Mu Mansion Villa.
Mother Gu welcomed Aunt Wei in and served her a nice tea.
Aunt Wei looked at Gu's mother with a smile, and waved the red handkerchief in her hand: "The Zhang family master is a difficult person to deal with. This old woman has lost all her strength, and she has to speak with such a smooth tongue. After all, the Zhang family is allowed to accept the betrothal gift, and this marriage is finally coming to an end."
Gu's mother felt much more at ease. Accepting the betrothal gift meant that the Zhang family intended to get married, and things would be easier to handle next.
"Qingqing."
Gu's mother shouted, and Gu Qingqing presented a jade pendant worth ten guan.
Looking at the happy Aunt Wei, Mother Gu smiled and said: "I will need to trouble Aunt Wei later to accept the recruitment."
"No trouble, no trouble." Aunt Wei smiled from ear to ear: "Miss Zhang's name is Zhang Xiwan, and she sounds like a gentle and virtuous woman. This marriage is a match made in heaven."
Gu's mother had seen Zhang Xiwan, so she knew it.
Aunt Wei knew that the Gu family was still busy, so she stood up and left: "The Zhang family has sent word that they want to test the school's knowledge and ask my uncle to go to the house tomorrow."
"Thank you."
Gu's mother arranged for Gu Qingqing to see off the guests.
Gu Zhengchen walked out from behind the screen and looked at his smiling mother.
Gu's mother stood up and said gently: "You have also heard that the Zhang family has accepted the betrothal gift, but as long as it is not paid, things may change. This time he asked you to go to school to take the exam, presumably to see if you are worth it. Worthy of entrustment. I have met Zhang Xiwan and heard from Qingqing that she is also pitiful. The Zhang family should be cautious, which at least shows that they value their daughter."
Gu Zhengchen nodded slightly: "Mom, don't worry."
The next day.
Gu's mother prepared gifts and asked Zhang Pei and Yao Zhen to send Gu Zhengchen to Zhang Mansion. The two places are not far apart, and the carriage is only a moment away.
The old servant stood at the door to greet him. When he saw Gu Zhengchen coming, he invited him into the courtyard. He went outside the study and said "Please wait a moment", then walked into the room. Soon he walked out and said to Gu Zhengchen, "Master let you in."
Gu Zhengchen straightened his clothes, stepped over the threshold, passed the landscape screen, and saw bookshelves full of old books. Looking along the bookshelves, he saw a middle-aged man standing next to the bookshelf, holding a hand in his hand. Holding a feather duster, he was gently sweeping away the dust on the books.
"Gu Zhengchen meets with Academician Zhang."
Gu Zhengchen saluted respectfully.
Zhang He turned sideways and looked at Gu Zhengchen. He saw that Gu Zhengchen was wearing a long robe. There was a sense of pride in his elegant brows. His eyes were as bright as stars. A smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "I should call you Gu." Who is better, the county magistrate, Mr. Gu, or my son-in-law?"
Gu Zhengchen looked at his kind future father-in-law, walked forward, and said shamelessly, "Son-in-law, at home, there is no other identity, only family."
Zhang He laughed, took down a book from the bookshelf, and blew away the dust: "Now that you are here, help me clean up the bookshelf. I have been in Hongwen Hall all day and I don't have time to take care of them."
Gu Zhengchen pulled out the books on the bookshelf and said, "Hongwen Hall is great. It is clean and has no right or wrong."
Zhang He raised his eyebrows: "You seem to have something to say."
Gu Zhengchen wiped off the few dust on the book, glanced at the door and window, and said in a low voice: "The imperial court officials are just circling around, and the ministers and ministers are frequently replaced. This itself is problematic, not to mention the fact that Zhongshu is alone. Big, this will cause big problems sooner or later. To be honest with my father-in-law, the court now is like a quagmire. If you get stuck in it, it will not be easy to get out."
Zhang He stared and became serious: "I have underestimated you. You can see the situation in Fengtian Palace. In this regard, you are better than countless talents. But because of this, I am more worried about you. You want to marry Xi Wan, I have no objection, but I don’t want her to suffer along with you, and I don’t want her to fall into a quagmire with you that you can’t extricate yourself from.”
Gu Zhengchen looked deeply at Zhang He.
Zhang He turned his head and swept the book with a feather duster: "Xiwan is my only flesh and blood, she is my life. If you can promise me to protect her, you will get married years ago. If you can't do it... "
Gu Zhengchen was deeply moved.
Undoubtedly, Zhang He's fatherly love for Zhang Xiwan is great and does not matter the cost.
But, who can guarantee the future?
Gu Zhengchen was silent.
Boom.
The screen shook.
Gu Zhengchen looked sideways and saw Zhang Xiwan walking out from behind the screen.
Zhang He frowned, looked a little ugly, and shouted: "Go back!"
Zhang Xiwan looked at her father, took a step forward resolutely, said a blessing, and said firmly: "Father, no one can guarantee that the future will be smooth sailing. You threaten him with the future, and you don't mean to make it difficult for him. If he said If he can do it, it is an arrogant boast. You will underestimate him. If he says he can't do it, you will ask him out. If the father really cares about his daughter, he should not embarrass Young Master Gu like this."
Gu Zhengchen looked at Zhang Xiwan and noticed for the first time that this girl was soft on the outside but strong on the inside.
Zhang He patted the book and said with a sullen face: "It's true that you are a female college student. You are still facing him like this before you are married. You are a girl who has not left the court. I have taught you the rules in the past, but why have you forgotten all because of him?" Are you going to get clean? If you show up so abruptly, wouldn't it be said that the Zhang family has no tutors and they won't back down!"
Gu Zhengchen took a step forward and said to Zhang Xiwan: "What your father said makes sense. The officialdom is in turmoil, and no one can tell when disaster will come to the door. If you follow me, you will probably be implicated by me. You also know that I am good at causing trouble. When I first came to Jinling, I provoked a marquis..."
Zhang Xiwan knew about this and looked directly at Gu Zhengchen boldly: "I don't mind if you cause trouble. I only recognize you. I only know that it's you. It has always been haunting me and I can't forget it. It's you, I can I can accompany you through the spring and autumn, and I can also accompany you through the hot summer and cold winter. If it weren't for you, my heart would be as gray as ashes. The four seasons reincarnate, the flowers bloom and fall, and it has nothing to do with me."
When Gu Zhengchen heard this confession, the softest part of his heart was touched. He turned to look at Zhang He: "My father-in-law asked me if I could keep her safe. I want to say that I will protect her with my life. Before I die, she It will always be good.”
Zhang He looked at Gu Zhengchen and Zhang Xiwan standing side by side, listened to his daughter's affectionate confession and Gu Zhengchen's assurance, and nodded slightly: "I accept your son-in-law."
"Thank you father-in-law for making it possible."
Gu Zhengchen saluted.
Zhang He glared at Zhang Xiwan: "Can you avoid it?"
Zhang Xiwan was happy in her heart, glanced at Gu Zhengchen, then stepped forward, took Zhang He's arm, and said coquettishly: "Father, my daughter also wants to stay and sort out the books. Mr. Gu, look at this "Spring and Autumn", you are the most important Which sentence is more important?"
Gu Zhengchen glanced at Zhang He who was unable to resist. He seemed to be the father of a slave girl, so he stepped forward and said: "For myself, I quite value 'acting within one's ability. It's too rare. Good or bad is up to you, and it's up to you to do it." Is this a human being?' This sentence. As far as my family and country are concerned, I highly recommend this sentence: 'To benefit the country, life and death will depend on it'!"
Zhang He looked at Gu Zhengchen: "To benefit the country, life and death will depend on it! It seems that your ambition is not small."
Gu Zhengchen put the compiled books back and said sternly: "As an official of the Ming Dynasty, you should have the awareness to 'live and die for the benefit of the country, and how to avoid it for the sake of misfortune and fortune'!"
