Drunken Flower Room - Chapter 35

Zhou Gu had now thoroughly familiarized himself with everyone in the Lord’s Mansion. More importantly, Su Xingze was no ordinary person. In the Jiangnan region, he was a renowned scholar whose reputation had even reached the capital. With the autumn imperial examinations approaching, betting houses in the capital were already taking wagers on the candidates. Many were betting on Su Xingze to win first place. 

He asked, “Su Xingze?” 

“Yes.” Su Rong plucked a stray weed from the roadside and began fiddling with it. “I’m afraid of him.” 

Zhou Gu raised an eyebrow. “Is he very strict?” 

“Not exactly.” Su Rong shook her head. “If we’re talking about strictness, Mother is stricter. But my elder brother… he has a knack for hitting where it hurts the most.” 

“What weaknesses of yours has he targeted?” Zhou Gu asked, feigning nonchalance. 

“I…” Su Rong started to answer but quickly realized something and stopped herself. In a low voice, she said, “I can’t tell you.” 

Zhou Gu smirked. “Why? Are you afraid I’ll use those weaknesses against you?” 

Su Rong shook her head. “I’m not that self-absorbed. We’ve only known each other for two days. The marriage agreement is still up for discussion. You wouldn’t bother to control me, right?” 

“That’s not necessarily true. If I were to control you, it would be entirely justified, wouldn’t it?” Zhou Gu said, his eyebrows arched high. 

Su Rong blinked at him. “You…” 

She wanted to ask, Are you seriously considering marrying me? After all, it had only been two days. Surely, he wouldn’t make such a hasty decision, especially after hearing about her less-than-stellar track record from Chen Zhou. 

Zhou Gu waited a while, but when she didn’t continue, he glanced at her and chuckled, as if understanding her thoughts. “What’s this? Lacking confidence?” 

Su Rong stared at him, her heart tightening slightly. “Zhou Gu, stop teasing me. Didn’t you hear what Chen Zhou said? I don’t take teasing well.” 

Zhou Gu paused for a moment. Then, after a brief hesitation, he turned away, fiddled with a lock of hair by his ear, and let it fall back in place. With a faint smile, he said lazily, “Why would I tease you? My grandfather strictly warned me before I came here not to bully you under any circumstances. Our marriage was arranged by him, and the Zhou family never goes back on its word. He told me to behave and not cause trouble. When I first saw you, I thought you were just a sheltered young lady, a bit too frail. But in just two days, you’ve completely exceeded my expectations. Makes me think I must’ve been blind not to recognize what kind of person you are.” 

Su Rong coughed, feeling a little embarrassed. “Well, um… My parents think very highly of you and told me to make a good impression. When I met you, I felt guilty and didn’t want to deceive you for long.” 

Zhou Gu seemed to understand and suddenly said, “My grandmother is Grand Princess Sheng’an. She was raised in the palace and has impeccable manners. My mother comes from the prestigious Qinghe Cui clan and is known for her grace. With your upbringing, aside from my grandfather’s insistence, I doubt anyone…” 

He clicked his tongue. “You even managed to fool me. If you’d kept up the act, you might have pulled it off. But deceiving someone for a lifetime…” 

He looked at her directly and asked, “If you marry me, do you think you can handle it?” 

Su Rong: “…” 

She couldn’t handle it. 

Could she? 

Su Rong had a very clear understanding of herself. She knew that deep down, she wasn’t someone who could abide by rigid rules. High-ranking households came with many regulations, and the Duke Protector’s household, though a military family, had such illustrious connections, both of the last two matriarchs came from exceedingly prestigious families, that their rules must be extraordinarily strict. Even if Zhou Gu was willing to marry her, the two formidable women in his family probably wouldn’t be as indulgent as her stepmother. Wouldn’t they grow to despise her in no time? 

Su Rong shook her head internally. She already found the Lord’s Mansion too stifling, how could she tolerate the Duke Protector’s household, where she wouldn’t even be able to act on her whims? 

Zhou Gu waited a moment and, seeing that she didn’t respond, let out a faint snort before turning and walking ahead. 

Su Rong: “…” 

Lifting her skirts, she quietly followed him, thinking that this engagement might truly be beyond her reach. No matter how exceptional her fiancé was, she couldn’t force it, could she? A faint sense of disinterest crept into her heart. The tiny ripples and stirrings she’d felt since meeting him, as well as her fleeting thought of giving it a try, were quickly dissipating. 

The two of them arrived at the Matchmaker’s Temple. 

In front of the temple stood a large silk tree, its branches entwined with countless red silk blessing ribbons, giving it an air of vibrant celebration. 

Initially, Su Rong had thought of asking Zhou Gu to join her in seeking blessings, but after being interrupted by Chen Zhou earlier, she decided to abandon the idea. 

Standing beneath the silk tree, Zhou Gu clasped his hands behind his back as he observed it. Then, glancing at the Matchmaker’s Temple nearby, he asked Su Rong, “Why are there so many blessing ribbons? Can the Matchmaker keep up with all these wishes?” 

Su Rong wasn’t sure if the Matchmaker could handle it all but replied, “People from within a hundred li come here to pray for a match. Even visitors from other regions have heard of its efficacy.” 

“People say it’s effective? Do you know of any specific cases?” Zhou Gu asked. 

Su Rong shook her head. “I haven’t inquired. But my sisters have prayed here for good marriages. So far, none of them are engaged, so it’s unclear whether their future matches will turn out well.” 

“Why aren’t your sisters married yet?” Zhou Gu asked curiously. “Your eldest sister, in particular, if she doesn’t marry soon, she’s going to pass the usual age, isn’t she?” 

Su Rong nodded, somewhat embarrassed but still answered truthfully, “Mother said they should wait. Since I have an excellent marriage prospect, they might be able to secure good matches through me.” 

Zhou Gu: “…” 

His face was full of question marks. “Are you saying that your stepmother plans to use your marriage to climb up through me, and then use me to help your sisters find good matches?” 

“Mm.” 

Zhou Gu had never considered himself so useful, essentially holding the fates of several women’s marriages in his hands. Stunned for a moment, he said, “And what if our engagement falls through…?” 

“Well, there’s still my eldest brother, who will likely do well in the autumn imperial exams. He’s more reliable than I am,” Su Rong sighed. “Mother isn’t trying to exploit her daughters to get ahead. She just sees all of us as family and naturally hopes we all marry well. While she does have a bit of a personal agenda to support my eldest brother, at the end of the day, her intentions aren’t overly calculating. After all, Jiangning County is too small, and I’ve been causing trouble since I was a child. She’s fiercely protective and has a fiery temper, so between the two of us, we’ve offended quite a few people, including my father’s superior, the prefect and his wife. Therefore, any reputable families, constrained by Mother’s prickly reputation and the prefect’s meddling, are reluctant to form marital ties with the Lord’s Mansion. 

“On the other hand, families with lower status are more willing, but Mother doesn’t want the daughters she raised to go off and suffer in poverty when they’d live better staying at home. So, she thought that if our marriage went through, it would solve my sisters’ marriage issues as well. If not, there’s always my eldest brother to count on. Waiting a bit longer for my sisters isn’t a big deal.” 

Zhou Gu: “…” 

He couldn’t find the words to respond. Feeling a complicated mix of emotions, he rubbed his brow after a long silence. “Your family is really… something.”