Golden Branch

"Lord Lou is coming back. Are you and Anan going back to Beijing too?"

After Wang Mian finished her self-reflection, she continued to chat with her best friend.

They are all in Mount Li now, Wang Heng and Wang Mian are teaching, and Anan and the triplets are studying.

After years of development, Lishan Academy has long become the top academy in Beijing, and is showing a trend of being ranked alongside other long-established academies.

There are many reasons why Lishan Academy has achieved such success:

Firstly, the Lishan Academy had the famous scholar Shen Du as its principal.

Shen Du made no achievements as an official.

However, in terms of teaching and educating, he is considered to be the top figure in Dayu.

Especially since Wei Lingfu, who had the same name as him, was convicted and beheaded, Shen Du became the first person to be beheaded.

The best scholar, the best teacher.

With him in charge of Lishan Academy, the academy's reputation became increasingly famous.

Secondly, apart from Principal Shen, the teachers in the academy are also talented men and women of the time.

The teaching staff is the best and most abundant in the entire capital.

Thirdly, the students of Lishan Academy are either powerful or geniuses.

All the prominent families in the capital have children studying in academies.

The grandsons of the emperor, the daughters of princesses, the descendants of dukes, earls, generals, and prime ministers... the children of ordinary officials' families are nothing in the academy.

As long as you enter Lishan Academy, you can become classmates and roommates with these high-ranking students who are beyond your reach in normal times.

After a few years, even if there is no close friendship, there will be a sense of kinship.

In the future, whether it is marriage or entering officialdom, there will be unexpected surprises.

Especially in the past two years, the Crown Prince has been studying in the academy, which has made many families eager to move.

Families with male children of similar age to the Crown Prince wanted their young men to become classmates with the Crown Prince.

Families who have girls who are close to or even younger than the Crown Prince want their daughters (granddaughters) to have the experience of growing up with the Crown Prince.

We still need someone to be the study partner for the Crown Prince.

There is still a vacancy in the Crown Prince's backyard.

The sage values ​​the prince, and the prince has chosen to be the crown prince. The crown prince's position as the third-generation heir is extremely stable.

Those who are far-sighted and willing to invest in advance have already started placing their bets.

Whether it is a companion or a concubine, they are all ways for major families to seek refuge in the Eastern Palace.

In fact, these families are already regretting it——

late!

They are one step late!

Five years ago, the Crown Prince was just a little boy in the Eastern Palace.

Because of his leg disease, even the prince seemed to dislike him and no longer raised him personally, but left him to Lou Yu.

At that time, many families were watching.

Some even started to side with Xiao Sanlang——

They are all the legitimate sons of the original wife of the Eastern Palace. If Xiao Dalang is disabled, Xiao Sanlang is also qualified to compete.

Therefore, before her death, Queen Li began to frequently summon ladies from outside the royal family, especially those whose families had girls of the same age as Xiao Dalang. Some calculating families would try every possible means to avoid them.

Even if Xiao Dalang is not disabled, he has a leg disease. The daughter that the family has carefully raised cannot be treated badly for nothing.

However, none of them expected that Queen Li would love little Dalang so much.

Not only did she want to find a reliable wife for Xiao Dalang, she also sought the title of Crown Prince for her.

There is only one character difference between the Crown Prince and the Eldest Grandson, but there is a world of difference between them.

The Crown Prince is undoubtedly the third-generation heir.

As long as the prince successfully ascends the throne, he will become the master of the Eastern Palace.

With the title of Crown Prince confirmed, Yang Cheng's status became even more honorable.

His wife is the future queen.

His concubine can also compete for the position of queen.

Unfortunately, at that time, some families wavered, while others invested decisively.

Before her death, Empress Li arranged for Yang Cheng to have one principal wife and two concubines.

The queen was from the Wang family, which had nothing to do with Wang Heng's Wang family, but was from the Taiyuan Wang family, an old and aristocratic family in the northern border.

The concubines were Li and Yuwen.

Li was the granddaughter of Shangshu Zuo Pushe, who was trusted by the sage, and Yuwen was the daughter of Yuwen Zhan, who was promoted by Princess Jincheng.

Some are civil and some are military, some are noble and some are from aristocratic families and some have military power. All three are the saint's loyal ministers.

Because of the marriage arranged by Queen Li, their family was tied to the chariot of the Crown Prince.

At that time, it seemed that three families were supporting the Crown Prince.

After five years of growth, the Crown Prince has grown into a handsome young man.

He was worthy of being taught by Lou Yu himself. His every word and action were as proper, elegant and dignified as Lou Yu.

He has a handsome appearance and some minor flaws in his body, but they are not serious.

He is a man of both military and civil skills, has a noble character, is dignified and tolerant, and acts prudently. He is exactly the kind of crown prince that the court officials most want.

Some old men who had seen the young prince couldn't help but exclaim:

The Crown Prince looks very much like the Crown Prince when he was young.

Yes!

The Crown Prince is not like Lou Yu, but like the Prince.

These old people have all recalled the past: more than ten years ago, Lou Yu was brought up by the prince, and taught by words and deeds, and that is how he grew up to be a gentle gentleman.

Now, there are just new students.

The appearance of an old friend is nothing more than the son of an old friend.

But, whether he looks like Lou Yu or the prince, it shows that the crown prince has grown into an heir who satisfies the court officials and is expected by the noble families.

His status is not only blessed by his title, but also centered on his ability, and his identity as the heir is unshakable.

His study companions and his wives and concubines are therefore more valuable.

The prince is in his prime, and there are not many investment opportunities around him.

But the Crown Prince can.

There is a vacancy for a study partner, and one wife and two concubines are still too few.

However, the Crown Prince usually either continued to train in the six ministries or studied in the palace. The only time he went out was to attend classes at the Lishan Academy.

Therefore, many families who wanted to speculate set their sights on Lishan Academy.

Therefore, thanks to the Crown Prince who came to attend classes from time to time, the Lishan Academy gained another wave of popularity.

Wang Heng: ...Okay! No matter what the reason is, as long as it ultimately benefits the academy, then that's good!

"Well, my brother is back, and the hot summer has passed. I am going to take Anan back to the capital."

Wang Heng nodded and said softly, "Besides, the Crown Prince will be getting married on the sixth day of next month."

As a princess and also the "teacher's wife", Wang Heng certainly could not be absent from the Crown Prince's wedding ceremony.

"Yes, the Crown Prince is getting married!"

Wang Mian couldn't help but sigh, "Time flies! I still remember when the Crown Prince first came to the Duke's Mansion, he was still a child under ten years old!"

In the blink of an eye, the little boy has grown into a gentle and handsome young man. He not only wants to marry a wife, but also takes a concubine.

Tsk, a 14 or 15-year-old middle school student, and he already has three women.

Maybe next year I can become a father!

After all these years, Wang Mian still cannot change some of his deep-rooted ideas.

For example, she still feels absurd about the early maturity and early marriage of the ancients.

A thirteen-year-old girl married a fourteen-year-old boy, and the two half-grown children had already started to form a family and were preparing to have children!

Ah, this is really hard to comment on.

In fact, not to mention others, even Wang Mian’s own triplets, who were only eight years old and still in elementary school, had people openly and secretly talking about arranged marriages.

Wang Mian: ...It's so scary! Isn't it!

"Time really does fly! Not only are the kids growing up, we're growing up too!"

Wang Heng was quite emotional and she refused to say the word "getting old".

Once upon a time, she was also a pink and tender glutinous rice dumpling in her teens.

And now, she is in her twenties.

In a few years, I will be old enough to be a grandmother.

grandmother?

she?

very scary!

Wang Heng has always been held in the palm of Lou Yu's hand. Although she looks mature, she is still a spoiled little girl at heart.

She couldn't believe that she would become a middle-aged woman or an elderly grandmother in the eyes of others!

"...Ajiu, I never thought that Lu Jialan's daughter would become the imperial grandson's concubine."

Wang Mian didn't notice the subtle changes in Di Zhanggui's mood.

Her thoughts were still on the Crown Prince's wedding.

If she was just a concubine, Wang Mian wouldn't care too much.

But that concubine has a biological mother named Lu Jialan.

As a good friend who grew up together, Wang Mian naturally knew the grudge between Wang Heng and Lu Jialan.

Although Wang Mian, like Wang Heng, had no idea what kind of hatred he had with Lu Jialan.

However, Wang Mian had personally witnessed Lu Jialan targeting Wang Heng several times.

If it was just ordinary sarcasm and ridicule, Wang Mian wouldn't be so afraid.

Wang Mian never forgot the incident on the Yi River that night.

The luxurious pleasure boat was covered in blood.

The water in the Yi River must be very cold.

There was also a knife cutting into my body, it really hurt.

All of this was certainly a conspiracy by politicians like Lu Huaixin, but it also included Lu Jialan's calculations.

Wang Mian remembered very clearly that when the assassin was killing people on the pleasure boat, Ajiu had already climbed onto the side of the boat with the help of the guards, her and Zheng Shisan.

However, at the critical moment, it was Lu Jialan who revealed Ajiu's identity, attracting the assassin's pursuit.

Afterwards, Lu Jialan argued that she did not mean it and was just scared, so she blurted out the words.

Wang Mian & Wang Heng: ...Really? I don't believe it!

This little pervert Lou Yu not only didn't believe it, but also intervened slightly during the court's trial of Lu Huaixin.

Lu Huaixin and his family were exiled from three thousand miles in rotation to Lingnan.

Ahem, at that time, Lingnan still belonged to the southern border, and the north and the south were not unified.

The Lu family not only has to endure the suffering of exile, but also the calamity of war!

What is unexpected is that Lu Jialan, a teenager, is so lucky.

After going through many hardships, he finally arrived in Lingnan and relied on himself to create a life for himself and his family.

More than ten years have passed, and the grudges of the past seem to have faded.

However, the cautious Wang Mian never harbors any illusions about his "archenemy".

Did Lu Jialan really let go of his hatred towards Ajiu?

not necessarily!

She had been content before, not because she had truly come to her senses or let go, but simply because with her identity, she was unable to take revenge on Wang Heng.

Her husband was just a general of Yunhui.

Not to mention comparing her with the powerful Duke of Qi Lou Yu, even if Wang Heng was a fake princess, she would be enough to make Yuwen Zhan's family respectful and obedient!

There is no evidence to support the claim that Lu Jialan was able to become a royal consort thanks to Yuwen Zhan.

However, that was then and now.

future--

"Huh? Amian, if you hadn't told me, I would have almost forgotten that among Xiao Dalang's two concubines, there was Yuwen, Lu Jialan's biological daughter."

Wang Heng's tone was very casual, and she didn't take any of this to heart at all.

She is just the concubine of the Crown Prince, there is no evidence for this!

Wang Mian was not so optimistic. "Ajiu, Yuwen is indeed only a concubine, but the power of pillow talk cannot be underestimated!"

Wang Mian and Xiao Wuzhi are both the prince's confidants, but they are not yet tied to the crown prince.

Wang Heng and Lou Yu had already boarded the Crown Prince's ship.

The couple must follow and assist the Crown Prince.

When the Crown Prince ascends to a high position in the future, he will indeed reward his meritorious officials.

However, if there is a conflict between the meritorious official and the favorite concubine, no one can guarantee who the crown prince will favor.

Wang Mian is not worrying about nothing, she is just used to taking precautions before problems occur.

"..."

Wang Heng raised her eyebrows and looked at Wang Mian with amusement.

She knew that Amian said this just to remind her, and it was for her own good.

but--

"Amian, have you forgotten that little Dalang was taught by my brother?"

"You don't trust Xiao Dalang's character, but you also don't trust my brother's ability?"

Lou Yu is neither a fool nor a mediocre person. He will not raise a tiger to cause harm, but will only tame it without leaving any trace.

He would not PUA Xiao Dalang into his own puppet, but would teach him to be a humble gentleman.

No matter whether he is a true gentleman or pretending to be one, as long as he is wearing the shell of a gentleman, he must be well-behaved, generous and kind.

Such a superior, even for the sake of being called a "wise ruler", must respect his teachers, be grateful for their kindness, and not betray them and disregard their teachers' duties.

Even if the Crown Prince refuses to pretend in the future and is ungrateful, given Lou Yu's cunning and skill, he will make arrangements in advance.

The best option is to bring down the ungrateful person.

The worst way out is to go out of the border, out to sea, and away from the Dayu Dynasty.

But no matter which plan it is, Lou Yu will not let his family become sacrifices.

Wang Mian: ...Oh! I really forgot!

Who is Lou Yu, little pervert!

He is so wise that he is almost like a demon. He will not be bound by worldly rules.

Heaven, Earth, Emperor, Parents and Teachers are all bullshit to him.

His world only consists of people he cares about.

In the past, there was only one Ah Heng, but now there is a daughter, Ah Nan.

If anyone else, even if they are students he personally taught, harbors ill intentions, Lou Yu will strike without mercy!

He really doesn't mind regicide!

Thinking of this, Wang Mian was completely relieved.

Wang Mian was familiar with the personalities and abilities of Lou Yu and Wang Heng, so he didn't think too much about it.

Some people, not knowing the details of the "enemy", just heard the rumors and couldn't help but gloat over the misfortune:

"What? You said that when Lou Hanzhang returned to the capital, he was followed by a carriage with two young and beautiful Silla maids in it?"

While helping to prepare her daughter's dowry, Lu Jialan excitedly listened to the gossip outside.

She was happy to hear that her "enemy" seemed to be having a hard time!

Haha!

Wang Heng and Wang Jiuniang, you have finally come to this day.

Everyone in the capital says that you and Lou Yu are deeply in love, and that Lou Yu loves you to the bone. Even though you have been married for seven years without having children, he still only stays with you.

As it turns out, Lou Hanzhang is not without his own evil intentions, he just hasn’t met the “right” person yet!

Hahaha!

Wang Jiu, you are really despised.

Come to think of it, a woman in her twenties, old and ugly, how can she compare to a cute little girl in her teens?