Golden Branch

"Your Highness greets Princess Langya."

The chief secretary of Princess Ping'an's mansion is in his twenties, but he acts steadily.

He bowed and then explained his purpose: "Princess Ping'an's residence, this wicked servant has been carrying out misconduct outside without the princess's knowledge."

"First they forced people to buy and sell, and then they even dared to hurt people!"

"The princess was furious when she heard this. She originally wanted to come and apologize to Princess Langya in person, but she was afraid people would misunderstand her and tarnish her reputation, so she sent this humble servant to come and apologize."

"I have already returned all the wood! The princess has also selected some wood from her own collection for you to enjoy!"

Regardless of whether Changshi's words were Princess Ping'an's original intention or not, they were convincing.

In particular, he mentioned "personal apology."

Logically, if Princess Ping'an was deliberately looking for trouble and wanted to admit her mistake, she should have come in person.

However, Princess Ping'an is the saint's biological daughter after all, and she is the elder sister.

In ancient times, people emphasized the distinction between superiors and inferiors, and the order of old and young.

As an elder sister, how can I bow to my younger sister?

If Princess Ping'an really came in person, it would not be a courtesy, but a deliberate trap for Wang Heng.

This is the same trick that Lou Yu set for Madam Lu at the post station.

A month later, Mrs. Lu arrived in the capital safely.

Rumors about her domineering behavior and how a woman from outside the royal family could force a princess to give in had already been flying around.

The supreme couple in the palace had also heard about it a long time ago.

Concubine Jiang was so distressed because she loved her daughter that she was "secretly" heartbroken and even had a miscarriage.

The saint was very angry, and the queen was also somewhat dissatisfied.

After Lady Lu returned to Beijing, the Emperor and Empress should have summoned her immediately, but they gave up because of this incident.

It was only then that Lady Lu, with her old shamelessness, wrote a memorial herself and submitted it to the palace gate again and again that the emperor and empress allowed her to enter.

After entering the palace, he was not very close to anyone, and even the rewards he received were pitifully small.

Mrs. Lu returned to Beijing to fight for a glimmer of hope for the already sinking Dugu family.

However, because of her domineering behavior, she not only failed to soften the hearts of the two younger generations, the Saint and the Queen, but instead made the situation worse.

The Dugu family became increasingly deserted.

Mrs. Lu was also ill and is still recuperating in bed.

Princess Langya and Princess Ping'an have the same status, both are princesses, but Princess Ping'an is the eldest sister, so Princess Langya cannot "force" the eldest sister to bow.

Otherwise, she would be disregarding seniority and bullying others by taking advantage of her power.

If one is not careful, Concubine Jiang will be implicated.

Concubine Jiang was the most favored concubine in the harem, and she was already hated. It would be fine if there was no evidence against her, but if there was one -

Wang Heng looked at the Chief Secretary and thought to herself, "This Chief Secretary is quite clever."

Her princess's mansion also has a chief historian and other staff.

However, Wang Heng had not come to the capital before, and the Ministry of Personnel and others were still unclear about the background of Princess Langya, so it was not easy to make any appointments at will.

Once Wang Heng entered the capital and the palace had expressed its stance, the Ministry of Personnel and other government offices would make specific and appropriate arrangements based on the "imperial will."

"You're too polite, sister! It was just a wicked servant causing trouble, how can you blame me, sister?"

The Princess Ping'an Mansion represented by the Chief Secretary is humble and polite, and Wang Heng will not be aggressive.

She smiled sweetly and had a very well-behaved attitude.

However, the Chief Secretary still understood the key point of Wang Heng's words - tricky slave!

He just mentioned the "return of the timber" and emphasized that his master gave him additional compensation.

However, there was no mention of how to deal with the slaves involved.

This incident was not just about the forced purchase of timber, but also about the fact that the guards of Princess Langya's mansion were beaten!

Princess Langya could accept Princess Ping'an's "reconciliation", but was unwilling to let those "thugs" go.

This is easy to understand.

After all, it was one of your own people who was beaten. When beating a dog, look at the owner.

What was beaten at Princess Ping'an's mansion was not just a few guards, but also the face of Princess Langya.

As a younger sister, Princess Langya must respect her elder sister.

But Diao Nu is not the eldest sister, she is just a servant. Princess Langya’s request for severe punishment of Diao Nu is reasonable and in accordance with the rules.

"Although Princess Langya is not of royal blood, she is not someone who can be bullied!"

The chief secretary secretly wrote this down, but a look of shame appeared on his face: "The princess is indeed knowledgeable and sensible. This matter is indeed the fault of the cunning slave!"

"Princess Ping'an was also very angry. She ordered the slave in question to be severely punished with twenty strokes of the cane and asked me to bring him here for you to deal with!"

As he spoke, Changshi waved his hand.

Soon, about ten guards, two in a group, came in, dragging a slave who was beaten and bleeding all over.

Wang Heng took a quick look and confirmed that those people were really injured and not just pretending.

Lou Yu also glanced at him indifferently. He had been to the battlefield and seen executions, so he was definitely an expert.

Seeing the external injuries on those slaves, Lou Yu was very sure that these people had indeed been beaten with sticks.

Come to think of it, Princess Ping'an is not stupid.

If we want to "reconcile", we have to do the whole thing.

If you cheat and get caught, it won't be an apology, but an enemy.

Concubine Jiang had just sent her trusted eunuch to the city gate to greet her in person, but Princess Ping'an, an unfavored concubine princess, dared to blatantly fool Princess Langya. Who was she slapping in the face?

Lady Lu was the elder of the Emperor and Empress, but she suffered because of Concubine Jiang and her daughter.

Although Princess Ping'an was a little "overconfident", she was not really out of her mind.

The forced purchase of timber and the like was done by the "cunning slaves", so the slaves should take the blame.

If something unexpected happens even if I admit my mistake, it will be difficult to put the blame on the Chief Secretary.

The Chief Secretary is not a slave, but an official appointed by the Ministry of Personnel, with a rank and status.

Princess Ping'an, a concubine's and unfavored princess, was not so arrogant as to treat the Chief Secretary as a lowly slave!

Therefore, if Princess Ping'an still had any brains and reason, she would know what to do.

"...She did it all! After all, she was able to grow up safely in the backyard, even after her biological mother passed away, and still get married smoothly and gain a firm foothold in her husband's family. She's definitely not an idiot!"

After testing the waters, Princess Ping An found that the other party was not easy to deal with, so she readily admitted defeat and asked for peace!

He is a man of great ability who can bend and stretch!

Wang Heng silently made her evaluation and made a special note of Princess Ping'an's name!

"Since Sister has already punished the wicked slave, let's put this matter to rest!"

Princess Ping'an has already made a gesture of reconciliation, so Wang Heng cannot be "unyielding".

She ordered people to collect the wood and compensation, and then sent the chief secretary away.

Watching the chief clerk and his group leave, a glint flashed across Wang Heng's bright, lychee-colored eyes.

This capital city is indeed a circle of power.

Bullying the weak, flattering the powerful and looking down on the weak...it seems that the princess is not so noble after all!

Wang Heng had just arrived in Beijing and had not even sat down when she saw the two princesses.

Anyang, a fake princess like her, is not really willful or domineering.

Wang Heng has not yet gained a deep understanding, but just by looking at the attitudes of top N-generation people like Lou Yao and Yang Shou towards Princess Anyang, Wang Heng can get a glimpse of it.

She knew that Princess Anyang's situation was more or less an example of her own, Wang Heng's.

With no blood relationship and only a title, the only person he can rely on is his mother, Concubine Jiang.

However, Concubine Jiang had more than just Wang Heng as her daughter.

Soon, Concubine Jiang will have other children.

Whether it is a princess or a prince, they can naturally be a help to Wang Heng, but they will also take away her motherly love and attention.

In fact, even if there were no other children, Concubine Jiang still had herself besides Wang Heng!

Wang Heng knew very well that her mother was not the kind of person who would sacrifice herself for her children.

My mother was a woman who had been married for the second time, but she could still enjoy the favor of the saint. It was not just because of her good looks.

She is smart, rational, and self-loving to the point of being "selfish".

In my mother's heart, she is the most important person.

This is just like Wang Heng.

In this world, no one can do whatever they want. Even the emperor has to endure and give in for the sake of the court and the world.

Not to mention the favorite concubines and princesses.

Wang Heng was indeed spoiled by Lou Yu and was too naive.

She thought that as a princess, she could control her own destiny.

Little did they know that the princess's wealth, honor and disgrace were also controlled by others.

After arriving in Beijing, Wang Heng met Princesses Anyang and Ping'an one after another, and she felt as if someone had poured a bucket of cold water on her head.

Reality is still cruel.

The identity of a princess is by no means an omnipotent amulet!

Wang Heng couldn't help feeling a little lost.

She remained silent. Lou Yu, noticing this, misunderstood: "Ah Heng, are you still unhappy?"

"Don't be angry! Brother will help you!"

In fact, even if Wang Heng didn't care, Lou Yu would not let her go.

Princess Ping'an is so brave, she actually treats A'heng as a soft persimmon.

Although she apologized, Ping An still had the upper hand - she was the one who found fault and apologized, and she was the one who played both the bad guy and the good guy, so Ah Heng couldn't get angry.

If she cares about it, she will be unreasonable!

shit!

If it is reasonable, why should we forgive?

Lou Yu is a domineering and crazy person at heart. He will use force even when he is unreasonable, let alone when he is reasonable?

Since Princess Ping'an dared to stretch out her claws towards A'heng, Lou Yu dared to draw his sword.

Even if you can't hurt its roots, you still have to remove its branches and leaves.

Princess Ping'an, right!

Beating and scolding the imperial consort, keeping concubines, seizing people's land, and bullying officials...

Any one of them would cause the censor to write eight or ten volumes of memorials of criticism.

Lou Yu is ready to be a civil official, so let him start by impeaching Princess Ping'an!

Gently stroking the Elephant Bone Crushing Technique on his thumb, Lou Yu secretly formulated a complete plan.

"...Yeah! Thank you, brother!"

Wang Heng raised her head and her hands met Lou Yu's neck.

Well, Lou Yu was too tall. Wang Heng, who was five feet five inches tall, barely reached his shoulders.

When I raised my eyes, what I saw was also——

"Huh? Brother, there's a red mole on your neck!"

It was the first time that Wang Heng observed Lou Yu so carefully, and then she discovered that there was a piece of red paper on Lou Yu's neck, oh no, to be exact, on his Adam's apple.

Wang Heng didn't know that her casual exclamation actually made Lou Yu's heart beat faster and his blood boil.

The Adam's apple couldn't help but roll.

……

In the middle of the night, Wang Heng, who had been busy for half a day, finally fell asleep peacefully in her dormitory.

It was late at night and Wang Heng was sleeping soundly.

The window was gently pushed open, and a dark shadow quietly jumped in.

Whoosh!

Whizzing!

The black shadow flicked his fingers, and a few stones accurately hit the acupuncture points of the two night watch maids.

The maids, who were already drowsy, fell into a deep sleep.

The dark figure walked to the front of the couch, knelt on the footstool, and stared intently at a certain stunning girl with a pair of deep eyes...