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

Shen Xu said he couldn't do it, and Zhu Qingyu didn't force him.

After all, Gu Zhao had said that there was only one chance before the Emperor, and they had to find a safe way and not act rashly.

But she didn't want to cut off Shen Xu's escape route, so she resorted to delaying tactics, saying to Shen Xu:

"You've come to me with all this today, it's so sudden, I'm a bit flustered. If I don't answer you today, will you kill me? Will you kill Jingyan?"

Seeing that every word she uttered was about life and death, she was truly terrified of him. Shen Xu was filled with remorse and wished he could go back to that day and slap himself twice for pointing a knife at her.

There are many people in this world who fear the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but he didn't want her to be one of them.

Shen Xu took a few more steps back, almost to the doorway:

"You don't need to be so afraid of me. Although I have a bad reputation, I'm not someone who kills innocent people indiscriminately. I really hope you'll marry me, but it doesn't have to come to this. If you don't want to marry me, I'll kill you."

Seeing that Zhu Qingyu's expression clearly showed disbelief, Shen Xu felt even more remorseful, and the tenderness in his voice was almost overflowing:

"No rush, I'll give you time. Think it over carefully. Although you may not believe me now, if you marry me, I will treat you well. Of course, I also hope that you can treat me the way you treated Zhang Jingyan. You can give me an answer before the Emperor meets Zhang Jingyan. If you have thought it through, come to the Embroidered Uniform Guard's office to find me."

......

Shen Xu's proposal was only a last resort. Zhu Qingyu verbally agreed that she would think about it carefully, but after Shen Xu left, she didn't take his suggestion to heart at all, and placed her hopes on other people instead.

In the following days, Zhu Qingyu practically wore out the class register. Those who could directly meet the emperor and influence him included palace concubines, eunuchs, imperial relatives, and cabinet ministers.

Among these people, she went to inquire about their addresses one by one. Among those who urgently needed money, Lord Zhuang was still the most suitable. And what she had on hand was still silver.

The eighth day of the tenth lunar month is an auspicious day for praying for blessings, offering sacrifices, setting up incense burners, and breaking ground; it is the perfect time to offer incense.

Zhu Qingyu took out the box containing the beautiful jade from the secret room, and then waited for Zhuang Jia, the Commissioner of the Court of State Affairs, a quarter of an hour earlier than Zhuang Jia on the road that Zhuang Jia would have to take to Huangjue Temple.

Zhu Qingyu, holding the box and seeing that no one was around, instructed Uncle Lü:

"Push the carriage over."

During this time, Uncle Lü had been running around with Zhu Qingyu, worrying about the master. He understood the affection that the eldest mistress had for the master. So, even though he didn't know what the eldest mistress was doing, when he heard that the carriage was to be pushed, he gathered his strength in his dantian and pushed hard, knocking the carriage over to the curb.

After a while, a carriage arrived in the distance, and Zhu Qingyu instructed Uncle Lü again:

"Push it up."

Uncle Lü was a little dumbfounded:

"Madam, you can't push it up by yourself."

What we want is for it to be impossible to push it up.

Zhu Qingyu instructed:

"It's okay, just push it normally."

The dealer's carriage gradually drew closer and came to a stop.

Uncle Lü was still pushing the carriage with great effort, while Zhu Qingyu moved aside to the side of the road and covered her face with her sleeve.

The dealer's carriage didn't stop; it passed by normally.

Just as Zhu Qingyu thought that her mission had gone wrong and that she would not be able to get a word in edgewise, the carriage stopped ahead.

A coachman and a maid came over.

The coachman was a tall, strong man in his forties or fifties, while the little maid looked to be thirteen or fourteen years old, with a childlike face.

The maid spoke first:

"We are from the Zhuang family of the Commissioner of the Court of Judicial Review. My young lady asked, 'Madam, are you in trouble? Do you need any help?'"

Zhu Qingyu lowered her sleeves and replied:

"We are from the Zhang family in Qingyi Lane. Thank you so much, young lady."

The coachman stepped off the curb and helped Uncle Lü push the carriage.

Although the young maid was small, she seemed quite organized. Seeing that it couldn't be pushed up in a short time, she said again:

"My daughter said that if it takes some effort, you can sit in our carriage; it's better than waiting by the roadside."

Zhu Qingyu simply wanted to go up and sit for a while. After thanking the maid, she got into the carriage.

The carriage rented by the landlord was a very ordinary blue cloth carriage. The space inside was not large, and a girl of about sixteen or seventeen years old was sitting in it. She should be Miss Zhuang.

Miss Zhuang possessed a refined and elegant demeanor and beautiful features. Upon seeing Zhu Qingyu, she smiled gently and said:

"Madam, please sit down. Don't rush. My mother's carriage is right behind us. If we can't push it up, someone will help us."

Seeing her smile, as gentle as spring water, Zhu Qingyu almost fell in love with Miss Zhuang. She thought to herself that Gu Zhao was truly blessed. She hoped that after marrying such a beautiful and kind-hearted girl, he would cherish and treat his wife well and not entangle himself with her, a married woman.

Zhu Qingyu thanked him and took her seat.

"Thank you so much. I am the eldest daughter of the Zhang family in Qingyi Lane. I went to Huangjue Temple to offer incense today. Fortunately, I met you, young lady, and helped me. Otherwise, I don't know what to do."

Lady Zhuang's carriage driver was tall and strong, and with Uncle Lü's help, they pushed the carriage up in a few quick movements, almost before Lady Zhuang's own carriage arrived.

Zhu Qingyu thanked Miss Zhuang again, got off the carriage empty-handed, and got back into her own carriage.

On the way to Huangjue Temple, Zhu Qingyu pondered that if Miss Zhuang discovered the box containing the jade, there would only be two possibilities.

One possibility is that Miss Zhuang, upon seeing the beautiful jade, became greedy and secretly embezzled it. In that case, it would be unsuitable to continue contacting Lord Zhuang, and she would have to find someone else.

After all, the Zhang family is currently in a situation where the head of the family is in prison, and the young and beautiful eldest daughter-in-law has a huge fortune. In the eyes of people with ulterior motives, she is simply a delicious but harmless fat sheep. If she takes the initiative to come to them, the Zhuang family can covet the jade, and they can also devour the Zhang family without leaving any bones behind. They will not care about Zhang Shen's life or death at all.

However, there is another possibility: Miss Zhuang is an upright person who did not covet the jade. Instead, she thought of returning it to her. Miss Zhuang knew that she also went to Huangjue Temple to burn incense and that she lived in Qingyi Lane. As long as she wanted to return it, she would definitely be able to find her.

Then Zhu Qingyu would visit the Zhuang family again under the pretext of delivering a thank-you gift, requesting an audience with Lord Zhuang, thus making her request legitimate.

The plan was well thought out, but when Zhu Qingyu arrived at Huangjue Temple and entered the main hall, she immediately saw Gu Zhao, who seemed to be waiting for someone in front of the hall.

How did he end up here?

Taking advantage of his inattention, Zhu Qingyu quickly avoided his gaze and ran towards the back hall, intending to first hide in the room previously reserved for pilgrims.

Just as she ran inside and was about to close the door, a hand reached in. Gu Zhao followed her in, grabbed her hand, and pulled her into his arms to stop her from running away, laughing:

"Why are you running away, Qingyu? Did you know I was going to have a matchmaking event today? Did you come here specifically to ruin it? I'm so happy."

Before Zhu Qingyu could speak, a hesitant voice behind her asked:

"Madam Zhang, you left something in my car. Um, are you perhaps a little unwell right now?"