I became the God Brother of the Regent King after Transmigration!-Chapter 36: Passing Notes

Gu Lan set out the meal and picked up a piece of spicy chicken to taste.

The taste was very spicy, but after chewing, the chicken was fragrant and tender. Gu Lan rolled up his sleeves and started eating heartily.

Rong Heng clenched his fists, caught in a dilemma.

"Grrrr—"

Rong Heng looked down in shock, staring at his own stomach.

Was it this thing making noise?

Even injured, how could it be so disappointing!

Rong Heng’s eyes turned redder, a blush spreading at the corners.

Gu Lan pretended not to hear, handing him a new pair of bamboo chopsticks with one hand.

His gaze shifted, seeing that what Young Master Gu held was not some ivory chopsticks inlaid with gold and jade, but the same as what he received—a pair of plain bamboo chopsticks, round on top and square at the bottom.

This flamboyant and reckless youth, seemingly unruly, seemed to be taking care of his emotions in some way?

Did he think too much?

Gu Lan’s mouth was already stuffed with food. He raised his hand for a while, seeing that Rong Heng did not respond, he mumbled:

"Brother Hang, hurry up, the egg custard won’t taste good once it’s cold."

Rong Heng took the chopsticks from her hand, picked up the egg custard, and grabbed a shrimp, taking a piece of osmanthus cake.

Gu Lan, devouring his food with delight, noticed this from the corner of his eye and subtly curled his lips.

A good brother should understand the other’s eating habits.

Today’s lunch had fresh, spicy, salty, sweet, and cool dishes—

Her gaze fell on the osmanthus cake Rong Heng had picked up, it seemed Brother Hang liked sweet food.

Meanwhile, far in the Zhongcui Palace, Consort Qian suddenly sneezed, letting out a cold laugh.

"Ha, I heard Xiaoxiang Palace doesn’t have a single grain of rice left, Rong Heng must be starving."

After eating and drinking to his heart’s content, Gu Lan pinched his soft belly through his clothes, sighing.

Wondering when her abs would return.

"Brother Hang, how’s the food!" She blinked her eyes, gathering the food containers, leaning her chin on one arm on Rong Heng’s desk.

"Not bad." Rong Heng picked up the last piece of rose cake.

The slightly relaxed center of his eyebrows hinted at his current good mood.

Gu Lan recalled yesterday’s lumped braised pork noodles that got a "passable" and now had become "not bad".

Brother Hang is easy to please.

She nibbled on a piece of plum from Mrs. Wang and said, "Last night, the Marquis Mansion’s small kitchen moved to Xiefang Palace overnight. The spicy chicken made by the cook sister there is a specialty of the mansion. And this rose cake, Zijin made it by hand. Tasty, right."

"Snap—"

Rong Heng crushed the rose cake in his hand.

Why is it Zijin again, today with an added cook sister?

The leading man’s face, like June’s weather.

One moment eating his snack with indifference, the next he’s back to his cold, distant look. Gu Lan was quite helpless, waiting till the afternoon, starting to throw notes again.

However, the notes she sent out, apart from the previous "get lost", did not receive any other response.

Gu Lan twirled her pen, bored, starting to pass notes with Rong Yunhao, sitting in the first row.

The note passed from the first row, traveling great distances, unexpectedly landing on Rong Miaoyan’s desk edge.

Rong Miaoyan picked up the note, initially not intending to peek, but with the note unfolded, she could see several lines written on it, a conversation between Gu Lan and the young prince:

"Brother Lan, who do you think is taller, me or Yan Qing?"

"Yan Qing."

"Who’s more handsome, me or Yan Qing?"

"Yan Qing."

"Are you not wanting to acknowledge this young prince as your brother anymore!"

The note ended here. Rong Miaoyan turned her head and saw Gu Lan smiling at her, untroubled by the note being seen, looking calm and composed.

She picked up her pen and wrote, "Is there anyone eager to be a younger brother?"

Finished writing, Rong Miaoyan nonchalantly crumpled the note and tossed it back to Gu Lan.

Gu Lan replied, "What Princess Ning’an said is exactly what I wanted to say."

Her aim in tossing the note was impeccable. Seizing the opportunity when the teacher was unprepared, she raised her arm; the note in mid-air drew an arc, landing right in front of the young prince.

Rong Yunhao, lying flat on the desk, delightedly unfolded the note, only to pout, wanting to cry.

He pouted angrily, seriously "replying" and threw it back hard, landing at Miaoyan’s feet.

Thus, what was originally a note-passing between Gu Lan and Rong Yunhao, turned into three... 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Rong Heng observed their little antics, lowering his eyes, pressing one hand against his wound, his gaze cold and quiet.

The teacher on the stage spoke eloquently and vigorously, while below several were enthusiastically passing notes.

Rong Baoyi initially wanted to stop them but seeing Miaoyan also keenly joining in, she could only swallow her anger, holding back tears...and joined.

No one knew, Rong Heng had gone through a deadly struggle last night.

The Imperial Palace was oppressively hot, despite several heavy rains in the past few days, there was no sign of the weather cooling, as if brewing something.

Gu Lan left school merrily, still early by the two-hour period, returning to Xiefang Palace, where Zijin said the items Gu Lan requested from Madam Zhou a few days ago, along with a cart of cornmeal shipped to the palace from the Marquis Mansion today, had arrived.

"Oh? So fast? Let me see if it’s genuine." Gu Lan’s eyes lit up, her interest piqued.

Zijin’s face blushed like a peach, chiding, "If the master wants to see, take it yourself."

"I’ll check it out tonight then."

Gu Lan smiled sinisterly, carrying dried fruits and candied fruits previously prepared for her by Mrs. Wang, to make a trip to Concubine Yi’s Yanfang Palace.

Concubine Yi was Mrs. Wang’s younger sister, who entered the palace during last year’s selection, now a principal consort of a palace highly favored by the Emperor.

Gu Lan entered the sleeping chamber of Concubine Yi under the pretense of visiting relatives: "Greetings to Concubine Yi, these were entrusted to you by your sister."

Concubine Yi, upon seeing the two baskets of candied fruit in Gu Lan’s hands, immediately teared up: "This, is homemade candied fruit by elder sister..."

"Thank you, Young Master, these delicacies made by my sister, I’ve longed for them." Her voice choked as she curtsied to Gu Lan.

Gu Lan had Zijin help her up. Now, given her status, with gender distinctions in the harem, but fortunately being young and having a family connection with Concubine Yi, she could visit Yanfang Palace.

"I should be the one thanking Concubine Yi, for not turning me away." Gu Lan clasped her hands at her.

Young Master Gu’s reputation was not at all good.

Concubine Yi accepted the basket, saying, "I trust Sister Shaomei, she wouldn’t misjudge someone."

Gu Lan learned that Mrs. Wang’s full name was Wang Shaomei, a very melodious name.

She wasn’t just a character in the book, but a living person.

Concubine Yi picked up a piece of dried apricot and put it in her mouth, her red lips moving: "Besides, Sister’s dried apricots don’t lie, Young Master is Sister’s nephew, therefore my nephew as well."

Gu Lan took out two more boxes of East Pearl, having Zijin hand them to Concubine Yi.

"This is...from my mother, we’re all one family."

Madam Zhou said, once entering the palace, she should distribute wealth more generously as a way to amass blessings.

"Thank you, Marchioness, Young Master." Concubine Yi initially wanted to refuse, but looking at Young Master Gu’s gentle and calm demeanor, she silently accepted.

Resolving in her heart, she must do everything in her power to protect her nephew: "Young Master just entered the palace, perhaps still unacquainted with the palace’s politics."

She explained, "Currently in the harem, Empress Dowager and Consort Qian stand in dual leadership; the Empress Dowager is old Prime Minister Su’s sister and the Emperor’s biological mother, her position unshakable. While Qian Ruohua, the sister of Minister Qian and mother to the Second Prince, is extremely domineering."

Gu Lan asked, "Dual leadership? What about the Empress?"

Concubine Yi scrutinized Gu Lan to determine whether her nephew was really the rumored unruly playboy.

Gu Lan’s demeanor was serene, his hair tied neatly with crimson cloud brocade, lips red and teeth white, his expression composed and earnest, looking very obedient.

Concubine Yi set her mind at ease, saying, "The Empress Dowager is old Prime Minister Su’s eldest daughter and calls the Empress Dowager ’aunt’, but unfortunately, she doesn’t manage things much.

However, Princess Ning’an is her precious gem; it’s better to provoke the Crown Prince than to offend Rong Miaoyan."

Gu Lan scratched her head.

Uh...

So, about her passing notes with Rong Miaoyan all afternoon today, she won’t mention it to Concubine Yi.