The main kitchen was bustling with activity, as the kitchen maid, using every ounce of her skill, prepared a grand feast featuring an array of fish dishes.
During the meal, Zhou Gu sat next to Su Rong. Su Rong was no stranger to fish – from catching to cooking to consuming them – she was adept at dealing with fish. With deft and clean movements, she used her chopsticks to remove the fish bones, neatly setting them aside on a clean plate before placing it in front of Zhou Gu.
Zhou Gu turned to look at her, taken aback; no one had ever deboned fish for him before.
With a twinkling glance, Su Rong exclaimed, "I noticed you eat slowly, allow me to help you."
Zhou Gu appeared slightly taken aback, "Thank you."
With a laugh, Su Rong replied, "No need for thanks."
Their hushed exchange drew the attention of those around them despite the low volume.
The head lady found this very satisfactory, considering that her painstaking efforts in raising Xiaoqi were finally paying off, as the girl had learned how to charm others. The other attending ladies and Missys were shocked and contemplated that even the coldest hearts could be thawed by the right man, as evidenced by the striking difference between the old and new Su Rong.
Su Rong’s father, the Governor, felt delighted. He raised his glass to Zhou Gu, "Nephew Zhou, we didn’t have enough drinking at noon, shall we make up for it tonight?"
Zhou Gu nodded, "I’ll do my best to join you, uncle."
The governor laughed heartily, "Come on, let’s drink."
As the drinking progressed and the dishes were served, he clapped Zhou Gu on the shoulder, drunkenly slurring, "Nephew, you’ve only just met Xiaoqi, so you might not yet realize her good qualities. But give it time, and you will."
Zhou Gu, to himself, thought that he had already had a glimpse of her capabilities, which made a longer wait unnecessary.
"My Xiaoqi, she’s...cough...dear wife, why are you pinching me?" The Governor wanted to explain further, but a sudden pain in his waist made him turn to his wife.
The wife instantly interjected, "You’ve had too much to drink."
Patting his forehead, the Governor questioned, "Have I drunk too much?"
"Yes, you have. Nephew Gu has had a long day; let’s not bother him with your nonsense. Time for you to go rest," the wife quickly intervened, making sure her husband didn’t embarrass Su Rong with his drunken ramblings. Su Rong’s reputation could be damaged by others, but not by her own father. She could rebuke and dismiss slanderous rumors from others about Su Rong, but if her father started gossiping, it would be disastrous, and she couldn’t just kill her husband.
"Oh, Nephew Gu is tired then. Let’s continue this another day." Showing his willingness to heed advice, the Governor dropped the subject.
Zhou Gu regretted not being able to hear more about how Su Rong was different from other women – a missed opportunity.
While all was jovial and merry at the Governor’s Residence, the mood was far less cheerful at the Inspector’s Residence in Jiangzhou.
Upon learning about his daughter’s blunder, Inspector Jiang Sheng was in a fury, rebuking Jiang Yunying, "Without even clarifying the identity of the individuals around Su Rong, how could you have spouted such foul words? Has your brain been eaten by a dog?"
With heaving sobs, the wound on Jiang Yunying’s neck reopened, letting out fresh blood.
Ning Chi interjected, "Uncle Jiang, Yunying already knows she was in the wrong. There’s no need to scold her any further. Even I had no inkling that the man was Zhou Gu, otherwise, I would have prevented her."
"She provoked someone enough to draw his sword with just a few words. How could you be blamed for not holding her back earlier?" Jiang Sheng chastised with frustration, "Nephew Ning, there is no need to stand up for her. It’s obvious she’s getting too unruly."
Angry and resentful, he ordered, "Call the maid, from today onwards, I order punishment for the Young Miss..."
"Uncle Jiang, Yunying is already injured. There’s no need for further punishment as long as such a thing doesn’t happen again. If you decide to punish Yunying, I must be punished too. After all, it was under my accompaniment to Jiangning County that this calamity occurred," Ning Chi again begged for mercy on Yunying’s behalf. "Moreover, she will be personally offering an apology to the Governor’s Residence in Jiangning tomorrow. Considering the fright she experienced today, it might be better for her to get some early rest!"
Inspector Jiang sighed, "Ah, Nephew Ning, how could you be so..."
"Obsessed with not competing, ’If it weren’t for her, how could you possibly expose your identity? Zhou Gu has been studying in the Eastern Palace for years, and although the Duke Residence has not attached itself to the Eastern Palace, everyone knows of his close affiliation with them. He could be considered half an Eastern Palace man. Now that you’ve encountered him and revealed your identity, the news of your arrival in Jiangzhou probably cannot be concealed,’" he furiously said.
"If it can’t be concealed, then so be it," Ning Chi grinned, "It would eventually be known anyway."
"It’s best to delay rather than expedite it." Jiang Sheng was greatly annoyed, shooting a vicious look at Jiang Yunying, "This is all your doing!"
Jiang Yunying could only cry, unable to utter a single word.
"Uncle, no one could have predicted this. Please don’t blame Jiang Yunying. She was already scared enough today. To prevent her from having nightmares tonight, let someone prepare calming soup for her."
Jiang Sheng was extremely angry, but as his only legitimate daughter was counting on her marriage to unite the family, he couldn’t afford to scare her. He took the opportunity to step back, "Alright, since you’re pleading for her, she won’t be punished today."
He put on a solemn face regarding Jiang Yunying, "In the interest of Prince Ning, I won’t punish you today. Further down the line, brighten up your eyes and don’t offend anyone or create trouble for the family without understanding their identity."
Choking back her tears, Jiang Yunying nodded.
"Go away!" Jiang Sheng waved his hand.
Jiang Yunying was helped down by her maid.
The Inspector’s wife had been silent the whole time, shocked by the incidents. She asked, trying to confirm, "Is the fiancé of that lowborn girl really Zhou Gu from the Duke Residence?"
"Aunt, I can testify, it indeed is Zhou Gu," Ning Chi confirmed.
"How can he be engaged to a lowborn girl?", the Inspector’s wife incredulously questioned. This could not be more ridiculous.
Ning Chi, too, was shocked and surprised. Despite trying to decipher the situation during his journey back, he had no answers. "I don’t know the inside story, but as it seems, their engagement is a long-standing one," he admitted.
"Then, what Lady Su had spoken of three years ago was true!," the Inspector’s wife spoke with a stern expression. Back then, she was so furious and blinded by rage, she thought the Su family was just using it as an excuse to shirk responsibility. She never thought it could be true.
She turned towards the Inspector, "My husband, what shall we do with this matter?"
"This is all on you! You had to doggedly persist back then and now see what’s happened? Where do I put my old face? Where do you put yours? What a good daughter you’ve raised," the Inspector angrily exclaimed. "Go prepare a generous gift, tomorrow morning we’ll go together to Jiangning County," he ordered.
To apologize to Zhou Gu, they had to be sincere and quite a few pleasantries must be shared with the couple of the Su family.
The Inspector’s wife was reluctant, as she cared too much about saving face. She tentatively asked, "Do we really have to personally go apologize? That Zhou lad, even though he is of good birth, does not have an office or rank..."
The Inspector angrily retorted, "What did your good daughter call him? If you don’t apologize personally, do you think he will forgive lightly? Are you waiting for the old Duke to protect his calf? Not knowing your fault until you face the coffin? Nonsense!"
The Inspector’s wife shivered, "I’ll go now!"
The Inspector turned and sighed at Ning Chi, "Nephew, you have seen our embarrassment! It’s my fault not ruling the house strictly."
Ning Chi shook his head, "Don’t blame yourself, Uncle. Who could have thought that the Duke’s youngest son would have a longstanding engagement with a lowborn girl from the house of Jiangning Magistrate? Especially given Zhou Gu has been staying in the governor’s house, and it’s said that he came for her coming-of-age ceremony, it’s obvious how much he treasures it."
He expressed his confusion, "A few days back, I heard that Zhou Gu and Xie Lin had a fight over the former Prefect’s daughter Qin Luan. Now, in such a short time, he’s in Jiangning County accompanying his fiancée, it’s puzzling indeed."
The Inspector was just as confused, "True, let’s talk more about it with Zhou Gu tomorrow! This matter shouldn’t be magnified; otherwise, it will be disadvantageous for me." He patted Ning Chi’s shoulder, "Nephew, our two families’ union also can’t have any mishaps, as it will be disadvantageous for the Prince."
"Uncle, you’re right. Tomorrow, I’ll go to the governor’s house with you and Aunt," Ning Chi expressed his stance.
The Inspector was pleased, "Good!"
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