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

Throughout the rest of the journey, Zhu Qingyu maintained a state of calm and composure, her mind racing while her outward appearance remained as still as a bell.

Although she was eager to know the outcome of the matter concerning the second manager as soon as possible, and was also curious about what help Gu Zhao needed from her, she knew that Lord Gu was reading a book, and she couldn't be so tactless as to disturb his diligent study.

The carriage traveled south until it reached the ferry crossing, where it finally stopped.

Gu Zhao put the book away and said:

"There's a big fish that never comes out, perhaps because I'm too heavily guarded, or perhaps because I'm too cautious. Removing the guards would be too deliberate and arouse suspicion. I find brothels too filthy and don't want to set foot there. So I'm asking Lady Zhu to accompany me on a boat trip on the lake today, which will also give others an opportunity to take advantage of the situation."

So that's what she meant by "helping out." She said there was a reason why Lord Gu was dressed like he was going out for a night of pleasure.

Zhu Qingyu immediately nodded:

"Yes, sir, I understand."

Gu Zhao then said:

"I didn't search around to find out your maiden name; it was Lord Liu who specifically investigated and reported it to me. You have dealings with his wife, so you must have exchanged maiden names. My courtesy name is Shouming, and I'm telling you that now, so you're not at a disadvantage."

Actually, it's not that kind of comparison; many people know his courtesy name.

But Zhu Qingyu was exceptionally sensible this time, and didn't argue with him, replying instead:

"Yes, I understand."

Gu Zhao scanned her clothes from head to toe, his expression indescribable, just like Xiong Kun's hesitant manner at the clinic earlier.

Given that Lord Gu had previously commented on her clothing in front of her, and to prevent him from further linking her attire to her loyalty, Zhu Qingyu immediately offered her testimony:

"I changed my clothes before coming to see you, sir, as Lord Xiong can attest. These are my best clothes at the clinic, newly made this season. My feelings for you are absolutely respectful and I would never dare to be perfunctory. Please investigate thoroughly, sir."

Just as Zhu Qingyu has grown accustomed to Lord Gu's unpredictable behavior, Gu Zhao has also become somewhat accustomed to Zhu Qingyu's simple and unpretentious style.

Because of what he saw and heard that day, he even understood why she, despite living in a wealthy family, still insisted on being so simple and unpretentious.

She was afraid that if she dressed too extravagantly, those commoners with only a few coins in their hands would be intimidated and dare not enter the clinic.

Gu Zhao got out of the carriage first and held the carriage curtain for her:

"Rough clothes are fine. With Madam Zhu's unparalleled beauty and kind heart, she is enough to make me lose my mind even without these things. Now get out of the carriage."

I had only avoided him a few times before, so why is he being so sarcastic today?

Seriously, I'm so angry. After repaying this favor and asking about the second manager's matter, I'm not going to have anything to do with this person anymore.

Zhu Qingyu got out of the car and followed Gu Zhao a short distance away, about two steps behind, as they headed towards the cruise ship.

At the ferry crossing, people came and went, and Zhu Qingyu could sense several subtle gazes directed at her through the crowd.

Gu Zhao stopped, turned halfway to the side, and looked back at her.

Zhu Qingyu, seeing his expression, understood and took a few steps forward to walk beside him.

Gu Zhao moved even closer, their clothes touching, making them appear to be shoulder to shoulder and very intimate to outsiders.

The ferry crossing was a place where all sorts of people mingled, from lowly laborers carrying heavy loads to ordinary people visiting relatives and friends, to merchants going out to do business, to spoiled rich kids surrounded by their entourages. People from all walks of life gathered here.

Worried about being bumped by others, Gu Zhao raised his hand to support Zhu Qingyu's shoulder to protect her. Zhu Qingyu looked up at him and saw that he was looking straight into the distance, so she didn't say anything and let him perform.

When it was time to board the ship, Gu Zhao boarded first and reached out to help Zhu Qingyu board as well.

There was no tacit understanding as always. Zhu Qingyu was completely unaware of Lord Gu's intentions and had already lifted her skirt and boarded the boat on her own.

Turning around, she saw Lord Gu's hand hovering in mid-air and froze.

The two locked eyes.

Zhu Qingyu was still hesitating. Could she salvage the situation by placing her hand on him now?

Gu Zhao had already nonchalantly withdrawn his hand and walked towards the cabin:

"Does Madam Zhu have any dietary restrictions?"

Zhu Qingyu doesn't have a problem eating anything and is easy to feed, he said upon hearing this:

"Anything is fine. Whatever you eat, I will eat."

Gu Zhao booked a cruise ship today. These cruise ships usually serve freshly caught river delicacies and seasonal summer vegetables.

Zhu Qingyu is not used to being waited on in her daily life. She feels very uncomfortable if someone is standing next to her watching her when she is getting dressed, eating, or taking a bath.

But she knew that aristocratic families valued pomp and circumstance, and the more incapable a person was of living independently, the more noble they appeared. So she was mentally prepared that, given Master Gu's status, at least ten or eight servants would line up to serve her when she ate.

As a result, after the boatman finished serving the dishes, all the servants withdrew, leaving only the two of them in the cabin.

Seeing Zhu Qingyu looking over with a surprised expression, and sitting there without eating, the lack of understanding between the two came into play again.

Gu Zhao peeled a shrimp for her himself and said:

"Why aren't you eating? Is Madam Zhu waiting for a maid to serve you? I don't like being served while I eat, so I don't have those arrangements. Since we're traveling, I'm sorry to trouble you to cook for me today."

Zhu Qingyu couldn't very well say that she was so stunned by seeing him eat that she forgot to eat, as that sounded like an insult, so she replied:

"No, I don't need anyone to serve me food. I just saw that you were eating quite well, so it seems that the boatman's cooking suits your taste."

Gu Zhao slowly peeled the shrimp:

"It's good, light and mild, it's the natural flavor of the ingredients. But when the chefs at the Yangzhou government office make it using the same method, it always has a bitter taste."

Zhu Qingyu knew why the cooks at the Yangzhou government office were so bad. It wasn't that the cooks were bad at cooking, but because Lord Gu was there, the cooks only dared to use official salt, while the boatmen on this ship mostly used smuggled salt.

Because the government exploited salt producers too much, they had to cut corners, resulting in too many impurities in the official salt and a decline in quality year after year. Therefore, official salt always had a bitter taste, unlike the pure taste of smuggled salt.

Zhu Qingyu ate the shrimp that Lord Gu had peeled himself, but she didn't know how to respond, lest she say something wrong and harm the boatman instead.

Gu Zhao then spoke to himself:

"It's probably because the boatman used smuggled salt."