Golden Branch

The finest mutton-fat white jade was meticulously carved and polished by the craftsmen hired by Wang Heng at high salaries.

It was made into a Cuijue (ring), the size of which fit Lou Yu's thumb.

When it was delivered to Wang Heng, the White Jade Crushing Technique had already become a perfect product.

Wang Heng only needed to do the final wipe, even if it was done "with her own hands."

That day, Lou Yu went directly into the princess's mansion from the back mountain.

Well, Princess Langya is in mourning, and the entire princess mansion is not welcoming guests.

Lou Yu could only quietly go through the back door.

Of course, this was agreed by Wang Heng.

Wang Heng: ...Just go through the back door, it’s better than climbing over the wall!

Besides, she is already engaged to Lou Yu.

Their marriage certificate has been passed by the saint and the prince.

Lou Yu and Wang Heng thus became a legitimate engaged couple.

Now that they have a formal relationship, it is normal for the two to be intimate occasionally.

At most, Wang Heng was in mourning, so even if she was her fiancé, she couldn't go too far.

Lou Yu: ...If I can’t do it openly, I’ll take the secret route.

Climbing over walls, jumping out windows, and other such little tricks, Lou Yu has been playing with them since he was a child, and he couldn't be more skilled at them.

"Is the milk still fresh today?"

"If you don't like it, there's fresh goat milk on the farm!"

Lou Yu came to Haitang Courtyard as if he was familiar with the place. He took off his shoes under the corridor and went into the main hall wearing only his footwear.

The snow-white silk stockings felt slightly cool as they stepped on the shiny wooden floor.

After entering the main room, there was another comfortable cool breeze.

Lou Yu knew without even looking that ice jars were placed in every corner of this spacious hall.

Because of Wangmian, not only Wang Heng’s Princess Mansion but also Lou Yu’s Duke Mansion never lacked ice.

Of course, even without Wang Mian's magical skill of making ice, with the power of Wang Heng and Lou Yu, they would not lack ice.

At most, with Wangmian, it is more convenient and more affordable.

Lou Yu sat cross-legged across from Wang Heng, and without further ado, he began to discuss family matters: "You must observe mourning, so you must be a vegetarian. This is the rule, but don't overdo it!"

"Aheng, you should consume more dairy products and eggs. Don't damage your health!"

Lou Yu's deep eyes, like searchlights, scanned Wang Heng repeatedly.

The little girl has lost weight again!

Although Lou Yu had become accustomed to the slender and graceful Aheng, Wang Heng became thinner and thinner due to Wang Lin's funeral, and was almost skin and bones.

Even the little bit of baby fat on her face is almost gone.

Lou Yu was worried that if this girl lost any more weight, it might harm her health.

Wang Heng smiled faintly, "Don't worry, brother. I saved it."

"The funeral is over anyway. The most difficult step is over. Now I can rest and recuperate."

After comforting Lou Yu, Wang Heng suddenly tilted her head, a hint of mischief flashing in her distinct black and white lychee eyes:

"Or does Brother dislike me? Are you afraid that I will become a bean sprout too?"

A hint of warmth flashed in Lou Yu's deep eyes.

"Naughty! But it's really not good to turn into bean sprouts!"

Of course Lou Yu knew that the bean sprouts Wang Heng was talking about were the cousin from the Zheng family a few years ago.

So thin, as if a gust of wind would knock him over.

The key point is that Zheng Chi’s thinness is different from Wang Heng’s.

Zheng Chi was simply skinny, extremely bony, and clearly unhealthy.

Wang Heng was thin but not skinny. She had a slender waist and long limbs, and she still had flesh where it should be plump.

Her hair is black and thick, which shows that she has sufficient kidney water.

Her complexion is rosy and she does not have abdominal pain during special periods, which shows that she has sufficient qi and blood.

In addition to God's favor, Wang Heng also took good care of her for many years.

She just looks thin, but she is not sickly.

Lou Yu took great pains to pamper Wang Heng, feeding her fine food and ensuring she had adequate nutrition. It was with great effort that he managed to raise the little girl to such a good state.

He certainly didn't want her to ruin her health just because of mourning.

"Bean sprouts are too weak. A cold can kill them."

As a young general who had experienced field marches, Lou Yu naturally knew the importance of having some flesh on his body.

This is not a burden, but the last layer of armor that can save your life in a critical moment.

Fat people can survive longer even if they are starving.

If you get a serious illness, you have to rely on your flesh to bear the disease!

Lou Yu only wants Wang Heng to be safe and healthy, not a fragile and beautiful woman.

"Brother, do you dislike me?"

Wang Heng pretended not to understand, puffed up her cheeks, and questioned with her eyes wide open.

"Aheng, do you believe what you said?"

"Will I dislike you?"

What kind of person is Ah Heng that he hasn’t seen?

When she was as fat as a ball and many people laughed at her for being fat, he never despised her.

He liked her, not because of her beauty, weight, or size, and was not bound by worldly views.

There is so much between him and her, it is no longer just a simple, superficial love.

Even if Lou Yu despises himself for being a dark, twisted pervert, he will never despise Ah Heng.

"Okay, I won't tease you anymore!"

Wang Heng saw Lou Yu narrow his eyes, and his fox eyes became narrow and charming.

She quickly said, "I know, I know it all. No matter what I become, brother will never despise me!"

"You're worried about me. Don't worry, brother. I'll take care of myself."

"By the way, brother, this is a gift I prepared for you! Try it on and see if it fits you."

Wang Heng changed the subject somewhat abruptly, stretched out a hand, and unfolded it, revealing a white jade destroying technique.

Lou Yu curled his lips slightly and extended his left hand in front of Wang Heng, "Okay, then I'll trouble you to put it on me personally!"

Wang Heng took the initiative to ignore the word "with her own hands".

So what if this destruction technique was not carved by her own hands?

Although she can do it, carving is time-consuming and laborious, and may cause injury.

Being so delicate, she really doesn't want to try it easily.

Not to mention the gifts she gave to others, Wang Heng never made things for herself.

There are obviously craftsmen dedicated to this work, and they obviously can do a better job, so why make things difficult for yourself?

Wang Heng really hadn't figured it out yet. She didn't understand that for lovers, even if the gift from their partner wasn't "excellent" enough, as long as it was handmade, they would be moved and happy.

It's not about the gift itself, but about the sincerity.

Lou Yu looked at Wang Heng's self-righteous look and sighed slightly in his heart.

However, his face showed no emotion, only a smile and anticipation.

"it is good!"

Wang Heng held the Cui Jue in one hand, held Lou Yu's big hand with the other, and then gently put the Cui Jue in.

Just the right size.

The fingers are white and slender, with distinct joints, and a jade ring of the same white color is very proportional to the fingers.

Lou Yu twitched his thumb slightly, "The size is just right!"

He raised his head and looked directly at the delicate face of Furong that was so close to him, "Aheng, I like you very much!"

The little girl put the rope around him again.

And he was willing.

"As long as you like it, brother!"

Wang Heng only felt a warm breath lingering in her ears.

Her little face couldn't help but turn red.

boom!Boom!

In a trance, Wang Heng even heard the sound of her heartbeat.

Wang Heng felt inexplicably hot, so she subconsciously stepped back and put some distance between herself and Lou Yu.

"Well, brother, the Saint's birthday banquet will be held in a few days. I have already prepared the program and gifts. When the time comes, I would like to trouble you to present them on my behalf!"

During this period, Wang Heng was not only busy observing mourning, but also took time to prepare gifts for the emperor's birthday.

A small birthday celebration program and some birthday gifts were all the gains Wang Heng had from her trip to Dengzhou, and also served as proof that she was on a "business trip".

After all, if it weren't for Wang Lin's funeral, Wang Heng might have been involved in the marriage turmoil.

"Ok, I know!"

Lou Yu nodded. He would help with these things even without Wang Heng asking him.

"Speaking of marriage... Brother, how are things going in the border town?"

"Are the Turks stationed outside the city, or have they already taken action?"

Wang Heng did receive some news, but when it came to government affairs and military affairs, Lou Yu's information channels were more advanced and faster.

"The Turkic army is still confronting the garrison at the border town. General Yuchi, the commander-in-chief of the Northwest March, is already on his way to the northwest and will arrive in a few days!"

“By then, there should be a big battle!”

When talking about important court affairs, Lou Yu restrained his smile.

He said in a deep voice, "The officials in the court still want to seek peace."

"Sign an alliance, surrender the princess, and seek temporary peace, while also buying the new dynasty a chance to recuperate."

When Lou Yu said this, there was a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

He is a tough warrior at heart, and believes in taking action over talking.

The Turks have evil ambitions and have repeatedly violated the border, which cannot be resolved by peace talks.

Also descended the princess?

Humph, the previous dynasty did send a princess away, but now she is still serving as a hedonist on the grassland.

However, the war on the border has never been resolved.

Of course, Princess Cheng'an instigated this, but it was more because those barbarians were not obedient enough.

"A pack of vicious wolves. Only by killing them all can the danger be completely eliminated."

"Even if we can't kill them all, we should at least hurt them and scare them, then they will behave themselves!"

Lou Yu once penetrated deep into enemy territory, captured Zuo Xian Wang, and defeated the Ashid tribe, the second largest Turkic tribe.

He had no fear of the Turks, but instead had a strong desire to fight.

When dealing with barbarians with evil intentions, fists are more effective than mouths.

The saint and the prince are also so iron-blooded and powerful.

However, it has not been a year since the saint ascended the throne, and there is still a former emperor in the Daming Palace, and the court is still chaotic and complicated.

There are also new and old aristocratic families, aristocratic families and poor families... many forces, fighting against each other for their own interests.

There are too many constraints. Even if the saint is a victorious general, it is not easy for him to send troops out at will.

However, the sage had military achievements and prestige, and although the court officials disagreed, he still insisted on sending an army to conquer the west.

And the court officials did not give up either.

So what if we send a large army?

We can still negotiate peace!

In the court, people were still arguing about war and peace.

In addition to the Turks, envoys from foreign countries such as Tubo, Gaochang, Tuyuhun, etc. also arrived in the capital one after another.

They wanted to marry Princess Dayu and maintain a lasting friendship with her.

Wang Heng: ...Being a princess is also a dangerous job.

"News has come out from the Wei family that Princess Anyang and Wei Qian are already engaged, and the Imperial Astronomical Observatory is helping to select an auspicious date!"

Lou Yu suddenly blurted out this, leaving Wang Heng speechless again...