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

Although Yangzhou City had just experienced a major upheaval last night, with many once high-ranking and arrogant figures falling from grace and becoming prisoners, Yangzhou City was still in ruins.

But these things have little to do with the ordinary people of Yangzhou.

For ordinary people, the moment they open their eyes each day, they are busy working for three meals a day and a few coins. As long as they are alive, they will never stop.

So even if high-ranking officials fall from grace, or even if the emperor changes or the dynasty is overthrown, ordinary people will still go about their lives as usual.

Those who carried heavy loads continued to carry heavy loads, those who visited relatives and friends continued to visit relatives and friends, and those who ran small businesses continued to run small businesses.

The ferry crossings in Yangzhou are still bustling with traffic and people.

Zhu Qingyu ran to the ferry crossing, looking at the bustling crowd and the boats shuttling back and forth on the river, and was plunged into boundless bewilderment and immense panic.

The summer sun was blazing.

Zhu Qingyu's heart was being scorched by the blazing sun. Anxiety and unease swept over her body like heat waves, weakening her body and soul in waves, making her dizzy and almost causing her soul to leave her body.

Which ship is Gu Zhao on?

It's past 9:45 AM, could he have already left?

Ultimately, there are countless women in the world, and with his status and position, whatever he wants is just a matter of a word.

Even current social norms and laws explicitly support the desires of the powerful and wealthy. As much as they want, it is perfectly legitimate for them, a matter of course, and effortless.

His gaze upon her might have been fleeting, a casual gesture. Seeing that she had no interest in him, he might have been hurt in his pride, annoyed by her, and simply let go.

Just as she was hesitating, Gu Zhao walked out of the cabin of a ship, stood at the bow, and stretched out a hand towards her from a distance.

Compared to Zhu Qingyu's bewildered look around, Gu Zhao's eyes were clear. From the moment he stepped out of the cabin, he had been staring straight at her, indicating that he had seen her appearance from the very beginning.

He's still alive!

Since they met, Zhu Qingyu has mostly avoided Gu Zhao, and has never longed to see Lord Gu as much as she does now.

This longing came to fruition; his appearance instantly brought a radiant sparkle to her bewildered eyes.

Gu Zhao then saw the bird, who had looked bewildered and helpless, suddenly light up in her eyes. She lifted her skirt, her eyes full of eagerness and anticipation, and ran towards him, taking his hand in hers.

The last time at the ferry, she left him for Zhang Jingyan, leaving his hands empty and devoid of anything.

This time, for the first time, his empty palm grasped hers, filled it, and held it tightly.

Gu Zhao quickly withdrew his hand and pulled her into his arms.

Zhu Qingyu did not refuse; she leaped onto the boat and threw herself into his arms.

The fragrance he had longed for filled his arms, along with her heavy breathing from running, her sweat from the blazing sun clinging to his neck, and her warm, soft body clinging to him through her clothes.

This time, she came for him.

From top to bottom, from heaven to earth, from dreams to reality, she is everywhere.

Hot, humid, warm.

The reality at this moment was so similar to the entanglements in countless dreams that it was hard to distinguish. Gu Zhao almost reached his limit and suddenly picked her up and carried her to the cabin.

The ship has set sail.

Zhu Qingyu clung to Gu Zhao's neck, rested her head on his shoulder, and watched the ferry crossing gradually disappear into the distance.

Zhang Ruohua stood at the ferry, her eyes filled with astonishment and worry. She ran a few steps after the boat, seemingly wanting to jump aboard.

Zhu Qingyu looked at her, gently shook her head, and silently mouthed:

"go back."

Zhang Ruohua stopped in her tracks. The girl, who hadn't shed a single tear the whole way, bit her lip to hold back, but finally couldn't help herself and silently shed tears. She nodded to Zhu Qingyu and mouthed in response:

"Sister-in-law, we're waiting for you to come back."

Zhu Qingyu's eyes followed Zhang Ruohua as she watched her run back and get into the Zhang family's carriage.

Suddenly, everything went dark; Gu Zhao had already carried her into the cabin.

The road ahead is long and arduous.

Good or bad fortune can come at any moment.

All I could hear was the sound of the attendant hurriedly pulling the maids out of the cabin.

Zhu Qingyu closed her eyes without saying a word.

A feeling of weightlessness washed over her as her back pressed against the soft bed. Gu Zhao followed closely, pressing down on her like a mountain. With one hand, he pinned her wrists together against the headboard, while with the other, he gripped her chin and roughly and urgently bit her red lips.

Zhu Qingyu kept her eyes closed, offering no resistance. Even when his tongue pried open her teeth, she obediently opened her mouth, letting him explore and demand.

From the moment she decided to embark on this journey, Zhu Qingyu was already mentally prepared.

She was prepared to accept whatever Gu Zhao wanted to do to her.

Worldly chastity meant nothing to her; compared to Zhang Shen's life, nothing else mattered.

Trading her utterly meaningless actions for Zhang Shen's safety was an incredibly worthwhile deal.

It's just a transaction, a one-off deal.

Zhu Qingyu withdrew and isolated her senses, numbing herself, almost unable to feel space or time, and almost losing her senses and sense of self.

It may have been a moment, or it may have been a long time.

Gu Zhao suddenly stopped and stood up.

Zhu Qingyu opened his eyes in confusion, not understanding what had made him change his mind.

Gu Zhao stood by the bed, his palm outstretched in front of him, looking at a teardrop on his fingertip.

It was her tear that fell on his fingertip.

Because of this tear, Gu Zhao felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar. His once restless and turbulent heart almost stopped beating, and even the clamorous desires in his body surged like a tide and vanished.

He looked at Zhu Qingyu, his calm expression carrying an inexplicable sense of danger:

"If you're unwilling, why not resist?"

Zhu Qingyu couldn't understand him at all, wondering why he asked that question.

Let him have whatever he wants, isn't that exactly what he wants?

Seeing that Zhu Qingyu remained silent, Gu Zhao laughed at himself again:

"Ha, you love him that much?"

How could he have just imagined that she came for him?

She clearly came for Zhang Jingyan, and for Zhang Jingyan, she was even willing to sacrifice herself.

Although Gu Zhao was smiling, Zhu Qingyu saw a surging, almost murderous rage in his smile.

Zhu Qingyu didn't understand where Gu Zhao's anger came from. Wasn't she obedient enough?

She gave him everything he wanted, and everything went according to his wishes, so why was he still so angry?

Zhu Qingyu didn't even dare to move, and carefully replied:

"He is my husband."

Gu Zhao's smile widened:

"Oh, I see? Qingyu, he could be someone else entirely. What if he isn't?"

This time, Zhu Qingyu saw it clearly: the murderous intent in Gu Zhao's smile was directed at Zhang Shen.

A ridiculous thought began to spread through Zhu Qingyu's mind: she had always believed that Gu Zhao's feelings for her were due to lust and sexual desire.

Could it be that, how could it be, that love is hidden within the desires of men and women?