Drunken Flower Room - Chapter 19

Zhou Gu felt like he had stepped into a lion’s den. This family truly treated him as one of their own, too much so. Their boundless enthusiasm left him unable to express his discomfort, forcing him to suppress his feelings until he almost suffered internal injuries. 

Su Rong glanced at Zhou Gu, hiding her amusement. “Come on, let me show you around the estate,” she said cheerfully. 

Zhou Gu hesitated. What’s there to see in a mere prefect’s residence? From what he had observed on the way in, the layout was ordinary and hardly worth exploring. However, staying in the reception hall with her was even less appealing, so he reluctantly nodded. 

Su Rong led Zhou Gu out of the reception hall and toward the rear courtyard. 

Neither of them spoke. Zhou Gu, naturally reserved, saw no need to initiate conversation, and Su Rong seemed content to let the silence linger. The estate didn’t offer much in the way of sights, just a waterside pavilion and a few flowering trees that, while pleasing enough, weren’t particularly rare or remarkable. Nothing here captured Zhou Gu’s interest. 

The pathways were deserted, no doubt due to the Matriarch’s orders for the servants to stay out of sight. 

Su Rong noticed Zhou Gu keeping a respectful distance, enough for two people to walk between them. She wondered, Does he truly have someone in his heart? Or does he simply lack interest in women? Or is he too bound by propriety? 

Testing her theory, she pretended to stumble on the steps, stepping on her hem and letting out a soft cry as she fell forward. 

Zhou Gu reacted instinctively, reaching out to steady her. The moment she regained her balance, he withdrew his hand as if burned. 

Su Rong turned to him with a look of lingering fear. “Thank you,” she said softly. 

Zhou Gu pressed his lips together, his expression stiff. He pinched his fingertips awkwardly and replied, “No need.” 

So fragile, he thought. She can’t even walk properly without nearly falling. How is she supposed to be a capable wife? The very idea of marrying someone so delicate filled him with dread. 

Su Rong was quick to notice his fleeting look of disdain. Internally alarmed, she replayed her calculated stumble in her mind. It was flawless, there’s no way he could have guessed it was intentional. So why is he already dissatisfied with me? What did I do wrong? 

She adjusted her posture and climbed the steps more cautiously, each movement deliberate and careful. A sudden breeze tousled her loose strands of hair, momentarily obscuring her vision. She tilted her head slightly, her body swaying just enough to draw Zhou Gu’s attention. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught him watching her intently, his expression laced with nervousness. 

Su Rong was baffled. What’s he so tense about? 

Pushing her hair back from her forehead, she smoothed her skirt and asked in a soft voice, “Zhou Gu, you’ve been in Jiangning for three days now. Where have you gone so far?” 

Ah, it’s been over half a month since I last went out. I really want to go somewhere fun, she thought wistfully. 

Zhou Gu waited until she had climbed the steps and reached the pavilion before allowing himself to relax slightly. He resolved firmly: No, I can’t have such a frail wife. Otherwise, I’ll spend my life worrying about her safety. How has she even survived this long without being blown away by the wind or falling and disfiguring herself? It’s nothing short of miraculous. 

“I’ve stayed within the city,” he replied. “Visited the night market and wandered the streets during the day.” 

“You haven’t gone outside the city?” Su Rong asked, her curiosity piqued. To her, night markets and city streets were far from exciting. 

Zhou Gu shook his head. “I haven’t had the chance yet.” 

Seeing the faint doubt in her eyes, he added, somewhat embarrassed, “Jiangning has a lot of unique snacks and trinkets, things you don’t see in the capital. It’s lively and interesting.” 

Su Rong nodded in understanding. “Yes, visitors from out of town do love the night markets here.” 

Su Rong invited Zhou Gu to sit, then casually seated herself beside him. The table was already laden with an assortment of fruits and snacks. Picking up a peach, she handed it to him. “This is a honey peach, a specialty of Jiangning. You should try it.” 

Zhou Gu was about to decline, ready to say he didn’t eat such things. But Su Rong, seemingly oblivious, picked up another peach for herself and took a small bite. Her other hand still extended toward him, holding the peach. Her fair and slender fingers, soft and delicate, caught his attention. Even her wrist seemed so thin that the weight of the peach might bend it. 

Silent for a moment, Zhou Gu finally accepted the fruit. 

Out of nowhere, Su Rong asked, “I heard recently that you fought with the young master of Rui’an Prince’s Manor over a woman. Was she prettier than me?” 

Zhou Gu nearly dropped the peach in shock, staring at her incredulously. 

Su Rong tilted her head and smiled at him. “Don’t be so nervous. I’m just curious. They say you single-handedly defeated all the guards from Rui’an Prince’s Manor. By the way, how many guards are we talking about? And what about the young lord? How badly did you injure him?” 

Zhou Gu was rendered speechless. 

He couldn’t imagine what kind of fiancée would ask such things upon meeting for the first time, but evidently, his fiancée did, and so bluntly too. He had no idea how to respond. 

“Is it a hard question to answer?” Su Rong’s eyes sparkled with curiosity, her expression earnest and devoid of malice. 

Zhou Gu tugged awkwardly at the corner of his mouth. “Not really.” 

Her gaze remained fixed on him, waiting for an explanation. Reluctantly, he began, “Qin Luan…” He coughed, correcting himself. “That woman, her brother and I were on good terms. After her family committed a crime, her father was executed by the emperor, and all male relatives were exiled to the bitterly cold north, three thousand li away. The female members of her family were reduced to slaves. Before her brother left, he asked me to look after her, saying she wouldn’t survive the hardships. So, I…” 

He trailed off, realizing he had revealed more than he intended. He had never explained this to anyone before. Even the people in the Duke Protector’s Manor assumed he had romantic feelings for Qin Luan, though he had no intention of marrying her. Why, then, was he explaining himself to Su Rong? 

His expression darkened at the thought. 

“Oh, so you did it out of loyalty to a friend. Very noble of you,” Su Rong remarked, nodding in approval. Then she asked, “And the young lord of Rui’an Prince’s Manor? What was his reason for getting involved?” 

“He liked Qin Luan.” 

Su Rong tilted her head, smiling playfully. “So, Qin Luan didn’t like him? Is that why you helped her?” 

“I don’t know.” Zhou Gu’s tone grew stiff. “The night before, I’d been drinking with some friends. The next morning, I woke up to hear that Xie Lin had gone to take her by force. On impulse, I remembered her brother’s request and rushed over.” He sighed, his words tumbling out unchecked. “Drinking really messes things up. If I’d been more clear-headed, I wouldn’t have done it. Looking back, it might have been better if Xie Lin had taken her. Even after I brought her back, I had no place to settle her.” 

Su Rong nodded thoughtfully. “Well, you are engaged. It would indeed have been difficult to arrange something for her.” 

Zhou Gu fell silent, her matter-of-fact tone leaving him at a loss for words. 

Unfazed, Su Rong continued, “I heard that even though you managed to rescue her, she didn’t end up at the Duke Protector’s Manor?” 

Her information, courtesy of Li Yan, was that the emperor later sent Qin Luan to the Eastern Palace for the crown prince. After all that effort, neither Zhou Gu nor Xie Lin gained anything in the end. 

Zhou Gu’s face stiffened. “Yes.”