Su Rong understood the intentions of wet nurse Zhao, asking her to rely on the Crown Prince to confront the Nanchu Queen. She owed Yan Huisheng a life-saving favor, and he seemed to harbor protective feelings for her. Logically speaking, all these factors should weigh in her favor, and she shouldn’t reject them. But before Su Rong took any step, she needed to ascertain her true identity, to know how she should proceed and whether she should jump into the fray at all.
After all, accepting the goodwill of Yan Huisheng and continuing to interact with him, meant, in effect, tying their fates together in the same ship. Yet, Yan Huisheng himself was hardly in a secure position. The princes around him harbored vast ambitions and were watching him like tigers, waiting to unseat him. His circumstances were hardly better than hers.
She looked at wet nurse Zhao and finally spoke, "I understand your intentions Madam, and I appreciate your concern. However, you are getting older and should enjoy your twilight years in your hometown. You need not trouble yourself with my matters. As for the Crown Prince, let me think about it."
Wet nurse Zhao responded at once: "Before I came here today, I had already thought it through. I have lived long enough to have enjoyed all the blessings life had to offer. All those years I served Her Majesty, I was hardly accustomed to a life of leisure when I came back to my hometown. Although I have a respectful nephew and niece, I still feel restless and uncomfortable. As a result, I’ve been accepting some gigs instructing young girls in court’s etiquette. This was how the eldest son found me and hired me to tutor the seventh young miss. Therefore, I am wondering if the seventh young miss would allow me to continue my service by her side?"
Su Rong was surprised, "You want to follow me?"
Wet nurse Zhao nodded, "Indeed, I feel at ease being with you, which is my first reason. As the people of the Crown Prince have already reached out to me to deliver his message, I have, in all effects, been involved, and that’s my second reason. Furthermore, serving by your side, whether you choose to live a quiet life in seclusion or reside in a noble house, I believe my life experience would be helpful to you, and that’s my third reason. Considering these three points, young miss, I hope you could accept me."
Su Rong looked at wet nurse Zhao thoughtfully, "Staying by my side is very dangerous. I believe I mentioned that I have been a consistent target for assassins ever since my mother passed away. I fear the future might be bloodier."
Wet nurse Zhao shook her head, "I’m not afraid. I’ve been through all kinds of trials and tribulations while serving Her Majesty."
Su Rong questioned further, "But aren’t you afraid of involving your nephew and niece?"
Wet nurse Zhao responded, "I have thought it through. If I follow you, I will sign an indentureship contract with you and sever my relations with my nephew and niece. I would tell the others that I couldn’t resist the allure of riches and glory, hence chose to serve you. My nephew is an obedient child. He will definitely agree with my decision."
Su Rong was taken aback, she hadn’t expected wet nurse Zhao to have thought it through so thoroughly, leaving her momentarily speechless.
Wet nurse Zhao looked at Su Rong, "Seventh young miss, please accept me! The only worth I have is my intricate knowledge of the palace and noble houses, which you will no doubt find useful. With Moon Crescent by your side, she is too naive and inexperienced to handle such matters. Although the lady of the house will arrange dowry maids for you, you won’t find anyone as suitable as me in the whole of Jiangning County."
Su Rong, smiling and rubbing her forehead, agreed, "Alright!"
Wet nurse Zhao immediately burst into radiant smiles, "Thank you, young miss. From now on, I am at your service. I will draft the indentureship contract right away."
"There’s no rush." Su Rong raised her hand to stop her, "You go home first, and come back after Zhou Gu returns to the capital. At that time, we can consult Uncle Xie and my father to confirm my identity first."
Wet nurse Zhao nodded, "I saw Master Xie yesterday during your coming of age ceremony. It seemed like he recognized me."
Su Rong acknowledged her, "You can go now, Madam, let’s discuss these matters after Zhou Gu leaves."
If Grand Duke hadn’t revealed her identity to Zhou Gu, she assumed he had his reasons, and she would naturally not disrupt his plans.
After wet nurse Zhao’s departure, Su Rong remained seated and silent in her room for a while before getting up to find Zhou Gu. As she reached the door, she found that Zhou Gu had already arrived. She stopped in her tracks and looked at Zhou Gu.
The sun had just risen, bathing Zhou Gu in its warm glow. He was approaching her, and in her squinting gaze, he resembled a splendid sun coming her way.
His youthful countenance was extraordinarily clear. With his graceful demeanor, he appeared dignified yet flexible, like a pine or a bamboo, capable of making both the sun and the moon bow in respect.
Su Rong wanted to cover her eyes but couldn’t bring herself to do so. So, she looked straight at Zhou Gu.
Zhou Gu approached her, and looking at Su Rong doubtfully, he asked, "Are you heading out?"
Su Rong quickly regained her composure, shakes her head, "No, I was about to look for you. Since you are leaving for the capital soon, I wonder if there’s any place you’d like to visit today?"
When Zhou Gu heard this, a momentary look of regret flashed across his eyes. He pressed his lips together and sighed, "Su Rong, I have to leave today."
Su Rong went blank, "How come so soon? You didn’t mention it yesterday?"
Zhou Gu explained, "This morning, I received a letter from the Crown Prince. A decree to punish Jiang Sheng will be issued to Jiangzhou tomorrow. Having entrenched in Jiangzhou for over a decade, the Jiang family has a lot of entanglements behind the scenes. One of these involves the Marquis Nanping Residence. The Crown Prince intends to confine this case within Jiang Sheng and not involve the Marquis residence, so as not to drag the Crown Prince Residence into it. As such, this case wouldn’t gain much attention, something that the Emperor would not like to see and that would disadvantage the Crown Prince."
Su Rong understood. "So, you are leaving ahead of schedule for Jiangzhou?"
"Yes, I will go straight back to the capital from there." There won’t be time for another trip back to Jiangning County just to bid farewell.
Su Rong nodded, "Will we be starting right away? What about my elder brother..."
"Your elder brother will leave with Xie Lin in a few days. If I’m still in Jiangzhou by then, we can head to the capital together. If I have already left, he can go with Xie Lin. Xie Lin has just come to Jiangning County and doesn’t want to leave yet." Zhou Gu nodded, "We should start right away."
"Then shall I see you out of the city now?"
Zhou Gu nodded, without verbally objecting to Su Rong’s offer.
And so, Su Rong saw Zhou Gu off.
Zhou Gu’s people and luggage were ready, but because this was so sudden, Governor Su and his wife had no time to prepare. Mrs. Su apologetically said to Zhou Gu, "For the return gifts to the Duke Residence, they are all stored in the warehouse. How come you’re leaving so hastily? Can’t you spare some time to let me sort out the gifts and load them onto your carriage before you go?"
"The situation is urgent, I need to leave immediately. The return gifts prepared by aunt, why don’t you entrust them to my elder brother?" Zhou Gu replied regretfully, "I have to travel light due to an urgent matter, it’s really not very convenient."
Hearing this, Madame agreed, "Alright then, shall we allow Xiaoqi to see you out of the city?"
Zhou Gu nodded, "Yes."
And so, Zhou Gu bid farewell to Governor Su and his wife, and was escorted out of the city by Su Rong.
Su Rong rode her horse alongside Zhou Gu. When they reached the outskirts of the city, at Shili Pavilion, Zhou Gu pulled on the reins of his horse, "You can say goodbye here!"
Su Rong nodded.
Zhou Gu noticed she hadn’t said much during the journey and feigned nonchalance, "What, you don’t want to let me go?"
Su Rong smiled, "Yes."
Indeed, she was a little reluctant to part. She didn’t know when she would see him again.
Zhou Gu didn’t expect her to admit it so readily. He took a good look at Su Rong, not detecting from her countenance any of the emotions he associated with a young woman’s reluctance to part: shyness, hesitation, lingering sentiments. She showed none of these. He had no way of gauging whether Su Rong’s words were true or false. Her temperament was truly different from that of other girls.
He could only ask again, "Really?"
Su Rong looked serious, "Really."
Zhou Gu nodded, believing her this time. He replied seriously, "I, too, am somewhat reluctant to leave."
Su Rong laughed again.
After considering for a moment, Zhou Gu asked her, "Su Rong, do you wish to marry soon?"
Su Rong froze.
Zhou Gu didn’t look at her but gazed at the clear blue sky ahead. Two birds were chasing each other. He thought that if Su Rong said she wanted to, he would give up on his travelling plans, take the civil service examination this year and join the court in due course. After marrying Su Rong, he could perhaps secure a post far from the capital, which might allow him to take Su Rong with him. He could then help bring prosperity to local people. It wasn’t necessary to travel the whole country to truly understand the people’s livelihood. He could approach it in a different way.
Su Rong looked at Zhou Gu. The young man sat upright on his horse, full of vitality. She had come to understand him quite well after a month spent together. He was a raw gemstone dutifully cultivated by the Duke Residence and the Eastern Palace. He had a smooth journey so far, any complications would not fall on him directly. Assuming nothing unexpected happened, he would surely pass the civil service examination in the upcoming autumn, with his talent. Coupled with the support of the Duke Residence, his future was bound to be bright, filled with continuous advancement. Perhaps he might even leave his name in history.
At this moment, she seemed to vaguely understand the Duke’s intention for Zhou Gu to follow a civil path. The Duke Residence had achieved its culmination in military glory. To obtain higher honors except seizing the throne and becoming an emperor, there were no further possibilities. The Duke Residence wouldn’t betray their loyalty and sully their reputation as faithful and good officials in history. Zhou Gu, then, was to walk on another path.
This was the hope the old Duke held for him — to be a scholar-official who would make substantial contributions to the country.
She wasn’t sure if the decision to send Zhou Gu to the Eastern Palace to accompany the Crown Prince on his studies was born out of the old Duke’s arrangement back then. But if Yan Huisheng was the wise ruler favored by the Duke, then with Zhou Gu by his side, one a ruler and one an advisor, wouldn’t this mean a revival for Daliang?
What about her, then?
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