I became the God Brother of the Regent King after Transmigration!-Chapter 208 - 141: Obsession

"Then I’m relieved." The old lady breathed a sigh of relief.

The old lady pondered for a while, and said: "What I told Little Xu was to get the Emperor to issue a decree to confer Lu Feifei, serving as a delaying tactic."

"To drag it out for a few days? It seems Grandmother knows something." Gu Lan’s brow twitched, he said.

The old lady nodded, her seemingly cloudy eyes full of wisdom: "Actually, how could there be any home letter asking to confer you as the Princely Heir."

Gu Lan realized, she knew the old lady was making it up.

After all, the home letter written by Marquis Gu usually has one copy sent to the old lady and one to Madam Zhou, which Madam Zhou would let her read. But it’s been several months since Madam Zhou last showed her a letter.

The old lady continued: "Chengzhao, if there’s no war, usually sends a home letter every month to Wanqing and me. However, he hasn’t sent one for four months. Sometimes, the content of the home letters isn’t very secretive and could be intercepted by the Qiangrong people on the way, so he doesn’t write home letters, which means he’s planning to deploy troops against Qiangrong.

Since Chengzhao had the idea of deploying troops four months ago, the fall of Weizhou must have been within his expectation, so... Chengzhao will surely have a great victory! I can delay until his victory news comes. By then, just say he didn’t want you to marry too early, the Empress Dowager granted the marriage, you can decline, and the Emperor won’t say anything."

It turned out the old lady had anticipated that the Dingyuan Marquis would achieve a great victory, and she was willing to use the result of this great victory to call off her grandson’s bestowed marriage.

Gu Lan didn’t expect the old lady to stand so firmly on her side.

"Has Grandmother considered, what if Weizhou really has fallen and Dingyuan Marquis was unprepared?" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"I have confidence in my son, and you should have confidence in your father too. If really... then I will take the red book iron token, and the imperial decree I received from the former Emperor, personally meet the Emperor and request the withdrawal of the decree!" the old lady said solemnly.

Gu Lan looked at the old woman in surprise and murmured: "Grandmother, are you really willing to let me... not marry?"

The old lady’s weathered hand gently stroked her smooth hair, speaking gently:

"Can you change it if I don’t accept it? You cannot.

No matter what, you are Grandmother’s grandson. As for whether you like men or women, it’s your own business... Grandmother once lost your aunt Chengluan and also forced your father to marry someone he didn’t want to. Later, Grandmother understood and let it go."

"Understood what?" Gu Lan asked blankly.

"It’s no use worrying, children and grandchildren have their own blessings."

Gu Lan was stunned for a long time, looking at the elderly woman in front of her, with hair turning white, wearing a red floral jacket, suddenly feeling a sting in her eyes.

It was an emotion he had never experienced before.

She calmed herself and said softly: "Even if the Emperor decrees to confer Lu Feifei, it won’t take much time, the conferral ceremony can be completed in a day or two, and the auspicious time chosen by the Empress Dowager is seven days later."

The old lady smiled: "Well, it depends on your own will, Lan. If you make a scene, act unwillingly, and resist to the death, you might manage to delay it further.

Gu Lan scratched her head: "Yes, well, let’s just delay it for now, maybe half a month to a month, and wait... for the news of Dad’s victory to reach the Capital. Then, the Lu Family will no longer be able to cling to the Marquis Mansion."

As she spoke, she couldn’t help but lift her head and gaze northwards.

Over there, perhaps the Dingyuan Marquis was leading his army in battle.

If that man truly expels the Qiangrong and secures a great victory.

Then calling him father wouldn’t be troublesome.

The old lady said: "Lan, never underestimate how crazy people’s hearts and interests can become, do you think the Second Miss Lu really wouldn’t marry anyone but you? Maybe at first, she truly liked you, but you’ve told the entire Capital City you don’t want to marry her, why would she still want to marry you? No, now it’s Lu Bingxin who won’t marry anyone but you."

Gu Lan frowned, looking quite troubled.

Indeed, it’s no longer about whether Lu Feifei wishes to marry or not. Now the Lu Family has been put under the spotlight, countless eyes watching, even with the Emperor adding fuel to the flames. Once Lu Bingxin chose to climb higher, giving up became no option but death.

"I don’t know how things are on Miaoyan’s side... besides me marrying Rong Miaoyan, is there any other way to prevent her from marrying Lu Rufeng?" Gu Lan asked.

The old lady said in astonishment: "At this moment, you still have time to worry about Princess Ning’an?"

Gu Lan: "I have feelings for Brother Hang, so Ning’an is my niece, how can I be careless with my niece’s marriage?"

"Regarding Princess Ning’an’s matter, the person more anxious now is probably Su Zhixue." The old lady recalled some past events and said thoughtfully.

"Oh?"

The old lady sighed and said: "Back then, Su Zhixue’s fondness for the former Emperor’s Third Prince, Rong Jue, was known to all. Later, she became the Empress, and that became her greatest regret. As an observer, I see it clearly; that girl still holds resentment in her heart...

Her entire life has been trapped in the palace, how could she be willing for Princess Ning’an to also become a pawn of the Su Family, unable to marry someone she loves? This is her obsession."

Gu Lan was startled inside, then said, "But the Empress has no real power, and without the Su Family’s help, she cannot stop this matter."

The Empress has been devoted to Buddhism for years, her health is not good, and everyone bypassed her opinion on this matter. Even if she knew, she couldn’t stop the Empress Dowager’s decree.

The old lady sighed, "Yes, this is fate. She does not deal with the affairs of the harem, and now she cannot save her own daughter. What a pity, the former Third Prince Rong Jue truly was a virtuous and outstanding man."

Gu Lan suddenly stood up and called to Zijin, "Prepare the carriage, I’m going to the palace!"

"My dear grandson, what are you going to do?"

"The Empress has nothing to her name, no way to prevent Miaoyan from marrying, but if her determination is deep enough, she still has her own life."

Gu Lan said word by word.

*

After Little Xu delivered the decree, at the gate of the Marquis Mansion, the onlooking commoners finally finished watching the spectacle.

Among them were already a group of servants and maids of noble girls from the Capital City, who went back and recounted to their mistresses Young Master Gu’s heartbroken appearance, one by one.

Suddenly, the entire Capital City was filled with sympathy for Gu Lan, even if she liked men, it didn’t seem like such a big deal.

In fact, because she liked men, it even added a few shades of tragedy to Gu Lan.

Those sentimental ladies from aristocratic families, talented scholars and beauties, all shed tears endlessly over Young Master Gu’s rocky and turbulent love.

There were even those who out of curiosity, secretly compiled Young Master Gu’s story into a book titled "The Marquis and Young Master."

Although they didn’t actually know who Gu Lan liked, it didn’t stop them from fabricating an amazingly talented and peerlessly handsome young gentleman.

At the same time, the decree also reached the Lu Family and Yonghua Palace.

Rong Miaoyan had thought such a thing would happen, but she didn’t expect it to come so quickly.

She had just received the decree when Empress Su hurriedly returned from the Buddhist Hall, delivering a fierce slap to Little Xu’s face.

Empress Su gritted her teeth, holding Miaoyan tightly in her arms, each word carrying determination and unwillingness:

"Go back and tell Auntie, my daughter will never marry this Young Master Lu!"

Little Xu covered his suddenly swollen face, eyes filled with resentment, repeatedly begged for mercy, yet his words were like stabbing knives into Empress Su’s heart:

"Your Majesty, Princess Ning’an’s marriage is not for you to decide. Besides, that Young Master Lu is charming and talented, a perfect match for the Princess."

"Get out, get out of my sight!"

Empress Su’s voice was hoarse as she roared, like an enraged lioness, her elegant and beautiful face full of deep sorrow.

"Since the decree has been delivered, this servant will take his leave. Oh, and the Empress Dowager also mentioned that since Princess Ning’an has already come of age, she should move out of the palace to live. After some time, they can choose an auspicious day for her to marry Young Master Lu."

Little Xu said coldly.

Empress Su staggered slightly, and Miaoyan quickly supported her, saying worriedly, "Mother, your health is more important, don’t worry, I’ll be fine."

Empress Su extended her hand, and as Rong Miaoyan was engulfed in anxiety, she saw the maid beside the Empress skillfully take out a handkerchief and place it in the Empress’s palm.

The handkerchief covered her lips, and after a suppressed cough, Empress Su seemed to collapse inwardly, her complexion pale as paper.

Only then did Miaoyan notice, her mother’s slender fingers clutching the handkerchief showed no sign of blood color.

"Mother, let me see—"

Rong Miaoyan, ignoring the Empress’s struggle, forcibly snatched the handkerchief from her hand.

When she saw it clearly, Miaoyan’s eyes stung, and she held back tears from falling.

The once-white handkerchief was stained with specks of blood.

"I’m... I’m fine, your mother is fine, you don’t worry."

Empress Su shook her head quickly, reassuring her. She did not refer to herself as ’this palace’ because perhaps in her heart, she never truly wished to be the Empress of Rong Jing.

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