Zhu Qingyu hid the key in her bosom and turned to look at the bed.
Gu Zhao was still sleeping very soundly, not even having changed his posture.
It was a rare opportunity. Zhu Qingyu did not hesitate for a moment, nor was she the least bit impatient. With a clear goal, she walked out with light steps. Because she had been bedridden these past few days, she wore soft-soled brocade slippers for indoor use. The soft soles made absolutely no sound as she stepped on the floor all the way to the door.
Zhu Qingyu looked back once more; Gu Zhao was still asleep.
To get from the cabin to the study, one had to pass by the tea room next door.
Although she had said that day that there was no need to trouble people, perhaps in Lord Gu's eyes, servants were naturally meant to be used, and there was no such thing as troubling them. He had still arranged for the tea room to be staffed day and night without interruption.
Over the past few days, the tea Gu Zhao drank while working, or the stomach-warming sweet soup the momo arranged to be boiled for Zhu Qingyu, all came from the tea room.
At two or three in the morning, naturally the time when people were most sleepy, the door to the tea room was wide open. The young maid assigned to guard it was sitting in front of the tea stove, nodding off.
Zhu Qingyu held her breath to avoid startling her and walked past silently.
Once past the tea room, there was no one else to see her. The corridor only had a few dim lanterns swaying gently with the ship's movement. Zhu Qingyu lifted her skirt and sprinted through the night, running all the way to the study and opening its door.
The study was empty. Those locked boxes were still on the bookshelf, four in total. Even their positions hadn't changed, looking exactly the same as the last time she saw them.
Zhu Qingyu took out the key, rushed to the bookshelf, and started opening them in order, beginning with the first box.
She tried for quite a while, but perhaps the key was wrong, as it simply wouldn't open.
Afraid that the key might break inside, Zhu Qingyu didn't dare use too much force. She pulled it out and was just about to try the second box when someone at the door said softly:
"The third one."
It was Gu Zhao's voice.
At that moment, Zhu Qingyu was so shocked her scalp went numb. She forced herself not to cry out, quickly hid the key in her palm, turned to look at Gu Zhao, and forced a calm smile:
"I couldn't sleep, so I came to find a book to read."
Gu Zhao was wearing the outer robe that had been on the rack. His face was calm, betraying no emotion. He walked toward her step by step, stopping in front of her. He reached out his hand to her, his tone still gentle:
"Looking for a book to read, or looking for Zhang Jingyan's case file? If it's Zhang Jingyan's case file, it's in the third box."
Zhu Qingyu was currently leaning her back against the second box. Right at her hand was the third box, which she could touch just by raising her hand.
She knew Gu Zhao's gesture was asking for the key, but being just one step away, she couldn't bear to give it back. She kept the key hidden in her palm and instead placed her other hand into Gu Zhao's, holding his hand as she replied:
"Looking for a book. I didn't find any good ones, let's go back."
Gu Zhao looked at the hand she voluntarily offered. Surprisingly, he didn't expose her on the spot, nor did he force her to hand over the key. Instead, a smile appeared on his face, and he laughed gently:
"Alright. The candlelight is dim at night, there's no rush for this moment. Read the book tomorrow, don't hurt your eyes."
Gu Zhao led her back, walking unhurriedly to the door.
Zhu Qingyu couldn't help but look back; that box was still in its place.
Gu Zhao noticed her hesitation. He stopped and looked down at her tenderly:
"What is it, Qingyu? Is there anything you want to say to me?"
Zhu Qingyu shook her head and took the initiative to walk out, saying:
"Let's go back."
Retracing the path she had taken, passing the dimly lit corridor and the still-dozing young maid, the two entered the cabin.
Zhu Qingyu went straight to the bed, climbed into her spot on the inside, and taking advantage of pulling up the quilt, hid the key under her pillow before lying down smoothly.
Gu Zhao stood in the middle of the cabin, delaying his approach.
Zhu Qingyu looked over and asked hesitantly:
"Shouming? Are you going to sleep?"
Gu Zhao raised both his arms and just looked at her with deep eyes, but said nothing.
Zhu Qingyu realized belatedly that Gu Zhao seemed to be waiting for her to undress him?
Although in terms of status, the two had reached a tacit understanding that she was now Gu Zhao's mistress and was supposed to serve his daily needs.
But in Zhu Qingyu's heart, this was merely a form of compromise. She had not truly accepted this identity, much less demanded of herself to serve Gu Zhao according to it.
Even taking off his outer robe last time was to check for the key. Other than that, she had never voluntarily served him tea or undressed him, and strangely, Gu Zhao had never asked her to do so.
Although Gu Zhao held a noble status and had many servants and subordinates on board, Zhu Qingyu had discovered during their time together that when it came to daily routines like eating, changing clothes, and bathing, Gu Zhao was actually quite like her, he mostly did things himself and rarely used servants.
But now, the way Gu Zhao was looking at her suggested he was waiting for her to fulfill the duties her status required and undress him.
Although his face remained calm, devoid of any extreme words or actions, for some reason, Zhu Qingyu subconsciously foresaw an impending storm and danger through his expression, which was as deep as the night.
He was definitely angry.
Of course he was. She had just secretly taken his key and was caught red-handed by him.
Zhu Qingyu tried to change the subject to dilute his currently dangerous aura. Hiding half her face under the quilt, she looked at him pitifully:
"Shouming, I won't read books this late in the future. Don't be angry, okay?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Zhao actually laughed. His smile was still as gentle as ever, but the words that came out of his mouth made Zhu Qingyu tremble with fear:
"Zhu Qingyu, does toying with me like this make you very proud of yourself?"
Zhu Qingyu subconsciously hid herself deeper into the quilt, as if this small, enclosed space could truly protect her. Still trying to defuse his anger, she said even more pitifully:
"Shouming, I don't understand what you're talking about. You're scaring me a little like this. It's too late, let's sleep first and talk about it tomorrow, okay?"
Having waited for a long time without Zhu Qingyu yielding, the flames of anger in Gu Zhao's heart flared up intensely, rushing straight to his head. He began to take off his clothes himself while walking toward Zhu Qingyu.
How dare she! How dare she toy with him like this!
First, she wove a false, beautiful dream to let him indulge in her tenderness, and then she abruptly created a nightmare, making him worry daily for her life. One moment she lifted him to the heavens, and the next she threw him to the ground, so recklessly manipulating and ravaging his heart that yearned for her, all just to get her husband's case file.
She had never trusted the promises he made, nor did she believe he would spare Zhang Jingyan's life as he promised. Naturally, she hadn't given up on rescuing her husband herself.
How could he have truly believed she had a death wish!
That's right, she was a healer who saved lives and healed the wounded. She knew the value of life better than anyone else. How could she give up her own life so easily?
At this moment, Gu Zhao did not know whether he should feel joy or rage.
Joy, because she had no true intention of seeking death.
Rage, because she clearly had no intention of seeking death!
The more turbulent his heart became, the more placid his face appeared. He stripped off his outer robe and tossed it to the floor, then proceeded to remove his inner garments, even managing to speak with a smile.
"Afraid? Heh, Zhu Qingyu, deep down you have never been afraid of me. I have simply been too lenient with you, which is why you lack any sense of reverence and actually dared to use life and death to fool me. Tell me, I really must punish you severely, don't you agree?"
