Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 160 Longevity Festival

Jiangning, Qingliang Temple, Abbot Hall.

Looking at a big dragon on the chessboard that is about to take over the palace, Cao Yin is very proud.Abbot Hui Kong, who was sitting opposite him, saw that the chessboard was no longer turning around, so he put the chess piece in his hand back into the Gu, nodded and said: "Benefactor Cao, you are more relaxed and relaxed!"

Cao Yin was dressed in a blue silk long gown and a pair of mille-soled shoes of the same color. He looked like an ordinary scribe, but he didn't look like a dignitary.Although still thin, the spirit looks good.

After listening to Hui Kong's words, Cao Yin nodded and said: "I have lived for more than 50 years, and I don't know what true freedom is until now!" Speaking of this, he couldn't help falling into distant memories.

From the beginning of my memory, what my parents have taught me is to "emperor's grace" and "loyalty to the emperor".He has been stronger than his peers since he was a child, and he loves reading and writing very much. It is because he hopes that he can make achievements in learning when he grows up.Among the companions who entered the palace at that time, he was the youngest, but his homework was the best, and he was praised by everyone as a "child prodigy".No matter how old he is, he is good at playing piano, chess, calligraphy and painting.At the age of 16, after finishing his reading career, he was selected as the Imperial Guard again.He is also a person who is good at poetry and prose, and is good at lyrics and music, but he loses his spirituality under the influence of power and influence.

Seeing the sons of heaven whom he had known since childhood, except Oboi and Ping Sanfan, step by step on the road to the peak of the king, his blood was also boiling.In his heart, he admires and is grateful to Kangxi, willingly abandons his own ideals, and devotes all his loyalty to the emperor who treats him like a brother.

The prosperity has come to an end, and most of my life has passed like this.

Bearing a deficit of millions of taels, he raised his family to pay off the debts, and he has no regrets; he has no regrets about the framing and criticisms before and after the abolition of the prince; he is dying of illness, and he still has no regrets when he sees his son flying back from the capital covered in dust and dust!

It's just that I'm tired.

No longer have the energy to figure out the Sacred Heart, no longer have the energy to deal with all kinds of conspiracies and wrestling.

His body gradually healed, and he was only hanging on Jiang Ning weaving, taking off other errands for more than half a year, Cao Yin became a frequent visitor to Qingliang Temple.Playing a game of chess with the abbot, listening to the bells in the temple, reading half a book of scriptures, and reciting a few lines of Zen, made him feel a little bit of the desire to abandon the world and become a monk.Considering that his eldest son was young and his wife was very affectionate, he finally gave up this thought.

Letting oneself push others, thinking of the time when he sent his son here to practice, Cao Yin felt a little afraid.What he was thinking at the time was to resolve the depression in his son's heart, so that he could learn the art of strategy in a peaceful state of mind, and prepare for him to succeed his position in the future.

Thinking of this now, Cao Yin couldn't help feeling a little absurd in his heart. What he did was different from his parents back then, so he almost whispered into his son's ear, "Heaven's family is gracious, so we must be loyal and cautious!"

The word "loyalty and prudence" has bound him for fifty years, so why should he let him restrain his son?Too obsessive, tiring oneself and others.

"Everything is according to your heart" Cao Yin felt a lot more relaxed when he thought of these four words, he pointed to the chessboard and said, "Come on, come on, old monk, let's play another game!"

Who said that the monks were "all four are empty", because Huikong lost the previous game, but this game was pressing every step of the way and refused to give up an inch, forcing Cao Yin to retreat steadily.It was really hard work to make a draw.

Putting down the chess pieces, Cao Yin sighed with a smile: "Playing chess with the old monk is fun! Think about you and I have been friends for nearly 30 years. At the beginning, I was the one who taught you how to play chess, but now it is changing. I want to beat you. A plate is really not easy!"

Hui Kong said: "Master Cao Shi is in the world of mortals, and he has some fears in his heart. It is inevitable that he has overthought in his chess layout. Although he has tried his best in the end, it is just an invincible situation. In the end, it is the donor who sees this. It's important! Victory is also won by him, defeat is also defeated by him, and everything is left to him!"

There is a bit of dialing in it, Cao Yin thanked him sincerely.

Looking out the window, it was past noon, thinking his wife was still waiting for his dinner, Cao Yin bid farewell to Huikong.Huikong asked him to wait a moment, then called two novice monks, brought over two wooden boxes about two feet long and one foot wide, and said, "This is a newly made incense in the temple. If you want it a few times, I just ask the benefactor to bring it back today."

Cao Yin thanked him, but he couldn't help but have two questions in his heart. Is the fourth elder brother really as desireless as he behaved?Is the son giving incense for several years in a row, just to repay his kindness?Afterwards, thinking of what Fangcai Huikong said, "He wins and loses." It seems that I have really worried about it. My son is different from others since he was a child. How can I worry about it all these years?

Back at Zhizao Mansion, Cao Yin briefly asked about the yamen, and then went back to Kaiyang Courtyard.

Mrs. Li was sitting on the west kang, rubbing the new shoes in her hands, her face was full of relief, and there were tears in the corners of her eyes.Seeing Cao Yin came back, she put down her shoes and got up to greet her: "Master is back!"

"En!" Cao Yin looked at her: "What's the matter? Have you received the children's letter?"

Mrs. Li wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, sent a few Xiu Luan and the others to fetch water and pass food on, and then she replied, "It's a letter from our son and his wife. The last letter just praised my daughter-in-law again and again. It’s the same in the letter! I can’t complain about the saying, ‘When you marry a wife, you forget your mother’. As a mother, I can’t help but feel bad!”

Seeing his wife's happy face, Cao Yin was able to put on a stern mother-in-law's appearance, and shook his head with a smile: "Don't say it's a son, even you are a mother-in-law. You haven't seen a daughter-in-law yet, isn't it true that you are a mother-in-law?" Talk about it during the day!"

The maids served water and towels, Li Shi handed them to her husband and said with a smile: "At first, I was worried that my daughter-in-law was of noble birth, but Yong'er has a lukewarm attitude towards women on weekdays. Bickering and bickering. Now it seems that I am worrying too much!"

After Cao Yin wiped his face, she showed Cao Yin the new shoes on the kang: "This is a 'pair of moon shoes' made by my daughter-in-law. Looking at the stitches, the work is done carefully. It's hard for her to be patient." !"

Cao Yin nodded: "I told you earlier that the Seventh Brother's mother family is not as noble as the other elder brothers, but he is a sensible person. His family's personality and family education will be excellent!"

While talking, the food has been set.Cao Yin went to sit by the kang and saw that Liudao was full of vegetarian dishes. Just as he was about to ask Mrs. Li why he thought of being a vegetarian, he remembered that today is the sixteenth day, and the Longevity Day will be two days away.Over the years, if he could not go to Beijing to celebrate his birthday, he would fast for three days and pray for long live.

*
On the morning of March [-]th, Cao Yong changed his bodyguard clothes and entered the palace.Although Zhang Luo, a hundred officials in the capital, was very lively, but I don't know what the old man Kangxi thought, and he didn't intend to make a fuss.Yesterday, the Empress Dowager was sent back to the Palace from Changchun Garden. According to the usual practice in previous years, this morning he will lead all the kings, Baylor, Beizi, Duke, Minister of Internal Affairs, University Scholars, bodyguards, etc. to the Empress Dowager's Palace to salute.

Subsequently, Kangxi held a grand court meeting in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, accepting congratulations from civil and military officials below the king.

On March 22, he served the Queen Mother and moved to Changchun Garden.

The princes and officials couldn't help being dumbfounded. No one could figure out what Kangxi's intention was to make the Wanshou Festival, which everyone had worked so hard to plan, pass so blandly.

The sixteenth elder brother was happy. He followed Cao Yong's suggestion and sent people to dig a hundred-eye deep well in the three counties of Daxing, Wanping, and Liangxiang far away from the river, and selected several earthen rituals presented by the people of the three places. As a birthday gift, when paying homage to Kangxi's birthday, please give a jar of royal wine, and share the wells with hundreds of eyes in Gyeonggi, so that the people in Gyeonggi can bathe in the emperor's favor.Kangxi Longyan was very happy, and he played accurately, praising the sixteenth elder brother for his filial piety.

The day when Shengjia returned to Changchun Garden was the day when the thirteenth elder brother branched out, and it was also the day when the thirteenth elder brother was a direct son. In order to save trouble, the thirteenth mansion held two banquets together.

The thirteenth brother, like his low-key fourth brother, did not invite any outsiders to the banquet, just a dozen or so tables, and invited his own brothers, in-laws, several people from Zhaojia's house, and several clan families who often walked around.

Cao Yong and Chu Yu are going to go, Cao Song counts as the nephew of the Thirteenth Prince Fu Jin Zhaojia, and because of Cao Yong, he is also invited.

It's just that Cao Song was limited by his status, and followed his elder brother to deliver the gift list to the thirteenth elder brother. After congratulating him, he retreated and went to find Fengde Fengche and other direct descendants of Zhaojia Mansion to sit at the table.

Because Elder Brother Sixteen was also in the hall, Cao Yong was called to stay and talk.

After chatting for a while, most of the people in the hall went to the table. Seeing that there were no outsiders, Brother Shisan smiled and said to Cao Yong: "These days are busy with the division of the government, and I don't care about it. I heard that you did a good job in the Ministry of Household Affairs, and you have been promoted to a doctor, which is very good!"

"Master Thirteen praised it absurdly, and it's all part of his job." Cao Yong said.

This is not a word of self-effacing, it is really that Cao Yong does not have much joy in this promotion, thinking of the endless accounts of the household department is a bit big.Recently, seeing people in the Six Departments being transferred frequently, from time to time in his heart he also looks forward to being transferred to an idle yamen.

It's just that apart from the Ministry of Rites, there is really no place for leisure in the six ministries. The errands of Ji Xunsi in the Ministry of Officials are relatively easy to do, but because they need to be in charge of officials' names, bereavement and support, they still have to deal with accounts!If you still look at the account after turning around, it would be better not to adjust, not to mention that the water over there is not shallow, and the forces of all parties are also entangled.

Elder Brother Thirteen waved his hand and said: "What are you talking about, you should change your name to Uncle Thirteen! You don't need to use such bureaucratic accents with me. I know something about those things, and Fourth Brother also praised you. "

The sixteenth elder brother was watching with a smile, and the thirteenth elder brother said it seriously, Cao Yong sighed helplessly in his heart: "Thirteenth uncle was joking, it's not that he was playing bureaucratic with thirteenth uncle, he really didn't do anything , it’s all the hard work of the colleagues over there.”

It is not difficult to say that it is difficult to fall in love with Prince Yong, but it is not easy to say.Prince Yong believed in Buddhism, Cao Yong got some Buddhist incense and the like, and he also intended to match his preferences.Prince Yong hated corrupt officials. Although he knew it, he couldn't make two corrupt officials out of thin air to repair for Prince Yong.This time it was really a coincidence, but it shouldn't be a bad thing to get a compliment from Prince Yong.

The sixteenth elder brother did not regard the praise of Prince Yong as a good thing. Hearing what the thirteenth elder brother said, he was afraid that Cao Yong would be dragged into the line, so he hurriedly interjected: "Thirteenth brother, don't praise him, I am Those who know him are most lazy, and it’s just a decoration, so I don’t believe that he can be more diligent!”

The thirteenth elder brother looked at Cao Yong, nodded and said: "The household department is indeed a bit depressed. It is also a good thing to be cautious in your words and deeds. This requires you to be patient!" Then he said to the sixteenth elder brother : "It's Little Sixteen, where are you going to work?"

Brother Sixteen smiled and said: "Brother Thirteen doesn't know me yet? I'm even more lazy than Cao Yong, but I just hope that I don't have to go to the study and have more free time to go out for a walk. I will come here often in the future Thirteenth Brother's house, just don't think that Thirteenth Brother is making a fuss."

Elder Brother Thirteen shook his head and said, "I'm afraid you're tied to an errand, and I want to invite you, but you won't come either."

Brother Sixteen held up the teacup and made a gesture of toasting: "Brother Thirteen, if there are good songs and good wine here, even if I try my best to escape the errand and get scolded by Huang Ama, then I will come!"

During the conversation, the servants talked back and forth that it was time to start the banquet. The Thirteenth Brother stood up and said to the Sixteenth Brother: "Then go to listen to the opera now, taste the wine, and estimate it? Today's call The Jixing class is not as famous as the Sanxi class, but their kung fu is solid and their voices are clear."

Turning to the stage in the garden, the tenth elder brother saw the sixteenth elder brother coming, and greeted him from a long distance, calling him to come over.

Because the tenth elder brother has always been like this, the sixteenth elder brother usually knows his intentions well, so he always has a playful smile on his face, and only chats with them.It's just that with Langtu and Guishan's incident before, Elder Sixteen's smile is a little uncomfortable today.

Taking a look at the eighth elder brother who was sitting next to the tenth elder brother with a smile on his face, and the ninth elder brother who was calmly sipping his wine, the sixteenth elder brother responded, but the steps were getting smaller and smaller.

He had a smile on his face, but murmured to Cao Yong: "Hey, it would be great if I could sit at your table. I'm impatient to see them, and everyone is a fool? I have to find a way to escape. It's a pity. You came here with Da Gege today, otherwise I could invite you out for a stroll."

*
The female relatives who came to congratulate are all in the inner courtyard.Originally, the seventh elder brother and the thirteenth elder brother did not have any friendship, and the friendship between the two families was ordinary. Chun Wang Fujin came over but was polite on the scene, so he went out to take a seat.But Shisan Fujin treated Cao's family differently because Cao Yong's snake oil cured Brother Shisan's leg, and even got very close to Chuyu, pulling her to ask a few words.

Chu Yu didn't know that Cao Yong was kidnapped when he was young, so naturally he didn't know that Uncle Thirteen had saved his life.But because Cao Yong specially asked her to thicken it up when discussing the housewarming of Shisanfu and the [-]-day congratulatory gift for his son-in-law, and they all gave them affordable things. She also saw that he was close to Uncle Shisan.In addition, due to her temperament, Thirteen Fujin treated her well, so she naturally became close to this aunt a lot.

Chu Yu smiled and answered a few words with Thirteen Fujin, and then it was reported that the wife and young lady of Zhaojia Mansion had arrived.At Cao Song's birthday wine, Chu Yu met the female family members of Zhaojia Mansion, so she greeted them with a smile.Thirteen Fujin also asked the nurse to take the little elder brother out.

That child has a tiger head and a thick head, looking around with black eyes, not afraid of strangers, and loves to laugh very much. When others tease him, he can't stop laughing. He is so cute that everyone praises him endlessly. .

Chuyu's family has many younger brothers and sisters, and the youngest sister is not yet one year old. She loves children very much.Now seeing how cute this little elder brother is, it touched her heart again, and she couldn't help showing some emotion in her eyes.

The fourth wife of Zhaojia Mansion is young, and she hits off very well with Chuyu. Because there are no outsiders, and seeing Chuyu looking at the little elder brother eagerly, she can't help but push her with a smile, and whispered: "What is Gege thinking? Gege himself , is there any movement?"

Chu Yu couldn't help but blush when she was told what was on her mind, and shook her head slightly, feeling a little displeased.

The Thirteenth Fujin was next to Chu Yu, and after hearing what the Fourth Wife said, he changed the topic with a smile.When she was waiting to enter the table, she pulled Chuyu along and whispered in Chuyu's ear: "You, don't take those words to heart, how long have you been married? I started worrying about these things, I'm not It took three or four years of marriage to get my big princess. There is no rush for these things."

Brother Sixteen finally slipped away halfway.Because Cao Yong wanted to go back with Chu Yu, he naturally waited until the banquet was almost over before leaving.Fortunately, the grandsons and concubines sitting at his table were not too annoying, and the meal was quite enjoyable.

After returning to the mansion, the two changed into homely clothes. Chu Yu asked Cao Yong to drink sober soup, and told Cao Yong some of what he had seen today. There was a strange look on his face.

Looking into her bright eyes, Cao Yong guessed her thoughts, but after all he dared not take that risk.

That night, Cao Yong gave Chu Yu a general introduction to fertility knowledge.Among them, there were those Chu Yu had heard about before Fujin, and some she had heard for the first time.Lying in Cao Yong's arms, she listened with a blushing little face, and asked in a low voice shyly when she encountered something she didn't understand.When Cao Yong said that they, as parents, need to prepare in advance, and they must first adjust their bodies before they can give birth to a healthy baby. Chu Yu eagerly asked the time for preparation.

Seeing her cute appearance, Cao Yong said that it would not take long, but he was very annoyed in his heart.Why is she no longer a few years older, and restrains herself every time, he is really afraid that he will make something wrong after a long time.
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(End of this chapter)