Drunken Flower Room - Chapter 17

Zhou Gu initially thought there was no reason to feel nervous about visiting the Su household. After all, he had faced plenty of high-stakes situations since childhood. He’d sparred verbally with scholars in the Imperial Library, dueled palace guards under the Crown Prince’s watchful eye, and even chopped down a prized osmanthus tree in the Eastern Palace. He had attended countless palace banquets, jested in front of ministers, and even bantered with the Emperor himself. Never had he felt fear. 

Yet here, at the Lord’s residence, he had spent three days mentally preparing himself, believing he’d remain calm. Who would’ve guessed the reception would be so extraordinary? 

While he sat in the reception hall waiting, the commotion outside grew louder. A crowd had gathered near the entrance, and even the windows were lined with onlookers unabashedly peeking in at him. Zhou Gu, with his sharp hearing, picked up on their whispers: 

“Oh my, is this the Seventh Son-in-Law?” 

“He’s so handsome!” 

“His looks match our Seventh Miss perfectly!” 

Zhou Gu felt his composure slipping. Regret flooded in, why hadn’t he turned around and left at the gate? Was there no decorum in this household? 

When Lord Su and his wife arrived, they too were startled by the throng of servants blocking the entrance to the reception hall. Matriarch immediately regretted focusing solely on supervising Su Rong these past few days and neglecting to instill discipline among the staff. She snapped, “Why are you all idling here? Get back to your duties! Anyone caught loitering will have their monthly allowance docked.” 

The threat worked instantly, the servants dispersed like startled birds. 

Lord Su coughed lightly and teased, “Madam, don’t be so harsh. You might scare our son-in-law away.” 

Matriarch: “…” 

Zhou Gu, overhearing from inside: “…” 

Lord Su stepped through the doorway first, wearing a radiant smile. “Ah, Nephew Zhou, I’ve been waiting for you these past few days. I didn’t dare leave the house, worried I might miss your visit. You’ve finally come! If you hadn’t, I might’ve had to send someone to invite you personally.” 

Zhou Gu stiffly rose to his feet and bowed respectfully. Fortunately, his upbringing in proper etiquette allowed him to maintain a semblance of composure. “Greetings, Uncle Su,” he said formally, then turned to Matriarch with another bow. “Greetings, Aunt Su. My apologies for the delay in visiting. As I’m new to Jiangning, it took me a few days to adjust.” 

“No need for apologies! Don’t listen to him, Nephew Zhou. Please, have a seat,” Matriarch said, glaring at her husband. 

Zhou Gu obediently sat back down, though still visibly stiff. 

Lord Su’s enthusiasm only grew as he took in Zhou Gu’s refined features and noble bearing. “Nephew, you’re truly striking. Our Seventh daughter is also a beauty. You’ll see for yourself later, she’s a perfect match for you!” 

Zhou Gu: “…” 

Matriarch chimed in with a warm smile. “Nephew Zhou, this is your first time in Jiangning, isn’t it? What do you think of our beautiful landscapes and remarkable people? The water and soil here are nourishing, and our Seventh daughter has been raised with the utmost care.” 

Zhou Gu: “…” 

He felt his carefully maintained facade cracking. 

Could someone explain to him why Lord Su and his wife were like this? And what about his soon-to-be wife, the “Su Rong”? Was she just as unusual? He had never been anyone’s fiancé before and genuinely didn’t know what was customary for such occasions. But surely, starting the conversation like this wasn’t normal, right? 

Noticing Zhou Gu’s awkward silence, Lord Su laughed heartily. “Nephew, are you feeling a bit nervous? I was the same way when I first visited my in-laws’ house. Don’t worry! The first visit is always the hardest. You’ll get used to it over time.” 

Matriarch nodded with a kind smile. “That’s right, Nephew Zhou. Relax. You’re the first prospective son-in-law to visit our household, so it’s only natural that everyone here is a bit excited. As my husband said, once we’re more familiar, you’ll feel at ease.” 

Zhou Gu thought to himself, With how overwhelming you both are, I doubt I’ll ever get used to this. 

Feeling that his silence was growing awkward, Zhou Gu reluctantly said, “It’s just that I’m not quite used to the enthusiasm of your household.” 

Lord Su chuckled heartily. “Ah, that’s an easy fix. You’ve traveled all the way from the capital to Jiangning. How can you stay in a rented courtyard outside? Starting today, you’ll live here in the estate. I guarantee that within three days, you’ll feel completely at home.” 

Zhou Gu nearly jumped out of his seat and shook his head firmly. “That won’t be necessary, I—” 

Lord Su waved dismissively, cutting him off. “Your aunt has already prepared a courtyard for you. From now on, we’re family, how could we let you stay elsewhere? If word got out, people might think we don’t approve of this engagement. Trust me, it’s for the best.” 

Without waiting for Zhou Gu’s response, Lord Su turned to his wife. “Isn’t that right, my dear? You’ve already set everything up.” 

Matriarch nodded with a smile. “Indeed, it’s been ready for days.” 

She seemed entirely oblivious to Zhou Gu’s increasingly stiff expression and continued, “You haven’t met our Seventh daughter yet. I’ll have someone bring her here. You young people will have plenty to talk about. I don’t know about the customs of your Zhou family, but the old Duke mentioned in his letter that you two should have ample time and opportunities to cultivate feelings for each other. If you don’t stay here, Seventh daughter would have to visit you daily at your rented courtyard. I don’t mind her going to the trouble, but it’s certainly less convenient. Staying here is better for everyone.” 

Zhou Gu: “…” 

For sixteen years, he had never encountered such a situation. He could handle fights with Xie Lin, even pummel him if needed, but this? What was he supposed to do now? 

Could he just storm out and leave? 

But if he did, and word got back to his grandfather, would the old Duke beat him senseless? 

Matriarch, seeing his stunned silence, smiled inwardly. He’s just a young boy, she thought. There’s no way he can resist if my husband and I play shamelessly like this. 

After all, the old Duke had made his stance clear, this engagement would proceed. Since that was the case, they had to make it work. Two young people needed time together to develop feelings. Without affection, how could they build a harmonious life together? 

Although Matriarch didn’t place much value on love and romance herself, she understood their utility, especially for a woman in securing a man’s devotion. For women of lesser status, love was a powerful tool to ensure their protection and stability. 

That’s why, aside from teaching Su Rong the basics of managing a household, Matriarch had been drilling into her how to behave. Even if she had to fake it, she must present herself well. With her beauty, how hard could it be to win over a teenage boy? 

As for whether Su Rong might fall for Zhou Gu herself and risk heartbreak later, Matriarch dismissed the concern. That unruly daughter of hers had a heart as black as coal. The idea of her genuinely liking someone wasn’t worth considering. 

So, after privately meeting Zhou Gu and plotting with her husband, they had orchestrated today’s spectacle. 

Zhou Gu was beginning to realize he had underestimated the situation. He shouldn’t have come here with just Zi Ye; he should’ve brought along Zhou Xi, the steward his grandfather had assigned him. Zhou Xi would’ve known how to handle this. 

In short, Zhou Gu was utterly out of his depth. 

Just as he was caught between maintaining a cold expression and trying not to offend, Su Rong entered, supported by an attendant.