Gu Yi dropped an awkward yet polite sentence and turned to leave.

Zhou Tinghe suddenly reached out as if wanting to catch the corner of her cloak.

This startled Gu Yi greatly, her heart trembling with fear as she narrowly avoided him by shifting her body.

You, a man without any official rank, openly pulling at a palace consort—we might both be doomed!

She said sternly, “Young Master Zhou, please control yourself!”

Seeing her face full of astonishment, her almond eyes wide open, and her voice almost trembling, Zhou Tinghe could only reluctantly withdraw his hand.

“Yes… I was being improper…”

Gu Yi didn’t want to stay a moment longer and immediately put down the hairpin in her hand.

This Zhou Tinghe was like a burning pit of fire; she had no idea what tortured love affair he might have had with the original Concubine Gu.

She turned her head to look at Zhao Wan, who also appeared shocked, and urged, “Let’s go.”

Zhao Wan raised her eyes to carefully examine Gu Yi and saw that although her expression was anxious, she showed no sorrow.

She didn’t seem like someone who had just encountered a former lover from whom she had reluctantly parted.

But Young Master Zhou’s words and actions clearly showed that he still had feelings for Consort Gu.

Zhao Wan turned her gaze away, lowered her eyelashes, and nodded in agreement.

The group hurriedly went downstairs and boarded the carriage outside Treasure Pavilion.

How unfortunate.

Going shopping only to encounter someone who seemed like an ex-boyfriend.

Gu Yi’s holiday enthusiasm was mostly extinguished.

Sitting on the soft cushion in the carriage, she couldn’t help but take a deep breath.

All the servants accompanying them today were from the Gu household, so they probably wouldn’t gossip wildly.

Gu Yi hesitantly looked at Zhao Wan sitting opposite her.

Zhao Wan understood her concern and said, “Sister Yi, rest assured, I will keep today’s events to myself.”

Gu Yi shook her head, “It’s not a big deal, just an old acquaintance. Ah Wan, don’t worry about it.”

This matter—she had to speak about it herself.

If Xiaoyan was bound to find out, then it would be better for her to confess honestly rather than have others embellish it and cause greater misunderstandings.

Besides, she had nothing to hide.

She truly had no relationship with that Zhou Tinghe!

Judging by Xiao Gouzi’s character, if any palace consort dared to have an affair, growing a field of green grass on his head, she would likely be beaten to death immediately, possibly implicating her entire family.

Having struggled to survive for so long, she absolutely couldn’t meet a miserable end because of unfounded accusations.

Gu Yi made up her mind.

Just as the carriage returned to the Gu residence, Madam Gu heard the news and hurried over, hastily dismissing the servants and even personally closing the only carved window in the room.

She looked at Gu Yi, who seemed to have something to say but didn’t know where to begin.

Understood—she had come to deliver intelligence.

Gu Yi sat upright on the embroidered stool and smiled lightly, “Mother, please speak freely.”

Know both yourself and your enemy to survive until the end.

Madam Gu indeed let out a long sigh, “Last month, when I heard Zhou Tinghe had returned from Qingzhou, I wondered if he might happen to meet you during this visit. I never expected that what I feared would come true—today you met by such coincidence…” She sighed again, “How fate toys with people…”

My goodness, get to the point!

Gu Yi tentatively asked, “Why did Young Master Zhou… return from Qingzhou…?” What was his relationship with me before? Tell me honestly!

Madam Gu continued, “The Zhou family’s business has frequent dealings with Qingzhou. Given the current situation doesn’t look good, and since Zhou Tinghe is the only son, I suppose the Zhou family called him back…”

Gu Yi noticed her pause without continuing, making her even more anxious.

Keep talking!

Seeing Gu Yi’s furrowed brow and anxious expression, Madam Gu’s heart sank.

Could it be that little Yi still harbored feelings for Zhou Tinghe…?

She couldn’t help but sigh inwardly and earnestly advised, “Although Zhou Tinghe is talented and good-looking, he is merely a commoner. No matter how substantial the Zhou family business is, they are nothing more than low-ranking merchants. Back then, we were too indulgent with you, not restraining you properly. When you insisted on marrying Zhou Tinghe, your father didn’t say much and even promised that if Zhou Tinghe came to our house as agreed that day, your father wouldn’t have sent you to the capital for selection. But… since he didn’t keep the appointment that day, little Yi… don’t you understand his intentions? Zhou Tinghe has no feelings for you, and now you have long since received the Emperor’s favor. You must forget him!”

So the original body did love that Young Master Zhou!

And wanted to marry him!

Oh my!

Gu Yi’s heart trembled again, “Mother, you’re right.” She said with firm determination, “I have long forgotten him!”

Madam Gu looked at her, half-believing, half-doubting, and gently held her hand, “It’s good that you’ve forgotten. Serving the ruler is like living with a tiger; you must not let your mind wander.”

Gu Yi nodded, “I understand.”

I’ll avoid him in the future—probably won’t see him again for the rest of my life!

Madam Gu sighed silently again.

She hadn’t wanted Gu Yi to enter the palace. Originally, she thought that if Zhou Tinghe had genuine feelings, Gu Yi could marry him and be a proper wife. With her husband being the Prefect of Fuzhou, little Yi would surely live contentedly. Why suffer in the palace, competing with numerous beauties and having to humble herself? But… Zhou Tinghe was not a good match; he had let down little Yi’s sincere feelings…

Winter sunlight poured down, illuminating the long alleys of Fu City.

When Zhou Tinghe boarded his carriage, his face remained hard.

The sudden encounter with Gu Yi left his emotions in turmoil.

His servant, guarding the jade Buddha, sat silently in the carriage.

He couldn’t understand why the Gu family’s daughter had returned to Fuzhou…

Was that young master still fond of the Gu family’s daughter…?

Should he go back and report to Master Zhou?

The Zhou residence was located in the eastern part of Fu City, a compound with three courtyards. With white walls and black tiles, though not a grand mansion, it had two stone steps built in front of the gate, a screen wall carved with landscapes, and a courtyard full of flowers and trees, showing no trace of merchant vulgarity but rather resembling a scholarly household.

The Zhou family had been in the tea trade for years, traveling between Qingzhou, Fuzhou, and Cangzhou for decades.

The current head of the family was the eldest son of the main branch, Zhou Long. However, he had no son and wished to leave the family business to Zhou Tinghe, the eldest son of the second branch.

Prince Shen had declared himself emperor in Qingzhou for two years now, and the situation was increasingly tense. The Luochuan River, which flowed through Qingzhou and Cangzhou, was an important waterway, flowing north to reach Fuzhou, Qu City, and further north to southern and northern Mobei.

It was a water route for the tea trade.

But in recent days, ships could no longer leave Qingzhou via the Luochuan.

Zhou Long was like an ant on a hot pan, extremely anxious.

The visitor sitting across from him tried to persuade him, “Master Zhou, why worry? This Luochuan blockade surely can’t last too long. Neither side can monopolize a river and block passage indefinitely.”

Zhou Long looked at the black-clothed man opposite him, his brow furrowed, “Brother Gu, your family in Qingzhou also produces tea. The tea plantation seasons come and go quickly. If the tea becomes stale or damp, a whole year’s hard work is wasted!”

As they were speaking, a servant entered the east wing to report, “Master, Young Master Tinghe has returned!”

Just as he finished speaking, Zhou Tinghe lifted the curtain and entered, bowing, “Greetings, Uncle. Did you just return today?”

Zhou Long stepped forward, helping Zhou Tinghe to his feet, looking him up and down with delight, “Good, good, good! After this experience, Nephew Tinghe has become even more steady!”

He turned slightly and introduced the person behind him to Zhou Tinghe, “This is Master Gu, a tea merchant from Qingzhou. During my time in Qingzhou, I received much help from Brother Gu. In the future, you should also maintain frequent contact!”

Zhou Tinghe looked up carefully at the visitor and saw that he was tall but not bulky, rather lean, with a beard covering his face.

He bowed deeply, “Greetings, Master Gu.”

Master Gu made a gesture of support, “Young Master Zhou is too polite. Gu is a rough man, making the young master laugh at me.” His voice was deep and resonant.

Zhou Tinghe had traveled to Qingzhou and Cangzhou many times but had never seen this tea merchant before.

He asked with a smile, “Has Master Gu often come to Fuzhou before?”

Master Gu shook his head and laughed heartily, “I’ve sent people to deliver tea to Fuzhou, but this is my first time coming personally.”

Zhou Long smiled, “It’s a blessing that Master Gu could come!” He then asked Zhou Tinghe, “I heard you went to get the old madam’s jade Buddha. Have things been going smoothly lately? I heard from the servants that someone from the Ministry of Revenue in the capital has arrived. Have you seen who it is?”

Zhou Tinghe answered each question, “The old madam’s jade Buddha has been retrieved and can be presented at today’s birthday feast. These past few days, I’ve been busy with inventory at the Fuzhou warehouse, which has been generally smooth. I heard… the Ministry of Revenue sent someone to implement a land measurement policy, nothing major. The person who came is the newly appointed Assistant Minister this year, Wang Zibo, the youngest son of Wang Chongguang, the Right Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Works…”

Zhou Long nodded, “I heard from the servants that Wang Zibo is very slippery, but tight-lipped. We’ve sent several gifts, but he hasn’t revealed a word about the specific regulations for taxing land by acreage… If merchants have no land, according to the old rules, labor is tied to the land—no land means no corvée or taxation…”

Zhou Tinghe frowned, thinking carefully for a moment, “From Assistant Minister Wang’s words… it seems they want to separate the taxation systems for farmers and merchants, but I don’t know how they plan to separate them?”

Hearing this, Zhou Long paused, then decided, “Tomorrow, you’ll come with me to visit Prefect Gu and see what he says!”

Zhou Tinghe froze for a moment before slowly nodding, “Yes, I will go with Uncle.”

But he did not mention that Gu Yi was in Fuzhou.

Half past the Hour of Xu (7-9 pm), Xiaoyan and Gu Changtong had not yet returned to the residence.

The women and Gu Zhao had to have dinner by themselves.

Back in her chamber, Tao Jia had already prepared hot water for washing, but Gu Yi was still preoccupied with meeting Zhou Tinghe during the day and remained somewhat uneasy. She said to Tao Jia, “There’s no need to attend to me tonight. You should also go to bed early.”

Tao Jia replied, “Is the lady tired? Let me bring a bowl of sleeping potion. This sleeping potion has been very useful during our journey to Fuzhou.”

Gu Yi nodded, “Go ahead, there’s no rush. Bring it when it’s cooled a bit.”

Tao Jia left to follow her instructions.

Gu Yi removed a silver hairpin from her temple, brightened the candle by the bed, and reached for the purple sandalwood box hidden beside her pillow. At the very bottom layer was a bank note, which she took out to examine carefully.

A large denomination bank note worth five hundred taels.

According to the plot, their southern tour would end outside Luochuan in Qingzhou Prefecture. After returning to the palace, Zhao Wan would be promoted several ranks to the position of Consort, and the six palaces would thereafter become essentially meaningless.

After the Zhao family was rehabilitated, Xiaoyan would even disperse the six palaces for Zhao Wan.

Now that the timeline of the southern tour had been advanced, would the subsequent timeline also be brought forward?

She had another five hundred taels in cash at the palace, and her wealthy lifestyle was taking shape.

Now, Father Gu’s official career was prospering, and if things went badly in the future, he surely wouldn’t stand by and let her die.

But would they arrange for her to marry again in the future…?

Thinking of this, Gu Yi shook her head with a wry smile.

Definitely not. Even if the Emperor himself released a concubine to return home, others would not dare to marry her.

However, now that the Gu family was still in Fuzhou, if she were to leave the palace someday with nowhere to stay in the capital, perhaps she could find a small courtyard in a scenic area of Fuzhou…

Knock, knock, knock.

Someone was gently knocking on the door, three light taps that interrupted Gu Yi’s train of thought.

“Who’s there?”

“Sister, it’s me.” It was Gu Zhao’s voice outside the door.