Jiu?
Isn't that the subordinate of the novel's male lead.
I didn't expect the person who followed me all the way was the main character—Rong Heng.
Isn't this a coincidence.
She actually found it interesting to praise Rong Heng for being exceptionally talented, yet cursed him for doing the sordid thing of tailing her, and even wanted to pin him down and give him a beating...
With the male lead's character in the original book, known for taking revenge for the slightest grievances, Gu Lan could already imagine Rong Heng sticking pins into a doll with her birth date within ten seconds.
Fortunately, the current Rong Heng was just a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy, and there was still a chance to make amends.
Gu Lan hurriedly called out to Rong Heng, and said loudly, "It was I who judged a gentleman with a petty heart! It must be that this gentleman was worried about the safety of myself and the young prince, so he protected us all the way. I am truly grateful!"
Rong Heng's steps halted, and he frowned, feeling that the young man before him was a bit confused.
Just now, he was calling him despicable, and now he's changed his tune.
However, what Gu Lan said was coincidentally accurate; he did indeed follow in secret for fear of any harm to Rong Yunhao.
"I wasn't worried about your safety," Rong Heng coldly replied.
"It's all the same, all the same," Gu Lan sighed in relief.
Rong Heng glanced at the bright smile on Gu Lan's face, pursed his lips, and said in a calm, watery voice, "I heard Young Master Gu fell into the water recently. It seems you are now fine."
Gu Lan immediately replied, "I am no longer in any serious condition, thank you for your concern!"
After just a few words, the appellation changed from "gentleman" to "brother."
Rong Heng thought to himself, no wonder he's one of Rong Qijun's sly companions, as slick as him.
Beside him, the follower Jiu, with an adorable bun-like face, seeing Rong Heng stop, voiced his question, "Doesn't Young Master Gu dislike the Princely Heir of Prince Rui? Why did he save him in the street today?"
Gu Lan: "I saved him on a whim, it had nothing to do with whether he is the Princely Heir."
Rong Heng's expression did not change; his limpid eyes were unruffled as he stared at Gu Lan with an unreadable gaze.
Truly, as the book described him, even in his youth, he was profoundly deep and wise beyond measure. His eyes, with their faint, eerie glow, were sharp and inscrutable, like a hawk that could see through one's heart.
Gu Lan let him scrutinize as she flashed her neat, small white teeth, an innocent smile.
Meanwhile, she also kept her gaze on Rong Heng.
The youth was handsome, yet his exceptionally beautiful face appeared somewhat pale. Gu Lan twitched her nose and slightly raised an eyebrow.
Young Master Gu may not excel in much, but his nose is sharp; from his past mission experience, he's quite adept at discerning various scents in the air.
This Rong Heng must have been injured in the Imperial Prison; otherwise, why would there be a faint medicinal smell on him?
Rong Heng said with faint meaning, "Let's go now, it won't be long before we meet this Young Master Gu again."
Jiu nodded thoughtfully.
Gu Lan's eyes were bright, "No matter what, thank you, brother, for your covert help. I owe you one."
Rong Heng turned and left, "No need."
Gu Lan, as if not hearing the refusal, continued asking, "What's your name, brother, so I can remember?"
"You already know, don't you," Rong Heng's eyes were cold and deep.
Gu Lan was suddenly startled, raising the male lead's intelligence in her mind another notch. From afar, Zipei returned from buying pastries. She gave a slight bow before meeting him, her clear voice trailing off in the distance, "Kind brother, until we meet again."
Rong Heng was left speechless upon hearing this label.
Jiu watched the slender, graceful back of Young Master Gu and asked, "How did you know he figured out our identities?"
Rong Heng's lips curled slightly, almost imperceptibly, "I feigned it, and he admitted it himself."
This is called using the opponent's method against them.
At this point, distant hoofbeats echoed as Rong Heng and Jiu circled to a corner of the Prince Rui Mansion gate, gazing at the majestic, solemn mansion.
The prince's mansion gates opened, and young servants lined up on both sides to welcome their prince.
Princess Rui was dressed in formal attire, accompanied by the young prince Rong Yunhao and County Princess Changle Rong Baoyi, followed by the steward and two concubines from the mansion.
Prince Rui Rong Shuo and two Mystic Armor soldiers galloped in, appearing at the end of the broad street.
Until they reached Princess Consort, the horses abruptly halted, and Rong Shuo dismounted, disregarding the various gazes around, wrapped his princess consort in an embrace.
"Furong, you've suffered," Prince Rui said in a low voice.
The Princess Consort smiled, but tears rolled down her eyes, "Not at all, my husband's battle for the country is the real hardship. Now that my husband is back safe and sound, I am content."
Rong Shuo held the princess consort tighter, "Everyone cares about this King's battle status, but only you care about this King's safety."
"Father is so embarrassing, won't let go of mother!"
The young prince shouted loudly, bringing Rong Shuo back to his senses.
Then he noticed his daughter and young son, and despite Prince Rui's usual thick skin, he felt a tinge of heat on his face while being watched by his children.
Rong Shuo bent down and hoisted Rong Yunhao onto his shoulder, "I remember when I last left the capital, Hao'er just learned to call me father, but now, in the blink of an eye, he can sneak out to find me."
The Princess Consort glared back at Rong Yunhao, "I knew you sneaked out."
Rong Yunhao blushed and then mustered the courage to ask, "Since Father heard Hao'er calling you, why didn't you respond?"
Rong Shuo's eyes darkened, and he didn't answer. He then leaned over and patted his daughter's head, "Baoyi has grown a lot, almost finding a suitable husband."
Rong Baoyi, trying to maintain her composure, turned scarlet and buried her face in Rong Shuo's broad, warm palm.
Rong Shuo was taken aback, feeling a surge of warmth in his palm.
Suppressing his sorrow, he wrapped his arm around the Princess Consort and entered the prince's mansion together.
Just before entering, Rong Shuo paused briefly, his gaze falling into the empty space behind him, lingering for a moment before turning back.
He seemed to feel the presence of Wu... An illusion perhaps; Wu was in the Imperial Court, and without the Emperor's permission, how could he leave the palace.
Not until the doors of the Prince Rui Mansion were completely closed did Jiu whisper, "Master, the Rui Family is safe, you can rest easy... enter the game."
He knew that although the master was cool-tempered, he cared deeply for his elder brother, the Prince Rui. Otherwise, he would not have risked leaving the palace while injured in such a critical time.
Now seeing that Prince Rui is fine, the master can also be relieved....
Rong Heng blinked his heated eyes, withdrew his gaze, and quietly said.
"Return to the palace."
——
In the evening, Gu Lan and Zipei just returned to the Marquis Mansion.
"This is the flaky pastry for Zijin."
"This is the Osmanthus cake for Zijin."
"This is the almond crisp for Zijin."
To placate the "lonely" Zijin, Gu Lan presented all the big and small packages in Zipei's hands before her.
Zipei, touched, asked, "Master, since you bought everything in duplicate, one set for Zijin, is the other for me?"
Gu Lan: "The other set is for me."
Zipei: "..."