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

Zhu Qingyu and Gu Zhao leaned against the door of the inner room of the bedchamber, whispering sweet nothings to each other. During the day, there were many nannies coming and going.

An old woman was preparing to bring in the washed clothes. She had already stepped into the bedchamber when she was startled by Lord Gu's resentful gaze. She leaned back with a cry of pain and almost tripped.

Zhu Qingyu had a few more words to say to Gu Zhao. She couldn't bear to see him bullying the nanny like this, so she took his hand and led him into the inner room, closing the door behind her.

Just as she looked up, ready to speak, Gu Zhao seemed to misunderstand something, reached out and pushed her against the door, then kissed her.

Zhu Qingyu was afraid of touching his wound, so she didn't dare to move him. She opened her mouth to speak, but Gu Zhao misunderstood even more and kissed her more deeply and fiercely.

During this time, because Gu Zhao was injured, although the two had confessed their feelings for each other, Zhu Qingyu was careful not to have too intense physical contact with him, mainly because she was afraid that he might get too excited and aggravate his injury.

But he was about to leave.

Gu Zhao said he would go back and persuade the Empress Dowager, but based on Zhu Qingyu's impression of the Empress Dowager from her several interactions with her, the Empress Dowager was a strong-willed person.

Strong-willed people are resilient. Their advantage is that they stick to their own beliefs and are difficult for others to change. Their disadvantage is also that they stick to their own beliefs and are difficult for others to change.

Therefore, Zhu Qingyu was not optimistic about the outcome of Gu Zhao's return to the capital.

Today we part ways. From now on, she will be in Jiangning, and he will be in the capital. We will be separated by thousands of miles and we don't know when we will meet again.

Most long-distance relationships in modern times end in separation, let alone their situation, where there is no phone call and no contact for a long time. As time goes by, it is unknown what the future holds, or whether they will eventually break up.

Zhu Qingyu suddenly felt a little sad. Instead of rejecting Gu Zhao's advances, she reached out and wrapped her arms around his back gently.

Gu Zhao was a little stunned when she was suddenly embraced and received in return.

Between him and her, he always took more and she gave less. Gu Zhao never dared to imagine that Zhu Qingyu would be so proactive today.

When two people are in love, even a kiss seems more intoxicating than a forceful demand.

Because of her initiative, Gu Zhao calmed down and began to feel the tremor from body to soul brought about by her proactive response.

Reluctant to leave.

He wants much more, more deeply, and more thoroughly than he currently does.

Countless vivid images popped into his mind, urging him to ask for more.

But now, his top priority is to persuade the Empress Dowager so that he can be with Qingyu openly and legitimately.

A brief separation is necessary so that a long reunion can follow; he must go.

Before he could lose control any further, Gu Zhao finally stopped, panting as he said:

"I have to go."

Zhu Qingyu felt a little dizzy from his kisses, and she tugged at his sleeve, saying in a soft voice:

"Wait, let me give you a few words of advice. Your injuries haven't fully healed yet. When you go back, take a carriage, don't ride a fast horse, and definitely don't do anything like riding a horse overnight."

Hearing her unusually soft voice, Gu Zhao's heart fluttered. He pressed his cheek against hers and kissed her again, saying in a sticky, affectionate voice:

"I also want to remind you of a few things. Although the patient is important, you can't skip meals. Eat on time and go to bed early."

Lord Zhu and Lord Gu, reluctant to part, became so affectionate that they couldn't stop talking. They hadn't accomplished anything important or said anything crucial. They just kept giving each other instructions, tugging at each other's sleeves and clothes, and wasting a lot of time.

Worried that Gu Zhao would miss the post station and have to sleep in the wilderness if they didn't leave soon, Zhu Qingyu finally sent Gu Zhao out of the military camp before noon.

Gu Zhao traveled in the same simple manner as before, with two carriages and a few guards, and set off back to the capital.

Because Zhu Qingyu had instructed him not to ride a horse, and not wanting her to worry, Gu Zhao obediently sat in the carriage, pressed his face against the window, and waved to Zhu Qingyu at the entrance of the military camp until she became smaller and smaller until she could no longer be seen.

Zhu Qingyu stood at the entrance of the military camp, watching Gu Zhao's carriage gradually disappear into the distance until it was gone and he embarked on his journey home.

......

Spring has arrived, and it's the season for travelers to go on long journeys.

In early February, Zhu Qingyu saw Gu Zhao off.

In mid-February, Xie Ze and her mother also set off back to Beijing to prepare for their marriage to the Wen family.

On the last day of February, just as dawn was breaking, Zhu Qingyu got up, took down the board from her desk where every number had turned into zero, and prepared to set off for Jiangning to take up her new post.

The Grand Princess was a very practical person. She not only helped Zhu Qingyu get an official position, but also provided him with travel expenses, luggage for his new post, a third-rank official robe, and escorting guards.

Therefore, Zhu Qingyu brought quite a few people and things with her to Jiangning this time. In addition to the people from the Zhu Family Medical Hall, Zhu Dashan, the Imperial Guards who had escorted Su Mu and the others to the Northern Frontier and had not left, as well as the guards specially arranged by the Grand Princess, plus the carriages carrying luggage, there were nearly thirty people and more than a dozen carriages, which can be described as a huge convoy.

Since all her acquaintances had left, and she had already said goodbye to the Grand Princess and her family yesterday, Zhu Qingyu had planned to leave discreetly early in the morning.

As a result, when they pushed open the gate of the military camp, they found that both sides of the road were densely packed with people holding flowers, and the air was filled with the sweet fragrance of flowers in the warm spring breeze.

The presence of the Grand Princess and General Wen's family startled Zhu Qingyu.

Didn't we already say goodbye yesterday?

Why hold a farewell ceremony? Please don't have any children presenting flowers, that would be too awkward.

As fate would have it, the brother and sister who were the first to recover and leave the army camp each ran over with a bunch of apricot blossoms in their hands, stuffing them into Zhu Qingyu's arms, and said:

"May you have a safe journey, sir."

People on both sides of the road also said:

"May you have a safe journey, sir."

Someone else said:

"Wishing you peace and good fortune, sir."

Zhu Qingyu was quite embarrassed by the display of power. She quickly accepted the flowers and thanked the princess, then looked at the Grand Princess beside her and smiled:

"Your Highness, what is this? I am merely fulfilling my duty; there is really no need for this."

The Grand Princess also smiled and said:

"This was not arranged by me. The people came spontaneously to see Lord Zhu off; it is a token of their goodwill. Go well, Lord Zhu."

Zhu Qingyu got into the car with the flowers in her hands, opened the window, and the convoy slowly headed out of the city.

Outside the car window, the roadside was densely packed with people waving goodbye to her.

Every one of her patients was seen by her and then sent out of the military camp unharmed.

When the patient's family members came to pick them up, they were both crying and laughing.

And then there were people she had never met before, who waved to her with such excitement.

The crowds seeing them off stretched from inside the city to outside, seemingly without end.

As the sun gradually rose, it shone on the convoy traveling south, glittering like the light of Buddha. It shone on the smiling woman holding flowers by the car window, making her look like a Bodhisattva holding a jade vase.

Amidst the cheers of the crowd and the most beautiful spring morning light in northern Xinjiang, Zhu Qingyu, bathed in this dazzling light, left Dingsheng Pass with the best wishes for her departure, embarking on a new journey.