Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 718

The sixteenth elder brother did not go to Cao's house, but he came out of the palace with Cao Yong, and they went to the fourth elder brother's mansion together.

Today, October 46th, in addition to being Lee's 39th birthday, it is also the fourth elder brother's [-]th birthday.Because it was still in the period of filial piety, the palace did not entertain guests.

The sixteenth elder brother is wearing a white robe, which is a taboo when going to Cao's house, but not a big deal when going to Yongwang's mansion.Because the fourth elder brother, who is also the brother of the eighth elder brother, according to the rules, must also keep his filial piety for the eighth elder brother.

Hearing that the sixteenth elder brother and Cao Yong had arrived, the fourth elder brother ordered someone to lead them to the living room.

"Fourth brother, my younger brother and Cao Yong are here today to pay my respects to elder brother." Sixteenth elder brother saw fourth elder brother come in, got up from his chair and said.

Cao Yong was beside him, and he also got up with Brother Sixteen and bowed to salute.

The fourth elder brother waved his hand and told the two to get up.The guest and the host sat down again, and the fourth elder brother took a look at Cao Yong, and said to the sixteenth elder brother: "I am very relieved that the sixteenth brother and Cao Yong came here specially. It is only limited by the rules. .”

The sixteenth elder brother smiled and said: "If the fourth brother doesn't talk about it, the younger brother knows. I just have nothing to do. I know that the fourth brother is taking a rest, so I come to talk to the fourth brother. The fourth brother should not be annoying to the younger brother. As for Cao Yong, I have to rush home to be a filial son, and I can't stay for long."

"Really?" The fourth elder brother responded and glanced at Cao Yong.

After talking a few gossips, the sixteenth brother looked at the clock and saw that it was late, so he was afraid of delaying Cao Yong, so he said to Cao Yong: "Furuo, you go back to the house first, I will have some tea with the fourth brother Go back to the palace."

Cao Yong sat idle and had nothing to say, and was about to leave. He got up when he heard the words, and said goodbye to the fourth elder brother.

The fourth elder brother called a housekeeper and ordered Cao Yong to be sent out of the house.

Elder Sixteen was holding the teacup, forgetting that the tea leaves in it were floating and sinking, and there was no sound for a long time.

Seeing his melancholy and worried look, the fourth elder brother asked, "What's the matter? Are you in trouble?"

Brother Sixteen frowned, nodded, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Fourth brother, I see Cao Yong now, and I want to kick him all the time, and I'm almost bewildered."

Who doesn't know, the relationship between Brother Sixteen and Cao Yong has always been good.In terms of relatives, they are cousins; in terms of in-laws, Brother Sixteen is Cao Yong's uncle and father-in-law.Coupled with the fact that the two were classmates back then, this friendship is very deep.

Although there are rules in the imperial court, the prince elder brother is not allowed to make friends with courtiers, but these years have not hindered the sixteenth elder brother and Cao Yong's closeness.

That's good, why do you remember this?
The fourth elder brother was a bit surprised when he heard this, raised his eyebrows and said, "Why, did Cao Yong offend you?"

Brother Sixteen propped his chin, shook his head, and looked at the young man standing outside the door, hesitant to speak.

Seeing this, the fourth elder brother waved his hand and sent everyone away.

Only then did the sixteenth elder brother sigh, and said to the fourth elder brother: "fourth elder brother, although Cao Yong has become our niece and son-in-law, but starting from Er Niang, I still want to call him cousin. I know seven or eight In the past year, sometimes I really depend on him in my heart, and I am willing to ask him for advice in everything. If... If Mrs. Cao is really of royal blood, no matter if she is the daughter of the uncle or the princess of the emperor, then Cao Yong is not Is it our nephew? I am an uncle, and I have treated my nephew as a cousin all these years, what is this called? Shouldn't he be kicked twice to relieve hatred?"

The fourth elder brother knows these dusty past events in his heart.

Hearing that Elder Sixteen spoke childishly, he really couldn't laugh or cry, and said with a straight face: "Brother Sixteen, be careful with your words. How can you fully believe these pretentious words?"

Elder Sixteen rubbed his chin and said, "Fourth brother, do you think my younger brother is willing to believe it? So what if you don't believe it? In addition to Ruyi at the beginning of the month, I heard that among the rewards given to the Cao family by the Empress Dowager last year, there is also the gift of the Empress Dowager." A relic. The Empress Dowager, the old man, these granddaughters and granddaughter-in-laws, who has this dignity? Even the few Fujins in Wu Ge's house have never had such kindness. Besides, among the few empresses in the palace, which one is vegetarian? In the past two days, Madam Cao’s birthday, there are not one or two honorable persons in the palace.”

The sixteenth elder brother said all this, and the fourth elder brother knew it all.It's just that the sixteenth elder brother can say some things, but the fourth elder brother can't.

Seeing that the fourth elder brother was silent, the sixteenth elder brother said: "Fourth elder brother, younger brother really can't understand, what is the reason for Huang Ama or the uncle to let the royal blood flow to the people? Although this rumor has its nose and eyes, it is true. I can't help thinking about it..."

Seeing that the sixteenth elder brother was interested in this, the fourth elder brother's expression sank, and he said: "Sixteenth brother, no matter what the truth is, since Huang Ama didn't announce the world's intentions, sixteenth brother should not make any troubles here, otherwise the situation will be embarrassing. It will only be the members of the Cao family."

Elder Sixteen said in a low voice: "My brother is just curious, even Er Niang mentioned my aunt with respect. I'm afraid it's not groundless..."

*
Cao Mansion, Orchid Courtyard, Shang Fang.

The house was burning warmly, and Mrs. Li was sitting by the side of the kang, laughing and chatting with Cao Ying and Cao Yi.I can't help but praise Cao Ying's daughter for being cute, and say a few words about Shou Geer to Cao Yi.

Cao Yi originally wanted to take Brother Shou back to her mother's house, but because of the cold weather, Brother Shou has been coughing a bit these days, so he didn't dare to torment him.

The eldest daughter of Cao Ying and Sun Jue, whose nickname is Dan'er, is seven years old this year. She wears two ring buns and a small silver-pink cheongsam. She looks very cute and cute.

On Cao Yi's side, with a smile on his face, he already felt something was wrong in his heart.Thinking about when Cao Ying presented the birthday gift just now, there was gold and jade on Cao Ying's side. She was decent, but she didn't look like her own family.

On Cao Ying's side, she was full of regrets, and she had already started to complain about her husband's ignorance.

Cao Yi's mother-in-law's family is the Duke's mansion, and her status is more than a little higher than that of Sun's family. Speaking of closeness, she was raised by Mrs. Li, and Cao Ying's side is just the niece next door.

Since Cao Yi is still the example of previous years, then Sun's side should also be the example of previous years, giving some birthday noodles and clothing materials, and they have to do it with great fanfare.

Fortunately, Mrs. Zhao Jia hasn't come over yet, otherwise I don't know how to get angry.

Hearing that the two aunts had returned, Chu Yu came over to talk with her.When Cao Ying's gift list came out, Chu Yu knew that it was written by the brother-in-law of the Sun family.

In the past two years, the Sun family's rituals have become more and more serious, causing Chu Yu to be a little confused...

*
Dongfu, inner courtyard.

Zhao Jia was wearing a brand-new green satin straight-haired cheongsam with a light blue gown on the outside, looking very elegant.She sat in front of the dressing table, facing the mirror, and bared her teeth.

Seeing the yellow smoke stains on it, she couldn't help frowning, and turned to Hongmei and said, "Bring the green salt, I want to wipe my teeth."

Jinghui stood aside, fully dressed, waiting for her mother-in-law to set off together.

There was news from the West Mansion that the elder girl and the third girl had returned, and it has been half an hour so far.Zhao Jia's tidied up here for a while, but he still hasn't done it.

After a while, Hongmei brought up the green salt, and Zhao Jia wiped his teeth in front of the mirror for a while, and felt better after looking at it, so he tidied himself up, licked his temples, and got up from the stool.

"Do you want to take Tianhu there?" Zhao Jia seemed to be asking Jinghui, but also seemed to be talking to herself.Without waiting for Jinghui to speak, she shook her head and said, "I don't want to wear it anymore. If you start crying, it will be really annoying."

While talking, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law came to the West Mansion...

*
But it is said that Cao Yong came back from Prince Yong's mansion and passed by a Daoxiang village on the Drum Tower side, thinking of custom-made birthday peaches for his mother.So he reined in the horse and sent people to inquire.

According to the shopkeeper, the big shopkeeper came over in the morning and took it away.

*
Cao's West Mansion, Orchid Courtyard.

Cao Yi chatted with Li Shi and Chu Yu a few words, and his eyes fell on the plates of birthday peaches on the table.

"This peach is a noodle peach?" She couldn't believe it, she got up from her seat and went to the table to have a look.

"Naturally, it's peaches. How can there be fresh peaches in this winter?" Mrs. Li said with a smile.

"It looks real from a distance, it's white and rosy, and you can still smell the fragrance of peaches..." Cao Yi approached, couldn't help but picked up a peach, held it to his nose and sniffed it. Surprised: "It really smells like peaches!"

"Really? Take it here and let me have a look. It was delivered by shopkeeper Han in the morning, and I haven't had time to take a closer look." After hearing this, Mrs. Li felt a little strange.

Cao Yi picked up the plate, walked to the side of the Kang, and put it on the Kang table.

Mrs. Li lowered her head, sniffed it, and said, "Although it's not strong, it does smell of peaches. This shopkeeper Han has some real skills. The kung fu of figuring out the tricks of pastry is one of the best."

After all, Dan'er is a child. When adults talk about eating, his eyes are glued to the plate of birthday peaches.

I can't complain just now that Cao Yi was blind, this longevity peach looks very good.Each peach is white and tender on the bottom, with a faint blush on the top.

Seeing Dan'er looking at the birthday peaches, Mrs. Li picked up one and handed it to her, said with a smile: "My good boy, help Grandma to taste it, after all, this pastry tastes like peaches."

Dan'er didn't reach out to pick it up, but turned her head and looked at her mother behind her.After Cao Ying nodded, she took the longevity peach from Mrs. Li, took a bite, then nodded, and said, "Grandma, it smells like peaches, sweet..."

"Really? That Dan'er is good, delicious." Li Shi stroked Dan'er's head and said with a smile.

Cao Yi was by the side, looking at the longevity peach, and after a while he was willing to look away, then turned to Chuyu and asked, "Sister-in-law, is this a pastry in Daoxiang Village? Why haven't I heard of it before, whether it's for myself or as a gift?" , these are all good things.”

Chu Yu shook her head and said: "At present, there is no such thing in the shop. A few days ago, I was thinking of ordering some birthday peaches for my wife, and I happened to have peach juice from Zhuangzi at home. So I sent them to the shop and made these. There is little rain this year, and there are many peach trees on the mountain, which is not easy to irrigate, so the harvest is small. In addition to making wine and making preserved fruit, a few jars of peach juice have been made, and they are all gone. When the fruit season is next year, more preparations will be made. There is."

After hearing this, Cao Yi said regretfully: "It's a pity, if there is still this one, the one designated to sell is better than Wuzi Zong."

"Shopkeeper Han said the same thing. She came here on purpose today. Besides paying respects to his wife's birthday, she just wanted to ask about peach juice. But she couldn't be in a hurry. She had to wait until next year." Chu Yu said.

Mrs. Li saw that Cao Yi was interested in longevity peaches, and said: "Although there are no ones for sale outside, there are quite a few at home. I will ask someone to pack some for you later, and give it to my wife and Shouer to taste when I go back."

Upon hearing this, Cao Yi pulled Li Shi's arm, and said coquettishly, "Mother loves her daughter the most..."

"How old are you, still acting like a baby, and not afraid of being laughed at by sisters-in-law and sisters?" Mrs. Li said with a smile while groping Cao Yi's shoulder.

Chu Yu and Cao Ying, who were at the side, both laughed out loud.

Outside the door, Zhao Jia's face was changing from cloudy to sunny, almost angry.

Even if Mrs. Li has raised Cao Yi for several years, this Cao Yi is also the blood of the second wife.On the other hand, he climbed a high branch, didn't know the root cause, and kept calling Mrs. Li his mother.

Jinghui stood aside, knowing her mother-in-law's heart disease, coughed, and told the maid to pass on the message.

Hearing that the Second Wife and Second Mistress of the Dong Mansion are here, Li Shi and Chu Yu are still on good terms, Cao Ying and Cao Yi both smiled.

Except for Mrs. Li, everyone in the room stood up and saluted Mrs. Zhao Jia.

Seeing that she looked good, Mrs. Zhao Jia smiled and nodded to everyone, then went to Mrs. Li, squatted down, and said, "I'm here to celebrate my sister-in-law's birthday. I wish my sister-in-law a long life, every year has today, every year has today .”

Mrs. Li stood up, took Mrs. Zhao Jia's hand, sat down by the kang, and said, "Okay, I'm not an outsider. Why are you making such a fuss?"

While talking, Jinghui also went up to pay respects to Mrs. Li, and then met her sister-in-law and two elder sisters.

Zhao Jia suppressed her anger and gave Cao Yi a cold look.Cao Yi didn't even look at her, and whispered homely to Jinghui next to her.

Although Zhao Jia felt resentful in his heart, he couldn't find a chance to attack it, so he just felt depressed and unbearable.

On the kang was the birthday gift from Cao Yi and Cao Ying, Zhao Jia didn't pay attention to anything else, his eyes fell on the golden Buddha.This golden Buddha is one foot high, even if it is hollow in the middle, dozens of taels of gold will be used,

Nowadays, gold in Beijing is not so expensive.That is, the gold jewelry used by Cao's family to make a great deal with Dong's family was melted with gold utensils at home.

Mrs. Zhao Jia himself has been thinking about a golden Buddha for a long time, but he is not willing to give up the money.

Now, when she looked at the golden Buddha, she only felt it was an eyesore, and she said with a smirk: "Oh, this golden Buddha is the birthday gift of the Duke's wife? After all, you have elevated your status, and you are so filial to your sister-in-law." " While speaking, he glanced at Cao Yi, turned to Cao Ying and said, "You should follow suit, you don't have to be so petty. Even if you can't send the goldware, you can send some other decorations, just two sets of clothes, it's so shabby Yes. Even if your aunt doesn't care about you, she shouldn't be so careless."

How could Cao Yi care about her, his expression was calm, and he didn't interrupt.

Cao Ying was beside her, her face was already pale, she bit her lip and lowered her head, not daring to tell.

Afraid of wronging Cao Ying, Mrs. Li hurriedly said: "My brother and sister misunderstood, the clothes were sewn for me by the third girl. The golden Buddha was given by my niece and niece and son-in-law with all my heart. I also mentioned her just now. The young couple are in Beijing. There is a lot of people in the family, so why waste it like this."

Mrs. Zhao Jia just thought she had heard it wrong, shook her head and said: "Sister-in-law, have you confused? The grandson-in-law's temper doesn't seem like he can give a golden Buddha; it's better to go to the Duke's mansion..."

"No confusion, the third girl sews clothes for me every year. This can't be wrong." Li Shi said.

Zhao Jia laughed twice, looking at her daughter, her eyes almost burst into flames.

Chu Yu has been watching with cold eyes, seeing Zhao Jia's expression is not good, she approached and said: "Madam, look at the time, Fujin is about to arrive, my daughter-in-law sent someone to ask at the second gate?"

Mrs. Li looked up at the clock on the ground, it was already Weichu (one o'clock in the afternoon), she nodded and said: "Yes, it's time to arrive, let someone ask."

On Chuyu's side, before he had time to give orders, he saw a daughter-in-law come in and report: "Madam, grandma, just now the third son-in-law arrived, and the uncle accompanied him to talk in the living room. Fujin and the prince also arrived, and the uncle and the third son-in-law met at the door. welcome."

After hearing this, Mrs. Li led the crowd and went to the second gate to meet Mrs. Cao Jia.

It's not easy for Zhao Jia to have a seizure after this interruption.She stared at her daughter fiercely, very sad.

It is said that the daughter is the little padded jacket of the mother, but the eldest daughter of herself is a wimp, not as clever as her cousins, and she is as timid as a mouse, and obeys her husband in everything.

Even if the kid from the Sun family is snobbish, she shouldn't be like this as a daughter. Isn't this a stab in the heart of a mother like herself...

*
Front yard, living room.

Cao Yong asked Naersu and Seishtu to sit down and had tea brought.Because everyone is busy, it is rare to sit and talk together.

Na Ersu was a little fat, smiled and said to Cao Yong: "Didn't you say that the mansion here is going to the hot spring village? When will we leave? Your sister is also clamoring to go, and now I am waiting for Shengjia to go out of Beijing to sacrifice the mausoleum. Let's go to Xiaotangshan to soak in the hot springs."

"I thought about going in the middle of the month, but something delayed me. What my father meant was to wait for Shengjia to go on a tour, and then go to Changping for a short stay." Cao Yong replied.

"Although our Wangfu Zhuangzi is closer to the palace, there are only two springs. You have a good eye. You can buy the good land that is far away from the palace. A few days ago, someone asked me whether you would sell it or not. land. He is willing to exchange it with a good village in Fangshan,” Naersu said.

This morning Cao Yong and Chu Yu decided to buy the land. After listening to Na Ersu's words, Cao Yong thought for a while and asked, "Is it someone my brother-in-law knows?"

"Beizi Lubin, my uncle." Naersu replied.

Cao Yong nodded and said: "That's the case, let's change it. It's just that the land over there has been sold a lot over the years, and the remaining few lands have mediocre springs and locations."

Naersu laughed and said: "In the past two years, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has been in the practice palace over there, and the land with springs has already been divided up by the prince's mansion in the capital. If you are willing to exchange land with him, he should burn incense. Is there room for him to choose?"

Speaking of the land in Xiaotangshan, Cao Yong turned to Sai Shitu and said, "Do you want to build Zhuangzi? If you want to use the land, just tell me."

"Thank you brother, we won't repair it. My mother doesn't like to go out of the city, and the population in the mansion is small. Earlier, the Duke's mansion had a village in Haidian, and it has been repaired in the past two years, which is enough." Sai Shitu said.

Since he said so, Cao Yong didn't say anything.On the other hand, Naersu, who knew that Xiaotangshan land was valuable, saw that Seshitu was not greedy, and put a smile on his face.

A few people were talking, when they heard footsteps coming from the yard, and then they heard someone outside the door saying: "Master, the eldest son-in-law is here."

Although Cao Yong didn't like Sun Jue's character, but for the sake of Sun's family and Cao Ying, he had no choice but to get up and open the door to greet him.

Sun Jue was just outside the door, and when he saw Cao Yong coming out, he smiled and clasped his fists, saying: "The business is complicated, my brother-in-law is late, no wonder..."

*
After the update is complete, I am crying for a monthly ticket. .

(End of this chapter)