Golden Branch

"Today's banquet is quite lively!"

The prince sat in the main seat, watching the show on the high platform of the waterside pavilion with a smile.

His posture was casual, without his back straight, but he still exuded nobility and composure from the inside out.

Lou Yu knelt down below and bowed slightly when he heard the prince's words: "As long as Your Highness likes it!"

His smile was also gentle, and had a very similar charm to the prince's expression.

"I heard that this program was arranged by Ajiu?"

The prince picked up the teacup, took a sip, and spoke slowly.

"Ajiu has always been smart and prudent!"

When talking about his Ah Heng, the smile in Lou Yu's eyes became more sincere.

The Crown Prince and Lou Yu, the ruler and his subject, were chatting casually.

Their topics had nothing to do with state affairs or official business; they were just casual chats.

Outsiders who hear this will not think that they are just being hypocritical with each other.

There is a tacit understanding between this pair of "brothers" that outsiders cannot interfere with.

The Crown Princess sat in the ladies' seat next door, with a screen placed between the two places.

Crown Princess Lu was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with a beautiful appearance and elegant temperament.

Her speech and behavior exude the bearing of a royal lady.

She had a faint smile on her face, and her attitude towards Wang Heng was polite yet a little friendly.

"Langya, is this dancer from India? Her dance and rhythm are truly unique and fascinating!"

The Crown Princess took the initiative to find topics to chat with Wang Heng.

Wang Heng smiled and replied, "What the Crown Princess said is true. This is indeed a dancer from India. If you like her, you can summon her to perform in the palace!"

"It's an exotic place, just for the sake of novelty."

The Crown Princess politely declined and quickly moved on to the next topic: "Sister Langya, it's been a while since you returned to the capital. Have you adjusted to the local life?"

Wang Heng raised her eyebrows. Was the Crown Princess asking her why she was "unsociable"?

Wang Heng probably lived alone in the countryside of Hedong for too long, and developed a quiet and unactive personality.

In Wang Mian’s words, she is a “homegirl”.

In Hedong, Wang Heng seldom went out, and seldom went out to play with the local young men and ladies.

Wang Heng rarely participated in activities such as river cruises, hunting, gatherings, and polo.

She likes to stay at her own farm, eating, drinking and having fun with Lou Yu, Wang Mian and other friends.

Sometimes, doing nothing but sitting under the crabapple tree, quietly enjoying the fragrance of flowers and sunshine, can also while away half a day.

In Hedong, no one cared about Wang Heng's personality because of her status and Lou Yu's indulgence.

Coming to this prosperous capital, the sons of the powerful and wealthy, dressed in fine clothes and riding horses, acted ostentatiously.

Their entertainment is rich and varied, including outings in spring, river cruises in summer, hunting in autumn, ice skating in winter, playing at the Lantern Festival, competing for cleverness on the Chinese Valentine's Day, climbing on the Double Ninth Festival... There are different games for every season and every major festival.

Even if it is not the New Year, these playboys and the Nth generation will call their friends and have fun every once in a while.

As the most powerful among the powerful, royal ladies have even more entertainment options.

Even Princess Anyang, who was also a fake princess, had frequent banquets and the sound of music and dance in her princess mansion.

Compared with them, Wang Heng seems too "different".

It has been more than a month since she returned to Beijing. Apart from the two important days of the housewarming banquet and the coming-of-age ceremony, today's birthday banquet at the Duke of Qi's Mansion was her third appearance in front of the dignitaries.

The Crown Princess found it a little unbelievable: a teenage girl actually doesn’t like going out and playing?

Don't you feel bored staying in the princess's mansion all day?

There was another reason that the Crown Princess was reluctant to state openly. Even if Princess Langya and the Duke of Qi had a tacit engagement, marriage was a major matter and should be treated with caution.

As a young noble lady, you should see more and interact with more people. Perhaps there is someone more suitable than Lou Yu in this capital.

The Crown Princess did not favor Wang Heng and dislike Lou Yu.

In fact, the Crown Princess prefers Lou Yu - with such status, such character and appearance, he is the most capable man in the Eastern Palace, and can be a good match for a real princess.

And their Fanyang Lu family also has a daughter of marriageable age.

The Crown Princess does not forcibly interfere in other people's marriages.

She just felt that whether it was Wang Heng or Lou Yu, their determination to choose each other was not necessarily due to their deep love.

It is very likely that in a small place like Hedong, he has not seen the wider world and has not made friends with more suitable people.

If they look around more and play around more, maybe they will...

Wang Heng understood the Crown Princess's implication and said with a smile, "The capital is wonderful! It's prosperous and beautiful, with outstanding people and beautiful scenery."

"And the young men and women from various families are all talented and virtuous. Although I have only been in Beijing for a month or so, I have already made quite a few close friends."

Putting aside any selfish motives the Crown Princess might have, her intentions weren't bad.

Being in the huge world of fame and fortune in the capital, Wang Heng really couldn't continue to be as "silent" as she was in the countryside of Hedong.

When it is time to show off, show off.

Necessary social interaction is also essential.

Wang Heng secretly made a decision.

During the banquet, while chatting with a few young girls of the same age, Princess Hengyang happened to take the initiative to invite her:

"Sister Langya, my family has built a new courtyard, and the flowers are in full bloom. If you have time, would you please come and visit?"

Wang Heng had a good impression of Princess Hengyang.

The little girl was thirteen or fourteen years old. She was born into the Jingzhao Wei family, and her mother was the Princess Jinyang, the most noble lady of the Dayu Dynasty.

The status of Princess Hengyang is no less than that of a princess.

In the imperial palace, she was even more noble than many real royal concubines.

However, she did not develop a spoiled personality, and when she was with Wang Heng, she was like a lovely little sister.

Wang Heng also knew that Princess Hengyang and Lu Jue were half-siblings.

Lu Jue, with his appearance, identity, ability, and honor... he is also a candidate worth considering.

Wang Heng thought of a certain pervert, and then of the unrestrained young man she had seen on the official road. A thought crossed her mind, "Okay! Then I'll wait for the invitation from Hengyang sister."

"Don't worry! I'll write the invitations myself when I get back!"

Princess Hengyang was delighted with Wang Heng's cooperation.

The two little girls quickly made an appointment and even set a specific date.

……

On the high platform of the waterside pavilion, after the Indian dancers finished their performance, other programs began.

This time, it was not on a high platform, but on the water.

Several dancers in gorgeous dance dresses stood on the water and danced gracefully.

They were barefoot, and as they danced, layers of water splashed up.

Their reflections are also on the water surface.

The real person and the phantom are like a dream, as beautiful as a painting.

The song and dance are ordinary, but the conception and artistic conception are really ingenious.

Just like the fairies in the Yaochi Lake in heaven.

"Wow! Dancing on the waves?"

"How did they do that? Are there really gods in this world?"

The water is not a road, and people are not boats. How can one walk on the water? And dance freely?

Wang Mian used the little tricks he learned from watching videos to give the ancients a little shock.

In the stands and VIP seats, both male and female guests could not help but exclaim in surprise and discuss heatedly.

Of course, the ancients were not really ignorant.

Those who came to the birthday party today are all people at the top of the pyramid in Beijing.

They are not only of noble status, but also well-informed.

Among them are many geniuses who are "so wise that they are almost demonic."

For example, when the prince saw this beautiful scene, he was stunned at first, but then he smiled.

He tilted his head slightly and looked at Lou Yu: "There should be another mechanism underwater, right?"

For example, there is also a platform underwater.

Those dancers were not standing on water, but on a stage.

Lou Yu smiled back, "Your Highness is wise and discerning. Nothing can escape your discerning eyes!"

All matters concerning the banquet were handled by Aheng alone.

But as the master and Aheng's brother, Lou Yu also has a general understanding of the specific matters.

Therefore, Lou Yu knew many of the mechanisms in the water pavilion.

On the female guests' side, the Crown Princess and other noble ladies, after a brief shock, some of them also thought of it.

"Is there a mechanism underwater?"

"How clever!"

"That's right! It's just an ordinary song and dance, but because of this ingenuity, it's transformed into a fairyland!"

Everyone was amazed.

The birthday banquet at the Duke of Qi's Mansion immediately attracted the admiration of many distinguished guests.

However, many people do not know the relationship between Lou Yu and Wang Heng.

In this way, they would not know that Wang Heng helped organize this birthday party.

Many distinguished guests mistakenly thought they were the women of the Duke of Anguo's mansion and came to take charge of everything for Lou Yu.

For example, Madam Dugu.

"Madam, this is your handwriting, right?"

"After all, she is a noble lady of the Dugu family. She is knowledgeable and thoughtful."

"...Didn't they say Lou Hanzhang was adopted out a long time ago?"

"Tsk! Adoption doesn't mean setting up a new ancestral hall! Even if he is adopted, the Duke of Qi is still the nephew of the Duke of An and his wife."

"Mrs. Anguo, this great aunt is so kind that she is so attentive in helping Duke Qi organize his birthday banquet."

"Kindness? You've probably forgotten that Lou Hanzhang was adopted because Lady Anguo couldn't tolerate him."

"Oh, those are all old stories! Besides, what noble lady would want to be a mother right after entering the family?"

"The eldest son of a concubine is indeed eye-catching and heartbreaking!"

"That's right! Besides, the real boss of the Lou family is Duke Anguo, not a mere woman like Dugu. But she is the only one who has to bear this infamy. The world is so unfair to women!"

A group of women were either whispering to each other or gathering in groups of three or five, chattering and discussing.

Inexplicably, Mrs. Dugu's reputation actually improved.

After all, adoption is a thing of the past.

And now, Mrs. Dugu, an "aunt", is doing her best to take care of the housework for her nephew from the next room, which shows her character.

Facing everyone's praise, Mrs. Dugu's lips moved a few times.

She really wanted to say that today, like many other guests, she was entering the Duke of Qi's Mansion for the first time.

Not to mention helping with the preparations, she didn't even recognize the various courtyards in the Duke of Qi's Mansion.

Last time at the princess's mansion, Lou Yu did show tenderness and kindness towards his sister Lou Lang.

But, that's all.

After the banquet at the princess's mansion ended, Lou Yu did not go to the Duke of Anguo's mansion to pay his respects.

Lou Jin ordered someone to summon him, but Lou Yu said righteously, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has assigned me an assignment at the Hongwen Academy. It's not a major official duty, but I can't slack off!"

"Uncle is the most loyal to the emperor and the country. I believe he can understand my nephew's loyalty to the prince!"

"Public affairs first, private matters second! After I finish sorting out my duties at the Hongwen Academy, I'll go to the Duke's Mansion to pay my respects to my uncle and aunt!"

The most classic example of “putting public interests first and private interests second” is “passing by the door without entering”.

What Lou Yu said may not be sentimental enough, but it is definitely in line with justice!

Not to mention, the Duke of Anguo's Mansion was not his home, he had already been adopted.

Lou Jin and his wife were just relatives to him, not his own family or his own son.

Lou Jin was choked. Although he had more words to scold, things were different now.

Lou Yu has grown up and his wings have become stronger.

Between father and son, the father no longer has the upper hand, but the situation has reversed.

Lou Jin no longer has the confidence to control Lou Yu!

Even Lou Jin was humiliated, let alone Madam Dugu, a mere woman.

Her wish to reconcile with Lou Yu and his mother was ultimately just an illusion.

Lou Yu refused to come and never invited anyone. The Duke of Anguo's Mansion and the Duke of Qi's Mansion were only "relatives" in name only. Privately, they had no contact at all.

It was not until today that Madam Dugu entered the Duke of Qi's Mansion with the other guests and saw what the residence of this upstart looked like.

Madam Dugu: ...I feel bitter inside, but I can’t express it.

Faced with everyone's praise and even compliments, Mrs. Dugu became increasingly speechless.

It’s just a misunderstanding!

Perhaps they can use this public opinion to bring them closer to A Yu!

……

A birthday party, after a day of noisy celebration, finally came to an end.

Wang Heng was lazy by nature. After working for a few days, she finally finished the work and seemed to be exhausted.

rest!

She needs a good rest!

Seeing Wang Heng's spoiled little look, Lou Yu's heart softened.

He reached out his hand out of habit and ruffled Wang Heng's hair: "Thank you for your hard work for my birthday party."

Wang Heng smiled sweetly, a hint of mischief flashing across her round lychee eyes: "Brother, are you just talking?"

She wasn't asking for a thank-you gift. After all, they were siblings and had a good relationship, so it was normal for them to joke around.

"of course not!"

Lou Yu smiled and took out a box from his sleeve pocket.

This was a small gift that he had a craftsman make overnight.

"what is this?"

Wang Heng took the box curiously, opened it, and found a pure gold chain.

There are two bells hanging on the gold chain.

Wang Heng picked it up and shook it gently in the air. The tinkling sound was very crisp and pleasant.

But this gold chain is not long.

Wang Heng took a quick glance and roughly estimated the size: This is not a necklace!

Her neck is indeed thin, but not to this extent.

So, this is... Wang Heng thought of the perverted behavior of a little pervert at night, and a dark light flashed quickly in her eyes.

But when she raised her eyes, there was only joy in her black and white eyes.

She said excitedly, "Brother, how did you know? I want to get a collar for Jixiang."

Yes, this is not some damn anklet, but a collar for the raccoon slave!

She, Wang Heng, is no one's plaything and will never be bound by chains!

Lou Yu was stunned for a moment, then seeing Wang Heng's joyful expression, he squeezed the Elephant Bone Destruction Technique hard.

He smiled broadly, "...Yes, this is for the raccoon slave!"