Gu Lan lowered her eyes, recalling the plot in the book.
The Emperor distrusted the male protagonist and ordered Dingyuan Marquis to secretly eliminate him before the expedition. However, Rong Heng was brave, resourceful, and unparalleled in battle strategy, and Dingyuan Marquis couldn't bring himself to kill such a talent.
At that time, Gu Lan recklessly lost her life. Upon learning of his legitimate son's death, Dingyuan Marquis was shaken and died on the battlefield.
After Dingyuan Marquis's death, to appease the male protagonist and quell the unrest, the Emperor accused the Marquis Mansion of treason and executed them all, implicating the Nine Clans!
She looked down—
The mung bean cake beside her was made by Mrs. Wang next door;
The inkstone on the desk was given by the Old Madam;
The string of cool, juicy grapes was sent from Madam Zhou's mother's family over a long distance.
Later, all these people died.
For an assassin who underwent countless brutal training and lived on the edge of life and death daily, her current life was leisurely and carefree; she cherished it very much.
She also liked the people here...
She wanted these people to live.
*
After feeling her body recover, Gu Lan resumed part of her past life's routine.
At dawn, she first practiced horse riding in the inner courtyard for a two-hour period, then performed a set of boxing exercises.
After finishing the boxing, drenched in sweat, Zijin, who was waiting by, handed her clean clothes: "Young Master, you practice so diligently; it makes me heartache to watch. You must balance work and rest."
Gu Lan took the clothes and went inside to change, curling her lips into a smile.
This was just the beginning; the original owner's body was frail. She was merely exercising to adjust and strengthen her health.
Finishing this set of boxing eased her body significantly. However, to change her physique, it would require years of consistent effort.
When she came back out, Zijin asked in surprise, "Young Master, why aren't you wearing the clothes I prepared for you today?"
Gu Lan usually dressed as a wealthy young master, with a few tinkling jade pendants at the waist, looking like a dashing young aristocrat. Now, however, she wore a light cyan robe without intricate accessories, only a vermilion silk belt embroidered with dark gold patterns tying her hair, seeming understated yet spirited.
"Zijin was right, practice and study need a balance, so today, as Prince Rui returns to the Capital, I'll go to see the excitement."
Zijin: "...You only persisted in studying for a few days?"
"Don't worry, I'll buy you cloud cakes after watching the excitement."
Gu Lan patted the little maid's head. Zijin, with a calm demeanor and meticulous in her work, was still just a child in her eyes and needed coaxing.
Zijin's face inexplicably flushed red. By the time she realized she was being teased by her "young master", Gu Lan had already walked far away.
As Prince Rui returned to the Capital, the Emperor ordered the Crown Prince and all the officials to welcome him.
Gu Lan, having read so many books these past days, was intrigued by this Prince Rui.
Prince Rui, Rong Shuo, was the elder brother of both Rong Heng and the Emperor Rong Jing. It was said that he was quite adept at warfare.
A few days ago, Prince Rui had consecutively seized seven cities and two states of Wei Country and had captured the Crown Prince of Wei Country on the battlefield, marking the greatest victory in external war since Rong Jing ascended the throne.
Yet Gu Lan knew that according to the storyline, in the second year of Jiande, Prince Rui would meet defeat and death. The former Emperor's Fifth Prince, Rong Heng, as the imperial envoy and supervisor, would campaign with Dingyuan Marquis to quell the rebellion.
And now, it was the Sixth Year of Chengping.
How could she know when the Emperor would change the era name?
If Rong Jing suddenly felt in a good mood tomorrow and changed the era to Jiande, it meant Prince Rui had only two years left; if Rong Jing took ten years to change it, wouldn't that mean there were twelve years until the plot starts?
Being mere cannon fodder supporting roles, why make it difficult for each other? She had to check if Rong Shuo could make it or not.
Since transmigrating into the book, this was the first time Gu Lan left the Marquis Mansion.
Yan Capital was bustling, and Zipei, who acted as an attendant, accompanied Gu Lan. As they walked, the streets were lined with shops, the continuous hawking and selling of merchants and vendors creating a vibrant atmosphere.
Since many years ago, after Princess Chang'an had decisively defeated the Qiangrong, the culture in Yan Country became more open, allowing women to study and even enter the court as female officials.
Nevertheless, the current noblewomen still strictly adhered to the virtues of women, valuing piano, chess, calligraphy, painting, and embroidery, seldom stepping out of their mansions except for some elegant gatherings.
Thus, even though the streets of Yan Capital were lively, there were few women.
"There are quite a few women on the street today."
Gu Lan said and then spent three wen on a steaming meat bun to eat.
Next to the bun stall were groups of three to five women. The more timid ones wore veils, while the bolder ones removed their veils to observe the young men passing by.
She could even hear a young girl behind her softly telling her companion she was truly handsome.
Gu Young Master, it must be said, with Madam Zhou's foundation, was naturally blessed with good looks, standing tall and straight, his eyebrows enchanting, his lips red and teeth white. Even with his cheeks puffed out eating buns, he could charm a crowd.
Zipei said, "Nowadays, Prince Rui is our Yan Country's hero, which girl wouldn't want to catch a glimpse of him."
Gu Lan finished the bun and sighed about the generous meat filling of the ancient buns: "I heard the Wei Country's Crown Prince was also captured."
"Yes, I heard that the Wei Emperor was incompetent, making the Crown Prince the supervisor, and he was captured alive by the Prince on the battlefield." An unfamiliar scholarly-looking man suddenly interrupted, his face full of admiration when talking about Prince Rui.
"Young brother, you are here to see Prince Rui's triumphant return and congratulatory feast, aren't you? The Prince is truly our Dayan War God, the pillar of the nation! A model for us men! A great man should be like this!"
Gu Lan carefully wiped the oil from her fingers with a handkerchief prepared by Zipei and glanced at him, responding slowly:
"No, I'm here to join in the fun and see beauties."
The man fell silent, sizing up Gu Lan from head to toe, a look of disdain on his face.
Zipei didn't think there was anything wrong with what her Young Master said. Gu Young Master always did as he pleased, dashing and debonair, and with all the beauties and maidservants in the inner court as evidence, coming to see beauties today was completely normal.
"I thought you were a motivated gentleman who respected the Prince, given your dignified appearance. I didn't expect... truly blinded by lust! Disgraceful! Utterly absurd!"
Gu Lan seemed utterly unconcerned, looking the man directly in the eyes, her own eyes cool, her tone even carrying a smile, but a mocking one: "Everyone has an appreciation for beauty, and I boldly acknowledge my own. Are you teaching me how to do things?"
Are you teaching me how to do things?
"Hmph, I have no common cause with you!"
The man glanced at Zipei, who was quietly eyeing him behind Gu Lan, and realized this young man was not someone he could afford to offend. He stomped his foot angrily and left.
Nearby, several young women watching the scene laughed knowingly as the man left in defeat.
The scholarly young man seemed courteous and modest on the surface, but he had been leering at them creepily when silent.
The young man before them, however, was interesting. Although he claimed to be looking at beauties, his gaze towards them was open and forthright, much better than those sanctimonious, malevolent scoundrels.
Gu Lan smiled back, his eyes pure and moist, so handsome that several girls clutched their chests in excitement.
A more outgoing young lady couldn't help but tease, "Young Master, just like us, you are looking for a perfect partner today too!"
"Pfft—"
Gu Lan wanted to say something in response but then thought better of it, letting it slide.
Suddenly, these women seemed to find a confidant in him and eagerly began to chatter.
"I heard those welcoming the Prince today include Dayan's first Young Master, the Eastern Palace's Crown Prince, and the four great scholars of the Capital, each exceptionally talented and handsome."
"The Crown Prince is a bit young; I'm more curious about what that first Young Master looks like."
"The Prince is older; it's a pity he has a Princess Consort already..."
"Will Prince Rui's Princely Heir come?"
"The Princely Heir is only eight; are you even considering him? Truly shameless."
Amidst the group of women, Gu Lan nodded encouragingly from time to time: there was nothing wrong with seeking a perfect partner, she urged them to be bolder.
Listening to their discussions, she casually asked, "With Prince Rui's return, will His Majesty's brother come to welcome him too? After all, he is Prince Rui's younger brother."
"His Majesty's brother? ...You must mean Rong Heng?"
"If you hadn't mentioned him, we'd have forgotten about that person. Whether he comes or not, who knows."
At that moment, a thunderous shout came from afar: The Prince has passed the Capital Suburb and is about to enter the city!
With one shout, the entire city's populace surged like waves towards the city gate.
Zipei spent two ingots of gold to get Gu Lan a spot on the second floor of a pavilion, convenient for watching Prince Rui's entrance into the city. He himself was squeezed, bewildered, only feeling pain for the money spent in the tumultuous crowd.