Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 229
Yaerjiang, the Prince of Heshuojian, who must be repaid, cannot be offended, and Cui Defu, who burns Guozhuangzi, is not interested. Therefore, he came directly to the Daotai Mansion a few days later to "greetings" to Cao Yong.

Cao Yong had no choice but exchanged a few sincere greetings, and then accepted Cui Defu's deed with a little "grateful" and the deeds of sisters Fen and Cui and the servants in the house.

Seeing Cui Defu smiling like a flower, Cao Yong knew that this gesture was an achievement.It is estimated that Cui Defu can explain it when he goes back.

After accepting the gift, Cao Yong had to say some words of "admiration" to Yaerjiang Ah, and prepared a decent gift in return. When he asked Cui Defu to reply to his master Yaerjiang Ah, he had to boast that he had done a good job.

Cao Yong is not short of money now, and he has never thought about getting money from a foreign office. Although the gift from Prince Jian's Mansion is not considered bribery, it is just the so-called "favorite courtesy" in normal interpersonal communication, but he was still depressed for a long time.He really admires the strength of character of those "upright officials" from the bottom of his heart. It is terrible that only scholars from poor families can have no scruples, always stick to their positions, and not fear life and death. They just want to leave a name in history and live forever.

As for the unavoidable trouble, what Mr. Zhuang said before, "Knowing the place of marriage under the knee" is just a joke, not to mention that it will damage the reputation if it is spread, and the saying of acting as a clan is only applicable to Officials like Jiangning Road Daotai who are not in the flag. ——The Cao family has been living in Banner since the Manchu Qing Dynasty entered the customs. It has been recorded for a long time. How could they just fabricate two nieces of the same clan?

The two sisters met themselves, and it was their blessing, at least they didn't have to be picked and sent around like goods.It's just that Cao Yong is a lazy person. Now his family, friends, and Yamen need to worry about everything. How can he bear the fate and sorrows and joys of others?Besides, he is not a person with a heart of stone. If it is because of his improper arrangement that the two little girls will suffer for the rest of their lives, they will inevitably blame themselves for it.

Whether it is to be a concubine for officials and wealthy businessmen, or to be a wife for a small household, or to have other plans, the lives of the two sisters are left to them to choose.What Cao Yong is most concerned about now is the reconstruction of the house in Nancheng.

This house has a large garden and is near the water, so it is much cooler than the Daotai yamen.However, the path paved with bluestone slabs was naturally pried up and replaced with cobblestones.The pontoon bridge leading from the promenade to the gazebo on the lotus pond is a bit old, and there are already moss in some places, and they are all replaced with new ones.

Cao Yong searched for deficiencies everywhere, and Cao Yanxiao, Cao Yanwei, and Wu Mao led people to repair them in succession.But in four or five days, the whole house has taken on a new look.

Along with this house, there are two servants and two little maids.The two little maids are serving the Fendie sisters, and the two servants were originally looking after the house, and it is said that they were left by the previous owner.

There is no shortage of manpower here in the Cao family, and Cao Yong couldn't trust the outsiders, so he gave the deeds of the two servants and sent them away.The two little maids had just been bought from the Yizhou People's Market a few days ago, and they were still working as errands by Sister Fandie's side.

The white butterfly and green butterfly are placed in the west courtyard.The two sisters know how to obey the rules, they stay in the house without orders, and when they are really bored, they just walk around in their own yard.

Cui Die is simple-minded, sometimes through the courtyard gate, looking forward to the scene of breaking ground outside, full of curiosity, can not help but go back to the house and ask her sister: "The ground is so good, why re-pave it? The floating bridge is the same, and there are chains on both sides. What is the reason, Master Cao is really strange!"

Fen Die sat in front of the round table, and after hearing her chirp, she smiled lightly and said, "Master Cao must be the son of a rich family, and he is used to living a delicate life!"

Cui Die sat across from her sister, resting her chin, thoughtful, and said after a while: "Since we are tidying up this house, Master Cao will also come here if he wants to. ..." At this point, she blushed even more, and said in a low voice, "Are you... going to wait on Master Cao... that?"

After hearing this, Fen Die was startled for a while, and then understood what her sister was referring to, and her cheeks couldn't help but blush.Seeing the faint hope in her younger sister's eyes, she really couldn't bear her being sad afterwards, so she suggested: "Perhaps Master Cao cleaned up the house just to give it away like Master Cui did!"

Cui Die showed a bit of disappointment on her face, but then it was all right, she covered her mouth and said with a smile: "It would be great if the new owner is as interesting as Master Cao!"

Fendie touched the strings with her hand, silent.Although his hands were itchy, in order not to leave a frivolous feeling to outsiders, the strings could not be plucked at will.

Seeing that her sister was silent, Cui Die lost the interest in talking, and lay down on the table, playing with the twisted silk bracelet in her hand.

Just as I was bored, I saw an eleven or twelve-year-old, slightly childish maidservant come in and reply: "Girls, Master Cao is here. Send a message to invite the girls to the front hall!"

This little maid is called He Ye, and the other one called Lian Xin, waits beside the two sisters.

The two sisters looked at each other with a bit of confusion and apprehension, but they didn't dare to delay. They checked each other's hair and clothes, and when they saw that they were all in order, they came out with the lotus leaf.

Cao Yong was sitting in the living room, very depressed. He tidied up the yard in such a hurry, he just wanted to bring Chuyu to live here earlier, so as to avoid the sweltering heat in Daotai Mansion.I don't want to, the governor's yamen will send down the documents, and Gan Guobi, the procurator of Jiangsu, will be promoted to the chief envoy of Shandong.

Now, it's the ninth day of the lunar new year, and there are still ten days left, and there will be a few days of delay on the road. At that time, it will be necessary to meet the governor or other colleagues in advance to entertain, and he will be leaving in a few days.

Although the garden here is big, there are not many houses. There are only three entrances. Except for the main courtyard in the middle road, there are two small courtyards on the left and right, which cannot accommodate too many people.

If she wasn't there, Chuyu would be at the Daotai mansion, and Lianqiu, Xiqiu, Mrs. Han, Mrs. Lu and the others would visit each other and talk, so it wouldn't be too boring.

Cao Yong thought about it, and brought Chuyu here to escape the summer heat when he came back from Jinan Mansion.But now, the two sisters must be settled first.

The two sisters came in, stood a few steps away, and greeted Cao Yong.

Cao Yong did not occupy the upper position, but sat on a chair on one side, pointed to the opposite seat, and told them to sit down.

Fan Die and Cui Die hesitated for a while, leaned over slightly to thank them, and then sat down next to the chair.

*
Daotai Mansion, the living room.

Mr. Zhuang's face was full of joy, and he said: "I heard the news from the capital in April, and I knew about Wu Qiao's mid-term exam, and I wanted to send a letter to congratulate him, but it was just in time for some chores here, so I was delayed! I thought I was going to go back Seeing you again in Beijing, I didn't expect to be able to meet here at this time, it's really 'extremely pleasant'!"

Sitting opposite him, wearing a blue silk dress, with a smile on his face, was Mr. Zhuang's old friend Cheng Mengxing.

Although he was well-known in the south of the Yangtze River, Cheng Mengxing didn't care about the imperial examinations. He went to the capital to take the exam, but because his wife died, he was afraid of hurting the scene; So under the guise of the imperial examination, he stayed in the capital.This time, he had an accidental test, and was selected as a good scholar to stay in the Hanlin Academy to study, but this was exactly what he wanted.

The imperial decree for the selection of Shu Jishi was issued on April [-]th. According to the rules, these new Jinshi have a four-month holiday starting at the beginning of the next month.Most people take this opportunity to return to their hometowns—if they are engaged, they also get married at this time, and then return to Beijing with their families.

Cheng Mengxing knew that this time it would be difficult to shirk. He originally used the name of "studying" and wanted to get a Jinshi and then get married, so he didn't put much effort into the examination room, but he won the second grade.

Reluctantly dragging on for a month in the capital, Yangzhou has sent several people here. Finally, the old lady gave an ultimatum and wrote a letter to her son, telling him that if he does not come back, this side will directly Set up a daughter-in-law.

Cheng Mengxing had no choice but to set off to return to his hometown. When he passed Tancheng County, he remembered that Mr. Zhuang was taking office in Cao Yong, and the yamen was located in Yizhou, which is adjacent to Tancheng County.

"It's still my fault, Mr. Naxin added a girl's congratulations and didn't catch up. The two congratulatory gifts can't be delayed any longer!" After Cheng Mengxing finished speaking, he called the accompanying servants to present gifts.

Three sandalwood boxes, two larger and one smaller.Although he didn't know what was inside, but Mr. Zhuang knew that Cheng Mengxing was not a polite person, so he didn't come to politely refuse to accept that again, and thanked his concubine daughter with a smile.

After the two chatted about the daily life, they talked about the current affairs in the capital.How could a casual literati like Cheng Mengxing pay attention to things like "entrusting together to gather for a drinking case" among the powerful and powerful, but Dai Mingshi's "Nanshan Collection Case" was the most concerned.

Most of the people involved are the leaders of Jiangnan scholars, and many of them have personal relationships with them.Although Kangxi forgave the implicated members of the Fang clan, his treatment of the culprit "Dai Mingshi" did not mean to be less serious at all.

Perhaps by the time of the Autumn and Autumn Judgment this year, Dai Mingshi, a great Confucian in the present age, will be decapitated.

Both Mr. Zhuang and Cheng Mengxing are literati, and they also sincerely admire Dai Mingshi. Thinking that he has been famous all over the world for 20 years, but he ended up like this, he can't help but sigh again.

I lost interest for a while, and even mentioned Enke next year, but I just said a few words casually.When the two sighed in unison, Fang looked at each other and turned away from the topic of Shilin with a smile.No matter how emotional it is, it's just adding to the boredom, so don't you have to complain all day long, so you don't think you are a Han Chinese?
When talking about Mr. Zhuang's old daughter, Cheng Mengxing couldn't help but move his heart, and said, "Sir, how about we get married? Mr. Xing also knows that Xing's wife left a pair of children. The younger daughter is older, and the younger son is five years old. It's bigger, but it's a good match!"

Mr. Zhuang couldn't help being moved by Cheng Mengxing, a celebrity and a close friend, but when he thought of the wealthy Cheng family, he became more hesitant, and said with a smile: "Wu Qiao, it's useless for you to call yourself a refined scholar and laugh at others for being old-fashioned. A child, only a little older, who knows what his temperament will be in the future. If we are elders, we decide their lives on a whim, this is too much trifling!"

Cheng Mengxing patted his forehead, and said with a smile: "Don't blame, sir, don't blame, sir, are you confused about watching stars? I seem to have forgotten why I hid in the capital, and I have unknowingly developed the habit of corrupt scholars! Speaking of marriage, Bannermen are more transparent than us!"

Cheng Mengxing is not a dull person, so he naturally understands that Mr. Zhuang has concerns, and that is just a polite refusal, but he is also fully considerate of his fatherly heart.

I don't know why, I didn't feel it at first, but since entering Yizhou, Cheng Mengxing thought of the woman who talked with him about orchid.After entering the Daotai yamen, I also thought of two or three encounters, so I asked: "Sir, Miss Zijing, who was in charge of your mansion back then, came out of Beijing with Mrs. Cao and his wife?"

Mr. Zhuang knew that he helped Cao Yong repair the garden the year before last and knew Zijing. When he heard him ask, he didn't think too much about it. He nodded and said: "Zijing is in charge of the inner house, so naturally he follows here!"

Cheng Mengxing thought about it for a while, and said with a smile: "To tell the truth, sir, I didn't know it before, but later I found out that this Zijing girl and Xing are still relatives. If it is convenient, Xing also wants to meet her this time. Talk about old stories!"

The year before last, when Cao Yong sent people south to investigate Zijing's relatives, it was Mr. Zhuang who arranged it.Mr. Zhuang knew that Zijing had an aunt who married into the Hu family, and the Hu family and the Cheng family were also relatives.In theory, Zijing and Cheng Mengxing can also be regarded as relatives by marriage.

It's just that Amethyst is called the maidservant of Cao's mansion, and she actually has a sibling friendship with Cao Yong. How can Mr. Zhuang be the master?Cheng Mengxing is not an outsider, and Mr. Zhuang did not hide it from him. He said truthfully: "Although Miss Zijing had a rough childhood, she lived as she pleased in Cao's house. Her affairs, let alone being old, may not be considered by the young master. Will be self-disciplined. Right now, the old man can only agree to help Wu Qiao convey it, as for Miss Zijing, whether she is willing to gossip with Wu Qiao about the past, it depends on her own idea!"

When Cheng Mengxing helped Cao's mansion in the capital to repair the garden, he also knew something about Cao's mansion. He knew that Cao Yong was very kind to Zijing. Young master, you have a bad reputation for not marrying a wife and not taking concubines, besides, your wife is a member of the royal family.

Cao Yong is humble and polite, and Amethyst is generous and quiet. Although the two are a little different in age, they don't look obvious.Now, thinking about it, Cheng Mengxing felt ashamed of his villainous heart.Thinking in my heart, I was too hypocritical, why did I believe my cousin's nonsense because of my heart covered in lard?Although in front of that guy, he said it hard, in fact, he saw Amethyst and Cao Yong together in his heart, and even felt a little envious of Cao Yong.

The two were talking, Cao Yong had already received the letter, and it was too late to change his clothes, so he came directly to see Cheng Mengxing.

Among the people who have come into contact with this world, Cao Yong thinks that he rarely owes anything, even if he has received favors and help, he will return it wholeheartedly.There are only four elder brothers and Cheng Mengxing, one is for saving their lives, and the other is for helping because of their rise, no matter how big or small the favor is, there is no chance to repay it so far.Not to mention Cheng Mengxing's character of doing everything as he pleases, and his lazy style of doing things, Cao Yong is very envious.Ever since he became acquainted with Cheng Mengxing and had a little understanding of his behavior, Cao Yong sighed for several days.Even if he wants to be reborn in another world, why not let him be reborn in the Cheng family as a relaxed and happy playboy?
The Cheng family has the shadow of their ancestors, no matter who becomes the emperor, they will treat their family favorably; with strong property, they can choose to become an official or do business, or be a free and easy rich man.There is no need for a master like him, who is obviously lazy and hates to use his brain the most, but can only worry about this, worry about that, want to do whatever he wants, but there are constant troubles to take care of.

"Mr. Cheng, Cao Yong came back late, please forgive me brother Wu Qiao!" Cao Yong greeted with a smile.

Cheng Mengxing felt a little flattered, but he didn't panic. He stood up and bowed: "Master Cao!"

Cao Yong was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said: "Mr. Cheng, what is this for? If you follow the etiquette, Brother Wu Qiao and Mr. are of the same generation, wouldn't you want to force Cao Yong to perform the junior ceremony?"

Cheng Mengxing also heard about Cao Yong's journey from Jiangning to the north in the first lunar month.Originally thought that although Cao Yong was young, but he was sent to other places, and his status was expensive, and the grade of Zhengsipin was not low, so he must not be as humble as before.Unexpectedly, this conversation is much more relaxed than in the capital, which is quite surprising.

Cheng Mengxing smiled and said: "Since Fu Ruo said so, then Xing will be rude!"

Cao Yong listened to Mr. Zhuang's talk about the process of Mengxing Chunwei's first event, and he couldn't help congratulating him during the greetings.I was also happy for him when I learned that he had chosen a good scholar to study in the Imperial Academy.

Although Hanlin has no rights, it is noble and leisurely.When Cao Yong thought of himself, he had studied hard for nearly ten years, but he didn't even enter the gate of the imperial examination. This is a bit ashamed to say.

When I was young, when I was studying in ethnology with Gu Na and Cao Song, Cao Yong still wanted to try the imperial examination.When he was older, after Gu Na won the Juren, he realized that he and his younger brother Cao Song had been recruited as supervisors when they were young. They were regarded as people of merit and fame, so they didn't need to be a scholar, but could directly take the provincial examination for Juren.It's so simple, but I don't have any interest in taking the test.

After talking a few gossips, Cao Yong asked Mr. Zhuang to accompany him first, chat first, and then went to the inner courtyard to change his clothes before coming back.In the evening, everyone drank together to clean up Cheng Mengxing.
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(End of this chapter)