The moment the words left Gu Zhao's mouth, he immediately regretted them.
He had just made up his mind to make a clean break with her, so why did he still say such terrible things to threaten her?
It was because he was so afraid—afraid of hearing that she would rather choose Shen Xu, that she would rather marry Shen Xu, than choose him.
Now, for her sake, for this little lady whose mouth was full of lies and who didn't have him in her heart at all, he had not only lost his peace of mind, but even lost control over his words and actions.
As Gu Zhao's voice fell, Shen Xu drew his sword:
Shouming, let her go. Don't force her, let her choose for herself.
Gu Zhao looked at his good friend drawing a blade against him and began to laugh:
Shen Chongshu, you are playing the good guy rescuing the beauty. Her husband is locked up in the imperial prison and might be executed tomorrow. You are letting her choose for herself at a time like this? Choose what? I'm forcing her? Are you not? Of course I'm forcing her. I was never a gentleman to begin with, but are you?
The closer the person, the more their malicious words hit the nail on the head.
Faced with Gu Zhao's heart-piercing words, Shen Xu could not voice a single word of rebuttal.
What he had always been good at was coercion and force; whatever he wanted, he relied on snatching it. Naturally, he had nothing to do with being a gentleman either.
He and Gu Zhao were, of course, no different. Both were relying on the fact that her husband was in the imperial prison to leave her with no choice but to choose. They cloaked their coercion in a layer of willingness, all for the sake of having a gentle beginning to win her tenderness and affection.
But in the end, neither he nor Gu Zhao had ever truly let her choose for herself.
Zhu Qingyu had just been suddenly pulled into Gu Zhao's arms, crashing into his rock-hard muscles. For a moment, the impact made her head spin.
After just that brief moment of dizziness, she never expected the situation to take such a sudden turn for the worse, with Shen Xu even drawing his sword.
That would not do!
A conflict between Gu Zhao and Shen Xu was not in her best interest.
She was still counting on them to join hands and connect their hearts, working together to help her save Zhang Shen. Even if they wouldn't help, at the very least, they shouldn't cause trouble.
Tomorrow the Emperor was going to see Zhang Shen. Both Gu Zhao and Shen Xu were close officials to the Emperor; their every word and action held influence over him.
Saving Zhang Shen might be very difficult, but destroying him would be incredibly easy.
If either of them wanted to harm Zhang Shen, all it would take was a single word in front of the Emperor.
Gu Zhao saying he wanted Zhang Shen's life might have been said in anger, but he absolutely had the ability to do it, without even expending much effort. Zhu Qingyu did not dare to gamble on whether either of them would, in a fit of rage, turn their angry words into reality.
Steadying herself by holding onto Gu Zhao's arm, Zhu Qingyu first spoke to Shen Xu:
Lord Shen, put your sword away. I know perfectly well that neither of you are this kind of person. This talk of forcing me was just said in the heat of the moment. You both have clearly been helping me all along and have never forced me. You came today to help me figure out a solution, and I am very grateful. Let's not point blades at our own people over a moment of angry words, alright?
Shen Xu couldn't say no. She had already said that the talk of forcing was just angry words; could he really reply with, No, I actually do want to force you to give yourself to me?
He wanted her pity, wanted her to give him a normal, lively home full of love. He couldn't be the villain in front of her, so he could only silently put his sword away.
Once Shen Xu sheathed his blade, Zhu Qingyu continued:
I am very grateful that you are willing to help me think of a way, but I have thought about it, and this method is still too risky. Not only is it a huge risk for Jingyan, but if the matter comes to light one day, it will be a huge risk for you as well. Unless it is absolutely necessary, let's not use this method. Can you allow me to think about it a little more? Jingyan has never faced the Emperor, and I am worried that in his ignorance, he might violate a royal taboo. Could you please go back first and help me look after and advise him? As for your proposal, I will think it over carefully. When I have made up my mind, I will come find you at the Embroidered Uniform Guard's office, is that okay?
Those involved are blind, while bystanders see clearly. Gu Zhao was used to drinking the bewitching soup Zhu Qingyu brewed on a daily basis. Now, watching helplessly as she served a bowl of it to Shen Xu, he finally realized that her usual tricks were nothing more than those few methods.
Gratitude was for pacification; stalling was to leave an out. She was always like this: not wanting to enrage, not daring to refuse, unwilling to take responsibility, and making no promises.
And he was the one who had been brushed off time and time again by these glaringly obvious tactics of hers, suffering defeat after defeat.
Shen Xu didn't seem to fare much better than Gu Zhao. Hearing Zhu Qingyu say this, he actually led his horse and said:
Alright. When you have thought it through, come find me. I stand by my words: before the Emperor sees him, my proposal remains valid.
Once Shen Xu also left, finally only the last one remained.
Only then did Zhu Qingyu look at Gu Zhao again, tugging at his sleeve to make him dismount:
Shouming, don't be angry. You must have misunderstood me. Come down first. Come down and have a cup of tea, sit for a while, alright?
No, he could not let her play him like this anymore.
He was going to make a clean break with her.
Hardening his heart, Gu Zhao sat motionless on his horse and asked with a laugh:
Zhu Qingyu, just how many men have you used this routine on? Besides Xie Ze, besides Shen Chongshu, who else is there that I don't know about? To you, is everyone the same?
This sentence carried blatant, malicious speculation.
Zhu Qingyu let go of his sleeve, took a few steps back, took a deep breath, and slowly let it out to calm her emotions before asking:
Lord Gu, does humiliating me like this make you feel happy?
Gu Zhao didn't feel happy. He felt unparalleled agony, hurting so much he could barely breathe.
He clearly wanted to make a clean break with her in his heart, yet when she let go of his sleeve, he subconsciously wanted to reach out and hold her hand.
When she stepped back, he found it even harder to restrain himself, wanting to just dismount, press her into his arms, lock her by his side, and confine her in his heart, so she could never escape again.
He was truly going mad.
Was it because he had never had her that he was infatuated with her to the point of losing his mind?
If he finally possessed her, would he be able to let it go, to free himself from this torment?
This agony drove Gu Zhao mad, making him speak without thinking, wanting her to taste the bitterness of this endless pain right along with him.
Gu Zhao watched her step back, the smile on his face undiminished, and asked:
Why aren't you answering? You've lost count yourself, haven't you? To save him, how many have you slept with? And how many times have you slept with Shen Chongshu?
Gu Zhao was definitely crazy.
Do not converse with a madman.
Zhu Qingyu didn't say a single word. Leaving the crazed Lord Gu behind, she turned around and walked away.
Just as she stepped through the door of her home, someone swept over from behind like a fierce gale, grabbed her hand, and pulled her along, taking large strides inside.
Gu Zhao was taller than her, and his strides were longer; he walked quickly and urgently.
Led by the hand, Zhu Qingyu practically had to jog the whole way to keep up.
The small, two-courtyard residence had a layout so simple it was practically non-existent.
A fire rampaged wildly in Gu Zhao's heart. Pulling her along, he swept past the front courtyard and headed straight for the festooned gate.
They went through the gate, crossed the courtyard, and arrived at the main house.
In such a small house, there was no need for anyone to lead the way. Gu Zhao dragged her straight into her bedroom and pushed her down onto the bed.
Pinning both her wrists to the headboard with a single hand, Gu Zhao loomed over her, pressing his weight against her. He moved in one fluid motion, leaving her no chance to resist and giving himself no room for regret. Biting her neck, he spoke fiercely into her ear:
"Zhu Qingyu. Just this once. I will get him out, and then we are completely through. You and he will get the hell out of the capital and never come back!"
