Today, Su Rong didn’t visit the Duke Residence, and it truly wasn’t because she was deliberately avoiding Zhou Gu. Instead, she was menstruating.
Early in the morning, she lay in bed, clutching her stomach. She had a hot water bottle tucked inside her clothes and another one resting at her feet. Extra braziers were added to heat the room, but she still felt cold and uncomfortable.
Yuewan and the wet nurse didn’t come to the capital city with them. The Madam and the six other young ladies had been hastily invited here and didn’t have personal maids with them. Only the maids who do the heavy work were in the courtyard. The eldest lady was originally supposed to stay at the residence to take care of Su Rong, but Su Rong dismissed her, saying they should all go to the Duke Residence with the Madam for a change of scenery. It would be beneficial for their future marital prospects.
Upon some deliberation, the Madam decided to take the six young ladies with her, leaving Su Xingze at home.
She reasoned with Xingze, saying: "Take good care of your younger sister. You will have a wife to look after in the future. Use this opportunity to practice, so you won’t be clumsy around your wife."
Xingze’s face flushed red and then paled, then reddened again before he reluctantly agreed.
Of course, Su Rong did not need Su Xingze to look after her. She ordered the maid to prepare a hot water bottle for her and add more charcoal to the braziers. Then, she lay on her bed enduring the discomfort.
Xingze, who had been sitting in the outer room for a long time, finally couldn’t stand the sound of Su Rong’s weak voice instructing the maid. He entered the room, looking at her pale face, he frowned and asked, "You weren’t so miserable before. What’s wrong now?"
"In the middle of winter, I always feel this miserable. You just weren’t home and didn’t know," breathed Su Rong.
Being unsure what to do, Xingze tentatively asked, "Don’t you have any medicine?"
"Yes, but I don’t want to have it. Just endure it for a day, and it will pass," Su Rong replied.
Xingze disagreed, "Tell me the prescription, I’ll prepare the medicine for you."
Su Rong refused to give the prescription.
Xingze admonished her sternly, "Hurry up! How can you bear this misery? If you don’t tell me, I’m going to call a doctor!"
Su Rong felt helpless and muttered, "Why on earth did the mother have to leave you at home?"
She was so annoyed.
The irritated look on Xingze’s face deepened, but he couldn’t vent his concern. Instead, he glared at her, urging her with his gaze.
Su Rong could only recite the prescription.
Xingze took notes and left after she finished reciting the prescription.
Duanhua hadn’t seen Su Rong for quite a few days. When she heard that Su Rong hadn’t gone to the Duke Residence that day, she couldn’t resist visiting her at her residence in East Fourth Hutong.
Upon arrival, she noticed the eerie quietness. There was hardly a person in sight, apart from the gatekeeper.
Just as she spotted Su Xingze in a hurry, she called to him, "Young Master Su, where is Su Rong? Is she at home?"
Xingze quickly bowed, "My Lady, how can you be here? My seventh sister is at home."
Duanhua was delighted, "That’s good. I’m here to see her.", she then asked Xingze, "You’re carrying such a big bag of medicine, who is ill?"
Xingze shook his head, "No one is ill. My seventh sister prescribed some medicine for herself to drive off the cold."
Duanhua was puzzled, "Isn’t that the same as being sick? Why would she take medicine if she was not ill?"
Xingze couldn’t explain further, all he said was, "I’ll take you to my seventh sister’s courtyard."
"You carry on with your tasks! Just tell me where her courtyard is, and I’ll find it myself." Duanhua waved her hand.
Xingze shook his head and led Duanhua to Su Rong’s courtyard, as was the proper etiquette.
On the way, Duanhua told Xingze, "The results will be announced tomorrow."
Xingze nodded.
She then added, "Be careful not to be captured."
Xingze: "..."
Why is everyone worried he will be kidnapped? Do they think he is incompetent and easily kidnapped?
Seeing his speechlessness, Duanhua emphasized, "I’m not trying to scare you. Kidnapping for marriage after the announcement of the results is extremely terrifying. If I wasn’t still fond of Zhou Gu, I would have also considered kidnapping a scholar."
Xingze: "..."
She sighed, "As far as I know, there are already more than ten people who have been targeted for kidnapping by their family’s servants. So far, no one dares to target you since you have such a powerful backing. Apart from me, only the princess might dare to kidnap you."
Xingze: "..."
It seems he should be thankful for his powerful backing.
Duanhua continued, "Most of the scholars who are targeted are from Jiangzhou, perhaps because Jiangzhou produces many talented men. Apparently, they are all very handsome. Jiang Xing and Chen Zhou, you know them, right? They’re on the kidnapping list too."
Xingze coughed, "Is it really that terrifying?"
"It really is horrifying. If you don’t believe me, you’ll see tomorrow."
Su Xingze said: "Tomorrow is just the announcement of the examination results. After the metropolitan examination, there’s still the palace examination, right? After the palace examination, the emperor will make his selection, followed by the official appointment at the Jeweled Grove Banquet. The announcement of the examination results isn’t definitive."
Duanhua gave him a "you don’t understand, do you?" look, "As long as you are in the ranking, there’s an official position. Tens of thousands of scholars are selected from. It’s not just about being the top scorer, even being second scores, people are also scrambling for these positions."
Su Xingze accepted his comment, "Thank you for your instruction, princess, I’ve learnt a lot."
Duanhua muttered, "You look so clever; how come you seem so dumb."
Su Xingze: "..."
This was the first time someone called him dumb.
Duanhua genuinely thought that Su Xingze wasn’t as clever or likeable as Su Rong. So after speaking with him for a bit, she saw Su Rong’s courtyard and waved him off, "Go on, hurry with your tasks. I can find my way."
After finishing her word, she lifted her skirt and eagerly rushed in.
Su Xingze couldn’t do anything but stand there and return to making medicines.
Just when Duanhua entered the house, she ran into a clumsy maid carrying a steaming pot of soup. Seeing her, the maid hastily paid respects and clumsily pulled back the curtain, allowing her in.
Duanhua shrugged it off, stepping across the threshold and into the inner room, where a gust of hot air almost blinded her. She blurted out, "Why is it so hot?"
Su Rong heard her voice, opened her closed eyes in surprise, "Lady, how come you’re here?"
Duanhua was annoyed, "I came to see you. How long has it been since I’ve last seen you? What happened? Are you sick? It’s sweltering hot inside this room, yet why is your face so pale?"
Su Rong said softly: "I’m having my period."
It dawned on Duanhua. She looked at her sympathetically, "You having your period scares the hell out of people. Your face is as white as a ghost. When I came in, I bumped into your older brother. He was holding a big bundle of medicines and said they’re to drive the cold away. He indeed has a way with words."
Cold in the Palace equals cold indeed. He does have a way with words; he certainly is a renowned scholar.
Su Rong laughed, "So, how should he phrase it?"
"That’s true." Duanhua also started laughing, "It’s tough on him being a man. Why is this residence so understaffed? There isn’t even a close maid to help. Why should he have to boil medicines?"
"As you know, my mother and sisters were brought here by force, and the people who serve them didn’t come. There are not many servants in the Xie Residence to start with, only old men watching the residence." Su Rong sighed, "It’s too late to buy or sell now. We can only wait for a few days until people arrive, then it’ll be okay. For now, we all have to fend for ourselves."
Duanhua’s mouth twitched, "You’re silly, aren’t you? Don’t you know how to borrow people?"
Su Rong shook her head, "Aunt Shen wanted to borrow people, but the Shen Residence is also short-staffed. If they lend us people, Aunt Shen will be inconvenienced."
Duanhua rolled her eyes, "Ask for my help."
"I mentioned it, but my mother didn’t want to bother you and the princess, so she rejected the offer." Su Rong innocently explained as she saw Duanhua getting angry.
After hearing her words, Duanhua let her off the hook, "I’ll send people back right away to arrange for some helpers for you."
Su Rong nodded, "Take advantage of the fact that my mother is not at home. Hurry up and send people over. I don’t want to have to start cooking as soon as my period ends."
Duanhua: "..."
She looked at Su Rong, "So, do you girls take turns cooking in this residence?"
"Yes."
"What about your older brother?"
"He does the same." Su Rong said seriously, "In our house, there’s no such thing as ’the gentleman is far from the kitchen.’ My mother treats us siblings equally."
Duanhua admired that, "Alright."
She asked Su Rong quietly, "Your brother, he’s Lady Su’s biological son, isn’t he?"
Su Rong nodded, "He was born from her belly, absolutely. When we were young, my brother always doubted if he was her real son."
Duanhua clicked her tongue, "Whoever is chosen to be her daughter-in-law will be so lucky, won’t they?"
"Yes, indeed!"
Duanhua’s eyes twinkled as though she was tempted.
Su Rong quickly covered her eyes, "You should forget about it. My brother couldn’t put up with your temperament. My brother wants to marry a submissive, gentle, kind, and considerate wife, none of which you are."
Duanhua was furious, removing her hand and indignantly said, "I just thought about it for a moment, and yet you’re afraid he’d manage me. I’m not stupid, can’t I just think about it?"
Su Rong was relieved, "Alright, alright, just think about it, then."
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