Golden Branch

October 9th, easy to travel.

Concubine Jiang and her entourage packed up and prepared to leave Yizhou.

They did not return to the capital directly, but went to Jingzhou first.

Ahem, don't forget, according to the previous statement made by Prince Qi's Mansion to the outside world, Jiang was going back to her hometown to visit her relatives.

She and her entourage should be in Jingzhou.

If the imperial court sent someone to welcome him, they would also go to Jingzhou.

So, Concubine Jiang had to take a detour.

"Ajiu, don't worry!"

Before leaving, Concubine Jiang held her daughter's hand without saying much.

During her time in Hedong, she tried her best to teach her daughter the essential skills for a noble lady in the inner chamber, such as managing household chores, training slaves, managing property, and dealing with interpersonal relationships.

Concubine Jiang also said everything she needed to say about her daughter's future plans and her prospects.

Now, on the day of separation, Concubine Jiang didn't say much.

We will meet again soon.

Yes, in the plan that Concubine Jiang made for her daughter, once she returned to Beijing and her identity was confirmed, she would find a way to bring her daughter to the capital in a grand manner.

The countryside in Hedong is indeed stable and comfortable.

But, after all, it is just a rural area, far less prosperous and wealthy than the capital.

How could her daughter, born with beauty and wealth, be buried in this remote countryside?

She should be like the noble ladies in the capital, wearing fine clothes and riding a horse, living up to her youth.

"Mother, it's my fault!"

Wang Heng has lost a lot of weight. She can’t be said to have been completely transformed, but she is no longer obese.

He weighs about 120 pounds and is only a little rounder than the standard body shape.

But, she has fair skin and delicate features.

After losing more than ten pounds of fat, the naturally perfect facial lines began to become clearer and the facial features gradually became more prominent.

In the past, Wang Heng was a lovely beauty, round and non-aggressive.

Today, Wang Heng is gradually becoming a stunning beauty.

Concubine Jiang looked deeply at her daughter's face and felt more and more familiar with it.

Not only had they been together for a long time, but Concubine Jiang also saw her own reflection in Wang Heng's face.

My daughter really looks like her.

When you're fat, it's not very noticeable.

As long as she loses weight, she will be 70% similar to me.

It’s not to say that Wang Heng didn’t surpass Concubine Jiang.

But the remaining two or three parts went to Wang Lin.

As for Wang Lin, regardless of his character and ability, his appearance is extremely superior.

Wang Heng must have inherited the best genes from both her parents. If she loses all the weight, she will be even more stunningly beautiful.

Concubine Jiang raised her hand and gently stroked her daughter's delicate face, "Ajiu, you don't need to be afraid anymore!"

Don't worry about beauty becoming a burden.

Ajiu, you can bloom freely from now on!

Feeling the confidence that Concubine Jiang gave her, Wang Heng smiled.

She didn't say anything, just nodded firmly.

"Sister! Sister!"

Twelve Niang had lived in Hedong for several days and had a great time playing with Wang Heng.

Wang Heng seemed to be a poor exiled person, but her food, clothing, and other expenses were all very luxurious.

Without fear of presumption, I would like to say that Wang Heng has all the "little gadgets" that even royal ladies don't have.

It was here with Wang Heng that Twelve Niang saw the dwarf horses specially suitable for children.

It’s not that there are no children in the Prince Qi’s Mansion, but there are too many children in the Prince Qi’s Mansion and Twelve Niang is too young.

She was sent out of the capital before she was old enough to play these games.

Twelve Niang was in Hedong, riding a short horse slightly larger than a dog and sitting in a small deer cart.

I also fed the kite, eagle, and peacock, and touched the little brain axe and the little bear...

I heard that there is a kind of black and white bear in the south, which is very cute.

My sister's brother has already ordered people to search in the southwest, and it will be found in a few days.

Twelve Niang lingered in places like Lou's Fortress and Wang's Manor, and almost went crazy having fun.

She never knew that there were so many interesting things in this world.

And these all belong to my sister.

Her happiness was also given to her by her elder sister.

Now, she has to leave here and say goodbye to those little animals, oh no, to say goodbye to her sister. The young Twelve Niang is very reluctant to leave.

I'm going to say something that might make Queen Li angry: Twelve Niang has already forgotten her biological parents and siblings.

Now she just wants to stay in Hedong with her aunt and sister.

It's a pity that one's words are not taken seriously when one is young.

She has no say.

Her pony, her stag cart, her little brain axe, the little black bear, the little leopard, and the iron-eating beast she had never seen before...

The more Twelve Niang thought about it, the sadder she became, and she suddenly burst into tears.

Wang Heng was so moved that her forehead couldn't help twitching.

Because she knows her own limitations, the little princess calls "Sister" but she can't bear to part with the little animals in the enclosure.

"Twelve Lady, don't cry. I'll be back in the capital in a few days, and then I'll play with you again!"

Wang Heng comforted her softly.

She really wanted to say, little princess, little ancestor, you don’t have to be sad.

You are now the most noble lady in Dayu. Just wait until you return to the capital, and you can have whatever you want!

A mere country zoo is nothing.

In the palace, you will see rare and exotic animals under the sun, as well as countless cute little creatures.

"……Um!"

Twelve Niang's big eyes were filled with tears. She nodded obediently, "Sister, you must bring the iron-eating beast, the little brain axe, the little bear... and my deer cart to the capital!"

Concubine Jiang & Wang Heng: ...So, your Highness, you're still thinking about those little animals!

Twelve Niang's crying was just a small episode in the farewell.

She was quickly coaxed into submission and helped into the carriage by her wet nurse and other servants.

Xiao Sanlang is younger and doesn't understand separation yet.

He only knew that he was going out and riding in a big carriage. He was so happy!

He waved his chubby little arms, showing a few little teeth, and whimpered in "baby" language that adults couldn't understand.

After watching the two little ancestors get on the car, Concubine Jiang got on.

The guards also mounted their horses.

"Let's go!"

Following Concubine Jiang's order, horses' hooves stamped and wheels rolled.

A long group of people and horses came up the official road with great momentum.

Wang Heng stood beside the official road and watched the large army leave.

"Jiu Niang, they've already gone far away, let's go back too."

Wang Mian and Zheng Shisan followed behind Wang Heng.

Seeing the cloud of yellow sand on the official road moving farther and farther away until it completely disappeared, Wang Mian whispered.

"Ok!"

Wang Heng responded and turned around.

When her eyes swept over Wang Mian, she suddenly thought of something.

She wanted to tell Amian that her mother had become a royal concubine and her status would also change.

When she returns to Beijing, she will also seek an imperial decree for Amian.

But, things were still not finalized, so she should not make empty promises.

It’s not too late to tell Amian after things are done!

After seeing off Concubine Jiang and her entourage, Wang Heng first returned to Wang's farm.

Madam Xie and Wang Lin, the two seriously ill elders, are the best tools for Wang Heng to desperately improve her reputation.

No matter what Wang Heng did, she had to go in front of the two NPCs first.

After the maids prepared the medicine, she would serve it to them.

When the court doctors wanted acupuncture or medicinal baths, she would just hand them something.

...This is also done personally, serving the medicine.

She comes to Madam Xie and Wang Lin regularly every day to show her presence. She can play the role of a filial daughter and grandson, and can also keep abreast of the condition of the two seriously ill patients.

Mrs. Xie's recovery is good. After a few days of acupuncture, her mouth is no longer so crooked, and the numb half of her body can move slightly.

At this time, Wang Heng would always be overjoyed and then tell her dear grandmother the good news.

Such as——

The Wang family’s ancestral property was “returned” to the Wang family of Langya!

The Wang family is no longer the Langya Wang family, but the Yizhou Wang family!

Cousin Xie was a very good man, but Wang Heng felt that she was "not worthy" of him, so she gave him another house. They were still cousins ​​with a deep affection for each other.

Yes, every time Mrs. Xie heard the good news from Wang Heng herself, she would be very happy.

Either they fainted from joy, or screamed "Ahhh" to express their inner happiness.

The condition didn't get any worse, but it just wouldn't get better.

Mrs. Xie had no words to express her pain, and could only curse in her heart with obscene words like "little beast" and "little bitch".

The court doctors vaguely felt that something was wrong, but they couldn't put their finger on it.

After all, there is really nothing wrong with what Wang Heng did.

As a teenager, Wang Heng suddenly took on the heavy responsibility of caring for the elders and raising her younger siblings, so she was not as thoughtful in her actions.

It is understandable that she would report the truth to her elders when something happened at home.

That’s right, that’s right—

The court doctor silently suppressed the doubts in his heart.

What do you suspect?

These are all family affairs of the Wang family. Why would he, a doctor employed by the Lou family, meddle in them?

The key point is, even if he said it and the case was brought to court, Jiu Niang would not have broken the law.

Today is another good day.

Wang Heng came to help her grandmother take medicine and mentioned:

"Grandmother, my mother has been made a noble concubine. She will be the second most honorable woman in the palace from now on."

This time, Wang Heng did not deliberately provoke anyone.

Jiang's promotion to the position of noble concubine is indeed good news for the Wang family.

The reason why Wang Lin sent Jiang away was so that she could ascend to a high position and then give back to her ex-husband and the entire Wang family.

The more noble the Jiang family's status, the better the Wang Lin and the Wang family will be.

Madam Xie: ...Bullshit!

My sons have become the living dead.

Even if Jiang became the queen and could confer the title of Cheng'en Gong or Feng'en Gong on her "brother", Wang Lin would not be able to enjoy it.

After years of planning, it finally came true.

The huge fruits of victory are right in front of him, but he can't even take a single bite.

Impatience, anger, unwillingness...all kinds of negative emotions came flooding in.

Mrs. Xie stared with her eyes wide open, her throat gurgling, her head tilted, and she fainted again!

Wang Heng: ...Grandma, this is really good news. You must be really happy!

After successfully making her grandmother faint, Wang Heng expressed her joy.

Mother, the boomerang you threw out that year finally hit you.

Are you surprised? Are you happy?

Her mother was sent away and she herself became an abandoned child. Beauty is a disaster. These are the pains that will never be erased from Wang Heng's heart.

This hint of darkness will continue to affect Wang Heng and is the inner demon that she cannot get rid of.

After coming out of Madam Xie's room, Wang Heng went to see Wang Lin again.

Wang Lin is still in a coma.

In more than a month, he became just skin and bones.

The whole person looked like a skeleton wrapped in skin.

He no longer had the elegance and handsomeness of the past, nor was he selfish and cruel.

"Father, the King of Qi ascended the throne, and Mother was promoted to Imperial Consort... Too bad you can't see it!"

He also cannot enjoy the wealth and glory brought by "selling his wife".

Wang Heng was not afraid of or disgusted by Wang Lin's creepy appearance. She knelt in front of the couch and said softly:

"Mother also said that she would make plans for me after she returned to Beijing."

A princess, or even a commandery lady.

Although she is not of royal blood, her stepfather is the emperor and her mother is his favorite woman.

She herself also made some small contributions.

It is still possible to obtain a title.

What a pity, my father, who values ​​power the most and has been striving for wealth and fame for most of his life, cannot enjoy his daughter even if she becomes a princess.

After Wang Heng shared the great news with her dear scumbag father, she got up and left.

She didn't notice that after she turned around, Wang Lin moved one of his fingers slightly a few times.

……

After visiting her grandmother and father who were both sick, Wang Heng went to visit her younger brothers and sisters.

Wang Heng arranged tutors for male children such as Wang Erlang, so they could study or practice martial arts according to their personal wishes.

Women like Wang Shiniang also had tutors and female teachers, and they learned some of the arts, such as music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, or embroidery and cooking.

What Wang Heng lacks the least are people and money.

As long as she spoke and came to visit regularly, she could win the reputation of filial piety and the hearts of her half-brothers and half-sisters.

Although Wang Heng did not need the gratitude of those children, people's hearts and prestige were accumulated bit by bit.

It was precisely because Wang Heng was filial to her elders and friendly to her siblings that she, a little girl of thirteen or fourteen years old, was able to hold the Wang family genealogy and control the Wang family's sacrificial fields, becoming the actual head of the Wang family. This is why the other branches of the Wang family and the elders did not cause trouble.

Those people certainly have opinions, but they won't and dare not make a fuss.

Firstly, Wang Heng had the moral advantage;

Secondly, Wang Heng has someone to back her up.

A woman in charge? Let her be!

The Wang family of Yizhou had originally prospered with the Wang Lin branch. Wang Lin was ill and his son was young, so it was reasonable for the eldest daughter to take on the responsibility of the head of the family.

In this way, Wang Heng became the de facto leader of the Wang family in Yizhou.

……

After finishing these things, Wang Heng returned to Lou's Fortress.

When her brother goes out on business, she will help him look after the family business.

After touring the fortress and returning to the main courtyard, Wang Heng began to write a letter to Lou Yu.

This has been a habit of the two little ones for many years. Whenever they are apart, they will write letters regularly.

In the letters, each party would tell each other about their recent situation and even daily details.

In today's letter, Wang Heng told Lou Yu: Mother has returned to Beijing! Grandmother has fainted again! Father is still the same! My half-brother is a very good student! My half-sister is quite well-behaved!

Whether it was intentional or negligence, Wang Heng "forgot" that she was losing weight!

Wang Heng concealed the fact that she was losing weight, and Lou Yu also concealed the fact that Wang Heng was not along the canal, but was fighting a fierce battle with the Turks...