Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 678 Guest Arrivals

"Eunuch escaped from prison?" Cao Yong heard the shocking news as soon as he arrived at the Yamen.

The most indispensable thing in the Forbidden City is eunuchs.If there are bad behaviors and unruly behaviors, most of them will be reported by the chief eunuch and handed over to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The point is, the eunuch this time is the eunuch of the second elder brother.

Although the second elder brother has been deposed for several years, every time he is related to him, it will cause disturbances inside and outside the palace.

Looking at Dong Dianbang with a worried face, Cao Yong calmed down and said: "Since Prince Jian sent someone to guard him, what does the prince say?"

"I heard that a paper has been submitted to Rehe, waiting for the holy judge." Dong Dianbang said.

Cao Yong nodded, but relieved.

If Sheng Jia is in the capital, and something happens in the palace, it will be handled by the Ministry of Internal Affairs; if Sheng Jia is not in Beijing, the affairs of the imperial city will be taken over by the Clan Mansion, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs will have nothing to say.

While the two were talking, a guard from Prince Jian's Mansion came over to spread the word that Prince Jian invited Cao Yong to discuss matters at the Yamen of the Zongren Mansion.

The Zongren Mansion is in Dongjiang Mi Lane, not far from the Forbidden City. After leaving the Donghua Gate, you will arrive there in a short ride.

Although it was extremely hot outside, there were several large ice basins in the inner hall of the House of Internal Affairs, which blew a little bit of cool air, which made the room full of heat disappear.

On the desk, there is a big bird cage, and a half-foot-long big bird stands on the shelf inside.Black feathers, orange mouth, looks very energetic.

Yaerjiang held a white jade bowl in his hand, which contained watermelon cut into small pieces.He inserted pieces of watermelon with a toothpick and fed them to the birds in the cage.

Seeing Cao Yong coming, Yaerjiang put down the jade bowl in his hand, and greeted with a smile: "It's been a few days since I've been back to Beijing, and I don't invite you, and you don't come here. It's not easy for me to see you."

Looking at this relaxed energy, he didn't take the change in the second elder brother's enclosure to heart at all.In the entire capital, Yaerjiang is the only prince who can live such an arrogant life.

Nowadays, it is rumored in the capital that Yaerjiang'a has changed his interest and raised a stunning woman as his concubine, who is extremely favored.For birthdays in June, people from various palaces gave generous gifts.

In the past few months, Yaerjiang also stayed in the outer house more often, which made the Fujin at the palace become a decoration.

There are clan women who are afraid of chaos in the world, so they often gossip at Prince Jian's mansion, instigate Prince Jian Fujin to clean up the "fox charmers" outside.

On Wanyan Yongjia's side, he was still listening at first, but later he got tired of listening, so he "sick" and thanked the guests.

Those who wanted to curry favor with Yaerjiang sent gifts to the outer house, which really made Yaerjiang treat him differently and arranged a good job for him.

In this way, everyone knows that this woman who even Prince Jane Fujin avoids the limelight is really Yaerjiang Ah's heart.

In the exchange of favors, in addition to one copy to Prince Jian's mansion, a copy is also given to the outer house.

Only Cao Yong knows the inside story, and knows that that is not a woman, but a genuine man.

"I've seen the lord in a lowly position, and greet the lord." Rao Yaerjiang looked at Wen Xu, and Cao Yong also performed the meeting ceremony in a well-mannered manner.

Yaerjiang waved his hand, called Cao Yong to get up, pointed to the bird in the cage, and asked with a smile: "Come on, how about this new bird that the king got?"

Before he finished speaking, he heard the bird in the cage say: "My lord is auspicious, my lord is auspicious."

The movement of speaking is different from the common parrots and thrushes, just like the movement of people.

Yaerjiang'a became more and more proud, and reached out to sign a piece of watermelon to feed the birds.

"Mynah?" Cao Yong looked up, quite surprised.

Although hundreds of years later, this is a common songbird in the hands of old men in the streets and alleys of Beijing, but it was the first time he saw it in the years of the Kangxi Dynasty.

"Mynah?" Yaerjiang glanced at Cao Yong, and said, "I haven't heard of you playing this? What's the matter, do you know this bird? This is a Hainan starling. I sent people to go to Hainan to buy it in exchange. There is only one pair in the entire capital, the male one is at this king's place, and the female one is at Prince Zhuang's mansion. Why didn't this king hear that it is called Mynah, what is the allusion?"

Cao Yong has lived two lifetimes and has never played with birds, so he really doesn't know the origin of this mynah's name.

"I saw it once when I was a child, and I heard people mention it. It seems to be called this name. I guess it has a bright voice, so it is called this name." Yaerjiang A was still watching, so Cao Yong had no choice but to say it casually.

"Mynah, mynah from Hainan..." Yaerjiang Ah muttered, nodded, and said, "It's a bit of a meaning, the name is appropriate, it's called mynah."

While talking, someone had already brought tea, Yaerjiang pointed to the chair beside him and told Cao Yong to sit down.

"I heard that the business in Daoxiang Village is good. Cao Yong has good eyesight. You hired such a capable female shopkeeper." Yaerjiang said, taking a sip of the tea.

Hearing that it was a private matter, not a business one, Cao Yong was quite surprised.

"Thanks to the blessing of the lord, Daoxiang Village's business has been booming in the past few months because of the rice dumpling presented by the third elder brother. Chu Yu has been talking about it for a long time, and wants to thank the lord for a good life. But for a while, there is no chance to be filial. , it will be delayed until today." Cao Yong thought for a while, leaned over and replied.

Yaerjiang shook his head and said with a smile: "It's just to make Zimo happy, not to sell you two, you don't have to worry about it." Speaking of this, he paused, and said: "I invite you to come here today. I have something to ask of you."

"If the lord has anything to make you go to a humble position, you can just order it directly. But within the scope of the humble position, you will go all out." Cao Yong replied.

Yaerjiang nodded, got up and took a booklet from the desk, and handed it to Cao Yong.

"This is..." Cao Yong took it with both hands, and wrote (see) it "Account of the principal and interest of the Eight Banners borrowed by the Zongren Mansion".

This is not a yamen, Cao Yong really did not understand the intention of Yaerjiang A handing this to himself.

"Look at it first, and see what you can see." Yaerjiang pointed to the account book and said to Cao Yong.

Cao Yong opened the account book and scanned it again. This is a usury account.The principal was less than 8000 taels, and the interest on the loan was nearly [-] taels within a few years, and the total principal and interest was more than [-] taels.

No wonder people with spare money in the capital lend out more of their money, which is very profitable and makes a lot of money.

"Did you see anything?" Seeing that Cao Yong had turned to the last page, Yaerjiang asked.

"Here, the interest is a bit heavier." Cao Yong closed the account, not knowing what Yaerjiang wanted to hear, so he said casually.

"After all, I have stayed in the Ministry of Households, and I can understand the accounts. This is the crux." Yaerjiang stood up and said: "Most of the money put down by this family is for idle clans, who have no money at all. People. The monthly interest is four cents, which is one cent less than outsiders, but the annual interest rate is a huge sum. The clan family has limited money and food every year. It is difficult to catch up, so the loan is just for emergency. Afterwards, apart from pawning the house and selling the land, few families can afford it. Most of the money in this account is a false account, and the money in the clan's treasury has long been empty."

At the end, Yaerjiang was already shaking his head.

In Cao Yong's mind, there was a lot of money in his own treasury.If Yarjan Ah mentions it in private, it's okay, you have to use the silver.What is the reason for this to be based on the accounts of the clan mansion?You can't just look at Daoxiang Village to make money and want to take it into public ownership, right?
Yaerjiang's face has already added seriousness, looked at Cao Yong, and said: "Cao Yong, you are also a relative of the emperor. If there is something going on in the clan's mansion, you can't just sit by and watch. With the grace of the emperor, ask about the white wedding in the clan. , There has been a decree to ask the clan mansion to subsidize the money. Among other things, it is a few thousand taels of silver for the dozens of clan Gege who have no money to buy dowry. This king keeps an empty account. Change money? It’s not good to force someone to sell iron because of the money. After thinking about it, I really have no choice, so I asked you here. No matter what method, tea, pearls, or pastry shops , you always have to help me come up with an idea to make money, and the profit will be at least doubled in three years."

Cao Yong was stunned when he heard that, Kangxi still had unfinished tasks, and here Yaerjiang spoke again.

Even if the title of "good fortune boy" is created outside, after all, he knows that he is just an ordinary person, and he is just taking advantage of the insight that he has lived a lifetime longer than others.

It's just that even if it is "good fortune", there is still the saying that a clever woman can't cook without rice.

Since the clan's mansion doesn't even have thousands of taels of silver, how can Cao Yong give him money to make money? He won't use his own silver as the capital, right?

One hundred thousand taels of silver, Cao Yong didn't pay attention to it, but it was too eye-catching in the capital, it was a thankless job, it was no wonder he was willing to stand out.

"My lord, don't talk about whether the lowly position can do its best, just talk about the emperor's side..." Cao Yong showed a look of embarrassment, and said: "The Ministry of Internal Affairs is short of money, the lord knows it. Even if the lowly position really has a way to make money, As for the House of Internal Affairs, it’s okay to say that if you don’t work in the House of Internal Affairs for a lowly position, what should happen now, please ask the prince to think of a way..."

Cao Yong said vaguely, but the meaning has been understood.

It's not just the clan's mansion that is short of money, but Kangxi is watching from above. Even if he has the heart, this force may not be able to make the clan's mansion come.

After hearing this, Yaerjiang said with a smile: "What's so embarrassing? Will this king still make it difficult for you? This king has already given the emperor's instructions and came to look for you after obtaining the emperor's will. According to In the 41st year of Kangxi’s reign, 20 taels of silver were disbursed from the household department at an interest rate of 20 cent. Three years later, the principal and interest were returned to the household department. The silver is now in the treasury of the clan mansion, waiting for the alchemy of you, a good boy."

"My lord praised me a lot. What's called 'good fortune boy' is all rumors spread by the world. Shopkeeper Han is in charge of the pastry shop, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs' bidding is borrowed from the royal family's influence. The low-level job is really limited." Hearing yes When Kangxi agreed, Cao Yong sighed in his heart. It seems that Kangxi made him addicted, so he took a break for so many days.

Seeing that Cao Yong didn't nod his head, Yaerjiang stopped the smile on his face and asked, "Then what does Cao Yong's words mean?"

"My lord let me think about it for a while. After all, I am not a real god of wealth. I have the ability to turn stones into gold. Among them, a large amount of money is involved, and I dare not be scornful." Seeing Yaerjiang's face change, Cao Yong also felt in his heart. Annoyed, but could only endure, bowed his head and said.

Yaerjiang nodded and said, "I know that you have always acted cautiously and thoughtfully. It's just that the money is stored in the treasury, even if it only has one per cent interest, after a month, the interest will be 200 taels."

200 taels, I heard that last month Yaerjiang A bought head and face jewelry for the "outside room" in the amount of thousands of taels.Now, let's talk about 200 taels.

"The humble official knows, and must rack his brains to share the worries for the prince." Cao Yong slandered in his heart, but he could only be respectful on his face.

Only then did Yaerjiang's expression get better, and he said to Cao Yong with a smile: "I'll be in your favor in the future, and when the errands are over, I will treat you to a drink."

When Dong Dianbang came back from the clan mansion, Dong Dianbang was still waiting anxiously. Seeing that Cao Yong looked thoughtful, he hurriedly asked, "What orders does Prince Jian have because of Wu Jin's case?"

Wu Jin is the eunuch in the second elder brother's prison, the one who was arrested for escaping privately.

Cao Yong shook his head and said: "It's not this, it's about the clan, and I said a few gossips."

Seeing that Cao Yong was speaking vaguely, Dong Dianbang didn't ask any more, and said: "By the way, Mr. Cao, just now your mansion sent someone, it seems that there is something wrong with the mansion."

After hearing this, Cao Yong hurriedly asked Xiaoman to go out to find someone.

It turned out that Li Nai from Suzhou had arrived, and Li Shi sent the housekeeper over to ask Cao Yong when he would leave the Yamen here, to see if he could go back for dinner earlier.

It was almost noon, and there was no errand in the yamen. Cao Yong said hello to Dong Dianbang, and went out of the yamen to go back to the mansion.

For his big cousin, Cao Yong can count the number of contacts from small to large with one slap.

Although he has prejudice against Li Xu and Li Ding and his son, Cao Yong still has a good impression of Li Nai, who has always been honest and dull...

*
Cao Mansion, Orchid Courtyard, Shang Fang.

Mrs. Gao sat in the kang, Mrs. Li sat on the edge of the kang, and Li Nai sat on a chair. Everyone was talking about homely things.

It turned out that it was Wen Taijun who sent his grandson to Beijing to pick up Gao Taijun and Xiangyu.Xiangyu's biological mother died of illness last month. Even if she is a relative, it is not good to keep filial piety in other people's homes.In addition, Gao Taijun came to Beijing for a year, and Wen Taijun missed him very much, so he sent Li Nai to pick him up.

"Hey, a little bit older is a blessing after all." After hearing this, Mrs. Li couldn't help but sigh.

Gao Taijun drooped his face, his face was ugly, he glanced at Li Nai and said: "Okay, how can I say that it's gone?"

"Last winter, I contracted a cold and took medicine for half a year. I thought I would be cured, but who knew it would just go away." Li Nai leaned over and replied, "Although it's not the official marriage of the Ming matchmaker, but it's considered a bloodline for the second brother. It is due to the Li family. My father and mother also think of her well, thinking of giving her a title and burying her in the ancestral grave."

"Buried in the ancestral grave?" Gao asked with a strange expression, "Your father said, let Xiangyu's mother be buried with Ding'er?"

"Father's intention is that there is no need to alarm the dead, and that an acupoint be tapped next to the second brother's grave. Even if it's not for the second brother, it is for Xiangyu." Li Nai replied.

Gao Taijun listened, but said nothing, Li nodded, and said: "It's good to be a companion underground, so that Ding'er will not be alone in the underground, no one is around to wait..."

(End of this chapter)