Early the next morning.
The Eldest Prince of the Qiangrong Royal Court, Duoji, ca shirtless to the court, bearing a rod to plead guilty. He candidly admitted that soone impersonated his brother Jiang Qu and deceived his subordinates, leading them to follow and attempt to assassinate Gu Lan.
Fortunately, Young Master Gu was unhard, and he was willing to die to atone, asking the Emperor of Yan Country to forgive this matter.
Duoji could not escape, nor did he dare to.
If Gu Lan had indeed died last night, Duoji would have tried his utmost to escape from Yan Country and then convey the good news to the Chanyu. With the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion that guarded the Northern Territory for Yan gone, in a few years, when Gu Chengzhao grew old, the Royal Court could march straight in. Who could stop them?
He and Jiang Qu would both beco heroes of the Royal Court.
However, Gu Lan did not die.
Last night, Gu Changting had already, along with the Capital City Governor and others, surrounded Yong’an Street with troops. It was clear that the deceased bodies were all of the alien clan.
The matter was exposed, and if the Emperor of Yan Country were to hold a grudge, this act would be seen as a declaration of war against all of Dayan.
Neither Jiang Qu nor Duoji could bear such consequences.
Even if he escaped back to the Royal Court, he would already be a criminal to the Qiangrong.
Therefore, Duoji could only try to make ands.
Fortunately, yesterday he asked Jiang Qu, and no one had really seen his face, but Jiang Qu could no longer appear.
Hearing Duoji’s plea, the Emperor was furious, and the courtiers were enraged.
Naturally, no one believed Duoji’s words. Everyone knew that "impersonation" was just his excuse.
Gu Chengye directly stepped forward, stating that regardless of the truth or what the Qiangrong Royal Court claid, he only wanted Jiang Qu’s life.
Duoji, trembling, said: "Jiang Qu... went missing last night, and this matter truly has nothing to do with him. I beg Your Majesty to see clearly."
As he spoke, he also brought out the person who impersonated Jiang Qu, claiming this person was a traitor to the Royal Court, with the purpose of stirring conflict between Yan Country and Qiangrong.
"Kill him," Rong Jing waved his hand, his voice cold with anger.
"Eldest Prince, don’t kneel before . You should kneel to the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion. As for your brother Jiang Qu, whether he’s real or an impostor, if you can’t find him, you shall stay in Dayan forever."
Duoji’s eyes trembled, and he kowtowed to express his gratitude.
The news of Gu Lan’s assassination attempt spread like a pebble thrown into the water, rippling out slowly and resolutely.
In the Capital City, a grim atmosphere was more present than usual, as the imperial guards searched house to house, looking for any citizens hiding Qiangrong people.
The commoners then realized that the Qiangrong envoys who had been pretending to be subservient yesterday had actually attempted to assassinate Young Master Gu at night.
Now, the Qiangrong Eldest Prince had confessed, and the Emperor spared his life, but all Qiangrong involved in the assassination attempt of Gu Lan were to be executed.
Gu Lan was known as the foremost dandy of the Capital City, infamous for her lack of talent and virtue. However, she was also a citizen of Yan and the sole heir of the Dingyuan Marquis.
The audacity of the Qiangrong people to attempt her assassination ignited a fire of rage among the people of Yan Country.
After her daily morning routine of practicing a set of spear techniques, Gu Lan was watched by Rong Heng, who thoughtfully peeled an egg for her.
By the ti she finished practicing, Rong Heng was already eating.
"Jiang Qu has fled, but with Duoji confessing, there’s no knowing who collaborated with them," Rong Heng said, his expression indifferent as he placed the egg on Gu Lan’s plate.
Holding the egg, Gu Lan said solemnly: "This is the first ti you’ve peeled an egg for . This isn’t just a simple egg but a testant to our brotherly bond, Rong Heng. This is our first day."
Rong Heng: "..."
"Farewell, I am returning to the palace."
Gu Lan ate a bite of the egg, saying: "He can run away as a monk, but he can’t run away from the temple. Even if he really escaped back to Qiangrong, wouldn’t their Chanyu have to hand him over? The crux of this matter lies in soone daring to collaborate with an alien clan and possessing the ability to hide many Qiangrong people. If this person dares to kill now, who’s to say they won’t betray the country for glory in the future."
Rong Heng replied in a low voice: "That depends on who holds a grudge against the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion enough to collaborate with Qiangrong, just to kill you."
"The Qian Family," Gu Lan said. "I have many enemies, but wasn’t it Qian Zhao, the foolish son of Minister Qian, who was behind the last attempt on my life? Is he still in the Heavenly Prison?"
Rong Heng’s expression tightened, his voice calm: "He’s already dead."
"Dead? When?" Gu Lan asked, slightly puzzled.
"Last month, he had an argunt with his cellmate Cao Chen, and they fought each other to the death."
"Who would believe you could die from a fight?"
"The assassination attempt on you before was a serious matter. Their deaths were probably Rong Jing’s way of appeasing the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion’s anger."
After saying this, Rong Heng finished his last bite of food and disappeared: "You’re late for Imperial Family studies."
His speed entirely masked the fact that he was still injured.
How should I put it? It felt as though Rong Heng was just here to mooch food.
Gu Lan turned around, noticing three small children eagerly standing behind her.
Wei Lan, along with the brother and sister pair from yesterday.
"Go ahead and eat. Once you’re done, you two can go to Uncle Li for a reward."
Gu Lan finished eating the egg Rong Heng had peeled for her, sighing that her ho seed to have beco a strange nest for children.
She had just stepped out of the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion when she was surrounded by a crowd of commoners.
"Young Master Gu, are you alright?"
"We heard those Qiangrong people dared to try assassinate you. How is your health? Were you hurt?"
"Young Master Gu, this is my granddaughter. She is fourteen, in the bloom of youth. Are you in need of a maidservant?"
Gu Lan twitched her mouth: What is all this? Weren’t these commoners the ones who used to run away upon seeing her?
Zipei said: "My lord, last night’s events have spread throughout the Capital City. Young Master Gu fought bravely against three thousand Qiangrong soldiers, making rivers of blood flow on Yong’an Street. Just now, Capital City Governor Lord Lu invited you to Yong’an Street for verification."
Three... three thousand!?
She could chop from day to night, then night to day, and still wouldn’t kill three thousand people.
These days, is a prodigal son who returns and lays down his butcher’s knife really so popular?
"Then I don’t have to attend school. You go tell Lord Lu I’ll be over in a bit."
Gu Lan parted the crowd, spotting Duoji kneeling at the gate of the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion.
The cold wind howled as Young Master Gu wrapped tighter in her brand new white cloak with a furry collar, watching the shirtless man.
Duoji, robust in physique, bore many scars, with a few rods strapped to his back.
"It was Duoji’s poor command. Please, Uncle, forgive my cri!"
Seeing Gu Lan, Duoji imdiately kowtowed, his hoarse voice sowhat weak.
He quietly looked past Gu Lan, not seeing Wei Chengyuan from last night, and let out a sigh of relief.
"Only a day not seen, Eldest Prince, why aren’t you cold?"
Gu Lan patted Duoji’s shoulder and casually touched a scar on his chest.
This pec muscle, so firm, she was envious.
The surrounding commoners sneered at Duoji, and if not for being at the gate of the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, they would have already pelted him with rotten vegetables.
Duoji gritted his teeth, pleading: "Uncle, it’s Duoji’s fault. Please don’t take it out on the Royal Court. Spare Jiang Qu, I beg you."
He knew that if the searches continued, Jiang Qu couldn’t be hidden. Even if he fled back to the Royal Court, he couldn’t regain his status as a prince.
Only by removing the Emperor of Yan’s search order or having Young Master Gu personally testify that Jiang Qu was frad, would his actions have any aning.
Gu Lan lightly shook her head, lowering her voice, whispering in his ear:
"Whether Jiang Qu was frad, dear nephew, you and I both know in our hearts. I do admire you, going this far for Jiang Qu."
Duoji’s eyes turned red, then he slowly said: "Jiang Qu is my brother."
He only had one brother. Although they didn’t share the sa mother, since Jiang Qu called him brother, he had to protect him.
Gu Lan said: "Okay, I respect your deep brotherhood, so can you tell ... who is the one working with Jiang Qu to try and kill ?"
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