Drunken Flower Room - Chapter 84

From just one glance at her expression, the Matriarch knew that she was reluctant, who wouldn’t be? Not to boast, but with looks and character like Zhou Gu’s, you could search the world over by lantern light and still struggle to find another like him. If Su Rong were to truly marry him, it would be like stumbling upon a priceless treasure.

If Zhou Gu weren’t such a good match, how else could that cold-hearted, indifferent, and aloof girl end up strolling around the garden with him every night by the waterside pavilion?

She let out a snort.

“Then study hard and don’t rely on anyone else. Count on a pig, and it’ll run off. Count on people, and they’ll disappoint you. Depending on heaven or earth is no match for depending on yourself. Only then can you live a peaceful and happy life.”

Su Rong sighed.

“Alright, fine.”

Getting married was hard. Just living each day seemed hard too, so many things had to be handled personally. It almost made her not Want to get married at all.

That day, it wasn’t until dusk that the Su household finally quieted down.

Su Rong returned to the eastern wing and collapsed on her bed, arms and legs splayed out. She didn’t even feel like going to the front hall for dinner.

She told Yue Wan, “I’m exhausted. Go tell them I’m not coming to dinner. Have someone bring my meal here instead.”

Yue Wan nodded and left the courtyard.

When the Matriarch heard, she let out a half-laugh, half-sigh.

“It’s not even the actual wedding day yet, and all she did was help greet some guests. She’s already worn out.”

She turned to the Lord.

“Look at your daughter, she can’t handle the slightest bit of exertion.”

The Lord chuckled.

“It’s not that she can’t handle it. She just won’t. She doesn’t like being tired, so even a little bit is too much.”

The Matriarch shook her head, resigned.

“Alright then, have her meal sent over.”

As she gave the order, a thought occurred to her, and she looked at Zhou Gu.

“Oh, Zhou dear, it’s no fun eating alone. Why don’t you go and keep her company?”

Zhou Gu was momentarily surprised but then nodded.

“Alright.”

He was curious to see just how tired she really was, so tired she couldn’t even make the short walk over. He’d been in Jiangning for some time now and had never seen her skip out on anything because of exhaustion.

The Matriarch was delighted that he agreed.

“You haven’t seen where Xiao Qi lives yet, have you? Yue Wan show him the way, and walk steadily. Don’t spill the food.”

Yue Wan answered brightly,

“Don’t worry, Madam!”

She may not be good at much else, but walking steadily was her strong suit.

So, Zhou Gu left the table and followed Yue Wan, carrying the meal off to the eastern wing to keep Su Rong company.

Xie Lin watched Zhou Gu leave and clicked his tongue in amusement.

If it were in the past, Zhou Gu would never have gone out of his way to dine with a girl, let alone step into her private quarters. Things had clearly changed.

When Zhou Gu arrived at the eastern wing, he saw that although the courtyard wasn’t large, it was arranged with exquisite taste. Every kind of grass and tree was in its place, hardly looked like it belonged within the Lord’s estate.

He had been staying at the Su residence for a while now and found the whole place to be rather plain. Even the reception hall used for entertaining guests was simple. He’d assumed the entire residence was like that. He hadn’t expected Su Rong’s quarters to be so refined, almost lavish.

It was clear Su Rong was favored in this household, from head to toe, she carried herself with confidence that showed she had the run of the place.

Before they even reached the door, Yue Wan called out loudly,
“Miss, Young Master Zhou is here to dine with you!”

Su Rong had been half-asleep and sat up in a daze at the sound of her voice.

“What?”

Yue Wan repeated it again.

This time, Su Rong heard clearly. She froze for a second, then quickly got out of bed and walked out. Sure enough, she saw Yue Wan leading the way with a food box in hand, and Zhou Gu following behind.

She looked at him in confusion. The two of them didn’t have that kind of relationship, did they? Just because she skipped one meal in the front hall, he came all the way here to keep her company?

It wasn’t that Su Rong was overthinking Zhou Gu had never once shown any real affection for her as his fiancée. At most, he just didn’t reject her.

Zhou Gu noticed her puzzled expression and gave a light cough, looking slightly awkward.
“Aunt Su said it must be boring to eat alone, so she asked me to come keep you company.”

In other words, it wasn’t his idea to come.

Su Rong suddenly understood. Of course. There was no way Zhou Gu would voluntarily come just because he didn’t see her for one meal. It must’ve been her mother’s doing, probably took a lot of convincing, too.

Even so, even if he hadn’t come of his own accord, she felt a little pleased. She stepped aside and smiled,

“It is lonely eating alone. Thank you for coming, Brother Zhou.”

Zhou Gu was used to her calling him that by now. He glanced at her but said nothing and followed her into the main room.

The courtyard itself was already beautifully arranged, but once inside, the interior was even more refined, twice as elegant.

Su Rong noticed Zhou Gu quietly taking in the furnishings of the hall and casually offered,
“Would you like to take a look inside my room?”

Zhou Gu: “…”

He had never set foot inside a young lady’s private quarters. Even coming into this main hall had already pushed the boundaries. Though they were betrothed, it was still only an engagement, no formal wedding arrangements had been made by the elders yet. How could he enter her bedchamber?

He glanced at Su Rong but didn’t respond. Instead, he walked over to the table and sat down, his meaning clear: not going.

Su Rong smiled at him.

“You’re already here already seated. If we’re talking about what’s proper, the line’s already been crossed. Besides, it’s just me and Yue Wan here. Even if you did take a peek, who would know?”

Zhou Gu met her gaze. Ever since he arrived in Jiangning, every interaction with her felt like a quiet test – playing chess, racing horses, using him to take revenge, taking him to the brothel, even giving him those clothes. He didn’t believe for a moment that her behavior yesterday at the brocade pavilion wasn’t some kind of test too.

Now, inviting him into her room is this another test?

He didn’t move. Instead, he asked,

“Weren’t you exhausted? You seem rather energetic to me.”

“It’s mental exhaustion. Before you arrived, I was nearly asleep in bed. But now that you’re here, I feel much better.”

Then she looked at him playfully.

“Really not going to take a look? When I was seven, my last courtyard burned down in a fire. Now it’s completely gone. This one, who knows? I might accidentally knock over a candle again. By the time you next visit, there might be nothing left to see.”

She wasn’t joking. After all, the people who wanted her dead hadn’t given up. Who knew when they might strike again? She didn’t want to cause a stir with bloodshed, perhaps another fire would be the best way to ‘neutralize’ the danger quietly.

Zhou Gu, still half-suspecting ulterior motives, was startled by her words.

“Your last courtyard?”

Su Rong nodded, then told him how she had returned home after a fight, exhausted, and accidentally knocked over a candle. The flames caught in the wind and consumed the entire compound. When she finished, she asked again, teasing,

“So, Brother Zhou, are you sure you don’t Want to take a quick look?”

Zhou Gu hesitated for a beat but still shook his head.

“It wouldn’t be proper. Next time, maybe.”

Su Rong looked at him.

Zhou Gu paused, then added softly,

“Take care of your room.”

A gentleman must remain upright in all things. Even if no one else knew, there were lines that simply should not be crossed.

That was how Zhou Gu had been raised.

Since arriving in Jiangning, he’d already broken many of the old rules he’d learned growing up. But when it came to Su Rong—his betrothed—this was one boundary he dared not cross.

Like when she asked him to hold her. Or now, asking him into her private room.

Seeing that he remained firm, Su Rong didn’t push further. She sat down, leaning over the table, waiting for Yue Wan to serve the meal. But in her heart, she was quietly mulling things over.

He had readily accepted the clothes she gave him, but when it came to stepping into her room, he drew the line. Zhou Gu was a man with firm principles, inside and out.

From the Duke Protector’s mansion to the imperial study and now to the Eastern Palace, though still a youth, he was already polished like a fine piece of jade. Those who admired him—she was far from the first and certainly wouldn’t be the last.

She asked,

“So where did you all go today?”

“To Taoxi,” Zhou Gu replied, now more relaxed since she had dropped the subject. He leaned back in his chair, sounding lazily at ease.

“Took Xie Lin with us and introduced him to some people. Your brother helped broaden my horizons when I arrived, I figured Xie Lin should get a taste too.”

Su Rong smiled knowingly.

“Good brothers share blessings?”

Zhou Gu almost said, Who’s good brothers with him? But truthfully, if Xie Lin kept letting him take advantage, then maybe being “good brothers” wasn’t so bad. He nodded.
“And hardships too.”

“Do people like him as much as they like you?” Su Rong asked, smiling. She had heard that many of Jiangzhou’s young scholars now held Zhou Gu in high esteem, not because of his background, but because of his character and talent.

“He’s doing alright. He’s got some knowledge in that head of his, he didn’t sit through all those study sessions with the palace tutors for nothing.” Zhou Gu replied, offering a rare compliment.

Su Rong nodded thoughtfully.

“My parents both like Xie Lin.”

Zhou Gu had already noticed. He said carefully,

“Your parents wouldn’t be thinking of marrying one of your sisters off to him, would they?”

Su Rong shook her head firmly.

“No.”

Her parents were realistic. They understood that without an exceptional reason, none of the Su family’s concubine-born daughters could realistically marry into someone of Xie Lin’s station.

Zhou Gu let out a breath of relief. He had no desire to be related to Xie Lin by marriage, how could he shamelessly trick him then?