The night was deep and tranquil, the slits of the window let in a few threads of wind, making the candle sway occasionally. Under the warm candlelight, Zhou Gu faintly saw a moment of tenderness in Su Rong’s eyes. When he looked closer, the young girl sitting across from him was just smiling lightly, her gaze serene, as if that split second was just his illusion.

He looked away, his eyelids drooping as he asked in a dull voice, "Any books? Could you read with me for a while?"

Su Rong nodded, "Yes, I think so. Let me find one."

She stood up, left the inner chamber, walked through the drawing room to the lattice room in the outer court, and indeed, there was a bookshelf lined with many books. She picked out a travel book and several sketchbooks, and folded them to bring them back.

She handed the travelogue to Zhou Gu, then sat down with a sketchbook.

Zhou Gu took the travelogue and asked Su Rong, "Do you know why I love reading travelogues?"

Su Rong guessed, "A dream of being a wandering knight?"

Zhou Gu shook his head, "No, it’s because I plan to travel after the examination results are announced."

Su Rong was taken aback, "You’ve taken the civil service examination, aren’t you going to serve in the court?"

To her knowledge, children of noble families usually would travel to broaden their horizons in their teenage years. Most of them would leave at the age of twelve or thirteen and return two or three years later either to take the civil service exam or to work as an official recommended by someone. However, some people didn’t want to be officials and continued their family businesses. In any case, they would leave quite early.

"I’ve been studying with the Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace for the past few years and haven’t had the chance to travel. I wanted to get out and see more, to better understand the lives of ordinary people, which will help me be a better official in the future." Zhou Gu explained, "I’ve discussed it with my grandfather, the Crown Prince also agrees, and Grand Tutor Qin has no objections. So, after the release of the examination results, regardless of my ranking, if His Majesty grants me an official position, I will postpone taking it. My grandfather will discuss this with the Emperor."

Su Rong understood, "It really works this way."

"Others can’t do it, but I can. His Majesty will allow this exception," Zhou Gu said softly.

Su Rong thought to herself that it was true. For others, it might be impossible, but for Zhou Gu, his noble status made things much easier. Even if the Emperor had reservations about the Duke Residence, he would concede to such minor things. "So how long do you plan to travel?" she asked.

"Two or three years, perhaps!" Zhou Gu was uncertain, "And it’s not just about traveling. I intend to go to Jibei first to investigate whether the Pingxi General’s Residence is illegally maintaining troops on its own. Anyway, wherever I go, I will still be doing some work for Crown Prince."

Su Rong nodded, "That’s a good idea indeed. Staying in the capital can be restrictive, while once outside, with the wide world in front, it’ll be easier to accomplish things."

Zhou Gu nodded, lowered his gaze to the travelogue in his hand.

Seeing his conversation halted, Su Rong too, picked up a sketchbook and started to flip through.

The room was quiet, the two sitting facing each other, accompanied by the sounds of pages flipping and the candle wick crackling.

Zhou Gu didn’t really have the mood to read, but he didn’t want to leave, nor did he want to let Su Rong go. However, he heard Su Rong turning the pages rapidly, just like in Jiangning County, as if she was reading intently, completely unaffected. It felt as if a hole had been poked in his heart, so deep that it was impossible to fill.

Nevertheless, he still didn’t want to leave.

It took him a long while to turn each page, sluggish in comparison with Su Rong’s quick pace. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

After what felt like an eternity, the sound of the night watchman’s call came from outside. Zhou Gu was startled, only to realize, to his surprise, that it was already the hour of the three watch. He put down the travelogue, which he had only read a few pages of, releasing himself and letting go of Su Rong, he said, "Let’s go."

Su Rong nodded and put aside her sketchbook.

Before leaving, Zhou Gu cast a glance back, noticing he had only covered seven or eight pages in the travelogue. Meanwhile, Su Rong, with her four sketchbooks, had gone through two and a half.

With that, he retracted his gaze and stepped out of the room.

After coming out from the back yard of the reception area, Su Rong turned back to look at Zhou Gu, "Right here shall be our goodbyes. After all, the Duke Residence and Shen Residence are not on the same path."

Zhou Gu wanted to ask her, ’Is it us who are not on the same path?’ But why ask something that they both understood? So he simply nodded in response, "Alright."

Su Rong waved her hand and was the first to leave.

Zhou Gu stood in place, watching her quickly blend into the night, her figure disappearing. The breath he had been holding evaporated, and he leaned back against the wall behind him. The deep black of the night, the chilling surface of the wall, made his heart feel equally dark and cold.

Su Rong deftly evaded the patrols and returned to the Shen Residence, climbing over the wall and sneaking into her own courtyard.

Pushing open the door and stepping over the threshold, she detected a presence in the room and gripped the sword at her side tightly.

It was Su Xingze who spoke, "It’s me."

Su Rong relaxed and entered the room, asking softly, "Big brother? Why aren’t you sleeping, but guarding my room instead, and why didn’t you light the lamp?"

Su Xingze struck a spark to light the lamp, looking at her he enquired, "Why are you only returning now?"

Su Rong sighed helplessly. It was because of this that she would never allow him to accompany her to Nanchu. If not for her face resembling their mother’s so much, and the deep friendship between Shen Xian and Uncle Xie being common knowledge, their brother-sister duo being looked after by her might still seem plausible. She actually didn’t want to live in the Shen Residence. Living with her older brother was inconvenient, and she preferred to stay in the Eastern Palace. Although the rules of Crown Prince Yan Huisheng’s Eastern Palace were strict, it allowed her to remain unconstrained, free from the burden of her brother’s concern.

One look at Su Rong’s expression and Su Xingze knew what she was thinking. He explained, "It’s not that I want to control you excessively, but the Capital City is dangerous. Tonight, I simply couldn’t sleep. When we were in Jiangning County, I never reprimanded you for your nights away, did I?"

Su Rong instantly composed herself, reflecting on her own behavior. She also explained to him, "I went to the Eastern Palace and was there for an hour. When I left, I ran into Zhou Gu, and sat in the guest house for another hour. That’s why I returned late."

She softened her tone to reassure him, saying earnestly, "Big brother, you really don’t need to worry about me—you know. I have five hundred shadow guards who came with me. As long as I don’t cause an uproar here in the Capital City, I can protect myself."

Su Xingze understood, massaging his temples, "I truly couldn’t sleep tonight. I wanted to talk to you and only after coming here I discovered you had gone out. I was wondering why, unlike usual, you had slept so early. Turns out you were not at the residence."

Not feeling sleepy herself, Su Rong decided to sit down and chat, "The Crown Prince called for me today after hearing Ye Guixue at the Duke Residence. He guessed that I might be the one he’s engaged to and wanted to discuss some things. I should’ve returned early. I didn’t expect to meet Zhou Gu waiting outside the Eastern Palace and got delayed until now."

Su Xingze looked at her, "What did Zhou Gu... want to do with you?"

"Nothing really, he intended to ask me something but ultimately didn’t," Speaking of Zhou Gu, her voice softened, "He is incredibly smart. Just as the Crown Prince guessed, so could he. He said that after the announcement, he’d go on a journey. He only wanted me to accompany him for a while to read."

Su Xingze was also surprised, "Why would he go on a journey after the announcement?"

Su Rong relayed Zhou Gu’s exact words.

Su Xingze understood.

Su Rong fiddled with the candlewick, "Big brother, he’s not in good shape. There’s still some time before the announcement, see him more often, talk to him. I hope he can let go and walk his path unhindered, not being trapped by me. That’s not what I want."

Su Xingze remembered the banquet day at Rui’an King’s Residence, Zhou Gu seemed alright then, merely a bit quieter. Now with Su Rong saying this, he must not be doing well, he nodded, "Okay, I will talk to him."

Su Rong shook her head, "No need to persuade him, just chat with him. He probably doesn’t want to hear advice. Be it the old Duke, Princess Sheng An, the Duchess, or himself, there are already plenty of people doing that."

Su Xingze agreed, "Okay."

Su Rong smiled and looked at Su Xingze, "Since I accepted Ye Guixue’s betrothal gifts, I cannot let him down. So, I’ll leave this matter to you, big brother."

One cannot simply enjoy the benefits of ten thousand troops without repaying them.

Su Xingze sighed, "Okay, leave the matter to me."

The light in the drawing room brightened somewhat. Su Rong stopped fiddling with the wick. Something seemed to occur to her, she asked again, "Have you written to our parents and Uncle Xie?"

"Not yet," Su Xingze shook his head, "I think it would be better for you to personally inform them about your engagement to the Second Young Master Ye."

Su Rong agreed, stood up and laid out some paper and ink, "I will write a letter now and have someone send it to Jiangzhou early in the morning when the city gate opens." When the thought had settled, she added, "I’ll just write to Uncle Xie, he’ll show it to our parents."

Su Xingze knew of her laziness—she even found writing one extra letter troublesome—he nodded helplessly.