I became the God Brother of the Regent King after Transmigration!-Chapter 326 - 248: Only Children Make Choices

After Li Qing spoke, Li Bu, who was kneeling in the hall, also lifted his head, gave a sorrowful smile, and said with a determination unto death:

"Your Majesty, since Young Master Gu has already been recognized by the Prince and the people, it is not appropriate to change now. The Li Family is willing to send all its men to the Southern Border and sacrifice for the country."

"Your Majesty, I am willing to request to go to the Southern Border, not to be a general, but to serve Gu Lan."

"Please allow us, Your Majesty, to go to the Southern Border, to be loyal to Your Majesty, to devote our lives to Dayan!"

One official after another knelt down, requesting to go to the battlefield and contribute to Dayan.

As they said, when two armies are at war, the general should not be replaced.

Rong Jing looked at them, dazed for a while, not knowing what he was thinking.

After a long time, he spoke:

"I, who do not understand military affairs, have handed it over to Prince Rui, so I will follow his thoughts and let Gu Lan continue as the main general. Now that the Fifth Prince Rong Heng of the former Emperor is also at the Southern Border, let’s have him as the supervisor.

As for the request of the two Old Generals Li and the ministers, I understand their intention. There is no need to rush to the Southern Border; I believe Prince Rui and Gu Lan can resist the Wei Country.

Also, whether the Li Family has a connection with Li Yuanju’s betraying the enemy still needs to be investigated by the Ministry of Justice. As for Li Yuanju, let the decree be passed to Prince Rui so he may handle it as he sees fit."

"We obey Your Majesty’s decree—"

"Your Majesty, Fifth Young Master Rong has a criminal status! How can he be a military supervisor?" A minister opposed.

Rong Jing said indifferently, "Then, from this day forward, restore his status as a Prince."

Seeing the Emperor unmoved, the ministers had no choice but to repeatedly agree.

Rong Jing lowered his head, and in his mind flashed the young image of Rong Heng, one of the few beautiful memories of his life.

At this moment, the people in the court were still unaware that Prince Rui had already "died," but the news that Prince Rui was severely injured and unconscious, with his life or death unknown, spread through the court and the public after a few days of fermentation, naturally reaching the Prince Mansion.

The rumor that Prince Rui was already dead was also spreading more and more within the Capital City.

Miaoyan specifically chose a day when Baoyi was not on duty to rush to her small courtyard.

She waited at the door for a two-hour period before seeing Rong Baoyi, who had just returned from visiting the Princess Consort at the Prince Mansion, leading a white horse back.

"Baoyi, this horse is?"

"Just bought from the East Market."

"Today, there is still no news of Prince Rui; he should still be in a coma. Yesterday, Su Zixiao requested to go to the Southern Border, but Your Majesty did not agree and reinstated his position, allowing him to continue as the imperial guard Colonel," Miaoyan proactively shared various military reports from the court with her.

"During this time, thank you, Princess, for continuously informing me and mother about the situation at the Southern Border."

Baoyi said this, placing the white horse aside and opening the door: "Princess, come in and have a seat."

Miaoyan nodded and followed Baoyi inside.

The willows in the courtyard had already sprouted buds, their branches swaying gently in the spring breeze as if covered with a layer of tender green velvet. Two spring swallows were busily building a nest under the eaves, chirping and twittering.

She gazed at the nesting swallows, recalling the day they celebrated Baoyi’s appointment as a Centurion, making dumplings here together.

It has only been a few months, yet it feels like a long time has passed. She wondered when those youths in Maoqin Hall would gather here again.

Rong Baoyi brought the white horse into the courtyard, tied it to a tree trunk, and then took a somewhat worn saddle from the house to put on it.

"Baoyi, have you... have you really decided?" Miaoyan stared at her, unable to suppress her question.

Baoyi nodded: "When the country is in trouble, one must give their life. I am the daughter of Prince Rui of Dayan. Now that the border is in trouble, I cannot stand by."

Miaoyan looked at the young girl’s heroic and charming face and whispered:

"But the Southern Border is so far away, how will you make it there alone as a girl? Why not let me arrange a few followers for you, and perhaps if we wait some days, a military report will come, saying the Prince has awakened? We should plan long-term."

Rong Baoyi spoke with unwavering determination:

"Your Highness, I am going to the Northern Territory not because my father’s life is uncertain, but because I want to protect Dayan like him and its people. I am the daughter of Prince Rui. If I go to the Southern Border, I can certainly boost Dayan’s morale. Even if this is rebellious or unacceptable to the world, I do not believe it is wrong. I will go forward without regard for myself!"

Rong Miaoyan stared at her, internally shaken.

Rong Baoyi steadied herself, her words softening, and added: "But Your Highness also knows, I am a woman, and this is solely my foolish idea. It should not involve anyone else. I must go alone."

Rong Miaoyan’s bright, expressive eyes filled with tears, yet she fought hard to control her emotions, her voice hoarse:

"In the name of Princess Ning’an, I thank County Princess Changle on behalf of the people of Dayan."

Rong Baoyi earnestly accepted Rong Miaoyan’s bow and said, "I hope that one day, I can become a General."

"Baoyi, you definitely can." Rong Miaoyan said word by word, as if making a promise.

Rong Baoyi blinked, her tone relaxed a bit: "Don’t worry, once I reach the Southern Border, I will certainly help Gu Lan and also keep an eye on Young Master Gu for you—"

Rong Miaoyan blushed, wiping away the tears at the corner of her eyes with her fingertips, half laughing, half crying: "At a time like this, you’re still imagining things between me and Gu Lan."

Rong Baoyi leisurely asked, "Then can Princess dare to say she doesn’t like Young Master Gu?"

Rong Miaoyan: "..."

Seeing her silence, Rong Baoyi smiled slightly and returned to the room to focus on packing her belongings.

Except for Miaoyan, no one else knew about this, but she had already left a letter for Rong Yunhao and her mother. She believed that her mother, who came from the General’s family of the Li Family, would understand her actions.

Recently, young officials and military leaders in the court have been requesting to go to the Southern Border to join the army, and many rangers from Capital City have also gone voluntarily to resist the enemy, probably influenced by Young Master Gu.

She packed a bundle of clothes neatly and stuffed it into her luggage, then tied the luggage onto the horse’s back.

Meanwhile, Miaoyan stood in the courtyard, seemingly lost in thought.

"Come inside, it’s still chilly out here."

Miaoyan snapped back to reality, embarrassment coloring her cheeks, her voice as soft as a mosquito’s:

"Baoyi, do you think I’m not the only one in the world who has feelings for two men?"

Rong Baoyi was speechless: "...Gu Lan, and Qin Zhenghu?" She had already seen through everything.

Rong Miaoyan nodded, her face flushed, her mind full of thoughts.

She had always known that she liked Gu Lan, ever since that day of the flood. She liked Gu Lan’s excellent martial arts, kind heart, as well as her gentleness and youthful enthusiasm, but Gu Lan was homosexual, she might have already liked someone else, that someone being Rong Heng. She didn’t know whether to bless or give up.

As for Qin Zhenghu, who was clearly timid and uninteresting, whom she barely saw twice a year, not as good-looking as Young Master Gu, she still often thought of that day when the snow covered the skies, those gentle eyes, and the promise they made.

Rong Baoyi’s mouth twitched. Observing Rong Miaoyan’s expression, she knew what she was thinking.

She suggested, "...You are a Princess, why not consider letting Lord Qin be your concubine when he next returns to the Capital?"

Rong Miaoyan was taken aback, and she fell into thought once more.

It seemed she was seriously considering the possibility of having both Gu Lan and Qin Zhenghu as her male companions.

"I think you have a point, but...wouldn’t Gu Lan be unwilling?"

Rong Baoyi: "...What do you think?"

Baoyi sighed inwardly, thinking to herself that even though she, a girl, going to join the army, liking fights seemed crazy, but Miaoyan, who was the sort of girl to enter officialdom, wasn’t she even crazier?

At this moment, Rong Miaoyan realized that she was being teased by Rong Baoyi and immediately retorted:

"I know you are leaving for the Southern Border secretly without telling Prince Mansion and outsiders, but are you really planning to go alone, even keeping it from Jiu?"

Rong Baoyi’s expression froze, her fingers gripping the luggage tightened involuntarily.

That round-faced boy, although she long since confided everything to him, he would stay by her side, roast sweet potatoes for her, teach her riding and blade techniques, yet he always...

Rong Baoyi pondered, wondering if Jiu thought of her as a friend or if he feared she would despise him for his former status as a eunuch.

She pursed her lips and said, "This is my own decision, naturally, I must bear it alone."

Miaoyan sighed, murmuring to herself, "Yes, Jiu is, after all, a eunuch, and you are the only daughter of Prince Rui. He cannot give you happiness."

Rong Baoyi’s heart trembled as she suddenly said, "Miaoyan, could you do me a favor?"

"We’re sisters, of course! Even if you ask me to accompany you to the Southern Border, I would gladly go, but...you’d need to prepare a carriage for me since I’m afraid of hardship and effort." Miaoyan agreed without hesitation, her teary eyes exuding sincerity.

Rong Baoyi was touched, her smile tinged with tears as she spoke: "Thank you, I just want to ask you...to tell Jiu that I’m going to the Southern Border."

Rong Miaoyan’s expression shifted, and after a long pause, she said solemnly: "Baoyi, he, he is a eunuch, you truly like him."

Rong Baoyi gently, gently nodded.

"I know...but I want to tell him that I don’t care."