Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 384
Shengjia returned to Changchun Garden on February [-]th, and Cao Yong returned to the Yamen on the same day to finish his errands and return home.There are already people waiting for Cao Mansion.

The visitor is Mr. Zhuang's old friend, Cheng Mengxing, a concubine of the Imperial Academy.Cao Yong also didn't see him for a while, so when he heard that he was coming, he didn't care to change his official uniform first, and went directly to the living room to meet him.

Mr. Zhuang is here to accompany them, and the two are chatting.

Seeing Cao Yong coming in, Cheng Mengxing hurriedly stood up, said with a smile: "Yesterday I heard that Shengjia could return to Luan today, so I thought that Furuo should come back too, but today he is here!"

Cao Yong looked at Cheng Mengxing's carefree appearance, and couldn't help enviously saying: "Brother Wu Qiao is noble and carefree. In the Hanlin Academy, he spends all day with writing and books, saving worry and effort, and my younger brother is jealous!"

Cheng Mengxing shook his head, sighed, and said: "Fu Ruo is ridiculous, although this job is leisurely, it does not necessarily save worry and effort, and human affairs are inevitable. The less serious the job, the more time you will be able to focus on fighting. It's annoying."

When Cao Yong saw him say this, he suddenly remembered a sentence he heard in his previous life, "Rogues are not scary, but they are educated."

Those who can enter the Hanlin Academy are all from serious majors, and they are the best among the top three in each subject.These people started as sages, then editors, and then went to reading and lectures, and they were promoted very quickly.After enough years, he will be sent to the local government for a few terms, and then return to the capital to be the official of the Six Departments.

Although it is easier for them to be promoted compared with officials outside, within the Imperial Academy, if they want to climb up, appointments are trampled on.

Cheng Mengxing can't compare with those humble scholars, he is eager for fame.He was born in a wealthy family, and his talent is far broadcast.To him, the job in the Hanlin Academy is just icing on the cake.

The two had seen each other before, but it was impolite for Cao Yong to wear this dress to entertain guests, so he asked Cheng Mengxing to sit down for a while, and he went into the inner courtyard to change clothes.

In Wutong Garden, Chu Yu has already received the letter from Cao Yong and is waiting.Cao Yong entered the room and took a special look at Chuyu's belly, but because of the loose clothes, he couldn't see it yet.

It's just that Chu Yu looked plump compared to last month, her face was smooth and rosy, and she looked very attractive.

Cao Yong changed his official uniform, and asked Chu Yu: "It's been good in the mansion for most of the month, is the Second Wife's side still peaceful? Are everyone in each courtyard okay?"

Chu Yu nodded, and said with a smile: "Everything is fine, but at the beginning of May, I got a bit of a cold and coughed for a few days. I asked the imperial doctor to prescribe a few medicines. It's all over."

Cao Yong looked at Chuyu's jacket and said, "Although the adults have changed into clothes, the children are still young, so we don't pay much attention to them. The saying 'spring cover autumn freeze' is an old principle."

Chu Yu hesitated for a moment, then said: "I said that too, but now the second wife is very caring towards the fourth sister and fifth son, and she said that she should be strictly disciplined according to the rules when she was young. She also discussed with me and wanted to let Aunt Meng and Aunt Chang acted as their nuns and began to learn the rules. The fourth sister is okay, but she is stronger; the fifth son is a little weak, so she caught a cold!"

The fifth child is four years old, and the fourth sister is only five years old. Such a young child, what rules should he learn?Cao Yong frowned slightly, and asked: "Why did the second wife think of this? Is there really nothing going on there recently?"

Chu Yu said: "Seeing that the second wife is quite busy, she sent someone to look at the land outside Beijing. I heard that she is going to buy another small village."

Cao Yong nodded and said: "It's good to be busy, Wu'er..." When it comes to this, it is a bit embarrassing.

Although with Zhao Jia's presence, it's not their turn to worry about being brothers and sisters-in-law, but a villain at that point can't bear to make a fuss.

"Wu'er will take a look again. If it doesn't work, I'll talk to the second wife!" Cao Yong said.

Chu Yu said: "Don't worry, my son-in-law, I have privately ordered people to add clothes to Wu'er. It is close-fitting, so you can't see it from the outside, and it won't wipe the second wife's face."

Because there were still guests in the front yard, Cao Yong didn't want to stay long, so he said to Chuyu, "Cheng Mengxing is here, and I'll order someone to go to the kitchen to prepare the table in a while, and I'll let him have wine in the evening. Don't talk about our yard, it's our yard." The garden in Haidian also troubled him a lot last year. We always have to find a chance to thank Fang Shi, and the favor is not good and we are always in debt."

Chu Yu agreed, and Cao Yong picked up the curtain and went out.Chu Yu sent to the corridor, looked at Cao Yong's back and sighed.

Mammy Ye originally brought a few maidservants to the east room to do needlework, and she also made room for the young couple to talk.Seeing Cao Yong leave, Chu Yu sighed, and Mother Ye asked with some concern: "What's wrong with Princess? But why do you feel uncomfortable?"

Chu Yu said with a bit of sadness: "My son-in-law has to be busy with errands outside and worry about the house, it's all because I can't be a good family."

Mother Ye was afraid that she would be hurt by thinking too much, so she hurriedly persuaded her: "Ge Ge is pregnant with a child, don't think about it. The second wife is an elder, her seniority is there, so Ge ​​Ge can't say much."

*
Front yard, living room.

Mr. Zhuang saw that Cheng Mengxing hesitated to speak, which was different from his usual frankness, so he couldn't help feeling puzzled, and asked, "What's the matter? Could it be that Wu Qiao encountered some embarrassment and wanted to speak to Fu Ruo? "

Cheng Mengxing said with a wry smile: "It's true that Mr. said, but I came to the door today, but I begged Fu Ruo for something."

Cheng Mengxing entered the Imperial Academy in the summer of the previous year as a concubine. He had to study for three years, and he could take the exam at the end of next year.

It would be too early to say that it was for next year's absence.What's more, with Cheng Mengxing's strength of character, it should be because he hates these people's official entrustment.

Mr. Zhuang was puzzled, so he heard Cheng Mengxing say: "Mengxing has already taken a leave of absence from the Imperial Academy and is going back to his hometown to take care of the sick. My mother is already old, and it is really wrong for Mengxing not to be filial in front of her bed."

Hearing him talk about "leaving for leave", Mr. Zhuang remembered what he had just heard.

A few days ago, Lord Long Live was very annoyed when he heard that many officials of the Imperial Academy had "leaved leave".The decree was issued, except for Ding You's final support, "the Hanlin Academy's editors, editors, reviewers, Shu Jishi, teaching Jinshi, and those who returned home due to illness will all be ordered to stop."Later, I don’t know why I thought of the officials of the Kedao, and it was the same as the officials of the Imperial Academy. Anyone who “requested leave and returned home” at will was also ordered to suspend it.

Cheng Mengxing is a scholar of the Hanlin Academy. If he wants to become an official, he will follow the example of the "seven-rank county magistrate".

It's just that the decree came down from there, and Cheng Mengxing was like this... Thinking of this, Mr. Zhuang looked at Cheng Mengxing suspiciously, and said: "Wu Qiao is like this, is it because he is tired of the prosperity of the capital?"

Cheng Mengxing listened, and said with a smile: "It doesn't matter whether you are bored or not. It's just that Mengxing came to Beijing in 47, and now he has stayed in the capital for six or seven years. He has increased his knowledge and made many friends. He entered the Imperial Academy , and fulfilled my mother’s wish, that’s enough. If you stay here, you’ll be fighting each other all day, and your life is really not pleasant, so why don’t you just go back here!”

Mr. Zhuang admired Cheng Mengxing's free and easy way, and praised: "People in the world are either seeking fame or pursuing profit. There are very few people like Wu Qiao who really regard fame and fortune as floating clouds. Wu Qiao can With such a state of mind, I think I will eventually have a place in the literary world."

Cheng Mengxing was a little embarrassed to hear his praise.Said: "It's just dawdling, I can't be praised by Mr...." At this point, he glanced at Mr. Zhuang and said in a deep voice: "Mr., I have been in Cao's house for some years. Wu Qiao seems a little opaque. Could it be that the two families are related? With Mr.'s talent, if you want to become an official, it's a breeze; if you want to be an aide, Meng Xing doesn't look like Fu Ruo is a plotter."

While the two were talking, Cao Yong had come over, entered the hall with a smile, and said: "Brother Wu Qiao, my younger brother has asked my wife to order me to go down, but I want to stay with Brother Wu Qiao to have a good drink today!"

Cheng Mengxing said with a smile: "Since that's the case, then we will bother you!"

Cao Yong found a chair opposite Cheng Mengxing and sat down, and asked: "A few days ago, the Lord Long Live made a decree, which was directed at your Imperial Academy. I was still thinking about Brother Wu Qiao. Brother Wu Qiao likes to travel, this time Half of the year is spent traveling around mountains and rivers, visiting relatives and friends, the days are very leisurely, and I’m afraid I won’t be able to do so in the future!”

Mr. Zhuang said from the side: "Fu Ruobai is thinking about it, I'm afraid this is more satisfying to him!"

"Oh!" Cao Yong was a little surprised, then thought of the reason, and asked: "Could it be that brother Wu Qiao wants to take this opportunity to become an official?"

Cheng Mengxing nodded, and said: "I originally intended to do so. I received a letter from my family a few days ago, and knew that my mother was ill, so I wanted to go back to my hometown. I came here today, and I also meant to say goodbye. If the arrangements are made properly, three or two days later , Mengxing left Beijing and returned to Yangzhou!"

Hearing what Cheng Mengxing said, Cao Yong felt a little bit reluctant, and said: "Filial piety is the most important thing, since this is the case, the younger brother can't say anything to persuade him to stay. There are not many people in Beijing who can talk. Brother Wu Qiao will go to the future. There are even fewer people drinking in one place!"

Cheng Mengxing hesitated for a moment, and said: "Fu Ruo, to tell you the truth, apart from saying goodbye today, Mengxing has one more thing to ask."

Seeing his hesitant appearance, Cao Yong glanced at Mr. Zhuang, and saw that Mr. Zhuang's face was also puzzled.

Although he wanted to find an opportunity to repay Cheng Mengxing, but he didn't know what the other party asked, so he couldn't respond indiscriminately.Otherwise, if you can't do it, wouldn't you just break your promise and lose weight.

"Brother Wu Qiao, please tell me what you need my younger brother. If my younger brother can agree, I have nothing to say." After thinking for a while, Cao Yong said.

A wry smile appeared on Cheng Mengxing's face: "I have a niece who is from Furuo's hometown, and Furuo also knows her. After she got her sister's ashes last year, she went south to arrange a burial. When the first month came out, she went to Beijing again and defected to me.

Her mother left early, so it is my duty as an uncle to take care of her.It happened that she had a strong temper, she didn't want to be in a boudoir, and wanted to re-establish property in the capital.I persuaded her several times, but she was paranoid, as if she had become determined after eating the weight.

Now, I have an errand in the Imperial Academy and return to Nan Shiji, but I am worried about this niece.She is still young, and she has already fulfilled three years of filial piety for her husband. I originally wanted to find a proper family for her, but she was unwilling to rely on others.Fu Ruo, you see, I really have no one to trust, so I have the audacity to ask Fu Ruo to take care of her for a while. "At the end, he stood up and said solemnly.

The niece he was talking about was the Han Jiang family. Cao Yong heard that she had returned to Jiangning to be buried in the camp a few years ago, and when he thought of Wenxiu, his heart was heavy.It seems that in the future, I will find an opportunity to ask about the cemetery of Han Jiang's Wenxiu, so that I can pay homage to a glass of water and wine when I return to Jiangning.

Although the woman was pitiful during her lifetime, there were still people who cared about her after her death.In addition to Cao Yong herself, there is also Wu En, the little slave girl she raised.

Although little Wu En only asked once, but every time he saw Cao Yong after that, he always had a look of begging and asking.Wenxiu's ashes were originally placed with her. She had thought of guarding Wenxiu's tomb earlier, but she put out this thought when she found out that Wenxiu had found her relatives.However, I still want to inquire clearly about the place where Wenxiu's bones are buried.

Not to mention Cheng Mengxing's solemn entrustment, but because of Wenxiu's love, Cao Yong is willing to take care of Han Jiangshi.

It's just that the capital is a mixed bag, rich and powerful, and it's not easy for a woman to start a business.Besides, having dealt with Han Jiangshi several times, Cao Yong also had a little understanding of his temperament. Although she was a very self-respecting woman, she did not know how to adapt to her actions.

Although in business, on the negotiating table, it is right to count every penny.But at this time, the merchants are backed by powerful people.

Han Jiang's family is in Jiangning, guarding their parents' property, relying mostly on old relationships.Because she is an orphan and widow, even officials who intend to seize her property will have scruples in their hearts because of the face of the Cheng family.

In the capital, the mansions of the princes who were short of money disappeared.If Han Jiang's little fish doesn't make money, it's okay, it won't be eye-catching; if it makes money, it's afraid that people will think of it as fat.At that time, not to mention the store, it is she who is afraid that someone will take the pot.

Although it is said that Han Jiang's one or two can be preserved by linking with the Cao family, but Cao Yong thinks about his hidden enemy, and is afraid that she will be tired by the fish, so what is the proper way to find...

(End of this chapter)