Su Rong and the Nanchu King waited until it was completely dark. Su Rong was so hungry waiting for Zhou Gu to return.
As soon as Zhou Gu returned to the royal palace, he rushed to the Council Hall in the same clothes he’d arrived in. Seeing Su Rong and Nanchu King had been waiting for him for quite some time, he hurriedly apologized, "Father-in-law, Xiaoqi, I’m sorry for keeping you waiting."
"What held you back?" asked the Nanchu King, "When I left, I asked you to return on time."
Zhou Gu nodded, "I was getting ready to leave on time, but was held up by a few ministers wanting to chat." He explained, "Today’s decision about Prince Liu’an and his followers caught many off guard, they probably saw me as easy to approach, just probing me out. After all, with a grand court meeting tomorrow, it’s good to be prepared."
Nanchu King was not surprised, "I see, let’s wash up and have dinner then!"
Zhou Gu nodded, quickly washed his hands, and sat next to Su Rong after a moment.
Su Rong took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat off Zhou Gu’s forehead, "Did you run back in a hurry? There’s no rush. If the Nanchu King and I get hungry, we can always snack on some cake first."
Zhou Gu enjoyed Su Rong wiping his sweat, "I visited the Ministry of Rites today and found out they have been turned upside down preparing for our wedding. When I left, even the old assistant minister couldn’t leave on time. If I don’t make it back for dinner in the future, you and your father don’t have to wait for me."
Nanchu King was discontent, "Didn’t we agree that you’d have dinner with me every day? You couldn’t even keep it up for one day."
Zhou Gu sighed, "Father-in-law, as young as I am, I can’t just leave work before the old assistant minister every day, right? I can’t just enjoy the benefits without doing the work. You have given me the same position as Brother Guixue, and I can’t rely on that every day to leave early."
"How is leaving on time considered leaving early?" Nanchu King disagreed.
"But to let all the people in the Ministry of Rites work half the time for a job that would normally take one or two years. If I, the person in charge, simply leave early, it won’t convince anyone." Zhou Gu tugged at Su Rong’s sleeve.
Su Rong immediately said, "Yes, you should come back on time when you can. If you can’t, I’ll have your meal sent to the Ministry. If you come back late, that’s fine."
After she finished, she looked at the Nanchu King, "Father, if you have free time and really want him to dine with you, you can go to the Ministry and accompany him."
Nanchu King: "..."
The way she worded it made it seem like he can’t live without his son-in-law.
Zhou Gu laughed, "Father, it’s better if you don’t go. After you left today, the old assistant minister muttered about how you finally left. He said having to accompany you for half a day at the Ministry really affected his work."
Nanchu King: "..."
No wonder the old man hurried him to leave.
Su Rong chuckled, "No wonder my father wouldn’t leave the old assistant minister alone. He obviously is someone who actually does the work." Seeing that the Nanchu King didn’t respond, seeming speechless, she said, "We did not anticipate correctly before, we genuinely didn’t know when we’d get busy. But don’t worry, if I get busy and don’t come to the Council Hall, you can come find me. Whether it’s the Imperial Study Room or the Council Hall, as long as we’re in the palace, we can eat together as father and daughter. As for Zhou Gu, when he goes to the Ministry outside the palace, don’t force him."
What else could the Nanchu King say? "Alright, I can’t win against you two."
Li He set up dinner, and the three of them chatted and laughed through their meal. Mostly, Zhou Gu was talking about his day at the Ministry, then asked Su Rong about her day. When she said she had been napping all afternoon, he gave her a long look.
Su Rong looked back at him, "Are you jealous of me because I can nap, or do you think me napping is less industrious than you working?"
Zhou Gu finished eating, put down his chopsticks, and stroked her head, "I’m praising you for being able to enjoy some leisure on a busy day, you manage so well."
"Yes, otherwise I won’t be able to make it through the busy day tomorrow." Su Rong accepted the compliment like a matter of fact.
After finishing their evening meal, acknowledging the early court session the following day, the pair left the council hall and returned to their living quarters.
After they left, the Nanchu King muttered quietly to himself, "I knew it, the Huang hall was built for my grandson-in-law."
Just like any other man, he had never imagined that Zhou Gu could maintain his decorum once he returned to the royal palace. He initially praised Zhou Gu’s discipline because he descended from Duke residence, but that didn’t even last one night. He had overestimated him. Even as someone from the Duke residence, he couldn’t resist his natural manly instincts.
Li He quietly said, "Yesterday I heard that the Princess and Lord Thursday didn’t ask for water at night."
Nanchu King exclaimed, "You actually inquired about affairs in Feng Hall? Who allowed you to make such private inquisitions?"
Li He urgently defended, "Your majesty, I wasn’t meaning to pry around. Since the Princess and Lord Thursday have just returned to the royal palace, many things need my assistance. It’s impossible for me not to know these things."
The Nanchu King thought about it, "From now on, don’t let anyone try to unravel matters within Feng hall and Huang hall." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖
"Yes, I fully understand and will adhere strictly," Li He quickly nodded, "The affairs of the palace will continue to be managed by the Queen, and I will solely focus on serving you, Your Majesty."
"No, that won’t do. You have to keep a close eye on Nangong Xin as well," said Nanchu King. "Besides Feng hall and Huang hall, observe everything else closely too."
Li He understood, "Yes, I will follow your command."
Nanchu King sighed, "Perhaps I am overly cautious, or maybe I am petty compared to Xiaoqi’s magnanimity."
He was fully aware that Nangong Xin probably wouldn’t cause problems, but he still couldn’t help but take precautions against her, apprehensive that his daughter’s kindness could lead to future troubles.
Li He who had seen through the years replied, "Your Majesty may indeed be too cautious. Although the Queen annoys you, she indeed has not done anything to harm you over the years."
Nanchu King gestured with his hand, "Alright, I don’t find her foolish, and I don’t want to talk about her anymore. You just be careful, I’m retiring for the night."
Li He nodded and hurriedly proceeded to serve the Nanchu King for the night.
Meanwhile, on the way back to Feng Hall, Su Rong briefly relayed her meeting with Nangong Xin earlier in the day to Zhou Gu, and mentioned giving back the Phoenix Seal, effectively returning Nangong aware the power of palace jurisdiction.
Upon completion, she confessed to Zhou Gu, "I didn’t plan to allow her to maintain palace affairs after seeing her. But, I changed my opinion after I met her."
The reason wasn’t that she genuinely disliked the Phoenix Seal and passed it off to Nangong Xin at the last minute, she trusted her instincts about characters’ intentions, and didn’t feel any animosity from Nangong Xin. She didn’t seem to hate her or her father, or feel much resentment about the current plight of the Nangong Family. There was a peculiar calmness about her, the calmness of one awaiting death, which persuaded Su Rong to expend extra effort in talking to her and to decide not to dispose of her as originally planned.
Zhou Gu nodded, "You are very sharp at judging characters. If you chose to act like this, then she indeed had made it necessary."
Su Rong smiled, and gripped his arm, "I may not be kind-hearted, but by sparing a life, I am surely lightening the load of the underworld!"
Zhou Gu laughed, "I suppose King Yama should thank you then."
"Yes, isn’t it? I am just doing my good deed and giving back for Ghost Gate letting me off a few times." Su Rong quipped and then asked softly, "Are you sleeping with me tonight?"
Zhou Gu stopped in his track and through gritted teeth, responded, "Yes."
Su Rong laughed out loud, pointed at his chest and teased, "Lord Thursday, your willpower seems to be lacking."
Zhou Gu grabbed her hand and took a deep breath, "I can control it."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com