Golden Branch

"Wang Lin, are you on your way back to Yizhou?"

After reading the letter, Concubine Jiang looked normal, not too moved or sad.

She and Ah Zhu had already settled their grudges.

At the beginning, it was she who spoke first, asking Ah Zhu and other servants whether they were willing to serve Wang Lin.

But she did not force it, she gave everyone the opportunity to choose.

Just like Achu, she didn't want to, so she continued to stay with Concubine Jiang.

And Azhu chose to be Wang Lin's concubine, so she had to bear all the consequences arising from it.

Concubine Jiang would not be jealous of Ah Zhu's little thoughts about Wang Lin, but she would not feel any guilt towards her either.

She doesn't owe Ah Zhu anything.

When she was in the Wang family, Ah Zhu did help Concubine Jiang, but Concubine Jiang also gave her enough compensation.

Moreover, I am not afraid of being criticized for saying this, but Concubine Jiang and Azhu were originally master and servant.

Concubine Jiang holds Ah Zhu's indenture and has the power of life and death over her.

No matter what Concubine Jiang asked Ah Zhu to do, it was in accordance with the laws and morals of Dayu.

It is Ah Zhu's duty and honor to work for Concubine Jiang.

Concubine Jiang did not take advantage of her status as the master to make Ah Zhu work for her, but let her become half the master as she wished. She was already very kind.

After Concubine Jiang left the Wang family, her relationship with Azhu was completely over.

Ah Zhu should also understand this in her heart.

Therefore, after Cui married into the family, she treated the concubines harshly and even killed illegitimate sons and daughters. Ah Zhu lost her sons one after another and was extremely sad and resentful, but she did not ask Concubine Jiang for help. This was because she knew that the little affection she had left with Concubine Jiang was not enough for her to worry about her.

This time, perhaps he was really forced into a desperate situation, or there was something wrong with Ah Zhu's health, so he shamelessly wrote this letter for help.

In her heart, Ah Zhu did not act tactlessly and directly entrust her child to the care of her master. Instead, she recalled the affection they had shared when they grew up together as master, and pleaded for mercy from her master.

Concubine Jiang is no longer the Jiang of the past. She has experienced too much and her heart has become as cold and hard as iron.

On the contrary, Ah Chu felt soft-hearted when she saw the letter mentioning their life in the boudoir, and couldn't help feeling a little melancholy.

However, this trace of "reminiscence" cannot be compared with the loyalty to the master.

Ah Chu calmed down, the melancholy in his eyes disappeared, and he regained his former shrewdness and competence.

Hearing Concubine Jiang's question, she hurriedly bowed and replied, "My lady, your memory is good. Wang Lin has been sent back to Yizhou."

"Calculating the time, he and the Wang family should be only two or three hundred miles away from Yizhou."

Concubine Jiang and her entourage were indeed busy on the road (escaping), but during this period, they were still able to stay in the post station and receive and send messages.

Especially for those that Concubine Jiang is interested in, Princess Li will help keep an eye on them.

Less than three days after Wang Lin was dismissed from office, Concubine Jiang received the news.

Afterwards, the Wang family was sent back to their hometown, and Concubine Jiang knew the details of the departure time.

The distance between the capital and Yizhou is only 1,400 to 1,500 miles.

There's no need for Concubine Jiang. Even servants like Achu can roughly determine the location of the Wang family with a rough estimate.

"Azhu should have given birth, but I don't know whether she and the child are alive or dead!"

Concubine Jiang's eyes flickered.

She didn't owe Ah Zhu anything, nor would she rely on this person, but the two of them did have a bit of a master-servant relationship after all.

If it is within her ability and not too troublesome, Concubine Jiang is willing to lend a hand.

Just think of it as doing good deeds and accumulating virtue.

Now is the most critical moment. With the right time, right place and right people, Yang Chong should have taken everything into consideration.

The only thing Concubine Jiang could do was wait and pray.

Just at this moment, Ah Zhu bumped into her. Concubine Jiang had an idea and said, "Send someone to take a look. If they can help, then help!"

This is not just a good deed, maybe it can also disgust the Cui family.

As a stepmother, Cui could dislike Wang Heng and could also not love her.

However, Concubine Jiang could not allow Cui to plot against or even murder Wang Heng.

There was no opportunity in the past, so Cui just did it.

Now that Ah Zhu has brought the opportunity, Concubine Jiang feels that she can make use of it.

As for Ajiu... there's no rush, she needs to discuss it with Ajiu first.

"Yes!"

A hint of gratitude flashed in Achu's eyes, and she knew that her wife was a person who valued friendship and loyalty the most.

……

The palace doctor was right. Not only was Li Nu pregnant with kittens, she was also about to give birth.

"...Jiu Niang, I suspect that Ju Zuo came back just to give birth to the kitten and recuperate after childbirth!"

Wang Mian squatted in front of a very exquisite cat bed, looking at the fat orange cat lazily lying on the soft cushion, and couldn't help complaining.

Wang Heng nodded. "A Mian, be more confident and get rid of the 'doubt'."

The raccoon girl came back to give birth to a baby.

During these years of getting along with Wang Mian, Wang Heng also learned many popular Internet memes of later generations.

She reached out and poked the raccoon's bulging belly. "This raccoon is the most naughty. It's impossible to keep him company."

"It comes back, eats a meal, and then goes away again!"

It would never be like this now. It actually came back and refused to leave. It even obediently moved into the "confinement room" that Wang Heng had ordered people to carefully make for it.

"I'm afraid this cat has become a spirit!"

Wang Mian also imitated Wang Heng and kept poking and poking at Ju Zuo.

The raccoon (Tachibana) raised his eyelids and glanced at her lightly, without showing his teeth or stretching out his claws.

Wang Mian: ...Hey! Ju Zuo, you've come to this day too.

However, Wang Mian still likes this spiritual orange cat very much.

She did not forget that when Lou Yu was plotted against by Lou Rang, it was thanks to this raccoon that Wang Heng led the way and found Lou Yu in the first place.

This is not the time after the founding of the People's Republic of China, cats can become spirits!

Wang Mian was petting the cat while complaining in his mind.

"Become a spirit? Who became a spirit?"

A very representative duck voice, coming from far away.

Without looking back or looking around, the two little girls knew who was coming.

Wang Mian quickly stood up, his attitude very respectful—

Tsk, what a little pervert!

He is also a little pervert with super intelligence, good at disguise, and with a large number of troops under his command. As a normal person, she should respect and fear him!

"Lang Jun!"

Wang Mian bent his knees slightly and saluted Lou Yu.

Lou Yu nodded at Wang Mian as a return gesture.

Although he didn't speak, being able to respond was already a "privilege" to Wang Mian.

You know, after Zheng Shisan finished the test, when he saw Lou Yu again, Lou Yu wouldn't even glance at him, let alone nod.

Wang Mian passed Lou Yu's assessment and is now almost one of his own.

Wang Mian: ...What an honor! I'm actually taken under the wing of this little pervert.

Wang Heng didn't hear her friends' complaints. She didn't stand up, but just raised her head and said with a smile, "Brother! Are you done?"

Three days have passed since the Mid-Autumn Festival.

During these three days, there were always small fights outside.

However, the Yi River has returned to calm.

After killing Lou Rang, the so-called "rioters" returned to the river camp.

Those who work work, and those who recuperate recuperate.

No one escaped and no one went missing. Lou Yu quelled the "civil unrest" in the shortest time possible and allowed the laborers to resume construction.

Xiao Wuzhi, on the other hand, was very busy.

He led his troops around Yizhou, killing countless people. The air always seemed to be filled with the smell of blood.

However, after three days of killing, it seemed that the "bandit problem" in Yizhou had been eliminated.

Just this noon, Xiao Wuzhi led his troops to leave Yizhou, and it was said that they were heading to Qizhou.

Wang Heng: ...This is to "cleanse" the entire Qi area again.

But these have nothing to do with Lou Yu.

Lou Yu's territory was Yizhou and the Grand Canal extending along the Yi River.

The "civil unrest" in the Yi River has subsided, but the river channels in various states and counties upstream and downstream still need to be cleared.

Wang Heng knew Lou Yu's plan and could also guess his next itinerary.

Lou Yu came back now, probably not because he was done with his work, but because he took the time to make some arrangements before heading to the next state or county.

He is very busy.

"Talk about the raccoon slave!"

While Wang Heng was thinking secretly, she did not forget to answer Lou Yu's question just now.

She rubbed the fat cat slave's chubby face and said with a smile, "He's the most cunning one. If it weren't for the fact that he was going to give birth to kittens, he wouldn't stay at home obediently!"

“…” Such an old cat can still give birth to cubs?

Lou Yu didn't say anything, nor did he hide the obvious disgust in his eyes.

The raccoon slave (Juzuo) felt Lou Yu's gaze and bared his teeth at him: "Two-legged beast, what do you mean? Do you dislike this cat king?"

Wang Heng's smile grew even brighter, and she said coquettishly, "Brother, the raccoon isn't too old! The court doctor checked it out and said it and the kittens are doing well."

After chatting for a while, Wang Heng had already taken enough for today.

She knew that Lou Yu came to see her because he must have something to say.

She stood up, took the wet towel handed to her by the maid, wiped her hands, and then walked to Lou Yu's side.

"Brother, are we leaving now?"

Lou Yu nodded and pointed downstream of the Yi River.

Wang Heng understood what she had guessed. Lou Yu would advance from north to south along the Grand Canal planned by the court.

He would take advantage of the "civil uprising" in Yizhou to regain control of the canal.

This was also a task that Yang Rui left behind before leaving.

The Grand Canal is extremely important and must be controlled by the people of the King of Qi.

Lou Rang's downfall would let the entire court know that it was not easy to be the general manager of the river.

If the Qi prince's followers regain control of the Grand Canal, it will let some people know that the Qi prince and his followers are not easy to plot against.

After the great purge of Qi and the clearing of the Grand Canal, the court will understand one thing:

The King of Qi can appear weak, but he is not really weak.

Even if the King of Qi and his son are not in Qi, they can still completely control the fiefdom and hold the canal!

This is also an important part of King Qi's actions.

If you want people to follow you, you can't always think about playing the victim and gaining sympathy, you also have to show your muscles.

The only way is to let people know that the King of Qi is strong and will never be easily defeated even if he is excluded or persecuted!

Follow him, even if you rebel, you will succeed!