Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 1036
The next day, when he arrived at the Yamen, Cao Yong heard the news that Yi Duli, the head of the Department of Internal Affairs, a bachelor of the Department of Cabinet, and a daily life note officer, was promoted to the left servant of the Ministry of War.

"Master Yi finally made it through." Jiang Jian and Yi Duli are also familiar with each other, and said to Cao Yong with a smile.

In Cao Yong's heart, he was also happy for Yi Duli.

After all, he was born in the prime minister's mansion, and there is a biological mother with both talents and virtues. Apart from being lustful, Yi Duli is much more capable than ordinary officials.

He is the brother-in-law of the thirteenth elder brother and the in-laws of his sons and daughters. In the eyes of the emperor, he is also regarded as one of his own.It is reasonable to be important now.

While talking, I saw movement outside the window.

It was a small official from the glass department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs who brought someone to deliver the glass. Hearing that Cao Yong was there, he came to pay his respects to him.As long as it is an old man in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who doesn't know that Cao Yong has the best relationship with Brother Sixteen.

"After the glass is made, send it to the lord first. I don't know when the lord will take a bath. The villain will bring someone over to put it on the lord." After paying his respects, the little official leaned over and said.

The glass windows in the middle hall of the main hall and the offices of the two ministers have been replaced, the windows are bright and clean, and the whole yamen has a new atmosphere.

Cao Yong said with a smile: "It doesn't need to be so troublesome. If you have enough manpower, just a few people come over at noon to install it."

The little official was happy to flatter him. At noon, he took a few nimble men and spent half an hour replacing the window on Cao Yong's side.

Standing under the window, Jiang Jian said in a low voice: "I never thought that glass can be used like this. I don't think so in summer. If the sun shines into the room in winter, the room will be much warmer, and the government office will save a lot of money." charcoal."

After hearing this, Cao Yong thought that he had greenhouses in Zhuangzi and Haidian gardens in Changping, and he planted some vegetables in autumn and winter.Now it seems that there is another use for this glass, and Brother Sixteen will also charge more money.

When Luo Ya returned home, he saw the big steward handing over two posts, one was for Yi Duli's banquet the next day, and the other was for the reception on the [-]th at Prince Chun's Mansion.

"Tomorrow, I will send someone to Mr. Yi's house to say that I will arrive in the future." Cao Yong ordered: "Mr. Yi loves antique calligraphy and paintings. You can go to the warehouse to find some, and ask your wife to order some as a congratulatory gift." send them together."

Cao Yuan bowed in response, and reported the placement of the people under the six banners.

Those six women were all skilled servants before they came to Cao's house. Two were sewing masters, two were washing masters, one was a stove master, and the other was a hair comber.Their men, two carpenters, two drivers, and two farmers, once took care of the vegetable garden.

"Master, what Madam means, other people's errands remain the same, but the kitchen is an important place, and it's not easy for outsiders to come in. If the skill of the stove master is ordinary, just ask her to fill in the errand; if the skill is really good, let her guide a few people." The girl cooks. For the few outside, my wife asks the master to make up his mind." Cao Yuan said.

"The two sinongs will keep some for my own use, and the other four will be arranged by the supervisor." Cao Yong said.

After explaining this, Cao Yong returned to the inner courtyard.

When passing by Wutong Garden, I saw the figures in the courtyard were graceful, and there were laughter and joy from the upper room, and Cao Yong's original heavy mood also eased a bit.

"Master is back!" A servant girl in the corridor saw Cao Yong, and raised the bamboo curtain while raising her voice.

As Cao Yong entered the room, the laughter gradually stopped.

In addition to Li's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, Dongfu Zhaojia's and Su Xin's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are also there.

There are brothers and daughters-in-law, Cao Yong is not easy to stay as an uncle, after greeting the two elders, he left the orchid courtyard.

Seeing this, Mrs. Li sent Chu Yu out to follow.

"The old lady is in a good mood? What's the reason?" The husband and wife walked side by side, Cao Yong asked.

"It was the second old lady who went out and saw the glass windows of other people's houses. She came back and told the old lady that the sister-in-law and sister-in-law made an appointment to change the glass windows together." Chu Yu said: "The second old lady really cares, she praised it for a long time. Said that if the old lady is reluctant, she will give the old lady some money from her own house to replace it."

Cao Yong smiled and said: "It's rare that the second old lady still has such a rich time."

Chu Yu lowered her voice, and said, "I saw what the second old lady meant. She deliberately wanted to coax the old lady to be happy. She also said that she would go out of the city with the old lady to escape the summer heat with a shy face, and let the old lady make arrangements earlier. They were all laughing, but the words seemed urgent, maybe there were other reasons. I wanted to ask Su Xin privately, but before I could open my mouth, my master came back."

When Cao Yong heard the words, he paused and said: "It seems that the second old lady should also hear that the Li family was escorted to Beijing to be punished."

Chu Yu nodded, and said: "It's probably true. If it was normal, when I heard that the palace rewarded people with rewards, the second old lady would have to pry a few words and say a few sour words, but today she didn't mention it."

As soon as the husband and wife returned to Wutong Garden, Mrs. Li sent a maid over and told Chuyu that she wanted to keep Zhaojia's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law for dinner, and asked Chuyu to arrange additional dishes.

"The Wang's mansion just sent over two Loi river prawns today, just to add to the food. I remember that the Lord also likes to eat." Chu Yu said while helping her husband change into his official uniform.

Cao Yong originally wanted to mention the Li family's affairs with his mother today. After the mother and son passed their anger, they could discuss a showdown with the Gao family.Seeing that Mrs. Li was in a good mood today, he couldn't bear to disappoint, so he thought of pushing it off until tomorrow.

Unexpectedly, after dinner, Mrs. Li took the initiative to send someone over to invite him to the Orchid Courtyard.

Li's face was very calm, and he dismissed all the maids, leaving only his son, and asked: "What about your uncle, don't hide it from me. Even your second aunt knows, so it is very easy for outsiders to inquire. Tell me the truth, so that I don't think about it and scare myself."

Cao Yong sighed in his heart, and said: "Listen to Master Shiliu, Uncle and the others will be able to arrive in the capital in a few days."

When Mrs. Li heard the words, she was not surprised at all.

She has also made imperial orders for many years, so she knows that it is not a good thing for magistrates to come to Beijing except to follow the imperial order.

She looked pale, looked at Cao Yong and said, "Will you really be sentenced to exile?"

Cao Yong had already spoken to her before, but she still felt sad when she came to see her.

Cao Yong nodded and said: "I'm afraid I have to tell my grandmother now."

Mrs. Li was a little flustered when she heard this, and said, "Don't... how old are you... Or just listen to your second aunt and pack up in these two days, and I will take your grandmother to Haidian Zhuangzi to escape the summer heat?"

Cao Yong shook his head and said: "I'm afraid I can't hide it... On the small selection booklet of the Ministry of Internal Affairs this year, there is Xiangyu's name..."

"Ah?!" Mrs. Li was surprised, and in a daze, she asked for a while, "Do you want to work in the palace, or is it just like our family, just give it to other people's family?"

If you enter the palace as an errand, there is a concubine or empress, and you can take care of her a little;

Looking at the girls from other families who are preparing to be errands, it is not easy to say a few words; thinking about her niece and granddaughter, Li Shi only feels cold all over her body: "Although it is a concubine, it was brought up by your grandma. Does she have an old man's heart?"

"After all, there are a lot of people who can get the emperor's gift of maids. Even if they are really given to outsiders, they may be easier to take care of." Cao Yong comforted: "Mother, don't worry too much, the third girl of the Sun family is also on the list. Tomorrow, I will call Chu Yu. Take her over there, give her a hard time, and she will be able to take care of her in the future."

Now that things have happened, Li Shi can only think better.

She also knew in her heart that because of Xiangyu, Gao Taijun could no longer hide it.

After Cao Yong was sent away, Li Shi went to Shaoyuan.

There was a lamp on the kang table, and Mrs. Gao was sitting on the kang, picking up Buddha beans in a thin willow basin in front of her;

Xiangyu is the same age as Tianhui, and the month is younger than Tianhui. She is ten years old this year.She inherited her parents' good looks, with red lips and white teeth, and because she grew up beside her elders, she is much more sensible than children of the same age. She is quiet and gentle, but she is more pitiful than ordinary people.

Li's eyes fell on her, and she couldn't move her eyes away.This is just an orphan girl without father and mother. Because she is not welcomed by her own grandmother, she has not enjoyed the blessings of the Li family, but has to be burdened by the family.

Seeing her standing at the door and not coming in, Mrs. Gao said angrily, "Don't come in yet!"

Mrs. Li came to her senses, went into the room, and sat by the kang.

Xiangyu had already got off the kang, ordered the maid to make tea, and then held it to Li Shi with both hands: "Grandmother, have tea."

Mrs. Li took it over and said to Mrs. Gao: "Mother, Brother Yong's daughter-in-law will go to Sun's house tomorrow. The sister-in-law of the elder sister's family is younger than sister Xian, and not two years older than Tianhui and Xiangyu. I mean, Tell her to take Tianhui and Xiangyu to meet her, and it would be good to visit relatives' homes more."

After hearing this, Gao frowned and said, "It looks like it's grown up, why are you still hanging around? I'm not afraid of others talking about it."

Xiangyu was listening, but there was a bit of expectation in her expression; seeing Gao's refusal, her little head drooped all of a sudden.

Tianhui still has the opportunity to go out, and is picked up by Prince Ping's mansion, or returns to Prince Chun's mansion with Chuyu; Xiangyu follows Gao Shi, and Gao Shi loves quietness, and rarely leaves the mansion.

Normally, Mrs. Li could still say "I'm still young, it's okay", but today Mrs. Li's mouth was slightly bitter, and she couldn't say anything.

Mrs. Gao looked at Xiangyu's little head, feeling a little distressed, and said, "Just go, I heard that brother Li from the elder sister's family is also going to die this year, if there is good news, their mother and son will also have a happy life in the future." rely on."

Li said: "I'm just going to see Tianhui, can I let my granddaughter go with me?"

Gao looked at Xiangyu lovingly, and said, "Okay, let her digest it too. She ate half a plate of prawns at night, and I'm afraid she will accumulate food."

Xiangyu was embarrassed by the words, pulled her sleeves, lowered her head and said, "Old Ancestor..."

Seeing that their grandparents and grandchildren got along well, Mrs. Li squeezed out a wry smile, got up and said, "If that's the case, I'll take her there first."

Gao lowered his head and stretched Xiangyu's clothes, smoothed the front of her clothes, and then told them to do whatever they wanted, but he still lowered his head to pick up Buddha beans without mentioning it.

Because it was the tenth day of the Lunar New Year, there was a half moon in the sky, the ground was full of brilliance, and the night breeze was blowing slowly, warm and soft, with a bit of comfort.

There was a servant girl leading the way with a lantern in front, and Xiangyu let Shi Li lead her, with the corners of her mouth slightly raised, already thinking about going out tomorrow.

When Mrs. Li stopped, she realized that it was not Tianhui's Jinyuan, but the Xingyuan where Aunt Luo and Aunt Chang were.

Xiangyu, Tianhui, and Niuniu come here every three days for half a day to learn etiquette from the two aunts, so they are quite familiar with this place.

At this time, the lights on both sides of the rooms that were originally empty were turned on.

Xiangyu watched curiously, she also knew that the newcomer added to the mansion was placed at the place of the two aunts, and she followed Niu Niu to visit quietly last night.

Mrs. Li didn't stop, took Xiangyu's hand, and went directly into the courtyard, signaling to the servant girl who was waiting on her to report.

When Aunt Luo and Aunt Chang heard the movement, they rushed out to welcome Mrs. Li in.

Standing on the porch, Xiangyu glanced back, there was a figure swaying under the window of the East Wing, but it was quiet, without the slightest noise.

Xingyuan is smaller than other courtyards, with three small upper rooms, the one on the west is the residence of the two aunts, and the other two are open rooms, where the two aunts usually teach the ladies in the house to behave.

Although they didn't know Li Shi's purpose, they still invited her to sit down and serve tea.

Li said: "These ten girls, what do the two aunts think?"

The two aunts looked at each other, and Aunt Luo said, "They've all been trained, and the rules are not bad. There are two older ones, who are a little smarter, but know how to measure. If the old lady is in a hurry, she can take it now." errand."

Mrs. Li shook her head and said: "No rush, it's just that my granddaughter is curious, if it's cheap, call her over and let her have a look."

Xiangyu stood beside Li Shi, and when she heard this, her eyes crooked, thinking that her aunt was so amazing that she knew what she was thinking in her heart; she also wondered if she could have let her know about the peeping.

She raised her head slightly and secretly looked at Mrs. Li, she was relieved when she saw that there was no anger on her face.

According to the master's order, the two aunts had nothing to say, so Aunt Chang went out after accusing her of her crimes, and came in with ten maidservants after a while.

They had their measurements today, and it would take two days for the clothes to be made out, so they were still wearing light green court ladies' clothes, standing there, unable to tell which was which.

"This is Mrs. Tai, you were sent here by the emperor himself to serve Mrs. Tai, and you still haven't greeted Mrs. Tai." Aunt Chang confessed in a low voice.

"My servant has seen Madam Tai, please greet Madam Tai." Everyone bowed their knees and said in unison.

Mrs. Li nodded, and said: "Come on, we met in a hurry yesterday, and I forgot to ask. Now that we have met, please report your name, tell me who else is in your family, and how to enter the palace as an official!" , pointed to the shortest one in the front row, and said, "Let's start with you."

"Slave Yuying, there is an uncle's family in the family, as well as my mother and brother... My family chose to be a cousin last year, but when the cousin fell ill, the uncle pushed the servant..."

"Mingxia, the slave girl, has both parents and three younger siblings. When she reaches the age, she is on the list of candidates and enters the palace..."

"Slave Chaohua...Because of my grandfather's crimes, my parents were confiscated to serve in the Baoyi Banner..."

"Slave Lin... Lin'er... because of my grandfather's crimes in the early years, I was not registered in the palace four years ago..."

"Slave..."

Among the ten people, seven were selected into the palace by Baoyi Xiaoxuan, and three were sent to the palace by the female family members of offenders.

After listening to them one by one, Mrs. Li pointed to the fourth one and said, "Your name is Lin'er? Look at you, you are not old for a few years, and you have been in the palace for four years?"

The girl knelt down and said: "My aunt said that the name of the servant girl violated the girl's taboo. I asked the servant girl to use the surname first, and then asked the masters to give the name after the errand was sent. The servant girl, the mother and the elder sister entered the room four years ago. In the early years, because of his young age, he didn't receive any errands. Last year, on the [-]th, he learned the rules with the sisters who had just entered the palace..."

*
The road to court for the three daughters of Cao, Li, and Sun has begun, asking for a monthly ticket to spread flowers. .

(End of this chapter)