I became the God Brother of the Regent King after Transmigration!-Chapter 249 - 177: Su Family

Rong Miaoyan hurried to stand in front of Gu Lan, looking at her with undisguised delight in her tone.

"It really is you, I guessed you would attend the court session today."

She gave Gu Lan a bright smile, then nodded slightly to Marquis Gu, with perfect courtesy: "This official greets the Marquis Dingyuan."

Immediately, Miaoyan also nodded slightly to Gu Changting, her expression gentle and her demeanor proper.

Only then did Marquis Gu take a closer look at Rong Miaoyan. In previous court sessions, Princess Ning’an was never present.

Today is the first time he has seen the only girl among the officials—well, except for his daughter.

Miaoyan was very beautiful. She inherited Empress Su’s gentle and elegant captivating looks, but also possessed a majesty and pride uncommon in ordinary women. Her every move was enchanting.

Facing Marquis Gu, Rong Miaoyan was composed and unrestrained, demonstrating the elegance of a national princess and the respect of a junior.

But when facing Gu Lan, she smiled brilliantly, her features vivid and charming, with the petulance and brightness of a young girl.

Marquis Gu had also heard about Princess Ning’an’s affection for his daughter.

True to form, with such a blatant difference in treatment, Princess Ning’an was already walking side by side with Gu Lan into Taihe Palace, appearing as a perfectly matched pair.

He sighed, recalling how in his younger days, he too had roamed the Capital City with his handsome appearance, becoming the dream lover of countless women... Now, why has his daughter inherited this trait?

What to do in the future? Really bring a wife back to the Marquis Mansion? Marquis Gu found himself facing the same dilemma as Madam Zhou.

A clear dong of the clapper sounded, as Zhang Fengcai, the Commander of Inner Supervision, summoned the officials to pay their respects, marking the beginning of the morning assembly.

Taihe Palace resembled the Jinluan Palace, while previously Gu Lan had attended Qianyuan Hall, similar to the South Study Room for meetings with important ministers.

So in Taihe Palace, with both civil and military officials present, Marquis Gu did not have his own independent grand lecture chair.

Then, Young Master Gu watched as her father stood there with folded hands inside loose sleeves, and after one incense stick’s time, lowered his head and dozed lightly.

Though soft, in the silence when no one spoke, the sound of his snores was particularly distinct in the vast and empty hall.

Wasn’t he supposed to have insomnia?

He truly sleeps soundly at court.

Rong Jing’s temple twitched with a throbbing vein.

Civil and military officials: ...

Everyone perfectly enacted two words:

Feign blindness.

In the blink of an eye, one two-hour period passed, with various affairs discussed and resolved. From listening in, Gu Lan learned that in a few days, it would be the Empress Dowager’s fiftieth birthday, and the day following her birthday was New Year’s Eve.

Thus, the entire morning assembly was about a debate between the Minister of Rites—a white-bearded old man named Chen—and the Minister of Revenue Lu Bingxin, assisted by their respective deputies Xie Yun and Gu Chengye, over whether the birthday banquet and the New Year’s Eve national banquet should be lavishly organized.

Then, another white-bearded old Prime Minister Su stepped forward, siding alternately with Minister Lu’s reasoning and then with Vice Minister Gu’s loyalty—Old Prime Minister Su’s role was to mediate.

The Ministry of Revenue wanted to save money, while the Ministry of Rites wanted to spend it.

Listening to this, Gu Lan started to feel pity for Lu Bingxin; as the head of the Ministry of Revenue, he meticulously budgeted to save money for the country, only to have his efforts undone by her uncle’s few words, one sum after another...

In the end, nothing was resolved, and Rong Jing halted the discussion for further deliberation.

Miaoyan stepped forward to submit the finalized edict regarding Marquis Zhongcheng, negotiated with the Ministry of Rites.

As Zhang Fengcai received the edict, Miaoyan held her breath; she had added those eight words as Rong Heng instructed, yet did not understand their meaning.

Rong Jing did not open it immediately, simply nodded, placed the edict to one side, and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Ning’an."

At this moment, Prime Minister Su suddenly came forth, saying, "Your Majesty, this old minister has a matter to present."

Rong Miaoyan’s brow twitched, knowing that the matter she discussed with her mother yesterday was about to occur.

When Gu Lan saw Prime Minister Su’s demeanor, she too realized what he was about to state, likely concerning Su Zixiao.

"Please speak, Prime Minister," Rong Jing frowned slightly, his tone composed.

"My grandson Zixiao has loved wielding swords and spears since childhood. After hearing of Dingyuan Marquis’s great victory, he became even more fascinated by the military. Now, he has been kneeling in front of the ancestral shrine at our family estate for three nights, longing to join the Dayan Iron Cavalry, to expel the Qiangrong in the Northern Territory, and serve the country... I implore Your Majesty to grant his wish."

As soon as Prime Minister Su began, he bowed to his knees, his aged voice resonant and solemn. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

The previously buzzing Taihe Palace suddenly fell silent.

Prime Minister Su has witnessed three generations of emperors. In the time of the former Emperor, he was already the Prime Minister of the country, and now he has held the Prime Minister’s position for over ten years.

His grandson is the current Crown Prince Rong Qichun. Although the Crown Prince was not born to Empress Su, he was raised as her legitimate son. Rong Jing only had two princes, and the Crown Prince’s status as successor was deeply entrenched.

His legitimate daughter was once the number one talented woman in the Capital, now the Empress, Su Zhixue.

His sister is the Empress Dowager Su Xinyu, who oversees the harem.

Back then, the stability of Rong Jing’s position as Eastern Palace was greatly due to marrying Su Zhixue and securing the strong support of Prime Minister Su and the Su Family.

However, in recent years, more Su Family members have joined the court, yet they are mostly mediocre talents, and since Rong Jing’s ascension, his relationship with the Empress Dowager has also cooled considerably. The harmony between the Su Family and the Emperor, both publicly and privately, has gradually diminished.

Prime Minister Su rarely requested anything of Rong Jing. At this moment, Rong Jing heard his words, his peach-hued eyes slowly froze, and a hint of dark and profound apprehension rose in his eyes.

After a long while, his magnetic and gentle voice rang out:

"I remember, Zixiao performed excellently as a Capital Commandant for the imperial guard, why insist on joining... the Dingyuan Army?"

Half a year ago, it was Prime Minister Su who cooperated with him, to humiliate Yuan Lang, allowing Su Zixiao, originally Rong Qijun’s companion, to become an Imperial Guard.

Rong Jing did not neglect Su Zixiao, and soon appointed him as the Capital Commandant of the imperial guard.

Rong Jing slowly clenched his hands beneath the sleeves of his Dragon Robe, grasping tightly into fists.

Unexpectedly, Su Wenzhong was still dissatisfied!

His request for Su Zixiao to join the Dingyuan Army meant—

The Su Family,

Still wants to meddle in military authority!

The court officials, those with clear insight had already understood the purpose behind Prime Minister Su.

Gu Lan gazed at the white-bearded old Prime Minister kneeling on the ground, lost in thought.

Su Zixiao’s desire to join the Dingyuan Army might indeed stem from admiring Marquis Gu, not wanting to act on behalf of the Su Family, yet Prime Minister Su certainly understood that today’s request was because he could not resist the temptation to align with the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, hoping to elevate the Su Family’s status in the court.

Prime Minister Su raised his head and said respectfully:

"To report to Your Majesty, Zixiao has said that a man should strengthen himself, only by entering the battlefield, bravely killing the enemy wrapped in horsehide can he demonstrate the true spirit of Dayan’s men. He is still young. This old minister respectfully requests Your Majesty to fulfill his patriotic intentions!"

Rong Jing slowly rotated the ring on his finger, his tone low:

"The Dingyuan Marquis has already leveled the Royal Court for me, the Snowfield is now the territory of Dayan, and Marquis Zhongcheng is already a subject of Dayan, there is no longer a need to expel the Qiangrong."

However, Prime Minister Su looked at Rong Jing, his murky eyes bursting with sharpness, his voice, though aged, was very determined:

"This old minister believes that although the Snowfield has Marquis Zhongcheng’s presence, the alien clans have ambitions of wolves, we must remain vigilant. Sending Zixiao into the army is also, after all, a bit of a training for him."

Rong Jing’s fingertips had already penetrated his own flesh.

He couldn’t help but shift his gaze to Marquis Gu who was still dozing.

Since Yan Country’s founding, countless descendants of the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion have died in battle. The former Marquis had also lived his life as a loyal minister, dying fighting for Yan Country.

And now, whether Gu Chengzhao was arrogant or disregarding authority, the ancestral teaching of the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion has always been to coexist with Yan Country.

Though Rong Jing hated Gu Chengzhao’s disdain for the Emperor’s majesty, he did not worry he would deceive the sovereign and rebel.

Just like,

He never thought,

The Pingnan Marquis Mansion would rebel...

But the Su Family is not the Gu Family; the older Su Wenzhong gets, the greedier he becomes.

Old yet not dying, is to be a thief also.

Rong Jing’s eyes flashed a hint of killing intent.

As Prime Minister Su spoke, the Crown Prince also hurriedly knelt down, saying:

"Father, cousin Zixiao is skilled in martial arts, valiant and extraordinary. Your son believes he has great talent as a general, joining the Dingyuan Army would be beneficial."

Su Wenzhong twitched the corners of his mouth, secretly calling him foolish.

This matter was between the Su Family and the Emperor; the Crown Prince speaking for the Su Family was akin to telling the Emperor that he stood on the side of external family ties?

As expected, Rong Jing became even angrier.

He stared at the Crown Prince who looked very respectful kneeling on the ground, his heart pounding faster with fury.

Rong Miaoyan, however, lowered her brows and eyes, kneeling, said: "I think it’s inappropriate; cousin is the legitimate grandson of the Prime Minister. On the battlefield, blades have no eyes, if he were to be harmed, it would be a loss for Dayan. How can we let him take such a risk?"

Rong Jing managed to calm his anger a bit, Miaoyan was also a granddaughter of the Su Family, yet she understood his mind.

Su Wenzhong, hearing this, looked at Miaoyan with surprise, and a hint of irritation flashed in his eyes.

This granddaughter, just like Su Zhixue, couldn’t be relied upon at all.

Rong Jing closed his eyes, opened them after a moment, and said loudly: "Dingyuan Marquis!"

Marquis Gu was sleeping soundly, still snoring.

"Dingyuan Marquis!" he called again.

Beside him, Gu Chengye awkwardly nudged his elder brother’s arm.

"Who, who started the meal?"

Gu Chengzhao wiped his chin, suddenly stood upright, looking around bewilderedly.