Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 234
It was a cloudy day, and because of the red sun sinking in the west, it dissipated a lot of heat.

Cao Yin, Cao Yong and his son were in the mourning hall of Xifu. After burning Sanqi to Cao Quan, they walked back to Zhizaofu.Seeing the tiredness on his son's face, Cao Yin was a little worried, and asked, "I've been busy for a long time today after rushing back like this, so let's take a good rest for a while!"

Cao Yong said: "The son is not in the way, but the father, you need to take care of yourself, don't be too sad!"

Having said that, Cao Yong's body seemed to be falling apart.From June [-]th to the present, in the past twenty days, he has really struggled a lot.

On June [-]th, he went north to Jinan Prefecture and arrived on June [-]th. The person sent by Mr. Zhuang chased him to Jinan Prefecture the next day.At that time, it was only known that Cao Quan was seriously ill, and Cao Song set off to return to Jiangning to attend to the illness.

On June [-]th, Sangxin arrived in Jinan Prefecture.Cao Yong really couldn't believe it, Cao Quan was ten years younger than Cao Yin, and his body was always in good condition, how could he be gone if he didn't?I was so shocked that I couldn't speak.

After two days in a daze, after finishing the procedure of going out of the city to pick up the official pavilion, Cao Yong took a free time and asked the new Shangguan to leave for the funeral in private.

Gan Guobi, the chief political envoy of Shandong, who had just taken office, had just been transferred from Jiangsu as an envoy, and had personal relationships with brothers Cao Yin and Cao Quan.When he heard that Cao Quan died of illness, he also sighed unceasingly, and generously gave Cao Yong [-] days of leave to go south to attend the funeral.

Although he was sad for his uncle's death, Cao Yong was more worried about whether his father Cao Yin could bear the grief of losing his brother, so he set off for Yizhou overnight without any delay.

On June 23, when Cao Yong returned to Yizhou, the servants of the Cao family all changed into filial piety clothes. Even Mr. Zhuang, Master Lu, and Master Han all changed into plain clothes.

At this time, Cao Yong knew the details of Cao Quan's death.After knowing that he died of malaria, not dysentery as he had heard earlier, he immediately thought of the quinine cream in his father's hand.Did Cao Yin not take it out because of the imperial bestowed medicine?But thinking about Cao Yin's character, he took great care of his younger brother Cao Quan in the past, so there is no reason not to show it?
The people who were sent to Yizhou to report the funeral by Biansheng were two foreign officials. How do you know the allusions of Cao Yin delivering medicine and Cao Quan giving medicine?

Malaria is contagious. Thinking of what I have learned before, malaria is a high incidence in spring and summer. In case... In just half a day, Cao Yong's mouth will be full of blisters.

Because he was going back to Jiangning for the funeral, after the affairs of the Daotai yamen and the inner house were explained clearly, Cao Yong was about to leave for Jiangning.Just in time for Chuyu to suffer from heatstroke and feel unwell, he stayed for another two days before leaving on June 27.Before leaving, I found a wooden couch where Chuyu needed to live, and tidied it up so that she couldn't just lie down on the floor with a big belly.

On the morning of the first day of July, when Cao Yong arrived in Jiangning, he was catching up with Cao Quan's "[-]".After seeing his father and mother, he went to the mourning hall of Xifu to burn incense and paper for his uncle.

It took another half a day to make a fuss, until now, Cao Yong went back to the house with his father.Thinking of Cao Quan giving up the life-saving Kinney to the young girl, Cao Yong could only sigh endlessly.

Speaking of it, Cao Song seems to have grown up a lot in the past half month. He took his three younger brothers to guard the spirit, and his words and deeds are very calm like a brother.Cao Yin had already submitted to the imperial court an order for Cao Song to attack Cao Quan's fifth-rank Yunqi Lieutenant. If there were no accidents, after a month or two, there should be a decree.

After returning to Zhizao Mansion and entering the second gate, Cao Yin waved his hand and sent his son to rest first.Cao Yong didn't move, he hesitated for a while, and said: "Father, why don't you take the booklet, and then ask for Jinji Nashuang for preparation?"

Cao Yin listened, shook his head, and said: "It is the royal medicine after all. It was already a kindness given to our family last time. How can we speak again without knowing what is good or bad?"

Cao Yong looked at his father's skinny face due to the pain of bereavement, and felt sore and uncomfortable in his heart.

Seeing his son frowning and not saying a word, Cao Yin knew that he was worried about himself, so he comforted him and said, "It's already July, and it will be cold in a few days, so it's okay! You've been driving for a few days, and you're tired, so go wash up first. Wash up and get a good night's sleep!"

Cao Yong nodded, went to the courtyard where Chu Yu and Chu Yu lived during the Chinese New Year, and asked someone to deliver water.Because bathing is prohibited within a few days of the filial piety period, he had to wipe the inside and outside and tidy up.

The chalk room was located in the east chamber, and Cao Yong was so exhausted that he fell down on the bedding on the ground when he entered, and fell into a deep sleep.

When he opened his eyes again, it was already the morning of the next day, and Cao Yong saw Li sitting by the table.Although Li's hair was not tied with hemp rope, he was wearing filial piety clothes made of cooked linen.

Because of the matter of the old lady in his early years, Cao Yong also knew a little about the funeral rites in this world.Other things are fine, but the most incomprehensible is that the elderly and those with high seniority should follow the "five clothes" to observe the filial piety for the dead.

Let's say that Cao Quan died of illness, and the four brothers Zhao Jia and Cao Song, plus the fourth sister and the fifth son, two unmarried daughters, had to observe filial piety for three years.Cao Ying and Cao Yi, the two married daughters, only need to stay for one year, Cao Ying's two sons and daughters stay for five months for their grandfather, and the two sons-in-law for three months.

Cao Yin and Cao Yong's father and son all had to mourn for one year. The Li clan, Chuyu, and Cao Jia clan all mourned for nine months, while Pingjun Wang Naersu, Fu Peng, and Fuxiu brothers did not need to mourn.

In addition to the members of the Cao family, according to the distance of the "five clothes", they wear three months to one year of mourning, and Changling in the capital also needs to mourn for his uncle for three months.

Because Cao Shun was still young when he died, according to the saying that "everyone under the age of eight is a death without clothes", Cao Yong did not mourn for his younger brother.

It's okay just to change the filial piety clothes. Thinking of his parents who are so old and have to lie on the ground for three months like himself, Cao Yong is even more troubled by the cumbersome funeral etiquette.

He turned over and sat up, and couldn't help but said: "Mother, you and your father should find a wooden couch in the chalk room! After all, my father is old, and my mother's health is not good. If the second uncle has a spirit , Seeing you like this, I will definitely feel uneasy!"

Mrs. Li sat on the twig in front of the banquet, lovingly touched the hair stubble on Cao Yongqian's head, and said: "Your father is just a brother like your second uncle, and he is feeling sad for some reason, how could he agree to this? On my side, Yong'er doesn't need to worry, it's just that you don't look very good now. You're going back and forth to Jinan Mansion, and you're going south in a hurry, let's see how tired you are!"

Being regarded as a child, Cao Yong was a little embarrassed, but there was an indescribable warmth in his heart, and he called out: "Mother!"

"Huh?" Li Shi looked at her son lovingly.

In fact, he wanted to tell his mother that he would let his parents go back to Shandong with him, and come back in autumn, so as not to worry about the threat of "malaria" here.But as soon as the words came to his lips, he felt that it was inappropriate. On the second room, Zhao Jia was ill, even Cao Song, who was the eldest son of the second room, was only a half-grown child, so how could they be left here alone?
Remembering that he didn't see Xiao Wu'er in the mourning hall yesterday, Cao Yong asked: "I heard that Wu'er was also sick at the beginning, how is it now? I haven't seen this little girl for half a year. I don't know if she is stronger. She was too thin during the Chinese New Year!"

Li said: "Poor child, although he has recovered from his illness, he has been weak since he was a child. How can he stand up to the turbid atmosphere in the mourning hall? Ask her to look after her, and she is placed next door to your third sister's previous yard!"

Cao Yong remembered that when he saw Mrs. Zhaojia yesterday, he was not as smart as before, his eyes were dull, and he looked a little bit wrong.

I heard from Cao Song that a few days ago, besides sleeping, she often cried, and her situation was very unstable.Sometimes, I would wake up crying in the middle of the night and say things like "Retribution", "Death", "South Court", "North Court".

Because the words were not true, everyone didn't understand what it meant, they only thought that she was overly sad, lost her mind, and took good care of her.

Although he is not close to this second aunt, she is the aunt of Cao Song and his six brothers and sisters after all. Cao Yong said to his mother: "Second aunt, why don't you find two good doctors to see! If you can't, send someone to deliver a letter For my sister, please invite an imperial doctor to come to Jiangning to take a good look at it!"

After hearing this, Mrs. Li hesitated a little, thought for a while, sighed, and said, "Your second aunt is suffering from a heart disease, and she won't be able to get over it for a while. After a few days, the pain of losing her husband will lessen, and then she will be relieved slowly." Bar!"

"Heart disease? Are you complaining that the second uncle gave up Jinji Nashuang to Wu'er, or complaining that Wu'er shouldn't get sick?" Cao Yong thought about Wu'er, who was born without a mother and involved his biological father. The aunt might not be compatible.Thinking of this, he looked at his mother and wondered if she had any intention of raising Wu'er; if not, he would take Wu'er back to Yizhou by himself, which would be considered the second uncle's love for daughters.

Mrs. Li shook her head and said: "She is complaining about her size! That year when your second uncle, Aunt Lu, entered the mansion, she made a fuss for a while, but finally had no choice but to admit it, but she was not reconciled. The places were tampered with, and they were all spices, potted plants, etc. that are not conducive to pregnancy. This Aunt Lu, who has some knowledge, cleaned up a few of them, and then she has a body! I think it is because the body is damaged. Will die of dystocia, and even the fifth child is congenitally deficient, and eats medicine for food all day long! Your second aunt has always been tough-mouthed, but she is not a vicious person. Maybe in the morning when Aunt Lu is away, she will It's a heart attack. Now, your second uncle went there again because he asked Wu'er to give medicine to Wu'er, and she thinks that she has piled all the faults on her own stature!"

Now that Cao Quan has passed away, what can we do if we find out who is right and wrong?Just as he was sobbing, only listening to "grumble grumble", Cao Yong's stomach rang. Thinking about it carefully, he hadn't eaten for a day and a half except for eating some buns yesterday afternoon.

Mrs. Li also heard it. She stood up from the twig and said to Cao Yong, "wash and wash. I'll call someone to serve you longevity noodles. I made a bowl last night. When it was delivered, you had settled it. Yesterday." It's your birthday, and the mansion is so busy, I don't care about it! After a while, you eat and go to the West Mansion, and Song'er hasn't rested these days. He always listens to your brother, so he went to persuade him advise!"

"My son's birthday is the day of my mother's death. What's so good about it? My mother doesn't have to worry about my second brother. I saw that he was fine yesterday, and I have more things to do on the seventh day. I keep watch on other days and don't deal with outsiders. Son Go over and have a look, line up with a few younger brothers, watch the coffin in shifts, and the funeral is nearly a month away, so we can't stay up like this day and night!" Cao Yong said.

After Cao Yong finished grooming, Li's Longevity Noodles were ready, and the two of them used them together.Because of pressing some errands a few days ago, Cao Yin went to the front yamen to take care of those affairs, not in the back house.

After eating the noodles, Cao Yong didn't go directly to Xifu, but first asked someone to bring a pen and paper, and wrote a family letter to Chuyu. In the end, it was absolutely necessary, and I repeatedly asked my wife to take good care of her body. When she was really bored, she asked Zijing to accompany her to live in the lotus garden for a few days.

*
West Mansion, front yard.

The coffin is set up here, and Cao Quan's coffin is parked in the middle, with white curtains hanging on both sides.On the left are dozens of monks chanting scriptures, and on the right are dozens of Taoist priests chanting mantras.They were all invited here with money, and they were going to do religious ceremonies at Cao's house for 49 days on July [-], and they would leave after the funeral ceremony.

Cao Yong understood the reason why his mother was worried about letting Wu'er come to the funeral. Even he, a healthy man, was almost suffocated by the smell in the mourning hall.Every time I come here, I have to get used to it for a while.

Because it was midsummer, and the coffin had to be suspended for 49 days, except for Cao Quan's body, the rest in the coffin were spices.

Even though the coffin was covered, one could still smell a pungent aroma, plus the smell of sweat from hundreds of monks and priests, mixed together, it was really intoxicating.

Cao Song and his brothers, when they saw Cao Yong coming, they all came up to meet him.

Cao Yong looked at his younger brothers, Cao Song needless to say, Cao Shuo was fourteen years old, he already looked like a young adult, if not for the childishness on his face, he looked calmer than Cao Song; Cao Xiang twelve , In the past six months, he has grown a lot, and he is no longer as timid as he was when he was a child. He has a bit of elegance in his gestures and gestures, and he is the best in his homework among you brothers; Clever, not only looks good, but also can talk, very amiable, so that people can't get bored.

Looking at the red blood in the eyes of the little brothers, Cao Yong frowned slightly, and said to Cao Song: "This is not good, and there will be 28 days of vigil. If you go on like this, let alone the little ones, even you may not be able to bear it! "

"Brother, younger brother is fine, the third younger brother and the others, the younger brother is thinking about letting them take turns every three days, leaving one to stay with the younger brother to watch the spirit, and the other two will either go to take care of the mother, or take good care of them." Cao Songdao.

While talking, the younger brothers sat in the waiting area on the side of the mourning hall.Cao Fu picked up the teapot on the table, poured tea for several elder brothers, and then said to Cao Yong: "Thank you, brother, for your concern. Brothers are fine. This is what a son of man should do! Uncle and aunt, the two elders are all on the scene." Age, and it’s summer heat, and I still need my elder brother to take care of me!”

Cao Yong has heard his mother mention several times that Cao Fu is not close to his mother Zhaojia, but is more respectful and filial to his aunt Li.Thinking about it, this is also the reason why he was selected as the "heir" of the big house in the future.

Seeing that Cao Fu was sensible like a young adult, Cao Yong was embarrassed to eat, nodded, and said: "It's okay over there, but this side should take turns to guard the spirit. If you don't stay up for a month, whoever is tired, you can Zensheng is better? Since I am the eldest brother, I will make up my mind about this matter, do younger brothers deserve it?"

The four brothers, Cao Song and Cao Xiang, all admire Cao Yong and respect this elder brother from the bottom of their hearts; Cao Shuo and Cao Fu are still somewhat estranged from their cousin because of their contact with each other, but their father ordered them to listen to their uncle With my brother, naturally there will be no objections?
There are four brothers in front of me, plus Cao Yong himself, there are five people in total, three classes are not enough, and there is one more person in two classes.Cao Yong asked the youngest Cao Fu to look after the inner house and serve Zhaojia's decoction; for the remaining four, Cao Song led Cao Xiang's class, and he himself accompanied Cao Shuo's class, each class for one day.This way, it won't make the little brothers too tired.

Although they are all boys and their bodies are thicker, but the age is here, and it is a hot weather, if there is any discomfort, it is also worrying.

Next, there will be another nearly one-month vigil, and on the "Seventh" day, it will be a big ritual event.Inside and outside the Cao Mansion, there are funeral meals.

In mid-July, the Ministry of Rites issued an official document stating that Cao Quan's first-class Yunqiwei before his death was succeeded by his eldest son Cao Song.According to the regulations, it should have been demoted to one level, but because of the grace of Kangxi, the original level was specially ordered to inherit.

During this period, the governor of Liangjiang, Gali, and the governor of Jiangsu, Zhang Boxing, who had been quarreling for two years, were involved in a case that gradually meant closing the case.First, Zhang Penghe, the Shangshu who went to the south of the Yangtze River to preside over the case, responded that Zhang Boxing should be dismissed from his post and proposed to be redeemed as an apprentice;

Kangxi was not satisfied with this result. He believed that Zhang Boxing participated in the Karma gift and asked for 50 taels of silver. If the ceremony is stolen, even [-] yuan should be placed as a heavy code. Gali is not an honest official, but it is also effective in the local area." There are words related to the country in the Shenga ceremony, and it has not been clearly heard and judged." Therefore, it was ordered that "the case should be sent back. The scholar Jiuqing and others will read the conference performance in detail."

A few days later, Kangxi issued an order that the case should not be handed over to Zhang Penghe and others for trial. Mu Helun, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, and Zhang Tingshu, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, took the Manchu and Han officials to the south of the Yangtze River to go to the south of the Yangtze River for a strict trial. with playing.

Because of their sacred orders, Mu Helun, Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, and Zhang Tingshu, Minister of Industry, could not go directly to Cao's house to pay homage, but they both sent their cronies over and delivered the funeral ceremony.The officials below have less scruples. The few from the Ministry of Industry have no contacts, and those from the Ministry of Households have friendship with Cao Yong.
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(End of this chapter)