Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 653 "Pray for Rain"

Capital City, Hall of Supreme Harmony Square.

On the high altar, there are seven large blue and white vats.Amidst the sound of rites and music, officials from the Ministry of Rites kept chanting lyrics to pray for rain.

Although it was not yet noon, the scorching sun made people's eyes dazzled.

The fourth elder brother was wearing a formal dress and standing on the square, the sweat on his forehead never stopped.Beside him, there were a few princes Baylor scattered.On the other side, where the Jingtang people were supposed to stand, there were quite a few vacancies.

From today, in accordance with the imperial decree, the Rain Prayer hosted by the Ministry of Rites will be held in the square of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Officials in Beijing pray for rain here at four o'clock every day from chen to wei.

In the city, there are already willow branches sweeping the streets, and it is taboo to slaughter animals.

Speaking of which, praying for rain is really nothing new.When there is heavy rain, pray for sunshine; when there is no rain, pray for rain.In ten years, there are nine spring and summer festivals to pray for rain.

The difference is only the size and the length of time.

The days of praying for rain are all selected according to the time given by Qin Tianjian.Under normal circumstances, the rain will be prayed for within three days, so that the people can bathe in the favor of the court.Otherwise, if you can't pray, it will cause panic among the people, and wonder if it is "God's warning" or something, wouldn't it be bad.

Since the beginning of spring this year, there has been little rain, and it is also a year of severe drought, so praying for rain is indispensable.

Not everyone is qualified to pray for rain for the imperial court. Only the six ministers, the cabinet bachelor, and the prince Baylor are on the list.

Although there are many trivial matters in the household department, the fourth elder brother came early according to the stipulated time.

The errands of the household department are the most complicated, so Zhao Shenqiao, the secretary of the household department, did not come in person, only the two servants arrived. It seems that he is in charge of the yamen.

Praying for rain is the emperor's order after all, the fourth elder brother couldn't help frowning as he looked at the vacant places.

Sheng Jia dared to be so negligent when he was not in Beijing, which shows the laziness and rampantness of these court officials.

The fourth elder brother was thinking, when someone behind him said: "Fourth elder brother, here you are."

The fourth elder brother looked back, and saw the fourteenth elder brother and Na Ersu behind him, handing him a brocade bag.

The fourth elder brother looked suspiciously at the brocade bag in the hands of the fourteenth elder brother. The fourteenth elder brother leaned over his head and said with a smile: "It's an ice bag." As he said, he stuffed it into the fourth elder brother's hand.

Even though the brocade is separated, there is a trace of coldness, which makes people feel much more comfortable.

The ice cellar of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is only opened in May every year, and the fourth elder brother is a little curious with an ice pack.Could it be that since Sheng Jia is not in Beijing, the rules of the Ministry of Internal Affairs have changed.

Brother Fourteen raised the corner of his mouth and said, "It's the ice outside. This year's leap month, many people can't stand the heat anymore."

Neersu followed up and said, "Yeah, sooner or later it's okay, but it's too hot to wear big clothes at noon."

Several people were talking when they heard the footsteps of "Tara" and "Tara".Afterwards, some officials were heard to say one after another: "I have seen Jiu Bei, please greet Jiu Bei."

The fourth elder brother turned his head to look, and just walked in through Zhendu's door. It was the ninth elder brother who hadn't seen him for several days.

"Ninth brother, why are you free?" Fourteenth elder brother took two steps forward and said with a smile.

"Why, only you busy people can come here, but the idler can't come?" Brother Jiu shook his folding fan vigorously, his face a little ugly.

"Look at what Brother Nine said, don't you know that Brother Nine is afraid of the heat?" Brother Fourteen was not annoyed, and his expression was quite friendly.

Ninth elder brother glanced at fourth elder brother, and said with a smirk: "My brother greets fourth brother, and if I have something to talk to fourteenth brother, I won't be with you for now."

He has always been eccentric, and the fourth elder brother didn't take it to heart, nodded and said: "Ninth brother, do it yourself."

The fourteenth elder brother saw that the ninth elder brother came to find him, looked at the people praying for rain, hesitated for a moment, and left with the ninth elder brother.

Seeing the fourth elder brother bowing his head to pray for rain, Ne Ersu stood up and began to speak plausibly.But it's one sentence, one sentence, some nonsense, and it's very awkward.

The fourth elder brother listened to a few words, but couldn't take it any longer, turned his head and frowned and said, "What's the meaning of this reading?"

"The Rain Prayer from the Ministry of Rites." Neersu looked at the half-sheet in his hand, and said, "I don't know which adult wrote it this year, but my nephew couldn't resist reading it."

The fourth elder brother stretched out his hand, took the half note from Naersu, scanned it, and shook his head.

Neersu was surprised when he saw it, and asked, "Huh? What's wrong? My nephew got it from Wang Sishi, the servant of the Ministry of Rites this morning."

The fourth elder brother took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it to Na Ersu.

Neersu took it and read it. Although the word is the same word, but because of the different position of the sentence, the reading taste is completely different.

"This official from the Ministry of Rituals is too foolish." Na Ersu muttered, and handed the paper back to the fourth elder brother with both hands.

The fourth elder brother waved his hand and said: "Look, this king has already written it down."

"The nephew thanked the fourth uncle." Nersu bowed to thank him, and the fourth elder brother had already turned around and bowed his head to pray again.

After a long while, the back of the fourth elder brother was already soaked, and a lot of sweat dripped from the stone slab he was standing on.

The brocade bag left by the fourteenth elder brother, the fourth elder brother did not copy it in his hand, but put it at his feet.After being exposed to the hot sun, the ice inside has melted into water, leaving a circle of water stains.

Na Ersu couldn't help but speak, among the rain praying crowd, the fourth elder brother was the most pious.

Recently, I have heard many people complain that because of praying for rain, slaughtering animals and banquets are banned in various prefectures. Everyone feels that life is boring.

Come to think of it, only the fourth elder brother who eats fast and recites Buddha's name every now and then will not find it bothersome to pray for rain and can live his life as usual.

Ninth elder brother has been silent for a long time, why come to find fourteenth elder brother this time?

Na Ersu's eyes fell on the words of praying for rain in his hand, and he whispered in his mouth, his thoughts flew to nowhere...

*
After leaving the Jinshui Bridge, I rode a horse for half a street, but I still didn't see Brother Nine speaking. Brother Fourteen looked back at the imperial city, feeling a little uncomfortable.

Although praying for rain is not a big job, it was ordered by the emperor's father. As a son, he accepted the order obediently, didn't he seem sincere?

If it wasn't for the sake of pleasing the emperor's father, the other princes, Baylor, would not be willing to suffer under the sun.

But after all, he is old enough to stop displaying joy and anger on his face. He smiled and asked, "It's a hot day, brother Jiu doesn't drink herbal tea at the mansion, is he going to take my brother for a walk?"

Brother Nine turned his head and glanced at him, without the slightest smile on his face, he said, "What's the matter, my fourteenth brother is promising, brother, I can't do anything anymore, can I?"

"It doesn't mean that, it's just that the ninth brother didn't come to look for the younger brother today, and the younger brother also wanted to pay his respects to the ninth brother after praying for rain. It's almost the Dragon Boat Festival, and the younger brother still wants to have a tooth-beating sacrifice." The fourteenth elder brother said with a smile: "Brother Jiu knows about the food in the palace. It's mostly for fooling people. Fat duck and chicken look bright and taste greasy. You can still eat it in winter. Who bothers to touch it in summer?"

After hearing this, Brother Jiu showed a bit of complacency on his face, and said: "I dare not say anything else, brother; when it comes to this cook, there is no other mansion in the capital that can compare to our mansion."

The fourteenth elder brother listened and nodded: "Yes, yes, the prince's mansion outside, and the famous restaurant in Sijiu city, my brother has also tasted it a lot, and the food is still the most refreshing in the ninth brother's mansion The last time I ate the boiled fish maw, my brother almost bit off his tongue."

"Others have to afford it if they want to cook it. It is cooked with a hundred live carps, and this dish costs about ten taels of silver." Brother Jiu said.

The fourteenth elder brother listened, and knew in his heart that what the ninth elder brother said was true.

Although it is said that Brother Jiu's title is just a son of Gushan, but he lives more comfortably than ordinary palaces. Without it, it is only because of his rich family.

A few years ago, because of the eighth elder brother, he had to spend a lot of money to buy people's hearts; There is a lot of silver.

Elder Fourteen was a little more excited, and felt much happier in his heart.

It seems that even the heavens are appreciating, when a few clouds drifted over and covered the sun.The fourteenth elder brother raised his head, glanced at the sky, and said to the ninth elder brother: "Ninth elder brother, it looks like it's going to rain. We have to move a few steps faster, or we will be drowned."

"Go to Kuixu Mansion." Brother Jiu said, shook the reins of the horse, said "drive" in his mouth, and accelerated the speed.

"Kui Xu?" Elder Fourteen had already stopped laughing, hesitated for a while, and rode his horse to keep up.

"Ninth brother... are you going to 'visit a doctor'?" Fourteenth brother asked unwillingly: "Is it convenient to go at this time? Ninth brother has a high status, so don't be 'sick' again?"

Brother Jiu smiled triumphantly, and said: "In this world, there are always many people who fall into trouble, and few who give charcoal in the snow. I am a kind-hearted person, and Kui Xu is always loyal to mynah. If you are not ill, I will go and see him , can Huang Ama eat me?"

Ninth elder brother said it decently, but fourteenth elder brother didn't believe a word.

It's too early to be without profit. Brother Jiu has never talked about anything other than money in these years.

Kuixu is the second son of Mingzhu, but Mingzhu has been prominent for decades. He cannot be said to be rich like an enemy, but he is also one of the richest households in Beijing.

Elder Fourteen thought of this and laughed too.

It seems that if I want that seat, I really can't do without Brother Jiu, the "living God of Wealth"...

*
Cao Mansion, East Courtyard, Inner House.

Aunt Baodie and Fei Cui shared a courtyard, with three rooms on the upper side, rooms on the east and west, and a hall in the middle.During the day, Wu'er followed the fourth sister to learn the rules in Zhaojia's house, and lived here at night, and was raised by Fei Cui.

Fei Cui has no children, and the five children have lost their biological mothers and fathers. They are all poor people.Wu'er is well-behaved, Fei Cui has a gentle and generous temper, and the mother and daughter are very affectionate.

The wing rooms on both sides are the maid's residence and warehouse.

Seeing that Cao Xiang came back before school was over, and it was difficult to get to the yard here, Fei Cui knew that he had appointed a treasure hunting butterfly.

After seeing each other twice, she found an excuse and avoided going out, leaving Baodie mother and son talking in the upper room.

Seeing that his son was sweating on his forehead, Baodie felt distressed, threw a towel with cold water, wiped his sweat, and said, "Why did you come back at noon, school is on vacation?"

"Auntie, my son has something to discuss with you." Cao Xiang has already completed the delivery procedures at the Ministry of Officials in the morning, and will leave Beijing to take up his post in half a month.

How easy is it to convince Cao Shuo?
Cao Xiang was so anxious that his mouth was filled with nonsense. He originally thought of it simply, but he didn't expect that the status of superiority and inferiority was the biggest obstacle.Liangjian doesn't marry, as long as Luju doesn't leave his citizenship, he can't marry her.

Even if Lu Ju got rid of her slave status, she still needs to be registered as a flag citizen before the two can formally marry. "Banners do not intermarry", this is the iron law.

It is easy to take a Han concubine, no one asks, up to the prince Baylor, down to the ordinary banner family, there are all; .

Cao Xiang really had no choice, so he thought about discussing it with his biological mother.

"I'm a woman, what ideas can I have? If Xiang'er is in trouble, you should tell the second master." Baodie shook her head and said.

"Auntie, my son wants to discuss it with my auntie." Cao Xiang bowed his head and said, "Second Brother, my son also talked about it. It's just that Second Brother... doesn't quite agree with my son's actions..."

After Baodie heard this, she couldn't help worrying. She took her son's arm and asked, "What is it that the second master forbade? The second master is kind-hearted and treats you well. If you want to do something, the second master didn't stop you." What's the matter? Don't scare your aunt. Is there someone who doesn't know what to do and dragged you out to fool around, or is there something that made the second master angry? Let's calm down and make a fuss in front of the wife. Your good fruit to eat?"

Seeing his biological mother's trembling look, Cao Xiang sighed inwardly, took out a piece of official document from his sleeve, and handed it to Baodie.

Baodie learned accounting from Fei Cui, and the number of words she knows is limited. Looking at the official document, she was puzzled: "What is this?"

"Auntie, my son is going to be let go of his post. After the Dragon Boat Festival, he will go to Henan Mansion as a trainer." Cao Xiang replied.

Baodie was stunned when she heard the words, and she came to her senses after a while, stuttering her mouth, she was already unable to say anything: "Teaching...shouting...do you want to be a teacher? How old are you, and you are still a student, where can you teach me?" other people."

"Auntie, you are an official, not a gentleman. You are an assistant official in the magistrate's yamen, and you mainly deal with local scholars. You are free and at ease." Cao Xiang said.

To be honest, it was his luck that the magistrate couldn't go to the county in the end, and it was his luck to make up for the lack of discipline.

For other people, they may feel that the county magistrate is fat and weak. After all, one parent does not need to be controlled by others, and it is convenient to scrape the land; but for Cao Xiang, it is also a test.

At his age, it's really too childish.If there is any mistake, it is necessary to blame the relationship.This is the relationship between Cao Song knowing that his younger brother Tiexin was about to be released, so he cheekily went to a few uncles to find someone to leave.

Thinking of this, Cao Xiang felt a little more grateful to his brother.

It's just that as a man, he must be loyal. If he abandons Luju because of difficulties, Cao Xiang will never look down on himself again.

Only then did Baodie understand Wei'er, she couldn't sit still anymore, she stood up, looked her son up and down, tears came out: "Xiang'er is going to be an official? He is finally an adult, and the master will be happy in the ground." Said After finishing, he took his son's arm and entered the back room.

She took out the key, opened the cabinet, and took out a box from it.

The box was also locked, so she opened it again with the key and pushed it to Cao Xiang.

Inside is a lattice, containing gold rings, gold bracelets, silver hairpins, silver chains, and some ingots and broken silver.

"These..." Cao Xiang looked at it and knew that it was his biological mother's private money.Thinking about the girls around the wife, all wearing gold and silver, but the biological mother doesn't even have a few decent jewelry, this is the hardship of being a concubine.

Thinking of this, Cao Xiang's chest was congested, and his eyes were a little sour.

Baodie picked up a pair of thin twisted gold bracelets from inside, smiled and said to Cao Xiang: "This is what the master gave me back then, and I kept it for Xiang'er's daughter-in-law. You can take out the rest and exchange them for silver. Save favors for some use. I remember that when the old man was sent out to be an official, the old man also found several masters and long-term companions. It is also necessary. You are no better than the old man, and you should learn to make money yourself. Don’t feel bad for money. "At the end, I couldn't stop laughing, wiped my eyes with a handkerchief, and said: "It's just, just... this daughter-in-law is not married, so she just left Beijing like this, and there is no one around who knows the cold and the hot."

Speaking of this, she remembered something, and said to Cao Xiang: "I think Ding Xiang is good, and she acts prudently..."

"Auntie, what are you talking about..." Cao Xiang said, "What kind of daughter-in-law does Auntie want in her heart?"

"It's up to my wife to decide where I can get in the way." Baodie sighed and said, "I don't want to do anything else, I just hope to have a submissive personality. Although you don't usually get angry, you have something in your heart." What's the point, if you marry someone with a hot temper, how will you live in the future?"

"Family background? What about family status? Has Auntie thought about it?" Cao Xiang asked tentatively.

Bao Die gave her son a doting look, and joked: "Could it be that you have a crush on a lady from a grown-up family and want to climb high?"

"Auntie, son, tell the truth. If my son sees a girl from an ordinary family, who is not a daughter of everyone, will Auntie be disappointed?" Cao Xiang looked at Baodie, his heart already in his throat.

In this world, besides Luju, there is another woman that he cannot betray, and that is the biological mother in front of him.

Baodie said with a smile: "A girl from an ordinary family is good, she has no airs. If she came from a high-ranking family, she probably wouldn't even look at me as an aunt." Speaking of this, she lowered her voice and said: "Madam's temperament is not It's easy to get along with, even if there are really wealthy people and the fifth child is there, how can it be Xiang'er's turn. We can't compete with them, so we won't fight with them. It's just that if the daughter-in-law's family background is ordinary, the dowry is limited, and she will be in the mansion in the future , between the wife and the sisters-in-law, it’s a bit difficult.”

Seeing that his biological mother did not have the intention to gain power, Cao Xiang heaved a sigh of relief, and said, "Auntie, my son has a sweetheart..."

*
Rehe, Chunwang Mansion Garden, West Courtyard.

Cao Yong fed Chuyu some medicine, and seeing that the weather was fine, he asked people to boil hot water and wipe Chuyu's body.

Because he was afraid of bumping into Chu Yu's body, he was careful and careful, and spent more than half an hour.After Chuyu wiped it clean and changed his clothes, Cao Yong's forehead was already dripping with sweat.

Then I heard Xicai report in the corridor: "My son-in-law, there is a visitor in the front yard, and he is said to be the little prince from Fu Guogong's mansion, and he is waiting in the front hall."

While helping Chuyu to lie down, Cao Yong said in a low voice, "Take a rest first, I'll go to the front yard and have a look."

Chu Yu said: "I'm fine. After seeing the guests, I'll go to another courtyard to accompany my wife. The master hasn't arrived yet, and my wife doesn't even have anyone to talk to. It's boring to be alone."

Cao Yong nodded: "Yes, I got it. You can send someone to tell your father-in-law in a while, and I will go back to the mansion over there after seeing the guests, and come back after dinner with my wife..."

*
Continue to code words, have a good weekend everyone. . .

I recommend a new history book, the new book "Top Grade Poor Scholar", ISBN: 1368297, which writes about the elegant era and artistic life with clean words.

(End of this chapter)