually An Jun was the most passionate, Qi Huai would interject a few comments, and Xu Mo would summarize at the end.
But today, the two friends waited and waited, yet heard no concluding remarks. Puzzled, they looked up, only to see Xu Zhuangyuan blankly gazing ahead.
The street was filled with people and carriages, lined on both sides with rows of wooden posts for the gentry to tie up their horses and carriages.
At the spot where Xu Mo usually boarded his ride, Jiang San sat on the carriage box swinging his whip, grinning. Zheng Ruqian stood with his neck arched like a fighting rooster. Jiang Sheng stood between the two youths, grinning from ear to ear.
What a beautiful scene.
Such dearly missed family.
Xu Mo shook his head smiling. He was calmer than Zheng Ruqian, more at ease than Jiang Sheng. "Brothers, my family has returned. Would you do me the honor of allowing me to introduce you today?"
Introduce?
An Jun was still a bit confused, but Qi Huai was already excited.
Following the Dou family's repeated betrayals, Chancellor Qi didn't know everything, but he grasped the general idea.
Having interacted with Chang Yan up close, Qi Huai had long harbored suspicions about the Fifth Prince's identity.
Added to the sudden investiture of the Crown Prince this morning, and the disappearance of Xu's Fifth Brother only to reappear now, it seemed far too coincidental.
These thoughts fell like spring rain, causing the seeds in his heart to sprout and grow. As the youth before him stepped closer, the tender shoots grew and meandered.
Until he saw Xu Mo bow and bend at the waist, and utter the words "Crown Prince, I trust you are well," the branches grew wildly, like a towering tree breaking through the forest to see the sun again.
Qi Huai grabbed An Jun. Together, they bowed at the waist, "Greetings, Crown Prince."
It was him after all, the guess was right, he was worth introducing.
Qi Huai forced down his emotions, glancing out of the corner of his eye to see a hand reaching out.
It was Chang Yan. He supported them lightly, gaze burning intently. "I wonder... If future pillars of the Great Yuzhou Dynasty would do me the honor of accompanying me to establish the Crown Prince Residence?"
