When these words came out, the entire small courtyard fell silent.
Jiang Sheng stared with wide eyes, unable to get any words out. Zheng Ruqian's eyebrows were tightly furrowed, Fang Heng looked thoughtful, and Wen Zhiyun was at a loss.
No wonder Xu Mo had not dared to respond earlier, to stay in Fengjing City to accompany the long banquet.
It turned out he had made preparations already, to go to Anshui Prefecture to serve as the prefect.
"But why?" Chang Yan pursed his lips, full of grievance. "Big brother, are you going to leave us?"
The others looked up at the same time, with puzzled expressions.
"Of course not," Xu Mo said with a wry smile. "Now that the imperial court is ill in bed, and power leans towards the Crown Prince's residence, it would be best for you to stay here. With Sun Xiaosheng and Qi Huai'an here, they can hold up half the sky."
"I received news recently that the current prefect of Anshui was detained for embezzlement and bribery. It will take some time before a replacement prefect arrives, so I was thinking of serving there temporarily." He gazed towards the northeast. "There are some matters that need to be resolved quickly."
The villains cannot remain free for too long!
The deceased cannot lie forever on a strange mountain top.
Chang Yan seemed to understand something. He stood up sharply, "Alright, big brother, go and come back soon."
They were all indignant for that young man, they all wanted him to raise his brows and speak boldly.
"Little Five, don't worry. On the day you take the throne, big brother will be back, to guard you and accompany you for your coronation." Xu Mo reached out his hand as he did in their childhood, and rubbed his brother's head.
Chang Yan grinned, his smile wet with a touch of reluctance.
No, just like this... it was settled?
Jiang Sheng stared dumbfounded, unable to speak for half a day.
Her big brother was going to separate from Fifth Elder Brother. What should she do, what should she do?
"I'm going to follow big brother." Unexpectedly, Fang Heng spoke decisively. "In distant Anshui Prefecture, I also have matters to deal with."
"The gold brick matter is set in stone. I might as well go to Anshui Prefecture to do some new business," Zheng Ruqian said, unwilling to fall behind. "I can check on my bean sprouts too."
"I still have a medicine hall there. Without Doctor Wu's care, I don't know what state it's in," Wen Zhiyun murmured.
It was Jiang Sheng's turn. She looked at her aged grandmother, and then thought of her father who had retired from military service. Her two hands shook and shook, shook and shook.
More conflicted than snatching a whole slab of pork belly skin with chopsticks.
Tan Yue suddenly cleared his throat to the side. "Oh my lady, I heard that in your youth you had been to Anshui Prefecture before too. Do you want to revisit your old haunts?"
"Hmm, you're right," Old Lady Jiang nodded. "I quite want to take a look, at the land that raised my beloved granddaughter for seven years."
Jiang Sheng finally set aside her conflicted feelings and grew excited. "The food in Anshui Prefecture is especially delicious. There's a candied haws snack in Shili Town that's exceptionally tasty. I never ate one just like it in all my years in Fengjing!"
"Also, the uncles and elders in Shili Village were very nice. Sometimes they would give me food, or an old piece of clothing to wear."
"In contrast, the people in town were quite fierce. The ones from the county offices were even more brutal, their beatings hurt a lot..."
Amidst the girl's rambling recollections, several carriages were packed up neatly, about to return to their hometown.
Old Lady Jiang had the largest contingent, including gold and silverware, and a son who had retired from military service.
Xu Mo was rather special, digging up two scoops of soil from the mountain peak to place in a case on behalf of his friend.
Fang Heng looked the most impressive, with eight blocks of ginger lined up behind him, appearing stately and excited at the same time.
Wen Zhiyun carried a small medicine box, still thin and frail against the wind.
Jiang Sheng pulled Zhang Xianglian along reluctantly, repeatedly reminding her not to sever ties with the pork rib vendor, because she still wanted to eat pork belly when she came back!
Only Chang Yan remained.
The tall youth stood in the corner, feeling the small courtyard transform from lively chatter to desolate silence. In that moment, he thoroughly understood the loneliness of being a ruler, the meaning of high places being coldest.
Though they had all encountered each other by chance for various reasons, and traveled together to Fengjing.
Now they were all leaving, only himself remaining, guarding this massive city alone and this sprawling territory.
"Little Five," Wen Zhiyun suddenly jumped down from the carriage shaft and rushed up in three steps. "Don't feel too upset. We will all be back."
"That's right, Fifth Elder Brother, we'll be back soon," Jiang Sheng called out, poking her head out.
Chang Yan finally smiled again, waving towards the departing convoy.
It won't be too long, he whispered to himself.
"It won't be for long," Jiang Sheng assured her father and grandmother. "One month at most."
Just as when they first left, they traveled through Huangshan Mountain, passed by Huizhou, went through Danyang Prefecture again, and finally crossed over Anyang Prefecture to arrive at Anshui Prefecture.
It took no more or less than one month.
His homeland from four years past, after seeing such prosperity - this was still closest to his heart.
The dazzling flowers of Fengjing beguile the eyes, but they cannot bewilder a clear and pure heart, nor an upright and unyielding spine.
Xu Mo held the prefecture appointment order, halting at the western city gate where he had bid farewell years ago.
Wang Mingyu, who had waited there for a long time, rushed forward. A thousand words were choked back into sobs, along with unspeakable grievances.
"Elder Brother Mingyu," Xu Mo held his arm. "Has news from Fengjing been delivered over?"
"No. I intercepted all letters from Eldest Branch House. They still don't know about elder cousin's death." Wang Mingyu wiped his tears clean. "These days uncle has been especially brazen, declaring his intention to seize my family head status several times. Thankfully elder cousin made arrangements beforehand, otherwise he might have succeeded."
Xu Mo nodded. "Don't worry, Elder Brother Mingyu. I'm here now to assist you. Those petty villains won't be able to remain arrogant and complacent anymore."
"That's good, that's good." Wang Mingyu tidied his emotions, then hesitantly asked, "Did Xu Excellency come back alone this time?"
Of course not.
Unable to endure any longer, Zheng Ruqian lifted the carriage curtain with a radiant smile. "Mingyu," he called out lightly.
Wang Mingyu was panic-stricken, then overjoyed and astonished. It took him awhile before he found his voice again. "Ruqian, welcome back."
Your friend can finally live like a human again.
A group traveled by carriage, strolling along Anshui Prefecture's streets. They marveled at the low prices in this remote city, and enjoyed the darling scents of their childhood hometown.
Passing by the entrance of Carefree Residence, Manager Hao was saying something to a plump young lady, both helpless and indignant - but his large palm could only smack his own thigh.
Unable to resist, Jiang Sheng poked her head out and finally caught the gist of it.
"My daughter," Manager Hao said in despair, "It's been so many years. Why do you still miss that fellow? He's gone to Fengjing. He won't be coming back."
"Even if you keep waiting like this, you'll really become an old spinster!"
"Then let me become an old spinster!" Hao Xiangxiang looked resolute. "Who said he won't come back? What if he does?"
Indeed, what if?
Jiang Sheng looked towards the chuckling and chatting Zheng Ruqian on the carriage shaft, and the stern-faced Fang Heng on horseback. Feeling mischievous all of a sudden, she called out loudly, "Big brother!"
The Hao father and daughter pair were startled, turning to look at the same time - one revealed pleasant surprise, the other ecstatic delight.
Jiang Sheng clapped her hands and withdrew her head, keeping her merit concealed.
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