The Maple Leaf River gently flowed with a cool, comforting wind. The picturesque scenery on both sides might not be at its best this season, but it has a unique charm of its own.
After Su Rong went silent, Zhou Gu looked out at the scenery. He pondered, would his grandfather really kick him out if he refused to marry her and insisted on breaking off the engagement? If he firmly refused to marry her, he could break off the engagement, right? But if he did, what would happen to her? She said she didn’t want to waste the prime years of their lives, so who would she marry?
He played with the jade pendant hanging from his waist, feeling somewhat agitated. He berated himself for being so easily driven by her, and it had only been a day. No, not even a full day, just half of it.
All women were indeed quite crafty.
Naturally, Su Rong had no idea what Zhou Gu was thinking. She had visited the Maple Leaf River countless times, so much so that she had grown tired of it. Hence, after she stopped talking, she comfortably fell asleep.
After calming his disturbed thoughts, Zhou Gu turned around and saw Su Rong sleeping against the soft pillow, serenely. Unable to help himself, he laughed.
Of course, he had never met someone so laid-back.
Zhou Gu asked Yuewan quietly, "Didn’t your mistress say she doesn’t have a habit of taking midday naps?"
Yuewan, who had been sleepy, opened her eyes wide at Zhou Gu’s question. She drowsily mumbled, "Miss lied to you. She has been tied down by the matron for more than half a month. Today, she finally gets to come out with you. She certainly doesn’t want to stay in the residence and nap."
Zhou Gu: "..."
Once Yuewan finished speaking, she abruptly woke up from drowsiness. She looked at Zhou Gu with a "I’m doomed" expression.
Ziye gave Yuewan a big thumbs up, "You really know how to push your mistress into tricky situations. Even more than me."
Yuewan: "..."
With a bitter face, Yuewan pleaded, "Master, could you pretend you didn’t hear that?"
Zhou Gu frowned, "Does everyone in the Governor’s residence lie?"
Yuewan could answer this immediately. She replied, "Not at all."
"Governor Su and the matron tricked me and forced me to stay in the Governor’s residence. Your mistress fooled me to leave early and used me against those who had wronged her. Am I that easy to fool?" Zhou Gu had been enlightened.
Yuewan, failing to comprehend these statements, simply said, "I don’t understand you, master."
Zhou Gu snorted and let her be, "You should sleep, too."
Yuewan was grateful. She obediently closed her eyes and fell asleep. Her best trait was her obedience. If told to sleep, she would sleep. Anyway, she was worn out and ready to sleep.
Zhou Gu found the situation amusing. These two, servant and mistress, made quite a pair.
Ziye moved closer and softly asked, "Master, should we go back and stay in the Governor’s residence tonight?"
"Yes," Zhou Gu pinched between his brows. "Governor Su has likely sent someone to find Zhou Xi, to vacate the other location and have me moved to his residence. Zhou Xi certainly wouldn’t mind."
Ziye tried to test the waters, "Then master, you..."
Ziye wanted to ask, originally master planned to visit Jiangning, and have the Su Family voluntarily break off the engagement. But now that the master is already staying in the Governor’s residence, will the engagement still be broken off?
Zhou Gu put down his hand and shot him a glance.
Ziye instantly shut up. He shouldn’t have asked. It was only the first day, and there was still time. The fact that master would stay in the Governor’s residence wasn’t a big deal. Without a doubt, the master had everything under control. Ziye didn’t need to worry.
He stole another glance at Su Rong. She looked so peaceful and her character was quite good. She was different from the noble ladies of the capital. He couldn’t quite put his finger on the difference, but none of them had ever casually chatted with the master as Su Rong did. Nor did any of them ever fall asleep whilst out for a boat ride with the master.
Although Su Rong was asleep, she wasn’t fast asleep, so she heard the conversation between Zhou Gu and Yuewan clearly.
In her mind, Zhou Gu was intelligent, as he figured out her parents’ scheming so quickly. He hadn’t blown up in anger. Did that mean he wasn’t repulsed by the marriage?
If he wasn’t too repulsed, then that was great!
Comforted, Su Rong fell into deep sleep.
Zhou Gu enjoyed the scenery for about half an hour. Seeing the boatman bring the boat to a halt and start to fish, he became intrigued and went to watch.
Ziye also went along, following his curiosity.
The boatman placed the bait into a fish trap and cast it into the water, patiently waiting for the fish.
Zhou Gu asked, "How long does it usually take? Will the fish go into the trap right away?"
"About half an hour," the man replied.
"That long?" Zhou Gu thought, catching fish for a meal was not an easy task.
The boatman grinned, "I don’t have the same skills as Miss Su. When she catches fish herself, it doesn’t take much longer for her to catch a whole bucket of fish."
Zhou Gu was surprised, "You’re talking about her?"
He turned to look back into the cabin in disbelief.
"Yes, Miss Su." The boatman praised her, "Miss Su doesn’t use my inefficacious method. She uses a bamboo pole to catch fish. She is both accurate and fast, not a single fish can slip past her. I can’t do that. My old age has dulled my sight and my technique is not precise."
Zhou Gu thought about Su Rong, scrawnily figure in a fishing boat with a bamboo pole? He found it hard to imagine. He patiently accompanied the boatman and then went back inside the cabin. Upon seeing Su Rong still sleeping soundly, he poked her shoulder, "Hey, wake up!"
"My name is not ’hey’." Su Rong responded without opening her eyes.
"Su Rong, wake up." Zhou Gu paused, then awkwardly said her name.
Su Rong opened her eyes and looked at him, "What’s the matter, Zhou Gu? Did you get bored watching the scenery alone? Do you want me to keep you company?"
"No." Zhou Gu glanced at her rosy face and looked outside, "The boatman said you can catch fish, and it’s quick and accurate. I wanted to see."
Su Rong sharply woke up, "The boatman said?"
"Yes."
Su Rong fell silent. She was a local girl, used to wandering around freely, so she certainly did not behave like a proper noble maiden. As a result, everyone was aware of her real character. She tried to put on a pretense before Zhou Gu, but as soon as she spoke to others, her true identity was exposed.
Feeling a headache coming on, she made an excuse, speaking softly, "My mother once told me that fishing is not a suitable activity for noble maidens."
Zhou Gu looked at her, "But you’ve done it before, haven’t you?"
Su Rong coughed and stood up, "Alright, then!"
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