I became the God Brother of the Regent King after Transmigration!-Chapter 54: Serendipitous Encounter

Rong Heng faced Zijin with a cold expression. It was this woman who made Gu Lan lose ambition every day and indulge in a life of ease.

Standing at the palace door, Zijin finally met the good brother her young master had been talking about lately. When she saw Gu Lan being carried back, she immediately looked tense.

Gu Lan struggled to wake up, raised his hand to greet Zijin, indicating that he was fine.

Seeing Gu Lan still awake, Zijin breathed a sigh of relief, stepped forward, and bowed respectfully to Rong Heng before extending her hands, "Fifth Prince, please hand the young master over to me. Today is a day of rest, and the servants from the Marquis Mansion have been waiting outside Xuanwu Gate for some time."

When Rong Heng heard the address "Fifth Prince," a complex emotion flickered in his eyes.

Besides Jiu now still calling him by that title, few people referred to him as the Fifth Prince anymore.

He then frowned at Zijin, "Is there no eunuch at Xiefang Palace?"

Zijin replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "I have been serving the young master since a young age as his close maid." Implicitly, no one understood Gu Lan better than she did.

Rong Heng’s frown deepened.

However, with Zijin’s hands still outstretched, Rong Heng, reluctant, handed Gu Lan over with a sullen face.

Just as Zijin was about to touch Gu Lan’s sleeve, Rong Heng regretted it, lifted his arm, and held Gu Lan by the waist.

"Fifth, Fifth Prince—"

Zijin was shocked by the scene.

"Um..." Gu Lan tried to struggle a bit.

Rong Heng, not looking at Zijin, gazed at the person in his arms. His voice was clear and faint, like the chilled autumn rain: "You can’t carry her."

Zijin: Actually, I can.

She paused briefly and seeing that Rong Heng had no intention of letting down her young master, and with Gu Lan having already yielded, had to run back inside to fetch an umbrella.

"Lead the way."

Rong Heng’s long and distinct fingers accidentally brushed past Gu Lan’s hair, his eyes harboring a stubborn tenderness unbeknownst to himself.

Zijin had no choice but to hold the umbrella for Rong Heng. Watching Gu Lan’s weary demeanor, she felt distressed too, whispering softly beside them.

"Young Master, about the Marquis Mansion, everything should be fine over there. No one expected a water disaster to strike the Capital City..."

"Are you okay?" Gu Lan’s voice was low and hoarse.

Zijin, seeing Gu Lan so weak, reddened around the eyes once more, held back tears, and shook her head, "I’m fine. Here I am standing before you, right."

"Then stop crying, it’s ugly."

"..."

"By the way, there’s something to tell you. During the flood, the people in the Second Prince’s residence all mysteriously ran off, leaving him limping and arriving in a pitiful state."

"Oh? And where is he now," Gu Lan asked with interest.

"Saved by a palace maid, probably, though he surely suffered and may have to lie down for half a month more."

"So, Zijin, you just watched him fall?"

"I was wrong—" Zijin muttered softly.

"Well done."

"..."

Listening to their conversation, Rong Heng concentrated solely on carrying Gu Lan without expressing any emotion, though his palm at Gu Lan’s waist felt slightly heated, having a faint indescribable sense.

Finally, as the three of them arrived at Xuanwu Gate, the Marquis Mansion’s carriage and a group of servants eagerly awaited, rushing forward once they saw them.

Then, with Zipei leading the Marquis Mansion’s guards and servants, they witnessed their Young Master in the arms of that young Master Rong from the Imperial Court... being held?

Zijin nonchalantly boarded another carriage, "Why so surprised? I’ve watched those two walk the whole way."

Zipei wanted to take over Gu Lan, but the Fifth Young Master Rong ignored everyone, striding right up to the carriage.

Then, from inside the carriage, a small hand extended out, lifting the spotlessly clean green curtain.

Their eyes met.

The young maid You’er, seeing Gu Lan seemingly unconscious, whispered anxiously, "Master, are you alright..."

Rong Heng: "..."

Goodness, stow-away in a luxurious carriage.

Afraid she too might cry, Gu Lan wanted to say she was fine but could hardly speak due to hoarseness, so she tugged Rong Heng’s collar to signal to be let inside.

Rong Heng held his breath, glanced into the carriage where the small maid sat in one corner with much space remaining.

He silently placed Gu Lan inside, then stepped back.

The carriage quickly started, and Gu Lan lay momentarily, then suddenly sat up.

"Master, would you like some water?" You’er timidly asked, holding a jade cup filled with freshly poured warm water.

Gu Lan picked up the cup, raised her arm, and poured the water over her head.

Clear water dripped along her hair, revitalizing her spirit, while You’er stared at her, too stunned to speak.

She lifted the curtain, poking her head out, looking back into the distance.

Rong Heng, clad in gray and white, still stood erectly, expressionless.

Yet she could clearly see Rong Heng’s eyes, as if infused with the cool and aloof moonlight of late autumn, carrying a bit of obstinacy she didn’t quite understand.

"Brother Hang! Give us a smile," she croaked.

Rong Heng turned and ran.

Unable to help it, Gu Lan laughed, settling back into the carriage, her hand on her chest gasping for air.

That shout just now had exhausted all her strength.

Brother Hang probably felt better now.

After all, she wasn’t dead, just a fever, why did Rong Heng have such a face... as if her father had died?

Gu Lan’s act of pouring water over her head startled You’er, who scrambled to calm her.

The carriage slowly moved through the rain, and Gu Lan suddenly realized Rong Heng didn’t bring an umbrella.

She tapped on the carriage wall, calling Zipei over.

"What is your command, young master?"

"You, being quick with your Qinggong, go back to Brother Hang and give him an umbrella."

"Sure thing." Hearing Gu Lan praise his Qinggong, even though he did not know martial arts, Zipei, happy, grabbed an umbrella and went off to catch up to Rong Heng.

Gu Lan intended to say to grab another one, but before she knew it, Zipei had darted away.

Anyway, later on, because the rain grew heavier and he was without an umbrella, he didn’t return until midnight...

During the journey, You’er informed Gu Lan about the situation in the capital over the past few days.

Yesterday’s sudden water disaster threw the entire court into chaos. Fortunately, Qin Zhenghu and two other officials from the Ministry of Industry understood the construction of the city’s defenses, gathered the imperial guard, rescued people, and cleared the city’s rivers and palace waterways; otherwise, the Capital City would still be submerged.

Gu Lan listened with eyes closed, relieved to learn that no one from the Marquis Mansion was harmed, though the gatekeeper grandpa injured his leg swimming too fast.

After some time, a commotion came from outside the carriage. You’er peeked out and said, "Master, up ahead is Young Master Changting and His Highness the Crown Prince."

Gu Lan lazily acknowledged, "What are they doing?"

"It seems they are leading a group of guards, clearing the waterways here."

"Then let’s not disturb—"

Before Gu Lan could finish, a gust of cold wind rushed into the carriage, and the curtain was lifted by the visitor.

Gu Changting’s voice came before his figure: "Brother Lan, I knew you’d be resting today, are you alright!"

Gu Lan, with reddened eyes, looked at her brother, tightly pursing her red lips.

She said nothing, her eyes growing redder until Gu Changting became uneasy, then Young Master Gu sneezed enormously, wrapping herself tighter in her clothes.

You’er quickly answered, "My master caught a cold, we’re heading back now. Young Master Changting, why did you suddenly come in, it’s windy and rainy outside..."

Gu Changting hurriedly put the curtain down, his voice muffled through the gap, aggrieved and remorseful: "I was wrong, little Lan. Once home, I’ll ask my mother to make you some ginger soup."

"It’s alright," Gu Lan lifted a piece to see Gu Changting’s face, only to sneeze several times, "maybe next time, open slower—achoo! achoo!"

Gu Changting felt more guilty.

"Changting, is this your brother, Gu Lan?"