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

At Chen Shi (7-9 AM), shortly after Gu Zhao fell asleep, Zhu Qingyu woke up.

She opened her eyes and stared at the unfamiliar pattern on the bed curtains above her head. For a long time, her mind was a complete blank.

What time is it now?

What place is this?

Why is she here?

Images slowly surfaced in her mind. The last scene she remembered before falling asleep was Madam Xue accompanying her to rest in the side courtyard.

So, this is the government office? I wonder if the victory celebration banquet is over yet?

As her thoughts gradually returned and she regained feeling in her limbs, she found someone lying next to her, their arms pressed tightly together.

It was a bit crowded, but also a bit warm.

There was someone lying next to her!

Zhu Qingyu sat up abruptly, only to discover in horror that the person sleeping next to her was none other than Lord Gu!

Looking around, this was Lord Gu's bedroom, the place she had visited last time.

In that instant, countless possibilities flashed through her mind, but none of them could reasonably explain why she woke up to find herself lying in Lord Gu's bed.

Fortunately, Zhu Qingyu looked at her own wrinkled clothes and then at Lord Gu sleeping in his clothes. At least their clothes were neat and tidy, so it didn't seem like something had happened.

Should we wake Lord Gu up and ask him what's going on, or leave here first?

Zhu Qingyu almost instinctively chose to flee.

Lord Gu may be a good official with upright character, but the way he looked at her last time, in the same place, made her feel very uneasy.

Zhu Qingyu quietly moved the blanket aside and climbed out from under Gu Zhao, who was blocking her way.

She encountered difficulties as soon as her feet touched the ground.

Looking around the bed, she couldn't find her shoes.

Just as Zhu Qingyu was hesitating whether to go out wearing only socks, a voice came from behind her:

"It might have been left in a side courtyard."

Zhu Qingyu turned around and took several steps back. Looking at Gu Zhao, who was sitting up from the bed, she didn't know what to say to deal with the situation.

Although he had just woken up, Lord Gu appeared very calm, indicating that he was mentally prepared for their current situation, which was completely different from her panic.

Did he bring himself here?

Gu Zhao rubbed his temples, looking rather tired, and calmly and naturally uttered words that terrified Zhu Qingyu even more:

"When I brought you here last night, you weren't wearing shoes. The ground was cold. Come and sit down first. I'll have the nanny go and find some for you later."

If you disregard what he said and only listen to his calm tone, it sounds like the two of them are having tea and chatting casually.

However, his act of carrying himself from the side courtyard to his room is abnormal, no matter how you look at it.

He even said last night, which means a whole night has passed.

She actually slept here all night. What about Zhang Shen? Did he go back? Is he looking for her?

Zhu Qingyu even began to doubt the bitter-tasting wine from yesterday. She took a few more steps back, now standing by the door, almost ready to storm out.

"Thank you, sir. I wouldn't dare trouble you. I can find it myself."

Zhu Qingyu bumped into the door frame; it was movable and could be opened, and it wasn't locked. This discovery made her feel a little more at ease.

Only after seeing Zhu Qingyu touch the door, confirming for herself that she was free to leave and not locked out, did Gu Zhao continue:

"Qingyu, I suggest you don't go out. The Imperial Guards might still be looking for you."

Zhu Qingyu had already opened the door a crack, and was about to step out, when she stopped in surprise at these words and turned to ask:

"Lord Gu, I don't understand. What does this mean? Why is the Embroidered Uniform Guard looking for me?"

This was in private, just the two of them, but she no longer wanted to address him by his courtesy name.

She had already become suspicious, which was understandable; anyone in this situation would be suspicious.

The soil of suspicion cannot produce the flowers he desires; flowers need light, rain, and trust.

Gu Zhao did not correct her form of address, and said in as gentle a tone as possible:

"Qingyu, Zhang Jingyan was taken away by the Embroidered Uniform Guard last night. The Embroidered Uniform Guard acts on the Emperor's orders. I don't know if they were ordered to take him or his family as well, so I can only place you in the safest place, which is here."

Of all the possibilities Zhu Qingyu had just considered, none were the scenario Gu Zhao had described.

This was beyond her imagination.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard? The Emperor?

These were people who sounded so distant and unrelated to her; she never imagined she would have any connection with them.

Since it concerned Zhang Shen, Zhu Qingyu, who had just been preparing to escape, was immediately stopped by Gu Zhao's words and asked anxiously:

"Where did the Imperial Guards take Jingyan? Why did they take him away?"

Gu Zhao didn't answer immediately. Instead, he stood up, slowly walked to the door, placed his hand on hers, and with an almost embracing motion, pushed the door open completely, giving the order to the outside:

"Bring Lady Zhu her shoes."

A nanny outside the door answered. Gu Zhao looked at the silk stockings Zhu Qingyu was wearing on the ground. Because she had become suspicious, he gave up the idea of ​​carrying her back.

He simply took her hand and led her towards the dressing table, replying as they walked:

"Qingyu, the prisoners arrested by the Embroidered Uniform Guard are all sent to the Imperial Prison in the capital. Zhang Jingyan should be there too. As for the reason? The Embroidered Uniform Guard never gives reasons when handling cases. I don't know much about Zhang Jingyan either. Perhaps you'll have to ask him to find out what he did that alarmed the Emperor. However, the Imperial Prison is not open to visitors. If you want to see him in the future, I'm afraid it will be difficult."

Zhu Qingyu was so shocked by the fact that Zhang Shen had been arrested by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and imprisoned that she didn't even notice that Gu Zhao was holding her hand.

It wasn't until she sat down at the dressing table that she suddenly realized:

"You mean, the Embroidered Uniform Guard might also arrest family members?"

Gu Zhao picked up the gold hairpin that had been removed from her ear yesterday from the dressing table, and inserted it into her hair while looking in the mirror, replying:

"That's true. I can't be sure without the approval of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. For your safety, I hope you stay here and don't go out."

Family! Third sister!

My third sister is still at home!

Will the Imperial Guards come looking for us at home?

Zhu Qingyu jumped up immediately:

"My lord, thank you for your consideration, but I must return immediately!"

Zhu Qingyu couldn't even wait for the nanny to bring her shoes, and rushed out immediately.

Gu Zhao followed behind and walked to the eaves of the main house.

Zhu Qingyu had already run to the courtyard gate. She opened the gate, and a row of guards with knives surrounded her, blocking her way.