I became the God Brother of the Regent King after Transmigration!-Chapter 167 - 113: Peach Blossom

Duoji was stunned, a trace of anomaly sweeping through his deep brown eyes, then he bowed his head and knelt to the ground: "Uncle, both Jiang Qu and I were framed by the rebels of the Royal Court, there’s no one we’re collaborating with."

Gu Lan nodded: "It’s okay if you’re not willing to talk, then you just keep kneeling, kneel until I catch Jiang Qu, and I’ll see if he’ll talk."

Duoji knelt silently, allowing the surrounding civilians to look at him with eyes of disgust and hatred, until Gu Lan left, and he finally raised his head.

He hoped Jiang Qu could hide well enough, so that after some time, when the storm passed, he could still escape from Yan Country.

As long as he could escape, what did it matter if he kneeled for a few days?

Gu Lan, along with last night’s two children and Zipei, got into the carriage and headed towards Yong’an Street.

On the way, she learned that the two children’s names were Geng Gong and Geng Tao.

When she heard the name Geng Gong, Gu Lan was momentarily stunned.

Isn’t this the general in the book... who chopped her to death?

In the book, the Dingyuan Marquis led her into battle, made her command a squad of soldiers, and Geng Gong was the deputy general assigned to her by the Dingyuan Marquis.

However, the original Gu Lan in the book was always trying to plot against the male protagonist, then gave up on making progress and commanded recklessly, becoming a stumbling block to the main force, causing the deaths of many soldiers.

Geng Gong was originally quite loyal, but he greatly admired Rong Heng and was constantly dissatisfied with Gu Lan.

Until one day, Gu Lan once again led many soldiers to their deaths, Geng Gong, unable to bear it anymore, chopped her to death, then led the troops to a great victory and went to join Rong Heng.

At that time, she even thought that Geng Gong was a capable general, far superior to the inept Gu Lan.

Young Master Gu subconsciously touched her neck, looking at the thin young her before her, her eyelids twitched.

Moreover, Geng Gong’s name...

Geng Gong said that their father was once a soldier in the Northern Territory border army. Years earlier, the whole family lived in the Northern Territory, and seven or eight years ago, a Qiangrong tribe secretly crossed the border and plundered the population. Geng Gong’s father died in battle to protect the border town, and his mother followed him to the grave.

Afterwards, only an old nursemaid took the two children and returned to the old house in the Capital City, traveling a thousand miles.

Recently, due to a flood disaster, the old nursemaid also passed away, leaving the two children orphaned with nothing but a house in a poor alley.

Gu Lan asked, "Their father died in battle, isn’t there any pension for them now?"

Zipei thought for a moment and replied, "It was a long time ago, not to mention they don’t have relatives as evidence, even if they did, he was just a low-ranking border soldier, not frequenting any compensation."

However, their father was certainly just a regular border soldier, not from our Gu Family’s Dingyuan Army. If a Dingyuan Army soldier died in battle, no matter how small an auxiliary soldier, the Marquis would report it to the court for compensation, and families with boys would have them enrolled in the private school of the Marquis Mansion."

Geng Gong listened in surprise: "What is compensation?"

"It’s the recompense you deserve," Gu Lan said gently.

"Then later, send Geng Gong to the private school as well, and I’ll go back to write to Marquis Gu, asking him to support Xie Yun in opening a private school that admits female disciples as soon as possible."

"Thank you, Young Master Gu. Oh right, here’s your fan, a returned treasure." Geng Tao suddenly remembered something, quickly returning the fan that Gu Lan had used to send messages to them earlier.

Although she was just a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl, she was well-mannered and gracious.

Moreover, Geng Tao wasn’t afraid of her because of Gu Lan’s reputation.

Geng Gong suddenly said: "Young Master Gu, I don’t want to go to the private school."

"Why?"

"I want to join the army."

Just then, the wind lifted the cart’s curtain, and the dense scent of blood from outside drifted in—they had arrived at Yong’an Street.

The assassins’ bodies were still laid out as before, and Geng Gong recalled the scenes from last night, saying, "I’m almost fourteen, and I want to join the Gu Family Army to expel the Qiangrong."

Gu Lan raised an eyebrow: "I don’t have a say in that, and your sister is still so young, aren’t you going to take care of her?"

Geng Gong looked at Geng Tao, the youthful face showing a determined expression.

Geng Tao steadied herself and said softly: "If my brother is going to the Northern Territory to protect everyone, to kill the Qiangrong with the Marquis, may I go with you, to be a maid at Dingyuan Marquis Mansion? I’m very diligent, not picky about food, I can do anything."

Gu Lan sighed; this really wasn’t an orphanage.

Even though in the original book Geng Gong killed her, that was a different version, and now he’s only fourteen years old. Moreover, the original was the one who led to her own demise. If Geng Gong hadn’t done it, even during reading, she wanted to strike herself.

Because of Geng Gong’s name, Gu Lan felt she could give him a chance: "In a few days, you can go to the Northern Territory with the Zhou family’s caravan, and whether you can join the Gu Family Army will depend on how the Dingyuan Marquis sees it. As for Geng Tao, she can return to the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion later."

"Thank you, Young Master Gu!" Geng Gong said gratefully, looking deeply at Gu Lan, as if trying to engrave her face in his memory.

Gu Lan got off the carriage, and together with the siblings, met with the Capital City Governor, explaining the events of the previous night in detail.

As for the identities of Rong Heng and Wei Chengyuan, Gu Lan directly said that they were top martial artists and hidden guards by her side.

After listening to the account, the Capital City Governor said, "Young Master Gu is really a talent, with great martial prowess. If Lord Lu had encountered what happened last night, he would certainly have perished." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Lord Lu is too kind. It was my guards risking their lives to protect me that allowed me to escape the danger," Gu Lan replied calmly, feeling that the gaze from the Capital City Governor was overly eager.

This person’s surname was Lu, named Bingxin, appearing to be over forty years old, dressed in a crimson official robe, with an imposing yet elegant demeanor.

Lu Bingxin glanced at the time and enthusiastically said, "Young Master, my residence is very close, and it’s noon now. Why not come to my house for a simple meal?"

Gu Lan was a bit tempted but thought it over, not knowing where Rong Heng would be dining at noon today, so she decided to return to the palace to check: "No need, I must return to the palace soon as I have lessons at the Imperial Family School in the afternoon."

"Young Master Gu need not be so polite!"

"Really, there’s no need."

While declining, a carriage stopped, and from it emerged a young girl in a pale yellow long dress with a thin veil covering her face.

The girl held a food container in her hand.

She stopped and gently bowed to Gu Lan and Lu Bingxin, then removed her veil: "My mother mentioned that my father was investigating around here, so Feifei came to bring him a meal."

The girl had bright eyes and white teeth, looking charming and attractive, just fifteen or sixteen years old.

Lu Bingxin hurriedly introduced, "Young Master Gu, this is my little daughter Feifei. She recently turned 15 and has not yet been matched in marriage."

Saying this, Lu Bingxin eagerly watched Gu Lan.

"Hehehe, really?" Gu Lan suddenly coughed.

Lu Feifei softly said, "Young Master Gu, Feifei has heard my brother mention you."

Gu Lan thought for a moment and realized that the second prince’s new companion, Lu Rufeng, was this Lu Feifei’s brother.

"Uh... if that’s the case, then I won’t interrupt your father-daughter meal."

As Gu Lan prepared to leave, there was a flash of urgency in Lu Feifei’s eyes, and she stepped forward a few steps: "Feifei saw Young Master Gu on East Third Street yesterday, how valiant and impressive you were punishing those Qiangrong people, truly remarkable. Upon learning that you were involved with my father in handling the Qiangrong assassination today, Feifei specially made this meal for you."

"No, there’s really no need," Gu Lan declined.

Yet Lu Feifei moved even closer, a scent of fragrance reaching Gu Lan’s nose, somewhat cloyingly sweet: "Feifei has heard from my brother that you have a great interest in food, and Feifei happens to be quite good at cooking, so I hope you can evaluate it, Young Master Gu."

Gu Lan felt as if she was losing her mind.

She just liked teasing shy young girls, finding their blushes quite entertaining, but couldn’t handle those who eagerly cling on.

Like she used to enjoy annoying Han Xuan’er to death, but couldn’t stand Han Xuan’er following Miaoyan around every day now.

The Young Master anxiously looked around, and suddenly her eyes lit up.

"Baoyi! Baoyi!"

At this moment, Rong Baoyi’s figure stood taller in her mind than ever before.

Rong Baoyi had now become a member of the City Defense Army, and today, she was assigned to patrol the perimeter on Yong’an Street where there was a security alert.

Since she hadn’t seen her for many days, County Princess Changle had shed her vibrant red attire, her black hair tied up high, adorned in black soft armor with a long sword hanging at her waist, her heroic and elegant face held a serious demeanor.

She heard Gu Lan’s voice, turned her head, and saw Young Master Gu excitedly striding towards her, with Lu Feifei by her side whose face had suddenly turned difficult.

Both being noblewomen of the capital, Lu Feifei held a notable identity, and had seen Rong Baoyi several times, though due to their different natures, they had never spoken before.

"Gu Lan? You were attacked yesterday, are you okay?" Rong Baoyi asked.

Gu Lan stepped forward quickly, swept a glance at Lu Feifei, and said, "I’m fine."

"Oh, isn’t this our City Defense Army’s County Princess Changle?" Lu Feifei deliberately emphasized the words "County Princess Changle," drawing glances from the surrounding officials.

"Isn’t she the County Princess Changle who insisted on joining the army at her coming-of-age ceremony?"

"Clearly a woman, why join the army, it’s utterly ridiculous."

"When a war breaks out, will we have to protect her?"

"It’s really unlucky."

The murmurs found their way to Gu Lan’s ears, her gaze towards Lu Feifei turning slightly colder, her voice neither too loud nor too low, just enough for those around to hear:

"Unfortunately, this young master just likes my sister Baoyi from the City Defense Army. If sister Feifei is willing to be the lesser one, I might consider you."