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

As the group was talking in the front hall, the gatekeeper came to report that Lord Gu had come to visit.

Seeing that the second manager was being stubborn again, the head manager seized the opportunity to ease the tension and immediately stood up to pull the second manager aside and smooth things over.

"The second manager was worried that our business would be taken away by others, so it's understandable that he didn't think things through in time. Madam has important guests, so we won't disturb you any longer. Let's go back and take stock of the money. Once we've figured it out, we'll come back another day to ask Madam for her decision."

Zhu Qingyu also stood up:

"I'm young and speak without thinking, please don't take it to heart, managers. Leave the account book here for me to look at first, and then I'll have someone send it back to you."

As Zhu Qingyu saw the two managers off, the servants of the Zhang family dared not let such a high-ranking official as Gu Zhao wait at the gatehouse. They went to greet Gu Zhao and headed towards the front hall. When they reached the screen wall, the two groups met.

The second manager was humiliated by Zhu Qingyu today, and feeling stifled and angry, he even stood at the door, unable to hold back any longer, and angrily said:

"There's no business without risks. If you're afraid of this and that, you can't do business!"

Gu Zhao happened to hear it clearly and stopped in his tracks:

"What business can't you do? Madam Zhu, you have guests. It seems I've come at the wrong time and have delayed your business."

In front of such an important guest, he dared to speak so recklessly. The head manager glared at the second manager, bowed to Gu Zhao, and pulled the second manager away.

The second manager was clearly acting strangely today; he was unreasonable and furious because he hadn't achieved his goal.

There's no need to say this to Gu Zhao, and there's even less need to make a scene here.

Zhu Qingyu looked at the two leaving and replied:

"No, that's not true. Lord Gu, any time is just right. Please come in."

Both shopkeepers were family members, and Zhu Qingyu received them in the study.

However, since Lord Gu was an honored guest, a somewhat private place like the study was not appropriate. So Zhu Qingyu led Gu Zhao to the front hall and invited him to take a seat.

Zhu Qingyu herself sat down on the other side, separated by the huge front hall, one on the left and one on the right, as far apart as the Chu-Han border.

After the servant served tea and left, Gu Zhao sipped his tea and casually said:

"Who was that just now? Did they come to cause trouble for Madam Zhu?"

Zhu Qingyu, unaware of Gu Zhao's purpose, drank tea with him and said:

"We're all business owners, and when you're doing business, you're bound to have different opinions. A few words were exchanged, but it's nothing serious. You're here to see Jingyan, aren't you? Unfortunately, he hasn't returned yet. Once he comes back, I'll make sure he visits you as soon as possible."

As expected, she's a heartless and cruel woman who kicks people away after they've served their purpose. Just the other day she was saying she was grateful and thanked me for my kindness, but after only a few days, she turned on me and became ruthless. Today, I just sat down and she wanted to kick me out.

Gu Zhao, who had been driven away, pretended not to know anything and looked at Zhu Qingyu with concern:

"Madam Zhu, I came here specifically to see you. You haven't been to the clinic these past few days. Have you encountered any trouble? Has Lord Liu given you any further difficulties?"

How could Lord Gu know that I haven't been to the clinic for several days? The way he asked that made it sound as if he was constantly monitoring my every move.

Surely they wouldn't send someone to follow her?

It's truly terrifying to think about. Should we still doubt her?

Zhu Qingyu was so shocked by his words that she choked on her tea, coughed several times, and couldn't speak.

Seeing the surprise and doubt in her eyes, Gu Zhao remained calm and composed, showing no sign of panic, and continued:

"When I went to the clinic today, Uncle Qi said you hadn't been there for a few days, so I was a little worried and came to check on you."

Oh, I see. That makes sense.

Zhu Qingyu finally stopped coughing, caught her breath, and replied:

"Thank you for your concern, Lord Gu. Everything is fine. I haven't been to the clinic these past few days. Firstly, I have some household matters to attend to, so I haven't had the time. Secondly, I thought that even if I couldn't help you, I shouldn't cause you any trouble. If I went out, I was afraid I would get involved with Lord Liu again, which would needlessly ruin your important business."

Gu Zhao smiled with the same gentle and polite demeanor as before:

"I see. I thought Madam Zhu had some misunderstanding about me, either suspecting that I was in cahoots with Lord Liu, or that I had some ulterior motive. Otherwise, you wouldn't have closed the door and asked me to leave as soon as I sat down."

Zhu Qingyu had no idea that Lord Gu would speak so bluntly. Today was truly awkward, with one question after another being asked so directly to her face.

And is it really that obvious? She clearly felt she had concealed it quite well.

If she had any doubts about Lord Gu, or suspected him of being a bad person, she wouldn't be so blind to right and wrong.

Similarly, since she was a married woman and older than Gu Zhao, she was even less likely to be presumptuous and think that a young master like Gu Zhao, who lacked nothing, would have any romantic feelings for her.

But it's true that she avoids Gu Zhao at all costs and doesn't want to have anything to do with him.

To explain the specific reasons, it's mainly because, even after living here for three years, she is still, at heart, an ordinary person from modern society who still feels quite alienated from this society.

She was not used to the luxurious life of wearing a house on her body, nor did she have the skills to bow and scrape to the powerful and climb the social ladder. She had neither the ambition to make a name for herself and become a high-ranking official after transmigrating, nor the idea of ​​having a dozen unforgettable romances with various noble young men.

She was just an ordinary person whose only wish was to have a skill to support herself and ensure she had enough to eat and wear. If things were better, she could take on three or five apprentices studying medicine, pass on her knowledge, and answer their questions. That was all she wanted to do to live a peaceful and stable life.

Gu Zhao, with his high status and the major case of banning smuggled salt that he was in Yangzhou to handle, was destined to stir up a storm in Yangzhou, and at first glance, he was bound to cause a great deal of trouble.

Faced with such a person, she naturally wanted to stay as far away as possible and had no desire to cultivate any relationship with him.

But even if she didn't want to cultivate a relationship, she couldn't afford to offend him. Since Lord Gu had already asked her this, Zhu Qingyu immediately pledged her loyalty and replied:

"You flatter me, sir. I am overjoyed that you could come; my whole family is honored. Did you come to the clinic to see me because you had something to tell me?"

Gu Zhao had indeed come with important business today. He put down his teacup, looked at Zhu Qingyu on the distant Chu-Han border, and asked:

"Lord Liu has presented me with an account book containing evidence of the salt smuggler Lei Dawu's collusion with the Zhang family in smuggling salt. I have come today precisely to ask Madam Zhu whether the Zhang family has engaged in smuggling."

Lord Gu's words, spoken softly, were like a thunderclap from a clear sky. Zhu Qingyu had only wanted to stay away from trouble, but unexpectedly, trouble kept coming one after another, rolling in and getting worse.

Smuggling salt is a capital offense punishable by confiscation of property and extermination of the entire family.

It turns out that this Lord Liu neither wanted to use her to curry favor with Gu Zhao, nor to use her to harm Gu Zhao, but rather to put the Zhang family to death.

At this point, simply hiding is no longer an option.

Zhu Qingyu stood up, stepped across the Chu-Han boundary she had personally drawn, and walked to Gu Zhao's side. With a solemn expression, she bowed respectfully and said:

"I can guarantee that this is absolutely not true. Please investigate thoroughly, sir, and give my Zhang family a chance to prove our innocence. We will be eternally grateful for your kindness."