Golden Branch

"Brother, are you home?"

Wang Heng's chubby little face was filled with surprise.

What surprised her was not that the busy man Lou Yu was at home, but that he actually appeared in the guest house.

It is said that when Madam Lou lived here, Lou Yu never came here too attentively. At most, he would come to pay his respects occasionally out of courtesy.

After Madam Lou and her group left, this guesthouse seemed to have been forgotten by Lou Yu.

If Wang Heng remembered correctly, Lou Yu had not been involved in the past three or four years.

What happened today?

Wang Heng resisted the urge to look up at the sun and asked softly.

Lou Yu was also enduring.

Lou Yu hasn't seen Wang Heng in the past few days.

Through Zhao Jinniang, he knew her every move and daily trivialities, but they never met face to face.

In just a few days, Lou Yu felt as if he was in another world.

However, when they met again, before Lou Yu could observe carefully, he smelled that refreshing and disturbing sweet fragrance again.

The round lychees, after peeling the shell, reveal the white, soft and glutinous flesh.

Fragrant and sweet...

boom!

Lou Yu's ears turned red again.

My mouth is dry and my heart is beating fast!

Taking a deep breath, Lou Yu tried his best to calm his troubled mind.

He didn't speak, not only because he didn't want to expose his hoarse voice, but also because he was afraid that if he spoke, it would reveal his inner panic.

Wang Heng, however, has become accustomed to Lou Yu's "indifference".

He's not talkative, just being pretentious.

Wang Heng did not feel Lou Yu's malice towards him, so he remained the same as before.

However, the slap in the face came so quickly!

Wang Heng believed that Lou Yu was "unchanged as before" and did not mind his lack of response.

However, when Zheng Shisan came out of the small kitchen, carrying something, Lou Yu, who had ignored Wang Heng, suddenly spoke:

"What is this? Did you make this yourself?"

Not just a few words, but whole sentences.

Wang Heng: ...What's wrong with Little Overlord? Why is he suddenly so interested in Shisan Niang?

Wang Mian also realized that something was wrong.

The relationship between the little pervert and Jiu Niang is not normal.

Why did the little pervert suddenly become indifferent to Jiu Niang?

Oh no, if you are just indifferent and treat everyone the same, that is also normal.

This may be a teenage boy acting like a spoiled brat.

But, he was indifferent to Jiu Niang, but kind to others. This is, this is -

Even Wang Mian, a bystander, was shocked, let alone Zheng Shisan Niang, the person involved.

Her pitiful little face turned pale in an instant, and a layer of mist appeared in her pair of watery eyes.

It seemed as if in the next second, her delicate body would tremble and she would cry bitterly...looking even more pitiful.

Wang Mian and Zheng Shisan grew up together, so they knew that this was the real dodder, not a dead green tea.

She looked genuinely frightened, not pretending to be lovable.

"What? Deaf? Didn't you hear me? Or mute?"

A little pervert is a little pervert. Even if he wants to show his unusual attitude towards Zheng Shisan, he will not be really gentle and considerate.

Even with a warm and gentle face, his thin lips could still produce harsh words.

Zheng Shisan was shaking even more violently.

The cups on the tray were shaking and making a clinking sound.

Zheng Shisan didn't dare look at Lou Yu, and only looked at Wang Heng for help.

Wang Heng frowned slightly. She glanced at Zheng Shisan who was "flattered", and then looked at Lou Yu who appeared gentle on the surface.

Brother, what are you doing again?

Outsiders like Zhao Jinniang might think that Lou Yu had changed his mind and was tired of Wang Heng, the obese foodie.

Even Wang Mian was probably muttering in his heart: Childhood sweethearts are no match for the impulses of youth, and cuteness is worthless in the face of beauty!

However, Wang Heng had no doubt that Lou Yu had suddenly fallen in love with someone else.

She is not narcissistic, but she understands Lou Yu and her keen intuition well enough.

Lou Yu did not have the slightest tenderness or love for Zheng Shisan Niang.

But he showed his "special" attitude towards Zheng Shisan. What did he intend to do?

Could this matter have anything to do with me?

Wang Heng speculated secretly.

However, while she was thinking, she did not ignore Zheng Shisan.

Receiving her distress signal, Wang Heng nodded slightly.

With Wang Heng's "agreement", Zheng Shisan lowered his head and replied softly to Lou Yu's question:

"Hey, my dear, I made glutinous rice with sweet osmanthus and lotus root, and I also boiled brown sugar juice."

What Zheng Shisan didn't say was that she knew Jiu Niang had her first period and needed blood replenishment.

She specifically asked the Lou family's doctor and learned that lotus root has nourishing effects and can relieve heat, so she made this dessert for Jiu Niang.

Cut off the two ends of the best lotus root, stuff the holes in the lotus root with soaked glutinous rice, use a skewer to fix the cut parts back to the ends, put it in the pot, and steam it on low heat for half an hour.

After cooking, let cool and slice.

Either pour osmanthus honey on it or fill it with brown sugar juice.

Soft, sweet and nutritious.

Zheng Shisan was busy for the whole morning before he finished making this dish and prepared several toppings.

Originally, he wanted to make Jiu Niang happy, but he didn't expect that an uninvited guest like Lou Yu would come to his courtyard.

Zheng Shisan was still frightened by Lou Yu's sudden words and almost threw the tray in his hand away.

"...What is my dear husband trying to do? He ignores Jiu Niang but treats me differently?"

Zheng Shisan was treated specially, but he was not surprised at all.

She knew her own identity very well, and was also well aware of Lou Yu's tyranny and cruelty.

She had been in the Lou family for several years, but Lou Yu had never looked at her straight in the eye.

The situation of actively talking to her is almost non-existent.

Even if they had communicated, it was basically because she was serving Jiu Niang.

Lou Yu loves Jiu Niang and cares about her, so he noticed her.

Zheng Shisan was very self-aware. She knew that in Lou Yu's heart, her cheap cousin was no different from Baizhi and Baiji who were by Jiu Niang's side.

Perhaps, she is not even as good as Jiu Niang's maid.

For example, Zhao Jinniang could go directly to Lou Yu to report the matter.

Even though they were in the Lou family's fortress, it was almost impossible for her to see Lou Yu, let alone be "alone together".

She is the concubine of the Zheng family who lives in the Lou family.

Insignificant, no one cares.

Being beautiful is not really a bargaining chip.

In the Zheng family's backyard, which of the concubines, maids, and even the Hu girls is not beautiful?

However, apart from being abused and giving birth to illegitimate sons and daughters who are not valued (or even recognized), they have no other value.

Zheng Shisan has seen too much in the Zheng family. Even her biological mother did not have a good ending.

She knew very well how to survive in the inner house.

Not to mention that Lou Yu doesn't like her at all, even if Lou Yu dotes on her and loves her, she won't really regard him as a backer.

"Men are unreliable!"

"Instead of believing in that illusory favor, it is better to serve the mistress well!"

Yes, Madam!

Zheng Shisan is sober and smart.

From the moment she met Wang Heng and Lou Yu, she had decided that Wang Heng was the "mistress".

She didn't care who Wang Heng would marry in the future. As long as Wang Heng needed a concubine, she would be her first choice.

She would follow Wang Heng and be extremely loyal to him, and she only hoped that Wang Heng could protect her and let her have a peaceful life.

"Jiu Niang, please try it and see if it suits your taste!"

Zheng Shisan truly respected Wang Heng, so he served her with extra care.

She even forgot about Lou Yu and directly placed the tray on the stone table in front of Wang Heng.

After wiping his hands with a clean wet towel, Zheng Shisan took out a clean small plate, picked up a piece of glutinous rice lotus root with a serving chopstick, and placed it on the small plate.

Then, she brought out two small bowls: "Jiu Niang, this is osmanthus honey water, and this is brown sugar juice, you can dip the lotus root slices in it."

Zheng Shisan was very attentive.

If Wang Heng wasn't unaccustomed to it, she would have fed the lotus root slices directly into her mouth.

Wang Heng nodded as a response.

Zheng Shisan ignored Lou Yu, but Wang Heng did not.

She raised her head and smiled sweetly, "Brother, you should try it too!"

As she spoke, Wang Heng pushed the small plate in front of her toward Lou Yu, "Shisan Niang's cooking skills are excellent, not inferior to those chefs at all!"

Wang Heng seemed not to notice Lou Yu's "different treatment" just now. As usual, she helped Zheng Shisan to make his presence felt.

It would be best if I could help her gain some credit and get some rewards!

Hearing Wang Heng's sweet and soft voice, Lou Yu nodded habitually.

After nodding, Lou Yu realized that he still had to carry out his plan today and it was not appropriate for him to be too close to the fat girl.

Lou Yu tried his best to appear indifferent. He didn't look at Wang Heng, but instead cast his gaze on Zheng Shisan.

Tsk, the bean sprouts have grown, but they are still bean sprouts.

I don’t know what that idiot Yang Shisilang saw in her!

While silently disdaining a certain slender and charming beautiful girl, Lou Yu's eyes showed interest——

It seemed that he suddenly realized that his cheap cousin Zheng Shisan had grown up overnight and turned into a charming beauty.

He was moved!

Wang Mian: … Holy crap! Holy crap! Holy crap!!

Good news: the little pervert has come to his senses.

Bad news: The object of his affection is not Jiu Niang, but——

Well, it's not bad news.

Wang Mian had always worried that Jiu Niang would be targeted by the little pervert, so he would take her back to his nest early.

Being harassed by a pervert is still very scary in real life.

Compared to the emotionally unstable Lou Yu, Wang Mian suddenly felt that the gentle and tolerant Xie Yanzhi seemed quite good.

I'm not afraid to say something offensive, but considering Xie Yanzhi's feminine appearance and thin body, the chubby Jiu Niang might have an advantage in physical fitness.

If there really was domestic violence, it was Jiu Niang beating up some weakling.

As for Lou Yu, he looks a little thin now, but he is a descendant of military honors.

He practiced martial arts since childhood and could wield a horse spear weighing dozens of kilograms at the age of fourteen.

And Lou Yu can also pick up Jiu Niang, the chubby childhood sweetheart, with one hand!

If after a few years, Lou Yu really grows up, becomes tall, strong and powerful... he can slap someone away with just one slap.

But Zheng Shisan is also a friend who grew up together.

She was targeted by the little pervert, and it seemed that... well, okay, Wang Mian admitted that she was indeed selfish and biased.

Friends are also different from each other.

To her, Wang Heng is a relative beyond blood ties.

Zheng Shisan is just a good friend, someone who can be abandoned for Wang Heng.

At most, if Zheng Shisan couldn't stand Lou Yu's tyranny and possessiveness in the future, she would secretly help her escape!

Wang Mian made his choice silently and comforted himself in the shortest possible time.

"Shisan Niang? Don't you have a name yet?"

Lou Yu looked at Zheng Shisan steadily, but he did not have the same obsession as Yang Shisilang.

He is a gentleman, even if he is "moved", he will not show any sign of being attracted by beauty.

The fact that he could look Zheng Shisan in the eye and ask him questions in a gentle voice despite his hoarse voice already showed that he had a different opinion of Zheng Shisan.

Zheng Shisan Niang was not flattered or happy.

She became increasingly uneasy.

Her slender fingers unconsciously twirled the belt hanging around her waist.

She looked at Wang Heng again.

Wang Heng: ...Brother, what's up with you? Why are you trying to scare Shisan Niang?

Although she cursed secretly in her heart, Wang Heng did not have a "sense of crisis" and was not jealous.

She knew Lou Yu too well and knew that he was causing trouble when he looked like this!

Alas, this guy is still as naughty as ever.

While Wang Heng was complaining, she gave Zheng Shisan a look that said "don't worry".

Zheng Shisan finally felt relieved, bowed slightly, and replied, "My dear, I am the thirteenth among my sisters."

No name!

Lou Yu pondered for a moment, his eyes sweeping over Zheng Shisan's beautiful face and the plate of exquisite desserts on the stone table. He then said, "How about I give you a name?"

"She has a beautiful appearance and is a master in the kitchen. She is truly an expert."

Lou Yu seemed to be considering carefully, but in fact he was being casual.

A hint of helplessness flashed in Wang Heng's eyes: Brother, Shisan Niang is your cousin, not a cat or dog, not a slave or servant.

Giving someone a name so casually, when they haven't asked for it, is somewhat disrespectful.

Zheng Shisan did not feel humiliated. It was not because she lacked self-respect, but because she was too aware of her identity.

A concubine's daughter like her is not even as good as the cat slaves and useful maids raised by the nobles.

Whether it is Thirteen or Zheng Miao, it is just a title.

It is chosen by parents and elders, as well as by the monarch and his mother.

The only thing Zheng Shisan cared about was Wang Heng's attitude.

She looked at Wang Heng for the Nth time, her eyes full of pleading and respect.

She was like a favored concubine who was favored by her master but also in awe of her mistress. She was not arrogant at all, but cautious and humble.

This desire to survive was definitely pushed to the extreme by her.

Seeing her like this, Wang Heng felt a little pity for her and said, "This word 'Miao' is excellent! My brother really knows how to name people!"

Unlike her, when she saw cherries, she named them Aying and Atao.

wonderful?

Zheng Miao?

It's really good!

After receiving Wang Heng's "approval," Zheng Shisan knelt down and thanked her gratefully, "Thank you, my lord, for the name!"

Zheng Shiliu, who was standing by, had envy in his eyes. That's great, my sister will have someone to rely on for the rest of her life.

Following Jiu Niang and marrying her cousin from the Lou family, she has a master who loves her very much and a kind mistress, and she can enjoy a rich and stable life.

Wang Mian resisted the urge to scratch his head. Why did this scene look so awkward?

Something strange seemed to be challenging her three perspectives...