The mistress exclaimed, "Have you gone mad? What’s wrong with Zhou Gu? You actually want to cancel the engagement?"
Su Rong sighed, not that there was anything wrong with Zhou Gu, but rather, he was too good. She said, "After much thought, I still feel like we’re not very compatible."
"How are you not compatible?" the mistress pressed.
"Our personalities, our backgrounds, and the paths we’re to tread in the future." Su Rong emphasized the last point, seriously saying, "Mother, Uncle Xie also shares my viewpoint, thinking we’re not really suitable."
The mistress had a lot to say, but hearing that Xie Yuan shared Su Rong’s point of view, all her words got stuck in her throat. If it was just Su Rong’s idea, she would think the girl had gone mad and would definitely scold her. Where could she find such a good marriage proposal? But if Xie Yuan also supported it, she couldn’t scold her anymore.
She looked at Su Rong, choked up, but still said, "Zhou Gu is so good. The youngest son of a prestigious family, he is loved by thousands. His upbringing is even better than that of a legitimate son or grandson from a worldly family. It’s so rare and precious. If you let him go, it would be hard to find another like him."
Su Rong nodded, "I know."
The mistress was angry, "You know, and still..."
Su Rong sighed, "Mother, my background makes me destined not to be satisfied with drinking water to quench my lust." She glanced at herself, still wrapped up like a dumpling, "Zhou Gu has his path to walk, and I have mine. At present, it seems impossible to walk together, why bother getting ourselves into trouble, and eventually reach a point of dilemma in the future?"
The mistress was not a fool. Listening to Su Rong, even though she wasn’t making herself very clear, the mistress understood. For a moment, she was left speechless.
Su Rong smiled at her, "Mother, it’s not a big deal. You always say that I’m heartless. You’re not wrong. I don’t take romantic love too seriously. Zhou Gu and I haven’t reached that point yet. It’s not too late to withdraw now."
Seeing the mistress looking upset, Su Rong quickly changed her tone and added, "You only see the goodness in Zhou Gu and the Duke Residence, but have you ever thought, one day when my biological father comes to fetch me and I reclaim my status, I’ll have plenty of young men to choose from? Who is to say there won’t be better ones?"
The mistress couldn’t help but laugh out of exasperation, pointing a finger at Su Rong, "Did you really mean what you just said?"
"Of course."
The mistress glared at her, seeing her indifferent expression, her dissatisfaction slowly faded away. She said unhappily, "There are only a few famous unmarried young masters in the world that you can count on one hand, and Zhou Gu is one of them. You’re not even trying for it, and giving up early. What if you regret it in the future? You won’t even have a place to cry."
"No." Su Rong shook her head, "Even if I regret it, I’ll accept it."
At least it was better than knowingly jumping into an abyss, hurting both herself and others, and shrouding others in unrighteousness.
Seeing Su Rong speaking so resolutely, clearly determined, the mistress didn’t know what to say, "Fine, if you want to cancel it, then cancel it! Your father told me, back then it was your mother who actively sought the touch of the Duke Residence. If you want to cancel it now, the Duke Residence will not make things difficult for you."
"Yeah." Su Rong nodded, "The old Duke is a man of character, and I don’t think he will make it difficult for me."
"What about Zhou Gu?" The mistress thought Zhou Gu was good, and it was a great pity to cancel the engagement.
"Zhou Gu probably won’t either." Su Rong said, "When he first arrived in Jiangning, he saw me and seemed a bit disgusted. Later on, I didn’t see him showing any disgust, but neither did he show any particular liking for me."
After all, that day, she tried to test him, asking him for a hug, but he didn’t agree. Even if she had never eaten pork, she had seen pigs run. He certainly didn’t act like a man in love.
Also, when she saw him off that day, she didn’t see him being particularly reluctant to part with her. His attitude towards her seemed indifferent at most, not particularly fond of her.
The mistress thought carefully and felt that Zhou Gu’s attitude towards Su Rong, besides asking her not to be too strict with Su Rong, didn’t seem any different from usual. The two of them seemed more like playmates, their relationship was harmonious, but lacked the tender love between a young boy and girl.
The mistress was experienced in these matters and felt that since the two of them didn’t have many feelings for each other, Su Rong’s decision to cancel the engagement shouldn’t hurt Zhou Gu too much. So, she nodded, "As long as you have thought it through. After all, it’s your life. You’ve been headstrong since you were a child, and I can’t control you. If you ever have to cry out of regret in the future, you better cry in secret and don’t let me see."
Su Rong didn’t think she would cry in the future, but she still nodded, "Don’t worry, mother. If I ever have to cry, I’ll certainly do it in your arms."
The Madam laughed and reproached, "Have some shame!"
After scolding her, she unhappily added, "Zhou Gu brought gifts to congratulate you on your hairpin ceremony. Since you want to break off the engagement, you need to return them."
Su Rong nodded, "They should be returned."
"Should your older brother deliver them? To help you return them?" the Madam asked.
Su Rong shook her head, "No, I will return them myself. Zhou Gu is also participating in this year’s imperial examination, I plan to wait until the examination results come out and then personally go to break off the engagement. Even though it might not cause him heartache, it is better not to affect him."
The Madam sighed, "Originally, I prepared some gifts for the Duke Residence to return their good gesture. Your older brother is supposed to visit the Duke Residence and meet his in-laws when he enters the capital. But with you wanting to break off the engagement, it’s not appropriate for your elder brother to visit anymore, right?"
Su Rong shook her head, "Send the gifts you have prepared for the Duke Residence with my older brother as usual, and let him make regular visits as a relative. After all, my older brother will inevitably trouble the Duke Residence with his trip to the capital this time. I will handle the matter of the marriage dissolution myself. My older brother doesn’t have to worry too much, let him focus on the examinations."
The Madam nodded, "Alright. It’s better not to turn hostile. If it turns hostile..."
She stopped at this point, shaking her head, feeling that what Su Rong said was right, "The Duke Residence surely wouldn’t come to that."
Three days for the average person would fly by, but for Su Rong, who was confined to bed with injuries, it was like an eternity. She had never been so severely injured before and felt inconvenience everywhere.
Doctor He from Huichun Hall came every day to change her dressing. With nurse Zhao watching over her, Su Rong was disciplined in her recovery. Three days later, when Su Xingze was about to leave, Su Rong could barely get out of bed.
Early in the morning, Su Xingze came to see Su Rong. Seeing that she could get out of bed, he was greatly relieved, "Seventh sister’s recovery is going quite well."
Su Rong credited Nurse Zhao, "Nurse has taken good care of me."
Nurse Zhao laughed on the side, "It’s because the seventh young lady is obedient."
Su Xingze thanked her, "Thank you for your hard work, nurse."
Nurse Zhao waved her hand repeatedly, saying it was no trouble. Knowing the brother and sister had something to discuss, she excused herself to prepare medicine for Su Rong.
After Nurse Zhao left, Su Xingze looked at Su Rong and asked her, "Mother mentioned that you want to break off your engagement?"
Su Rong nodded, "Hmm."
Su Xingze looked at her, "Are you sure?"
Su Rong nodded again.
Su Xingze paused for a moment, "Zhou Gu is quite impressive, if you really break off the engagement with him, it will be quite a pity."
Su Rong raised an eyebrow, "Brother, are you trying to persuade me?"
Su Xingze shook his head, "No, I never really thought you and Zhou Gu were very compatible to begin with, as there’s a significant difference in your social statuses. But after meeting Zhou Gu, I felt that you two complement each other well. But now that we know your identity, considering the current political situation, if you really marry Zhou Gu, it might be troublesome for the Duke Residence, but it would be beneficial for you. After all, the Duke Residence is a great support. If you abandon it, it’s like losing a shelter. And you need that support now, considering the power of the Nanchu Queen and the Nangong Family, as well as the Nanchu royal family..."
"The Duke Residence has been a military household for a hundred years, loyal to Daliang. I can’t let them go astray for me. It’s not that I think highly of myself, but it’s necessary to consider the Duke’s Residence. And Zhou Gu, you also said he’s very good. Because he’s good, I can’t drag him into a quagmire and let him get burdened with troubles. The Duke’s Residence has paved a path of success for him. He only needs to protect the Crown Prince and he will definitely rise to prominence in the future. As for me? The future is uncertain."
"Moreover, my mother expended her heart and soul, ruined her own life, to save Daliang. As her daughter, even if I don’t inherit her ambition, shouldn’t I maintain the Great Wall of Daliang? The Duke Residence, this protective wall of Daliang, cannot fall. The Emperor greatly mistrusts and is envious of those with power and benefits, and, no disrespect intended, he’s old and won’t live for many more years. As long as the Duke Residence remains stable and the benevolent Crown Prince takes over Daliang, it will give Daliang a fresh face. I can cooperate with the Crown Prince, that’s enough."
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