During the conversation, Yuewan set out the bowls and dishes, putting an end to Su Rong and Zhou Gu’s discussion about Xie Lin.
The Su family did not observe the rule of not talking during meals or before sleep. There was no such rule when the whole family gathered around a table, especially now when it was just Su Rong and Zhou Gu.
Therefore, Su Rong continued to chat with Zhou Gu while eating. He too was used to it so, the pair chatted and ate, inadvertently eating more than they realized.
Having been on her feet all day, Su Rong didn’t feel like moving. After eating her fill, she slumped in her chair, yawning. "I don’t feel like walking today."
Seeing her like that, Zhou Gu asked, "Isn’t your coming-of-age ceremony tomorrow? Even if relatives and friends are visiting the Su Residence today, you shouldn’t be the one hosting them. So why are you so exhausted?"
"I thought I wouldn’t have to host, but my mother insisted on having me by her side to entertain the guests," Su Rong answered tiredly. "She said it’s about time I learned."
Looking at Zhou Gu’s handsome face pressed into stern lines in the lamplight, she sighed heavily, "My mother said now that I’ve come of age, I must start learning these things to assist my future husband. It wouldn’t be right to leave you to deal with all the incoming and outgoing and other chores."
Zhou Gu found Lady Su’s words reasonable and unthinkingly nodded in agreement.
Staring at his face, Su Rong thought about saying, "If you weren’t so attractive, I’d regret agreeing to marry you with all these bothersome responsibilities," but ultimately remained silent, sighing again instead. "Why are you nodding? Aren’t you the youngest in your family? With so many elder sisters-in-law, even after I marry you, I won’t have to do all these things, right?"
Upon reflecting, Zhou Gu found her words reasonable and nodded again. "That’s true."
But Su Rong looked at him, adding, "My mother argues that you would indeed have to start a family of your own someday, right?"
"While our grandparents are still alive, we won’t be splitting the family," Zhou Gu paused for a moment. "But there will come a day when we’ll have to establish our own household."
History does not know of brothers staying together all their lives.
Thinking about her assumptions that Lady Su had refuted, Su Rong asked Zhou Gu, "Do you have any ideas on how I can avoid all this household management nonsense?"
"Why not leave it to the manager?"
"And what about dealing with all the ladies of other residences?"
Zhou Gu thought about it carefully. Even his mother, with her status, needed to host numerous social interactions to run their grand household, attend to rituals with relatives of nobility, hold banquet after banquet for holidays and birthdays. Even she seemed occupied throughout the year. His eldest sister-in-law often helped to share the load, but there were many things that one could only do themselves.
Shaking his head, Zhou Gu said, "There’s no way."
Unless one decided to close their doors and never interact with anyone else. But that was impossible. Where there are people, there are these tiresome formalities and customs.
Propping up her chin with both hands, Su Rong wondered aloud, "Would any of this bother me if I decided not to marry?"
Zhou Gu was silent for a moment, then nodded, "I guess so."
But he was unsure himself and found the question too challenging to answer.
Yawning again, Su Rong’s eyes started to water. "Can’t go on," she said tiredly. "I’m really sleepy."
Seeing her like this, it seemed they really wouldn’t be strolling today. Zhou Gu stood up and instructed her. "Have Yuewan prepare some hawthorn to help with digestion, then you can sleep. It will prevent indigestion."
Su Rong found Zhou Gu to be extremely considerate in some areas, unlike those pampered young masters who were clueless about everything apart from their own needs. Nodding, she also got up, "Take care on your way back, brother Zhou. I won’t see you out."
Zhou Gu nodded and turned to leave.
After Zhou Gu left, Yuewan slipped into the room to join Su Rong, who had gone inside. With a bright smile, she followed her in. "Miss, young master Zhou is neither arrogant nor ill-tempered. He has a good nature. Not only do the master and lady of the house praise him, even the ladies and young misses within the residence, and many outside, have good things to say about Young Master Zhou too! Now that you’ve come of age, will your engagement be finalized after Young Master Zhou returns to Capital City?"
"I don’t know!" Su Rong didn’t find much to fault Zhou Gu with. If there were anything, it was his high family status. She didn’t know if those who wished her harm would let her marry peacefully into the Duke Residence.
While making the bed, Yuewan continued. "Lady Su did mention today about selecting wet nurses and maids for your dowry. It’s been only me at your side all these years but when you marry, you definitely can’t just bring me alone, right?"
"Isn’t it too early for that? We haven’t even officially agreed to wed yet. Mother seems to be jumping the gun, isn’t she?"
"The head wife said it’s not early." Yuewan chattered, "People need to be chosen in advance, they need to get to your side and spend some time acclimating to you. There’s too little time, I’m afraid they won’t be ready for life in the Duke Residence."
Su Rong sighed, "My mother is monitoring my affairs all day long, her sense of urgency is such that I almost think I’m getting married tomorrow."
Yuewan giggled, "Isn’t this because young master Zhou is too good? The head wife naturally needs to be proactive, your engagement can’t afford any slip-ups."
Su Rong pinched her face, "What are you so happy about?"
With curved eyebrows and a face full of expectation, Yuewan said, "I’m counting on you to get rich by marrying into the Duke Residence and buying all the food in the Capital City for me." After her sentence, she added, "And for Ahua."
Su Rong was speechless, "Can’t your aspirations go a little higher?"
"How high?"
Su Rong removed her outer garment, lay down on the bed, "How about buying all the Dim Sum shops in the Capital City and making them your private property? Doesn’t that give you free rein to eat anytime?"
Yuewan was speechless, "..."
Is this something she, a little maid, could even consider?
The next day was Su Rong’s Coming-of-age Ceremony. Early in the morning, before dawn, she was already woken by Mother Wang’s yelling.
Su Rong had slept early the previous night, so even though she was woken up early, she had had enough sleep. After bathing and dressing, Mother Wang led the maids to help her with her makeup, while wet nurse Zhao came early to assist Su Rong with applying her makeup.
Wet nurse Zhao was very skilled in applying the makeup, "Miss Su’s skin is delicate and porcelain white. Your face is naturally beautiful, any kind of makeup can’t overpower it. Today, I’m going to apply a brighter makeup on you!"
Su Rong had no objections.
Mother Wang quietly asked on one side, "Our Miss Su is naturally beautiful. Won’t a brighter look be too eye-catching?"
"We want to catch people’s attention." Wet nurse Zhao said: "A girl who has a hundred suitors can be judged by today’s performance. Although Miss Su has a marriage agreement with young master Zhou and doesn’t need others to come knocking on her door, that’s all the more reason to stand out. Let all the guests see that Miss Su does not lack at all in matching young master Zhou’s status."
Mother Wang agreed with a laugh, "Let’s listen to the wet nurse."
Currently, many people in the Capital City are saying that the governor’s residence owes a great favor to the Duke Residence, that’s why the old Duke is actually marrying off his grandson to a little illegitimate daughter from the Su Family. Although some words are not said openly, there is already much discussion behind the scenes. The Duke Residence, even if they wish, can’t stop these rumors. These are facts, but it’s uncomfortable for the Su Family to hear them. Their Miss Su is very good. With such beauty, she could even be a queen in the palace, how is she not suited to young master Zhou?
Wet nurse Zhao’s hands were very skillful. An hour later, Su Rong’s makeup was completed.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Su Rong could barely recognize herself. She blinked several times, so did the woman in the mirror. She pursed her lips, so did the woman in the mirror. It took several times for Su Rong to confirm this breathtaking beauty in the mirror is indeed herself.
She has always known that she is beautiful, but she did not know her face could become so beautiful under the skill of wet nurse Zhao.
Mother Wang kept praising, "Oh, wet nurse Zhao, this skill of yours is indeed incredible. Our Miss Su looks absolutely stunning today."
Yuewan also got closer to have a look, her face full of shock, "Miss, you’re really still my young Lady?"
Su Rong turned around to pinch Yuewan’s face, "Look closely, am I still me?"
Yuewan cried out in pain, covering her face and looking at Su Rong with sparkling eyes, "Miss, aren’t you too beautiful?"
Su Rong also felt that she looked good. She reached out to touch the ends of her hair, thanked wet nurse Zhao, "Thank you, wet nurse, for your hard work."
Wet nurse Zhao shook her head with a smile, "I’m not tired."
She thought to herself, with Miss Su’s beauty, even in the Capital City, she would be among the finest.
Mother Wang glanced at the hourglass and cheerfully urged, "Let’s go, it’s almost time."
Su Rong nodded, and they all escorted her to the front hall.
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