Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 592

Thirteen Fujin is nine months pregnant and will be due soon, so she cannot come out to entertain guests.

The other Fujins were in the inner court, and it was not suitable for them to come out to make arrangements for the thirteenth Fujin, so Cao Yong's dinner was arranged by the thirteenth elder brother himself.

Several main courses include roast venison, grilled bear paw, white meat blood sausage pot, and the others are vegetarian dishes, such as agate roll (vegetarian sausage), water edge flower (vegetarian oil-fried fish), and roast Ruyi (vegetarian fish).

In addition to the meat and vegetable dishes, there is also a plate of green lettuce and shallots, which is used for eating rice.There is also a plate of watery cucumbers on the side, but the thickness of the thumb is very refreshing.

Next to the two plates of lettuce, there are four small blue and white bowls, which contain four kinds of fried sauces, vegetarian sauce, pigeon sauce, venison sauce and eggplant sauce.

There are also four blue and white medium bowls, which are filled with red bean japonica rice, yellow rice, sorghum rice and coarse wheat rice.

Not to mention anything else, the greenery and the aroma of the rice all over the table will whet people's appetites.

This kind of hospitality is already against the regulations, but it does not mean that the fourth elder brother and Cao Yong are outsiders.

The mat is placed on the kang table, the fourth elder brother sits on top, Cao Yong is accompanied by the east side, and the thirteenth elder brother is accompanied by the west side.

The wine on the table is the dried peach wine that Cao Yong brought this time.

The thirteenth elder brother took the jug, poured wine for the fourth elder brother and Cao Yong, and asked, "Why did you change it, what about 'Ten Li Xiang'? I've been thinking about it for half a month."

When Cao Yong heard the words, he bowed his head and replied, "I'm afraid we won't make this wine in the future. Since Lord Thirteen likes it, I'll send someone to deliver the recipe to Lord Thirteen tomorrow."

The Thirteenth Lord was taken aback when he heard the words, and then looked at the light green robe on Cao Yong's body, and said, "It's my fault for mentioning this. I mentioned it when I was chatting with Zhiran before, and it turned out that it was made by Zhuang Xi. You Wearing sackcloth and filial piety to organize the funeral, in order to fulfill the righteousness of being a disciple, there is still a need to mourn. Birth, old age, sickness and death, and the cycle of heaven and earth, we must always be careful."

Sorrowful in his heart, Cao Yong didn't want to act in front of others, raised his head, nodded, and said: "Thank you Shisan Lord for your relief, it's all right now. It's just that we've been together for these years, and it's a little uncomfortable to be separated at first."

The thirteenth elder brother changed the topic and asked about the commonplace of the fourth elder brother.

The fourth elder brother responded casually, but glanced at Cao Yong with his eyes from time to time.

The yamen in the capital city has been closed after a small year, but the House of Internal Affairs, because it is an internal yamen, has to deal with a lot of palace affairs before and after New Year's Eve, so it has not been sealed.

Therefore, Cao Yong has to go to Dianmao every day.

When Cao Yong woke up in the early morning, he filled up two pieces of pastry, went to the palace to take care of errands, and went to several New Year's ceremonies.Now, he is really hungry.

Watching the fourth brother move his chopsticks, Cao Yong made a package of rice, which was rolled with old yellow rice, dipped in venison sauce, and delivered to his mouth, it was really delicious.

Cao Yong ate deliciously, thinking about it, and asked Chu Yu to eat it too.

In the twelfth lunar month, eating fat chicken and duck is really boring, but this is still refreshing.Besides, these are coarse grains, which are just right for the children to eat.

Cao Yong ate while thinking, but something was wrong.

At some point, the fourth elder brother and the thirteenth elder brother had already put down their chopsticks and turned their heads to look at Cao Yong.

Under the gaze of these two people, Cao Yong put the last two mouthfuls of rice in his mouth, but he was a little surprised.

Could it be that his face was covered with sauce? Why do these two masters have such eyes?
The thirteenth elder brother had already smiled, and said to the fourth elder brother: "Looking at the appearance of the elders in front of me, I really can't see the cleverness when I was a child. Great wisdom is like a fool, Xiao Cao Yong is a clumsy guy! The Ministry of Internal Affairs has done all the procurement But I don’t know how many people I will offend.”

"Hmm!" The fourth elder brother glanced at Cao Yong and responded.

Cao Yong was quite embarrassed, and looked at the thirteenth elder brother with some puzzlement, really not knowing how to say this.

The thirteenth elder brother has restrained his smile, and said to Cao Yong seriously: "Even if you don't come here today, I will ask someone to call you over. I have thought about it for ten months, and I still have some thoughts in my heart. I want to talk to you nagging."

The fourth elder brother was beside him, silent, only holding the teacup in his hand, looking at Cao Yong.

Cao Yong's mind was spinning, why did Brother Thirteen pay attention to the Ministry of Internal Affairs?
As far as he knew, Elder Brother Thirteen had been silent until the Yongzheng Dynasty before leaving the mountain.

Thinking in his heart, Cao Yong put down his chopsticks and said with a smile: "What lesson does the Thirteenth Master teach, Cao Yong will listen carefully."

Brother Thirteen pondered for a while, and said, "What's the matter with the bidding? If nothing else, it's the Mongolian tea ceremony. After a year, I don't know how much profit it will be. The people who were able to sell this area earlier, There is some weight behind it, if you act like this, although the emperor is behind you, but you have offended many people, it will not be cheap to act in the future."

The thirteenth elder brother asked seriously, and the fourth elder brother listened seriously. Cao Yong was not sloppy here, so he bowed slightly and replied: "Master Thirteen, to put it bluntly, this bidding is just a price. The higher one gets the four characters.

In the past, whether the Ministry of Internal Affairs' trade with Mongolia or trade with Oros was good, the annual transaction volume was quite large, and most of it went into the pockets of the handlers.Efforts are made to work, and corruption is rife.Not to mention the meager income from the internal treasury, sometimes it is necessary to take out a large amount of silver to buy foreign goods.

This bidding is to make a reserve price for each trade line, and then openly invite bids from these imperial merchants.Whoever pays the most money will get the trade line.In this way, the income of the internal treasury will increase.

Other merchants who have not bid, bid again and choose other merchants.In this way, the old merchants will be willing to spend money, and the new merchants will also have the opportunity to intervene, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs will get benefits again.

Among them, offending some vested interests, but also allowing some merchants to get a share of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.The key point is that a batch of silver can be quickly accumulated to enrich the Northwest military expenditure. "

The fourth elder brother and the thirteenth elder brother listened carefully, with different expressions on their faces.

The fourth elder brother frowned slightly, looked at Cao Yong, but sighed in his heart.Although the behavior of this person in front of me is a bit lazy and not self-motivated, but when it comes to financial management, he really has a way,

It's just the money in the inner treasury, after all, it belongs to the inner treasury.

Expenses for concubines in the harem, trips by holy drivers, and repairs to Xiaotangshan Tangquan Palace, etc., all have to be paid out of the inner treasury.

Cao Yong's financial management skills are a bit wasteful when used by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and may even become the root cause of his troubles.If he was in the household department and worked wholeheartedly, his achievements would be more abundant than before.

But it was hand-picked by the emperor's father, and the fourth elder brother could only sigh in his heart.

Brother Thirteen listened, pondered for a moment, smiled and said to Cao Yong: "I don't dare to say about money, but I have a good shopkeeper in my hand, and I have to participate in this excitement. Cao Yong, do you think you can make it?" "

During these years of dealing with the thirteenth elder brother, Cao Yong respected him quite a lot. In addition to the thirteenth elder brother being loyal and not snobbish, he also because the thirteenth elder brother was bold and not greedy for money.

Even if the thirteenth elder brother offered to participate in the procurement of the Ministry of Internal Affairs today, Cao Yong would not believe that he wanted a share of the pie.

Among them, what else is inside?
Do you have money and want to find a reason to hand it over to the internal treasury as Northwest military expenses?No, a few days ago, I even took out 5 taels of silver, even if I still have it in my hand, there is not much left.

Then what reason did Elder Brother Thirteen take the initiative to wade into this muddy water?

Cao Yong recalled what Elder Thirteen thought at first, he was afraid that he would offend others, and he realized something, and asked, "Master Thirteen is worried about me, afraid that the bidding in February will not be opened, and I will be punished by the emperor?"

Elder Brother Thirteen waved his hand and said with a smile: "You, you, you are also very affectionate. You are not a boy who has just entered the official career. You have already sat in the third-rank official. What else should you worry about? I am just watching The shopkeeper of our family is a capable person, and I want to take advantage of the opportunity to let her show off her talents, so as not to be trapped in a small shop, but it is a waste of talent."

Although the thirteenth elder brother didn't admit it, he couldn't express his concern in his eyes. Cao Yong was quite moved when he saw it.

These days, there are some words that come out.

It is said that many imperial merchants from the Ministry of Internal Affairs have great opinions on the bidding idea proposed by Cao Yong, and they have already linked up and refused to participate in the bidding meeting in February next year.

Cao Yong is not afraid, where the benefits lie, who can have no selfishness?

Among them, there are quite a few merchants who let out rumors to the outside world, quietly showing their favor to Cao Yong.

Even if these old businessmen do not bid, Cao Yong is not afraid.

I got the news that there were not just one or two Shanxi merchants, Huizhou merchants, and Lu merchants rushing to the capital.

If those old merchants really give up bidding, there will be many merchants willing to take over.

Brother Shisan also heard the rumors here, and he was afraid that Cao Yong would make trouble here, so he joined in to support Cao Yong.

On Cao Yong's side, he understood Brother Thirteen's kindness, but he didn't say no.

In his heart, he is willing that the thirteenth elder brother will take the initiative and pay attention to the important matters of people's livelihood outside, so as not to be depressed and die young in his prime.

Besides, he believes that Zheng Woxue's ability can support a lot of things.

The fourth elder brother watched coldly, thinking about what the thirteenth elder brother said about Cao Yong's offense, his expression gradually eased, nodded, and said to Cao Yong: "Those greedy and contemptible people are hard to achieve great things, you don't need to be afraid. What, of course there is... of course the emperor will make decisions for you."

It's rare to hear him say a soft word. Cao Yong listened, but he didn't dare to delay on his face. He hurriedly made an attitude of gratitude, bowed his head and said: "Thank you for the teaching, Cao Yong wrote it down, and I dare not be afraid. But I wish to work hard, live up to the emperor's order, and live up to the love and love of the fourth and thirteenth masters."

This Ministry of Internal Affairs has always been the territory of the eighth and ninth elder brothers. It is that guy who offended Cao Yong this time.

But it is not standing in line, the fourth elder brother thought of this, but he was relieved in his heart, raised the wine glass in his hand, and made a gesture of drinking to the thirteenth elder brother and Cao Yong.

Cao Yong drank the wine in the glass, but felt that the roots of his teeth were a little sour.

It's time for me to confess my confession, so that fourth master should know his position, but this drink was not in vain...

*
Inside Desheng Gate, Dajiang Hutong, Dong's House.

Su Xin sat in her own room, with a smile on her face, listening to the chattering of her cousins.

Although they were born in coats and were supposed to participate in the small election of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, not many of them actually entered the palace as errands.In Suxin's generation, besides her, there is also a cousin who was a concubine who entered the palace last year as a servant.

To this day, many people still suspect that Suxin, as the eldest granddaughter of the Dong family, was sent to the palace to work as a errand, and it was Gao's pillow wind.

Gao is Suxin's stepmother, she is not yet in her thirties, and she has been in the family for less than ten years, and now she has two sons and a daughter.

Although the status is not as good as that of the Shang family, the Gao family is also a servant of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and is an old friend of the Dong family.

In addition, Gao Shi gave birth to a son again, and no matter how good his relationship with Su Xin's father was, no one at home dared to ignore her because of her status as the second wife.

However, the Dong and Shang families are related by marriage for generations, even in Su Xin's generation, there is a cousin who married the daughter of the Shang family.Speaking of which, she is Su Xin's cousin.

It was fine in the past, but today when Su Xin returned home, it made everyone see the desolation.

Being young, she just curiously asked about the bustle in the palace, plus Su Xin is still an "imperial envoy" and is designated as a guest of honor in the Earl's Mansion.

The older ones know that the palace is not easy to treat, after all, it is the job of serving people, and when they fail to keep everything, it is a violation of the rules.

The Dong family is deeply rooted in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but in the eyes of the royal family, it is just a cheap coat.

It's nothing if the team beats a girl to death.

Now that the Empress Dowager has ordered her to go out to work in the palace, it is a relief.

Cousins ​​can ask some questions, but Suxin knows the rules and dare not chew her tongue, she just laughs without saying a word.

She was originally quiet, but she was so reticent, which made her more pitiful.

Seeing this, Shang couldn't bear it, she already took Su Xin's hand, and said: "Girl, let your brother talk to the old man tomorrow to see if he can beg Master Sixteen to let you out of the palace as soon as possible. It's not good If you are on duty until thirty, you won’t be an old lady? You should always ask for the grace of the palace.”

Su Xin didn't know how to reply, as a woman, how can she be self-sufficient?

Mrs. Gao was bringing her girl to deliver some food, when she heard what Mrs. Shang said, she said, "Yeah, I was talking about this with your Ama yesterday. If you were in the palace, working in front of the imperial court, walk around It's still difficult. Since they have already left the palace, and the Cao family is a friendly family, there are many activities in and out of the palace, so it is appropriate to keep them in order."

Because she was standing, Su Xin stood up too.

Suwei, Suxin's half-sister, was sitting on the edge of the kang. She was only seven or eight years old, and she was in the naive and romantic grade. When she saw the tray behind her mother, she tilted her head and asked, "Emiang, why do you want the eldest sister to come?" , doesn’t the Cao family have good pasta to eat? Didn’t it mean that the big sister will eat the tea from the Cao family in the future, and we can all eat the pastry from Daoxiang Village?”

Tong Yan Wuji, but Su Xin's face changed when he heard it.

Mrs. Gao hurriedly pulled her daughter, and scolded: "What are you talking about? There are no rules, where did you hear the stupid words, the skin is tight, don't you shut up!"

Su Weiyou was not angry, she pouted her small mouth and muttered: "I didn't mess it up, it was my aunt and my aunt who said it, my elder sister wants to eat tea from Cao's family, and the dowry has already been prepared..."

When the matter of marriage was mentioned, the girls blushed a little, and did not dare to listen any more, they lowered their heads and got off the kang, and followed a widow and aunt to escape.

Su Xin's face was pale, and her body trembled slightly.

Gao Shi held the handkerchief in his hand, looked at Su Xin, but couldn't speak.

Shang's heart was straightforward, and she was the eldest daughter-in-law, who was in charge of the board of directors, so she had less scruples, so she said, "Second aunt, what's going on? Since the girl was ordered to work in the Earl's mansion, she is a servant. This is clear It's so innocent, how can such words come out? She came out of our house again, which makes the girl how to behave in the future..."

Gao Shi bit her lip and said, "I don't know the details, but I just vaguely heard your second uncle mention that the Cao family is considered a good family, and they belong to the holy family. If the girl can be assigned to their family, the palace will also accept it." Willing to let you go."

Shang Shi heard the words, but his expression changed drastically, and he said with a pale face: "No matter how good the Cao family is, how can you wrong the girl to be a concubine? Second wife, the girl has a biological uncle, my Ama and my second uncle will not look at it. Let the girl be wronged."

After hearing this, Mrs. Gao waved her hands quickly and said, "It's not Cao's parents' house, it's Cao's second house. It's just that the fourth master of the Cao family is a concubine, and the fifth master's age is much different. The old man and your second uncle have not yet decided." idea……"

*
The fourth fell to the sixth, crying, urgently begging for a monthly pass, begging, and wanting to keep the fifth.

(End of this chapter)