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

When Gu Zhao woke up the next day, it was already broad daylight.

This is not a common occurrence. After all, ever since she entered the palace at the age of eight to serve as the emperor's tutor, the third quarter of the morning (3:45 AM) has been Gu Zhao's fixed wake-up time.

Whether it's a holiday or a festival, whether he's attending court or on leave, even if he stayed up all night, he would get up promptly at 3:45 AM.

However, last night, Gu Zhao looked at the little lady lying in his arms, her limbs tightly intertwined with his, sleeping peacefully.

They hadn't even gone to sleep by 3:45 AM last night.

The bed curtains still held the vibrant scents of last night, so dreamlike and enchanting, a sensation far surpassing any dream she had ever had with him.

After a night of debauchery, being able to hold the person he had been longing for in his arms and enjoy this rare moment of tenderness and affection between the two of them made Gu Zhaoming, who was already awake, not want to wake up.

Is it possible that if I don't wake up, this moment can last forever?

The two were completely unhindered and intimately connected under the covers.

It was still the dead of winter outside, and the heavy snow outside the window seemed to have never stopped.

Gu Zhao didn't understand what was wrong with him either. He had spent the whole night getting what he wanted so many times, yet he was still not satisfied.

It's like you've just received it and already want it.

The more you get, the more you crave.

The more you desire, the more you demand.

It just kept happening, one after another, and I just couldn't stop.

However, Gu Zhao gently rubbed his cheek against the hair of the person in his arms.

However, someone was exhausted and could no longer act recklessly.

Gu Zhao gently raised his hand and tucked the hair that was stuck together on her forehead due to sweat behind her ear so as not to disturb her sleep.

There was a clear bite mark on his arm, and as he raised his hand, a sharp pain shot through him.

It wasn't just his arms; his neck and shoulders were also covered in marks left by someone.

She was so peaceful when she was asleep.

It's hard to imagine that this usually rational and calm young lady, who is also so quiet and obedient at this moment, would be like this under the cover of night.

Gu Zhao thought of something, looked at the teeth marks on his arm, and laughed silently.

With sharp teeth and a biting mouth, it can bite and cause pain.

He has a bad temper and is very aggressive when he curses.

They fight fiercely and without any restraint.

Each one, taken individually, is hardly a compliment.

But because it was her, each of these qualities became an advantage, and he liked them all very much, to the point of obsession.

Gu Zhao touched the stinging teeth marks on her neck, wondering if there was any bleeding. Recalling the scene last night when she was lost in passion, and how someone bit her fiercely and wouldn't let go, even though she knew that she was venting and taking revenge, she only felt sweetness when she thought about it.

But Gu Zhao only smiled for a moment before his smile vanished.

He said it once.

It's over now.

What belonged to him was over.

He said he wanted to cut ties completely.

Yes, it was indeed him who said it.

However, before they had even been apart for a moment, he had already begun to regret it.

He didn't want it to end; he thought that once he got it, he would be free. He completely overestimated himself and underestimated her.

Wrong, wrong, completely wrong!

Once you get something, you'll only want more!

Inside the heated tent, under the covers where the two were embracing, the area where they were pressed together was so hot that they were even sweating.

It's not just because of sweating.

Last night was so chaotic that he couldn't control himself or even think straight. The two of them fell asleep in a state of extreme confusion, neither of them remembering to tidy up.

Perhaps because it was too hot, Zhu Qingyu, though still unconscious, felt uncomfortable. She abandoned Gu Zhao, who was still savoring the memory, turned her back to him, rolled out of his arms, and tore off most of the blanket in the process.

Having suddenly lost all warmth, Gu Zhao, feeling utterly alone and cold, resigned herself to lying there for a while before finally getting up, hastily putting on her undergarments, and going to the outer room to fetch a basin of water for someone to wash up.

The water temperature was just right, and the soft towel was wrung out. Gu Zhao took the towel and got back onto the bed, just as he was about to dig out the young lady wrapped in the quilt and clean her up, when Gu Zhao suddenly stopped.

I think I just saw a flash of red.

Gu Zhao looked to the side and saw bloodstains on the bed sheet.

Fresh bloodstains.

For a long while, Gu Zhao stood there holding the handkerchief, looking at the young woman wrapped in the quilt with only half her head showing, and then at the obvious red color that could not be mistaken, unable to figure out what was going on.

impossible!

How is that possible!

She has a husband, yet she still loves him so much that she is almost willing to give everything for him.

There are also many other possibilities.

For example, she had her period, but she said herself that her period is very regular, and it wasn't now.

It's also possible that he was too excited last night and lost his temper, causing her harm.

Last night, someone did suggest slowing down, but he simply couldn't manage it, which angered her. That's why she scolded him and bit his arm hard.

No, even if he lost his sense of proportion, he wouldn't be so reckless as to disregard everything.

Moreover, later on, he wasn't necessarily the only one who was intoxicated by it; her broken voice clearly also carried joy and infatuation.

A person who has been hurt would not act like this.

Then there is only one possibility.

The most unlikely thing has become possible.

For a moment, Gu Zhao was at a loss for what to do; his mind went completely blank.

Yes, he did say that he wanted to sever all ties with her, but that was because he was in too much pain and too desperate.

She was tormented by how much she loved Zhang Jingyan, and despaired that she, who loved her husband so much, would not give him even the slightest chance.

But what if, what if, she and Zhang Jingyan weren't husband and wife at all?

Perhaps it was because Gu Zhao started thinking that even the heated tent became warm again.

Zhu Qingyu felt very hot under the covers, so she kicked them off and groggily opened her eyes.

As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Gu Zhao holding a handkerchief, kneeling by the bed, looking at her with a mixture of shock, confusion, disbelief, and surprise.

My God, that can't be!

Zhu Qingyu was instantly sobered up when he stared at her with those eyes.

Last night's events were too chaotic; she was so exhausted that she fell asleep almost immediately, having neither the chance, the time, nor the energy to think about this issue.

Zhu Qingyu, still covered by the blanket, sat up and looked at the evidence of their misdeeds from the previous night.

That's illogical. She's 26, an adult woman. The probability of this happening is not high, so much so that she herself overlooked it.

Zhu Qingyu was thinking about how to gloss over the matter. For example, she could strike first and accuse him of causing her injury because of him.

Gu Zhao didn't give her a chance to fool him at all, and without even asking a single question, he made a firm conclusion:

"Zhu Qingyu, you and him are not a real couple."

Gu Zhao leaned down, hugged her, and pressed his forehead against hers, his voice both seductive and aggrieved:

"We are."