Su Xingze also wanted to know more about Nanchu. Even if Su Rong did not approve of him going there, he did not want to be completely ignorant. Although Xie Yuan’s study had collected many scrolls about Nanchu, he found that they were not as complete as the ones Zhou Gu had obtained from the Crown Prince.
As a result, he too began to read them with Zhou Gu.
For a while, both of them stopped talking, and the only sound in the room was the turning of pages.
Without realizing it, it was already noon, and Su Xingze naturally stayed in Zhou Gu’s yard for lunch. After lunch, Su Xingze planned to stay another half day. He had only read a small portion of the scrolls about the Nangong Family, and he naturally couldn’t take these scrolls back to his residence, lest Su Rong find out. Just as he picked up a scroll to continue reading, a guard reported to Zhou Gu that the "Second Young Master Ye left the Imperial Palace and was intercepted by Crown Prince Yan Li at a restaurant on the street. They didn’t stay long before they left one after another. Second Young Master Ye returned to the Duke’s Residence, had lunch with the Duke, and then went to Shen Residence."
Zhou Gu raised his eyes and looked at the guard, "What’s Yan Li aim in intercepting Ye Guixue?"
The guard shook his head, "The guards of the Crown Prince and the secret guards of the Second Young Master Ye have encircled that restaurant. We couldn’t find out what happened. However, when Second Young Master Ye left the restaurant, he seemed casual and composed, while the Crown Prince left with a serious face."
Zhou Gu, seemingly deep in thought, waved his hand at the guard, who then retired.
Su Xingze was also contemplating. During his stay in the Capital City, although he did not participate in the affairs of the Imperial Court, Shen Xian came back to his residence every day and specifically mentioned what had happened in the morning court. The purpose was, of course, to help him quickly understand the workings of the court, and also to guide his teaching, so that he could have a better standing when he took up official duties in the future. Xie Yuan was very talented, but he had been away from the Capital City for a long time and therefore his instruction to Su Xingze regarding court matters was relatively weak. Shen Xian, because of his relationship with Xie Yuan, valued Su Xingze and naturally took up the role of mentoring him in court politics. Looking at recent events, it was clear that Crown Prince Yan Li and Prince Yan Lin were secretly allied and were planning to join forces against the Crown Prince, which was different from their previous individualistic approach.
The pressure on the Crown Prince suddenly increased. However, with Su Rong disrupting the court power dynamics in the Capital City, strangely, the pressure from the emperor on the Crown Prince, which had been there for many years, actually lessened. Especially in recent days, the situation in the early court seemed to be quietly changing. The emperor was gradually easing his control over the Crown Prince, no longer deliberately scrutinizing and criticizing officials from the Eastern Palace faction. It was clear that the emperor’s manner towards the Crown Prince was kinder than before.
In turn, those aligned with the Crown Prince and with the second prince were tense, especially the Crown Prince, who had been reprimanded by the emperor not too long ago.
The Crown Prince seemed visibly agitated lately.
If Su Xingze was aware of all this, then Zhou Gu would be even more so. For many years, the Duke Residence had its own acute sensitivity to controlling the court power dynamics. The emperor’s quiet changes were a good thing for the Eastern Palace, and for the Duke’s Residence.
He turned his head and looked at Su Xingze, "Elder Brother Su, you should return to your residence. Come again tomorrow and we will continue reading these scrolls."
Su Xingze naturally could not stay any longer. He had met Ye Guixue only once at the Duke’s Residence, but because there were many people around Ye Guixue, he did not have a chance to talk much. Despite numerous praises for Ye Guixue’s character, and Su Rong being very pleased with him since returning from the Buddhist Temple, Su Xingze still had some reservations, as he had not had a real interaction with him. He wanted to have an opportunity to get to know him better, just like how he got to know Zhou Gu.
Now the opportunity had come!
Without saying another word, Su Xingze put down the scroll and got up. Nodding to Zhou Gu, he said, "Then I’ll leave now and come back tomorrow."
Zhou Gu nodded.
Su Xingze left the Duke Residence.
After Su Xingze left, Zhou Gu clenched the scroll in his hand, his face filled with sorrow. Ye Guixue could openly visit the Shen Residence, something he could not do. Things that Ye Guixue could do together with her, he could not. The clearer he understood it, the more uncontrollable his sadness became.
He put down the scroll, lay down, and buried his face in the quilt.
Su Xingze arrived at the Shen Residence fast and saw the carriage parked at the front door, knowing Ye Guixue had not yet left. He asked the housekeeper and found that after Ye Guixue had paid respects to Madam Shen, he went to the courtyard where Su Rong stayed. So, he headed straight there.
When he reached Su Rong’s courtyard, he saw two people standing by a table. One was grinding ink while talking, and the other was writing something. The one engaged in conversation while grinding the ink was Su Rong, and the one holding the brush to write was Ye Guixue.
Both of them were not standing too close, but not too far apart either. The door of the drawing room was half-open, and as the wind blew the door curtain, you could vaguely see two figures working in harmony.
Su Xingze paused, his footsteps stalled. Just a moment ago, he had told Zhou Gu that he also supported his decision, but now seeing Su Rong and Ye Guixue together, he was not that sure anymore as these two seemed equally well-matched.
He hesitated a little, unsure whether to disrupt them by his intrusion, when he saw both of them inside look towards the entrance. Su Rong naturally inquired, "Elder brother, why are you standing at the door? Why don’t you come in?"
Su Xingze had no choice but to step into the drawing room.
Ye Guixue put down the brush in his hand and saluted Su Xingze, "Eldest Young Master Su!"
Su Xingze also returned the gesture, "Second Young Master Ye!"
After exchanging pleasantries, Su Xingze studied the pages of writing on the table. The calligraphy was flowing and impressive, so beautiful that even he had to praise it. He looked puzzled and asked, "What are you doing?"
Ye Guixue smiled but didn’t reply, leaving the question for Su Rong to answer.
Su Rong blinked her eyes, "I recently acquired a new sword manual and a chess manual. I asked Guixue to write them out for me so I don’t forget them over time."
Naturally, she wouldn’t tell Su Xingze the truth, nor reveal where and how she got them. She wanted to avoid a lecture from him, who was too upright.
Su Xingze gave Su Rong an extra glance. He knew she was hiding something when he saw her expression. But he didn’t investigate further, especially in front of Ye Guixue. He nodded in understanding. The thick stack of paper on the table suggested a tiring task. Su Rong, who disliked writing, shamelessly took advantage of Ye Guixue’s willingness.
He could only say to Ye Guixue, "Xiaoqi has always been lazy and doesn’t practice calligraphy regularly. You shouldn’t indulge her too much."
Ye Guixue shook his head with a smile, "It’s just a minor matter."
Seeing that he responded this way, Su Xingze could only glance at Su Rong in exasperation.
With a playful smile, Su Rong said, "Big brother, it’s good that you are here. Guixue is indeed getting tired from writing too much. I can’t bear to let him continue for too long. Could you take over?"
Su Xingze laughed and retorted, "You should do your own writing."
Despite his disagreement, Su Rong took the brush and thrust it into his hand, "You write."
Su Xingze looked at her wide-eyed in disbelief.
Su Rong stuck her tongue out at him and urged, "Move quickly. Finish everything while my throat is still not dry. Especially the sword manual, Fen Ling is waiting to study it. Once he understands, he can protect me better."
Su Xingze was helpless and had no choice but to resign himself and take up the brush. He continued from where Ye Guixue left off, writing as Su Rong narrated.
Su Xingze’s calligraphy was the result of diligent practice from a young age. His characters were as exquisite as Ye Guixue’s, comprising their distinct style, well structured and equally beautiful.
Ye Guixue immediately praised him, "Excellent penmanship!"
Su Rong, accustomed to Su Xingze’s writing, thought nothing of it. Without feeling embarrassed directing others, she didn’t pass on the task of grinding the ink to Ye Guixue just because he was idle, choosing to do it herself while dictating.
Her memory was extraordinary, impressing even Ye Guixue.
He obediently sat down to make tea for the two of them. The serene afternoon accompanied by the fragrance and wisps of tea smoke pervading the air enveloped the drawing room with a tranquil atmosphere.
Fen Ling peeked into the drawing room quietly, but was caught by Su Rong and told to grind the ink.
Excited, Fen Ling entered the room immediately to take over Su Rong’s task. His attention was riveted on the sword manual under Su Xingze’s brush. He was a true sword fanatic.
With her hands free, Su Rong knew Su Xingze also had a good memory. After narrating a whole passage, she took up the teacup to sip some tea. In between, she found time to whisper to Ye Guixue, "My big brother loves to meddle in people’s affairs. We must not let him come with us to Nanchu."
Ye Guixue couldn’t help but chuckle.
A disgruntled Su Xingze gave Su Rong a stern look, almost throwing the brush at her, conveying he wanted her to write instead.
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