Chapter 520: Chapter 352: Rong Heng Belongs Only to Gu Lan (2)

That was the Young Master, the most humble common people among them had once laughed and called her arrogant and hedonistic, but where was she truly arrogant? If she were truly arrogant, why would they gossip about her story in the streets and alleys?

This was a girl who had saved their lives and resisted the invasion of enemy nations, what crime could she possibly be guilty of?

Han Xuan’er’s father, Han Ande, choked up with tears streaming down, shouted loudly:

"I implore the Prince, please allow the Young Master to return to the capital and uphold the right path, to preside over the situation!"

"Bang, bang, bang—"

Behind him, the densely packed common people all knelt, their knees heavy, each one looking at the tightly closed city gate, eyes filled with tears.

"We implore the Prince to return to the capital, please allow the Young Master to return to the capital!"

The voices of countless people blended together, reverberating through the heavens and the earth like a muffled thunder, striking heavily at Gu Lan’s heart.

Even though she couldn’t see it, she could still imagine the scene inside the city at this moment.

Young Master Gu quietly reddened her eyes, catching sight of Rong Heng doing the same with her in the corner of her eye.

Yan Mo stared blankly at the civil and military officials and the entire city of people appearing at the gate, meeting the tear-filled eyes of his subordinate soldiers, his gaze landing on Yan Liang, the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Industry standing in the crowd.

He took a deep breath and personally opened the city gate, kneeling on one knee.

"Welcome Prince Xiang and Pingnan General back to the capital!"

The city gate slowly opened, the soldiers returned to the capital in neat formation, even though it was late at night, the roadsides were still filled with kneeling people.

Lu Bingxin sighed as he watched the Prince and the young General riding side by side, saying, "All of this, it was Your Majesty’s mistake."

He had once believed his loyal Emperor, both civilly and militarily capable, could overthrow the former Qiangrong Royal Court and was the most wise and valiant Emperor in the world, yet he never expected everything Rong Jing did was merely to consolidate his throne.

The border still faced crises and challenges, but at a critical moment, it was Rong Heng, whom he had once looked down upon, who stepped forward and resolved the crisis at the Southern Border...

And Gu Lan, he had once loathed Gu Lan’s rebellious arrogance, hated the Gu Family for defying imperial orders and refusing marriage, yet after learning Gu Lan was a daughter, he was left with endless admiration and shame.

A woman could accomplish so much, how much hardship must she have endured? Why should she be fixed in a gender-based stereotype, who has the right to criticize her demeanor and actions, and who is worthy to judge her? Born to break through the prejudices in people’s minds.

Fortunately, the Gu Family persisted in refusing the marriage by imperial decree, fortunately, he did not marry his daughter to Young Master Gu—

And fortunately, Dayan had Gu Lan, Gu Chengzhao, and Rong Heng, a group of people who, even when forced by the Emperor to this extent, did not rise in rebellion, still restrained themselves, protecting this land beneath their feet.

Contrast the Emperor, when had he ever truly considered the people of Dayan, if Dayan continues under such a person, it will ultimately bring disaster to the world!

Only those who care for the common people are worthy of being a monarch of the nation.

In an instant, Lu Bingxin seemed to have aged a lot.

Han Ande patted his shoulder: "Look, how well-matched the Young Master and Prince are, your daughter back then, insisting on marrying into their family, how embarrassing would it have been."

Lu Bingxin glanced at Han Xuan’er, who was looking at the Young Master almost with green light in her eyes, and snorted, "Ha! Mind your own daughter before you talk about my daughter!"

Amid the path lined with welcoming people, Rong Heng and Gu Lan finally returned to the capital.

The commotion outside the city gate was so grand that Rong Jing could not be unaware, yet that Imperial Palace remained as silent as a pool of dead water, from start to finish, without any commotion.

The night was still long, after comforting the common people, the two returned together to Prince Rui’s Mansion.

Prince Xiang wolfed down the meals made by the aunt, tears of gratitude streaming down his face.

Compared to the excitement and grief of the entire city of people and the civil and military officials, the old lady and others living in Prince Rui’s Mansion were completely unfazed, each went to bed early, leaving time and space for the young.

Rong Yunhao clung to Rong Baoyi, asking her to talk about the border affairs, listening until the young prince fell asleep, being carried back to the room by Jiu.

Rong Heng was still eating small snacks, Gu Lan succinctly told him about Su Zhixue and Rong Jue’s affairs, shocking him into choking and then drinking three large bowls of water, falling into long silence.

He finally knew the cause of the Third Imperial Brother’s death, yet he never thought Rong Miaoyan was the Third Imperial Brother’s daughter.

Thinking back now, Rong Miaoyan’s appearance indeed bore some resemblance to the Third Imperial Brother.

Rong Heng silently digested this matter, his heart very complicated.

"Your Rong Family is truly chaotic." Young Master Gu sighed.