Golden Branch

When Wang Heng heard the servant's report, she knew that even if she didn't want to see Li Yan this time, she couldn't refuse to see her.

"Let her come here!"

Wang Heng sighed silently and spoke softly.

Lou Yu raised his eyelids and glanced at Wang Heng: Wang Heng really doesn't like Li Yan.

He remained calm, and his handsome face was characterized by warmth and gentleness.

Li Yan followed Bai Zhi and came closer.

She quickly glanced at the young man and girl sitting on the Hu bed, and then quickly lowered her eyelids: Mr. Lou, you really live up to your reputation as a gentleman, you are as delicate as jade, gentle and upright.

Lou Yu's eye sockets are naturally deep, and when he softens his facial lines and looks at someone intently, he appears particularly affectionate.

It seems that the stars in the sky are shining only for one person.

It’s a pity that in Lou Yu’s deep eyes, there is only Wang Jiu’s reflection.

Li Yan lowered her eyes to hide the jealousy.

The friendship they had growing up together, Wang Jiu’s stunning looks, and the status of a princess... She was indeed a formidable opponent.

But, everyone says that a man should marry a virtuous woman.

A woman’s beauty is not a blessing but a curse.

Moreover, apart from her face and the identity of a fake princess, Wang Jiu, the Princess of Langya, had no reputation for talent.

It was such a waste of the position of Shen Du's first female disciple, and it was also a betrayal of Mr. Shen's careful teaching.

In the eyes of Li Yan, who is proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and good at music and dance, Wang Jiu is just a pretty girl with a pretty face.

Stupid, talentless, and with a beautiful exterior but rotten inside, she is not the ideal bride for men and elders.

On the contrary, she may not be outstanding in appearance, but she is talented, quiet and virtuous, and comes from a noble family. She is absolutely the virtuous wife and mother that most people would expect.

Li Yan silently compared and competed herself with Wang Heng in her heart.

She is not blindly confident, but she understands the world too well.

Although the Dayu Dynasty shared the boldness and enlightenment of the northern border, it was also influenced by Confucian culture due to several sinicizations.

As the world was unified, families and forces in the south also moved north.

Dayu has ushered in a new, large-scale integration.

People in the capital and all over the world also began to pursue the so-called nobility and elegance.

People who love orchids seem to be more noble.

Peonies, peonies, etc. are considered vulgar.

The requirements for women are also to be elegant, gentle, slender and soft.

Of course, this trend did not completely change the unbridled and ostentatious nature of the noble ladies in the north, but it was also praised by some pedantic literati.

Marry a virtuous woman. A woman does not have to be too beautiful, but she must be virtuous.

On the contrary, if a woman is too beautiful and too bright, she will be despised by some jealous people.

It seems that if he marries a beautiful woman, he will be blinded by lust and become a superficial person who only cares about the appearance and not the inner qualities.

Li Yan grew up in the capital and felt the subtle changes in secular customs after the establishment of the new dynasty.

She was secretly delighted because such "aesthetics" was beneficial to her.

She is not beautiful enough, but she has temperament and is exactly the kind of "virtuous wife" that men want most.

Fortunately, Wang Heng didn't know Li Yan's thoughts, otherwise, she would definitely sneer at her.

Correct!

Women can’t be too beautiful, otherwise men won’t like them!

What kind of bullshit is this?

If Concubine Jiang was not beautiful enough, how could she have won the favor of the saint?

If Dugu Mingyue wasn't beautiful enough, how could Lou Jin keep thinking about her?

It was Wang Heng herself. She had criticized Lou Yu's domineering behavior, but she had never disliked his appearance.

Men and women alike have a preference for colors.

Wang Heng would never believe that someone would give up a beautiful woman and choose an ugly one!

Just look at the connotation?

Probably the biggest lie.

In Wang Heng's view, marrying a virtuous wife is just a way for men to discipline women, but some self-righteous people are complacent and secretly proud of it.

For example, Li Yan.

She tried her best to comfort herself in this way, and she actually had the "confidence" to compete with a stunning beauty like Wang Heng!

She bent her knees slightly and saluted with her hands clasped together: "I, a humble woman, greet Princess Langya!"

"No need to be so polite! Miss Li, please stand up!"

Wang Heng smiled faintly and spoke softly.

Li Yan stood up and hurriedly repeated the purpose of his trip:

"The princess is so kind. Not only did she give up the post station, she also gave us some delicious food. Grandma is very grateful."

"To thank the princess, Grandma has specially ordered the chef to prepare several dishes. Please enjoy them with the princess and Duke Qi!"

Wang Heng bowed slightly, "Thank you, Madam Lu!"

She turned her head and gave Bai Zhi a look.

Bai Zhi understood and hurried forward with two maids to take the food box.

Li Yan sent a return gift, Wang Heng thanked her and ordered someone to take it, and the matter was considered completed.

If Li Yan had known what was good for her, she would have taken the opportunity to leave.

Of course, it would be normal for her to take the opportunity to chat with Wang Heng in order to get closer to the royal lady.

but--

Li Yan was not doing this for Wang Heng. What she wanted was to get close to Lou Yu.

"Princess, Mr. Lou, I heard that you two are students of Mr. Shen Du? Mr. Lou is famous in the capital for his talents in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and mathematics. I also like poetry and painting. I wonder if there is a chance for me to learn from Mr. Lou?"

Wang Heng raised her eyebrows: Oh wow, so direct?

Isn't it said that these noble ladies from aristocratic families like to be euphemistic and roundabout?

Although Wang Heng was used as a bridge, Li Yan's feelings for Lou Yu were too straightforward, almost written on her face.

Looking at her elegant and aloof temperament, she doesn't seem like the type of person who can't keep calm.

Li Yan: ...I don’t want to be so straightforward!

But, the opportunity is fleeting!

She had a premonition that if she didn't act in time and missed tonight, she might part ways with Lou Yu if she set off tomorrow.

It’s not that Princess Langya and Duke Qi didn’t want to travel with Lady Lu, but that Lady Lu didn’t want to go to the capital with the “new nobles”.

Mrs. Lu has always been arrogant and until today, she is unwilling to face the reality that the Dugu family has lost power.

If it were only the Dugu family and their group, Mrs. Lu would not have such deep feelings.

But if there were two upstarts around her who were respected and treated preferentially everywhere, she, Lady Lu, would be reduced to a control group, and Lady Lu could not stand such "humiliation".

Knowing that you cannot win and knowing that you will be "humiliated", it is better to go your separate ways.

She did not want to take advantage of the princess's glory, and she did not want the princess's glory to overshadow her remaining dignity!

We can't travel together, and after arriving in Beijing, we won't have much social interaction.

Unless Li Yan takes the initiative to get close to him without caring about her dignity... that would only be more difficult and embarrassing than being straightforward today.

Li Yan knows her own strengths: she is noble, aloof, and able to appreciate her own beauty, and she will never flatter the world.

Once she does something that goes against her image as an extraordinary and arrogant talented woman, her advantages will no longer exist.

Li Yan doesn’t know what it means to fail or have her image collapse, but she is unwilling to give up her advantages.

Therefore, you should do it before going to Beijing, when there won’t be so many noble ladies and noble gentlemen around as spectators. Even if you fail, it won’t be too embarrassing!

Li Yan thought to herself, her cold eyes already looking at Lou Yu intently.

Lou Yu was still calm and composed, gentle as jade, like a spring breeze.

Just looking at this face and the aura he exudes, even people who are familiar with him might have the illusion that he has a good temper, is gentle and generous.

He is as kind as water and embraces everything.

Even if the words or actions are not in line with the rules, or are too reckless and frivolous, he will not care.

Lou Yu’s acting has become so natural that even those who are familiar with him would be confused, let alone someone like Li Yan who he meets for the first time?

She was also feeling aroused, and under the influence of admiration, she had a lover filter, and she felt that Lou Yu was gentle, generous, compassionate and tolerant.

"Lord Lou is indeed a gentle and kind man! He is not arrogant or presumptuous because of his birth or title."

"His eyes are so affectionate, his expression is so gentle, he, he will definitely be a good husband and a good father!"

It’s no wonder Li Yan made random assumptions. Lou Yu’s expression was too deceptive.

His already perfect appearance, coupled with his gentlemanly temperament, makes even a casual expression of his seem affectionate, gentle and doting.

Li Yan almost drowned in Lou Yu's deep eyes. She found that Lou Yu's eyes were really beautiful.

The eye color is slightly lighter, the color of amber.

The deep eye sockets and fox-like charming eye shape make her look both cool and noble, yet full of charm.

Li Yan has already begun to imagine the beautiful picture of marrying Lou Yu and having children with him.

Wang Heng blinked her eyes. What was this person imagining?

Why is her smile so dreamy? And why is there such an inextricable happiness?

"Perhaps, she has already started thinking about the child's name, as well as the child's future education and marriage!"

Wang Mian came up at some point.

Holding a handful of melon seeds in his hand, he raised his hand and handed a few to Wang Heng.

Wang Heng: ...Oh my goodness, when did Amian show up?

Aren’t you the most afraid of my brother?

How dare you watch him having fun?

Also, you, you actually dare to eat melon seeds——

Wang Heng was complaining madly in her heart, but her body was very honest.

She stretched out her fair, slender fingers and gently pinched a few melon seeds.

Click!

Click!

The two little girls actually started eating melon seeds on the spot.

Lou Yu suppressed the twitching on his forehead and managed not to break his perfect image of a gentle gentleman and a handsome exiled immortal.

"Mrs. Li, thank you for your compliment. I am not talented enough to comment lightly."

Lou Yu tried his best not to look at the two annoying little girls and continued to flatter Li Yan.

Li Yan, however, seemed not to hear the rejection in Lou Yu's words, and directly took out a few pieces of paper from his sleeve pocket: "Mr. Lou, you are too modest. If you are not talented, who in this world would dare to call themselves a talented person?"

"Or is it that Mr. Lou feels that my work is unsightly and is therefore unwilling to give me any advice?"

Li Yan's words seemed like a joke, but contained a hint of pride.

"Humble work"?

It's just her modesty!

Although her poems and paintings cannot be compared with those of famous scholars, they are better than those of ordinary scholars.

In the capital, she is ranked as the most talented woman.

Logically speaking, since Li Yan had said this, if Lou Yu continued to refuse, it would be a real disrespect to Li Yan.

Moreover, according to the routine of online romantic novels that Wang Mian is familiar with, the male protagonist will take advantage of the female supporting role in order to force the female protagonist to see her own heart clearly.

With a little stimulation, the heroine will feel the threat from her competitors, and she will naturally "wake up".

But, who is Lou Yu?

He is the little pervert that Wang Mian is afraid of. He neither follows common sense nor routine.

He stared at the handsome, gentle face, and the mouth, which was 36 degrees, uttered words as if they were icy: "Since you know it's unbearable to look at, then don't bring it out to pollute people's eyes and ears!"

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