Chapter 787: The Fang Clan
Yan Yu felt aggrieved and angry. He had no mood to sleep. He was depressed until dawn, when he fell into a deep sleep. As he gradually fell asleep, he thought about his past life.
Since Yue Sheng founded the dynasty, the Fang clan has established family rules that no matter what position or rank one holds, one must not separate the family and can only live in separate rooms; women of the Fang clan, especially those who are favored by the emperor, must live in a separate room in the Fang mansion even after they get married, and participate in the Fang clan's major plans.
At that time, the German emperor was in power and grain had been abundant for twenty years.
All members of the Fang clan gathered in the third house of the Fang Mansion to select a new generation to assist the monarch.
Among them, there are four elders.
The eldest wife of the Fang family and the head of the Mei Palace, Fang Lingxiang, was a noble prince, of the first rank, with the title Mei. She was the great aunt of Fang Renshu.
The second branch of the Fang family, the head of the Qian Palace, Fang Lang, is a prince of the first rank, with the title Qian. He is the father of Fang Linhao.
Fang Che, the third branch of the Fang family and the head of Guxin Mansion, holds the high position of Beizhao Cheng, a second-rank official, and is the father of Fang Renshu.
The fourth branch of the Fang family, the head of the Jingyao Mansion, Fang Lingyi, is the head of the Imperial Hospital and is of the third rank. She is the aunt of Fang Renshu.
After the ceremony, everyone took their seats.
Fang Ling Xiangsu sat down in his seat, solemn and decent.
"The four of us have devoted our time to studying the test questions. We hope that the children will give their best efforts and submit satisfactory answers, so that they can enter the court to assist the monarch and achieve their ambitions."
A group of young people responded.
"Yes."
Fang Che asked curiously.
"Excuse me, elder sister, is it still the old rules?"
Fang Lang answered quickly, with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
"Third brother, you are talking nonsense."
"Selecting talents from our clan is, of course, an old rule. Our ancestors set it, and they had their own long-term plans. How can we change it at will?"
Fang Che took a sip of tea and smiled nonchalantly.
"Heh, from the tone of Second Brother, he seems very confident that Hao'er will win?"
Seeing his disrespectful behavior, Fang Lang became extremely angry.
"I'm sure of it."
"Hao'er is my only beloved son. I just need to devote all my energy to nurturing him. How can I not accomplish anything?"
"I'm not like you. I have five children and I'm too busy to take care of them all."
Fang Che spoke bluntly and ridiculed him in public.
"Second brother, although he lacks ability, he is quite good at covering up."
Fang Lang was immediately furious.
"Third brother, your words are too harsh, aren't they? Do you still see me as your brother?"
Fang Che was not willing to be outdone.
"Did I said wrong thing?"
"In my grandfather's generation, my father was the only one who continued the family line. My father and mother worked tirelessly to raise the four of us. They always taught us and hoped that we would have many children and enrich the family."
"The eldest sister and the fourth sister each had two sons, but they still chose one of them to take their mother's surname and enter the Fang family tree. How can the second brother feel at ease and only raise Hao'er? If it's not because of his lack of ability, what else could it be?"
Fang Lang was furious.
"you……"
Fang Lingxiang slammed the table and angrily shouted for them to stop.
"Second brother, third brother, stop bickering!"
Fang Lang and Fang Che both restrained their expressions.
"As you command."
Fang Lingxiang questioned.
"The children are here. How can you behave like this? How can you set a good example for others?"
Fang Lang and Fang Che both have the look of realizing their mistakes.
"My eldest sister taught me that."
Fang Lingyi was obedient and smiled, and began to persuade them.
"Big sister, calm down."
"It's important to do the work, and we can't delay it. Please allow the children to go to the next room to answer the questions."
Fang Lingxiang waved her hand, and the younger generation bowed and left.
While the children were answering the questions, Fang Lingxiang and three others prepared the interview content.
An hour later, the written test and the interview were all over, the younger generations left again, and the elders began to review the performance and determine who would enter the court.
Fang Renshu strolled around the garden, enjoying the beautiful scenery and relieving his tension.
"Ugh."
Fang Linhao walked behind her and patted his sister on the shoulder.
"Cousin Shu, why are you sighing?"
Fang Renshu turned his head and took a look.
"Cousin Hao."
After saying hello, she answered the questions with a worried look.
"Sigh, what could that be? Didn't you hear the argument between my second uncle and my father?"
"Father, you were appointed to the Beizhaotai and held the position of Beizhaocheng. You were ahead of everyone else and charged into battle. You should have won the first place in the early exams."
"He has always said that he hopes we can catch up and not embarrass him."
"In addition, my father is very competitive. If he loses to my second uncle today, I'm afraid our family will not be able to live in peace for several months."
Fang Linhao felt sorry for his sister and started to complain.
"Third uncle is always so willful."
"He was unhappy and came to my father to argue. Why did he involve you?"
Fang Renshu smiled helplessly.
"When Second Uncle gets mad, he's even more violent than him. Father, who respects elders, how dare I go to your house and make trouble?"
Fang Linhao was embarrassed.
"That's right."
"My father has always been like this. He will never grow up. Please ask Third Uncle to be more tolerant and don't take it personally."
Fang Renshu is humble and polite.
"Brother, you are modest. I appreciate your kindness."
Fang Linhao's words of comfort were as gentle as the breeze and drizzle.
"I should worry about my ambitions and big things, not you."
"After all, there are four people from your family taking the test. Logically, someone from your family should win."
"I congratulate you in advance. You have achieved what you wished for."
Fang Renshu pursed his lips and smiled.
"I appreciate your words, cousin."
She lowered her eyes, her sad expression returning to her original state.
"My younger brother and his wife are still young, and I'm afraid they are not up to the task. Mother is very worried about them going to court."
"As the eldest daughter, I should share my parents' worries and do my best to stand out."
"However, I am poor in strategy and talent. Perhaps, I will not be able to assist the master."
Affected by her emotions, Fang Linhao looked miserable.
"You are clumsy, and I am mediocre too."
"In the early years, when cousin Xuan was in the mansion, outsiders all commented that you two siblings were the most mediocre in talent."
"Alas, my cousin has gone away, and outsiders have changed their opinions. The two of us are considered fools of the Fang clan."
"Alas, perhaps, I will not be able to assist the master."
The brother and sister were strolling around leisurely. Soon, a servant came with a message, asking them to return to the main hall.
Fang Lingxiang announced the result with a serious look.
"In this exam, Fang Renshu ranked last in the Strategy Test, and Fang Linhao ranked last in the Medicine Test."
"Therefore, we will recommend Fang Renshu to His Majesty for a position in the Northern Zhaotai, and Fang Linhao to a position in the Imperial Hospital."
Fang Linhao and Fang Renshu were both shocked.
"Ok?"
Fang Renshu was completely stunned.
"Comparing talents, the one who stands out should win. How could my aunt choose the last person?"
Fang Lingxiang replied.
"This is the rule left by our ancestors. Every time we take a test, we must select the worst ones to be the pioneers, and the wise ones to be the ones who plan behind the scenes."
Fang Renshu was confused.
"Please ask the ancestors what their intention is?"
Fang Lingxiang answered in a torrent of words.
"You all definitely don't understand. Our ancestors were lazy and wanted to use their intelligence and wisdom to get by. They deliberately recommended dull people to help the emperor."
"There are many talented people in our clan, and our strategies and medical skills are the most outstanding. Emperor Taizu has entrusted us with the responsibility of Beizhaotai and the Imperial Hospital. As long as we do our best, both of them will be managed by the people recommended by our clan."
"It is good to be intelligent, but there are serious drawbacks to being extremely intelligent and transcending the mundane world. It is difficult for them to communicate with ordinary people."
"Therefore, we try to select the last person to enter the court to assist."
"We will explain to the public that you two are more talented than the rest of our brothers and sisters."
"There are rumors out there, commenting on your foolish ideas and incompetence, but it doesn't matter. When you take office, we will quickly help you achieve success and make you amazing. The rumors will soon die down."
"Charging in the front line will inevitably lead to suffering, but it will leave a name in history and be praised by the world. Hao'er, Shu'er, do not let down the kindness of your elders in recommending you. From now on, you must be loyal to the emperor and serve the master without making any mistakes."