Golden Branch

“…This matter is neither big nor small!”

Lou Yu was too lazy to comment on whether someone was stupid or not. He said softly, "Perhaps, it's just some random soldier's nonsense!"

Having said that, a gleam of light flashed in Lou Yu's deep, calm eye sockets.

Even though he was smart and perceptive, he did not expect that a chance encounter on the official road would lead to such an "unexpected surprise".

This "surprise" came so simply -

In the temporary camp, beside the campfire, the soldiers of the Dugu family were attracted by the hot soup and hot rice and ran over to eat.

They ate the sumptuous meals that belonged exclusively to the Wang and Lou families, and also heard about the generous treatment of the Wang family's followers and the Lou family's army.

I don't know if it was because he was stimulated at the moment or if he had already planned something in his heart, but he "accidentally" revealed some secrets.

For example, when Mrs. Lu returned to her hometown in Jizhou this time, she was not going to "visit relatives" as she announced to the outside world, but to do something big.

Perhaps, in the eyes of a domineering and selfish person like Lady Lu, it is just her own "family affair", but this matter concerns the royal family of the previous dynasty and is also related to the Turks. It is not just a family affair, but a national affair.

Oh no, it can also be considered a family matter, but when being questioned, the entire family may be implicated.

After hearing the "slip of the tongue" of the Dugu family, the Lou family army and the Wang family troops realized that the matter was serious, so they hurried to report to Lou Yu and Wang Heng.

Thus, the two little ones realized that Mrs. Lu’s behavior was either extremely bold or extremely stupid.

After hearing what Lou Yu said, Wang Heng looked up at him.

She didn't say anything, but her coquettish look said it all: Brother, do you believe what you said?

The Dugu family's followers should not be talking nonsense.

No wind, no wave.

If it was really a non-existent story, those soldiers wouldn't be able to make it up even if they tried.

A smile flashed in Lou Yu's eyes, and he reached out to touch Wang Heng's hair.

The little girl is still so smart and clever.

It’s just… I just don’t get it!

There is always a unique atmosphere between the two of them that no one can interfere with.

People who are familiar with Wang Heng and Lou Yu, such as Wang Mian, Zheng Shisan, etc., will not rush in rashly.

They have long been aware of the need to "not be a light bulb."

When they were in the carriage, Wang Mian, Zheng Shisan and others would try to reduce their presence, each busy with their own things, allowing a pair of "brothers and sisters" to get together, play backgammon, play Go, or read or paint.

When the carriage stopped, Wang, Zheng and others hurriedly got off and found a place to stay, making sure not to disturb the two little ones' private time together.

In addition to the master, there are also servants, and they all understand very well how Wang Heng and Lou Yu get along.

As for outsiders, I will not bother them unless—

"Princess, the second wife of the Li family wants to see you!"

Bai Zhi gritted her teeth, walked up to Wang Heng and Lou Yu, and bowed to convey the message.

Wang Heng was stunned for a moment, and then she thought of who Li's second mother was.

Li Yan.

Mrs. Lu's only granddaughter.

The elegant girl that Mrs. Lu first introduced on the official road.

She has a delicate appearance and elegant temperament, which is very consistent with the idea of ​​some literati and scholars about a talented woman - not ugly, nor coquettish, her temperament is better than her appearance, and her talent is outstanding, like a cold plum in the snow and a white lotus in the mud.

It is completely in line with the Chinese tradition of being implicit and introverted, rather than ostentatious, bright, or overly straightforward and vulgar.

A talented woman who is elegant and unworldly... comes to "ask to see" Wang Heng, a fake princess.

Wang Heng frowned slightly. She didn't care what Li Yan was going to do. She just suddenly thought of the look Li Yan gave Lou Yu on the official road.

My heart tightened slightly, as if something was pinching it.

It doesn't hurt, just uncomfortable.

There is also a faint sour and astringent feeling.

Wang Heng didn't know what this feeling was, she just instinctively disliked it.

"...What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Lou Yu didn't care about Li's second mother, he could only see Wang Heng.

Seeing that his own Ah Heng frowned slightly, the comfort and coquettishness just now disappeared in an instant, and Lou Yu hurriedly asked.

"Nothing! I, I'm not feeling unwell!" No way!

But, inexplicably, Wang Heng just didn't want her brother to know the bitterness and awkwardness in her heart at the moment.

Wang Heng looked up at Bai Zhi, thought for a moment, and was about to ask her to bring Li Yan over.

Lou Yu spoke first, "You're not feeling unwell, so why are you frowning?"

As he spoke, Lou Yu had already grasped Wang Heng's wrist in a very familiar manner.

Two fingers gently touched her pulse -

Ahem, there is a nearly omnipotent gentleman, Lou Yu, who is also well-versed in medical books and has a good understanding of medical skills.

It was just a simple pulse diagnosis, and Lou Yu did it with ease.

Wang Heng's wrists were white and slender, and there was an inexplicable sense of fragility.

It seems like it could be broken with just a slight pinch.

Lou Yu is tall and has big hands.

He gently held the slender wrist, one was delicate and fragile, the other was strong and tough.

Even Lou Yu himself was worried that if he used too much force, he might hurt Ah Heng.

So, he just lightly grasped the wrist, then quickly released it, and used only two fingers to take the pulse.

After a moment, Lou Yu removed his fingers: Ah Heng's pulse was strong and steady.

She looks slender and fragile, but she is actually in good health.

She is fine!

If physiological reasons are ruled out, then the only remaining reason is psychological.

After hearing the news that Li Yan wanted to see her, Ah Heng frowned and felt uncomfortable.

Aheng doesn't like Li Yan!

The problem is coming.

It was the first time that Ah Heng met Li Er Niang, and they only exchanged simple greetings.

The two of them didn't even spend time alone together, and Li Yan didn't offend Ah Heng.

Except——

Lou Yu really doesn't care about anyone except Wang Heng.

But he is smart and perceptive. He may not take it seriously, but he will not take it lightly.

He will not let down his guard against anyone who has any connection with him or Ah Heng.

He would investigate secretly, observe silently, and capture carefully.

When Li Yan and Dugu Wei appeared, Lou Yu only glanced at them lightly, but he still wrote down their expressions, words and deeds, and used this to infer their personalities.

Dugu Wei is a typical Dugu family woman, bright, flamboyant and domineering.

Li Yan has some of the demeanor of a "talented lady from an aristocratic family", elegant, noble, and untainted by the mundane world... Beneath the dull mask of a fairy, she harbors hidden worldly ambitions!

Lou Yu studied with Yang Rui and Shen Du for several years, and met all kinds of people. His eyes had long been honed to be extremely sharp.

He saw Li Yan's "true face" almost at a glance.

"A hypocritical woman who fits the world's imagination of a talented lady from an aristocratic family!"

Lou Yu gave an accurate evaluation.

The reason he paid so much attention to Li Yan was naturally not because he was attracted to her, but because it was a habit.

He had to make sure he knew enough about those close to him and Ah Heng.

In Lou Yu's heart, Li Yan doesn't even have a gender. She is just a "bystander" with a little scheming.

Although this "other person" tried his best to hide it, Lou Yu still felt the admiration in her eyes.

She likes him?

Do you like his beautiful face and noble temperament?

Or maybe, she likes the wealth and honor represented by the identity of Duke of Qi Lou Yu?

When Lou Yu realized that Li Yan "admired" him, he did not feel any joy or pride.

There's nothing you can do about it. He's handsome and has a noble status, so it's normal for people to like him.

Lou Yu didn't feel offended at all—

As long as Li Yan's "admiration" does not affect him, he will not care.

This is someone else's private matter.

Lou Yu wouldn't care about anyone except Aheng.

But at this moment, Li Yan's love seemed to have an impact - Ah Heng was unhappy?

So, Ah Heng finally got it?

Even if she didn't understand, she was unhappy because of Li Yan's love for Lou Yu?

Is she jealous?

Realizing this, Lou Yu couldn't help but feel happy.

He even had an impulse: Perhaps, he could make use of Li Yan.

Ah Heng is not smart!

Don’t understand what love is!

Maybe she has already fallen in love but doesn't realize it, and still "naively" says that she wants to be his brother or sister.

Damn brother and sister!

No matter how close siblings are, they will become estranged once they each get married.

In this world, only husband and wife can accompany each other hand in hand for a lifetime!

The quarrel that night seemed to be over.

Lou Yu and Wang Heng also reconciled.

However, Lou Yu always remembered Ah Heng's heartless look.

At that time, he thought silently in his heart: Ah Heng was protected too well by me, and she has no idea how dangerous the outside world is.

She was too willful and self-righteous, ignoring her true inner thoughts and instead being trapped by her inner demons.

Only when she sees real lovers, real "brothers and sisters", will she know how naive and ridiculous her previous thoughts were.

If you want someone to understand her inner self as quickly and deeply as possible, the simplest and quickest way is to have a competitor appear and make her feel a sense of crisis!

"Aheng must know that I, Lou Yu, am not some unwanted poor man."

"Aheng must also understand that once I find a lover, the so-called 'brother and sister' will gradually drift apart!"

In a person's heart, there is and can only be one most important person.

It may be a relative, a lover, or a friend.

Once the most important person appears, other people who were once important will become less important.

Lou Yu was so angry that night that he couldn't help but curse in his heart: I should teach that heartless little Ah Heng a lesson!

I chose other women as she wished, and then let her know what husband and wife and siblings are.

However, when Lou Yu lowered his head and looked at Wang Heng with a slightly frown on her face, his heart softened again:

Why should I bother with Aheng?

She is still young, she doesn’t understand!

Then I should wait until she grows up and teach her.

Finding someone else to stimulate Ah Heng can indeed make her realize her mistake, but it will also make her sad.

Maybe, there will be unnecessary trouble.

For Lou Yu, creating complications and asking for trouble are both foolish.

Lou Yu can test Wang Mian and Zheng Shisan without hesitation, but he will not provoke Wang Heng.

Because the former is still a bystander.

And Ah Heng——

"I probably owed her something in my past life!"

Lou Yu sighed silently.

Before Wang Heng could speak, he said to Bai Zhi, "Go and ask the Li family's Second Lady what she wants to see the princess for!"

Bai Zhi was stunned for a moment, and she subconsciously looked at Wang Heng.

Wang Heng was also a little stunned.

However, she was used to trusting and relying on Lou Yu.

Moreover, Wang Heng didn't really want to see Li Yan and Lou Yu standing together.

"Listen to my brother!"

Wang Heng said hurriedly.

After receiving the master's order, Bai Zhi responded and quickly turned around to reply.

Li Yan was standing beside the official road about ten meters away. She stood straight, like a white plum blossom standing proudly on a branch.

Maybe it’s not beautiful enough, but it’s really elegant and noble.

Even though she was just a commoner at the moment, the person she was going to meet was a princess, so she did not behave too humbly.

She is neither humble nor arrogant, neither bent nor unyielding, graceful and elegant, a true beauty with temperament.

"Second Mother, what do you want to see the princess for?"

Bai Zhi walked closer, bowed slightly, and asked politely.

Li Yan was slightly stunned: Why didn’t they just let her go over directly, but had to find a maid to ask?

What?

Princess Langya doesn't want to see her?

Isn't she just a fake princess? Why is she so spoiled?

She, Li Yan, was indeed an orphan without a father, and she had no rank or title of her own.

But, her grandmother is Lady Lu.

The Li family she belongs to is also a wealthy and prestigious family.

Even if you don't consider her own situation, you should treat her well for the sake of Madam Lu or the Li family.

It has to be said that no matter how elegant and unworldly Li Yan appears on the surface, she still has a strict class consciousness in her heart.

In her eyes, Wang Heng was just a servant like her.

At most, Wang Heng was "lucky" because her biological mother remarried and became a favorite concubine.

However, Wang Heng's identity as a princess also brings some embarrassment that she cannot get rid of.

Is it a glorious thing for a biological mother to marry a second time and use her beauty to please a man?

The people of the Dayu Dynasty were open-minded and did not have such strict requirements on women. They did not force women to not remarry or to remain chaste.

But, we won’t force it, nor will we encourage it.

Divorce, remarriage and the like will eventually be criticized or even ridiculed!

Concubine Jiang was a favored concubine, with a saint behind her, and others did not dare to show any disrespect to her in person.

But there is always gossip and ridicule behind the back.

As for Princess Langya, she was far less noble than Concubine Jiang. Even if she had the title of princess, the powerful people in the capital would not really regard her as a princess.

They might be afraid of Concubine Jiang and would not do anything to Princess Langya openly, but they would definitely look at her strangely, or even be sarcastic and make indirect accusations.

Li Yan did not show any disrespect, she even ran over respectfully to "pay her respects".

Although the person she wanted to see was not Princess Langya, Li Yan believed that she had no shortcomings in terms of etiquette.

Princess Langya, however——

"...You can't blame Grandma for being confused. Wang Jiu is no good either!"

"You're so proud that you become arrogant. You really think you're a royal lady!"

Li Yan's pretty face still showed indifference, but she secretly felt disgusted in her heart.

Li Yan answered Bai Zhi's question truthfully: "I just learned that the princess and the duke actually gave the post station to my grandmother!"

"Your servants understand that this is the princess's kindness, respecting the elderly and cherishing the weak, but we must not forget the hierarchy."

"My grandmother-in-law specifically ordered me to come here to thank the princess and apologize. Please tell my wife to let me personally go before the princess and make my statement..."