The Fang family wasn't brought down by Xu Mo alone.
Xu Mo and Fang Yuan acted simultaneously, one openly pointing out mistakes, and the other secretly sabotaging them.
Fang Yuan harbored resentment and sought revenge after being abandoned by his family, which seemed like a good reason to incite the Zhu and Tao families to turn against him.
Now that the Fang family has completely fallen, what about the Zhu and Tao families?
Where could Fang Yuan go with these two top-tier families?
Jiang Sheng and Zheng Ruqian looked at each other in confusion, unable to figure it out no matter how many times they looked at each other.
Xu Mo stammered softly, "Second Prince."
The Second Prince, who had been reflecting on his actions in his residence since the selection of the imperial concubines, seemed to have completely disappeared, fading into obscurity in some unknown corner.
After Fang Yuan disappeared, the Tao and Zhu families also calmed down, almost completely in a state of indifference to desires.
But if they were truly without desires, why did they follow the Fang family in the first place?
"I don't believe these two families are without any self-interest. The only thing that could make them betray the Fang family is something that would be more beneficial than following the Fang family," Xu Mo said softly. "For example, completely supporting the Second Prince and obtaining the first-class merit of following the emperor, which was previously only available to the Fang family."
"Why can't it be the eldest prince?" Jiang Sheng asked, bewildered.
“I know that,” Zheng Ruqian answered quickly. “If they were really secretly supporting the eldest prince, the Ju family wouldn’t speak up for the Fang family. The only possibility would be that the Fang family would side with the eldest prince, while Fang Yuan would side with the second prince.”
It's quite heartbreaking that this father and son turned against each other because of interests and killed each other because of hatred.
“Most importantly, both Fang Yuan and the Second Prince know how to retreat in order to advance, and they also know how to lie low and accumulate strength.” Xu Mo closed his eyes. “They are probably waiting, waiting for their strength to be great enough, waiting for the opportunist to reap the benefits.”
Strike at the right time; that is the wisdom of an undercover agent.
"Then they won't wait half a lifetime, will they?" Jiang Sheng frowned.
Xu Mo shook his head. "Don't worry, it won't happen."
One thing is very noteworthy: the execution of the Fang family, after review, took place a year later.
Among those beheaded was Fang Yuan's mother, Zhu Shi, who was also the legitimate daughter of the Zhu family and someone who knew about Fang Yuan's escape.
There is no doubt that a mother can die for her child.
But Fang Yuan intended to lead the Zhu family to support the Second Prince, so how could he let his mother, who was the link between them, die? He clearly had countless ways to get Zhu Shi out of trouble, yet he still watched her fall into prison.
Xu Mo couldn't tell whether it was Zhu's insistence on sacrifice or Fang Yuan's confidence that he could rescue his mother within a year.
If it is the latter, Fengjing will surely be in chaos within this year.
"Let's wait and see," he murmured. "If the Second Prince has fallen into complete silence, how can the First Prince wait quietly?"
After losing the Fang, Zhu, and Tao families, the Ju family was left with only the Min family, its power greatly diminished.
The Third Princess's reputation was ruined by the He family, and the marriage was put on hold.
The entire Fengjing area was in complete chaos.
The only things to be happy about are the booming business of the mutton restaurant and the fact that Jiang Chengfeng and Zhao Yuancheng were promoted to the rank of Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examinations).
Even Zhu Sihuan passed this provincial examination and was granted the right to participate in the metropolitan examination the following year.
Several people gathered at Baiweisheng to express their gratitude to Xu Mo.
Zhu Sihuan raised his wine glass, forcing back a sob, "I'm not a good person, I can't say I'm upright, but I've never wanted to do anything to harm Brother Xu in my life. A scholar has his pride, and one mistake is enough."
After saying that, he drank it all in one gulp.
Zhao Yuan substituted tea for wine, saying, "Brother Xu is the most hardworking and outstanding student I have ever met, and the person I admire most in my life. It's a pity that my mother says I can't drink alcohol, otherwise she'll break the thick stick behind the door."
Everyone couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"In my opinion, whether it's tea or wine, it's all about the sentiment. The key is to thank Brother Xu today." Jiang Chengfeng was smooth and slick. "Brother Xu's excellence is a model for us all, but the most important thing is his generosity and magnanimity. If it weren't for Brother Xu's advance notice, there would be no Jiang Chengfeng today."
The truly crucial teaching and guidance are not something everyone is willing to provide.
Even a teacher would keep secrets, let alone a classmate.
Xu Mo has done so much, he deserves everyone's respect.
Inside the private room, people were drinking and exchanging toasts when there was a knock on the door. A waiter from Baiweisheng came to stop them but was scolded and pushed away.
Xu Mo put down his teacup, Zhao Yuan glared angrily, Zhu Sihuan clenched his fists, and Jiang Chengfeng stood up abruptly.
The arrogant and conceited Fang Yuan of the Fang family has disappeared. The Dali Temple searched the ground three feet deep but couldn't find him. He couldn't possibly be here.
Could it be the eldest prince, Zhu Changhong?
Or perhaps members of the Ju family are coming to cause trouble?
As Xu Mo raised an eyebrow in thought, the door to the private room was pushed open, and Qi Huai appeared with An Jun.
"You lot, sneaking off to eat meat without me, are you even brothers anymore?" he said with a laugh, sitting down quite naturally.
An Jun felt a little embarrassed, unsure how to integrate with this group of scions of prominent families.
Xu Mo went over and grabbed his wrist, settling him beside him and ordering more meat and chopsticks to be added.
Whether you're from a prestigious family or an ordinary person, once you emerge victorious from the imperial examinations, you're no longer the ordinary person you once were.
An Jun had already obtained a sixth-rank official position in the Hanlin Academy, and his literary talent and eloquence were outstanding. He could easily blend in once he relaxed.
Young people in their early twenties, full of ideals and sentiments, clink glasses and sing songs amidst the aroma of mutton filling the room.
The sound carried outside, and Jiang Sheng, who was fiddling with an abacus, paused and commented seriously, "Not bad singing."
Zheng Ruqian grinned from the side and reached out to tap the back of her head.
The angry shouts will definitely attract attention, and they might even circle the cabinet a couple of times, one chasing and the other running away, enjoying themselves immensely.
Tired from chasing, Jiang Sheng stood with her hands on her hips, panting. "Third Brother is tired of this mutton. Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother haven't had any yet. Should we send them some?"
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