When they entered the Duke Residence, Zhou Gu marched ahead while Su Rong followed in his steps. As they left, Su Rong was in front with Zhou Gu behind. She didn’t quicken her pace, and neither did he.
The two maintained their silence until they reached the gates of the Duke Residence.
After crossing the threshold, Su Rong stopped and turned around to look at Zhou Gu. His face was impassive, neither icy cold nor dark as before; he no longer emitted the murderous aura, nor was he filled with fury. His ability to regain his composure so quickly was beyond her expectations. She had assumed that she would never see him again, once she stepped out of the Duke Residence. Little did she expect him to personally retrieve the marriage contract, watch as she tore it up, and even volunteer to see her out.
She speculated what might be going through his mind but couldn’t figure it out. Nevertheless, with the engagement annulled and the marriage contract torn to pieces, there was no need for conjectures. Hence, she laughed lightly and casually bid him farewell, "Brother Zhou, there’s no need for you to see me off."
Zhou Gu stopped in his tracks. There was a threshold between them, which seemed to mark their boundaries. Squinting his eyes, he asked her in an emotionless tone, "Who is the one you fell for during the time I was away in Jiangning County before you came to the capital?"
Without batting an eye, Su Rong didn’t hesitate to lie, "He is a young man who looks about two years older than you. I don’t know his full name yet, but I should find out soon. I will tell you when I do."
Zhou Gu nodded and replied, "All right, take care."
Slowly, she turned around and descended the steps, gradually distancing herself in the direction from which she had come.
Zhou Gu watched her leave. The slim silhouette of the young girl, stick straight and tall. Street sweepers swept fallen leaves on both sides of the street. She caught a leaf, only to throw it carelessly into a basket, letting it pile up with the rest of the leaves. When the sweepers compressed the leaves in the basket, the crunching sound of leaves being crushed filled the air.
He smiled involuntarily then turned to leave. Following him, the gatekeeper shut the gate with a bang.
In the pavilion, the Old Duke, Duchess Sheng An, and Lady Duke remained seated, waiting for Zhou Gu to return after seeing off Su Rong.
During this time, the Old Duke briefly discussed his conversation with Su Rong. Upon hearing it, both Duchess Sheng An and Lady Duke fell silent and sighed simultaneously.
They never expected that the King of Nanchu had such deep feelings. After so many years, he remained single and childless. Su Rong could very well be his only heir.
Lady Duke whispered, "Does Gu know of Su Rong’s background? Should we tell him, father?"
"Originally, I planned to tell him. But since the engagement is already off, let’s refrain." The Old Duke shook his head. "After the announcement of the exam results, he plans to leave the capital for a journey. Let him travel in peace. What difference will it make if he knows? Su Rong is determined. If she faces any trouble, the Duke Residence will offer help."
Lady Duke nodded in agreement.
Just as Duchess Sheng An was about to speak, she noticed Zhou Gu returning. She held her tongue. Any man who has been rejected would feel dejected, more so for a prideful person like him who had never suffered much adversity. Fearful that he may take it too personally and sulk, she beckoned him forward. "Gu, come to your grandmother."
Zhou Gu walked into the pavilion to Duchess Sheng An.
Standing up, Duchess Sheng An hugged him. "The bonds between people are determined by destiny. As Su Rong came to call off the engagement, it proves that there’s no fate between you two. Don’t take this to heart. It’s not because you’re not good enough but because she..."
Before she could subtly hint that Su Rong had other plans in mind and the Duke Residence wasn’t her choice, Zhou Gu interrupted, "It’s because she’s blind to the pearl before her."
Duchess Sheng An was taken aback but quickly recovered, "..."
At least he’s strong enough to blame her. Better that than letting himself suffer.
She nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes. That girl indeed doesn’t know a good thing when she sees one. My dearest grandson is the best. In the future, you will marry a girl who is even prettier than her."
Zhou Gu fell silent again.
Duchess Sheng An figured he must be upset and patted his back reassuringly, "Be a good boy. There will be."
She released Zhou Gu and instructed Lady Duke, "You hug him too."
Ever since her son Zhou Gu was sent to the Eastern Palace to accompany the Crown Prince in his studies, the Duchess had not held her son. Previously, she would complain that he was too rowdy and disruptive, but now her heart ached for him. She moved forward to hug him, saying, "One’s life is long, and for young men like you, who hasn’t experienced the highs and lows of love? It’s like stepping over a threshold, lift your foot, and you’ll have moved past it."
Zhou Gu thought of the moment when Su Rong stepped over the threshold of the Duke Residence and turned back to tell him "wait". He pulled up the corners of his mouth slightly but said nothing.
The Duchess could feel his displeasure, but he was trying his best to endure and restrain himself. She patted his back in approval, "You were very good today. Young men of our Duke Residence, no matter when, should never lose their manners. You were able to politely escort that little girl out, everyone could see it. After the news of your canceled marriage spreads out, no one can blame you, accusing you of being ill-mannered."
She let go of Zhou Gu, speaking earnestly: "Mother thinks you did very well. Now that she’s gone, if you want to cry, just let it out. We’re family, no one here would laugh at you."
Zhou Gu silently looked at his mother for a while, then said, "Would grandfather hug me too? If he would, then I won’t cry."
The Duchess was taken aback, looking towards the older Duke.
The older Duke had always been strict with Zhou Gu. Since the time of Zhou Gu’s early education, he never had the heart for doting on grandchildren, instead preferring to apply the military doctrine of discipline through the rod. He had resorted to his military baton to tame each of his rowdy grandsons. It had been many years since he had last held any of them.
The eldest princess of Sheng An chuckled, coaxing the old Duke to action, "Quickly get up and hold our dear grandson. He did very well today and deserves a reward."
The old Duke’s beard trembled as he snorted coldly, "Did well? Who was it that marched into my study with the young girl in tow, slammed his hand on my table without a word of explanation? I am not so old as to be forgetful yet."
Zhou Gu remained silent, just staring at him.
The old Duke snorted again, stood up, walked towards Zhou Gu and gave him a brief embrace. Despite this, he was scolding Zhou Gu all the while, "You imp! What’s the big deal? A real man should be able to let go as easily as he can grasp. That’s how the young men of our Duke Residence should be. Those who can wield the pen are regarded as bringing peace to the realm, those who can ride the horse are said to establish an unchanging world. Don’t be so sentimental, lest you make a fool of yourself."
"Since when are the young men of our Duke Residence able to wield the pen to bring peace and ride the horse to create an unchanging world?" Zhou Gu questioned.
The old Duke let go of him and declared righteously, "Starting with you."
Zhou Gu closed his mouth.
Was this praise for his talents in both civil and military arts? He should be pleased, right?
He was tired, "Xie Lin has been asking me for a drink for a few days now. Since I’ve nothing to do today, I’ll go and join him."
The old Duke waved him off, "Go, go on. Now that you’re not crying, don’t go crying in front of others and embarrass yourself, making yourself a laughingstock."
"I’m not going there to cry, but to settle scores with him. And while I’m at it, I hope he never marries Qin Luan, or someone like her." Zhou Gu turned and walked away.
The old Duke: "..."
He warned him out of concern, "No fighting, and don’t cause a disturbance that upsets His Majesty."
Zhou Gu merely hummed in response before leaving.
After coming out of the exam room, Xie Lin rested at home for two days. Once he recovered his energy, he started to go out, soliciting drinking buddies. He felt that his safe exit from the examination was worth celebrating, despite the results not being released yet.
The Rui’an Queen even gave her son five thousand taels from her personal purse so that he could relax and enjoy himself.
Armed with the money, Xie Lin was eager to invite people out for drinks. He had been asking Zhou Gu for several days but was always rejected. After checking, he found out that Zhou Gu had been staying in the residence, not going out, and was practicing so hard with the guards that they were all sweaty. If not for the fact that Zhou Gu had said "the exam went well" the day he left the exam room, Xie Lin would have thought that he failed and was planning to join the military instead.
Just as he was thinking about who to invite out for drinks today, a report came from his gatekeeper saying: "Young Master Zhou asked if you would like to go out for drinks?" He immediately jumped out of bed, announcing, "Yes, yes, yes, tell him to wait, I’m going out to meet him right now."
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