I became the God Brother of the Regent King after Transmigration!-Chapter 143 - 98: A Youth’s Lofty Aspirations

"Could it be that the Empress sent her own maid to gain favor?"

In typical dramas and novels, such a plot often appears. The original book even mentioned that the current Empress Dowager sent palace maids to the former Emperor for his favor in the past.

At this moment, Prince Rui, who was hurrying to the Southern Border, sneezed.

He is the Prince born of the palace maid sent away by the Empress Dowager to win over the former Emperor.

But Gu Lan had previously witnessed Empress Su’s subtle actions and gestures of disdain toward the Emperor, and how concerned and anxious she was for Miaoyan—her heart only belonged to her daughter, Rong Miaoyan.

Moreover, Empress Su is the daughter of the Prime Minister and the niece of the Empress Dowager. She does not need to do anything; as long as she is alive, she will forever be the Empress of Yan Country.

Rong Jing is not like the former Emperor, who was infatuated with one concubine despite having numerous beauties in the harem. He treated them all equally, and Empress Su raised the Crown Prince, solidifying her position like an impregnable fortress.

Gu Lan dismissed his own thoughts and saw Rong Heng shaking his head, saying, "The Empress will not vie for favor."

Gu Lan’s eyes widened: "Brother Heng, do you really like Sister-in-law? Otherwise, how do you know so much about the maid’s background beside the Empress and that she wouldn’t vie for favor?"

Rong Heng said she would not vie for favor, not that she does not need to, proving he understands Empress Su very well.

Rong Heng:....

He lowered his eyes, his voice slightly muted:

"Su Zhixue and the Third Imperial Brother were childhood sweethearts, innocent and carefree together, but later... Prime Minister Su married Su Zhixue to the then Crown Prince Rong Jing, and later when Rong Jing ascended the throne, Su Zhixue became the Empress.

Over the years, Su Zhixue and Rong Jing have always been at odds. Even when the Third Imperial Brother was still alive, rumors often circulated in the palace about them. So, she not only would not vie for favor, she can’t despise Rong Jing enough."

Gu Lan suddenly understood why Empress Su previously showed disdain toward the Emperor and why Su Zhixue, as Empress, never cared about palace affairs and spent most of her days in the Buddhist Hall. It turned out her heart had long been devoted, and it was the Emperor who tore apart a pair of lovers.

"The Third Imperial Brother, is he the one who taught you how to write?"

Rong Heng had mentioned the former Emperor’s Third Prince the last time he was teaching him to write.

Rong Heng nodded: "Once, he got drunk and told me many things about him and Su Zhixue, and he also mentioned the maid Wenyuan. He thought I was still young, but I remembered everything. Until his death, he was always thinking of Su Zhixue, and he died because of that woman."

Gu Lan hesitated for a moment and asked: "How did he die?"

Rong Jue was someone who could teach Rong Heng to write beautiful characters, someone briefly mentioned in the book but hailed as Yan’s top scholar.

Rong Heng called both Prince Rui and the Emperor by name, but when he mentioned Rong Jue, he would refer to him as the Third Imperial Brother.

He must have been a gentle yet striking man.

Rong Heng looked up, gazing deeply at Gu Lan, then said in a low voice:

"On the third day after the former Emperor’s passing, Rong Jue was summoned to the palace by Su Zhixue’s imperial edict. The next day, his body was carried out of Yonghua Palace, with the public claim being that he died from an infectious disease... No one knew what truly happened that night."

His eyes were misty, seeing in front of him the torrential rain of seven years ago.

At that time, the Pingnan Marquis Mansion had just been confiscated, and the Third Imperial Brother knelt outside the Taihe Palace, begging Rong Jing to spare his and Rong Luo’s lives. He knelt for a day and a night before being summoned to the palace by Su Zhixue, who had just been canonized as the Empress.

To this day, Rong Heng remembers how, amidst the pouring rain, the Third Imperial Brother earnestly told him:

"Wu, don’t be afraid. You may have lost your grandfather, but you still have me, this brother. Third Brother will definitely protect you and Lu’er."

When Rong Jue entered the palace, there was still a warm, carefree smile on his face because the one summoning him was Su Zhixue, whom he deeply loved.

Later, Rong Heng saw Rong Jue’s cold body being carried out by palace attendants, his lips bluish-purple, having died from poisoning.

Gu Lan found this plot extremely familiar, but she couldn’t immediately recall where she had seen it before.

She turned back to the palace maid Wenyuan, saying: "Betrayal is betrayal. No matter how loyal this maid was, or how many years she served the Empress, didn’t she still become entangled with the Emperor?"

Rong Heng’s lips curved into a self-mocking smile:

"Gu Lan, don’t you understand? The one who killed Rong Jue was Su Zhixue. Seven years ago, to prevent any deviations in Rong Jing’s succession, she killed the man she deeply loved. Thereafter, she was plagued by a mental knot, and now her health is critical, with not many years left to live.

Rong Jing is the most astute Beast Tamer under the heavens. As Su Zhixue is like this, so is Wenyuan. With Su Zhixue disillusioned, she won’t react to anything he does now, so Rong Jing boredly shifted his attention to Wenyuan, who was loyal to her, but how could a mere palace maid refuse the Emperor?"

Gu Lan’s brow twitched, and the scene of Su Zhixue covering her mouth and coughing up blood flashed before her eyes.

That woman doesn’t have many years to live?

Su Zhixue and Rong Jue had a deep bond from a young age, yet for Rong Jing, she summoned him to the palace to be killed...

No matter what... Gu Lan looked at Rong Heng, feeling somewhat heartbroken for him.

For him to understand this so well also meant that he, too, had experienced these things.

The taste of losing one’s closest kin, watching familiar people die one by one before your eyes, and eventually realizing that anyone can betray you.

Wasn’t that the life Rong Heng lived?

He was closed off, gloomy, emotionless, and loathed women because the palace was filled with endless plots and bloodshed. Initially, he was just an eight-year-old child.

"You mean that because Wenyuan was extremely loyal to the Empress, the Emperor would be with her, to torture each other with the Empress, proving that there is no such thing as truly unbreakable feelings."

Rong Heng’s eyes darkened slightly as he said casually, "The more loyal a person is, the more of a challenge they are to Rong Jing."

Gu Lan suddenly remembered the palace maid who caused the death of Rong Heng’s sister.

Judging from Rong Heng’s expression, he probably had already guessed that the maid had been instructed by Rong Jing, just like Wenyuan, who liked to test human nature and break it down for others to see.

And that maid couldn’t resist temptation and threats, betraying Rong Heng and Rong Luo, which is why he became utterly disillusioned with women.

The human heart is the most difficult thing to control in this world.

Rong Jing trusts no one, nor does he allow Rong Heng to trust anyone.

He spared Rong Heng’s life to tame the most rebellious wolf, to break his bones one by one and grind them down.

Gu Lan recalled Rong Jing’s warning to Rong Heng during the day and the lotus-shaped pastries on the table, suddenly feeling that Rong Jing wasn’t done playing yet.

Through the moonlight, she watched the young man in front of her, cold as frost yet carrying the scent of medicine.

He should have turned dark,

but instead, he became the savior protecting Dayan.

Rong Heng fell silent. It had been quite some time since he’d last seen Su Zhixue, and he hadn’t expected her condition to deteriorate to this extent.

Now, he’s unsure whether he should save her.

She was the last woman his Third Imperial Brother cared about, and she was also the one who caused his downfall.

Rong Heng originally didn’t want to say these things to Gu Lan, but he had so many worries in his heart, so many that he could barely breathe. Only by seeing the pure Gu Lan could he find a moment of peace.

After the two returned to Yonghua Palace, the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet was nearly over.

At this moment, County Princess Changle, Rong Baoyi, requested to leave the Imperial Family at her coming-of-age ceremony to join the military as a woman.

As Rong Baoyi’s words fell, those around her showed expressions of shock, immediately causing a great uproar.

"It’s impossible! Absolutely impossible! County Princess Changle is merely a woman, how can she join the military?"

"Yes, the County Princess is of noble status. If something happens to her in the military, how will we explain it to Prince Rui?"

"A woman joining the military, it’s utterly absurd!"

"A woman joining the military? It’s absolutely preposterous; nothing like this has ever happened!"

A group of officials, already drunk, jumped up in opposition.

Rong Baoyi stood straight, looking resolutely and stubbornly at Empress Su, her gaze moving Empress Su.

Gu Lan stepped forward, her voice calm and melodious, with a rebellious air: "Just because it has never happened, doesn’t mean it cannot. Since women can become officials, why can’t they join the military?"

In Yan Country, women were allowed to become officials, but there had never been a precedent of women officially joining the military.

Seeing Gu Lan speak, Rong Miaoyan immediately stepped forward and said, "Yes, back then the General of Breaking Prison was also a woman. In times of crisis in Dayan, she stepped up, and women can also lead troops in battle, no less capable than men."

In a corner, Qin Zhenghu stood up and said warmly, "I have seen County Princess Changle’s excellent archery skills with my own eyes, and now I’ve witnessed Princess Ning’an perform confidently in times of crisis. I believe where there is a will, there is a way, regardless of gender."

Han Xuan’er didn’t know what to say, but seeing her classmates siding with Rong Baoyi, she also spoke up, "They’re right!"

Rong Baoyi looked at them gratefully, tears glittering in her eyes, and her nose tingling with emotion.

Gu Lan and Rong Miaoyan exchanged glances with Qin Zhenghu in midair, sharing a smile.

One was Young Master Gu, who had just saved both herself and her daughter’s lives, another was her daughter, and there were also the students of the Imperial Family...Empress Su hadn’t expected that so many people would stand up for Rong Baoyi.

However, in Yan Country, there was no precedent of women joining the military. The General of Breaking Prison from decades ago had taken command of the army only during a time of crisis, after the death of the Prince Consort, leaving a power vacuum.

Empress Su was caught in a dilemma, unable to decide, and had to send someone to request an imperial decree from the Emperor.

Gu Lan’s heart skipped a beat, thinking Empress Su would catch the Emperor in a compromising position, but soon, Zhang Fengcai came to deliver the decree, announcing that the Emperor had agreed to the matter.

Zhang Fengcai stated that there was just one condition: since Rong Baoyi wanted to join the military as a woman, her noble status as County Princess Changle would not be considered, and she would start from the lowest rank, as a small guard defending the city.