Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 663 Settle the Storm and Struggle for Innovation

The capital, the government office.

Cao Yi looked at Cao Song and Cao Xiang brothers, with a hint of worry on his face, and said: "It's too much fun, how old is the fourth child? It's the age when you should study hard. The children of other families are still in the middle of the exam. There are fewer Scholars? Even if it is the first time in the future, they are only good. If you are lucky, it will be the face of our Cao family; even if you don’t, what’s the point of taking one subject and two subjects?”

Speaking of this, she paused and said: "Even if you want to become an official, you can go to school for another two years and make up a pen and post in the ministry. With the care of the master and elder brother, it will be more reassuring than now."

Cao Xiang also knew that what his sister said was reasonable, but he had other concerns in his heart, so he had to do it as a last resort.

Cao Song said with a smile: "Third sister, don't talk about him. The younger brother will scold him if he should be scolded. Whoever told this kid to be straight, he has been thinking about it for a day or two. The younger brother has already written to the uncle and the elder brother. Letter, to report this matter. My cousin recommended a master, who is honest and prudent, and I can help you in the future."

Cao Yi nodded when he heard the words, and asked: "When will you leave, and have you selected all the people who will go with you? The distance is not close, the distance from home is too far, and it takes three years to go. We have to choose a few loyal ones."

"We have decided to leave on the sixth day of the lunar new year. The Sifang family, two servants, and two maids are all chosen honestly and dutifully." Cao Song said.

Only then did Cao Yi feel relieved, and said, "I just went to the place of the eldest sister and the second sister? What orders do the sisters have?"

Cao Song replied: "Third sister still doesn't know about Eldest Sister's temperament. What can she say is just being cautious; Sister Fujin was a little surprised, saying that she still expected the fourth son of our family to come to Jinshi and rank, but she gave up. What a pity."

Cao Yi heard this, hesitated for a moment, and asked Cao Xiang: "Fourth brother, are you short of money to send me? Are you so eager to go out to work as an errand because you want to support your family as soon as possible?"

The supervising students of the Guozijian are assessed according to their performance every month, and they get one to two taels of silver every month.In a few months, after his 16th birthday, Cao Xiang will be able to receive silver rice even if he is a member of the Eight Banners.

"Third sister, my younger brother wants to become an official sooner. No matter how many books he reads, he still has to be an official. Go out earlier to practice, so that he can be successful soon." Cao Xiang raised his head and said.

Even if you want to become an official, there is no reason to leave Beijing.

Thinking of Zhaojia's temperament, Cao Yi sighed inwardly, knowing how difficult this younger brother was.

"It's getting late today, so my sister won't keep you. Go back and tell the second wife that on the day of the holiday, I'll take time to go back. It's a farewell for my fourth brother." Cao Yi said.

Cao Song agreed, and said with a smile: "It's best for the third sister to come back, and I can drink a glass of wedding wine for the fourth sister."

Cao Yi smiled and said: "The marriage is settled? I remember a few days ago, there was a girl from the imperial historian's family who used it to combine the horoscope. How about it? Is it their family?"

Cao Song shook his head and said: "It is said that the horoscope is not compatible, and the marriage has not yet been decided. The fourth child is out, and there is no one to look after him. I begged my wife to give the green chrysanthemum to the fourth brother. I chose the fourth day for the wedding."

Cao Yi couldn't help frowning when he heard this, and said, "I'm confused! Whose family's rule is that grandma doesn't come in, and the girl wants to have a wedding? Yulong waited on her for four or five years, and after waiting for Jinghui to come in, she gave her a name. , that's the truth."

Cao Song was embarrassed by the words, and said: "Third sister, at this time and at that time, isn't fourth brother going to travel far away?"

"Fourth brother doesn't have a girl of his own size? I see that Lilac and Fuling are both good, and they are all stable people. Why do you still beg for the second wife's girl?" Cao Yi looked at Cao Song and said, "Second brother, you A man, if he doesn't work well outside, how can he worry about the affairs of the house?"

In fact, in her heart, she was suspicious of Zhao Jiashi.

People in this banner say that they are close, although it is also a horoscope, but it is just a formality.Even the hanging stall said a lot of good things.Occasionally, there are people who are really good at horoscopes, and fortune tellers will also tell you how to remedy them.

For example, change the direction of the head of the bed, add a bottle or something in the room, it is considered a broken taboo.

When Cao Xiang saw his elder brother being spoken to, he raised his head and said, "Third sister, don't do anything about the second brother. It's because the younger brother likes green chrysanthemums, and the second brother wants to fulfill me."

Regarding the matter of the Cao family's second wife, Cao Yi has always been too lazy to intervene.It's just that Cao Yin and his son are not in Beijing now, and Cao Song is a fool with no intentions, so she is really worried.

She thought about it for a while, and said to Cao Song: "I know you love your brother, but there is no such thing as a pain. It is against the rules to take a concubine first without marrying a wife, let alone a banquet. There is no room for this. How can wives and concubines live in harmony when newcomers enter the house? It's better to open your face quietly and forget about it."

"Third sister..." Cao Xiang was listening, and couldn't help feeling a little anxious.

Cao Yi glared at him, and said: "Opening eyes for a girl, this is your future? This is not hurting others, it is harming her. This time, my brother will act on your behalf. If troubles arise in the future, you will crying."

When Cao Song saw his sister talking like this, he thought of his wife's face when she heard about it. After realizing it, he said: "Sister San, isn't it just two tables of wine, it's just lively, how can there be such a big scene?" relationship?"

Cao Yi sneered and said, "It's nothing to do? You haven't said anything about your relationship. It's not a big deal to have someone in the house. The men in other mansions are also like this. What's the purpose of taking a concubine with such a big fanfare? Is it to declare that the concubine is favored? Who is a fool? Are you willing to find a uncle who spoils his concubine and destroys his wife, and tell him your daughter? But anyone who has a relationship, if they find out the details, they will say that the fourth child is not compatible."

Cao Song didn't think of this before, only now did he understand Wei'er, nodded again and again, and said: "It's still the third sister who made it clear, it is indeed the truth..."

Cao Xiang knew that Cao Yi had good intentions, but he was still a little worried when he thought of Luju's grievance.

After leaving the Duke's mansion, Cao Xiang said, "Second Brother..."

Cao Song glanced at him and said: "I'd better listen to the third sister, can the third sister harm you? Since you two like each other, don't care about these nonsense. I'll ask your sister-in-law to add some more clothes and jewelry for Luju. It’s not bad to get benefits, but also less right and wrong.”

Speaking of this, he put on a straight face and said to Cao Xiang: "You must remember, fourth child, that you are not alone. You want to do whatever you want and do whatever you want. Staying in this house makes people feel suffocated. Who doesn't suffer like this? Come here? Speaking of which, my brother also has ignorance at times, so he has no face to teach you and let you mess around. Look at what kind of life your eldest brother lives. He worked as a errand when he was a teenager. How has he ever been self-professional? If not For the sake of uncle and elder brother, how many low-ranking yin students in the Imperial College, who has no status, can this seven-rank real deficiency fall on you?"

After talking about it, Cao Song was a little excited: "Since you have the honor of the family, don't say those willful words, or else you are an irresponsible and ungrateful bastard, not my brother!"

Cao Xiang blushed from being scolded, and said in a low voice, "Second Brother, I know I was wrong..."

*
Cao's house, Dongfu, upper house in the inner courtyard.

It will be the fourth day in a few days, and today Luju is going back to her uncle's house to be married.Nanny Zhang came to pick up her granddaughter, and Lu Ju had already packed her bags and was going to go with her grandmother.

Mrs. Zhao Jia didn't know that Lu Ju had an affair with the concubine, so she felt wronged in her heart, took her hand, and said: "Your parents have served me for a few years, and they wanted to marry you It was left to your third master, and I did not hide this from you. After your third master is gone, I also thought about your way out, but I was afraid that it would be difficult to find someone else, and I would send someone to the yamen to get you out of citizenship."

Luju couldn't help being ashamed of what she said, and said with red eyes: "My wife loves my servant, and this servant knows it all. I am very grateful to my wife..."

Zhao Jia rubbed her hand, looked at her appearance, sighed, and said: "This appearance, this character, is also qualified to be a grandmother for others. There is really no way, your second master loves my brother, and I will tell you again and again." Yang Mo. If I keep gritting my teeth and refuse to obey, outsiders will only think that I don’t love the bastard, and they will point at my spine and call me unvirtuous.”

"It's a servant's blessing to be with Fourth Master..." In this sentence, Lu Ju spoke the truth.

Although I finally became a concubine, there were no twists and turns, and it was so smooth, which was something I didn't even dare to think about before.

"Good boy, who else can I trust? Although he was not born to me, he is also my son. I am thinking about it when I go out to work at this age. You are a decent person. With you to take care of me, I can still trust you." Then worry less." Zhao Jia continued.

Nanny Zhang was not satisfied with the granddaughter's marriage, but after all, she became an aunt, and she was considered to be flying on the branch, so she didn't say any more.

However, there was a deficiency in her heart. After hearing Zhao Jia's words, she followed up and said, "Speaking of it, the wife is really kind. In other families, how can there be a aunt who can be as good as the wife?"

Mrs. Zhao Jia listened with a smile, asked Hongmei to fetch the jewelry box, took out a pair of gold inlaid jade bracelets from it, put them on for Lvju herself, and said: "I don't want you to serve me for a few years, this is my For your dowry. Speaking of which, it is better to give to your fourth master than to others, and I am still thinking about you coming back from other places with your fourth master to light cigarettes for me..."

After saying a few words, Mrs. Zhao Jia asked Hongmei to take two bolts of clothing material, added two slings of money, and said to Mammy Zhang: "It's the festival, Mama, let's add some clothes."

Nanny Zhang couldn't help thanking her gratefully, and asked Luju to kowtow to Mrs. Zhao Jia before she took the stuff and took her granddaughter home.

Thinking that the purple orchid and green chrysanthemums she was used to had all gone, Zhao Jia felt a little bit reluctant to give up, and groped for the pipe and pot without making a sound.

Seeing that Green Chrysanthemum was going to become an aunt in a few days, Hongmei was already very jealous, thinking that she must flatter her wife so that she would have a good home in the future.

Therefore, when she saw Mrs. Zhao Jia holding a cigarette pouch, she joked, "Madam, do you want some cigarettes? Is this servant going to light some cigarettes for you?"

Mrs. Zhao Jia shook his head boredly, and said: "It's hot, I'm impatient to eat. I have a cup of herbal tea. Is there anything new in the mansion? It's really hard work every day. When there is a shortage of green chrysanthemums, tomorrow Pick someone to make up for it."

Hearing this, Hongmei poured a cup of herbal tea and delivered it to Mrs. Zhao Jia. After hesitating for a moment, she said, "Madam, I have heard people say that Aunt Bao is not sick, but that she is dissatisfied with the marriage that Madam mentioned."

"Oh? Is there such a thing?" Zhao Jia raised his eyebrows when he heard this.

Hongmei said: "Perhaps the servant listened to the left. Looking at the meaning, it is because Sister Luju is the wife's beloved and the granddaughter of Madam Zhang. Aunt Bao is afraid that the new aunt will be disobedient."

After hearing this, Zhao Jia spat on the ground, and said with a sneer, "What kind of thing is she? It's her turn to pick and choose? She herself is just a girl bought for a few taels of money. , gave birth to a son, and became domineering. Pooh, I don’t take pictures of myself, I really take my size as a thing..."

*
In Baodie's room, Fei Cui was sitting by the bed, holding a medicine bowl, and persuaded: "It's better to take it easy, Fourth Master will leave Beijing in a few days, so you have the heart to let the child worry about it?"

"Sister, I'm panicked, I feel uncomfortable..." Baodie took Fei Cui's hand, and cried, "Madam has four sons, the fifth son is still young, and the others are not married first." A concubine? Even if you have a roommate, you haven't crossed Ming Road. In order to prevent this, the family law has been changed. Why didn't the jade spider disappear? Although the fourth master didn't come out of her stomach, I still call her' Mother', will you earn a royal title for her in the future, won't you?"

"Sister thinks too much, isn't this the second master who loves brother and begs for it?" Fei Cui put down the medicine bowl and persuaded.

Baodie wiped her tears with a handkerchief, with a bit of unhappiness on her face, she said: "What are you thinking about? Aren't you afraid that the fourth master's marriage will pass over the fifth master? Because the fourth master is very knowledgeable, and he is in the Imperial College. It’s not that there are no people who come to ask questions. As long as the family background is good and the girl is good, the wife will find a reason to push it away. The rest, either recruit a son-in-law, or leave an old girl in the family. Why? My sister can’t understand?”

Although I don't know what Zhao Jia's heart is thinking, but what Baodie said is also true.

After hearing this, Fei Cui could only sigh, and said: "No matter what the fourth master says, it's better if he is a son; but fifth girl, if the wife decides everything, I don't know what will happen in the future."

"What's the result? Climb high branches." Baodie said: "Hey, Ma'am, what if we get annoyed? I'm on the side of Fourth Master Qi, I don't know who really loves him, and it's kind of me to just treat him as my wife , happily waiting to take a concubine. The girl Luju is full of heart and eyes, and she is the most suitable for the wife. In the future, relying on the wife's influence, I don't know what tricks I will make."

"Looking at the green chrysanthemum is not bad, my sister wants to open some." Fei Cui said.

"If you're a decent person, can you be like the men? It's in the wife's room, not around the men..." Bao Die had a prejudice in her heart, and she still didn't like Luju.

While the two were talking, a little maid came in and told, "Auntie, Fourth Master is here."

Hearing that Fei Cui had already got up, Bao Die said: "Please come in, Fourth Master."

Cao Xiang entered the house and greeted his biological mother and Fei Cui.Seeing that he had something to say, Fei Cui found an excuse and avoided going out.

Cao Xiang sat by the bed, looked at the empty bowl by the bed, then at Baodie, and said, "Auntie, are you feeling better?"

Baodie remembered what Fei Cui had said before, and she couldn't bear to make her son worry too much, so she nodded and said, "All the aunts have gone to the house, how are the aunts?"

"It's all good. Eldest sister and elder sister Fujin both gave me something. The third elder sister said that she will be back for the Dragon Boat Festival, so she will give her son a farewell party." Cao Xiang replied.

"Grandma Sangu..." Baodie was quite touched when she heard this.Because of the separation of the two families in the past few years, except for weddings and funerals, Cao Yi seldom returns home.

Even if there is occasional time to return to Ning, they mostly go to the West Mansion, because of this, the Zhaojia family complains a lot in private.

"The third elder sister told my elder brother that they would not let the banquet be held on the fourth day..." Cao Xiang said, "It is said that they are afraid that it will spread and delay the son's marriage..."

When Baodie heard this, she couldn't help crying, and said "Amitabha" in her mouth, and said: "Third Miss is the one who really loves you. You don't believe me because I have worn out my lips; this time there is someone who understands..."

Seeing his biological mother like this, Cao Xiang was quite moved in his heart, and said in a low voice, "Don't worry about your son, Auntie, it's better to take care of your body as soon as possible, and go out of Beijing with your son."

After hearing this, Baodie shook her head and said, "I won't go, I have to stay in this mansion."

Cao Xiang asked puzzledly: "Auntie, why is this? Auntie has established rules in front of his wife all these years, so she doesn't want to go out and relax? My son also wants to be filial to Auntie and eat at the same table with Auntie."

Bao Die showed a look of relief on his face, and said: "The old man and the old man are not in the capital now, if our mother and I leave in such an unreasonable manner, who would know what the wife will say in the future? The wife loves money the most , I'm afraid we all go away, and no one will share the family property with the second master and the others."

"And the second brother, how could this be?" Cao Xiang said.

Baodie shook her head and said: "Even though the second master is humane, they are the real mother and son after all. How can they disobey the wife for you? Anyway, I won't leave. I will stay here and wait for my son to come back. "

Cao Xiang is already in a state of confusion, what are you plotting against me and I plotting against you in this family?
*
Rehe, Cao's other courtyard.

A rare vacation, Cao Yong also began to sleep late.Cao Yin on the left and right is busy with errands, and goes to the palace every day before dawn; on Li's side, he feels sorry for his son before it's too late, so how can he let him do this in the morning and evening.

Cao Yong's little life was very comfortable.

The only regret is that Baoya has to go back to Horqin.

She originally wanted to stay longer, waiting to see if her brother and sister-in-law would come when shifts changed in June or July, but she didn't want a letter from the palace saying that the eldest son of the palace and Alslen's half-brother were seriously ill.The side concubine was worried about her son, so she also fell ill, and no one took care of the palace.

Even if it is a decoration, it is still a serious county princess, and Baoya has the responsibility she needs to bear.She couldn't bear Tianhui the most, so she specifically told Cao Yong and his wife to take Tianhui to live with her for a few days.

Early this morning, Cao Yong hadn't gotten up yet, when he heard someone tell from the corridor that Brother Sixteen had come and was waiting in the front hall.

Cao Yong got the news, got up to wash and wash, and when he came to the living room, Elder Sixteen had already sat down to drink tea.

Cao Yong took out his pocket watch, looked at it, sat down and said: "It's not yet the beginning of the morning (seven o'clock in the morning), the sixteenth master wants to ask me for something?"

Brother Sixteen nodded and said, "Well, I came here at the order of Huang Ama."

After hearing this, Cao Yong got up and prepared to receive the order.

Elder Sixteen smiled and said, "It's not for you, I just asked me to come over and take back a share of your family's black pastry."

"Black pastry?" Cao Yong couldn't help but wondered after hearing this, and said, "What black pastry? I did it for God Bless and the others the day before yesterday. That's it?" At the end, he couldn't help but widen his eyes.

Could it be that there is a palace eyeliner in the mansion, or else Kangxi knows how to eat and what to eat?
"Perhaps it is. A censor impeached my uncle, saying that he was dishonest and extravagant when the emperor issued an order to pray for rain." Brother Sixteen said with a smile: "Do you think they are panicking? It's funny, isn't it? I really want to see what this 'extravagant' black pastry of yours looks like. Huang Ama is also curious, so I asked my master to come and pick it up."

When Cao Yong heard this, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and said: "I have to ask the kitchen for this. After all, it was made by the previous son. I don't know if there is any more."

While speaking, Cao Yong called a young man and sent him to the kitchen to have a look. If there is any, please pack a portion in a food box.

"There is not enough rain in the capital, and Huang Ama is annoyed. Song Zhu just broke out in the morning, and ordered him to tell all the officials in the capital that no banquets will be allowed during the Dragon Boat Festival." Elder Sixteen crossed his legs and said, "Someone saw it. I wanted to invite my name, so my uncle was involved."

For the imperial court's supervisory office, Cao Yong was really speechless.

From the imperial court to the local government, there have never been fewer corrupt officials, and there are not many censors who dare to be "righteous".All day long, I was just looking for irrelevant reasons, impeaching this, impeaching that.

Not only will he not offend people to death, but he can also invite someone who is not afraid of the powerful.You can't be as knowledgeable as they are, otherwise they will become more energetic and look more lonely.

Although the Rehe Palace has been repaired, the deficit at the lumber yard is not 1 to [-].Those are the accounts before the repairs, Cao Yong is not afraid of checking, wishing someone would reveal it and settle it.

There were a lot of rumors, but no censor dared to accept this.

The House of Internal Affairs is the imperial yamen, and the upper and lower are the emperor's servants. Those of them who are censors, let alone "upright and upright", it is good if they don't flirt.

Speaking of the virtues of these people, Cao Yong was shabby for them.

Brother Sixteen asked about the reason for the black pastry, and Cao Yong talked about the training, and Brother Sixteen "hehe" was very happy.

After a while, the boy came back with the food box.

The day before yesterday, I steamed several large pots of steamed corn bread, although I gave it to various places, but there were still few people who ate it, and most of them were withdrawn to the kitchen.

Cao Yong opened the lid of the food box and smelled it. Luckily, Rehe was cool in the morning and evening, and the cornbread was made of dead noodles, and it was not broken. If it was in the capital, at this time, if the overnight food was not kept in well water, it would not be edible. up.

Brother Sixteen leaned forward and stretched his neck to look.

The kitchen side is quite smart, I heard that it is called Wotou, so I served it with pickled vegetable sticks.

Brother Sixteen looked at the dark thing, and said, "It's no wonder why you came up with it. Using this method to cure picky eaters is not afraid of spoiling the child."

Cao Yong said with a smile: "I bought it from a miscellaneous grain store outside. The rations of the poor are not poisoned by arsenic. What are you afraid of? Master Sixteen has never eaten it. Would you like to have a couple of bites? Just eat it with pickled vegetables. It tastes good."

Elder Sixteen heard this, waved his hands quickly, and said, "I still have to go back and return to my life, so it's better to avoid it..."

*
Ps: The last chapter is wrong and cannot be modified, this chapter is empty.

After the second change, continue to code the third change, there are still four and a half hours, please order the monthly pass, it is not good to waste, thank you. . .

(End of this chapter)