Zhou Gu scrutinized Ning Chi carefully and then, without confirming or denying anything, asked Su Rong, "Where can I buy a Drunken Flower drink?"
Su Rong replied, "At the end of this street, there’s a tavern called ’Welcoming Guests With A Smile’."
Zhou Gu nodded and asked Ning Chi, "How many jars can you drink?"
Ning Chi laughed and said, "I can’t drink much, but when drinking with brother Zhou, I’ll certainly drink to my fill."
Zhou Gu asked Su Rong again, "Do you want to drink?"
Su Rong didn’t respond.
Zhou Gu continued: "If the two of us were to drink and have you as an audience, what would you do?"
"I’d rather go back to sleep."
Zhou Gu grinned, "Then let’s drink a bit more." He instructed Ziye, "Did you hear that? Go get five jars of Drunken Flower drink from ’Welcoming Guests With A Smile’."
Ziye whispered, "Young Master, can I buy six jars?"
Zhou Gu threw a glance at him and grunted.
Ziye was thrilled.
"How can I let brother Zhou pay for the drinks? I should treat brother Zhou and Lady Qi." Ning Chi took out a silver note worth a thousand taels from his collar and handed it to Ziye, "Use this."
Before Zhou Gu could say anything, Ziye accepted the note happily, "Thank you, Prince Ning. Can I use all of this for the drinks?"
"Yes." Ning Chi smirked.
Ziye then cheerfully left.
Zhou Gu raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
He gestured to Ning Chi, "It’s not convenient to talk here. Do you want to join me in my room for a drink?"
Hearing this, Ning Chi stood up immediately, willing to follow wherever, "Sure."
Ning Chi went upstairs, along with Zhou Gu and Su Rong, into Zhou Gu’s room.
After the trio sat down and closed the door, Zhou Gu and Ning Chi sat facing each other while Su Rong sat next to Zhou Gu.
Zhou Gu asked Ning Chi bluntly, "You want to marry that woman surnamed Jiang for the Crown Prince to consolidate with the Jiangzhou Inspector?"
Ning Chi’s face stiffened for a moment before he laughed, "Brother Zhou, aren’t you too direct?"
Zhou Gu looked at him admiringly, "If I’m correct, you’re really all in for this, especially that woman surnamed Jiang...", he criticized venomously, "Such a foolish person."
Su Rong blushed in shock, which was her first time witnessing Zhou Gu’s venomous tongue. Surprisingly, his occasional grumbles at her seemed rather polite.
Ning Chi coughed, "That’s my father’s actual plan."
"And what about your plan?" Zhou Gu squinted, "You aren’t on the same side as Marquis Nanping, right? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have stayed back today to drink with me."
Ning Chi sighed lightly and said truthfully, "Brother Zhou, you’re right. Indeed, my mother passed away early. Although I am the firstborn, I am not the eldest. I have my half-brother above me and my stepbrothers below. My position of Crown Prince entirely depends on my father’s word. If he orders me to go east, I dare not go west."
Zhou Gu neither confirmed nor denied this. He had always been aware of the situation in the Marquis Nanping Residence. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have brushed off Ning Chi’s account of his identity as the Crown Prince of Marquis Nanping. Ning Chi’s position as the Crown Prince was a difficult one as his voice carried little weight in the Marquis Nanping Residence.
"So, what are your suggestions, Prince Ning?" Zhou Gu went straight to the point, "Do you want me to help you to align with the Eastern Palace? I can facilitate that."
Ning Chi laughed again, "It seems that brother Zhou has already aligned with the Eastern Palace?"
Zhou Gu tapped his fingers on the table, "It’s not that I aligned myself. It’s more that the Emperor sent me off to the Eastern Palace, and I studied alongside the Crown Prince for years. He took good care of me, and I cannot be ungrateful. I guess I can also be considered as part of the Eastern Palace!"
He had a clear understanding of himself, "Regardless of what the Emperor thought then, I have feelings for the Eastern Palace after studying with the Crown Prince for so many years. I’m not the eldest, and I don’t inherit any titles or responsibilities. However, the Crown Prince possesses both moral and intellectual virtues, holds commendable character, is rightfully legitimate, and it’s only natural that I would be willing to assist him."
Ning Chi nodded, "But in recent years, it seems that the Emperor has been keen on supporting the elder and second Princes, establishing a tripartite situation against the Crown Prince?"
Zhou Gu nodded, "With his aging, the Emperor increasingly values his authority. He is not fond of the Crown Prince’s high reputation. However, the Emperor doesn’t seem to understand that if his heir doesn’t have a strong reputation, how can he be trusted with the kingdom? Now, the Emperor is constantly curbing the Crown Prince’s power. Honestly speaking, the Emperor is not ready to let go of his power and fears the Crown Prince might challenge his authority. He simply doesn’t want to give up the throne." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂
Ning Chi lower his voice, "Brother Zhou, you’re talking rebelliously here, be careful."
Zhou Gu chuckled, "Are you going to report me?"
"No, I wouldn’t do that."
"That settles it then. There’s nobody else here and besides, aren’t you also thinking about joining the Eastern Palace? Why should we be cautious with words?" Zhou Gu leaned undauntedly against the chair, "So, Prince Ning, be certain about your decision. The Crown Prince, at present, is not in an optimistic situation."
Ning Chi was surprised by Zhou Gu’s directness and sincerity.
Despite being two years older than Zhou Gu, and considering himself as a savvy person, his perception of Zhou Gu deepened after he reported his identity but was ignored when Zhou Gu intended to draw his sword against Jiang Yunying. This made Ning Chi realize that the Duke Residence didn’t pay much attention to the Marquis Nanping Residence. To him, it wasn’t an insult but rather gave him a new perspective.
With the intention of escaping his father’s control and his half-brother’s threats, as well as the suppression from his stepmother and stepbrothers, he considered his options carefully. Patience led him to act ambiguously with Jiang Sheng while contemplating a different approach from his father’s plan to align with the elder Prince.
The elder Prince’s wife was his stepmother’s sister, so even if the elder Prince ascended the throne someday, it was unlikely that he would receive any benefits. The benefits would go to his younger stepbrother. Then, why should he make the wedding gown for others not in his interest?
As for Zhou Gu, he was the bridge for him to the Eastern Palace.
Ning Chi didn’t need much time to think. He instantly said to Zhou Gu, "The legitimate successor, known for his moral and intellectual virtues, gentle and dignified, caring for his people. Even if the Emperor is momentarily confused, wouldn’t the Crown Prince’s Hall be worth aligning under?"
"Naturally." Zhou Gu nodded.
Ning Chi smiled and bowed to Zhou Gu, "Then I must trouble brother Zhou to make this introduction."
"Alright, as you have this intention, I am willing to serve as this mediator." Noting that Ziye had not returned with the drinks, Zhou Gu asked Su Rong promptly, "Can you grind ink?"
Su Rong nodded, "Yes."
Zhou Gu shouted out, "Somebody, ask the shopkeeper for pens, ink, paper, and inkstone."
Someone outside responded affirmatively.
Ning Chi was amazed by Zhou Gu’s spontaneity and speed, "Brother Zhou, are you planning to write a letter to the Crown Prince’s Hall right now?"
"Yes." Zhou Gu nodded, "Since you’ve made your decision, why delay it? I will write a letter for you. Do you have a token?"
Ning Chi took out the jade pendant he carried with him and placed it in front of Zhou Gu, "I can use this as a token, is that alright?"
"It is." Zhou Gu said, "You can write a letter yourself and send it together with mine. I will assign someone to deliver it to the Crown Prince’s Hall back in the capital."
Ning Chi nodded, "Alright."
Soon, someone delivered pens, ink, paper, and an inkstone. Su Rong rolled up her sleeves to help Zhou Gu grind the ink. Once Zhou Gu was done writing his short letter, he sealed it and passed the pen to Ning Chi. He saw that Su Rong was about to grind ink for Ning Chi too, but he stopped her, "You can grind ink for me but there’s no need for you to do so for everyone."
Su Rong: "..."
Ning Chi: "..."
Ning Chi smiled, rolled up his own sleeves and said while grinding ink himself, "Yes, I’m not worthy of the trouble from Lady Qi, I’ll do it myself."
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