I became the God Brother of the Regent King after Transmigration!-Chapter 288 - 214: On the Road

As the two were about to leave the courier inn, a servant hurried over and called out to Gu Lan, "Young Master, wait!"

Gu Lan hadn’t concealed her identity along the way, and had just presented the Heir Token to have someone arrange for horses and feed.

The youth before her, despite being covered in dust from days of travel, had a handsome and refined face and an extraordinary demeanor.

The servant looked at her steadily and, with glowing eyes, suddenly knelt to the ground, presenting a medallion.

"Dark Hall Nan Shiqi from the Marquis Mansion, greeting the Princely Heir!" The voice was clear, yet deliberately lowered with a few raspy tones.

"Are you a secret agent of the Marquis Mansion?"

Gu Lan stopped in her tracks and took the medallion for a careful look.

On the front was the character "Gu", and the back was engraved with a dark golden spearhead—indeed it was a medallion from the Dark Hall of Dingyuan Marquis Mansion.

The Dark Hall had always been managed by Uncle Li, Nan Shiqi was probably a code number for agents at the Southern Border.

She and Rong Heng were traveling fast, and no orders from the Capital City had come through yet, so she was now just a wayward Young Master leaving home; Nan Shiqi’s salutation could be accepted or ignored.

"Indeed, I am directly under the Southern Border’s Dark Hall Commander."

Nan Shiqi appeared to be merely fifteen or sixteen, slender and small, a youth with delicate and handsome features.

"I do not know why the Princely Heir has come here, but the matter is grave, pardon my decision to report the news to you on my own accord."

Gu Lan felt a vague unease within: "Speak."

"The Dark Hall discovered yesterday that Prince Rui’s subordinates, Su Yi and Li Yuanju, have led troops to Cang Wind Port for reinforcement; now only thirty thousand remain in the city." Nan Shiqi said earnestly.

Gu Lan’s eyes sharpened: "No need to go to Cang Wind Port, head straight to Yinzhou."

Nan Shiqi’s information was immensely crucial.

From his words and those of the little beggar earlier, Gu Lan could already ascertain that Yinzhou was Wei Junzhuo’s target.

Nan Shiqi quickly asked: "Princely Heir, is something wrong in Yinzhou?" 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"Thank you for the information," Gu Lan’s tone softened, "what was your original name?"

This youth was able to discern the extreme importance of this news and dared to tell it to the unexpected Princely Heir, truly brave and wise.

"The Dark Hall has no names, only codes." Nan Shiqi clasped his fist in response.

"Enough, pass my order, starting from this city, have people pose as disaster victims saying the Emperor’s relief grain is still in Tongzhou and Lu State, to prevent these refugees from going to Yinzhou. Then, swiftly, in the name of... the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, go to Cang Wind Port and transmit orders for Li Yuanju and Su Yi to immediately lead troops back to aid Yinzhou!"

The only chance to save Yinzhou now was the troops sent to Cang Wind Port under Li Yuanju and Su Yi’s command.

The distance between the two places wasn’t too far; if they marched quickly, they could return to aid within two or three days.

Provided that someone informs them that their home is about to fall.

Upon hearing Gu Lan’s words, Nan Shiqi realized the urgency of the situation and agreed promptly.

"I will proceed immediately... And you, Young Master—"

"I’ll also be heading to Yinzhou as quickly as possible," Gu Lan said.

Nan Shiqi quickly said, "But Young Master, you just mentioned, Yinzhou is extremely dangerous right now."

Gu Lan gazed at the delicate face of the youth before her, her voice calm, "When the country faces difficulty, someone must go forward."

Having said that, Gu Lan took out more than half the dry rations from her backpack and gave them to the beggar boy, then left the courier inn with Rong Heng.

She probably wouldn’t have time to eat in the next few days.

When the country faces difficulty, someone must go forward...

Nan Shiqi repeated Gu Lan’s words, staring blankly at her silhouette, returned to his senses after a while, and hurried to find the Dark Hall members to carry out Gu Lan’s orders.

Reaching a fork in the mountain forest path, Rong Heng turned his horse’s head and said:

"You head to Yinzhou, I’ll go to Cang Wind Port."

Gu Lan furrowed her brows, "You think the Marquis Mansion cannot order Su Yi and Li Yuanju?"

Rong Heng: "Su Yi was originally with Pingnan Marquis Mansion, he’s also one of mine, apart from Rong Shuo’s military orders, he only listens to mine."

Gu Lan recalled how Jiu once feigned death and became part of the Capital City Guard, and how Su Yi claimed that he was Su Yi’s younger brother, Su Jiu.

"Su Yi, Jiu... Are there also Xiao Er, Xiao San, and Xiao Si?" Gu Lan asked.

"All dead, except one seven nine," Rong Heng said calmly, "don’t talk about them, you’re still missing something."

"What?"

"Human nature," Rong Heng replied.

"Do you know Li Yuanju’s identity?"

Gu Lan thought for a moment: "Li Yuanju, surname Li, I remember Princess Rui also has the surname Li, is he related to Prince Rui’s family?"

This Li Yuanju was also a general under Prince Rui’s command, barely mentioned in the original book, most likely some forgotten character buried with Prince Rui.

"You remember this sort of trivial matter well, Li Yuanju is indeed part of the Li family, he’s Princess Rui’s cousin nephew, but what I want to say is unrelated to his family; it’s that he has a flawed character and holds grudges intensely. He was beaten by your father before; do you think he’d obey the orders from Dingyuan Marquis Mansion?"

Gu Lan was taken aback.

She did not doubt Rong Heng’s words, just felt, if Li Yuanju dared defy the Marquis Mansion’s orders, how badly had her father beaten him back then that he’s held a grudge for so long.

"Who else has Marquis Gu beaten?" Gu Lan couldn’t help but ask.

Rong Heng: "Everyone."

"..."

He added, "It’s useless to have your Marquis Mansion’s Dark Hall send messages; at least if I go to Cang Wind Port for aid, I can bring back Su Yi."

"Alright, then let’s also split into two groups—"

Before the words were fully spoken, several sharp arrows came from behind them.

"Brother Hang, watch out!"

Gu Lan tightened the reins, her figure quickly retreated.

"I’m fine." Rong Heng also dodged a few arrows, standing alongside Gu Lan, eyes deep.

In an instant, more than a dozen masked riders appeared in front of them.

These masked men were also dusty from travel, with horses panting heavily beneath them; it was clear they had come with ill intent.

"Who are you?" Gu Lan drew the Longquan Treasure Sword, asked coldly.

"Heh, of course, the ones who will kill you!"

The leader’s voice was slightly shrill, raising a large knife and attacking without a word.

They hadn’t encountered danger all the way down to the Southern Borders, where all sorts of characters started appearing.

However, among the black-clad men, only the one who spoke was highly skilled and could spar with Gu Lan, while others had mediocre martial arts.

Gu Lan’s sword didn’t miss its mark; with a flash, a stab dropped one man.

"Ten plus men dare try to kill me? Are they here to serve me lunch?"

As she spoke, she sent another flying, moving elegantly and quickly, asking calmly.

Rong Heng effortlessly seized a knife from one of the black-clad men, reversed it, and struck him down; the ruthlessness of his action was chilling.

"Fifth Young Master Rong, you really do know martial arts." Seeing this, the masked man couldn’t help but shout.

Rong Heng explained expressionlessly, "Picked it up after becoming a Military Discussion Captain, do you believe it?"

One poised, one cold, they quickly broke through the encirclement.

Gu Lan dodged an arrow, quickly said, "We’re pressed for time, go separately, deal with this group slowly; they seem more like opportunistic killers rather than determined assassins."

Before Rong Heng could say more, Gu Lan already spurred her horse down the official road leading to Yinzhou.

Soon, the silver-white cloak’s silhouette vanished at the end of the road.

She seemed to have no reluctance to leave him...

Rong Heng pursed his lips, took out the mechanical crossbow from his sleeve, pulled the trigger, and shot at the masked men chasing him.

The crossbow had already been poisoned; whoever it struck would die.

Upon seeing this, those black-clad men uttered a few vicious words before scattering and fleeing.

"Yan Capital accent, an encounter, whose people, want to kill me or Gu Lan..."

Rong Heng murmured, putting away the mechanical crossbow.

Suddenly, he felt a hard object.

Rong Heng felt the paper-wrapped item, hesitated for two seconds, then helplessly curled his lips.

Gu Lan had somehow slipped him a handful of sugar beans.

Enough to last him until he saw her again.