In ancient times, the powerful and wealthy seized power step by step.

It was Zhang Ruohua's voice.

In this world, only Zhang Ruohua would call her sister-in-law.

Zhu Qingyu turned her head and met Zhang Ruohua's eyes, who was peering into the inner room from the doorway.

Gu Zhao was in a fit of anger and practically dragged her to the bed. Neither of them cared about closing the door, which explains why neither of them noticed when Zhang Ruohua was already at the door.

Zhang Ruohua was still wearing a hooded white fox fur cloak, which made her look like she had just come from outside, perhaps even just arrived in the capital.

She was in bed with Gu Zhao, both of them disheveled, and she even took the initiative to undress him.

In this situation, there is no point in arguing, so it is better not to argue.

Zhu Qingyu gathered the front of her clothes, got off the bed, and asked:

"Third sister, what happened in Yangzhou that brought you to the capital? Who brought you here?"

Zhang Ruohua, an unmarried young woman, had never seen anything like this before and was quite stunned.

Seeing a man sitting expressionlessly on his sister-in-law's bed, buttoning his clothes, Zhang Ruohua quickly turned around and replied:

"General Manager Xue came to the capital to offer tribute, and I was really worried about you and Second Brother, so I came along with his ship. The head steward is here too."

Given the relationship between General Manager Xue and Zhang Shen, if General Manager Xue had escorted Zhang Ruohua to the door, he certainly wouldn't have just left; he would have come in to inquire about Zhang Shen's situation.

Zhu Qingyu replied:

"Is Mr. Xue in the front hall? Have Aunt Wang serve tea. I'll be right back after I change my clothes."

Standing at the door, Zhang Ruohua hesitated before speaking:

"Mother Wang is already serving tea. The head butler is with General Manager Xue. Mother Wang said you were in the inner courtyard, so I came to call you."

Zhu Qingyu took a new outer garment and vest from the trunk and was changing the clothes that Gu Zhao had just torn when she heard Zhang Ruohua say this. She paused for a moment, then continued changing, saying:

"Okay, I understand."

Lately, there have been frequent visits from men outside the family to their home. Just now, with so many people and such a large commotion, it's impossible that Wang's mother and Uncle Lü didn't hear it or notice that something was amiss.

But they were servants, and Zhang Shen wasn't home, so they didn't dare to interfere, and didn't even bother to ask Zhu Qingyu.

Gu Zhao had just followed her into the inner courtyard, and she hadn't uttered a sound the whole time. It's likely that even Wang Mama and Uncle Lü weren't sure what to do, so they didn't dare to come in.

By pushing the matter onto Zhang Ruohua and letting her discover it, perhaps Wang's mother could breathe a sigh of relief.

Zhu Qingyu never thought she could hide it from Zhang Shen. Whether it was Wang's mother who told him or Zhang Ruohua who told him, it didn't matter; it was all the same.

But whether it's Wang's mother or Zhang Ruohua, they're family, so it won't get out to outsiders.

As for outsiders, such as General Manager Xue, it's best not to let him know about these things. Otherwise, if outsiders gossip and rumors spread throughout Yangzhou, Zhang Shen might not be able to handle it.

After changing her clothes, Zhu Qingyu looked at Gu Zhao, who was already dressed and sitting by the bed, and asked:

"Shouming, could you please leave through the back door? You see, I have guests at home right now, so it's really inconvenient. Let's wait until Jingyan comes back tomorrow, and after I settle him in, we can go to another time and place, okay? Please trust me, I won't just run away like this. I will keep my promise to you."

Gu Zhao looked at her, seemingly wanting to say something, but ultimately only said:

"Tomorrow, from around Chenshi (7-9 AM) to Sishi (9-11 AM), arrange for a carriage to pick him up at the palace gate. At Shenshi (3-5 PM), I will arrange for a carriage to pick you up."

Zhu Qingyu nodded to indicate that she remembered, took the key to the back door, and led Gu Zhao out.

Because there was a man present, Zhang Ruohua didn't dare stay inside after speaking and stood under the eaves to wait. Seeing her sister-in-law lead the men out, she was just about to speak when Zhu Qingyu said:

"Third sister, I'm seeing people out, wait for me."

Zhu Qingyu saw Gu Zhao to the back door and was about to close it when Gu Zhao suddenly reached out and pressed down on the door, asking:

"Even if he comes out after what you've done, do you think he'll appreciate it?"

Zhu Qingyu smiled:

"As long as he can get out and live, everything else is trivial. Whether he appreciates it or not is not important. Shouming, I entrust his audience with the Emperor to you. I have no one else to entrust him to but you. Please help me. I will be there on time tomorrow at Shenshi (3-5 PM)."

Hearing her answer, Gu Zhao's heart froze once again.

How can they be so reckless?

What if he doesn't appreciate it and abandons you because of it?

Don't you care about your own future at all?

Do you love him that much?

Knowing full well that this is the case, knowing full well the answer, knowing full well that her heart and eyes are only for Zhang Jingyan, and that she will not share even a fraction of her love with anyone else, why should I ask her this question and break my heart again?

Since you've made up your mind to cut ties completely, then cut ties completely.

Why hesitate and waver, only to be repeatedly outshone and humiliated?

"Tomorrow, let everything settle down," she said.

Once, you gain, you are freed, you let go.

From now on, let's forget each other and move on from this hopeless love.

Gu Zhao let go of her hand, and Zhu Qingyu closed the door.

Hearing the sound of the door locking inside, Gu Zhao felt a sudden sense of absurdity, as if he had been kicked out of an affair.

He slowly walked to the front door, where several carriages were parked. Under the cover of the carriages, his horse was inconspicuous.

The woman who was just in bed with him, preparing to spend time together, is now entertaining guests at home.

And he, a man who was kicked out and could not be seen in the light of day, actually had to go to great lengths to save her husband.

This situation is so absurd that anyone who sees it would surely say:

"Gu Shouming, you've really lost your mind!"

In a daze, Gu Zhao returned to his duty room in the palace. His mind was in complete turmoil, but he managed to handle official business with composure. He was even summoned by the Emperor to discuss disaster relief in the northern frontier.

When it was time to leave the palace at dusk, the normal time for people to go off duty, Gu Zhao did not stay. He followed the crowd out of the palace, got into his own carriage, and changed out of his official clothes in the carriage.

As darkness fell, the carriage circled the city before stopping in front of the Embroidered Uniform Guard headquarters. Gu Zhao, wearing a cloak, alighted from the carriage.

Someone was already waiting at the entrance. Upon seeing Gu Zhao, they didn't say a word and led him towards the imperial prison.

Gu Zhao entered the imperial prison and saw Zhang Shen, who was lying on the bed in a daze because he had been whipped that day and had not eaten all day.

This is the person who occupies all of her love.

I had completely lost to such a person.

The jailer opened the door, and Gu Zhao went in. He said to Zhang Shen, who was still groggily opening his eyes:

"Zhang Jingyan, if you want to live, you must first beg for death. From this moment on, you must remember that your actions are deserving of death, and it is only right that the Emperor wants to execute you, no matter who asks. And you did all this for only one person, the Emperor. There is no one else. Now, I will say a sentence, and you will repeat it after me. Memorize it and keep it in your heart. When you meet the Emperor tomorrow, you must not make a single mistake."