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

Chapter 381

Realizing this matter, the siblings all felt somewhat low-spirited.

Fang Heng racked his brains to recall his first nine years of luxury and wealth, "It's...it's not necessarily so. The imperial examination is ultimately up to the Celestial House to decide. The Crown Prince and the Celestial House are merely in a father-son relationship."

That was all.

It would have been better not to say those words.

Under heaven, except for husband and wife, only father and son could be considered to have a close relationship. If his own son pleaded desperately a couple times, how could the father not lend an ear?

Even if there were many complications among the imperial clan, the Celestial House could not place complete trust in the Crown Prince. But due to the destined father-son relationship, as long as the Crown Prince made things difficult for Xu Mo in any way, it would be easier than if an ordinary person did it.

"My eldest brother went from being the top examinee in the provincial examination to the metropolitan examination. Everyone in the abundant capital Fengjing knows this. What obstacles could the Fang family set?" Zheng Ruqian asked doubtfully. "Even if they did set obstacles, wouldn't it be too preposterous for such an esteemed metropolitan graduate to rank last in the palace examination?"

This showed that the layman did not understand.

Why was the final test of the imperial examination system set as the palace examination?

Aside from demonstrating the emperor's grace and preventing others from forming factions and private interests through appointments, it was to prevent people from cramming, from studying themselves to death, only able to do written work, commonly known as armchair strategists.

In the long road of imperial examinations, aside from being able to write articles, one also needed the ability to respond on the spot, an attitude that was neither servile nor overbearing, and sophisticated poise and eloquence in order to stand out from the crowd.

In the previous dynasty, there were metropolitan graduates who lost their nerve on the Golden Steps, making quite a lot of jokes, and in the end barely managed to become fellow degree holders. Their official posts never advanced past the seventh rank.

There were also exam takers with ordinary scores in the provincial exams. But because their poise and eloquence impressed the Celestial House, they were able to become jinshi degree holders, some even placing among the top three.

"The fact that the Fang family allowed my elder brother to take first place in the metropolitan exam shows that this status isn't noticeable enough. As long as he performs ordinarily or makes mistakes in the palace exam, my elder brother won't make many waves in the future either," Fang Heng sighed.

As he sighed, he began to feel guilty.

It was all his fault. Ever since the six siblings entered Anshui Prefecture, all of the storms were started by him.

If not for him, if not for the Fang family, would they not have suffered so much misfortune and so many difficulties?

The more Fang Heng thought about it, the more upset he felt. The more he thought about it, the more stifled he felt. He wished he could directly take up a huge chopping knife and massacre the Fang family from top to bottom.

Even if he had to enter the grand prison in the end, even if he had to give up this life, as long as Elder Brother and younger siblings could be safe and sound, it would be worth it.

The more he thought about it, the more agitated he became. The veins bulged on his slender arms, and his calloused palms grew hot, as if urging him--quickly, go on, kill!

But before he could clench the hilt, a small warm hand reached over and forcefully grabbed his arm. "Third brother, don't be impulsive. It's not your fault. Even without you, without the Fang family, there would still be the Zhao, Li, and Sun families."

Fang Heng looked back and saw his worried little sister with her face full of worry.

He didn't know why, but Eldest Brother was silent today, Second Brother was taciturn, Fourth Brother was absent-minded, and even Fifth Brother had a pale face and said nothing.

Fortunately, Jiang Sheng was perceptive enough to sense something amiss, and she patiently advised, "We've already come this far. Since that's the case we should face it properly. Don't blame yourself and don't feel bad. We're family, we don't distinguish between each other."

When it came time to enjoy benefits, siblings were intimate. But when difficulties arose, they started distinguishing between "you" and "me".

Family was supposed to weather hardships together and help each other out.

They were willing to help Fang Heng of their own accord and willingly offended the Fang family. None of them regretted it, and they were also willing to face the consequences.

"Moreover, regretting anything now would be useless. We might as well think about how to solve the problem," Jiang Sheng seemed to return to five years ago, using her own rich life experiences to educate her elder brother. "Third brother, you're already fourteen. You need to be more mature!"

Fang Heng didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but the hand gripping the knife hilt slowly loosened.

"Little sister is right," Xu Mo suddenly regained his senses. "Now that we've reached this point, neither recklessness nor regret can solve this."

The key was how they would break this new deadlock.

"Maybe we should ask the Jiang family for help again," Zheng Ruqian scratched his head. As an outsider he started making suggestions. "Didn't the He family say they were willing to help third brother? Added up, all those prominent families should be enough to match the Crown Prince's standing."

The He family's motives were unclear, but their willingness to lend Fang Heng a hand meant they wouldn't become enemies at least.

"But the present problem has nothing to do with prominent families," Xu Mo said, closing his eyes. He analyzed it for everyone. "The fact that the Fang family was able to choose the Crown Prince means they are betting that His Highness has an extremely high chance of becoming the next ruler of the Dayu Dynasty."

"For him as ruler, we are his subjects."

"If the ruler wants his subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die."

No matter if it was the palace examination or the struggle against the Fang family, both sides were evenly matched, or the wins and losses were only the current circumstances. Once the Crown Prince became their ruler, they would be left to his mercy.

"With this outcome set, all of our current actions, including the results of the palace exam, seem so laughably powerless," Xu Mo said self-mockingly, shaking his head. "Whereas for the Fang family, as long as they successfully help the Crown Prince rise to the throne, they can be considered to have a bright open road ahead in the future."

"Then can we also help the Crown Prince..." Wen Zhiyun had just opened his mouth when he shut it.

There was an order to handling matters. The Crown Prince and Fang family had already formed an alliance. Any latecomers would be unable to surpass the Fang family's position. And precisely because of this, the Fang family was able to wholeheartedly support the Crown Prince without worry.

The two joined forces, making it difficult for outsiders to enter.

If they truly wanted to seek a way to survive, they could only attach themselves to another imperial prince.

"The Celestial House has four imperial princes. The Crown Prince formed an alliance with the Fang family. The birth mother of the Second Prince is not prestigious. The Fourth Prince has a lame leg. The Fifth Prince has been chronically ill and rarely goes out." Xu Mo closed his eyes again.

They were unable to choose a suitable prince, nor did they have the qualifications to attach themselves to a prince.

The Jiang family did have the qualifications. But how could a centuries-old prestigious family sully their clean reputation just to protect them?

Jiang Sheng did not have the nerve to make this plea, and neither did the siblings.

"Maybe I shouldn't have waded into these muddy waters in the first place, shouldn't have come to take the exams in the capital," Xu Mo heaved a long sigh. "Only now do I realize that in the vast capital Fengjing, it's truly difficult to take a single step without a background."

When they encountered the county magistrate, they looked for the prefect to oppose him.

When they encountered the prefect, they looked for prominent families to restrain him.

When they encountered prominent families, they looked for other powerful families to check them.

But when they encountered the Crown Prince, who could they ask the Celestial House to help them?

Enemies were endless, opponents continually stronger. No matter how hard they tried, in the end they would still encounter all kinds of difficulties and setbacks.

Even the steady and strong Young Master Green Bamboo seemed a bit dejected now, helplessness spreading through him.

"Big...Big Brother," Jiang Sheng stared blankly at him. "Are we giving up now? Giving up everything we have now, giving up opposing the Fang family, giving up avenging Third Brother's hatred?"

When they had nothing, they still dared to oppose the county magistrate.

Now that they had status and prospects, how could they shrink back?

"Although I can live without money or status--I'd be fine even eating chaff and wild herbs--if we back down now, what about the aunties at the workshop? What about Aunt Zhang? What about Uncle Zhang and Sister Cui in Anshui? What about the large Xiong brothers who transport goods, the Gao brothers, the long-term workers who transport lychees, and the bean sprouts in Xieyang County?"

It wasn't just the six of them long ago.

Behind them stood countless friends and relatives, the long-term workers who relied on them for their livelihoods, the short-term workers waiting to collect their wages.