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

Gu Zhao asked for help, and Zhu Qingyu immediately perked up. Without considering whether or not to avoid suspicion, she immediately lifted the curtain, got into the carriage, and sat on the other side.

From childhood to adulthood, her biggest fear has been owing people favors. If she owes someone a favor and doesn't find a way to repay it, she can't sleep at night.

In order to adapt to life in this era as quickly as possible, the key is to avoid stepping on any landmines and to understand what you can and cannot do, so as not to break the law for no reason. Zhu Qingyu had carefully read the laws of this dynasty.

The lawmakers of this dynasty were largely Legalists who advocated severe punishments and harsh laws, and were very strict with the people, with a strong sense of "better to wrong the innocent than let the guilty go free."

Therefore, Zhu Qingyu was well aware that she owed Lord Gu a great favor regarding the fake account book.

The government today has absolute power over the people. Even if it is just a baseless accusation, since it was prefect Liu who made the accusation, then the Zhang family is highly suspected.

Moreover, there's a written account book, which was likely written by the Zhang family's manager himself. According to the law, it's a sure thing that he should be imprisoned.

In fact, if Gu Zhao wanted to solve the case quickly, he could simply arrest and interrogate the people in charge of the Zhang family, including Zhang Shen and herself.

But Gu Zhao believed her explanation and did not harm her or the Zhang family. He showed her enough goodwill and even tried to find out the truth and clear the Zhang family's name based on the clues she provided. This was the great favor she owed him.

It's such a pity! Lord Gu disliked the century-old ginseng she gave him, and he wouldn't accept her brocade either. He didn't want anything. She didn't dare to give him money, for fear that he would accuse her of bribing a superior official, and she wouldn't be able to repay the favor. Zhu Qingyu was so worried.

Favors from the powerful and influential are not so easily incurred; who knows what price one will have to pay later? Zhu Qingyu couldn't wait to repay them, and now that she had this opportunity, she naturally eagerly got into the car and immediately asked proactively:

"Of course, Lord Gu, please give your instructions. I am willing to hear them in detail."

Gu Zhao had known her for so long, and apart from the time Xie Ze was stabbed and needed emergency treatment, which was related to his own affairs, he had never seen Madam Zhu so proactive.

I just want to help him, I just don't want to owe him a favor, I just don't want to have anything to do with him?

But he deliberately did not do as she wished.

Since being gentle and polite is useless to her, it's better to try a different approach.

He refused to believe that he couldn't handle a mere young woman.

Lord Gu's tone turned cold again:

"Let's eat first, then we'll talk."

Zhu Qingyu has now become immune to Lord Gu's unpredictable moods. Since she can't figure him out anyway, and she doesn't have the skill to guess his intentions, she simply doesn't try.

Ignoring the displeasure in his tone and extracting the objective information, Zhu Qingyu asked:

"So Lord Gu hasn't eaten yet. Why don't I wait until you've finished eating before I come?"

The carriage was already moving, and Gu Zhao's tone had now turned completely cold:

"Zhu Qingyu, will having a meal with me cost you your life?"

Zhu Qingyu was startled:

"How does Lord Gu know my name?"

In modern times, it's natural for others to know one's name, and Zhu Qingyu doesn't actually mind others knowing.

But here, the rules are that, apart from close relatives, other men cannot be told about it casually. These numerous and seemingly inhumane rules were a headache for Zhu Qingyu back then.

This rule is something that even a native like Lord Gu couldn't possibly be unaware of.

Therefore, Zhu Qingyu had no choice but to follow local customs and express her deep concern about being offended, in order to conform to the standards of conduct of this era.

Gu Zhao maintained his indifferent tone:

"What? I, an imperial envoy, can't even find a single name? Zhu Qingyu, so what if I do know? Will it cost you your life?"

There's nothing wrong with it, it's just that for no reason at all, why would they investigate her name? Logically speaking, it has nothing to do with his case.

Zhu Qingyu tried to reason with him:

"No, it's just that, why does Your Excellency want to check my name?"

Gu Zhao sneered:

"What else could it be? It's because of Lady Zhu's beauty that I harbored improper thoughts. That day you swore so earnestly, saying you were endlessly grateful and that you would do anything I could without hesitation. It seems you were just placating me, not a single word of the truth. You didn't even dare to eat a meal with me. Lady Zhu, are your respect and loyalty just empty words?"

Lord Gu's sudden change of attitude was quite unexpected. I don't know how he suddenly brought up the two completely unrelated things of eating and loyalty, and even elevated them to such a high level.

In fact, Gu Zhao's behavior today was a bit strange. He was dressed so brightly, as if he was going to a brothel, and he even came to ask her out for dinner. In Zhu Qingyu's eyes, he vaguely resembled the boy who used to ask her out for dinner when they were in school.

Of course, such an association is definitely wrong. Lord Gu's words just now, which were clearly meant to mock her guardedness, were actually a dig at her.

Forget it, he's a high-ranking official, he must have his reasons for doing this. We're still hoping to find out about the second manager's affairs from him. It's just a name, why bother trying to reason with him or argue about right and wrong?

Moreover, Zhu Qingyu found it quite novel; she hadn't realized that someone like Lord Gu could also be angry in public.

In their previous encounters, Lord Gu always seemed calm and composed, as if he had everything under control, which naturally created a sense of distance for her, a commoner, who felt he could only admire from afar.

Now that he has emotions, he has become more down-to-earth, making Zhu Qingyu feel that he has become a living, breathing person she can connect with, and even the distance between them has shortened.

Zhu Qingyu demonstrated her ability to be flexible and adaptable on the spot:

"My lord, please calm down. I was wrong. I am of course loyal to you. Shall we go eat now?"

The carriage was already moving very fast, and despite the bumpy ride, Gu Zhao actually took out his book again and started reading, his face displeased, without even glancing at Zhu Qingyu.

"No, let's find a place first and sell you."

Surely he can't be really angry?

Zhu Qingyu smiled awkwardly:

"Okay, okay, I'll do whatever you say, adults."

The carriage fell silent immediately.

Gu Zhao had books to read, but Zhu Qingyu didn't, and the carriage was so small that it wasn't appropriate to stare at him.

Zhu Qingyu had no choice but to look around, left and right, to ease the awkwardness.

Upon closer inspection, the car appears ordinary on the outside, but its interior holds a hidden secret: inside, there is a jade ice mirror.

A slight chill enveloped us.

Summer in Jiangnan is alright at home, but once you go outside, especially in a stuffy carriage, it gets quite hot.

A family that can afford to use an ice detector on a carriage must be a wealthy and sophisticated one.

As expected of a young master from the capital who knows nothing about worldly affairs, he actually dares to use such a delicate thing as Qingyu in the carriage. If the carriage brakes suddenly and the Qingyu ice crystal falls to the ground and is smashed to pieces, he'll be in big trouble.

Zhu Qingyu was so bored that she let her imagination run wild, fantasizing about how Lord Gu was crying over a broken ice mirror. Her random thoughts became more and more amusing, and a smile unconsciously crept onto her lips.

Gu Zhao didn't even look up, still reading the book that was impossible to see clearly on the bumpy carriage.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the curve of her lips. Although he didn't know what she was thinking, it was obvious that she was quite comfortable in the same enclosed space as him and wasn't afraid of him.

Gu Zhao turned another page of the book, a barely perceptible smile hidden in his lowered eyes.