Golden Branch

"No news yet!"

Concubine Jiang shook her head, and a hint of sadness flashed across her cold and beautiful face.

But soon, she recovered as before.

Deep down, Concubine Jiang had actually given up.

More than ten years have passed, but there is still no news. My relatives may have already...

Concubine Jiang had already anticipated all kinds of possibilities, and her request for the saint's help in finding her relatives was just the last glimmer of fantasy she had left.

It would be best if we could find our relatives.

If not, Concubine Jiang would not be too sad.

Let it be, if there is destiny, we can meet again even after more than ten years and thousands of miles apart.

I just don't know if they will still be able to recognize each other if that day really comes.

Concubine Jiang sighed softly in her heart, looked up and saw Empress Li's eyes full of concern and a hint of pity, and then she curled her lips:

"It's all my fault. I made Your Majesty worry about me again!"

"After all these years, I have figured it out."

"If I get it, I'm lucky. If I lose it, I'm doomed. I have the protection of the Saint and the Empress. This is a blessing I've cultivated over several lifetimes. I'm content and would never force anything!"

Seeing that Concubine Jiang was speaking sincerely and not so obsessed with finding her relatives, Empress Li nodded and said, "It's great that you think this way!"

Queen Li was afraid that Concubine Jiang would be obsessed with her family and care too much about them, which would easily make her emotionally affected.

It would be fine if it was good news, but if it was bad news, it would hurt yourself.

Concubine Jiang is now pregnant and cannot bear to hear any bad news.

"Thank you for your concern, my lady. I saved all the trouble."

Not to mention relatives she hadn't seen for more than ten years, even with her mother's family she had been in contact with, Concubine Jiang could tell the inside and the outside.

In her life, the person she loves most is always herself.

She would never allow herself to be hurt in the slightest for anyone other than herself.

"What a pity! Langya cannot enter the palace for this Saint's birthday banquet!"

Seeing that Concubine Jiang was not too persistent, Queen Li felt relieved.

She continued chatting with Concubine Jiang, and the topic soon turned back to the Saint's birthday banquet: "I heard that Langya specially went to Dengzhou for the Saint's birthday and found many treasures from the sea, just to present them to the Saint."

When mentioning her daughter, Concubine Jiang's eyes flashed with a smile: "Yes, this child is the most mischievous!"

"She traveled thousands of miles to Dengzhou. Fortunately, the Saint and the Empress were magnanimous and tolerated her."

Queen Li waved her hand, "A Jiang, you are being too modest again. Langya is not a child who makes trouble."

"Although she is young, she is a steady person and acts in a thoughtful manner. Ji Nu likes this sister very much."

Queen Li had a very good impression of Wang Heng.

Well-behaved and filial!

He was friendly to his brothers and sisters, and was kind to his slaves.

The most important point is that Princess Changning, the daughter of Queen Li, likes her.

"The fate between people is also wonderful."

When Queen Li mentioned her youngest daughter's love for Wang Heng, she couldn't help but feel a little emotional.

Queen Li was a little surprised that her four-year-old daughter liked Wang Jiu so much.

When it comes to the life-saving grace, Queen Li never cared.

She was the queen mother, second only to the emperor himself, and Ji Nu was the most honorable and precious legitimate daughter of her and the saint.

For a court lady like Wang Jiu, even if she had to sacrifice her life to save him, it was the duty of a courtier and it was her honor.

Rather than any favor.

Therefore, Queen Li never thought that Wang Jiu’s saving of Shiyi Niang and Xiao Sanlang was a “favor”.

Even if it was just a "favor", Queen Li also gave the reward, which completed the cause and effect.

As for the relationship between "sisters", it is not entirely true.

Princess Changning has no shortage of sisters, whether they are half-sisters from the same father or cousins ​​from the same clan. The Yang royal family is prosperous, and Changning has a large group of sisters.

For example, Princess Ping'an and Princess Anyang, they are both sisters of Princess Changning.

They also spent a long time with Changning.

But Changning just likes Wang Jiu more, her sister with whom she has only lived for a few months and has no blood relationship.

Queen Li sighed to herself: This is probably what it means to be compatible.

Or is it the privilege of beauties?

Queen Li's gaze involuntarily swept across Concubine Jiang's stunningly beautiful face.

She is so beautiful that even fellow women, or even her "rival in love", can't help but like her.

Queen Li treated Concubine Jiang like this, and her daughter treated Concubine Jiang's daughter like this, probably because she was "bewitched by beauty".

"Yes, Ajiu also said that she likes Princess Changning the most because she is smart and cute."

"During this trip to Dengzhou, Ajiu also found many little things for the princess."

When talking about her daughter's affinity with Princess Changning, Concubine Jiang also felt it was amazing.

There is really no logic to explain whether people get along with each other.

There are two fake princesses in the capital. Princess Anyang has some blood relationship with Changning, and the title of Princess Anyang is closely related to Changning.

Logically speaking, Anyang and Changning should be closer.

But Changning just likes another fake princess Langya. Even though she is so little, she can express her likes and dislikes very clearly.

Every time there was a palace banquet or a major banquet in the capital, Changning would be very close to Langya when she saw him.

Concubine Jiang had studied it several times and had many speculations.

For example, "Ajiu is also a child at heart and never grows up. That's why she can play with Princess Changning."

"She has a rare animal garden in her mansion, where she raises iron-eating beasts and uses them to pull carriages... Princess Changning is young, so naturally she loves these novelties!"

"Your Majesty, I was worried that Ajiu might indulge in pleasures and lose her ambition, but she wouldn't lead the little princess astray!"

Concubine Jiang had wanted to say this for a long time.

There just hasn't been a suitable opportunity.

When she said this, she was not only guessing the reason why her daughter and Changning "got along well", but also endorsing her daughter in advance.

Raising wild animals as pets and enjoying playing with them is nothing to the young lady.

But if the emperor and empress's favorite little princess was involved, Wang Heng could not afford to be labeled as "a playboy" and "a corrupt official".

Concubine Jiang must make an excuse for her daughter as soon as possible.

If you confess your guilt in advance, you won't be in a passive position even if you are impeached in the future.

They are all old foxes who have worked in the harem and the palace. Queen Li naturally understands what Concubine Jiang means.

She smiled and said, "It's just a bunch of little girls playing around. How can it be considered as a waste of time?"

"Ajahn, you know that Jinu is my youngest child, and she's a princess. I have no other wishes for her except that she be healthy and happy!"

Lost in playthings?

Haha, if it can make the little princess happy, what does it matter if she loses her ambition by playing with toys?

After receiving the "promise" from Queen Li, Concubine Jiang smiled even more brightly.

She nodded, with a look of "me too": "Yes, I just hope that Ajiu can be healthy and happy!" Rich and prosperous!

……

Liangzhou, horse farm.

In midsummer, the bright sun scorches the earth madly.

The gentle summer breeze raised a layer of yellow sand.

The high temperature scorched the air, yellow sand filled the air, and everything between the sky and the earth seemed to become hazy and blurred.

The weather in the northwest is the most unbearable. It is extremely hot at noon and cold in the morning and evening.

The temperature difference between night and day can be as high as more than ten degrees.

In addition to the huge temperature difference, the northwestern border town is also so dry that it seems to dry up the blood in the human body.

Even after living here for more than ten years, Jiang Yuan could not adapt to such a climate.

At the age of less than 30, the once fair and handsome young man has now become a dark, thin and haggard "old man".

Jiang Yuan has changed not only in appearance but also in temperament.

The former nobility and composure have become decadent and numb.

More than ten years of torture made him forget the fine clothes, wealth and splendor of his youth.

“…It feels like a dream!”

The prosperity of the capital and the glory of the family are long gone.

Jiang Yuan woke up in the middle of the night, not knowing whether it was a good dream or a nightmare, and felt a sense of unreality and trance.

It seems that everything that happened in my youth is a thing of the past life.

But his life today is filled with the scorching summers and cold winters of the border town, the hardships of survival, and a second half of life with no future.

"...Great news! Terrible news! A new dynasty has been established, and a sage has come to rule..."

The horse farm where Jiang Yuan is located may be too remote and the news is very isolated.

The Dayu Dynasty had been established for eight or nine years, and the emperor had been replaced before the news of the establishment of the new dynasty reached here.

Then, Jiang Yuan and the few remaining members of the Jiang family heard a piece of great news:

"Noble Concubine Jiang, the most favored concubine in the harem!"

"Is it, my sister? Didn't she marry into the Wang family? Is she a wife of the Wang family?"

Jiang Yuan muttered to himself in disbelief.

His niece, son, daughter, etc., excitedly shouted:

"Aunt? Uncle, that Concubine Jiang, is she our Aunt?"

"Oh my God, our Jiang family has a distinguished person. Can we go to the capital?"

The overwhelming wealth fell precisely into the arms of the Jiang family.

After their ecstasy, they began to worry: "Uncle, grandpa, and father are all dead. Will aunt still recognize us?"

You can't blame the younger generation for being worried. It's simply because too much time has passed and all the relatives who were familiar with Concubine Jiang have passed away.

Jiang Yuan, who now supports the Jiang family, is the younger brother of Concubine Jiang.

When the family was separated, Jiang Yuan had just turned ten years old.

Almost twenty years have passed, and Jiang Yuan has become completely different from when he was a child.

The children of the Jiang family couldn't help but worry. If Concubine Jiang couldn't recognize Jiang Yuan, then, would their family still be able to recognize their relatives successfully?

“You should recognize him!”

Jiang Yuan clenched a wooden hairpin in his hand, which he had carved for his sister himself.

It’s just the child’s “thought” and is not worth much.

It is precisely because it is worthless that it has been preserved.

Now, this wooden hairpin has become a token of his recognition with his sister.

……

Wang Lin's coffin was sent to a temple on the outskirts of the city, and his funeral came to an end.

Wang Heng closed the doors of the princess's mansion and the royal residence, and took her half-brother and half-sister to observe mourning.

Without going out, entertainment, or eating delicious food, Wang Heng still has plenty of time besides copying scriptures.

Since I have nothing to do anyway, I might as well do some handicrafts to pass the time.

She still owes Lou Yu a token of love (a dog leash?)...