Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 1219 The Relic of the Sea

"My lord..." The young woman's voice was soft and sweet, her eyes were clear, and she looked at Cao Yong with some hope.

Nalan Fusen coughed lightly, took a narrow look at Cao Yong, and said, "I'm a little drunk, I'm going to find someone to ask for a bowl of hangover soup..." Then he got up and went out.

Cao Yong felt quite strange in his heart, this Tiao Niang did not have the dusty taste of a happy woman, and her whole body was clean and refreshing.Although her eyes are very eager, they are not like the obsession of ordinary women, but there is something else in it.

This look, Cao Yong is no stranger.

In Zuo Zhu's and Zuo Cheng's eyes, in the eyes of Niu Niu and Tian Hui, it was a kind of admiration.

Cao Yong became more and more surprised, and didn't ask Tiao Niang to enter, his eyes narrowed slightly, and said: "Have you heard of me?"

"Yeah." Tiaoniang replied softly: "My lord is an important minister of the court, and Miao'er once heard others mention your name." When she spoke, her eyes were already red and she said: "Everyone says that Mr. Cao is the most loyal. Friendship and sincerity, treating people with kindness... Treating a few adopted sons and adopted sons is no less important than one's own children..."

Cao Yong is not a boy with no winks, so naturally he doesn't think Tiao Niang is so demeanor, but he is moved by his so-called "loyalty" and "kindness".

He couldn't help looking carefully at Tiao Niang, looking at the meek and weak girl, but there was a gloomy look between her brows and eyes.

Here comes the trouble.

"Come in and talk." Cao Yong glanced at Tiao Niang and said.

After hearing this, Yao Niang nodded vigorously and entered the room.

Cao Yong didn't close the door, pointed to a stool, and sat down on Tiao Niang.

Tiao Niang didn't take her seat right away, but knelt down facing Cao Yong...

Girls of the Han family did not have the custom of Manchu girls not kneeling to their parents. Miao Niang knelt down on the ground and said, "My niece has seen Uncle Cao." As she spoke, she kowtowed to the ground.

This is a very heavy gift, but Cao Yong had no sense of comfort, but looked at the top of Tiao Niang's head with a trace of coldness in his eyes.

Even calling "Uncle", who knows what shocking words this Miao Niang will say next.

Cao Yong was in doubt, but he didn't dare to guarantee that what the woman said was false.

There have been rumors recently that there is a vacancy for the Minister of Dali Temple, and the one who is most likely to be promoted is Ma Jun, the young minister of Dali Temple who has been praised by the emperor himself.

Ma Jun's father-in-law was a local official promoted by Yongzheng himself; his biological uncle was also an official in the Ministry of Household Affairs in his early years, and he had an old relationship with the emperor.

With such a background, coupled with his willingness to endure hardships, he has been an official for seventeen or eight years, and his performance evaluations are all excellent, even if the emperor likes him.

Although the emperor had the intention of attacking Han officials, he not only disliked the high position and weight of Han officials, but also feared "fame" and "popular popularity" the most.

If any courtier really "responds to everything", then he may not be able to sleep.

Although Ma Jun is a son of an official, his family members are withered and there is no one to support him. Although he was born in the imperial examination, he has been exiled and kept his filial piety for a long time, and he has not had close contacts with those "same year" and "citizens".

Yongzheng was naturally very happy to promote such a courtier to share the popularity of those veteran courtiers.

At this time, there was a Xiang girl who called "Uncle" to Cao Yong. How could Cao Yong not be surprised.

"Girl is over, please get up and talk." Cao Yong said in a faint voice.

After hearing this, Qiao Niang raised her head, her face showed a bit of stubbornness and misery, and she choked up and said, "Could it be that Mr. Cao thinks that the little girl has not been raised in the boudoir, so he is contemptuous... If it wasn't for the mother's serious illness, Hua spent all the time at home to continue , there is no excuse, and the little girl will not be tricked into selling herself by an unscrupulous blind date. But the little girl's words clearly explained the reason why she fell into this embarrassing state.

This woman is smart.

Looking at her carefully, there is indeed a kindness between the eyebrows and eyes, the corners of the eyes are slightly raised, a bit like Ma Jun.

Cao Yong felt a little uneasy, and asked, "Is Tiao Niang your real name?"

Yao Niang shook her head, and said: "This is the name changed by the master of the opera troupe. The little girl's surname is Ma, and her name is Chengyuan. If she is successful and famous, she will be 'Cheng', and Shuyuan will be 'Yuan'."

Although it's not "Si Jun" or "Nian Lang" or something, Cao Yong doesn't feel relaxed at all.

Ma Jun, whose name is Tiancheng.

Ma Tiancheng's daughter?
Cao Yong's eyes were a little deep, and he said: "Why do you call me 'uncle'..."

After hearing this, Qiao Niang immediately burst into tears, bit her lips, and said: "The little girl shyly considers herself a junior of an adult, because she knows that the adult is the best friend of the little girl..."

Seeing that her body was like sifting chaff due to excitement, with confusion and resentment in her eyes, Cao Yong already believed what she said.

Thinking of the well-educated Xiang Jun and Yuan Jun, and looking at the stubborn and helpless girl in front of him, Cao Yong really couldn't harden his heart.

It's just that from an emotional point of view, he is not a saint after all, and compared with a poor girl who may be Ma Jun's illegitimate daughter, he still favors Ma Jun.

He thought for a while, and said, "Have you mentioned these words to others?"

Tiao Niang shook her head and said, "I dare not say."

Cao Yong just wanted to ask her if she had any tokens. If she spoke so empty-handed, wouldn't it be a joke if there was an oolong.

She saw that Tiao Niang turned around, fiddled with the front of the skirt for a long time, then turned around again, she had already held a handkerchief in her hand, and offered it to Cao Yong with both hands.

This is a plain square handkerchief, except that there are two blue cloud patterns in the lower right corner.Such a simple thing is not like a boudoir, but like a square handkerchief that men are used to.

Where can Cao Yong see anything?
Even though he and Ma Jun have been old friends for many years, they always get together less and leave more, and he is a man, so he would never think of paying attention to what kind of veil the other party is wearing.

The veil was probably new, with needle holes in the four corners, and half of the silk thread fell on the veil in one of them.

It seems that Miao Niang attaches great importance to this veil, and usually embroiders it on the inside of her clothes with needles and threads.

Her "dare not to say" just now, coupled with the way she carefully kept the handkerchief, it seems that she is afraid that others will have malicious intentions and take away her "token"; With this veil, the Ma family will not recognize her.

This is Ma Jun's family matter, even if what this woman said is true, she is indeed of Ma Jun's blood, Cao Yong will not recognize her next niece without passing Ma Jun.

But if you leave Tiao Niang in the tiger and wolf den and let the leader arrange to serve the dignitaries, it is really inappropriate.

Even though he knew it was a bit tricky, Cao Yong could only get things under control first.

He raised his hand, called Qiao Niang to get up, and had to ask a few more questions.It was nothing more than that since she knew her father's name, why didn't she go directly to Ma's house to find someone or something.

It turned out that when Miao Niang's biological mother died of illness, Miao Niang was only ten years old, she only knew her father's name, and knew that his father was a Beijing official, so she also had the idea of ​​looking for relatives.

As I grew up in the opera class and learned more, I realized that I was not a serious official daughter, but an outsider girl, worse than a concubine girl.

There is a little friend in the class who is similar to Tiao Niang, she is the concubine daughter of a wealthy gentry in Sichuan, she is not tolerated by her aunt, when her father is not at home, she is quietly taken out and sold to passing human traffickers, and she is taken directly thousands of miles away outside.

In addition to what I have seen and heard in these years, the dispute between the son and the concubine is the cause of all kinds of troubles, the most indispensable of which is vicious methods.

Although Tiao Niang has never met her aunt, but in her opinion, mother is weak, and such concubines are not allowed to enter the door. That aunt is also a legendary "shrew". It makes sense, presumably because of being ruled by a shrewd wife.

How dare she throw herself into the trap, she can only inquire about the Ma family in private, she has heard people mention the friendship between the Ma and Cao families, and Cao Yong's behavior...

*
In the corner of the flower hall, Heshan said to Nalan Fusen with some embarrassment: "Don't be upset, brother, I really can't do anything... The salary of the imperial court, the eldest brother also knows, how can the three melons and two dates be enough for chewing? The emperor is born again. If you can't rub the sand in your eyes, the big guys dare not stretch out their hands, so they have to think otherwise. The brothers just arranged this table, thinking that the big guys will have two more drinks, and they will get closer and closer to each other before opening their mouths. My lord can't get rid of his sympathy, so maybe he is willing to help... I don't have any other evil intentions, and I want to plot who..."

Nalan Fusen shook his head in disapproval, and said: "Furuo is not a rigid person, you have to ask him for help, just say it. If he can help, he will help. If he can't, two meals of wine will be fine." I can't help you. If you want to make friends, you have to send a girl? This will make you extraordinarily outrageous and damage the friendship you had as an errand together. If Fu Ruo really wanted to accept foreign favors, he wouldn't spend all these years by the princess alone. Even if he knew him What's the use of making trouble if you don't care about women's sex?"

He Shan knew that Nalan Fusen was right, and felt a little regretful.

If you openly talk to Cao Yong, even if he doesn't help, it's just a face-to-face complaint, and there will be no grudges; if you come out like this, Cao Yong will refuse again , That's not only hurting face, but also hurting love.

With a bitter face, he scolded in his heart the buddy who proposed to make friends with wine and salad.

He was hesitating whether to look for Cao Yong immediately and report what he wanted, when he saw his steward come in with a strange look on his face.

"Aren't you eating with other people in the concierge?" He Shan asked.

When everyone comes to the banquet, there are many servants around them.He Shan ordered someone to deliver two tables of food to the concierge, and asked his steward to arrange to entertain the servants.

The steward glanced at Nalan Fusen, but did not answer directly.

Seeing this, Nalan Fusen got up to avoid it.

He Shan couldn't see this, so he hurriedly stopped him, and said to the manager impatiently: "Fart, let go, this is Uncle Nalan, not someone else."

The steward didn't dare to delay any longer, and hurriedly lowered his voice and replied: "My lord, Mr. Cao sent someone to summon Steward Zhang of the Cao Mansion. I don't know what to order, but Steward Zhang didn't go back to the table. He led people back to the Cao Mansion on horseback..."

Zhang Guanshi in his mouth is Zhang Yi, the old man beside Cao Yong.

Nalan Fusen and He Shan have known Cao Yong for many years, so they know that Zhang Yi is not an ordinary servant.

"Why?" He Shan was a little confused.

Since it was not the Cao Mansion who sent people over, it would not be the matter over there, otherwise, it would not be the butler who went back, but Cao Yong himself.

He Shan and Nalan Fusen looked at each other, and suddenly remembered that Tiao Niang had been so long, and Cao Yong hadn't come back yet.

That being said, doesn't that mean...

(End of this chapter)