He bet right!
Lord Liu truly had not expected to hit the mark so perfectly regarding Vice Minister Gu's hidden desires in one fell swoop.
For a powerful royal relative and wealthy noble scion like Vice Minister Gu, ordinary things naturally would not catch his eye. The hardest step in catering to his tastes was simply knowing what those tastes were.
Now that this step was resolved, winning over Vice Minister Gu would be much simpler.
Lord Liu could hardly suppress his inner joy, his tone growing excited:
Allow me to be so bold as to ask, My Lord, do you desire a fleeting moment, or something lasting?
Gu Zhao's tone remained completely unrippled, as calm as before:
Something lasting? How could it be lasting with a married woman?
The big fish had taken the bait, and Lord Liu grew even more thrilled:
Naturally. Forgive my bluntness, but she doesn't have to be.
She doesn't have to be?
How could a married woman cease to be one?
Lord Liu's few casual words might implicate several human lives.
Hearing this, Gu Zhao actually laughed aloud:
Liu Wenhuan, you are truly bold. How could she not be? Are you encouraging me to frame someone, or to commit murder and arson? As a local magistrate, do you know that inciting murder carries the same penalty as the act itself, punishable by beheading?
Though he was smiling, how could Lord Liu fail to hear the underlying anger?
But things had gone too far; there was no turning back. Braving the anger, Lord Liu braced himself and said:
Quell your anger, My Lord. How could I dare dirty your hands or ruin your reputation? Since ancient times, how many wealthy merchant families have truly been clean? There is no need for framing. Zhang Jingyan is far from innocent. A simple investigation will surely reveal countless flaws. If we enforce the law impartially and with solid evidence, no one can find fault. When the beauty falls into distress, you can step in to save her from the fire. There is no fear she will not be moved to tears of gratitude and devoted to you body and soul. Would that not be a natural progression, creating a beautiful romance?
Silence fell behind the folding screen once more.
The prolonged quiet in the room left Lord Liu anxious, not daring to breathe too loudly.
It was not until Lord Liu's legs were nearly numb from kneeling that Gu Zhao spoke again:
Liu Wenhuan, you are quite adept at handling affairs. You scheme on my behalf; what benefit do you seek?
Like a heavenly melody, he finally heard these words from Vice Minister Gu, finally reaching the main point.
Lord Liu had expended manpower, effort, and taken on risks for Vice Minister Gu precisely for this moment. Suppressing his intense excitement, he replied:
Sharing your burdens is my duty. But in this Liangjiang region, I am not the only one willing to do so. There is another who eagerly hopes for the blessing to assist you, though I do not know if you would be willing to give him a chance.
Gu Zhao laughed again:
Does this other person bear the surname Lei? Liu Wenhuan, you are praying to the wrong Buddha and walking the wrong path. Have I not told you that Lei Dawu is a man the Emperor wants dead? I do not have the ability to protect him.
Seeing Vice Minister Gu soften his tone, Lord Liu knew there was a turning point and hurriedly said:
Yes, yes, a man the Emperor wants dead naturally deserves to die. Fortunately, however, has no one actually seen what Lei Dawu looks like? Truth be told, he sincerely wishes to serve the court and show his respect to you. Once the Zhang family's position is vacated, if you could let him fill the vacancy of the head merchant, without wasting a single soldier, the salt smuggler Lei Dawu would naturally cease to exist. The missing salt tax for this year would also have a source, you could beautifully report back to the Emperor, and you would achieve your own desires. Is this not a supreme strategy with fourfold benefits?
At this, Gu Zhao's tone even carried a hint of relaxation:
To have thought it through so thoroughly... it seems you have had your eyes on the Zhang family for a long time. You are not fulfilling my desires; you are clearly using my name to accomplish your own goals.
Lord Liu smiled obsequiously:
I would not dare, I would not dare. You may not know this, My Lord, but Zhang Jingyan is quite uncooperative. Leaving him be might ruin your good plans.
...
Inside the room, Gu Zhao and Lord Liu conferred secretly for a long time.
Outside, Xiong Kun and the retainer guarded the door on either side.
Xiong Kun was ready for Vice Minister Gu's summons, while the retainer was preoccupied with the fact that His Lordship had seen two groups of people successively during dinner, leaving no time to clean up the bathing items in the room.
After a long wait, Lord Liu finally pushed the door open and emerged. He nodded to Xiong Kun and left with a face full of joy.
From inside, Gu Zhao ordered:
Xiong Kun, come in.
Seeing Lord Liu's joyful appearance, Xiong Kun thought the chat must have gone well. He pushed the door open, stepped around the screen, and met Vice Minister Gu's eyes, only to find Vice Minister Gu's gaze icy cold, without the slightest trace of happiness.
Being looked at by Vice Minister Gu with such a gaze, Xiong Kun's heart tightened, and he hurriedly bowed:
My Lord, you called for me.
Gu Zhao slowly wiped his hands with a handkerchief and instructed:
Send someone to keep an eye on Liu Wenhuan. Watch his advisors as well. Observe closely who they meet, where they go, and what they do. If there is anything unusual, report to me immediately.
Xiong Kun lowered his head and assented. Just as he was about to leave, Gu Zhao added:
Send more men to guard the Zhang residence and the Zhu family clinic. If she goes out, as long as there is no danger, do not stop her. Just have someone follow her in secret.
Gu Zhao did not specify who she was, and Xiong Kun surprisingly did not ask, clearly knowing exactly who Gu Zhao was referring to. Xiong Kun bowed his head in assent once more and took his leave.
After dinner, the retainer brought people in to clean up the bathtub, the brazier, and the dishes. Since the room was full of people, Gu Zhao retreated to the adjacent side room and casually picked up a book to read.
Not long after, the retainer unexpectedly came in holding a handkerchief, presenting it to Gu Zhao with a deeply troubled expression:
His Lordship.
It was a plain light cyan handkerchief, the very one he had just seen her use to wipe the water from her body.
His hidden desires, which he had thought no one knew about and intended to let dissipate like smoke and drift away with the wind, were unexpectedly known to everyone without him even realizing it.
Liu Wenhuan knew, Xiong Kun knew, and even the retainer knew.
Gu Zhao took the plain handkerchief and calmly asked the retainer:
Where did you find this?
The retainer trembled with fear: Next to the brazier.
Gu Zhao asked again: How did you discover it?
The retainer was a bit puzzled: I just... saw it.
Gu Zhao gave a light chuckle and looked at the retainer: I am asking you, how did you figure it out?
The retainer instantly understood Gu Zhao's unspoken meaning. Since it involved his master's less-than-respectable private matters, the retainer became even more terrified:
This lowly one did not mean to pry. It is just... just that His Lordship, sometimes, in the middle of the night, calls out for Doctor Zhu during nightmares.
Like a goose leaving footprints in the snow, whatever is done inevitably leaves traces.
How could he have previously taken for granted that this matter would forever remain a secret?
It was truly self-deception.
Now that he was found out, even to the point of Lord Liu holding it as leverage, Gu Zhao was not only unpanicked but actually felt relieved, experiencing the liberation of finally finding a way out after being trapped by himself for so long.
So what if they knew?
Since he could not get over it, then he simply would not!
However, since everyone else knew, did she know, or did she not know, or did she know but pretend not to?
