Golden Branch

Zheng Henian lowered his head and knelt dejectedly below Madam Lou.

Hearing his mother's obviously disappointed inquiry, he couldn't help but feel ashamed and angry.

Yes, he knew, he was useless.

But, but this really can't be blamed on him.

He came from a prominent family and was well-educated, but he was unlucky.

His family fell into decline due to the struggles of the previous dynasty, and he was so exhausted that he could not enter the officialdom.

After finally getting into officialdom, he's still a crappy doctor with no real power.

PhD?

Yes, he was indeed a learned man, but what he wanted was not to be trapped in an academy and teach a bunch of fools.

He wanted to stand in the court and make decisions on the country.

Or go to the local area to govern the country and ensure the people's safety.

He is full of talent but has nowhere to display it. He feels wronged and frustrated.

He is also the hope of his family and his mother's pride.

However, ambition without opportunity is futile.

After wasting time in a dilapidated Imperial College, he now had hope of promotion again, and it turned out to be a college.

He just entered the Imperial College from the Imperial Academy...it seemed that he could not escape the fate of teaching.

"Cousin, if you're going to help, why not help to the end?"

Zheng Henian's career was not going well, and he was not an open-minded or generous person, so his character was easily distorted.

He actually started to complain that Lou Jin wasn't strong enough—

Why go to the Imperial College?

The Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of War are not easy to get involved in, but the Ministry of Rites is fine.

If all else fails, you can go to the Ministry of Industry.

Look at Wang Lin, who had the bad reputation of "offering his wife to flatter his superiors", but still got the benefits.

He served as the governor of Yizhou and was promoted to the Ministry of Works.

The Minister, a second-in-command of a department, even if he has a bad reputation, has real power.

Zheng Henian looked left and right, and always felt that everyone was luckier than him.

And he is the poor man whose talent is not recognized.

Now, he has even lost his position as Doctor of the Imperial College, but Zheng Henian still habitually shifts the blame to others.

"...Mother, this is not my fault!"

After enduring it again and again, Zheng Henian raised his head with grievance, "Because of Abao's incident, our Li family has completely become a treacherous villain!"

The most taboo thing for noble families is to ruin their reputation.

He is also a doctor of the Imperial College, so he needs to have a good image as a gentleman who values ​​his integrity and keeps his promises.

But my family is holding me back.

Mrs. Lou was stunned when she heard this.

She looked at her second son blankly: What does Sanlang mean?

Is he blaming me for breaking off the engagement with Abao?

If I don't cancel the engagement, will I be dragged into the quagmire by the Li family?

The Zheng family has already fallen into decline. If another impoverished family who has offended the saint becomes their relative, there will be no possibility for the Zheng family to revive.

revival?

Ugh, it’s good as long as it’s not completely overturned.

Mrs. Lou is not really stupid. She comes from a noble family and marries into a prominent family, so she has some basic political literacy.

She knew that the Cheng'en Mansion still existed because the former emperor was still alive.

Once the emperor passes away, even if the empress dowager is still alive, she will not be able to protect her natal family.

The former emperor was already in his sixties, and had experienced setbacks such as a mutiny and the loss of his son, and was becoming increasingly old.

How many years can he live?

As soon as the emperor is gone, several families such as the Cheng'en Mansion that once opposed the saint will be liquidated.

Even if a saint is tolerant and kind, he will not bother with these people.

But, what about the saint’s confidants?

The two kings have been fighting each other for the past few years, and both sides want to bring the other down.

The tit-for-tat and mutual infighting may be let go by a saint, but the dukes and powerful officials who participated in the fight may not let go.

There are always violations of laws and regulations in the families of powerful and wealthy people.

The difference is gaining power and losing power.

Once they lose power, there is no need to deliberately frame them. Just enforce the law impartially and a family will be held accountable.

When a family falls, all its relatives and old friends will be implicated.

If relatives and friends are in a powerful position, they can still avoid the disaster.

But their Zheng family has long been in decline and cannot withstand any storm.

The Zheng family does have a relative in the Lou family, and Lou Jin is also the emperor's confidant.

The Duke of Anguo's Mansion also became deserted because of the late emperor.

Fortunately, there is Lou Yu——

Whenever she thought of Lou Yu, Mrs. Lou couldn't help but feel regretful.

Why didn't she insist on it back then?

Even if Abao doesn't want to, you should still "persuade" him.

If Abao had married Lou Yu, the Zheng family would now have a son-in-law who was a duke, and they would be able to return to the core circle of the powerful.

One step away!

There’s only one step left!

The results, however, are completely different.

Not only did Abao fail to become the Duke's wife, but she was also branded as snobbish and treacherous.

If you want to get married again, you can’t marry into a good family!

Wait, it’s not impossible!

Lou Yu certainly didn't settle on Abao, but he also didn't have a wife.

perhaps--

Thinking of Lou Yu, Mrs. Lou's heart beat faster.

Wait a minute, there’s also Thirteenth or Fifteenth Niang, they were left in Hedong by Lou Yu!

Even if they cannot become the wife, they should be able to be a concubine.

If a concubine is favored, she can also repay her parents.

Just like Zheng Ying and Zheng Tao, Mrs. Lou never took them seriously in the past.

However, they actually entered the Prince of Qi's mansion and are now concubines of the Eastern Palace.

Two years ago, that woman Zheng Yi found a way to send a message to tell Madam Lou that the sisters were favored by the Prince of Qi.

However, they are not included in the Zheng family's genealogy, so even if they are favored, they have nothing to do with the Zheng family.

Mrs. Lou understood the meaning of Zheng Yi's letter. She wanted the sisters to "return to their roots."

Madam Lou still despised the low status of her illegitimate granddaughter, but she also understood that if the sisters really became the favorite concubines of the prince, they would be able to help the Zheng family to some extent.

Just allow them to have the surname Zheng.

Mrs. Lou opened a clan temple and wrote a family tree, and Aying and Atao officially became Zheng Ying and Zheng Tao.

After the saint ascended the throne, he appointed Yang Rui as the crown prince the next day.

After Mrs. Lou Tai received the news, she, who was terrified and depressed, suddenly saw hope.

Zheng Ying and Zheng Tao were indeed her good granddaughters. They worked very hard and became the favorite concubines of the Eastern Palace.

One gave birth to a daughter, and the other became pregnant.

With royal blood, they have a promising future.

When they become rich, they can also support their parents.

Unfortunately, the two granddaughters found it less convenient after entering the palace than when they were in Prince Qi's Mansion.

Madam Lou sent people to the palace gate several times, trying to get in touch with the Eastern Palace.

But, let alone Zheng Ying and Zheng Tao, even Zheng Yi and Madam Lou could not be found.

Mrs. Lou did not dare to complain anymore, let alone resent.

She could only continue to think of ways.

Before Madam Lou could even climb up to the Eastern Palace, Zheng Henian just...

"And the Li family. Even though they were held accountable, the Cheng'en Mansion is still there. The Li family also has many relatives and old friends. They can't accomplish anything and can't help the Li family, but can't they still cause trouble?" Revenge for the Li family on one or two impoverished people who took advantage of their misfortunes?

Zheng Henian was really wronged.

He was in the Imperial College, and the students in the Imperial College were basically the children of powerful and wealthy people.

There is no need for Li's relatives and friends to deliberately create obstacles. If the students alone are determined to find fault, they can also get Dr. Song Henian kicked out.

Zheng Henian didn't think at all that he lost his job because he was ambitious but lacked talent.

He always acts like a kid from an aristocratic family, but never thinks about doing his job honestly or teaching seriously.

He makes small mistakes all the time and now he has offended an important person, so naturally there will be no good result.

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Lou actually felt that her son's sophistry had some truth to it.

Alas, this is the result of having no backing.

If you have a backer, even if you are mediocre, you can still hold a high position.

If your backer falls, even if you have real talent and knowledge, you will be dismissed from office.

"...Lou Yu should be arriving in the capital soon! Once he arrives, I'll find time to go to the Duke of Qi's Mansion."

Mrs. Lou sighed and stopped worrying about her son losing his job. Instead, she prepared to get close to Lou Yu again.

She decided that she would bring Zheng Chi with her to meet the two Zheng Shisan sisters.

She is determined to marry the Duke of Qi as her grandson-in-law!

……

"Jiu Niang, those young men are coming towards us!"

Wang Mian put his arm on the car window and looked out at the capital, a city destined to go down in history.

Her gaze slowly shifted from the tall city gate to several young men in bright clothes.

These people were the dignitaries who were galloping on their horses on the official road just now.

Teenagers, boys and girls, dressed in gorgeous clothes, surrounded by people.

Galloping on horseback, unrestrained and uninhibited.

Whether it was pedestrians or officials at the city gate, they would just give way when they saw them.

But, to Wang Mian's surprise, they did not rush into the city gate, but turned back.

It seems that the target of this group of little nobles is still their long team.

Wang Mian couldn't help but wonder, "Could it be that they're interested in the large, two-wheeled carriage I designed?"

Wang Heng accurately guessed the truth: "They must have recognized my brother!"

Wang Mian was stunned for a moment: "Do they recognize Mr. Lou?"

"To be more precise, they must have recognized the Lou family's logo!"

Wang Heng was from an aristocratic family, so she naturally understood the rules of aristocratic families.

Every family has its own family emblem, which is either printed on tokens, business cards, or engraved on carriages and lanterns.

People in the same circle can recognize each other's identities just by looking at the emblem on a certain item without having to inquire specifically.

Wang Heng and Lou Yu's carriages both had their respective family emblems on them.

However, the Wang family of Yizhou is not prominent, at least in this capital city, and is not as eye-catching as the Lou family.

"Perhaps, there are even more coincidental things, such as the fact that there are children of the Lou family among those young men!"

Wang Heng also shifted her attention to several young men and women who were riding horses.

She glanced around and actually found a young man who looked familiar in the crowd.

He was about seventeen or eighteen years old, with deep eyes, a high nose, and a very tall stature.

This person should be the son of the Lou family.

As a friend who grew up with Lou Yu, Wang Heng’s greatest advantage is that she is very familiar with the Lou family.

Wang Heng looked at the young man, estimated his age, and guessed, "Seventeen or eighteen? He's either Lou Piao or Lou Yao!"

These two men are Lou Yu’s cousins, one is nineteen and the other eighteen.

"It's Lou Yao!"

Lou Yu was riding a horse and just happened to come from behind the team.

Arriving at Wang Heng's carriage and hearing Wang Heng's speculation, he smiled and said, "He's my third uncle's son, the fourth of my brothers."

As Lou Yu was speaking, Lou Yao and his group had already arrived.

Lou Yao gritted his teeth and forced a smile: "A-Ayu, you're back in Beijing!"

Lou Yu smiled faintly, and her beautiful face looked like a blooming flower.

A bright and beautiful girl beside Lou Yao seemed to hear the sound of flowers blooming, and her heart began to beat fast...