I became the God Brother of the Regent King after Transmigration!-Chapter 310 - 232: Cousin

Breathing pulled on the pain, spreading to limbs and bones; the blood throughout the body seemed to have solidified, yet it also seemed to flow entirely to one spot.

Shiqi could no longer see Li Yuanju in front of her clearly.

He ran,

but his saber was still in her hand,

she would not let go of it.

In the entire Southern Border army, only Li Yuanju used such a Ring-Headed Saber.

When the Young Master sees the saber in her hand, he will naturally understand that Li Yuanju is the spy within the army.

This was the only obsession in Shiqi’s heart, even if it seemed ridiculous. Perhaps, Li Yuanju could say his saber was stolen by someone else, or perhaps, he could make up any reason to clear himself of suspicion...

But, Shiqi just did not want to let go.

Through blurred vision, Shiqi saw a familiar figure.

She squatted down, hugging her into her arms, with a warm osmanthus fragrance.

"Shiqi!"

"Shiqi—!"

That voice was clear and warm, as if coming from a distant horizon.

In a daze, Shiqi recalled the scene of her first seeing Gu Lan when she was a child.

The clear and elegant young boy stood under an ancient towering tree, dressed in spotless white, with dappled light and shadow falling on him, contrasting with his arched eyebrows and eyes, like clear and gentle stars, revealing a touch of shallow sorrow.

"Mianmian, this is your cousin Gu Lan, Lan, this is your uncle’s daughter, Zhou Mianmian."

"Brother Lan, you can just call me Mianmian."

The young boy looked at her calmly, raised his hand, and took off a jade hairpin from her bun, raising a slight smile: "Would you give this to me?"

"Of course." Zhou Mianmian seemed to see a thousand locust flowers blooming before her eyes.

As long as Brother Lan could smile at her, everything would be great.

...

"Mianmian, you must remember, the Zhou family depends on the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion to exist; only the Marquis Mansion can change the Zhou family’s lowly status as merchants and servants. We are like lips and teeth, both household servants and servants; you must be loyal to the Marquis Mansion for a lifetime. The Young Master is the person you must protect and your future reliance."

"Mianmian knows, Mianmian likes Brother Lan and will protect him."

"When you grow up, Father will go and ask the old madam to let the Young Master take you in; even if not as a first wife, being a concubine is also good."

"Mianmian, Father is sorry to you... Among the seven daughters of the Zhou family, only you are the most talented disciple of the martial master."

She heard her tender voice answer very firmly:

"It’s okay, Father, as long as I can help the Marquis Mansion, as long as I can protect the Young Master, being a Hidden Guard is no big deal."

"But, your status this way.... Never mind, Father promises you, when you grow up, he will surely restore your status and will surely let you marry Gu Lan."

"Alright."

"Shiqi, the Young Master sent a message to the Family Head a few days ago, saying he wants a pair of gauntlets made of refined steel. This is the request. I remember you like making those handicrafts; I wonder if you can make them."

"To make a pair of gauntlets for Brother Lan, Mian... this humble servant would be satisfied."

"Shiqi, have you heard? The Young Master is a homosexual—"

"Don’t talk nonsense, damaging the Young Master’s reputation!"

"This matter has spread from the Capital City to the Southern Border."

"Do you want one to eat?"

Her last image in her mind was Gu Lan smiling, placing preserved fruit in her palm.

The young boy’s clear and bright eyes and eyebrows were just like before.

As long as the Young Master could keep smiling, it would be good.

...

Shiqi used all her strength to open her eyes and saw Gu Lan in front of her.

"Young Master..." she whispered, as if a drowning person had grabbed the last straw.

Unexpectedly, at the end of her life, she could still see the Young Master once more.

"Don’t speak, let go of your hand, and I will stop the bleeding for you," Gu Lan said hoarsely.

She looked at Shiqi, who was still being held in her arms, still gripping that saber tightly.

Such a broad saber blade was stuck into her body just like that.

Clearly, half a two-hour period ago, she had shyly yet seriously told her to be careful, to be cautious, but now it was she who lay on the ground.

Shiqi said intermittently: "It’s... it’s Li Yuanju, he... he is the spy in the army... and, it was him, he let Jiang Di go..."

"Alright, alright, I know. I will capture him, tear him limb from limb to avenge you. Please don’t say any more."

Shiqi weakly wanted to nod but couldn’t. Finally, she let go of the knife.

"I...still need to speak. I want to tell you something, Young Master..."

She trembled at her fingertips, and Gu Lan quickly took hold of them, gritting his teeth: "I know, you are a girl."

Shiqi’s eyes widened for a moment, then she asked somewhat delightedly, "Did Brother Lan recognize me? I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to deceive you, Brother Lan. It’s just that my father said being a boy would be more helpful to you."

Gu Lan was momentarily stunned.

Shiqi suddenly smiled, a smile that was shy and gentle: "Young Master, actually, I have another name."

She realized Gu Lan did not recognize her.

But it doesn’t matter; the Young Master doesn’t have to like her; she likes him enough.

"Alright, tell me, what’s your name?"

Shiqi held her head high, blood trickling from the corners of her lips, her voice barely audible. Yet Gu Lan heard every word she spoke without missing a single one.

"My name is Zhou Mianmian, with endless affection..."

A "boom" went off in Gu Lan’s mind.

Zhou Mianmian.

Shiqi is Zhou Mianmian?

She was Zhou Xinhai’s youngest daughter, her cousin.

She...

She wasn’t supposed to die at this time!

Gu Lan’s usually calm eyes filled with tears, her fingers trembled uncontrollably, her voice almost frantic, "Rong Heng, Rong Heng... Hasn’t he come yet?"

"The Fifth Prince just returned to town with the grain convoy; he must be on his way now..." Su Yi, beside her, answered.

She thought her martial arts skills were excellent, that nothing was overlooked, yet she couldn’t save Shiqi, and even caused her harm.

Guilt and self-reproach filled Gu Lan’s heart. She clearly knew there was something wrong with Li Yuanju, yet she let this young girl leave the city with her. Shiqi was a Hidden Guard trained by the Marquis Mansion; she cared so much for her. If she also noticed anything strange about Li Yuanju, she would have investigated for her sake.

If she hadn’t met her, if she didn’t care about her, she could have lived to the end, at least not encountered such things now.

Gu Lan’s eyes, red and swollen, quivered with tears on the edge before finally falling. She stared blankly at the wound on Shiqi’s chest, feeling an unprecedented coldness all over.

Gu Lan once thought she could never cry for anything. The lack of emotions in her childhood, the repeated perfect execution of missions in her youth that regarded human life as insignificant, and the countless life and death trials in her adulthood led those around her to gradually leave, making her distant and indifferent to the core, long losing the ability to cry.

But somewhere along the way, looking at the bustling world, lost emotions were gradually being filled back in.

Perhaps, this is the reason she appeared here, becoming Gu Lan’s purpose.

"Shiqi, you can’t die. I also have a secret to tell you. You have to live!" Gu Lan fixedly looked at Shiqi, her voice hoarse yet firm.

"Gu Lan!"

Rong Heng’s voice came from behind.

He rushed over like the wind and, upon seeing Shiqi, understood what had happened without needing any explanations.

Gu Lan turned her head, revealing her tear-filled eyes:

"Please save her."

Rong Heng felt a shock in his heart. He had never seen her so afraid nor imagined that Gu Lan would cry.

He immediately pulled out a white porcelain bottle from his pocket, pouring out a black pill from within.

Gu Lan remembered how Rong Heng took out this porcelain bottle when Duoji was near death. At that time, Zhou Xing stopped him, saying the medicine was precious. Later, Rong Heng discovered Duoji had used the Breath-holding Skill to fake death and survived with strong Inner Strength, hence he didn’t use the medicine then.

Now, Shiqi’s injury is almost like Duoji’s, though not wounded in the leg, she’s definitely not as skilled in martial arts as Duoji...

Rong Heng held the pill without hesitation and administered it to Shiqi.

He seemed to feel Gu Lan’s tension, turned his head, his deep piercing eyes, and softly said:

"Don’t worry, thanks to Duoji being bedridden as a toolman for those months, I am now particularly good at treating such injuries.

However, this Nan Shiqi seems to be my rival in love, Lanlan, should I save her or not."

Gu Lan’s violently trembling heart gradually calmed down, her tears choked up.

She can always trust Rong Heng’s medical skills,

and can always believe that Rong Heng is the true "Great Female Lead" in healing and saving lives.

"She’s my sister. Tell me, will you save her or not?"

Rong Heng carefully observed Shiqi’s condition, whispering:

"You have quite a few sisters."