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

The two were no more than the distance of a table; they could touch each other with a wave of their hand.

She was a weak woman with no fighting skills, and could be subdued with one hand.

Gu Zhao looked out the window. The boat had reached the center of the lake. There were few tourists today, and their boat was the only one around.

And everyone on this ship is his man.

If you want fleeting pleasure, you can have it right now.

At this moment, in this place, if he wanted, he could have his wish fulfilled in the blink of an eye, turning everything in his dreams into reality.

She is now completely unguarded around him.

The burgeoning desire to pull her into his arms and shower her with affection almost overwhelmed Gu Zhao.

Wanting to obtain something is so easy, but trying to restrain him is impossible; no one can stop him except his own self-control.

Gu Zhao closed his eyes, leaned back heavily in the chair to block her face from view, and let out a long breath.

He couldn't bring himself to force her or bear to see her suffer.

Trust, don't be afraid.

This is a shackle he has put on himself; it's just unknown how long it can keep him in custody.

"Shouming, what's wrong? Are you sick?"

It was her voice.

Gu Zhao kept his eyes closed, leaning back in his chair. He knew he should open his eyes, pretend nothing was wrong, and casually say:

"fine."

But he couldn't bring himself to say it, and he didn't want to say it, that he wasn't alright, that he was very ill.

Why was she completely unaware, while he alone wallowed in suffering?

He heard the sound of someone pushing a chair away; it was her coming over. A familiar fragrance surrounded him, and she took his hand.

Gu Zhao grabbed her hand in return and opened his eyes.

Zhu Qingyu let him hold her hand, her fingers resting on his pulse point, her face full of concern:

"Why is your pulse so rapid? Where do you feel unwell? Does your chest hurt?"

She bent down to take his pulse, her cheek so close to his that he only needed to lean forward slightly to touch her face and kiss her.

Gu Zhao's heart pounded even faster, one beat after another, and in response to his increasingly rapid heartbeat was the mournful cry of the shackles, which seemed on the verge of collapse.

He has been so restrained for her sake, and she came on her own, so he deserves to be rewarded.

He couldn't help but rest his head on her shoulder and hug her tightly.

The moment I held that soft, warm, fragrant body in my arms, all the frenzied shouts were soothed, and even the shackles of those shouts fell silent.

Gu Zhao suddenly fell headfirst, and Zhu Qingyu quickly caught him, becoming even more worried:

"Are you dizzy? Or short of breath? Shouming, can you hear me?"

Gu Zhao's lips brushed against her hair, leaving a barely perceptible kiss before he released her. He leaned back in his chair, creating a slight distance between them, and smiled at her, speaking gently and restrainedly:

"I'm fine. Did I scare you?"

Zhu Qingyu didn't think he was alright at all. Pointing to the chaise lounge by the window, which was used by guests to enjoy the view and rest, she said:

"Lie down and rest for a bit, go to the window for some fresh air. Let me take a look at you. You have palpitations and dizziness; this is no small matter."

Indulgence can lead to gain, and so can restraint.

What restraint can achieve is far less than what indulgence can provide.

Gu Zhao got up and readily lay half-reclined on the small couch, watching her busy herself with great care for him.

Zhu Qingyu first closed half of the window that was blowing directly on him, then poured him a cup of water to drink. After that, she carried a stool, sat down in front of the chaise longue, and took his pulse.

Seeing that his expression had softened considerably and he seemed more lucid, Zhu Qingyu, following her usual diagnostic methods of observation, listening, questioning, and inquiry, asked:

"What are your symptoms? When did they start? Did you have them before, or did they just appear today? Tell me about them."

Gu Zhao cooperated perfectly, calmly telling her about his lovesickness:

"I keep having dreams at night and can't sleep well. It started on the ninth day of October last year."

Because of this October 9th, Zhu Qingyu glanced at Gu Zhao with surprise.

It's been more than half a year since the ninth day of the tenth lunar month last year. Insomnia and vivid dreams are not acute illnesses, and this is the first time she has heard a patient trace back the time when the symptoms of insomnia first appeared so clearly.

Zhu Qingyu said:

"Insomnia and excessive dreaming are no small matter. If you don't get enough rest at night and are overworked during the day, your body will naturally suffer. Chest pain, palpitations, and dizziness are all symptoms of overexertion and heart failure. I'll prescribe some calming medicine for you later and have Uncle Qi deliver it to the government office. Try it first. The important thing is that you make sure to get plenty of rest and don't push yourself. You can't do that thing again, like riding a horse from Jinling back to Yangzhou for two days and one night without rest."

Taking advantage of her complete ignorance of his lovesickness, Gu Zhao allowed her to press her pulse point, allowing him to sense his heart pounding wildly for her.

Listening to her gentle and detailed medical advice, which sounded like a wife instructing her husband, I felt that this brief moment on the cruise ship was just like the daily life of an ordinary couple.

Gu Zhao smiled and said:

"Okay, thank you."

Zhu Qingyu removed the chair and discussed it with him:

"How much longer are we going to cruise the lake? If we're just going through the motions, isn't it about time? Should we head back soon? You can't really rest well on the boat."

Gu Zhao enjoyed the feeling of being cared for, and replied:

"it is good."

So he immediately summoned his attendant and instructed the boatman to turn the boat around and return to the ferry.

Gu Zhao naturally remembered that when they boarded the ship, they had no tacit understanding at all. When they disembarked, he deliberately stopped at the bow of the ship to wait for her, stretched out his hand, and looked at her with a mischievous smile.

Zhu Qingyu looked at his hand waiting for her, recalling the scene when she boarded the ship, and smiled. Just as she was about to place her hand for him to hold, someone called out from not far away:

"My wife?"

Zhu Qingyu looked over and saw that it was Zhang Shen!

Zhang Shen had hesitated because he thought it resembled Zhu Qingyu, but when he saw that it really was Zhu Qingyu, he was overjoyed and ran towards the pleasure boat:

"My wife! What are you doing here?"

Zhu Qingyu had been very worried these past few days, wondering what would happen if Lord Liu attacked her halfway through the journey. Now, seeing Zhang Shen return safely, she was also very excited. Lifting her skirt, she jumped off the boat and headed towards Zhang Shen.

"Jingyan! You're back! I thought you wouldn't be back until tomorrow; I was planning to pick you up then!"

Left behind, Gu Zhao looked at the couple reunited not far away, then at her own empty palms.

The touch and warmth of her pulse diagnosis still lingered in his palm, but now, blown away by the wind at the ferry crossing, they too were gone.