Golden Branch

A gleam flashed in Lou Yu’s eyes:…That’s it?

Only a title, but no fiefdom?

Even this title is a joke——

Langya?

That is an ancient name.

Not to mention the present, even in the previous dynasty and the dynasty before that, the so-called Langya no longer existed.

Using a non-existent ancient place name to give a princess a title, are you afraid that the world will not know that this princess is a Westerner?

With Lou Yu's super smart brain, he was able to guess Yang Rui's true purpose.

Tsk, this prince really dislikes the old-established southern families like Wang and Xie.

Lou Yu had no objection to the saints and those in higher positions like Yang Rui wanting to weaken the aristocratic families.

But, the fat girl cannot be implicated.

Even if she is the Princess of Langya, Lou Yu will still fight for the best interests for the fat girl!

"What? Ayu, do you think it's inappropriate?"

The flickering look in Lou Yu's eyes was too obvious. Even Yang Rui, who had personally raised Lou Yu to be a modest gentleman who never showed his emotions, found it difficult to pretend not to see it.

Yang Rui smiled gently and chuckled, "Or do you have any objections?"

objection?

Too much!

However, Lou Yu knew that this was not the time for him to joke with Yang Rui casually.

He quickly sat up straight and saluted, "I dare not. Your Highness the Crown Prince is absolutely right."

Lou Yu first expressed his attitude respectfully: he had great respect for Yang Rui, the newly appointed East Palace.

The suggestions put forward by the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace are of course extremely good and safe.

However——

"Yu just thought about this. This time, we fought back against the Turks with an army of 100,000, deep into the northwest. We marched in circles for more than half a year."

"During this period, the consumption of food, fodder and military pay was enormous. The Ministry of Revenue did not allocate a single cent. It was all thanks to the generous support of the Wang family daughter—"

The saint only remembered that Wang Heng was Concubine Jiang's beloved daughter, and the prince only thought that Wang Heng was Lou Yu's fiancée. They seemed to have forgotten that Wang Heng had provided nearly one million strings of money and grain!

It doesn’t matter if others forget.

Lou Yu kept it in mind and would report back truthfully at the appropriate time.

This great victory over the Turks was also due to the contributions of Wang Heng and others.

The smile lines on Yang Rui's lips deepened.

He knew that Wang Jia Jiu Niang was Lou Yu's weak spot, and the slightest touch would cause this boy to retaliate.

"Yes, if Ayu hadn't told me, I would have almost forgotten it!"

Yang Rui raised his eyes and glanced at the saint.

The saint also had a smile in his eyes.

The father and son had a very good understanding of each other. They understood each other with just a glance.

Yang Rui then said, "Since the daughter of the Wang family has made great contributions, she deserves a reward."

"She was given the title of Princess Langya, with the fiefdom of Hedong and a fief of 400 households."

For a woman of a different family who is not of royal blood, being able to become a princess with a title and a fiefdom is definitely a great honor.

This is not just superficial decency, but also has practical benefits.

As long as he had these 400 households of fiefdom, the title "Langya" would no longer be a "joke".

Lou Yu was satisfied.

Of course, the hero was not only Wang Heng, but also Wang Mian.

However, there is no need to alarm the saint about Wang Mian's reward.

Find a time and Lou Yu can just directly petition the Crown Prince.

The time that Lou Yu had been looking forward to being alone with the prince soon arrived.

After the sage finished speaking about Wang Heng's reward, he ordered the prince to draft an imperial edict.

The prince will also be fully responsible for all subsequent matters.

The sage knew that Lou Yu was on good terms with the prince, and he was happy to see it happen.

After asking questions related to Lou Yu's campaign against the Turks and his 100,000-man army, he waved his hand and sent both Yang Rui and Lou Yu out.

"Let's go, follow me to the Jiade Hall."

Even after Yang Rui became the crown prince, he remained as close to Lou Yu as before.

The Jiade Hall he mentioned was the main hall of the Eastern Palace, where he, the crown prince, met with court officials and handled official business.

"Yes!"

Lou Yu lowered his head in response.

Arriving at the Jiade Hall, Yang Rui casually sat in the main seat.

His body was tilted sideways, with one elbow resting on the table.

Lou Yu sat at the bottom, looking very polite.

The fifteen-year-old boy still had a childish look on his face, but because of the blood and fire he had experienced on the battlefield, he had become more fierce.

This is what Lou Yu is trying his best to adjust.

He had just returned from the battlefield, and the smell of blood still seemed to remain on his armor.

The gentleness of a gentleman was infected by killing. The fact that Lou Yu did not become bloodthirsty, cruel, or aggressive was a testament to his good self-control.

Now it is only slightly sharp, but it can still remain calm and gentle, which is not easy for a young man.

Yang Rui took a glance and was very satisfied.

Well, the little guy has grown up again.

Yang Rui did not ask Lou Yu about the specific details of this expedition.

It’s not that I don’t want to, but there’s no need.

During the months that Lou Yu was away from Beijing, he would write to Yang Rui every few days.

Lou Yu told Yang Rui everything about his army, his campaigns, all his affairs, and even the attempt to take credit for it from the fat girl.

Yang Rui already knew everything, but there was no need to ask.

He looked at Lou Yu intently. He was only fifteen years old, but he already had the title of Duke.

This is basically the pinnacle of a subject's title.

Lou Yu's life has just begun, and his future is bright.

Yang Rui didn't want Lou Yu to be bound by the title or be tempted by power.

After pondering for a moment, Yang Rui suddenly asked, "Ayu, I remember you haven't chosen a name yet."

Lou Yu's expression was a little dull: "Your Highness, I am fifteen years old, not yet twenty years old."

A man can have the coming-of-age ceremony only when he is twenty years old.

Only during the coming-of-age ceremony can the elders bestow a name on a person.

He was a fifteen-year-old boy, still several years away from coming of age.

Where did the words come from?

Of course, if parents or elders love and cherish a child, or if there are other opportunities, the child will be given a name in advance.

But... Lou Yu had already been adopted, and he was not officially close to any of his elders.

Lou Yu did have a famous scholar, but at that time Yang Rui took him by his side and taught him by example.

Shen Du thought that Yang Rui, who was both a brother and a father, would give Lou Yu a name.

As for Yang Rui, he probably thought that Lou Yu already had a husband, so it would be inappropriate for him to interfere.

Now, Yang Rui is not only the Crown Prince of Qi, but has also moved into the Eastern Palace.

His status became more and more valuable.

After Lou Yu experienced the events at Xuanwu Gate and defeated the Turks, he was no longer a young man who relied solely on his father's generation.

He showed his own edge.

No longer a child, with a title, he can enter the officialdom and will soon face official social interactions and interpersonal relationships. If he does not have a name, it will be inconvenient.

Yang Rui didn't mind Lou Yu's "disrespect" and thought about it carefully before saying, "Let me give you a name."

Both characters and names represent the elders' good wishes for the younger generations, or their well-intentioned advice.

Yang Rui knew that Lou Yu was too popular at the moment and was afraid that he would become too stubborn and easily break down. He hoped that Lou Yu would be able to restrain himself and live a stable life in the future.

"Han Zhang, are you okay?"

Yang Rui looked at Lou Yu and asked in a gentle tone, but in fact he had already made a decision.

Lou Yu raised his eyebrows. Han Zhang? Can Han Zhang be chaste?

Does this make him reserved and introverted, not revealing or ostentatious?

Han Zhang Ke Zhen comes from the Book of Changes, the third line of the Kun hexagram.

There is another half sentence at the end: Some people follow the king's affairs, but there is no success but there is an end.

No success but an end?

Even if there is no achievement, there can still be a good result?

This is not only Yang Rui's beautiful expectation, but also an implicit promise.

He will give Lou Yu a "good result".

"Thank you, Your Highness."

A smile appeared in Lou Yu's eyes and he bowed.

From now on, he is Lou Yu and Lou Hanzhang.

……

In the Eastern Palace, Lou Yu not only received a title from the Crown Prince, but also requested a title for Wang Mian - Princess.

From then on, Wang Mian was no longer a lowly peasant girl, but a fourth-rank princess of the imperial court.

"...In this way, it can be considered as a reward for Wang Mian's efforts over the years."

The fat girl should be satisfied too.

Lou Yu left the palace and headed towards the Duke of Anguo's Mansion.

Ahem, he still has to return the Lou family heirloom.

In addition, there is a score to be settled with Lou Jin——

He deceived the Lou family army and made Lou Jin lose his loyalty to the emperor, which was somewhat "unfilial".

As an unfilial son, I should apologize to my elders.

Riding on horses, with dozens of personal guards following behind, Lou Yu and his entourage were not ostentatious, but they also couldn't keep a low profile.

Especially since they had just returned from the battlefield, they were filled with murderous aura that could not be concealed at all. Wherever they passed, the people avoided them.

Even some nobles who were riding in carriages or on horses could not help but stop and give way when they saw Lou Yu and his group.

"My dear, there's a carriage ahead that's giving way to a distinguished guest. Should we also give way?"

A rather luxurious carriage, driven by a driver holding the reins in one hand and the whip in the other.

He turned around and cautiously asked the owner of the car.

"...Then let's avoid it."

In the carriage sat a young man of about seventeen or eighteen years old. He was wearing a purple round-necked robe, with a handsome face and a calm temperament.

He had been thinking about something with his eyes downcast, but when he heard the driver's report, he raised his eyelids, revealing bright and sharp eyes.

He reached out and gently lifted the car window curtain, just in time to see a group of knights whizzing past from the side.

That is--

The young man narrowed his eyes and felt that the leading knight looked somewhat familiar.

Seems to be--

"My dear, I heard that this is the young master of the Lou family. He just returned from a military campaign!"

As a servant of a powerful family in the capital, the coachman had some vision and the ability to gather information.

The carriage had just stopped by the roadside, but in the blink of an eye, he already knew who the "noble person" was that all the carriages were scrambling to avoid.

The young man said silently in his heart: It’s him!

The young master of the Lou family, Lou Yu!

The little tyrant who could call the wind and rain in Hedong and even Yizhou.

Unexpectedly, this local tyrant was able to still show off in the capital.

A noble person is a noble person!

Born rich, he can show off wherever he goes.

This is the natural advantage of birth and family background.

It was precisely because of this that he tried so hard to change his status and cross the class line.

Today, he has still taken the first solid step.

He did feel guilty and reluctant about having to give up something during this period, but he would never regret it.

The young man clenched his fists tightly, but his face remained calm and gentle: "The noble man has passed, let's go too!"

"Yes!"

……

Lou Yu was riding a horse, not paying any attention to the carriages and pedestrians who were trying to avoid him on both sides.

However, he had already learned about certain developments in the capital on his way back.

There was one "old friend" in particular, to whom he paid a little attention for some reason.

For example, Wang Mian’s fiancé.

"Zhou Jiming is quite the man who knows how to make money. Not long after arriving in the capital, he became famous in the East City's most luxurious Zhaixing Tower by spending money lavishly."

"Then, he became eligible to participate in some elegant gatherings and banquets in the capital. By chance, he met the noble lady from Princess Pingyi's mansion."

"...I heard that Zhou Jiming is already discussing marriage with the Lady of Kangning County, and they will be getting married soon."

After receiving these messages, Lou Yu had only two words in his mind: "As expected."

Back in Hedong, the fat girl was not optimistic about Zhou Jiming and Wang Mian.

As for Lou Yu...what happens to Wang Mian? It has nothing to do with him.

In Lou Yu's view, Wang Mian is just an accessory of the fat girl.

As long as she is loyal to the fat girl and can bring benefits to the fat girl, that is enough!

Lou Yu doesn't care about Wang Mian's family, marriage, or future.

However, for the sake of the fat girl, Lou Yu still ordered people to pay a little attention to her——

If Wang Mian marries the wrong person, the fat girl will be sad, and her interests may even be harmed.

Lou Yu, I will never allow it.

Therefore, Wang Mian and his "family" also came into Lou Yu's surveillance range.

Zhou Jiming is just one of them.

In Hedong and the capital, Lou Yu's people were secretly monitoring him and reporting his movements regularly.

Lou Yu had anticipated Zhou Jiming's "betrayal" and monitored it in a timely manner.

"Have you hooked up with Princess Pingyi?"

Oh no, now she is Princess Pingyi.

Princess Pingyi was not Yang Chong's sister from the same mother, but her husband Yuchi Jing was a general under Yang Chong and a member of the Qi Wang family.

During the previous Xuanwu Gate incident, Princess Pingyi's Mansion firmly supported Yang Chong.

After Yang Chong ascended the throne, when he conferred titles on the princesses, the first one to be conferred the title of eldest princess was Princess Jincheng, his half-sister and a woman with great military achievements.

The second one is Pingyi.

Although she is only second, Pingyi is far inferior to Jincheng in terms of background and contribution. However, she can still follow Jincheng closely, which is enough to prove that she is still highly valued by the saint among her sisters and relatives.

Princess Pingyi's mansion also rose in prominence and became one of the most powerful and influential people in the capital.

Zhou Jiming was a farmer's son. Although he was talented and handsome, he came from a humble background. It was not easy for him to marry into Princess Pingyi's mansion.

Zhou Jiming himself must have paid a huge price!

"I underestimated this guy."

Not only do you dare to cling to powerful people, but you also have the ability to do so successfully.

Lou Yu silently wrote down Zhou Jiming's name in the small notebook.

……

"...The Zhou family received a letter from the capital, saying that Zhou Jiming had hooked up with a nobleman!"

When mentioning her former "fiancé" again, Wang Mian's tone was very calm and steady.

They were already strangers, not even an "ex". Wang Mian had never been moved, so there was no question of being sad.

"He is indeed a man with great ambitions."

Wang Heng couldn't say whether she liked or disliked Zhou Jiming.

Anyway, this person has nothing to do with Amian anymore, so Wang Heng doesn’t care whether he is good or bad.

In fact, Wang Heng has some admiration for people who are strong-willed and have clear goals.

She felt, “People like this are destined to succeed!”

Not tempted by money, sex, etc., have a long-term vision and are steadfast.

He always knows what he wants, and he works hard and strives for it, even at all costs!

Once he enters the officialdom, he should be a powerful official who can rise and fall in the political arena.

I just don’t know if he can become my brother’s rival!

Wang Heng was thinking silently, but Wang Mian was more concerned about his eldest daughter, a little pervert who had disappeared for half a year.

If the little pervert saw Jiu Niang now, would he be surprised?