Chapter 211: Extra Chapter 2: A Trip to Suzhou

One year later, Shen Shuangning received a letter from Suzhou; the sender was Su Wan.

The letter said she had opened a tavern there, named Zui Xiang Lou, business was booming, and she specially invited Shen Shuangning's family to come to Jiangnan to enjoy spring.

Xiao Jingyuan learned that Shen Shuangning wanted to go to Suzhou, so he took leave that day and brought his wife and children south.

But he never expected to run into an acquaintance at Zui Xiang Lou.

"Isn't Lord Gu supposed to have returned to Jinling? Why are you here in Suzhou?" Xiao Jingyuan joked.

The man wore a plain-colored robe, busy tallying accounts; the stern, upright air of the court was gone from his brows and eyes, replaced by a touch of worldly warmth.

Hearing that, he lifted his head and saw the family of four before him; a smile appeared in his eyes, and he immediately came out from behind the counter.

Just as he was about to bow to the man before him, a strong hand steadied him.

"This isn't the court, so no need for excessive ceremony, Lord Gu—feel free to call me by my name."

Xiao Jingyuan wasn't wearing the Regent Prince's python robe, only a everyday stone‑blue brocade jacket with his hair bound in a jade cap, yet the innate solemn chill of his bearing still leaked out now and then, giving off a powerful sense of oppression.

Gu Fengchun dared not really call him by name directly; he lowered his eyes and spoke softly: "I have already retreated from the court, my lord—there's no need to keep calling me 'Lord Gu'; just use my name."

Xiao Jingyuan patted his shoulder and said, "If you ever want to return to the court, you can do so anytime."

Gu Fengchun smiled, first greeting Ning Zhou: "Young master, you've grown taller again—you look much sturdier than last year."

More than just sturdy, Ning Zhou's special physique lets him grow faster than his peers; his frame already shows the neat vigor of a youth, his arms and legs packed with real muscle, and when he runs he moves like a little leopard.

Lively and active, he had already become a minor local celebrity known as the "little tyrant" in the capital; if it weren't for his father keeping him in check, who knows what mischief Ning Zhou could stir up.

"Hello, Uncle Gu," Ning Zhou said in a clear voice, deliberately puffing out his little chest, the picture of a well‑behaved student.

Gu Fengchun ruffled his hair again, then spotted the delicately carved infant in Shen Shuangning's arms and asked, "This must be the little miss—what's her name?"

Before Shen Shuangning could answer, Ning Zhou blurted, "This is my sister, Xiao Ningxi—'Ning' from Anning, 'Xi' from the faint light of dawn!"

Gu Fengchun gave a slight nod: "A fine name."

He then turned to Xiao Jingyuan with a smile: "My lord, you now have both sons and daughters, the family is complete—truly enviable."

Xiao Jingyuan, worried that Shen Shuangning's arms would tire from holding the child, took the daughter and let her rest in the crook of his arm before saying to Gu Fengchun, "You're already past thirty—it's time you settled down."

Gu Fengchun smiled without a word, while Su Wan beside him blushed for no apparent reason.

At that moment the hall was full of coming and going guests, every seat taken; the Xiao Jingyuan family's refined attire and outstanding bearing kept drawing sideways glances—this was no place for catching up.

Su Wan led them upstairs, while Gu Fengchun stayed behind in the hall to busy himself.

Su Wan opened two heavenly‑character rooms for them—one for the attendants they'd brought, the other for the couple.

Once the others were gone, Shen Shuangning began to ask why Gu Fengchun was at Zui Xiang Lou.

Su Wan laughed as she explained: "When we opened this tavern, some local merchants took offense and even teamed up with petty clerks to give us trouble—checking the books, picking fights. He happened to pass by, saw through the nonsense, and in a few moves helped me sort it out."

Shen Shuangning asked, "And then?"

Seeing the spark of gossip in her eyes, Su Wan gave a light cough, seeming a bit embarrassed: "Running a business is far harder than I imagined, but since we've started, there's no reason to quit halfway. He saw I was struggling alone and said, having no ties, he might as well stay and lend a hand—so he did……

Speaking of which, Gu Fengchun and Su Wan are old acquaintances.

Only, back then Su Wan was still the Crown Princess, a daughter of the Gongsun clan.

And Gu Fengchun was merely a low‑born Vice Minister of Revenue serving under the Crown Prince; their stations were worlds apart, so much so that the number of times they'd met could be counted on one hand.

One can imagine Su Wan herself never expected that, after being separated by an unbridgeable gap, the two would reunite in Suzhou upon leaving the capital—and even have this much interaction.

Shen Shuangning couldn't help but ask, "What's your relationship now?" Though phrased as a question, her gaze already said it all.

Su Wan seemed to have anticipated the question, quickly waving her hands with a slightly urgent tone: "It's not what you think! We're just friends—purely friends!"

"Friends?" Shen Shuangning drew out the syllable, clearly doubtful.

"They never really counted as friends before, did they?"

Su Wan felt embarrassed under her stare, her cheeks flushing faintly, yet she insisted stubbornly: "He stayed to help me solely as a friend—there's really nothing else."

Shen Shuangning let the matter drop, sipped her tea, and fell into thought.

The tavern had only just opened, everything needed attention; after a brief exchange of pleasantries, Su Wan went off to busy herself.

Ning Zhou was leaving the capital for the first time, intensely curious about Suzhou's scenery, so he tugged Qing Yun out the door. Ning Xi was still little, children need lots of sleep, and she was napping in the next room.

For once the room held only Xiao Jingyuan and Shen Shuangning alone.

Now a mother, Shen Shuangning carried an indescribable charm; Xiao Jingyuan, his energy overflowing after detox, sought closeness with her regardless of day or night, and at once made his move.

He lifted Shen Shuangning onto his lap, his breathing already uneven.

He kissed her face, her lips, then her neck.

Shen Shuangning, however, was still thinking about Su Wan and Gu Fengchun, and suddenly said, "I have a feeling those two might have something going on."

Xiao Jingyuan's lips still pressed against her neck, he gave a low, deep "hmm," his tone a bit distracted.

Shen Shuangning asked, "You've had the most contact with Gu Fengchun at court—what do you think of him?"

The man lifted his eyes, as if drawing a deep breath, before answering: "He is upright in character, principled in action; I never saw him curry favor with the powerful while in office—a rare honest man."

Hearing that, Shen Shuangning relaxed a little: "I see him as someone steady in daily life, and Wanwan is sincere too—they suit each other well. What do you think?"

Xiao Jingyuan gave no answer, pinching her waist and pressing her closer, his tone edged with a grit‑your‑teeth quality: "Are you really sure you want to talk about other men right now?"

Meeting his gaze, full of desire in his phoenix eyes, Shen Shuangning's legs couldn't help but tremble slightly.

As if to punish her for ignoring him, Xiao Jingyuan scooped her up and strode to the window.

The window was half‑open; below lay a bustling market, even the clear sounds of voices could be heard.

From this angle, looking up from below, nothing could be seen—but if Shen Shuangning tilted her head just a little, she could clearly make out the figures moving below, and her heart leapt as if clenched.

Apart from that one wild night they'd spent together before marriage at Yunxiao Lou, they had never again done anything like that outside.

Shen Shuangning's scalp went numb; she clenched her teeth, barely managing to hold back a sound.

Yet her restrained appearance seemed to please Xiao Jingyuan, whose assault grew ever fiercer.

By the time it was over, it was already evening.

Besides the bed remaining neat, everything else in the room was in disarray, even feeling a bit sticky.

Seems he had timed it for his son's return, Xiao Jingyuan only reluctantly let her go; Shen Shuangning bit him several times, cursing him as a scoundrel.

Xiao Jingyuan was quite pleased, and sinisterly said he would keep going.

Ning Zhou returned before dark, having bought a gift for his mother, eager to give it to her, but unexpectedly was stopped outside the door by his disliked father.

"Traveling has worn you out, Mother is too tired and resting; don't disturb her."

"All right..." Ning Zhou wanted to peek inside, but his father blocked him firmly; he pursed his lips and said, "When can I see Mother? I bought a gift, I want to show her right away."

Xiao Jingyuan crossed his arms, leaning against the door, eyeing the little brat: "Tomorrow. What did you buy?"

Ning Zhou, unsuspecting, handed it to his father to see: "A nice hairpin."

Then the hairpin was taken away.

Ning Zhou stared wide-eyed; Xiao Jingyuan gave no expression, shut the door, and tossed him a line: "I'll send it for you."

"!!!" Little tyrant Ning Zhou seethed but did not dare to speak.

Inside the room, Shen Shuangning's disheveled head popped from the bed curtains, her black hair still sticking to her sweat-damp, flushed cheeks; she said helplessly, "You, as his father, can't you get along well with your son?"

"Just tempering his character." Xiao Jingyuan handed the hairpin to her, "That brat bought it for you."

Shen Shuangning looked at the hairpin still warm in her hand, feeling comforted in her heart.

Though Ning Zhou is a bit mischievous, he is extremely filial. Likely from subtle influence, seeing how his father treats his mother daily, even at his age he knows how to cherish his mother.

Shen Shuangning couldn't help thinking that Ning Zhou, so young, already knows how to win girls' favor—unlike his father—so she need not worry about him failing to find a wife in the future.

Xiao Jingyuan had no idea what she was thinking; still somewhat unsatisfied, he loosened his sash and slipped inside.

That night he tormented Shen Shuangning for a long while.

Having stayed in Suzhou for over half a month, Shen Shuangning grew ever more certain that Gu Fengchun and Su Wan each harbored those feelings, yet for some reason they had not yet pierced that layer of window paper.

Shen Shuangning could see the key lay with Su Wan.

Could it be that Su Wan still hasn't let go of the prince?

Or is it that, having once been bitten by a snake, she fears ropes for ten years, unwilling to give her heart lightly again?

No matter how Shen Shuangning probed, Su Wan avoided answering.

Anxious, Shen Shuangning muttered about this to Xiao Jingyuan at night.

Xiao Jingyuan originally had no leisure to meddle in others' affairs, but seeing her distressed, he wanted to share her worries. After a moment's thought, he suddenly rose: "Leave it to me."

Two days later, a woman claiming to be Gu Fengchun's fiancée showed up at the door, trying to drag him back to marry.

Su Wan immediately grew anxious, pacing back and forth in the room: "Even though it's a childhood engagement, he's such a good person, soft-hearted—he surely wouldn't ignore that girl; he might really leave!"

Shen Shuangning said, "Why are you so nervous? Could it be you don't want him to leave?"

Su Wan wrung her handkerchief, stammering: "I—I just think that for marriage, one should wed two people who love each other; marrying without cultivated feelings is too hasty. I regard him as a friend, naturally wishing he could find happiness..."

Shen Shuangning deliberately said, "I see that girl may be a bit fiery, but her looks are not bad; they'd complement Gu Fengchun's steady temperament—perhaps after living together awhile they could truly develop affection and live happily."

Su Wan's already pale face turned even whiter.

Just then, the inn's attendant ran over breathlessly to report: "Boss, trouble! I just saw Mr. Gu in the back yard packing his bags, as if about to leave!"

Su Wan's face changed, she didn't even bother to say more to Shen Shuangning, and immediately sprang off in pursuit.