Golden Branch

"Jiu Niang, try it!"

After Lou Yu left, Wang Mian's barbecue was ready.

She handed a small handful to Wang Heng personally.

There are mushroom skewers, meat skewers, and vegetable skewers.

There are also fish balls, beef balls, quail eggs, etc., which are also skewered.

There are not many pieces in each skewer, only about three or four.

Wang Heng raised her hand to take it, said "hmm", picked up a skewer of vegetables that were slightly dry from the roasting, and took a small bite.

It is the familiar taste of barbecue ingredients such as cumin and chili.

Wang Heng finished a bunch of vegetables and put down the skewer: "We'll eat the rest when my brother comes back!"

She doesn't have such a strong appetite now, so it doesn't matter whether she eats or not.

Wang Mian was not surprised by Wang Heng's behavior.

Her eldest daughter has become more restrained in her appetite for delicious food since she successfully lost weight.

And her "brother-sister" relationship with Lou Yu is as deep and tacit as ever.

Even though there was another "light bulb" named Zheng Shisan in the carriage besides her, the world of the two of them was one that no one could break into.

Wang Mian and Zheng Shisan, two living people, had no influence on them at all.

Thinking about this, Wang Mian handed Zheng Shisan a handful of roasted chestnuts and said, "Shisanniang, don't be so busy. Eat something and drink some tea!"

Zheng Shisan has been sitting quietly in the corner of the carriage.

Not only did she not rashly interfere with Wang Heng and Lou Yu, she also did not have a sense of presence like Wang Mian.

She was almost invisible.

She might be reading, doing needlework, or chatting quietly with her personal maids.

While she was busy in secret, she did not neglect Wang Heng, the "mistress".

Zheng Shisan's words and deeds really exceeded Wang Mian's understanding of ancient "concubines".

There is no competition for favor among women, nor is there any flattery of men and hatred of women.

Compared with the master, Zheng Shisan is closer to and respects the "mistress" more.

Most of the needlework she did by hand was for Wang Heng.

Lou Yu?

Zheng Shisan didn't even get close to Lou Yu, let alone try to please him.

Wang Mian: ...My three views are once again on the verge of collapse.

"Okay! Thank you, Amian!"

Zheng Shisan raised his head, put the embroidery frame into a box beside him, picked up a wet towel, wiped his hands, and then took the handful of sweet roasted chestnuts.

Outside the carriage, the spring rain was drizzling.

Strands of raindrops fell on the roof of the carriage, making a slight sound.

The carriage was filled with the aroma of food.

Several girls were eating or chatting, and the atmosphere was very harmonious.

Just then, Wang Mian heard footsteps and faint voices coming from outside.

Brother is back?

Wang Heng was about to speak, asking him how he was doing and inviting him to eat barbecue and drink ginger sugar water.

Before Wang Heng could say anything, Lou Yu, who was standing outside the carriage, spoke first, "Your Highness, I, Lou Yu, have returned to report!"

Wang Heng raised her eyebrows. Oh no, something’s happening!

Brother, when did you become so distant?

And you even call her a princess?!

Although she had received the imperial edict conferring her the title of princess, Wang Heng and her friends had not yet truly understood her identity as a princess and had undergone a complete transformation.

In the hearts of Wang Heng and everyone else, she is still the ninth daughter of the Wang family, not an unattainable princess.

Especially Lou Yu, his relationship with Wang Heng is the most special.

Wang Heng felt that, let alone being a fake princess, even if she really had a blood relationship with the royal family, Lou Yu was just her beloved brother.

There aren't so many formalities between them as siblings.

Lou Yu should also have this understanding in his heart.

But there will be exceptions.

For example, when there were outsiders around, Lou Yu still acted like a subject and was very "respectful" to Wang Heng, the Princess of Langya.

"So, brother is not alone!"

"While he was out on patrol, he met an 'old friend' on the official road."

"That old friend, having heard that there is a Princess Langya here, has come with my brother to pay his respects?"

Wang Heng's brain worked quickly and she guessed the truth almost immediately.

She even guessed accurately: the visitor is not a good person!

If it was someone close to Lou Yu, even if he was polite, he wouldn't be so "fake".

Unless, that person is not Lou Yu’s real relative or friend, but is——

"Thank you, Duke Qi!"

Lou Yu regarded himself as a subject, and Wang Heng immediately acted like a royal lady.

Her voice was soft, but her tone was filled with an authority that could not be offended.

"Everything is going well in the ranks! Also, I happened to encounter the carriage of the Duke of Wei. Madam Lu heard that the princess was here, so she came to pay her respects!"

Lou Yu stood outside the carriage, performing in a very professional manner.

Wang Heng accurately captured the key points of Lou Yu's words and quickly sorted out the relationships between the characters.

Duke of Wei?

Isn’t that the Dugu family?

Lou Yu’s former cheap in-laws?

There is also Lady Lu, the mother of Duke Dugu Xiong of Wei.

However, her imperial edict did not come because of her son, so she was not the Grand Lady of Weiguo, but had her own title - Lady of Luguo.

The Lady of Lu's family was surnamed Li and came from the Longxi Li clan, one of the top families in the north.

The most prominent thing about her is not her family background, but the fact that she has two distinguished sisters.

Li's eldest sister married the emperor of the previous dynasty. She was the mother of the last emperor and the last empress dowager of the previous dynasty.

Li's second sister married Yang Ji, the general of the upper pillar state. Oh, by the way, she also gave birth to a legitimate eldest son, Yang Chong.

After Yang Ji established the Xin Dynasty, he posthumously conferred the title of Empress Yuande on his first wife.

Yang Chong succeeded to the throne and conferred the title of Empress Yuande Cisheng on his mother.

It is said that the Cui family is the number one foreign relative in the north, but in fact, the Li family is the real top foreign relative.

In less than fifty years, there were two, no, three queens.

Yang Chong's first wife, Li, was his cousin and also a daughter of the Li family.

Lady Lu was granted the title because of her two elder sisters.

In the previous dynasty, she was already a county lady.

When Yang Ji conferred the title of Feng En Gong on his first wife Li's family, he also promoted Lady Lu.

Ahem, Madam Lu is not only his sister-in-law, but also the first wife of his trusted general, General Dugu.

The old general passed away, and Dugu Xiong succeeded him as the head of the family and continued to follow Yang Ji.

The Dugu family has always been a staunch supporter of Yang Ji.

The Duke of Weiguo's Mansion was once a top-tier powerful family in the capital.

Until Yang Ji abdicated and Yang Chong succeeded him... well, it would not be completely defeated.

After all, the Lady Dowager of the Duke of Weiguo's Mansion was the Emperor and Empress's biological aunt.

Wang Heng had memorized genealogies since she was a child and was familiar with the relationships between the major families in the north.

Before entering Beijing, he focused on the relationship networks of the major founding heroes, as well as the royal family, clan relatives, etc.

Therefore, at this moment, just hearing the title of Lady Lu, Wang Heng sorted out her relationship with the royal family and the many aristocratic families in the northern border.

If Lou Yu had not been adopted, Lady Lu would have been his adoptive grandmother.

Even after being adopted, Lady Lu was still a relative of the Lou family and an elder of Lou Yu.

Wang Heng: ...I hate "elders" the most!

He is taking advantage of his age and doesn't know his limits!

Although she was secretly disgusted, there was no trace of abnormality on Wang Heng's beautiful little face.

She even stood up very respectfully and personally came to the carriage door, "It's Madam Lu? I'm sorry for being rude to you, Madam, please forgive me!"

She is indeed the Princess of Langya, but Lady Lu is also the elder of the saint and the queen.

Not to mention that Wang Heng was a fake princess, even Yang Rui, as the crown prince, had to respectfully address Lady Lu as "Madam" when he met her.

Of course, Wang Heng would not lower her posture too much. She respected Lady Lu as her elder, and she would not forget that she was a princess and represented the dignity of the royal family and the court.

She was respectful but not humble, and she knew just the right balance.

Mrs. Lu stood beside Lou Yu, with two or three young women standing behind her.

Judging from their attire, they are both young noble ladies. Judging from their age, they should be the granddaughters of Lady Lu.

Another one is a personal maid.

One of the young noble ladies, together with her personal maid, held an umbrella for Madam Lu.

Wang Heng came to the door of the carriage and saw all of this with just a casual glance.

She bowed slightly without saluting, but still expressed the respect of a younger generation for an elder.

Wang Heng's performance can be considered stable.

It not only maintains the dignity of the royal ladies, but also demonstrates the respect of the younger generation for their elders, the emperor and empress.

However, a glint flashed in Mrs. Lu's eyes——

Ah!

It is true that when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter!

A fake princess actually dares to act so arrogantly in front of her!

When the old saint was still in power, let alone a fake princess, even the real princes and princesses would never dare to act arrogantly in front of her.

She is not only the elder of those princes and princesses, but also the widow of the old saint's trusted and beloved general. She is a first-class powerful person.

As a result, the old sage abdicated and the Dugu family was instantly knocked off the throne.

For the sake of her family and her children and grandchildren, Mrs. Lu, who had just returned home to visit her relatives, had to pack up and return to Beijing as soon as possible.

She also has some kinship with the saint and the queen.

However, her son, grandson, and others had long been estranged from the saint for various reasons.

Even hostile!

"...Why did my brother-in-law abdicate?!"

Mrs. Lu sighed in her heart countless times.

It has only been two years since she returned to her hometown and now she has returned to Beijing, but the capital has undergone tremendous changes.

Their Dugu family is even more——

Mrs. Lu didn't even dare to express the dissatisfaction and resentment in her heart.

The Dugu family still needs her saintly aunt to turn the tide.

However, Mrs. Lu's patience is limited.

It would be fine to show respect to the saint and the prince, it was reasonable and she had to do so.

But this Wang Jiu, who has no royal blood at all, just has a favorite concubine as his mother, and...

But the current Dugu family really doesn't dare to provoke Concubine Jiang.

Whatever.

It seemed that Wang Jiu understood some of the rules and did not get carried away by his success.

Although Wang Heng's behavior still hurt Mrs. Lu, who was used to being high and mighty, she had no choice but to succumb to reality.

The situation is stronger than people, I will endure it!

"You are so polite, Princess. I am flattered!"

Mrs. Lu finally bent her knees and saluted Wang Heng.

Wang Heng turned slightly to the side and only half-received a greeting.

Although Mrs. Lu was still not satisfied, she managed to convince herself.

Then, she said to the two little girls behind her, "Ayan! Awei! Come and pay your respects to the princess!"

The two young girls knelt down and crossed their arms, "Dugu Wei/Li Yan, meet Princess Langya!"

This time, Wang Heng did not dodge and accepted the full greetings from both men.

She smiled slightly, her attitude gentle but noble and calm.

In her heart, she secretly grasped a key point——

Dugu Wei should be the granddaughter of Lady Lu.

And Li Yan is probably the granddaughter.

According to ancient customs, grandsons-in-law are definitely closer than grandsons-in-law.

However, when Mrs. Lu introduced her two grandchildren, she mentioned her granddaughter A Yan first.

Mrs. Lu's habitual tone did not seem like she was deliberately praising her granddaughter. Instead, it seemed like she had favored her for a long time and was blurting it out subconsciously.

Oh no, another elder who is so biased that he even forgets the rules.

Wang Heng thought silently, her smart eyes looking at Dugu Wei and Li Yan inconspicuously.

The two young ladies were both fifteen or sixteen years old.

Dugu Wei is bright and outgoing, with a hint of arrogance between her eyebrows. Well, she is the daughter of the Dugu family in people's stereotype.

Li Yan is pretty and elegant. Her facial features are a little dull, but her cold and arrogant temperament offsets the shortcomings of her appearance, making her more noble and cold.

Two little noble ladies, one is as beautiful as a rose, the other is as plain as a plum blossom.

Their looks and temperaments are different, but they all have slender and graceful figures.

Different types of noble ladies have their own charms.

Wang Heng smiled and said, "Ladies, please excuse me!"

After greeting each other, Wang Heng looked at Lou Yu.

If you meet good friends or relatives on the road, it is only natural to invite them to ride in the carriage together.

But, Mrs. Lu doesn't seem to be someone who is easy to get along with.

Wang Heng is naturally sensitive and is very accurate in capturing the emotional fluctuations of people around her.

Not to mention, the arrogance, dissatisfaction, and even the emotion of "bearing humiliation" in Mrs. Lu's eyes were clearly revealed.

Perhaps, Mrs. Lu felt that she was already suppressing, enduring, and covering up.

She had probably been praised for too long and was used to her status as a superior who could do whatever she wanted.

For her, not being able to say it directly is already a concession.

Wang Heng: ...It’s quite ridiculous!

This is a different time, do you understand?

Lady Lu is indeed the elder of the Emperor and Empress, but if she is disrespectful and does not know her limits, she will still be disliked by the Emperor and Empress.

The emperor and empress didn't have to do anything, and they would even be "polite" and "respectful", but the people in the palace and the capital were not fools.

With just a quick glance, he could discover the clues and then take the initiative to "relieve the worries" for the emperor and empress.

The Dugu family, which had already lost its power, had such a self-righteous and confused lady. Tsk tsk—

Wang Heng silently lit a row of candles for the Dugu family in her heart.

Wang He was too lazy to flatter such a family that was destined to decline.

She simply gave the decision to Lou Yu: Brother, whether we can be close or not depends on your attitude.

Lou Yu smiled warmly, radiating the gentle aura of a gentleman. His words were also polite and considerate: "Madam, I will take you back to the carriage!"

After the greeting, let’s go!

We are not on the same path to begin with. Even if we happen to travel together, we should go our separate ways. There is no need to force ourselves to be together.

Lou Yu had no feelings for Dugu, let alone a fake and calculating "grandmother"!