Gu Qing is considered a member of the Zhang family, and attending the family dinner is not abrupt. Zhang Jiuzhang's generation treats Gu Qing as his nephew, and Gu Qing never treats them as outsiders.

The property passed down by the older generation is easy to inherit, but the friendship passed down by the older generation is difficult to maintain.

Friendship imposed on the next generation is actually a kind of family kidnapping.

To be honest, the reason why Gu Qing interacted with the Zhang family had nothing to do with his parents was because Zhang Huaiyu came from the Zhang family, and Zhang Jiuzhang treated him sincerely.

But in the hall today, Zhang Huaiyu's parents made Gu Qing feel a little uncomfortable, especially the wife of the wife.

No matter how awkward he felt, he still had to be respectful on the surface. Gu Qing smiled and held the glass, toasting Zhang Zheng and his wife in the manner of a junior.

Zhang Zheng and his wife drank all their faces with great relief. Mrs. Zhang looked at Gu Qing with a smile and said, "I have been named a marquis so young, but Gu Xiannie is the only promising young man I have seen in my life, a dragon and phoenix-like figure. My incompetent son should really be as close to you as much as you can."

Gu Qing said modestly: "Official titles are just luck, and my nephew has no ability. The powerful court officials in Chang'an all said that my nephew was lucky to be promoted and had a bad reputation."

Mrs. Zhang smiled and said, "Good luck is also a matter of being a wise man. Don't listen to those people talking nonsense. They are just jealous of you. Only our own people are truly happy for you."

Then Mrs. Zhang said with concern again: "I heard that my nephew had just come out of the Dali Temple prison, and I was suffering from it? My uncle told us about your affairs. You are too impulsive. For a mere personal guard, you should not joke about your future. A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall. My nephew is already a county marquis. When things happen, you should calm down and think twice before doing it."

Gu Qing frowned slightly. This was a bit harsh. In terms of closeness and alienation, Han Jie and his personal guards were much more important in Gu Qing's heart than Mrs. Zhang. Where did this person get the confidence to say these seemingly serious words?

After a glance at Zhang Huaiyu's expressionless face, Gu Qing held back the displeasure in his heart and smiled: "Auntie is very saying, my nephew will no longer be lazy in his work in the future."

After only a few words, Gu Qing saw clearly the situation of the Zhang family.

Zhang Jiuzhang is an old fox who pretends to be confused and never cares about Zhang Zheng and his wife's words. Zhang Zheng is a slightly dull middle-aged scholar who pretends to be majestic and rarely speaks. Instead, Mrs. Zhang keeps talking and plays with the kind of small-minded and cleverness that belongs to middle-aged women from time to time. The whole person in the front hall is watching her performance, but she thinks she controls the rhythm of the audience.

The sisters Zhang Huaiyu and Zhang Huaijin have become completely transparent people at this moment, huddling in the corner like two quails, silently.

This family is interesting...

From this point of view, the wife of Zhang Zheng has the final say in Zhang Zheng's family. Judging from Zhang Huaiyu's silent appearance, Mrs. Zhang should be more powerful and more dreadful on weekdays.

This is a bit strange. Logically speaking, Zhang Zheng is a virtuous prime minister and has an official position. No matter how much he said, he shouldn't let his wife jump up and down. He didn't believe the cleverness she was playing tricks, and he couldn't see it. He didn't stop it, which means he was too lazy to care or dared not.

Could it be... Mrs. Zhang's family has a background?

This is the only reasonable explanation that Gu Qing can give.

It would be too unreasonable for Zhang Jiuling's only son to be a lady of a good family.

So, has Zhang Huaiyu been living under the bullying and shadow of this wife since she was a child?

Gu Qing had a smile on his face, but his eyes narrowed, and his smile looked brighter and more charming.

As soon as he felt that Gu Qing might not be willing to support her son, Mrs. Zhang had to change the topic and smiled: "I heard from the second uncle that the nephew and Huaiyu met very early, and it was Huaiyu who found our Zhang family's benefactor?"

Gu Qing smiled and said, "Auntie, don't mention the word 'benefactor' again, my nephew can't afford it."

Mrs. Zhang quickly glanced at Zhang Huaiyu, and said with a smile: "Huaiyu is a cold-hearted girl. She looks cold all day long. She has been fond of martial arts since she was a child and is hard to get close to others. She plays with swords, guns, sticks and sticks, but she never touches the female red embroidery. On the contrary, I like Huaijin, a girl who is smart and smart since childhood, and she knows the general. She is the legitimate wife of the third uncle and the eldest son of the third son. In my opinion, Huaijin and her nephew are quite intimate..."

Zhang Huaiyu lowered her head, her face was a little pale, and she put her hands under the table and clenched her fists hard.

Gu Qing's face suddenly became cold.

This is too much. No matter how you say Zhang Huaiyu, you should call her "mother". Is there anyone who says that her daughter? It is more embarrassing to say that she is a concubine and is not worthy of her in front of her.

A little cold smile appeared, Gu Qing said indifferently: "Thank you for your concern, but my nephew thought Huaiyu was kind, considerate, restrained and steady. My nephew especially liked that she was playing with swords and guns, which was completely different from vulgar women in the world. As for her origin... My nephew was born into a poor farmer, and although she had been awarded a title, she never forgot her roots. What kind of legitimate children were born into illegitimate children? How could an ordinary farmer care about these?"

These words were a bit heavy, and Gu Qing ruthlessly pushed Mrs. Zhang back. Mrs. Zhang's face gradually changed, the smile in her eyes had disappeared, and the smile at the corner of her mouth was also a bit cold.

"Haha, Gu Qing, come and drink with me." Zhang Jiuzhang suddenly raised his glass and smiled.

Gu Qing held the cup in both hands, stood up and drank respectfully with Zhang Jiuzhang.

…………

The banquet ended unhappily, and Zhang Zheng and his wife took the excuse that they could not bear to drink, so they retreated back to the backyard.

In the front hall, the smile on Gu Qing's face finally calmed down, he stood up and walked to Zhang Huaiyu, and suddenly held her hand.

Zhang Huaiyu's hands were cold and had no temperature, like an unmelted piece of ice.

"Don't care what people say if they don't matter." Gu Qing smiled and comforted: "In life, you must learn to ignore some voices in order to live the way you want."

Zhang Huaiyu's face gradually calmed down, and he gave him a blank look and said, "The tone is like an old master. You are about the same age as me, and you speak in an old and erotic manner."

Gu Qing smiled and said, "I am probably over thirty years older than you. Really, I eat more salt than you eat. I have an old family, if I have a treasure, to be honest, you should give me a high position."

Zhang Huaiyu sneered: "You may have not been beaten for too long, so you are a little lost, huh?"

Seeing Gu Qing and the other two talking and laughing, Zhang Huaijin next to him became more and more depressed, pouting and hanging his head without saying anything.

Zhang Jiuzhang stroked his beard and looked at the relationship between the three of them, and the more he looked, the more anxious he was about Zhang Huaijin.

This silly girl had told her that she would take Gu Qing down as soon as possible, but she was not in a hurry. Now, Zhang Huaiyu returned to Chang'an, and her love life will be even more bumpy in the future.

What's even more bizarre is that it is said that Huaiyu was recalled by Huaijin...

This is because I don’t think my life is exciting enough.

The separation was not long, but Gu Qing had a lot to say to Zhang Huaiyu, but it was a pity that there were elders in the hall. This lack of eyesight did not have the ability to take the initiative to avoid it, but Gu Qing could not be rude.

"Second uncle, is Uncle Zhang going back to Chang'an to report his work?" Gu Qing asked.

Zhang Jiuzhang smiled: "Zheng'er is now just a county magistrate, and there is no need for the county magistrate to come to Beijing to report his duties. Gu Qing, you are already the General of the Central Army and the Marquis of the County. You should know more about the laws and regulations of the court. Don't talk nonsense in the future, as people will be treated as a joke."

Gu Qing's eyes flashed and asked tentatively: "I saw that Uncle Zhang's family was quite interesting. It seemed that... it was my aunt who was the decision?"

Zhang Jiuzhang nodded: "Yes, her maiden name is Xie. When my brother was still the prime minister, he decided on this marriage for him and has been married for more than 20 years."

"Sir Xie..." Gu Qing murmured to himself.

Zhang Jiuzhang smiled and pointed at him, saying, "You are smart, it seems that you understand something. Yes, Zheng'er's wife comes from the Xie family in Chenjun, and is a descendant of a famous aristocratic family in the local area. When his brother was the prime minister, Xie family got married with the Zhang family. The two families had a close relationship. However, because his brother was demoted by the emperor, Xie gradually became less and less involved with the Zhang family..."

Gu Qing suddenly realized: "No wonder..."

No wonder Mrs. Zhang's aura was even more powerful than the head of the family, Zhang Zheng. She was originally from a noble family. After Zhang Jiuling's death, only one Zhang Jiuzhang was ranked as the Ninth Minister of the Zhang family, and another Zhang Jiugao was appointed as the governor of Guangzhou. It was already declining, so the Xie family gradually cut off contact with the Zhang family.

Mrs. Zhang was obviously a little snobbish. Seeing that the Zhang family was no longer as glorious as before, she became a little arrogant. No wonder she just gave people a feeling of being arrogant and domineering.

The Xie family of Chen County is indeed a famous family for hundreds of years. Xie An, the famous Duke of Luling County of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, personally directed the Battle of Feishui. As well as the famous general of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Xie Xuan, all came from the Xie family of Chen County, and Xie An's daughter. The famous female poet Xie Daoyun also came from the Xie family of Chen County.

Although the clan that has been around for hundreds of years has now declined, Mrs. Zhang obviously still has sufficient confidence.

Zhang Jiuzhang looked at Gu Qing and Zhang Huaiyu, then looked at the depressed Zhang Huaijin, stroked his beard and sighed: "Gu Qing, if you want to ask for a phoenix, you can't offend Zheng'er and his wife, otherwise things may be difficult. The words he said just now were a bit inappropriate."

Gu Qing smiled and said, "Second uncle, I was very restrained just now. My aunt was too unfair to Huaiyu. If Huaiyu hadn't told me to be patient, I would have overturned the table with my temper."

The back of his hand suddenly became cold. Gu Qing turned his head and saw Zhang Huaiyu's cold little hands gently holding his hand under the table. On the surface, Zhang Huaiyu still looked expressionless.

…………

After the Zhang family's banquet ended, Gu Qing sent Zhang Huaijin away and took Zhang Huaiyu to his home, calling it "visiting the former residence of celebrities."

In order to support the scene for the Marquis, Han Jie and his personal guards made a rare high-profile appearance on Chang'an Street this time. Han Jie personally led the way. The personal guards raised their heads and looked like a tiger and wolf army. The group of people walked across the city from the Zhang family to the Gu family.
Chapter completed!