"So you don't have to be a companion anymore. Are you happy?"
"Happy, indeed." Gu Lan answered word by word.
Obviously, Gu Changting was quite proud of "helping" Gu Lan escape the crisis of entering the Imperial Family's school.
Gu Lan pondered over what happened during the morning court, and with a deep look in his eyes, asked, "Who is Xie Jingqi?"
"Xie Yun, his courtesy name is Jingqi, and he's reputed to be the top young master of Dayan, alongside your brother."
Gu Lan looked at Gu Changting coldly, giving him a once-over.
Gu Changting was dressed in a dark blue cloud-patterned brocade robe, with eyebrows like swords and eyes like stars. He appeared tall and handsome, characteristic of a Marquis Mansion's offspring, looking nothing like the civil servant of Honglu Temple's Junior Minister.
"How come I've never heard that you're a top young master alongside him?"
Wasn't there only one top young master? How could there be a pair?
Gu Changting said, "Back then, I and he were the only Crown Prince's Companions, so isn't that being on par with him?"
Gu Lan sighed helplessly, "Then, when did I ever say I didn't want to be the Princely Heir's Companion?"
Gu Changting widened his eyes in surprise, "You...do you actually want to be a companion? That can't be, I saw you hiding in the inner courtyard crying because you didn't want to enter the palace."
Zijin and Zipei, who were watching, looked at their master simultaneously, saying in unison, "When did the master cry?"
Gu Lan coughed and looked away: How should she know.
"You saw it wrong," she lightly coughed, refuting earnestly, "I've decided to enter the Imperial Family's school and focus on studying the Four Books and Five Classics to bring glory to the Marquis Mansion."
"Little Lan, bringing glory to the Marquis Mansion has nothing to do with you; leave it to your brother," Gu Changting covered his forehead, falling into self-doubt, "Could I really have seen it wrong? Then I messed up your chance, it's all my fault..."
Gu Lan patted his shoulder, reassuring, "Actually, Xie Yun's words wouldn't completely ruin my chances. On the contrary, they'd make the Emperor favor me even more, so you don't have to blame yourself."
Gu Changting looked at her, puzzled.
Gu Lan ate the new flavored candied fruit made by Gu Changting's mother—Mrs. Wang—her eyes moist and warm, and she pointed gently to the south, indicating the location of Prince Rui's Mansion.
The Emperor of Yan Country was quite wary of Prince Rui. To him, assigning a simpleton like the original host as the young prince's companion was preferable over choosing a genuinely capable scholar.
Gu Changting was a bit smarter than Gu Lan anticipated; with her hint, he immediately grasped the deeper meaning.
"Brother Lan, you're truly smart, smarter than before. Surely no one surpasses my little brother Gu Changting!"
Gu Changting sincerely praised her, then handed her two exquisite, beautifully embroidered sachets.
"Here, these are the sachets from Jade Fragrance Pavilion you mentioned before. I waited a long line to buy them yesterday. The noble ladies in the capital really like them. This one is made of snowy gauze with a plum blossom scent, and this one is embroidered with Shu Brocade, seems to be clove inside. Little Lan, tell your brother honestly, which family's lady have you taken a liking to this time?"
"Of course, it's for my girl, Zijin." Gu Lan ignored the flattery, took the scented sachet, and gave it to Zijin.
The original host hadn't fancied anyone—forcing someone to dress as a boy, not allowing the little girl to secretly fancy wearing a scented sachet, was unreasonable.
It was unexpected that Gu Changting remembered a casual comment from his brother, neither mocking him for being effeminate nor scolding her for being irresponsible.
She then asked, "You just mentioned, that accompanying the young prince in entering the Imperial Family's school, is that captured Crown Prince of Wei Country, and also, Rong Heng?"
"Yes, the Crown Prince of Wei Country is almost twenty years old, yet he's entering a school with a bunch of kids, it's truly amusing."
In Yan Country, children from the royal family could enter the school at age eight. Girls would stay until they came of age, and boys until they reached adulthood. If a companion gained an official position midway or a prince received an assignment, they could also leave the school.
Gu Lan said, "Prisoners have no status, becoming the Second Prince's Companion is no surprise... But what about Rong Heng, who is his companion?"
Mentioning this long-forgotten prince, a touch of lament appeared in Gu Changting's expression.
"Rong Heng has no companion. Prince Rui requested the Emperor to make him a prince, but the Emperor ignored it and simply brought him out from the Imperial Court to the school."
Gu Lan's first reaction was, she would become Rong Heng's companion!
She quickly suppressed this thought.
That wouldn't be proper. As the legitimate child of Dingyuan Marquis, if she inexplicably associated with a former Emperor's prince, wouldn't the Emperor suspect Dingyuan Marquis Mansion of plotting rebellion?
"Prince Rui asked the Emperor to make Rong Heng a prince, he surely didn't mention this out of the blue. Who was the first to bring up Rong Heng's name?"
Gu Changting said, "The Minister of Rites."
Gu Lan's brow twitched.
With her slender fingertips moistened in the water from the teacup, she wrote the character "Heng" on the table, stroke by stroke.
The Minister of Rites proposed that the Wei Country's Crown Prince become Rong Heng's companion, while Prince Rui suggested making Rong Heng a prince. Although neither of their goals was achieved, in the end, Rong Heng walked out from the Imperial Court...
If the proposal from the Minister of Rites was part of Rong Heng's arrangement, then?
In her mind, she recalled the indifferent and calm young man she saw yesterday, curled her fingers, and flicked the droplets of water off her fingertips.
Others might not think of this, but Gu Lan knew that Rong Heng, he was the protagonist, with a hidden advantage that allowed him to command the Grand Minister of Rites; it wasn't much.
After all, he was the protagonist, even at sixteen, he had already begun to arrange many things.
Indeed, it wasn't possible for him to remain silent until Prince Rui's defeat to reveal his talents; as long as he entered the Imperial Family school, he entered the court game of Dayan.
Gu Lan's fingertip landed in the water of the flower pot in the middle of the Step Lotus Hall, attracting a goldfish to peck lightly, as the pond fish swam leisurely and the lotus flowers in the pot swayed.
Fortunately, she didn't offend him like the original owner... right?
*
Three days later, the weather was extremely hot, but a downpour occurred.
After the rain passed and the sky cleared, the Empress Dowager's decree was sent to the Marquis Mansion again, summoning Young Master Gu to the palace to participate in the escort selection.
Because of the previous mishap, Zhou Wanqing gave her daughter numerous reminders before she entered the palace.
Gu Lan responded lightly, then thought of something, grabbed a handful of sugar-coated beans from the food Mrs. Wang sent and wrapped them up.
The one leading Young Master Gu to the palace was not some unknown little palace maid, but Aunt Fang, who served by the Empress Dowager's side.
Gu Lan was to go to Yongshou Palace, where the Empress Dowager resided, crossing the Emperor's sleeping palace, Qianyuan Hall, through the Imperial Garden, and further west to the largest palace in the Emperor's harem.
Passing by the Floating Green Pavilion where the original owner fell into the water, Gu Lan glanced at the lotus flowers in Yuanqing Pool, looking affectionately to show her love for the lotuses.
After the rain, droplets rolled off the lush green lotus leaves, refracting crystal-clear gleams under the sunlight, like jade beads on a green platter, complementing the splendid lotus blossoms beautifully.
Gu Lan suddenly craved Mrs. Wang's crispy fried lotus-root sandwich, ground her teeth, and then popped a sugar-coated bean into her mouth.
Crunchy, plum-flavored, sour.
"Tsk, just anyone can enter the palace to be the Heir's Companion now."
A gloomy voice sounded. Gu Lan looked and saw coming from the side was a pair composed of a palace maid and a man.
The man was decked in gold and jade, his features were so ugly they were almost indistinct, donning a light green long robe, holding a folding fan, looking at Gu Lan with disdain.
Aunt Fang said, "This is Qian Rui, son of the Minister of Revenue, also a candidate for the Companion, like you, Young Master."
Gu Lan knew there was an alternate candidate for the Companion, but she wasn't interested in a cannon fodder whose name wasn't even heard in the book.
However, she was interested in acting spoiled and idle.
She crushed the plum candy, lowered her gaze, and drew out the fan prepared for her by Madam Zhou.
A folding fan adorned with dark green Xiu jade, with a fan face drawn by a famous Huainan master, and fan bones made from purple sandalwood, instantly revealing its priceless value to those around.
Madam Zhou's family was in trade; she brought nothing else when she married into the mansion, only brought ninety-nine carriages full of gold, silver, and jewels.
To this day, the dowry is still not exhausted, piled in the warehouse gathering dust.
So, there isn't much else at Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, just lots of money.
Gu Lan fanned herself leisurely, exuding wealth and elegance, and remarked unhurriedly, "I didn't expect the Imperial Garden of the Emperor to be just like my Marquis Mansion, filled with croaking frogs."
Qian Rui shouted angrily, "Gu Lan, who are you calling a toad!?"
"Don't flatter yourself; I called you a frog, not a toad," Gu Lan said indifferently.
Aunt Fang chuckled inwardly; undoubtedly, Gu Lan might have a bad reputation, but his way of fanning was graceful and poised, appearing handsome and refined.
And Young Master Qian, who lost all composure after just a few words, was merely an official's son with a hollow reputation, far less than the good looks of Young Master Gu.
Aunt Fang's tone grew gentler, "Young Master, let's be on our way."
Ignoring Qian Rui's angry glare, Gu Lan stepped onto the white jade arch bridge of the Floating Green Pavilion.
Qian Rui rolled his eyes, a look of resentment flashed in his eye, then quickly paced to catch up with Gu Lan.
Just as the two walked side by side, Gu Lan's eyebrows slightly furrowed as he looked towards the distant flower shadows and saw a familiar figure.
That seemed to be...
Gu Lan paused in his steps, slightly leaning forward.
The next moment—
With a splash, Young Master Qian, adorned with a golden feather crown and wearing a white jade pendant, carefully dressed, fell into the water.