Drunken Flower Room - Chapter 66

After sending off Teacher Zhao, Yue Wan returned to the courtyard and saw Su Rong resting her chin on her hand, gazing out the window in deep thought. She seemed completely absorbed in her own world. 

Yue Wan leaned in and asked, “Miss, are you thinking about Young Master Zhou?” 

Su Rong turned to look at her. “What makes you think I’m thinking about him?” 

Yue Wan grinned. “Isn’t it written in storybooks? When a young lady is lovesick, she stares out the window, her eyes fixed in one place for half the day, lost in thought, shy and bashful…” 

Su Rong rolled her eyes. “Am I acting shy and bashful?” 

“Well, not exactly, but you do look unusually calm, completely lost in thought,” Yue Wan analyzed seriously. “What else could you be thinking about? Naturally, it must be Young Master Zhou!” 

Su Rong was speechless. She reached out and knocked Yue Wan on the head. “I see him every day; there’s no need to think about him. I was thinking about my mother.” 

“Oh? You’re thinking about Seventh Concubine?” Yue Wan sat down beside her and sighed. “She was such a kind person. It’s a pity she passed away so young. I was just a child back then, and now, after so many years, I can barely remember her face.” 

Su Rong’s memories of her mother’s appearance had also faded. When Nuanxiang Pavilion burned down, not even a single portrait was left behind. Over time, all she had left were vague impressions, growing fainter with each passing year. She asked, “Did Teacher Zhao ask about my mother?” 

Yue Wan shook her head. 

Su Rong was surprised. “She didn’t?” 

Yue Wan shook her head again. “She only commented that you don’t resemble Lord Su much and asked if you took after Seventh Concubine. I told her you did.” 

“And then?” 

“She mentioned that she once knew someone who bore some resemblance to you,” Yue Wan relayed, watching Su Rong’s thoughtful expression. Curious, she asked, “Miss, what’s on your mind?” 

“It’s nothing,” Su Rong shook her head and instructed, “I’m feeling a bit hungry. Go to the kitchen and bring me some pastries.” 

Yue Wan nodded and left immediately. 

Su Rong pondered over the matter. Teacher Zhao had served in the palace for half her life, attending to the Empress. If her mother had taught her proper court etiquette, then it must have been the real deal. Could her mother have come from the palace? And had the people who had been trying to kill her all these years been sent from the palace? 

As she was thinking, a young servant entered the courtyard and handed her a letter. “Seventh Miss, a letter for you.” 

Su Rong took it, opened it, read its contents, and then tossed it into the incense burner, watching the flames consume it. She then stepped out of the room and, just as she did, saw Yue Wan returning with a plate of pastries. Without stopping, she picked up a piece and said, “Tell Mother I have something to take care of and will be going out.” 

Yue Wan blinked. “Miss, when will you be back?” 

Su Rong glanced at the sky. “No need to wait for me for dinner. I’ll be back before bed.” 

Yue Wan nodded. 

Su Rong, long accustomed to sneaking out, scaled the wall effortlessly and headed straight to Zui’e Tavern, the location mentioned in the letter. When she arrived, Lan Niang was already waiting. Upon seeing Su Rong, she glanced at the door and gestured for her to close it. 

Su Rong shut the door and walked over. “What’s so urgent that you had to call me out?” 

Lan Niang lowered her voice. “It’s something big. About you.” She leaned in close, covering her mouth as she whispered in Su Rong’s ear, “Someone has arrived in Jiangning County in the past few days, investigating you in secret.” 

“Investigating what about me?” 

“Your origins.” 

Su Rong’s brows furrowed. “Who is it?” 

“I don’t know his background.” Lan Niang shook her head. “This person is very secretive. If it weren’t for you asking us to plan the trip to the capital a few days ago, I wouldn’t have mobilized everyone. With our usual laziness, we might not have even noticed him.” 

“What does he look like?” Su Rong asked. 

Lan Niang pulled out a scroll from her sleeve. “I had someone draw his portrait. He looks quite delicate and young, but his martial arts skills are incredibly high. Among us, perhaps only Feng Yue might barely be able to match him.” 

Su Rong nodded, took the portrait, and glanced at it. “Alright, I got it. Let him investigate as he pleases, but don’t alert him. Tell Feng Yue to follow him when he leaves.” 

Lan Niang nodded and looked at Su Rong. “Jiangning County is livelier this year than ever. I feel like you’re in more danger now. To be safe, should I arrange someone to protect you closely?” 

Su Rong shook her head. “As long as I stay in Jiangning County, no one can kill me. No need to send anyone. I’ll just be more careful.” 

At worst, she would simply stay inside the manor for the time being. 

Seeing her firm refusal, Lan Niang could only give up. “I’ve already sent some of our people to the capital. We haven’t made any moves in years. If we want to establish ourselves there, it won’t be easy in the beginning. At the fastest, it will take two or three months to settle down. We also can’t send too many people at once; too much activity will attract attention.” 

“Mm, there’s no rush.” Su Rong waved her hand. “I’m making preparations in case I marry into the Duke Protector’s household, but who knows if I’ll even end up marrying Zhou Gu? I’m just giving it a try. Tell them not to be anxious.” 

Lan Niang nodded and sighed. “I have no idea what kind of background your mother had, but she must have had a powerful enemy to be hunted so relentlessly.” 

Su Rong remained silent. 

“Lord Su isn’t your biological father, is he?” Lan Niang suddenly asked. 

Su Rong raised an eyebrow. “Would you treat a daughter who isn’t your own as if she were more precious than your own eyes?” 

“I definitely wouldn’t. But Lord Su… it’s hard to say.” Lan Niang studied Su Rong’s features seriously. “After all, you don’t really look like him.” 

Su Rong neither confirmed nor denied it. 

She knew the truth well. 

Lan Niang continued, “I heard that Mister Xie has returned. He treats you so well. Do you think he might know about your origins? He’s a capable man, yet he has willingly stayed in Jiangning for so many years. Why? It can’t really be just because he gets along with the lord, right? If you had asked me before, I might have believed that. But now, the more I think about it, the more I feel like he has been looking after you all these years. If not for him, Sanlou wouldn’t have let you get involved in making money. And when you sought his help to take us in all those years ago, not wanting anyone to know, he took on all the responsibility alone. I really think he stayed in Jiangning for you.” 

“He stayed for my mother.” Su Rong’s words were shocking. “He admired my mother, but for some reason, she became my father’s concubine instead.” 

Lan Niang was stunned. 

“I’ll find a chance to talk to Uncle Xie,” Su Rong said. She figured that in the past, Xie Yuan thought she was too young and didn’t tell her anything. Now that she had come of age, he should be willing to talk to her. 

Lan Niang nodded and sighed, “So even a man like Mister Xie couldn’t escape the trap of love. No wonder he has remained single all these years.” 

After finishing their business, the two of them continued chatting over dinner and even had a few drinks. When they finished eating, the sky was still bright. Lan Niang turned to Su Rong and asked, “I haven’t gone to listen to music in a while. How about we go? I heard your fiancé has already been dragged along by you to listen to music. He’s seen how ‘outrageous’ you can be. A late return shouldn’t be a big deal anymore, right? Can we go back to how things used to be?” 

In other words, was it okay to stay out late again? 

Su Rong shook her head. “I just went yesterday, not going again. You go by yourself.” 

“But didn’t you leave the brothel early yesterday?” Lan Niang asked. 

Su Rong frowned at her prying and replied irritably, “Zhou Gu was upset with me yesterday and got mad. I have to go home and coax him today.” 

Lan Niang laughed. “You? Coax someone?” 

“Of course.” Su Rong stood up. “I’m leaving.”