Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 778 Shaking the Sky

Because of the country's filial piety, there is no banquet for this year's Lantern Festival.

However, the atmosphere in the capital has become weird since the Chinese New Year.Even Cao Yong, also listened to his father's reminder, said that it was Kangxi's recuperation, which made many people move their minds.

Cao Yong thought to himself, where is it just for recuperation.A few days before the Empress Dowager died of illness, the "legacy" issued by Kangxi to his courtiers was the root cause of the chaos of demons.

In a family, succession to the heirs is a major event, let alone the national court.

Those who have not climbed to a high position want to use their "hot eyes" to seek support and rise to a higher level; "The elders of the two dynasties".

Kangxi first issued a posthumous edict, and then rested endlessly. How could this not arouse the speculation of interested people?

Those who are well-informed have little knowledge of the situation at the Tai Hospital.In the past two years, Kangxi's body and bones have really taken a turn for the worse.Some people even speculate in their hearts whether the national mourning is not over, and they will suffer...

Don't talk about others, just talk about Cao Yin. If Cao Yong hadn't said something cryptic twice, Kangxi would be fine for three years and two years, and he would be uneasy.It's just that he was more loyal to Kangxi than other courtiers, and he didn't consider what benefits he was seeking.

Cao Song was on duty in the palace, and he also heard a lot of rumors.

He naturally knew that all the glorious status of the Cao family was bestowed by Kangxi.Except for the favor of the emperor, the Cao family is not close to the other princes who are expected to wait for the throne, and some of them have festivals.

When he was on duty that day, he hurried to Xifu, looked for Cao Yong, and told him what he had heard.

It's time to store up.

I heard that these six ministries and nine ministers have all moved, and almost all officials above the third rank in the capital have signed their names.

"Brother, what should we do? Uncle has become an official, and my elder brother has been demoted from a court official to a secretary, and he has no chance to be named." At this point, Cao Song bowed his head and said: "It's all because of my younger brother. The family is not strict, and it is a drag on the uncle and the elder brother. It is really a waste of the elder brother to take care of the younger brother."

Seeing Cao Song's worry, Cao Yong said solemnly: "The sacred heart is unpredictable, how can I be controlled by the courtiers? Don't listen to the wind and the rain. If you work in the palace, the news is better, but the ears are long, but the mouth is long. No. The emperor will worry about the abolishment of the crown prince. As ministers, we only need to do our own part. Remember what your uncle said at night, you don’t want us to be famous all over the world, just want to be safe and healthy.”

"My younger brother doesn't want the family to be rich, but I'm just afraid that the new king will bury the elder brother because he doesn't see gold and jade." Cao Song raised his head and said with a bit of concern: "The elder brother is much stronger than others when he beats the younger brother. As my father-in-law said, elder brother is not a thing in the pool, there will always be a time when he will soar into the sky. If brother's Qingyun Road is ruined because of younger brother, then younger brother will not have the face to say goodbye to elder brother."

Cao Yong listened, speechless.

These words were said by Fu Nai.I don't know what he thinks, but he has highly respected Cao Yong in recent years.Every time relatives meet, they must praise Cao Yong.Cao Yong's official career is smooth and not obvious. When he is demoted, the number of praises will double.

At the beginning of Cao Yong, he also reflected on whether he had offended him somewhere and caused him to "praise and kill" himself.After contacting him many times later, Cao Yong realized that Fu Nai had something to say, plus he was "warm-hearted", and he did not have any malicious intentions.It's just because Cao Yong encountered ups and downs, and he was afraid that he would be discouraged. As an elder, I deliberately encouraged him a few more words, for fear that he would be discouraged.

This is nothing at all, but because Fu Nai was the servant of the fourth elder brother, Cao Yong had to think hard, lest he had other intentions.

Then, I heard some things about him taking care of relatives and juniors. For example, he spent a lot of money for his cousin's concubine to return to the clan, but relatives complained, and his nephew who was born in the first line almost fought with him; Uncle, he offended someone, got involved in a lawsuit, he stepped forward to deal with him, got himself caught in the fire, and later begged the powerful to come forward to make peace, and so on.

Generally speaking, Fu Nai is "righteous" enough, and he is good to the juniors, but he has a lot of enthusiasm, and the way he handles things is not flattering.

Seeing that Cao Yong didn't speak, Cao Song became more and more uncertain, lowered his head, and said: "Why don't we let Jinghui walk around the residences of some elder brothers?"

Jinghui's mother's family is a big family, and many elders or sisters of the same generation married into the clan's royal family, so Cao Song said so.

"No need." Cao Yong listened, did not hesitate at all, waved his hands immediately, and said: "Don't say that my brother and sister are inconvenient, even if she is in good health, she doesn't need to show her face. There are still men in the Cao family, so how can we use women and children as a family?" Shelter from the wind and rain?"

Cao Song also knew that he had made a slip of the tongue, and said embarrassingly: "Then why should we wait at home?"

Cao Yong patted him on the shoulder and said: "Second brother, the more you look at the turbulence, the more you must be calm. Now, with my father and me, you still have someone to ask. One day, I need you Make up your own mind. There are eight words, you have to keep them in mind, and when you encounter this kind of need in the future and you bother to make a decision, you will turn out these eight words and repeat them twice."

"Eight words?" Cao Song scratched the back of his head and said, "My brother has been smarter than my brother since I was a child. How can I have ideas like my brother? Don't say eight words, just tell my brother eighty, eight hundred. Words, my younger brother can't become a smart person immediately."

"Do more and make more mistakes, do less and make less mistakes." Cao Yong's voice was not loud, but he said loudly: "You are only so old, and there is still a long way to go. Whenever you encounter difficulties, it is also related to your family and yourself. When it comes to safety and glory, you remember this one."

Cao Song repeated this sentence seriously, nodded his head vigorously, and said with some firmness on his face: "My brother has written it down. My brother is stupid, and I am already ashamed that I can't help my brother; I will be cautious and dare not Hu Wei, I'm tired of worrying about my brother..."

*
Imperial City, Yanxi Palace.

Yi Fei was sitting on the soft couch, with a jewelry box inlaid with seven-color gemstones by her hand.She opened it with a smile, and when she saw the items inside, she smiled even more, and said, "Where did you find it? The Ganan incense purchased by the Ministry of Internal Affairs last year was only [-] catties, and the Empress Dowager added new court beads. The rest, the harem has a head and face, is just a fan pendant, or a flat square. It was the emperor who knew that I like this, so he rewarded me with a pair of hand beads. Although it is also a honey knot, the color is not as moist as this one. Not as fragrant as this."

"Knowing that Erniang likes this, my son made a special trip to Guangzhou to find foreigners to buy it. I bought ten catties. In addition to five catties, I found someone to make these small objects, and there are five catties of materials. My son didn't touch it, and I did as my mother wanted." Brother Jiu said with a smile.

Concubine Yi gave him a sidelong glance, and said: "How much money does this cost? I know you are rich, so you shouldn't spend it like this. Er Niang is in the palace, and she has a lot of these? I heard that you have opened a foreign goods store again, and you should also be restrained, don't make a fool of yourself." This is what I think about every day, and it is better to do the emperor's errands well, and it is the foundation of my life."

Brother Jiu raised his eyebrows, and said: "Emiang's young mother belongs to her, and the son's filial piety belongs to her son. The son is not promising, and he has troubled his mother to worry about it all these years, not letting his son do his best. My son is afraid that he will have trouble sleeping and eating."

Concubine Yi took a good look at Brother Jiu, frowned and said, "Your insomnia is much better. Judging by the look on your face, how can you not let Er Niang worry about it?"

Brother Jiu lowered his eyes and said with a smile: "How long has it been? Good morning, Er Niang still mentions it? They are all guards of Ningshou Palace. They stay up all day, smoky, how many people are there?" Do you look good?"

Knowing the son is better than the mother, Yi Fei knew that her son didn't want to mention this, she sighed in her heart, and waved her hand to send out the few maids standing at the door.

There were only mother and son left in the room, Concubine Yi thought for a while, and said: "Recently something is wrong outside, whether you want to get close to Brother Fourteen or turn your back on it, it's up to you, don't feel wronged by him. But the abolishment of the storage position is the reverse scale of the dragon and cannot be touched. You only need to watch the excitement, and you are not allowed to mix in."

"Er Niang, my son only loves money, so he won't be idle, serving as a pawn for others." Brother Jiu said leisurely.

Concubine Yi glared at him, and said: "If you can be as peaceful as your fifth elder brother, Er Niang's hair won't be half gray. I let you mess around all these years, thinking of Er Niang's face, the emperor didn't take deep responsibility As for you, you also know the good and the bad."

"Emiang, don't worry, my son is not a fool. If there is excitement, don't watch it, why don't you go in this muddy water?" Brother Jiu picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said: "On the other side of Tangquan, the fourth concubine Huang Ama is here. Didn't bring it, just let Wang Bin wait by his side, is it appropriate?"

Concubine Yi smiled and said: "The emperor is wise, why should we worry about it? To put it nicely, he is a concubine, but he is just a little noble person when he is formally entrusted with the throne. Even if the sixteenth elder brother is favored again, he is no better than you. If the emperor , Thinking of sealing the mansion, the sixteenth elder brother Dingtian is a scumbag. If... if it is sealed later, without the status of the prince, it is not impossible to become the duke of the state."

Ninth elder brother mentioned this, not because he was worried about sixteenth elder brother's enfeoffment, but because he wanted to ask his mother for the exact news.But seeing his mother misunderstood, he didn't say much.

*
Brother's place, Hongxi's residence.

Looking at the half piece of paper in his hand, Hongxi's eyes widened, his face turned pale with horror, his hands couldn't help shaking slightly, he gritted his teeth and said, "Hurry up and prepare the horse, I'm going to Tangquan to enter Huangmafa!"

There was a person kneeling on the ground dressed as a guard, but he didn't get up immediately. He raised his head and said, "My lord, in addition to asking the servant to deliver a letter to you, sir, you also asked the servant to tell you. It's already a step too late. You have to think twice before you act. Otherwise, you will fall into the emperor's hands." In my eyes, the Lord has nothing to do with it."

Hong Xi crumpled the paper in his hand, clenched his fists so painfully, let out a long breath, and said, "Yes, this is what they set up for you, it's all wolfish ambition, there's nothing good about it. Could it be that we just hang our hands and wait for death?" No? You go out of the palace and tell the master that the master wants to see him and let him arrange it as soon as possible!"

The man responded and backed out.

Hong Xi's body seemed drained of strength, and she sat limply on the chair, with endless resentment on her face.

These days, he has seen all the changes in the capital, and he is still waiting to watch the fun.This old lion is also a lion, and his respect for Huang Mafa on the dragon chair has not diminished in the slightest.

Unexpectedly, this "Li Chu" drama was actually Xiang Zhuang's sword dance, which was aimed at Pei Gong.

Hong Xi only felt a chill down his back, and his face was contorted with pain and fear...

*
On the 21st day of the first lunar month, all the six departments of Jiuqing in the capital went to Tangquan.

If it wasn't Xiao Asahi selected by the Ministry of Rites, Cao Yong, the fourth-rank officer, would not be able to join in the excitement.Although he behaved as usual, but sitting behind the desk, his thoughts also flew to Tangquan.

He was also surprised, at first he thought it was another farce of "please stand", but he didn't expect that someone took the trouble to plan and involve the second elder brother.

Yesterday, the Hanlin Academy reviewed Zhu Tianbao's trip to Tangquan Palace, and personally handed over a note to invite his second elder brother to be the crown prince, which aroused Kangxi's anger, and he personally went to the main gate of the palace to interrogate him.

Early this morning, several Manchu and Han scholars, together with the officials from the six divisions of the Jiuqing, went to Tangquan.Storms are coming, and people's hearts are unstable.

The law does not blame the public, no matter how angry Kangxi is, he will not be able to hold these court officials accountable, or the court will be empty.That Hanlin must not be spared.The wrath of the emperor, I am afraid that death can solve the hatred, and the family is ransacked and exterminated, right in front of us.

Is it bookish, or is it fooled by others to become a bird in the first place?

Cao Yong concentrated, thinking about the winner of this matter.

Is it because the third elder brother couldn't hold back and wanted to get a letter from Kangxi?He was hit repeatedly last year, and he has already begun to behave with his tail between his legs. Can he have such courage?Or the fourteenth elder brother, wanting to intervene in the military affairs of the Northwest "justified"?It's still the fourth elder brother...it can't be the fourth elder brother, such a radical thing is not in line with the fourth elder brother's usual style of keeping a low profile.

I just felt that there was a fog, knowing that someone was fueling the flames, but I couldn't see the face of that person clearly, which made Cao Yong feel uncertain.

Fifteen elder brother?Brother Nine?

It seems that everyone is suspicious, and everyone seems to be wronged. Similar scenes are a bit familiar.

Cao Yong touched his chin, picked up an official document from the desk, read it carefully from beginning to end, and then stamped the official seal.

He originally thought that elder brother sixteen would come, but he didn't expect elder brother sixteen to hold his breath and didn't show up.

Until Luoya, there was no news about Tangquan Palace, but more and more news about Zhu Tianbao.

I heard that when he left Deshengmen yesterday, crows gathered and stood in front of his horse, preventing him from going forward; the servant knelt down and pulled the rein of his horse, asking him to turn around, but he did not move at all, and dispersed the crows. move on.

Hearing that the emperor came to the main gate of the palace yesterday, Zhu Tianbao took the crown and knelt down to answer. At first, he spoke loudly without any fear, but in the end he was speechless when asked, and could only ask for the death penalty.

Back in the mansion, Cao Yong finally asked Cao Yin the question that he had been puzzled for a long time: "Father, even if you are a prince of Heshuo and a first-rank university scholar, he would not dare to report this matter in front of the emperor. This Zhu Tianbao is not a fool, is it Don’t you know it’s a dead end? You know you’re begging for death, but you can still do it. I haven’t heard of any grudges between his family and the second elder brother. Why did you come here?”

Cao Yin's face showed a bit of admiration, and he sighed: "I really didn't expect that their father and son could do this. Although there is no place for burial, their loyalty is admirable and admirable!" "

Cao Yong was confused when he heard this, frowned and said, "Isn't it because of others' bewitching, to plot against the second elder brother?"

Cao Yin shook his head and said: "Although Zhu Duna is not a princeling, he was favored by Suo'etu when he was young. This intention is to plot against the second elder brother, not to harm the second elder brother, but to protect the second elder brother in the future. Brother."

Zhu Duna was the father of Zhu Tianbao, and he was the Minister of the Ministry of War at that time.

Cao Yong thought of something and asked: "Father, is it related to the second elder brother's recent illness?"

Although the second elder brother was circled, he had a special status, and his every move was heard by the outside world.Cao Yong heard about it, but he didn't care too much, because winter and spring are seasons that are easy to get sick.

"It's not a disease, it's poison..." Cao Yin said...

(End of this chapter)