After Picking Up Five Brothers, No One Dares to Offend the Capital City

Chapter 378

In Fang Yuan's siblings' eyes, Fang Yuan passing the imperial examination and getting on the successful candidate list made him a winner. It made them clench their fists in resentment. In the Fang family's eyes, Xu Mo seizing the top spot on the ranking list probably also made him a winner. In their anger, they didn't know what ruthless moves they would resort to next.

Time passed from five years ago to now. After Fang Heng was hunted down and Xu Mo's exam paper was switched, the two sides had long been like water and fire, with an irreconcilable feud.

No matter if it was to get revenge or protect Xu Mo, finding out the Fang family's backer had become something they were determined to achieve.

"I'll go. I'm willing to go," Fang Heng spoke sonorously. "Xiao Wu, stop being so mysterious. Tell me quickly, what exactly is the method."

What method could be used?

Chang Yan sighed and uttered two words softly: "Petitioning."

Go to the Golden Palace, go to the Office of Heavenly Officials, go kneel at every place you can kneel. File a petition against the Fang family.

His tone was light, but it made all five siblings stare with eyes wide open. Jiang Sheng was even more incredulous as he said, "Fifth brother, are you crazy? Eldest brother's spot being stolen, he kneeled and wailed until his voice went hoarse at the Office of Heavenly Officials, and just got a makeup exam. How can third brother kneeling petition anything against the Fang family?"

That was the Fang family!

How solid was the status the Fang family gained from when General Fang fought battles and won merits for the family on the battlefield? When they fought amongst themselves now, it was just as difficult.

If you really don't understand, just look at the Jiang family and you can get a general idea.

The Fang family and the Jiang family were of equal status and influence. They also previously had two brothers, one civil and one military, one in the court and one guarding the borders, and held absolute right to speak in the entire Fengjing capital.

If you had to compare, then probably only inferior to the Imperial Family, above tens of thousands of people.

"How could I possibly petition against the Fang family with my..." Fang Heng smiled bitterly again and again. "The uncles from my father's former subordinates are all at the borders. At most they can help me get promoted quicker. They are of no help at all in Fengjing."

His mother's clan, the Wang family, was only stationed in Anshui Prefecture. Although Cousin Fufeng was in charge there, they couldn't extend their reach into the vast lands of Fengjing.

In Fang Heng's plans, it would probably take ten to eight years to get promoted to General before he could return to the capital gloriously as a military officer and kill his enemies.

"No, third brother," Chang Yan shook his head. "We didn't plan to take down the entire Fang family. We just want to file a petition first."

It was the same principle as two people fighting.

If you don't attack, you won't know what kind of defense the enemy has, and even less what level of martial arts the enemy possesses.

Only after you've made a move and tested it out can you grasp the enemy's techniques.

Fang Heng was quite tactical. He quickly understood and his eyes lit up. "I see. But Xiao Wu, wouldn't we be deliberately provoking the Fang family like this?"

Before Chang Yan could reply, he understood. "Offend them then offend them. Anyway I'm not afraid of them assassinating me on the borders. And after eldest brother passes the imperial exam, he'll have an official post too. We're not ignorant children who can be easily silenced anymore."

On the contrary, wasn't it exactly because of this that the Fang family was anxious to destroy them?

A small sapling would eventually grow into a towering tree after all. A tender child could also shine brilliantly among the crowds when grown up.

And this was called growth.

He couldn't describe the feeling, but you would discover that the yelping puppy that was previously terrified had gradually become mighty and valiant. The struggling stalks of wheat bore fruit. The adolescent boys and girls seeking their place grew increasingly more courageous and unyielding in purpose.

They whispered amongst themselves to discuss the details, where they should go and how to do it best.

Finally, on a breezy, balmy morning, Fang Heng put on his back the long saber that had accompanied him through difficulties and dangers. He knelt outside the gates of the Imperial City.

Xu Mo stood in the distance with his younger siblings. Friends who rushed over after receiving the news, passersby who stopped to watch, and spies who came to gather information surrounded the Imperial City gates.

A large empty space was left in the middle where a teenager with straight backbone knelt.

"Who's this? Not appealing unfairness at the Office of Heavenly Officials but kneeling here outside the Imperial City gates instead, what's he doing?"

"He looks a bit familiar, like someone... Why is he carrying a saber on his back too?"

"What use is kneeling here? If the Imperial Family ignores him, wouldn't he just be kneeling for nothing?"

"How could that be possible? Even if the Imperial Family doesn't do anything, the ministers will see him when they leave the court after the morning session. They can't possibly ignore him."

In fact, all this wasn't needed. Just the Fengjing commoners surrounding them could sufficiently draw the Imperial Family's attention.

Public opinion itself could stir up waves.

Fang Heng kept his back upright. Oblivious to the discussions around him, his mind steadfastly awaited fairness and justice.

After about half a hour, when the sun hung high in the sky and the air grew hotter, the Imperial City gates finally opened.

The court ministers from first to third rank who saw the saber-bearing kneeling youth were first dazed, then sized him up, and finally had meaningful looks on their faces.

The Fang family patriarch's face was black as charcoal. He wanted to go up and scold the youth but was afraid it would affirm their guesses, so he could only shoot a look to the Zhu family patriarch.

The Zhu family patriarch took the hint. He shouted as he strode over, "Who's the audacious one who dared block the Imperial City gates? Quickly move away lest you be convicted of disturbing public order and thrown into prison!"

In the crowd, Jiang Sheng blinked then waved his hand to signal.

After receiving the hidden cue, Jiang Jizong gave two light coughs. "What do you mean blocking the way? It looks to me like he has injustice to appeal. We should quickly relay this to the Imperial Family and let them deal with it."

"Bah, even petty villains can trouble the Imperial Family now and still need us ministers? This should be directly handed to the Office of Heavenly Officials for thirty heavy strikes first," the Zhu family patriarch retorted. He and Jiang Jizong had new and old grudges.

Jiang Jizong shot him an icy glance, about to prepare some verbal ammunition for his niece.

Fang Heng suddenly put down his saber and started kowtowing while shouting, "Fang Heng, son of the late Great General Fang Huaiyi, appeals on behalf of his parents' wrongful deaths. I beseech the Imperial Family's benevolence and to consider my father's merits from decades of fighting battles at the borders. Please give the Fang family main branch justice!"

He was a straightforward person. Since he said he would kowtow, he really kowtowed. Each kowtow resounded heavily.

It angered Jiang Sheng so much that her eyes reddened as she murmured, "I told third brother not to be so sincere and not to kowtow so heavily. Why doesn't he listen!"

In just over a dozen kowtows, blood had already poured from the youth's forehead.

Jiang Jizong couldn't bear to watch. He wanted to stand up to help support Fang Heng but someone had already rushed over first.

"Stop kowtowing," he gritted his teeth. "The Imperial Family has received the news and will be here soon."

Fang Heng raised his head. Blood flowed from his forehead into his eyes. In the hazy red, he saw a very very familiar face.

"You are..." Thoughts raced through the youth's mind as memories of his grandmother awakened. "Cousin."

The one who called his grandmother auntie: the He family.

He had thought the two families would have no more interactions after his grandmother's passing. He didn't expect to be helped up here outside the Imperial City gates.

"The Imperial Family is unhappy with the Fang family today. If you have any injustice, just state it directly. But remember not to implicate the Imperial Family," the He Family Lord spoke extremely quickly. "Remember, you came here to appeal for justice for your family. Don't worry about anything else."

Fang Heng nodded solemnly.

The Imperial City gates opened again shortly after. Palace eunuchs and maids streamed out, with the Imperial Family dressed in brilliant yellow dragon robes in the middle.

His gaze swept past the kowtowing youth then looked at the obviously conflict-embroiled Zhu, Fang, Jiang and He families before speaking out, "Who's causing the disturbance here?"