Chapter 560: Don't do this superficial stuff! [Thanks! Bow again! Owed]

Duke of Ying's mansion,

backyard main hall,

the Duchess of Ying sat in the chair above, with Zhang family's Fifth Young Lady standing to the side with a smile and a much-relieved shy expression.

The chair on the lower left side,

Zheng Xiao, who was the oldest by age, sat in the front, Gu Tingye next, and Xu Zaijing last.

On the right sat three young men younger than Xu Zaijing; these were the sons of the Zhang family's Eldest Brother and Pei Erge, the nephews of Fifth Young Lady.

"Ye Ge'er and Jing Ge'er rarely come to my house. When everyone is here later, Xiao Ge'er, you and the three nephews accompany the guests for a walk."

"Yes, Grandmother."

"Yes, Madam."

The Zhang family brothers and Zheng Xiao nodded in agreement.

Xu Zaijing, sitting in the outer position, saw Zheng Xiao nod in agreement, and Zhang family's Fifth Young Lady, standing beside the Duchess of Ying, naturally looked over.

After Zheng Xiao finished speaking, Fifth Young Lady's gaze withdrew.

Seeing this scene, Xu Zaijing raised the corner of his mouth and revealed a smile.

Zhang family's Fifth Young Lady, who was standing, already had a good view. Seeing Xu Zaijing's knowing look and playful smile, Fifth Young Lady felt quite embarrassed in her heart.

Zhang family's Fifth Young Lady had visited the Xu family because of Pingmei when she was a child, and in the days as she grew up, her relationship with Pingmei and Anmei was also quite good.

The two elder sisters visited the Zhang family more often than Xu Zaijing did.

So Fifth Young Lady looked at Xu Zaijing more like she was looking at an elder brother, and her feeling toward Zheng Xiao, who grew up with her as a childhood sweetheart, was completely different.

Seeing Xu Zaijing smiling and talking to Gu Tingye, Zhang family's Fifth Young Lady, knowing that Chai Zhengzheng and Rong Feiyan were coming to the Zhang family today, also raised the corners of her mouth slightly.

At this moment,

the cotton curtain of the main hall was lifted, and a Zhang family maid walked in, bowed, and said: "Madam, Little Duke Lu has arrived."

The Duchess of Ying nodded with a smile and looked at Xu Zaijing.

As soon as the words fell, the cotton curtain shook again, and a young man walked in.

After walking a few steps, Lu Zezong bowed and cupped his hands: "Madam, greetings. Fifth Sister, greetings."

Turning slightly, he continued: "Zheng Erge, Pei Erge Gu, Sworn Brother."

The Duchess of Ying waved her hand with a smile and signaled: "Zong Ge'er, good child, you are polite, sit quickly!"

Lu Zezong agreed and sat down below Xu Zaijing with a smile.

"Zong Ge'er, has your sister arrived?" Fifth Young Lady asked with a smile.

Lu Zezong shook his head: "On the way here, I met the carriages of the Chai family and the Rong family. The sisters lifted the carriage curtains and talked for a while, so they fell behind."

"Oh! That is to say, they will arrive at my house at about the same time?"

"Yes."

"Mother, then... daughter will go to welcome them first."

The Duchess of Ying nodded with a smile and said: "Go!"

After speaking, she gestured: "Children, drink tea."

Zhang family's Fifth Young Lady bowed to the four of them, Xu Zaijing and the others, with a smile, and walked out with her personal maid.

"Good tea!"

Zheng Xiao said after picking up the teacup and taking a sip.

As he spoke, Zheng Xiao even turned slightly, as if seeking their opinion, and looked toward Gu Tingye, Xu Zaijing, and Lu Zezong.

Seeing Xu Zaijing and Gu Tingye nod, Zheng Xiao's gaze followed and looked at the back of Zhang family's Fifth Young Lady, who was lowering her head and crossing the cotton curtain to walk out.

Lu Zezong, sitting below Xu Zaijing and closer to the door, glanced at Zheng Xiao, then cleverly tilted his head to look at Fifth Young Lady, and met Xu Zaijing's smiling eyes.

"Cough."

When turning to put down the teacup, Zheng Xiao cleared his throat.

Gu Tingye looked at Zheng Xiao suspiciously and asked with his eyes: 'Zheng Erge, what's wrong?'

Xu Zaijing took another sip of tea, looked at Zheng Xiao's appearance, pondered for a moment, put down the teacup, and said: "Zheng Erge, why don't we go stroll in the garden now?"

Zheng Xiao gave Xu Zaijing a thumbs-up in his heart, turned to look at the Duchess of Ying, and said: "Madam, shall we go for a stroll in the courtyard?"

The Duchess of Ying nodded with a smile and said to the three younger generation members: "Shou Ge'er, you three go too."

"Yes, Grandmother."

Seven or eight people stood up, cupped their hands to say goodbye, and walked out of the main hall.

The old Duchess of Lian and the Duchess of Ying had a good relationship. Back then, when Xu Zaijing and Lu Zezong became sworn brothers, the Lu family had relied on the Duchess of Ying.

So Lu Zezong often followed his grandmother to the Zhang family and was no stranger to these brothers of the Zhang family. The four of them were young and walked in front, talking and laughing.

Gu Tingye walked side by side with Xu Zaijing, his expression somewhat annoyed as he said in a low voice: "Jing Ge'er, is it because some female guests were coming to pay respects to the Duchess of Ying that Zheng Erge gave us that look?"

Xu Zaijing smiled and said in a low voice: "Otherwise?"

"Sigh!" Gu Tingye sighed: "I didn't turn the corner for a moment."

"Xu Fifth Uncle..." Shou Ge'er, standing beside Lu Zezong, called out. Before he could speak, Xu Zaijing smiled: "Don't call me Uncle, you'll call me old! If Zong Ge'er is here, you call me Brother. If your little aunt is here, then call me Uncle."

Gu Tingye smiled: "I'm the same."

Xu Zaijing looked at Zheng Xiao, who was walking at the end, and smiled: "Zheng Erge is different."

Listening to the two of them, the three Zhang family brothers nodded repeatedly with smiles.

"Xu Fifth... Brother, I heard from Zong Ge'er that you brought your dragon horse today? Can we go see it first?" Zhang Shou said.

"What's wrong with that!" Xu Zaijing smiled.

Zheng Xiao, following behind, shook his head helplessly and said: "We are going to see... see the Zhang family's courtyard, why are you all thinking about the dragon horse!"

Not knowing what he thought of, Zheng Xiao's eyes turned and he said: "Sigh! Let's go, let's go take a look."

As they were talking,

a group of seven or eight people, along with their respective maids and servants, a large group of people, walked along the corridor toward the Zhang family stables.

While talking on the road,

Xu Zaijing learned that the nephews and nieces of Fifth Young Lady were all of the "Sheng" generation, and the boys all had the character "Cun" in their names.

The group walked down the corridor to the second gate,

and saw a line of luxurious carriages driving from the direction of the main gate.

Zhang family's Fifth Young Lady looked at the group walking over and said in surprise: "Why are you all here?"

As she spoke, she glanced at Zheng Xiao, who was looking at her in the crowd.

"Aunt, we are going to see the horses!"

"You all are really... go ahead!" Fifth Young Lady frowned and shook her head.

"Whoa~"

The carriage with the wooden sign "Lu" in front had already stopped.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and the three Lu family young ladies stepped out of the carriage one after another.

The first young lady to get off the carriage looked at Lu Zezong in the crowd and said: "Little brother, what are you all going to do?"

While asking, the Lu family young lady squatted slightly toward Xu Zaijing and the others, bowing in greeting.

When Xu Zaijing and the others cupped their hands to return the greeting, Lu Zezong said: "Second Sister, we are going to see horses."

"Be careful in the cold." Another Lu family young lady standing to the side said.

"Yes, Eldest Sister."

Lu Zezong nodded and bowed.

The three young ladies nodded and greeted the group again, then walked toward Fifth Young Lady at the entrance.

At this moment,

a gust of wind rose,

causing the accumulated snow on the roof and walls to fly around chaotically. Xu Zaijing and the others hurriedly raised their hands to cover themselves.

Looking at the other carriages behind,

Zheng Xiao glanced at Zhang family's Fifth Young Lady, who was no longer paying attention to him, and gestured: "Let's go, let's go to the side gate over there, so we won't bump into the carriages behind."

Xu Zaijing and Gu Tingye nodded and led the group to walk toward that side.

When Chai Zhengzheng got off the carriage, she tilted her head and only saw a few maids wearing cloaks not far away who hadn't entered the stable courtyard yet.

While Xu Zaijing and the others were accompanying the Zhang family brothers to see the dragon horse,

Chai Zhengzheng and the others had already entered the front of the main hall in the backyard.

"Ah? Is that object that Zhengzheng uses to mold snow lions really that magical?"

Zhang family's Fifth Young Lady asked with curiosity.

The Lu family young lady spoke: "Yes! Fifth Sister, you will know once you see it."

Gu Tingyi smiled: "Fifth Younger Sister, I have one already molded at home, it's not far, do you want to go see it?"

Chai Zhengzheng shook her head: "Sister Tingyi, no need to go to your house, I brought a set today!"

Rong Feiyan looked at Chai Zhengzheng in surprise and asked: "Sister Chai, how did you get this set of molds?"

As soon as Rong Feiyan's question was asked,

a Lu family young lady wearing a cloak in the crowd had a shy look on her face.

Chai Zhengzheng looked at Rong Feiyan with a full smile, then glanced at the Lu family young lady, and said: "Our family also relied on the good fortune of the Lu family sister to get a few sets."

Rong Feiyan knew about the engagement between the Chai family and the Lu family. After hearing this and thinking about it, she also nodded with a smile.

After everyone finished talking, Zhang family's Fifth Young Lady smiled: "Then... shall we try it later?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the noble young ladies all had eager expressions on their faces.

In their respective homes, they all watched their brothers and servants pile up snow, and they hadn't really done it themselves much.

Entering the hall,

after everyone bowed and greeted, they talked with the Duchess of Ying and several Zhang family ladies.

Zhang family's Fifth Young Lady sat beside Gu Tingyi and frowned:

"Mother, you should talk to those boys, Zhang Shou! This group of boys took Xu Xu Wu Ge and the others to stroll in the garden, but they actually went outside the second gate first! They almost bumped into their aunts who were getting off the carriage just now!"

Hearing themselves being called "aunts," the young ladies present laughed one after another.

The mothers of the three Zhang Shou present also nodded in agreement.

And Chai Zhengzheng, with a red forehead ornament on her brow, looked outside with curiosity.

When Chai Zhengzheng looked outside, she also discovered that Rong Feiyan, who had taken off her hooded cloak, was wearing a dark-colored outfit today and wasn't wearing that goose-yellow hair ribbon.

After talking for a few more sentences,

"Eldest Young Lady Yu has arrived."

The maid outside announced.

Soon,

Yu Yanran walked into the room with her own maid, bowed to everyone, and said with an apologetic look: "I arrived a bit late, apologies for keeping you all waiting."

Gu Tingyi stood up with a smile, walked to Yu Yanran's side, and smiled: "Younger Sister Yanran, the banquet hasn't started yet! So it doesn't count as late."

Zhang family's Fifth Young Lady took advantage of Gu Tingyi standing up, smiled and raised an eyebrow at Chai Zhengzheng, with an expression in her eyes that made Chai Zhengzheng unable to understand.

The Duchess of Ying nodded with a smile and then looked at her four daughters-in-law with an unclear expression.

After chatting for a few more sentences,

the Duchess of Ying stood up with her four daughters-in-law and smiled: "We still have things to do! Fifth Young Lady, accompany your good sisters well."

Zhang family's Fifth Young Lady smiled and said: "Yes, Mother!"

Chai Zhengzheng and the others stood up one after another and bowed: "Madam, walk slowly."

"Good, good, you all sit."

The Duchess of Ying waved her hand with a smile and led her daughters-in-law out of the hall.

"Let's go, to my courtyard! Let's have a good time." Zhang family's Fifth Young Lady said with a wave of her hand.

After leaving the hall,

under the corridor leading to Fifth Young Lady's courtyard,

Zhang family's Fifth Young Lady's personal maid led the way in front,

but Fifth Young Lady herself was pulled by Chai Zhengzheng and walked at the very end of the group.

Looking at Gu Tingyi, who was holding Yu Yanran's arm in front, Chai Zhengzheng said in a low voice: "Fifth Young Lady, what did you mean by that look you gave me just now? I didn't understand!"

Zhang family's Fifth Young Lady looked around and said in a low voice with a smile: "Zhengzheng, I heard from my sister-in-law that the Gu family's Lady Bai has been asking about the Yu family..."

Hearing the gossip, Chai Zhengzheng's eyes widened, and after listening, she hurriedly said: "Fifth Young Lady, you mean the Gu family and the Yu family..."

Fifth Young Lady nodded slightly: "Sister-in-law warned me not to spread it, Zhengzheng, you must not spread it!"

"Mm-hmm!" Chai Zhengzheng nodded repeatedly.

At this moment,

Rong Feiyan, who was walking in front, stretched out her fair palm from the wide sleeve of her dark cloak, looked at the snowflakes flying down from the sky not far away, and said in surprise: "Oh, it's snowing again!"

The group walking looked toward the outside of the corridor, and exclamations of surprise rose one after another.

Around noon,

in the hall for entertaining guests in the front courtyard,

Xu Zaijing and the others were already sitting at the banquet.

The wine from the Duke's mansion's tea and wine department and the craftsmanship of the kitchen department were naturally outstanding.

This made Xu Zaijing and Gu Tingye nod repeatedly.

Although the three Zhang family children, Zhang Shou/Xun/Wei, were accompanying them at the table, the ones who played a bigger role were Zheng Xiao and the others.

"Xu Xu Wu Ge, when you saw my father in Beizhou, what was he like?" Zhang Shou asked, holding fruit wine.

Xu Zaijing and Gu Tingye looked at each other, and just as they were about to speak with feeling,

"Shou'er, how can you call him Zaijing Brother?"

A heavy voice came from outside the hall, behind the screen.

Everyone at the banquet stood up one after another,

listening to the sound of the door opening, and looked toward behind the screen.

Soon,

the Duke of Ying walked out from behind the screen with a few snowflakes on his body.

"Greetings, Duke!"

"Grandfather!"

Xu Zaijing and the others bowed and cupped their hands in greeting.

The three Zhang family children called out with full respect.

The Duke of Ying waved his hand with a smile and said: "Xiao Ge'er, Ye Ge'er, and Little Zong Ge'er have all come! Boys, sit! Zaijing, you sit too."

Everyone agreed one after another.

Subsequently, the Duke of Ying stood, smiled at Qingcao, who was walking over with a tray containing a wine pot and cups, filled a wine cup, looked at Xu Zaijing, and said: "Zaijing, come, have a drink with this old man."

Xu Zaijing hurriedly stood up to toast, wanting to keep his cup lower than the Duke of Ying's, but was grabbed by the wrist by the Duke of Ying, who said: "Don't do that superficial stuff."

As he spoke, the Duke of Ying raised his cup and drained it in one gulp.

Xu Zaijing hurriedly accompanied him with a cup.

"I heard from my eldest son before that you have been studying how to command cavalry?"

Xu Zaijing bowed and agreed.

The Duke of Ying nodded with a smile and said: "Your father also has quite a few accomplishments in the way of commanding cavalry. You should ask him more when you have time."

Xu Zaijing nodded repeatedly: "Yes."

Zheng Xiao, Gu Tingye, and the others at the table almost had their eyes pop out of their heads seeing this scene.

"Sit!"

The Duke of Ying waved his hand again.

After filling a cup for himself, he looked at Gu Tingye and smiled: "Ye Ge'er, you did a very good job in Beizhou!"

Gu Tingye hurriedly raised his cup and said: "Thank you, Duke, for the praise."

When Gu Tingye's wine cup was lower than the Duke of Ying's, the Duke of Ying touched it calmly and drained it in one gulp.

After filling the third cup, the Duke of Ying raised his cup and looked at Zheng Xiao with a smile: "Xiao Ge'er, that battle in Dezhou was fought well."

Hearing this, Gu Tingye glanced at Zheng Xiao with some curiosity.

And Zheng Xiao's wine cup was about to touch the bottom of the Duke of Ying's cup. He shook his head repeatedly and said: "I dare not say it was fought well. In that battle, there were still quite a few places where I could have improved."

"Hmm, to have this thought is to be worthy of the words 'very good'!"

As he spoke, the Duke of Ying drained it in one gulp again.

"Shou'er, you three accompany Little Zong Ge'er well."

"Yes, Grandfather!"

"Thank you, Duke."

The Duke of Ying waved his hand and said: "Alright, you all play."

After speaking, he turned and left the house.

Everyone hurriedly sent him to the door.

After returning,

Gu Tingye sat down, picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks, looked at Zheng Xiao, and said: "Zheng Erge, you didn't see the Duke of Ying after you returned to the capital?"

Zheng Xiao nodded.

"No wonder he praised you at this banquet today, so it was your first time meeting."

After Gu Tingye finished speaking, he ate a bite of food and hesitated: "Just now when talking to the Duke, why did I always feel... something was a bit wrong?"

Zheng Xiao glanced at Xu Zaijing and said: "It should be the position of your wine cup, Ye Ge'er?"

Gu Tingye shook his head: "It's not that!"

As he spoke, Gu Tingye's eyes lit up as he looked at Xu Zaijing: "I know!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 561 =====

(End of Chapter)