Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 872 Strike
Li Mansion, front hall.

Li Yu's heart sank after hearing the words of Chief Manager Qian Zhongrui.Although he knew that his younger brother was still young and was suffering from illness, it was normal for him to fail the exam, but considering his strong temper, how could he tell the news?

Today is the day when the list is released, and Li Cheng is not ranked.

Seeing that Li Yu didn't speak, Qian Zhongrui couldn't help sighing.

When the third young master was in the capital last year, the uncle took him to visit several great scholars, and they all said that the third young master is smart and has solid homework.

If it weren't for the praise of these old masters, the third young master wouldn't be only 13 years old, thinking about taking the exam.

Even if you are young and strong, it is not easy to end up in the game for nine days.After traveling thousands of miles, the third young master ended up dragging his sick body.

"Second young master, do you want to find a way to hide it? Or delay it?" Seeing that Li Yu was silent, Qian Zhongrui asked tentatively.

Li Yu raised his head, looked at Qian Zhongrui, and said with a wry smile: "Chief Manager, how can you hide it? How can you procrastinate?"

Qian Zhongrui was also speechless, yes, although the third young master is ill, he is not ill and confused, he knows that today is the day to announce the results.

Even if you want to delay telling him, at most you can delay until dinner time.

"My aunt and my cousin are still there, let me tell you slowly after seeing off the guests." Li Yu felt his head ache, but he had no other way, he could just walk and watch.

Qian Zhongrui originally thought about telling Li Shi to ask Li Shi to enlighten and comfort the third young master, but then he thought that the third young master was the most powerful and appointed those who did not want to lose face in front of relatives, so he also felt that Li Yu's arrangement was appropriate .

Inner house, Li Cheng's room.

Seeing Li Cheng's pale complexion, without any trace of blood, and his voice became weaker and weaker, Li Shi was afraid of tiring him, so after saying a few words, he leaned over and tucked his quilt, saying: "It's good to have a rest, I'll take the I picked up two old ginseng, and let someone boil it for you to make up for it, and I will come to see you again in a few days."

Li Cheng squeezed out a smile, and said: "It's all about grandson, isn't it... Tired aunt is worried, grandson is fine, he will be fine in two days, I will go to greet my aunt... Cough, cough..."

He tried his best to pretend nothing happened, but after saying a word, he started coughing non-stop.

Tears came out from coughing on his face, and he no longer had the usual bright appearance, which made people feel unbearable to watch.

"Good boy, don't talk anymore, take care of it." Li's eyes grew more pity, he patted the quilt, got up and gave a few instructions to the Li family's mother-in-law and maidservant who was standing next to him, just to take care of something carefully, and then Come out with Cao Yong.

Seeing the worry on his mother's face, Cao Yong comforted him: "Mother, don't worry too much. Didn't the imperial doctor tell you that? Li Cheng is weak and has been invaded by external evils. He has a cold and heals slowly. There is nothing serious."

"Your uncle is the only direct grandson, and your maternal grandmother raised him on his own. If something happened in the capital, it would be unbearable." Li said with a sigh.

Cao Yong had to say a few words of comfort. Although he didn't like Li Cheng, he would not gloat and hope that a 13-year-old child would die of illness.He is also a father and has children of his own.

However, he was not without complaints.

This guy Li Cheng is obviously doing what he wants, and he wants others to worry about him.The rural examination took three rounds and nine days, and he recovered from a serious illness. He had to travel for another ten days, and then ended up suffering for nine days.

Thinking of this, he remembered that today is the time to release the rankings.

"Grandmother, cousin." Li Yu walked towards them, saw the two of them, and said something about keeping guests.

"Cheng'er is not in good health, and you are busy, so we won't make any more trouble. Please take care of your brother. If there is anything missing, send someone over to tell you." Li said to Li Yu.

Li Yu responded in a low voice, and sent Li's mother and son out.

Cao Yong rode a horse and guarded beside his mother's carriage, and a group of people came back from Li's house.

After passing the West Fourth Archway, I saw firecrackers hanging from the door of a house in front of me, and they were set off "crackling".

The horses used in Li's carriage have all been carefully trained by the racecourse, and they are not afraid of noise.So the coachman, waving his whip steadily, drove on.

Seeing the people from the Yamen coming out of the door, Cao Yong couldn't help looking over.

Xiaoman followed on horseback, reined in the horse, stepped forward and said: "Master, the Guibang has been released, and the servants from Shuntian Mansion came to announce the good news. Did we come out early from the uncle's house, or else we might be able to catch up The excitement over there."

Cao Yong nodded, and saw a beaming middle-aged man walking out of the house over there, following behind the guards.Looking at the attire, he doesn't look like a housekeeper.

At this time, a few people happened to come over, and they cupped their fists at that person and said, "Congratulations to Fourth Master Zhao from high school. I already knew that Fourth Master is not an ordinary person. After playing six times, I finally got a six-six-six success. In the future, I will be appointed as an official. Just remember to support us neighbors."

"Congratulations, congratulations." The "Master Zhao" hurriedly bowed back, his eyes couldn't open his eyes from the smile.

At this time, I saw a boy with a thick head and a thick head, jumped out of the door, grabbed the sleeve of "Master Zhao", stepped on his feet and said, "Grandpa is now a juror, grandpa is going to be an official..."

Master Zhao lowered his head and picked up the boy, looked back at the dilapidated gate, and said something...

Cao Yong withdrew his gaze, and all the people living in the inner city lived in the banner.Anyone with some basic foundation will not hang themselves on the rope skipping in the imperial examination.

This Fourth Master Zhao, if it wasn't for the decline of his family, he wouldn't have gone to court six times, and he would still take the single-plank bridge of the imperial examination in his old age.

Thinking of this, Cao Yong was a little uncertain about whether Li Cheng could go to high school.

Even if Li Cheng looked smarter, after all, his age was limited, and he was not sure to be in the same field with those candidates who had studied for more than ten years, or for half their lives.

Xiao Man had already said from the side: "The list is released today, and there will be a feast of deer crowing tomorrow. The young master of the Li family has received the letter of good news. Maybe he will recover from his illness and save his wife and uncle from worrying."

Perhaps it was because Cao Fu won the exam at the age of 16, and Cao Xiang failed for the first time at the age of 14. In Xiaoman's mind, the imperial examination was nothing, so he never thought that Li Cheng might fail.

In his opinion, if you don't have 100% certainty, and you come all the way here quickly, you won't be full.

When he returned to the mansion, as soon as Cao Yong got off his horse, he saw the porter come forward and said: "Master, the seventh master of the Cheng family brought someone to pay his respects to him, and wait in the side hall."

Cao Yong dismounted, handed the reins to the boy, and stepped into the yard.

In the side hall, Cheng Mengxian looked at the cautious Zheng Xie in front of him, a little puzzled, and said in a low voice, "Brother Ke Rou, speaking of it, brother and Master Cao are also friends, why are you so cautious?"

This is about the fact that Zheng Xie's ancestor was the teacher of Cao's mansion and Cao Yong's master.

Zheng Xie was surprised when he heard this, and asked, "Qiye, where did you start?"

Cheng Mengxian was taken aback by the question, but he was a little confused, and said: "Could it be a rumor, isn't it that Master Cao, like your father, is a disciple of Master Song?"

Since last year, Cheng Mengxian has paid close attention to Cao Yong, wishing to find out everything related to Cao Yong.

Cao Yong's characters are also well-known in the official circles of the capital.Even in the past two years, people often went to Cao's house to ask for words.Therefore, it is not a secret that he is the second disciple of calligraphy master Song Binchen.

Zheng Xie heard the words and said: "Perhaps it's been a long time, and I haven't heard my father mention it, so I don't know about it. I also ask Qi Ye to be sympathetic and don't mention this matter. The students are only here to find a school, so it is not easy to cling to."

Cheng Mengxian looked at Zheng Xie with a frown, but didn't know what to say.

The family can't get rid of the pot, and they are all reduced to selling letters on the street, and they don't know how to adapt.Changed to other people, thinking about the relationship with the Cao family, they have already come to fight the autumn wind.

After all, the world attaches great importance to "respecting teachers and valuing education", and Cao Yong is notoriously popular, thinking of the friendship of the same family, he will also extend his hand to help Zheng Xie.

Outside the side hall, Cao Yong stopped and just heard the last two sentences.

Don't know about this?

Zheng Xie is one year older than Cao Yong, and he is eight years old in the 40th year of Kangxi.At that time, I followed Mr. Song to Cao's other courtyard in Hangzhou twice, and the obediently called Cao Yong "Master Uncle".

Cao Yong thought of the past, just feel funny in my heart.

My own "nephew" was also a big celebrity during Kang Qian's time.Now that it's delivered to your door, you still dare to distance yourself from it, how can it be so cheap?

Cao Yong was very excited at the thought of inviting such a famous person who is famous for his funeral as a teacher to his sons.Maybe, decades later, my children and grandchildren will also occupy a place in Shilin and leave their names in history.

He slowed down, stepped forward, opened the door and went in.

Cheng Mengxian heard footsteps in the room, and hurriedly stood up to greet him. Seeing this, Zheng Xie also stood up.

"It's Gao Yun." Cao Yong smiled, and called Cheng Mengxian.

After contacting for a long time, Cao Yong has a good impression of Cheng Laoqi who is knowledgeable about practical affairs.It's no wonder that the Cheng family has been able to stand in the south of the Yangtze River for a hundred years, and we can see that the head of the family, Cheng Mengkun's generation of cousins, are all well-informed people.

Like flowing water, it is warm and pleasant, soft but not rigid.

"Master Cao, this is Zheng Xie and Kerou whom the villain mentioned to Master Cao..." Cheng Mengxian bowed in salute, then turned to Zheng Xie and said, "Brother Ke Rou, this is Uncle Cao, the master of this place."

"Student Zheng Xie met Uncle Cao..." Zheng Xie bowed.

Cao Yong replied, "Mr. Zheng."

I haven't seen him for 20 years, but Zheng Xie's tinea capitis has long since healed up, only his forehead is left, and he can still vaguely see his childhood appearance.

Thinking of Cao Yi being mischievous at that time, and even overthrowing Zheng Xie, holding his old punches, Cao Yong couldn't stop smiling.He hastily stretched out his fist, covered his mouth, coughed lightly twice, and asked them to sit down.

Cao Yong mentioned the number of children in the family, talked about the matter of hiring a teacher, and asked and answered with Zheng Xie.

Zheng Xie talked about his previous teaching experience, which is neither humble nor overbearing.

Cao Yong listened and nodded.Very well, if you were someone else, you would have to "stick" to the golden mean, and no matter what you think, you should say "self-effacing" in your mouth.

Zheng Xie was honest, he didn't brag about how he was, but he bluntly talked about his shortcomings in stereotypes.

That means, it was because the students here were still young that he found a school; if they were at the age of taking the exam, he would not be shameless, so as not to mislead the students.

Cheng Mengxian was at the side, secretly looking at Cao Yong.Looking at this, Cao Yong really didn't seem to know that Zheng Xie in front of him had a relationship with himself.

Cheng Mengxian was quite fortunate, fortunately he didn't mention this paragraph too much, otherwise Cao Yong might think that Zheng Xie was clinging to the powerful and contemptuous of him
*
Inside the Anding Gate, Prince Yong's Mansion.

Nian Xi wore brand-new mending clothes, bowed and said: "My servant thanked the prince for his guidance."

The fourth elder brother snorted coldly, glared at him, and said: "I have already asked the thirteenth master, how dare the master refuse you? It's just that this time it's what you want, so you have to save it, there will be no next time!"

Nian Xi hurriedly said: "I know this, so I don't dare to bother the lord with my personal affairs."

The fourth elder brother reprimanded him a few times, seeing him docile, his face softened a little, he waved his hands and said: "Fu Jin and your aunt have been talking about you for the past two days, go and greet them..."

*
Inside Xizhimen, Li's residence.

Li Cheng stared at Li Yu fiercely, gritted his teeth and said, "Second brother, did you release the list..."

(End of this chapter)