Golden Branch

The food Wang Heng prepared for the three little ones was very rich.

There are the grilled fish and teppanyaki that Princess Changning has always longed for, as well as the cream cakes unique to the princess's mansion, fried melon seeds of various flavors, and many snacks.

The three little ones rode in a carriage all the way from the capital to Mount Li. After most of the day, they were all tired and hungry.

There were delicious foods in front of them, many of which they had never seen before, and they were all attracted.

One by one, they worked hard.

The three little ones' mothers, eunuchs, palace maids, etc. all surrounded their little masters.

Whether they are picking up food, removing fish bones, or feeding water, they are busy but not chaotic, and are careful and thoughtful.

The only two relaxed people at the scene were Wang Heng and Lou Yu, the young couple who kept whispering to each other.

Wang Heng would occasionally glance at the three little ones to make sure they were eating normally, and then continue chatting with Lou Yu.

"Brother, have you decided?"

Wang Heng's question was incoherent, but Lou Yu understood it instantly.

He looked at Wang Heng's pair of distinct black and white lychee eyes, and a hint of obvious guilt flashed across his handsome face.

Nodding, Lou Yu said, "It's decided! His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has also agreed."

Wang Heng continued in a positive tone, "Going to Yongzhou?"

"Yes! It's not just about the terms agreed with Annie, it's also a matter of great importance to the stability of the region and the dignity of the saint!"

Lou Yu said slowly, "Yongzhou is indeed remote, but it is ultimately the territory of the King of Dayu. We will not allow anyone to cause trouble."

"King Yong is tyrannical, and the Yi Liao are rebelling. If we can't control it in time, it could bring disaster to the entire Lingnan region."

"The sage has the ambition to conquer the world and is about to conquer Liaodong. Lingnan must not be in chaos!"

How can we conquer foreign nations when our backyard is on fire?

Lou Yu not only had to quell the rebellion in Yongzhou, but also had to establish an government there that would be able to stabilize Lingnan.

He must go to Yongzhou.

"...Brother, then go ahead."

Wang Heng looked at Lou Yu deeply. She knew that her brother was born to be an eagle soaring in the sky.

When he was young, he dreamed of inheriting his family's business and becoming a general on the battlefield.

Unfortunately, he met a scumbag father who doted on his wife like crazy, and Lou Xiao became Lou Yu, which shattered his dream of becoming a champion.

Forced to switch from military to civil service, Lou Yu never gave up.

Despite the Xuanwu Gate Rebellion, Lou Yu still won the title of founding county duke based on his military achievements.

Now, he has been promoted to Shaoqing of Dali Temple, and will go to the local area to serve as a governor. He also has the grand ambition of stabilizing the local area and governing the country.

Wang Heng would never, and was unwilling to, restrict Lou Yu.

She gave Lou Yu a ring and drew a red line on his finger, more to help him control the darkness in his heart rather than to tie his hands and feet.

Even though the two were newly married and separated by thousands of miles, Wang Heng would understand and actively support them.

"I'm here in the capital, brother, just rest assured."

Wang Heng said firmly that she would definitely guard the door for her brother.

Just like three or four years ago, when Lou Yu left Yizhou, Wang Heng took over everything in Lou's fortress.

At that time, they were just "brother and sister" and did not have a legal relationship such as marriage.

Now that they are husband and wife, Wang Heng will do it even more perfectly.

"Ok!"

Lou Yu nodded slightly, a hint of warmth flashing in his eyes.

Then, he thought of something and suddenly felt a little cold. "Other things are easy to deal with. I'm just afraid that someone will misunderstand me when I go to Yongzhou this time."

Wang Heng's eyes flickered as she asked, "Did they misunderstand that you've fallen from favor? That you've been cruelly banished by the Saint?"

And what this world lacks the least is people who can guess the emperor's intentions and change their stance according to the situation.

Lou Yu was so powerful before, but once he loses power, he will suffer double the backlash.

There are too many people in the capital who want to take advantage of others' misfortunes.

Not to mention outsiders, even some relatives might be waiting to see the Duke of Qi's Mansion make a fool of itself.

Lou Yu and the prince would naturally not mention their plan to outsiders.

Therefore, Lou Yu was suddenly "promoted in name only" from the popular position of Shaoqing of Dali Temple to the governor of Lingnan. It is easy for people to think that he had offended the saint and the prince, so he was "exiled"!

Lou Yu smiled slightly, but the smile did not extend to his eyes: "Well! I'm not afraid of these misunderstandings, I'm just worried that you might be wronged!"

Whether the left or right has fallen out of favor will be proven by time and facts.

Lou Yu didn't care at all, he just didn't want Wang Heng to be implicated.

Wang Heng also laughed. She deliberately raised her chin and said in a pretentious and arrogant tone, "Brother, have you forgotten that I am the Princess of Langya?"

So what if Lou Yu “fell out of favor”?

It’s not like Concubine Jiang has fallen out of favor!

As long as Imperial Concubine Jiang is still firmly seated in Baifu Palace, Wang Heng can walk around the capital with impunity!

Not to mention, she has a little helper——

Thinking of this, Wang Heng deliberately looked at the three little ones who were concentrating on eating.

Lou Yu always kept an eye on Wang Heng, and whenever she made a small move, he would follow suit.

So, Lou Yu's gaze also fell on the Ninth Prince, Princess Changning and Xiao Sanlang.

Lou Yu: ...OK!

Is this considered a lucky coincidence?

I thought it would be a burden to Ah Heng, but unexpectedly, it would become a talisman!

With three little noble ladies, Wang Heng was not just a princess, but had many backers.

Those who are good at changing with the wind are also the ones who bully the weak and fear the strong.

They are just bad, not stupid. They know that Wang Heng is not easy to deal with, so they dare not offend her.

……

Once the prince has made a decision, he will act according to the plan.

While he was thoroughly investigating the Eastern Palace, he was also putting an end to these matters.

On the third day after Yang Cheng was injured, all relevant matters were sorted out and dealt with, and then the prince spread the news.

It was not until this time that people in the court and the capital city knew that such a big event had happened in the Eastern Palace.

Of course, there were some rumors before.

After all, although Quchifang is remote, it is still within the capital.

Moreover, Quchifang is not far from the South City Gate. The guards at the city gate and the Wu Hou patrolling the streets all noticed the accident after it happened.

Maybe you didn't see it with your own eyes, maybe you don't know the whole truth, but rumors don't need evidence.

Rumors spread widely—

"The Crown Prince fell off his horse? I heard he nearly broke his neck!"

"What Crown Prince? He's just the Emperor's grandson. The Saint hasn't conferred the title of Crown Prince yet!"

"...Falling off a horse? How old is the little prince? How could he have survived?"

"You have to endure it even if you can't! My cousin's second aunt's nephew's sworn brother is working in the palace. I heard that when the little emperor's grandson was sent back to the palace, he was covered in blood and only had one breath left!"

"Oh, wouldn't the prince be sad? That's his eldest son, the crown prince that even the saint loves."

"Of course they're heartbroken! I heard that the Eastern Palace has been in turmoil these past two days. The Crown Prince almost turned the entire palace upside down! Many people were sent to the Hundred Cavalry Division, and many died!"

"...Will the little grandson of the emperor become disabled?"

Falling off a horse is no small matter. In serious cases, you may break your neck, and in minor cases, you may break your arms or legs.

The imperial court had requirements for appearance and body shape. Not to mention being disabled, even being ugly might mean you have no chance of a career in officialdom.

How could the son of the crown prince, the future heir, be a cripple?

"Oh, the Crown Princess is so pitiful. She is seriously ill, and her eldest son has become a cripple!"

"It's not so bad. Doesn't the Crown Princess have a son?"

"Ah, yes, Xiao Sanlang! Yes, Xiao Dalang is useless, but there is still Xiao Sanlang!"

From the streets to the imperial court, discussions about the Eastern Palace have never stopped in the past two days, and are even getting more intense.

It was not until the crown prince announced it himself that everyone knew that the emperor's eldest grandson was indeed injured, but he received timely treatment and was not seriously injured.

The emperor's eldest grandson was injured because of a cunning slave's frame-up.

The Eastern Palace carried out a major purge, and all the main culprits and accomplices involved in the accident were executed.

The Li family’s crimes were covered up.

But then, news came from the East Palace.

Following the serious illness of Crown Princess Lu, Crown Princess Li also suddenly fell ill.

Li Liangdi was far less blessed than the Crown Princess. The Crown Princess was bedridden for several months, but she still held on strongly.

It took less than three days from the onset of Li Liangdi's illness to her death.

As soon as Li Liangdi passed away, the prince said that it was really pitiful that Xiao Wulang lost his mother at such a young age.

The crown prince decided to adopt him to his younger brother, Prince Min, who died young.

These things seem to have no connection.

However, anyone with a brain would know after a little thought——

The assassination and fall of the emperor's eldest grandson from his horse were both murders committed by the Li family.

The treatment of Li Liangdi and Kogoro seemed to be the prince's dislike of the Li family, but in fact it was the will of the saint.

The Li family acted too boldly and domineeringly, which eventually aroused the dissatisfaction of the Supreme father and son, and they received a serious warning!

The Li family was indeed frightened. They didn't expect the truth to be exposed so quickly.

I never expected that the Saint and the Prince would be so ruthless.

It would have been fine if Li Liangdi had "died of illness", but they, father and son, actually gave up even their own flesh and blood!

"Your Majesty and Your Highness, has this really irritated our Li family?"

This is not about exiling Kogoro, it is clearly a slap in the face of the Li family.

"No. Kogoro can't be adopted! I, I have to ask the Queen for help!"

"...Wait! You are not allowed to enter the palace, and you are not allowed to disturb the Empress! If you think your life is too long, just find a rope and hang yourself. Don't do such a stupid thing that will bring disaster to your entire family!"

Some members of the Li family still couldn't recognize the reality, while others regained their sanity and clarity.

The huge Feng'en Mansion was filled with chaos and noise.

Someone who had some connection with the emperor's eldest grandson's fall from his horse, after hearing all the rumors, finally felt relieved:

"The Crown Prince was furious when his eldest grandson fell from his horse, but he didn't lose his mind!"

"That's right, I told you so. I was just handling the case impartially and didn't mean to offend anyone."

"Besides, the one who actually offended the Emperor's eldest grandson was Princess Rong'an's servant, not me!"

Zhou Jiming was walking around in the study, muttering to himself.

No one knew how shocked and terrified he was when he witnessed the accident near Quchifang that night.

After returning home, he was even more anxious and couldn't sleep all night.

He fears!

He is really afraid.

If anything happens to the emperor's eldest grandson, if the prince is blinded by anger and implicates innocent people, Zhou Jiming will be the first to bear the brunt.

He has lived two lives and given up a lot to have the power he has today. He doesn't want to be ruined like this!

"My dear, there is an imperial decree!"

Just at this moment, the servant's voice was heard outside the study.

……

Zhou Jiming: ...I got promoted?

The saint said that I was as good as a god in solving cases and had made great contributions, so he promoted me to the position of Shaoqing of Dali Temple...!

Although he was not a senior official, he was promoted from the fifth rank to the fourth rank, a full two levels higher.

The key point is that he is finally no longer unjust and he will be able to try cases with full justification in the future.

He has become the Shaoqing, and the Dali Temple Minister is about to retire. He, he will be the next Dali Temple Minister!