The Grand Princess Sheng An had lived for a lifetime, so she had already anticipated Su Rong’s refusal. If Su Rong was such a soft-hearted person, she wouldn’t have stood her ground so firmly on the day of rescinding her marriage, when Zhou Gu adamantly disagreed.
She was decisive, neither vague nor indecisive.
Last night, when Zhou Gu had a fever, she sent for Su Rong without hesitation. Just as soon as Zhou Gu woke up, she did not linger and bid him farewell.
Su Rong’s character was perhaps what Xie Yuan intentionally nurtured in a future heir to the Nanchu Royal Family!
Such a woman, if she were to become queen in Nanchu, would certainly be capable of holding up the entire Nanchu Dynasty. Only those not swayed by sentimental affections can be suitable heirs to the throne. Otherwise, they would be mental fickle, easily manipulated by others, not only harming others but also bringing harm upon themselves. They would be unfit for ruling over the kingdom.
The heart of Grand Princess Sheng An was filled with both admiration and helplessness, but she remained as always outwardly gentle. She was a reasonable person, not capable of pettiness. She sighed deeply, "In that case, Zhou Gu will have to trouble you."
Su Rong nodded, "It’s my duty. It’s something that cannot be avoided."
She did owe Zhou Gu; back in Jiangning County, it was her deliberate temptation that caused Zhou Gu to fall for her. Yet she withdrew, leaving him alone. It was her responsibility to help him move on.
Grand Princess Sheng An smiled, "Su Rong, thank you. The Emperor now knows of your identity, and will sooner or later meet you and acknowledge your origin. Call me your great-aunt, will you?"
Su Rong agreed readily, "Great-aunt."
Grand Princess Sheng An held her hand tightly, her eyes welling up, "Good child, just like your mother. Both of you are persistent and resilient."
The Duchess then said: "Technically, you should call me your aunt. But it doesn’t really matter how you address me."
"Aunt, I’m sorry." Su Rong apologized to the Duchess, understanding the heart of a mother because of the Duchess’s teachings.
The Duchess shook her head, "There are things that can be done, and ones that can’t be. From your standpoint, you have done nothing wrong. Moreover, you have saved Zhou Gu twice. I thank you."
Su Rong smiled, "It’s within my ability, aunt, you don’t have to thank me."
She rose from her seat, "I will take my leave now."
Grand Princess Sheng An also stood, "Alright, allow me to see you out."
Su Rong quickly stopped her, "Please sit, I’m just a junior. You certainly don’t need to fuss over me like this, I can leave on my own."
"Mother, rest. I’ll escort her." The Duchess stood up.
Grand Princess Sheng An didn’t insist anymore.
Fen Ling also hurriedly excused herself.
The two were escorted out of the courtyard of Grand Princess Sheng An by the Duchess. They met the old Duke and Imperial Doctor Xu, who were entering the courtyard. The old Duke asked, "Young lady, are you leaving?"
"Yes, grandfather Zhou," Su Rong nodded.
The old Duke said, "This old Xu insists on learning the prescription for reducing fever from you. Could you speak with him, and save him from pestering me incessantly?"
Doctor Xu hurried to greet, "Lady Su Qi, I have intruded. Could you give this old man some time to learn from you? After reading the prescription you wrote, I wonder how you could write such a marvelous prescription?"
Su Rong laughed, "Doctor Xu, you overestimate me. I just have a thorough understanding of herbs. This prescription for reducing fever was actually something my teacher learned from an ancient book and taught me. I merely remembered it. It’s not my original invention. I simply gleaned from the wisdom of others."
She naturally couldn’t say that it was a prescription Fen Ling unscrupulously borrowed from the Buddha Temple after donating five thousand taels of silver, which happened to be used conveniently on Zhou Gu, so she attributed it to her late teacher.
"May I ask who was your teacher?" Imperial Doctor Xu asked, his suspicions alleviated. He had wondered how Su Rong could write such a wonderful prescription at her tender age. A prescription that required the knowledge of thousands of herbs and countless experiments to achieve the most suitable pairings for maximal effect with minimal side effects.
"He was an old doctor at Huichun Hall in Jiangning County, who has since passed away," Su Rong answered.
Imperial Doctor Xu’s eyes lit up, "I have heard of an old miracle doctor from Huichun Hall in Jiangning County who was proficient not only in herbal medicine but also in acupuncture."
"Yes, that’s him."
"Incredible," Imperial Doctor Xu sighed in understanding, then cautiously asked Su Rong, "Could this prescription of yours, Lady Su Qi, be used by this old man in the future? Rest assured, it will not be used without proper credit if it is used in the Imperial Medical Bureau."
Su Rong blinked her eyes, "Medicinal formulas should be for the benefit of all people, not kept locked away. You can use it as you please."
Imperial Doctor Xu immediately bowed deeply in thanks, "Lady Su Qi has a benevolent heart."
Su Rong shook her head, "So, Doctor Xu, can I leave now?"
Imperial Doctor Xu immediately made way for her, "Please."
Su Rong said goodbye to the old Duke, "Grandfather Zhou, I’m leaving now."
The old Duke waved his hand, "Come and visit if you have time."
Su Rong agreed.
Watching the Duchess send off Su Rong and Fen Ling, Imperial Doctor Xu expressed his feelings to the old Duke, "Old Duke, yesterday truly scared the soul out of me. If I hadn’t been able to save your grandson, I wouldn’t have been able to show my face at the Imperial Medical Bureau anymore."
The old Duke knew that it was because of Su Rong that he could still save face. He waved his hand to dismiss him, "Alright, you have seen the person you wanted to see, you’ve asked your questions and said your piece, now don’t bother me anymore, okay?"
"Alright, alright, I won’t bother you anymore, I’ll leave now." Even though Imperial Doctor Xu hadn’t spoken much to Su Rong, he was still very satisfied in his heart. He turned around and left.
The old Duke gestured to the housekeeper, who immediately escorted Imperial Doctor Xu out of the Duke Residence.
The old Duke entered the room and saw Princess Sheng An holding the fever-relieving formula copied by Fen Ling. She had red eyes, which startled him, "Isn’t Gu’er’s fever gone? What’s happened to you now?"
Princess Sheng An glared at the old Duke, "I’m not as easy-going as you."
The old Duke was puzzled, "How am I easy-going?"
Princess Sheng An didn’t feel like explaining. Since Su Rong had not agreed, the agreement she had privately reached with her daughter-in-law to seek Su Rong had also fallen through. There was no need to let this old man know about it. She put the medicine formula down, "Let me tell you, Gu’er has grown up. He can make his own decisions from now on. From this moment, I will not allow you to forcefully make decisions for him."
The old Duke’s beard bristled in dissatisfaction, "What kind of talk is that? He’s grown wings now, I can’t make decisions for him anymore? Besides, the decisions I’ve made in the past, didn’t you agree with them? Why is it all my fault now?"
Princess Sheng An glared at him, "I’m not blaming you, I’m just telling you, neither you nor I are allowed to do it anymore. As for his own matters, let him make his own decisions."
The old Duke had also been frightened by Zhou Gu yesterday, especially when he and Imperial Doctor Xu were trying to reduce his fever using a folk remedy. He kept muttering "Su Qi, Su Rong" for half the night. He didn’t feel good in his heart, "I understand."
The young grandson whom he had high hopes for had almost died. For so many years, he had never experienced such a shock. He nearly lost his own life.
He rubbed his forehead and walked toward his inner chamber, "I can’t take it anymore, I need to sleep. Aren’t you tired? Take a rest too!"
Of course, Princess Sheng An was tired. She nodded, let Wet Nurse Zheng pack up the medicine formula, and went to rest.
The Duchess walked Su Rong to the main gate. She watched as Su Rong and Fen Ling mounted their horses and left the Duke Residence together. The young lady rode with her back straight, unlike all the other elegant young ladies in the Capital City. She was truly likable, but it was a pity that she couldn’t be her daughter-in-law.
She returned to the Residence and went to see Zhou Gu in the Frost Forest Garden.
Zhou Gu was still sitting at the table. Ever since Su Rong and Fen Ling left, he hadn’t moved. He just sat there, holding the travel book in his hand, but hadn’t read many pages.
Seeing the Duchess come in, he asked, "Mother, has she left?"
"Yes, she has already left." The Duchess sat down, "How do you feel? Are you feeling a bit better today?"
"Yes." Zhou Gu nodded, then asked her, "You didn’t say anything to her, did you?"
The Duchess understood what he meant and looked at him, unwilling to lie to her son, "Gu’er, let it go! Su Rong, this girl, she can send her own bodyguard to track and save you for dozens of miles, and she can risk her life to come to the Capital City just to ensure your safety, not fearing the cold of the night nor the ruthless blades. But now that she has accepted Ye Guixue’s Tiger Talisman and promised to marry him, it’s impossible for her to break her promise and refuse him and choose you instead."
Zhou Gu had anticipated this. That day, he was devastated and couldn’t help but say something to his mother. Afterwards, he knew she wouldn’t be able to resist his influence and was bound to say something to Su Rong when she saw her today. But Su Rong’s response was also within his expectations.
Even if he begged pitifully, she wouldn’t agree.
That’s the kind of person she is. Once she chooses a path and makes up her mind, she will forge ahead without looking back. He wasn’t afraid that she would forge ahead, he just feared that he would ultimately lose control.
After the brush with death, his emotions had stabilized quite a bit, "Mother, thank you for your concern. I, your unfilial son, will try my best not to disgrace the Duke Residence. I won’t become someone who disregards honor and integrity."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
