Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 100
Inside the Anding Gate, Prince Yong's Mansion.

Although he is marrying Fujin who is a finger-marriage, the fourth elder brother still maintains a consistent low-key style, and does not send out invitations for a big banquet.Therefore, when Cao Yong dismounted in front of Yongwang's mansion with the sixteenth elder brother, he found that there were not many carriages and horses, and there was no one who sang promises loudly at the door.

The deacon knew Elder Sixteen, so he rushed over to greet him, and then arranged for a boy to lead Elder Sixteen and Cao Yong in, while the followers waited outside according to the rules.

Brother Sixteen had ordered the four confidant guards to hang out for a while, so only these four were left at this moment, and the rest of the guards and followers of the brigade were sent away to eat and drink elsewhere.Cao Yong also sent Wu Mao and Wu Sheng back to the house to deliver the letter, leaving Xiao Man and the Wei brothers to wait in front of the door.

Although it is not the first time for Cao Yong to come to Yongwang Mansion, but last time he was only led to the small reception hall on the West Road, but this time he entered the garden on the East Road for the first time.This garden is different from the magnificence and extravagance of ordinary royal gardens, but it has the style of Suzhou gardens.Although the flowers and trees are withered in winter and there is a lack of Zhu Shaocui, it still does not hide the pleasant scenery.

The banquet was held in the theater building of the East Courtyard, that is, Wufu Building, which was later mentioned by Emperor Kangxi on a plaque. Opposite the theater building was a one-foot-high stage protruding on three sides.

The princes and brothers naturally sat in the middle of the chairman, and the guests were divided into surrounding seats according to their official ranks.The sixteenth elder brother specially arranged Cao Yong on a table in the outer corner, so that he could slip away in a while.Cao Yongzheng is eager to stay away from those princes and elder brothers. Others are fine, Jiu elder brother is also sitting there, although he is not afraid of him, but he can't answer back when he says something weird. It's better to hide than to be bored.

At this table, Cao Yong did not know anyone.I don't know if the guests who came here today are as low-key as the host's. They didn't even say their names to each other. They only said a few polite words to each other like "Please, please. Drink, drink" and raised each other's hands. After drinking a glass, he ate food, drank and listened to the theater, as if no one was there.Cao Yong didn't like hypocrisy and entertainment at all, so it would save trouble.

After singing two plays on the stage, Elder Sixteen couldn't sit still, and whispered to Elder Fourth that he was not feeling well, so he apologized and left.Cao Yong has been staring at Shiliu's movement, and when he got up, he followed him out.

After leaving Yongwang Mansion, Elder Sixteen found a private room in a nearby tavern, changed into the guard clothes prepared in advance, and happily followed Cao Yong and the others to Longfu Temple.

Longfu Temple is located in Dongsi Pailou, and there is a temple fair every nine or ten days.On the day of the opening of the temple, department stores gathered.Whether it is pearls, jade, silk, flowers, birds, fish and insects, or even daily necessities, there is everything; there are also astrology, acrobatics, playing, playing and singing, and it is very lively.In fact, this area belongs to the commercial area, and there are many shops, not only on the opening day of the temple, but also very lively on weekdays.

Elder brother Sixteen is like a bird out of the cage, happy all the way, looking at everything comfortably, and always looking at some small toy stalls, and asking Cao Yong if he knows anything new and interesting.

Cao Yong shook his head, at his mental age, he hadn't really paid attention to children's toys, and asked him what kind of toys he planned to buy. Although he was not good at it, he could at least give him a reference.

Elder Sixteen laughed and said: "I originally wanted to buy some interesting things for Er Niang to relieve boredom. Although the things in the palace are exquisite, they are not new. I only think that the things outside are more interesting, but looking at it this way, It’s also very common.”

After listening to Cao Yong, there is no good suggestion.This kind of bazaar is for the general public, and they are basically daily groceries. It may not be easy to find novelty things.Besides, in this kind of market, the workmanship of handmade products is probably rougher.

The two picked and picked and walked for half a street. Elder Sixteen only saw a set of four small lanterns tied with colored paper and a rouge box made of rattan.Although there are not many things, it is not empty-handed.

Walking to Beijiekou, Xiaoman's eyes were sharp, and he saw Cao Song coming from the east with a group of people from a distance, so he hurriedly approached Cao Yong and said.

Cao Yong looked to the east, and Cao Song also saw his brother. He shouted happily "brother" from a long distance, and then he whipped his horse and rushed over.Immediately afterwards, a few young men in brocade clothes came over behind him, hurriedly calling Cao Yong "Brother Cao".

Cao Yong saw that three of them were Feng De, Feng Che and He Lian whom he had met in Zhaojia Mansion before, but he did not recognize the other two.One is about the same age as him, and the other looks eighteen or nine years old at least, and calls him "big brother" with a respectful face. Cao Yong really feels like the boss of the underworld.

Brother Sixteen chuckled, poked Cao Yong, and jokingly said, "Where do you have so many younger brothers?"

Cao Yong pointed to Cao Song: "This is my second brother, and those are my brother's friends." Then he called Cao Song to greet Shiliu, and he hesitated a little when he was about to introduce him. Brother Shiliu came out for a stroll privately. It's hard to tell.

Brother Shiliu knew what he was thinking, and when he saw him paused, he rushed to say to Cao Song, "I'm at home at Shiliu, so I'm also your cousin, just call me cousin."

Cao Song scratched his head. He didn't know where there was such a relative. Seeing that Elder Sixteen had a tender face, not tall, and not as strong as him, he was not convinced that he was an elder brother. He just said: " You haven't mentioned your age yet, how can you be a cousin? What year and month were you born?"

Cao Yong just wanted to stop him from being reckless, but the sixteenth elder brother didn't care, and said with a smile: "I am from June of the 34th year of Kangxi, not your elder brother?"

Cao Song laughed loudly and proudly said: "No! I'm from the first month, and I'm your brother!"

Cao Yong gave Cao Song a funny look, this silly boy, is it fun to be the elder brother of the prince?Then he changed the subject and asked him, "Where are you going?"

He Lian who was on the side answered first: "We have an appointment for a drink, and elder brother will go with us too!" Then, he glanced at Elder Sixteen next to him, saw that he was also wearing the clothes of a guard, and said respectfully: "This guard, please do me a favor too!"

Cao Yong waved his hand and said: "We just came out after eating, so we won't go, next time!"

Several people sincerely gave way again and again, seeing that both Cao Yong and Shiliu insisted on refusing to go, they gave up.

Because Cao Yong saw that two of the six people were older, and he brought a lot of long-term servants behind him, and it was expected that there would be no danger, Cao Yong told Cao Song a few words and let them go.

The sixteenth elder brother walked around and only added three more strange stones, one of which was given to Cao Yong for play, and the two were put away by himself to share with the fifteenth elder brother.The two rode back to the Prince Yong's mansion, changed their clothes, greeted all the guards and followers, the sixteenth elder brother returned to the palace, Cao Yong returned to the mansion, and parted ways.

*
Cao Mansion, Bamboo Courtyard.

After being in a daze for three days, Fang Cha finally woke up quietly, and Xiang Cao was relieved, and hurriedly asked someone to heat red dates and glutinous rice porridge.

Seeing Vanilla's dark circles under her eyes, and Zhang Gen's family standing in front of the bed with concern, Fang Cha finally shed tears.

"My sister has been hungry for several days, let's drink half a bowl of porridge first!" Vanilla persuaded Fang Cha softly while helping Fang Cha to wipe away her tears.

But Fang Cha couldn't speak, she just buried her head on the pillow and wept silently.Vanilla wanted to persuade her again, but Zhang Gen's family waved to her daughter, sat in front of the bed, and patted Fang Cha on the back.

Fang Cha gradually burst into tears, muttering: "Mum, Mu!"

Zhang Gen's family sighed.Fangcha is a slave born in Cao's mansion. Because her grandmother Zhao Nai was the old lady's companion, she grew up in the yard there since she was a child. Because everyone treats her differently, she is somewhat different from The other girls have different temperaments.She is not a bad person, and she can be considered straightforward in doing things on weekdays, but she has an unforgiving mouth and likes to talk about people, so she has no popularity among maids and servants, and she often does good things but does not get good reviews.

Although Fang Cha is not that delicate and caring maid, she treats her master sincerely.Originally, before Jiang Ning came to Beijing this time, Mammy Zhao had begged Li's Grace to let her granddaughter be released to arrange a marriage, but Fang Cha was really worried because the girl was ill at the time, so she accompanied her to Beijing.

After crying for a long time, Fang Cha stopped crying until she could no longer shed tears.

Vanilla fed her spoonful by spoonful, drank half a bowl of porridge, and drank a few mouthfuls of ginseng soup before she fell asleep again.

*
In the East Nuan Pavilion, Baoya sniffed and said to Cao Yi, "What kind of fragrance does Third Sister's room smell? It's clean and light, and it smells so good!"

Cao Yi pointed to the two fruit plates placed on the Baibaoge: "Where is the incense? It's the fragrance of fruits!"

Baoya followed her hand and saw three or four bright red apples and two buttery oranges on a white jade plate; several white pears and a few oranges on another agate plate. Black water chestnuts.

Bao Ya couldn't help but praised: "This is good. It has a fragrance and doesn't feel smoky. The third sister's idea is really ingenious!"

Cao Yi shook his head with a smile: "I don't dare to take the credit, this is Sister Zijing's idea!"

Bao Ya rolled her eyes, wrinkled her nose at Cao Yi, and said with a smile, "Maybe I'm calling you sister right now, but we'll have to call you sister-in-law in the future?"

After hearing this, Cao Yi hurriedly looked towards the door and saw no one was there, so he felt relieved, pulled Baoya's sleeve and said, "Gege, this is not a joke. Sister Zijing has always been noble, and brother respects her , such a joke is really inappropriate!"

Baoya stuck out her tongue playfully: "I see, I won't talk about it anymore! It's just that she is old and hasn't married, so I can't guarantee that your brother doesn't think so. Just say that in our house, the few who served my brother earlier, They have all become members of the elder brother’s house.”

Cao Yi retorted: "Brother won't, brother is the most polite! In matters of marriage, parents are in charge, so brother will not act recklessly!"

"What is it to act recklessly by setting up a common room and taking in a concubine?" Baoya said, then sighed, "Sister Yongjia is right, how many men in the world do not have three wives and four concubines, we are just born After losing a woman, there will be hardships in the future!"

Seeing that Baoya's childish face looked a bit heavy, Cao Yi couldn't help but joked: "How old is Ge Ge, and this is how men are not men. Could it be that some young man fell in love with him and moved his heart?"

Baoya's heart skipped a beat, and an elegant and handsome figure flashed in her mind, with a smile on her face unconsciously, she leaned on the kang, and stopped speaking.

Cao Yi didn't look right, did he let himself guess?At the moment, it was half speculation, half joking: "Who is Ge Ge looking at? Could it be my brother?" He said jokingly, but he began to think about it in his heart. In terms of character and family background, Ge Ge and his brother are extremely It's a good match, but I don't know if the marriage with the Ma family can be rejected.

It turned out that Ma Liandao's wife also visited several times, and she was extremely courteous to Cao Yi, Cao Song and others.However, the girl in her family is a bit cowardly in character, unassuming in her actions, and ordinary in appearance, at best she can be called delicate.Cao Yi felt from the bottom of his heart that the young lady of the Ma family was not good enough for his brother.

However, every time the Ma family visits in the name of being a good family member and carrying the genealogy of the elders, Cao Yi and others are not to be neglected.After coming down again and again, the Ma's family gradually acted like a wife in-law, pointing out that the letter to the south had been delivered.Cao Yi was unhappy when she heard this, but the elders still decide on the matter of marriage, so she can't help it, so at this moment, she very much hopes that Baoya can marry.

After listening to Cao Yi's words, Bao Ya couldn't help laughing out loud: "Okay, okay, don't worry, third sister, but no one cares about your precious brother! I think girls are like this in this world, but When my brother is the best in the world! Before my brother was married, I was like this too. Whenever a woman came out, I thought she would fall in love with my brother. But I don’t know, each flower is in each eye, and the cause is different. .”

Listening to Baoya's melancholy words, Cao Yi couldn't help but think about his own stature, even though he is young, he will only be fifteen years old in one month.But according to the calculation of the north, it was sixteen years old, and seventeen the next year.If father and mother were to decide and marry him, wouldn't he want to leave the Cao family?

Thinking of these, Cao Yong could not help being a little terrified.But then he thought that he still had an older brother above him, and his seniority was orderly, so there was absolutely no reason for him to go over his elder brother.Right now, there is no sign of my brother's marriage, so what are you worrying about!This is more practical.

*
Cao Mansion, Banyan Courtyard.

After Cao Yong returned to the mansion, he came here directly, but Mr. Pian hasn't come back yet.The servant girl Lianqiu brought tea: "Master, please sit down for a while, Mr. Shi should be back soon!" Before he finished speaking, another maid, Xiqiu behind the door said crisply: "Mr. is back, sir is waiting in the hall! "

Lianqiu and Xiqiu are two of the eight maids Li bought in Beijing. They are sisters from the same country. They are the oldest and the most prudent among them, so they were chosen to serve in the banyan courtyard.

Hearing Zhuang Xi's footsteps to the door, Cao Yong got up from his seat.

Wearing a thick leather robe, Zhuang Xi walked in slowly while coughing.

"Sir!" Cao Yong heard him coughing uncomfortably: "Please come and have a look at the doctor Chen!"

Zhuang Xi shook his head: "It's okay, it's an old problem of 30 or [-] years, and it happens every winter. I've tried various remedies, but I can't get rid of it!"

Seeing Cao Yong's serious expression, Zhuang Xi knew that he must be looking for him for something, so he asked him to move to the study to talk.

When I arrived at the study, only Zhuang Xi and myself were left, Cao Yong told the news he had just received from the brothers of the Wei family.

It turned out that Wei Hei and Wei Bai looked strange since they came back from Prince Yong's Mansion, as if they had something to say.Later, because of the presence of the sixteenth elder brother, he never spoke.It wasn't until everyone separated from Brother Sixteen that they made an astonishing discovery.When the two brothers were waiting for Cao Yong to come out outside the palace, they found a man whose appearance and stature were very similar to one of the men killed in Chunshu Hutong in Nancheng that night.But that person was 25 or [-] years old. Today I saw that this person was younger, eighteen or nineteen years old.

The two were secretly startled, and quietly inquired about the identity of that person, and for a while, no one knew the name of that person, only that he came with the fifteenth elder brother.

"Fifteen elder brother..." Zhuang Xi stroked his beard and pondered.

Seeing that his brows were tightly frowned, Cao Yong knew that he was also like himself, and was very surprised that Brother Fifteen was involved.Brother Fifteen is only one year older than Cao Yong, and his mother is a Han woman. No matter in terms of age or status, he cannot be compared with other grown-up brothers. He is also a prince who lives in the Forbidden City and has not been granted a title. How can there be a chance? Train outsiders?

Cao Yong tried his best to recall the "Nine Dragons Seizing the Inheritance" that he knew in later generations, but he didn't remember the mention of the fifteenth elder brother.I only vaguely remember that the sixteenth elder brother seemed to be adopted by Prince Zhuang as his heir, and the seventeenth elder brother was the "four master party", but no one mentioned the deeds of the fifteenth elder brother.

After pondering for a moment, Zhuang Xi shook his head: "It shouldn't be Elder Brother Fifteen! When the Second Young Master was attacked in October, the old man had investigated the private houses of the princes in the capital to see if any of them had cultivated them. Although they have their own powers, the little princes in the palace don’t have this convenience! It’s just that, these years, the one above loves these young princes born by the concubine Wang very much. Although the sixth elder brother is still unable to accomplish anything, he is growing up day by day, and he is about to reach the age of feudal lordship and building a mansion, so it is not uncommon for him to be missed or win over by other older princes. Right now, we should follow the example of the person we discovered today. Check it out, maybe you can catch a big fish!"

Cao Yong was worried that if the fifteenth elder brother was really involved, he would have to be cautious when dealing with it. After all, he still had to look at the relationship between Wang Pin and the sixteenth elder brother.Hearing Zhuang Xi's words, he secretly agreed, but at the same time he was curious, not knowing who was behind the scenes.

After pondering for a while, Cao Yong suddenly felt a little strange. He glanced at Mr. Zhuang and said nothing.

(End of this chapter)