The Duke Residence was enormous, and the servants inside were very well-disciplined. Upon seeing Su Rong, they uniformly greeted her, calling out "Lady Su Qi," even though it was her first visit. They all obviously recognized her.
Zhou Gu led the way with large strides, seemingly exuding rage down to every strand of his hair. Without turning his head or slowing his pace, he seemed to disregard whether Su Rong could keep up with him.
Of course, Su Rong was able to keep pace. She also had swift footsteps, and because she had learnt decorum from the wet nurse Zhao for a long time, even with the fast pace, the adornment on her head barely trembled. As she wasn’t accustomed to wearing jewelry, she didn’t create a string of crisp, clinking sounds like Duanhua Princess did while walking.
Zhou Gu strode directly into his grandfather’s study, the old Duke. He didn’t even bother observing the usual etiquette today, hollering "Grandfather" before pushing open the door to enter.
Just as the old Duke was about to scold him for his lack of manners, he saw Su Rong at the door. The words died on his tongue. Before he could even manage to smile, he was dumbfounded by his grandson, who slammed the marriage certificate onto his desk with an icy voice, "Grandfather, this is the arranged marriage you set for me since childhood. I’ve carried the title of her fiancé for over a decade, yet now I’m being returned like an unwanted product. I’ve done nothing wrong, so I won’t break off this engagement. You forced me to marry her against my will back then, and I accepted. If you force me to break off the engagement now, then I will leave Duke Residence and no longer consider myself a member of our family."
The old Duke’s eyes widened upon hearing this.
Standing at the doorway, Su Rong felt a shiver run down her spine.
Inside and outside of the study, everything fell into a profound silence after Zhou Gu had finished speaking.
The old Duke stared at the contract on the table, rendered speechless for a long while. Once Zhou Gu had expressed his stance, he turned around with a poker face, coldly gazing at Su Rong.
Su Rong had imagined countless scenarios. In all of them, she believed Zhou Gu might be angry, unhappy, feeling like beating her up, feeling extremely hurt, confronting her with questions of why. But she never anticipated that when the real moment came, he would react like this. He not only disagreed to break off the engagement, but also threatened to leave the Duke Residence to pressure the old Duke into submission.
It was something she couldn’t have predicted.
She stood frozen in place, her mind buzzing, completely flustered. After Zhou Gu took the initiative, she was left speechless, unable to utter a single word.
The old Duke knew his grandson well. He was the first to react and roared out, "Nonsense!"
This shout seemed to have no effect on Zhou Gu, but it landed like a blow on the head for Su Rong, who was standing outside the door.
Su Rong quickly gathered her wits, bracing herself to stand at the door and salute, "Younger generation Su Rong, pays my respects to Elder Duke."
The old Duke rose and walked to the door. He instantly hid his anger and adopted a gentle and affectionate demeanor, smiling, "Little girl, finally you’ve come for a visit. Come in!"
Su Rong found the old Duke’s friendly attitude, and the fact that he even stepped out to welcome her, made the situation even more complicated. But she forced herself to composure and replied with a smile, "My apologies for making such a late visit."
She didn’t explain why she had taken so long to visit. The wise knew that her late visit was a signal to the Duke Residence, to prepare them for her intention to break off the engagement, so that they wouldn’t be caught off guard.
But she didn’t expect Zhou Gu to be waiting for her at the main entrance of the Duke Residence and confront her with a fierce ultimatum, turning the tables on her.
She had some regrets. According to Zhou Gu, he didn’t want to marry her initially, and it was the old Duke who forced him to go to Jiangning County. Now that he wanted to marry her, she came to break off the engagement. If she had known this, she would not have been so enthusiastic about the Madam’s advice in Jiangning County.
"Not late at all," the old Duke signaled Su Rong to enter the study for a conversation. He invited her to sit, chit-chatting about everyday matters, as if nothing had happened. He didn’t glance at the divorce letter on the table. "Heard that you made the journey to the capital alone?"
"I brought guards with me."
The old Duke nodded, "On your first day in the capital, you were invited to the Princess Residence by the little Duanhua?"
"Yes."
The old Duke smiled, "How’s your stay in the Princess Residence these past few days?"
Su Rong also replied with a smile, "It’s been great. The character of Princess Duanhua is quite different from the rumors. She’s very easy to please, and the princes and princesses are very kind. My room is mostly in the Cangjiao Pavilion, shared with the Princess. The kitchen staff prepare all kinds of delicious meals. I’ve been well accommodated."
Rubbing his beard, the old Duke remarked, "That’s quite rare. You must know that the three people of the Princess Residence are the most difficult to deal with in this capital. Princess Qingping has a hot temper and likes to throw her weight around. The prince seems gentle, but he’s not really. He’s got many plans up his sleeve. As for Duanhua, that little girl has inherited Qingping’s temper. She is very hard to control when she makes a scene. It’s quite an achievement that you have managed to be cordially hosted by all three in the Princess Residence."
Su Rong was slightly embarrassed, "It’s my first time visiting the capital. I’d heard rumors about the Princess Residence of Qingping, and indeed I didn’t expect to be so highly regarded by the Princess Residence."
The old Duke chuckled, "The people of the Princess Residence are not easily placated with just a few words. You must have done or said something, right?"
The topic looped back around.
In just a moment, Su Rong had already regained her calm, secretly marvelling at the sophisticated old Duke.
She nodded, and truthfully said, "When the Princess had stopped me, I told her I was coming to the capital to dissolve the marriage. At first she didn’t believe me, but seeing the sincerity in my words, she was convinced. Initially, I had no intention of staying at the Princess Residence, but my guard and I were tempted by the exquisite hibiscus cakes served there. Hence, we volunteered to stay at Princess Residence. It was quite unexpected."
At this, Zhou Gu, who was sitting beside her, became even colder.
The old Duke merely nodded without any change of expression on his face, and jovially asked, "Anyhow, after living at the Princess Residence for quite some days, do Princess Qingping and Duanhua still want you to dissolve the marriage?"
Upon contemplating the old Duke’s direct questions, Su Rong shook her head, "Princess Qingping subtly hinted that even if the marriage isn’t dissolved, she wouldn’t trouble me. But Duanhua insisted that I think it over carefully. Otherwise, I would’ve announced it the day after the scholarship test."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Gu’s expression turned even colder.
The old Duke looked to the marriage certificate, "Girl, does that mean you’ve made up your mind?"
Su Rong nodded.
"Without the influence of the Princess Residence?"
"Without their influence."
"What about now?" The old Duke kindly looked at her, and then glanced at his grandson’s icy face, "just now, you also heard what my good-for-nothing grandson said. Would you like to reconsider and change your decision?"
Su Rong fell silent.
The old Duke wasn’t hurry, "Initially, when he wanted to join the military, I firmly made him follow the path of literature. That’s the first matter. When your mother and I arranged the marriage, he disagreed. But I forcefully held him down and commanded him to marry you. He then went to Jiangning County to foster feelings with you. That’s the second matter. There is a proverb which says, things only happen twice and not thrice. Now if you ask for a divorce and I once again forcefully ignore his wishes and make him agree to your divorce, then he would resist me and leave the Duke Residence."
Having finished, the old Duke took a deep sigh, "But, whatever it may be, it’s not your concern. Though I follow the proverb that things only happen twice and not thrice. However, if you really want a divorce, I’d naturally agree. I would follow your intentions. As for my grandson, I could deny his existence. And as for Duke Residence, it could be the same without him."
Su Rong choked on her words, cornered and unsure of what to do next.
Her entire body felt numb. She was prepared for everything, but she hadn’t expected to be taken by surprise. Zhou Gu didn’t say much, but his words had her cornered. But the old Duke said he’d follow her wishes. Her wishes? If she divorces, Zhou Gu is to leave the Duke Residence!
She raised her gaze to meet Zhou Gu’s.
Zhou Gu, with a cold face, returned her gaze. He was icy, saying no more, just silently waiting for her decision.
Su Rong thought, Zhou Gu is someone who sticks to his words, and of course the old Duke is too. She wanted a divorce so as not to involve Zhou Gu and Duke Residence. But Zhou Gu is going to leave the Duke Residence now, wouldn’t the old Duke’s lifelong efforts of grooming him and deciding his path to ensure the prosperity of the Duke Residence be wasted?
The study was as silent as a tomb.
After a long silence, Su Rong finally spoke, "Old Duke, you..."
"You can call me Grandfather Zhou." The old Duke kindly corrected her.
Compliantly, Su Rong corrected herself, "Grandfather Zhou, let him leave. I’d like to talk with you."
Old Duke Zhou looked at Zhou Gu, "Leave."
Zhou Gu sat motionless, and sneered at Su Rong, "What do you want to discuss with my grandfather? I’ve made myself clear, whatever you say, it won’t work. The engagement was settled without my consent, so it’s only fair that you cannot dissolve it without my approval. If my grandfather agrees to divorce, I will leave the Duke Residence. After that, I will forcibly marry you, letting you taste how it feels to be forced into a marriage." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶
In other words, if you dare to divorce, I would dare to leave Duke Residence, and then there would be no one to constrain me. If I want to take you, I will.
Su Rong’s breathing hitched, "Zhou Gu!"
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