After the Princess and her consort’s Great Wedding, the court officials who had taken a few days off resumed their busy work.
Su Rong and Zhou Gu also ended their merry days of marriage leave and returned to their normal routines.
In an instant, the Spring Festival arrived.
The previous New Year, the entire Nanchu was shrouded in the gloom of war, but this year, it was the first major festival after the Princess returned to the throne, coupled with the joyous event of the Princess’s Great Wedding. The festivity continued all the way up to the day of bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new.
The streets of the Royal Capital were decorated with lanterns and streamers in the restaurants and shops, and the Royal Palace and various Residences also hung up couplets, blessings, and bright lanterns and pearls.
The entire Nanchu Capital was enveloped in the festive atmosphere of the New Year.
On New Year’s Eve, the Royal Palace held a banquet to treat the ministers, which started early and ended early. After the banquet, the court officials left the Royal Palace one after another to return to their own residences to celebrate the New Year with their families.
Those court officials without families, like Zhang Yun, Zhang Mao, Ning Ze, and Jiang Zhu, found no interest in returning to their lonely homes, so they were kept in the Royal Palace by Su Rong and Zhou Gu.
Su Rong specially instructed to set up a side hall where all the young people could stay up together for the New Year, drinking and joking, throwing dice, playing card games, and taking turns to propose toasts in a lively and noisy group.
Ye Guixue was also specially kept by Zhou Gu, who slung an arm around his shoulder, "Brother Ye, I’m sorry to you."
Ye Guixue turned his head to look at Zhou Gu, "Where have you wronged me?"
Zhou Gu glanced at Su Rong not far away, "Now that I’m married, and you’re not, I always feel that I’ve disrupted your plans in the past and quite owe you an apology."
Ye Guixue chuckled, "Brother Zhou, you’ve had too much to drink."
If he weren’t drunk, he’d definitely not say such things.
Zhou Gu shook his head, "I’m not drunk, it’s just that although I feel sorry for you, if time could be turned back, I still wouldn’t let go."
Ye Guixue was speechless, "So?"
"So, Brother Ye, don’t remain a bachelor all your life. This year may slide, but next year, the year after, or even many years later, it doesn’t matter if it takes longer, you must marry someone who truly pleases you," said Zhou Gu.
Ye Guixue smiled, "Don’t worry, I won’t end up solo."
Initially, when Su Rong returned the Tiger Talisman to him, he was somewhat reluctant, but later Zhou Gu came to Nanchu for Su Rong, sought him out, trusted him to cooperate, and had him lead the King to avoid the eyes and ears of the Nangong Family and leave the Royal Capital. Afterward, Su Rong saved his family, and from then on, he had no more reluctance.
Life is but a fleeting journey, so why not cherish the confidants one meets along the way? Besides, neither Su Rong nor Zhou Gu had truly wronged him.
He stretched out his hand and patted Zhou Gu’s shoulder, "Brother Zhou, you worry too much."
Zhou Gu clinked glasses with him, "Good." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚
He always prided himself on living openly and honestly from childhood, but only when it came to the persistence he showed in his hidden pursuit of Su Rong, his actions were not as honorable. Ye Guixue had not seen him as an enemy to be wary of, and because of that, he had stumbled. If he had been a little more cautious back then, with his talent and ability, he might have won Su Rong’s favor; perhaps today, it wouldn’t be him and Su Rong living happily ever after.
He was different from him; without Su Rong, he would truly end up alone.
Cui Yanjin tugged at Su Rong’s sleeve and whispered, "Cousin-in-law, Lord Ye and cousin have been whispering for so long, and they’ve looked over here several times. Are they talking behind your back?"
Su Rong, who was engrossed in her game and counting her cards, didn’t even bother to lift her head, "Let them talk; just ignore them." She finished counting her cards and urged Zhang Yun, "Hurry up and play your card; it’s your turn, what are you dawdling for?"
Zhang Yun grimaced, "Princess, please show mercy. The Gold, Silver, and Jewelry you’ve given me, I’m about to lose all back to you."
Su Rong laughed heartily, "That’s because your card skills are so poor. Your brother is much better than you; he hasn’t lost."
Zhang Mao smiled; indeed, he hadn’t lost.
Zhang Yun sighed and grabbed Cui Yanjin, thrusting the cards into his hands, "Take over for me; change the luck. It’s not that I’m bad at cards; it’s just that today’s luck is too mediocre."
Cui Yanjin took the cards, glanced at them, and then stuffed them back to Zhang Yun, "These crappy cards, even I can’t win against my cousin-in-law with them."
Zhang Yun stood up with the cards in hand and approached Zhou Gu with a serious expression, "Zhou Gu, are we good brothers or not?"
Zhou Gu, indeed a little tipsy today, replied to him, "Of course we are."
Zhang Yun shoved the cards in his hand, "If we’re good brothers, then win for me," he clenched his teeth, "If I keep losing, I won’t even have the silver to marry a wife, and then I’ll be depending on you."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Gu immediately stood up with the cards in hand, "That won’t do, just wait, I’ll win for you."
He had just finished worrying about Ye Guixue and did not want another bachelor to worry about. It was an inexplicable concern coming from a married man.
Thus, he walked up to the card table and asked everyone, "Who has Zhang Yun lost to?"
With a demeanor suggesting he was there to win back the losses.
Su Rong looked at him and laughed, "Me."
Zhou Gu paused and turned his head towards Zhang Yun.
Zhang Yun had already pulled Ye Guixue over to his side, dragging him down to sit together, and reminded him, "You just said we’re good brothers. Whether I can preserve the silver for marrying a wife depends on you."
Zhou Gu immediately straightened his back, looked at Su Rong with a rather imposing air, and said, "Come on, I’ll stand in for him."
Su Rong laughed, "You should check the cards in your hand first."
Zhou Gu looked down and nearly couldn’t keep a straight face, turning to Zhang Yun in shock, "What kind of lousy cards are these?"
Zhang Yun coughed lightly, "My luck isn’t that great, but it might change with you. Brother, I believe in you."
Zhou Gu reluctantly nodded, "Alright then!"
He had already taken them, so he had no choice but to grit his teeth and maintain this brotherly bond.
Cui Yanjin watched from the side with admiration, saying to Su Rong, "Cousin-in-law, my cousin is willing to go through thick and thin for his brother, and he dares to oppose you."
Zhou Gu heard that and glared, "Cui Yanjin, are you getting cheeky again?"
Cui Yanjin chuckled, "No, no."
He turned to pump up Su Rong, "Cousin-in-law, use your good cards and show him some color."
Su Rong was amused.
Bad cards against good cards, even if Zhou Gu tried his best, he was naturally doomed to lose; but he quickly steadied his emotion and, together with everyone, started the next round.
Indeed, the next hand Zhou Gu drew was completely different.
Zhang Yun clicked his tongue, "Ah, the groom’s cards are indeed different. A man’s spirits are high at happy events—it seems the cards are buttering him up too."
Zhou Gu hummed in agreement, looking at Su Rong, "What about it? Admit defeat?"
Su Rong looked at him, "In your dreams."
Cui Yanjin cheered from the side, "My cousin-in-law’s cards are also good. So what if you’re the groom? My cousin-in-law is still the bride. Even with you here, it wouldn’t work; the god of cards still favors her."
"Wait and see." Zhang Yun urged Zhou Gu, "Brother Zhou, play your card quickly."
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