Court Marriage

"What's wrong?"

Seeing that Qiao Yingxuan hesitated to speak, Gong Zhuoliang's eyes flashed with a puzzled look on his face.

"You've lost weight... I mean, I hope you don't feel too sad about the sister-in-law."

Not knowing where to put his hands, he clenched his sleeves, and Qiao Yingxuan looked at Gong Zhuoliang with an unconcealed concern.

Today, their topics have deliberately avoided the deceased, and Qiao Yingxuan is not good at comforting them directly, but he can see Gong Zhuoliang's weight loss and his brother's weakness, so in Qiao Yingxuan's heart, he has already decided that they are forcing a smile. After all, they have such a good relationship with their sister-in-law.

"…Well, thank you."

Knowing what Qiao Yingxuan meant, Gong Zhuoliang looked away and replied vaguely, feeling somewhat empty in his heart. After all, whether he or Qiao Yingze, although he would feel sorry for Gong Zhuoyan, his life was still quite nourishing. The sadness is not as much as Qiao Yingxuan... As for the thinness, it is because the body grows too fast in the spring, and he and Qiao Yingze ate another month of fasting in order to pay tribute to Gong Zhuoyan, so they didn't seem to have much meat.

"Have you really thought about it? I don't know what to say, but brother, he was able to survive because you were by his side, so... I'm afraid he can't stand another blow, and you are still young. , let you give up the life of starting a family and starting a business like this, won't you regret it in the future?"

Qiao Yingxuan hesitantly took two steps towards Gong Zhuoliang, looking at the boy who had reached the height of his own eyes in a trance. He still remembered when he first saw him, he was small and his appearance was more delicate than many girls. Beautiful, and now, already a handsome young man.

"Brother Xuan, my son is almost a hundred days old. Do you still think I am a child? I am sincere to Ying Ze, and I will take good care of him for the rest of my life."

I thought I would hear Qiao Yingxuan's confession, but Gong Zhuoliang thought about how to reject it without hurting it. After all, it was hard for him to pretend that Qiao Yingxuan's innocent eyes couldn't be seen, and Gong Zhuoliang didn't want him to give birth to anything else. When he thought about it, he didn't expect that what this man valued most at this time was Qiao Yingze's feelings.

Moved by Qiao Yingxuan's sincere emotions, Gong Zhuoliang looked at him with a warm smile and solemnly expressed his heart.

"I believe you…"

Because of Gong Zhuoliang's bright and firm smile, Qiao Yingxuan's body was faster than he thought, and he hugged Gong Zhuoliang into his arms. He felt the body of the person in his arms stiffen instantly, and Qiao Yingxuan felt embarrassed for a while. Knowing how to behave, his body became stiffer than Gong Zhuoliang in his arms.

"I'm really fine, Brother Xuan, don't worry, go to bed early, you have to get up early tomorrow to worship my sister..."

Feeling that Qiao Yingxuan was overwhelmed, Gong Zhuoliang sighed in his heart, took the initiative to hug him back and patted his shoulder, hiding the unexpected hug, and then let him go back a few steps and pulled away distance between the two.

"Well, you also have a good rest."

With a secret sigh of relief, Qiao Yingxuan was embarrassed to face Gong Zhuoliang's eyes, nodded slightly, and sent Gong Zhuoliang out of the door. If you drink too much, you will be fine when you wake up in the morning...

Outside the door, Gong Zhuoliang looked at the starry sky with his hands behind his back, and then left the guest house with a slight smile.

Now that his words have come to the fore, Qiao Yingxuan is a conscientious person, so long as he doesn't ask for troubles himself, some things don't have to be revealed and everyone is embarrassed.

When Gong Zhuoliang returned to the bedroom, Qiao Yingze had just finished bathing and came out of the bathroom. He was obviously a little drunk, and he couldn't keep his eyes open. Gong Zhuoliang was still smelling of alcohol, so he didn't lean over to smoke him and greeted him. After a quick wash, he ran out and sat beside the bed to wipe the confused Qiao Yingze's hair.

Because he just ate something, Gong Zhuoliang was afraid that Qiao Yingze would not be feeling well if he went to bed early and accumulated food. He remembered that the architectural drawings that Tuo Pingxi had painted for the new house had been sent back yesterday, but they were too busy doing things they loved to do. Well, Gong Zhuoliang dragged Qiao Yingze to sit at the table, and then unfolded the picture and looked at it.

"Yingze, look, is there anything else to change?"

Gong Zhuoliang paved the map for Qiao Yingze to see as if offering a treasure, knowing that most of the garden landscapes above were 'designed' by Gong Zhuoliang. To be precise, he was the one who visited the four famous gardens in China and loved them deeply. He chose a few suitable landscapes from the Humble Administrator's Garden and the Lingering Garden and painted them. He also used the original names, and then let Ping Xi The one who knows how to do it is perfectly reproduced on the drawings, forming such a garden-style mansion.

Thinking that Gong Zhuoliang had been to these four places no less than a dozen times, the spring, summer, autumn and winter were cloudy, sunny, rainy and snowy, with the same scenery and different scenery, which always made Gong Zhuoliang linger and forget to return. I built an antique garden-style mansion to live in, but this is a very luxurious dream in modern times. It is not difficult to put it in ancient times. There were few people in ancient times. It won't take long to complete a house like this.

But unfortunately, their house was just raided, and recently they spent a lot on the old lady and Qiao Yingxuan. The bookstore still has enough working capital, so they can't spend much money to build the house. Besides, it is not appropriate to publicize it now. Anyway, they are still young, so it is the same for the house to wait for two years to save money before building it.

"It's really perfect, Zhuozhuo, you always surprise me."

Although he had already heard the scenes that Gong Zhuoliang imagined, Qiao Yingze was still greatly shocked when all this really came out on paper.

The garden-style house is dominated by water, covering an area of ​​about four hectares (60 mu), with a very delicate and elegant layout. , 'Wisteria Wu', 'Wuzhu Secluded Residence', 'Tingyuxuan', 'Hanbi Mountain House', 'Yuancui Pavilion', 'Qingfengchi Pavilion', 'Four Seasons Pavilion', nine landscapes, and six side The courtyards, the scenery is also different, and the mountains and rocks are different and the corridors are different, it is really like a fairyland on earth...

"Your gentleman taught it well, otherwise how would I know this? Look, these two side courtyards are next to our main courtyard, and they are for two little guys."

Gong Zhuoliang is telling the truth. Although he can't do those serious studies, he loves to read miscellaneous books, so he has learned a lot about "sideways", and Qiao Yingze is really knowledgeable and never answers Gong Zhuoliang's questions. He was very meticulous and patient. Occasionally, Gong Zhuoliang left the problem and went to work on other things. Then Qiao Yingze figured it out, and then asked Gong Zhuoliang to explain it to him. So now, Gong Zhuoliang's cultural level has been significantly improved, which is worthy of his reputation.

"The children are still young, it will take more than ten years to live alone in the side yard, but you prepared early enough..."

Qiao Yingze glanced at Gong Zhuoliang at his side with a funny look, and saw that the corner of his mouth curled up behind him, then he bent down and put one arm around his shoulder, and covered his own with the other.

Every time he crossed the picture scroll, he could hear Gong Zhuoliang's voice that had become magnetic and sweet. Qiao Yingze's body couldn't help heating up as he described the beautiful scenery there with allure.

"Yingze, why is your face red? But it's hot?"

Seeing Qiao Yingze's discomfort, Gong Zhuoliang tilted his head and grabbed his earlobe, and the hand that was on the back of his hand also went back to his chest, and his fingers stroked along the curve of his neck.

"It's the wine that's on the rise, Zhuo Zhuo, it was only last night... I can't do it today."

Qiao Yingze's breathing became quicker, but he was very tired now. If he messed up again, his bones would be scattered, and he wouldn't be able to go out of the city to worship tomorrow morning.

"Unfortunately, Ying Ze, how about moving to Xiangzhou after we get married? The pleasant climate there is good for your health. I estimate that we will be able to save enough money to build a house by then."

Gong Zhuoliang pouted and bit Qiao Yingze's ear lightly, then sat sideways on the stool, but still hugged Qiao Yingze's shoulders, resting his head on his shoulders lazily.

"Zhuzhuo... Want to settle down in Xiangzhou?"

Hearing that Gong Zhuoliang wanted to go to Xiangzhou, there was a look of hesitation in Qiao Yingze's eyes, but Gong Zhuoliang, who was resting on his shoulder, couldn't see it.

"Doesn't Yingze like it? I think that Bocheng is not our hometown, and there are no relatives here. It is better to move to a place with a better environment. Although Xiangzhou is farther from Beijing than Beijing, it is worse than Bocheng. It's much more prosperous, if we miss grandmother and the others, we can take a horse-drawn carriage to slowly walk into Beijing for a few days.

Still pressing on Qiao Yingze's shoulders and not moving, Gong Zhuoliang asked lazily, now that the beauty is on his side, it's really a disappointment to not be able to do anything.

Gong Zhuoliang himself is a busy master, and Qiao Yingze has worked with his father who was an official since he was a child, and he has no homeland feelings, so Gong Zhuoliang feels that it is no big deal for them to live in another city.

Moreover, Gong Zhuoliang has already thought about it. With their husband and wife behind them, Qiao Yingxuan's career should be very stable. In addition, he should maintain a good relationship with Gong Zhuoxiang, Lu Zijian and other aspects. With good career development, in the future, I can travel with Qiao Yingze to enjoy the scenery and enjoy life.

"Zhuzhuo, my health is much better now, and I'm an adult again, so I can't stay at home all the time..."

It's just been a few days since his birthday, Qiao Yingze didn't want to tell Gong Zhuoliang what he thought so early, but seeing that he had already imagined so much about his future life, Qiao Yingze was afraid that if he dragged it on, he would be even more difficult to speak.

"Our family is not short of money... Also, it's boring to be idle at home. Does Yingze want to open a library to teach? That said, it's a perfect match for me to open a library and you to open a library."

Gong Zhuoliang originally wanted to support his own family, so Qiao Yingze didn't need to worry about it, but then I thought about men. Who wouldn't want to have a career with a little backbone, especially Qiao Yingze is arrogant, restraining him would make him lose his vitality, why not Let him do things he likes, and it's good for his body when he has a good attitude.

Don't blame Gong Zhuoliang for thinking about the profession of teaching teacher. You must know that in his law of thinking, scholars are all devoted to the imperial examinations and become officials. They want to work.

Therefore, in Gong Zhuoliang's cognition, the jobs that 'all useless' scholars can do is nothing more than being a teacher or a master, or selling calligraphy and painting on the street to make a living, and the latter two Obviously not what Qiao Yingze would do...

"It's not that I want to teach, I want to be… an official."

He could hear the cheerfulness in Gong Zhuoliang's tone, although Qiao Yingze couldn't bear to spoil his good mood, but since he had already talked about it today, Qiao Yingze didn't want to hide his thoughts any longer.

"Do you want to be an official? Although you can fill the vacancy of county magistrates, but in the future, you will be transferred to various places to take office. You can't choose a good place to settle down. You can't wait for your old age to build this house, and once you enter the officialdom , you have to deal with those higher-level colleagues. If you encounter some corrupt officials, you must not join in with them. Instead, you will be angry. We don’t care about that little money, so why bother to find those uncomfortable? If you want to benefit one party, It’s the same with us doing more good deeds.”

Hearing that Qiao Yingze wanted to become an official, Gong Zhuoliang was stunned for a moment, and then suddenly remembered that he could fill the vacancy to become an official, he couldn't help frowning slightly and sat upright, trying to persuade him to dismiss this idea.

To be honest, Gong Zhuoliang really didn't like the county magistrate's petty official position. He won't earn much salary, not even ordinary businessmen and landlords may look down on you. Instead, it's better to be a leisurely person who makes people feel noble, Gong Zhuoliang. I think that Qiao Yingze really doesn't need to give in. It's so comfortable to write poems and draw pictures at home with the time to be idle with those people.

"It's not to make up the vacancy... I want to go to Beijing for the exam. We won't be able to catch up with the mourning next year's Spring Festival. After three years, your career will be stable and the children will be older. Let's go to Beijing to live temporarily. If I'm lucky enough to take the test In the future, we will settle in Beijing, and we can take care of each other with the second brother."

Looking at Gong Zhuoliang calmly and earnestly, Qiao Yingze held his shoulders and said his thoughts word by word, but seeing Gong Zhuoliang's surprise to seriousness, his brows getting tighter and tighter, Qiao Yingze couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart. For a moment, you can almost predict what the little daughter-in-law will say next.

"You want to take the imperial examination? Nonsense! You are joking about your body!"

Gong Zhuoliang was really taken aback by Qiao Yingze. Because of Qiao Yingze's body, he didn't give him any thought about the imperial examination at all. It was so inhumane that a good person would peel off his skin every time he entered the field, not to mention Qiao Yingze's bones. It's nothing new for three consecutive nine days to suffer sudden death with poor mental health.

When Qiao Yingze took the local exam at a young age, he almost lost half his life, and his already weak body almost collapsed. In the past three years, Qiao Yingze has never expressed his thoughts in this regard. Now that he suddenly said that he was going to take the imperial examinations, how could Gong Zhuoliang not be bombarded.

"Zhuzhuo, I have thought about it carefully. The environment of the scientific examination is not as bad as you think. I was young and my mentality was not good, so I forced myself to be like that. Now I am very interested in my own knowledge. If you have confidence, you will naturally be able to adapt well without hurting your body.”

Sure enough, it was because of his body... Qiao Yingze's soothing smile was stained with a bit of bitterness. Just because of his broken skin, how much has he lost? Kong has a talent to learn, but it is only a mirror, and he can't show it at all. If his life is still as boring as in the past, that's all, but now that he has a loved one and a happy family, how can he be willing to be a waste again? Like wasting time?

...at least, he wants to have the ability to protect his lover and his family, and not like when his father was convicted, he can only watch the family's decline helplessly, and rely on his lover who is much younger than himself to support it. all.

"It won't hurt your body? Qiao Yingze, do you believe it after you say it? No one in this family is pointing you to your success and entering the cabinet to pay respects. Isn't it bad for us to live a simple life like this? Why do we know that it's a dirty man? Are you still going to jump into the quagmire, or is power and the life of a superior person more attractive to you?"

He shook off Qiao Yingze's hands and stood up. Gong Zhuoliang turned his back to him and pinched the bridge of his nose a little irritably. Qiao Yingze's character and temper were not suitable for that complicated officialdom, especially in this era when human life was not taken seriously. , An honest official is not so easy to be!

Knowing that Qiao Yingze said this, he had made up his mind. Gong Zhuoliang was worried about how to deal with a headache, and his tone of voice was a bit rushed, but he turned his back to Qiao Yingze and didn't realize that after listening to his words, Qiao Yingze had originally The complexion that had become ruddy due to drinking, turned completely white with a single brush.