Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 801
Jinyu Hutong, Thirteenth Prince's Mansion.

There is a hot copper stove hot pot on the kang table, the bottom of the pot with sauerkraut and white meat is covered with fish scales, and the smell of hot pot is all over the room, refreshing the heart and lungs.

Seeing that the fourth elder brother couldn't hide his lack of expression, the thirteenth elder brother picked up a chopstick to eat, put it on the plate in front of the fourth elder brother, and said: "This is the bean curd skin from Qianmen Tofu Liu. , eat two more bites."

The fourth elder brother picked it up and put it in his mouth, nodded and said: "The taste is really good."

The thirteenth elder brother put down his chopsticks, looked at the fourth elder brother carefully, and said, "Even if the fourth elder brother is sincere in worshiping Buddha, he cannot all be vegetarians. After all, the health matters. It has been a month and a half since the news of the mobilization came out, and the fourth elder brother wants to It's almost out of shape."

"Three soldiers and horses will leave Beijing one after another next month. Logistics supplies are a big deal, and the household department is not rich in money. It may take a while." The fourth elder brother filled two spoonfuls of vegetable soup with a spoon, put them in a bowl, and I drank it in small sips.

Seeing this, elder brother Thirteen called a servant to come in and gave some instructions in a low voice.

After a while, the servant came in with a tray, and inside were two small bowls with blue flowers and lotus flowers on a white background, and inside were two bowls of steamed blood soup that were glowing red.

"Deer blood is the most nourishing. Use high soup to make it tight. Fourth brother eat it while it is hot. It will become fishy when it cools." The thirteenth elder brother personally sent a bowl to the fourth elder brother.

The fourth elder brother has been used to being a vegetarian for the past few years. Seeing this bright red one, his appetite can't help wheezing.But seeing Elder Brother Thirteen's face full of concern, it was not good to reject his kindness, so he lowered his head and took a spoonful.

But it is smooth and tender in the mouth, and there is no smell at all. The fourth elder brother used up a few spoonfuls and felt that his forehead was already sweating.

The thirteenth elder brother was delighted to see that he was using it, so he pushed his own bowl forward, and said, "Fourth brother uses it well, so let's use a few more mouthfuls."

The fourth elder brother had already put down the spoon in his hand, waved his hand and said: "Use it, thanks to the blessing of the thirteenth brother, I have used it more than in the past. My stomach, the thirteenth brother knows, I eat too much, but I don't like it." Comfortable. Throwing up in vain, spoiling things."

Brother Thirteen knew what he was telling the truth, so he stopped trying to persuade him, drank the blood soup by himself, and ate two sesame seed cakes with the white meat in the hot pot before putting down his chopsticks.

After the boy cleared the table and served tea, the thirteenth elder brother looked up at the sky outside. It was already dusk, so he called a steward and ordered: "Cao's funeral will be held tomorrow, and the time will be the same as the route." It's time to make a decision, go to Cao's house and take a copy of the Shichen line."

The steward responded, and the fourth elder brother picked up the tea, drank a couple of sips, and asked slowly, "Thirteenth Brother wants to hold a road sacrifice tomorrow?"

"Well, even if you don't look at Mr. Zhongzheng's face, just look at Cao Yong, the sacrificial shed on this road has to be set up. Huang Ama now thinks of me, and outsiders know who my old thirteen is. Before, except for the fourth brother and Cao Yong , who else remembers me?"

Speaking of the past, Elder Brother Thirteen had a bit of bitterness and emotion.

The fourth elder brother sighed, and said: "It's all over, let's not mention it in the future. To avoid causing trouble to the villain, and gossip in front of Huang Ama."

"It's just nagging in front of the fourth brother. In front of others, the younger brother would not say this. But in the fourth brother's house, will there be a road sacrifice shed tomorrow?" The thirteenth brother laughed at himself twice, and asked Speak up.

The fourth elder brother didn't seem to have considered this topic yet, groping for the handle of the teacup, and muttered: "Is there a road festival?"

He seemed to be scrupulous, and frowned, "Isn't it convenient for me to come forward? Will Huang Ama be careless?"

The thirteenth elder brother heard the words, shook his head and said: "fourth brother, don't be so careful. You and Cao Yong have the grace to save lives. Cao Yong has been in Beijing for more than ten years, and he has treated fourth brother with respect. How can Huang Ama not like you?" You know? Besides, what can I do if I sell Cao Yong’s favor? He is now Ding You, and he is a real Heshuo son-in-law, and the sewage of the prince’s affair cannot be poured on his head.”

After hearing this, the fourth elder brother calmed down and said: "Forget it, it's also the gift of my half-teacher with Mr. Zhong Zheng."

Before Cao Yin came to Jiangning in his early years, he worked as an errand in the imperial court and taught several elder brothers in archery, so the fourth elder brother said...

*
Today, October 28, is the day before Cao Yin's funeral.

At the entrance of the spirit shed, the specific time and route of tomorrow's departure have been written on a whole piece of yellow paper.Many juniors or managers of the Cao family's in-laws and old families came to copy it.

I saw it read: "At the beginning of tomorrow ([-] o'clock in the morning) start on time. Exit the church to Gulou West Street to officially start carrying, pass through Di'anmen Street, Xihuangchenggen, exit Ju'er Hutong West Exit to Xisi South Street , Xisi Pailou, Mutton Street, Fuchengmen Street, and Fuchengmen to Haidian three nests for burial.”

In addition to marking the streets and intersections where the funeral passed, the addresses of the road sacrificial sheds, road sacrificial tables, and tea tables that have been determined are also marked.

In this way, everyone has a good idea of ​​the itinerary for tomorrow morning.The road sacrificial sheds and road sacrificial tables are staggered to avoid getting together.

After discussing with several stewards about the funeral tomorrow, Cao Yong went back to the inner house for dinner when he saw that it was getting dark and the lamps were lighting in the coffin shed.

Before returning to Wutong Garden, he first visited his mother, Mrs. Li, in Orchid Garden.

The mourning period was long and procrastinated, coupled with the heartache of Li's husband's loss, he persisted until March [-]th and fell ill. Now that he has been recuperating for ten months, his energy is still lacking.

When Cao Yong entered the room, Chu Yu was serving Li's dinner with vegetables.

Mrs. Li looked disconcerted, but she just stood up in front of her son and daughter-in-law.

Sitting opposite to his mother, Cao Yong saw that the porridge bowl in front of her had gone away a little bit, and the porridge and side dishes hadn't moved at all. He couldn't help frowning, and said, "Mom still doesn't have an appetite? It will be windy tomorrow, and we have to cool down. My mother is not in good health, it seems that I still have to invite the imperial doctor to come over and let my mother take another look."

Mrs. Li heard something wrong, she quickly shook her head and said: "It's okay, tomorrow is the master's day, so don't delay."

Cao Yong's attitude was very firm, and said: "Even if you want to worry about your father, you can't ignore your mother. Otherwise, wouldn't your son become an unfilial son?"

"Knowing a son is like a mother", but Li Shi knew that her son was screwed up, and she, as a mother, was not cured.

She sighed, picked up the porridge bowl in front of her, and said with a bit of helplessness: "Okay, can I eat it?"

Mrs. Li looked very young at first, nearly fifty years old, maybe in her thirties.Cao Yin's death this time made her look much older.The frowns at the corners of his eyes were already densely packed, and he looked more and more old.

Cao Yong was afraid that his mother would not enjoy eating alone, so he asked Chu Yu to serve him a bowl of porridge, and ate it with Mrs. Li.

After dinner, the maid served the medicine bowl.Cao Yong sat on the edge of the kang and took care of Mrs. Li himself before returning to Wutong Garden with Chuyu.

At this moment, a servant girl came to report that the masters and grandmas of Dongfu came to sit at night.

Chu Yu was so anxious that she didn't even bother to eat dinner, so she got up and went to the front yard after spending two pieces of pastry.Cao Yong wanted to go with him, but was stopped by Chu Yu: "Just now I forgot one thing to tell my son-in-law, sister Zijing seems to have something to look for, she sent people to ask twice."

"Amethyst, how is her illness?" Cao Yong stopped and asked.

Amethyst also fell ill at the beginning of the month, and now she is being raised in the sunflower yard.Tianyou and Hangsheng were both sent to Tian's yard to look after them.

"The imperial physician was invited twice, and they only said that it was due to overwork and exogenous pathogenic factors." Speaking of this, Chu Yu said with a bit of guilt: "I am still useless, relying on Sister Zijing too much, and I am exhausted she."

"Who wants to be sick? Zijing won't complain. You go to see your younger brothers and sisters first. I'll go to the sunflower courtyard for a walk.

While talking, the husband and wife went to the second gate, Chu Yu took the maid and mother-in-law out, and Cao Yong went to the sunflower courtyard.

After entering the yard, I saw that the upper rooms were all dark, only the west wing room was lit with lamps.When Cao Yong walked to the door, he heard someone inside say: "Good sister, just drink a few sips. If you continue to suffer, you will break your body."

It was Wu En's voice, Cao Yong knocked on the door twice, and said through the door: "Amethyst, it's me."

I heard rustling in the room, followed by Zijing's slightly weak voice: "It's Grandpa, come in quickly."

Cao Yong picked up the cotton curtain and went in, and saw Zijing get down from the kang with her clothes on, Wu En was helping her, her face was full of worry.On the small table on the kang, there is a bowl of brown soup, which has lost its heat.

"What do you do when you are tossing, or lie down and talk." Cao Yong saw that Zijing was about to get up, and hurriedly stepped forward to hold her down.

"How can you be so thin?" Cao Yong jumped, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw strands of black hair scattered on Amethyst's mattress.

Seeing that Zijing's hair was like this, he couldn't help being startled, he didn't dare to look again, his eyes moved away abruptly, and fell on the bowl of soup medicine, he frowned and said: "Who is working in the yard here? You are so sick that you don't even have a bowl of hot medicine Is it?"

Zijing took Cao Yong's arm, panting and said: "Master, don't be upset. It's because I'm so afraid of this laoshizi, I can't swallow it, and the delay made the medicine cool."

Speaking of this, she paused, and told Wu En: "Please trouble my sister to bring the medicine down and heat it up. If there are duck pears that are newly released this year in the kitchen, I will ask someone to add rock sugar and make a thick bowl of pear juice for me." , to get rid of the bitter taste in your mouth."

When Wu En heard that she was willing to drink the medicine, his face was full of joy, and he blessed Cao Yong, without delay, he seemed to fly out with the medicine bowl in his hand.

After saying these few words, Zijing was no longer strong enough, her forehead was densely covered with beads of sweat, and her body was also shaking.

Seeing that her face was so dark that it was frightening, Cao Yong was horrified, took out a handkerchief, wiped the sweat off her forehead, and said: "It's not too late, I'd better ask the imperial doctor to change the prescription."

Zijing covered her mouth with her hand, coughed a few times, her eyes were already full of water.

"My lord, I have something to ask my lord..." With the voice, I saw that her tears had already rolled down, and she also bowed down.

"Sister!" Cao Yong whispered, and helped her to the side of the kang: "What do you want to say directly? Over the years, have I ever treated you as a slave or a maid? Or is it because my sister thinks that I have treated her badly and sincerely wants to shame me ?”

"Brother Yong..." Zijing choked with sobs, but tears fell like broken beads, and the old address was already in her mouth.

Cao Yong has known her for nearly 20 years, and has never seen her so sad and embarrassed.Even when her former fiancé came to the door and said bad words, she was never so sad.

Cao Yong only felt his eye circles getting hot, and his heart became anxious, and said: "What is it that makes my sister embarrassed like this? If you think I can do it, just say it, and I will refuse you? If I really can't do it , then maybe I can cry with my sister, and make my sister feel happy."

"Brother Yong..." Amethyst took Cao Yong's arm, showing a bit of shame and anxiety on her face, and said slowly: "Please allow me tomorrow... please allow me tomorrow... to send the master for the last time... "

At the end, she let go of Cao Yong's arm, lowered her eyes, her face was already bloodless, like a prisoner waiting for trial.

Seeing Amethyst in such a difficult situation, Cao Yong thought it was a big deal and was listening attentively.Unexpectedly, what he heard was this sentence, and he couldn't help being stunned.

Amethyst just felt like waiting for a few lifetimes, and did not wait until Cao Yong spoke.She closed her eyes in pain, and her body went limp.

Cao Yong held her up, so she didn't fall to the ground.

"If it's freezing cold today, and you're so sick again, how can you stand the toss?" Cao Yong said with a bit of reproach.

In his heart, he faintly felt that it was a little weird, and also felt that it was impossible.Father is 61 this year, Zijing is 32, three, and the difference between the two is 30 years, how can they be related?
Zijing heard that Cao Yong did not die, she opened her tearful eyes, which were full of prayers: "Master, Master is my benefactor. Without Master, I would have fallen to that shameful place long ago, and I am afraid that I would have lost my life a long time ago." , there is no bones left. 22 years ago, the master led me into Cao's house. I have no way to repay the kindness of saving my life. Now I can only send the master for the last time to do my best..."

Seeing Amethyst like this, even if Cao Yong felt weird, he couldn't say anything if he refused.

He wiped Zijing's tears, pretending to be relaxed and said: "Go if you want, but you are also a sick person, so you should rest early tonight and sweat well. Put on more clothes tomorrow, and for the sake of these vain things, put your The illness is serious, the master is not at ease, right?"

Zijing nodded vigorously, and while speaking, she heard footsteps in the yard, and Wu En brought a little maid over with a food box.

Amethyst knew that she was "sitting at night" today, and there was still work ahead, so she sent Cao Yong to the front yard.

Coming out of the sunflower courtyard, Cao Yong twitched the corners of his mouth, wondering whether he should admire his father or not.

Before his father died, he didn't tell himself a word, Cao Yong still felt strange.Later, in the box containing the will, I saw the suicide note left by my father.

In addition to honoring his mother and taking care of his second cousins, Cao Yin also specially confessed to his son a secret matter.

It is mentioned in the suicide note that he had an outhouse living in the south of the Yangtze River, and he once gave birth to a son for the Cao family.

Due to various reasons, the woman was never brought into the mansion, nor was she given a title.He asked his son to send someone down to the south of the Yangtze River to find him and take care of him.He also mentioned that if the other party is willing, the other party can be buried in the tomb of Cao's family and buried with Cao Yin after a hundred years.Naturally, this was to be kept from Li Shi.

The son born in the outer room, Cao Yin didn't specifically mention where it was, but just said that he thought the child "died" back then, and the day of "died" was the day Cao Yong fell to the ground.

For this reason, when Cao Yin saw his young son-in-law, he was not only overwhelmed with joy, but also had an unconcealable "pain of losing a son"...

*
It took half a day to write these, Xiao Jiu tried her best to persist.During the pneumonia infusion, Xiaojiu didn't dare to ask for leave, and burst into tears in the hospital that was eating money. .

(End of this chapter)