The Baihua brew is a good wine, and Xie Lin can only handle so much. After polishing off one jug, he was already tipsy.
Zhou Gu’s plan was to get Xie Lin drunk and then take the opportunity to question him, "You’ve traveled such a long way, did your mother really let you go? She allowed you to come to such a faraway place?"
Tipsily reclining on the soft couch, Xie Lin shook his head, "Of course she was worried. It took me a long time to persuade her, and she finally agreed reluctantly."
"What are you doing here?" Zhou Gu stared at him, "Did you come just because I did? Brother, you trailing me like this, it’s not like you at all, is it?"
Xie Lin glared at him, "You’ve been telling everyone how nice Jiangning County is, so I wanted to see for myself. Living in Capital City was dull, so I came here."
"Wrong, I was saying my fiancée is wonderful." Zhou Gu corrected him.
"Aren’t they the same? I came to meet your fiancée and see what kind of woman captured your heart. One minute you were fighting with me over Qin Luan, the next you couldn’t wait to come to Jiangning to see your fiancée." Xie Lin pressed his forehead, "Besides, didn’t Duanhua also chase after you to Jiangning? I thought I’d come too..."
Zhou Gu understood – Xie Lin was here just for the spectacle, but he was irritated and replied, "Duanhua didn’t come."
Xie Lin nodded, "I know, I saw Duanhua on the road. Your men stopped her midway and she was in tears. The guards from Princess Qingping’s residence urged her to return to Capital City, but she refused to leave, saying that if you won’t let her come, she will wait there for you. After all, you will have to return to Capital City eventually, and she will wait for you on the road."
Zhou Gu was exasperated, "Doesn’t Princess Qingping have any control over her?"
Xie Lin shook his head, "She can’t control her! She spoiled her for too long."
Zhou Gu was frustrated, "She’s so annoying."
Xie Lin was highly amused, bobbing his head, "She can’t be hit, can’t be sworn at, can’t be killed, and can’t be driven away. You provoked Duanhua, and seeing how she is now, she probably won’t let it go. Even though you have a fiancée, your fiancée is a commoner, how would she dare to conflict with Duanhua? One day when she meets your fiancée, she might bully her to death."
"Who provoked her?" Zhou Gu looked upset.
"Yes, yes, yes, you didn’t provoke her actively, but you having that face is a sin." Xie Lin made a helpless face, "Oh my, can you handle it? I think Duanhua is going mad. Do you know why you haven’t encountered young ladies throwing handkerchiefs or pouches at you these past two years when you were out on the streets? You often encountered such things in the past and found it annoying, but it hasn’t happened at all these last two years. Even the young ladies you encounter stay far away, stealing glances at you, but not daring to approach. Why? Haven’t you wondered why?"
"Why?"
Zhou Gu thought carefully, it did seem so. He hadn’t noticed it until Xie Lin mentioned it.
Xie Lin then confessed, "Considering the good wine you treated me to today, I’ll tell you! It’s because Duanhua has both overtly and covertly warned all the young ladies who like you. Some even met with severe consequences, either being bullied and forced to move their entire family out of Capital City or hurriedly marrying off. Those of good family background have also started behaving modestly, not daring to reveal the slightest liking for you before Duanhua."
Zhou Gu was unaware of this and no one had told him. He was suddenly disgusted.
"So, don’t blame me for not warning you, this woman Duanhua, even if you stop her from coming here, she will find a way. Unless you guard your fiancée tightly, don’t give her an opportunity. Otherwise, she will take revenge on your fiancée for you blocking her from coming to Jiangning." As Xie Lin spoke, he shivered himself, "Ah, it’s hard being beholden to such a beauty. Fortunately, I don’t have to endure her."
He looked at Zhou Gu sympathetically, "Your fiancée is such a delicate and gentle girl, I doubt she can stand up to Duanhua’s torment. If you really want to protect her, you’d better marry her as soon as possible. But even when she’s married to you, she wouldn’t be safe. Duanhua has been bullying people because of her status for a long time. What can you do, the Emperor is her uncle."
He sat up straight, went to grab the wine jug, tsk tsk "Oh, Zhou Gu, having this kind of woman wrapped around you, you’re really pitiful."
Zhou Gu was angry, he slapped his hand away, snapping, "You are the pitiful one! Stop drinking! Aren’t we supposed to go to the governor’s mansion as guests? If you drink too much, how are we going to go? If you embarrass yourself, I won’t take responsibility for you."
Xie Lin withdrew his hand, "You’re right, no more drinking, I need to take a nap."
He tilted his head and fell asleep.
Zhou Gu: "..."
I wish I could have gotten him a woman to sleep with. When he wakes up, she would stick to him, and let’s see who is more pitiful.
Xie Lin slept for an hour, when he woke up, the sunset was shining through the window. He muttered, "It’s so late," then sat up and looked at Zhou Gu who was sitting in a chair, reading a book.
The room was very quiet, Zhou Gu was leisurely reading a book in his hand.
Xie Lin asked him, "What are you reading?"
"’Records of the Grand Historian.’
Xie Lin didn’t believe it – are there ’Records of the Grand Historian’ in the Zuihua building? He leaned over to take a look, and indeed, it was ’Records of the Grand Historian’, he was shocked, "Where did this come from?"
"I asked the innkeeper for it."
Xie Lin sighed, "This Green Building sure is high class."
Zhou Gu put down the book in his hand and stood up, "Now that you’re awake, let’s go!"
Xie Lin nodded, brushed the wrinkles off his clothes, sniffed his sleeve smelling of alcohol, and followed Zhou Gu, "You have to accompany me back to the inn to change clothes first. I can’t possibly visit someone else’s home looking so unkempt."
Zhou Gu looked back at him, "No one’s going to look at you."
"Impossible!" Xie Lin didn’t believe it, "It’s still early, you accompany me, I can’t go empty-handed to eat and drink at someone else’s home, I have to bring a gift, right?"
Zhou Gu had no objections to this, "Alright!"
Indeed, we can’t let this fellow eat and drink for free. Since he’s willing to spend, let him give a gift!
The two of them left the room, still following the original path, came to the window of the Jade Maiden, Zhou Gu stopped, knocked on the window three times. There was no movement from inside, but someone came out from the neighboring room, gave Zhou Gu a salute, "Young Master Zhou, the proprietress has instructed that you can just leave!"
Zhou Gu nodded at the news, "If that’s the case, please pass on my gratitude to your proprietress."
The man nodded in affirmation.
Zhou Gu led Xie Lin out of the Zuihua Building.
It was only after they had climbed over the wall and come out to the other side, that Xie Lin finally realized what had happened. He pulled Zhou Gu and asked quietly, "Zhou Gu, you’re impressive! How long have you been in Jiangning? You seem to be very familiar with the Green Building."
Zhou Gu didn’t feel the need to explain, "Let’s hurry and go. Why waste your breath?"
Xie Lin smirked.
Upon returning to the inn where Xie Lin was staying, Xie Lin quickly changed his clothes, brought a gift of ginseng, was led by Zhou Gu, and went to the governor’s residence.
By this time, the sun had already set, and the kitchen of the governor’s residence was ready for dinner.
The governor’s wife saw that the guests hadn’t returned yet, so she asked Su Xingze, "Should we send someone to look for them? How come they haven’t returned yet?"
Su Xingze glanced at the sky, shaking his head, "Let’s wait a little more. Since Seventh Sister invited him, and Young Master Xie has also agreed, they will certainly come."
The governor’s wife nodded, "Then let’s wait a little more!"
After waiting for about half an hour, someone came to report that Young Master Zhou had returned, and brought with him Young Master Xie. The governor’s wife straightened her clothes and instructed Su Xingze to go meet them promptly.
Young Master Wang from the Rui’an King’s Residence was of equal status to Zhou Gu of the First Class Duke’s Residence—both were distinguished guests. As an elder, she didn’t have to fawn over them, but having Su Xingze welcome them was a universally accepted courtesy.
Before coming to Jiangning, Xie Lin also had some understanding of Jiangning County, particularly the people in the governor’s residence. Especially noted was Su Xingze’s widespread reputation. He heard that Su Xingze was expected to do well in the autumn examinations. After chatting with Su Xingze, he felt that the reputation was not undeserved and he couldn’t underestimate him.
He secretly patted Zhou Gu’s shoulder and whispered in his ear, "Zhou Gu, this uncle of yours sure is impressive."
Zhou Gu grunted, of course he knew that already, did he need to say it?
Governor Su and his wife were very enthusiastic. Upon reaching the residence with Zhou Gu, Xie Lin was immediately seated at the table.
Throughout the meal, they kept urging Xie Lin to have more dishes. Seeing the harmonious gathering of the entire family, he felt that the governor’s residence in Jiangning seemed to be different from other residences. In other residences, when a distinguished guest comes, it is impossible for the concubines and natural daughters to eat at the same table, not to mention that males and females sit at separate tables. It was impossible to have everyone at the same table, making everyone seem of equal status.
Zhou Gu, however, seemed used to it and acted very naturally.
Xie Lin was not used to it; particularly the larger female presence made him feel somewhat constrained.
With a smile, Governor Su patted Xie Lin’s shoulder, "Nephew Xie, relax. You are Young Master Zhou’s friend, consider yourself part of the family. No need to be so formal."
The governor’s wife used public chopsticks to clip a piece of fish for Xie Lin, warmly saying, "Young Master Xie, taste this fish. Our Jiangning’s water quality is excellent, isn’t the fish it produces delicious, too?"
Xie Lin kept nodding his head, he had been to many households in the Capital City, yet none were as warmly welcoming as the governor’s residence in Jiangning. This warm hospitality wouldn’t make people feel uncomfortable, but instead feel genuinely welcomed.
So, under such warm hospitality, by the time dinner was over, Xie Lin found that he had eaten too much.
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