Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 31
On March 48th in the [-]th year of Kangxi, after nearly half a month's journey, the cargo ship carrying the first batch of spring tributes from Jiangning Weaving arrived at Changxindian Wharf in the southwest of the capital.Cao Yong, the eldest son of Cao Yin, Jiangning weaving, also arrived at the same time.

It was Ma Liandao, the doctor of Guangchu Division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who went to the dock to inspect and accept these tributes.He is Zhenghuangqi Coating, who was a subordinate of Cao Yong's grandfather when he was young, and has a good relationship with Cao's family.In fact, such an errand of inspecting and accepting tributes does not require him, a third-rank doctor, to come in person, because he has already got the news that Mr. Cao's family is going to Beijing, so he came here specially.

The Cao family's house in the capital was originally taken care of by the old housekeeper Cao Wu.This Cao Wu used to be Cao Yong's great-grandfather's personal soldier, and later became a housekeeper after he retired from the battlefield.When Cao Xi went to Jiangnan to take up his post, the mansion in the capital needed loyal servants to take care of it, so Cao Wu was left at the old mansion.More than 40 years have passed in a blink of an eye, and Mr. Cao Wu is in his 80s. After reporting to Cao Yin ten years ago, he let his son take over his position.

Now, it is Cao Wu's son Cao Zhong who comes to meet the young master at the pier.Cao Zhong, as the chief steward of the Cao family, was responsible for the communication between the Cao family and the officials in the capital. He was no stranger to this Ma Lang in front of him, so he immediately stepped forward with a smile and said, "Little Cao Zhong has met Mr. Ma!"

"It's the big housekeeper. Did you say hello to the guard camp? It's too tricky there, don't let your little master suffer any grievances." Maliandao knew that Cao Yong came to Beijing to work, so that's why he was like this ask a question.

"Cao Zhong thanked Mr. Ma for thinking about the master, so don't worry, the little one got the letter and got everywhere, and I dare not let the little master be wronged." Cao Zhong replied.

Maliandao nodded, feeling a little relieved.Although the Cao family is prominent in the south of the Yangtze River, it is not surprising if someone who has left the capital for more than 40 years wants to bully Cao Yong.The key still depends on whether the one above will reduce the grace to the Cao family due to the death of the old grand dame of the Sun family.

Ma Liandao was exchanging pleasantries with Cao Zhong, and saw a group of people getting on and off the passenger boat behind the tribute boat.

"Nephew Cao?" Maliandao felt a little surprised. He thought that Cao Yong was on the tribute boat in front, so he was still waiting for the tribute boat to dock, but he didn't expect that he was on the passenger boat behind.

Ma Liandao had been to Jiangnan for business a few years ago, and Cao Yong knew him, so he went up to salute him and said, "Cao Yong met Ma Shibo, Shibo'an!"

"Well, good, good!" Ma Liandao nodded and helped Cao Yong up with a smile: "I saw you last time as a child, but now you are an adult!"

Cao Yong had a smile on his face, but he was a little uncomfortable in his heart. Ma Liandao looked at him with too hot eyes.Thinking of leaving Jiangning, he heard from his father that Ma Liandao had a daughter who was two years younger than him. The Ma family had mentioned the two marriages, but because the children were young at the time, they didn't pay much attention to it.

I don't know what Ma Liandao's plan is.It's just to visit his nephew, but he still has plans to meet his son-in-law.Thinking about it, Cao Yong laughed at himself a little bit. He was influenced by the memory of his previous life, and he was somewhat resistant to people surnamed Ma. Who knows which one is his old man?
"Slave Cao Zhong, I have seen you!" Cao Zhong said after Ma Liandao had spoken with Cao Yong, stepped forward and knelt down.

Cao Yong waved his hand: "Get up, the luggage is still on the boat, you arrange someone to carry it down."

Ma Liandao met Cao Yong, and he was very satisfied, and it was not easy to socialize with people coming and going at the dock, so he said: "My nephew is tired from the journey, so I will go back and have a rest first. In the evening, I will hold a banquet in the mansion to welcome my nephew! My nephew is not allowed to shirk. , or you won’t give me face.” Seeing Cao Yong’s response, he walked away with square steps with a smile.

Cao Yong didn't want to agree at first, but he didn't expect that the smiling Ma Liandao would directly make the decision for him, and he didn't even have the slightest room to shirk.People grow old, this sentence is really good.At this time, I heard Cao Zhong ask: "Master, this girl..."

Cao Yong looked along Cao Zhong's line of sight, but it was Amethyst who came to Beijing with him.It turned out that Cao Zhong saw that Amethyst brought two little maids to follow behind Cao Yong, with elegant appearance and good clothes.If it is a young lady, there is no reason to show her face; if it is a personal maid, she is a bit older.

"This is the Amethyst girl who served the old matriarch. This is Uncle Zhong, who is in charge of the capital." Cao Yong remembered that he hadn't introduced them to the two of them.

After Zijing greeted Cao Zhong, she took the two little maids into the carriage.Cao Zhong had already prepared to leave, thinking that the little master might come to the house and come to Beijing.

Accompanying Cao Yong to Beijing, in addition to Amethyst and two little maids, there is also a book boy Xiaoman, who followed the two brothers Wei Hei and Wei Bai.

The Wei family brothers are in their thirties, they don't look big-eyed, but their physical skills are quite good.Originally apprentices of hermits in the Jianghu, they were allowed to enter Cao's mansion because their master had received the favor of Cao's family.They followed Cao Yong not for a day or two, but for nearly eight years, but they were always in the dark when they were in Jiangning.

Cao Yong knew the existence of these two brothers a long time ago, and was grateful to them for protecting him silently for many years. This time he did not pick other people when he came to Beijing, and only let the two brothers follow from the dark to the bright.

After all the luggage on the ship was loaded into the car, Cao Yong rode a horse and followed Cao Zhong into the city.

*
Outside Guang'an Gate, Cao Yong looked at the majestic city wall and felt his nose a little sour.Finally returned to Beijing, after being reincarnated more than 300 years ago, eight years after coming to this world.

Before he had time to enter the city, Cao Yong heard the sound of "da da" horseshoes behind him.

Amidst the dust, several horses galloped towards a carriage.Opening the way in front were a few nobles in bright clothes, waving their horsewhips, turning to the people waiting to enter the city gate, shouting: "Let it go, let it go!" on the curtain of the car.The car curtain was half opened, revealing Zijing's slightly panicked pretty face.

The aristocratic son on the horse flinched and saw that there were no signs of various prefectures on the car, so he boldly spoke obscenities: "Whose little lady is more beautiful than the sister of Wanhualou!"

Another person next to him scolded with a smile: "Nalan Chengping, don't spray dung all over your mouth, Ge Ge is still waiting to enter the city!"

Only then did Nalan Chengping stop talking, turned around to meet the carriages that came after him, and entered the city surrounded by them.

Cao Yong stared at Nalan Chengping's back and nodded to Wei Hei.Wei Hei rode his horse and followed the convoy.

Cao Zhong didn't know what the master and servant's arrangement was, so he hurriedly stepped forward and said in a low voice: "Don't be upset, sir, this is Gege's carriage from Prince Pingjun's mansion, it's not an outsider!"

Naersu, king of Pingjun, is the husband of Cao Yong's sister Cao Yan, so Cao Zhong said so.

Cao Yong nodded, he is not a reckless young man, when he first arrived in the capital, of course he would not take the initiative to provoke those dignitaries, and sent Wei Hei to follow him, just to teach the kid that he was rude.

The old house in Caojiajing is outside Chongwen Gate, a four-entry house.There are two red lanterns hanging on both sides of the gate, with two big characters "Cao Fu" written on it.Compared with the magnificent Jiangning Weaving Mansion, the house here is simple yet solemn.

Cao Yong got off his horse in front of the door and looked around. This is not a busy city, and there are not many pedestrians on the road.Looking along both sides of the road, there are courtyards surrounded by high walls.My family lived in Dongcheng in my previous life, so it seemed like I would want to take some time to visit.

The concierge was the smartest, seeing a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy dismounting in front of the door, followed by an old manager, he knew that his little master had arrived, so he hurriedly bowed down to say hello.Several stewards in the mansion had been waiting for a long time, and when they heard movement in front of the door, they all came out to welcome him. Even Cao Wu, who was in his 80s, came out with a stick.The old man lost half of his teeth and was about to kneel down tremblingly. Cao Yong couldn't bear it, so he stretched out his hand to support him.

After entering the mansion, servants from all levels in the mansion came to pay their respects.Although the Cao family has not been in the capital for several decades, there are quite a few servants here.After being busy for more than half an hour, Cao Yong's ears were considered clean.Fortunately, Zijing has already prepared a silver reward, and it is joyful.Cao Yong also understands what is a slave born at home.In the capital, there were only a few servants in the mansion, but in the past few decades, the descendants have multiplied, and now the number is nearly a hundred.Some of them worked as errands in the mansion for a monthly fee, and some were sent to the south as errands.

Cao Yong's residence had been arranged well earlier. It was the West Courtyard where Cao Yin lived when he was not married. The area was small, but it was elegant.Cao Yong was very satisfied, so Amethyst took two little maids to clean up.The steward of the inner house belonged to Cao Zhong's family. Seeing that Cao Yong didn't bring many maids, he chose two well-groomed and diligent maids from among the children at home, and arranged them in the yard over there.

Cao Yong felt that there were enough people around him, and he didn't want to keep people, so he signaled Amethyst.Zijing acted as if she hadn't seen them, and asked about their ages, and took them down to explain the rules.

When there was no one around, Zijing said to Cao Yong: "This house has not had a master to live in for decades, and now the uncle is here, and the servants are all watching eagerly. If the uncle only uses people from the south, Three or two days is fine, but after a long time, if their hope is cut off, it is inevitable that some people will slack off!"

After Cao Yong heard it, he had to admire that it was a woman who was careful.For Amethyst, Cao Yong has always had a good impression. When he did not move out of Xuan Ruitang, he was taken care of by Amethyst many times.

Amethyst is seven years older than Cao Yong. She is 22 this year, and she is considered an old girl in this era.When the old matriarch was still alive, she pointed out Zijing's marriage, and the other party was the son of a steward in the house.As a result, shortly after the engagement, the man died of illness.At that time, there were rumors that Amethyst was ordered by Kefu.The old lady was not fair for Zijing, and wanted to arrange another marriage for her.But Zijing made an oath that she would never marry and serve the old lady forever.The people in the house only thought that she was annoyed by the previous marriage, and didn't take it to heart.No, after the old lady left, Zijing still refused to marry, and everyone knew that she had made up her mind.

*
To the west of the city, Pingjun Palace.

Cao Jiashi, the princess of the county, looked at the account book for a while and felt tired, so she rested on the soft bed.Narsu's two concubines carefully sat on a small stool, chatting with the princess.

Just then there was laughter like silver bells, and a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl came in outside.

(End of this chapter)