The wife of the governor could tell from her expression that she was hesitant to part with Zhou Gu. It wasn’t bragging to say that even if you looked all the world over with a lantern, you could hardly find a few people like Zhou Gu. If Su Rong could really marry him, it would be like finding a treasure.
If Zhou Gu was not good, how could this cold-hearted, cold-blooded brat, always end her day by taking a walk with him around the Water Pavilion in the garden?
She snorted coldly, "Then you should study hard. Don’t depend on anyone else. It’s better to rely on yourself than on others. You can only live a harmonious and beautiful life if you do it for yourself."
Su Rong sighed, "Alright."
Marrying was truly difficult, and so was living. There were so many things she had to handle on her own that she didn’t want to get married.
It wasn’t until the evening when the Su Residence quieted down.
After Su Rong returned to her quarters, she sprawled out on the bed, not even wanting to go to the front hall for dinner. She told Yuewan, "I’m so tired. Go tell them in the front hall that I don’t want to go out for dinner, have it sent here."
Yuewan nodded and left.
Upon hearing her words, the wife of the governor laughed heartily, "It’s just a regular day, she’s only accompanied me to meet a few guests, and she’s already weary." She glared at the governor, "Look at your good daughter. She can’t even bear a little bit of tiredness."
The governor laughed heartily, "It’s not that she can’t bear even a bit of tiredness. She’s just not willing to bear it and is unable to endure even a little."
The wife of the governor sighed helplessly, "Okay, let’s have the food sent to her." After she gave her instructions, she turned to Zhou Gu, "Well, cousin Zhou, it’s quite boring to eat alone. Why don’t you join her for dinner?"
Zhou Gu jerked in surprise, then nodded in agreement, "Alright."
He was curious to see how tired she was that she didn’t even want to walk over here. He had been in Jiangning for some time and had never seen her miss an occasion due to exhaustion.
The wife of the governor was pleased to see him agree, "You haven’t been to where Xiaoqi lives, have you? Yuewan will lead the way. Be careful not to spill the food."
Yuewan cheerfully responded, "You can count on me!"
If she wasn’t good at anything else, she was definitely steady on her feet.
With that, Zhou Gu left the table, and together with Yuewan, took the food and went to accompany Su Rong for dinner.
Watching Zhou Gu leave, Xie Lin shook his head. In the past, Zhou Gu would never have accompanied a girl to dinner, let alone enter a woman’s private quarters. Things truly were changing.
Zhou Gu arrived at Su Rong’s quarters and found that although the courtyard was small, it was beautifully decorated with all kinds of flowers and trees. It didn’t look like a place within the governor’s residence.
During his stay at the governor’s residence, Zhou Gu had noticed how simple and unadorned the furnishings were, including the reception room meant for hosting and sending off guests. He was taken aback by the luxuriousness of Su Rong’s quarters.
From head to toe, Su Rong was spoiled at the governor’s residence, carrying the unmistakable aura of someone who could do as they pleased.
Before Yuewan had even reached the door, she called out loudly, "Miss, Young Master Zhou is here to have dinner with you."
Su Rong, who was about to fall asleep, heard Yuewan’s voice and sat up, "What?"
Yuewan repeated herself more loudly.
Su Rong heard her clearly this time, she sat there stunned for a moment, then immediately got out of bed and walked out of her room. Sure enough, she saw Yuewan leading Zhou Gu. Looking at Zhou Gu, she wondered if their relationship had really progressed to this stage? Why did he came to accompany her to dinner just because she didn’t want to eat in the front hall?
It wasn’t that Su Rong was overthinking, it’s just that Zhou Gu had never showed any sign of liking her, his future wife, in any way. At most, he didn’t resist.
Zhou Gu noticed her confusion and coughed uneasily into his hand before explaining, "Your mother said you would be bored eating alone, so she asked me to join you."
The implication being, "I didn’t come here of my own accord."
Su Rong understood. She knew there was no way Zhou Gu would come to keep her company just because she wasn’t attending dinner in the front hall. Apparently, it was all due to her mother, who had probably said a lot to convince Zhou Gu.
Even though it wasn’t his idea to come, she was a little happy. She stepped aside, smiling, and said, "Indeed, it is quite boring. Thank you, brother Zhou, for coming to keep me company."
Zhou Gu had already gotten used to her calling him in this way, he glanced at her but said nothing, following her into the drawing room.
The courtyard was already elaborately decorated, but the inside of the house was even more so.
Su Rong, noticing him scrutinizing the furnishings in the drawing room, invited him, "Would you like to visit my bedroom?"
Zhou Gu: "..."
He had never entered a girl’s boudoir before, just being in this room was breaking the norm already. Even though they were engaged, their marriage had not been fully agreed upon by the elders yet, how could he dare to enter her inner room?
Zhou Gu glanced at Su Rong, ignoring her suggestion, walked over and sat down at the table, his intention was clear.
Su Rong smiled at him, "You are already here, you’ve already made it this far, if you were worried about propriety, you’ve already broken it. Only Yuewan and I are in this room, if you’re curious and would like to visit my room, no one will know."
Zhou Gu looked at her smile, each time he interacted with her since he arrived in Jiangning, it seemed like she was testing him with every action. From playing chess, horse racing, using his hand for her revenge, taking him to the third floor, or giving him clothes. He strongly doubted that she wasn’t testing him yesterday at the Brocade Pavilion. So now, inviting him to her inner room, might that be another test?
He remained seated, asking, "I thought you were tired? You seem perfectly energetic."
"It’s mental exhaustion. I was just about to fall asleep before you came, but your arrival seems to have revived me." Su Rong asked, "Are you sure you don’t want to take a look around my room? The last courtyard house I lived in was burnt down in a fire when I was seven, and now nothing remains of it. I might accidentally knock over a candle in this one and you may not get a chance to see it when you come next time."
This could truly happen, after all, those who wanted to kill her haven’t given up yet, who knows when they will barge in and try to kill her again. She didn’t want to create a big fuss over a murder. She could only use fire to exorcise calamity.
As Zhou Gu pondered whether she had ulterior motives, he was stunned by her words, "The last courtyard?"
Su Rong nodded narrating her fight with someone. She came home tired and accidentally knocked over a candle; a gust of wind made the fire spread and burn down the entire courtyard. Having told the story, she teased Zhou Gu, "So, Brother Zhou, are you really sure you don’t want to visit my room?"
Zhou Gu, after momentary hesitation, still shook his head, "It’s improper, maybe next time!"
Su Rong just looked at him.
Zhou Gu then added after a moment, "Protect your room well."
A gentleman must possess integrity and uphold righteousness. Even if no one knows, one must not do things that are considered improper.
This was the education Zhou Gu received since childhood.
Ever since he came to Jiangning he has already broken many rules that he was taught, but no matter how many he broke, when it came to matters concerning Su Rong, his fiancée, he dare not cross the line.
For instance, her asking him to give her a hug, or entering into her inner chamber.
Seeing that Zhou Gu was adamant in not entering the room, Su Rong no longer insisted. She simply sat down at the table, her body bent over to rest on its surface, waiting for Yuewan to serve the meal. In her mind - he had readily accepted the clothes that she had gifted him but he stopped at entering her inner room. Zhou Gu was a man of principles—both inwardly and outwardly.
From the Duke Residence to the study and then to the Eastern Palace, this boy, who has grown up now, is like a piece of jade that has been well polished. She is certainly not the first person to discover the good in him, and she will not be the last.
She asked, "Where did you guys go out to play today?"
"We went to Peach Blossom Creek, I introduced Xie Lin to some people." Seeing that Su Rong was no longer insisting, Zhou Gu leaned back into his chair and said leisurely, "Your elder brother has broadened my horizons, and I wanted Xie Lin to have the same experience."
Understanding the situation, Su Rong asked with a smile, "A good brother should share the joy?"
Zhou Gu wanted to say who was a good brother to him, but if Xie Lin continued to allow him to take advantage of him, then being good brothers would be fine. He nodded, "And share the troubles."
"Do others like him as much as they like you?" According to what Su Rong had heard, many of the talented individuals in Jiangzhou greatly admired Zhou Gu, not for his family background, but for his personal talent and character.
"He’s alright, you know? He’s surely got some knowledge in him, all the teachings from the school masters haven’t gone to waste after all," Zhou Gu evaluated.
Su Rong nodded and said to him, "My parents quite like Xie Lin."
Zhou Gu had noticed it earlier and cautiously said, "Your parents aren’t thinking about getting one of your sisters married to Xie Lin, are they?"
Su Rong decisively shook her head, "No."
Her parents were fully aware of their own status in society, they knew that unless there was some special reason, a common daughter from the Su family would not be a match for Xie Lin.
Zhou Gu breathed a sigh of relief, he didn’t want to become brothers-in-law with Xie Lin. How was he supposed to continue taking advantage of him then?
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