Right now.
Almost everyone at the palace gate had left, leaving only two groups of people and four carriages.
On one side are the Qi family father and son, and Dou Weiming and his son, strolling together on the lake of their ideals.
On one side were Jiang Sheng and her two older brothers, all tilting their little heads and looking at the other side with a puzzled expression.
"Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother, did you hear what they were talking about?" Jiang Sheng whispered.
Wen Zhiyun nodded thoughtfully, "I overheard a bit. What Father Qi Huai said about abscesses wasn't quite right. As long as the abscesses are all squeezed out and then medicine is applied, they will heal slowly without needing to be dug out with a knife."
Seeing Jiang Sheng's confusion, he added, "Any doctor who can cause a boil to recur is a quack. They didn't clean out the dirt properly. This isn't my opinion, it's what Doctor Wu said."
Long banquet, "..."
Is it this boil? Is it? Is it?
However, the two officials were right about one thing: the imperial examination fraud case was not fully uncovered for two reasons, firstly because there was not enough evidence, and secondly because the imperial family was too heavily controlled by the powerful clans.
The late emperor's numerous campaigns left the entire Dayu Dynasty's treasury empty and its throne precarious.
The emperor also put in a lot of effort to stabilize the country and allow the people to gradually live a stable life. It is only natural for him to want to protect this stability, and it is understandable that he wants the country and the people to be at peace.
But is simply maintaining stability truly beneficial for the future of a dynasty?
Chang Yan offered no comment, but instead gazed deeply at the imperial city, as if through the heavy vermilion gates he could see the man standing on the dragon throne, his face perpetually etched with worry and his brows furrowed.
In order to secure his throne, he supported too many people and also hurt too many people.
Sorrow? It's just karma.
Just like Zhu Zhi, even though the case of the ghostwriter was not uncovered and the cheating in the imperial examinations did not come to an end, he offended Xu Mo and became the first to be shot by the musket.
Losing his official title is secondary; the worst thing is being abandoned by the Zhu family after causing trouble twice in a row, with just the slightest disturbance.
Changyan turned his head, called Jiang San over, and whispered a few words of advice in his ear.
Jiang San's eyes widened in surprise, then he nodded excitedly and drove the carriage away.
Jiang Sheng stared blankly for a moment, then quickly came to her senses. "Fifth Brother, we only have one carriage. What are we going to do if Jiang San drives it away?"
Wen Zhiyun also looked over.
Both siblings had wet eyes, but one's eyes were filled with murderous intent, while the other's were full of innocence.
Chang Yan took two steps back, his gaze sweeping over the two carriages belonging to the Qi family. "It seems we'll have to trouble Brother Qi to take us back."
The four people, lost in their ideal world, were startled awake. Qi Huai quickly laughed heartily, "Of course, my father and I can ride together."
The group bid each other farewell.
Xu Mo bowed respectfully again, "Thank you for your guidance, Prefect. I understand now. I will visit you on another day. Please do not turn me away."
Dou Weiming has not yet spoken.
Qi Zhen, who was in the carriage next to him, was already laughing. "Old Dou, why don't you tell the child the truth? There is no prefect in Fengjing."
In Fengjing, there is only Minister Dou of the Ministry of Personnel.
Compared to the Fang family's somewhat diminished status as a prominent family after losing their great general, the Dou family was even more prestigious, and in no way inferior to the Jiang family.
Seeing Xu Mo's astonishment, Dou Weiming smiled helplessly, "Don't listen to Lao Qi's nonsense. Although I am a member of the Dou family, I earned my position as the Prefect of Anshui County entirely on my own merits, without relying on the Dou family's influence."
It was only because he had the support of the Fengjing aristocratic family that he was able to protect the people of Anshui County for three years with integrity and innocence, turn a blind eye to Sun Yu's actions, and leave Anshui County unharmed without fear of retaliation from the Sun and Fang families.
So that's the key.
Xu Mo's eyes welled up with tears. He suddenly thought of his parents who had committed suicide. If they had had powerful backers, would they not have been forced to their deaths by Zhu Zhi?
Unfortunately, no.
The boy lowered his eyelashes, concealing his deep sorrow.
In the distance, besides the usual blue robe and black cloth shoes with multiple layers of soles, a chubby little hand suddenly stretched out.
"Big brother." Jiang Sheng approached him unnoticed. "Your hands are so cold. Let me warm them up for you."
Sure enough, my palm felt warmer.
Immediately afterwards, her right hand was also grabbed.
Dr. Wen curled her soft, delicate fingers as she examined him and said softly, "I don't have as high a body temperature as my sister, but I can still warm my brother a little."
Chang Yan didn't speak, but simply stood back to back with Xu Mo.
He didn't know when, but his two younger brothers had grown much taller and were now up to his shoulders.
A breeze blew by, and apart from a slight coolness on my cheeks, my whole body was completely shielded.
These little guys, though clearly his weakness, have become his armor.
Xu Mo chuckled softly, his eyes welling up with tears, yet his mood suddenly lifted.
It doesn't matter that he has no powerful backer. In the future, his younger siblings will need a powerful backer who can protect them in Xiyang County and Anshui Prefecture, and who can lead them out of the encirclement by the Fengjing family.
Besides... who says he has no backing at all?
Xu Mo raised his head, glanced at the Qi family father and son, then at Dou Weiming, and solemnly said, "Thank you, Lord Qi, thank you, Lord Dou, and thank you, Brother Qi. When I visit you in the future, I hope you two will give me your guidance and instruction. I will be extremely grateful."
At first, he only hoped that Lord Dou would not turn him away, and his feelings were mostly apologetic.
Now, the intention to curry favor with the two gentlemen is quite obvious: they hope the two gentlemen can offer some guidance.
Qi Zhenxiang stroked his beard without saying a word.
Dou Weiming nodded in satisfaction, as if he had been waiting for these words. "Good lad, then I'll wait for you at the Ministry of Personnel's residence."
After saying that, he got into the carriage.
Qi Zhenxiang then echoed, "You and Ahuai are both good kids. You should make progress and grow together."
Xu Mo bowed again to see the two officials off.
In the instant he stood up, he seemed to have grown several years older.
"Brother, you..." Changyan hesitated, unable to finish his sentence.
Xu Mo shook his head and got into the carriage. "Let's go home."
People change, and they change in different ways in different places.
Over the years, we have experienced different changes.
But as long as his heart remains unchanged, his loyalty remains unchanged, and his beliefs remain unchanged, he will still be himself—that upright and bright young man who serves his country and its people.
The carriage clattered away from the imperial city gate, heading towards the second courtyard.
In the opposite direction, at roughly the same distance, in a carriage of similar size, sat three people who were almost dead.
"How much longer..." the fourteen-year-old boy asked hoarsely.
"Soon, almost there."
I'll be home in half an hour.
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