Xie Lin had gone two full days and nights without sleeping, he had heard from his father that Su Rong had left a message for him, saying that she was about to leave, and would only stay in the Capital City for three days. Therefore, he sped up his investigation, and as soon as he found a key piece of evidence, he quickly rode back to the capital. He arrived just in time for a banquet Su Rong was hosting at the restaurant, and did not even bother going home first, but went directly to the restaurant.
When he got there, Chen Zhou was scolding Su Rong for her decision about Zhou Gu. He complained about how she had been so blind as to call off their engagement back then, but now, she seemed to have regained her sight, and gotten someone even better, lamenting that Lord Thursday’s talents were being squandered by a woman like her.
Su Rong sat there in a relaxed manner, listening to Chen Zhou’s incessant accusations without retaliating or trying to shut him up, just letting him ramble on.
Eventually, Chen Zhou broke down crying on the table, "Su Rong, I can’t bear to part with you. Once you’re gone, when will I ever see you again? Will I not see you in this lifetime?"
Everyone was shocked by his desolation, their eyes turned towards Su Rong.
Su Rong held her head high, "Why are you crying like a little girl? Who said we would never see each other again in this lifetime? I will come back to visit. My elder brother is staying in Daliang, as are my parents, aunts, and sisters. Zhou Gu’s family is in Daliang too. We both have unbreakable ties with Daliang."
Chen Zhou lifted his head, his eyes red and swollen, "When will you come back?"
"In a few years!" Su Rong didn’t really know, "But we will come back."
Chen Zhou started crying again at the news, "That’s too long."
Speechless, Su Rong responded, "Stop crying, or else I’ll leave."
"No." Chen Zhou sniffed and wiped his face with a handkerchief, "You heartless woman, you have forgotten the times when I helped you with your homework as a child. Don’t you feel even a shred of regret about leaving your playmates from the past?"
Amused and a bit exasperated, Su Rong replied, "Enough. Just focus on your work, and if there’s ever a mission to Nanchu from Daliang, take it on voluntarily. I will certainly repay your kindness."
Chen Zhou wiped his face clean, "That’s more like it."
His academic achievements weren’t enough to grant him a post in the capital, but because Su Xingze had been assigned to Jibei, he had pleaded for a favor on Chen Zhou’s behalf before the Crown Prince, enabling him to stay and take a minor official position in the Ministry of Rites. In the future, he actually might have the possibility to be sent on a diplomatic mission to Nanchu.
When Xie Lin entered the private room, he saw Chen Zhou wiping away tears, his eyes as red and swollen as if he had been crying for three days straight. He was puzzled, "What happened?"
Chen Zhou was embarrassed, "Young Master Xie, you’re here? Nothing... I just got some sand in my eye."
The rest of the people stifled their laughter, thinking about the size of the ’grain of sand’ that had just made Chen Zhou cry a river. They were all taken aback to find that this was what Chen Zhou was really like. And as for Lady Su Qi, when she got irritated, she didn’t hesitate to curse at him. The thought of their past quarrels evoked laughter mixed with regret.
Su Rong had left an empty seat next to her, especially for Xie Lin.
Xie Lin took the empty seat next to her and politely said to Su Rong, "Thank you for saving me a seat next to you, Lady Su Qi. Your kindness is overwhelming."
He, who used to pick fights with Zhou Gu, had never thought that he would be longing for him one day. Ah, he had rushed back from exhaustion just to hear news about him these past few days.
Su Rong personally poured him a cup of tea, "Young Master, take this to warm yourself up."
"Thank you, thank you." Xie Lin held up the cup of tea, "I really miss Zhou Gu."
Su Rong knew this. She turned to Fen Ling and said, "We kept a seat for you in between us because I wanted you to have a good talk with him. If you want to know about him, let Fen Ling tell you. During the days I was recovering, I did not accompany him to the military camp. Fen Ling was with him, so he knows best."
Xie Lin immediately turned to Fen Ling, "Brother, tell me."
Fen Ling glanced at Su Rong, thinking to himself that he was just a brick; wherever his sister wanted him to go, he would go.
He had no choice but to start telling Xie Lin about Zhou Gu’s actions in Nanping, the heart-stopping moments, the numerous calculations and strategies, and how they had used wisdom to achieve victory and minimize bloodshed.
The entire table gradually grew quiet, listening to Fen Ling’s retelling of the events.
Xie Lin was full of admiration for Zhou Gu, "Ai, how I wish I had learnt martial arts when I was younger."
All present shared the same sentiment. Almost everyone here was educated through reading, unlike Zhou Gu, who was truly adept both in civil and martial arts.
They drank until midnight, and by then, Xie Lin was already half-drunk. He draped an arm around Fen Ling’s shoulder, "Brother, the next time you meet Zhou Gu, please tell him that I wish him a happy life as a married man and to never forget his old friend."
Fen Ling was lost for words, "Alright, Young Master Xie, rest assured. I will certainly relay your message to my brother-in-law."
Xie Lin was amused, "You’re even calling him ’brother-in-law’ now, how envious."
He straightened up and said to Su Rong, "Lady Su Qi, Zhou Gu and I have always had a rivalry since we were young, but in truth, I was just jealous of how much girls liked him. When he would go out, his carriage was always filled with fruits and handkerchiefs given by girls, and I never received such treatment. Once, when we talked about it, he said he was actually upset back then – he wondered why he was the only one getting hit with fruits and I got off easy. It’s funny how people can have such different perspectives but the same frustrations."
Su Rong laughed, "Did he really say that?"
"Yes, indeed." Xie Lin sighed, "So, please be nice to him from now on. I always thought he would end up lonely his whole life, but who knew that he was blessed with such good fortune."
Wasn’t he truly blessed? There was only one Su Rong in the whole world, and even Ye Guixue couldn’t stand against him. Zhou Gu had her all to himself, a blessed man indeed.
Su Rong nodded, "Don’t worry."
She had already reassured countless people countless times. It seems like she had no choice but to treat Zhou Gu well, or else she was likely to be struck down by a thunderbolt.
Everyone lingered in front of the restaurant for quite some time. The people from Jiangzhou took turns saying their goodbyes to Su Rong, offering her their best wishes.
Jiang Xing even said, "We wish Lady Su Qi all the best and hope that once you’ve attained your status, we would be able to celebrate with wine and toast to Lady Su Qi’s rule over Nanchu, imposing and awe-inspiring."
Smiling, Su Rong accepted their well wishes, "Thank you, I will strive not to let you all down."
When they got into the carriage, Fen Ling rubbed his forehead, "Sister, are you going to miss Daliang, your friends and family here, and every inch of this land, and every person?"
Some semblance of moisture welled up in Su Rong’s eyes, "Yes, I will."
She would miss the land she had grown up in, her family who stayed here, her childhood playmates and the friends she had made, everyone.
"Thankfully, Brother-in-Law gave up everything to go with you to Nanchu." Fen Ling whispered, "Otherwise, you would have felt even worse, and found it harder to leave."
"Yes, thankfully he’s with me." Su Rong nodded, "I’m truly fortunate."
She took a deep breath, "We’ll set off early tomorrow morning. After we leave the Capital City, we’ll detour and pass by Jiangzhou. I have to say my goodbyes to my father and aunts."
Fen Ling agreed and asked, "What time are we leaving tomorrow?"
Thinking about the people who wanted to see her off, Su Rong was most afraid of a long farewell under ten miles of pavilions, she didn’t want to see an emotional scene that would leave tear stains on her clothes. Without any hesitation, she said decisively, "Right now. We’re leaving right now. Let mom send a message to everyone in the morning to tell them they don’t have to see us off."
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