After tidying up the account books, Lü Siniang called out to Huang Qingqing, "We're going back first. Do you want to come with us?"

"Then, I'll go back with you." Huang Qingqing thought that no matter which couple she went back with, she would be like a bright kerosene lamp. Lu Yanzhao was so cold and aloof that he was quite frightening. Gu Qingyan was much more easygoing, so she decided to go back with Lü Siniang and the others.

The three had barely left when Lu Yanzhao stood up.

What exactly is Gu Nanjiao doing? Is she living in the back room?

Remembering Huang Qingqing's words that men weren't allowed in the back room, Lu Yanzhao hesitated for a long time before finally sitting down. He called out towards the back room, "Gu Nanjiao, what are you doing?"

In the back room, Gu Nanjiao placed the finished items in the box. She tried several times, but the location was too obvious. How could she place them in a more discreet way?

After some deliberation, I simply placed the box on an empty shelf to the side. As the saying goes, the most dangerous place is the safest. If I put it here, no one should be so bored as to open it and take a look.

Just as I was about to leave, I heard Lu Yanzhao shouting.

Oh my god, why is Lu Yanzhao here? Feeling guilty, Gu Nanjiao didn't pay attention to her footing and accidentally tripped over the small stool.

Hearing Gu Nanjiao's exclamation, Lu Yanzhao disregarded everything else and rushed into the back room.

After helping Gu Nanjiao up and checking her for injuries, finding her unharmed, Lu Yanzhao asked, "What are they selling in the back? Why are you being so secretive?"

Gu Nanjiao blushed and pushed Lu Yanzhao out, saying, "It's nothing, just women's menstrual pads, undergarments, and the like. Basically, men aren't allowed in."

Afraid that Lu Yanzhao would see, she ignored the pain in her body and pushed Lu Yanzhao away.

Lu Yanzhao wasn't usually curious, but seeing Gu Nanjiao's flushed cheeks and the way she seemed to want him to disappear immediately really irritated him. He felt a sudden itch in his heart and looked around.

Gu Nanjiao tried to cover his eyes, but it was too late.

Fine, let her look. What's so shameful about women's underwear? There are plenty of male shop assistants who specialize in selling women's underwear these days.

Besides, she's not breaking the law; she's openly and legally running her business. What's there to be embarrassed about?

Just thinking about that thing made Gu Nanjiao feel a little guilty.

Dangerous places are the safest; Lu Yanzhao probably won't find out.

With that thought in mind, Gu Nanjiao felt relieved. She then introduced Lu Yanzhao to her in a generous and open manner.

"This one is a gathering magic device. It's lightweight and breathable."

Lu Yanzhao looked at the two semicircles in her hand and turned his face away somewhat embarrassedly.

He had seen that thing before; he only realized it was a garment when he secretly lifted Gu Nanjiao's clothes. The thought of him once wearing it over his eyes brought a blush to his usually aloof face.

"Let's go!" Lu Yanzhao glanced at the items, showing no interest whatsoever in things like bellybands and menstrual belts.

After all, in his eyes, Gu Nanjiao looks best when she's not wearing anything.

Unfortunately, he only saw that scene in his dreams.

Seeing that his expression remained unchanged, Gu Nanjiao was very pleased; her husband was indeed very serious.

After feeling relieved, Gu Nanjiao secretly prayed that Lu Yanzhao wouldn't find out what Huang Qingqing had made. Wouldn't that make her seem lewd and perverted? Wouldn't her image in Lu Yanzhao's eyes be ruined?

The two were preoccupied with their own thoughts, each putting on an increasingly serious facade.

Before leaving, Gu Nanjiao glanced at the small stool that had tripped her. To avoid tripping over it again, she said to Lu Yanzhao, "Wait for me." Then she righted the stool and placed it in the corner.

Lu Yanzhao snatched the stool away: "I'll put it down! You fell down, just rest."

"Okay... alright!"

After Lu Yanzhao arranged the stools, he stood up and was attracted by a large box in front of him. He stared at the box for a few moments.

Gu Nanjiao's heart was in her throat. She kept urging, "Let's go, let's go, don't look around."

Lu Yanzhao frowned. Gu Nanjiao's behavior was very unusual. Could it be that she and Bai Luochen were hiding something from him?

By the time Gu Nanjiao rushed over, Lu Yanzhao had already opened the box.

"Gu Nanjiao, what is this?"

Gu Nanjiao "..."

She stiffened, raised her head with difficulty, and said dryly, "This...this is something like Mr. Horn."

After saying that, she tried to snatch the indescribable thing from Lu Yanzhao's hand, but Lu Yanzhao raised his hand high and Gu Nanjiao missed.

Lu Yanzhao stared at the object in his hand that resembled a part of his body, frowning as he asked, "How do I use it?"

Gu Nanjiao could no longer maintain her composure, and her face turned even redder.

"I...I don't know. This is a design provided by a customer, and we made it."

Lu Yanzhao, could you please stop asking? She can't keep up the lie.

Lu Yanzhao's face darkened, and his voice rose a few decibels: "You are not allowed to do this kind of business in the future."

Gu Nanjiao took two steps back and hugged the door frame: "It's a fool not to make money when you can. Don't cut off my source of income."

Lu Yanzhao's face darkened, and he took two steps forward with the thing in his hand.

"Let's talk this out. Put that thing down first."

Lu Yanzhao frowned as he looked at the item in his hand, feeling quite awkward. He tossed it back into the box and said, "You're not allowed to sell this anymore. With me here, you don't need it. But if you like it, we can try selling it later, okay?"

Damn it!

Sure enough, her perception of him as a virtuous gentleman was just a misconception.

Seeing Gu Nanjiao's face flush red and then pale, Lu Yanzhao stopped teasing her. He pulled her into his arms and said, "It's getting late, come home with me and rest!"

Gu Nanjiao let out a soft breath. Seeing that Lu Yanzhao was no longer bringing it up, she leaned on his shoulder and walked out.

That fall just now really hurt. Although there were no wounds, it still hurt a lot.

Lu Yanzhao squatted down: "Get on! Your personal horse is at your service."

Gu Nanjiao didn't hesitate and straddled his back, lying prone on top of him.

She felt her skin was getting thicker and thicker, and the guilt and awkwardness she felt earlier had completely disappeared.

As long as you're not embarrassed, it's others who will feel awkward.

...

That day, Gu Nanjiao was sitting behind the counter looking at the account books when she overheard two well-dressed old women whispering to each other not far away:

"Have you heard? Something happened at the Minister's residence."

"What is it?"

"Someone spread the rumor that Consort Yue murdered her half-sister seventeen years ago, and it seems that this half-sister discovered some secret."

"This happened seventeen years ago. Even if there were any secrets, they've all vanished without a trace. Who would dare to spread rumors?"

"That's right, Consort Yue was furious. She put pressure on the Ministry of Rites and executed quite a few people. I don't know if it was to silence them or to punish those who spread rumors. In any case, it was terrible."

"How did you know that?"

"Oh dear, you forgot my second cousin runs a funeral business. These past few days, the Minister's mansion has been overflowing with orders. Corpses are being carried out in rows and rows..."

Their voices grew softer and softer until Gu Nanjiao could no longer hear them.

The Ministry of Personnel?

She and Lü Siniang made clothes for Miss Zhou, and they even entered through the back door. That Miss Zhou was so arrogant, and the eldest young lady looked so weak and helpless.

That day at Yunshang Pavilion, she pretended to be innocent and harmless, and she and her maid played good cop and bad cop, humiliating her thoroughly.

However, she wasn't interested in the affairs of the Minister's residence and didn't think much of it, so she lowered her head and continued with what she was doing.