Golden Branch

Wang Heng suppressed her annoyance, turned around and looked at the person who came.

"Mrs. Lu!"

Wang Heng's expression remained unchanged, as the person who came was actually an "old friend".

An old acquaintance from childhood in Yizhou, who was also considered a fellow disciple - Lu Jialan.

"Princess, long time no see, you are still so beautiful!"

Lu Jialan brought a little girl of seven or eight years old and bowed to Wang Heng.

When he looked up, he saw Wang Heng's ethereal and beautiful face.

A flicker of jealousy flashed across Lu Jialan's eyes.

After not seeing her for a few years, Wang Jiu has become even more beautiful.

Her eyes were still so clean and clear, as if they had never been contaminated by this world.

Why?

How could she be so beautiful and live such a good life?

Over the years, Lu Jialan thought he was rich and fulfilled.

Although her husband was not the one she loved or wanted, he treated her like a treasure.

She was the only woman in the backyard of the huge general's mansion.

There are no concubines, let alone illegitimate sons and daughters.

All the children in the family are her own flesh and blood.

In the past seven or eight years, she has given birth to a daughter and two sons, and is now pregnant with another one.

Who among the people around her wouldn't praise her for her loving marriage, having two sons and one daughter, and being blessed with great fortune?

In particular, her husband's career went smoothly. He was successfully promoted from a private to a third-rank general of Yunhui.

A noble husband brings honor to his wife. Lu Jialan also received an imperial decree and became a third-rank lady.

Their family has the support of Princess Jincheng and General Lu, and will not be underestimated in the capital city where powerful people are everywhere.

With a husband, a son and an imperial decree, wherever Lu Jialan went, she saw the envy of others and heard the flattery of the crowd. The resentment and unwillingness of her earlier years seemed to have dissipated.

Yes, it seems!

Because Lu Jialan discovered that when she saw her former enemy again, her heart, which she thought was calm, was once again disturbed.

She was still jealous of and hated a certain favored daughter of heaven - Wang Heng and Wang Jiuniang.

"Mrs. Lu, you're too polite!"

Wang Heng seemed oblivious to the intense emotion in Lu Jialan's eyes. Her gaze swept over Lu Jialan and the lesbian beside her. "Is this your daughter? She's grown this big already?"

After all, they were old friends, and the other party still harbored ill will towards her, so Wang Heng politely exchanged a few words.

After so many years, Wang Heng still couldn't understand why Lu Jialan hated her so much.

Wang Heng even almost forgot why she and Lu Jialan became enemies!

At first, it seemed like it was because Lu Jialan wanted to marry Lou Yu?

But, it has been more than ten years now. Lu Jialan has already married and has a pair of children. It is time to let go of the things from her youth.

Wang Heng didn't understand, but she was cautious and alert.

Lu Jialan is fine, but her husband Yuwen Zhan has been following Lu Jue in battles for years.

In this campaign to defeat the Turks, Lu Jue took the credit for capturing the city, and Yuwen Zhan also won many military merits.

Years ago, when the sage was rewarding people based on their merits, he appointed Yuwen Zhan as General Yunhui and also made him a member of the Jinwu Guard.

Yuwen Zhan rose strongly and became a young general second only to Xiao Wuji and Lu Jue.

As a new rising star in the army, his wife can naturally be honored and respectable.

Yuwen Zhan is in charge of the capital's imperial guards. If you make enemies with him, although it won't cause serious harm, it will still cause trouble.

Wang Heng was not afraid, she just wanted to control all potential threats in her own hands.

"Princess, this is my eldest daughter, whose given name is simply 'Fan'."

When Lu Jialan mentioned his daughter, a strange light flashed in his eyes.

She looked at the seven-year-old girl and whispered, "Afan, why don't you pay your respects to Princess Langya?"

Yuwen Fan is young, but he is quite polite.

She was well-educated, and her every word and action revealed the dignity and composure of a lady from a noble family.

The little girl saluted with her arms crossed and said in a childish voice, "Greetings, Princess Fan!"

Wang Heng's eyes flickered slightly, and a thought flashed through her mind.

It was just too fast and she didn't catch it.

Although she failed to grasp the flash of inspiration in her mind, Wang Heng still paid special attention to Yuwen Fan.

She smiled and nodded, "No need to be polite! He's a good boy!"

As she spoke, Wang Heng raised her hand.

Bai Zhi, who was standing beside her, took out a purse from her sleeve pocket very familiarly and handed it to Wang Heng.

Wang Heng took it and handed it to Yuwen Fan personally. "It's our first meeting, so I'm unprepared. I happen to have a few gems here. Take them and play with them, Afan!"

Yuwen Fan subconsciously looked at Lu Jialan.

Lu Jialan felt jealous again: Humph, she is worthy of being the famous female Tao Zhu in the capital, she is rich!

In fact, not only now, even when he was a child in Yizhou, Wang Jiu never worried about money.

The fat girl, who was only a few years old, was overweight but dressed in gold and silver.

The huge pearls that Lu Jialan was reluctant to use as a headdress were casually sewed on her shoes.

Not only Wang Heng, but even Wang Mian, that lowly person, became a wealthy woman who was as rich as a country thanks to Wang Heng!

In the early years, Lu Jialan's family was destroyed, she was exiled and bullied. The once noble lady had to marry a vulgar warrior for money and to survive.

The hard life in Lingnan made Lu Jialan particularly value money.

Lu Jialan never changed this "habit" even after Yuwen Zhan became rich and the family was no longer short of money.

She was afraid of being poor and hungry.

The storehouse was filled with gold, silver and other valuables, but she was reluctant to use them.

Fortunately, Lu Jialan still cared about her reputation. Even if she was reluctant in her heart, she would not be really stingy. She always wanted to save face for herself and her husband, so she did not make a joke of being "stingy".

Even so, although Lu Jialan's children were not raised in poverty, they were not so extravagant as to play with various gems as if they were pebbles.

Unlike Wang Jiu, huh, he carries so many "gadgets" with him when he goes out!

Lu Jialan was already jealous of Wang Heng, and now seeing her casually using gems as a gift, he became even more jealous and resentful.

However, the 24-year-old Lu Jialan has experienced so much and is no longer the willful little girl she was more than ten years ago.

Her heart was filled with all kinds of negative emotions, but she was able to hide them.

Nodding slightly at his daughter, Lu Jialan smiled quite standardly, "Afan, why don't you thank the princess for the reward?"

"Afan, thank you, Princess!"

With his mother's permission, Yuwen Fan raised his two little hands high and respectfully took the purse.

Wang Heng nodded and said nothing more, then said a polite farewell to Lu Jialan and her daughter.

Lu Jialan bowed again with his daughter and respectfully saw Wang Heng off.

After Wang Heng and her group disappeared, Lu Jialan pulled Yuwen Fan to his feet.

Looking at the direction where Wang Heng disappeared, a hint of coldness flashed in Lu Jialan's eyes.

Humph, Wang Jiu, what’s the point of your current glory?

Things may change over the next ten years, let’s wait and see!

Her daughter, however, wants to—

I can’t say yet.

Lu Jialan swallowed his boastful words and held his daughter's hand tightly. "Let's go! Afan, let's go pay our respects to the Queen!"

"Yes! Mother!"

Yuwen Fan replied respectfully.

One of her little hands was held tightly by her mother, and the other hand was holding the purse.

The purse is a little rough to the touch. It is hard and small, and each piece is made of gems.

It can be used to make jewelry, and she can have beautiful gem hairpins, gem bracelets, and gem necklaces.

But, my mother may not be willing to do so.

Alas, her family is not short of money and her father loves her the most, but she still doesn’t have any jewelry.

……

Wang Heng left the main hall and took A'man and Baizhi into a courtyard on the side.

Instead of continuing to leave, she stopped, turned around and looked behind her.

The Queen was seriously ill and received appropriate ladies from outside the court.

As a newly-risen noble, it was not surprising that Lu Jialan was able to be summoned by the Queen thanks to her husband.

It’s just that it would be fine if Lu Jialan came to pay a visit himself, but why did he bring his daughter with him?

Wang Heng's mind flashed with the image of Yuwen Fan, a precocious and well-mannered boy.

He is only seven or eight years old, but he acts like a little adult.

Wait, seven or eight years old?

Xiao Dalang is eleven years old this year!

Although they were both teenagers, in the Dayu Dynasty, they were old enough to get engaged.

Engagement is not marriage.

If an elder in the family is seriously ill, whether you are worried about him or want to bring good luck, you will need to get him engaged.

Queen Li was in good health and she always valued her eldest grandson very much.

Considering that Xiao Dalang had lost his biological mother and his stepmother was a capable person, it was understandable that Queen Li wanted to make plans for Xiao Dalang before she left.

Yuwen Zhan was born in a humble family, and the Yuwen family was not prominent.

But he has military achievements, and has backers like Jincheng and Lu Jue, so he is now trusted by the saint.

Even if his daughter could not become the emperor's grandson's consort, she could at least be a concubine.

Through marriage alliances, Queen Li can easily find more reliable "in-laws" for her grandson!

With the support of these families, even if Xiao Lu gives birth to a son and the prince has a new legitimate son, Xiao Dalang will not be isolated and helpless.

Wang Heng was indeed smart. She had already guessed so much just by chance encountering Lu Jialan and her daughter.

"Little Dalang is marrying into the Yuwen clan?"

"Lu Jialan's daughter is going to marry into the Eastern Palace?"

Wang Heng clenched the handkerchief in her hand, secretly alert in her heart.

……

"Go, send someone to investigate Yuwen Zhan and his general's mansion!"

After leaving the palace and returning to the Duke of Qi's mansion, Wang Heng summoned the secret guards she had hired without even changing her clothes.

The marriage between Yuwen and the Eastern Palace was just Wang Heng's guess.

The truth is still unknown.

However, what Wang Heng is used to and is best at is "preparing for a rainy day".

Lu Jialan had always harbored ill will towards her. Over the years, the two of them had lived in the capital together, but had rarely interacted with each other.

First of all, there is a huge difference in their identities and status.

Wang Heng was a princess and the wife of a duke, while Lu Jialan was just an ordinary military officer's wife. Her rank was too low and she was not qualified to meet Wang Heng.

Secondly, both of them are "husband singing and wife following".

Whenever Yuwen Zhan went out to fight or was stationed in a border town, Lu Jialan would take his children and leave the capital.

Wang Heng had just returned from Nanzhou with Lou Yu.

Lu Jialan and Wang Heng, either you left or I was not in the capital, so we always missed each other perfectly, and naturally we had fewer interactions.

As they were rivals with a long-standing grudge and rarely interacted with each other, there was no possibility of repairing the relationship between Wang Heng and Lu Jialan.

In the past, Wang Heng never took Lu Jialan seriously and didn't pay much attention to him.

After today's chance encounter, Wang Heng had some guesses and wanted to investigate thoroughly to learn more about Lu Jialan and the entire Yuwen family.

"And the Lu family! Lu Huaijin is dead, but Lu Huaixin and other members of the Lu family are still alive! I want to know what the Lu family's young master is like now!"

When he was in Yizhou, Lu Huaixin was quite smart. At the critical moment, he chose to cooperate with Lou Yu instead of indulging in "family feuds."

He did not take revenge on Lou Yu because of Lu Huaijin.

Instead, she relied on Lou Yu and hooked up with the prince.

When Wang Heng left Yizhou, Lu Huaixin was also promoted.

In recent years, Lu Huaixin's official career has been very smooth. Just this spring, he was promoted and returned to Beijing, where he entered the Ministry of Shangshu and became a potential powerful official.

Wang Heng and Lou Yu are husband and wife. Through Lou Yu, Wang Heng is familiar with all the developments in the court and is also familiar with the forces of all parties.

Lu Huaixin is now the confidant of the Eastern Palace. As a person who joined the palace late, although he is not as loyal as Lou Yu and Xiao Wuzhi, he is also the backbone of the Eastern Palace.

The prince also values ​​Lu Huaixin very much.

Since Wang Heng had never met Lu Jialan before, she was not too afraid of Lu Huaixin.

But today, seeing Lu Jialan who still harbored ill will towards her, and having guessed certain possibilities, Wang Heng had to be on guard.

As the saying goes, it is better to plan ahead and be prepared.

It is better to prepare in advance, even if it turns out to be useless later, than to be caught off guard!

"Yes!"

The secret guard agreed, and when he saw that Wang Heng had no other instructions, he slipped away.

"I hope it's not what I guessed!"

Wang Heng knelt behind the desk, her slender white fingers gently tapping the table top.

Xiao Dalang is now studying with Lou Yu. Although they do not have a formal master-disciple relationship, they have a master-disciple friendship.

Whether Lou Yu and Wang Heng are willing or not, they are already closely tied to the Eastern Palace and Xiao Dalang.

If Xiao Dalang really married Yuwen Fan... Actually, it doesn't matter much.

As for marriage, it can closely connect two families, but it is not absolute.

Wang Heng narrowed her eyes and began to think seriously and plan carefully.

"Unfortunately, the oldest of my next generation, Asan, is only three years old!"

The age difference between her and Xiao Dalang is too big, so a marriage is impossible.

"Or, can we see if there are any suitable candidates among the maids of the Lou and Wang families?"

Wang Heng quickly went through the suitable candidates from the two families in her mind and roughly drew up a list.

She would just wait for Lou Yu to come back and then she would discuss it with him.

……

Tai Chi Palace.

Despite her illness, the queen summoned several ladies from outside the royal family.

In addition to top dignitaries like Wang Heng, there were also officials' families like Lu Jialan who came to pay their respects with their daughters.

By the afternoon, the queen could no longer bear it and stopped the audience.

"Sister, there's no need to work so hard!"

The saint was very distressed, for he knew that his wife and cousin was on the verge of death.

Maybe it happened in the past few days.

The saint has experienced too many life and death situations, and his heart has long been as cold as iron.

But now, the one who is leaving is his wife who has been with him for more than 20 years, his lover, closest relative, and partner.

He still couldn't help feeling heartbroken and reluctant.

"...Ah Lang, actually, with you here, I have nothing to worry about."

"The court is stable, and the world is at peace. Dalang (the Crown Prince) is filial and virtuous, and will surely be able to serve you well and assist you."

"I'm only worried about little Dalang. He lost his mother and has a leg disease. Although you and Dalang are taking care of him, you and Dalang are also busy with state affairs. You can't take care of everything at once."

"Ah Lang, can you give Little Da Lang a reward... He is, after all, our eldest grandson!"