During the ti when Wei Chengyuan completely lost his mory, Gu Lan asked him several tis, but no matter what she said, Wei Chengyuan, who complied with her every word, just wouldn’t make a move against her.
When he regained his mory so ti ago, he either stayed cooped up in his room every day or was entangled by Rong Yunhao to learn swordsmanship, leaving her no ti to spar with him.
Until now, Wei Chengyuan accepted the blade handed over by Gu Lan.
"Co."
He looked at Gu Lan and smiled slightly, under his deep brows were a pair of golden eyes.
The next mont, the blade and sword collided, sparking a dazzling flash.
In the winter at Step Lotus Hall, there were no more water lilies, no more little goldfish, only a large open space.
The figures of the two interlaced, one black and one white, like cranes about to soar into the sky.
As the sparring progressed, both Gu Lan and Wei Chengyuan grew stronger with every duel, one had abundant inner strength, the other had bizarre moves.
The movents in Gu Lan’s hand beca faster and faster, every strike like a fiery tongue, sweeping past with golden sharp glimrs, her steps seemingly blossoming lotuses, exuding a chilling killing intent.
Her pupils, as clear as black and white, were now bright and sharp, sparkling with excitent.
Sparks and blades continued to clash and change, stirring the fallen leaves and dust on the ground.
With a sound of "clang", both of them simultaneously ceased their stances.
"If we continue fighting, you’ll get hurt by ." Wei Chengyuan sheathed his blade and said lightly.
Gu Lan took a deep breath, her eyes becoming sharper yet composed: "If we continue, you could die."
Wei Chengyuan’s gaze darkened a little.
What Gu Lan said wasn’t wrong, her peculiar killing blows were fatal with the slightest carelessness, and while he could suppress her temporarily with his ample inner strength, he couldn’t threaten her life.
Wei Chengyuan: "...Where on earth did you learn these murderous techniques?"
Gu Lan: "And how did you get so much inner strength? Taken too much dicine?"
Wei Chengyuan was speechless.
After a while, he said: "I don’t rember, I rember my spear technique, swordsmanship, and blade technique, either acquired from battles in the ranks or taught by the old Marquis, but regarding my inner strength, I also don’t know why I have such an abundance..."
Gu Lan: "This statent, aside from proving you’re a sustainable and upgradeable sandbag, is of no other use."
With Wei Chengyuan’s ability to flexibly use his inner strength, his martial arts would continue to improve, and while sparring with him, she too could gradually recover her past martial skills.
"Sandbag? What’s that, Lanlan, you’ve ntioned it several tis." Wei Chengyuan asked in confusion.
Gu Lan: "I’ll teach you how to hit it another day."
At this mont, unlike the joyous and harmonious scene at Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, the atmosphere inside Qianyuan Hall was extrely tense.
"Great victory in the Northern Territory, Lu family’s bride was switched, Dingyuan Marquis returned to the Capital City... Lu family fled in panic."
As a series of ssages from outside the palace ca in, Rong Miaoyan, Gu Chengye, and other ministers were in Qianyuan Hall, earnestly asking Rong Jing to rescind the Empress Dowager’s decree of marriage.
But no amount of their words was as useful as Gu Chengzhao’s return to the Capital City.
"Big brother is back?"
Even with Gu Chengye’s composure, he was imnsely shocked by the bombardnt of these ssages, and for a mont shouted out in surprise.
Even though he was prepared for the victory of the Dingyuan Marquis, the tight timing and the arrival of the great victory news today was already extrely rare, no one expected the Dingyuan Marquis to lead a light cavalry and march a thousand miles back to the Capital City.
Rong Miaoyan took a long deep breath, raising her head to exchange a glance with Zhou Xing, the Chief of Justice. Both saw the relaxation in each other’s eyes.
Recently, Miaoyan had just taken over the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel and wanted to help Gu Lan out of trouble, openly and secretly cooperating with Zhou Xing several tis, getting quite familiar with each other.
Now, hearing of the Dingyuan Marquis’ return, Rong Miaoyan imdiately knew that Gu Lan would no longer have any entanglents with Lu Feifei.
She also couldn’t help but think that Qin Zhenghu would probably be back too.
Miaoyan gathered her thoughts, stepped forward first, and saluted respectfully: "Your Majesty, actually, this humble minister always felt that if the Young Master Gu were to marry the County Princess Changping, it wouldn’t be a good thing for the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion and the Ministry of Revenue to mingle together."
This ti, in the Qianyuan Hall, not only was Lu Bingxin absent, but even officials from the Ministry of Revenue familiar with him weren’t present – the County Princess Changping’s wedding ant those with closer ties to Lu Bingxin were all waiting to attend the feast.
Zhou Xing: "Gong...what Wind Discipline Rong said is very true, I second this motion!"
Minister No.1: "I second this motion——"
Minister No.2: "I second this motion."
Gu Chengye: "I also second this motion... By the way, this humble minister wants to request a day off today, with my elder brother returning ho, I wish to return earlier to see him."
Rong Jing looked at the kneeling people, his peach blossom eyes full of speechlessness.
Now they’re all saying it’s bad for Dingyuan Marquis Mansion and the Lu family to mix. Wasn’t his purpose exactly to let these two families mingle?
Luckily, the news of the great Northern Territory victory eased Rong Jing’s discontent quite a bit.
Gu Chengzhao hadn’t yet appeared in court to report the battle, but with the Royal Court destroyed and the Chanyu captured, such a feat was already his biggest victory since ascending the throne.
First, Rong Shuo gained a great victory against the Wei Country, then Gu Chengzhao annihilated the Royal Court, filling Rong Jing’s heart with endless ambition and heroism.
His eyes subtly swept over Rong Miaoyan and others, contemplating for a mont before slowly opening his mouth: "What you’ve said isn’t without reason... On the Empress Dowager’s side, I will personally explain to her, as to the matters of the Lu family, just let them be."
"Your Majesty is wise!"
The group saluted in unison.
Only then did Rong Jing turn his gaze on Gu Chengye, who was eagerly looking at him, and said coldly:
"The Dingyuan Marquis marched a thousand miles back to the Capital City, surely there are soldiers escorting prisoners of war and carrying battle rits behind him, is the Ministry of Rites not preparing a ceremony to console the army? The end of year is near, and shortly after is the Empress Dowager’s birthday, is the Ministry of Rites not arranging anything? And you still want to request leave?"
Gu Chengye: "...I accept the decree."
Seeing his pitiable expression, Rong Jing kindly threw him a bone: "Minister of Rites Chen Xingchang is already past his pri, and recently submitted a request to retire, I thought... he is indeed getting old, so I approved his request for retirent."
Gu Chengye imdiately responded with full spirit: "I will spare no effort to serve Your Majesty with utmost loyalty!"
This big bone, he would respectfully accept first.
The next morning, Marquis Gu woke up from his hangover.
Having not returned to the Capital City for almost three years, over a thousand days and nights, he hadn’t slept so soundly.
There were no Qiangrong people ready to ambush him at any ti, nor were there the Northern Territory’s howling winds that persisted for three seasons.
Lying contentedly on the bed, he turned his head and saw a pair of special gloves made by Gu Lan for eating roasted chicken placed beside his pillow.
This was given to him by Gu Lan at the banquet yesterday when it ended.
The scenes from the banquet played back vividly in his mory.
Gu Chengzhao suddenly turned his head, looking at the wife beside him: "Honey, did I actually swear brotherhood with Lanner yesterday?"
Zhou Wanqing: "...Oh, rember now? You even called Lan your elder brother."
Gu Chengzhao slapped his forehead and suddenly rolled over, gathering Zhou Wanqing in his arms.
The voice of Marquis Gu was slightly hoarse due to the hangover, deep and alluring, as he whispered in her ear: "She calls you mom and calls little brother... Qing’er, isn’t this quite exciting."
Zhou Wanqing: ...
After a long while, Marquis Gu got up and carefully put away the gloves, as this was the first gift from his daughter.
He knelt on one knee by the bed, wiping the sweat from Zhou Wanqing’s forehead, and said: "Actually, I ca back this ti to restore Lan’s identity as a girl."
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