This is an incomplete Spring Festival.
Fang Heng went to the northern frontier, Zheng Ruqian was delayed abroad, and the long banquet was trapped in the capital city, where he died in Fufeng.
The once bustling courtyard is now empty except for the three siblings, perhaps including Wang Mingyu who is temporarily staying there, and the Anshui County Commander who is unwilling to leave.
"They said they'd leave after Fufeng's burial." Wang Mingyu lowered his head, seemingly wanting to say something but hesitating. "What about Ruqian? Isn't he coming back for the New Year?"
They should have returned before the Lunar New Year.
But leading a flock of sheep is already difficult, so it's understandable that he encountered delays. If he can't come back, he can't come back.
As children, we were young and ignorant, and always felt that the New Year must be a time for family reunion.
As I grew up, I realized that everyone has their own things to do and that separation is the norm.
As long as our hearts are connected, as long as we work together to overcome all obstacles, what does it matter if we are far apart?
But then Xu Mo thought that Wang Mingyu might only have this one friend, so he changed the subject, "He should be back soon. As for the Wang family, has Brother Fufeng given any instructions?"
Wang Mingyu perked up. "Third Uncle and Wang Haoran are eyeing us covetously, but I have the key to the game and the warehouse. Fufeng said that the Wang family can fail, but the Wang family business cannot fail. Too many people rely on the Wang family's shops and farmland to make a living."
Over the years, he has learned a lot of skills from his cousin. Perhaps he cannot expand the Wang family, but maintaining the status quo is enough.
“Alright, then you need to take control of the Wang family and take good care of Third Master Wang and that mistress of the Wang family.” Xu Mo turned his head, his eyes calm yet sharp. “When I say take good care of them, I mean they should live well.”
It's not a deliberate targeting or intentional harassment; it's genuine preferential treatment.
But they were the culprits who killed Fufeng.
Wang Mingyu looked puzzled, and hesitated to speak.
Xu Mo smiled deeply, his once handsome young man suddenly turning cold and stern. "Let them live well. Third Master Wang, Wang Haoran, Third Madam Wang, and the Zhou family, all of them live well. I will personally avenge Brother Fufeng and personally send these scum to hell."
"There's no need to send news of Brother Fufeng's death. Just say he's staying in Fengjing to recuperate. I'll take care of keeping quiet about it for the teachers and advisors."
“But…” Wang Mingyu stammered, “But Wang Yuyao already knows, and she will always send a message to Anshui County.”
"Don't worry." Xu Mo stood up. "She won't have time to send messages soon."
The poison in Wang Fufeng's body appears to have been administered by Wang Sanye and his son, with Wang Yuyao merely playing a supporting role. However, how could the Fang family possibly escape unscathed?
They only wanted to destroy Xu Mo, but they ended up hurting innocent people instead.
They deserve to die.
Moreover, the young master of Fufeng risked his life to sing his final song in order to seek justice for the cheating in the imperial examinations and pave a smooth road for him. How could he not seize the opportunity?
"The Fang family deserves to die, Fang Yuan deserves to die, Wang Yuyao deserves to die..."
Xu Mo muttered to himself as he walked into the courtyard.
On the eve of the Lunar New Year, the heavy snow could not dampen the joy. Firecrackers and fireworks filled the air as people from Fengjing, carrying red lanterns, passed by laughing and joking, making the small courtyard even more quiet and serene.
Master Kong asked someone to buy a sturdy old coffin, and Young Master Fufeng is lying inside it at this moment.
Jiang Sheng and Wen Zhiyun stood guard at the door, staring blankly at Xue.
She probably misses her brothers.
Xu Mo walked over, rubbed the two little ones' heads, then turned around and walked through the snow to the coffin.
After an unknown period of silence, a sudden burst of intense fireworks erupted in the sky.
Among the various powerful families, the one in the capital city was the most prominent, as if they were announcing the passing of the old year and the beginning of a new chapter.
"Brother Fufeng, I'm finally the same age as you." The young man bent over in the thick snow and murmured softly beside the coffin, "You were seventeen, and I was seventeen too."
"I will avenge you, fulfill your dreams, and walk your future in your place."
"The roc rises with the wind in a single day, soaring straight up ninety thousand miles."
"Brother Fufeng, you should watch carefully."
According to old customs, the body needed to be laid to rest for seven days before burial, and the soul needed to be sent off with wailing and mourning.
Fufeng doesn't need that.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Xu Mo wandered outside the city and chose a hill in the west of the city for him.
All relatives and friends changed into plain clothes and silently bid farewell.
The pit was dug by people hired at extra cost, and the coffin was transported by Jiang San and Jiang Si in a horse-drawn cart.
Passing through Fengjing City, one can still hear scholars and students engaging in heated discussions, rebelling against fate, injustice, and powerful families.
As the discussion intensified, the Fang family once again became the center of public attention regarding the imperial examination fraud case.
But that's not enough, it's far from enough.
The carriage stopped on a hill west of the city, and the rest of the journey had to be carried on shoulders.
All the men present, except for Wen Zhiyun who was pushed aside, offered their shoulders and worked together to lift the wooden coffin and lower it into the prepared pit.
"Should we bury him now, or choose an auspicious time?" Wang Mingyu asked, suppressing his grief.
Unbeknownst to him, his cousin and friend had become his pillar of support.
"Wait a little longer." Xu Mo gazed into the distance.
Although everyone was puzzled, they all remained silent and waited.
About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea later, the panting young man in black robes arrived, accompanied by his only trusted guard and the jade pendant that belonged exclusively to the prince.
"Brother Fufeng," Changyan said, forcing back his grief, "I didn't even get to see you one last time."
"Fifth Brother." Jiang Sheng pouted, feeling wronged and shocked. "How did you get out? And how did you know?"
Those trapped deep within the imperial city find it difficult to even request an audience, let alone send a message.
He broke free of his informants and rushed over, expending an unknown amount of effort.
“It was Lord Dou I asked yesterday.” Xu Mo lowered his eyelashes. “Madam Dou went to the palace to help me pass on a message and managed to contact Xiao Wu through various means.”
He was originally unwilling to ask for help, much less to incur favors.
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