Even behind Xu Mo, there was Minister Dou's expectant gaze, Qi Huai's encouraging expression, Zhu Sihuan secretly slipping him two hundred taels of silver, An Jun's appreciation, and Zhao Yuan's unstoppable admiration.
How disappointed these people will be if they really retire.
Xu Mo smiled bitterly, laughing at himself for being sixteen years old and not as thoughtful as his twelve-year-old sister.
"We can't back out, we can't back out." The fifth brother, pale-faced, finally spoke, his voice hoarse. "Does this mean we don't want our third brother anymore?"
Fang Heng couldn't resolve the hatred between himself and the Fang family, nor could he swallow it down.
If they back down, Fang Heng will have no choice but to fight desperately on his own, resorting to extreme measures and forging ahead alone.
“It’s not accidental that we’ve come to this point, it’s inevitable.” Changyan lowered his eyelashes. “Brother, you still don’t understand the court enough. Although the Dayu Dynasty is ruled by the Zhu family, the Golden Palace is not a place where the emperor’s word is law.”
Think about how powerful families controlled the emperor.
Just think about the Fang family, the Jiang family, the Yao family, the Zhu family—how much influence do these powerful families have?
Even protecting a mere ghostwriter requires appeasing the Fang family; even if the eldest prince ascends the throne, why should he abandon all the powerful ministers?
Note that this refers to real power.
Ultimately, it still depends on Xu Mo's efforts to go further and climb higher.
"As for the palace examination, don't worry. Once you pass the provincial examination, you'll be a shoo-in for the imperial examination. With the help of the Jiang and He families, your official career will only be a bit bumpy, but it won't end there." The young man finally raised his eyes. "Big brother, you said you would be our support."
The analysis of the long banquet was like a crack opening in the darkness, revealing the golden dawn.
The last sentence evokes the past: the tuition fees earned from selling mushrooms, the nights when he vowed to protect his younger siblings, the compassionate desire to help orphaned children, and the expectations of his innocent childhood.
Xu Mo's expression gradually hardened. "I'm not backing down. I'm just afraid of a dead end. As long as there's even the slightest hope, I will persevere. I've never forgotten my ideals."
He indeed didn't quite understand the affairs of the court, and thought that opposing the prince meant there was no way out.
Fortunately, Little Fifth Brother was there; fortunately, there's always a way out.
"Although I don't want the imperial family to be controlled by the aristocratic families, I will still retain the ability to control them when that day comes." Xu Mo said firmly, "Big brother will not give up anything, big brother will work harder, and big brother will be your support."
Don't be afraid, little brother and sister.
There will always be your elder brother behind you.
“You also have a second brother. He’s rich. Even if he had to buy your lives, he could do it.” Zheng Ruqian had made up his mind at some point. “Your second brother will protect you.”
“Third Brother will too.” Fang Heng’s palms were calloused and rough. “Give me a few more years, and I will definitely achieve great military merit and rebuild the Fang family army.”
They are the older brothers, and they will always protect their younger siblings.
The road ahead may be bumpy, but it doesn't matter, they will get through it together.
Chang Yan grinned, his face smiling, but his heart was filled with bitterness.
What I just said was the truth, only slightly exaggerated—the imperial family is already being controlled by the powerful families to the point of discomfort, so how could they possibly allow the next emperor to continue to be controlled?
Regardless of which prince ascends the throne, they will definitely try to weaken the power of aristocratic families and the rights of ministers, and bring the key and core to the emperor's grasp.
If the eldest prince were to succeed to the throne, things would be even worse. The hatred between the Fang family and Fang Heng meant that the two sides would be locked in a life-or-death struggle. Even if Xu Mo could gain a foothold in the court, he would be squeezed out and suffer greatly.
But he couldn't say these things.
He had to leave some hope for his elder brother, he had to let his elder brother participate in the imperial examination, and he had to let his elder brother move forward without hesitation.
If someone truly has to bear suffering, then let them take it.
He was willing to pick up those sordid, disgusting memories of the past, and swallow them back.
"There's no one at the city gates anymore!" Jiang Sheng exclaimed. "Let's take the carriage back too."
Chang Yan interrupted her, which was unusual for him, "Let's take a walk. I want to walk with you."
That's fine.
No one refused. The six siblings strolled through the vast city of Fengjing, watching the vendors hawk their wares, the bustling shops, and the flow of people.
“I remember my elder brother’s wish was to be an honest official, a beacon of justice for the people.” Chang Yan sighed. “At that time, I was thinking, how could someone be so great as to be willing to work hard for strangers?”
Xu Mo smiled faintly, "I also want to protect my family and the people of the world. The greater love and the lesser love coexist, which makes me want to be an honest official."
That was a wish that inherited the father's will, but also transcended it.
“I’m different. I just want to make money so that we can all eat well and dress well.” Zheng Ruqian shook his head. “But the most fundamental reason is that I’m unwilling to be mediocre.”
If the eldest brother is so outstanding, how could the second brother be ordinary?
"Before going to the Northern Frontier, all I wanted was revenge." Fang Heng shrugged. "Once I get to the Northern Frontier, I hope for peace throughout the land."
That was a longing for peace after witnessing cruelty.
"I don't have any grand wishes, I just hope that people won't forget me." Wen Zhiyun pursed her lips. "If being a doctor means no one will forget me, then I'm willing to work hard."
Perhaps only very occasionally will one recall the kind heart of the doctor father.
"My turn?" Jiang Sheng scratched his head. "I have no ambition. As long as I have food to eat and a place to sleep, I'm fine. Being poor doesn't matter. But I hope that everyone in this world can live well and live peacefully."
Whether it's Aunt Zhang or Miao Zhaoying and her daughter, the aunts and uncles in those workshops need to eat, which is why she has the motivation to work hard.
Now, only the fifth brother, who has the question, is left.
The eyes of the five siblings converged on them, filled with curiosity, doubt, and simple joy.
Chang Yan lowered his eyelashes. "It has always been freedom."
In fact, freedom is a very difficult thing to visualize.
People who run around are not necessarily free, and people who sit in the courtyard are not necessarily unfree. Upon closer analysis, the true meaning of freedom is probably the ability to do whatever one pleases.
“I was born into a very chaotic family, and every day I did the same boring, meaningless things. Later, I secretly slipped away when my elders weren’t looking.” Chang Yan raised the corners of his mouth. “Because I felt that leaving was the greatest freedom.”
"But now I realize that there is no true freedom. No matter what your identity is, there are always things that restrict you. No matter what choice you make, there are always things that you need to be wary of. No matter what your status is, there are always people you have to be wary of."
Freedom is ultimately just a word imagined by humankind.
The smiles at the long banquet grew wider and wider, turning from warm to sarcastic, and then from sarcastic to cold mockery.
"Fifth Brother." Jiang Sheng's worried voice rang in her ears.
Chang Yan put away his smile and returned to his calm and taciturn self, "Big Brother won the top prize, and we agreed on double happiness."
"Let's get auntie's wedding done."
"While... we're still together."
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