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

As the trip to Beijing drew closer, a very real problem confronted Zhu Qingyu.

That is, how Gu Zhao plans to settle her in the future, and what kind of status he plans to give her.

Although Gu Zhao promised that day that he wouldn't leave her without a place to live, she believed that his idea of ​​a place to live and her idea of ​​a place to live were vastly different, just as different people have different understandings of the words "I'll take care of you."

In the past few days, Zhu Qingyu had speculated from Gu Zhao's perspective that even if he seemed somewhat infatuated with her now, he, as a young master from a noble family born and raised in feudal society, would definitely not suddenly become love-struck and make a married merchant woman his legal wife. Even if he really went crazy like that, his elders would never approve.

Therefore, his so-called "arrival" can only be one of these possibilities: a servant, a maidservant, a mistress, or a concubine.

As expected, when Gu Zhao heard Zhu Qingyu ask if he would marry her, his expression was somewhat complicated. He took her hand, his tone seemingly apologetic:

"Do you want me to marry you, Qingyu? I don't want to lie to you. My marriage is not only related to myself, but also to my family. I'm sorry, I can't promise to marry you."

The guess was confirmed, and Zhu Qingyu thought to herself, "That's wonderful!"

Gu Zhao could never marry her. As the heir of a duke's mansion, a powerful minister in the court, and a typical scholar-official cultivated in feudal society, personal love was merely a diversion in his life. Personal and family interests were his core pursuits, and he would certainly not sacrifice his core interests for the sake of romantic love.

He is the one who will inherit the title, and his principal wife will have to assume the responsibilities of a matriarch and bring him the political benefits of marriage between the two families. Therefore, she will definitely be chosen from among unmarried noble ladies of equal social standing, which is in the best interests of him and his family.

Since he personally admitted that he wouldn't marry her, and tonight he restrained his desires and slept with her under the covers, is it possible that he still harbors some pity or guilt towards her at this moment?

Could this slight pang of guilt possibly make him change his mind in an instant?

Zhu Qingyu lowered her eyes, her voice filled with grievance, and a tear fell from her eye:

"Then can you let me go? I've never been a slave, and I don't want to be one."

That tear fell onto Gu Zhao's hand, which was holding hers, and it was so hot that it burned Gu Zhao's heart.

Of course she wanted to leave; she hadn't stayed by his side voluntarily in the first place.

But he couldn't let go. He tried and struggled, but he couldn't do it.

Gu Zhao pulled her into his arms, stroked her smooth back, and sighed:

"Qingyu, no one wants you to be a slave, including me."

He didn't change his mind, which disappointed Zhu Qingyu, but she didn't give up. Instead, she tried to find a more advantageous identity for herself.

She had carefully weighed the possibilities after going to the capital. Her biggest worry was that Gu Zhao would send her into the Duke's mansion. Once inside, she would lose her freedom and it would be difficult for her to get out. She would have no chance or space to see Zhang Shen or save him.

The identities of servant, maidservant, and concubine would all lead her into the Duke's mansion. Between two evils, she chose the lesser one: the identity of an outsider was actually the most advantageous for her at the moment.

Rather than passively accepting Gu Zhao's arrangements upon arriving in the capital, she should take the initiative to bring up the topic, seize control, and guide Gu Zhao to arrange for her to stay in an outside residence.

Zhu Qingyu leaned against Gu Zhao's chest and said, as if she were weeping:

"You'll eventually get married, won't you? What if your wife treats me like a slave then?"

Gu Zhao comforted him:

"I will choose a noble lady from a respectable family who is kind and gentle. I will tell her in advance that I will treat you well, and she will treat you well in return."

Zhu Qingyu looked up at him; his gaze was so sincere, yet so matter-of-fact.

In the minds of the scholar-officials cultivated by feudal education, having multiple wives and concubines was commonplace.

Therefore, she could understand why Gu Zhao thought it was perfectly normal to have a well-matched and virtuous noblewoman as his wife and a beautiful and charming confidante as his concubine, and why he required his wife to treat his concubine well.

He believed that what he said was a reasonable solution and that he was not trying to deceive her.

The naive men of feudal society thought that as long as they wrote the law about having multiple wives and concubines, their wives and concubines would naturally behave as required by the law, without jealousy or quarrels, living in harmony and loving family.

Zhu Qingyu did not argue with him that the law is the law and human nature is human nature, which are two completely different things. She did not really want to enter his harem, and how he arranged his harem was none of her business.

Moreover, Gu Zhao's marriage was an excellent opportunity for her.

A noblewoman from a powerful family who is on par with the Duke's mansion might tolerate a concubine who is favored under her nose, but she would never tolerate her husband having a carefree confidante outside the home to embarrass her.

As long as she doesn't enter the Duke's mansion and doesn't sign a contract of indenture with Gu Zhao, she will remain a law-abiding citizen. Gu Zhao's wife has no right to sell her off, so she might be driven out of the capital.

Would Gu Zhao really have clashed with his wife over such a trivial matter between men and women, thus affecting his core interests?

Will not.

If handled properly, she still has a chance to get rid of Gu Zhao, by relying on the power of Gu Zhao's new wife.

Zhu Qingyu lowered her eyes again, leaned against him, and said sadly:

"You don't even know who she is, how do you know she'll tolerate me? I have a house in the capital, and I want to live in my own house. Whenever you want, come find me there, anytime. Don't make me live under her thumb, okay?"

Gu Zhao knew that she was starting to look for a way out again, looking for an opportunity to escape from his side.

If you want to cut off her fickle and restless mind, it's actually very simple to do. Just lock her behind the hanging flower gate in the back of the house, into a courtyard, and make her live at his mercy. Every cup of tea, every meal, every basket of charcoal will depend on his mood. Drive her into despair, and she will soon submit and become docile.

In that heavily guarded Duke's mansion, without his orders, countless observant servants would help him watch over her and stop her, without him having to put in any effort himself.

There's no way you can even think about escaping.

However, as Gu Zhao held her trembling slightly in his arms, he thought to himself, "But having a way out means there is hope."

She is looking for a way out, which means she is trying to survive.

He was more captivated by her will to survive than by her despair.

Don't people live on hope?

Does he really have to force her to her death?

Even if she were to live in a house outside the capital, could she possibly escape his grasp?

Why not let her keep this hope in her heart and live a vibrant life by his side?

Gu Zhao hugged her tightly, and in the end did not refuse her small request, but said:

"it is good."