Just thinking about that day, Xie Lin surely remembered Zhou Gu was indeed hit hard by the fruit. He suddenly fell silent, could one think of the event in such a way? But at that time he was really angry.
He ought to be not much worse than Zhou Gu, why didn’t anyone throw fresh fruit at him? That period of time made him question, where did he fall short in conduct? Why was he not favored by anyone?
Hearing Zhou Gu’s reasoning now, he also found it reasonable. What’s so desirable about getting hit by fruit? Why was he eager for it? And he held a grudge against Zhou Gu for a long time because of it.
He rapped on his forehead, humming, "It was a brother’s mistake, let me apologize to you, let’s have a drink."
"You ought to drink three cups as a penalty." Zhou Gu glanced at him.
Xie Lin faltered, "Now, wait! You know that my alcohol tolerance isn’t great, if you were to make me pass out from drinking, then you wouldn’t have anyone to talk to."
Zhou Gu thought it right, raising his glass, he clinked it against Xie Lin’s, "then you should sip it slowly!"
Xie Lin nodded, "A fine wine like this, should not be gulped down, it would be a waste. It’s still early, let’s drink slowly." Fully apologetic, he decided to accompany Zhou Gu until both were drunk, "I apologize, brother, I really let you down. I didn’t think much of it at the time; I didn’t think you would really end up being unable to marry."
Zhou Gu sniffed, in a bad mood, "I really should have found you a real one at the Green Building that day. Maybe that would have counteracted your curse."
Xie Lin had nothing to say, that day, he got drunk at the Zuihua Building, Zhou Gu seemed to be reading the "Records of the Grand Historian" while waiting for him to sober up, he had not played a prank on him, it was fully admirable. His guilt deepened, "I will never curse you carelessly in the future, if I ever let it slide again, let me stay single for life, living and dying alone."
Zhou Gu gave him a slanted glance and said nothing.
"I’m completely serious, you know that in my family, there’s a throne that is hereditary, I cannot stay single for life. I’m absolutely sincere about this." Xie Lin repeatedly expressed his stance.
He was not like Zhou Gu. Zhou Gu had a legitimate elder brother, the title of Duke’s residence would be inherited by his elder brother, and without legitimate brothers in his family, the throne of Rui’an King Residence was his as long as he didn’t make any huge errors.
Zhou Gu finally nodded, "Alright then!"
"So, you forgive me?" Xie Lin asked him.
Zhou Gu pointed at the alcohol in front of him, "I will forgive you if you finish drinking this today."
Xie Lin grimaced, "That’s a lot, will it not become the death of me?"
"No." Zhou Gu reached into his pocket and placed a small square box in front of him, considerately saying, "There are hangover pills in here, have one when you feel you can’t handle it."
Xie Lin’s eyes widened, "I already feel dizzy."
"Then have one now."
"What after it’s over?"
"Keep drinking after it’s over."
Xie Lin: "..."
He now realized Zhou Gu came specifically to settle scores today, not only intending to spend all his money but also to make him drunk to death, only then will this matter come to an end.
He silently opened the box and took out a hangover pill, shoved it into his mouth and nodded at him, recklessly saying, "Fine, I’m going to keep you company today no matter what."
Zhou Gu scoffed, "Despite all your talk about risking your life, you have such a strong survival instinct."
Xie Lin was choked, muttering, "Isn’t there a saying? If you want money, I don’t have, but if you want life, I can give mine. Today, you spent so much of my money, you’ve taken a part of my life. Now, for some time, I won’t have money to go around eating and drinking. I’m too embarrassed to ask my mother for money again."
Zhou Gu reminded him, "No, you still have a hundred taels."
Xie Lin: "..."
Should he be glad? He felt joyful when he heard that there would be a hundred taels left as the cashier returned his money bag.
After leaving the Duke Residence, Su Rong didn’t go anywhere else, she went back the way she came, directly returning to the Princess Residence.
The housekeeper was delighted to see her return, "Miss Su, you’re back so soon? The princess had just sent someone to check on you, saying that she would personally go find you if you didn’t return by noon."
Su Rong thought that she would worry about her if she went searching everywhere, that’s why she came back directly. She smiled, "Once the matter was taken care of, I naturally returned. She said she would keep me here for a couple more days, I dare not refuse her. Otherwise, your princess doesn’t take kindly to refusal."
The housekeeper chuckled, "Our princess likes you, I’ve seen the princess grow up, I have never seen her treat anyone like she treats you."
Su Rong pursed her lips in a smile, "She loves to have fun, and so do I."
The housekeeper nodded, personally accompanying Su Rong as she was escorted back to the Cangjiao Pavilion. He stopped at the entrance and told her, "Ever since you came to the princess residence, our workload has lightened up. Listen to the princess and stay a few more days. If you feel stifled here in the residence, we’ve got a few estates in our princess residence. Now is the time when fruits and melons are ripe, you can go and stay there for a while to clear your mind."
Su Rong smiled and nodded, "Alright."
Seeing her agree so readily, the housekeeper joyfully ended the conversation and buzzed off to his duties.
Duanhua, hearing the commotion outside, dashed out of her room, shocked at the sight of her, "How did you return so quickly? Did the Duke Residence kick you out?"
Su Rong thought that she had probably misunderstood greatly about the Duke Residence. From her perspective, the Duke Residence was very reasonable. When she proposed the dissolution of the marriage contract, whether it was the old Duke, Princess Sheng An, or the Duchess, none of them had made things difficult for her, and none had even shown her a cold face. To her, they were very kind to her.
She shook her head, repeating what she had said before, "After finishing the business, I came back." She made it a point to emphasize, "I wasn’t kicked out. The Duke Residence was courteous and thorough, not like some unreasonable families."
Especially Zhou Gu, he had great patience. Despite being extremely angry, he still saw her out personally.
Duanhua grabbed her arm, shocked, "You really called off the marriage?"
Could such a significant matter as cancelling a marriage be resolved this quickly? And she went there alone and returned unscathed?
Su Rong nodded, "Yes, the engagement has been dissolved, the marriage contract destroyed, and tokens returned to each other. Even the gifts we had exchanged would be returned. We made everything clear."
Duanhua: "..."
She pulled Su Rong into the room, "Tell me everything that happened, how could dissolving a marriage be so easy? Didn’t the old Duke scold you? Didn’t Zhou Gu argue with you? Didn’t Princess Sheng An berate you thoroughly? Even though the Duchess is known to have a good temper, she must have been upset, right?"
Su Rong shook her head, "None of that happened."
Duanhua: "..."
She started to wonder, "Could it be that the Duke Residence wanted to break off the engagement and were just waiting for you to propose it? So when you offered to dissolve the marriage, they were more than happy to agree?"
Su Rong chuckled, "That couldn’t be."
She was dragged by Duanhua into the room and directly into the inner bedroom. After closing the door, Duanhua stared at her intently, her eyes filled with curiosity and bewilderment over this matter.
Su Rong didn’t hide anything from her and directly recounted the experience of calling off the marriage, of course, omitting the parts about her mother and her own background.
Duanhua, after listening: "..."
She stared at Su Rong with a face full of shock, holding back for a while before commenting, "Zhou Gu was correct, you really do have guts. You actually dared to say such outrageous things."
Su Rong said nothing. She hadn’t planned to, but after Zhou Gu’s harsh words, she feared his impetuous youth might lead him to act recklessly. Their breakup was for their mutual good. If he was not well, it contradicted her original intention of breaking up.
So, what’s the big deal about a few heart-wrenching words?
Just as she had expected, he agreed to dissolve the marriage, and never mentioned leaving his family again. After all, her objective was achieved.
Duanhua plonked down, "Zhou Gu actually didn’t draw his sword at you?"
Su Rong touched her nose, "I was quite afraid he might draw his sword at me."
Fighting in the old Duke’s study room would be bad. After all, if he drew his sword, she would definitely fight back. She wouldn’t be the victim, even if she was in the wrong for proposing to break the engagement.
Duanhua glared at Su Rong angrily, "You went too far, Zhou Gu is too nice. I take back all the negative things I’ve said about him before."
Su Rong deliberately said, "You don’t have to take it back. After all, he didn’t draw his sword at me, but I’m sure he would have if it had been you."
Duanhua: "..."
She puffed up like a pufferfish, reaching out to hit Su Rong, "Oh my, I’m going to kill you. I’m going to kill you!"
Su Rong swiftly dodged her, and the two immediately got into a lively tussle.
Duanhua chased after Su Rong to hit her but, of course, couldn’t catch her. Instead, she tired herself out, panting. Leaning on the table, she glared at Su Rong, "Repeat what you just said, or else, I won’t let this go."
Su Rong, face neither red nor out of breath, smirked at her from across the table, pretending to beg for mercy, "Alright, alright, my lady, I’ll say it again. If it had been you, he wouldn’t dare to draw his sword either. If he dared, the emperor would surely kill him."
Duanhua snorted, seeming to let her off, "So that’s the right way to put it."
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