Gu Zhao escorted Zhu Qingyu and her group all the way back to Green Shade Lane. He watched as the Zhang family members carried luggage inside trip after trip, and only when he was sure Zhu Qingyu wouldn’t run off again did he finally relax.
This time, it was settled. Before Zhang Shen left for his post in Jiangning, she would definitely stay in the capital.
As for the Jiangnan region, if he wanted to go, there were plenty of assignments and opportunities. Gu Zhao thought this to himself, feeling quite pleased.
Seeing that even Uncle Lyu had returned to the palace after sending off the imperial eunuch, and Gu Zhao still hadn’t left, Zhu Qingyu considered whether she should invite him in for a cup of tea.
After all, strictly speaking, their last meeting at Yongfu Villa had settled matters between them according to their agreement.
And now, Gu Zhao had done them such a huge favor—raising the Zhang family’s status from merchants to scholar-officials in one fell swoop. She was once again deeply indebted to him.
Though she still couldn’t figure out his motives or logic—after all, by normal reasoning, there was no causal link between having designs on her and seeking a future for Zhang Shen—but he was friends with Shen Xu, and people with similar quirks got along well. An unusual way of thinking was entirely possible.
Oh well. A gentleman is judged by his deeds, not his intentions. Whatever his motives, the Zhang family had benefited from his kindness—that was the truth.
But inviting him for tea wasn’t really feasible under the circumstances. She had been about to leave for a long journey, so the house was cleaned out completely—even the stove fire had been put out. There wasn’t even hot water for tea, and the rooms were freezing.
So Zhu Qingyu discussed it with Gu Zhao:
“Master Gu, I was about to travel today, so the house is in a terrible mess. I ought to invite you in for tea, but it’s far too untidy, and I’m afraid of slighting you. Perhaps another time—I’ll treat you to a drink at Fan Tower. What do you think?”
Gu Zhao looked her over from head to toe. Though she wore plain clothes, they were clearly travel attire. He replied:
“Do you think I’m short of a meal of wine? If you want to thank me, you’d better thank me with something else.”
The look in his eyes was unmistakable. Zhu Qingyu’s expression froze as she answered:
“That won’t do. I’m a married woman, and you said it would only be once.”
Seeing her expression, Gu Zhao nearly exploded:
“What? What kind of look is that?? What are you thinking again? Do you really think that’s the only thing I’m after from you?”
Zhu Qingyu thought to herself: What else could it be? Did you take on a fifth-rank official position just to play the Good Samaritan?
She blinked her big eyes at him and asked:
“Then, Master Gu, what do you want in return for getting him that official post? And how do you want me to thank you?”
This woman was going to drive him mad. Gu Zhao fumed:
“I only want a few truthful words from you!”
Zhu Qingyu said with utmost sincerity:
“Master Gu, please ask. Anything I know, I’ll tell you in full detail, with absolute honesty and no deception.”
Though the phrase “absolute honesty” didn’t seem to fit her at all, Gu Zhao chose to trust her one more time. He asked:
“Where were you traveling to?”
Zhu Qingyu replied instantly:
“My hometown in Shu—Green Cloud Street.”
Ha. He had actually dared to hope she’d tell the truth. What a fool’s dream.
Gu Zhao took his horse’s reins and mounted:
“Fine, if you don’t want to say it, don’t. Why lie to me again? You’re infuriating. I’m leaving!”
Fine—if she wouldn’t tell him, he’d find out himself. She hadn’t dropped from the sky. He refused to believe he couldn’t trace her origins or locate her family.
After mounting, Gu Zhao was about to ride off, but he pulled the reins and backed his horse up. He leaned down and whispered in her ear:
“What I want from you is not just that one thing.”
The implication of “not just that one thing” was that “that one thing” was indeed on his mind.
Without warning, being teased so blatantly, Zhu Qingyu turned her head to curse him—only to see Zhang Shen standing in the courtyard, holding a box, watching them both.
Zhu Qingyu quickly stepped back to put some distance between them, then scolded:
“You lecher! You womanizer!”
At least now she was about to become the wife of a fifth-rank official. She figured she might as well borrow the scolding phrases of the capital’s noble ladies.
Gu Zhao was all smiles:
“Of course. I see you’re a good judge of character. You go ahead with your work. I’m off.”
After Gu Zhao left, Zhu Qingyu entered the courtyard and reached out to take the box from Zhang Shen’s hands. She asked:
“What’s wrong? Need help?”
Zhang Shen didn’t hand it over. He replied:
“It’s too heavy. I’ll handle it. Don’t drop it.”
He carried the box back to the main room. Once he was completely out of sight, Zhu Qingyu stood exactly where he had been and looked toward the gate.
From this angle—the spot where he had stood and the way he would have seen the doorway—Gu Zhao’s leaning pose and her position would have made it look like Gu Zhao was kissing her. And she, in turn, would have seemed to be letting him take liberties without any resistance.
Zhu Qingyu entered the main room:
“Jingyan, is there anything you want to ask me?”
Today’s imperial decree granting him a title—even she couldn’t figure out Gu Zhao’s reasoning. Surely Zhang Shen must have his own thoughts about it.
In this world, nothing good came for free. Every gain had its price—if not now, then later.
Was Zhang Shen perhaps thinking that she had paid some price to Gu Zhao again?
Seeing her come in, Zhang Shen shook his head:
“No. I was just thinking that I had promised to go back to your hometown with you. Now, I can’t leave.”
Zhu Qingyu didn’t mind. She replied:
“Oh, that’s exactly what I wanted to discuss with you. If you’re going to Jiangning for your post, I won’t follow along.”
Zhang Shen suddenly grew tense. He grabbed her wrist tightly:
“Are you leaving? Where are you going? Don’t be foolish. He…”
So he was harboring suspicions after all. Why didn’t he ask her outright?
Though his grip was painful, Zhu Qingyu let him hold on. She smiled:
“Of course I’m going back to Shu—where else would I go? You have your duties and can’t come along. I’ll hire some guards and travel on my own. I want to go back to my hometown to take care of things. Once I’m done, I’ll come find you in Jiangning.”
