The room was silent for a while. The weak light of the setting sun was blocked outside the door, leaving only a dark darkness like thick ink.
Qin Zhao walked towards Gu Changzhou, bent down and helped him up: "Get up, there is no prince here."
Gu Changzhou's body trembled violently, and he subconsciously grabbed Qin Zhao's arm, then quickly let go, his voice even more choked: "You are still alive... I knew you were still alive!"
"I just saved my life." Qin Zhao pulled him up. "I haven't been to the Gu Mansion these days, but I guessed that you would find a way to see me."
Because of the previous imperial examination and the transformation of the fish cub, Qin Zhao simply asked for half a month's leave from the Gu Mansion and did not go to teach during these days.
Gu Changzhou said, "There are many people in my family watching, so I dare not meet you alone rashly. If others hear us..."
He paused, then continued, "This is the Gu family's villa outside the city. We often rent it to the prefect to entertain distinguished guests. The people in the villa are all our own, so it's safer."
Qin Zhao nodded and said, "My husband is still waiting outside, so let me cut to the chase. How many people know I'm here?"
"Only subordinates."
"Recognize my handwriting?"
"yes."
The calligraphy and painting hanging in Gu Heng's study was written by Qin Zhao himself.
It's not just a decoration, it's a code.
Prince Rong was a man of extraordinary talent and had an exquisite hand in calligraphy. Some people even made copybooks of his calligraphy and secretly passed it around for imitation.
But they didn't know that the handwriting truly written by Prince Rong was completely different from those imitated by the people.
Even if it is the same font, each person's handwriting is different. Therefore, it is inevitable that someone will imitate the handwriting and cause trouble. People in high positions of power will often add some original writing styles to their own handwriting.
Others can't see the clues and can't imitate it.
The calligraphy that Prince Rong gave to Gu Changzhou was in this kind of handwriting.
Only his former subordinates, whom he trusted extremely at that time, could see the clues.
Qin Zhao has been writing in this style since he took his first imperial examination.
He was waiting for someone who could recognize his handwriting. Once they did, they would naturally come to find him.
"You...you..." Gu Changzhou thought a lot before coming here. His mind was full of questions, but he didn't know where to start.
Qin Zhao didn't care at all and asked directly: "How much do you know about what happened before my accident?"
Gu Changzhou: "You mean..."
Qin Zhao said calmly: "My memory is impaired."
Gu Changzhou was stunned.
Qin Zhao sat down at the table and pointed to the seat next to him, motioning for Gu Changzhou to sit down as well: "Don't worry, just tell me what you know."
"...Yes." Gu Changzhou whispered, "Back then, my family was broken up and I had nowhere else to turn. It was you who saved my life. It was you who allowed me to go south to Jiangling and helped me open the Jiangling Weaving Mill. Later, I became your covert agent in Jiangling Prefecture."
There had been rumors among the people that during the years when Prince Rong was in power, his spies were everywhere in the capital.
It is true, but not entirely true.
During the unstable early years, the Regent's spies spread not only across Kyoto but also throughout the country. From the nobility to the common people, informants from all over the country exchanged intelligence and communicated with each other, forming a complete and secret intelligence network.
It was this intelligence network that helped the Regent eliminate dissidents and stabilize the situation in just a few years.
"In the sixth year of the Jinghe reign, four years ago, you suddenly came to Jiangling. I met you outside the city, and you said..."
Qin Zhao asked, "What did I say?"
Gu Changzhou closed his eyes and whispered, "Tell my subordinates to dismiss all old subordinates and cut off all contact."
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