Xie Lin was heartbroken for his father, yet Zhou Gu thought it was rather timely for the Rui’an King to fall ill.
He asked Xie Lin, "Is Rui’an King’s condition serious?"
"Indeed severe. How could it not be?" Xie Lin said, "We had the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau, Doctor Xu, and also used the fever-reducing prescription that Lady Su Qi gave the day she saved you. Only then was my father’s high fever brought down, it was extremely dangerous last night."
Zhou Gu nodded, "So, now this case, she is the lead investigator, and you are assisting?"
"Yes, my father needs to rest for a few days." Xie Lin replied.
Zhou Gu acknowledged, "He should indeed rest well. The case is important, but the Duke himself is even more so."
After talking about Rui’an King, something seemed to come to Xie Lin’s mind. He lowered his voice and said to Zhou Gu, "According to my father, Lady Su Qi and the Second Young Master Ye get along very well, their relationships are very harmonious. They confronted the Emperor together, advancing and retreating as one, you..."
He looked at Zhou Gu and saw his calm expression. He hesitated for a moment before quietly asking, "Have you not let go of Lady Su Qi?"
Zhou Gu turned to look at him, without denying, "Is it that obvious?"
Xie Lin nodded, "Very obvious. As soon as you heard she was coming, you rushed over. The first thing you asked me was about her."
It’s impossible to hide the fact that one person likes another.
Zhou Gu pursed his lips, effectively admitting, "And what if it is? I can’t change anything about them."
Xie Lin looked at him, seeing that Zhou Gu seemed to have become much thinner in such a short period of time. The previously unrestrained, indulgent, and arrogant young master Zhou now seemed to be veiled in a thin mist. Although not exactly grey and dull, his entire demeanor was clouded with melancholia.
His transformation, in such a short period of time, was huge, enough to astonish anyone. If those young ladies and noblewomen from the harems in the Capital City, who admired him, saw him now, they probably wouldn’t even recognize him.
Remembering that he owed Zhou Gu his life, he had never imagined there would come a day when Zhou Gu would save his life. This version of Zhou Gu he thought deserved his help. Thus, he reached out to pat Zhou Gu on his shoulder, hoping to dispel the whirl of gloom around him, leaning closer to ask, "Really can’t let go?"
"Can’t let go."
"Have you tried to let go?"
"I have."
Xie Lin took a deep breath, "It’s only been less than a month. Maybe you can try again."
"What are you trying to say?" Zhou Gu asked calmly.
Xie Lin said softly, "What I’m saying is, if you’ve tried and still can’t let go, then take action. We men inherently have a competitive spirit, don’t we? We naturally have the drive to seize what we want. If you really can’t let go, then take it."
"Seize what I want?" Zhou Gu looked at him, "Are you talking about Su Rong? Are you sure she’s someone I can force into marriage? Someone I can seize?"
Xie Lin suddenly choked up, looking at Zhou Gu. After a long while, he scratched his head and admitted, "Well, I’m not so sure about that."
If Su Rong was just a simple girl from Jiangning County, Zhou Gu, with his status as the young master of the Duke Residence, could have forcibly married her. But she wasn’t just that anymore. She was the princess of Nanchu. This was no secret in Capital City. And her choice of Ye Guixue was one of both character and appearance, he was in no way inferior to Zhou Gu. Furthermore, he could give her the greatest support. Why wouldn’t she choose him?
Upon further reflection, Xie Lin realized that the odds weren’t in favor of Zhou Gu if he decided to seize her.
Xie Lin sighed, growing more worried for him, "So, what do you plan to do?"
Naturally, Zhou Gu wouldn’t mention his decision to go to Nanchu. This secret, except for his grandmother, mother, Su Xingze, and the Crown Prince, he decided not to tell anyone else. Even if it was Xie Lin, he was afraid that it might cause unnecessary complications.
So, he shook his head, "I don’t know, I’ll play it by ear!"
Just as Xie Lin was about to say something, he heard some noise coming from not far away. He immediately turned his head and peered through the crack in the bead curtain. Startled, he said, "Lady Su Qi has come out, that was quick."
Could she have interrogated him so quickly? Or did she get nothing out of him?
Ziye had been standing outside the dungeon the entire time. Seeing Su Rong coming out, he quickly paid his respects and whispered, "Lady Su Qi, our young master and Prince Xie are in the warm pavilion of the Water Pavilion."
After that, he pointed towards the pavilion located not far away.
Su Rong looked at the pavilion, two figures barely visible through the bamboo curtain. She nodded and headed in that direction.
Through the gap in the bamboo curtain, Zhou Gu watched Su Rong. She still looked the same, delicate and beautiful. Even from a distance, he couldn’t help but feel that a gust of wind could blow her away. Despite her winter clothes, she was still so fragile.
Xie Lin who was next to Zhou Gu, sighed, "Lady Su Qi is truly beautiful."
Isn’t it beautiful? In winter, as the white snow falls and she walked in the snow holding an umbrella, she makes an incredibly stunning sight. It seems as if the biting cold and endlessly falling snow have been replaced with warmth and brightness.
There are people who are beautiful without realizing it. Su Rong is one of them.
Suddenly, Zhou Gu turned to glare at Xie Lin.
Xie Lin jumped in surprise. "What kind of look is that? You look as if you want to eat me."
Zhou Gu warned him, "You mustn’t harbor feelings for her."
Xie Lin claimed his innocence, "I wouldn’t dare!"
For such a girl, he wouldn’t dare. She is like the clouds in the sky, the elusive snow; one can only admire from afar. Should he reach out for her, she will slip through his fingers — just as the cloud wouldn’t descend and the snow would melt in his hands.
Once again, Zhou Gu warned, "And you’re not allowed to think she’s pretty."
Xie Lin: "..."
He even regulates this!
He looked at Zhou Gu speechlessly, reminding him in a low voice, "She’s coming."
Zhou Gu immediately turned back around and sat up straight.
Xie Lin: "..."
Now he saw it - Zhou Gu only acted tough in front of him. In front of Su Rong, he transformed from a tiger into a docile cat, not daring to show a glimpse of his claws.
It was truly a miracle!
Ziye opened the curtain first. Su Rong closed her umbrella and entered the pavilion.
She instantly noticed that Zhou Gu seemed to have lost a lot of weight. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, but she quickly smiled. "Zhou Gu, have your injuries healed?"
Zhou Gu slowly stood up. He didn’t miss her moment of worry, his heart hoisted up, but seeing her smile at him, it dropped halfway. He responded with a light "hmm" and pointed to a chair not far away, "Are you thirsty? Would you like some hot tea?"
Su Rong nodded, "Sure."
Zhou Gu personally poured a cup of hot tea for Su Rong and handed it to her.
Su Rong took it and said, "Thank you."
Zhou Gu lowered his eyes, seeing her seated, he too sat down.
Xie Lin watched the pair and felt somewhat superfluous. He felt quite intrusive. Very tactfully, he stood up, intending to give the two some privacy, "I’ve been here for a while and haven’t paid respects to the eldest princess. You two chat, I’ll go and see the eldest princess."
Su Rong reached out to stop him, "I haven’t gone yet either, let’s go together later."
Xie Lin coughed, very wisely said, "Lady Su Qi, why don’t you go later? I’ll chat a bit longer with the eldest Princess." He quickly added, "There are some things I want to discuss privately with the eldest Princess."
Having said that, he silently patted himself on the back for his cleverness.
Su Rong raised an eyebrow and gave Xie Lin a longer look. This look made Xie Lin’s heart race, momentarily feeling overwhelmed. But soon Su Rong nodded, going with the flow, "Alright then, you go first."
Xie Lin nodded repeatedly and hurried away. Not until he was a good distance away from the pavilion, did he finally let out the breath he’d been holding, taking a long, relieved sigh, and wiped the sweat off his forehead.
How could such a young girl like Su Rong have such a powerful presence? Ah!
Xie Lin looked at his damp handkerchief, turned back to look at the pavilion behind him. After he left, the pair sat at a reasonable distance. Zhou Gu was sitting very formally and upright, while Su Rong was a bit relaxed and casual, holding the teacup, swaying it lightly and talking to Zhou Gu.
Xie Lin let out another small sigh of relief and continued walking. As he did, he pondered, what’s the point of being a gentleman and adhering to that moral conduct? He was in so much pain, his heart aching unbearably, living in constant torment, had to still abide by those rules and maintain decorum?
If it wasn’t for Qin Luan entering the Eastern Palace, in front of the Crown Prince, he could not, and dared not act. But he must have done it long ago.
However, his feelings for Qin Luan didn’t seem to be as deep as Zhou Gu’s for Su Rong.
Xie Lin scratched his head, feeling he wasn’t exactly a deep lover, he had feelings of admiration, but not that all-out effort.
Comparing himself, he sighed again. If there wasn’t the life-saving grace from Zhou Gu, he definitely would have mocked Zhou Gu, but with Zhou Gu saving his life, he felt it was unfair to mock him at this time. If he could help him out a bit, well he should!
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