Vice Minister Gu surprisingly did not order a servant, but poured the tea himself.
Zhu Qingyu stood up and respectfully accepted it. Holding the teacup without drinking, she explained,
"It is not that Jingyan is neglectful or disrespectful. I came so abruptly because he went to the Huaibei salt pans a few days ago and is not in Yangzhou. There is truly no one else at home. I first sought an audience with Prefect Liu, but Prefect Liu said he could not make the decision. My sister-in-law is an unmarried young woman who simply cannot stay in a place like a prison. Therefore, I had no choice but to come and disturb you. Please forgive my intrusion."
Gu Zhao looked at the untouched tea in her hands and smiled.
"Doctor Zhu, you saved Xie Ze and did me a great favor. Otherwise, if something had happened to Xie Ze, it would have been very difficult for me to explain to the Empress. Therefore, between you and me, there is no need to speak of disturbing or such polite distance. It is good that you thought to come to me when you encountered difficulties. If I can help, I naturally will. But have you ever wondered why, right after Zhang Jingyan left, such a thing happened, forcing you to come here?"
Even Zhu Qingyu could sense that something was wrong with today's events, so it was only natural for Vice Minister Gu to be suspicious.
But if one were to say this matter had anything to do with Zhang Shen, Zhu Qingyu would not believe it.
To her, if there was only one person in this world she could trust, it would be Zhang Shen, not anyone else.
Zhu Qingyu looked back at him and also smiled.
"There might be some misunderstanding in this. I dare not speak for others, but Jingyan is my husband, and I know him well. He is not that kind of person. Towards you, My Lord, he holds the utmost respect. He would absolutely never harbor thoughts of opportunism or crooked schemes."
Truly, they were a married couple with deep, unquestioning love. Her genuine smile and her earnest, unconditional defense of her husband made Gu Zhao find the sight somewhat glaring, and he could not help but look away.
Gu Zhao looked at the relentless wind and rain raging outside the door and said,
"Since Doctor Zhu vouches for him, I naturally believe it. However, today Prefect Liu just arranged a maid for me who bears a thirty percent resemblance to you. Tell me, Doctor Zhu, with such a coincidence, am I overthinking things again?"
Zhu Qingyu recalled the figure she had seen from behind at Prefect Liu's place earlier. No wonder she felt it was somewhat familiar, it actually looked like herself!
She and Gu Zhao had only met a few times and barely spoken a few words to each other; they could be said to be completely unrelated. Why would Prefect Liu have such wild fantasies and do such a thing?
The only possibility was that when Gu Zhao said those words to her at the clinic that day, someone else had overheard and passed it on to Prefect Liu.
This was a bit troublesome. Only she and Gu Zhao were present that day. Would Vice Minister Gu think that she and Prefect Liu were in cahoots?!
Could he suspect that she ran over here today to pull some sort of honey trap?
Regardless, she first had to clear herself of any complicity with Prefect Liu.
Zhu Qingyu said with a serious expression,
"Please see clearly, My Lord. I have never told anyone about what happened that day, not even Jingyan. As for others, they must have heard some rumors from somewhere and misunderstood..."
Before Zhu Qingyu could finish her sentence, Gu Zhao suddenly stood up. Under Zhu Qingyu's astonished gaze, he walked up to her, curled one hand over the back of her chair, and leaned down to look at her.
"Oh, a misunderstanding? Then I must ask Doctor Zhu, what is it that he misunderstood?"
Vice Minister Gu's tone was gentle and his expression was ordinary, but his leaning posture was far too ambiguous.
However, the gaze that stared straight at her was too sharp, like a hunter locking onto its prey. It completely stripped away any romantic undertones from the intimacy, setting off alarm bells in Zhu Qingyu's head and leaving her too afraid to even move for a moment.
He was truly too close. When he leaned down, a strand of his half-wet hair even brushed against Zhu Qingyu's cheek.
The unique scent of bath soap, wrapped in icy moisture, rushed over her face. Zhu Qingyu belatedly realized the proximity and hurriedly leaned back, her back instantly bumping into Gu Zhao's hand resting on the back of the chair.
Vice Minister Gu's hand was as cold as his hair.
Unable to advance or retreat, Zhu Qingyu dared not move anymore. Meeting his gaze, she replied,
"He underestimated you, My Lord, and overestimated me. You are an upright and honorable gentleman, while I am but an ordinary married woman."
Gu Zhao looked into her eyes and remained silent for a long time, seemingly evaluating whether her answer was just a perfunctory brush-off or the truth.
Zhu Qingyu let him look and added,
"Vice Minister Gu, this matter has nothing to do with Jingyan, nor does it have anything to do with me. I hold only respect for you, My Lord, and would never dare entertain thoughts of climbing the social ladder through you. Do you believe me?"
Seeing her say this, Gu Zhao looked again at the untouched teacup in her hand. He suddenly smiled, stood up, and said,
"Doctor Zhu, I have no misunderstanding about you. If you truly had such intentions, you wouldn't be so afraid to even drink a cup of my tea."
As Gu Zhao stood up, the invisible, paralyzing aura of a superior that had just enveloped her also dissipated.
So Gu Zhao purposely pouring tea for her and suddenly getting so close just now was to test her?
Did she pass the test?
Zhu Qingyu suspected that if she had dared to touch Gu Zhao just now, he might have immediately branded her as an accomplice of Prefect Liu and arrested her on the spot.
As for not drinking his tea, it was Zhu Qingyu's habit when she was out. Unless she was at a banquet with many people present, at any other time, whether visiting as a guest or seeing patients, she would never touch anything given to her individually by others.
Being pointed out on the spot by Vice Minister Gu was truly a bit embarrassing. Zhu Qingyu took a sip from the cup and explained,
"Your Lordship's tea is excellent. It is just that I was truly worried about my sister-in-law and neglected it."
Watching her drink the tea, Gu Zhao returned to his gentle, smiling demeanor.
"I see. Then it was I who overthought things. I understand the situation now. I will handle the rest."
With that said, Gu Zhao looked out the door and ordered,
"Xiong Kun, escort Doctor Zhu back. Go tell Prefect Liu that I said he is to release the person. If he has any more questions, tell him to come and ask me himself."
Xiong Kun, still wearing his oiled raincoat and holding his sword, appeared at the door and replied,
"Yes, My Lord. Doctor Zhu, please."
Zhu Qingyu stood up and curtsied to Gu Zhao,
"Thank you, My Lord. When Jingyan returns, my husband and I will definitely come again to thank you for your kindness."
Hearing her specifically emphasize the words husband and I, Gu Zhao remained noncommittal, saying neither yes nor no.
Just as Zhu Qingyu stepped out the door and opened her umbrella, ready to leave, Gu Zhao suddenly called out to her again,
"Doctor Zhu."
Zhu Qingyu turned around,
"Does Your Lordship have any other orders?"
Gu Zhao, his expression unreadable and his mood indiscernible, said,
"Doctor Zhu, in the future when you go out, bring more people with you, especially while I am still in Yangzhou City."
The hidden meaning in his last sentence left Zhu Qingyu momentarily unsure of how to reply. She simply nodded silently, turned around again, and left Gu Zhao's warm and cozy courtyard, heading out into the relentlessly raging storm.
