Chapter 231 Becoming a Father (Second Update)
In the flower hall of the Marquis of Ding'an's residence, Old Madam Gu was entertaining guests from the Ling family, including her sister-in-law, Old Madam Ling.
Generally, people of their age rarely go out, and can leave everything to their sons and daughters-in-law. So, if Old Madam Ling comes to visit, it must be something important.
“You are his grandmother, what can’t you do to make decisions for him? I know that the Ling family was in the wrong about Aunt Ling’s matter, that they didn’t raise this illegitimate daughter well, but you, my dear aunt, are also a daughter of the Ling family, and you have grown up to be so dignified…”
Madam Ling immediately showered Madam Gu with compliments, leaving Madam Gu completely bewildered.
However, Madam Gu truly had no say in Gu Changqing's marriage. In fact, Madam Gu had no say in anything concerning Gu Changqing.
Old Madam Ling was quite magnanimous; if she took a liking to Gu Chengfeng or Gu Chenglin, Old Madam Gu could make the decision to arrange the marriage.
Madam Gu first wanted to ask her son for advice, but Lord Gu had just been whipped by his father and was still in pain. How could he dare to go over his father's head and interfere with Gu Changqing's marriage?
Lord Gu then sent Huang Zhong to find the old lord.
Huang Zhong returned quite quickly. He hurriedly entered the house, his expression somewhat complicated.
Madam Gu asked, "Where is the master?"
Huang Zhong said awkwardly, "Master...Master said there are urgent matters and he can't come back for the time being!"
Old Madam Ling was so angry she nearly fainted!
He's already resigned from his official post, what important business could he possibly have? It's clearly just an excuse to appease the Ling family!
"Back then, before your brother-in-law became wealthy, you married down. But in the end, is this how your Gu family repays the Ling family?" Old Madam Ling said coldly, then turned to leave.
Feeling guilty after being provoked, Old Madam Gu quickly grabbed her hand: "Sister-in-law, don't be angry. How about... we go and ask Changqing directly? If he agrees himself, I'm sure the master won't object!"
Upon hearing that it was feasible, Madam Ling went to Gu Changqing's courtyard with Madam Gu.
To their surprise, Gu Changqing was nowhere to be found!
Madam Gu's expression changed drastically: "Nonsense! He's still injured! He's already left the manor?!"
Gu Changqing had promised Gu Yan last month that he would teach him to ride a horse, and today was the day they had agreed to meet.
Despite his injuries, Gu Changqing insisted on leaving the mansion.
He rode his Akhal-Teke horse to Bishui Hutong.
Gu Yan subtly inquired about this with Yao Shi, who objected to him riding a horse, fearing that a fall would trigger a heart attack. Therefore, Gu Yan did not tell his family about this matter.
After school, Gu Yan waited at the gate of the courtyard. Although he was in the courtyard, he would occasionally peek out with his little head, look left and right, and then quickly pull his head back in, just like a little quail.
As Gu Changqing entered Bishui Hutong, he immediately spotted his little quail, who had a tuft of hair on his head and looked rather silly.
Gu Changqing's mood suddenly improved.
He rode over there.
Gu Yan heard the approaching sound of horses' hooves, strode across the threshold, his joy evident in his eyes.
Gu Changqing stopped his horse in front of him, bent down and extended his hand to him.
Gu Yan placed her hand in his.
Gu Changqing's hands were large, and his palms were calloused from years of martial arts practice; Gu Yan's hands were smaller, slender and fair, and although he worked for Xiao Jingkong every day shoveling chicken droppings, he didn't develop any calluses.
It's soft and fluffy.
Gu Changqing was afraid that she might accidentally break his hand.
Gu Changqing eased his grip and pulled him onto the horse, letting him sit in front of him.
As soon as Gu Yan sat down, he sensed something was wrong. He looked down and asked, "Huh? Your saddle has been changed?"
"Hmm, didn't you complain that it was too hard?" Gu Changqing said.
"I... I don't mind," Gu Yan said seriously, his eyes wide open.
He didn't complain verbally, but he kept shifting uncomfortably while sitting there. Gu Changqing wasn't stupid, so he had someone change him.
"Then won't you like it?" Gu Yan asked.
Gu Changqing said, "No."
I like everything you like.
Gu Yan chuckled. A commotion came from the courtyard, and Gu Yan hurriedly urged, "Hurry, hurry! Don't let my mother find out! Otherwise, I won't be able to leave!"
The Yao family, who had already discovered this, were speechless.
Gu Changqing tightened the reins and nodded to Yao Shi from a distance, indicating that he would take good care of Gu Yan and bring him back safely.
Seeing how attached her son was to Gu Changqing, Yao was unsure whether to be happy or worried.
My son has always wanted an older brother, and now he does, but it's someone who hurt him when he was a child. I wonder what my son will think if he finds out the truth.
"Giddy up! Giddy up!"
Gu Yan sat in front of Gu Changqing, holding the reins with both hands, and kept pushing forward.
Actually, it was Gu Changqing who was controlling the horses.
Gu Yan also felt that he was a particularly good horse rider.
Seeing his smug and excited expression, Gu Changqing couldn't help but chuckle.
His laughter was deep, resonant, and magnetic, making it particularly pleasant to hear in the bustling city.
Gu Yan turned around and glanced at him.
"What's wrong?" Gu Changqing asked.
The smile still lingered on his face.
Gu Yan was dazzled by the smile and said blankly, "You look really good when you smile."
Gu Changqing doesn't like to smile, which he probably inherited from the old Marquis. No one knows what he looks like when he smiles, how handsome or warm he is.
Gu Changqing has been praised for his martial arts skills and his youthful promise, but he has never been praised for his smiling face.
Gu Changqing was speechless for a moment.
Fortunately, Gu Yan's attention was quickly drawn back to the horse, and he began to concentrate on "riding": "Giddy up! Faster, faster! Oh no, someone's there! Slow down, slow down!"
Gu Changqing squeezed his long, powerful legs tightly around the horse's belly, using the strength of his legs to make his mount understand the speed.
This horse has been with Gu Changqing since it was a foal, and the two have long since developed an unspoken understanding.
It was a mature warhorse, its hooves meant for trampling the heads of enemies, but now it could only be used to amuse children…
The horse is suffering, but it doesn't say a word.
Gu Yan played wildly the whole way, sweating profusely.
Gu Changqing didn't want him to get tired, so she said to him, "Why don't you take a break?"
"Are you tired?" Gu Yan turned to look at him, her face showing an expression that said, "I'm not tired at all."
Gu Changqing couldn't help but nod and said softly, "Yes, I'm tired."
"Alright, fine! You can rest for a bit then." Gu Yan tightened the reins. "Donkey—"
Horse: I'm a horse!
Gu Changqing's horse never needs these slogans.
The horse keeps moving, refusing to admit it's a donkey.
Gu Yan grew anxious: "Is that how you shout it? Donkey—donkey—" He shouted it twice more, "Why isn't it working?"
Gu Changqing kicked the stirrup, giving his old partner a warning.
The horse stopped reluctantly.
There happened to be a restaurant nearby, the very famous Xianhelou in the capital.
Legend has it that a crane once flew over and rested quietly on the rooftop for a long time before leaving. Although the crane flew away, its good fortune remained. Anyone who comes to Crane Restaurant to eat will be blessed with good fortune and great luck!
This was naturally just a gimmick created by Xianhelou to boost its business, but one person dared to boast and the other dared to believe it, so countless customers came to Xianhelou to eat every day.
They were lucky; someone had just vacated a room upstairs.
"Well... the price of that room..." The waiter awkwardly gestured that it wasn't cheap.
If Gu Chengfeng had spent several hundred taels of silver on a meal, Gu Changqing would probably have beaten him to death. But now that Gu Yan wanted to eat, Gu Changqing took out the silver without saying a word.
The Gu family's double standards have been there since the beginning!
The two entered the private room and ordered a table of dishes.
Gu Yan hadn't eaten and was indeed quite hungry, so he ate heartily.
Gu Changqing's injuries had not yet healed, and he had been traveling a long and bumpy road in the cold wind, so he couldn't eat anything at the moment.
Gu Yan put some food on his plate: "You should eat too!"
Gu Changqing picked up his chopsticks: "Okay."
As the two were eating, a burst of hearty laughter suddenly came from next door.
Gu Changqing frowned strangely.
That laughter... it sounds familiar.
In the next room, the old Marquis and Gu Jiao raised their cups and drank heartily.
After experiencing the incident of Xiao Jingkong learning to sing, Gu Jiao realized that she had poor drinking habits, so she substituted tea for alcohol.
The old marquis couldn't substitute tea for wine; he drank it properly and got himself drunk.
I'm mainly happy today because I met such an amazing young man!
From now on, Gu Chao will have brothers in the martial arts world!
The old Marquis, slumped on the table, drunkenly said to Gu Jiao, "Brother...you...don't worry...my...son...is your...son...I...I...will definitely make...make him...filial...to...you...you point east...he can't go west...you point south...he can't go north! If...he...dares...not call you 'Father'...I'll beat him!"
I didn't forget to upload today, awesome!
(End of this chapter)
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