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

When Gu Zhao said this, Zhu Qingyu felt a little flustered and subconsciously looked around, worried that others might hear.

Although those unaware of the inside story wouldn't understand much from just these few words, Gu Zhao's blatant disclosure of his romantic affairs still made her feel very embarrassed.

But it was just awkward, nothing more.

Gu Zhao's words were half right and half wrong.

When facing Gu Zhao, she did deliberately downplay the impact of that incident on their relationship, which is what he meant by pretending that nothing had happened.

Actually, if we talk about it openly, what's the big deal?

Treat him like an ex you've slept with, and you'll feel much less burdened.

Moreover, he wasn't even her ex; they had never really dated, and they hadn't even actually slept together.

Or she could treat him as a casual, ambiguous relationship. After all, setting aside other factors, if she and Gu Zhao met in modern times, it wouldn't necessarily be a loss for her to have an ambiguous relationship with someone like Gu Zhao who is tall, good-looking, has abs, is well-endowed, looks strong, and is even three years younger than her.

Thinking this way reduces the psychological burden.

But he said he still wanted to go back and be Zhang Shen's wife, which was a mistake on his part.

Zhu Qingyu was able to come to terms with it, but she dared not imagine how Zhang Shen would react when he found out.

She wasn't that naive. There are no secrets that stay hidden forever; Zhang Shen would eventually find out.

She can't go back to the Zhang family after all, but that doesn't mean she has to follow Gu Zhao. The fact that he came to say these words today shows that he still hasn't given up his intentions towards her.

She had tried to provoke him to stop his idea, but it didn't work.

If that doesn't work, try other methods. If one approach doesn't work, try a softer one.

Taking advantage of his apparent desire for peace today, Zhu Qingyu followed up on his words:

"But Shouming, what else can I do besides pretend nothing happened? If you want me to follow you and live under your wife's thumb, that won't work either. I've met your mother and your grandmother; they were both virtuous and gentle ladies from noble families, the most cultured people I've ever met. But do you know what kind of lives the concubines in the Duke's mansion lead? Do you want me to live like them?"

When Zhu Qingyu asked the question, Gu Zhao was speechless for a moment and could not answer it.

To avoid suspicion, he naturally wouldn't associate with his father's concubines. He didn't know what kind of life they led, or even who they were.

In Gu Zhao's memory, the concubine who left the deepest impression on him was actually the once arrogant Consort Gao.

Consort Gao was naturally a concubine, but the life she led was so extraordinary that she even forced the Empress to the point of being placed under house arrest.

But such a thing would definitely not happen in the Duke's mansion. The Duke's mansion is a place that values ​​rules, status, and position, and would not allow a concubine to live so arrogantly and domineeringly.

Seeing that Gu Zhao's expression seemed to soften, Zhu Qingyu pressed on, her tone and words becoming incredibly gentle:

"Shouming, you are perfect in every way—your character, looks, family background, and power are all top-notch. If we were a good match, how could I not be tempted? But it is precisely because you are so outstanding that I dare not even think of being interested, much less aspire to such a high position. Yes, my second cousin and I are not destined to be husband and wife, but I dare not even hope to be with you. Please have pity on me and don't make me live the life of a concubine in your household. I really can't live like that. What happened on the ship, let bygones be bygones, okay?"

Last time, when the topic of identity came up, Gu Zhao was able to give a solution naturally because having both a wife and concubines was something he was used to, like an abstract concept.

But when Zhu Qingyu brought the abstract to the concrete, to the real group of people in the Duke's mansion, Gu Zhao could no longer say what he had once said in a grand manner.

How do we define what constitutes treating someone well?

Gu Zhao kept thinking about this issue until he was on his way to deliver the things to Zhu Qingyu.

Zhu Qingyu didn't prepare much for Zhang Jingyan; it was just a small bundle.

If this package is handed over to the Embroidered Uniform Guard, needless to say, he will definitely open it and check everything before daring to send it in.

Since others would see it anyway, Gu Zhao opened it without any hesitation on the way there.

A piece of clothing, a few bottles of medicine, and a silver note containing two hundred taels of silver—that was all he had.

Clearly, the silver notes were a thank-you gift for the Imperial Guards.

Gu Zhao didn't believe that she would spend two hundred taels of silver just to send in this little thing; there must be something special about this dress.

Opening the garment, it was just an ordinary cotton undershirt, with the left sleeve even being half an inch shorter than the right sleeve, and the workmanship was rather rough.

Rough workmanship?

A family like the Zhangs couldn't possibly be unable to afford an embroiderer, and an embroiderer couldn't possibly make such clothes.

Gu Zhao's heart stirred, and he touched the stitches again.

Then there's only one possibility: she made these clothes herself. She must have made them for Zhang Jingyan before, hoping to convey the news of her arrival in the capital through the clothes.

It seems this young lady not only loves to fall asleep as soon as she starts reading, but she's also quite sloppy with needlework, and has absolutely nothing to do with being a noblewoman.

If we were a good match in terms of social standing, how could I not be tempted?

Her words popped into my head again.

Even though he knew she was just being conciliatory, he couldn't help but want to take her words seriously.

If she were to marry him, would she treat him as well as she treated Zhang Jingyan? Would she also make clothes for him?

Gu Zhao picked up the clothes, looked them over, and commented:

"So ugly."

But he didn't have such ugly clothes, even though others did.

Others have clothes made by her own hands, but he only has her vague and ethereal "what if" to comfort him.

Gu Zhao remained expressionless, then folded the clothes back to their original shape and put them back into the bundle.

After delivering the clothes, it was almost lunchtime when Gu Zhao returned. Without giving any prior notice, he went straight to his mother's courtyard.

Upon entering, one sees a young woman leading a group of maids setting out lunch in the outer room.

Upon seeing him appear, the woman panicked and quickened her pace in setting out the meal.

Madam Gu was writing a reply in her room when she heard that Gu Zhao had arrived. She took the invitation and came in, smiling:

"I had something important to discuss with you, and here you are."

He then instructed the woman who was setting out the meal:

"Aunt Jiang, you may leave now."

Gu Zhao's gaze followed Aunt Jiang, watching her hurriedly bow and then quickly move aside.

She said, "Please have pity on me, and don't make me live the life of a concubine in your household."

Although it was only a glimpse into the whole picture, he now knew what she meant by "making a living under his wife's thumb."

She's right. The methods he took for granted were not going to work.