Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 102

November [-]th is the day when everyone made an appointment to go to Changping Zhuangzi.

Early in the morning, Baoya was the first to arrive, and first presented her with a set of five gold and silver jewellery, including a flat square, two hairpins, and two side flowers; and then asked someone to carry them in The congratulatory gift from Cao Yan: two boxes of clothes, four kangping jade wares and other decorations, as well as food such as longevity peaches and noodles, and two internal purses containing auspicious and wishful pouches.

After a while, brothers and sisters Yongsheng and Yongjia also arrived.Because Yongqing was unable to come due to something, he only asked his younger siblings to send congratulatory gifts.Their presents are nothing more than calligraphy and painting on paper and pens, as well as a purse embroidered by Yongjia herself, a box of rouge, and a box of uterine powder.

Because they are all acquaintances, they are all young, and there is no taboo between men and women, so they all drink tea and chat in the hall.

Seshtu and Ning Chun arrived on the front foot and the back foot.

When Sai Shitu came in, he held a food box in one hand. He greeted Cao Yong first, then smiled and said to Cao Yi: "My mother insisted that I bring some vegetarian snacks for you to eat on the way. I said that your family must prepare She insisted on buying a better one, and said that this is what you liked, and you must ask me to bring it. Don't think the old man is too wordy!"

Cao Yi hurriedly asked the maid to take it, and thanked him with a smile: "Auntie's dim sum is indeed the best, thank you for your trouble."

Saishitu took out another small box containing a string of white jade, saying it was a gift chosen by his mother.Cao Yi thanked me for accepting it.

Ning Chun came with Qiu Niang.Qiuniang didn't wear the bright red bridal attire today, but a lotus-colored cotton brocade dress with dark patterns and a lilac-colored embroidered lambskin waistcoat with pinched teeth.

Except for Cao Yong, no one else has seen her before, and they all regard her as Ning Chun's beautiful wife and concubine.During the introduction, Ning Chun still didn't add the title of concubine, so Seshitu, Yongsheng and the others knew that this was the outer room.

Qiu Niang greeted everyone generously, and her conversation was very gentle and polite.Everyone was secretly amazed, and no one underestimated her.

Baoya didn't think about what the title meant, because she saw that Qiuniang was born good-looking and her clothes were not vulgar, and she liked the pendant beads on her head. The long string of beads swayed back and forth when she moved her head. Swinging and swinging is very interesting, so this pair of big eyes stared at him and circled around.

When Cao Yi saw her, he quickly pulled her and mentioned her quietly. It's really impolite to look at her like this, and it would be bad if she was overwhelmed.

Bao Ya is not able to listen to persuasion, although she is also restrained, she can't help but look at her a few times.

Cao Yi had no choice but luckily everyone arrived, and they didn't stay for long. After drinking a cup of tea, everyone packed up and set off.

Bao Yatu asked everyone for a car, Cao Yi and Yong Jia got into her car, followed by her own car.Qiuniang was also invited, but Qiuniang declined with a smile, and took a car by herself.In the back, the maids and women may have two or three people in a cart, and a dozen or so carriages slipped down, like a small convoy.Zijing brought a group of servants to tidy up the Cao Mansion the day before, so there are not many people following the carriage in the Cao Mansion today, but there are quite a few guards from the County King's Mansion and the entourage of the Earl's Mansion.

Ma Haohao Tangtang from the brigade came to the north of the city, left the Anding Gate, and went straight to Xiaotangshan.

*
The Cao family tour group left only in the morning, and in the afternoon Maliandao's wife, Mrs. Tian, ​​came with her two daughters, stepping on Cao Yong's usual school time.

Mrs. Tian had planned well, so she met Cao Yi in the name of going to the temple to offer incense on the first day of junior high school. It would be best if she could find a way to trap Cao Yong with words and let him escort his sister to go with him or something. I also have to call the brothers and sisters of the Cao family to have a meal at home.There were official documents exchanged by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Maliandao already knew the news of Cao Yin's going to Beijing.At this moment, Tian only thought that the closer the relationship between the two families, the better.When Cao Yin comes, it will be regarded as giving him enough face.He is not in Beijing, and his in-laws are helping to take care of his two children, what a gift!
No, Tian wanted to be happy, but he didn't even enter Cao's house.

The concierge informed that the master was not there.

The woman who went to the door to ask questions came back and reported to Tian through the car window, and said: "I think I'm really not here. When we turned into the alley just now, the old slave vaguely heard someone talking about who was going out in a large group in the morning. , so imposing. Thinking about the surroundings, only the Cao Mansion has this dignity."

Tian shook her head when she heard this, thinking that there were only three children in Cao's family, there would be a large group of people when they went out, and if they went out to play, there was no reason not to be called in-laws.Immediately, I hurriedly sent the woman to call a porter boy to come over and ask questions.

Because Mrs. Tian has been going to Cao's mansion frequently in the past month, eight times if not ten times, with such a high frequency of visits, it is difficult for the servants in the concierge to know her or not.In addition, she usually puts on the profile of her in-laws, and she is not stingy in giving rewards, so the group of servants still respect her.

Therefore, when Mrs. Ma asked someone to ask questions, the servants were happy to report back. Who would have thought that this lady would ask the master who went to the house, where he went, and how many people came back? The servant on the errand can't help but have a problem, is this what the guest should ask?Even if the subordinates know these things, they can't talk about them as outsiders.

The young fellow was very clever, and replied vaguely: "As for Mrs. Ma, our uncle, second master, and third lady are living in Zhuangzi. If you have something to do, you can leave a message, and the younger ones will pass it to you. We will come back soon." But it’s not for the little ones to know.”

Tian snorted in the car and asked where Zhuangzi was.Thinking of what the mother-in-law said about the large group of people, I felt unhappy, so I asked again whether my family went there or invited others, and who was invited.

It's not fun to ask the servant like this, the question is more and more unreliable, so I just say I don't know.

Tian was annoyed, and shouted: "It's clearly a large group of people traveling, I'm afraid it's not just your family! You are the porter, how can you not know?!"

That young man knows how to look at people's eyebrows and listen to people's voice best. Seeing her annoyed, he immediately laughed and said: "Madam, don't blame me. I'm lowly. How can I know the master's affairs? How many other cars and horses are there in the morning?" , who knows where it went?"

After hearing what the young man said, Tian knew that it was Cao Yong who had invited others to play and not her home. It was like being drenched in cold water. In the winter, her face was frozen purple, and a bad breath was condensed in her throat. , is gas and blockage.Without saying a word, let the horse turn around and go back to the house.

After returning home and closing the door, Mrs. Tian jumped and scolded for a long time, then grabbed Ma Liandao and asked: "You said you wrote to Cao Yin, are you coaxing me? How dare the younger generation of the Cao family treat you like this?" We? When we went out to play in Zhuangzi, how many young masters and ladies have we invited, but we were not invited! What does this mean? How did you write the letter?"

Ma Liandao was in a hurry to comfort his wife's chest and back, and swore again and again that he had written to Cao Yin about the two marriages, and said, "Didn't I tell you that there is an official document saying that Cao Yin is going to Beijing, maybe we will give it to him." Don't worry, madam, he is going to come to Beijing, and the engagement is a matter of time. Then Zhuangzi, in the future, our daughter will be the housekeeper, and madam can go anytime if she wants to live. Wouldn't it be a hundred times better to have a good time enjoying it quietly than to join in the fun with a group of people?"

Tian scolded again, and then gradually calmed down.

*
Changping, Xiaotangshan
At noon, the convoy turned into Xiaotangshan.Bao Ya slept in the car and woke up, had a snack, woke up, and felt that the car was running very smoothly, without any bumps just now.After asking Yongjia and Cao Yi, Yongjia smiled and said to Cao Yi: "I felt it just now. I looked out of the window. I think this road was repaired after your house. It is very smooth."

Cao Yi laughed and said that he didn't know, and he would have to ask his brother for a while to find out if it was repaired by himself.

Baoya became interested, so she picked up the curtain and looked down, and she saw a flat road, very inconspicuous, much narrower than ordinary roads, but the road surface is paved with fine gravel, and there is little dust when driving and running. Can't help but praise.

Yongsheng has been following their car all the time, seeing Baoya sticking out the curtain of the car, he hurriedly urged the horse to come over and ask, "What is Baogege going to do?"

Bao Ya smiled and said: "Just looking at it." As he spoke, he looked around, the winter was already plain and seldom colored, the trees far and near were all bare branches, looked very desolate, and couldn't help but wrinkle Frowning, he called Cao Yong who was riding a horse to clear the way: "Cao Yong! Where did you bring us?"

When the voice came out, Cao Yong, Cao Song and Seishtu who were riding in front turned their heads together.

Seeing that Cao Song was about to ride over to talk, Yongsheng hurriedly stopped him and said to Baoya: "Gege thinks he's bored, I think he'll be here in a while."

Baoya pouted: "What kind of place is this? It's in a barren mountain. Look at these trees. They lack branches and leaves. They're so shabby."

Cao Song was assigned by his elder brother to listen to Baogege's instructions. He was a little impatient. Hearing what she said, he immediately retorted: "The winter in Beijing is so cold, what tree is not like this? Only to the south of us, it is year-round They're all green."

Yongsheng already knew that Cao Song used to play around with Baoya and the others before, and seeing him was a bit of an eyesore. Hearing his words against Baoya, he hoped that Baoya would just annoy him.

I wanted to help Baoya refute Cao Song, but suddenly I thought of Miss Cao who was still sitting in the car. It would be bad for a beautiful woman to challenge me. Immediately, Yongsheng played Tai Chi: "Gege thinks so, this wilderness Can there be any rare trees and rare plants? It will be very different when we arrive at Caoxiong Village later."

Cao Song was so stubborn that he didn't go down the steps at all when he heard Yongsheng's words. Instead, he said, "If you want to say that, you are really wrong. It's just that it's winter and there's nothing you can do. I asked my brother just now, where is the plant planted?" All of them are peach trees, wait for spring in the coming year, just look, the mountain is full of peach blossoms, how beautiful it will be!"

When Baoya heard this, she remembered the peach blossoms in full bloom in her mansion in spring, and she became happy, and hurriedly said: "Yes, yes, it must be extremely beautiful. Then we will come again when the flowers bloom in spring next year!"

After hearing this, Cao Song was very proud.Yongsheng made a fuss, and laughed awkwardly.

After another journey, Zhuangzi of the Cao family finally appeared in front of everyone.

Looking from a distance from the outside, a piece of black and blue bricks and tiles is not eye-catching, but because of the pines and cypresses, the greenness is still there, and it looks a little alive.The house is hidden among tall trees, and it looks like an ordinary village from a distance.

Yongsheng is used to seeing luxury houses and rich villages, so he is quite contemptuous.Bao Ya was also a little disappointed, but because Cao Yi was by her side, it was difficult to say anything.

Cao Yong was very satisfied. He had already told the housekeeper He Maocai that it didn't matter what was going on inside the village. The more simple the exterior, the better.

He Maocai and Zijing had been waiting on the road for a long time. When they saw the motorcade coming, they hurriedly greeted them and led them into the village.

Open the gate of the villa, but there is a hole in the sky.Entering the door is a typical northern architectural style, a very spacious and bright courtyard, a one-foot-square bluestone pavement, and sometimes simple patterns are outlined with embossed blue bricks, which looks extremely spacious.Turning in along the corridor, it gradually turns into the south style. The pavilions, terraces, pavilions, ponds, and waterside pavilions are all exquisite. Although there are no colorful carved beams and painted buildings, they start with the details. No matter how you look at them, they are comfortable and have an indescribable charm and softness. And easy.

Cao Yong nodded while watching. At the beginning, he didn't put forward very detailed requirements for this Zhuangzi. He only said that it would be built according to the hot springs, and several hot springs should be connected to the Zhuangzi. wait.For Zhuangzi's design requirements, he said three words, to be comfortable.

In fact, he doesn't have much concept of architecture. Although he intends to make it modern, he really doesn't know what modern design can do in this era.If painting a tiger is not an anti-dog, then it is meaningless, it is better to keep the original flavor.

In September, He Maocai handed over the general plan of Zhuangzi to Cao Yong.

Cao Yong just took a general look, and didn't pay much attention to other things. He remembered that the whole Zhuangzi was divided into four districts.It turned out that when He Maocai asked someone to design, the designer was also worried about the word "comfortable". If there are only one or two large gardens that are either empty or chaotic, it will not be satisfactory. It is better to divide them into four medium-sized gardens. There is a main scene in autumn and winter, and the host can live in different courtyards in four seasons, and enjoy the beautiful scenery, wouldn't it be comfortable.

When Cao Yong saw this idea at the time, he felt that the ancients were no less thoughtful than modern people.When he came here, he also had the mentality that there were only these four places to enjoy, but now he has not turned into the courtyards, and he has already feasted his eyes. The courtyard looks much better than he imagined.Cao Yong couldn't help but praised He Maocai sincerely, saying that it really made him bother.

He Maocai really spent a lot of energy before and after this Zhuangzi. In the end, although he was satisfied, he didn't know whether he would agree with the little master's intentions, and he was a little suspenseful.Now, after hearing the little master's praise, knowing that he is going well, I feel at ease.He Maocai hurriedly said that he didn't dare to take credit, but his face was full of smiles.

This Zhuangzi occupies a huge area, and it takes more than half a day just to walk around.Because they were tired after driving for half a day, and it was time for dinner, everyone stopped to visit the garden.

Zijing sent people to lead the people to settle down, and after a brief wash, they set up two tables in Jiuru Hall in the front yard to wash the dust for everyone.

*
After dinner, Baoya yelled to take Cao Yi and others to the hot spring, but Ningchun's drink was delicious and refused to leave the table.So, we divided into two groups, the girls followed Baoya to the hot springs, while Cao Yong and the others stayed at Jiurutang and continued to drink.

Even though Ning Chun, Seshitu and Yongsheng were new to each other, he was always tactful and familiar with each other, and everyone chatted with each other with just a few words.

Yongsheng was a little concerned about what people ordered, and he didn't pay much attention to Seshitu's declining red belt, but because he was a guard in the palace and he was on good terms with the Cao brothers, he was considered polite and polite.

Seshitu has always been warm-hearted and friendly. This time, he made two new friends, and he was really happy, so he drank happily.

Cao Song was detained at the Zongxue of Zhaojia Mansion for a whole month, now he is free and feels comfortable.He also went out to drink with a few cousins, and knowing the rules, he immediately raised the wine cup and accompanied everyone to drink with style.

Cao Yong looked at everyone with a smile, and sighed that it was not easy for him.In the blink of an eye, more than half a year has passed, and there are not many days when I feel as happy as today.However, the more lively and enjoyable the day, the more frightened I felt deep down in my heart.Although he had already experienced the matter of life and death eight years ago, and now he is a human being in two lives, but the death in that life was an accident, and the time travel without warning made him have no consciousness of approaching death at all.Now, there is a fate in front of him, so he can't help but think about whether history has changed, and how many years he can live.

A matter of life and death, who can take it calmly.

At the wine table, Cao Yong didn't talk much, but since he is the owner of this place, it is natural for everyone to clink glasses with him.

After coming and going, Cao Yong drank the most among the crowd, and he was pretending to be busy, so he became drunk without knowing it. He only felt hot all over his body. , Out of Jiurutang.

The young man waiting at the door wanted to come forward to help him, but Cao Yong waved his hand and told him to step back, and walked along the veranda by himself.

Today is the end of the month, there is no moon in the sky, and the sky is full of stars, which are extraordinarily crystal clear, adding a bit of brilliance to the quiet night.

In the open space at the end of the veranda, a small rockery was built with lake stones, surrounded by a foot-high and foot-wide pond, which is used for raising fish or planting lotus flowers in summer, and it is now the middle of winter, and the pond is dry.

Cao Yong wanted to sit down on the table by the pool, but he didn't want to slip and sat on the ground directly.

As soon as the night blows, Cao Yong's head is heavy, and he becomes more and more confused, and many things come out of his mind in a mess.For a while, I was dying, lying on the bed skinny and bony, speechless, and about to die, next to a woman with a big belly who couldn't see her face, crying; for a while, the gate of Zhizao Mansion was sealed , the gray-haired Li Shi was kicked out holding Cao Yin's tablet, and tremblingly wanted to speak, but was pushed to the ground by a soldier stretching out his arms. , was escorted to sell, all of them were ragged and mournful, and looked really pitiful.

"No, no, I don't want to die, I want to live!" Cao Yong closed his eyes and murmured while stretching out his hand, as if he was going to push something away. "I want to live, I want to live..." The voice became lower and lower, and finally it was inaudible.

At this time, I heard the sound of rustling footsteps, followed by the woman's sweet and waxy voice: "It sounds like just now, it's really the uncle of the Cao family!"

Cao Yong squinted his eyes, only to feel that there were two women standing vaguely in front of him, one tall and one short.The short one was the one who had just spoken, Qiuniang, Ningchun's concubine; the tall one was holding a lantern, silent, just looking at himself with wide eyes.I can't blame Yongjia for being like this. Cao Yong always looks well-behaved and behaves squarely. Where has he ever been so naive?It is really strange.

Cao Yong thinks that Ning Chun has always been romantic, but now he only loves Qiu Niang. The appearance of the two loving each other is really admiration for others.Even friends watching, but also happy for the two of them.Thinking of this, Cao Yong couldn't help but drunkenly joked: "Sister-in-law, hurry up and add a big fat boy as soon as possible, and I'll be your godfather!" Because he was so drunk, his tongue tied up and he stuttered when he said these few words , vaguely.

However, Qiuniang heard everything clearly, and she was so ashamed that she said softly, "Uncle Cao is drunk!" and turned around and ran away.

Yong Jia was looking at Cao Yong, but he didn't hear what he was muttering.Qiuniang ran away like this, leaving her alone, feeling embarrassed, and wanted to lift her legs to leave, but the man in front of her was so drunk, she was really worried.

After teasing Qiuniang, Cao Yong felt sleepy, gradually closed his eyes, curled up, gradually tilted to one side, and would fall to the ground if he looked at it.

Yong Jia hurriedly put down the lantern in his hand, squatted down, hesitated for a while, and gently supported Cao Yong's shoulder: "Cao Yong, wake up! It's cold outside, I'll ask someone to take you to the house to rest!" "

After Cao Yong drank the wine and saw the wind again, he felt chills all over his body, his mouth was vague, and he didn't know what he was talking about.

Seeing Cao Yong's eyes closed, frowning and trembling, Yongjia couldn't bear it, so he took off his snow-green satin squirrel cloak, helped Cao Yong cover it, and tucked the corner of his clothes.

Cao Yong seemed to be aware of it, slowly opened his eyes, and saw Yongjia's side face close at hand.Perhaps because of the background of the red lanterns next to her, her face seemed to be stained with the morning glow, with big eyes, thick and long eyelashes, a straight nose, and slightly pursed lips.The black and smooth hair was loosely braided into two braids, hanging by her ears, matching her oval face just right.

By coincidence, Cao Yong raised his hand gently and cautiously, slowly caressed her cheek, and then pinched it twice hard.

Yongjia trembled all over, and hurriedly turned sideways to avoid it.

Cao Yong raised his hand and said in a daze, "She is a real beauty, why does she look so like Wanyan Yongjia?" It turned out that he was so drunk that Yongjia called him a few times, but he was still half asleep and half awake, and there was a lot of trouble in front of him. Seeing a beauty, I thought it was my hallucination, so I couldn't help pinching it twice.

Yong Jia touched the place that Cao Yong pinched just now with his hand, his face became redder and redder, he couldn't tell whether it was shame or annoyance, he just felt weak all over his body, and his heart was about to "thump", "thump" from his chest jump out.

"Sister!" The slightly guilty voice was Qiuniang who had gone and returned.She apologized in a low voice, "I really shouldn't have left my sister here...I'm sorry for my sister..."

They had sent the maids to deliver things to the hot spring first, and the two of them lit up lanterns and wandered slowly along the veranda. Just when they reached the door, they heard someone talking in the yard here, like Cao Yong's voice, so they came over to have a look.It's really Cao Yong, but he got drunk and talked and ran away from Qiuniang.Qiuniang ran quite a distance, only to remember that she had left Yongjia behind, and hurried back.

Yong Jia gently stroked his chest, calmed his mind, and said with a smile: "It's irrelevant, it's just a cold night, it's really inappropriate for him to be drunk here, let's call someone to take him back to the front yard."

While talking, Yongjia glanced at Cao Yong, and saw that he was already snoring slightly, and he didn't know anything about the whole person.He wanted to help him, but because Qiuniang was by his side, it was really inconvenient for the girl's house, so he hurried back to the Canmei Courtyard and called Zijing.

*
On the west side of the villa, there is the Canmei Courtyard.

This is one of the winter gardens. The plum trees planted around the hot spring pool in the courtyard are named Charm Plum.There are two indoor and outdoor hot springs in this courtyard. Not to mention the indoor, there is also a barrier carved by mountain rocks around the outdoor pool to keep out the wind and shade, which is suitable for female relatives to use.Baoya, Cao Yi and the others chose to settle here.Because of the cold weather, they were only indoors.

Zijing was forced by Baoya and Cao Yi to soak in the hot spring, because Yongjia and Qiuniang hadn't arrived yet, and Zijing refused to go down first, so Cao Yi sat and chatted with her.Only Baoya was impatient and got out of the pool early.Even though the house is full of daughters, they are ashamed to be naked like they usually take a bath.Therefore, Baoya took off her clothes and sat in the water wearing a bellyband and underwear, patting the water for a while, and fiddling with the carved water injection for a while, having a great time.

Hearing that Yongjia and Qiuniang came and said that Cao Yong was drunk and passed out in the yard next door, Zijing and Cao Yi hurried out.Bao Ya wanted to come out of the pool, but was persuaded by Ling Que: "My dear Princess, it's so cold outside, your hair is soaked, so don't dare to go out, freezing is no fun!"

Bao Ya thought about it too, but she couldn't see Cao Yong's drunk appearance, so she was a little bit unwilling, and told the sparrow: "Since I can't go, you go after the third sister and the others, carefully look at Cao Yong's drunken state, come back and tell me Listen to me and see how I can embarrass him tomorrow!"

Lingque responded with a smile, and ordered the two maids by the pool to serve carefully, then lifted the curtain and went out by herself.

(End of this chapter)