"Brother He Rui?"
Jiang Sheng was both surprised and delighted, and jumped over, "I didn't see you when I went to Youranju last time, where did you go?"
As a waiter at Youranju, He Rui's quick wit impressed her. Although their relationship wasn't exactly close, he was still a familiar face to her.
It's been a long time since we last met, and I've missed you terribly.
"Miss, I'm here to pick you up." He Rui smiled, his neck hunched, then suddenly remembered something and straightened his back. "From now on, I'll be your driver."
He was originally a waiter at Youranju, but now he's driving the Jiang family's carriage here.
It goes without saying who arranged it.
Jiang Sheng's smile faded, and her hands unconsciously began to stir.
He Rui sighed, "Miss, hurry up, the young masters will be back soon."
Jiang Sheng then remembered the important matter at hand, stopped worrying and feeling melancholy, nimbly climbed onto the carriage shaft, lifted the curtain, and rushed into the carriage.
With a shout, the carriage smoothly moved forward.
It was truly smooth, without any bumps or jolts, no dizzying swaying, and you couldn't even hear the sound of the wheels.
Only by lifting the small curtain and looking at the receding scenery can one realize that they are truly in a carriage.
"Doesn't it feel exceptionally stable?" He Rui's voice came from outside. "This carriage is specially made. The wheels are covered with a layer of cotton, which has to be replaced every time we go out. There are also layers upon layers of cushions inside, all made of satin."
Jiang Sheng subconsciously touched her buttocks and found it to be smooth and comfortable silk. She immediately gasped.
This is silk.
The Dayu Dynasty had a rule that merchants were not allowed to wear silk. Even someone as flamboyant as Zheng Ruqian could only buy plain silk with exaggerated styles, and the rest of his family only ever wore cotton clothes.
As it turned out, the Jiang family used silk to make buttock pads, and Jiang Sheng felt that she should raise her expectations of wealthy people.
She thought of Wang Fufeng's carriage, and tentatively pulled on the small wooden table in front of her. As expected, she pulled out an exquisite wooden drawer, inside which were neatly arranged more than a dozen kinds of fine pastries.
Whether you've seen them before or not, from Jiuzhenfang or Zhenxiuge, all the famous pastries of Fengjing are here.
Jiang Sheng stretched out her fingertips and carefully stroked the surface of the pastry.
Mmm, very soft and fresh.
"If you're hungry, young lady, have some pastries. There's water across the street, and Tan Yue has brewed some chrysanthemum tea for you. There's also a small blanket to cover yourself with if you get cold," He Rui's voice came again.
Jiang Sheng pulled her hand back as if she had been electrocuted, closed the drawer, took out some slightly cold pastries from her pocket, and began to nibble on them.
She was very careful, not spilling a single grain on the silk, for fear of soiling the expensive carriage.
After finishing the pastries, we arrived at the gate of the imperial city.
He Rui eagerly lifted the curtain and glanced at the carriage a few times.
When he found the place spotless and clean, the pastries untouched, the tea unserved, and even the blankets still neatly arranged, he sighed again, "Miss, please get off the bus."
Jiang Sheng pretended not to know, jumped off the carriage nimbly, and accurately identified Wen Zhiyun and Chang Yan in the crowd. She then ran over to them.
"Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother," the little girl said, her voice tinged with anger, "You bad guys don't even call me."
Chang Yan and Wen Zhiyun both turned around at the same time.
Several teenagers nearby also turned around.
Besides Qi Huai and his group, there were also three members of the Jiang family.
They are Jiang Chengyuan, Jiang Chengfeng, and Jiang Chengyu.
"Jiang Sheng is here."
"My sister is here."
Everyone greeted each other, but only three members of the Jiang family stood like door gods.
Jiang Chengyu nudged his older brother with his elbow and squeezed out a voice through gritted teeth, "Call out for someone, second brother."
Jiang Chengfeng clutched his left chest, gritting his teeth, "Call for help, brother."
How should I greet them?
Jiang Chengyuan didn't know where to put his hands, his handsome face turned red, and he finally managed to open his mouth, "You're here, little ginger."
Jiang Chengyu and Jiang Chengfeng both facepalmed. If there were a hole in the ground, they would rather crawl into it than stand with this person.
In fact, Jiang Sheng could understand their awkwardness and knew that they had been secretly watching her.
It's understandable to feel uncomfortable as a relative by blood but not very familiar with them.
But today, the most important person is her eldest brother, and her heart is entirely focused on him. She doesn't care much about anyone else.
Or rather, in Jiang Sheng's world, apart from her brother and aunt, no one else is even in the running.
Facing the three bewildered teenagers, she calmly smiled and said, "Thank you for coming, and thank you for helping my brother."
Jiang Chengyuan's blood congealed.
That's his sister, the girl who should be happily skipping around him and calling him brother.
But now, she calls others "brother" and thanks them.
Jiang Chengyuan stood dejectedly in the corner, his hands clasped at his sides, clenching and unclenching repeatedly.
Someone sighed, and the sound faded away in the wind.
Jiang Sheng was finally able to skip over to her brothers. She nervously tugged at Chang Yan's clothes, her little mouth chattering, "How did it go? What did they say? Can we get it back? Will the Fang family retaliate against us?"
"It looks like this will be a drawn-out affair." Changyan frowned. "Today, my elder brother is no longer the main character in the imperial court."
This was a contest between two powerful families, a battle of wits among civil officials, an unyielding struggle of reason, and also the most difficult decision for the emperor.
"Wow, that must be really intense." Jiang Sheng was disappointed that she couldn't see it live. "Will they be eloquent and persuasive? Will the battle be fierce, with neither side willing to concede?"
Chang Yan glanced at her but didn't say anything.
Don't overthink it.
Because the actual situation is...
"That failed candidate is eloquent and persuasive. If he used that talent to write essays, he could easily become the top scholar, let alone the top scholar in the provincial examination," said the head of the Zhu family, twitching his beard. "Instead of using his clever words and flattery to try and seize what doesn't belong to others."
"You're talking nonsense." Jiang Jizong said expressionlessly.
"The Jiang family, as a prestigious family, is actually stirring up trouble in the imperial examinations. Who knows if they are preparing for the future of the Jiang family's descendants? Once this precedent is set, the Jiang family's sons will have no shortage of academic achievements in the future. They will only care about seizing by force and accusing others of having illegitimate means." The Zhu family head raised his voice.
"You're talking nonsense." Jiang Jizong said expressionlessly.
"We are both prominent families in Fengjing, yet the Jiang family is helping a failed scholar slander the Fang family. If there isn't something fishy going on here, I'll change my name." The Zhu family head was about to vomit blood.
"You're talking nonsense." Jiang Jizong said expressionlessly.
The Zhu family patriarch nearly choked on his breath, his outstretched fingers trembling uncontrollably. "Jiang, is that all you know how to say?"
Jiang Jizong's face then showed an expression, a strange smile, "Guess?"
With a "thud," the head of the Zhu family collapsed.
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