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

Zhu Qingyu was initially quite worried that at this hour, Lord Liu might not be willing to risk disturbing his superior's meal by relaying the message for her.

She thought to herself that if he refused, she would spend more money; once she had enough, she could eventually pave the way.

As it turned out, no money was needed to pave the way at all; Lord Liu was very hospitable and didn't refuse in the slightest.

"Of course, whether it's feasible or not, we'll have to ask. I'll send someone to inform her. Please have a seat, Madam."

Lord Liu summoned a servant and, in front of Zhu Qingyu, gave him some instructions. After the servant left, he asked in a friendly manner:

"Are Madam Zhang and the Vice Minister also old acquaintances?"

Recalling their previous few encounters, Zhu Qingyu felt that she and Lord Gu were hardly acquainted, much less had any close relationship, so she answered vaguely:

"You jest, sir. Lord Gu is of noble status, and I would never dare to presume to associate myself with you so casually."

Lord Liu smiled and started talking about other things. The head steward took over the conversation and flattered Lord Liu, but no matter how the head steward tried to steer the conversation, Lord Liu would always steer it back to Gu Zhao within three sentences.

Zhu Qingyu became wary. This Lord Liu was asking too many questions about how she and Gu Zhao met, how long they had known each other, and to what extent they knew each other.

Why is he so concerned about this?

What benefit would it bring him to know all this?

When she couldn't get away with it, Zhu Qingyu started to play dumb, pretending she didn't know, didn't understand, or didn't remember.

As the group was talking, the servant who had gone to inform them returned from outside the door with a report:

"Your Excellency, Lord Xiong has arrived."

Lord Liu looked over with a face full of joy:

"Please come quickly!"

Someone pushed open the door, and the tall, burly Xiong Kun, dressed in an oiled coat and holding a sword, walked in. He stood in the doorway like a wall and looked at Zhu Qingyu, saying:

"By order of the Vice Minister, I have come to receive Lady Zhu."

Lord Liu looked at Zhu Qingyu with a kind and benevolent expression:

"Madam Zhang is truly blessed. Usually, countless people come with money to pay their respects, but Lord Gu never sees them. Today is a rare occasion. Go on, don't keep Lord Gu waiting, and don't keep the Third Miss waiting either."

The head butler stood up with Zhu Qingyu, and Xiong Kun added expressionlessly:

"Lord Gu only invited Lady Zhu, not anyone else."

The head butler, unsure whether to sit or stand, hesitated and looked at Zhu Qingyu:

"Madam, this, this..."

Zhu Qingyu looked at Xiong Kun but didn't say anything.

Now that she needs Gu Zhao's help, she should lower her stance. Lord Gu has rules and requirements, and Zhu Qingyu should comply accordingly.

But now that Xiong Kun has been sent to pick her up and that he has specifically requested to see her alone, it seems like he is trying to cover up something, making it seem like she has some special relationship with Gu Zhao.

Gu Zhao deliberately put on this performance, perhaps for the overly enthusiastic Lord Liu?

Noticing the doubt in Zhu Qingyu's eyes, Xiong Kun remained silent and did not urge her.

Lord Liu held his teacup and sipped his tea slowly without saying a word.

For a moment, the only sounds in the room were the sound of Lord Liu drinking tea and the dripping of raindrops from Xiong Kun's oilcloth onto the floor.

A sudden, deafening rumble of thunder broke the silence inside the room, sending shivers down everyone's spines.

Lord Liu put down his teacup, still smiling:

"If it's inconvenient for Madam Zhang, she can visit Lord Gu again after Jingyan returns. That will be just as good."

Logically speaking, Zhu Qingyu had absolutely no desire to be involved in the conflict between two court officials.

To avoid potential trouble and risks, and in accordance with her usual practice, she should find an excuse to leave immediately, just as she did two years ago.

But it would be at least a month before Zhang Shen returned, and she couldn't leave her third sister, a young girl, in the government jail for so long, not even for one night.

Based on their previous interactions, Zhu Qingyu felt that Lord Gu was at least an upright person, more reliable than Lord Liu.

Zhu Qingyu looked at Xiong Kun again:

"There's nothing inconvenient about it. Please lead the way, Master Xiong."

The heavy rain continued unabated, and the strong winds persisted.

Xiong Kun led Zhu Qingyu through the covered corridor, turning left and right, passing through two gates, and there was a group of armored soldiers guarding the entrance to the courtyard.

Upon entering the courtyard of the government office where Gu Zhao was temporarily staying, the guards were extremely tight, with officers every three steps and a guard every five steps.

Upon reaching the main house, Xiong Kun stopped in his tracks:

"Please come in, Madam. The master is inside."

Zhu Qingyu closed the umbrella and placed it outside the door before pushing the door open and entering. The room was brightly lit, but empty. Dinner was laid out on the table, steaming and untouched, clearly just set.

It was already May, yet a censer was still placed in the outer room, and the sound of rushing water came from the inner room. Clearly, it was time for Lord Gu to bathe and eat, and her arrival was very untimely.

Zhu Qingyu did not close the door, nor did she move around without permission. She remained standing at the door, keeping herself within the sight of the guards outside.

On the way there, the rain was so heavy that an umbrella couldn't keep out the wind and rain at all. Zhu Qingyu's shoulder was wet, and even her shoes, socks, and half of her skirt were soaked. A gust of wind blew through the door, and the cold air rose from below, chilling her to the bone.

Zhu Qingyu was at the door wiping the water off her shoulders with a handkerchief when Gu Zhao, dressed in casual clothes with wet hair, came out from the inner room with a handkerchief in her hand.

Seeing Zhu Qingyu standing far away, her clothes half-wet, Gu Zhao remained calm, casually dragging a chair down next to the incense burner, and then pointing to another chair beside it:

"Madam Zhu, come and sit down."

Before Zhu Qingyu could refuse, Gu Zhao continued:

"Madam Zhu, I meant no offense, but you've come to the government office at this hour, so you must have something urgent to discuss. Please forgive my disheveled appearance; I cannot receive many guests. Have you encountered any difficulties in coming to see me?"

Gu Zhao was explaining why he only saw her. His tone and demeanor were very humble and polite. He had come to ask for a favor. Zhu Qingyu felt that if she avoided him, she would only appear petty and ungrateful.

Zhu Qingyu sat down on the other side of the incense burner and briefly explained her purpose:

"I apologize for disturbing your meal, sir. Please forgive me. It was an emergency. My sister went to buy rouge today and ran into your soldiers raiding the shop. She was mistakenly arrested. Please, sir, have the audacity to release my sister?"

Gu Zhao dried his hair and asked noncommittally:

"Does Madam Zhu have a younger sister at home?"

Having just stood in the cold wind at the doorway with her wet skirt and stockings, and now facing the heat of the incense burner, Zhu Qingyu felt uncomfortable from the contrast of hot and cold, and replied with her arms crossed:

"Reporting to Your Excellency, she is my husband's younger sister, my sister-in-law."

Gu Zhao got up, poured a cup of hot tea at the table, and handed it to Zhu Qingyu:

"I see. So Zhang Jingyan sent you to find me? Since she's Zhang Jingyan's sister, why didn't he come himself, but instead sent you to do it?"