Golden Branch

"Jiu Niang, there are no guests at the moment. Please have some ginseng soup."

Zheng Shisan, wearing plain clothes and holding a small white porcelain bowl, came close to Wang Heng and took every opportunity to serve her a sip.

After traveling for several days, Wang Heng immediately dealt with the funeral after returning. She was already slender and delicate, and after all the hard work, her small face, which was only the size of a palm, became even thinner.

The loose and rough linen clothes he wore seemed to be shaking.

He was so weak that he couldn't even wear the clothes, showing his frailty.

The white and slender neck became increasingly thinner, and the blue blood vessels became more prominent under the fragile skin.

And the wrists exposed at the cuffs are so thin that they seem like they could be broken with the slightest touch.

Whether it is the lapels or the cuffs, there is a slight red color near the fabric.

This is the mark left by the rough material rubbing against the skin because it is too delicate and white.

At this moment, Wang Heng looked haggard and sickly, yet extremely beautiful despite her weakness.

She was like a flower in a storm, and the next moment, she would be knocked off the branches and crushed into mud.

Too beautiful, too fragile, too lovable and worrying.

Not to mention the guests who came to pay their respects, even Wang Heng's relatives and friends who knew her well, such as Wang Mian and Zheng Shisan, could not help but worry when they saw her in such a state:

Could it be that Jiu Niang was really too heartbroken that she exhausted herself and damaged her body?

Zheng Shisan was used to serving Wang Heng, taking care of her, and considering everything for her.

In order to prevent his Ninth Lady from getting hurt, Zheng Shisan tried every possible way to nourish Wang Heng.

Meat, definitely not edible.

However, nourishing foods that replenish qi, such as ginseng soup, are harmless.

Zheng Shisan personally stayed in the kitchen, watching the chefs and servants busying themselves.

During the entire process, although Zheng Shisan did not do anything himself, he did not let anything out of his sight.

The ginseng soup was ready, and Zheng Shisan brought it over personally and placed it in front of Wang Heng's mouth.

From the beginning of making this bowl of ginseng soup to the moment Wang Heng took a sip, Zheng Shisan was able to ensure its "safety".

This is the rule of the Princess Mansion led by Wang Heng.

Wang Heng seems to have a good temper and is also a bit spoiled. She seems to be indifferent to everything and leaves everything to the managers around her.

In fact, Wang Heng has her own strict rules when governing her subordinates.

She really trusts the people she selects, as the saying goes, "Trust the people you employ, and don't employ the people you don't trust."

But trust is one thing, and rules are another.

Wang Heng would not unconditionally let go of the people around her just because of so-called trust.

She trusted the stewards, servants, etc., but she would also stick to the rules she set.

Human hearts are too complicated!

Being spoiled can easily lead to arrogance!

Excessive favor may get the most sincere reward, but there is another possibility, which is that it will cause people to lose their original intentions and forget their nature.

As the saying goes, "Human greed is like a snake swallowing an elephant."

There is also the saying "great kindness brings great hatred".

Wang Heng knew since she was six years old that human hearts are the most complex and uncontrollable things in the world.

There is no absolute loyalty, nor is there eternal immutability.

Not only servants, but also like-minded friends, blood-related relatives, and lovers with whom she shared the same feelings... Wang Heng always managed to maintain an almost indifferent clarity.

Zheng Shisan and others have been with Wang Heng for several years. Although they may not have the same "rationality" as Wang Heng, they have also learned her way of controlling her subordinates.

Trust and rules do not conflict!

"Being with Jiuniang, I not only have a rich life and a respectable status, but also knowledge that I couldn't learn in the Zheng family."

Zheng Shisan gradually felt such emotions, but he would not express them in words.

Jiu Niang has been very kind to her, and she is willing to serve her and be loyal to her for the rest of her life.

"Hmm!" Wang Heng glanced at the mourning hall and made sure there were no outsiders. Then she raised her hand, covered it with her sleeve, lowered her head and took two sips.

Warm ginseng soup with a slight bitter taste.

After taking a bite, it didn’t take long for all my internal organs to warm up.

She sighed contentedly, turned to Zheng Shisan and said, "Are there any more? If so, give some to Erlang and the others!"

Wang Erlang and his brothers and sisters were younger and could not bear the kneeling and crying all day long.

Wang Heng can be cruel to herself and is willing to help her younger siblings build a good reputation, but she will not let them lose their lives for this.

"Don't worry, Jiuniang, there's more. When you're done, I'll give it to the young men and women!"

Zheng Shisan quickly replied.

Wang Heng nodded gently, her bright eyes flashing with satisfaction and admiration. "Shisan Niang is the best. She's prudent and thoughtful. She's truly my right-hand man!"

Wang Heng was very satisfied with Zheng Shisan.

This person not only withstood Lou Yu's test, but also met the requirements secretly set by Wang Heng.

Zheng Shisan, available!

Now, Wang Heng has decided to give it a try with Lou Yu.

After the mourning period, she was still willing to marry Lou Yu, so Wang Heng wanted Zheng Shisan to be his concubine.

With such a loyal, considerate, and attentive concubine, Wang Heng's married life will be more fulfilling.

Of course, Wang Heng would not force him, she respected Zheng Shisan's choice.

Zheng Shisan is willing to accompany her to marry into the Duke of Qi's Mansion, and she will give Zheng Shisan the wealth he wants.

If Zheng Shisan was unwilling, Wang Heng would choose a suitable husband for her and give her a generous dowry out of consideration for her years of service.

This is not just for the sake of affection, but also to "arrange a marriage" for Wang Heng——

If Zheng Shisan were to marry someone from outside the family, the person she would marry would either be from a prominent family, a noble, or a newly rising member of a poor family.

All of these can be used by Wang Heng.

Wang Heng seems useless, but in fact she has been silently weaving a web.

The resources she can mobilize are far beyond the imagination of outsiders.

Wang Heng never did anything in vain, nor did she do good to others without expecting anything in return.

The greatest "good" she can do is not to do evil on her own initiative.

Her compassion can be placed on the scale of interests and measured.

Her sincerity was mixed with interests and seemed not pure enough.

But for Wang Heng, this is the most stable and long-lasting way.

Just like his half-brothers and half-sisters, Wang Heng raised and taught them, firstly for his reputation and secondly for his own use.

My half-brother can study, become an official, revive the royal family, and then become someone she can use.

They can also marry and expand the Wang family's network of relationships.

A concubine's sister can also study, do business, and marry...

Whatever Wang Heng puts in now, she will get tenfold, or even a hundredfold, in return someday.

"Nine Lady, you're too kind! This is what I should do!"

After receiving Wang Heng's praise, a blush appeared on Zheng Shisan's pitiful little face.

Lou Yu, who had just sent his father out and taken care of things in the outer courtyard, stepped into the mourning hall and saw the extremely intimate scene between Wang Heng and Zheng Shisan.

Lou Yu reached for his thumb, but missed again.

After the Elephant Bone Crushing Technique was crushed, Lou Yu has not yet found a suitable replacement.

A trace of dark energy emerged in Lou Yu's heart. He touched his empty thumb and tried his best to suppress it.

"Zheng Shisan, what an eyesore!"

Before, Lou Yu had never paid attention to anyone except Wang Heng.

To him, although Zheng Shisan was called his "cousin", she was no different from a slave.

The reason why Lou Yu tested Zheng Shisan and showed a certain intimacy with him was nothing more than Wang Heng.

Zheng Shisan passed the test, so Lou Yu let her stay with Wang Heng.

As for Wang Heng's plan to have Zheng Shisan as a concubine, Lou Yu did not object.

He didn't agree, but simply didn't care.

After all, in Lou Yu's mind, it didn't make much difference whether Zheng Shisan was a concubine or a slave.

The people on both sides are unimportant. As long as Ah Heng likes it, let Ah Heng make the decision.

But today, Lou Yu suddenly discovered that Zheng Shisan was not really a servant who had nothing to do with him.

She, she is so favored by Aheng.

She and Aheng are so close?

This is just the princess and her companion. In the future, if they marry into the Lou family together and become "sisters"——

It is impossible for Lou Yu to stay in the inner house all day.

He had to go to the government office, attend court, and even go out of the capital to do business.

When he was not around, Aheng was accompanied by Zheng Shisan.

Lou Yu couldn't help but think of the time when, after he married Aheng, he was busy outside, while Zheng Shisan was able to stay by Wang Heng's side, eating at the same table and sleeping on the same bed with her.

Rubbing shoulders with each other, staying together day and night... No! He would never allow it!

If he continues to indulge her, Lou Yu will start to doubt: Is Zheng Shisan, this concubine, his or Aheng's?

Lou Yu did know something about matters between men and women, but he did not seem to be obsessed with them.

As a top noble and a handsome young man.

Not to mention the overt and covert admiration of noble ladies like Wei Prajna, even the girls and entertainers in the market prefer this type of him.

Lou Yu had been to those places of fireworks and had seen all kinds of beautiful women.

But he never had that urge.

"It's so ugly! And so smelly!"

She wasn't good-looking enough, her taste wasn't right, and she wasn't someone he was attracted to. Lou Yu had no interest in her at all.

Even with a beautiful woman in front of him, Lou Yu was able to always maintain his noble, elegant, gentle and dignified gentlemanly demeanor.

Zheng Shisan is no exception.

Therefore, Lou Yu was very sure that if Aheng had not requested it, he would never let Zheng Shisan be his concubine.

Therefore, when Lou Yu saw the scene of Wang Heng and Zheng Shisan getting along, he couldn't help but feel angry.

"An eyesore! It's such an eyesore!"

"It's better not to let her stay with Ah Heng any longer, at least not in such a close relationship!"

Lou Yu clenched his thumbs.

Zheng Shisan and Wang Mian are different.

Wang Mian is a close friend, while Zheng Shisan is more like a loyal servant.

A loyal servant may have a humble status, but he is the person closest to and most relied upon by his master.

The relationship between a loyal servant and his master is even closer and longer-lasting than that between close relatives.

Moreover, no matter how good the relationship between Wang Mian and Aheng is, she has to get married.

After she gets married, has a husband, and will have children in the future, her focus will shift.

This is also one of the reasons why Lou Yu can tolerate Wang Mian. She will not always accompany Aheng and always be an eyesore to him.

However, Zheng Shisan is going to marry into the Lou family with Aheng so that they can stay together for the rest of their lives!

Suddenly thinking of this, Lou Yu's heart that wanted to possess Wang Heng began to twist.

But this person cannot be killed!

"...it's better to marry Zheng Shisan off."