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

As Zhu Qingyu expected, her period arrived on time the next day.

Perhaps due to excessive stress in the past few days, this attack came on particularly hard. Her hands and feet were ice-cold, and she had abdominal pain. Zhu Qingyu didn't even dare to get out of bed and could only lie in bed all day.

The journey back to Beijing is already halfway over. The further north we go, the further away summer becomes, and the stronger the autumn feeling grows.

The lingering autumn rain fell one after another, the river surface was hazy, and the mornings and evenings were chilly. The people on the boat began to put on more clothes, and the nanny and maids also changed Zhu Qingyu's bedding for autumn.

Zhu Qingyu boarded the ship empty-handed, without any luggage. Her daily necessities were all prepared in advance by Gu Zhao, or purchased temporarily by people when they stopped briefly at the ferry.

Time was short, and the servants were busy preparing things, prioritizing food, clothing, shelter, and transportation, but there was almost nothing to keep them entertained.

Zhu Qingyu had nothing to do. Apart from resuming her routine of having three meals a day with Gu Zhao, she spent the rest of her time lying in bed, staring blankly at the autumn rain outside the window.

After working alone in the study for two more days, Gu Zhao finally couldn't stand the loneliness of autumn anymore. He ordered someone to set up a table by the window of the cabin and brought the official documents into the cabin. He started working in the cabin and then had someone bring a box of books for Zhu Qingyu, saying it was to keep her entertained.

At first, Zhu Qingyu refused.

Anyway, when she had a falling out with him last time, she had already said some hurtful things and complained about how bad his book was, so she didn't bother pretending anymore and just told Gu Zhao directly:

"Let's not do that. I don't have your level of literary cultivation. I can't appreciate poetry, songs, or the classics. Reading them will only give me a headache and stomachache. Don't torture me with your sacred texts. Can't you just let me stay here?"

Despite being rejected, Gu Zhao wasn't annoyed. Instead, he opened the box, casually picked up a book, sat down beside her bed, and said:

"How could you not appreciate it? Let me read a passage to you."

Why are there still people forcibly recommending products?

This Lord Gu really doesn't understand the principle of seeking common ground while reserving differences. He has such high requirements for his mistress, not only requiring her to be beautiful, but also insisting that she keep up with his literary tastes.

Zhu Qingyu reluctantly agreed:

"oh."

Gu Zhao opened the book, randomly selected a passage, and read:

"The two were seen playing in the water like mandarin ducks with their necks intertwined, and walking side by side like phoenixes among the flowers."

Such romantic and sensual sentences coming from Lord Gu's mouth! Zhu Qingyu, who had just been looking reluctant, sat up straight and looked at Gu Zhao in disbelief, wondering if he had picked up the wrong book.

Could it be that one of the servants' private books accidentally fell into his study?

It should be, it can't be Master Gu's own book, can it?

He doesn't seem like the type of person who would read this kind of book, and besides, she had practically searched through all the bookshelves in Gu Zhao's study, but hadn't found a single book of this type.

The old woman who was leading the maids to prepare tea and snacks for the two of them in the cabin reacted even more strongly than Zhu Qingyu. She quickly grabbed the maid who was blushing and had her head down, and the two of them rushed out like they were riding on wheels of fire. They even professionally closed the cabin door for the two of them.

Zhu Qingyu also activated the Understanding Flower skill, and casually leaned back against the headboard, pretending not to notice the awkward situation, preparing to give Lord Gu a way out and let him exchange the book himself.

Despite her being so understanding and perceptive, Lord Gu didn't appreciate it and continued reading:

"Joyfully intertwined branches grow, sweetly bound together by a knot of hearts; one presses her crimson lips close, the other leans her rosy cheek against her..."

This is definitely not an accident; it must have been specially chosen by Lord Gu.

Zhu Qingyu suddenly pressed down on Gu Zhao's hand holding the book, and looked at Gu Zhao meaningfully.

Well, well, you've been hiding it well, haven't you, Gu Shouming?

He must have secretly hidden those books before! He wasn't going to let her see them!

Exactly! Why not let her see it? She's his mistress. What's the point of reading books like "Records of Mountains and Rivers" or "Lotus Sutra"? These are the kinds of books she should be reading. We should have taken them out earlier so she could learn and improve herself.

Although it was rather stingy of Lord Gu to only share this with her now, she was magnanimous and wouldn't hold it against him, considering that good things come to those who wait.

Gu Zhao first looked at the hand that was holding his wrist before looking up and asking:

"Can I appreciate it?"

Zhu Qingyu nodded vigorously:

"Amazing! That's incredible! Let me see it."

Although Lord Gu's reading voice was melodious and pleasant, it was more enjoyable to read such books secretly under a warm blanket. Reading them aloud in public would ruin the appetite!

Zhu Qingyu finally found a way to relieve boredom. With the nourishment of spiritual food, she was liberated from her daily sitting state. When she started reading, she was full of energy and couldn't stop. She even cured her habit of falling asleep as soon as she started reading. She kept a book in her hand from morning to night, reading so much that she forgot to eat and sleep, and she didn't even want to put it down when she went to bed at night.

Gu Zhao had initially been understanding of her previous distress and had allowed her to read a little longer, but seeing that she was still reading by candlelight at midnight, he finally intervened, taking the book away from her and hiding it behind his back so she couldn't read it.

"The candlelight is dim at night, and it will ruin your eyes. Try again tomorrow."

Zhu Qingyu was watching the crucial moment, seeing the landlord's beautiful concubine and the newly arrived, burly farmhand about to seduce each other. She couldn't let go, and with pleading eyes, she placed her hands on her chest, begging like a kitten bowing:

"Please, I'm almost done watching it, just a little bit more, really, just a little bit more."

Seeing that Gu Zhao still refused to give it to her, Zhu Qingyu sat up from the bed, half-leaned on him, and reached behind him to snatch the book.

Since boarding the ship, it was rare to see her so lively. Gu Zhao was so captivated by her presence that he didn't notice her taking it again.

Never mind, it's only a little bit, let her take another look.

Clearly, Lord Gu failed to grasp even a fraction of the profound depth and richness of these words.

Zhu Qingyu stayed up from midnight to dawn, and only went to sleep when it was almost time for Gu Zhao to wake up.

She was studying late into the night, and Gu Zhao was so affected by her that he barely slept all night. He still had to get up to work the next day, still half asleep.

The instigator, Zhu Qingyu, fell asleep immediately and didn't wake up until lunchtime. After waking up, she continued reading until almost 3 AM. Looking to her side, she saw that Lord Gu, whom she had kept up for almost two days and two nights without sleep, was already fast asleep.

Zhu Qingyu put down her book and tentatively called out:

"Shou Ming."

Lord Gu, who is usually a light sleeper, showed no reaction at all, his breathing was even, and he was sleeping soundly.

Zhu Qingyu glanced at his coat hanging on the rack, then quietly climbed off Gu Zhao. She walked softly to the rack, reached into the coat's hidden pocket, and took out its contents to examine them.

It's a key.