I became the God Brother of the Regent King after Transmigration!-Chapter 265 - 191: Audience with the Emperor

The first day of the New Year was a fine day with melting snow and gentle winds.

From the Yan Country’s Imperial Palace to the homes of commoners, the atmosphere was filled with New Year joy.

This celebration ceremony wasn’t an evening banquet. Before noon, civil and military officials above the fifth rank, along with their families, gathered early at Zhonghe Hall, waiting for the Emperor and Empress Dowager.

As soon as he entered the hall, the young prince Rong Yunhao rushed towards Gu Lan, excitedly pointing to his gap-toothed smile and exclaimed, "Brother Lan, look! I’ve grown up; I lost a tooth today!"

"Ah, changing your teeth, then it’s perfect, you shouldn’t eat snacks today." Gu Lan bluntly took the pastries from Rong Yunhao’s table and ate a large piece of almond crisp right in front of him.

Rong Yunhao had been so happy, but upon hearing Gu Lan’s words, his eyes suddenly blinked as if about to cry.

Noticing his teary eyes, Gu Lan quickly said, "Alright, you’ve indeed gotten slimmer and taller. Hero Rong, you’re already nine this year. Don’t cry, or your crown will fall off."

"Even if you call me ’Hero’, I won’t forgive you."

Rong Yunhao patted his hair and angrily returned to his seat.

Gu Lan then poured a cup of sweet, starchy milk tea from his water pouch for Rong Yunhao, saying, "Hero, have some tea."

Rong Yunhao, despite his anger, took a sip and then smiled through his tears, "Brother Lan, this is really delicious."

Gu Lan: "I’ll teach you swordsmanship tomorrow."

Rong Yunhao’s eyes instantly brightened, "Brother Lan, you’re too good."

Gu Lan, holding back his compulsive tendencies, took out a handkerchief and wiped the milk mustache from Rong Yunhao’s mouth.

Rong Yunhao grinned at Gu Lan, thinking to himself that as he grows older, Brother Lan becomes more handsome. If Brother Lan weren’t a man, he’d surely want to hug and kiss her.

Seeing her brother’s lack of principle, Rong Baoyi sighed exasperatedly.

After chatting with Rong Yunhao, Gu Lan, as the Heir of Duke Dingyuan, sat next to Gu Chengzhao.

Rong Heng, on the other hand, took his seat as the Military Discussion Captain beside the princely heir Rong Miaoyan. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

No one knew whether it was intentional or not, but Rong Heng found himself seated among the women.

Realizing this, Rong Heng wondered if it was another warning. He frowned but saw Gu Lan waving at him.

Thus, all the so-called restraint vanished like smoke, and Rong Heng calmly walked over to sit next to Gu Lan.

Su Zixiao, who arrived late, came over to argue: "Rong Heng, this is my seat."

Rong Heng exchanged a glance with Rong Miaoyan in mid-air and said, "Ning An is looking for you."

Rong Miaoyan was reluctantly pushed to find her cousin,

And so, Su Zixiao had to exchange seats with Rong Heng.

This move made the surrounding officials pause in their expressions.

If not for the Emperor appointing Rong Heng as the Military Discussion Captain of Dingyuan Army last month, many would have long forgotten this former Fifth Prince of Dayan.

He had grown up so much;

No longer was he the humble, timid figure;

In the silent backdrop, he seemed to have grasped a hidden power within the court that no one dared to underestimate.

With the Emperor, Empress, and Empress Dowager not yet arrived, Gu Lan sipped tea and, eyeing a plum blossom cake on Rong Heng’s table, lazily said, "Brother Hang, I want that one."

Rong Heng glanced at her, "Where are your hands?"

Gu Lan thought to herself that this was the way to build rapport with him.

Seeing that Brother Hang paid her no mind, she looked towards her father, "Dad, I want to eat that—"

At the next moment, Rong Heng had already picked up a plum blossom cake and fed it directly to her mouth.

His cool fingertip inadvertently brushed against Gu Lan’s lips, causing a slight inner tremble at the soft sensation.

Gu Lan, oblivious, happily ate the plum blossom cake.

The next moment, Rong Heng condemned himself in his mind.

You’re really a pervert, he thought.

Gu Chengzhao was yawning and, hearing his daughter’s voice, lazily asked, "What’s up?"

"Nothing much," Gu Lan replied, her mouth stuffed full.

Gu Chengzhao "Oh"ed in response and continued to feel drowsy.

Madam Zhou caught a cold a few days ago and felt unwell, so she did not attend the New Year’s Eve banquet. Therefore, Marquis Gu now wishes he could immediately end the celebration and the luncheon to go home and visit his wife.

After a while, most of the guests had arrived. Gu Lan even saw several exotically dressed foreigners, not from major tribes like the Qiangrong, but envoys from some small tribes in the Northern Territory.

Along with them, envoys from smaller countries like Liang Country also took their designated seats.

In the current world, the Wei Country and Yan Country stand as the two great powers. Surrounding them are smaller countries like Liang and Zhao, which have changed their state names and emperors frequently over the last decade. Their relations with Wei and Yan are determined by their proximity to these two countries: those closer to Yan Country have better relations with it, and vice versa.

Most of the time, the smaller countries dare not offend anyone, paying tributes to both sides.

This time, their envoys also had seats and brought gifts to Yan Country.

The dancers and singers from the side halls were already prepared. The Zhonghe Hall, decorated with gold, silver, and jade items, shone brightly, making the hall appear even more magnificent.

Finally, the time came, and the Empress Dowager, supported by Rong Jing, entered.

Zhang Fengcai followed closely behind, saying, "The Empress previously said she would pray for Dayan for forty-nine days in the Buddhist Hall without interruption, so she did not attend today’s celebration."

Rong Jing sat on the throne in a black and gold dragon robe, which lent him an air of seductive mystery. With a golden dragon crown on his head, he looked at the vast assembly of officials below with a gentle smile.

Suddenly, Rong Jing noticed Rong Heng sitting with Gu Lan, and an indescribable cold light flashed in his eyes.

Beside Rong Jing, looking dignified in a phoenix crown and brocade, sat the Empress Dowager Su Xinyu.

Just as Rong Jing was about to announce the start of the banquet, two loud announcements came from outside the hall.

"Envoy Yuan Lu from Wei Country has arrived—"

"Deputy General under Prince Rui’s command requests an audience—"

"Granted." Rong Jing’s deep almond eyes were veiled by the gentle sway of jade beads, hiding his emotions.

Everyone turned towards the sound and saw two men entering Qianyuan Hall together.

Tang Zhan, now dressed in a navy blue Yan Country military general uniform, walked to the steps, his face stern, kneeling with one knee and cupping his fists: "Your humble servant, Deputy General of the Southern Border army of Dayan, Tang Zhan, pays respects to Your Majesty."

"General Tang has fought valiantly for the country and achieved many military successes. He is a pride of Dayan. Zhang Fengcai, grant General Tang a seat."

"Thank you for Your Majesty’s graciousness."

Tang Zhan had returned to the capital. He was the Personal Soldier Commander under Prince Rui and also a Deputy General of the border army.

Gu Lan recalled what Rong Heng had said to him last night: Prince Rui sent someone back to the capital to request the Emperor to dispatch grain to the Southern Border for disaster relief. The most suitable person to transport the grain with Tang Zhan to the Southern Border would be Su Zixiao.

This matter was not supposed to be within Prince Rui’s purview, yet he sent Tang Zhan to the capital to request an edict.

Either the famine in the Southern Border had reached a critical point, or Prince Rui cared deeply for the people and couldn’t bear to see them starve.

No matter the reason, the Prince’s interference in the disaster relief would eventually be seen as overstepping and would displease the Emperor. Didn’t Rong Shuo know this? He surely did... As Prince Rui of Dayan, he had always strived to protect this country, even at the price of earning the Emperor’s suspicion and causing court ministers to question him.

Yan Country had a strong military, unrivaled cavalry, but it was never as wealthy as Wei Country. This was why even though Wei was consistently overshadowed by Prince Rui, it managed to persist like an indomitable cockroach.

—They had the financial means; no matter how many battles they lost, they could always regroup, but if Yan lost a single battle, it would deal a severe blow.

After two major victories, Yan Country actually did not reap much reward and, in the short term, lacked the finances and provisions to start another war.

Tang Zhan did not immediately bring up the issue of the Southern Border upon his arrival. He was seated among the military generals, not far from Gu Lan.

He glanced around, noticing Baoyi and Rong Yunhao, then smiled, showing his white teeth, and mouthed silently, "This humble servant greets the County Princess and the Princely Heir."

Entering the hall with Tang Zhan was a middle-aged man in a light yellow python robe, handsome but with a slightly pale and frail complexion.

The middle-aged man did not kneel but instead performed a bow and spoke, neither humbly nor arrogantly: "External Minister Yuan Lu greets Emperor Yan."

Gu Lan specifically glanced at Yuan Lang, sitting in the corner. The effeminately beautiful Crown Prince of Wei Country, upon seeing Yuan Lu appear, had a noticeable gleam of excitement flash in his eyes, barely concealing his joy.

"Who is Yuan Lu? Look, Yuan Lang is very pleased." Gu Lan asked.

Rong Heng thought for a moment and replied:

"He is the youngest brother of the Wei Emperor, titled Prince Kang, in charge of some financial powers in Wei Country. Known as the flamboyant prince, he is overqualified for a mission to Yan Country. Yuan Lang’s happiness likely stems from seeing Yuan Lu as an envoy, indicating that Wei Country still values him as the Crown Prince."

Gu Lan’s eyebrows moved slightly: "He is the youngest brother of the Wei Emperor, and you are also the youngest brother of the Emperor."

Rong Heng said, "I’m not the same as Yuan Lu."

Gu Lan nodded: "Of course, you are younger and more handsome than him."

"...Handsome?" Rong Heng frowned slightly, questioning back.

"Good-looking," Young Master Gu said with a beaming smile.

Rong Heng nodded, uttering a soft "hm" in agreement, not shy at all to acknowledge her comment.