Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 759 Cao Jiazi (asking for a monthly pass)
Cao Xiang could still hear Duan's reprimand and Kang brothers' excuses, but he didn't know what happened after that, because he passed out.

At the moment before he fainted, he was secretly grateful.He knew that the old woman was kind to him, and he also knew that the girl named Jiaojiao looked at him with concern.

When he opened his eyes again, he woke up in pain, only felt his lips were dry, and moaned because of the pain in his back.

He looked around and saw a pair of compassionate eyes.This is not the hut where he usually lives, and there are no two strong men watching him in the room.

Originally, Duan was holding a bunch of Bodhi seeds in his hand and was chanting scriptures in a low voice. When he heard Cao Xiang's voice, he raised his head to look at him.Seeing him open his eyes, the old man stretched out his hand and touched Cao Xiang's forehead.

"Thank you Buddha and Bodhisattva. After burning for two days, I finally retreated. Otherwise, something big will happen." The old man chattered, as naturally and kindly as if he cared about his own children and grandchildren.

For a moment, Cao Xiang couldn't help having an illusion, as if the old woman in front of him overlapped with the shadow of his grandmother in his memory.

However, the thought was only fleeting.

Even if the old matriarch had cared for her grandchildren during her lifetime, it all fell on her eldest grandson Cao Yong.Cao Xiang, the concubine of the second family, has never enjoyed this kind of love.

Looking at Cao Xiang, Duan's eyes were already red, and she asked kindly, "My child, does it hurt?"

Although Cao Xiang resented the Kang brothers, he did not want to take his anger out on the old woman in front of him.In order not to worry her, he reluctantly shook his head and said in a hoarse voice, "It doesn't hurt."

After hearing this sentence, Duan couldn't bear it anymore, and couldn't help crying.

Standing behind Duan Shi, Jiaojiao saw her grandmother lost her composure, stepped forward, helped Duan Shi's arm, and said in a low voice, "Grandmother..."

Duan turned around tremblingly, held her granddaughter's hand, crying and unable to speak.

Cao Xiang was on the kang, seeing the old man so sad, he felt a little uneasy, but he didn't know how to persuade him.

At this time, Jiaojiao whispered: "Brother is the most filial, even if he goes underground, he doesn't want grandma to be sad for him..."

"Shao Geng, my poor grandson..." Mrs. Duan slowly closed her eyes, crying very shrill...

*
Henan prefect yamen, lobby.

Although the magistrate is of the fourth rank, Cao Yong's six subjects are also of the fourth rank, but he bears the sacred order to investigate the matter thoroughly, so of course he does not allow himself to be in the right position.

What was placed in front of him was the cause and effect of the civil unrest in Yiyang County.Among them, there are two things that he didn't know when he was in the capital.

The first thing is that Zhang Yuhui, the magistrate of Yiyang County, is the magistrate of Ding You County, and it was at the time of his father's funeral. It's just that the imperial court has not made up the county magistrate, so he is still serving as magistrate.

Also, the Kang brothers who escaped and rebelled were convicted of colluding with bandits and imprisoned.Kang Teng's son Kang Shaogeng was also imprisoned at the same time.The Kang family can be regarded as a big family in Yiyang, with a hundred hectares of fertile land, farming and studying in the family, and a good reputation in the local area.

This Kang Shaogeng was a scholar, and he used to be a clerk in the county government.Later, I did not know how to find out that he was in collusion with bandits. He was beaten in the hall and "died of illness" in prison.

The Kang brothers escaped from prison and rebelled three days after Kang Shaogeng's death.

I'm afraid, this is the truth of the matter.It's just a change of rhetoric, the fault has been transferred from Zhang Yuhui's side to the Kang brothers.From the Taiping country gentry who was forced to flee helplessly, to the mob who was dissatisfied with the imperial court.Cao Yong has also seen what it means to kill with a knife and a pen.

He sighed in his heart, no matter what the cause was, the matter had come to this point.I only hope that the Kang brothers can live up to the words "Shoushan's family" and have no habit of murdering people in anger. In that case, Cao Xiang's life should be considered safe.

Standing by the side, Li Tingchen raised his head secretly, secretly looking at Cao Yong's expression.

No joy or anger could be seen on the face of this Heshuo forehead.

Li Tingchen couldn't help but regret why he didn't send Cao Xiang to other places, but sent him to Yongning County.If it were any other place, it would not be robbed by the rioters.

The same is true for those rioters, who have their grievances and debts, and they attacked Yiyang County after they forged enmity in Yiyang County. Why did they go to Yongning Yamen?It's just bullying the weak and fearing the hard, because the Yongning county government has a small number of people.

Cao Yong took out the watch from his arms, looked at it twice, it was almost noon.He stood up and said to Li Tingchen: "Master Li, do you have any documents from the governor's yamen?"

Seeing him get up, Li Tingchen hurriedly got up and said, "No. If there is an official document, I will send it to Your Excellency right away."

Cao Yong nodded, looked at his fat figure, nodded, and said: "Master Li is busy first, and this official will go first." Speaking of this, he pointed to the stack of documents on the desk, and said: "These officials I haven't finished reading it yet, so please send someone to the station."

Li Tingchen bowed, hurriedly responded, and then said flatteringly. "Tomorrow is my lord's birthday, and the officials have prepared water and wine to celebrate my lord's birthday, and I hope my lord will show my respect."

When Cao Yong heard this, his heart fell, and he said for a long time: "In that case, I would like to thank Mr. Li for his kindness. It is better to obey orders than to be respectful."

He has only been here for a few days, and Li Tingchen has already sent a lot of "filial piety" with various eyebrows.This time, he even found out his birthday, so it seemed that he wanted to give a "birthday gift".

"Three years to clear the magistrate, one hundred thousand snowflake silver", this is not false at all.In the past few days since Cao Yong arrived, Li Tingchen's "filial piety" has thousands of taels of silver, which is generous and tight.

If it weren't for Li Tingchen's "generosity", the Henan Mansion would not have been devastated by him.

As a result, he, the magistrate, is extremely greedy, and the county magistrate below is even more courageous.

This Li Tingchen really "indispensably contributed" to the civil uprising in Henan.

For Li Tingchen, Cao Yong is a life-saving straw and a driftwood in the water. Naturally, he has to do his best to curry favor.

I am used to seeing the human sperm in Liubu, who is so happy and angry like Li Tingchen, Cao Yong can see through it even if he takes a look at it.With a cold snort in his heart, he ignored him and left the Yamen.

Three days after arriving in Henan Mansion, it is time to write a booklet for Kangxi.How to put pen to paper on this will be discussed with Jiang Jian.Pen knife kills people, this makes Cao Yong vigilant.

How to write it will calm the anger in the emperor's heart and leave a way of life for the people in this place, and it takes some thought.

It's not that he, Cao Yong, is full of food, and he likes to meddle in these nosy things, it's just idealism.

Outside the gate of Yi, Cao Song was already waiting. When he saw Cao Yong coming out, he stepped forward and said, "Brother, the Qu family sent someone here, please come over if you have time."

"Qu Shi?" Cao Yong listened, raised his eyebrows, and looked at Cao Song with some doubts.

"It's the girl Luju." Cao Song scratched his head and said, "Since she is the concubine of the fourth child, it's hard to call her by her name."

Cao Yong nodded. He only knew that Lu Ju was the granddaughter of Madam Zhang, and only now did he know that her surname was Qu.

Seeing that she is an honest and law-abiding person, like someone who knows the importance, she will not send someone to invite the elder brother to the house for nothing.

Cao Yong called a long follower, explained a few words, and sent him back to the post station to talk to Jiang Jian; then he went to Cao Xiang's house with Cao Song.

Lu Ju was still as thin as before, her expression was much calmer, not as flustered and uneasy as she showed last time.

"Grandpa, Second Master, I have something important to report to you." Lu Ju said bluntly after Brother Cao Yong had greeted her, and sent away the mother-in-law and maidservant without any fuss.

Seeing her serious expression, Cao Yong waved his hands at the little servant standing at the door and said: "You also step back."

Only Lu Ju, Cao Yong, and Cao Song were left in the room, and then Lu Ju took out a thin booklet from her sleeve, put it in front of Cao Yong with both hands, and said, "Master, this is the year that Fourth Master came to Luoyang. Come on, the account books related to the magistrate's yamen."

Cao Yong took a look at Luju before taking the account book and opening the first page.What day, what happened, what kind of eyesight, how many taels of silver received, are clearly recorded.

This font is graceful and feminine.

Cao Yong closed the account book and said: "This is what the fourth master asked you to record?"

I was in a hurry when I came last time, so I didn't look carefully.Sitting in the living room today, Cao Yong discovered that the furnishings in this room are unpretentious.Green Chrysanthemum's attire is also very simple and elegant, and her clothes and jewelry are not as gorgeous as when she was a maid in the capital.

"Returning to the uncle, the fourth master ordered the slaves to remember. The fourth master saw that Mr. Li was not acting properly, and was afraid of being implicated, which would shame the family, so he deliberately kept a distance, and because he was the immediate boss, there was no way to avoid it, so he could only This is the worst strategy." She knelt down, took the key, and opened the horizontal cabinet in the hall.

Inside, gold, silver, jewelry, clothing and jewelry are all available.

Seeing that Cao Yong and Cao Song frowned, the Henan government had a case of civil disturbance, this Li Tingchen must be charged with "corruption of ink".Cao Xiang is also involved in this, but I don't know if he intends to or not.

A thief bites and penetrates three points.

If Li Tingchen wants to "do not blame the public" when the Ministry of punishment is inquiring about the crime, then Cao Xiang will also be responsible for it.

"It's all here?" Cao Yong looked at the account book, and then at those things, and asked.

"Yes, in order to hide from people, when I went to the magistrate's yamen for a banquet, the servants wore the jewelry inside, and they still put it back here afterwards." Luju replied.

"Reciprocity is a matter of courtesy. After receiving these gifts, how do you return them?" Cao Yong thought for a while and replied.

Lu Ju hesitated for a moment, took out another account book from her sleeve, and sent it to Cao Yong.

When, when, and under what name to return the gift, what kind of gift is it, and how much money is spent, it is also clearly listed above.

Cao Yong looked at it, but slowly frowned, but after more than a year, it cost more than four thousand taels of silver to give gifts in return.Even if Cao Xiang had some pocket money in his hand, he didn't have so much money.

It's no wonder that Luju is dressed like this, the room is also empty, and there are no exquisite ornaments.

In such a situation, every letter from home does not mention a single word.For this cousin, Cao Yong really admired him; for Green Ju, he also secretly praised him.

Although Luju's parents died, it is said that she also left some family property for her, and all of them were used as her dowry.Chuyu and Jinghui also helped her a lot and gave her a lot of jewelry.

Most of the silver that was given as gifts for favors and favors between superiors and subordinates was her dowry.

"Go and get the pawn ticket." Cao Yong put down the account book and said to Luju.

Cao Song is still belatedly aware, in a state of chaos.

"Master..." Hearing this, Luju hesitated for a moment, slowly lowered her head, and did not move.

"You can share Cao Xiang's worries, and you can be regarded as a 'virtuous'. It's just that our Cao family can live a decent life, and it's not so dilapidated that the Cao family's daughter-in-law is just a dowry." Cao Yong said slowly.

Cao's daughter-in-law?Green Ju's tears were falling down, blurring her vision, in order to cover up her gaffe, she hurriedly nodded and walked out quickly.

Cao Yong looked at her back and understood why Cao Xiang would rather give up the imperial examination career than to be with this woman.It's hard for this green chrysanthemum, with a grandmother like that, to be able to grow into a respectable, amiable, intelligent woman after being with Mrs. Zhao Jia for many years, and she can be regarded as unsullied in the mud.

Cao Song picked up the gift-returning account book that Cao Yong put down, and looked at it from the beginning. Then he realized, and said: "Yes, although there are some money from my brother and me on the fourth side, there are a lot of them. How can there be so much? So it is I used the dowry of green chrysanthemums."

Speaking of this, he also felt a little ashamed and uneasy.

After a while, Luju had already come out from the back room, holding a jewelry box in her hand.She has tried her tears and put the box on a few cases at Cao Yong's hand.

Cao Yong opened it and looked at it twice, but his expression changed.

A whole half box of tickets is pawned, without exception.

It seems that this younger brother and sister-in-law are really noble, knowing that their salary is limited, they have no intention of redeeming their property after death, and have no intention of asking for money from the Jingcheng family.

This younger brother, the world underestimated him.

Cao Yong knocked on the table with his fingers, momentarily speechless.Cao Song couldn't sit still anymore, stood up, blushed, and said to Luju: "You are older than the fourth master, why don't you persuade him? There is no money, so don't tell me, when my brother is Is it a decoration?"

Lu Ju lowered her head and replied softly: "Second Master, Fourth Master doesn't want Second Master to bother you."

Cao Song bit his lip, feeling blocked.Cao Yong stood up and said to the door: "Zhao Tong!"

Zhao Tong came in in response, bowed and said, "The little one is here."

Cao Yong pointed to the cabinet and ordered: "Two people, take this to the post." Speaking of this, he pointed to the two account books on the table and said, "Put that away too..."

*
Yongning, Shengou Village.

After hearing Duan's words, Cao Xiang couldn't help being dumbfounded, and was speechless for a long time.Seeing this, Duan said with a smile, "Is this Huanxi stupid?"

Cao Xiang hurriedly shook his head, struggled to sit up, accidentally touched the wound on his back, and broke out in a cold sweat from the pain.Seeing this, Mrs. Duan couldn't help complaining: "Lie down and say, don't touch the wound, or you will make our Jiaojiao suffer."

After hearing this, Cao Xiang thought of what Duan said just now, that he had been in a coma for two days, and it was the girl named Jiaojiao who administered the medicine to him.

Seeing that he didn't move around, Duan was satisfied, and said with a smile: "He knows how to listen to the old man, he is really a good boy."

"Old man, I have already married a wife." Cao Xiang raised his head and said calmly: "I will remember the kindness of taking care of my granddaughter and the old man, and I will definitely repay you when I have the opportunity in the future."

When Duan heard this, she put away her smile, looked Cao Xiang up and down, added anger, and said: "Could it be that you look down on us country people because you are an official? Marriage is a big deal, how can it be trifling, if the old lady doesn't have your colleagues Find out, will you talk about your precious granddaughter?"

When Cao Xiang heard this, he couldn't help but lose his voice.

According to what the world said, he only had a concubine by his side, so he did not have a wife.

In fact, according to his original intention, he only wanted Luju, and he treated each other as a wife in his heart, and he didn't want others to look down on Luju because of his status as a concubine.It's just that Lu Ju is smart and knows how to measure, and finally persuades Cao Xiang to truthfully explain Lu Ju's identity to the outside world.Otherwise, using a concubine as a wife is also a sin.Not to mention, on the other side of the capital, there is already an unmarried main room assigned by the aunt.

"Old man, although I haven't married yet, the elders in the family have already given a marriage. We will get married only after returning to Beijing after the end of term." Cao Xiang said bravely.

Seeing that he did not let go, Mrs. Duan couldn't help showing a sad look on her face. She looked at Cao Xiang and said, "It is said that the kindness of a drop of water should be repaid by a spring. The old lady sees that you are a well-educated person, and she thinks that you are also a good character, so I let you go." Jiaojiao personally takes care of you. She is a big yellow girl, she has served you personally for a few days, do you have a conscience? Could it be that the old lady can't keep her granddaughter without a grandson?" In the end, the Duan family has lost the sharpness of the past. , silently shed tears.

Hearing the despair in her words, Cao Xiang couldn't bear to think of her taking care of her all the time. He raised his head and said, "I will deeply appreciate the kindness that the old man and Miss Jiaojiao have shown me. If the old man doesn't dislike her, I'm willing to treat Jiaojiao Girls are siblings." After saying that, he regretted it a little.

This Jiaojiao looks kind and true, but she is Kang Ting's daughter, the daughter of the "rebel" of the court.Recognize this girl yourself, and don't cause any trouble?
However, as a man, he should also know how to repay his kindness.If it weren't for Mrs. Duan's care, he would have died under the board a few days ago.Therefore, Cao Xiang dispelled the regret in his heart, and his eyes became firm.

Looking at Cao Xiang, Duan's expression became more loving, and said: "You are a good boy, the old lady is right." Speaking of this, she said to the door: "Jiaojiao, come in."

Cao Xiang was young after all, he didn't expect that the person in the conversation just now was listening outside the door, he was extremely embarrassed.Jiaojiao was generous and tight, she answered, entered the room, and walked up to Mrs. Duan.

"Grandmother..." Jiaojiao didn't even look at Cao Xiang, she pulled Duan's arm, showing a bit of a naive look.

"Kneel down!" Duan said seriously without smiling.

Jiaojiao seemed to be used to being obedient to this grandmother, so she knelt down obediently.

"Just say what the old lady said once, and you have to keep it in your heart." Duan said slowly: "From now on, you and the old lady will be named Duan, and you will no longer be a daughter of the Kang family. There is this person lying on the kang, It's the old lady's distant relative, your cousin. In a few days, when your cousin recovers from his injuries, the old lady will arrange to send you out of the village."

Only then did Cao Xiang understand Duan's intentions.After all, he has lived most of his life, knowing that the crime of "rebellion" is to ransack the family and exterminate the family, and wants to save his granddaughter.

Although he was kind to Cao Xiang and meant to take advantage of him, Cao Xiang couldn't feel any resentment when he compared his heart to heart.

After hearing Duan's words, Jiaojiao couldn't help being moved, she raised her head and said: "Grandmother, Jiaojiao is not going anywhere, Jiaojiao is not going!"

"If you want to give mourning to the old woman, then don't leave..." Duan's attitude was decisive, there was no room for maneuver.

"Grandmother..." Seeing the old man like this, Jiaojiao knew that she had no choice, so she couldn't help crying and fell to the ground...

*
Henan Prefecture, post station.

Jiang Jian read all the documents sent by the magistrate's yamen, and drew up a copy in Cao Yong's tone.Cao Yong looked carefully, nodded, very satisfied.It seems to be impartial, but it is just reporting the situation of the Henan government officials truthfully, but it is unknowingly leaving some leeway for the Kang brothers.

"My lord really wants to send Fourth Master's things to the imperial court?" Jiang Jian asked after hesitating.

Cao Yong nodded, and said: "This is not only a circumstantial evidence of corruption in the officialdom of the Henan government, but also prevents Cao Xiang from being implicated in it. My younger brother has suffered a lot. As an older brother, I can't let him suffer these grievances for nothing... ..."

(End of this chapter)