Golden Branch

Wang Heng opened her mouth but said nothing.

Because she had a feeling that even if she refused, her stepmother would still take her there.

It is something that is destined to be unchangeable, so just stop struggling.

It was Madam Xie who finally couldn't help herself and asked tentatively, "A Cui, are you going to take A Jiu to the Lou family?"

Madam Xie didn't know what Cui's intention was, but she dared to bet based on her decades of experience in the inner court that Cui was definitely planning to plot against Ajiu.

There are so many things you can do when taking a little girl out to visit friends.

The most common and most brutal method is to make the little girl look bad in front of everyone.

If you are more ruthless, you can also design for her to lose her reputation and then marry a despicable man.

only--

Mrs. Xie pinched the Buddhist beads and glanced at the chubby and dazed Wang Heng from the corner of her eye. The girl was only six years old.

Still a child.

Even if something embarrassing happens, people will just say "childish and naughty", make a joke, and the matter will be over.

After all, no matter how strict or disciplined a person is, they will not bother with a child.

Madam Xie thought about almost all the common methods used by the women in the inner house, but she couldn't think of how Cui could frame Ajiu.

Of course, there is another way. It is too insidious and too despicable. Although Cui is a bit domineering, she is also a girl from a noble family. She should not take advantage of the time when she takes Ajiu out to design a plan to make her "lost".

Moreover, Ajiu was taken out by Cui. If Ajiu encountered kidnappers or bad guys, Cui would not be able to escape responsibility.

After a month of observation, Mrs. Xie had a general understanding of the new bride: Cui was just arrogant, not stupid.

"Reporting to the family, I do want to take Jiu to the Lou family. Since I'm married to Wang Lang, I will be the queen of the Wang family."

"Wang Lang's daughter is also my daughter."

As a mother, when she goes out to visit others, especially to a family dinner like this, she naturally has to bring her "daughter" with her.

Although Cui's words were not as tactful and pleasant as those of the women in the Wang family, it was her best effort.

If Cui didn't want to get "something" done as quickly as possible, she wouldn't bother talking to Madam Xie.

Mrs. Xie: ...What you said makes some sense, at least it's decent.

As for Ajiu, Mrs. Xie really didn't like him very much.

But she loved her son and knew that he was still thinking about Jiang.

After all, she is just a little girl, and it doesn’t cost much to raise her. I can just give her to my son as a thought.

As long as it does not endanger the family's interests, Mrs. Xie is still willing to be a good grandmother.

Guessing that Cui had ill intentions, and for the sake of family harmony, Mrs. Xie couldn't refuse openly, so she secretly sent more people.

"Alas! I just hope Cui doesn't do anything stupid!"

Mrs. Xie really didn't want to be caught between dignity and interests for the sake of her granddaughter.

"A Cui is absolutely right! We should live in harmony as a family!"

Mrs. Xie collected her thoughts and didn't show any expression on her face.

There was even a hint of satisfaction in her eyes towards Cui, the sensible and kind bride!

After saying this, Madam Xie looked at Wang Heng again and said, "Ajiu, when you go out tomorrow, follow your mother closely!"

Wang Heng blinked her eyes, but she still looked dazed.

After a long while, she slowly responded, "Yes."

Since the eldest mother has agreed to Cui's request, I think she has made preparations.

With her mother's words, Wang Heng could go out with Cui without any worries.

Cui glanced at Wang Heng, a strange look flashing in her eyes:

This child is obese and should be extremely ugly.

But for some reason, even someone like Cui, who harbored ill will towards Wang Heng, had to admit that the child was very good-looking.

Being fat did not make her greasy or ugly, but instead made her look inexplicably soft and cute.

Maybe she can't compare to her stunning mother, but she is definitely not ugly!

If Wang Heng was not Wang Lin's daughter, Cui Shi would have liked such a child.

Unfortunately...the relationship between the two is destined to be hostile.

"Fat girl, don't blame me! If you want to blame someone, blame your bad luck. You shouldn't have been born in Jiang's belly!"

"The identity of the eldest daughter of the Wang family can only be my daughter!"

……

The next day, early morning.

Wang Heng was woken up early by Fu's mother, who chose a brand new ruqun for her.

A light green narrow-sleeved ruyi paired with a lilac chest-length ruqun.

Tie a purse, sachet or other items of the same color around the waist.

“And a little bamboo basket!”

Wang Heng looked down and reminded Fu's mother.

She used to like to carry a small bamboo basket across her body to store food, toys and other small items.

With the ambitious goal of "eating until she becomes a ball", Wang Heng never leaves her bamboo basket.

Moreover, as her appetite increased, the size of the small bamboo basket also increased.

It used to be the size of an adult's palm, but now it's the size of a melon.

Mother Fu's forehead twitched, and her eyes involuntarily drifted to the chubby body of her little girl.

The skirt is chest-length and does not require a belt, so the waistline is not visible.

But the little girl's face is full of flesh, and her little chin already has two layers.

But the little girl still didn't forget her "food basket".

"Nine Lady, you are going out to visit the Lady, not to have fun, so you can't bring a bamboo basket!"

It's okay to eat and drink a lot and keep snacks in hand at home, but you should not be so impolite when you go out.

Otherwise, Mrs. Cui wouldn't have to cause any trouble, as Mrs. Xie would have punished Jiu Niang.

Being gluttonous is not a good reputation.

Especially since Jiuniang is a woman, she is even more unacceptable.

"...Okay." Although Wang Heng wanted to argue: I will be hungry without the small bamboo basket.

But, as I said before, there is no room for children to "resist" what the adults have decided.

Quibbling, making demands... are all useless, so just don't do it.

Although Wang Heng was very young, she became particularly "Buddhist" because of her mother's departure.

Without arguing or forcing, she would just be obedient, not attract attention, not cause trouble to others, curl up and live a peaceful life.

When Mrs. Fu saw Jiu Niang being so well-behaved, she felt a pang of sadness in her heart.

Ever since the Lady Lord, oh no, Madam Jiang left, Jiu Niang has become exceptionally obedient.

At first, it was directed at Madam Xie and Wang Lin, and gradually, it also became the same towards people around him, such as Fu's mother, Bai Zhi, etc.

Mother Fu felt very distressed.

It is children's nature to love playing and making noises. Being sensible and obedient is not what children want.

As the saying goes, "A person becomes arrogant because of his favor." Jiu Niang naturally dared not be "arrogant" since she no longer had someone who favored her.

Realizing this, Fu's mother felt even more sorry for Wang Heng, the motherless child.

So, even though I know that eating too much is not good, I can't help but want to satisfy her every time.

"...You can't bring a bamboo basket, but how about Mrs. Fu put some dried meat, preserved fruit, and snacks in your purse?"

"it is good!"

Wang Heng raised her little head, and her fair, chubby face was filled with a happy smile.

Mother Fu's heart softened. Alas, Jiu Niang was such a good girl, but she had such a bad fate!

I just hope that this time it was just her "villainous intentions" and Cui had no intention of harming anyone, so Jiu Niang could go happily and come back safely!

……

The Lou family's manor is located to the east of Hedong County, with the Yi River on one side and large tracts of farmland on the other.

Lou Jin was stationed in Hedong, and he was not an honest civil servant.

He was a military general, and enclosing land, requisitioning and "borrowing" military rations, and seizing spoils of war were all his routine operations.

Therefore, the Lou family's manor was originally a farm of a local wealthy family in Hedong.

The large tracts of fertile land surrounding the manor were also renamed Lou.

After the women of the Lou family arrived in Hedong, they all moved into this manor.

The main building of the village is a large courtyard with three corridors and five entrances. Surrounding the courtyard are houses for servants and tenants.

A small path extends from the house to the official road.

Cui's carriage followed the path all the way to the gate of the mansion.

The lady of the Lou family, Cui's aunt, thought highly of Cui.

The housekeeper was sent to greet us at the door early.

The lady in charge was in her thirties, a little plump, but very neat and capable.

Seeing Cui getting off the carriage, he hurried to greet her.

"This servant greets Lady Cui!"

There was no way. Wang Lin’s official position was too low, and the imperial court was already in name only. Wang Lin had no way of asking for an imperial decree for his wife.

Without the imperial edict, Cui could not be called Madam, but could only be called "Mrs. Cui".

If you want to express politeness and respect, you can call her "Lady".

Mrs. Cui's housekeeper was a companion she brought from the Cui family and was a lifelong servant of the Cui family.

When facing a girl from the Cui family like Cui, one must show more respect.

"You're so polite, Auntie!"

Cui was domineering in the Wang family, but in the Lou family, she was very polite even to a servant.

This is also a kind of wisdom, knowing who can be bullied and who cannot be provoked.

She personally supported the housekeeper and greeted her warmly.

The housekeeper caught a glimpse of a little girl getting off the car right behind Cui out of the corner of her eye.

She was about five or six years old, wearing a pink, refreshing skirt. She was a little fat, but very cute.

The housekeeper's eyes flashed, and she guessed the identity of the girl - Wang Heng, the daughter of County Magistrate Wang Lin and his first wife Jiang, and the ninth among the sisters in the family.

Cui was the niece of Mrs. Cui, and none of the girls in the Cui family had a good temper.

Mrs. Cui is not a loving stepmother, and Cui is probably not either!

However, when Cui went to visit her maternal relatives, she brought her stepdaughter with her... The housekeeper knew more about the Lou family than Madam Xie. She guessed Cui's plan almost the first time she saw Wang Heng.

What a plan!

It's still an open conspiracy.

As a stepmother, she takes her stepdaughter with her when she goes out to visit guests. Anyone who hears her would say that she is kind and considerate.

If something happens to the stepdaughter at a guest's house, it is the problem of the stepdaughter and the host family, and no one can be blamed on her.

The mistress of the main house is indeed Cui's aunt, but the troublemaker in the main house...even the housekeeper, is really not likable.

If it were necessary to kill someone with a borrowed knife, the housekeeper would probably make the same choice as Cui.

There was nothing we could do. The child was simply too naughty. Not only the servants, but even Madam Cui was troubled and frustrated by him...