I became the God Brother of the Regent King after Transmigration!-Chapter 362 - 280: Farewell

On the plate, there was a goose, perfectly cooked in every aspect—appearance, aroma, and taste.

"Did you really finish seeing your mother that quickly?"

Gu Lan finished exclaiming and noticed the goose was tied with bamboo strips, on which the words "Treasure Goose House" were engraved.

Rong Heng naturally saw it too. He frowned, expressing his dissatisfaction: "You bought this goose? I want to eat the authentic roast goose from Mu City."

He had originally said this casually, but now the more he talked about it, the more he wanted to eat it.

Su Zixiao snorted: "Just looking at you all makes me angry, making a goose, why don’t you all just dream."

Gu Lan said, "Yet you still bought it."

Su Zixiao stood up irritably: "Eat it if you love it, if not, get lost."

The group immediately started eating, unable to refuse a meal.

After Rong Heng finished eating, he told Gu Lan he had to visit his master Du Changning next door. Today Consort Jia was to be returned to Prince Rui’s Mansion, and he was going to help out.

Rong Heng casually asked: "Gu Lan, do you want to come with me... to see my master and also Zhang Ruoshui?"

Gu Lan hastily shook her head: "No, my mother is calling me home. It’s almost my grandmother’s birthday, I need to see how to prepare for it."

How could she go see Du Changning? That was the former Ghost Doctor. If he noticed anything suspicious, how could she continue to maintain her little secret identity?

Rong Heng thought, Lanlan still isn’t willing to meet his elders with him, maybe it’s because he hasn’t made her particularly fond of him yet.

"Alright, then I’m off."

The property Miaoyan acquired just happened to be next to the Zhang family’s residence.

At this moment, Zhang Mansion housed Consort Jia, the Ghost Doctor Du Changning, and the old eunuch Zhang Ruoshui, who had served the former Emperor... Two old men and one old lady, with the oldest, Du Changning, taking care of the other two patients.

Today, the Su family’s affair was finally settled. The Emperor had ordered Consort Jia, who had been "recuperating quietly in the palace," to be sent back to Prince Rui’s Mansion, stating she had suddenly fallen seriously ill and didn’t have much time left. He instructed the Princess Consort to prepare for Consort Jia’s funeral.

In reality, Consort Jia had long been given a short time to live. Rong Jing had Zhang Fengcai keep her alive until now, but with Prince Rui dead and the Empress Dowager who wants to torment Consort Jia about to leave the palace, it no longer mattered if Consort Jia lived or died. So, after confirming that Consort Jia was beyond saving, Rong Jing mercifully returned her to Prince Rui’s Mansion.

Since his return to the capital, Prince Rui had been hiding in his own mansion disguised as a guard. Only in the dead of night could he sneak into Zhang Mansion to accompany the tormented Consort Jia.

Now, mother and son were finally reunited... but they didn’t know how long they would have.

Gu Lan remembered Rong Heng once said that Consort Jia wouldn’t survive this summer.

A few days later was the day for the Empress Dowager Su to leave the palace.

In the bright and sunny weather, Gu Lan was basking in the afternoon sun at the Imperial Palace gate riding Xiao Hong, lazily waiting.

She was dressed in light white clothes, her posture proud and aloof, her expression lively, a treasure sword hung at her waist, while she twirled an invaluable Xiu jade folding fan in her hand, the very picture of a free and easy nobleman.

Beside her stood Rong Miaoyan and a group of dozens of imperial guards.

Miaoyan, not very skilled at riding, sat on a little white horse, her gaze fixed ahead, but occasionally sneaking glances at Gu Lan, her eyes sparkling, her delicate fingers involuntarily clasping the reins, her heart pounding wildly.

Gu Lan was simply too handsome; no wonder she liked him! Among peers of the same age, none could compare to him. As a princess of Dayan, she naturally had to favor the best.

If only Qin Zhenghu looked better, she didn’t even know where he was now or if he had gotten tanned again. If he continued to be ugly, she wouldn’t think of him anymore!

"Gu Lan, your horse is really beautiful, what’s its name?" Miaoyan asked curiously, her gaze falling on the chestnut horse Gu Lan was riding.

Gu Lan glanced at his Xiao Hong, reading from its watery big eyes that it was eager to tell Miaoyan itself.

"Xiao Hong."

Xiao Hong took a sharp breath and instantly lowered its head, its ears drooping as if it was too embarrassed to face anyone.

Gu Lan quietly chided, "Hey, you are a horse, not a dog, don’t act like one."

Rong Miaoyan suppressed her laughter: "...really a fresh and unique name, so well matched with Mu Xue."

Gu Lan said, "Xiao Hong is a mare."

Rong Miaoyan patted her little white horse: "Well, they can still be friends..."

The time for the Empress Dowager to leave the palace had come, yet nothing stirred at the palace gate. Gu Lan frowned and asked, "Miaoyan, what kind of place is Qingliang Temple?"

Today Miaoyan was not wearing her official dress. Instead, she donned a red robe, mixed with golden light and clouds, with a skirt embroidered with gracefully dancing phoenixes, making her even more stunning; only the little tear mole at her eye’s corner added a delicate and charming youthfulness.

The sight of this red-clad, white-horse beauty left the imperial guards behind Gu Lan gaping in awe.

Looking at Rong Miaoyan, a thought suddenly formed in Gu Lan’s mind.

Once it appeared, she couldn’t suppress it, but for now, she could only hold it inside.

"Qingliang Temple is atop a mountain in Lu State, a famous temple in Dayan. However, the journey there is far and difficult. I’m not sure if the Empress Dowager could endure it. Even if she could, once she reaches Qingliang Temple, she’d be fated never to return." Rong Miaoyan, noticing Gu Lan’s gaze, spoke, her face reddening.

Gu Lan squinted her eyes: "Then why did she want me to accompany her?"

Yesterday, Rong Jing’s command and the Empress Dowager’s decree were delivered simultaneously to Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, where the Empress Dowager amazingly requested for Gu Lan to escort her out of the capital, and to accompany her for twenty miles, until reaching the border between Mu City and Yan Capital.

So now, Gu Lan was waiting at the palace gate, while Miaoyan happened to meet her, here to bid farewell to the Empress Dowager on behalf of Empress Su.

Miaoyan shook her head: "The Empress Dowager’s nature is peculiar. She claimed she wanted to see what the person who brought down the Su family looked like, perhaps that’s true. Over on the imperial guard side, Su Zixiao needed to avoid suspicion, and since you’re bored in the capital, leading a team out for a stroll should be nice too."

"It’s not like she hasn’t seen me before..."

The Empress Dowager heading to Qingliang Temple was already a certainty. Why would she want to see her? Surely not to beg for mercy.

At this moment, accompanied by a wailing cry, the Empress Dowager’s Phoenix Carriage emerged from Xuanwu Gate, the curtain lifted, revealing Empress Dowager Su’s face, much more haggard than before.

Following the Phoenix Carriage were several accompanying carriages and a team of guards.

The ghostly cries came from the Crown Prince, Rong Qichun, at the side.

"Grandmother, oh Grandmother, you’re leaving, how will Chun’er live! Wuwuwu, Grandmother, when I have time, I’ll definitely visit you in Lu State, you must take care of your health, and wait for Chun’er!"

The Crown Prince trailed by the Phoenix Carriage, crying and shouting, tears and snot flying everywhere, barely shy of clutching the Empress Dowager’s leg and refusing to let go.

The Empress Dowager continuously consoled the Crown Prince, causing the Phoenix Carriage to slow down.

Turns out it was this guy’s crying that had been wasting time.

"Grandmother is leaving the palace today, Ning An is here on behalf of my mother to see you off."

Miaoyan stepped forward, but she didn’t dismount, merely cupping her hands in a gesture of respect fitting a subject.

The Empress Dowager caught her breath, glanced at Rong Miaoyan, and let out a cold laugh: "After all, a thankless little ingrate, just like Su Zhixue."

Rong Miaoyan didn’t argue, her eyes lowered, her expression indifferent, and still showed no intention of dismounting.

The Crown Prince saw this, got up angrily from the ground, wiped his tears:

"Rong Miaoyan, how can you be so heartless! In our Dayan, filial piety is paramount, and here Grandmother goes off without knowing her fate, yet you won’t even dismount. You are her real granddaughter, and you treat her with such disrespect, and your mother... she’s just sitting idly in the Buddhist Hall instead of seeing her mother off the capital, utterly ridiculous!"

Miaoyan’s eyes turned cold, and she calmly retorted: "In your heart, is the Empress truly such a person? Yet Father didn’t come to see the Empress Dowager off. Does that mean, Your Majesty is also unfilial to the Empress Dowager?"

Rong Miaoyan never liked the Crown Prince, not because he was only fostered under the Empress’s name, but because once Rong Qichun realized the Empress didn’t manage harem affairs or wield real power, he no longer treated her with respect as a mother, only putting on a show during holidays and festivals. Even when the Empress attempted suicide, the Crown Prince didn’t visit afterward.

However, Rong Qichun could flatter the Empress Dowager and Su Family in every way.

He never regarded her or her mother as family, so why should she care for him as a brother?

The Crown Prince, red-eyed from her words, unleashed his long-held hatred: "Rong Miaoyan, you wretched—"

In the next instant, a cold gleam flashed by.

The Young Master Gu’s sword lay upon the Crown Prince’s neck.

"The Crown Prince may continue."

Gu Lan held the sword handle lightly, speaking calmly.