Golden Branch

Lou Yu personally sent Madam Lu to the carriage, then turned around and returned to the main forces of the Wang and Lou families.

"Brother, come up quickly! Your clothes are all wet, change quickly and drink some ginger soup!"

Wang Heng had been standing by the window. When she saw Lou Yu through the car window, she quickly reached out to greet him.

Lou Yu got in the carriage. He walked quickly to the side of the carriage and said to Wang Heng through the window, "Your clothes are already wet. Why don't you just not get in? You don't want to get them wet."

"...Brother?"

Wang Heng was slightly startled. She had always had a tacit understanding with him, but now she was a little confused: "If it gets wet, just clean it up!"

This is not a reason.

Unless, brother has other considerations.

Lou Yu was tall, and even when standing on the ground, he could look Wang Heng in the carriage at eye level.

When he looked up, he could see Wang Heng's familiar face, which was more delicate and beautiful than he remembered.

Ah Heng is really beautiful. In the past, Lou Yu always thought that he didn’t care about appearance.

However, after Ah Heng's transformation, Lou Yu discovered that he was still a little superficial: he used to like the fat girl as a family member rather than a lover.

Now he is deeply in love with her and truly and completely regards Aheng as a woman.

"That's all right! I'm a minister escorting Princess Langya, so I must fulfill my duties conscientiously."

Do the whole show.

Even if it is just an excuse, since it has been said, it must be strictly enforced.

This was the first lesson Lou Yu learned from Yang Rui, and it was also his best skill.

"I have ordered Lieyan to be brought here, and I will ride my horse next."

Lieyan is Lou Yu’s red Arabian horse.

"……it is good!"

A gleam flashed in Wang Heng's round lychee eyes.

She didn't persuade him again.

First of all, Lou Yu is a very opinionated person, and once he has made a decision, there is basically no possibility of changing it.

Secondly, Lou Yu did this for her!

Wang Heng clenched her hands slightly, hiding them in her wide sleeves. "I, a fake princess, am truly not as noble as a true princess!"

Wang Heng accurately captured Mrs. Lu's disrespectful look and reluctant greeting.

Of course, not all the powerful people in the capital are fools like Mrs. Lu who cannot recognize the situation and control their emotions.

However, Mrs. Lu's attitude is the most genuine.

Wang Heng could imagine herself going to the capital and socializing with many powerful people and aristocratic families.

They dare not say anything to your face, but in private, they may even criticize and ridicule you.

Fake is fake. If her roots are not good and her lineage is not legitimate, even if she is a princess, it is just an empty title.

They are not truly reverent at all.

Wang Heng may care whether others are "sincere", but sometimes, if they are not truly respectful, they will inevitably be disrespectful or even calculating.

Although Lou Yu was a Duke, he was willing to protect and "serve" Wang Heng, the Princess of Langya, like a small soldier. Invisibly, he was also improving the status of Princess Langya.

To put it more bluntly, that is: everyone, you may not care about Wang Heng, the fake princess, but what about Lou Mou, the Duke of Qi?

Before he reached adulthood, Lou Yu became a founding hero and was awarded the highest title, Duke of a County.

He is still the most useful person in the Eastern Palace, and is highly valued by the Saint.

He is highly regarded by the supreme father and son. He is the most powerful minister among the powerful ministers.

As long as it doesn't involve core interests, it's not a life-and-death feud, and it's just about being respectful to a fake princess... the powerful and wealthy can still distinguish between the important and the unimportant.

Even the "self-proclaimed" and brainless Lady Lu would know what to do.

Wang Heng's heart was slightly touched.

She knew that her brother was kind to her almost without reservation.

But she——

"Brother, I will never let you down! I, I will be a good sister, and we, we will be family for life!"

Wang Heng told herself firmly again.

While Wang Heng was thinking and feeling moved, Lou Yu had already mounted his mount.

He stood guarding Wang Heng's carriage like a most loyal guard.

Fine raindrops fell on Lou Yu.

His hair was wet and his clothes were soaked.

Lou Yu didn't care.

What's the big deal about getting caught in the rain?

He once led his troops all the way to the heart of the northwest grasslands.

There will be all kinds of difficulties when marching in the wild.

Forced marches on rainy nights, lurking on the frozen river surface, not having a hot meal or a sip of clean water for days and nights...are all routine operations.

Lou Yu led the troops by example, so naturally he would not ask for special treatment when marching or ambushing.

War is never just about the glory and honor of victory.

Suffering is a minor matter, and being injured is also a small matter. Lou Yu has experienced the test of the battlefield. In addition to his glorious military exploits, he has also honed his character and tempered his body and will.

He has now taken off his armor and no longer leads troops into battle.

He looked gentle and refined, a noble young man who was ignorant of the sufferings of the world. Getting caught in the rain seemed like a big deal to him.

But in fact, Lou Yu really doesn't care and will not be affected.

He caught a glint in Wang Heng's eyes and knew that Wang Heng had understood his feelings.

This girl is the smartest and the most considerate.

She is not heartless and ungrateful, but she has not yet figured it out.

"Well, she's still young after all!" It's because he likes her.

Lou Yu smiled bitterly to himself, but his heart was not entirely bitter, there was also a hint of sourness and a slight sweetness.

"Aheng, you should know that I fought in the northwest for half a year."

Lou Yu couldn't bear to make Wang Heng feel guilty, so he reminded her with a smile.

Wang Heng: ...Of course I know that you fought in the harsh border town, and I also know that you suffered a lot.

But, if you are not afraid of getting wet in the rain, can you get wet in the rain at will?

My brother is a human being, a man of flesh and blood.

It shouldn't have been so hard, but for her...

Lou Yu caught a glimpse of Wang Heng's angry look from the corner of his eye, and felt warm in his heart.

She knew and appreciated his efforts.

However, Lou Yu did not need her gratitude, nor did he want her to have any psychological burden.

Lou Yu quickly changed the subject: "Aheng, what do you think of this Lady Lu?"

When the "culprit" who caused Lou Yu to get wet in the rain was mentioned, Wang Heng's attention was indeed diverted.

She pondered for a moment and said slowly, "She doesn't look very smart! Or maybe she's just spoiled!"

Although she is an old woman in her fifties or sixties, she still has the innocence and willfulness of a little girl.

This is not to praise Madam Lu for her ability to maintain her youthful appearance and eternal childlike innocence.

Instead, he was scolding her in disguise for not making any progress and being ignorant.

However, Wang Heng could understand it.

If you put yourself in Mrs. Lu's shoes, you will understand why she is like this.

Both sisters were queens.

Even with the change of dynasties, her closest relatives are still at the pinnacle of power.

Even though my sister is gone, I still have a brother-in-law who cherishes my feelings and a reliable husband.

Even if her husband is gone and her brother-in-law has lost power, she still has her son and the emperor's nephew and the empress's niece who are related to her by blood.

It can be said that given Lady Lu's relationship with the royal family, as long as she did not rebel, the emperor and empress would ensure her wealth and glory for the rest of her life.

There are always people protecting him, and they are all big guys at the highest positions.

Mrs. Lu has no need to "grow up" at all. She has enough capital and confidence to be willful, spoiled, and do whatever she wants.

However, this old lady forgot that the Saint Queen could indeed be tolerant and forgiving towards her because she was her aunt.

But what about her children and grandchildren?

If she was too foolish, didn't know how to restrain herself, and continued to "act with impunity" and consume the blood relationship between her and the Emperor and Empress, her children and grandchildren...

and many more!

Wang Heng suddenly thought that there were two young girls around Mrs. Lu.

One granddaughter-in-law and one biological granddaughter.

Mrs. Lu brought the people with her to Beijing. Besides the fact that the elders needed the younger ones to serve them, there might be other purposes.

For example, marriage!

The reason why Lady Lu was able to live such a carefree life was that the Li family had three queens.

By marrying off their daughter, the Li family successfully stood out among many aristocratic families and became a top-level in-law.

Mrs. Lu reaped the benefits herself, so she naturally believed that this was the best shortcut to bring honor to her family.

Wang Heng began to sort out the saint's children.

The Saint and Queen Li had been married for more than twenty years. They were cousins ​​and had a very deep relationship.

Excluding those who died in infancy, the couple now has three sons and two daughters.

The eldest son, Yang Rui, had already married and had more than a dozen wives and concubines, who gave birth to more than a dozen sons and daughters for him.

The second son, Yang Ding, is the third among his brothers. He is twenty-three years old this year and has many wives and concubines at an early age.

The youngest son, Yang Duan, was the fifth among his brothers. He was nineteen years old and had been engaged, but his fiancée unfortunately died of illness.

"King Wei?!"

After Wang Heng sorted out several legitimate princes, she vaguely guessed Mrs. Lu's goal.

The fifth prince, Yang Duan, was named King of Wei by the sage.

As the youngest son of the emperor and empress, he is young and "unmarried"!

Lady Lu, who "claims to be noble", naturally looks down on the "illegitimate children" born to concubines.

Her only target is the legitimate prince born by the queen.

"Or, the prince?"

There is only one unmarried legitimate prince of similar age, but Lady Lu has two granddaughters.

One was promised to the King of Wei, and the other could be put into the Eastern Palace.

The prince does have many wives and concubines.

However, Mrs. Lu is "confident".

She must have thought that her granddaughter (granddaughter-in-law) could definitely marry the prince, but not the prince's consort. However, she could still try to get the prince's wife, such as Liangti.

Lady Lu, who was far away in her hometown, had heard how much the Saint Queen valued the Crown Prince and how high his abilities and prestige were.

In her opinion, the prince would definitely be able to inherit the throne.

When he ascends the throne, his concubine will be promoted to imperial concubine, and it is not impossible for her to become queen.

The rule of not taking a concubine as a wife applies to subjects, not the royal family.

Lady Lu was the prince's elder, and her granddaughters (granddaughters-in-law) were also ladies from aristocratic families. It was not considered too high a marriage for her to become a queen.

Wang Heng: ...It sounds ridiculous, but Mrs. Lu, such a spoiled "naughty child", dares to think so and put it into action.

I just don't know whether Mrs. Lu will let her granddaughter be a concubine, or let her granddaughter-in-law be a concubine.

hold on!

Li Yan?

Wang Heng once again recalled the genealogy she had memorized.

She remembered that Lady Lu had only one biological daughter, who had married Li from Zhao County seventeen years earlier.

That is the family of the empress dowager, Li, who is now the queen mother.

Seventeen years ago... Dugu clan...

A light flashed through Wang Heng's mind. She looked up at Lou Yu outside the car window: "Brother, that Li Yan——"

The two of them had such a tacit understanding that even if Wang Heng spoke suddenly, Lou Yu would guess what she meant without her having to finish her words.

Fine raindrops fell densely on Lou Yu's head and body.

The raindrops dripped down his thick black hair and his cold and hard facial lines.

But he didn't wipe it off, letting the rain flow freely over his body.

He tilted his head, looked at Wang Heng, and nodded slightly: "That's her!"

Li Yan is the daughter of Dugu who had arranged marriage with Lou Jin back then.

For the sake of Dugu Mingyue, Lou Jin finally refused the marriage proposal with the Dugu family.

Being rejected in marriage was not Dugu’s fault.

The Dugu family also obtained sufficiently sincere compensation from the Lou family.

However, Dugu eventually ended up with the reputation of having her engagement broken off.

But she has always been proud, so she is determined to marry a great man who is no less capable than Lou Jin.

The Dugu family chose the Li family, which, like the Yang family and the Lou family, was a family of military generals.

Dugu got married quickly.

When the previous dynasty collapsed, the Li family also joined the "feast" of competing for the world.

As a prosperous family, more than a dozen branches of the Li family also made multiple bets.

The direct line of the family went to the Yang family, which was the family of Yang Jiji's wife.

Another group joined a hostile force that was fighting with the Yang family for the world.

Unfortunately, the husband Dugu married belonged to this branch.

The Yang family won the world, and the empress's family, relying on military merit and the status of relatives by marriage, obtained the title of Duke Cheng'en.

As Yang Ji's most trusted confidant, Dugu Jia was also granted the title of Duke of Weiguo.

Only the family that Dugu married into was defeated and liquidated.

Fortunately, he was protected by the courteous people and thus escaped punishment.

But, the future of wealth and glory is gone.

Dugu's husband died in battle long ago.

Dugu, along with her daughter, endured until the establishment of the Xin Dynasty.

The Li family she belonged to was completely ruined, while the bastard who had once canceled her marriage was in a high position.

And that lowly maid was actually adopted as a daughter by her mother who claimed to love her the most.

Dugu was so angry that she vomited blood and eventually died.

"...Li Yan is the only daughter of the Dugu family."

Lou Yu has more and more detailed information.

He rode his horse, leaning slightly toward the carriage window, and whispered to Wang Heng, "I don't know if Madam Lu is worried about her only daughter, or if she feels guilty—"

Speaking of this, there was a hint of sarcasm in Lou Yu's tone.

distressed?

Guilt?

Haha, for a spoiled, selfish "naughty kid" like Mrs. Lu, this doesn't exist at all.

She just wants to maintain her image as a "loving mother".

"Uh-huh!"

Wang Heng nodded her head, agreeing with Lou Yu's "complaint": "That's why Madam Lu dotes on Li Yan even more, even at the expense of her own granddaughter!"

In order to show her favor, she stepped on another close relative. Tsk tsk, it's really hard to describe this Mrs. Lu.