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

It was past midnight, and Xie Ze still hadn't arrived. Zhu Qingyu was about to send someone to the Marquis of Anyuan's residence to inquire about the situation when Xiong Kun unexpectedly showed up.

Zhu Qingyu invited Xiong Kun to the main house for tea. Xiong Kun was in such a hurry that he didn't even have time to drink the tea before briefly explaining his purpose and quickly adding:

"The adults are outside."

Zhu Qingyu was genuinely surprised.

She never expected that after such a big conflict between the two of them that day, and after Gu Zhao had told her that he never wanted to see her again, he would still take the initiative to come looking for her.

He's a high-born nobleman, he's never been treated like this by anyone else. How could he be so angry? Would he have calmed down in just a few days? Surely he wouldn't be so eager to come and beg for help now that there's a way to deliver something.

And even if they came to apologize, since they've already come all this way, why stay outside and not come in?

Was he waiting for her to invite him?

Life offers countless repetitions, and Zhu Qingyu once again struggled with the skill of deciphering the emperor's intentions, unable to understand them no matter how hard she tried.

Well, that's perfect. She also has something she wants to ask him. If he won't come in, she'll go out and ask him.

Zhu Qingyu greeted Xiong Kun and left the main house.

Standing at the door, which was half-open, Mrs. Wang asked the person outside curiously:

"Young master, who are you looking for?"

At 9:00 AM on an autumn day, when the sunlight is at its most comfortable, the person stood behind the door, neither entering nor speaking, his shadow cast on the ground motionless.

Zhu Qingyu instructed:

"Aunt Wang, this is my guest. Could you please bring me another pot of good tea?"

After Wang Mama left, Zhu Qingyu went over, but didn't go out. Through the half-closed door, she asked:

"Would you like to come in for tea?"

Outside the door, Gu Zhao's voice was unusually calm as he casually said:

"No, I was just asked to do this, so I took the things and left. Did you find Xie Ze and ask him to plead with the Emperor on my behalf?"

Since he didn't want to come in, Zhu Qingyu didn't force him, and continued to talk to him through the door, replying:

"No, I think it might not be appropriate to ask Xie Ze to say it."

He was invisible, but his voice was still gentle, though his words were not so gentle.

Gu Zhao said:

"It's not quite appropriate. Xie Ze has never accompanied the Emperor before. If he goes, Zhang Jingyan won't survive the night. Qingyu, you only have one chance before the Emperor. If you win, it's Zhang Jingyan's life; if you lose, it's also his life. You need to think this person through carefully."

These words sound like a suggestion, a threat, and even more like a plea for peace.

Zhu Qingyu had mixed feelings about Gu Zhao's behavior.

She was hesitant to entrust Zhang Shen's life to Gu Zhao, because as long as he still harbored designs on her, it would be in his interest for Zhang Shen to be in trouble, and he would never genuinely help her.

But she didn't dare to completely offend Gu Zhao. If she really provoked him too much, he had the ability and the will to kill her and Zhang Shen at any time.

She had already tried, and when faced with Gu Zhao in his malicious rage, she had very few options available; in fact, she was practically powerless to protect herself.

Well, in the end, the gentle Gu Zhao is more advantageous to her than the angry Gu Zhao. Since he has come and his attitude is so gentle, she will also lower her head and ease the tension.

It's just bowing your head, nothing shameful.

Zhu Qingyu sighed:

"Shouming, you're clearly not such a bad person, so why do you always threaten me like this? I spoke too harshly that day, please don't take it to heart, forgive my thoughtless words, please forgive me, okay?"

The moment the words "Shouming" were uttered, it was as if a switch had been flipped, and Gu Zhao understood that her feigned affection had returned.

This feigned affection was like a poison coated in honey, flowing through his body, which had been yearning for her day and night since their separation. It made him tremble with joy and further fueled his desire to possess her completely, a desire so deep that he was beyond redemption.

An ordinary wooden door; push it open, and she's right there, within reach.

You only need to gently push it open.

Capture her, lock her up, hide her, lock her up, and make her belong to him forever.

Just like on the ship, the first person he saw when he opened his eyes in the morning was her; she was the one who sat opposite him during meals, sharing a spoon with him to eat iced drinks; she was the one who quietly looked at love-themed sketchbooks beside him while he worked; and she was the one who was completely embraced by him in his arms when he went to bed.

He didn't just want her to look her best right now, nor did he just crave the pleasure of spending time with her. He wanted her every moment, every day and night, forever and ever, for a lifetime, so that he could never escape her.

Even the Emperor has issued a decree; she already belongs to him, and no one can stop him, including by law. He can do whatever he wants with perfect justification.

But she said, "Shouming, you're not such a bad person."

She said that, so he's not such a bad person.

Gu Zhao laughed:

"Oh? What do you mean? Today I'm not some immoral, wicked person, the worst villain in the world?"

Zhu Qingyu's voice was so gentle:

"I was wrong before, Shouming. You're a good person too. You've been good to me, so why didn't you say so? Xie Ze said that the Embroidered Uniform Guard always arrests people along with their families, but my third sister and I are safe and sound. Shouming, I know that you're the one who stopped the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and you're the one who protected my third sister and me, aren't you?"

The voice even carried a hint of tenderness, lingering in Gu Zhao's heart as if she were telling the truth, making Gu Zhao's heart itch and soften.

Gu Zhao's voice unconsciously softened as well:

"Qingyu, I've told you before, no one wants you to be a servant, including me. As for Zhang Jingyan's sister, I saw how you stood up for her that day, so you must really like her. That kind of place isn't suitable for an unmarried girl. If something happens to her, I think you'll be very sad, won't you?"

With the conversation flowing and the atmosphere built up, Zhu Qingyu felt this was an excellent opportunity to reconcile with Gu Zhao.

He is powerful and influential in the capital, so even if you don't rely on his influence, you should at least avoid offending him.

Otherwise, if he really wanted to do something bad, he wouldn't need to put in any special effort; a single word or glance could cause her enormous trouble and harm.

Zhu Qingyu smiled:

"Yes, I'm very grateful to you, Shouming. My third sister is really important to me, and I'm very grateful for your protection. So, can we still be friends? Let's forget about what happened before, okay?"

Ah, so that's what she was after.

Gu Zhao's tender heart felt as if it were encased in a layer of sand, causing him pain and hardening his heart.

"Qingyu, I don't want to be your so-called friend."

He said:

"What do you mean by 'the previous matter'? If you're referring to what you did to me on the boat that day, I don't know what the rules are in Sichuan, but in the capital, this is not something that should happen between friends. What happened has happened. After what happened between us, you still want to pretend nothing happened and go back to being husband and wife with Zhang Jingyan? Qingyu, that won't work with me."