The next day, Duanhua stopped being troublesome, looking displeased as they set out to return to Capital City with Zhou Gu.
Zhou Gu still rode his horse in the front. Duanhua sat in the carriage. In her current willingness to return to the capital, Zhou Gu naturally no longer had Ziye bind her. With the exception that she couldn’t turn back to Jiangning, all the freedom she deserved was granted to her.
After Duanhua stopped behaving madly, she noticed the young man who followed Zhou Gu. She asked her maidservant, "Who is that?"
The servant spoke in a low voice: "Your Highness, I heard that he is from the Governor’s Residence of Jiangning... no, the eldest son of the Inspector’s Residence in Jiangzhou."
Little Master Zhou Gu had made it clear yesterday that the Governor of Jiangning had been promoted to Jiangzhou’s Inspector.
Duanhua raised her voice, "Is that the elder brother of the low-born girl?"
The maidservant nodded.
Duanhua’s face darkened, "What a trick by Zhou Gu, it seems that he is quite satisfied with that low-born girl, otherwise why would he bring her brother into the Capital City?"
The servant said in a low voice: "The eldest Master Su is coming to the capital to take the Imperial Examination, which is due this autumn."
Her implication was that even if Little Master Zhou had not brought him into the capital, he would have been on route anyway.
Duanhua scoffed, "The Imperial Examination is a big deal, I wonder how much he weighs."
The maidservant hesitated for a moment, and still said: "I heard that Master Su is very talented, he has quite a reputation in the Jiangzhou area."
"There are many talented people, but they also need to be lucky." Duanhua was unimpressed, "He is handsome, probably the young low-born girl has a charming face too, that’s how she enchanted Zhou Gu."
Bitterly, she thought, Zhou Gu had prevented her from going to Jiangning County, then when they arrived in the capital, she would show him whether he could still control her or not. If she could not see that low-born girl, isn’t her brother readily available? Don’t blame her for being ruthless, it serves him right to be the brother of that low-born girl.
The maidservant looked at Duanhua’s fierce face and felt a chill, keeping silent.
Duanhua did not speak again, plotting silently in her heart.
Su Xingze had no idea that Duanhua had taken a dislike to him because of his sister Su Rong, he treated Zhou Gu as he always had, indifferent as if making Zhou Gu believe that his previous disinterested attitude was just a delusion.
The journey was not delayed any longer, three days later, they arrived at Capital City.
Su Xingze looked at the gate of the capital city, thinking that this was the Capital City. If he scored high in the Imperial Examination this autumn, he would strive to stay here.
After entering the city gate, Zhou Gu pulled the horse’s rein, inviting Su Xingze, "Master Su, why don’t you come to my house first and stay for a few days before moving to Master Xie’s house? After all, no one has lived in that house for many years, it needs cleaning."
Su Xingze shook his head, "That house is still under supervision and not deserted. I have already sent someone in advance to inform them, so there is no need to clean. I can move in as soon as I enter. I will visit Duke Residence another day."
Zhou Gu was helpless, "Alright then!"
Xie Lin laughed and said: "Brother Su, you should also come to my house another day."
Su Xingze nodded, "Sure."
The three men separated at the city gate. Su Xingze took his people to Xie Yuan’s house. After he left, Zhou Gu and Xie Lin returned to the Duke Residence and Rui’an King’s Residence, respectively.
No one was paying attention to Duanhua anymore, the guards from the Princess’s Residence escorted her back to Princess Qingping’s abode.
Zhou Gu had sent a letter home from Jiangning County giving an approximate return date. However, waiting for Su Xingze delayed their return by two days. So the people from Duke Residence were delighted to see him when he finally arrived.
Housekeeper Chen Bo greeted Zhou Gu with a beaming smile, "Young Master Zhou, your trip to Jiangning took quite a long time, even this old servant missed you."
When Zhou Gu was studying in the study, he used to go home every day. Then, he was kicked out to the Eastern Palace to accompany the Crown Prince. Grand Tutor Qin arranged a courtyard for him in the palace for his convenience. The longest time he was trapped at the palace which lasted half a month. This time, he was gone for over a month, which was a record for him.
"Housekeeper Chen, I just left home for a month, how is it that your white hair has increased? Could it be, just as you said, you missed me?" Zhou Gu smirked.
Chen Bo’s smile stiffened. He touched his hair and pulled a long face, "Young Master Zhou, you’re being unlovable again."
Zhou Gu laughed cheerfully, "I have brought back some specialty products from Jiangning and some return gifts from the Governor’s Residence of Jiangning. Master Su asked me to bring them back and will come to visit another day."
Chen Bo nodded with an indifferent face. He didn’t bow to Zhou Gu, directly turned around and left briskly.
Zhou Gu returned to his Frosty Forest Garden.
As always, Frosty Forest Garden was immaculately clean. After Zhou Gu took a bath, he suddenly remembered something, and exclaimed, "Ziye."
"Young Master." Having been relieved of his daily duty of keeping an eye on Duanhua Princess, Ziye felt relaxed.
Zhou Gu directed, "Go find Zhou Xi and have him send over my things."
Ziye puzzled, "Young Master, isn’t that redundant? He will naturally send over your things!"
"Just go and tell him, Zhou Xi will understand." Zhou Gu waved his hand dismissively.
Ziye, utterly confused, left.
Zhou Xi was helping Uncle Chen unload the carriage when Ziye arrived. He asked Ziye what his business was. When Ziye relayed Zhou Gu’s message, Zhou Xi immediately laughed and said, "Tell the Fourth Young Master not to worry. I will personally bring it to him later."
Ziye nodded, leaned in this ear, and whispered, "What is it? The Young Master specially asked me to find you."
"It’s the fabric Lady Su Qi gifted to the young master. Ten sets of new clothes have been made from it, and the remaining fabric, she said, was to make his autumn and winter clothes." Zhou Xi whispered back.
Only then did Ziye understand. He muttered, "I missed a lot by not being by the young master’s side."
"Indeed. Our Fourth Young Master gets along quite well with Lady Su Qi." Zhou Xi thought to himself that the marriage was a done deal, there was no way out. The old duke’s decision to send the Fourth Young Master to Jiangning turned out to be absolutely correct. The Fourth Young Master no longer talks about not marrying.
Ziye was resentful, "It’s all Duanhua Princess’ fault that I couldn’t accompany Young Master."
Zhou Xi sighed, "The Duanhua Princess certainly won’t just sit back and take this."
Ziye had a "the young master will protect me anyway" expression. He muttered, "She is indeed a mad woman. Although she is a highborn princess, she is far inferior to Lady Su Qi."
Lady Su Qi was such an interesting person. In his eyes, she was superior to Duanhua Princess in every way, except in terms of family background.
"Shh, no more talking. Be careful of eavesdroppers." Zhou Xi made a silencing gesture. The Duke Residence was not airtight, and the emperor did not allow it to be. There were spies from the palace in this Residence, so they were always cautious in their conversations.
Ziye nodded, saying regretfully, "Jiangning was better."
He had initially thought the Duke Residence was quite nice, but after spending some time in Jiangning, he realized just how great Jiangning was. At the Governor Residence in Jiangning, there were negligible restrictions and much fewer rules and regulations. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶
Thus, there certainly were benefits to being part of a smaller, less significant family. There was a pleasing comfort that no aristocratic families could offer.
Zhou Xi nodded earnestly. As far as the living environment of the Governor Residence was concerned, who wouldn’t like it? Accompanying the young master, he had lived in the Governor’s Residence from start to finish, which was extremely comfortable.
After bathing, Zhou Gu changed into a new set of clothes and went to see the Old Duke.
The Old Duke noticed some changes in him. After his trip to Jiangning, there seemed to be a slight change in Zhou Gu. They couldn’t pinpoint what had changed, but they could sense it. The Old Duke gave Zhou Gu a longer look before asking, "How was your trip to Jiangning?"
"It was fine." After bowing, Zhou Gu sat down and took a sip of tea.
The Old Duke gave a smile, "You have traveled to Jiangning and met people. After spending some time together, what are your thoughts on your engagement to that young lady?"
Zhou Gu really wanted to say, "I have no thoughts," but he couldn’t say that anymore.
He looked at the Old Duke, feeling frustrated. Just like the time when he wanted to join the army with his brothers but was sent to the Imperial College, the Old Duke seemed to know that even if he made a fuss, he could be made to obey, so he would behave. Now, it seemed that the Old Duke had his mind made up that he would not refuse again.
This feeling of being controlled made him feel fettered each and every time he faced the Old Duke. Just the mere desire to rebel would evoke the realization that he no longer had any reason to resist.
Just like when he was kicked to the Eastern Palace, he saw that the Crown Prince was overloaded with daily lessons. Even late into the night, the Crown Prince was still diligently studying. Zhou Gu was ashamed of how remiss he had been, so he unconsciously began to follow the prince’s footsteps and become diligent in his studies.
Before leaving the capital, he was completely against getting married. But after his trip to Jiangning and spending time at the Su Family’s residence, he found that he no longer wanted to call off the wedding. Not only that, when he was leaving Jiangning County, Su Rong saw him off at the Shili Pavilion outside the city. He asked her, "Do you want to get married soon?" The fact that he asked her this question made it clear to him that he had actually hoped she would say yes. So when she said she was in no hurry, he felt strangely upset.
This sense of discomfort led him to ride away without saying more.
Seeing Zhou Gu fall silent, the Old Duke pressed, "Why aren’t you saying anything?"
Zhou Gu put down his tea cup and said expressionlessly, "She said there’s no hurry."
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