I became the God Brother of the Regent King after Transmigration!-Chapter 21: The World and the Court

Gu Lan leaned back tactically, discovered there was no backrest on the stone bench, and then nonchalantly wiped her mouth and patted her stomach lightly.

There was still half a bowl’s worth of noodles left at the bottom of the Jade Bowl, but she didn’t eat it, relying on her status.

She wasn’t full either.

Fourteen or fifteen is the age when girls are growing, and she’s been training her body every day lately, so her appetite has increased dramatically.

Meh, the Emperor’s Imperial Kitchen is mediocre, not even as good as Mrs. Wang’s cooking. Gu Lan couldn’t help but take out two candies from her pocket and pop them into her mouth.

The candy crunched loudly, this time it was apple-flavored, sweet and tangy, refreshing.

Rong Heng lowered his eyes, remembering those two pieces of candy he had crushed into powder.

He ate all the noodles; if he had known, he would have saved that candy.

Gu Lan, busy eating noodles just now, didn’t have the chance to admire the male lead’s strikingly handsome face.

However, Rong Heng was no better than her, lacking any elegance and nobility expected of an Imperial Family descendant, and ate even faster than she did.

Her gaze fell on the chopsticks on the stone table. Since she arrived in this world, these were the most ordinary chopsticks she had seen.

Not the Jade or silver chopsticks of the Marquis Mansion, not even the intricately carved wooden ones from the taverns, just plain, ordinary, round bamboo chopsticks.

She looked at Rong Heng’s slightly lowered brows, his long eyelashes casting faint shadows below, making the young man appear serene and clear.

Even now, Rong Heng, despite holding secrets unknown to others, which could make the Minister of Rites speak for him in the court, remains the most humble existence in this Imperial Palace.

Moving house requires bringing countless old books and kitchenware;

Ordinarily, it seems like he’s not well-fed.

Gu Lan sighed, deciding to provide the male lead with warmth like a spring breeze in the future, hoping to become friends or brothers with him. Only this way can she guarantee the future safety of herself and the Marquis Mansion.

Initially, Gu Lan thought about leaving the Capital City one day, even leaving the troublesome Yan Country, and living well by herself in these chaotic times with her skills. It wouldn’t have been a problem.

But doing so meant losing the identity of the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion’s legitimate heir, ending up as an insignificant hero in the world.

Three feet of blade, no longer than a brush on the court;

The world is vast, but not bigger than a hanging map.

For more than half a month, she remained at the Marquis Mansion and had taken on the original owner’s identity.

And this Dingyuan Marquis Mansion will one day face destruction.

She now wants to prevent this from happening.

If Young Master Gu doesn’t offend the male lead in the future, he won’t lose his head, the Dingyuan Marquis won’t panic on the battlefield, and the Marquis Mansion won’t be in trouble.

If she has to go on an expedition in the future, and the Emperor still wants the Dingyuan Marquis to harm the male lead, dragging the entire Gu Family into turmoil, she could then side with the male lead and overthrow this chaotic world.

As for now, opposing the chosen one,

Why bother? She still wants to see how he leads the army to fight and win in the future.

"Eavesdropping on your conversation with Jiu was purely accidental. Now that you know my secret, how about we call it even?"

Finishing her noodles, Gu Lan said with a smile, extending a slender, fair hand again to Rong Heng.

Rong Heng didn’t take it, but he didn’t oppose it either.

He couldn’t quite understand why, while he ate quickly because he was hungry, Gu Lan, with her frail and short stature, ate noodles as if she were starving.

Gu Lan edged closer, her fingertip nearly touching the young man’s sleeve when Rong Heng brushed his sleeve lightly: "I’ve returned the favor, and the noodles are eaten. Young Master, it’s time for you to leave now. Otherwise, if others see, it might stir up quite a commotion."

It was only because he "moved" recently, closer to the center of the Imperial Palace, and with Xiaoxiang Palace being isolated, the people secretly monitoring were less vigilant. Otherwise, Gu Lan would have already been discovered.

"Alright, Brother Hang, we’ll meet at the Imperial Family Academy." Gu Lan didn’t insist but managed to pat Rong Heng’s shoulder quickly.

It didn’t matter if the favor was returned; they had a long future ahead.

Rong Heng let out a cold snort, and the next moment, an elegant handkerchief slipped lightly from his sleeve.

—It was the one Gu Lan had used to wipe his face.

Rong Heng’s cold demeanor cracked for a moment: ...

"Hmm... Ahem ahem, Brother Hang, if you like this handkerchief, I’ll have the maid embroider you a stack to give you!"

Rong Heng’s face recovered from the awkwardness, but hearing this, his expression darkened: "Take it. I don’t like it."

Gu Lan couldn’t resist teasing: "Brother Hang doesn’t like it, then why hide it and carry it around in your sleeve?"

No matter how clever and cunning the male lead was, he was still a teenage boy. Mentioned with such intimate things as handkerchiefs, Gu Lan left him speechless, and his pale face flushed slightly red.

The blush spread to his earlobes, and to Gu Lan, it looked like a sweet, juicy, and pinky peach.

Still puffed up, tempting to take a bite and bully a little...

Gu Lan’s lively eyes flickered.

Her gaze fell onto the books drying on the ground in the distance, and she took a deep breath, cupping her fists briskly: "Brother Hang, I have something important to attend to, so I’ll head out first."

Gu Lan indeed had something crucial to do.

She needed to find out the home address of Minister Qian.

Qian Rui knocked Rong Heng down right in front of her; it wasn’t something to just let go with one fall into the water.

Seeing Gu Lan agilely climb over the wall and leave, Rong Heng’s expression returned to calmness.

His fingers felt the cool touch of the embroidered handkerchief, and his voice gently lowered: "Put away the White Jade Cup and find out if any of the concubines in the harem noticed a missing Jade Snow Tiao."

Jiu responded: "This Young Master Gu truly acts with recklessness, even daring to pocket items from the Imperial Kitchen—if someone investigates, Your Highness would have to cover for him, no?"

Rong Heng didn’t even realize his lips curled a little: "There’s some left, you can eat it."

Jiu swallowed his saliva, as he hadn’t eaten today either, found another bowl, and finished it with no complaints, even drinking the cold noodle soup clean: "I’ll cover up a thing or two for Young Master Gu then."

Once you’ve eaten someone’s food, you owe them something.

Rong Heng watched Jiu finish the remaining noodles and, thinking of something, his bright eyes dimmed, his face shrouded again with a gloomy mask.

Jiu sensed Rong Heng’s mood and quickly lifted his head, smiling heartily: "Your Highness, we’re going to get better and better."

He had a pair of long, gentle eyes, full of mischief, and the smile on his baby face was especially sincere.

Rong Heng thought of Gu Lan’s words before she left, nodded gently, and whispered:

"See you at the Imperial Family Academy."