Golden Branch

While Wang Heng was busy "looking" for her future husband, the case concerning the Dugu family was finally settled in the court.

The various government offices verified the Dugu family's crimes, including embezzlement of military funds, killing innocent people to claim credit, colluding with foreign enemies, and framing loyal and honest people... Not a single one of the censor's impeachments was unjust.

The saint was furious.

The Dugu family had their titles and property confiscated, but none of the male members were executed or exiled.

The sage wanted to punish several men headed by Dugu Xiong. The emperor, who had been "living out his days in peace" in the Daming Palace after abdicating, suddenly fell ill.

There was also Duke Anguo Lou Jin, who went to the palace to meet the emperor.

Mrs. Lu, oh no, now it’s Aunt Li, she cut her wrists and bled, and wrote a long confession, apologizing for herself and the Dugu family.

The Dugu family handed over all their military power, and the Lou family army of the Duke of Anguo's Mansion also became history.

...Through the joint efforts of various forces, the saint was finally moved and stopped investigating further.

The case of Dugu's treason was thus concluded.

The saint even granted the Dugu family a house because of his aunt's old age, thus saving the Dugu family from the miserable fate of living on the streets.

But, that's all.

A saint would not force the Dugu family into a desperate situation, but he would not allow them to enjoy wealth and honor anymore.

The Dugu family became commoners. Unless the members of the family had the opportunity to gain military merit, there would be no possibility for the Dugu family to revive in the next twenty years.

The relatives of the Dugu family, especially the Anguo Mansion, also fulfilled their responsibility to help.

From now on, whether the Dugu family rises or falls, prospers or perishes, all depends on themselves.

You can’t blame your relatives and friends for being cold-hearted, because they can’t protect themselves either.

An Guo Gongfu.

Madam Dugu blamed herself, "My dear, it's all my fault. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have lost the Lou family army."

That is the Lou family's inheritance of one or two hundred years, a real heirloom.

The Lou family was able to gain a foothold in the world thanks to their army of 200,000 to 300,000.

Lou Jin sat cross-legged in the main seat. He was in his forties and middle-aged, but still handsome and heroic.

However, wrinkles began to appear on her face, which had always been well-maintained.

There are also some white hairs on the temples.

Lou Jin's back was still straight, but he inexplicably felt dejected and lonely.

He is old!

Lost ground!

Hearing his wife's words filled with guilt, Lou Jin raised his eyelids and curled the corners of his lips: "Jiaojiao, I don't blame you! The Lou family's army no longer belonged to the Lou family after being deceived by that scoundrel last year!"

Moreover, all under heaven belongs to the king.

In the Dayu Dynasty, all soldiers and horses belonged to the saints.

There shouldn't be an X family army in the first place.

Whether it is the Lou family army or Dugu's private army, they should all be under the name of the saint.

Indeed, as a general with outstanding military achievements, the saint would not be afraid of the generals under his command who command heavy troops.

However, ministers should also be aware of this.

It is the duty of a subject to hand over the troops as early as possible and avoid any suspicion of "holding troops for self-reliance".

Lou Jin was indeed heartbroken and regretful about losing the Lou family army, but he had also really let it go.

He never blamed his wife for the consequences.

However, his gentle soothing voice not only failed to relieve Madam Dugu's feelings, but instead made her eyes red:

"My dear! What happened with Han Zhang is also my fault!"

Lou Yu was able to deceive the Lou family army, and Madam Dugu played a "great role".

She is just too stupid and always holds her husband back.

Lou Jin: ...

He just said it casually and was not bringing up old issues.

He looked up and saw his wife crying bitterly, and sighed silently.

He had long known that his wife was not smart and was easily influenced.

He just loves her, and has loved her for more than ten years.

Love her good color, love her fragility and dependence.

His wife was indeed wrong, but the biggest culprit was still him, Lou Jin.

He knew that she was easy to be tricked, but he still put his life and property in her hands.

When Lou Jin married into the Dugu family, he anticipated that he might be implicated by the Dugu family, but he still insisted.

Doting on Dugu Mingyue and being tied to the Dugu family were both his choices.

Now that bad consequences have occurred, Lou Jin will not blame a woman.

Fortunately, the Lou family only lost its military power and did not fall completely.

They also have Lou Yu!

"Speaking of Hanzhang, it's time for him to discuss marriage!"

Lou Jin didn't want his wife to continue to indulge in guilt and self-blame, so he changed the subject.

He stroked the embroidery on his sleeves and said slowly, "Originally, I thought Han Zhang would marry Princess Langya, but these past few days, I've heard rumors that Princess Langya is getting close to young masters from the Xie, Lu, and Yuchi families!"

Lou Jin understands his wife best.

With a new topic, Mrs. Dugu's attention was indeed diverted instantly.

She wiped her tears with a handkerchief. Her fox eyes, which were exactly the same as Lou Yu's, were still red and swollen, but she dropped the previous topic and began to seriously consider Lou Jin's words.

"Is Han Zhang and Wang Jiu's marriage not going through?"

Mrs. Dugu knew that she was not smart, but she was willing to listen to smart people.

Lou Jin said that Lou Yu and Wang Jiu’s marriage failed, so it must be true.

Lou Jin nodded slightly, "Maybe it's because we're young, childhood friendships can't last long after all."

Lou Jin was very happy that Lou Yu could not marry Wang Heng.

Wang Heng only has the title of princess, but does not have much power.

She had neither a powerful family nor a capable father or brother.

Ten years ago, Lou Jin had looked down upon people like Wang Lin.

Now, the old man has become a useless person. Not only can he not provide any help to his son-in-law, he will also be a constant hindrance.

Only a group of women and children were left in the Wang family.

Wang Heng, a woman, can become the head of a family. The Wang family of Langya, oh no, the Wang family of Yizhou has also shown signs of decline.

As for Concubine Jiang in the palace...tsk, the emperor's favor is so illusory.

In the past, the three concubines De, Shu and Xian were respected equally with Concubine Jiang, and later Wei Zhaoyi became the new favorite. For powerful people like Lou Jin who occupied high positions by relying on real military merits, they looked down upon "relatives by marriage" the most.

A family cannot truly prosper with only one woman.

The only person Wang Heng can rely on is Concubine Jiang.

This is too empty.

Worse than relatives by marriage.

As relatives by marriage, they can even have the formal titles of Cheng'en Gong and Feng'en Gong.

Wang Heng only had the empty title of princess.

Princess?

Oh, it would be fine if it were a peaceful and prosperous era, but he is just a rich and idle person kept by the royal family.

Once a war breaks out and peace talks are needed, a princess is needed to marry into the alliance.

Lou Jin did lose his military power, but he was still a founding county duke of a prestigious status.

Moreover, because he has been leading troops for many years, Lou Jin has his own spies in every border town.

The Turks sent troops!

Tubo is ready to make a move!

These two powerful enemies, whether they really want to go to war or try to negotiate terms with Dayu, may want to "marry them into a marriage alliance."

Wang Heng is an excellent candidate.

When Lou Jin first received the news from the border town, he was still a little worried.

Lou Yu and Wang Jiu have been friends for nearly ten years.

It is very likely that Lou Yu angered the prince for a woman and ruined his future.

Later, when Lou Jin heard that Wang Jiu had close relationships with other young men, he was just happy.

Wang Jiu herself doesn't want to marry Han Zhang, and even if Han Zhang is willing, she can't force her.

"It's a pity that the Dugu family was stripped of their title, otherwise, they would have several young ladies of the same age as Hanzhang!"

After hearing Lou Jin's explanation, Mrs. Dugu believed it instantly.

She also began to consider one by one the candidates who would be suitable as Lou Yu's new wife.

Before, she had considered the daughter of the Dugu family.

It wasn't just out of her own selfishness, she was also doing it for her son's good.

Dugu Xiong was a founding duke, and he also had a wife, Lady Lu. The Dugu family, like the Lou family, was an old, aristocratic family in the northern border, with heavy military forces and deep roots.

Being able to marry into the Dugu family will also be helpful to Hanzhang's career.

Moreover, the daughter of the Dugu family, apart from her temperament, is very outstanding in appearance and talent, and is just worthy of Han Zhang.

After Lou Yu returned to Beijing, Mrs. Dugu began to select from the many unmarried girls in the Dugu family.

She had selected three or four people and was thinking about how to find an opportunity to let Han Zhang come into contact with them, and then -

Unfortunately, before she could take action, something happened to the Dugu family.

"Alas, stepmother too, how can you involve the former crown prince, the Turkic enemies, and other matters just because of kinship?"

Madam Dugu is worthy of being Madam Lu's adopted daughter. Even though the mother and daughter are not related by blood, their brain circuits are surprisingly similar.

Apart from Madam Dugu, probably no one would believe that Madam Lu committed such a stupid thing just for the sake of "family affection".

A prominent family concerns the wealth, honor and disgrace of hundreds of people and generations. "Relatives" are really not that important.

But Madam Dugu believed it and even sympathized with Madam Lu:

She is also a soft-hearted person.

I made this mistake out of the affection of my relatives.

Lou Jin glanced at his wife and could see through her heart just by looking at her expression.

Jiaojiao is still so innocent and romantic.

However, he still likes his wife's purity.

"The daughter of the Dugu family is indeed not qualified to be Han Zhang's legal wife."

Lou Jin followed Madam Dugu's words and said slowly, "However, other families, such as the Wei family and the Li family, can be considered."

Madam Dugu is very good at grasping the key points: if she can’t be the main wife, does that mean she can be a concubine?

Madam Dugu did not mean to mistreat her family members on purpose. Rather, for the already impoverished Dugu family, if a woman could become a concubine in the Duke of Qi's mansion, it would be of great benefit to the family.

Mrs. Dugu also had an unspeakable little thought. Back then, she was humble and embarrassed in the Dugu family.

She knew that the noble ladies of the Dugu family looked down upon her as a lowly maid.

"Slave girl, so what?"

"My son is a founding duke of a county, and he is also a well-known scholar in the capital."

"The true noble lady of the Dugu family is now only fit to be my son's concubine, or even a maidservant!"

Madam Dugu knew that her thoughts were inappropriate and ugly.

However, her background as a concubine was a demon that she could never get rid of in her life.

The various bullyings she suffered because of this identity will always be a pain in her heart.

She would not kick someone when they are down or intentionally humiliate others. At most, she would just watch silently and feel secretly happy.

Secretly hiding this thought in her heart, Mrs. Dugu smiled.

She is very beautiful and even though she is over 30, she looks very young because she takes good care of herself.

She even had the naiveté of a young girl, as well as a reliance on and reverence for her god-like husband: "My dear, you are right. I will pay more attention to Han Zhang."

She must choose a noble lady from a high-class family for her son, and then select a few beautiful concubines and maids for him!

……

The matter of the Dugu family has been settled, but the news of the Turkic invasion has not yet reached the capital.

During these few short days, the capital city presented a prosperous scene of wealth, splendor, singing and dancing.

A group of N generations who were engaged in cockfighting, running errands, eating, drinking and having fun, went out of the house again after making sure that everything was peaceful outside.

For example, in the previous football match, players from both sides needed to determine the results and fulfill their commitments.

"Princess, the football match wasn't finished, but you did beat us!"

Wei Prajna is not someone who can't afford to lose.

Although he was in a very embarrassing situation that day and was repeatedly tricked by Langya and others, losing is losing.

I will stay at home for a few days to recuperate and adjust my mood.

When she saw Wang Heng again, the trauma had subsided, and she was able to think rationally and treat Wang Heng calmly.

Moreover, although Wang Heng cheated in the cue competition, it still cannot conceal the fact that she has excellent equestrian skills and superb cue skills.

Wei Banruo is a person who admires the strong. As long as the other person is stronger than her, she will look up to him.

"Wang Jiu isn't useless! At least he can still ride a horse and play ball!"

Since she had a skill, Wei Prajna was not so disgusted with Wang Heng when she saw her again.

She bowed and offered, "During the competition that day, we agreed that, aside from gold, silver, and other mundane things, the winner could ask the loser to do one thing!"

She raised her head, her eyes burning, "Princess, what do you want us to do for you?"

Wang Heng likes people who can afford to lose.

Although she could still feel Wei Prajna's dislike for her, she no longer had that kind of disdain that was almost tangible.

Even if there is malicious intent, it is still a kind of respect that can be regarded as an opponent.

Rather than looking at a pile of mud.

"Princess, any request is acceptable, but it cannot violate Kaitai law, etiquette, or rules!"

Wang Si, who was beside Wei Prajna, did not forget to add a sentence.

Wang Heng nodded. "Don't worry, I won't make things difficult for you!"

"I intend to open an academy in the capital. When the time comes, I invite you all to apply for admission!"

"Of course, my academy is not just a makeshift one. I will invite famous scholars like Mr. Shen Du to teach here."

Wang Heng did not hide anything and directly stated her request.

Zheng Shisan, who was beside her, added, "You may not know that the Dongshan Academy in Yizhou was originally founded by my wife."

So, Wang Heng is not a novice, but has already made achievements.

"Mr. Shen Du?"

"Dongshan Academy? Isn't that Master Lou's academy?"

"...The rumors are indeed true. Scholar Lou and Princess Langya have a close relationship."

"So, Princess Langya's new academy is also related to Master Lou?"

"No! Aren't all the students in the academy men? We little girls——"

A group of N generations were chattering and talking endlessly.

Wang Heng vaguely heard a key point and quickly said, "My Lishan Academy, like Dongshan Academy, not only accepts men, but also female students."

When Wei Prajna and other ladies heard this, their eyes suddenly lit up:

Female student?

Is it possible to listen to Master Lou’s lectures?!

go with!

You must go to this Lishan Academy!

Even if there is no bet, I will go!

……

After discussing with the Nth generation, Wang Heng found time to go to the Honglu Temple...