The Nanchu King and Ye Xiang chatted amiably with Mister Cui for half an hour, considering that Mister Cui must be tired from his journey with his family. They stopped their conversation, not wanting to overstay their visit, and got up to leave.
Mister Cui wanted to see them out, but the Nanchu King and Ye Xiang held him back on either side. "Mister Cui, please rest. We’re all family here, no need for formalities."
Mister Cui made a move to stand but couldn’t. He laughed after a moment.
"Grandfather doesn’t need to see me out. Please rest. I’m leaving too, leaving Zhou Gu behind," said Su Rong as she stood up. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶
Zhou Gu nodded, "I’ll stay. Take care, Father-in-law and Ye Xiang."
As the three of them left together, Mister Cui could only instruct Cui Xingzhi to see them out.
Cui Xingzhi escorted the three to the door, watching as the King and Ye Xiang got into a carriage. Su Rong was still standing, not yet leaving, and he turned to her, "Princess?"
Ever since they returned to the capital and she entered the court, he no longer referred to her as sister-in-law, but respectfully called her ’Princess’.
Su Rong replied, "I want to talk to you before I leave."
Cui Xingzhi nodded.
Su Rong said to him, "This mansion is a bit small. I didn’t consider that both Grandfather and Cui family members would come. When it was just you and your cousin, having adjacent residences was perfect. But now it seems it isn’t enough. There’s a larger mansion in Hongfeng Lane that’s empty and bigger than both of these combined. Do you want a bigger place?"
Cui Xingzhi quickly replied, "This place is sufficient too. Uncle and Auntie’s family can move into cousin’s Residence. Grandfather can live here with us, there’s no need to change."
Su Rong thought a moment and said, "Then how about this? I’ll bestow that mansion in Hongfeng Lane to the Cui family. If you wish, you can move there. If not, you can stay here. Eventually, the Cui family will grow and need a larger space. It won’t hurt to have an extra mansion. Plus, it’s close to Zhou Gu’s home, just a street away. When the Duke comes to visit Nanchu, it would be more convenient for him to chat and drink tea with Mister Cui."
Cui Xingzhi looked at Su Rong, hesitating. "Isn’t that...we’ve already received two mansions, if we got another..."
Su Rong laughed, "You saved my life. Offering another mansion is only right. Accept it!"
"Many thanks, Princess," responded Cui Xingzhi.
"Sister-in-law, actually. I still prefer being called that in private," Su Rong said before getting into her carriage.
Cui Xingzhi smiled, "Take care, sister-in-law."
As Su Rong drove away, Cui Xingzhi stood still and watched until she was out of sight, before turning around to go inside.
A seven or eight-year-old boy asked Cui Xingzhi when he got back, "Brother Xingzhi, is the Princess Zhou Gu’s fiancée? She’s very pretty."
Smiling, Cui Xingzhi nodded, "Yes, she is."
Admiringly, the boy said, "Brother Xingzhi, you and Cousin Zhou Gu’s official robes are so nice."
Cui Xingzhi smiled, "Study hard, when you grow up and become an official, you’ll get to wear one, too."
"Okay," the little boy nodded vigorously.
After the Nanchu King, Ye Xiang, and Su Rong left, Mister Cui turned his head to look at Zhou Gu, scrutinizing him.
Zhou Gu felt uncomfortable, "Grandfather, why are you staring at me?" He straightened up, "Is it because I’m slouching? I don’t do this in court. I’m just bit exhausted recently. Plus, we’re home, right?"
He remembered that his grandfather was always criticizing him for his lack of manners, how he doesn’t sit or stand properly. He had corrected him many times on this.
"Not looking at you for that," sighed Mister Cui.
"Then why are you staring?" Zhou Gu slouched over again.
Mister Cui looked at him, "You made the right choice. The Princess is worth giving up everything in Daliang for."
Zhou Gu burst into laughter, "Of course."
He looked proudly at Mister Cui, "Grandfather, Xiaoqi likes me now. I gave up everything in Daliang for her, and she gave up Guixue for me."
"I know." Mister Cui smiled and poked Zhou Gu’s forehead, "No matter how much you grow, you’re still like a child. You’re acting like you got candy and everyone else didn’t."
Zhou Gu responded matter-of-factly, "Well, others can’t have it. The candy is mine."
Mister Cui had to laugh at that, "Don’t you and Xingzhi have lots of work back at the Ministry of Housing? I’m tired, stop getting in my way."
Zhou Gu let out a sigh, "I finally found an excuse to take a day off. Grandfather, please don’t be heartless. I won’t leave until I finish my dinner. You may rest as you please."
Just as Mister Cui was about to speak, Cui Xingzhi came back from outside, smiling. "Brother, my cousin has gifted the mansion in Hongfeng Lane to the Cui family, suggesting that Grandfather should move in. She left this place for me."
Zhou Gu nodded, "The one in Hongfeng Lane is large, almost as big as my residence. It’s a good idea to move there, especially since the current space is too tight with so many people around. It’s just what Xiaoqi was thinking. Plus, it’s close to my residence, so when my grandfather visits, he could easily hang out with Grandfather, have tea and stroll around."
"You said the same words as my cousin. She also said something similar." Cui Xingzhi was amazed at their similarities.
Zhou Gu grinned, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "We’re married, in thought."
"You’re not yet married," Cui Xingzhi reminded.
Zhou Gu dismissed him, "It’s bound to happen soon."
Mister Cui watched Cui Xingzhi, his grandson. Since his arrival in Nanchu, he had grown tremendously within half a year. Wearing his official robes that signified his rank, even Cui himself barely recognized him at first sight. His younger relatives also gazed in admiration. They must regret not coming along.
However, fortune lies in danger. The decisions a person makes determine their fate. At the time, he let all his clan members choose whether they wanted to come. Only Xingzhi and Cui Yanjin decided to come along.
Now, both of them have promising futures.
It’s clear that Xingzhi, starting as an official of the fourth rank with his youth, he could surely rise to the highest rank. As for Yanjin, at just twelve he has become the youngest official in the court.
The others, though they also came to Nanchu, had to progress step by step. Of course, having the two younger brothers around did offer some help, but the gap had already widened.
Cui Xingzhi noticed his grandfather watching him for a very long time without saying anything. It made him somewhat uncomfortable, "Grandfather, do you see something wrong with me?"
"Hmm, yes, you’re right. I see that you’ve grown. Very good, I’m very pleased," praised Mister Cui sincerely.
A relieved smile appeared on Cui Xingzhi’s face, "Grandfather, please go and rest."
Mister Cui nodded, then got up to leave.
As he moved, so did Zhou Gu. When he moved into the room, Zhou Gu followed. When he lay down on the bed, Zhou Gu followed suit and... lay beside him.
Cui Xingzhi, being last to enter, "..."
Mister Cui looked at the pair and thought about jokingly reprimanding them, but in the end, he didn’t have the heart to. He inched over to make more room on the bed, and Zhou Gu followed suit, making room for Cui Xingzhi to also lay down.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
