As their journey to the capital drew to a close, a very practical problem presented itself to Zhu Qingyu.
How was Gu Zhao planning to settle her down, and what kind of status was he going to give her?
Although Gu Zhao had promised the other day that he would not leave her without a place to stay, she believed that his idea of a settlement and hers were vastly different, much like how different people understand the phrase "I will provide for you." The gap between their expectations was bound to be enormous.
Over the past few days, Zhu Qingyu had speculated from the perspective of Gu Zhao's interests. Even though he seemed somewhat infatuated with her right now, as a noble young master born and raised in a feudal society, he certainly wouldn't suddenly lose his mind over love and make a remarried merchant's wife his official wife. Even if he did go crazy enough to try, the elders in his family would never approve.
Therefore, his so-called settlement could only mean a few possibilities: a servant, a bed-maid, an outside mistress, or a concubine.
Sure enough, when Gu Zhao heard Zhu Qingyu ask if he would marry her, his expression became somewhat complicated. He took her hand, his tone carrying a hint of apology.
"Do you want me to marry you? Qingyu, I don't want to deceive you. My marriage is not only about myself, but also about my family. I am very sorry, but I cannot promise to marry you."
With her suspicions confirmed, Zhu Qingyu thought to herself: That is absolutely wonderful!
Of course Gu Zhao couldn't marry her. As the heir to a duke's estate, a powerful official of the current dynasty, and a typical scholar-official groomed by feudal society, personal romance was merely a spice of life to him. His core pursuits were his own interests and those of his family. He would never compromise his core interests for the sake of romantic love.
He was the one who would inherit the title in the future. His official wife would have to bear the responsibilities of the matriarch and bring him the political benefits of a marriage alliance between two powerful families. Thus, she would definitely be chosen from among unmarried noble ladies of matching social status. Only this would align with the interests of him and his family.
Since he had personally admitted that he would not marry her, and had restrained his desires tonight to just sleep innocently under the covers with her, was it possible that, in this very moment, he still harbored a shred of compassion for her? A hint of guilt?
Could this tiny sliver of guilt cause him to change his mind in a fleeting thought?
Zhu Qingyu lowered her eyes, her tone laced with grievance, as a single tear fell.
"Then can you let me go? I have never been a servant to anyone, and I don't want to be one now."
That tear fell onto the hand Gu Zhao was using to hold hers. It was so hot that it seared his heart.
Of course she wanted to leave; she had never stayed by his side willingly to begin with.
But he couldn't let go. He had tried and struggled, but he just couldn't do it.
Gu Zhao pulled her into his arms, stroking her smooth back, and sighed.
"Qingyu, no one is asking you to be a servant, including me."
He hadn't changed his mind. Zhu Qingyu was slightly disappointed, but she didn't give up. Settling for the next best thing, she began to scheme for a status that would be more advantageous to her.
She had carefully weighed the possibilities after arriving in the capital. Her biggest worry was that Gu Zhao would make her enter the duke's estate. Once inside, she would lose her freedom and finding a way out would be incredibly difficult. As for meeting and saving Zhang Shen, there would be absolutely no opportunity or room to maneuver.
The roles of servant, bed-maid, and concubine would all trap her within the duke's estate. Choosing the lesser of two evils, the status of an outside mistress was actually the most beneficial to her current situation.
Rather than passively accepting Gu Zhao's arrangements upon reaching the capital, it would be better to take the initiative and bring up the topic first, seizing the upper hand to guide Gu Zhao into settling her in a residence outside.
Leaning against Gu Zhao's chest, Zhu Qingyu spoke in a tearful, plaintive voice.
"You will marry a wife eventually, won't you? What if your wife torments me the way she would a servant?"
Gu Zhao comforted her.
"I will choose a noble lady of good character and gentle temperament. I will make an agreement with her beforehand. I will treat you well, and she will treat you well too."
Zhu Qingyu looked up at him. His eyes were so sincere, yet so full of self-righteous entitlement.
To a scholar-official raised on feudal education, having three wives and four concubines was an everyday norm in his mind.
Therefore, she could understand why Gu Zhao felt it was perfectly normal to simultaneously have a well-matched, morally upright noble lady as a wife and a beautiful, charming confidante as a concubine, all while expecting his wife to treat his concubine kindly.
He genuinely believed he was offering a reasonable solution, not trying to trick her.
The scumbag men of this feudal society were truly naive. They thought that just because polygamy was written into the law, their wives and concubines would naturally follow legal requirements—never getting jealous, never fighting, living in perfect harmony, and loving each other like one big happy family.
Zhu Qingyu didn't bother arguing with him that the law was the law and human nature was human nature, and that the two were completely different things. She didn't actually want to enter his inner courtyard anyway. How he managed his household had nothing to do with her.
Moreover, Gu Zhao taking a wife was an excellent opportunity for her.
A noble lady whose family rivaled the duke's estate in power might be able to tolerate a favored concubine right under her nose, but she would absolutely never tolerate her husband having a carefree mistress on the outside to slap her in the face.
As long as she didn't enter the duke's estate and didn't sign a slavery contract with Gu Zhao, she would remain a free citizen. Gu Zhao's wife wouldn't have the right to sell her, which meant she would very likely just drive her out of the capital.
When that time came, would Gu Zhao really clash with his own wife over a trivial romantic affair, thereby jeopardizing his core interests?
No, he wouldn't.
As long as she played her cards right, she still had a chance to escape Gu Zhao by relying on the power of his newlywed wife.
Zhu Qingyu lowered her eyes once more. Leaning against his chest, she said sorrowfully.
"You don't even know who she is yet, so how do you know she will definitely tolerate me? I have a house in the capital. I want to live in my own house. Whenever you want me, you can come find me there. You can visit me anytime. Just please don't make me beg for a living under her thumb, okay?"
Gu Zhao knew that she was looking for a way out again, searching for an opportunity to escape from his side.
If he wanted to sever these restless, disloyal thoughts of hers, it would actually be very easy to execute. All he had to do was lock her behind the inner courtyard's floral gate, shut her in some courtyard, and force her to live entirely at his mercy. Every cup of tea, every meal, and every basket of charcoal would depend on his mood. If he plunged her into despair, she would quickly become submissive and docile.
Inside the heavily guarded duke's estate, without him even giving an order, countless perceptive servants would help him watch over her and stop her. It wouldn't even require any personal effort on his part.
As for escaping, she wouldn't even be able to dream of it.
But, Gu Zhao thought as he held her slightly trembling body in his arms, having a way out meant having hope.
Her searching for a way out meant she was trying to survive.
Compared to a despairing version of her, the one still fighting to survive intoxicated him much more.
Didn't people live on hope, after all?
Did he really have to drive her to her death?
In the capital, even if he let her live in an outside residence, could she really escape the palm of his hand?
Why not let her hold onto this hope in her heart, so she could live vibrantly by his side?
Gu Zhao held her tightly. In the end, he could not bear to refuse her small request, but instead said,
"Alright."
