Drunken Flower Room - Chapter 9

Xie Lin and Zhou Gu walked side by side. After a long stretch of stunned silence, Xie Lin kept sneaking glances at Zhou Gu, wracking his brain about which prominent families might reside in Jiangning County. Despite his efforts, he couldn’t think of any. 

Breaking the silence, Xie Lin initiated the conversation. “Hey, your grandfather really arranged a marriage for you in Jiangning? Which family?” 

Zhou Gu didn’t want to tell him, but knowing Xie Lin would likely find out anyway, he feigned nonchalance. “The Seventh daughter of the Jiangning Prefecture Lord’s household.” 

“Jiangning lord Su Xu? Doesn’t he only have a legitimate son and no daughters?” Xie Lin’s shock deepened. 

“That’s right. My fiancée is the Seventh daughter, born to his seventh concubine,” Zhou Gu replied, his heart tightening, though his expression remained calm. 

“A concubine’s daughter?” Xie Lin was incredulous. 

“So what if she’s a concubine’s daughter?” Zhou Gu snapped. He could mock himself, but he wouldn’t tolerate others doing so, especially not Xie Lin. He frowned. “There’s a saying: ‘Heroes aren’t judged by their origins.’ My fiancée has excellent character, a great personality, and stunning looks. Her background? It’s irrelevant.” 

Xie Lin was speechless for a moment, staring at Zhou Gu in disbelief. “Are you out of your mind?” 

A concubine’s daughter as a fiancée, and Zhou Gu wasn’t just accepting of it but outright defending her? This was the Fourth Young Master of the prestigious Duke Huguo’s household, someone who could marry a princess if he wanted. 

“Why would I be crazy?” Zhou Gu countered, his tone lazy yet pointed. “Let’s not forget, Qin Luan is the daughter of a criminal. She was demoted to servant status, yet you still wanted to marry her.” 

“Well… that’s true,” Xie Lin admitted, though something about the comparison felt off. After a moment’s thought, he argued back, “But Qin Luan was at least raised as a noblewoman. She might be the daughter of a criminal now, but she was once a proper lady of a prominent family.” 

“The label of a criminal’s daughter can stick for life, but my fiancée’s situation is different. Even as a concubine’s daughter, she’s still the legitimate Seventh daughter of the lord’s household,” Zhou Gu said, suppressing the blood rising to his throat. Forced to defend a woman he had never met, he even brought Qin Luan into the argument for comparison. It was agonizing, and he felt a twinge of guilt toward Qin Luan. 

Xie Lin seemed somewhat convinced but continued to sneer. “What’s there to be proud of? Marrying a concubine’s daughter, are you honestly thrilled?” 

Grinding his teeth, Zhou Gu maintained a smug expression. “You haven’t seen my fiancée, have you? She’s breathtakingly beautiful, like a lotus in full bloom, effortlessly elegant, soft-spoken, and brimming with charm.” He rattled off a string of exaggerated compliments about a woman he hadn’t met, determined not to let Xie Lin ridicule him. “I can hardly wait to meet her.” 

Xie Lin remained skeptical. “Really? A small town like Jiangning can produce someone as refined as the noblewomen of the capital? Is she more beautiful than the Princess Duanhua?” 

Princess Duanhua was the only daughter of Princess Qingping, who shared the same mother as the emperor. She was beloved by the emperor and known for her beauty. She also fancied Zhou Gu and would show up wherever he went. Unable to bear her persistence, Zhou Gu often went out of his way to avoid her. 

Hearing Xie Lin mention Duanhua, Zhou Gu’s face stiffened. “Why bring her up?” 

“She’s gorgeous and adores you. But you keep dodging her. Seeing how much you seem to like your fiancée, I naturally have to ask, can she compare to Duanhua?” Xie Lin teased. 

“In my eyes, my fiancée is flawless and unquestionably the most beautiful. Don’t mention Duanhua again,” Zhou Gu shot back immediately. “If you do, I’ll fall out with you.” 

“Do I look scared?” Xie Lin said, his expression darkening. 

“If you bring her up again, I won’t reconcile with you,” Zhou Gu warned. 

Xie Lin wanted to retort, Who wants to reconcile with you? But he still had questions for Zhou Gu, so he begrudgingly dropped the subject. “When did you even meet your fiancée?” 

“Last year,” Zhou Gu lied without hesitation. 

Xie Lin’s anger flared. “If you like your fiancée so much, why did you fight me for Qin Luan?” 

Zhou Gu thought to himself, Who wanted to fight you? But since the deed was done, he sighed, “Let’s just say I had a lapse in judgment. Didn’t like the look of you back then.” 

“You scoundrel!” Xie Lin shouted, his fury boiling over. 

“I’ve already admitted I was wrong. What more do you want?” Zhou Gu said, exasperated. 

Xie Lin huffed, “This isn’t over.” 

Zhou Gu offered a placating smile. “Fine, fine. After I get to Jiangning, I’ll help you find someone suitable, someone like Qin Luan.” 

“I don’t want that,” Xie Lin snapped, rejecting the idea outright. 

“Don’t be so stubborn. Qin Luan is in the Eastern Palace now. She’s not coming back,” Zhou Gu said, attempting to console him. “There are plenty of fish in the sea.” 

Xie Lin’s face darkened further. “Even if I’m stubborn, it’s better than being as deranged as you.” 

A concubine’s daughter as a fiancée, what’s there to show off about? If it were him, he’d hide it for fear of being ridiculed. Xie Lin concluded that Zhou Gu’s mind was certainly not functioning properly. 

Half a day later, the group had traveled a hundred li, arriving at the foot of Mount Dafu. Zhou Gu and Xie Lin parted ways, with Zhou Gu continuing his journey. 

Xie Lin watched Zhou Gu and his entourage disappear into the distance, a grand procession of carriages and horses. Zhou Gu, perched atop his horse, looked every bit like a bird freed from its cage, exuding a jubilant energy as if he couldn’t wait to soar straight to Jiangning. A hint of envy crept into Xie Lin’s voice as he turned to one of his guards. “I want to go to Jiangning too.” 

The guard looked puzzled. “Your Highness, why would you want to go to Jiangning?” 

You don’t even have a fiancée there. 

“I just want to go there and have some fun,” Xie Lin admitted, his heart itching with longing. “Do you think if I tell my mother I want to visit Jiangning to relax, she’ll let me go?” 

The guard had no idea whether the princess consort would agree and offered no opinion. 

Xie Lin sighed. “Let’s finish the pilgrimage with Mother first. Afterward, I’ll pester her, maybe she’ll give in.” 

As they passed the hundred li mark, Li Yan, one of Zhou Gu’s attendants, began to feel the weight of Zhou Gu’s journey to Jiangning sink in. 

Zhou Gu, meanwhile, was stewing in the aftermath of his exaggerated claims to Xie Lin. The thought of his fiancée being unimpressive and giving Xie Lin ammunition to mock him gnawed at his pride. Unable to suppress his unease, he called Li Yan over. “Tell me honestly, your Seventh Lady, is she pretty?” 

Li Yan nodded immediately. “She’s beautiful.” 

“How beautiful?” Zhou Gu pressed. 

“She’s the most beautiful girl in all of Jiangning. I’ve never seen anyone who surpasses her,” Li Yan replied earnestly. 

Zhou Gu felt slightly reassured. As long as she was beautiful, he thought, at least one of his boasts about his fiancée would hold up. “What about her temperament?” 

Li Yan hesitated briefly, recalling her fiery temper, but decided to paint a softer picture. “She has a great personality.” 

Zhou Gu relaxed a little more. “How does she handle social situations?” 

“She’s poised and confident,” Li Yan answered, thinking of her bold and fearless nature. 

“Good,” Zhou Gu nodded. “As long as she’s not overly timid or small-minded. Is she bullied in the magistrate’s household, being the seventh-born?” 

If she were often bullied, it might mean she was too soft, a quality Zhou Gu wouldn’t tolerate in a wife. 

Li Yan didn’t hesitate. “Not at all.” 

Not being bullied was an understatement. If anything, others would count their blessings if she left them alone. Li Yan thought of the Seventh Miss’s reputation for running rampant in the household. She practically ruled the roost. 

“Are you telling the truth?” Zhou Gu asked sharply. 

“I swear it,” Li Yan replied hastily, eager to convince him. 

Satisfied, Zhou Gu decided that his fiancée might just be presentable enough after all. Shifting his focus, he asked, “What’s fun to do in Jiangning? Be thorough.” 

Li Yan quickly detailed the local attractions. “Jiangning is famous for its ‘One Mountain, Two Rivers, and Three Towers.’ The mountain is Phoenix Mountain, home to a thousand-year-old flame tree where flocks of birds gather. The rivers are Peach Creek and Maple River. In spring, Peach Creek’s banks bloom with vibrant peach blossoms, attracting poets and scholars for wine-tasting gatherings. In autumn, the Maple River is filled with falling leaves that turn the waters crimson, a stunning sight when paired with the setting sun. 

The three towers are Zui Tower, Fengyue Tower, and Rouge Tower, each offering unique entertainment, often hosting artistic competitions. Right now, it’s June 10th. The Seventh Miss’s coming-of-age ceremony is on July 8th. While you might miss the spring and autumn scenery, you can still visit Phoenix Mountain. If you stay longer and the timing works out, you could even catch one of the towers’ competitions.” 

“Who would’ve thought such a small place like Jiangning could sound more entertaining than the capital?” Zhou Gu mused. 

Li Yan refrained from mentioning the less elegant escapades of the Seventh daughter, like sneaking out of the magistrate’s estate as a child. First, it was through dog holes. 

 When the holes were blocked, she used ladders to climb the walls. After the walls were heightened, she acquired a grappling hook. The household eventually gave up, letting her do as she pleased. 

Li Yan stole a glance at Zhou Gu, noting his handsome features. On looks alone, the Seventh daughter was indeed a good match for him. However, her unruly nature left him apprehensive. If the two clashed, would she even stand a chance against Zhou Gu in a fight? 

No, no, that wasn’t the right question. The question should be: Would Zhou Gu even stoop to fighting a woman? 

Zhou Gu was known for taking on armed opponents and coming out unscathed, even defeating Xie Lin and his guards single-handedly. It was a testament to his formidable upbringing in the renowned Huguo Duke’s household. 

The Seventh Miss, on the other hand, often came away with injuries after her altercations. On that score alone, she couldn’t compete. If Zhou Gu did fight women, she might not stand a chance. 

Li Yan frowned, troubled by the possibilities.