I became the God Brother of the Regent King after Transmigration!-Chapter 279 - 205: Each One’s Choice (Part 2)

An unexpected Prince led a loyal Great General to decide to change the person on the throne.

After Yuan Lu finished speaking with Rong Jing about everything he knew, the atmosphere in Qianyuan Hall turned as cold as an ice cave in an instant.

"Four months," Rong Jing said in a deep voice, "In your opinion, in four months, when that Prince is born, Wei Junzhuo will launch a surprise attack on the Southern Border of Dayan."

"Indeed, Your Majesty, I dare not deceive you," Yuan Lu said with a dry mouth and a heart full of fear.

"But you don’t know which city Wei Junzhuo will attack or from where the Wei Army will come — is it Cang Wind Port, or Jiang City? Prince Kang, do you want me to prepare provisions for a war, or do you want me to be in a state of constant alarm?"

Rong Jing asked coldly, his long narrow eyes flashing with intense murderous intent.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me, I truly know only this!"

Yuan Lu was still kneeling, his breathing now a bit hurried, with his forehead bleeding from kowtowing, maintaining a fawning demeanor, devoid of the demeanor he once had as an envoy.

"Enough, you useless man," Rong Jing said with furrowed brows, "Zhang Fengcai, go, summon the Crown Prince of Wei for me."

Yuan Lu was taken aback and quickly asked, "Your Majesty, what do you intend?"

Looking at Yuan Lu’s bleeding forehead, Rong Jing’s eyes, like peach blossoms, revealed his disgust: "I am finding you a companion."

Zhang Fengcai hurried back and forth, and after a short while, came back panting to report, "Your Majesty, I personally went to the South Hall just now... the Crown Prince of Wei bribed the two eunuchs guarding him at 5 a.m. today and has already left the palace!"

Rong Jing’s eyes narrowed.

Zhang Fengcai immediately kneeled on the ground: "Those two servants have been captured and put in the Imperial Prison; it was my oversight, I deserve death, please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Rong Jing’s eyes showed no sorrow or joy, and he asked lightly, "He escaped? Where could he possibly go?"

Also kneeling on the ground, Yuan Lu breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing the news of Yuan Lang’s disappearance.

After what happened yesterday, he really did not want to see that Crown Prince nephew anymore. He had already betrayed the country, and Yuan Lang’s role was essentially the same as his; if he were around, there would be no place for him in Yan Country in the future.

Zhang Fengcai immediately said, "The Crown Prince of Wei cannot have gotten far; I will dispatch the Inner Supervision to pursue him with all efforts—"

Rong Jing waved his hand, his voice lowered a few notches:

"No need."

"This..." Zhang Fengcai raised his head, puzzled as he looked at Rong Jing.

Rong Jing slightly narrowed his eyes, deep and obscure, revealing no emotion.

"Prince Kang knows what will happen to you and the Crown Prince of Wei if you return."

Yuan Lu trembled and said, "Wei... Wei Junzhuo will kill me or kill Yuan Lang as a sacrifice."

It was this realization that led him to pledge loyalty to Yan Country.

"He knows that too," Rong Jing said blandly.

"Yet he still went back."

Zhang Fengcai paused, then realized, "The Crown Prince of Wei knows about this...?"

Rong Jing replied, "Issue my decree that if any traces of the Crown Prince of Wei are found in the cities, let him pass quietly."

"As you command."

Rong Jing stood up and walked out of Qianyuan Hall.

The midday sun was bright but not harsh, falling on him warmly.

The black court attire was embroidered with a golden dragon in gold thread, casting a dark shadow behind him.

Rong Jing lifted his head, squinting slightly at the sun:

"I remember, he’s called... Huizhi.

You people of Wei, not all of you are spineless."

If Yuan Lang had betrayed Wei Country like Yuan Lu and pledged allegiance to him, things would have turned boring instead.

He admired people with backbone, just like Rong Heng, Su Zhixue, and this Yuan Huizhi once did.

He only hoped that he wouldn’t die too quickly.

Yuan Lu was startled hearing Rong Jing mutter the words "Huizhi," which was Yuan Lang’s courtesy name, known only to a few and rarely used even when known; how did the Emperor of Yan remember?

He touched the forehead he had bruised from kowtowing, not daring to say more.

The day before, Yuan Lang had knelt and kowtowed before Gu Lan, pleading for her to save his mother.

Today, Prince Kang of Wei was kneeling and kowtowing before the Emperor of Yan to save his own life.

The next morning at court, Rong Jing told the civil and military officials everything Yuan Lu had said.

At the same time, Rong Jing announced to the world, in the name of the Crown Prince of Wei, that the General of Wei was holding the Wei Emperor hostage with the intention of rebellion, and said Yan Country was willing to help Wei Country quell the internal unrest and support the Yuan Family’s Imperial Family.

Although Yuan Lang had left, Yan Country could still use his identity to make a statement.

Moreover, with Prince Kang himself explaining, it added to the credibility, placing the enemy in a morally unjust position, which is a basic principle of foreign warfare.

Gu Lan looked at the Emperor sitting on the throne; she too only learned today that Yuan Lang had escaped.

Yesterday, when Uncle Li went to gather information, he mentioned that several of Yuan Lang’s subordinates had contacted him. Right now is the time when manpower is needed, and those people can also be utilized.

Yuan Lang actually knew that returning to Wei Country would most likely result in being eliminated by Wei Junzhuo, with the blame placed on Yan Country. Staying in Yan Country was, in fact, safer.

Yet he still left. He would rather die than not return to his homeland.

At this moment, an urgent report came from Cang Wind Port at the Southern Border.

A weary border soldier from the Southern Border, with a hoarse voice, said in the court:

"Lu Jian, a fierce general under the command of the General of Wei, led thirty thousand navy soldiers of Wei Country. Half a month ago, they were hovering outside Cang Wind Port. The port guards tried to disperse them, but Prince Rui suspects that Wei Junzhuo intends to start a rebellion!"

The urgent report brought back by the border soldier coincides with what Yuan Lu had explained.

Lu Jian is a major general under Wei Junzhuo, and the only force Wei Country can boast of is its naval strength.

Rong Jing said in a low voice, "Cang Wind Port is a crucial port at the Southern Border and borders Qi Country. There must be no mishaps. Wei Country wants to launch a surprise attack, but now that I am aware, I will not let them succeed.

In that case, immediately send a message to Prince Rui, instructing him to bolster the defense of all cities at the Southern Border and to guard against a surprise attack by Wei Country. At the same time, ensure the safety of Cang Wind Port."

Gu Lan heard Rong Jing’s words and frowned slightly.

She knew that Rong Jing’s decision was not wrong. Since Wei Country hasn’t made a move yet, all he could do was have Prince Rui reinforce all defenses and keep an eye on Lu Jian’s navy outside Cang Wind Port.

Cang Wind Port is a naval port with fortified towns and stationed troops, situated closest to Wei Country and serving as a trading hub between Yan Country and the small nation of Qi Country.

In terms of terrain, Cang Wind Port is easy to attack but hard to defend.

The Wei navy is formidable, and if Wei Junzhuo wants to defeat Rong Shuo, starting from here is the best option.

In the original book, it only mentioned that Prince Rui died in battle at Yinzhou.

Yinzhou is the center of the Southern Border and the location where Prince Rui is stationed. With the strongest military presence, it’s undoubtedly the hardest to conquer.

So, it’s very likely that the war spread from Cang Wind Port, with Wei Junzhuo gradually nibbling away at the Northern Territory, eventually turning Yinzhou into an isolated city, hence defeating Prince Rui.

However, Gu Lan felt that things wouldn’t be that simple.

Even if Wei Country initially caught them off guard, this is Rong Shuo we’re talking about. It’s possible for Wei Country to launch a surprise attack leading to Rong Shuo’s defeat once, causing the loss of Cang Wind Port. But how could he just sit at Yinzhou and watch the entire Southern Border fall?

Unless...

As soon as the court session ended, Gu Lan saw Rong Heng, whom she least wanted to see.

He stood in the path that all officials must take, dressed in a dark blue informal robe, his figure as straight as a pine, with deep and sharp black eyes.

Due to her special status, Gu Lan actually didn’t need to participate in this morning’s court session.

But between going to the Imperial Family school and attending the morning court, Gu Lan chose the latter.

Because Rong Heng was most likely not attending the court, she wanted to avoid him.

She didn’t expect Brother Hang to be waiting for her at the entrance.

"Good morning, Brother Hang," Gu Lan greeted, pretending not to see him as she walked ahead, coming up beside Gu Changting. "Gu Changting, wait for me."

Rong Heng stepped forward, his clear voice echoing in her ear, "Gu Lan, you’ve been avoiding me for two days."

Gu Lan: "Only two days?"

Rong Heng slowly said, "A day apart feels like three autumns."

Gu Lan frowned, feeling as if she’d gone deaf, "...Where did you come up with such a corny line?"

Just as Rong Heng was about to utter "booklet," Gu Lan was whisked away by Gu Changting.

"Little Lan, my mother specifically asked me yesterday to have you get the new snacks from her after court. She said they’re plum-flavored, and you’re bound to like them," Gu Changting said with a chuckle.

Gu Lan nodded like a chick pecking rice, "I like, I really like them."

She had never been so thankful for Gu Changting’s perceptiveness.

The next moment, Gu Changting placed her back in front of Rong Heng. "You two talk first, and come with me after." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Gu Lan: "..." Indeed, she shouldn’t have had any expectations for Gu Changting.

Gu Lan grabbed Gu Changting’s hand and quickly vanished from Rong Heng’s sight. As she left, she avoided Rong Heng’s deep, ink-like eyes and spoke seriously:

"Brother Hang, I think we both need some time apart to calm down and reconsider... whether to remain siblings."

Rong Heng watched her back, clenching his fist tightly.

She didn’t even want to be siblings with him anymore?

In the deep night, Dingyuan Marquis Mansion was very quiet.

During the day, Gu Lan had gone to see Rong Baoyi, asking her about Prince Rui’s combat habits.

Baoyi had also heard about the unrest caused by the Wei people at the Southern Border. Gu Lan comforted her for a long time before making her believe that Wei Junzhuo’s plot had been disclosed by Yuan Lu, ensuring that Prince Rui would be fine.

After reassuring Rong Baoyi, she went to Fuan Street to buy two jars of sugar and a bolt of cloth.

Having done all this, Gu Lan returned to her room, carefully wrapped the plum-flavored pastries that Mrs. Wang had made today in oilpaper, and placed the package into her canvas backpack.