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

On the morning of the Beginning of Winter, the snow continued to fall.

Because Huiyi Clinic was closed today, Su Mu slept until 3:45 AM before getting up. After getting ready, he prepared to go to the kitchen to get breakfast for Lord Zhu.

In fact, Zhu Qingyu returned the indenture to Su Mu and the others last month, and also asked Lord Zhuang to set up a medical household for them, with their household registration under Huiyi Temple.

Therefore, in theory, Su Mu and the others are no longer Zhu Qingyu's servants, but have become medical households of the imperial court, under its jurisdiction.

Becoming a doctor household has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that Su Mu and the others can receive a salary from the imperial court and support themselves with their medical skills. At the same time, they are protected by the imperial court, and ordinary people dare not have bad ideas about the government officials. Even their relatives can no longer exercise their rights against them as members of the clan.

Of course, there are also downsides. If there is another sudden outbreak of an epidemic, the medical staff will have an inescapable responsibility. Su Mu and the others will have to obey the imperial court's orders and rush to the epidemic area as soon as possible.

When Zhu Qingyu handed out the household registration certificates to Su Mu and the others, she even joked with them:

"That's good. Now that the imperial court is paying your salaries, you don't have to come to me for your monthly allowance anymore."

Upon receiving his medical household registration, Su Mu immediately hugged Zhu Qingyu and burst into tears.

Lin Lan was more reserved; tears welled up in her eyes, but she managed to hold them back.

Mother Tian and the others were somewhat incredulous. Holding their household registration certificates, they ran to the bright sun to look at them from left to right. As they looked, they burst into laughter, their laughter booming like thunder, attracting many people to come out and see.

Legally speaking, Su Mu and Zhu Qingyu are now colleagues, no longer in a master-servant relationship.

But legal principles are legal principles, and human feelings are human feelings.

For Su Mu, Madam Zhu was not only her master, but also her teacher and her superior.

Having a medical household registration did not change Zhu Niangzi's status in her heart; Su Mu and the others still took turns taking care of Zhu Qingyu's daily life.

Su Mu entered the kitchen, intending to ask his mother, who was cooking, what they were having for breakfast, when he saw a familiar figure blocking the doorway like a bear.

Xiong Kun, who had also come to the kitchen to get breakfast, greeted Su Mu upon seeing him:

"Dr. Su."

Su Mu looked like he'd seen a ghost.

"Lord Bear, what are you doing here?"

Thinking of something, Su Mu leaned closer and asked in a low voice:

"Then, is Lord Gu here too?"

Xiong Kun chuckled twice, pointed to the second floor, and whispered:

"Yes, yes. From now on, we're family, Dr. Su."

Su Mu didn't quite understand, his face full of question marks:

"what?"

Xiong Kun scratched his head:

"Ah, I think we can say that. The Duchess will be arriving in the next couple of days to propose marriage."

Ah!

So fast!

Su Mu had no say in the matter of the Duke's family proposing marriage; he only needed to see what Lady Zhu thought. However, there was an extremely urgent matter at hand.

The few people who went to the Northern Frontier with Lady Zhu and Lord Gu knew about their affair, but the others did not!

What if someone bumps into it, makes a fuss, and causes trouble?

Su Mu didn't even have time to grab breakfast and rushed to the backyard house, where he bumped into his mother who was in charge of washing clothes.

The mother, who was in charge of washing clothes, was carrying a bamboo basket filled with clean clothes and was walking towards the main house when Su Mu quickly stopped her:

"Mother Li, give it to me, I'll do it, I'll do it."

Having dismissed all other people, Su Mu carried the bamboo basket into the main house, went up to the second floor, gently pushed open the door to the outer room, and then quietly put the bamboo basket down.

Before Su Mu could even take out the clothes, a loud slap was heard from inside the room, like someone being hit.

Along with this voice came Lady Zhu's voice, both weary and tender:

"Stop fooling around, calm down, I'm so sleepy, let me sleep for a while."

Someone teased:

"Female benefactor, you go to sleep. I'll be quiet and won't bother you."

God!

What are all these things?!

Thank goodness we didn't let Li's mother come up!

Su Mu didn't dare listen any further and quickly ran away.

The inner room, the bed curtains, and even the air itself were filled with a sense of decadence.

Zhu Qingyu slapped Gu Zhao's chin again. Having barely slept all night, Madam Zhu was exhausted and could barely keep her eyes open. She started to throw a tantrum:

"Get out of here! If you cause any more trouble, you're never allowed back in!"

It seems someone is really furious.

Fearing he might truly anger someone and ruin everything that followed, Gu Zhao finally withdrew his pent-up strength, simply holding her close and saying pitifully:

"Okay, don't be angry, then go to sleep."

The two slept so soundly that they missed not only breakfast but also lunch.

By mid-afternoon, Zhu Qingyu finally woke up. She was awake, but exhausted and hungry. Still half-asleep, she kicked Gu Zhao in the blankets and said to him:

"I'm so hungry."

Gu Zhao had grand ambitions and was eager to prove himself, so he immediately got up:

"I'll go get the food."

Zhu Qingyu watched him get dressed, half-asleep, and instructed him:

"Huiyi Clinic is not like the Duke's Mansion. It doesn't serve meals every hour of the day. There are only two cooks, and they should be resting at this time. Don't bother them. There are restaurants on both sides of the street. Go outside to buy food."

Gu Zhao's attitude was both upright and proactive. After getting dressed, she went downstairs and, following Lord Zhu's instructions, obediently went outside to buy food. She brought the food box back up and even ran back in to ask Zhu Qingyu:

"Do you want to eat inside or outside? Can you dress yourself? Do you want me to help you?"

Although her whole body ached, she wasn't so sore that she couldn't even put on her clothes. Zhu Qingyu refused Gu Zhao's overly attentive offer, put on her clothes, and opened the door. She saw Gu Zhao setting out a food box on a small table in the outer room.

This scene is somewhat reminiscent of the time when the two of them lived together in a side room in the palace.

At that time, she was terrified by the thoughts that had arisen in her heart, and for the sake of her life, she kept Gu Zhao at arm's length.

But now, she has still provoked this person she shouldn't have.

She not only provokes, but also wants to possess.

Gu Zhao set out the meal and greeted her:

"Your water is ready, it's in the cubicle. Go wash up and come eat."

When Zhu Qingyu finished washing up and came out, she found that Gu Zhao had not only set out the meal, but also lit a brazier. The purpose of lighting the brazier so early in winter was to keep the window open so that the two of them could eat while enjoying the snowy scenery outside.

They had created an excellent dining environment and were eating together, unsure whether it was lunch or dinner. Gu Zhao observed Zhu Qingyu's expression and, sensing she was in a good mood, cautiously said:

"My mother will come to Jiangning in a few days to propose marriage, Qingyu. Will you marry me?"

He actually managed to win over the elders in the family. Zhu Qingyu had promised him back then, and now she wouldn't go back on her word. She smiled and said:

"OK."

He had already won over his elders and gained their approval. According to the rules of this world, shouldn't she also ask her elders for their approval and try to gain their approval as well?

After the meal, Zhu Qingyu said to Gu Zhao:

I'm a little thirsty.

Gu Zhao poured her a cup of tea, tidied up the food box, and said:

"I'll return the food box to the restaurant. If you're sleepy, you can sleep a little longer."

After Gu Zhao left, Zhu Qingyu did not sleep again. She took the cup of tea and went to the front yard. Sure enough, in a clinic, she found Zhu Dashan, who was diligently memorizing medical books even on the day of Lidong (the beginning of winter).

Zhu Qingyu handed the cup of tea to Zhu Dashan and asked:

"Dashan, what do you think of Lord Gu?"