Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 80 Family Letter
Cao Mansion, East Nuan Pavilion of Bamboo Courtyard.

"Ping'er, brother is back!" Cao Yong stroked Cao Yi's hair and said softly.

I don't know which word touched Cao Yi, she frowned slightly, her eyes seemed to be in focus, she slowly tilted her head, looked at Cao Yong seriously, and after a while she called softly as if tentatively: "Brother ?”

This cry made everyone in the room red-eyed, Zhang Gen's family wiped the tears from the corners of their eyes, and forced a smile: "The third girl has been unwilling to speak for several days, but now she still recognizes the uncle, but it is getting better."

Zhang Gen's family is the servant of Cao's family in the other courtyard in Hangzhou. Later, because of his ability to take care of Cao Yi, he was taken back to Jiangning by Mrs. Li.Her daughter, Vanilla, is one of Cao Yi's personal maids.

Cao Yong felt distressed seeing Cao Yi like this, so he responded in a low voice.

"Brother? Brother...?" Cao Yi still couldn't believe it, and called twice in a row. After receiving Cao Yong's answer, her small face suddenly wrinkled into a ball, and she stretched out her little hand timidly. Grabbing Cao Yong's sleeve, with a bit of panic and grievance, he called repeatedly: "Brother...Brother..." The voice became more and more sharp, and finally he was about to shout hoarse.

All the maids in the room were startled, even Zhang Gen's family was taken aback, thinking that the girl was bewildered again.Just when everyone was about to break up the two of them, Cao Yi suddenly burst into tears, as if venting the grievances that had been pent up for a long time, crying so sadly.

Everyone felt sad and wanted to come forward to persuade them, but Cao Yong waved his hand to stop them.

Cao Yong knew that Cao Yi needed a big cry to vent his misfortune, otherwise he would suffer from boredom if he kept holding back, so he let her cry, and gently patted her back with his free hand to show comfort.

After a long time, Cao Yi's crying gradually weakened. Cao Yong turned his head and asked Zhang Gen's family in a low voice: "Has she eaten today?"

Zhang Gen's family nodded, and said: "Woke up in the morning and refused to dip in the rice, but after entering the mansion in the afternoon, I thought I was hungry, so I ate two spoonfuls of red date porridge."

Cao Yong said to Amethyst: "Let the cook get some more, and then bring a cup of white water mixed with some salt." It is very easy to get dehydrated if you cry like this without touching the rice. The mentality can only be adjusted slowly. It has to be adjusted.

After a while, all the porridge and water were brought up, and Cao Yi obediently let Amethyst feed the food, but he kept staring at Cao Yong eagerly, holding Cao Yong's sleeve tightly and refused to let him go, as if he was afraid of him It's like disappearing.

Cao Song whispered to the side: "Does the third sister have only one brother? I have never seen her treat me so close along the way."

Cao Yong knew that Cao Song had been good to Ping'er since he was a child, otherwise Mrs. Li would not have agreed to let him escort Ping'er to the north. Seeing him angrily talking like a child, he didn't care.

Cao Yi obediently finished her meal, Zijing coaxed her to lie down and sleep, so that Cao Yong could go to wash and change clothes.But Cao Yi refused to say anything, did not let go and did not say a word.

Cao Yong coaxed her a few words in the tone of coaxing a child. Seeing that she was about to loosen, he was about to pull out his sleeves, but Cao Yi grabbed her tightly again. let's go..."

Cao Yong felt sad when he heard it, and his eyes were red. He patted her on the head and coaxed: "I am your brother, why would I drive my sister away? Be obedient, sleep well, and take care of your body. Brother will take you to Beijing. Going around, there are many tricks on the overpass, which are not available in the south..."

Cao Yong coaxed while beckoning Amethyst to come and serve her to lie down.Cao Yi listened to him, gradually relaxed, finally let go, and fell into a deep sleep.

Cao Yong listened to Cao Yi's even and long breathing, and knew that she was fast asleep, so he gently pulled out his sleeves, and whispered to the maids to take care of them, to report in time if there was anything, and then called Cao Song, Zijing and others out of the Nuan Pavilion .

Cao Yong asked as he walked, "Did you invite the doctor? What did the doctor say?"

Zijing said: "The doctor was invited, and he said that the fire was caused by the lack of heart energy, the clear sun did not rise, the clear orifices were not nourished, the servants did not fully understand, and they did not understand the reason, the prescription was handed over to Xiangcao, later The servant brought it for the uncle to see."

Cao Song interjected: "The family invited the doctor to say the same thing, and some said he was insane."

After Cao Yong heard this, the scene of Ping'er bravely grabbing steamed buns for her sick self many years ago in the ruined temple in Hangzhou appeared before her eyes.At that time, although she was dirty and ragged, she was full of vigor, and even the group of rascals and beggars could be intimidated by her.But now, when he brought her home, he originally hoped that she would live a good life, but he didn't think that what he thought was a wealthy nest was actually her prosperous grave.But the fine clothes and fine food had worn down her vigor, and she ended up like this.

Zijing saw the annoyance on Cao Yong's face, and hurriedly said: "Today, the third girl recognizes the uncle, which is a good sign, and he will recover in time. The uncle just came back from the outside, let's go back to the room to wash and change clothes first. Then have a good talk with Second Master."

Cao Yong nodded. Just as he was about to talk to Cao Song, he heard someone calling him from behind. When he turned his head, he saw Fang Cha chasing him out of breath.Zijing and Cao Song both frowned.

Fang Cha didn't look at the two of them, and hurriedly said: "Grandpa, our girl was wronged! It is obvious that the sixth master used a candle to burn Aoshuang's tail, and Aoxue turned around to bite him after suffering pain. I can't blame my girl!" He reached out and was about to pull Cao Yong's sleeve.

Cao Yong turned sideways to avoid it, and Zijing over there had already lowered her face and said: "Fang Cha! Don't be rude!"

Fang Cha ignored her at all, and said: "Aunt Zhang beat Ao Shuang to death in front of a girl, and even beat the girl to death, which scared the girl to such a degree. Use the primer to deal with..."

Zijing frowned and shouted: "What are you talking about? You can't stop talking!..."

Cao Yong was so disturbed that his brain ached, he waved his hand at Fangcha: "Go back and serve the third girl!" After saying that, he turned and left, Zijing and Cao Song stared at her, and then left.

Looking at the backs of the three of them, Fang Cha looked unwilling, gritted her teeth and wanted to catch up, but then remembered that this is Beijing and Jiangnan, so she stamped her feet and turned back to the bamboo courtyard.

*
Cao Yong went back to Kuiyuan and changed his clothes. Cao Song waited for him to speak in the front hall.Because the decree of the knighthood is still on the way, Cao Song didn't know the letter. Now he heard Cao Zhong and others say that there is such a happy event.But because of Cao Shun's premature death and Cao Yi's illness, he couldn't really be happy.

Cao Song brought Li's family letter, Cao Yong took it and read it carefully.As early as five or six years ago, he knew from his mother that Cao Yi was his cousin. Seeing all the troubles in the family, but there was no news of Yi'er's identity, he was somewhat puzzled.In the letter, Mrs. Li resolved this doubt. She had already told Cao Quan about Cao Yi's life experience, but Cao Quan was unwilling to admit her daughter back, saying that she just pretended not to have this daughter and let her brother and sister-in-law handle it.In addition, Mrs. Li also mentioned in the letter that it was his parents' intention to arrange for Cao Song to go north, and they wanted him to study in the Zongxue of the Zhaojia family.At that time, whether Cao Song is willing to stay in the mansion or live in his grandfather's house is up to him, don't interfere too much.

Cao Yong looked at it, and was angry in his heart, but it was just a fear of guilt, and he didn't even recognize his own flesh and blood. This uncle really didn't say anything.But right now, it's not the time to take this uncle's face into consideration. Cao Yi's knots are mostly caused by the fact that she is not a member of the Cao family.

Is it a catastrophe?Thinking of Cao Shun's death, Cao Yong felt like a ball of cotton stuffed in his heart.Although it was occasionally mentioned in the history of later generations that Cao Yin had a son who died young, who would have thought that the child would be raised safely until he was four years old, and would eventually die of a puppy.If she hadn't given that puppy to Cao Yi, she wouldn't have suffered this innocent disaster.As for his little brother, Cao Yong has met less than ten times in total, and his feelings are far less deep than that of Cao Song, Cao Shuo and others, but after all, it is a fresh little life, and it is really sad to suddenly disappear like this. feeling terrible.

Before Cao Yong finished reading the letter, Cao Song muttered beside him, "It's all mother's fault. If she is willing to take the third sister home to raise her, she won't have to let a patient go so far!"

Cao Yong glanced at Cao Song: "Do you know about the third girl?"

Cao Song's expression was a little complicated, and he nodded: "I went to the room to get things that day, and I caught up with my father and mother's quarrel. My father wanted to recognize my third sister and took her home for recuperation. My mother was crying, but she refused, saying I already feel guilty for doing wrong things when I was young, but I really can't bear the bad reputation!"

Cao Yong thinks of his second aunt's pungentness, can't bear the notoriety?This is the bullshit theory. Could it be that if you don't recognize Cao Yi, her reputation will be fine? !To control her husband to be submissive, to teach the concubine to be as docile as a kitten, not to be a boy at all, this is a good reputation!Thinking about her careful thinking, one could guess that it was because Cao Yi was getting older and would be married in the past two years. Although the old matriarch left some money for the marriage of her granddaughters and grandsons before her death, the Cao family It is a rich family, and there is no reason to send a girl out of the house for a few thousand taels.

Although not angry with Cao Quan's cowardice and Zhao Jia's selfishness, Cao Yong is still a little fortunate.With Cao Yi's current situation, it may not be a blessing if he is sent to the husband and wife's name, it would be more appropriate to come to the capital himself.

"Brother, if the third sister complains about her parents, will she also get tired of me?" Cao Song asked worriedly.

Cao Yong shook his head: "How can it be? Ping'er has been kind since she was a child, and treats people well. How can I blame you!"

(End of this chapter)