I became the God Brother of the Regent King after Transmigration!-Chapter 38: Lotus Palace Lantern

The masked man stared directly at Gu Lan. He was tall and silent, exuding a chilling aura.

This must be the "Yuan" that Consort Qian mentioned.

As an impostor, she had met the real deal, and it seemed better not to disturb their rendezvous.

With that thought, Gu Lan jumped out the window and ran. Before leaving, she didn’t forget to snatch the lotus-based incense burner she had her eye on and stuffed two pieces of Osmanthus Cake into her bosom.

The masked man dropped his steamed bun and wordlessly started chasing.

By then, Consort Qian awoke in pain, clutching the back of her head. Her mute point had automatically been released, and even before she could claw out of the sack, she let out a piercing scream:

"Catch the intruder!!"

Consort Qian’s shout threw the entire Imperial Palace into chaos.

Gu Lan swiftly skimmed the ground and then climbed up the high wall of Zhongcui Palace, supporting herself with the trunk of an evergreen tree, darting through the night.

She had underestimated the speed of the masked man.

Without turning back, she already heard the rushing wind getting closer behind her. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

The black mask hid her face, leaving only a pair of calm and cold eyes visible.

The more dangerous the situation, the calmer Gu Lan became.

Wait... wasn’t this Yuan the one Consort Qian was meeting? Why is he chasing her!

Zhongcui Palace had lit torches illuminating the pathways inside.

Gu Lan pressed her knuckles down with her index finger, producing a crisp "crack" sound, once again accelerating her pace, and at a corner, she leaped down the wall without hesitation.

"Splash——!"

Gu Lan landed steadily, stretched her tingling legs for two seconds, then heard a loud splash as something heavy fell into the water behind her.

Oh, under this palace wall was an auspicious jar filled with water—she had moved it there beforehand.

She jumped for distance; the masked man jumped into water.

Gu Lan took out a stone, estimated the position, and hurled it at the masked man using hidden strength.

In the dim night, a man’s painful groan echoed.

The red lips under the mask involuntarily curled into a smile. She rubbed her hands, ready to leave, when suddenly a hand stretched out from the darkness, covering her mouth!

Gu Lan’s hair stood on end in an instant, and her arm swiftly twisted back like lightning, a cold, sharp dagger gliding out of her sleeve, firmly gripped in her hand.

The sudden hand clasped her lips, a cool body leaning close, a familiar medicinal fragrance wafting into Gu Lan’s nose.

Gu Lan paused, her hand freezing in the last moment, the dagger shining coldly as it pressed against the nose bridge of the person behind her.

"..." It was Rong Heng.

Gu Lan looked at him, her wide-opened eyes slightly red, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Let’s go."

Rong Heng’s voice was cool and detached, like tranquil water.

As they left, Rong Heng glanced back, taking a deep look at the dark figure where the jar lay.

By the time Gu Lan realized, she had already followed him to Xiaoxiang Palace.

It was her first time entering Xiaoxiang Palace, albeit by climbing the wall.

Rong Heng nodded his chin towards her, casually saying, "There’s a dog."

Gu Lan was eager to try; she still had several steamed buns left.

Once inside, she discovered that the "dog" he referred to was a new little eunuch named Little Fu in the side hall.

The night was deep; Xiaoxiang Palace was near Zhongcui Palace, chaotic noise and searches echoed outside, while inside the hall was pitch black, leaving not even a hint of light visible.

Gu Lan felt overwhelmed by the darkness. She took out the newly acquired Lotus Bronze Palace Lamp and placed it on the ground, preparing to light it.

Rong Heng guessed what Gu Lan intended, somehow found a fire starter and briskly lit it, striking a bright spark as he sheltered his palm to illuminate the palace lamp for her.

In an instant, a warm candle flame flickered in the darkness, the soft yellow light casting a glow around them just enough, keeping the "dog" outside unaware.

The pale yellow light reflected on Rong Heng’s face, lending a warm hue to his austere and pallid complexion.

He looked up at Gu Lan, his thin lips pressed together, his eyes containing an exquisite and radiant flicker, making him appear exceptional.

Gu Lan only heard, under the dim light, a very loud gulp from herself.

It must be because the buns smelled too good! She suddenly lowered her head, feeling her face flush with the warmth of the buns.

Gu Lan took out the remaining steamed buns and carefully wrapped them with kraft paper. Under Rong Heng’s slightly surprised gaze, she handed the buns over to him.

"Brother Hang, I knew you hadn’t had dinner."

Rong Heng stared at the unexpected addition in his hand: "Gu Lan, do you know what you just did."

"Beat someone up, isn’t it obvious," Gu Lan replied calmly. Seeing Rong Heng not eating, she added, "If you won’t eat, I’ll eat it. I’m a bit hungry anyway."

Rong Heng lowered his gaze, unconsciously tightening his fingertips before, seemingly proving something to Gu Lan, took a bite of the bun.

The pastry was thin with ample filling, soft, and aromatic. Gu Lan wasn’t wrong; he indeed hadn’t had dinner.

Consort Qian ordered the Internal Affairs Office to cut off all supplies for Xiaoxiang Palace—though, Xiaoxiang Palace had little supply anyway. Yesterday, they finished the last batch of rice; today Jiu went out to borrow some from a familiar little eunuch. If unsuccessful, they likely needed to return to their former residence at the Imperial Court to scrape some from the rice jar.

Gu Lan and Rong Heng exchanged glances, their eyes clear and fearless: "Brother Hang, how did you recognize me?"

"The mask."

Gu Lan touched her face and found the mask she had fastened had slipped an inch, stuck precariously at the tip of her nose, almost falling off.

It happened when she wiped sweat after tiring out Consort Qian.

This means the masked man likely remembered her face!

Gu Lan wasn’t too worried; the masked man definitely didn’t recognize her, otherwise, he wouldn’t have silently chased her for so long.

Since he didn’t recognize her, there was no need to ever know.

Rong Heng quietly ate his bun, while Gu Lan pulled out a handful of preserved fruits and blissfully popped two into her mouth, savoring the taste.

After finishing the bun, Rong Heng looked at her, extending his right hand.

His palm faced upwards, fingers sharply defined, fingertips pale.

Gu Lan was momentarily surprised, her eyes then crescenting into a smile, offering him a preserved fruit, as Rong Heng frowned.

She shrugged her shoulders: "Didn’t bring candy."

Rong Heng abruptly closed his hand, coldly saying, "Who asked for candy."

In his palm was a golden preserved fruit, its slightly hard texture reminding Rong Heng of the feeling when he had covered Gu Lan’s mouth, even through the thin mask, still astoundingly soft.

He couldn’t help but glance at Gu Lan’s crimson lips, unconsciously clenching his fist.

Despite his physical weakness, his complexion was genuinely rosy.

Rong Heng lowered his gaze, suddenly noticing the Lotus Bronze Palace Lamp on the ground, his expression faintly moved.

"This palace lamp, you acquired it too?"

Gu Lan nodded: "Lotus. You don’t like it?"

"I also took this." As she spoke, she took out two pieces of Osmanthus Cake.

A swift spark flickered across Rong Heng’s deep, dark eyes. His gaze was complex, not answering Gu Lan’s question.

Lotus—

The palace maid he killed at age nine bore a name containing the character "Lotus".

Gu Lan observed that he didn’t wish to discuss this issue any further, so she refrained from pressing, suddenly recalling that she previously mentioned liking lotus flowers in front of Eunuch Zhang.

Could Rong Heng dislike this flower? But his expression didn’t seem to show disdain.

"By the way, Brother Hang, did you use the medicine I gave you? I only just found out you were injured again, did Consort Qian and Rong Qijun resort to underhanded tactics after failing? No matter, Brother Hang, I’ve already avenged you." Gu Lan abandoned the topic and started to boast.

Rong Heng murmured: "So, you snuck into Zhongcui Palace at night to scare Consort Qian to avenge me?"