Just as Zhang Gui had walked into the courtyard, Zhang Jin hurried up. She called out: "Zhang Gui!"

  Zhang Qi turned around, bent her knees and bowed, just about to call out to her, but saw that she looked unwell, and was startled into taking a few steps back with a pale face.

  Zhang Jin saw how timid she was, and snorted, raising his head and taking a step closer to her. Just as he was about to speak, his expression suddenly changed to one of surprise. Next, Zhang Gui heard him call out politely, "Ninth Brother".

  But Zhang Xuan has come.

  Zhang Qi turned around and called out to Zhang Xuan with a full smile on his face: "Ninth Brother."

  Zhang Xuan smiled at Zhang Jin and asked, "How did you come out?" Zhang Jin saw him glancing at Zhang Qi from time to time, raised his chin and sneered, "Obviously not wanting to talk to me, why pretend?"

  Seeing his sister being so sharp-tongued, Zhang Xuan sighed silently and thought to himself: Xiao Ke had said that only those with the qualities of "high tower resentment", "broken powder and scars", "slender waist in the shadows" and "good face in the mirror" could be considered as having a "unique temperament, fresh and extraordinary". My sister laughs loudly, hates sharply, cries out loud, and gets angry with glaring eyes. Such a temperament is indeed far inferior to Ah Qi's.

  He forced a smile, then ignored her and turned to Zhang Qi saying: "Qi, come with me." After that, he walked away with Zhang Qi who was lowering her head in shame, under the glare of Zhang Jin's pale face.

  Zhang Xuan took Zhang Qi aside and said in a low voice, "Chen Yi has already sent someone to look for Father."

  Zhang Qi raised her head and called out softly: "Did he find Father?"

  Zhang Xuan nodded.

  He stretched out his hand, gently stroking her hair, and said in a low voice: "Xiao Mo is not bad, but he's not suitable for you. Ah Gui is still better off with Chen Ou." His eyes shone brightly as he looked at Zhang Gui, anxiously asking: "I heard from Chen Ou that you also like him? That's good too, marrying the one you love is a blessing for a girl."

  Zhang Qi's eyes blinked a few times, and finally she lowered her head. She twisted the hem of her clothes and asked: "Does Father have anything to say?"

  Zhang Xuan furrowed his brow, "He will probably discuss it with Mother." In an instant, he comforted Zhang Qi, "Don't worry, sister. I'll speak up for you in front of Mother."

  He said that when he saw Zhang Qi raise his head and look at him, it was clear that he had something to say, but he didn't make a sound for half a day. He couldn't help but ask: "What's wrong?"

  Zhang Qi shook her head and said in a low voice, "Nothing."

  Zhang Xuan looked at her with concern, remained silent for a moment, and then said: "Last night...". He paused and continued: "If Ah Gui hadn't covered her face last night, the threshold of my house would probably have been trampled by noble people. Just now, Chen Yun praised you highly, saying that you are intelligent and reserved, not fond of vanity, exactly the kind of person he has been longing for."

  Is she the one he has been longing for in his heart? Is it because his family is ordinary, so he thinks about having a beautiful and not greedy for glory good girl, willing to be a concubine or a maid? How greedy.

  Zhang Xuan let out a long sigh and said, "It's really unfortunate for me, but if Ah Gui reveals her true appearance, who knows, maybe there will be an even better suitor coming to ask for her hand in marriage."

  Perceiving the sincerity in his tone, Zhang Qi raised her head and blurted out, "Will there be a Lang Jun of the Cold Gate?"

  Zhang Xuan was taken aback.

  Zhang Qi raised her head, her bright eyes staring at him, and said in a low voice: "If it's a humble family with a virtuous daughter, I, Zhang Qi, can be a legitimate wife."

  At this moment, her expression was particularly careful, and the eyes that looked at her from under her eyelashes had a light that he had never seen before - as if she was telling him about her dreams.

  Zhang Xuan was completely stunned. After a while, he said: "A child of a humble family?"

  Zhang Qi nodded vigorously, her voice soft and gentle, yet cautious and exploratory: "Among the commoner's children, if not for imperial relatives, I, Ai Qi, might be a suitable match."

  For some reason, when he heard these five words "can match up", Zhang Xuan suddenly felt a kind of pain.

  He stared at her for a long time before asking: "Aren't you fond of Chen Yu?"

  Zhang Qi slightly shook her head, looking at her toes and said in a low voice: "I'm afraid, I want to be someone else's wife."

  The voice is still soft and gentle, as if a little child is insisting on his own demands.

  "Married into a poor family, Ah Kui's descendants can only be poor family children, in and out of the capital, forever being looked down upon by others, isn't Ah Kui afraid?" He didn't continue with another sentence. The main thing about marriage is that it's a match between two families of equal social status. She was an illegitimate daughter, also surnamed Zhang, and had the blood of the Jiankang Zhang family flowing through her veins. Marrying her to a poor family son would mean that the descendants of the poor family would have the Zhang family's bloodline, which is a disrespect to the family's bloodline.

  Zhang Qi understood his expression, but she still wanted to struggle a bit. At this time, she shook her head and said in a low voice: "The descendants are too far away, Ah Qi just wants to get through this moment steadily."

  Zhang Xuan was completely silent.

  After a long time, Zhang Xuan said in a low voice: "This is a big deal, let Ah Jiu think about it."

  He said with a smile to Zhang Qi: "Alright, it's getting late, you should go to school now."

  "Yes."

  Zhang Qi retreated backward.

  She actually knew that Zhang Xuan was not a man of great courage. And marrying her to the son of a humble family as his wife was indeed a matter that required courage and vision. He not only had to find a way to persuade her father, but also had to persuade Zhang Xiaoshi, and even had to persuade the mistress and other heads of household.

  He is now hesitant, which was within Zhang Qi's expectations. So she wasn't sad or disappointed.

  At this time, the sun was high in the sky, and it was almost noon. Zhang Gui took a step towards his own room.

  A Lu was not there, Zhang Gui shut the door and sat on the kang, propping up her chin and thinking quietly.

  After a while, Zhang Qi stood up, she thought, she had to make a scene with her father.

  Facing the mirror to dress up for a while, Zhang Qi pushed open the door and walked out.

  Just after walking out for a short while, Zhang Jin glanced over here as he walked along the shaded path and ordered with a lift of his chin: "Go take a look if Ah Gui is there, call her over."

  "Yes."

  The two maidservants departed as ordered and soon came back to report, "There is no one in the house."

  Zhang Jin's face pulled down, and he said with hatred: "See where she hides." At this moment, a maidservant walked over.

  The maid leaned in close to Zhang Jin, whispered something in her ear, and Zhang Jin immediately lifted her head, her eyes shining brightly as she exclaimed: "Xiao Lang has arrived? I'll go see him!"

  Just as she said that, she seemed to remember something and listlessly lowered her head, muttering: "But mother won't allow..." Not only did she not allow it, but at this moment, two of the maids by her side were there to keep an eye on her. Now, as soon as she made a move, her mother would know.

  The maid said respectfully: "Young Master Xiao wants me to pass four words on to the young lady," and in Zhang Jin's blushing anticipation, the maid whispered: "Tomorrow is long."

  Zhang Jin was a little disappointed and also a little sweet, she bit her lip and looked towards the direction of the door with sparkling eyes, that expression was clearly impatient.

  The maid said, "Young Master Xiao also said that if you see Zhang Qi, remember to send her to the study in the east wing of Zhenglin Hall. He said there's an account to settle with Zhang Qi."

  Is there an account to be settled? Zhang Jin was most eager to hear this, her eyes lit up and she exclaimed excitedly: "I'll go call him right away."