I became the God Brother of the Regent King after Transmigration!-Chapter 283 - 209: Roast Goose

"What am I hiding, the fact that I actually have a hundred and eight beauties in the Marquis Mansion?"

Gu Lan paused in her words, then said, "Let’s first go to Cang Wind Port to see what the Wei army plans, and then head to Yinzhou to find Rong Shuo."

"Alright." Rong Heng nodded, pulling on the reins and urging his horse forward, his eyes fixed on the distance, exuding sharp determination.

Gu Lan originally rode alongside him but couldn’t help tilting her head to admire his perfectly handsome profile.

The gentle breeze brushed past Rong Heng’s jet-black hair and cheeks, the silver ribbon behind his head fluttering, accentuating his distinguished and handsome features. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Respecting the old, caring for the young, honoring women, valuing friendship, skilled in both literature and martial arts, exceptionally attractive, and also the chosen protagonist...

Actually, she quite liked Brother Hang, whether as the protagonist of the original novel or the youth of the present;

Though she treated him as a brother, being with him probably wouldn’t be so bad.

If only she weren’t disguised as a man deceiving him... What a nice protagonist, how did things take such a turn?

Rong Heng suddenly turned his head, suppressing a smile, his eyes fixing on her intently, "If you want to look, just look openly."

Gu Lan blushed, quickly turning her head away, her heart pounding.

"By the way, how did you get out of the palace?" After traveling some distance, Gu Lan asked.

Since Jiu left the palace, Rong Heng had the Deputy Commander of the Inner Supervision, Lin He, looking after him secretly inside. Now, with Du Changning holding leverage over Zhang Fengcai regarding Zhang Ruoshui’s treatment, Rong Heng could come and go from the palace freely.

But going to the Southern Border isn’t just a matter of leaving the palace for a day or two.

Rong Heng replied, "I had Su Zixiao disguise himself and leave the city yesterday."

Gu Lan raised an eyebrow, understanding: "The Emperor is wary of the Su Family meddling in military power. He must think Su Zixiao knows about the Cang Wind Port affair and secretly headed to the border. Since you are to keep an eye on him, he dispatched you overnight to chase him."

The Wei army was stirring; with Su Zixiao leaving at such a time, anyone would assume he recklessly went to the Southern Border.

Rong Heng smiled slightly, continuing her line of reasoning, "After receiving the decree, I was anxious, traveling day and night in pursuit, coincidentally meeting the capriciously departing Young Master Gu."

He had anticipated Gu Lan’s journey to the Southern Border and prepared accordingly.

Gu Lan asked, "Then what did Su Zixiao leave the city for?"

Rong Heng squinted, his voice calm and composed, "I told him the roast goose in Mu City is quite famous, so he went to learn how to make it for me. By now, he should have learned and returned to the Capital."

He, however, was following Rong Jing’s order to "chase" Su Zixiao, traveling with urgency, even surpassing the speed of express messages. By the time they reached the Southern Border, with its lingering famine and slow, isolated communications, he could pretend ignorance of other commands, to fly free as a bird thereafter.

Gu Lan: "... Roast goose, it’s surprising Su Zixiao believed it, even disguising himself to leave the city to learn."

Su Zixiao’s passion for culinary skills is not unlike her own second aunt’s.

Rong Heng said, "It’s true, I had it once in my childhood, given by the governor of Mu City."

Young Master Gu "Oh," raised an eyebrow, and said slowly:

"Brother Hang, you really have a taste for food, and you seem to have gotten quite familiar with Su Zixiao, suddenly. Whatever you say you want to eat, he goes to make, and when you ask him to learn how to make roast goose, he goes to learn."

Rong Heng’s dark eyes narrowed slightly, his lips curling upward, "Is Young Master getting jealous?"

Gu Lan retorted, "Come on, come on, you two grown men, what would I be jealous about."

Rong Heng chuckled softly, "Lanlan, you’re the only man I like."

Gu Lan bit her lip lightly, urged her horse forward, resolutely not wanting to engage with Rong Heng further.

The two traveled through mountains and ridges, day and night, almost without stopping. In just seven days, they had covered half the journey.

Even when the Dingyuan Marquis rushed back to the Capital City from the Northern Territory initially, it took more than half a month. At a normal pace, reaching the Southern Border would take over a month, let alone reaching Cang Wind Port, the southernmost point of Yan Country.

Yan Country was vast, with its mountains and rivers crisscrossing, setting a relay station every thirty to forty miles. Gu Lan simply took out the Heir Token of Duke Dingyuan, allowing the two to replenish horse feed and dry rations at any time.

However, neither Gu Lan nor Rong Heng had ever traveled such a long distance before. By the seventh day, the insides of their thighs were chafed raw by the saddles, with their hip bones aching terribly.

Gu Lan touched her unwashed hair of three days, then rubbed her numb backside, glancing ahead, "There’s nothing in the relay station, but up ahead there seems to be an inn; let’s check it out."

The two led their horses forward, and sure enough, by the roadside, there stood an average-sized inn, with two floors, a seemingly old plaque, enclosed by wooden fences, looking out, it was the only establishment around.

Gu Lan noticed the stable on the inn’s side and nodded at Rong Heng.

"Greetings, dear guests!" A waiter, waiting by the door, hurriedly approached, "Leave your horses to me."

"Feed them the finest fodder and fresh water." Gu Lan tossed a piece of broken silver into the waiter’s hand.

The waiter saw that Gu Lan was generous and quickly responded, "Sure thing, I’ll handle it right away! We’ll feed them top-grade fodder, your noble steeds will not be mistreated!"

Gu Lan watched as the waiter led Hong and Mo Feng away to eat, then entered the inn with Rong Heng.

The weather had turned warm, but the inn’s hall still had a brazier burning, making it warm and cozy as they entered.

A middle-aged man who appeared to be the shopkeeper hurried over, his eyes falling on Gu Lan for a moment before widening in amazement at the sight of her and Rong Heng’s faces.

Such handsome young men.

"Are the two gentlemen here for a bite or to stay the night?" the shopkeeper asked respectfully.

Although these young men weren’t wearing anything particularly valuable, their appearances were indeed extraordinary, and they had weapons hanging at their waists. The shopkeeper could tell at a glance that they were out of the ordinary.

Gu Lan couldn’t help but smile when she heard this, the corners of her lips curving upwards.

"What are you laughing at?" Rong Heng leaned closer and asked in a low voice.

"I’m not laughing," Young Master Gu stiffened his face.

Rong Heng clicked his tongue twice and said no more.

Gu Lan instantly felt like she had punched cotton: "Brother Hang, why don’t you ask why I’m laughing?"

Rong Heng said, "Didn’t you say you weren’t laughing?"

Young Master Gu apologized humbly, "Sorry, I laughed. Hurry, ask me why I’m laughing."

Only then did Rong Heng cooperate, using a curious tone to ask, "So, why exactly is Young Master Gu laughing? I’m really very curious."

Gu Lan replied, "I just felt that the shopkeeper’s phrase ’a bite or to stay the night’ finally gave a taste of roaming the world."

Rong Heng’s lips curled upwards, then he suppressed them again.

How childish she was.

He reached out and gently rubbed Gu Lan’s head, "You should read fewer stories in the future."

Gu Lan brushed off his hand and tidied her hair, "You too!"

How dare he say she reads novels, Rong Heng had been reading books the past two nights when resting. Gu Lan had thought they were military tactics, only to find out he was reading novels, though she didn’t know what the content was, but... this reasonable!

When Rong Heng heard her words, he seemed to think of something, and his fair, handsome face suddenly flushed slightly. He coughed lightly and stiffened his face.

Gu Lan took out some silver, "To stay the night, give us two adjacent superior rooms."

Rong Heng said seriously, "One room is fine too."

"Go to hell, Rong Heng, I’m only sixteen years old!" Young Master Gu said angrily.

She realized that Rong Heng was no longer satisfied with just a candy.

Rong Heng frowned and innocently asked, "I’m only seventeen, what are you thinking, what are you afraid of?"

"... Nothing," Gu Lan’s fists cracked.

The shopkeeper’s gaze drifted between the two, showing a helpless expression, "It’s really unfortunate for the two gentlemen."

Gu Lan said, "One room is fine, right."

No wonder it’s a novel world, one room is a must, bathing is a must-crash, falling is a must-kiss...

Gu Lan secretly glanced at Rong Heng’s thin, moist lips, thinking she had already experienced the first two, maybe she should try falling.

Wait, what was she thinking!

The shopkeeper said in surprise, "How did you know? The thing is, there’s only one superior room left here, and this is the most popular inn within a hundred miles, besides the superior room, there are two inferior rooms left, not adjacent, next to the stables..."

Gu Lan thought to herself, if yours is the only inn in a hundred miles, who else would be popular?

She simply paid the money, "Then we’ll take one superior room, the two of us brothers can share it."

Rong Heng was taken aback, "Brothers?"

Gu Lan looked at him with a bright smile, intentionally speaking in a gentle tone, "Brother Zichan."

Rong Heng’s eyes darkened, a faint wave surging within.