Golden Branch

"it is good!"

Lou Yu closed his eyes slightly and rubbed his cheek lightly against Wang Heng's neck.

He whispered, "Let's go to the Duke of Anguo's Mansion tomorrow. I've already sent someone to deliver the visiting card!"

"After paying our respects to my uncle and other relatives, we will go to Mount Li!"

Wang Heng ignored the warm breath on her neck and asked, "Going to the Anguo Mansion tomorrow?"

She knew that her brother was estranged from his biological parents, but she still didn't expect that this big man would be so resolute.

Outsiders did not know the relationship between Lou Yu and Dugu, but they all knew that he was Lou Jin's eldest son out of wedlock.

Even if the child is adopted out, the blood relationship cannot be severed.

Due to etiquette, we can't get close to each other openly, but it's not good either -

Of course, Wang Heng's inner balance always tilted towards Lou Yu.

Lou Yu was unwilling to reconcile with Lou Jin and his wife, so Wang Heng was very supportive.

As for anything stupid like helping outsiders to persuade Lou Yu to let go of his obsession, compromise, and be a good wife who takes care of her husband and children, just to satisfy the world's fantasy of a "happy ending", Wang Heng would never do it.

She respected Lou Yu and would never use any feelings to kidnap him in any way.

She deeply sympathized with and felt extremely sorry for the child who was abandoned by his parents.

What, you said “There are no parents who are not wrong”?

I'm sorry, the ethical principles I accept are "fatherly love and son's filial piety".

How can a son be filial if his father is not kind?

"Okay! I'll listen to you, brother!"

Wang Heng nodded gently, and her soft and delicate chin just happened to touch Lou Yu's profile.

Lou Yu didn't know whether he was happy because Wang Heng was so well-behaved or because they already had an intimate relationship. Feeling the little girl's touch, he slightly tilted his head and kissed her pointed chin directly.

Soft lips brushed gently and extended all the way upwards.

Before Wang Heng could react, her breath was taken away and she was enveloped by a strong masculine scent.

“…Ah, brother!” This was outside, in the carriage!

The rest of the words were all blocked, and only sobbing could be heard.

Lou Yu didn't say anything, but just hugged the person in his arms tightly, wishing he could rub her into him and become one with her.

Creak, creak.

The wooden wheels rolled over the bluestone floor, making a regular sound that covered up some of the noise.

……

The next day, early in the morning.

Lou Yu got up early, went to the training ground to practice martial arts for half an hour, and then returned to the bathroom in the main courtyard to wash up.

He finished washing up and returned to the dormitory wearing clean clothes. Only then did Wang Heng wake up.

Another night of tossing and turning, with bruises of varying depths on her translucent white skin. After only three or four days, Wang Heng had gotten used to it.

Bai Zhi and other servants also seemed to have adapted to the love between the princess and her husband. When they were changing Wang Heng's clothes, they no longer blushed or felt embarrassed when they saw certain marks.

They were doing their jobs calmly.

He carefully put on Wang Heng's chest-length skirt and helped her walk to the dressing table.

Wang Heng knelt down, looked at herself in the mirror, and let the maid comb her hair.

"Aheng, what kind of flower ornaments would you like today?"

As Lou Yu stepped in, he saw the little girl putting on makeup in front of the mirror.

A glimmer flashed in his deep eyes, and there was a hint of joy in Lou Yu's tone that only Wang Heng could detect.

Wang Heng: ...Do you really like drawing flowers for me?

Wang Heng's eyes rolled. Hey, she couldn't control her rebellious nature again.

After a moment's thought, Wang Heng said, "Today I have to visit the Lou family and attend the academy, so I should behave with dignity and respect. Hmm, then I'll paint a Baoxiang flower."

The so-called Baoxiang flower is not just a certain kind of flower, but a kind of decoration that is a combination of flowers such as lotus, peony, chrysanthemum, and supplemented with elements such as buds, petals, and leaves.

Complex, yet exquisite.

During the Dayu Dynasty, Baoxianghua was very popular, but it was mostly used in textiles, utensils, and architectural decoration.

It is rarely used to make flower ornaments.

After all, it is too complicated and requires a high level of painting skills from the artist.

Wang Heng: ...Humph, what we want is complexity and high standards!

How could Lou Yu not see that Wang Heng was making things difficult for him?

The smile on his lips deepened. "Aheng is right. The Baoxiang flower-shaped ornament is very suitable for today's trip."

After saying that, he knelt down beside Wang Heng, picked up the eyebrow pencil very familiarly, and began to draw on Wang Heng's smooth and fair forehead.

He held the pen in one hand and gently supported Wang Heng's chin with the other.

Focused eyes and gentle movements.

Wang Heng raised her head slightly; she was too close to Lou Yu.

It was so close that she could clearly see Lou Yu's long and curled eyelashes.

"A grown man with such long eyelashes, foul!"

"Huh? My brother's eyes are a bit light. Bathed in the morning light, they look like amber."

At such a close distance and in such an intimate posture, Wang Heng could see everything on Lou Yu's face more clearly.

Some details that she had not discovered or paid attention to in the past were now seen clearly by her.

"Brother, your eye sockets are so deep, and your nose is so beautiful. And his skin, I don't see him taking care of it on a daily basis, how come it's still so delicate and smooth?"

"...No wonder everyone says my brother is a peerless gentleman and a handsome young man. My brother is indeed good-looking. He has the handsomeness of Duke Anguo and the gentleness of Madam Dugu."

Marrying such a handsome man and having sex with him seems to be a really good deal.

Wang Heng thought that even if she traveled all over the world, she would never find anyone more beautiful than her brother.

It's not just about appearance, there are many other aspects of "beauty".

People who are better looking than my brother may not necessarily have his noble and arrogant temperament.

People who are more elegant than my brother may not necessarily have his amazing talents.

People who are more talented than my brother may not have his exquisite looks.

Her brother, however, was able to combine all the advantages, he was truly unique in the world.

And this brother is her husband.

Although he is strong, overbearing, and has some slightly perverted habits, his merits outweigh his flaws.

Wang Heng secretly compared them in her heart and had to admit that her brother was the best.

Wang Heng's thoughts were wandering, and when someone's "abnormal" behavior flashed through her mind, she suddenly thought of something.

Her eyes, which had been staring blankly, suddenly moved.

His gaze dropped to the left hand that was supporting his chin.

Huh?

Is that red line still there?

That's not right. That's rouge, not paint. It will fall off after washing.

It has been two or three days. My brother bathes and washes his hands every day. It is impossible for him to keep it here forever.

Or did you wash it off and then paint it over again?

If it were someone else, maybe they wouldn’t be so “boring”, but brother is a pervert.

His behavior often goes beyond ordinary people's imagination.

"All right!"

Lou Yu was indeed focused when he was painting the flower ornaments for Wang Heng.

But his focus has always been on Wang Heng.

So, when Wang Heng's eyes were rolling around, Lou Yu noticed it.

He paid half of his attention to Wang Heng, and then he saw her staring at her hands in a daze.

"Aheng, what are you looking at? Your eyes are wide open!"

Some cross-eyed.

That little look is really funny.

Wang Heng was startled awake. "Is it done? Is the painting finished?"

"Well, take a look, are you satisfied?"

Lou Yu did not continue to pursue the topic of "what to look at". He slightly exerted force on the hand that was supporting Wang Heng's chin and turned Wang Heng's face back to the mirror.

Wang Heng followed Lou Yu's force, turned her head and looked at the mirror.

Sure enough, on the snow-white forehead, a group of intricate precious flowers was extremely beautiful.

"……satisfy!"

It has to be said that Lou Yu's painting skills are really superb. He can easily draw a small flower ornament, even one with a complex pattern.

Wang Heng smiled and said, "Thank you, brother," then quickly grabbed Lou Yu's left hand.

She exerted a little force and placed the hand in front of her eyes.

"This is?"

She looked carefully and found that there was indeed a red line on her left thumb.

She wasn't dazzled or seeing things wrong.

Wang Heng stretched out her fingers and rubbed the red line vigorously.

Huh?

No smudging and no rubbing off!

"Not Rouge!"

A hint of surprise flashed in Wang Heng's eyes, and she let out a soft cry.

"Well, it's not rouge, it's emerald green!"

When Lou Yu saw that Wang Heng only noticed her abnormality after a whole night, a dark light flashed in his eyes.

"Diao Qing? Brother, you, you actually——"

Wang Heng's expression changed slightly.

My body and hair are given by my parents. My brother is from a noble family, not a street urchin. How could he—

But soon, Wang Heng reacted:

Why not!

Do we have to follow secular rules?

Brother is not an ant forced to follow the rules, but the one who makes the rules.

Moreover, putting aside his identity, just looking at Lou Yu's appearance and demeanor, if he did anything that went against the norm, it would not be an overstepping of the bounds, but rather leading a new fashion.

Just like a handsome man in the previous dynasty, whose hat was accidentally blown askew by the wind, he made all the men in the city deliberately wear their hats askew!

Wang Heng looked carefully at the thumb with distinct joints that looked like a jade carving. The red line on it did not make it look vulgar, but rather extremely beautiful.

"Does it look good?"

Lou Yu stared into Wang Heng's eyes, and naturally did not miss the emotional changes in her eyes.

From astonishment, to panic, to relief, and finally to pure appreciation.

The smile in Lou Yu's eyes was warm and rich, and he knew that Ah Heng was the only one in the world who understood him the most.

No matter how shocking and bottom-line-challenging his actions are, Ah Heng will accept and support them!

"Beautiful! This destruction will never break again!"

"Yes! Ah Heng is right. This Crushing Decision you gave me, I will wear it for the rest of my life!"

……

The couple packed up, took the gifts prepared by the housekeeper, and headed towards the Duke of Anguo's Mansion.

Although the visiting invitation was received one day in advance, the Duke of Anguo's Mansion did not have the joy and solemnity of that day.

Lou Jin: ...I've known for a long time that this little bastard is unfilial. He really doesn't give his biological parents any respect at all.

Dugu: ...What are you celebrating? As a son, you come to my house to pay your respects, yet you send me a visiting card like an outsider!

He clearly doesn't take his biological parents seriously.

Dugu finally realized that her son had completely become estranged from her.

Realizing this, Dugu's ardent motherly heart completely cooled down.

When facing the newlyweds Lou Yu and Wang Heng, she lost her enthusiasm and intimacy, and instead displayed the coldness and distance of an elder from another family...