Chapter 521: Chapter 352: Rong Heng Belongs Only to Gu Lan (3)

"I was... just a child back then." Rong Heng continued to eat another piece of rose pastry with a grievance, the snacks made by Mrs. Wang were so delicious that without them these past two months, heaven knows how he managed to endure it.

Gu Lan released the carrier pigeon carrying the message to Gu Chengzhao, watching as the pigeon disappeared into the night, she softly said:

"Now my father will be relieved, but the recent events in the Capital City will not be hidden from those Qiangrong tribes on the Snowfield, and they might be getting restless at Dingbei Pass again. He and Duoji still need to remain vigilant, so he won’t be able to come back this New Year."

Tomorrow night is New Year’s Eve, or rather it’s already considered New Year’s Eve in a short while. Marquis Gu can only guard the Northern Territory alone, with bitterness.

The scene from last year’s New Year’s Eve is still vivid, Gu Lan remembers, Rong Heng and herself had hotpot at Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, then visited Nian Xia at Magpie Workshop, and finally they walked a long, long way together.

And today, a year later, he is still by her side.

How nice.

Rong Heng’s cheeks were puffed, upon hearing her, he raised his head: "There’s no need to worry about the Southern Border, with Qingzhou... and Yuan there, Wei Junzhuo still needs time to digest the half of Qi Country he has won. Once he sends an envoy and signs the alliance with us, then the Southern Border will be completely stabilized."

Gu Lan rolled her eyes at him and quietly complained: "I asked you to take Yuan to find his brother, and instead, you sold him to Wei Junzhuo."

Rong Heng confidently retorted: "Their brothers reunite, and Yan and Wei turn hostility into friendship. This is simply a win-win-win situation."

Gu Lan whispered: "Only the world where Qi Country is wounded."

Yan Country and Wei Country turned hostility into friendship, but this is based on the premise of Qi Country being extinct.

Rong Heng bent his brows slightly, wiped the crumbs of pastries from his fingertips with a handkerchief, and draped a cloak over Gu Lan: "The night is deep, Lanlan, let’s go to sleep."

Gu Lan instinctively tied the cloak’s strings, glanced back with a smile, and countered: "Then why did you cover me with clothes?"

The smile on the girl’s lips was subtle, and her clear eyes seemed to flow with two boats of Milky Way, bright and pure.

Rong Heng’s ears suddenly turned red, bowing down with regret but amazed by the sight of the woman whose red lips curled up, he couldn’t bear to look away.

The Young Master Gu had already replaced her dress, wearing a long garment with cloud patterns embroidered in scarlet, her smile made her lips red and teeth white, causing Rong Heng’s heartbeat to slow half a beat.

"It’s better to wear men’s clothes in the future..." Rong Heng muttered to himself.

"Is that so, meaning women’s clothes are not pretty?" She heard his words and gently asked.

Before Rong Heng could refute, Gu Lan snuggled into his arms, her hand forcefully pulled his collar, pushing him to a height lower than herself, and etched his lips in a declarative gesture.

The moon gradually hid behind the clouds, revealing a faint stream of clear brilliance.

Rong Heng heard Gu Lan’s heart pounding, her embrace was scorching, her red lips incredibly soft and burning hotly through to his heart.

The world fell into silence at this moment; she was his sun. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Beautiful."

Rong Heng sincerely responded, cautiously returning the kiss.

"So beautiful I want to possess it, not let anyone look at my sun."

Gu Lan opened her eyes, gazing at his long lashes trembling slightly, even with closed eyes, she could feel his sincerity and nervousness.

Only after tasting the osmanthus cake, rose pastry, and plum-scented cookies from Rong Heng’s mouth did Gu Lan feel satisfied.

She lay on the rocking chair she moved to the backyard last night, stretching lazily, the corners of her lips bearing a smile.

"We’ve done with serious matters; we should talk about something non-serious now," Gu Lan lazily spoke, "My Brother Zichan, do you want to be Emperor?"

Rong Heng’s face reddened from his ears to his neck, hoarsely asking: "...This is, non-serious?"

A faint hue of blush rose in the corner of the boy’s eyes, starlight seemed to flicker in his pupils.

Gu Lan blinked, forcing herself to look away, gently said: "That depends on how you think."

Rong Heng gazed at her, those past memories fluttering before him, only Gu Lan’s face and figure were vividly clear.

Besides her, be it hatred or grievances, none are important anymore.

He said: "I’ve already promised to dedicate myself to Young Master, naturally, henceforth, my existence only belongs to Gu Lan alone."

He didn’t fancy becoming the Emperor of Dayan; his heart was little, only able to hold a single person, and only wished to be Gu Lan’s... husband.

Rong Heng felt embarrassed to say such things, but he knew Gu Lan could understand his feelings.

Gu Lan suppressed the throbbing in her heart, saying: "Since you put it that way, then I won’t hold back."

Rong Heng’s expression changed, his little mouth chattering: "You want to be Emperor? Do you want to have a harem and find a hundred and eight women to serve you?"

The Pingnan Army and Dingyuan Army will arrive in the Capital City tomorrow, then it will be the real soldiers surrounding the city, and Rong Jing has already lost public support, ministers have turned against him, leaving only the imperial guard protecting that Imperial Palace.

Regardless of how things turn out, the position of Emperor of Dayan will inevitably be transferred to another.

With Marquis Gu safeguarding the borders, given Gu Lan’s esteem, if they were to revolt and let her be a female Emperor, it might not be impossible.

Gu Lan quickly shook her head, denying three times: "...I’m not; I don’t have none of that nonsense, I am the first devoted girl of Dayan, how could I possibly be an Emperor with a harem of beauties, my heart only has one Brother Hang."

Rong Heng gritted his teeth, showing a ’see-through everything’ expression: "Gu Lan, that’s what you’re really thinking!"

The Young Master Gu innocently covered her mouth.

Rong Heng looked at her and sighed.

The first devoted girl in Dayan? What kind of title did she give herself now? She used to be "Dayan’s first tough guy," "Dayan’s first dandy," "Dayan’s first gentleman" ...all her past deeds have made him lose trust!

"I meant, I won’t hold back to help my niece!" Gu Lan took a deep breath, helplessly explaining.

"The niece who is that woman —" Rong Heng was stunned for a moment, then suddenly understood, everything connected in his mind.

Gu Lan nominally has two nieces, one is Rong Baoyi, the other is Rong Miaoyan.

Baoyi has no interest in that position, she only likes leading troops into battle, if there is no warfare, she is content to store away her sword and spear, let her horse rest in the southern mountains, and be a city guard waiting for the day to end.

And Rong Miaoyan...

Indeed an unexpected yet reasonable choice.

The Crown Prince was deposed, sent to Lu State, the Second Prince still confined at home without a deadline, yet Rong Miaoyan remains unharmed, she serves as the Wind Discipline Officer in the Ministry of Personnel, holding substantial power, and the courtiers have great respect for her.

Among other Imperial Family members, there are only the Minister of Rites, Yan Qing, Rong Yunhao, and the actually-not-dead living peacefully Rong Shuo, none of whom seems suitable.

Furthermore, Rong Qichun and Rong Qijun brothers are sons of Rong Jing, meaning they don’t carry royal blood; no matter what, he wouldn’t allow either to take the throne even if it meant crowning Rong Yunhao or pulling any citizen to ascend.

But Rong Miaoyan, she’s the daughter of the Third Imperial Brother.

"Apart from her gender, she has no issues sitting on that position," Rong Heng said, "it’s just that some won’t rest easy."

"Coos, coos!"

A carrier pigeon flew to Gu Lan.

Gu Lan untied the note from the pigeon’s leg, and after reading it, sneered:

"As expected, there are already those who can’t sit still..."