The night was chilling cold, and Zhou Gu sat on the steps, gazing at the grapevine in the yard.
Ziye crouched beside him, glancing at Zhou Gu from time to time and then at the grapevine. After a long time, he cautiously inquired, "Young Master, do you want to eat grapes? Should I pick some for you?"
The large bunches of purple grapes looked particularly tempting.
Zhou Gu remained silent.
Ziye suddenly remembered that after returning from Jiangning County, the Young Master had once looked at these delightfully growing clusters of grapes and said, "Once the exams are over, my mother will take me to Jiangzhou to propose. By then, the grapes should be ripe, and we can pick them as betrothal gifts."
Ziye joked at the time, telling him, who would use grapes as betrothal gifts? These fruits won’t keep fresh for long. They might spoil by the time they reach Jiangzhou. Even if the Madam from the Su Family is mild-tempered, she might be annoyed.
However, the Young Master liked the implied meaning of purple grapes. After that, he ordered that no one should pick the grapes in his yard this year.
As a result, for so long, the grapes have ripened, and each cluster looks irresistibly attractive. However, no one, not even the masters of the residence, dared to pick them.
As he was thinking about it, Zhou Gu suddenly asked in a soft voice, "Ziye, why do you think she did it?"
Ziye quickly turned his head to look at Zhou Gu.
Zhou Gu spoke again softly, "Why do you think... she had to cancel our engagement?"
Ziye shook his head, unable to understand why Miss Su would refuse someone as good as the Young Master. Didn’t everything go so well when they were in Jiangning County? Could she really have fallen in love with someone else? Is Miss Su someone who would fall in love that easily? If she loves so easily, shouldn’t she have fallen for someone like the Young Master first?
Zhou Gu suddenly stood up. Probably because he had been sitting for too long, he staggered a bit. Ziye quickly supported him, and once Zhou Gu was steady, he brushed off Ziye’s hand and ordered, "Pick all the grapes and distribute them among all the rooms and courtyards of the residence."
Having said that, he stepped into the house.
Ziye followed after him and asked, "Young Master, should I pick them tomorrow?"
"Pick them now."
Ziye acknowledged and immediately called some people. In no time, the grapes on the vine were all picked. They were divided into many portions and were respectively delivered to the courtyards of people such as Princess Sheng An and the Duchess.
Seeing the delivered basket of grapes, Princess Sheng An was taken aback and called Ziye over to ask about it.
Ziye did not dare to withhold any information and told her about how the Young Master had sat under the eaves for a long time, staring at the grapevine.
After listening, Princess Sheng An sighed and waved Ziye away. After he left, she called the housekeeper and ordered, "Split this basket of grapes in half and send them to Princess Qingping’s residence."
The housekeeper agreed and immediately arranged it.
Half an hour later, Princess Qingping’s residence received half a basket of grapes sent by the Duke Residence.
The housekeeper of the Princess’s residence was quite surprised by the grapes delivered by the Duke residence late at night. However, looking at the big and round purple grapes that appeared exceptionally tempting, he quickly delivered them to Princess Qingping.
Princess Qingping and her husband had just finished dinner. Seeing the housekeeper bringing half a basket of grapes, she exclaimed, "Where did these grapes come from?"
"They were brought by someone from the Duke Residence on behalf of Princess Sheng An," the housekeeper replied hastily.
Princess Qingping was even more surprised, "My aunt, who generally wouldn’t bother with me, why has she suddenly sent grapes over this late?" She turned her head to look at her husband, who also looked puzzled. She asked the housekeeper again, "Did people from Duke Residence say anything?"
The housekeeper shook his head, "They didn’t say anything. They just mentioned that Princess Sheng An ordered to deliver half a basket of grapes. After delivering the grapes, they left."
Princess Qingping was baffled.
Her husband contemplated, "Most of the fruits in the capital are supplied by the gardens outside the city or shipped from afar. Grapes went out of season half a month ago. Many residences in the city grow flowers and plants, but only Young Master Zhou from the Duke Residence grows grapevines."
Upon hearing him, Princess Qingping also recalled. Her eyes widened, "So, these are the grapes from Zhou Gu’s yard?"
"They should be."
Princess Qingping frowned, feeling like throwing the half basket of grapes away. She wouldn’t eat the grapes from Zhou Gu’s yard. However, looking at the delightful clusters of grapes, she thought of her gluttonous daughter and two even more gluttonous guests.
She struggled, "What does my aunt mean by sending these over so late?"
Her husband said, "Shall we divide the grapes? Keep one portion and send the rest to Cangjiao Pavilion."
"I won’t stay."
"Don’t you love to eat too? You can be angry at people, but you can’t take it out on delicious food," the son-in-law said.
Qingping choked, "True."
She waved her hand, instructing the housekeeper, "Divide it into three portions, the palace will keep one, the other two, send them to Cangjiao Pavilion."
The housekeeper complied, immediately ordering someone to divide the half basket of grapes.
Inside the Cangjiao Pavilion, the drawing room was brightly lit. Duanhua, Su Rong, and Fen Ling, along with two maidens and three young servants, were gathered around playing a game. The moment they stepped into the courtyard, they could hear the sounds of laughter coming from inside.
The housekeeper thought to himself, every day this Cangjiao Pavilion is really lively, he was always glad to make a few extra trips here.
Seeing the housekeeper bringing in almost half a basket of grapes, Duanhua’s eyes lit up, "Oh, where did these grapes come from?", without waiting for the housekeeper to speak, she quickly said, "The grapes went out of season a fortnight ago, how could there be any to eat now? Could they be from Zhou Gu’s garden?"
The housekeeper set down the basket and responded with a laugh, "Answering Consort, you guessed correctly. These are the grapes sent from the Duke Residence."
Duanhua had made a casual guess and didn’t expect to be right. Immediately, she quit the game and stared at the half-basket of grapes, asking, "Were they sent by Zhou Gu?"
"They were sent by the people of Princess Sheng An."
"Did they say anything?"
The housekeeper thought, indeed like mother like daughter, they both asked the same question, he shook his head, "They didn’t say anything. They delivered the grapes and left. They only said that Princess Sheng An had them delivered."
Duanhua sneered, "In past years, the Princess Residence has never received grapes from Duke Residence." She turned her head, giving Su Rong a pitiful look, "It must be because you’re at the Princess Residence, that’s why Princess Sheng An sent the grapes. Even after you called off your engagement, you didn’t offend them; they even sent you food."
Su Rong wasn’t sure what to say.
After delivering the grapes, the housekeeper was about to leave, but Duanhua stuffed a bunch of grapes into his hands. He accepted them cheerfully before leaving.
Duanhua muttered, "These grapes are so big and purple, they grew really well and even have frost on them, they must be very sweet."
"I’ve long craved for the grapes from Zhou Gu’s garden, but I could never taste them every year as he never let me into his garden. He had guards watching, as if afraid that I would go into his garden and steal his grapes."
She was indignant, "And now, he is voluntarily delivering them."
After talking for so long and seeing no reply from Su Rong, she turned to look at her, "Why aren’t you speaking?"
Su Rong smiled, "Listening to you."
Duanhua was not satisfied, she hummed and continued, "In the Capital City, scholarly families are all about elegance. Even though martial families lack the tradition of poetry and rites, in order not to be ridiculed, they all tried to lean towards elegance. Duke Residence is the first among martial families. Because Princess Sheng An married into their family, although they still retain the martial tradition, after generations of marrying daughters from prestigious families, they gradually adopted the demeanor of scholars. Their grand residence was meticulously maintained, down to every grass and tree. From the old Duke to Crown Prince Zhou Wei, and even the two illegitimate sons, they were all quite particular. They all planted flowers and plants in their gardens to enjoy in their leisure time. The only exception was Zhou Gu; he loved eating grapes, so he planted them in his garden."
Su Rong didn’t respond.
Duanhua ordered the grapes to be washed. As she sat at the table, resting her chin on her hand, she stared at Su Rong, "The fact that these grapes could be sent to the Princess Residence must have something to do with you. Does Zhou Gu like you?"
Su Rong sat down next to Duanhua and pinched her face, "These were sent by people sent by Princess Sheng An. I told you the other day that even though I called off the engagement, I didn’t have a falling out with Duke Residence. Once I leave the Princess Residence, I will still visit Duke Residence with my brother to express my gratitude."
Duanhua avoided her hand and muttered, "Really can’t understand you."
With a squeak, Fen Ling said, "Consort, why do you want to understand my sister? Let’s eat the grapes, they look delicious."
With the washed grapes still dripping water, Duanhua was instantly attracted and felt that Fen Ling made sense. Immediately, she reached out to grab a bunch.
She ate one herself, humming in satisfaction at how delicious it was, and didn’t forget to share with Su Rong, plucking one for her and popping it into her mouth.
Normally, when she was eating grapes, she would have her handmaidens wash their hands and peel the grapes for her, never touching the food herself. But ever since Su Rong and Fen Ling came, being influenced by them, unnoticed, she learned to do things personally on many occasions.
Su Rong ate the grape that Duanhua had popped into her mouth, spat out the grape skin, and said, "It’s really sweet."
Fen Ling immediately grabbed a bunch and shoved it into Su Rong’s hand, "Sister, if it’s sweet, eat more."
Su Rong, eating the grapes, belatedly felt a pain in her chest. It was not too intense, but it hurt nonetheless.
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