Chapter 224 - 223: Wife

Chen Buyu led away those household servants, and the others were safe.

Zhong Chushan tidied his somewhat messy hair and said, "In the end, that kid led them away, and we rescued nothing but solitude. Should we continue saving?"

Su Yaoguang said, "At this hour, the auspicious time has passed. Even if they catch him back, the ceremony should not continue."

The others felt that Su Yaoguang made sense.

That Landlord Tong had only one daughter and spared no effort in finding a suitable groom for her, he certainly wouldn’t skimp on her wedding.

"Alright, let’s head back to the inn; tomorrow’s matters are for tomorrow. It’s too late today, really am a bit tired." Zhou Wangshu said.

"What about Brother Chen?" Zhang Xuezhi asked.

"If he’s escaped, he will certainly come back to find us. If he hasn’t, the Tong Family won’t harm the future son-in-law."

"Makes sense."

Upon returning to the inn, Su Yaoguang fell asleep instantly. Someone knocked on the door, but she was already asleep and didn’t want to get up, so wrapped in the quilt she said, "Who is it?"

"It’s me." Zhou Wangshu said at the door, "Did you twist your ankle earlier?"

Su Yaoguang mumbled dazedly, "Mm."

"I got some injury ointment from the boss; open the door, I’ll apply it for you."

"I don’t want to move." Su Yaoguang yawned, "So sleepy, let’s talk tomorrow!"

"Should I come in myself?"

"Come in if you can, I really don’t want to move."

Zhou Wangshu opened the window and climbed in through it.

He walked over to the bedside, looking at Su Yaoguang wrapped like a cocoon.

Su Yaoguang was truly sleepy, her eyelids were heavy, even though he stood right in front of her, she didn’t open her eyes to glance.

Zhou Wangshu sat by the bed and lifted the quilt.

He held her ankle, rolled up her pants, and applied ointment on her injury.

"Ow..." Su Yaoguang winced in pain.

"Endure it," Zhou Wangshu said while applying the ointment, slowly pressing on her wound. "You didn’t mention you were injured, if I hadn’t noticed you were walking awkwardly, you’d be suffering in silence tonight, and it’d serve you right to be in pain."

"Wang Shu..."

"Does it hurt?"

Su Yaoguang clung to his arm, moved closer to him, and said, "Congratulations. I just knew you could do it."

"Just a congratulations, no reward?" Zhou Wangshu teased.

"Yes!" Su Yaoguang murmured, "Once we return to Capital City, we’ll proceed with the separation, then you can go to the Capital City to take the imperial exams with peace of mind."

Zhou Wangshu’s gentle movements suddenly became forceful, causing intense pain at the previous wound spot, jolting Su Yaoguang awake from her sleep.

Su Yaoguang winced and opened her eyes, glaring at Zhou Wangshu, "You brat, can’t wait even these few days, want to be a widower?"

"Your gift is a separation paper?" Zhou Wangshu said displeasedly, "Such a special gift, only one of a kind throughout history, I’d wager."

"You’re going to the Capital City soon, if you perform well in the provincial and imperial exams, you’re likely to be among the top three. After the exams, you’ll be nearly sixteen. Those noble families in the Capital City love picking sons-in-law from the top three. With your credentials, you’ll surely be in demand. If you still have an engagement holding you back, even good marriages wouldn’t be viable. Wouldn’t that delay your future? I’m your elder sister, how could I let you suffer such a loss? Therefore, before heading to the Capital City, we must clarify our relationship."

"Won’t you accompany me to the Capital City?" Zhou Wangshu squeezed his palm.

He had often imagined leaving here for the place he really wanted to go, but he never thought he’d feel such reluctance when the time came.

"I won’t be going." Su Yaoguang said, "We live quite well in Capital City. Look, people here take good care of us and like our mother-daughter duo. Although the Capital City is prosperous, being under the emperor’s feet and where most nobles reside, for small folks like us, such riches are actually a hassle."

"You mean after our separation, I go to the Capital City and you and mother stay in Capital City, bridges return to bridges and roads return to roads, never intersecting again?"

Su Yaoguang sensed Zhou Wangshu’s face didn’t look good, his tone full of resentment, as if he was angry.

"How could it be unrelated? When you achieve great success, I’m counting on you to bring us to the Capital City for a visit, so we can experience the Capital City’s prosperity," Su Yaoguang said casually to soothe him.