In the dead of night, and the next day, Su Rong indeed couldn’t get up and slept until late morning.
After she woke up, there was no one around her. She reached out and shook the bedside bell, and Yuewan immediately opened the door and entered, "Miss, you’re awake?"
Su Rong, holding onto the quilt, sat up, her voice hoarse, "Where is Zhou Gu?"
Yuewan was alarmed, "Miss, your voice..."
Su Rong stretched out her hand, "Bring me a glass of water."
Yuewan hurried to pour Su Rong a glass of water while answering her, "Fourth Young Master went out early with the eldest young master, leaving me to wait until you woke up."
Su Rong nodded. After drinking the water, her throat felt somewhat better. She recalled Zhou Gu incessantly questioning her the previous day, and she couldn’t stand it anymore and truthfully revealed Nanny Zhao, which made her feel a bit guilty. She asked, "Where is Nanny Zhao?"
"Nanny Zhao returned to the palace. There are many tasks in the palace that cannot do without her," Yuewan said innocently. "Miss, after your wedding, you seem extremely exhausted. You look as though a demon has drained your vitality, whereas the Fourth Young Master is completely the opposite, beaming with joy."
Su Rong glared at her, "What are you talking about?"
Yuewan continued innocently, "It’s nothing like what’s written in the picture books. The books all say that it’s the women and fox spirits who drain the men’s vitality, but in your case, it’s quite the opposite."
Su Rong frowned, "Picture books are not reliable. You should read them less in the future; they corrupt your mind."
Yuewan stuck out her tongue.
As Su Rong dressed with limp wrists, Yuewan stepped forward to help. Seeing traces barely concealed by the inner garment, she sighed deeply, "This Fourth Young Master really doesn’t know how to cherish and pity jade. Miss, Madame was right, you shouldn’t be too indulgent with him."
Su Rong thought to herself that she hadn’t been indulgent with him; it was she who had been too unrestrained. The embarrassment of yesterday’s event was too great to mention.
She let Yuewan help her get washed and ready, then sat at the table.
The Eldest Lady Su came to see her and, seeing Su Rong’s lackluster appearance, tapped her forehead, "What did I tell you? Did you take it as wind past your ears?"
Su Rong coughed lightly, speaking softly, "It was my own folly."
Eldest Lady Su was speechless for a moment before commenting, "Serves you right."
In youth, who hasn’t been foolish? Couples in love often end up like this. But it did not include her and Su Xu; at the time of their marriage, he wasn’t in her heart, so naturally, she wouldn’t invest much emotion, nor were they inseparable. Tired of the arguments later, she married him off to a concubine, after which they were even less close.
Now, looking at Su Rong’s appearance, although exhausted, her eyes and eyebrows were blossoming like roses, piercing bright even on this wintry, cold day; she couldn’t help but smile, "Enough, it’s nothing serious, just that you’re tired. This way, I might get to hold a grandchild sooner."
Her relationship with Zhou Gu was such a joy for everyone, their Residence always full of laughter and chatter. Even little Zhou Rui would ask when he, after his fourth uncle and aunt’s Great Wedding, would get a little brother or sister. He was eager to be the big brother.
Grand Princess Shengan and The Lady of the Duke liked Su Rong very much. When they saw that Su Rong had not managed to join them in the front hall for lunch, they came to her residence after their meal.
Seeing Su Rong’s state, Grand Princess Shengan reproachfully said, "Su Qi, don’t pamper Zhou Ge too much. Once a man is pampered, he will become unruly. And it’s always the women who suffer."
Su Rong, pursing her lips, smiled, "Understood, Grandmother."
Eldest Lady Su joined in teasingly, "Princess, whose side are you really on, your grandson or your daughter-in-law? Somehow, it sounds like you no longer cherish your grandson."
"With a granddaughter-in-law now, who would even fuss over that child?" Eldest Princess Shengan laughed. "What is there to fret about him now? He got what he wanted and is as happy as if it’s spring every day, even in the depths of this bitter cold. This morning I saw him, his steps were so light as he walked."
The Lady of the Duke, holding Su Rong’s hand, said, "Exactly, men should not be overly indulged, but that’s enough for now. You have holidays, but once they are over, you will have to attend court daily and manage court affairs. It’s going to be tough, so don’t be too lenient with him. Otherwise, you’ll be the one who suffers."
Su Rong smiled, "I’ll listen to Grandmother and Mother."
She was too embarrassed to say that it was her own foolishness yesterday that had led to her suffering.
The four of them chatted happily for a good half an hour. Eldest Princess Shengan, The Lady of the Duke, and Eldest Lady Su then left, telling Su Rong to rest well.
So, with nothing much to do, Su Rong slept again for half the day in the afternoon.
Zhou Gu and Su Xingze arrived back at the residence just before dinner. By then, Su Rong, having had a good sleep, sat in the front hall with everyone else, chatting and drinking tea while waiting for them to return.
Upon entering, Zhou Gu brushed off the light snow from his body, went to the stove to warm himself and shake off the chill, then walked over to Su Rong, took her hand, and asked with a smile, "You look quite well, Miss Su Qi."
Su Rong turned her head and smiled back at him, "Out all day and not a hint of fatigue. Fourth Young Master Zhou is looking quite fine too."
After being up most of the night yesterday and still getting up fresh in the morning, and now returning after a day still full of spirit, she truly suspected that, as Yuewan had said, he had revitalized his vitality by harvesting hers.
Zhou Gu smiled, reached out to pinch her cheek, sat next to her, and whispered in her ear, "Serving the Princess should be a vassal’s duty indeed." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂
Su Rong: "..."
This villain. He has changed; he has learned to be bad.
Su Xingze, having removed his cloak, turned around and saw the two of them joking together. He couldn’t help but smile genuinely, feeling that witnessing their great wedding and its beauty made his trip worthwhile.
Two days later, Su Xingze began his journey to leave the Royal Capital. Su Rong and Zhou Gu braved the snow to see him off outside the city.
Su Rong hugged Su Xingze, "Brother, I kind of don’t want to let you go."
After all, once he left for Daliang this time, who knew when they would see each other again.
Her eyes reddened, "Was I wrong not to insist on taking you and father with me to Nanchu from the start?"
She believed that if she had forcibly taken them, Yan Huisheng would have freed them, even though her father was a court official.
Su Xingze laughed ruefully, "Who was it that adamantly refused to let me come to Nanchu? Regret now? Too late for that."
He was now a court official favored by the Crown Prince and couldn’t just walk away from his duties. After all, he was in charge of all military affairs previously managed by the General’s Mansion of Jibei—a significant reliance for a young court official just starting at the court, quite a rise to high ranks.
Su Rong sniffed, "If I ask my cousin, the Crown Prince, for him and he refuses, I just won’t return his 100,000 soldiers."
Su Xingze was amused, "You can try that."
Su Rong snorted and let go of him, pushing him away with her hand, "Who’s going to miss you? I was just saying. Hurry along now. Once you get back to Daliang, keep climbing the ranks. Who knows, you might become the youngest Grand Secretary in Daliang."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
