In the dead of night, a bit of wind slipped through the cracks in the window. He blew the candles and occasionally swayed. Under the warm candlelight, Zhou Gu saw a moment of tenderness in Su Rong's eyes. When he took a closer look, he saw the little girl sitting opposite.
, just smiled lightly, his eyes calm, as if that moment was his illusion.
He looked away, lowered his eyes, and asked dumbly: "Is there a book? Please read with me for a while."
Su Rong nodded, "Yes, I'll look for it."
She stood up, walked out of the inner room, passed through the painting hall, and went to the cubicle in the back building. Sure enough, there was a bookshelf with many books listed in it. She found a travel journal and held it in her hand, and then took a few more
This painting notebook was folded back.
She handed the travel notes to Zhou Gu, then took the drawing book and sat down.
Zhou Gu took the travel notes and said to Su Rong, "Do you know why I love reading travel notes?"
Su Rong guessed, "Do you have a dream of being a knight?"
Zhou Gu shook his head, "No, I plan to travel after the results are released."
Su Rong was stunned for a moment, "You have already taken the scientific examination, why don't you become an official in the court?"
As far as she knew, most of the children of aristocratic families would go out to travel when they were young to increase their knowledge. However, most of them went out when they were twelve or thirteen years old, traveled for two or three years and came back, either to take scientific examinations or to be recommended as officials.
Some people may not want to be officials or inherit the family business. In short, they leave very early.
"I have been studying with the prince in the East Palace these years. I have not had the opportunity to travel. I have always wanted to go out and look around to better understand the people's livelihood, so that I can better serve as an official in the future." Zhou Gu said: "I have talked with my grandfather.
The discussion has been completed, the prince also agrees, and the Qin Taifu has no objections. Therefore, no matter what ranking I get after the scientific examination results are released, if your majesty appoints an official, I will take the official position for the time being, and my grandfather will say hello to your majesty."
Su Rong understood, "So this is okay."
"I can do it even if others can't. Your Majesty will make a special case for this." Zhou Gu said softly.
When Su Rong thought about it, it was true that it was impossible for others. For Zhou Gu, his identity was much easier to realize. Even if His Majesty was afraid of the Duke Protector's Palace, he could still let go of such trivial matters.
, "How long do you plan to travel?"
"Two or three years!" Zhou Gu wasn't sure. "It's not just traveling. I will go to Northern Hebei first to check whether General Pingxi's Mansion is raising soldiers and horses privately. In short, no matter where I go, I will do something for His Royal Highness.
matter."
Su Rong nodded, "This is also very good. If you stay in the capital, your hands and feet will be tied up and you can't do anything. After leaving the capital, the world is so big. Whatever you want to do, it will naturally be easier to do it."
Zhou Gu said "hmm", lowered his head, and opened the travel diary in his hand.
Seeing him stop talking, Su Rong took a painting book and opened it.
The room was quiet, the two people were sitting opposite each other, there was the sound of pages turning, and the sound of candles popping out.
Zhou Gu actually had no intention of reading, but he just didn't want to leave, and he didn't want to let Su Rong go. But when he listened to the sound of Su Rong turning pages quickly, just like when he was in Jiangning County, he seemed to be really reading seriously, completely unfazed.
Affected, there seemed to be a hole in his heart that was bottomless and could not be closed no matter what.
But even so, he didn't want to leave.
It took a long time to turn the pages of the book, which was extremely slow compared to Su Rong's speed.
After a long time, the sound of the clock was heard outside, and Zhou Gu woke up. Unknowingly, it was already the third night. He put down the travel diary that he had not read for a few pages, and finally let himself and Su Rong go. He said dumbly.
Say: "Let's go!"
Su Rong nodded and put down the drawing notebook.
Zhou Gulin went out and looked back. He read seven or eight pages of his travel diary, while Su Rong took four painting books and read two and a half.
He withdrew his gaze and walked out of the room.
After leaving the backyard of Yingkefang, Su Rong turned around and looked at Zhou Gu, "Let's say goodbye from here! Anyway, the Protector's Palace and Shen's Palace are not on the same road."
Zhou Gu wanted to ask her, what you are actually saying is that you and I are not on the same path, right? But why are you asking about something that you already know in your heart? He nodded slowly, "Okay."
Su Rong waved his hand and left first.
Zhou Gu stood there, watching her quickly blend into the night and disappear. The breath he was holding was released, and he leaned back against the wall behind him. The dark night and the cold wall , making his heart feel dark and cold.
Su Rong avoided the patrolling soldiers all the way, returned to Shen's Mansion, climbed over the wall, and entered his own yard.
Pushing open the door and stepping onto the threshold, he noticed someone was in the room and tightened his grip on the sword.
Su Xingze said, "It's me."
Su Rong let go of her hand, walked into the house, and asked in a low voice: "Brother? If you don't sleep, you come to my house to guard me. Why don't you light the lamp?"
Su Xingze used a flint to hold the lamp, looked at her and asked, "Why are you back now?"
Su Rong was helpless. Just because of this, she said she would not let him go to Nanchu. If it weren't for the fact that her face looked too much like her mother, and Shen Xian had a deep friendship with Uncle Xie, everyone would have known it by now. , it makes sense for their brothers and sisters to be cared for by her. In fact, she doesn’t want to live in Shen’s Mansion. Living with her eldest brother is really inconvenient. She would rather live in the East Palace. Although Prince Yan Hui’s East Palace has strict rules , but for her, she is not restricted. She is freer without the burden of care from her elder brother.
Su Xingze looked at Su Rong's face and knew what she was thinking, and explained: "It's not that I want to rule you too much, it's because I'm in the capital and there are too many dangers. I just can't sleep tonight. When you were in Jiangning County, you You didn't go home late, and I didn't say anything to you, right?"
Su Rong immediately put away the expression on his face, reflected on himself, and explained to him, "I went to the East Palace and stayed there for an hour. After leaving the East Palace, I met Zhou Gu and went to the Guest House and sat there for more than an hour. It's too late to come back."
She softened her tone, reassured him, and said seriously: "Brother, you really don't have to worry about me. You know that I have five hundred secret guards, and I have brought them all. In this capital, as long as you don't break into Even if there is any serious disaster, I can protect myself."
Su Xingze also understood and rubbed his eyebrows, "I really couldn't sleep today. I wanted to talk to you. When I came in, I realized that you were out. I told you that you didn't go to bed so early in the past. It turned out that you were not in the house. ."
Su Rong was not sleepy yet, so she simply sat down and talked to him, "His Royal Highness listened to Ye Guixue's accent at the Chengguo Palace during the day, and guessed that the person he was engaged to might be me, so he called me I went to see him to discuss some matters. I should have come back early, but I didn't expect to encounter Zhou Gu guarding outside the east palace wall, so I was delayed until this moment."
Su Xingze looked at her, "Zhou Gu... what does he want from you?"
"I didn't do anything. I was supposed to ask me something, but then I stopped asking." Speaking of Zhou Gu, Su Rong's tone became a little softer and she said softly: "He is so smart that the prince can guess it. He could also guess it. He said that after the results were released, he would go on a trip. He only asked me to read with him for a while."
Su Xingze was also surprised, "Why do you want to travel after the results are released?"
Su Rong told Zhou Gu's original words.
Su Xingze was stunned.
Su Rong flipped the wick, "Brother, he is not in a good condition. There is still some time before the results are released. You can see him more and talk to him. I hope he can let go and go on his own without any burden."
Road, don't be trapped in yourself because of me, this is not my original intention."
Su Xingze remembered that on the day of the banquet held in Prince Ruian's Mansion, Zhou Gu seemed to be in good condition, but he was a little silent. Now that Su Rong said this, it must be really not good. He nodded, "Okay, I will advise him."
he."
Su Rong shook his head, "No need to persuade, just talk to him. Presumably what he wants to hear is not advice. Whether it is the old protector of the country, the eldest princess of Sheng'an, or the Duke's wife, including himself, the ones who persuade him are
There must be enough people."
Su Xingze understood and agreed, "Okay."
Su Rong smiled and tilted her head to look at Su Xingze, "Since I accepted Ye Guixue's betrothal gift, I can't live up to her, so I'll leave this matter to my eldest brother."
If you don't get the advantage of having a hundred thousand soldiers, you can still do things that are not worth the trouble to others.
Su Xingze sighed, "Okay, leave this matter to me."
The lights in the painting hall became brighter. Su Rong stopped, remembered something, and asked again: "Have you written a letter to your parents and Uncle Xie?"
"Not yet." Su Xingze shook his head, "As for the fact that you agreed to the second Young Master Ye's marriage, I think it would be best for you to inform them in person in a letter."
Su Rong thought about it, stood up, spread out her pen and ink, "I will write a letter now and have someone send it to Jiangzhou as soon as the city gate opens tomorrow morning." When she finished speaking, she added, "Just write it to.
Thank you uncle, he will show it to his father and mother."
Su Xingze knew that she was lazy and found it troublesome to write more than one letter, so he nodded helplessly.
