Chapter 405: Ask to See the Five Princes

Chapter 405

Taihe Hall was the place for both the imperial examination and the conferral of titles. It was divided into the Main Hall and the Side Halls, connected by corridors.

Subjects and students entered through the front gate, while members of the imperial family and princes entered from the Side Halls.

The same applied when leaving after the events.

Xu Mo considered himself quite fast on his feet. He hurried to the back door of the Side Hall, only catching a glimpse of the teenager's disappearing back.

It was so slender, so delicate, so familiar.

He grew more certain and excited, quickening his pace to catch up. At the same time he pulled out the small jade pendant from his sleeve, preparing it for future need.

If the Fifth Prince was attending a long banquet, there would naturally be no need to say more.

If the Fifth Prince was not at a long banquet, it would be inappropriate for a minister to request to see the prince without reason.

For example, having picked up a lost jade pendant and wishing to return it.

Xu Mo suppressed his emotions, catching up in two or three quick steps as the prince turned the corner. Just as he was about to request an audience, he heard the familiar voice that he knew so well, "Thank you, Fourth Brother, for hearing me out and not publicly donating silver on the spot."

"It was effortless," the Fourth Prince, who had been waiting for some time, responded. "It is thanks to Fifth Younger Brother's clever intervention that stopped me, or it would have been making clothes for Eldest Brother."

To spend his own money to build up good deeds for someone else, even blood brothers could not tolerate such an insult.

Only now did Xu Mo realize that the Fifth Prince's breathlessness earlier was not an act, but because he had pulled the Fourth Prince aside to stop him. By forming an alliance against it, there would be no isolated donation to criticize.

Humans tend to go along with the crowd, whether it be good or bad. Anyone who stands alone will inevitably draw some discussion.

"But even if we do not donate now, we will still have to at the Spring Banquet," the Fourth Prince said, rather displeased. "The Fang family wants to look good themselves, while forcing everyone else along. I wonder what they are after."

What they wanted was to curry favor with the imperial family, to backstab their opponents, to hit two birds with one stone.

If the Fifth Prince had not stopped the Fourth Prince, and instead proposed the Spring Banquet, the Jiang and Dou families would not have been able to withstand the pressure, donating silver as well. The Fang family would become the biggest winner.

They would please the imperial family, wash away the disgrace of buying the top scholar title with money, and even take on the shining image of caring for the country and people.

In his mind, Xu Mo had already prepared the Fifth Prince's response, but unexpectedly he avoided the question, glancing slantingly over as he sternly shouted, "Who is it!"

Eavesdropping on the conversation between princes was a crime worthy of the third degree punishment. Even if unintentional, even if coming to seek an audience.

From the corner of his eye Xu Mo saw guards approaching, so he immediately held up the jade pendant pleading guilty. "This inferior minister has just been appointed as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy. I picked up an ornament dropped by the Fifth Prince outside the Main Hall and chased after to return it, with no intention of being presumptuous towards Your Highnesses."

Fortunately he had prepared in advance.

Xu Mo did not speak. In his heart there was still some expectation left.

Not until the Fifth Prince with his back to him opened his mouth again, "Then, Fourth Brother, let us return first."

"Alright. We can discuss back home how much silver we should donate at the Spring Banquet." The two princes drew farther and farther away in tandem.

Xu Mo clenched his fists tightly, watching that familiar, slender back. He caught sight of the jade pendant on the ground again, feeling unspeakably bitter in his heart.

He left dejectedly, returning to the scholar procession preparing for the parade.

Qi Huai and An Jun were craning their necks looking around. Catching sight of the top scholar from afar, they immediately squeezed through the crowd to ask in hushed voices, "Brother Xu, where did you go? We were looking everywhere for you just now!"

"Right, Brother Xu. If you did not show up, the second and third scholars would have had to walk in front. What a loss of style!" An Jun clicked his tongue. "Hurry, the parade is about to start!"

This was the most glorious moment for hundreds of scholars, the grandest scene to happen once every three years.

Led by the top scholar, the new scholars rode tall horses draped with red silk shawls and flower garlands, shuttling down the wide stone-paved avenues of Fengjing to comfort ten years of lonely studying in the cold.

The common people of Fengjing loved such lively events the most. Those with money booked private rooms in teahouses with a good view, while those without squatted along the roadsides for a gratuitous sight.

Bolder young ladies would take the rare opportunity to embroider purse handkerchiefs, taking aim at the young scholar of their admiration, throwing them with gusto.

The scholars would also compete with each other through the number of purse handkerchiefs received, to compare youthful grace and popularity.

As the top scholar, Xu Mo was tall and handsome, refined and elegant. Though not a bewitching beauty that brought calamity to the country, he was still extraordinarily eye-catching among the scholars of his age.

Originally the second and third scholars could still be considered elegant, but stood in front of him they immediately appeared much plainer.

"Good heavens, this year's top scholar is so fair and refined!"

"A sixteen year old top scholar, such would be rare even in ancient times!"

"Sixteen years old... old enough to marry!"

Usually shy and bashful young ladies from prestigious families took the rare chance to let loose, biting their lips as they secretly threw all kinds of embroidered purse handkerchiefs.

Of the dozens thrown out, nine out of ten targeted Xu Mo. Lacking martial arts mastery, his chest was soon filled with the scent of fragrant face powder.

Seated early on at the You Ran House in anticipation, Jiang Sheng had eaten and drunk her fill, almost unable to move. Suddenly she heard cries of "Eldest Brother is here!"

She immediately sprang up from the couch to rush to the window.

Sure enough, at the head of the slowly passing convoy of white horses, aside from the armed guards on both sides, was the dazzlingly upright figure of a young scholar she knew so well as her dear elder brother.