Golden Branch

Gulu, Gulu!

The wooden wheels rolled heavily on the ground, following the deep ruts all the way west.

Lou Yu continued to stay in Wang Heng's carriage.

The two of them would either chat or play chess or backgammon.

Even though they were all busy, there was a tacit understanding and harmony in the carriage that no one else could fit in.

"Easy talk?"

"The Wei family is really active. Are they trying to become the top family and the leader of the civil officials?"

Wang Heng received a letter from the capital via carrier pigeon.

After reading the contents of the note, she couldn't help but smiled and said something.

Lou Yu, who was concentrating on reading the court newspaper, looked up when he heard Wang Heng's words and replied with a smile, "Wei Pushe is indeed more glorious."

Wang Heng understood what Lou Yu meant. The "glory" he mentioned was not only the high position Wei Lingfu held and his family was prominent, but also the secret joy of crushing his "arch-enemy".

Northern Wei sinks to the south.

Wei Lingfu and Shen Du are known as two famous scholars by the world.

They have been famous for more than ten years. In the past, due to the separation of the North and the South, the two celebrities have never had a face-to-face competition.

Even if people compare us, it is done from a distance.

However, as Dayu unified the world, the north and the south underwent a great integration.

Shen Du, who had always been noble and aloof, could not resist the reality and chose to accept the call of the saint and serve as an official in the court.

This is definitely a mixed blessing for Shen Du.

On the bright side, he entered the officialdom of the new dynasty and was able to secure some resources for himself, his family, his in-laws, and other aristocratic families in the southern border.

On the bad side, he entered the "mortal world".

He is no longer an elegant, noble and otherworldly celebrity, but a traitor and parasite obsessed with power.

In officialdom, there is no such thing as "staying clean in the mud".

Even if there are, they will be isolated, excluded, or even assimilated.

It is hard to say whether Shen Du would be assimilated, but once he entered the officialdom, he was inevitably contaminated by worldly affairs and interests.

This is equivalent to a god stepping down from the altar.

Once the divine light is lost, celebrities no longer seem so noble, mysterious and inviolable.

Shen Du's official position was not high, at least not comparable to his old rival Wei Lingfu.

In official circles, what is being competed for is not fame, but family, rank, etc.

Shen Du is far inferior to Wei Lingfu in these aspects.

He has become inferior.

This was not Shen Du's fault alone, but was due to the times, and was intentional by the new nobles of the new dynasty.

The evil consequences were borne by Shen Du——

Shen Du, the famous scholar, no longer has the fame he once had.

Wei Lingfu stepped on Shen Du and became the number one celebrity in the capital and the leading civil servant in the court.

"Sir, you're helpless too!"

When talking about her teacher's situation, Wang Heng felt quite emotional.

If Shen Du did not enter the officialdom, the southern border family headed by him would continue to decline until it became a poor family.

Although Shen Du's entry into the officialdom was of some use, it damaged his reputation.

Alas, it is really sad that such a free and easy-going immortal figure has fallen into the mortal world and faced so many hardships.

Especially Wang Heng and Lou Yu, they are both disciples of Shen Du.

Although it will not reach the point of "prosperity for all", there will still be some impact.

In addition to the benefits, the master and apprentice have developed a deep affection for each other over the years.

Wang Heng is low-key and does not show off, but her many talents such as playing the piano, chess, calligraphy and painting are all due to the teaching of Mr. Shen.

Needless to say, Lou Yu was able to manage his character as a gentle gentleman to perfection, all thanks to Mr. Shen.

"After returning to Beijing, I will go to visit you, sir."

Lou Yu naturally understood Shen Du's situation better.

He looked out the window at the direction of the capital and said slowly, "Even if Wei Lingfu wants to become the head of the civil service, it depends on whether the other families agree!"

Not to mention anyone else, just Lou Yu would not allow it.

Even if in the last two or three years, he might not be able to shake Wei Lingfu's position as prime minister (the head of the chancellors), but Lou Yu would infiltrate little by little, gradually enter the center of power and replace him.

Since we cannot compete directly with Wei Lingfu now, we will put forward a few people who can compete with him.

Mr. Shen?

We can't say that he did anything wrong, we can only say that he was helpless.

Compared with Shen Du and other children of southern noble families, Lou Yu, who was born in the Helou clan, has too many innate advantages.

With just a little help, Lou Yu can soar into the sky.

Shen Du is also part of Lou Yu's plan.

I just don’t know what decision Shen Du will make if he faces the choice again.

Wang Heng understood Lou Yu and knew many of his plans.

Even Wang Heng's career and Lou Yu's plan can complement each other.

"Well, brother, I'm with you!"

"It just so happens that I also want to learn more about the foreign envoys from the Honglu Temple."

Wang Heng nodded, and the topic about Shen Du came to an end.

She brought the topic back to the Wei family's regular gatherings for elegant conversations:

"Brother, you haven't told me yet, where did you get that 'letter of invitation'?"

Wang Heng has not forgotten her biggest trouble: her scumbag father Wang Lin.

She has already sent a message to the capital, and everyone in the princess's mansion should have acted according to her instructions.

However, if you want to cause trouble, you must not leave any traces.

It would be even more perfect if we could "kill with a borrowed knife".

Wang Heng really didn't want to be tainted with the sin of "patricide".

Wang Heng then thought of the person who tried to use Wang Lin to frame her.

Those who harm others will always be harmed by others.

Wang Heng didn't harm anyone, at most she was just "going with the flow".

Lou Yu raised his eyes, and there was a hint of warmth in his cold eyes.

He opened his thin lips and was about to answer.

Wang Heng spoke up again, "Brother, don't tell me yet. Let me guess!"

"Is it Wei Prajna? She loves my brother!"

At the Hengyang Princess's garden party, Wang Heng felt Wei Prajna's malice.

After the polo match, Wang Heng became even more certain: Wei Prajna was jealous of her!

Wang Heng has "self-knowledge". For a talented woman like Wei Prajna, she would be jealous of Wang Heng, but it is definitely not because of her talent or ability.

After all, in Wei Prajna's eyes, Wang Heng, the so-called Princess of Langya, is just a beautiful waste with no good for anything.

She only has a good appearance, but relying on their childhood affection, she tightly clings to Lou Yu, a brilliant and talented man who looks like a banished immortal.

Wei Prajna admired Lou Yu, so naturally she was jealous and disgusted with Wang Heng, who was not worthy of Lou Yu.

Lou Yu curled his lips, "Correction, she's not in love with me, she's just in love with a man who's more talented and more famous than her!"

Lou Yu is such a smart person, and he has always had a sharp eye.

Just by looking at Wei Prajna's words and deeds, and investigating her past behavior, one can roughly guess her temperament -

She, Mu Qiang!

Firmly believe in the natural law that the strong are respected.

For her, a man’s appearance and character are not important; what matters is his ability.

Her future husband should at least be a strong man who is "equally matched" with her.

Those playboys who only knew how to eat, drink, have fun, fight cocks and run errands were not worth her attention at all.

An ordinary talented man is just an alternative who barely meets her standards.

Only a young man like Lou Yu, who is both talented and handsome, can be her ideal partner.

pity--

"She doesn't understand you!"

Wang Heng commented with a smile.

What Wei Prajna liked was only the way Lou Yu appeared to the world.

He is handsome, talented, graceful and gentle like jade.

She was completely unable to see through Lou Yu's mask, let alone "understand" him.

The smile in Lou Yu's eyes deepened. He reached out and held Wang Heng's small hand, which was as delicate as spring bamboo shoots and as fine as jade.

Soft, delicate, smooth, and slightly cool, Lou Yu wrapped it gently and felt at ease.

"Yeah, she doesn't understand me! In this world, you are the only one who understands me the best!"

Just like how he treats her, he is the person who understands her best in this world.

What others see of them is just a disguise.

Only they can see each other's truest appearance.

He and she are a match made in heaven, a couple that even God cannot separate.

"So, is it really Wei Prajna, or is it the Wei family behind her?"

Wang Heng did not hear Lou Yu's direct answer, but she had already determined the answer.

"Yes! It's Wei Qian."

"Wei Banruo's elder brother? He schemed against me like this, pushing me out to marry, just for Wei Banruo?"

Tsk, he’s still a sister-con.

Wang Heng curled her lips, not envious, because she also had a "brother" who obeyed her in everything.

"More than that. He has a past with Princess Anyang."

Seeing Wang Heng's cute little appearance, Lou Yu couldn't help but raise his hand and pinch her cheek.

Although it doesn’t have as much meat as before, it is still soft and sticky.

"Princess Anyang?"

The bright face of Princess Anyang flashed through Wang Heng's mind.

Princess Anyang was certainly not as beautiful as Wang Heng, but she was also a rare beauty.

Moreover, Princess Anyang is of purer quality than Wang Heng.

Her surname is Yang and she is a member of the royal family of Dayu.

Her father has passed away, but she still has many relatives in the clan.

In terms of family alone, Princess Anyang has an advantage over Princess Langya.

Wang Heng nodded, "The Wei family not only sent their daughter to the palace, but also wanted her to be the princess."

Only by further deepening the ties with the royal family can the Wei family's power and wealth be more secure.

"Well! Wei Qian wants to marry Princess Anyang, but Princess Anyang despises Wei Qian for being mediocre. Although he is the eldest grandson of Wei Pushe, he is only a low-ranking official."

Lou Yu pinched Wang Heng's little face and quickly let go.

He continued to grope Wang Heng's hand. Without the Elephant Bone Crushing Technique, he always felt empty when thinking about things.

He suddenly thought of something and added, "Wei Qian's appearance is not particularly outstanding."

With mediocre talents and ordinary looks, it is difficult to reach a high position even if you come from a wealthy family.

As a princess of the royal family, Princess Anyang was naturally unwilling to submit.

But, that was in the past.

Now that there is a crisis of "marriage alliance", the status of Wei Qian and Princess Anyang has been somewhat exchanged!

It was not Wei Qian who begged to marry Princess Anyang, but Princess Anyang who wanted to be protected by the Wei family.

"...For the sake of my wife and my sister, I can understand Wei Qian."

Wang Heng spoke softly, sounding very reasonable.

Only Lou Yu knew that this little girl was probably targeting the idiot Wei Qian!

……

Three days later, June 21st.

It was the Wei family’s monthly gathering for elegant conversation.

In order to continue to win over Wang Lin, Wei Qian personally invited Wang Lin, who was still having some mobility problems, to come.

Wang Lin: ...After many years, I have returned to the circle of top families.

Unfortunately, excessive joy is bound to lead to sorrow.

Wang Lin had just arrived at the Wei family's villa in Qujiang, and before he could join the activities of the literati and elegant guests, he fell to the ground with a "bang"...