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

From childhood to adulthood, Zhu Qingyu has always considered herself a calm, rational person who is not easily swayed by emotions.

Especially as a doctor who has witnessed countless life-and-death situations, she is able to control her emotional fluctuations most of the time.

During the past six months of separation, when Gu Zhao did not appear, Zhu Qingyu could comfort herself by thinking, "If he doesn't come, he doesn't come. It's not a big deal."

Love is a luxury, with a short shelf life. Meeting someone is fate, and missing them is normal.

But when he pushed open the door and saw Gu Zhao standing outside, all his rationality, calmness, indifference, and the thought that "it's okay if I miss it" vanished into thin air.

The moment he appeared, Zhu Qingyu understood that some people had already taken root in her heart. Once she missed them, the pain of trying to uproot them would be like being separated from her bones and blood, a pain that pierced her heart and penetrated to the bone marrow.

Fortunately, he came; she had been looking forward to his arrival far more than she had thought.

Now that he's here, all the other minor details, such as why he cut his hair like this again, why he's only coming now, whether the elders in the family have been persuaded, and whether he'll leave again, are no longer important.

Life is too long; there will always be ups and downs.

But even if the future holds countless waves, so what?

She wanted to possess this moment, the one he had risked everything to travel thousands of miles for, and she was willing to cherish every second with him.

Zhu Qingyu rushed over, hugged Gu Zhao's neck, stood on tiptoe, and kissed his lips.

Gu Zhao was not expected to be greeted with such enthusiasm. He was so flattered that his eyes widened and he even dropped the lantern in his hand.

The lantern was overturned, and the candlelight ignited the outer gauze paper, causing the flames to leap up.

No one had a moment to care about the lanterns. Xiong Kun, who was driving his carriage not far away, immediately covered his face with his hands, pretending that he hadn't seen anything.

Even Uncle Qi, who came out to open the door, quickly hid behind the door, facing the wall in repentance, pretending that he had never come out.

Startled for a moment by the unexpected turn of events, Gu Zhao hugged Zhu Qingyu tightly and greeted her even more enthusiastically than she had.

After several months apart, the lovers, reunited, embraced passionately in the first rays of the winter moonlight, on a quiet street, amidst the gentle first snowfall and beside the brightly lit lanterns.

It's as if in this world, besides each other, there is nothing else, no one else.

It's as if this very moment is eternity.

Zhu Qingyu was immersed in Gu Zhao's passionate demands and in her own enthusiastic response. The two kissed for an unknown amount of time until she leaned against his chest to catch her breath. She felt dizzy and the world spun around her. Gu Zhao bent down and picked her up.

A restrained voice reached her ears:

Where do you live?

Zhu Qingyu looked up at him, then looked at the second floor of the main house in the inner courtyard.

Gu Zhao followed her gaze, understood immediately, and stepped inside. He walked around the screen wall, through the moon gate, into the hanging flower gate, into the main house, and up the stairs, heading straight for the second floor with a clear goal.

The strong and robust Lord Gu carried her effortlessly, his pace quickening as he went. When he reached the stairs, he skipped two steps at a time, practically running to carry her up to the second floor. He then rushed into the inner room of the bedroom and swiftly laid her down on the soft bedding.

When Zhu Qingyu went downstairs to the front yard, she left a nightlight on in the room.

In the dim candlelight of the night lamp, Gu Zhao pressed her tightly against him, looking at her greedily, his expression filled with an almost uncontrollable, bursting desire.

His lustful gaze lingered on Zhu Qingyu's body as if it were a physical presence, and the long-lost scent of his made her heart pound.

Zhu Qingyu unconsciously reached out and touched his face, and laughed.

Seeing her tacit smile, Gu Zhao became even more out of control. He forced himself to rub his cheek against her palm, his Adam's apple bobbing, his eyes fixed on her like a predator trying to intimidate its fleeing prey. His words were laced with barely suppressed gasps:

"I've been thinking of seeing you. I took a bath on the boat this morning. I know that according to custom, we should get married first, but I miss you so much, I can't help it, Qingyu, is it alright?"

Ah, why are you suddenly being so polite at this moment?

This bath enthusiast who always likes to take a shower in the morning is so talkative!

Zhu Qingyu was very dissatisfied with the man's indecisiveness at this moment. She slid her hand down his face to his shoulder, pushed him, flipped over, and sat on him.

Actions speak louder than words. Gu Zhao, overwhelmed with disbelief and delight at gaining her approval, was about to get up and hug her when Zhu Qingyu's hand slid down to his belt and then down, while the other hand pressed down on his shoulder to stop him from moving. She looked down at him and smiled:

"Little brother, you're so talkative! Is your injury healed?"

Gu Zhao tilted her head back, sinking into the pillow, her eyes slightly narrowed, and let out a soft gasp:

"Okay, all done."

She noticed it last time; her brother's breathing sounded really good.

There's a sense of nostalgia, even a touch of anticipation, for the time when his breathing could sound even better.

Zhu Qingyu slowly and deliberately untied the sash of his cloak, then unbuttoned the collar of his outer garment, touching the scar on his shoulder, and said seriously:

"Really? Let me see, is it completely done?"

Gu Zhao, who was being ravaged, was panting even more heavily. He wrapped his arms around her waist and looked at her pleadingly.

"Qingyu, please."

Ah, Gu Zhao looks so pitiful, it makes me want to toy with and bully her again.

Zhu Qingyu's smile was alluring:

"What do you want from me, Lord Gu? Tell me."

Gu Zhao had reached his limit of endurance and could no longer care about anything else. He hugged her, silenced her with a kiss, and pinned her down.

Those who deceive others will always be deceived in return. Lord Zhu, who just moments ago overestimated himself and tried to bully Lord Gu, is now reaping what he sowed, falling into a chaotic night that he could never stop once he started.

Winter has arrived in Jiangning City. The first snow outside the window is falling heavier and heavier, and the winter chill is being swept up by the southward north wind, wreaking havoc in Jiangning City.

Inside the bedroom on the second floor of the Huiyi Medical Hall, although the cold north wind was kept out, amidst the warm bed curtains and quilts, someone could no longer withstand the relentless abuse of another, and was forced to retreat and beg for mercy.

The plea for mercy was broken and disordered. Just as it opened its mouth, it was silenced by someone with a heart of stone, who swallowed the plea along with the gasps of breath and resumed the journey.

The nightlight in the bedroom couldn't hold up and burned out completely.

Only the night remained, obscuring the fragrant mist and cloud-like hair of this place, where spring colors lingered.