novelraw Chapter 404 - 310: Thrilling Afternoon Tea (Part 2)
Chapter 404 - 310: Thrilling Afternoon Tea (Part 2)
"I can still change into women’s clothing, but Brother Lan, you’ve never been a girl, always facing the world in men’s clothing..." After buying another jade hairpin, Nan Shiqi, troubled, couldn’t help but ask, "Brother Lan, haven’t you ever thought about restoring your identity one day?"
Zijin’s eyes grew more serious, gazing intently at Gu Lan, she opened her lips and said:
"Young Master once said you want to tell the world that what a man can do, a woman can also do. Previously in the great victory of Yinzhou, you did better than some men of Yan Country, which has already proven this point. Isn’t it time to restore your identity..."
Zijin had seen the look of utter disdain and loathing Gu Lan once had for her own identity. Although the young master could now flawlessly portray a man, she still hoped she could be her true self and not live so exhaustingly.
Gu Lan steadied herself and calmly said:
"I have thought about it, but a woman disguised as a man to join the army and be with Rong Heng, such a thing is a great tale in storybooks, yet in reality, it is a crime of deceiving the monarch."
Upon hearing this, Shiqi and Zijin lowered their heads, unsure how to refute her words.
Gu Lan then picked up a cup of tea, letting the mist fill her sight, her clear eyes lost in thought.
Now that the war has settled, Yan Country and Wei Country are temporarily at peace, and the greatest crisis concerning the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion in the original book has been resolved, the Empress Dowager and the Su Family have fallen, and the Dog Emperor hasn’t attacked the main character or the Marquis Mansion as in the original.
Everything seems to be developing in a good direction, and Gu Lan naturally has considered when she should restore her identity.
This matter was brought up on the night the old lady found out she was a girl.
However, after Gu Lan had a detailed conversation with the old lady, they couldn’t find a solution.
They both understood that once this matter is made public, it might become a legendary tale among the people, but in the eyes of the Emperor, it is a crime of deceiving the monarch, and the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion would harbor treasonous intent! If the Emperor were an enlightened sovereign, perhaps this wouldn’t matter, but Rong Jing seems to have a bit of madness within him.
In the context of Yan Country, even with instances of Rong Baoyi serving in the military and Rong Miaoyan as an official, it doesn’t mean women truly have inheritance rights, they merely proved themselves through exceptional personal abilities but cannot represent all women in the world.
Even though Rong Baoyi can now lead troops, it’s just a decision the court made in an emergency. She has to be controlled by Prince Xiang on one hand, and on the other, once Rong Yunhao comes of age, she will have to return her position to her brother.
If we follow the original book’s trajectory, after Rong Baoyi dies in battle for her brother, Rong Yunhao is still a child and incapable of doing anything for a while. By the time he grows up, the Prince Rui Mansion would probably have long become a fleeting memory in the annals of history.
And Miaoyan becoming an official is also because she recommended herself and is the only daughter cherished by the Emperor, deeply trusted by the Emperor.
Once Gu Lan reverts to being a woman, it gives both the Emperor and the conservative individuals at court a reason to act against the Marquis Mansion.
By that time, even if the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion isn’t completely destroyed, it would be close to disintegration...
Perhaps she would be imprisoned, Marquis Gu and Madam Zhou would also be held accountable, and the merits obtained on the battlefield by Marquis Gu and herself may only be able to exchange for a life. Then, the Emperor can rightfully, with a Holy Decree, force Gu Changting to inherit the title, beginning the internal disintegration of the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion.
Unless the Marquis Mansion decides to rebel, otherwise facing this situation, they can only continue to conceal it temporarily.
The three walked ahead, speaking softly, without worrying about being overheard with Wei Chengyuan providing protection.
Zijin also fell into contemplation, after a while, she whispered:
"Perhaps, when Madam and the Marquis made the decision years ago, they anticipated such a situation?"
Gu Lan smiled helplessly, placing a jade hairpin into her dark hair, gently pinching her soft cheek.
Soft and delicate in her hand, Zijin’s face instantly turned red.
Gu Lan softly said, "Mother mentioned before, their original intention was to let me grow up and decide my stance according to my own will.
If I willingly lived disguised as a man for my whole life, they would do their best to protect me; if I want to be a girl, I could only fake death after the coming-of-age ceremony, passing the title of Princely Heir to Gu Changting. Only, they never expected for things to completely deviate later on..."
Gu Lan’s mind pictured the silly face of Gu Changting. Recently, his affair with Lu Congyun was forcibly suppressed by the old lady and Lu Bingxin, and it’s unknown when the two could finally be together.