Xie Lin felt that something was off today. After Su Rong sent off Zhou Gu, she seemed to not have returned home. At dinner, she was absent, and both the Governor and Madam Su seemed to lack appetite, eating only a little before putting down their chopsticks. Su Xingze, however, seemed normal, but he seemed too quiet for Xie Lin’s liking.
After dinner, Xie Lin quietly asked Su Xingze, "Brother Su, has something happened? I noticed both the Governor and his wife seem a little upset."
Su Xingze smiled, "Zhou Gu’s departure and Su Qi’s stay at the Xie Residence made my parents feel a bit weird, but there’s nothing to worry about."
Xie Lin nodded, puzzled but thinking it inappropriate to ask why Su Rong was staying over at the Xie Residence.
Back in his room, Xie Lin called over his personal guard, Qing Feng. "Go and quietly find out if anything unusual happened at Su’s today. I have a feeling that something’s up."
Qing Feng answered affirmatively.
Xie Lin lay back on the bed, thinking that with Zhou Gu gone, Jiangning County was not as fun. What a strange realization.
After some investigation, Qing Feng returned and spoke softly to Xie Lin, "Young Master, Lady Su Qi went to the Xie Residence after seeing off Zhou Gu. Soon after her arrival, a doctor from Huichun Hall was called for. Not long after, the Governor rushed to the Xie Residence. When he returned, Madam Su and Su Xingze also went to visit, but both returned home in time for dinner. As the security at Xie Residence is quite tight and I was careful not to be discovered, I couldn’t investigate any further."
"Are you saying that Su Qi fell ill after seeing Zhou Gu off?" Xie Lin sat upright on his bed.
"That seems to be the case," Qing Feng replied.
"Why would she go to the Xie Residence? Why didn’t she return home?" Xie Lin asked. "Could it be because I’m staying at the Governor’s Residence? Do they fear I might find out?"
Qing Feng nodded. "That’s a possibility. They all know how close you and Young Master Zhou are. Perhaps they’re trying to keep this from Zhou Gu, afraid you might tell him."
Xie Lin laughed disparagingly, "Who is close with Zhou Gu? I’m not the type to gossip."
He rubbed his chin, thinking, "Ordinarily, Su Qi is full of energy, she doesn’t look ill. I did hear rumors that she often gets into fights and gets injured. Could she have fought with someone after seeing Zhou Gu off and got hurt?"
Qing Feng asked, surprised, "Lady Su Qi enjoys getting into fights and getting hurt? Who told you that?"
"Jiang Sheng’s daughter, Jiang Yunying. On the day of Su Qi’s hair-pinning ritual, she stopped me to chat. She spoke in a roundabout way, but that was essentially what she said." Xie Lin sneered, "I thought it was quite absurd at the time. Why on earth was she telling me this? However, when I asked Zhou Gu about it, he said that Jiang Yunying and Su Rong don’t get along. Apparently, the Jiang family had to present a large number of apology gifts to Su Rong during her hair-pinning ceremony. Yunying was likely both jealous and resentful, but she dared not say anything to Su Rong’s face, so she expressed her frustrations through me, probably to concern Su Rong."
Understanding dawned on Qing Feng, "So, it’s true that Lady Su Qi likes fighting with others?"
"Perhaps!" Xie Lin was amazed himself. Did the gentle and delicate-looking Su Rong actually enjoy fighting with people?
He wanted Qing Feng to investigate further, but he reconsidered. Su Rong was Zhou Gu’s fiancée, so his constant probing might be inappropriate, especially given everyone in the Su Residence had been so kind to him. He was living in their house, eating their food, and drinking their wine, yet secretly investigating their business. What would people think of him if they found out? Where would he place his face?
So, he dismissed the idea, "Okay, forget about it. You can go."
Qing Feng nodded and left.
Xie Lin lay back down on the bed, wondering if Su Xingze would delay his trip to the capital. He pondered where he could go for entertainment tomorrow.
The next day, when Su Xingze suggested he would delay his trip to the capital until Su Rong recovered, Su Rong disagreed, "Big brother, you should go to the capital as early as possible. You can’t heal my injury for me, so what’s the use of staying at home? You should set off early, get accustomed to the new environment, and interact with the other scholars. Comprehending the rules of the examination is what you should be doing."
After speaking, she solemnly added, "My past is not something to be proud of. It’s troublesome. You must do well in the exam this autumn. I hope to rely on your support in the future!"
Su Xingze replied, "Even if I depart a few days late, I can still succeed in the exams."
While Su Rong admired his confidence, she remained adamant, "That’s still not acceptable. You should leave early. It’s always wise to prepare in advance. If you’re rushed or something unexpected happens, it will be too late."
Seeing her insistence, Su Xingze went along with it, "You don’t want to see me every day, do you?"
Su Rong was unfazed, "Who wants to listen to you recite history to me during my recovery?"
The day before, after Madam Su left, she thought he would say something to her. To her surprise, however, he had someone fetch a scroll of Nanchu history from Xie Yuan’s study and began reading it to her. Yes, she should have been more familiar with the history of Nanchu Country as it was her ancestral history and essential for her to understand Nanchu. But it wasn’t something she had to learn while recovering, was it?
God knew how much she wanted to chase him away while he was reading history to her yesterday.
Su Xingze chuckled, "Alright, I will set off in three days."
Although this was two days later than expected, Su Rong was relieved to hear his agreement and responded, "Okay!"
The next day, news arrived in Jiangning County that the Inspector of Jiangzhou was implicated in the murder of the Crown Prince. The evidence was indisputable, leading to the execution of his entire clan.
The imperial edict arrived suddenly. The officials in and around Jiangzhou had not heard a whisper of it. Jiang Sheng was astonished by the imperial edict; he was deathly pale and continually claimed his innocence when the imperial soldiers came to arrest him. Despite his protests, they did not imprison him. Instead, they took him directly to the Vegetable Market, where they announced his thirty-five serious crimes, including plotting the Crown Prince’s murder, and beheaded him on the spot.
Five of the charges were based on the testimony and evidence provided by Jiang Xing’s father. In recognition of the Jiang family’s decision to act righteously by exposing their kin, the Imperial Court investigated thoroughly and asserted that the family had taken no part in oppressing the common people. Consequently, the crimes were pardoned.
When the Lady-in-Waiting visited Su Rong, she mentioned the execution of the Jiang family and observed Su Rong’s expression, "Did you know about this in advance? Is that why you told me to keep the substantial gift from the Jiang family?"
"Yes," Su Rong nodded.
"Did Zhou Gu tell you? He mentioned that he had important business in Jiangzhou. Was it related to Jiang Sheng?" The Lady-in-Waiting asked.
"Yes."
The Lady-in-Waiting sighed, "Unexpectedly, Jiang Sheng, who has been over your father’s head for many years, was suddenly implicated and executed. I heard that Lady Jiang and Jiang Yunying cried miserably before they died. I remember vividly how they arrogantly scolded you in front of me."
Su Rong did not spare any sympathy for the Jiang family, "He dared to take sides early, plotting against the Crown Prince. He should have anticipated the consequences of failure."
The Lady-in-Waiting nodded, "Indeed, he deserved the punishment for plotting against the Crown Prince. I wonder who the Imperial Court will appoint as the new Inspector of Jiangzhou? I wonder whether they will be easy to get along with."
Su Rong replied, "They will definitely be easy to get along with."
The Lady-in-Waiting looked at her suspiciously, "You know again? Did Zhou Gu also tell you this?"
Su Rong nodded.
"Who is it?" The Lady-in-Waiting asked. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
Su Rong smiled at her, "My father."
The Lady-in-Waiting was dumbfounded.
She was shocked rather than pleased, "How is that possible? Your father will not leave Jiangning County!"
Su Rong looked at her astonished expression and sighed, "Mother, my father has been lingering in Jiangning County for many years, just for my sake. That’s enough. Since the Crown Prince has promoted him, how can one refuse promotion? Didn’t you always say that my father is unreliable? Now that he has become reliable, you should be happy. With my father becoming the Inspector of Jiangzhou, my sister’s marriage matters will also be settled more easily."
The Lady-in-Waiting huffed, "I was just saying; what is there to be happy about? If he leaves
Jiangning County, he will not be able to protect you."
Getting restless, the Lady-in-Waiting asked, "Is this true? Has the Imperial Court really decided on your father? We need to hurry and get your father to decline before the edict arrives."
"Mother," Su Rong stopped her, "Times have changed. I have decided to go to the capital once my injuries have healed. Therefore, there is no need for my father to remain in Jiangning County."
"Are you planning to go to the capital after your injuries heal?" The Lady-in-Waiting paused in her tracks.
Su Rong nodded.
"What are you going to the capital for? Even if we are discussing marriage with Duke Residence, we should wait for them to come to us," The Lady-in-Waiting was puzzled.
Su Rong wanted to say, "I am going to the capital to annul the engagement," but she was afraid of upsetting the Lady-in-Waiting, as she had genuinely started thinking of Zhou Gu as her son-in-law these past few days.
Suddenly, the Lady-in-Waiting’s expression changed. "I heard from your father that you directly told Zhou Gu that you were not in a hurry to marry him. Are you thinking of..."
Su Rong let out a breath, it turns out her father had prepared the Lady-in-Waiting for the news. Facing her inquiring gaze, she nodded, "Yes, I plan to personally visit them and annul the engagement."
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