Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 228 Slender Horse
The two women walking slowly, one was wearing light pink and the other was wearing blue green green. They nodded slightly, unable to see their faces clearly. Even their clothes were blurred from a distance, but they looked like a freehand painting with lotus flowers and lotus leaves. , swaying.Not to mention anything else, just that graceful figure already makes people's hearts flutter.

Cui Defu became a little drunk, squinted his eyes, and nodded slightly, thinking secretly, tsk tsk, these two beauties are worthy of the authentic "Yangzhou skinny horses", and they are indeed good products and not cheap.

Originally, the pair of sisters spent at least 6000 taels, but the seller was even more open-minded.He was still using the signboard of Prince Jian's Mansion, even intimidating and bluffing, and forcibly lowered the price, even so, he still spent 4000 taels of silver.This kind of skin and flesh is beautiful, not to mention giving it to the forehead of a princess, even if it is given to the prince Baylor.

4000 taels, 4000 taels, how many pots of shochu would it take to earn back.Let’s just say that the house in front of me only cost 800 taels.Thinking of this, Cui Defu had another burst of heartache, and immediately withdrew his gaze, turned to squint at Cao Yong, and watched his reaction quietly.

I really don't know whether people are swimming in the flowers, or people are swimming in the painting.

At this time, the sun was setting and the sky was full of colorful clouds. The light and shadow outlined the world somewhat illusory. The two women who came walking lightly were like elegant ladies in ancient pictures, with wonderful colors, which made Cao Yong lose his mind for a while.

It's just that the more he looked at it, the more familiar Yingyingchao looked.This posture swayed a lot, and he hadn't walked forward for a long time. He couldn't help but look at the feet of the two of them—but because he was covered by the long skirt, he couldn't see clearly.

Cui Defu saw that Cao Yong's eyes were all on the two sisters, he couldn't help but put a smile on his face, and felt a little complacent in his heart. After all, he was still a young man. Clean?Still haven't met the perfect stunner.

The two women walked slowly, and finally walked to the front of the pavilion after a long while, holding the qin in their light pink arms, and holding a flute in their green hands, they both leaned over and whispered softly, saying please: "Master Cui!"

Cui Defu pointed at Cao Yong with his right hand, which raised his little finger slightly, and said to the two sisters: "Hurry up and greet Master Cao, you don't think Master Cao is young, but he is a fourth-rank Daotai master, who is better than your Yangzhou magistrate." The rank is still high! If Master Cao is served well, the benefits of your sisters will be indispensable!" After speaking, he laughed dryly again.

Although Cao Yong had a congenial smile on his face, he looked at Cui Defu with some questioning in his eyes, raised his eyebrows and said: "Guan Cui, this is..."

Cui Defu smiled and said: "Grandpa Cao's yamen has a lot of things to do, so I went to Yangzhou to find the sisters and played a little song to relieve Master Cao's boredom!"

Cui Defu smiled meaningfully, the two women had already turned to Cao Yong, accepted a blessing, and said softly: "Fan Die (Cui Die) has seen Master Cao, please greet Cao Master!"

The appearance of the two is [-]% similar, except that the one with the light pink is slightly older, sixteen or seven years old, with a melon-shaped face, curved eyebrows, and affection at the corners of the eyebrows, she seems to be the elder sister; the one with the green green is younger, fourteen , five years old, although she also has an oval face, but her chin is slightly rounder, and there is a rouge mole the size of a rice grain on the right corner of her mouth, which adds a bit of playfulness, she should be her younger sister.

With the soft and sticky Huaiyang words and the figure of the willows blowing in the breeze, Cao Yong finally understood why the walking posture of the two looked familiar.That's not how Tang Jiaojiao, who was famous in the capital for her "three-inch golden lotus", went to Cao Quan's second concubine in Jiangning.

There are not only the affectionate and glamorous beauty of the little-footed beauty "growing lotus every step of the way", but also the weakness and delicacy of the "good family girl".Elegant to the extreme, seductive to the extreme.In front of such a passionate and weak woman, how many men can hold her back?Even Cao Yong, who has always been averse to little feet, couldn't feel disgusted when he saw such a pair of sisters.

Seeing that the two had finished greeting, Cui Defu asked the boy to move a stool for the sister Fendie, set up the piano stand, and ordered them to play a song first.

The sound of the piano started first, followed by the sound of Xiao Xiao. Cao Yong listened and nodded slightly, wondering what he was thinking.Cui Defu was at the side, while quietly looking at Cao Yong, while thinking about whether to send the deeds and house deeds of these two beauties now, or wait until Cao Yong returns to Daotai Mansion before offering them.

At this time, I heard footsteps, and a young man came rushing down the corridor.Cui Defu was disturbed, frowned and scolded in a low voice: "Didn't you tell me to entertain distinguished guests, no one is allowed to disturb?"

The little servant replied in a low voice: "Master, it's someone from Daotai Mansion, seems to be in a hurry?"

Cui Defu was stunned when he heard the words, Cao Yong had already heard it, and his face was a little unhappy, he asked: "Looking for me? Who is here, they say they are here to drink and talk with Cui Guanshi, who is so blank?"

The servant glanced at Cui Defu, and Fang replied: "Respond to what the lord said, and listen to the lord's long followers call that man 'Second Housekeeper'!"

"Second butler?" Cao Yong waved his hands impatiently: "Call that kid over, but you have to take a good look at it, what kind of fire is burning, you can't wait!"

Seeing them talking, Fen Die and Cui Die had already stopped the sound of the piano and flute, bowed their heads and exited the pavilion, and stood by the steps.

Cao Yong's face was full of impatience, but he glanced at the two sisters from the corner of his eyes, remembering that Cui Defu mentioned that they were "searched" by Yangzhou just now, such appearance and talent must be the legendary "Yangzhou thin horse".

Because Yangzhou salt merchants gather, it is the place where fireworks flourish, and this "Yangzhou thin horse" was born in due course.The first-class ones learn piano, chess, calligraphy, painting, and grooming, and they are more talented than ordinary ladies; the middle-class ones are also literate, know some piano music, and mainly learn to be accountants; the third-class ones, illiterate, specialize in female celebrities and cooking.

No matter what class they are, they have to be trained for five, six or even ten years, with only one purpose, and that is to sell them at high prices to officials and wealthy businessmen as concubines.When they are old, they still can't be sold, and those who can't find a buyer will flow into brothels, that is, on the banks of the Qinhuai River. Many girls on the boats are also from this "Yangzhou skinny horse".

With a look of anxiety on his face, it was Wu Mao who came in with the servant.When he saw Cao Yong, he stepped forward quickly and said impatiently: "Master, the mansion..."

Cui Defu heard that it was the "Second Housekeeper" who came to look for Cao Yong, so he couldn't help but take a second look. Seeing that he was only a young man in his twenties, he was very curious, wondering if he could hear something about the privacy of Daotai Mansion.

Unexpectedly, the "Second Steward" didn't know what was going on, he just said the word "fuli" and then stopped, looking at the other people in the pavilion with a little embarrassment.

Cao Yong reprimanded, "What's there, others can't hear it?" He got up and stood up a few steps out of the pavilion.

Wu Mao followed and whispered a few words in Cao Yong's ear.Cao Yong's brows became tighter and tighter, and he pressed his throat. After saying a few words, his face was already ugly.

Cao Yong has already got up, how can Cui Defu still have the right to sit?He also stood up, but it was hard to follow, so he listened in a daze, because the distance was far away, and he couldn't hear a word clearly, as if there were 25 little mice in his heart—a hundred claws scratching his heart , but there is nothing to do, so I have to guess wildly.

When Wu Mao finished speaking, Cao Yong turned around, forced a smile, and said to Cui Defu: "This... there are some common things now, and I will invite Cui Guanshi to have a drink some other day!"

Cui Defu walked over and said with a smile: "Look at how polite Mr. Cao is, you should be busy first, and when you are free, I will treat you to a drink later!"

Just as Cao Yong was about to say goodbye, he accidentally saw Cui Die, who was standing by the pavilion not far away, tilted her head and looked at him with a smile.

Cao Yong was startled for a moment, then turned to embarrassment, feeling that his old face was going to blush, he coughed twice to cover up his gaffe, and finally gave Wu Mao a hard look, said goodbye to Cui Defu and left.

Cui Defu took his servant and respectfully sent Cao Yong's master and servant out of the gate.

It wasn't until they walked far away that only the two sisters were left in the garden that Cui Die laughed "giggle".Fendie looked at her innocent and innocent sister, and her originally helpless and miserable mood improved a lot, so she asked with a smile, "Why are you so happy? Are you smiling like this?"

Cui Die carefully looked around and saw that there was no one there, so she whispered: "Sister, you didn't pay attention just now, but my sister has the sharpest ears! The second housekeeper said 'Master, I really can't make it up. Nonsense', this Master Cao said, 'I can't make it up, just say a few words, it's really not good', and then the second housekeeper really babbled, and didn't say a word! Sister, tell me, this Cao Isn’t Master very interesting!!” When she was speaking, she suppressed her laughter, but she still paused twice, almost unable to continue, and once she finished speaking, she laughed heartily again.

Fen Die couldn't help laughing "puchi" and nodded, but she knew in her heart that this should be the escape plan that "Master Cao" had planned in advance.He was afraid that before he came to socialize, he knew that he would encounter "drinking sex" and so on, so he arranged his retreat in advance.

Cui Defu had already explained to the two sisters before that the one who came to the banquet today is the master they will serve in the future. Cui Die thought of this and realized that something was wrong, her face was a little depressed, and she pouted She whispered to Fan Die: "Sister, it seems that Master Cao doesn't want us anymore... Then what shall we do in the future? Although Yizhou is cooler than Yangzhou, but it's all pasta, the mouths of people who eat it are so sour!" She really wanted to Say let's go back, but how can we go back?
Fendie looked at the pond full of lotus, unable to answer her sister's question, because their fate was not in her hands.Looking at it, she couldn't help being envious of the lotus flower, who also came from a filthy place, but was respected by the world; and like their sisters, even if they were still innocent, they were nothing more than a thing in the eyes of men.

*
It was far away from the house in Nancheng, Cao Yongfang turned his head and asked Xiaoman: "I told you to find a smart person in advance, how did you get Wu Mao involved?"

Xiao Man was also puzzled, and said with an innocent face: "Master, I don't know! I told Zhang Yi yesterday. That guy has always been smart, and he is the best at pretending. Who would have thought that he would change to Brother Ang! "

Wu Mao said: "My lord, I can't blame Zhang Yi for this matter. How dare he delay the matter of my lord? I don't know what I ate last night, and I bleed all night. It was still there in the morning. I asked in the afternoon, and I knew that my lord came out for a banquet. , still struggling to get up, went to the stable to lead the horse, and wanted to come over. I happened to meet him young, seeing him like this, how could he seem to be able to ride a horse? He didn't dare to delay the matter of the uncle, so he bit the bullet and came over !"

Zhang Yi is the eldest son of Cao Yong, the son of the Cao family in the capital.The male servants from the capital, besides the Wu family brothers, were Zhang Yi and Zhao Tong.

Cao Yong nodded: "Have you asked for a doctor? You can't delay if you are sick!"

Wu Mao replied: "Don't worry, sir, I have already sent someone to invite, and Master Yanxiao will help take care of it!"

It was already dusk, and there were few pedestrians on the street. There was a hunchbacked old man in shabby clothes carrying two baskets, walking and hawking in the local dialect.

Cao Yong has been in Yizhou for more than four months, and there are local masters and officials in the yamen, who can understand the dialect.This old man sells peaches, and peaches that cost two cents a catty are now only sold for one penny a catty.

When Cao Yong saw this old man, he thought of the old man Qiu from Bali Village, Nanshan Township, Mengyin County. Since he accepted his case, he should find out the cause of his son's death as soon as possible.However, he was at a loss without a clue.The person who told the old man that his wife was snatched by the bandits also sent someone to ask, but it was just a false rumor, a nonsense that everyone guessed randomly, and after talking about it, it became more and more discerning.

The old peach seller took a few steps, then put down his pole and took a rest.Cao Yong beat him on horseback, and inadvertently glanced at him twice.

Looking at the two baskets full of peaches with speckled skins, Cao Yong reined in the horse, turned to Wu Mao and said, "Do you have any broken silver on you? Buy those two baskets of peaches!"

Wu Mao responded, and Xiao Man also went to help, gave the old man with some money, and bought the peaches, basket and pole, which happened to be put on Wu Mao's horse.Then, the two led the horse and turned back.

The hunchbacked old man was worried because the peaches had been hit by hailstones, and the skin was bruised, and he hadn't sold a few catties for a whole day. Bowing to thank.In his heart, he said that God opened his eyes and made him have good luck.

It wasn't until Wu Mao and Xiao Man had gone far with their horses and peach baskets in their hands that the old man realized that he had met a kind person.Seeing them meeting with the handsome young man in front, they gradually drifted away.The old man couldn't help but knelt down and kowtowed in the direction of several people, expressing his indescribable gratitude.

*
Back at Daotai Mansion, Cao Yong sent Xiaoman to see Zhang Yi's illness, and asked Wu Mao to send the two baskets of peaches to the kitchen.Although it doesn't look very good, the peach juice should be just right.He himself went to the study first and asked Mr. Zhuang to come and talk.

Although he knew that Prince Jane's mansion would give a thank you gift, but Mr. Zhuang did not expect that there would be two "Yangzhou skinny horses". The first-class 'thin horse' can not only play the piano and sing songs for you, but also accompany you in reciting poems and painting, how many people can't ask for it, and Furuo won't be tempted?"

Cao Yong said with a smile: "Listening to what you say, sir, do you have a heart of admiration? You have to talk to the two young mistresses. Does the master intend to find an aunt for Niu Niu?"

Mr. Zhuang laughed twice, and Fang said solemnly: "Even if Furuo has scruples, this gift is still to be accepted. Among the clan kings, Prince Yarjana of Heshuojian is not only the most dignified, but also famous for his vengeance. Temperament. At that time, the crown prince got into trouble with him on a whim. Afterwards, he showed his friendship again and again, and invited several people to come to make peace, trying to resolve the grievances. But he didn't say anything, and would come to intercede. He went out without even giving the crown prince any face. Regardless of whether the crown prince was favored or not, after all, he was personally selected by Wansui, and that was before Kangxi abolished the crown prince in 47 years. If he did this, he might fall into the hands of Wansui. It's not good in my eyes, but I still do everything as I like, and I don't want to be wronged at all!"

Cao Yong listened and nodded: "I know all these things, sir, I mentioned it before, otherwise I wouldn't have made such a plan for these Shaoguo Zhuangzi, and I'd still be scruples about this Prince Jane's Mansion!"

Mr. Zhuang said: "Since he accepts your favor and sent someone to reward you, you can only accept it. Otherwise, if you don't show his face, you may become a very good enemy!"

Cao Yong thinks that the sister is pitiful, but he is not very repulsive, but how to arrange it requires a lot of brains.Although there are unmarried accompanying boys in the mansion, the two sisters don't seem like people who can be daughter-in-laws and live a small life at home.

Besides, he was a stranger from outside, and he didn't know whose "eyes and ears" he was, so Cao Yong didn't dare to settle in the mansion.

I can't help feeling a little headache, it seems that it is really difficult to be an honest official, I really don't want to accept gifts, but I just sent such a gift.

Seeing his embarrassment, Mr. Zhuang said with a smile: "According to Furuo's temperament, he doesn't seem to have such a flirtatious mind. They are just two little girls. There is nothing to arrange. It's really not good. I will accept it under my knees and marry him as a goddaughter." The place is also good!"

Thinking about the age of the two sisters, Cao Yong couldn't help laughing: "Sir, this is really a bad idea!"

****
(End of this chapter)