Drunken Flower Room - Chapter 23

Su Rong spotted the approaching group, a mix of three women and two men. Among them, one woman in particular caught her attention. Dressed in an elegant pale-yellow gown, she was none other than Jiang Yunying, someone Su Rong had clashed with in the past. Su Rong sighed inwardly. I should’ve checked the almanac before heading out today. 

While the Lord of Jiangning was a notable figure, the region ultimately fell under the jurisdiction of the Jiangzhou Prefect. Jiang Yunying was the daughter of the Jiangzhou Prefect, Jiang Sheng. Why isn’t she staying in Jiangzhou? What’s she doing here in Jiangning? 

Realizing that an awkward confrontation might be unavoidable, Su Rong reached out and tugged Zhou Gu’s sleeve. “Zhou Gu.” 

Zhou Gu stiffened slightly. He wasn’t used to such close proximity with Su Rong, and couldn’t help but think, If you need to talk, just say it. Why tug at my sleeve? But seeing her scrunched-up expression, he reluctantly asked, “Hmm? What’s wrong?” 

Su Rong gestured subtly toward the group. “Do you see them? That group looking our way? The woman in the pale-yellow dress, she and I have some bad blood. She’ll likely cause trouble for me today.” 

Zhou Gu, ever the type to invite trouble rather than avoid it, smirked. “You’re afraid of her?” 

Su Rong shook her head. “Afraid? No. But her father is Jiang Sheng, the Jiangzhou Prefect.” 

Zhou Gu immediately understood. “Ah, the classic ‘rank crushes all’? Her father outranks yours.” 

“Exactly. My father’s position is lower. If I get into a confrontation with her, I won’t have much leverage,” Su Rong admitted. 

Zhou Gu was about to quip, If your father outranked hers, what would you do with that leverage? But then his eyes fell on her delicate frame. He figured that even with backing, she was unlikely to get physical, unlike the bold noblewomen in the capital who wouldn’t hesitate to slap someone around. At most, she’d argue. And with her soft demeanor, even that might feel like a tickle. 

“What’s the bad blood between you two? Is it serious?” he asked. 

“It’s… a bit serious.” Su Rong lowered her voice. “Three years ago, her fiancé developed an interest in me and went to her house to break off their engagement. Ever since, she’s despised me.” 

Zhou Gu blinked. “…” 

“Three years ago? How old were you then?” 

“Twelve.” 

Zhou Gu frowned. “You didn’t actively provoke him, did you?” 

“Of course not!” Su Rong felt wronged. “I already have a fiancé, one from the duke household. Why would I stir up trouble by going after someone else? Her fiancé might come from a slightly more prestigious family, but compared to your family? Not even close!” 

Zhou Gu chuckled at her words. He tugged his sleeve free from her grasp and raised an eyebrow. “Oh, so it’s all because my family’s standing is higher?” 

Su Rong wore an expression that seemed to say Isn’t that obvious? She shrugged, “I hadn’t met you yet, so how could I have chosen you specifically?” 

Zhou Gu couldn’t argue with that logic. 

With a faint snort, he said, “And do you ever feel like you don’t deserve me?” 

Su Rong rolled her eyes internally. There it is. The highborn men and their obsession with matching social status. She nodded earnestly, “Of course I feel that way. But could I refuse a marriage arranged by Old Duke Hu?” 

That silenced Zhou Gu. It was a fair point; he wouldn’t have been able to reject his grandfather’s arrangement either. 

Before he could say more, the group from across the way stopped boarding their boat and began heading directly toward them. It was clear they were targeting Su Rong. Zhou Gu glanced at them nonchalantly and said, “Alright, don’t worry about it. I’m here. Use me as your shield and show off a little.” 

This was exactly what Su Rong had been waiting for. 

Three years ago, she’d had no choice but to endure humiliation. Even with her stepmother’s sharpness, the Lord’s household couldn’t openly oppose the wife of the Jiangzhou Prefect. The Prefect’s wife had unleashed a barrage of thinly veiled insults, completely ignoring the fact that it was her poor judgment that led to her daughter’s engagement with a lustful fool. The man had only seen Su Rong once before running to annul his long-standing engagement. Oblivious to whether Su Rong herself was betrothed, he’d charged ahead like a fool. And yet, they had the audacity to blame Su Rong. 

But the Prefect’s wife was untouchable back then, and Su Rong had to swallow the humiliation. Though she found ways to retaliate subtly later, the incident still left her seething. Today might be unlucky, she thought, but it’s also a rare opportunity for payback. 

The group soon approached, led by Jiang Yunying herself. She took one look at Zhou Gu, her eyes briefly lighting up with admiration before she regained her composure. After assessing Zhou Gu, she turned her sharp gaze to Su Rong, raising an eyebrow. 

“Well, well, Su Rong. All dolled up today. Trying to catch yourself a rich husband?” 

Su Rong: “…” 

With a serious expression, Su Rong replied, “**Sister, you guessed right. This is my rich husband-to-be. He’s the one I’ve been betrothed to since childhood, a true childhood sweetheart. Never swapped, always been him.” 

Zhou Gu: “…” 

The words hit Jiang Yunying like a slap. She had been engaged twice, once to the man who broke off their engagement to pursue Su Rong, and another time to a fiancé arranged by her mother a year ago. That engagement ended when the other family got into legal trouble, forcing her to annul it. 

Su Rong’s casual remark stabbed straight into her insecurities. Jiang Yunying’s face turned cold as her eyes glinted like knives. “You? A mere illegitimate daughter from the Lord’s household? A concubine’s spawn? What kind of ‘rich husband’ could you possibly land? Don’t tell me he’s illegitimate too. Trash for trash, what’s there to brag about?” 

Su Rong: “…” 

Technically, calling me illegitimate isn’t wrong. As a concubine’s daughter, I don’t have much status. But Zhou Gu? You’ve seriously miscalculated today. 

She almost wanted to say, Sister, you’re really stepping on a landmine this time. 

Sure enough, before Su Rong could retort, Zhou Gu’s expression turned icy. He snapped, “How dare you!” 

The next moment, his sword was unsheathed, its blade pressed against Jiang Yunying’s neck. Zhou Gu radiated an aura as sharp as his weapon, his entire demeanor exuding deadly precision. “Repeat what you just said to me if you’ve got the guts.” 

Jiang Yunying froze in place, her face draining of color. The fear was plain in her wide eyes as she stammered, “Y-you…” 

She had never encountered someone who would draw a blade over a single insult. The sharp edge pricked her skin, sending a stinging pain that warned her of how close she was to losing her life. A slight push of the blade, and blood would spill. 

The rest of Jiang Yunying’s group, two men and two women, were equally stunned. The women turned pale, while the men managed to keep their composure. One of them, the calmest of the lot, stepped forward and said, “My good sir, let’s not act rashly. Why don’t you put the weapon down, and we can discuss this civilly?” 

Zhou Gu let out a cold chuckle. “Rashly? You think I’d hesitate to kill someone who dares insult me? Even if she’s the Jiangzhou Prefect’s daughter, I’ll cut her down. Who do you think you are, to challenge me?” 

Jiang Yunying trembled with fear, her eyes filled with terror. She didn’t dare move a muscle. 

The man who had spoken looked increasingly alarmed. Zhou Gu’s demeanor and unflinching resolve suggested a background far more formidable than he had anticipated. Carefully, he introduced himself, “I am Ning Chi, son of the Marquis of Nanping. Jiang Yunying acted in ignorance of your identity and has clearly offended you. I ask you to let this matter slide for the sake of civility.” 

Zhou Gu glanced at him dismissively, giving Ning Chi a once-over. With a scornful laugh, he asked, “Oh, the heir of the Marquis of Nanping? And you think your title gives you the right to pressure me?” 

“Not at all,” Ning Chi quickly replied. Seeing that Zhou Gu’s sword remained pressed against Jiang Yunying’s throat, he grew increasingly uneasy. This man clearly wasn’t afraid of the Marquis’ title, nor the Jiangzhou Prefect. He turned to Su Rong in desperation, hoping to appeal to her instead. “Miss Su, young ladies often speak without thinking. While her words may have been inappropriate, they don’t warrant such extreme measures. Please, could you speak on her behalf?”