Golden Branch

Chapter 442 Please ask
Grandma?

Madam Xie?!
A gleam flashed quickly in Wang Heng's eyes.

Her grandmother really lived up to the saying: evil can last for a thousand years.

At that time, Madam Xie and Wang Lin had an accident together. One of them suffered a stroke, and the other was seriously injured.

As a result, Wang Lindu had been dead for several years, but Madam Xie was still tenaciously alive.

When Wang Lin died, Wang Heng had worried that Old Lady Xie might die with her son out of excessive grief.
As it turned out, Wang Heng was worrying too much.

The pain of losing her son was indeed heart-wrenching for Old Lady Xie, but it was not unbearable.

Not only did she survive, her condition also improved.

Of course, this was thanks to the contribution of the genius doctor Li Mingtang, as well as the personal preparation of the medicine by Wang Heng, the famously filial granddaughter in the capital.

Wang Heng used Old Lady Xie and Wang Lin to build up a good reputation.

Especially old lady Xie, who has been paralyzed in bed for nearly ten years. Not only is she being well taken care of, but she is also showing signs of recovery.

This is all thanks to Wang Heng.

Yes, Wang Heng was of noble status, and although she was “attending to the sick,” she did not need to do everything herself.

However, it was all thanks to Wang Heng that the servants were properly arranged and could serve wholeheartedly.

After all, leaders lead by example. If the master does not value it, the servants will naturally not care about it either.

Old lady Xie has been able to hold on well despite being seriously ill for all these years, and Wang Heng has made great contributions to this.

Therefore, over the years, whenever the issue of "filial piety" was mentioned in the capital, Princess Langya Wang Heng was always brought out as a positive example and praised.

"Is grandma not well?"

A strange look flashed across Wang Heng's eyes, and she quickly controlled her emotions. When she looked up at Wang Erlang, her eyes were filled with concern and worry.

"Grandma is old after all, and being bedridden these past few years is a burden to her!"

When Wang Erlang mentioned Madam Xie, his face turned cold.

He really didn't have much feelings for this old woman.

She is too cold and utilitarian!
Regardless of blood relationship, only whether it is useful or not.

If they are no longer useful, even their own grandchildren can be abandoned.

My elder sister back then, and he in the past, were both treated like this by Old Lady Xie.

Wang Erlang is not the type of person who would repay evil with kindness. If his elders are not kind, he will naturally not be foolishly filial to them.

He is not an elder sister, so he does not need to use filial piety to decorate his appearance.

My elder sister is the Princess of Langya, born to a favorite concubine. Her identity and situation in the capital are sensitive and complicated.

Moreover, she is a woman, and people in the world are more harsh on women.

She needs a good reputation for being filial.

As a son of a poor family who was neither the eldest nor the legitimate heir, Wang Erlang had no such considerations.

He must not steal his sister's limelight.

For the Wang family, having a pure and kind filial daughter is enough!

Wang Erlang has always been clear-headed and sober.

He is very good at recognizing reality and positioning himself correctly.

He only needs to study hard and follow his sister and brother-in-law closely, and he can live a very good life.

"..."

Wang Heng seemed to be touched by Wang Erlang's words.

She sighed silently, her fair and beautiful face showing heartache and worry for her elders.

After a few breaths, she slowly said, "What a coincidence! Master Li and I are returning to the capital together. Once Master Li is settled, I will ask her to go and see Grandma."

After all, she is already married and has children, so whether Old Lady Xie is dead or alive will not affect her life.

At most, as a daughter-in-law, she would have to observe mourning for her grandmother for three months.

It just so happened that Lou Yu had just returned to Beijing and was also busy with his new government office and new job. Wang Heng could use this as an excuse to have a good rest.

……

At the city gate, Wang Heng and Lou Yu exchanged greetings with their relatives and friends who came to greet them, and then entered the city.

"Ah! Ahh!"

When Anan was six or seven months old, he had another little tooth.

She opened her mouth slightly, leaned her chubby arms on the car window, looked at the towering city walls, the spacious and straight Suzaku Street, and the bustling crowds of people and cars, and screamed with excitement.

"Yes! Anan, this is the capital!"

"Look, the moat! After crossing the moat, we will enter the city!"

"Suzaku Street, this is the central axis of the capital... Ah, we've passed the Fangmen Gate, we're almost home!"

Wang Heng sat in the car seat, smiling as she watched her chubby daughter jumping around on the seat.

It is small, white, plump, soft and sticky, just like a delicious glutinous rice ball.

The little guy is young but full of energy.

From the official road to entering the city, and then to entering Pingkangfang, she did not show any sign of fatigue.

Seeing Lou Yu guarding the carriage on horseback, Anan stretched out his chubby arms and said, "Ah! Ahhhh!"

She can't speak yet, but she can already recognize people.

She knew that the handsome man sitting high on the horse outside the car window was her!
"Be careful! Don't fall!"

Seeing the little girl so jumpy, Wang Heng subconsciously reached out and grabbed her chubby body.

Lou Yu smiled and said, "That's fine! Maybe Anan is tired of staying in the carriage and wants to get some fresh air!"

As he spoke, Lou Yu bent down and looked sideways at his daughter: "Anan, do you want to go horseback riding with Yeye?"

"Ah!" Yes!

It took more than a month to travel from Nanzhou to the capital, more than 2,000 miles.

Although the carriage is spacious and comfortable, children always get bored of it.

Lou Yu would hold her in his arms and the father and daughter would ride horses together.

Or, Wang Heng holds Anan, Lou Yu holds A Heng, and the family of three gallops freely.

Anan is only a few months old, but he already loves the freedom and joy of riding horses.

When the little daughter saw the two keywords "horse riding", her eyes lit up.

The cries of “Ahhhh” were even more passionate.

Wang Heng shook her head helplessly upon seeing this. She pinched her daughter's armpits with both hands and pushed her out of the car window with force.

Almost at the same time, Lou Yu reached out and held Anan firmly in his arms.

"Gee!" Holding the fat girl in one hand and the reins in the other, Lou Yu knocked the stirrup hard and the horse started running quickly.

"Ah!" Go!

Anan also imitated his father and shouted with great momentum.

But she was too young and was teething, so as soon as she opened her mouth, saliva dripped out.

Both father and daughter were very happy. The fiery red Dayuan horse rushed out of the convoy in an instant and ran quickly towards the Duke of Qi's Mansion!
The eunuch from the Eastern Palace had just arrived at the Duke's Mansion. Before he even entered the door, he heard the sound of horse hooves.

He quickly moved aside and just saw the young man in fine clothes and the fat girl in his arms.

The eunuch blinked. "...Uh, is this the Duke of Qi? His Highness's beloved confidant?"

Lou Yu is indeed handsome and has a noble temperament, and he looks like a banished immortal from the clouds.

But, what the hell is this little girl with dripping saliva?

It directly changes the style of painting!

"Whoa!" Upon reaching the Duke's mansion, Lou Yu tightened the reins and let out a low shout.

Anan also followed suit and let out an "Ah~~".

The horse stopped, Lou Yu hugged his daughter tightly, and looked down at the eunuch.

He looks familiar, he is the deputy chief eunuch of the Eastern Palace!

"It turned out to be Eunuch Gao!"

Lou Yu greeted him with a smile, then rolled over and jumped off the horse holding his daughter.

"I greet you, Mr. Lou!"

Since they were all acquaintances, Eunuch Gao was not so restrained.

He smiled and bowed to greet Lou Yu.

"The high chamberlain is exempt from the courtesy!"

Lou Yu threw the reins onto the horse's back, freed one hand, and gave it a light support in mid-air.

The doorman of the Duke of Qi's Mansion had already received the news and came out to greet him early.

Seeing Lou Yu swinging the reins, he hurried forward, grabbed the reins, and carefully led the horse to the stable in the northwest corner.

"Ah!"

When he saw the stranger, Anan first blinked his big round eyes, and then screamed.

Eunuch Gao couldn't help but look at Anan, what a delicate little girl.

Logically speaking, a baby girl who is only a few months old cannot be described as beautiful.

After all, they haven't grown up yet, at most they are delicate and cute.

But Anan's genes are too superior.

Both of her parents are top beauties. She perfectly combines the advantages of both and looks like a fairy child.

This little girl already has a stunning beauty that can topple a country.

Everyone who sees her can't help but wonder: What kind of beauty will this little girl become in the future?
Eunuch Gao has worked in the palace for many years and has seen all kinds of beauties.

Not to mention, he often saw Concubine Jiang, the most beautiful woman in the world.

However, Eunuch Gao was still amazed by a little baby girl.

Tsk, she is worthy of being Concubine Jiang’s granddaughter, she is even better than her master!
"This servant has met the little girl!"

While Eunuch Gao was amazed, he did not forget Anan's identity - the eldest daughter of Princess Langya and Duke Qi!
Such a noble status is not much different from that of a royal lady.

What's more, some unpopular princesses are not as good as this one.

You know, even saints may not remember some illegitimate sisters or daughters whose biological mothers are humble, but they know the birthday of this little girl far away in Nanzhou - the third day of March, Shangsi Festival!
Although it was Concubine Jiang who took the initiative to mention it in front of the saint, and she mentioned her little granddaughter whom she had never met several times inadvertently.

However, Concubine Jiang's action itself was valued by the saint.

There is also the prince, who may not even recognize some of the concubines in his own Eastern Palace, but he knows that the daughter of the Lou family’s nickname is "Anan".

Eunuch Gao once heard the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess chatting and saying that they wanted to give Anan a name with good meaning.

A servant girl who was only a few months old and couldn't even speak had already caught the eyes of the Supreme Father and his son.

Such an honor is definitely the first of its kind in the Dayu Dynasty.

Eunuch Gao has lived in the deep palace for a long time and has the best vision.

Of course, you may also be accused of "flattering the powerful and looking down on the weak."

Even if the favored person does not have royal blood, they, the palace slaves, should flatter, coax and show respect to him.

Therefore, even though he knew that the little girl knew nothing, he still politely saluted Anan.

Lou Yu smiled and spoke on behalf of his daughter: "Eunuch Gao, you are too polite. She is just a child, how can she deserve your courtesy?"

"Dang! Ding!"

Noticing that Lou Yu's smile was much more sincere than before, Eunuch Gao knew that his gift was not wasted.

Even if the child doesn’t understand, it’s enough as long as her elders do!

"His Highness heard that Mr. Lou had returned to the capital, so he specially sent this servant to greet him."

"Did Mr. Lou have a smooth journey? Are there any inconveniences with affairs in the capital?"

After the two sides exchanged greetings, Eunuch Gao took the initiative to get down to business.

He came to the Duke of Qi's mansion, firstly to welcome Lou Yu on behalf of the Crown Prince, and secondly to pass on a message -

After hearing Lou Yu express his gratitude and strict instructions for everything to go smoothly, Eunuch Gao moved on to the second topic: "His Highness said that after Mr. Lou is settled, he can go to the Eastern Palace!"

It is not an order from the king, but a discretionary act from a teacher, friend, father and brother.

Eunuch Gao relayed the prince's orders word for word, and couldn't help muttering in his heart: Tsk, after all, he is the prince's most trusted confidant.

The relationship between the prince and Mr. Lou is not that of a king to his subject, but rather that of an elder to his junior.

The loyal ministers that I personally trained not only had a relationship with you, but also a deep affection for you!
The Crown Prince values ​​Mr. Lou so much, no wonder some people in the Eastern Palace are also extremely concerned about Mr. Lou.

Oh, it’s going to be windy!
"Yes! I obey your command!"

The prince spoke casually, but Lou Yu did not dare to "become arrogant due to his favor."

He held his daughter in his arms, clasped his hands together, and bowed respectfully in the direction of Taiji Palace.

Lou Yu was not just pretending, he really respected the prince.

Therefore, when Wang Heng and others arrived at the Duke's Mansion, he handed his daughter to Wang Heng and went directly into the palace.

……

"Your Highness, I respectfully wish you the best!"

In the outer study of the Eastern Palace, Lou Yu respectfully saluted with his hands crossed.

The prince sat casually on a low couch, his elbows resting on a table. The screen behind him was covered with lines of words and marked with cinnabar circles and dots.

The prince's posture was lazy, not as solemn and formal as when he was in court. "Alright, why do you have to be so unorthodox in front of me?"

He raised his hand, pointed to the seat below, and said, "Sit down! Tell me about the affairs of Nanzhou!"

Although Lou Yu would write letters and send secret memorials to the prince regularly, written words could never compare to a detailed face-to-face conversation.

"Yes!"

Lou Yu agreed, stood up and walked to the seat designated by the prince, lifted up his clothes, and sat upright.

He stood straight, was respectful and humble, and spoke in an orderly manner about his business operations in Nanzhou over the past year.

The prince either listened attentively, or nodded slowly, or asked one or two questions at the right time.

The king and his minister talked like this for nearly two quarters of an hour before they finally clarified the matters concerning Nanzhou.

"Good! Great good!"

The prince was very satisfied.

In less than two years, Lou Yu has accomplished so much.

Although the court never took Nanbang seriously, it also did not care about the King of Nanbang's independence.

However, Lou Yu did not waste a single soldier of the imperial court, but was able to merge Nanbang back into Nanzhou and expand the territory of the Southwestern Protectorate, which can be regarded as expanding the territory.

The Eastern Expedition failed, Nanbang returned, and the saint was able to barely regain a bit of dignity in the court.

There was also the wealth and goods that kept coming from Nanzhou, as well as the disaster relief in Shu... all thanks to Lou Yu.

She is indeed someone he relies on, and she is the one he carefully selected.

"Han Zhang, you're about to join the Ministry of Revenue. Would you mind finding an assistant for you?"

After the prince finished discussing official business, he wanted to talk about personal matters.

Lou Yu's heart moved slightly. He vaguely guessed the prince's intention, but he still pretended to be terrified and a little doubtful. "Your Highness, I will follow your arrangements!"

"It's Xiao Dalang! He's twelve years old this year and can study in the six ministries. You happen to be in the Ministry of Revenue, so why not have you take care of him..."