Golden Branch

"I know you're reluctant to leave Ajahn, but my Wang family has 139 members. We also have hundreds of tenant farmers in the fortress."

Mrs. Xie did not react at all to her son's growl.

She didn't even raise her eyelids, and her voice remained low and calm, as if she was talking about a very ordinary little thing.

"Not to mention, this fortress is the foundation of my Wang family for hundreds of years. Outside the fortress, nearly a thousand bandits are like vicious wolves, treating my Wang family as their prey."

"I am an old woman, nearly sixty years old. I am not afraid to say that I have enjoyed all the glory and wealth in this world. Even if I die immediately, I will have no regrets."

"But what about my son? You are in your prime, at the age when you can start a great career. How can you lose your life to a vulgar thief?"

"And your nephews? They've lost their father and only have you as their uncle. If you can't even protect them, what will become of them?"

Mrs. Xie stopped talking here.

She had said everything that needed to be said, and she knew what choice her son should make.

It is clear at a glance which is more important, one person or a clan.

"Besides, Yang Chong is no ordinary person. He will definitely have a great future. If Ajahn follows him, he won't necessarily suffer."

The capital is in chaos and the world is in turmoil. It is a disaster, but also an opportunity for heroes to compete.

Yang Chong, his grandfather had been a general of the state, stationed in a border town and commanding an army of 100,000.

During the Zhou Dynasty, although the Yang family was a Han official, they were highly regarded by the royal family.

Emperor Wu once gave the Yang family the surname "Bu Liugu", and the Yang family quickly became one of the eight great families of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

During the reign of the previous emperor, the sinicization was promoted and the Yang family changed back to their original surname.

However, one can imagine the glory and respect that the Yang family enjoyed in the Great Zhou.

Now, the emperor is young, the powerful minister Da Chancellor has launched a mutiny, and the Great Zhou is about to perish.

Warlords from all over the country rose up in rebellion, and the Yang family was the most powerful and prestigious among them.

Yang Chong is the eldest son of the Yang family. In addition to his status, he also has strong personal abilities.

He personally led the army to capture cities and expand the territory for the Yang family.

One day, when the dynasty changes in the north, the emperor will be surnamed Yang, and Yang Chong will at least be a prince.

If Ajahn followed him, she would be the prince's favorite concubine.

Maybe we can go further in the future.

As for the Wang family, it had long since fallen into decline. The once powerful Wang family of Langya could no longer even stay in the capital and had to be driven back to their hometown in Yizhou.

As the head of the Wang family, Wang Lin was only a sixth-rank Fengyilang before he was driven out of the capital.

This official position is just a sinecure and has no real power at all.

Even so, Wang Lin couldn’t save it!

The Wang family was truly defeated.

If you don't find a solution, you will end up in poverty or even become a bankrupt.

Madam Xie wanted to curry favor with Yang Chong, not just to "borrow troops", she also wanted to place a bet in advance.

Once the Yang family gains power in this chaos, the Wang family will have a chance to return to the center of power!

In other words, he didn't have a daughter of the right age, and even if he did, her appearance would probably not be as good as Jiang's.

Otherwise, Madam Xie would have given her daughter to Yang Chong long ago.

As for the daughter-in-law, it doesn’t matter at all!

Since they are not her own flesh and blood, Mrs. Xie would not even feel sorry for them.

If the offer of beauty is successful, the son will be asked to write a letter of divorce, and then the Xie family will adopt Jiang as their adopted daughter and become a adopted relative of the Yang family.

If the offer of beauty fails, then let Jiang die of illness and then find a good marriage for his son.

Mrs. Xie never looked down upon Jiang, believing that she was a vixen who used her beauty to seduce men.

Now that there is such an opportunity, whether it succeeds or not, Jiang can be "dealt with".

"It's a pity that General Yang didn't bring his family with him when he came to Yizhou this time. I heard that he has several concubines and his wife's sisters. If Dalang could become a relative of the Yang family, it would be great for the Wang family!"

Although the Wang family has declined, it is still a clan.

A noble surname is really useless when it is not used, but when it is useful, it can work wonders.

Mrs. Xie gently twisted the Buddhist beads, thinking secretly in her heart.

Wang Lin didn't say anything. He clenched his fists, his face flushed, and several blue veins bulged on his forehead.

He was angry, helpless, struggling, and hesitant... Finally, he slowly raised his head.

Wang Lin looked at Madam Xie and said, "Mother, if this doesn't work out, please spare Jiang's life!"

Madam Xie paused as she twirled her Buddhist beads. "Okay!"

……

The girl, Wang Heng, the only legitimate daughter of Wang Lin, squatted under the window until her feet were numb, but she still could not understand what her grandmother and father were saying.

Firstly, it was a confidential conversation, so both mother and son spoke in low voices, and there was a window between them.

The sound was so soft that Wang Heng could only hear part of it intermittently.

Secondly, Wang Heng was still young. She was said to be six years old, but she was only five years old.

Moreover, because she was a daughter, Wang Lin did not have high expectations for Wang Heng. He did not treat her like a concubine's son and start her education at the age of three.

On weekdays, it was Wang Heng's mother, Jiang, who read some enlightenment books to the child.

Such as "Taigong Family Teachings" and "The Book of Songs".

Jiang loved her daughter very much and was never strict in teaching and disciplining her.

In the past two or three years, the capital has been in turmoil and people are in panic.

Last year, the entire Wang family fled. Elders such as Jiang were busy with household chores and could not spare much time to raise their daughter.

Of course, there is also Wang Heng’s own personality. She is not a very smart person and is a bit naive.

"What on earth are Grandmother and Grandfather talking about?"

"Send Ajahn? Where are they sending Ajahn?"

"A Niang is A Jiu's A Niang. This is A Niang's home. Where else do you want to send A Niang?"

Wang Heng's fair and delicate little face was full of question marks.

Wang Heng couldn't figure it out, so she simply stopped thinking about it.

Wang Heng rubbed her numb calves vigorously with her chubby little hands, then tiptoed out of the main hall again.

Go down the stairs and put on your shoes.

The little girl also forgot about the cat and left the yard in the same direction she came from.

"Jiu Niang! Jiu Niang! Why are you here?"

Just as I walked around a corridor, a little maid about seven or eight years old rushed over.

"Baizhi!"

Wang Heng was very happy to see her maid.

"Oh, how did it get so dirty? Jiu Niang, did you play with that fat cat slave again?"

"My Lady has already said that this raccoon slave is still wild and likes to run around everywhere. It's extremely disgusting."

"Besides, it's hard to tame and will bite and scratch at any time. If it hurts Jiu Niang, she will have to take bitter medicine!"

The maid's name was Baizhi, and she was specially selected by Jiang from the Wang family's servants to serve her daughter.

She is nine years old, three years older than Wang Heng.

Although he is still a teenager, he is steady and sensible.

He also served Wang Heng wholeheartedly.

As Bai Zhi spoke, she took out a handkerchief and gently wiped Wang Heng's hands and face.

"The raccoon isn't dirty! He doesn't scratch me! He's just being naughty. I gave him some meat, but he wouldn't let me touch him!"

Wang Heng corrected him in a baby voice and did not forget to complain.

Angelica:  …

She wiped the young master's face and hands, put away the handkerchief, and glanced at the small bamboo basket hanging around Wang Heng's waist.

The bamboo basket is very small, only the size of an adult's palm.

It is small but very delicately woven, with two long straps also made of bright silk.

The bamboo basket can be carried on the back or across the body.

At this moment, the bamboo basket on Wang Heng's body was just two straps put together, slung across her shoulders.

The length of the straps is just right for the backpack to be placed around Wang Heng's waist.

She could touch the things in the bamboo basket with just one hand.

Although the backpack is small, it is still divided into compartments, just like a plum blossom box, divided into five or six grids.

Each grid contains some snacks: fruits, cakes, dried meat, dried fruits, etc.

Baizhi looked carefully and found that the bamboo basket was half empty.

Well, the little girl not only fed the cat, but also fed herself a lot.

"Jiu Niang, let's go back. The Lady will be worried if she can't see you!"

Bai Zhi didn't say anything more about the cat. She knew that even if she reminded the young master again and again, the young master would not listen.

From now on, she should take better care of her and try not to leave Jiu Niang.

but--

Alas, the journey back to Yizhou from the capital last year was not peaceful.

The Wang family includes masters, servants, and followers.

The convoy was huge, with hundreds of people, and it stretched out for dozens of feet.

Such a scene can indeed deter rioters and villains, but it will also attract bandits and rebel soldiers.

Along the way, they encountered several robberies, and the slaves either died or escaped.

Finally they arrived at Wang's Fortress. Not to mention other rooms, just on Jiuniang's side, there were originally four first-class maids and four second-class maids, but now there are only two first-class and one second-class maids left.

Even if we return to the fortress, there will not be eternal peace.

famine!

Rioters!

Thief!

Government!

Either they were forcibly extorted, or they were given away by their masters...the servants of the Wang family experienced another "disaster".

Up to now, Wang Heng, the eldest daughter of the family head, was only left with two maids: Bai Zhi and Bai Yao.

Even with these two people, they can't just guard Wang Heng.

Occasionally, there would be orders from other rooms or from the lady.

Otherwise, Jiu Niang wouldn't be running around alone.

Alas, the Wang family is really in a dilemma of being caught between a rock and a hard place.

Bai Zhi was a slave, so she might not be able to say such words, but she could feel the decline and fall of her master's family.

After sending Wang Heng back to Haitangyuan where Jiang was, Bai Zhi was called by the people from the third house to help.

"Jiu Niang, go find the Lady first, I'll be right back!"

"...Yes! Go ahead!"

Wang Heng has become accustomed to her people always being "borrowed" by others.

She waved her hand, didn't care, and went straight into the main room.

"Auntie!"

Wang Heng ran in with a thump. She was not too fat, but not thin either.

Because it was cold in spring, I wore thicker clothes with fur rolled around the edges, making me look like a furry bunch.

Wang Heng came to Jiang like a cat.

Jiang looked to be about twenty years old, with a long bun, long eyebrows, red lips and white teeth, and an ethereal appearance.

She looks like a beautiful lady, or a fairy in a painting, totally unlike an ordinary person.

In addition to her breathtaking beauty, Jiang also has a cold and broken temperament.

Even a slight frown makes people feel distressed and want to pity her.

Now, she is married and has a daughter, but her beauty remains unchanged and she exudes a mature charm.

"Ajiu is back? Going to play with Li Nu again?"

Jiang was kneeling on the low couch. When she heard the noise, she knew it was her daughter without even looking.

She raised her head and saw Wang Heng running towards her.

Although Baizhi had already dealt with it, the perceptive Jiang still noticed some dirt on her daughter's skirt and sleeves.

Although my daughter is more lively now, she runs around chasing a cat all day long.

But she would not act foolishly. The dust on her clothes was not stained by her own will, but was rubbed by something.

Apart from the raccoon who only knew how to cheat for food and drink, Jiang couldn't think of anything else.

"Well, that raccoon is so mean! I saved the lamb roast for it, but it still wouldn't listen and ran away after eating the meat!"

"Mother, I was so exhausted chasing the raccoon, and I accidentally ran into Grandmother's yard. Oh, and I heard Grandmother and Father talking."

"It's just that what they say is so strange. Big Mother wants to send A Niang to find sheep!"

Nestled in A Niang's soft and fragrant arms, Wang Heng spoke in a baby voice.

Jiang listened with a smile at first, but as she listened, she realized something was wrong.

Send my mother to find sheep?

What sheep?

Wait, today my husband has invited General Yang to a banquet.

General Yang, "Sheep"?

Sending A-niang? A-niu’s A-niang is none other than Jiang.

Thinking of Madam Xie's cold and arrogant face, and then thinking of the beautiful maids and even concubines that the Wang family had sent out during this period, Jiang suddenly realized that it was not about "sending A Jiang to find sheep", but about giving A Jiang to Yang Chong!

Jiang's body couldn't help but shiver...

PS: I haven't written ancient Chinese for a long time, and I don't know how it goes. If you have any comments, please leave a message, mua! (*╯3╰)