I became the God Brother of the Regent King after Transmigration!-Chapter 55: When Did You Start Having That Misconception?

Chapter 55: Chapter 55: When Did You Start Having That Misconception?

Through the slits of the carriage curtains, Gu Lan saw a familiar figure surrounded by guards.

He seemed familiar because the young man who appeared suddenly looked about seventy percent similar to Rong Qijun, whom he had beaten up not long ago.

Wearing a treasure crown and cloud boots, his bright yellow brocade robe embroidered with dragon patterns displayed his identity, the Crown Prince of Yan Country, Rong Qichun.

Rong Qichun was just crowned Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace last year and was only sixteen years old now.

To say the only difference between Rong Qichun and Rong Qijun, it might be that the Crown Prince looks a bit older and slightly taller than Rong Qijun.

They weren’t born to the same mother, yet they seemed like copy-paste twins.

Gu Lan thought to himself, fortunately, Miaoyan resembles Rong Heng somewhat, making her pleasing to the eye.

"Exactly, how about it, doesn’t my brother have a bit of my demeanor?" Gu Changting said with a proud tone.

The Crown Prince snorted coldly, "Just so-so."

He scrutinized Gu Lan from head to toe, then added, "Like a mud monkey, as mischievous as the rumors say."

"Your Highness hasn’t even spoken to Little Lan, so how can you know he’s mischievous?" Gu Changting said displeased.

"Well, it’s still better than Your Highness, who was ordered to clear the river, yet wears a spotless fine robe." Gu Lan’s voice was low but audible to everyone around.

Nearby were disaster survivors who had just gone through a flood and were peeking out at the Crown Prince.

Upon hearing Gu Lan’s words and looking again at the Crown Prince’s attire, the disaster survivors felt indescribably upset.

Inside the carriage, Young Master Gu looked as if he had caught a chill, covered in mud and looking quite disheveled, making them empathize—this was just how they were last night.

In contrast, the Crown Prince was dressed in brand-new, clean clothes, without a speck of mud, appearing extraordinarily noble—

And extraordinarily indifferent.

It is said that the Crown Prince is benevolent and enjoys happiness with the people, but upon seeing him today, he’s no different from those authoritative officials, aloof and only going through the motions of clearing the river today.

Rong Qichun glanced at the ragged disaster survivors, a trace of disdain in his eyes, and reprimanded, "I am the Crown Prince of a nation. Personally supervising river works is already lowering my status; how could I possibly be with this group—"

"Your Highness!"

A warm and magnetic voice interrupted the words the Crown Prince was about to say.

The voice was extremely pleasing, like a pure and clean Brahma sound, making people feel compelled to imagine what kind of stunning person the speaker was.

"I, I mean, I specifically changed into clean clothes to pray for blessings for the people and for Dayan." The Crown Prince also realized he was nearly trapped by Gu Lan’s words, aware that if he had spoken his words, his virtuous reputation for many years would definitely have been ruined, so he promptly shifted his words.

He seemed very respectful to the newcomer and asked, "Jingqi, is that not what I said?"

"Xie Yun greets Young Master Gu; I have long been acquainted with Young Master’s name."

Xie Yun did not answer the Crown Prince and instead walked directly to the front of Gu Lan’s carriage to bow respectfully.

He wore an utterly ordinary white robe, the hem still stained with mud, but due to his elegant and gentle demeanor, people only felt the white robe was as pure as snow; every step seemed to tread on dust-free jade steps as he approached.

Gu Lan made a nasal sound, "Mm," as she already didn’t have much strength to speak.

Xie Yun had heard Gu Lan’s name countless times in Gu Changting’s words and had also long heard of Young Master Gu’s romantic fame on the streets and alleys, even having seen the young Gu Lan as a child.

However, he hadn’t seen the grown-up Little Lan.

The last time he saw her was many years ago when Gu Lan was still a toddler learning to speak.

Xie Yun raised his head, looking into the carriage.

Suddenly, Xie Yun was stunned. His purely exquisite jet-black pupils, like an immersed deep pool, mingled with a hint of celestial aura, suddenly blossomed with a light of astonishment.

"Cheng—"

He opened his mouth and only uttered a syllable, his voice suddenly becoming hoarse.

Gu Lan didn’t pay attention to Xie Yun’s gaze on her; she just thought, those young noblewomen on the pavilion at the time were right, this Prime Minister Xie who appeared at the grand finale truly lived up to the title of the first gentleman of Dayan.

Xie Yun’s jade crown tied hair, features like a bright moon, the slight coolness between the brows seemed like an immortal entering the mortal world, yet his gentle demeanor made people feel close.

Considering his good looks and manners, she didn’t want to argue over his excuses for the Crown Prince.

"Admit it! My brother is good-looking, isn’t he?"

Gu Changting had no other praises for Gu Lan, so he enthusiastically praised his brother’s good looks.

Xie Yun suppressed the surge of emotions within, his face immaculate and serene, gently curling his lips into a smile, "I admit it."

Gu Changting only opened a small side of the curtain, looking at Gu Lan’s haggard face, saying with concern, "Brother Lan, now that you’ve caught a chill, you should hurry back. I’ll visit you at Step Lotus Hall tomorrow. What do you want to eat? I’ll have my mother make it and bring it to you: Osmanthus Cake, Sticky Rice Cake, Pea Cake, Mung Bean Cake, Fuling Cake—"

"I want you to shut up."

With the last ounce of her strength, Gu Lan tried to stop Gu Changting from listing dishes. Suddenly, she understood what Rong Heng had felt.

You’er said, "My young master was saving palace attendants all night yesterday and did not rest for a moment. Now he has caught a cold."

"Heh...." The Crown Prince snorted, clearly not believing it.

Gu Changting, however, had no doubts. "No wonder he is my brother. Little Lan, after this matter is over, I will petition the Emperor for a reward for you."

Xie Yun looked at the mud on her clothes and the faint dark circles under her eyes, understanding that the little maid was telling the truth.

Gu Lan half-closed her eyes and raised her hand slightly.

You’er quickly paid her respects to a few people and then drew the curtain of the carriage.

Xie Yun stood still, his eyes following the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion’s carriage.

Until the carriage drove further and further away, disappearing into another path completely, he did not withdraw his gaze.

"Jingqi, Xie Jingqi...Xie Yun!"

"Here," Xie Yun responded.

Gu Changting said unhappily, "I’ve called you three or four times and you didn’t respond. What’s the matter? Have you seen my brother and been moved to tears by his good looks?"

Surprisingly, Xie Yun actually nodded.

"Indeed, I didn’t expect Little Lan to grow so...handsome."

Gu Changting: "What kind of talk is that? That’s called growing up for a man. And Little Lan is what I call him, you shouldn’t randomly use it. Xie Yun, why do I feel like something’s wrong with you?"

As he spoke, he restrained the unruly charm on his handsome face, looking a bit more serious.

"Xie Jingqi, actually, I’ve been wanting to ask you. You are not getting married despite your age—is it really like the rumors in the Capital say, that you like..."

Xie Yun slightly raised his eyelids, looking very leisurely. "Who?"

"—Like me?" Gu Changting pointed to himself, looking very serious.

He and Xie Jingqi used to be companions to the Crown Prince and have known each other for many years. Now, he serves as Junior Minister in Honglu Temple, while Xie Jingqi remains by the Crown Prince’s side, as his right-hand man.

On the surface, the two are arch-rivals, but in reality, Gu Changting considers Xie Yun as a close friend.

One should know that Xie Jingqi, as the number one bachelor in Dayan, is a few years older than him but still unmarried, leaving many noble daughters yearning for him.

This has thus given rise to the rumors that Xie Yun is homosexual.

The Crown Prince was shocked by their conversation: "Seriously? Jingqi, if you like Gu Changting, you might as well like me!"

Gu Changting continued, "Answer my question first: do you have some unspeakable secret, a penchant for men, and since you can’t have me, you see my Little Lan looking like me, and fancy her instead?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Yun’s gentle and serene gaze fell on Gu Changting’s defined, handsome face, a soft light flashing in his eyes.

Hmm, Gu Changting and Gu Lan do resemble each other a bit.

Gu Changting felt goosebumps all over, but to protect his brother, he still fearlessly met his gaze.

Gu Lan’s female disguise was known to only three people in the Gu Family besides the midwife who delivered her: Madam Zhou, the Marquis Gu, and the maid Zijin.

For all these years, Gu Changting treated Gu Lan like his own brother, absolutely forbidding anyone from leading her astray.

"Gu Changting, tell me," Xie Yun spoke calmly, "when did you start having this delusion?"

Gu Changting: "..."

"I am about to introduce some familiar Imperial Physicians to you; this is an illness that needs treatment."

The Crown Prince laughed, "Gu Changting, you really overthink things. Jingqi even petitioned for the establishment of a girls’ school last year and worked tirelessly for those women; how could he be homosexual? Ha ha ha."

Xie Yun bent his eyes a bit, and in an instant, his smile was like a gentle stream, like bright moonlight.

Even Gu Changting, who was trying to "pull" his arch-rival back to the right path, was momentarily dazed.

The Crown Prince, with his lack of composure, was even more stunned, sighing in his heart. He really didn’t know which woman in the world could be worthy of Xie Yun.

The two only heard Xie Yun’s light, feather-like words:

"Rest assured, the two of you, Jingqi truly doesn’t like men."