The rescue of the Marquis Mansion was a collaboration between the Crow Building and the Dark Hall, along with the household soldiers of the Marquis Mansion. Naturally, it was not just to save the Old Madam alone.

Now, dozens of people from the Marquis Mansion, from Old Madam Gu, Zhou Wanqing to Mrs. Wang, Gu Changting and Gu Chengye, as well as the maids Zijin and Zipei, and even the gatekeeper Zeng Dajing, are all hiding in the Prince Mansion.

Fortunately, the Prince Mansion is not smaller than the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion and can accommodate all these people.

The family of Mrs. Wang received the news in advance and discreetly closed their residence. The Zhou Family’s shop in the Capital City also shut down, and Princess Consort Yi in the Imperial Palace feigned illness and stayed in her chambers, acting extremely low-key.

"It’s just a pity we couldn’t rescue Princess Consort Yi, and although those household soldiers scattered and returned home, they might still be implicated," Gu Lan murmured softly.

The Second Young Master Gu stroked his newly grown beard and reassured her calmly, "The disaster will not affect the family. No matter how the Emperor punishes the Gu Family, he won’t drag innocent people into it, Lan. You need not blame yourself."

Gu Changting, dusting flour off his nose, stammered, "Yes, Lan, little sister Lan, in such an urgent situation, you’ve already done your best. It’s just, just... Brother has a favor to ask."

As he spoke, his face blushed first.

Gu Lan asked, "What is it?"

"When will you wear, wear a dress..." Gu Changting’s words stumbled, but his eyes shone brightly as he gazed intently at Gu Lan, "My sister is surely the most beautiful sister in the world!"

Gu Lan paused slightly without answering his question, instead lowering her head and counting on her fingers.

She planned to give Brother Heng a surprise.

Hiding in the Prince Mansion was just a temporary measure. Given the current search operation in the Capital City, it would only take two or three days for any irregularities here to be discovered.

Gu Lan initially thought that since Rong Jing knew Rong Heng would return to the Capital within five days, he definitely couldn’t focus on searching for her within that time. By then, she only needed to injure Rong Jing, and naturally, they could move to another place, and Lin He could rescue her during the transfer.

However, unexpectedly, Rong Jing came to see her on the first day of the five days, and due to his words, her original probe turned into uncontrollable hatred, leading to her stabbing Rong Jing and leaving the palace... while Rong Heng was still on his way back.

The Gu Family has now completely fallen out with Rong Jing. Once Rong Jing discovers their whereabouts, he will definitely dispatch the imperial guard to besiege them under the charge of treason. Thus, Gu Lan must meet with Rong Heng and the army he brings back to the Capital before Rong Jing goes mad.

At dusk, Gu Lan ate the fried chicken made by Mrs. Wang, silently casting aside all her worries.

While Rong Heng was still on his way back, she couldn’t possibly lead so many people out of the Capital. So for now, this would do.

There’s nothing a meal of fried chicken can’t solve,

If there is,

then have a hot pot meal.

If worries persist, it’s definitely because the fried chicken wasn’t made with Second Aunt’s secret recipe.

Gu Lan dipped her seasoning powder, momentarily returning to the carefree life of Young Master Gu.

Just as she happily gnawed on a chicken wing, with a muffled thud, a person covered in blood fell from the wall, rolling to her feet.

Lin He was still wearing the red eunuch robe from the palace, saying only, "Rong Jing woke up, and I was exposed," before fainting.

"He woke up quite fast. Why didn’t I stab him to death then?"

Gu Lan glanced at Lin He and, seeing that he had only fainted from running too fast and was covered with self-inflicted wounds to gain Rong Jing’s trust, she felt relieved and continued to eat her fried chicken without changing her expression.

"I told you that going back this time would definitely arouse Rong Jing’s suspicion. I told you not to go back, but you didn’t listen and even wanted me to set up Zhang Fengcai’s corpse," Gu Lan crunched on her chicken, looking up at the sky with a lazily indifferent tone, "And yet you went back just to return within half a day. It’s not even night yet, and you’ve stabbed yourself twice in vain."

Lin He’s body twitched on the ground.

As the evening approached, the people in the Marquis Mansion had already fallen asleep. Gu Lan settled Lin He, who woke up once during the process, into an empty room to recover. Upon learning that Miaoyan had instructed him to leave the Imperial Palace quickly, she said no more.

She sat alone in the backyard, draped in a white fur cloak with a fluffy collar, holding a delicate hand warmer that emitted a warm heat.

Gu Lan looked up, gazing at the moon in the sky, with an orange-flavored candy tin by her side.

The moonlight, like water, hung on the sycamore tree tips, gently spreading its brilliance over the world.

"In a couple of days, it’s going to be New Year’s Eve. Luckily, I came back and can reunite with my grandmother and mother. It’s just that Brother Heng may not make it back in time for the festival," Gu Lan remarked wistfully.