Golden Branch

Wang Mian: ...

What Jiu Niang said makes a lot of sense. Ju Zuo’s belly is most likely just due to being fat.

"One, that's fine!"

Wang Mian nodded and quickly accepted the fact.

She thought about it carefully and felt relieved: "Juzao is not young after all. She is a seven or eight-year-old cat. Giving birth is a burden for her!"

Wang Heng had already ordered people to bring milk, fish soup, etc.

Just as Wang Mian was thankful for, Li Nu was no longer young and needed to be well taken care of after giving birth.

Although this cat could not be kept, it still accompanied Wang Heng for several years.

In Wang Heng's heart, it is a very special existence.

She told Li Nu a lot of things in her heart that she couldn't tell anyone else.

Even when Li Nu gave birth this time, Wang Heng had an inexplicable premonition: it was for her!

Soon, Wang Heng's premonition came true.

On the third day after Li Nu gave birth, she regained her strength and came to Wang Heng's bed with the kittens in her mouth.

"Aww!"

Li Nu threw the kitten in front of Wang Heng and used his head to push the kitten towards Wang Heng.

Wang Heng's eyes widened. "Li Nu, what do you mean?"

"Ah!" For you!

The raccoon continued to carry the kitten, and the little ball rolled towards Wang Heng.

When Wang Heng saw Li Nu like this, she confirmed her inner guess.

However, she still pointed at the kitten and then at herself: "Slave Li, you, you want to give your kitten to me to raise?"

"Ah!" What else?

In the pair of big round eyes of the cat slave, there was a flicker of the usual contempt of a cat master.

That look seemed to say: Shit shoveler, can you please stop being so stupid, okay?

Wang Heng: ...Okay.

She was regarded as the mother of the orphan, yet was still despised.

"Huh? Kizuna lets you raise a child?"

Wang Mian rushed to see Ju Zuo and the kitten, and then heard Wang Heng's complaints.

She couldn't help but sigh again: "This cat is really a spirit!"

She gave birth to a cub, but did not take care of it herself, but gave it to its owner.

"Li Nu should not just let me raise the kitten, but give it to me!"

A hint of emotion flashed across Wang Heng's eyes——

Perhaps, Li Nu also sensed that her life was about to undergo a huge change.

Wang Heng would not continue to stay in the farm in the countryside of Hedong; she would soon leave Qi.

But Li Nu was used to this place and didn't want to follow her, but she was worried about her. Li Nu, who had not given birth for several years, gave birth to a kitten and let the kitten accompany her in her place.

Of course, these may just be Wang Heng’s imagination.

No matter how clever Li Nu is, he is just a cat and he doesn't have so many thoughts.

Giving birth is nature.

"Entrusting an orphan to someone else" is even more out of laziness.

However, Wang Heng still prefers to interpret Li Nu's behavior more emotionally.

This way she feels valued and cared for.

She seemed to have everything she needed, but her mother, father... all her loved ones never regarded her as the only one.

Wang Heng never had a normal and good family. Although she looks well-behaved and gentle, she actually has certain character flaws.

But Wang Heng concealed it so well that even her biological mother, Concubine Jiang, who was very perceptive and aware, did not notice it after spending so many days with her.

That was the deepest darkness in Wang Heng's heart.

It doesn't show up on ordinary days, but it always affects Wang Heng to some extent at certain times.

"Ah? Tachibana gave you his cub?"

Wang Mian couldn't see into Wang Heng's heart, so naturally he didn't know her flaws.

In later life, Wang Mian read a lot of online articles and watched countless short videos.

She knew that all things have spirits, and there were quite a few cats and dogs that had become spirits.

She also knew that some animals that understood human nature would create a cub to continue to accompany their owners instead of themselves.

Wang Mian also thought about Ju Zuo, who had not given birth for many years, but suddenly gave birth to a kitten.

Then, it is very likely that it was concerned about its owner Wang Heng and gave birth to a cub specifically for her.

"...Amian, no matter what, this kitten is mine!"

Wang Heng didn't want to guess what Li Nu was thinking anymore. The reason wasn't important; what was important was the result.

As a result, she had a kitten.

The most direct way to prove ownership of an object is through naming rights.

She stretched out her white and tender fingers, gently poked the kitten whose eyes had not yet opened, and asked softly, "Little thing, what should I give you a name?"

The raccoon slave has never been tamed by Wang Heng, it is free.

Wang Heng never thought of giving it a name.

The kitten is different. It was given to her by the cat slave, so it is hers.

She will raise it, take care of it, and be the best owner she can be.

She wanted to carefully give it a name with good meaning.

Amian said that Li Nu is an orange cat, and also said that big orange cats are important and big orange cats bring great benefits.

"Auspicious? Auspicious?"

Wang Heng murmured softly, looking at the kitten with eyes full of joy and doting, "Okay, then I'll call you Ruyi!"

The cat lady is auspicious, and her cubs are good luck!

Wang Mian's numb face, this naming logic is invincible.

……

Wang Heng and Wang Mian both believed that Li Nu's birth and entrusting of the orphan to the care of the child had other implications.

They even suspected that Li Nu would suddenly disappear.

But the fact is, Li Nu didn't.

Raccoon Slave: ...Are you kidding? I'm still in confinement after giving birth!

In Wangjiazhuangzi, he has good food and drink, and is well served. He doesn't have to take care of his children himself.

At most, I would feed the kittens milk and lick their fur.

If it gets lazy, it will even skip feeding.

Wang Heng's servants would bring cow's milk, goat's milk, etc. and carefully feed the kittens.

The kitten Ruyi received the best care and adequate nutrition.

After only seven or eight days, it opened its eyes, which were watery and had a faint blue glow.

After half a month, it will be able to roll around.

Then, Li Nu disappeared.

Wang Heng & Wang Mian: ...I knew it would be like this!

Although Li Nu left, he didn't disappear completely.

After a few days, it will come back.

He would run to the kitchen or stay at Wang Heng's feet, eat and drink, and check on his children.

Seeing the raccoon slave, who looked much the same as before, Wang Heng began to doubt herself: Am I overthinking this? Is the raccoon slave really that psychic?

However, Wang Heng did not have much time to study Li Nu.

She also has to play the role of a "filial daughter and virtuous grandson".

Madam Xie and Wang Lin's illnesses kept recurring and showed no improvement.

Wang Heng would visit her every morning and evening and personally serve her medicine.

And those brothers and sisters—

Cui was indeed vicious and had frequently taken action.

However, Wang Lin had many concubines and illegitimate sons and daughters.

After going through so much hardship, there were three men and three women who were able to survive and return to their hometown in Yizhou.

The ranking of Wang's children is somewhat confusing.

For example, when Wang Heng was born, the Wang family had not yet split up.

Wang Lin has several brothers, each of whom has his own family.

Wang Heng was ranked according to the eldest sister in the clan.

Therefore, even though she was Wang Lin's eldest daughter, she was ranked ninth and was known as Wang Jiu.

Jiang specially gave Wang Heng the nickname "Ajiu".

Not long after Wang Heng was born, Wang Lin offended the powerful people in the capital and was driven out of the capital.

At that time, the Wang family experienced a split.

Wang Lin had a very unhappy quarrel with his clansmen. When Wang Heng's half-brothers were born one after another, Wang Lin, out of anger, gave these half-brothers a separate ranking.

So there were Wang Dalang and Wang Erlang.

At first, it might just be a fit of anger.

However, with Jiang's "departure", the various branches of the Wang family did not say anything openly, but were secretly discussing and mocking her.

It even came to the fore in front of Wang Heng.

When Wang Lin found out, he became furious and completely exploded.

Break up!

The family must be divided!

He divided all his brothers among them.

The house is quiet now, without a bunch of extreme people.

The ranking of children is still a bit confusing.

Son, continue to follow the ranking of Wang Lin’s family.

For example, Wang Chang, the legitimate son of Wang Lin, was the fifth child and was named Wulang.

Daughters, because there was Wang Heng, the ninth wife, the concubines' daughters who came after her were ranked in order according to Wang Heng's ranking.

The three half brothers and three half sisters who came before Wang Heng after the Wang family was sent back to their hometown were:

Wang Erlang, Wang Sanlang, Wang Balang.

Wang Shi Niang, Wang Shiyi Niang, Wang Twelve Niang.

Of course, this order is not the order in which the children were born, but the order in which they "survive".

For example, the three children of Ah Zhu who died young were not included in the ranking.

Among his six half brothers and half sisters, the oldest one is Wang Erlang, who is twelve years old this year.

The youngest is Wang Balang, who is just one month old.

Only Wang Balang still had a biological mother. The biological mothers of the others had either been killed by Cui or sold when their homes were ransacked.

Wang Balang's biological mother was Azhu, Jiang's maid who came with her as a dowry.

She struggled to give birth to a son on the way back home, almost exhausting her life.

Ah Zhu did not dare to die, because she had not yet entrusted her son to anyone.

After enduring for a long time, they finally arrived at Hedong, and Ah Zhu was only left with one breath.

When she saw Concubine Jiang, Ah Zhu was no longer able to speak. She could only keep her eyes open and shed tears sadly.

"...Azhu, I can't promise you anything on behalf of Ajiu!"

When Concubine Jiang saw her old friend who was emaciated and barely breathing, her heart, which had already hardened, couldn't help but soften a little.

However, Concubine Jiang still did not make any promise to Azhu.

She had been with her daughter for these days, and although she still didn't fully understand her, she had a vague glimpse of something.

Her Ajiu is not as well-behaved and good-tempered as she appears to be.

Perhaps, she had some grudges against her biological mother.

Or maybe, at her age, she is just prone to rebellion and disobedience.

Or maybe... there are many reasons, and Concubine Jiang doesn't want to delve into them. She only knows that she can't and doesn't want to force her daughter.

Even if it's for her own good, you can't make decisions for her without her permission!

Adopting Wang Balang and designating him as the head of the Wang family can indeed make Wang Heng the actual head of the Wang family and provide her with a way out.

But Wang Balang is not the only choice.

Wang Er, Wang San, both are fine!

Human hearts are too complicated and too changeable.

The children you raise with your own hands may become your "enemies" when they grow up.

Concubine Jiang did all this to make her daughter's life better, not to make her sad and create enemies for her!

Instead of placing bets early, it is better to "raise the insects".

By using the position of the head of the family as bait to lure the three remaining sons of the Wang family into competing with each other, Wang Heng could take advantage of the situation and become the biggest beneficiary.

There was indeed a trace of master-servant affection left between Concubine Jiang and Ah Zhu.

However, this little bit of friendship still cannot compare with her Ajiu.

Of course, Concubine Jiang would not be too heartless.

As long as that trace of friendship is not compared with Ajiu and her own interests, Concubine Jiang is still willing to take care of Azhu a little.

Concubine Jiang looked at Ah Zhu and said slowly: "Although I can't make a promise on behalf of Ah Jiu, I can guarantee that Ah Jiu is a kind and generous person."

"Balang is her younger brother, a descendant of the Wang family. Ajiu will definitely not ignore him!"

It was just a matter of raising one more "insect". Wang Heng had money and connections, so she didn't even have to work hard. She could get it done just by talking.

With Wang Heng's intelligence, she knew what to do!

Just like how she treated Madam Xie and Wang Lin and his mother, in Concubine Jiang's opinion, Wang Heng did it perfectly.

There was no perfunctory or evasiveness, no deception, no saying one thing and doing another. She served sincerely, and was consistent in her words and deeds.

Even Concubine Jiang, Wang Heng's biological mother who knew her true nature, couldn't help but sigh: What a filial and kind granddaughter (daughter)!

That's how it should be!

Do the whole act, even if it is fake, as long as you stick to it, it can become real.

If done well, Wang Balang will not only not become a burden to Ajiu, but can also become a tool for her to build her reputation and a capable assistant in the future!

Concubine Jiang's "promise" to Ah Zhu at this moment not only fulfilled her relationship with Ah Zhu, but also helped her daughter.

It's definitely killing two birds with one stone.

When Ah Zhu heard what Concubine Jiang said, her eyes were filled with gratitude.

Given her status and current situation, she didn't dare to expect her son to become a noble person.

All she wanted was for her son to have enough food and clothing and grow up safely.

"...Slave, I bow to thank you, my lady! My lady, for your great kindness, I will repay you in my next life by pledging a favor!"

Ah Zhu finally closed her eyes and left her one-month-old son to Wang Heng.

Wang Heng: ...Okay!

Raising one younger brother is raising, and raising three younger brothers is also raising.

Having one more turtle is at most just a matter of finding one more wet nurse.

She is rich and can afford it!

Besides, Wang Heng took the Wang family's ancestral property, so it was only right for her to help raise a few children.

Wang Heng would not suffer any loss, but she would not take anything that did not belong to her.

She, disdainful!

……

Beijing.

Tai Chi Palace, Liang Yi Palace.

Half a month had passed since that day, when the sage abdicated and the King of Qi ascended the throne.

After the new emperor ascended the throne, he issued edicts one after another.

The first one honors the father as the Supreme Emperor.

The second one appointed Princess Li of Qi as the queen.

The third document appointed Prince Yang Rui of Qi as Crown Prince.

"And all the gentlemen should also be rewarded according to their merits."

Princess Li, oh no, it’s the newly-minted Queen Li.

She sat on the floor, and Saint Yang Chong rested his head on her thighs.

The saint had his hair loose and was wearing a plain white silk robe. He looked very relaxed.

Queen Li gently combed his hair and massaged his scalp with her hands.

The couple has been very busy in the past half month.

The King of Chu and his remaining followers were all dealt with.

Yang Ji and his concubines were all "invited" to the Daming Palace.

There were also matters such as appeasing the royal family, stabilizing the capital, rewarding meritorious officials, etc. The couple was almost too busy to rest.

We finally have some free time and we still have to discuss follow-up matters.

For example, rewarding according to merit.

In addition to those old subordinates of Prince Qi's Mansion, there was another person that Queen Li had not forgotten:

"My dear, A Jiang, please promote the concubine."