Golden Branch

"Understand me?"

There was a smile in Lou Yu's eyes.

If someone else said that she understood him, Lou Yu would definitely feel offended or even violated.

For his own safety, Lou Yu might even kill the other person.

Anyone who knows him too well is dangerous and must be eliminated.

However, the person who said this was the fat girl, and Lou Yu was just happy.

He raised the fat girl, and she belongs to him alone.

The more she understood him, the more she cared about him.

The fat girl's appearance at this moment made Lou Yu feel satisfied that "his kindness to her was not in vain."

"Yes! I know, brother. I'm worried about you, too. That's why I pay extra attention to your every word, action, frown, and smile!"

Wang Heng grinned sweetly and spoke even sweeter.

Lou Yu became happier and happier.

The little girl I raised also knows how to care for myself.

"so what?"

Lou Yu was happy and became more interested in teasing the fat girl.

"So, brother will accompany the prince to inspect the river."

If you want to learn about someone, the best way is to follow him, live with him, and work with him.

Subtle and unnoticeable.

"Fatty, this kind of thing isn't something you can just say 'I want to'. What if Yang Rui disagrees?"

"Why doesn't the prince agree? My brother has already lent him the troops!"

Wang Heng looked confused.

In her understanding, Yang Rui and Lou Yu had reached a cooperation.

Since it is a collaboration, each party should contribute what it has and each party should get what it needs.

Lou Yu lent troops to Yang Rui, and Yang Rui "helped" Lou Yu.

Moreover, Wang Heng could feel that Yang Rui was not a hypocrite who was only superficial. He was truly generous and gentle, and had the demeanor of an elder brother.

Since you are the eldest brother, you should guide and teach your younger brother.

The best discipline is not scolding or punishment, but teaching by example, like the gentle rain that moistens everything silently.

"..."

Lou Yu didn't continue teasing, a soft light flashed in his eyes.

After all, this fat girl was raised by me. Not only does she understand me, she is also so sharp and smart.

"Brother? So what?"

Wang Heng showed a hopeful look: Did I guess right?

"you guessed right!"

Lou Yu couldn't help himself, this fat girl was so cute.

He reached out and gently pressed Wang Heng's little nose.

The skin is soft and fleshy.

"Really?" Hey, I've become smarter.

Wang Heng showed a smug look.

Lou Yu grew happier. He whispered, "I asked to patrol the river with him, and he agreed!"

The two of them have a tacit understanding.

Lou Yu did not explicitly say that he wanted to study with him, and Yang Rui did not act in a self-important manner and preach to him.

They knew it well and it went without saying that this was the first contact between them as "brothers".

They didn't know what the future would be like, but at this moment, Lou Yu had more kindness than malice towards Yang Rui.

"Hey, I knew this would happen!"

Wang Heng doesn't have a tail, otherwise it would be wagging happily at this moment.

She changed the subject and returned to the previous topic, "So, I want to lend all my people to my brother."

"Brother, you will definitely encounter various situations when you follow the prince to patrol the river. In this world, there are always some evil spirits who do evil things in secret to harm people."

Wang Heng suppressed his smile and said seriously, "Brother, although you are traveling with the Crown Prince, your people have been loaned out to others. You can't move without permission. You still need someone to protect you!"

Lou Yu pursed his lips, his eyes flickering: "What about you?"

"Ah?" Wang Heng was stunned and didn't react.

Of course she would stay, either at home, or go to the academy, or play with Amian.

"You gave everyone to me? Who will protect your safety?"

This fat girl has grown two or three years older in vain. How come she still looks like the little fool who used to say "I will support you"?

A cold and hard heart can always be gently touched by a fat girl.

Lou Yu made up his mind that he would always support the fat girl so that he would always be loved and touched.

It's not about love, it's just a lonely soul's desire for warmth and light.

"I'm in the village and I'm not going out, so how could I be in danger?"

"No! Someone must protect me!"

"...Well then, I have eighty-six people in total. I'll give eighty to you, brother. Six will be enough for you!"

"half each!"

"Brother, I'll give you seventy people!"

"..." Lou Yu said nothing and looked at Wang Heng quietly.

Wang Heng pouted, "Alright, brother, you have sixty people, and I'll keep twenty-six. Brother, more than twenty people for protection is already a lot!"

She is in Hedong, the territory of the Lou family. Who dares to harm her in a big way?

As long as the number of people is not too large, the more than 20 guards around her, plus maids and servants, are enough to ensure her safety!

This is not a chaotic time. The new dynasty has just been established and the northern border is stable.

Hedong is not a remote and barren place.

Who would really dare to mobilize a large number of people just to hurt a worthless fat girl?

Wang Heng didn't think she had the qualifications to be targeted by the thieves.

Lou Yu: ...The fat girl is not worthless. In his heart, she is more important than his cheap parents.

However, Wang Heng's words did make some sense.

If someone really wants to do something, assassinating Lou Yu would be more worthwhile.

Fat girl?

Being ignored is not a bad thing!

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

Lou Yu knew that this was the fat girl's good intention, so he gladly accepted it.

……

"Grandmother, Aunt Yi said that there's going to be a storm in Hedong right now. If we stay in Hedong, the disadvantages will outweigh the advantages!"

Zheng Erlang hurried back from outside, entered the guest house, and went straight to the main hall.

He knelt down in front of Madam Lou and said in a low voice, "My cousin wants to inspect the river with the prince. There are too many forces related to river transportation on both sides of the river."

"They have occupied the river for many years and have long been accustomed to making profits from river transportation."

"The prince's trip will not only dredge the river, but also clean up these complex forces. When the time comes, there will inevitably be conflicts!"

"My cousin is traveling with the prince, so he will inevitably be affected!"

"Grandmother, if something happens to my cousin, we'll be safe in the fortress... Of course, I can also ask to follow my cousin. Not only can I learn the job, but I can also protect him!"

At this point, a complex expression flashed across Zheng Erlang's still childish face.

In fact, Zheng Yi gave him several options:

One, stay in Hedong and take the initiative to ask Lou Yu for permission to follow the Prince of Qi with him.

Second, stay in Hedong and temporarily attend classes at Dongshan Academy. If possible, you can also apply for accommodation in the academy.

By then, even if something happened to Lou Yu, Lou Jin would not blame him for his anger.

Third, leave Hedong and continue to Beijing. Lou Yu's affairs will no longer have anything to do with the Zheng family.

Zheng Erlang subconsciously ruled out the first option.

He knew that the first plan would allow him to get close to the King of Qi as quickly as possible.

However, Zheng Yi then said that traveling with the Prince of Qi would be very dangerous, so he backed off a little.

He also shoulders the burden of reviving his family, and he cannot die easily.

Moreover, now the Zheng family no longer has only the Lou family as an option, but also has Aunt Yi.

Zheng Yi was a female attendant, a female Zhuge Liang, resourceful and resourceful.

Behind her is Concubine Jiang.

The Zheng family can completely rely on Zheng Yi to establish a relationship with Concubine Jiang and then curry favor with the King of Qi.

Making friends with the Crown Prince and using Concubine Jiang can both help him gain favor with the King of Qi.

The latter is obviously safer!

Zheng Erlang felt that he was not afraid of death, but just didn't want to die unjustly.

"No! You can't follow Lou Yu!"

Mrs. Lou is worthy of being Zheng Erlang’s grandmother, and her ideas coincide with Zheng Erlang’s.

My grandson needs to keep his body useful to revitalize the family, so how can he follow Lou Yu to take risks?

"Lou Yu wants to follow the prince? Why? What can he, a child, do?"

"Your Highness, it's the same. Patrolling the river is a serious job. If Lou Yu were an adult, we could have a helper. Lou Yu is only eleven years old. If he were to follow us, he would only be a hindrance!"

Mrs. Lou didn't understand Lou Yu's thoughts and couldn't help complaining.

She blamed Lou Yu for his mischief, and even more so, she blamed the prince for his disorderly conduct.

She just wouldn't blame her grandson for not being brave and decisive enough - he wanted to take a gamble, wanted to curry favor with the powerful, but he didn't serve, was unwilling to show his value, and just relied on flattery. How could he succeed?

"Grandmother, Aunt Yi also said that even if she left, she could leave a few sisters behind."

Zheng Erlang was secretly relieved when he saw that Madam Lou supported his choice.

He continued to talk about Zheng Yi's "suggestion".

Madam Lou's eyes narrowed slightly: "How many?"

More than just Zheng Chi?

Mrs. Lou's original idea was to keep only Zheng Chi.

She didn't want those concubines' daughters to snatch away Zheng Chi's good marriage.

Zheng Yi, however——

"Yes! Aunt Yi said that the daughters of our Zheng family are both talented and beautiful. Besides cousin Lou, the prince is only 22 years old this year."

She is only a dozen years older than Zheng Chi and other young girls, so they are not two generations apart.

Zheng's daughter married the prince of Qi, even if she was just a concubine, she was considered to have married into the royal palace.

The Zheng family has many concubines' daughters. In addition to the seven or eight brought to the capital by Madam Lou, there are several more in their hometown.

The status of those concubines' daughters was even more humble, and their biological mothers were mostly Hu girls or prostitutes.

Mrs. Lou despised him and even refused to let him join the family tree, leaving him to fend for himself in his hometown.

If there are suitable wealthy businessmen or poor families who want to marry, Mrs. Lou will allow them to take the surname Zheng at her discretion.

These women were originally kept by the Zheng family for transactions.

If they could be used to knock on the door of Prince Qi's Palace, it would be worthwhile for the Zheng family to have given birth to them!

Madam Lou drooped the corners of her mouth. She instinctively disliked and rejected Zheng Yi, but she had to admit that this lowly maid was the most calculating.

Yes, Wang Lin offered his beauty to a concubine and got a concubine named Jiang.

The Zheng family can do the same.

They are much better than Wang Lin. After all, the one being sent out is the daughter of the Zheng family, and they will not betray their own family.

……

Yizhou, Wang’s residence.

Wang Lin clutched the letter tightly, his eyes filled with anger. "What a Jiang! Not only did she refuse to help me, she even ridiculed me!"

"A Jiang, have you forgotten the friendship we had back then? Or do you simply not care about your daughter, A Jiu?"

Wang Lin felt that he needed to "remind" Jiang again.

And on the side of the King of Chu... With the Jiang family obstructing the Qi Palace, Wang Lin is worried that he may never be able to leave Yizhou for the rest of his life!

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