Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 624
Earl's Mansion, across the courtyard, a secluded place.

Cao Yong said his concerns, Yongsheng was silent for a long time.

"Furuo, let me do it!" Yongsheng seemed to have made up his mind: "Let me choose, don't let my brother choose. One is Ama's will, and the other is that children should be filial. How does the elder brother choose?" ?Even if I come back to attend the funeral, I have to bring self-blame and guilt. If I don’t bear the burden, I should do something for this family. Even if someone mentions it in the future, they will just blame me.”

The human heart is very strange and likes to speculate maliciously.

Not only Yongqing will bear the suspicion of "unfilial piety", but Yongsheng, who insists on obeying his father's order and refusing to report his elder brother's funeral, will also be labeled as "unrighteous".

"You also have to think clearly, this is related to your reputation and future future..." Cao Yong knew that he had no position, so he couldn't help but say something more.

Yongsheng patted Cao Yong's shoulder and said: "Furuo, I'm not a promising person. Compared with my brother who is good at work, what am I? It's just a supplementary errand, just to make a living."

In the end, he remembered that his parents wanted to discuss marriage with Cao's family in his early years, but he was inexplicable when he looked at Cao Yong.

Almost became a family.

Even if they didn't become a family, Cao Yong has taken good care of the mansion here in the past few years since Yongqing left Beijing.Before Wan Jiha was alive, he also helped find many high-quality tonics.

"Tomorrow's 'catch three', if Fu can get away, come here!" Yongsheng said.

"That's natural." Cao Yong replied: "Looking at my aunt's health is not good, but you have to work harder. These days, just stay in a fixed room. Is there anyone who can talk and run errands?" Go on, and save some energy. I really can't bear it anymore, and I will take a few slices of ginseng to top it. The mourning period is still long, and you will not be sick if you stay here."

According to the rules, when the parents die, the filial son must not eat or drink for three days, so Cao Yong said so.

Yongsheng nodded, and said: "I know, I haven't thanked Fu Ruo for the money last night. This time the cost is more expensive, and there is no income in the middle of the year except the salary. I am afraid that it will not be paid back until the end of the year."

Cao Yong waved his hand and said: "I'll talk about it later, I don't have much money to spend..."

The funeral was complicated, and the two said a few more words, and Cao Yong wanted to leave.

Just as Cao Yong was about to speak, he heard a childish voice: "Second Uncle!"

Following the voice, a little girl in filial piety ran in at the gate of the courtyard.Seeing that other people were there, the little girl slowed down and stepped forward.

Although she is only four or five years old, she can vaguely see the shadow of Yongjia.Cao Yong met this little girl a few months ago, and she is Prince Jane Yaerjiang's daughter Zhen'er.

Yongsheng leaned over and picked up Zhen'er, saying: "It's so messy, why did you come to the front yard? Where are you looking at your butt? Adults are busy these days, Zhen'er is not allowed to be naughty anymore."

Zhen'er heard the words, pouted and said: "Second Uncle just wronged people, Zhen'er is not mischievous, I came here specially to find Second Uncle."

"Oh, is that so?" Yongsheng stroked his niece's hair, turned around, and said to Cao Yong, "It's my niece. Fu Ruo hasn't seen her before. Look at her, she's the same as her mother-in-law when she was a child." the same."

After listening to Yongsheng's words, Zhen'er wrinkled his nose, scratched his face, and said, "My mother was young, and my second uncle was also a child. Grandma said it earlier, and my second uncle was naughty when I was young!"

In the end is young, don't know worry.

Yongsheng wanted to laugh, but couldn't, so he said to Zhen'er, "I'm a friend of my uncles, please call someone, Uncle Cao."

Zhen'er pursed her lips, glanced at Cao Yong, was a little confused, hesitated for a while, and said obediently following Yongsheng's meaning, "Uncle Cao!"

Cao Yong nodded his head and said, "Well, you're really good!"

Zhen'er's small eyes rolled and turned, and his little face showed a bit of confusion. He asked Yongsheng in a low voice, "Second Uncle, isn't this man Zhen'er's brother-in-law? Why is he an uncle?"

Yongsheng was puzzled, Cao Yong said what he had seen years ago.

During the conversation, several foreign stewards came to look for Yongsheng.Cao Yong didn't stay any longer and said goodbye to leave.

It was inconvenient for Yongsheng to hold Zhen'er, so he ordered the housekeeper to send Cao Yong out.

As soon as Cao Yong left, Yongsheng turned his head to Zhen'er and said, "Why are you looking for uncle? You should tell me?"

"Er Niang hasn't eaten all day, what should I do? Second Uncle." Zhen'er's small face showed worry.

"This is the filial piety of children to their parents. Your grandfather is gone, and your mother is so sad. It will be fine after another day. Don't worry, Zhener, your aunt has prepared a slice for your mother." Yongsheng sighed Tone, said.

Zhen'er half-understood, "Oh" and said: "Grandpa is gone, Zhen'er is also sad, can't Zhen'er eat?"

"You really can eat. It's because your second aunt is busy entertaining guests. Didn't she prepare something for you? When you come back to the house, if you want to eat something, just send the woman and maid by your side to go directly to the kitchen." Say. If anyone dares to be disobedient, tell your second aunt." Yongsheng said.

After hearing this, Zhen'er's eyes couldn't help but shine, and said: "Really? What the second uncle said is true? Can Zhen'er directly tell the kitchen what to eat?"

Seeing his niece like this, Yongsheng felt a little distressed, and said, "Could it be that we are really starving? This is not someone else's house, of course Zhen'er can give orders."

There was already a smile on Zhen'er's face, and said: "Then Zhen'er asks someone to make cat's ear soup?"

"Okay, okay, as long as you really want to eat, you can eat anything!" Yongsheng said.

"Er Niang likes to eat that, is it okay for Zhen'er not to eat for Er Niang, uncle..." Zhen'er begged.

Seeing his niece at this age, he knew how to feel sorry for his relatives. Yongsheng felt a lot of pity in his heart, and said: "If you really want to go, go. If you can persuade your mother to use it twice, it will be considered a credit. If Your mother is not willing to use it, so don't be too sad, your mother has received this kind of filial piety."

Seeing that Yongsheng has no objection, Zhen'er is overjoyed.

It just so happened that the young lady who was accompanying her came to look for her with the little boss, she got down from Yongsheng's arms and trotted back to the inner courtyard.

"Cat ear soup? What is that? I never heard that girl Yongjia likes to drink soup." Yongsheng looked at Zhen'er's back, a little puzzled...

*
Shicha seaside, a certain house.

Sitting in the hall, holding a teacup, Cao Yong was very depressed.Just after leaving the door of Wanyan's house, he was caught by the fourteenth elder brother and forced him to drink.

He was unwilling at first, with the excuse that he had to go back to the mansion beforehand, but the fourteenth brother was surprisingly tough, saying that "it is better to hit the sun than to choose the day", and Cao Yong was not allowed to say more, so he asked the guards to put Cao Yong on the carriage.

After all, it is in front of people, Cao Yong is not easy to fight with him too much, so he came here.

Look at the person who served the tea just now, in his twenties, dressed as a woman, elegantly dressed, with a good temperament, not like a man in the world.But decent women don't show their faces to entertain guests like this.

Ever since Li Ding came to Beijing and opened a private restaurant near Haizi, there are quite a few private houses like this along the coast of Haizi.

Find two chefs and raise a few beauties for the dignitaries to drink and have fun with.

Although the laws of the Qing Dynasty stipulated that officials were not allowed to prostitute, these women were not considered prostitutes, they could only be regarded as female slaves.

It's only noon now, and it's still bright, Brother Fourteen won't be so boring, so you want to arrange one for Cao Yong?

Cao Yong drinking tea, thinking about it.

"It's been a while, and I've wanted to find you for a drink, but I'm too busy to be free. Today is just a bargain." Elder Fourteen took a sip of tea from his cup and said with a smile, "The Ministry of Internal Affairs has done a good job, sir. Thank you."

Fourteen elder brother's words are very beautiful, but Cao Yong can still feel a bit of exploration and fear in his eyes.

"Maybe it's the emperor's wisdom, and the hard work of his officials. I just came up with an idea, and I dare not take credit for it." Cao Yong said after deliberation.

"Come on, you are always like this. If you are too humble, you are deceitful. Can you still take your credit?" Elder Fourteen raised his eyebrows, very dissatisfied with Cao Yong's rhetoric.

Cao Yong felt quite strange in his heart, obviously not so close, now what is the fourteenth elder brother singing about?

Is it for outsiders to see?Who doesn't know that Cao Yong, like his father, does not form a party, does not stand in line, and only loyal to the emperor?
Even if the [-]th Argolla drank twice, it wouldn't change anything?It is no secret that Brother Nine and Cao Yong are against each other.

After a while, the woman took two servants and set up the wine and dishes.

On the table, there are four dishes and four bowls. They are not delicacies from mountains and seas, but home-cooked dishes.

The four dishes are peanuts in old vinegar, mustard cabbage pile, toon eggs, fried small yellow croaker, and the four bowls are tofu with potherb mustard, stewed duck, braised pork elbow, and egg custard.

Cao Yong was very surprised when he saw it. When did this restaurant become popular in this capital?
The fourteenth elder brother was full of joy, pulled the woman over, and said with a bit of doting: "Thank you for your hard work."

The woman blushed and said angrily, "Master, is there a guest?"

The fourteenth elder brother glanced at Cao Yong and said: "Cao Yong, I forgot to tell you that this Wu family is my wife, you should call her little aunt."

That's what he said, Cao Yong had no choice but to get up and meet Wu again.

Mrs. Wu hurriedly leaned over, saying "I dare not take it", but looked at Cao Yong with a bit of curiosity.

"Look at Cao Yongjun? My heart is going to be sour!" Elder Fourteen said half seriously, half jokingly.

Wu hurriedly withdrew her gaze and said: "I have admired Master Cao's name for a long time, and I was very curious when I saw it for the first time, so I was rude. I hope Master Cao and Master Cao are not to blame."

The fourteenth elder brother has already taken his seat, and greeted Cao Yong to sit down too.

Mrs. Wu sat sideways beside Fourteenth Elder Brother, holding a cup for the two of them.She didn't look stiff at all, as if sitting next to her was not the prince elder brother, but an ordinary man, that kind of ease and composure was not something ordinary women could have.

His speech and behavior seem to be from a family background, but he doesn't know why he fell into the situation of "Golden House Cangjiao".

The fourteenth elder brother took the wine cup and said: "My lord, Cao Yong, you are the first customer. Come on, do it!" After finishing speaking, he drank it all in one gulp.

Cao Yong also followed suit, but his heart was very tight.

It's a strange thing that happens every year, especially this year.

Fourteenth, he didn't talk about drinking, and he was still in such a private place. Could it be that he was so confident that he thought he could get on his boat?
The fourteenth elder brother put down the wine cup, the smile on his face was already closed, showing a bit of fortitude, he looked into Cao Yong's eyes, and said: "Cao Yong, I know you are cautious and don't want to stand in line. I don't force you, I want you Do me a favor."

Cao Yong put down his chopsticks and looked at Brother Fourteen, not knowing why he was so righteous.

If I owe him, I still owe him. Even if I want to ask someone for help, it shouldn't be this kind of ordering attitude, right?
After all, it is the prince, even if he wants to be humble, the word "natural" is deep in his bones.

"Master Fourteen, if Cao Yong can't succeed in writing or martial arts, Master Four should know how much he has. How can he help Master Fourteen? Isn't it a joke to say that?" Cao Yong I don't know the details of Brother Fourteen, so I can only speak vaguely.

"Who wants you to wield a knife, use a stick, or show off your knowledge? I don't need to say whether you have the ability. Even Yunniang, a boudoir woman, knows your name as a 'good fortune boy'. It's useless if you talk about it again It's delicious!" Elder Fourteen said.

When Cao Yong heard the words, he already knew it, and it seemed that it was still related to money.

"My lord is waiting for the right time. I want to invite you to fight in the northwest." The fourteenth elder brother patted the table and said loudly: "The terrain in the northwest is complicated, and there are many Huizi and Mongols living there. I'm afraid it won't be finished. If you want to win a battle, you need money and sufficient logistical supplies."

Speaking of this, he looked at Cao Yong and said, "Cao Yong, I know you avoid me. In addition to our unhappiness in the early years, you are also afraid of the title of 'Eight Lord Party' on your head, and you are afraid that your father and son will be hurt. Implicated, is your master right? Don’t tell me such nonsense that princes are not allowed to associate with foreign ministers, you avoid me, my eighth brother, my ninth brother, my fourth brother, have you ever avoided my thirteenth brother and my little sixteenth?”

It is true what he said, but what he said, Cao Yong did not respond well.Who knows what traps there will be inside and outside the words, Cao Yong despises his own caution in his heart, but there is nothing he can do.

Living in this world of imperial power, he would not boldly think that the fourteenth elder brother is so "friendly" that he can speak freely and treat him as a buddy and friend.

"Don't you admit it? I really don't know what you are afraid of. These years, the Lord has watched you come all the way, but he is like a little old man, and he has no time to be at ease. Want to be a famous minister? Look at us princes Brother is still tired." Elder Fourteen said with a frown.

"Fourteenth Lord, it's just a courtier's duty, and I hope Fourteenth Lord will be considerate." Cao Yong looked at the fourteenth elder brother who was happy and angry, but he was a little envious.

It is also a kind of happiness to be as confident as the fourteenth elder brother, and to live so self-righteously.

"That's all, that's all, I don't want to talk to you. I just want to ask you, can you help me? I don't want you for nothing. As long as you agree, I will find a way to resolve the dispute between Brother Nine and you. You should also I know that Brother Ninth's temper is the most shrewd, and he never takes the slightest loss. Although Huang Ama is taking care of you now, Brother Ninth is not a magnanimous person, and he always finds an opportunity to settle the matter." Fourteenth Brother said: " You can be regarded as a capable minister and serve the country wholeheartedly. Wouldn’t it be a pity if you are entangled in right and wrong? I don’t make it difficult for you. I don’t want you to be unfaithful to Huang Ama. As long as you think of a way, This year and next year, the treasury will be able to make more treasury money to prepare for the Northwest military expenditure. This is also the duty of a courtier, and you have the ability to make money, why can't you?"

In the end, Elder Fourteen's eyes were a little hotter, looking at Cao Yong with fiery eyes, not like looking at a man, as if looking at a golden mountain, with undisguised desire and passion on his face greedy.

"As long as the treasury has money, why are you afraid of war? When the Lord asked for a war, I recommended you as the Minister of Military Supplies. Let's make contributions together. Cao Yong, what do you think?" Elder Fourteen had already stood up and looked straight at Cao. Yong, listen to his reply immediately.

Cao Yong sighed in his heart, where is there a second choice?

Looking at the meaning of the fourteenth elder brother, as long as Cao Yong said a word "no", it would be like breaking his dream and breaking his future.Cao Yong knew that in that case, what he would have to deal with in the future would not only be the jealousy of Brother Nine, but also the anger of Brother Fourteen.

It's easy to hide from open guns, but hard to guard against hidden arrows. What ability does Cao Yong have, to be able to protect himself under the attack of the two princes and elder brothers?

"Master Fourteen, would it be good to listen to Cao Yong?" Cao Yong thought for a while and replied.

Brother Fourteen didn't see Cao Yong nodding his head, his face was cloudy and he said: "Tell me?"

"The fourteenth master shared the worries of the emperor and was loyal to the country. Cao Yong felt the same. He really admired the loyalty and filial piety of the fourteenth master. Although it is not Cao Yong's job to deal with the money in the household department, Cao Yong is willing to do his best within his ability. Mianli. As for what you get, it depends on the right time and place, but the amount is not guaranteed right now. In the future, please do not mention the matter of the Minister of Military Supplies. My father has been favored by the emperor for many years, and he is the most loyal to the emperor. , I often teach Cao Yong not to be greedy, to form a party because of selfishness, and not to forget the responsibility of a minister." Cao Yong's attitude was also very serious, and he said solemnly.

Brother Fourteen frowned even more when he heard the words, and said, "You mean, you are willing to find ways to make money, but you just refuse to stand in line?"

In fact, Cao Yong is not willing to think of ways to earn this money.

It's just that he knows that Kangxi will not let him idle, and two million yuan in two years will be enough.It's just that Cao Yong is busy these days, even as an emperor, it's not easy to order people around.

Therefore, for the proposal of the fourteenth elder brother, Cao Yong responded smoothly.But standing in line, unless he is crazy, how could he stand in line at this time, and stand beside the unlucky fourteenth brother?
Although Cao Yong never dared to underestimate any prince elder brother, he really didn't value the fourteenth elder brother.

The fourteenth elder brother has the arrogance of the prince's elder brother, the bloodiness of a man, and the aggressiveness of a Manchurian, but there is a fatal flaw, that is, self-righteousness.

Now, the crown prince is abolished, the eldest elder brother circles, the eighth elder brother is reprimanded, and the reserve position is vacant.

Both the third elder brother and the fourth elder brother are dormant, but the fourteenth elder brother took advantage of the situation and began to take over the influence of the eighth elder brother.

His eyes are full of confidence, as if the reserve position is his.

So, when he asked Cao Yong if he was still unwilling to stand in line, his eyes seemed to be looking at a fool, which meant: "The Lord gave you a chance, but you didn't catch it, why are you so ignorant?"

He can be self-righteous and dream of being a crown prince, but Cao Yong is not out of his mind, how can he cooperate?

"Fourth Lord, my father's order must not be violated, please be sympathetic to Fourteenth Lord." Cao Yong stood up and bowed.

After a long while, Fang heard Elder Fourteen say: "Forget it, it's up to you, you don't want the great fame brought to you, and don't blame the Lord for not mentioning you in the future..."

*
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(End of this chapter)