At the hour of Chen, shortly after Gu Zhao fell asleep, Zhu Qingyu woke up.
She opened her eyes and stared at the unfamiliar patterns on the bed canopy above her. For quite a while, her mind was a complete blur.
What time was it?
Where was she?
Why was she here?
Images slowly surfaced in her mind. The last scene she remembered before falling asleep was Madam Xue accompanying her to the side courtyard to rest.
So, was this the government office? Had the celebration banquet ended?
As her thoughts gradually cleared, feeling returned to her limbs. Someone was lying next to her, their arms pressed tightly together.
It felt a bit crowded, yet somewhat warm.
Someone was lying next to her!
Zhu Qingyu sat up abruptly, horrified to discover that the person sleeping beside her was none other than Vice Minister Gu!
Looking around, she realized this was Vice Minister Gu's bedroom, a place she had visited once before.
In that instant, countless possibilities flashed through her mind, but none could reasonably explain why she would wake up in bed with Vice Minister Gu.
Fortunately, Zhu Qingyu looked at her own rumpled clothes and then at Vice Minister Gu, who was sleeping fully clothed. Fortunately, at least both of them were fully dressed; it didn't look like anything untoward had happened.
Should she wake Vice Minister Gu to ask what happened, or just leave first?
Zhu Qingyu almost instinctively chose to flee.
Vice Minister Gu might be an upright and good official, but the last time she was in this very place, the way he looked at her made her feel deeply uneasy.
Zhu Qingyu gently moved the blanket aside and quietly crawled over Gu Zhao, who was blocking the outside edge of the bed.
As soon as her feet touched the ground, she encountered a problem.
Looking around the bedside, she couldn't find her shoes.
Just as Zhu Qingyu was hesitating whether to leave wearing only her socks, a voice came from behind:
"You might have left them in the side courtyard."
Zhu Qingyu turned around and took several steps back. Looking at Gu Zhao, who was sitting up in bed, she didn't know what to say to handle the current situation.
Even though he had also just woken up, Vice Minister Gu looked perfectly composed. This meant he was mentally prepared for their current situation, completely unlike her own panic.
Did he bring her here?
Gu Zhao rubbed his temples, looking quite tired, and calmly and naturally said something that made Zhu Qingyu even more terrified:
"When I carried you over last night, you weren't wearing shoes. The floor is cold. Come and sit down first; I'll have a servant woman look for them later."
Ignoring the content of his words and just listening to his peaceful tone, it sounded as if the two of them were chatting casually over tea.
But the act of carrying her from the side courtyard to his own room was highly inappropriate, no matter what tone he used.
Furthermore, he said "last night"—an entire night had already passed.
She had actually slept here for a whole night. What about Zhang Shen? Had he gone back? Was he looking for her?
Zhu Qingyu even began to suspect the bitter-tasting wine from yesterday. She backed up a few more steps until she reached the door, almost ready to bolt:
"Thank you, Your Excellency. I dare not trouble you; I can go find them myself."
Zhu Qingyu touched the doorframe. It yielded—it could be opened and wasn't locked. This discovery made her feel slightly more at ease.
Only after seeing Zhu Qingyu touch the door, allowing her to confirm for herself that she could leave at any time and wasn't locked in, did Gu Zhao continue:
"Qingyu, I suggest you don't go out. The Embroidered Uniform Guard might still be looking for you."
Zhu Qingyu had already opened the door a crack and was about to step out, but upon hearing these words, she stopped in astonishment and turned to ask:
"Vice Minister Gu, I don't understand. What do you mean? Why would the Embroidered Uniform Guard be looking for me?"
They were in private, just the two of them, but she was no longer willing to address him by his courtesy name.
She had grown suspicious, which was, of course, entirely natural; anyone would be suspicious in such a situation.
The soil of suspicion could not bloom the flowers he desired. Growing flowers required light, rain, and trust.
Gu Zhao did not correct her form of address and spoke in the gentlest tone possible:
"Qingyu, Zhang Jingyan was taken away by the Embroidered Uniform Guard last night. The Guard executes the Emperor's orders. I don't know if their orders were to take only him or his family as well, so I could only place you in the safest place, which is here with me."
Of all the possibilities Zhu Qingyu had just speculated, none matched the scenario Gu Zhao described.
This was beyond her imagination.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard? The Emperor?
These sounded like such distant and unrelated figures. She had never thought she would have anything to do with these people.
Since it concerned Zhang Shen, Zhu Qingyu, who had just been about to flee, was instantly stopped by Gu Zhao's words. She asked urgently:
"Where did the Embroidered Uniform Guard take Jingyan? Why did they take him away?"
Gu Zhao did not answer immediately. Instead, he got up, slowly walked to the door, and placed his hand over hers. With a motion that almost pulled her into his embrace, he pushed the door fully open and ordered outside:
"Bring Doctor Zhu her shoes."
An older female servant outside voiced her compliance. Gu Zhao looked at Zhu Qingyu's silk-socked feet on the floor. Because she had already become suspicious, he abandoned the idea of carrying her back inside.
He simply took her hand naturally and led her toward the dressing table. As they walked, Gu Zhao answered:
"Qingyu, prisoners taken by the Embroidered Uniform Guard are sent to the imperial prison in the capital. Zhang Jingyan should be there as well. As for the reason? The Guard never gives reasons when handling cases, and I don't know Zhang Jingyan very well either. Perhaps you'll only know if you ask him what exactly he did to alarm the Emperor. However, the imperial prison does not allow visits. If you want to see him in the future, I'm afraid it will be difficult."
Zhu Qingyu's mind was completely filled with the thought of Zhang Shen being taken to the imperial prison by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. She was so shocked that she didn't even notice Gu Zhao holding her hand.
It wasn't until she sat down at the dressing table that she suddenly reacted:
"Are you saying the Embroidered Uniform Guard might also arrest family members?"
Gu Zhao picked up the gold hairpin that had been removed from her hair yesterday from the dressing table, and looking in the mirror, he pinned it back into her bun as he replied:
"Such things do happen. The Embroidered Uniform Guard doesn't report to me, so I can't be sure. For your safety, I want you to stay here and not go out."
Family members! Third Sister!
Third Sister was still at home!
Would the Embroidered Uniform Guard go to their home?
Zhu Qingyu jumped up at once:
"Your Excellency, thank you for considering me, but I must go back immediately!"
Zhu Qingyu couldn't even wait for the servant woman to bring her shoes; she dashed out in a flash.
Gu Zhao followed behind her, walking to the eaves of the main house.
Zhu Qingyu had already run to the courtyard gate. She pulled the gate open, only to find a row of guards armed with swords closing in, blocking her path.
