Zhu Qingyu actually always knew clearly that, in terms of sheer ability, Gu Zhao was the best candidate in the capital to make the Emperor change his mind and rescue Zhang Shen with his innocence intact.
He was the Emperor's own cousin and former study companion. Having grown up together with the Emperor, their relationship was unusually intimate.
Furthermore, he was the chief presiding official over the illicit salt case. If he were to speak up, it wouldn't seem abrupt at all; it would be perfectly reasonable and natural.
The only problem, which was also the biggest problem, was that he had no desire to save Zhang Shen. In fact, his intentions leaned in the exact opposite direction.
Therefore, while in the capital, Zhu Qingyu never took the initiative to seek him out. Yet, whenever they crossed paths, she tried her best not to offend him. This was all to maintain a delicate balance—to placate and pacify him so that, even if he couldn't help, he at least wouldn't cause trouble.
But just now, Gu Zhao had said, Why didn't you think to come find me and beg me?
This was a different signal. For him to bring up the matter on his own accord proved that he now had the inclination and was proposing terms to her.
Zhu Qingyu didn't know what had made Gu Zhao compromise, but for her, this was an excellent opportunity to test whether he truly had the intention and willingness to exert effort on Zhang Shen's case.
To gain something, one must give up something. She could accept the conditions he proposed.
So when Gu Zhao told her to beg him, Zhu Qingyu didn't hesitate in the slightest. She tugged at Gu Zhao's sleeve:
"Shouming, I beg you, please help me rescue my second cousin from the Imperial Prison with his name cleared, alright?"
Gu Zhao buried his head by her ear and chuckled. He lightly kissed her earlobe and couldn't resist taking a small bite. The more he tasted, the more he lost control, taking another bite at the crook of her neck before commenting:
"Qingyu, you taste so sweet."
Zhu Qingyu felt a bit ticklish from his biting and turned her head away to dodge him. In her heart, she cursed, What is wrong with him? It's not like I'm made of sugar. Out loud, however, she pressed on:
"Shouming, I'm already begging you. Help me, please?"
Gu Zhao cupped her face, refusing to let her hide. From her neck upward, he kissed her jaw, and then her lips. He pried open her teeth to taste her flavor. What started as a light, skimming touch suddenly escalated into a fierce, stormy tempest of a kiss, not letting her go until both of them were left panting.
Reaching up to touch the rouge smeared on his own lips, Gu Zhao stared at her with deep, dark eyes and commented once more:
"Truly very sweet. Did you know, Qingyu, the very first time I saw you, I wanted to do this to you? But you just had to run away. I thought about you for so long, always dreaming about you at night. I originally wanted to just let it go, but then I happened to run into you again in Yangzhou. Tell me, isn't this our destiny?"
Zhu Qingyu's heart jolted. She actually never knew when Gu Zhao's feelings for her had begun, nor what had caused them. But if he was saying it was during their first meeting, they clearly hadn't even spoken a word to each other back then.
Though shocked inwardly, outwardly she changed the subject, speaking with an air of complete generosity:
"If you think it's sweet, you probably just like the taste of my rouge. How about I give you some? Please help me."
Gu Zhao leaned down and embraced her again, pressing his entire body against hers. The two of them were squeezed onto the small chaise lounge, legs touching legs, arms touching arms, almost melting into one another.
He rested his head on her shoulder, his breath brushing against her ear, and said with a hint of grievance:
"Qingyu, you are being a bit unfair to me. When you beg others, you know to offer beautiful jade and benefits. Why is it that when it comes to me, it's just empty words? You clearly know what I want, so don't try to pretend you don't. I want it so badly. What I think about by day, I dream about by night; my eyes open and close only to see you. Ever since I met you, I haven't had a single night of good sleep. Marry me, will you? If you marry me, I will help you fish Zhang Jingyan out of the Imperial Prison."
His condition was exceptionally obvious, and he didn't seem to want to hide it either. What he wanted was crystal clear.
Zhu Qingyu reached out to hug his shoulders and followed along with his topic:
"Alright, if you help me save Jingyan, I will marry you."
The beauty's promise flowed over him like a clear spring, bringing unprecedented solace to a heart that had grown dry and cracked from unrequited love.
But perhaps because he had been deceived by her too many times, even after hearing her promise with his own ears, Gu Zhao still wasn't swept away by joy. Instead, he negotiated terms with her, clear-headed yet pained:
"Once I rescue Zhang Jingyan, you will definitely run away and absolutely will not marry me. You have to marry me first, and only then will I get him out."
Run? Of course she was going to run. If she didn't run, was she supposed to stick around and celebrate the New Year with him?
But since he was being so cautious and demanding she fulfill her end of the bargain first, she had no objections.
It was an equivalent exchange. He was the one holding the initiative, so she could pay upfront.
Zhu Qingyu turned her head, the corner of her lips lightly brushing his cheek, and reached out to touch his belt:
"Alright, I'll marry you. Let's get married today, right now. You help me rescue him, okay?"
With a beauty in his arms and her taking the initiative to touch him, Gu Zhao almost let out a gasp, yet he pressed down on her wandering hand, stopping her.
"Qingyu, what are you doing?" Gu Zhao asked.
Zhu Qingyu was a bit confused:
"Huh? Didn't you say you wanted to...?"
Had she misunderstood his intentions?
Impossible!
He had specifically brought her here today, to a villa deep in the mountains, his territory, surrounded by his people—wasn't it just because he was afraid she would run away?
Then he had uttered a bunch of sweet nothings to coax her into bed, proposed the terms of their transaction, and even initiated physical contact with her.
She was merely cooperating with him to fulfill the transaction. Surely she couldn't have gotten it wrong, right?
Gu Zhao sat up. Seeing the utter bewilderment on her face, he sighed and said:
"Qingyu, when I said marry, I meant a real marriage, not tricking you into an illicit affair without a matchmaker. By marriage, I mean waiting for your father and brother to arrive in the capital, inviting family elders and matchmakers to your residence to propose, going through the three letters and six etiquettes, using an eight-bearer bridal sedan, and becoming husband and wife rightfully and properly. I truly want to marry you. I told you last time, did you just not take it seriously? You even eagerly sent a dowry to the Miss of the Zhuang family."
Well naturally, how could she take that seriously?
From beginning to end, Zhu Qingyu hadn't believed a single word Gu Zhao said about wanting her to marry him.
Right now, perhaps because he was pining for what he couldn't have and hadn't yet truly gotten his hands on her, the rush was going to his head. A promise made at a time like this—he could claim he'd pluck the stars and fish out the moon, and it would easily roll off his tongue.
Of course, at this very moment, on this intimate little couch, a man controlled by lust and seeking pleasure might, in that split second, genuinely have the desire to marry her.
However, he lacked the capability. Zhu Qingyu did not believe he could overcome the massive gap in status and position between the two of them.
Since he couldn't pull it off anyway, what harm was there in agreeing to him?
Besides, so what if she married him? Married people could get divorced, and if divorce didn't work out, she could always become a widow.
Zhu Qingyu put away her bewildered expression and revealed a gentle smile:
"Ah, so that's how it is. Alright, I'll take it seriously, and I agree. So, how do you plan to marry me? You said you would arrange an eighth-rank imperial physician position for my father and brother. Will the elders in your family be able to accept becoming in-laws with an eighth-rank official?"
Gu Zhao actually felt a bit of regret. He didn't know why he always lost control of his mind whenever he saw her—always wanting to kiss her, hug her, bite her, and press himself against her, to the point where he didn't even have the chance to discuss serious matters.
Now that she was finally starting to formally discuss the matter of their marriage with him, Gu Zhao sat up straight. He pulled back slightly to put a little distance between them and said solemnly:
"Not the eighth rank, but the third. A daughter from the family of the third-rank Minister of the Imperial Medical Court is more than worthy of discussing marriage with a Duke's manor."
