Golden Branch

Wang Heng knew Lou Yu well, and was very understanding of his decision to give up the post station without authorization, and she cooperated with him very well.

She ordered the carriage to leave the post station and stop on the official road a few dozen meters away.

At this time, the sky darkened and the rain stopped.

The servants gathered around, unloaded the carriage frame, and led the two horses to the open space to drink water, eat grass, and rest.

The huge carriage was placed firmly on the stones.

Wang Heng also got off the carriage.

The carriage designed and supervised by Amian was indeed spacious and comfortable.

But at the end of the day, staying in a fixed space all the time still makes me feel suffocated.

Not to mention, we have to stay in a carriage tonight.

Wang Heng simply took advantage of this time to get off the car and walk around.

The yellow mud land was wet by the rain and became very muddy.

The servants prepared the clogs.

Before getting off the bus, Wang Heng, Wang Mian, Zheng Shisan and others all changed into clogs.

"It's raining, and although it's a bit chilly, it feels very fresh all around."

Wearing clogs and getting off the carriage, I could smell the moistness of the soil and the fragrance of grass and trees.

Wang Heng moved her limbs imperceptibly and looked into the distance, only to see empty wasteland all around.

On one side is the post station.

On the other side, there are dozens or even hundreds of tents.

These are her and Lou Yu's soldiers.

The bonfire was burning and the crowds were bustling.

The large army of thousands of people instantly made this originally quiet world lively.

"Did they all drink the ginger water? Did no one catch a cold?"

Just like Lou Yu, Wang Heng is very caring towards her own people.

It was because of these people that she dared to stay in a carriage in the wild and come to Beijing so ostentatiously.

They are her foundation.

It will also be her confidence when she enters Beijing in the future!

"Don't worry, they are all fine!"

For a grown man who can go to the battlefield, he also does drills and training on weekdays, so getting a little wet is nothing.

Lou Yu followed Wang Heng and spoke softly.

He is not "unwilling to eat meat" or "ignorant of the sufferings of the world". He himself has been tempered and will not "spoil" those rough soldiers.

Wang Heng felt relieved after hearing what Lou Yu said.

She looked around and found that there was no other scenery in this open space except a small river.

The soldiers were warming themselves by the fire and eating, while the servants were busy packing the wagons.

Wang Heng's personal maids were busy packing the carriage.

The kitchen staff also started cooking.

Wearing clogs and stepping in the mud, Wang Heng slowly walked to the carriage where Madam Xie and Wang Lin were.

The same two-horse carriage had a large compartment that could easily accommodate two patients, six children, and their personal attendants.

Wang Heng habitually asked about the situation of the two elders, Xie and Wang.

For example, are you feeling unwell?

Is there anything you want to eat?

For example, Wang Heng would report in detail their itinerary, upcoming arrangements and other details.

As I said, do the whole thing.

Just looking at Wang Heng's attitude towards Madam Xie and Wang Lin, even though we know that there is not too deep affection between the three relatives, we can't help but sigh: Jiu Niang is indeed kind and pure.

Even to unkind elders, she is filial to them wholeheartedly.

Wang Heng: ...Since we are going to do it, we must do it to the best of our ability.

To quote Amian, before you can deceive others you must first deceive yourself.

Wang Heng was not brainwashing herself, but deceiving herself into believing that she was a filial daughter and grandson who repaid evil with kindness.

But she knew what she wanted.

reputation!

She wants a good reputation!

She can pay a certain price for the reputation of being pure and filial.

Besides, it is just verbal condolences, which can be said casually and does not require any effort, so it is not a difficult thing.

"I am indeed a selfish person."

She has no filial piety and only thinks about her own interests.

In this respect, she is indeed the granddaughter of Madam Xie and the biological daughter of Wang Lin.

Wang Heng knew that she was not as beautiful and kind as she appeared to be, but in the eyes of her half brothers and sisters, such as Wang Erlang, her words and deeds made her the best person in the world.

"Sister is kind and filial!"

"Yes, yes! She not only takes good care of Grandmother and Grandfather, but also treats us well!"

"Father was in a coma for such a long time, but he was able to wake up. It was all thanks to my sister!"

"That's right! I heard from the Lou family's doctor that a case like Father's is rare."

The Wang family's illegitimate sons and daughters actually had no feelings for Madam Xie and Wang Lin, mother and son.

Wang Erlang even resented their indifference.

However, no matter how much resentment he felt, Wang Erlang had to admit that having a father was still helpful to him as he was still a minor.

Wang Erlang never forgot the horrific scene at the post station that night when he saw his stepmother smash his father's head and his father fainted without a sound.

At that moment, he even forgot his hatred and was filled with fear: What should I do without my father?

No matter how unkind Wang Lin was, he was still the pillar of the Wang family.

If the main pillar collapses, the Wang family's building will also collapse.

It was only after arriving in Hedong and meeting his elder sister that Wang Erlang's troubled heart finally settled down a little after he was sure that she would not abandon them.

Afterwards, my sister not only arranged accommodation for them, but also hired a teacher to teach them and arranged for servants to serve them.

My younger brothers and sisters have also received safe arrangements.

Even Balang's biological mother, who had just passed away, was buried by his sister in the newly built cemetery of the Wang family.

Without their grandmother and father, their lives seemed to be better.

Now, I even have the opportunity to go back to Beijing with my sister.

The capital city is so prosperous and has so many literati and scholars.

Wang Erlang missed it very much, and he also knew that there were the most opportunities in the capital, which was definitely better than the remote countryside in Hedong.

Originally, Wang Erlang was worried when he heard that his sister had been crowned a princess and was about to go to the capital.

He was afraid that his sister would abandon them in Hedong.

After all, she is just an older sister, and she herself has not yet reached the age of marriage and is still a half-grown child.

They were not born from the same mother as her, and they were all lowly illegitimate children. As the eldest legitimate daughter who inherited the family business, no one would say anything even if she sold these illegitimate brothers and sisters.

Of course, my sister's reputation will be damaged.

But reputation is such an intangible thing. Sometimes it is very important, and sometimes it is worthless.

To a certain extent, the lives of Wang Erlang and others are in the hands of their elder sister Wang Heng.

During that time, Wang Erlang couldn't sleep in the middle of the night and couldn't help but worry: My sister won't abandon us, right?

Unexpectedly, my sister was so kind that she was willing to take them to Beijing.

Father actually woke up... They now have another supporter.

Wang Erlang attributed all this to Wang Heng: It must be his sister's filial piety that moved heaven and earth and awakened his father.

As to whether Wang Heng was using them to enhance her reputation, Wang Erlang had his doubts.

But so what?

A gentleman does not care about his deeds.

No matter what my sister thinks, her words and actions are filial and friendly.

Wang Erlang told himself and his brothers and sisters more than once: My father was saved by my sister! My sister is our greatest support!

As the head of the Wang family, my sister is the only and most suitable candidate!

"...Sister, don't worry, my brothers and sisters and I have been taking care of Grandma and Daddy all the way!"

Wang Erlang collected his thoughts and spoke to Wang Heng in a low voice.

Wang Heng nodded. Perhaps it was because “good bamboo shoots come from bad bamboo”, or perhaps it was because of her status as a concubine’s son, but Wang Erlang and his other half brothers and sisters, except for Wang Balang who had not yet grown teeth, the other five were all well-behaved and smart.

Wang Heng couldn't guarantee whether they had a conscience or knew how to be grateful, but these were not important.

What Wang Heng cared about most was whether her half brothers and half sisters were smart.

A smart person, even if he has no conscience, will make the wisest choice.

Although he has a conscience, he is too stupid and is still a pig teammate who holds the team back.

Wang Heng felt that it was enough for the Wang family to have one Wanglin.

As long as the next generation of Wang Erlang and others do not do anything stupid, Wang Heng is willing to support them.

"Erlang, you are great!"

Wang Heng was satisfied, and after talking to several other brothers and sisters, she left.

Wang Heng did not return to her carriage. She and Lou Yu continued strolling.

When they arrived in front of Shen Du's carriage, the two children paid their respects, greeted him, and told him: the post station had been given to Mrs. Lu, and they would stay overnight along the official road!

If you don't want to sleep in the carriage, you can also set up a tent like those soldiers!

The Wang and Lou families are the least lacking in these supplies.

Shen Du liked to travel around the world in his early years, and he had lived with the sky as his blanket and the ground as his mat.

Now it is very good. The carriages provided by the three disciples Wang Heng, Wang Mian and Lou Yu are no less beautiful than the guest rooms. Shen Du likes them very much.

You can sleep in a carriage, even in the open wilderness, and you don’t have to worry about your safety.

There are nearly a thousand guards. Not to mention wolves, even bandits don’t dare to get close!

"...You guys go ahead! I just like staying in the carriage!"

Shen Du waved his hand casually and sent the two disciples away.

Senior brothers Gu Zhe and Wang Yan also said: That’s good!

They traveled from south to north, sleeping in the open air and enduring countless hardships.

They can best understand the inconvenience of being away from home.

Their current situation is much better than it was back then.

If you still care about it, you will be ungrateful.

Wang Heng & Lou Yu: ...See, dealing with smart people is so cheap.

Unlike some fools—

Wang Heng thought of the "idiot" and couldn't help but look towards the post station.

"Brother, how can there be such stupid people in this world?"

"Doesn't she know that by doing this, she will bring disaster to the entire Dugu family?"

Lou Yu: ...Yes! He actually met another idiot.

Coincidentally, this idiot is his biological mother.

What’s even more coincidental is that Lady Lu and Dugu Mingyue are actually “mother and daughter”!

"...This matter still needs to be verified and can't be taken seriously! I'll send someone to Jizhou and have them conduct a thorough investigation!"

Jizhou is the hometown of the Dugu family.

Two years ago, Mrs. Lu returned to Jizhou on the pretext of "visiting relatives."

The powerful people in the capital did not suspect anything and just regarded it as someone else's family affair.

It is probably some people in the Dugu family who don’t know the real purpose of Madam Lu returning to her hometown.

She wasn't "visiting her parents" at all; she was clearly courting death...