Gu Zhao's long string of words left Zhu Qingyu completely baffled.
What way of living?
What about that night?
What responsibility?
Where was all this coming from?
Her face full of confusion, Zhu Qingyu could not help but ask:
"What? Which night? What are you talking about?"
Gu Zhao took another step closer, so close that their clothes were almost touching.
This distance completely crossed the line of Zhu Qingyu's personal space. Although his tone was gentle, the directness of his unwavering gaze made her highly uncomfortable.
Zhu Qingyu took several steps back, a hint of anger already showing on her face:
"Lord Minister!"
She did not understand why this Minister Gu had suddenly become so presumptuous for no apparent reason.
Gu Zhao stopped in his tracks. Indeed, the closer he got, the more his body clamored. Like a raging fire, it surged recklessly, growing ever more intense.
Over the past few days, whenever he took a break from investigating the case, Gu Zhao could not help but ponder this question: what exactly was wrong with him?
Gu Zhao's gaze swept past Zhu Qingyu's angry eyes, moving down to her half-exposed neck, following the arm tightly covered by her sleeve, and finally resting on the hem of her skirt that swayed with her movements. Only then did he speak:
"I saw you. That night. If you need it, I can take responsibility."
Today she was dressed modestly, but that fleeting glimpse when he barged into her boudoir that day seemed etched into his mind, adding many new romantic fantasies to his secret, wicked dreams at night.
A fair and graceful maiden, he seeks her waking and sleeping.
Seeking but not finding, he tosses and turns in longing.
To Gu Zhao, it was only natural for a man to fancy a woman of outstanding beauty. Similarly, admitting that he was just a mortal man coveting a pretty face was not a difficult thing to do.
It was human nature, the six desires. It could only be this reason, what else could it be? That spellbound state that had troubled him for months must be nothing more than this.
Since he had found the root of the problem, he naturally could not let it be. After thinking for several days, Gu Zhao finally decided to take action to resolve this issue that had been plaguing him.
It was not hard to solve. Seeking but not finding led to longing; getting what he wanted would naturally resolve it.
He had not specifically looked for her, yet they had encountered each other time and again. This was fate, a destined karma. With her looks, she ought to be living a life of luxury, surrounded by servants, her hands kept soft and unblemished. Yet here she was, wearing coarse clothes, showing her face in public just to earn a few meager pieces of silver.
She did not have an easy life, and he could give her a better, more respectable one. They both got what they needed, a highly suitable solution.
Zhu Qingyu thought for a good while before she finally understood what Gu Zhao meant by what he saw, and what his so-called taking responsibility was all about.
Regarding certain matters, even though she had grown up in modern society and was careful, she still lacked this kind of sensitivity.
To her, when Gu Zhao barged in that night and saw her wearing short sleeves and shorts, it would have been perfectly fine to wear that out shopping in the modern world. But in this world, it might be tied to things like innocence or chastity.
So, that was why he felt responsible. No wonder he had been avoiding her these past few days.
As for how the heir of a Duke's estate would take responsibility, that was obvious. With his status, he certainly would not marry her; at most, he would give her a place in his backyard.
A surge of anger flared up in her heart. This evil feudal society! Was this bastard man using an arrogant, patronizing tone to ask if she wanted to be his concubine?
And the reason he made this proposal was not that he had feelings for her, but rather out of his high moral standards for himself.
No wonder he had hidden for so many days, struggled for so long, and condescended to come here and say all this. He probably even felt that a common female doctor like her was unworthy of entering the Duke's estate, and he felt wronged for having to take her in because of an accident!
Zhu Qingyu was so furious that for a moment, she wanted to smash the steaming stove on the table right into his face.
Looking at the growing fury in Zhu Qingyu's eyes, Gu Zhao realized that the better, more respectable life he envisioned might not be what the young woman before him wanted.
He had indeed considered this possibility. It would be more troublesome and require some thought and effort, but it was not entirely impossible.
Pretending not to know what she was thinking, Gu Zhao put on a serious face and coaxed her gently:
"Are you displeased, Lady Zhu? It is true that although this matter was an accident, the responsibility ultimately lies with me. Delaying for these past few days without saying a word was my fault. Or is it that my willingness to take responsibility has instead offended you?"
Arguing requires an equal exchange of words to truly ignite. With Gu Zhao's attitude being so polite, Zhu Qingyu felt she would lack justification if she actually blew up and scolded him.
Forget it. Men of feudal society naturally had their limitations. By current standards, his actions were indeed those of a gentleman.
Zhu Qingyu took a deep breath, feeling a profound sense of powerlessness toward this worldview separated by hundreds of years.
Forget it, different values, different values, different values.
Forget it, do not stoop to his level, do not stoop to his level, do not stoop to his level.
Forget it, do not be angry, do not be angry, do not be angry.
Zhu Qingyu silently repeated this to herself several times before suppressing her anger, trying to speak in a calm tone:
"I already have a husband. I do not need Your Excellency to take responsibility."
Gu Zhao completely did not expect this answer. She was actually married!
Although he was utterly shocked inside, he was somewhat skeptical. Could this be her excuse? If she truly had a husband, why would she need to toil so hard?
Even though a storm was raging in his heart, Gu Zhao's tone remained perfectly steady:
"Oh? Is that so? Then where is he? Why hasn't he been seen at all these past few days?"
At this moment, Zhu Qingyu really wanted to just make a phone call, summon Zhang Shen, and shove him in Gu Zhao's face to show him!
Forget it, considering his high rank, and the fact that the Zhang family's business was in his hands, she endured it.
Using a series of forget its to persuade herself, Zhu Qingyu replied in a tone as devoid of anger as possible:
"The head merchant of Yangzhou, Zhang Jingyan, is my husband. Your Excellency has met him. He has been at the Huainan salt pans these past few days. Once he returns, Your Excellency can simply ask him. There is no need for me to lie about such a thing."
It was actually Zhang Jingyan. He had a name and a surname, and judging by her expression, she did not seem to be faking it.
Gu Zhao looked around the cramped pharmacy, finding it hard to associate it with the home of the head salt merchant. The Zhang family's wealth was counted in the millions. Why would they let their primary wife show her face in public to run such a tiny clinic?
No wonder she had been so angry just now. For him to rashly come today and say such things to a married woman, flirting with a respectable lady in broad daylight, was truly, truly absurd to the extreme!
Although he still had many doubts, Gu Zhao, feeling the absurdity of the situation, had no intention of pressing further. Finally, he only said:
"So that is how it is. I have truly been presumptuous and offended you."
Since a powerful dignitary of the current dynasty could lower himself to apologize, Zhu Qingyu did not want to make the relationship too tense. She also softened her tone and said:
"I appreciate Your Excellency's kind intentions, but there is truly no need for you to lower yourself to take responsibility for me. I must prepare the medicinal herbs for Young Master Xie now. Please excuse me."
Her words were a clear dismissal, signaling the end of their conversation. Zhu Qingyu averted her gaze from Gu Zhao, dedicating her full attention to the distillation process.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed him leaving the apothecary, only to suddenly stop at the doorway.
Zhu Qingyu looked over in confusion.
"Does Your Excellency have further instructions?"
Gu Zhao cast another glance at her. He looked as though he wanted to say something more, but ultimately remained silent, turning on his heel and walking away.
