Golden Branch

Pingkangfang, Wang’s residence.

"Have you found out? How is my husband?"

Madam Xie sat cross-legged in the main hall, holding her Buddhist beads, leaning forward, looking extremely anxious.

"Reporting to Madam Tai, Young Master, Young Master...someone has exposed your illegal activities in Yizhou. The Sage is furious and has ordered multiple punishments..."

In the hall, a servant knelt on the ground, his face pale, his body trembling slightly, and he stammered about the news he had gathered.

"Several, multiple punishments for multiple crimes?"

Mrs. Xie's eyes went dark and she almost fainted.

The so-called multiple punishments for multiple crimes itself is not scary. What is scary is the signal it sends - Wang Lin, it's over!

Even his past in Yizhou has been exposed. It seems that they are determined to kill him.

If Wang Lin had not been driven out of the capital during the previous dynasty, even the events of that time would have been dug up.

He instigated merchants, was blinded by greed, deceived the emperor and caused the collapse of the imperial mausoleum.

This is already a huge sin.

Unexpectedly, now even everything in Yizhou has been uncovered.

Although Mrs. Xie came to Beijing three or four years earlier, she knew her son's character very well.

When he was the county magistrate in Hedong, he gained many benefits in Hedong.

When he arrived in Yizhou, he was first the Chief Secretary and then the Governor, and he amassed wealth even more unscrupulously.

Mrs. Xie never thought there was anything wrong with her son's behavior.

The Wang family is a noble family, but noble families need money more.

Mrs. Xie herself was extremely particular and extravagant.

Rare fabrics, precious jewelry, and daily food, none of them require money.

Not to mention, there are hundreds of people in the Wang family, and the monthly salary alone is a huge expense.

Mrs. Xie has been in charge of the household for decades and knows the importance of money best.

If Wang Lin had not made money in Yizhou in recent years, the Wang family would have had no place to stay in Chang'an. Basically, like many other families that had long since declined, they were becoming increasingly poor and embarrassed.

Where else could one buy such a luxurious house in Pingkangfang, which is close to the imperial city and where many dignitaries gather?

You know, when Madam Xie brought her family to Beijing, all the old friends and relatives who rushed there after hearing the news were envious when they saw that the Wang family had such a beautiful sight.

They might never have imagined that the Wang family, which had been driven out of the capital, would one day be "revived".

During these three or four years, although Wang Lin was not in the capital, Mrs. Xie and other members of the Wang family still lived a very decent life.

Especially after Wang Lin was promoted to governor, the families that Madam Xie was able to come into contact with became increasingly noble.

In addition, Mrs. Xie was able to maintain a decent and wealthy life for the Wang family thanks to the gold, silver and other valuables that Wang Lin continuously sent from Yizhou.

Madam Xie, oh no, it’s the Wang family, which has become the “representative of the revival” and the leader of some of the declining old clans.

Surrounded and admired by her former in-laws, Mrs. Xie had vaguely felt the former glory of the Wang and Xie families in recent years.

This sense of accomplishment reached its peak after Wang Lin was promoted to the capital.

The Minister of Works, a second-in-command of a ministry.

One step further is the Nine Ministers.

Like Wang Lin, Mrs. Xie also has great ambitions.

Who would have thought that just when we were full of hope and about to reach the summit, then, then—

Do not!

My son was wrongly accused.

He, he must have been implicated.

Mrs. Xie was indeed not an ordinary woman in the inner chamber. After experiencing shock, panic and other negative emotions, she quickly regained her sanity.

She knew that there was no real right or wrong, loyalty or treachery in the court.

There is only a struggle for power and the victory or defeat of the east wind and the west wind.

Wang Lin’s fault was not that he colluded with profiteers or that he embezzled money in Yizhou, but rather that—

"King Qi? Where is King Qi? My dear, you belong to King Qi."

There was a complex light in Mrs. Xie's eyes.

King Qi - Jiang... is a disgrace to the Wang family.

But he is also the Wang family's backer.

The Wang family's wealth and even safety depend on Jiang.

It had been three or four years since she came to the capital. Madam Xie had heard too many stories about Concubine Jiang, and she had even seen a bright and flamboyant woman from afar at some banquets.

The daughter-in-law who once made a living under her has now become a noble person that she can only admire from afar.

Only Mrs. Xie knows the contradictions and resentment in her heart.

But she also knew that Concubine Jiang was someone she could not afford to offend.

Even though Concubine Jiang never showed off in front of her, Madam Xie did not dare to act like an elder anymore.

Alas, Concubine Jiang is the most beloved woman of the King of Qi.

In Prince Qi's mansion, even Princess Li had to give in.

In the capital, he is a distinguished figure, and no one dares to provoke him even in the imperial palace.

Madam Xie hoped that Concubine Jiang would be favored, because with her high status, she would be able to better help and support the Wang family.

But she didn't want Concubine Jiang to have too good a life.

In addition to the conflicts between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in the early years, it is also because the more glorious Concubine Jiang is, the more stories about her, such as her ex-husband who is a son of a noble family and her current husband who is the god of war, will be paid more attention and discussed.

The Wang family... is very embarrassed.

Madam Xie was conflicted and entangled, but at this moment, something happened to Wang Lin, and the first thing Madam Xie thought of was Concubine Jiang and Prince Qi's Mansion.

There was a hint of resentment in her voice: "A-Lin must have been framed by the King of Chu's people."

Wang Lin’s crimes were nothing at all.

The main reason why he was arrested was that he was involved in the struggle between the kings of Qi and Chu.

He was punished on behalf of the Prince of Qi's Palace.

The King of Qi could not ignore him.

The servant was crawling on the ground. Hearing Madam Xie's almost accusatory questioning, he hurriedly replied:

"So that the Madam knows that the officials of the Qi Wang faction have already defended the young master."

"...Originally, the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court had decided to convict you of the grave crime of deceiving the emperor. The principal offender would be beheaded, and his family would be exiled three thousand miles away."

When the servant said this, his voice was shaking.

Because if the original agreement of several government offices was really followed, the masters of the Wang family would be exiled, and their slaves would have to be sold again.

What good could happen to slaves who were sold because their masters committed crimes?

The key is that the family will be separated, and they don’t know whether they are alive or dead, and it may be difficult for them to be reunited in this life.

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Xie couldn't help but tremble all over.

The main culprit will be beheaded? Her uncle will also be beheaded!

Family exile? She, she's already sixty years old, and she's also going to be tied up and led into exile like an animal?

Just thinking about it made Mrs. Xie want to die.

A good death is worse than a miserable life, but being exiled three thousand miles away is definitely a torture more terrible than death.

"It was several imperial censors from the Qi royal family who tried their best to defend the young master, saying that he must have been deceived by a dishonest merchant and did not intend to deceive the emperor."

"Also, the Duke of Anguo has pleaded for your Excellency, stating that back in Yizhou, your Excellency had raised food and money for the army, making him a meritorious official of the new dynasty. His merits can outweigh his faults, and we ask for your forgiveness, Your Excellency."

"...After several attempts, the Sage issued an edict, dismissing Langjun from his official position, confiscating his property, and sending him back to his hometown!"

The servant finally announced the final verdict.

Good news: Wang Lin doesn’t have to die, and his family doesn’t have to be exiled!

Bad news: property confiscated and sent back home!

Just like ten years ago, the Wang family was driven back to their hometown in disgrace.

Back to square one!

Mrs. Xie didn't know whether to be happy or cry.

She sat there woodenly, her wrinkled face looking as if she was neither crying nor laughing.

……

The storm in the capital has not yet reached Yizhou.

Sending Xie Yanzhi out of Wangjiazhuang and helping him to make connections put an end to this cause and effect.

Wang Yan received land deeds, land deeds, etc., and also sent a family tree.

Wang Heng accepted it respectfully and copied it herself.

This is a priceless treasure that has been passed down for nearly a thousand years.

The reason why the Wang family was criticized and laughed at by the real aristocratic families was because they only had a damaged manuscript, not the original version.

Out of respect for her ancestors and responsibility to future generations, Wang Heng did not hide her shortcomings when copying the family tree, but instead gave her best effort.

His calligraphy is graceful and reserved, with vigorous and powerful lines.

It has the neatness and elegance of regular script and the simple texture of official script.

Every stroke is done with care and effort.

Every word and sentence shows his skill.

This is the calligraphy worthy of Wang family of Langya.

Wang Yan once watched it, and a complex expression flashed in his eyes.

He knew that Wang Heng had always been hiding her abilities.

She was intelligent, quick-witted, extremely talented, and had a famous teacher to teach her. She should have become a world-famous talented woman and calligrapher long ago.

However, at such a young age, she knew how to restrain her edge——

Wang Yan had personally experienced Wang Lin's greed for profit.

With such a materialistic and shameless father, it is understandable that Wang Heng is low-key and "stupid".

In some ways, Wang Yan felt that he and Wang Heng shared the same suffering.

One has to suppress himself for the sake of his family, while the other pretends to be stupid for the sake of his unkind father.

From the first time they met, Wang Yan found Wang Heng interesting.

In the following years of getting along, I witnessed Wang Heng and the teacher's "battle of wits and courage", and I found this little junior sister more and more interesting.

And then... the heartbeat didn't seem so incredible.

It’s hateful that they are actually “uncle and nephew”!

Originally, Wang Yan thought that he would find evidence to expose the true face of the Wang family of Yizhou.

In this way, he could not only clear the "stain" for the family, but also satisfy one of his ambitions.

but--

Well, those riches were really important to the Wang family, which had long been in decline.

Wang Yan also needs help from the Prince of Qi's Mansion, Lou Yu and others.

Just call her a niece, at least we are still “family”, there is no estrangement and no enmity!

Although he suppressed a certain thought, Wang Yan did not stop admiring Wang Heng.

Seeing her true calligraphy level, Wang Yan couldn't help but sigh: I wonder when Wang Jiu will be able to show off and show her true self!

Wang Heng: ...It’s hard to say whether it’s public or not, but the Wang family is about to fall apart.

After copying the family tree and returning the original to Wang Yan, Wang Heng received news from the capital.

After reading the above content and knowing the outrageous actions of her scumbag father, Wang Heng was speechless.

It would be better to jump directly into the pit of the imperial tomb.

At least the imperial mausoleum was an official business, so if something went wrong, it would be considered dereliction of duty.

Wang Lin was actually used as a scapegoat by a businessman.

A dignified official appointed by the imperial court, a so-called noble son of a noble family, actually colluded with merchants for money. He was so greedy and materialistic, it was simply shameful.

Dismissal! Confiscation of property!

This is consistent with Wang Heng's previous speculation - Concubine Jiang will punish Wang Lin, but will not let him commit an unforgivable crime and lose his life.

There is also repatriation to one's hometown... Well, Wang Heng only hopes that Wang Lin and other members of the Wang family will not be so angry that they vomit blood after returning to Yizhou from the capital in disgrace and discovering that their ancestral property has been severely reduced.

Wang Heng apologized to Wang Lin and others silently and insincerely.

Hey, she did it on purpose!

The Yi River was really cold that night.

Cold and high fever are also really painful.

Wang Heng admitted that she was indeed a good friend of Lou Yu. Lou Yu was dark and cruel, and she would never let go of any grudge!

Even if the other party is her own father, Wang Heng will not let him go.

"...I didn't go too far. At least I left the Wang family a farm and several dozen acres of sacrificial land."

Wang Heng muttered softly.

Lou Yu, who came to inform Wang Heng of the movements in the capital, heard Wang Heng's words, and a smile flashed across his calm eyes.

The fat girl was not "showing mercy", but was worried that Wang Lin and others would come to harass her.

If we leave the Wang family some way out, they won't resort to desperate measures.

As for Wang Heng, she could continue to stay in the countryside of Hedong and live her leisurely life.

Fat girl, she is so smart and thoughtful.

While taking revenge, you won't cause any trouble for yourself.

"Brother!"

Wang Heng sensed a familiar breath, and even though she didn't hear any movement, she still turned her head happily and greeted Lou Yu enthusiastically.

Lou Yu raised his eyebrows. Oh no, the fat girl has become close to him again?

Rather than the alienation a few days ago?

This girl looks like a cute little fat rabbit, but she is actually a cunning little fox.

Realizing that Xie Yanzhi was unreliable, he gave up immediately.

As for Lou Yu, he was probably put back on the list of "candidates" by the fat girl.

Lou Yu: ...

I don't know whether to be angry or feel honored.

Lou Yu almost couldn't control himself and pulled the fat girl over... Never mind, it couldn't be considered as physical action.

Moreover, after this incident, Lou Yu became more certain that the fat girl had a bad temper, was rebellious, and was very good at seeking profit and avoiding harm.

In order to have a better future, Lou Yu will take it step by step.

In a year, oh no, maybe just a few months, he would be able to complete his plan, have the strength to protect the fat girl, and then truly establish his relationship with her.

"Brother, are you here to tell me about what's happening in the capital?"

As Wang Heng spoke, she picked up the letter in her hand and shook it.

She was telling Lou Yu: I already know!

Seeing this, Lou Yu curled the corners of his lips: I'm glad to know!

Wang Heng invited Lou Yu to take a seat.

Lou Yu pointed in the direction of the river camp.

Wang Heng's mind raced as she guessed, "Lou Rang? Oh no, you mean Cui Zai? What's he up to again?"

As they were both cousins, Wang Heng was able to get along well with Xie Yanzhi and even considered marriage, but she hated Cui Zai very much.

It's not just because Cui Zai is the nephew of his stepmother Cui, but also because he is too stupid.

In Wang Heng's distorted worldview, she believes that people can be bad but not stupid.

Idiots are more lethal than bad guys.

The point is, it would be so embarrassing if you were "accidentally injured" by an idiot.

When Lou Yu saw Wang Heng mention Cui Zai, he looked disgusted and the smile on his lips became more intense.

He suppressed his hoarse voice and said, "Lou Rang has found Cui Zaimu the position of Chief Clerk of Hedong County."

Wang Heng's eyes narrowed slightly: It's starting already?