Su Rong cast Zhou Gu a smile, thinking to herself how Zhou Gu seemed to believe that he could use her, but no one else could, isn’t this a good sign? Turning around, she went to wash her hands.
After Ning Chi finished writing the letter and sealed it with wax, along with his jade pendant, he gave them to Zhou Gu.
Zhou Gu called someone over and instructed him to "Set off this secret journey to the capital and deliver it to the Crown Prince."
The man complied and withdrew.
Ziye, who had just returned with the alcohol, had bought eleven jars of wine for a thousand taels of silver.
Seeing this, Zhou Gu asked, "Wasn’t it a hundred taels per jar?"
Ziye scratched his head, "The innkeeper of Laughter Inn asked me if I were sent by Young Master Zhou to buy the wine, I said yes, so the innkeeper said that since I am from Young Master Zhou, she would offer one jar out of respect for Lady Su Qi."
"Oh?" Zhou Gu turned to look at Su Rong, "Your reputation carries such weight?"
Considering that she was amongst her own kind, Su Rong thought her fame should naturally be larger. Of course, she didn’t express these thoughts, instead saying, "I have a bit of an acquaintance with the innkeeper."
"Clearly you frequent her inn to buy wine," Zhou Gu commented.
Touching her nose, Su Rong admitted, "Quite possibly!"
It turned out her visits to buy wine were free of charge.
Zhou Gu was puzzled, "How did she know you were one of us?"
"I asked her if Lady Su Qi had bought the wine here yesterday," Ziye replied with an expression that subtly yet proudly hinted at his cleverness.
Zhou Gu was at a loss for words, "You might as well just hang a sign around your neck."
Turning his attention back to Su Rong, he asked out of curiosity, "If I had ’Su Qi’s fiancé’ written on my face, would everyone in Jiangning County respect me?"
Su Rong laughed, "I wouldn’t know, why don’t you try?"
Zhou Gu pondered how Su Rong seemed to know many people, from the fishermen to the innkeepers, and perhaps even more people since she had stated she had spent a long time outside the Duke Residence.
"We will keep five jars, no, six jars here. The rest of you can take and share," Zhou Gu waved his hand.
Ziye complied and left six jars on the table. The rest were taken downstairs. Along with the guard from the Duke Residence and Ning Chi’s own guards, they occupied the entire lower hall.
The waiter brought food to Zhou Gu’s room. Zhou Gu opened a jar of wine, poured it into a bowl, and clinked it against Ning Chi’s bowl, "Once you are back in Nanping, wait for the news. After receiving the letter, the Crown Prince should send someone to meet you in Nanping."
Ning Chi nodded, "Very well, I will be waiting for the envoy from the Crown Prince."
The two of them drained their bowls in one go, greatly satisfied.
Seeing them laugh and talk in high spirits, Su Rong also grabbed a bowl and drained her wine.
Zhou Gu wasn’t surprised, he merely glanced at Su Rong and said nothing. Ning Chi, on the other hand, was stunned, "Lady Su Qi, you can really hold your liquor!"
Su Rong put down her empty bowl, "Hmm, I can handle it!"
Ning Chi admired her, "It’s rare to see a woman keeping up with a man, drinking like there’s no tomorrow."
"When I was a child, I was fearless and willing to try anything. The woman who taught me how to make wine was the innkeeper of Laughter Inn. She would hide in the winery to make wine when she was bored. Left with nothing to do, I likewise holed up in the winery, keeping her company. The wine we are drinking now was her own invention, and I was the first to taste it. She loved wine, and instead of serving me tea during my visits, she would throw me a jar of wine. In the long run, being thirsty and thus drinking the supplied wine helped me practice."
Ning Chi was astounded, "Is that so?" He smiled, "Lady Su Qi is really exceptional, unlike any other women I’ve met before."
"You mean I’m too carefree and lack discipline, right?" Su Rong poured herself another bowl of wine, "No need to be tactful. Just go on with your conversation and don’t mind me."
Ning Chi shook his head, "Most women in the world are restrained and constrained. Those few who are liberated are usually just girls from the world of martial arts, the majority of conventional women live within the limits of social norms and etiquettes. Lady Su Qi, your temperament is truly unique."
Just as Su Rong was about to say something in response, Zhou Gu gave Ning Chi a stern look, "Alright, that’s enough. She doesn’t need you to deem her as special."
Ning Chi laughed, quickly apologizing, "I’m sorry, Brother Zhou, I got carried away. Please excuse me." Raising his wine bowl, he added, "I’ll punish myself with another bowl of wine."
Zhou Gu nodded, he casually patted Su Rong on her head, "You’re a gentle and soft girl, don’t scandalize people with your brashness. Hear me? Sip your drink and don’t imitate us."
Su Rong nodded and smiled, "Alright."
Heeding Zhou Gu’s advice, she picked up her wine bowl and took a small sip without uttering another word.
Zhou Gu and Ning Chi were chatting over their drinks. As Su Rong listened to their back and forth, she grew increasingly appreciative of her fiancé who, despite his tender age, possessed wisdom and a breadth of knowledge. Being a part of the Duke Residence and having attended the Eastern Palace for several years had given him an education that was truly remarkable. Although Ning Chi was older than him, it seemed he was subtly being led by Zhou Gu. If Zhou Gu grows older, he would be a remarkable man.
Ning Chi, who was involved in this conversation with Zhou Gu, was also marveling at Zhou Gu’s intelligence. People always remembered the story of the young master of the Duke Residence, who had once made the scholar in the study room lose his temper. However, no one ever mentioned what he had learned during his years of companionship at the Eastern Palace. Now, he was finally understanding. By simply interacting with Zhou Gu, could he also speculate about the Crown Prince’s immense potential?
The Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace is well known for his manners and virtues. Maybe that’s why the emperor perceives the Crown Prince as a threat, and this perception seems to be rooted in reality.
After three rounds of drinks and the night drawing to a close, Zhou Gu was still rather sober. Ning Chi, not as accustomed to drinking, was slightly intoxicated.
Ning Chi was a very disciplined person and shook his head at Zhou Gu, "Brother Zhou, I cannot drink anymore or I fear I will lose my demeanor."
Zhou Gu nodded, "Then you don’t have to drink anymore."
Turning towards Su Rong, he asked, "You’ve consumed a jar of wine without a hint of intoxication. Shall we finish off this last jar between us?"
Su Rong was about to agree when the sound of footsteps echoed from outside, followed immediately by Ziye pushing the door open, "Young Master, Master Su is here to pick you up and Lady Su Qi."
Zhou Gu was taken aback.
Su Rong quickly withdrew her hand that was about to reach for the wine jar and turned to ask, "My older brother is here? Where is he?"
"He’s waiting at the door."
Scratching her head, Su Rong turned to Zhou Gu and announced, "No need to finish that jar, my brother is a real traditionalist. Since I didn’t return to the residence, he assumed it wasn’t proper for me to stay at an inn with you, and came looking for me."
She stood up, "Let’s go home? Besides, we don’t need to hide from Jiang Sheng anymore, and it’s more comfortable living back home."
Zhou Gu nodded. Even though he was reluctant to move, given Su Xingze had come himself to pick them up late at night, he couldn’t refuse the respect. He stood up, patted Ning Chi on the shoulder, "Brother Ning, we’re heading back to the city, since you’re leaving tomorrow we won’t send you off."
"Brother Zhou, there’s no need for formalities, don’t bother sending me off." Ning Chi responded with a smile, "I’ve heard that Su Xingze from Jiangning is an extraordinarily scholarly man, renowned for his writing. His essays are worth their weight in gold and he’s predicted to have the talent of prime ministers. Please go ahead, Brother Zhou and Lady Su Qi, I would like to accompany you to see him."
Su Rong thought to herself that this was no exaggeration. She recalled that when she was short on money, she would sneak into her brother’s study to steal an essay and make some money. It was only after he discovered this that she stopped this practice.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
