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

Knowing about the private relationship between Zhu Qingyu and Gu Zhao, Xie Ze was particularly perceptive.

At lunchtime, upon hearing Zhu Qingyu return outside, Xie Ze and Gu Zhao exchanged a glance. Without Gu Zhao needing to speak, Xie Ze quickly helped Gu Zhao lie down, then ran outside himself, saying as soon as he was outside:

"My lady, you're finally back! I'm starving! I'm going to have lunch now. Could you please watch over my cousin for me? I'll come back this afternoon!"

Because many things from yesterday were left to be dealt with today, Zhu Qingyu was extremely busy this morning. She was so busy that even though she was in the same military camp, she couldn't spare even half a minute to check on Gu Zhao all morning, and didn't return until after 1 p.m.

Seeing Xie Ze so hungry, Zhu Qingyu felt a little embarrassed and said:

"I don't have a fixed time here, so why don't you two cousins ​​eat first next time, and don't wait for me?"

Xie Ze ignored Zhu Qingyu's words, pretending that he hadn't heard anything, and ran very fast. Before Zhu Qingyu could finish speaking, he had already run three miles away.

Zhu Qingyu couldn't keep them there, so she went into the inner room. She wanted to talk to Gu Zhao and tell them to eat on their own first, because when people are injured, they need to eat well to have the strength to heal. How can they survive on an empty stomach?

When they came in, they found that Gu Zhao was still asleep.

While bed rest is important when someone is seriously injured, not waking up at this hour is not a good sign.

The worst thing is that his wound gets infected, causing him to have a high fever and become drowsy, which can lead to shock and coma, and bystanders will think he is just asleep and won't even know it.

Zhu Qingyu immediately became nervous and quickly sat down by Gu Zhao's bedside. She reached out and touched his forehead. Fortunately, his high fever had subsided compared to yesterday. She then took his hand and checked his pulse.

Gu Zhao, who was pretending to be asleep, was even more nervous than Zhu Qingyu, and thought with great anticipation:

"If I fall asleep, will she secretly kiss me again? Just like yesterday?"

People will reveal their weaknesses when they are nervous. Zhu Qingyu was holding Gu Zhao's hand and immediately felt Gu Zhao's pulse become rapid.

Zhu Qingyu let go of his hand:

"Get up if you're awake. Are you hungry? Shall we eat together?"

Oh no, we've been found out, there was no kiss.

Gu Zhao opened his eyes in disappointment, his frustration so obvious, and mumbled a "hmm".

Seeing that he was unhappy, Zhu Qingyu moved closer to observe his expression:

"What's wrong? Does it hurt somewhere? Is it because your wound hurts?"

We're so close, why can't she just give me a kiss? It seems the treatment she receives, like her affection, is fleeting. It happened yesterday, but not today.

Gu Zhao was even more frustrated:

"Um."

Oh dear, Lord Gu is injured. He seems a bit delicate.

He's delicate, has an idol complex, and is as melancholic as a lilac. I wonder how he managed when he was a study companion in the palace, where he couldn't be delicate, have an idol complex, or be melancholic.

Zhu Qingyu moved closer and kissed him on the cheek:

"Is this any better?"

Gu Zhao's eyes lit up immediately. He grabbed her hand, stood up, and kissed her on the cheek, returning the kiss on the spot.

Unfortunately, Lord Gu was too eager and hasty in his kiss, completely forgetting that he was seriously injured and bedridden. He got up too suddenly, pulled at his wound, screamed, and fell down again.

It looked both pitiful and funny, and Zhu Qingyu didn't know whether to laugh at him or scold him.

While panting in pain, Gu Zhao didn't forget to speak first to assert her authority and define the situation, accusing the man of injustice:

"Ouch, it hurts. It's not my fault, you kissed me first. It hurts so much."

Zhu Qingyu was both amused and exasperated, and immediately admitted it:

"I kissed him first, so what? Can't I kiss him?"

Gu Zhao was stunned. What did she mean by that?

Xie Ze's words from this morning resurfaced:

"Your wife treats you very differently."

Gu Zhao thought to himself:

"Of course it's not ordinary. She kissed me first, how could it be ordinary? Although I've asked her many times, should I ask her again? Is it possible that the answer will be different this time?"

Gu Zhao hesitated, wanting to ask but then hesitated and dared not.

He wasn't afraid of her rejection; she had rejected him so many times that Gu Zhao was used to it.

But he was afraid that she, this coward, would back down, and worried that once he asked and brought the matter to light, she would take back the tenderness she was currently giving him without realizing it.

While Gu Zhao hesitated, Zhu Qingyu had already gone out to get lunch.

After she brought the tray in, helped him up, and fed him bite by bite, Gu Zhao was even more reluctant to ask any questions.

It's rare for her to be so good to him. What if he asks her about it and she takes it all back?

For several days in a row, Zhu Qingyu went out to deal with the epidemic during the day, came back at noon to have lunch with Gu Zhao, and came back at night to keep watch for him. The two of them achieved a delicate and harmonious balance.

After lying in bed for several days, Gu Zhao couldn't bear the thought of Zhu Qingyu leaving early and returning late every day while he was left alone in his empty room. Even though his injuries hadn't fully healed, he got up to go find her.

Because of the pain from her wounds, Gu Zhao walked very slowly. After asking several people, she finally found Zhu Qingyu in a side room behind the main hall.

The moment Gu Zhao stood at the door and saw the equipment in the side room and Zhu Qingyu busy at work, he was even a little dazed, thinking that he had returned to Yangzhou City a year ago.

He had only known her for a short time then and didn't know her well. He hesitated for several days before going to her door and asking if she wanted to be his concubine.

It was in this cramped pharmacy that the layout and even the strange alchemy furnace were exactly the same.

A shadow fell over the doorway, and Zhu Qingyu, who was distilling garlic extract in the pharmacy, immediately noticed it. She looked over and, seeing it was Gu Zhao, asked in surprise:

"Shouming, why are you up? Are you feeling unwell?"

Gu Zhao leaned against the doorway, backlit, his expression a mixture of emotions, and replied:

"Qingyu, I regret it. If only I hadn't been so arrogant that day. I really regret it."

Life cannot be relived, but as long as one is alive, there is hope.

Zhu Qingyu smiled and said:

"How can anyone predict the future? Suppose you went back in time, what would you ask me?"

Gu Zhao, supporting his wound, slowly walked into the pharmacy and approached Zhu Qingyu, so close that their clothes were almost touching.

Zhu Qingyu didn't flinch, but looked up at him with a gentle smile on her face.

Gu Zhao lowered his head, looked into her eyes, and said with utmost sincerity:

"My lady, from the first moment I saw you, I was captivated by you. I think of you day and night, unable to sleep, my devotion is as clear as heaven and earth. Would you have mercy on me and take me as your husband?"

If only I had asked that question back then.

After Gu Zhao finished speaking, she felt inexplicably sad, and was about to say:

"If only I had asked that question back then."

But before he could speak, Zhu Qingyu spoke first, replying with a smile:

"OK."