I became the God Brother of the Regent King after Transmigration!-Chapter 401 - 309: Farewell (2)

He went back, not because he agreed to Yuan Lang’s request in the letter, but because, according to recent intelligence, like Gu Lan yesterday, he saw that Wei Junzhuo seemed to want to form an alliance with Qi Country and attack Yan Country again.

If war broke out again, since he was Prince Xiang, he ought to protect his land and people.

Gu Lan nodded, "Alright, Yuan Lang mentioned the first day of next month... you should set out immediately, and as for the old lady’s birthday banquet and anything else, it can wait until next year."

She composed herself and continued, "After I finish celebrating the old lady’s birthday, I will also request to lead troops to the Southern Border, using the crisis there as a reason."

Rong Heng was taken aback and instinctively refused, "No need, if my journey goes smoothly, and I make an alliance with Yuan Lang and then rush to the Cang Wind Port to dispel the crisis, I can return soon, and the two countries may not go to war again."

Gu Lan gently shook her head, picked up a folding fan and lightly fanned herself, stirring a cool breeze:

"Wei Junzhuo is not a simple person, and... staying in the Capital City too long makes one rusty; dressing absurdly every day is also very tiring."

Her fingers slowly curled up, joints pressing and making "creaking" sounds.

Gu Lan wanted to go to the border to stretch her muscles — it was really exhausting to act as a frivolous idler every day in the Capital City.

Seeing the seriousness in her eyes, Rong Heng did not stop her any further.

He knew that the person he liked was not a vine that clung to others for support, but a Costin soaring freely.

This fact had nothing to do with whether Gu Lan was a man or a woman.

At that moment, there came a knock from Uncle Li outside the study door: "Young master, who are they?"

Gu Lan opened the door and saw outside were two Hidden Guards from Crow Building and You Ying; they had received his Crow Order and had come secretly.

Uncle Li looked warily at You Ying, his seemingly cloudy eyes revealing a hint of sharpness.

"It’s alright, they are all Rong Heng’s people," Gu Lan explained proactively.

Rong Heng gave Uncle Li a faint smile, one belonging to a younger generation, then lowered his eyes, pulling out an exquisite, pure white Jade Pendant from his sleeve.

He tied the Jade Pendant at Gu Lan’s waist, speaking gently, "This is for you."

As Gu Lan picked it up, it felt slightly cool and delicate initially but soon warmed up. It was the same warm jade as the Maitreya Buddha he was to give the old lady, engraved with auspicious cloud patterns:

"You’re giving me a leftover from Grandmother’s piece?"

Rong Heng opened his palm, revealing a Jade Pendant almost identical to the one he gave Gu Lan.

His face flushed slightly, and he coughed once, then said calmly, "I also have a piece of such leftover, but in the world, there are only these two pieces because I carved them myself."

Gu Lan’s finger pads stroked the patterns on the Jade Pendant, and her nose twitched, instinctively catching a faint medicinal fragrance, "This Jade Pendant’s scent is different from the Maitreya Buddha."

"The string of the Jade Pendant was soaked with herbs meant to calm the mind and focus... primarily for the pleasant smell, whereas the Maitreya Buddha for Grandmother only carries the scent of the sandalwood box itself."

"I like this scent," Gu Lan said with a smile.

Rong Heng was momentarily stunned, not saying that the scent was actually the same as the one clinging to himself. It was because he noticed Gu Lan liked it that he deliberately concocted it.

Lanlan likes his scent.

Realizing this, Rong Heng’s ear tips quietly turned red.

He gathered himself, in front of You Ying and Uncle Li, took out a Mechanical Sleeve Crossbow and handed it to Gu Lan.

"Since I am leaving the Capital, I entrust this Crow Crossbow to you for safekeeping," Rong Heng said, "Firing this crossbow into the sky causes a sound and unusual light within ten miles, without anyone noticing. As for how to send a Crow Order, how to summon people, how to relay messages, and how to contact the hidden lines of Crow Building, You Ying will tell you."

Gu Lan stared at this exquisite small sleeve crossbow, slightly dazed, "There’s really no need, I—"

Rong Heng looked at her, curling his lips into a smile, gently ruffling her thick black hair, "Don’t refuse, this is... one of the betrothal gifts for marrying the Heir of Duke Dingyuan."

The Crow Order and Crow Building, to Rong Heng, were like his eyes and arms, the hidden efforts over many years and his ultimate means of survival.

Now, he willingly entrusted them to Gu Lan.

She knew that Rong Heng was, first, to protect her, and second, wanting Uncle Li’s eyes and mouth to tell Marquis Gu, as well as the old lady and Madam Zhou, that she was the person he trusted and cared about the most, more than his eyes and arms.

Such a person was worth entrusting one’s life to.

Gu Lan gazed steadily into Rong Heng’s dark, deep brows and eyes, accepting the sleeve crossbow and stowing it safely.