Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 92
Because he was thinking about going to Tongzhou, after Cao Yong changed his clothes, he ate a few mouthfuls of breakfast indiscriminately and left the yard.

Outside the second door, Zhuang Xi was wearing a bamboo green robe and cloth boots with thousand-ply soles on his feet. His waist was straight and straight, and he had a certain elegance, which was completely the style of an old scholar who had read poetry and books.Behind him, followed the slightly cramped Wei family brothers.

"Morning, sir! Good morning, Brother Wei, Second Brother Wei!" Cao Yong smiled and said good morning to several people.

Zhuang Xi nodded his head in return, and then looked at Cao Yong from head to toe, saw that he was dressed for going out, and asked, "Master, are you planning to go to Tongzhou?"

Cao Yong was taken aback when he heard this "Young Master". Since Zhuang Xi came to Beijing, he has always been a student, and Zhuang Xi also has the posture of a teacher. He lectures on his homework every now and then, and usually calls him " Yong'er".

Cao Yong decided to go to Tongzhou last night after listening to the confessions of the two hooligans. He wanted to find clues, maybe he would find something.Judging from the looks of the Wei family brothers, Zhuang Xi must have asked the question from them.

"Yes, sir, I'm going to look over there!" Cao Yong replied.

Zhuang Xi frowned slightly, and wanted to say something, but he saw a young man approaching not far away, but he didn't speak.

The boy came to report the matter. It was Cao Zhong, the housekeeper, who knew that Cao Yong was on vacation today, so he asked someone to come to the second gate to ask if the uncle wanted to leave the house, and whether he needed to prepare horses and carriages.

Before Cao Yong could speak, Zhuang Xi ordered the boy to go down to the stable to prepare two fast horses.

After the boy left, Zhuang Xi turned his head and said to the Wei family brothers: "What I said just now, do you all remember it? First go to the bank and ask a few words, such as withdrawing a thousand taels of silver, the guys will be a little impressed. If The bank didn't find anything, so they inquired about the big families near Tongzhou to see if there were any recent pawn houses selling land and collecting large sums of money! However, one thing to keep in mind is that you can't match up with the Yamen servants in Shuntian Prefecture. Yes, get out."

"Yes! Mark it down, Mr. Zhuang!" The two Wei brothers agreed.

Cao Yong was stunned for a while, why didn't he seem to have nothing to do with himself?He looked at Zhuang Xi puzzledly: "Sir?"

"After reading the books for these years, Yong'er should understand the meaning of 'the son of a thousand gold, can't sit down'! Not to mention that Tongzhou is a place haunted by murderers. If you go there so rashly, wouldn't it be just right? The other party's intention? You shouldn't be unable to understand such a simple truth!" Zhuang Xi said solemnly: "Although you are young, you usually act with great sense of proportion, why are you so reckless now?"

A series of questions, making Cao Yong speechless.

The brothers of the Wei family watched Cao Yong grow up. Although they called him "Master", they already regarded him as a nephew in their hearts.Before returning to the mansion in the early morning, Cao Yong said that he would go to Tongzhou in person the next day. The two felt that it was inappropriate and tried to dissuade him several times, but to no avail.Seeing that what Mr. Zhuang said was so reasonable, they all followed suit.

Wei Hei said: "Mr. is right. Those people are aiming at the young master. If their eyes are blackened, they go like this. Maybe they will suffer!"

Wei Bai also persuaded: "Yes, young master, you have to take care of the Shuntian mansion outside the mansion, young master just went like this, if a few of them follow cleverly, then we can take care of what happened last night." Suspected!"

Everyone said so, how could Cao Yong go to Tongzhou on his own way?He had no choice but to nod his head and let the Wei family brothers go.At the same time, I feel a little empty in my heart, I don't need to go to school, I don't need to investigate the case, I seem to have nothing to do.

Zhuang Xi saw that Cao Yong was not as calm as before, his eyes were a little confused, and he thought of the gang of killers mentioned in the Wei brothers' narration.Although the Wei family brothers did not specifically mention the process of fighting and killing, Zhuang Xi is not a fool. Since he can find out the signs from the opponents, the possibility of them being alive is very small.Cao Yong is an aristocratic son who grew up in the house. How could he have seen the scenes of beatings and killings?I'm afraid I'm scared.

As for Cao Yong's murder, Zhuang Xi never thought of it.Even if the Wei family brothers mentioned it, he would not believe it.There is no way, Cao Yong's appearance is too deceptive, no one will link him with the murder.

"If Yong'er has nothing to do, let's go out for a cup of tea with the old man, the teahouse in the capital is different!" Zhuang Xi's expression became kind, as if the dignified, shrewd and capable old man just now was not him.

Cao Yong couldn't go to Tongzhou, and he was free now, so he agreed casually.

*
The two of them went out of the mansion without riding a horse, and went for a stroll to the front door.

Today is a sunny day, the sky is blue and blue, and the sun is transparent, which brightens people's mood.

Because they came out early, it was not yet Si time (nine o'clock in the morning) when the two teachers and students arrived at the front gate.There are not many pedestrians on the street, but the shops on both sides of the road are all open to welcome customers.

The teahouse that Zhuang Xi took Cao Yong to was called "Ruyunxuan", and it was located on Qianmen North Street.

Cao Yong thought that there would not be a few people drinking tea in the early morning, but he didn't expect that half of the seats inside were full.Some people put bird cages on the tea table. It seems that the birds came directly after skating in the morning.

The two entered the teahouse, sat down at a side seat, and ordered a pot of Pu'er.

Cao Yong came out in such a leisurely way for the first time since he came to Beijing for half a year. After drinking a sip of hot tea, he felt that he was in good health.Although the taste is not as good as at home, it has a lot of leisure and fun.

Less than a quarter of an hour after sitting down, someone shouted loudly to the waiter in the teahouse: "Come here, come here, what's going on? Why didn't the Three Kingdoms start today? I was hearing the critical moment yesterday! Grandpa!" I can't wait anymore!"

The people in the other seats agreed with each other, and some said: "Yes, yesterday I was talking about Zhang Fei making a big disturbance at the Changban Bridge, but did I scare off the Cao thief?"

"And the white horse is going to ride the Savior alone! This part is really exciting!" Another person yelled.

The guy smiled and said to the guests: "That's it, that's it, everyone, just watch it!"

While talking, a middle-aged man in a blue robe turned around from the stairs, followed by two teenagers carrying things.

There was already an open space near the north wall of the teahouse, with a three-foot-high table in the middle and a few chairs.

The middle-aged man was the storyteller, he stood still behind the stage and hugged the guests.Two teenagers sat on the side chairs, one held a drum in front of him, and the other held a Sanxian in his arms.

Cao Yong looked at it and suddenly felt strange. It turned out that the storyteller 300 years ago was not like the kind of gavel in later generations.It seems that there must be drum string accompaniment.

Sure enough, when the storyteller spoke, the two teenagers began to beat the drums and pluck the strings, aptly expressing the killing spirit on the battlefield, which made the spectators in the teahouse excited and applauded.At the end, the storyteller sang a few more lines as the ending:

The head of the Changban bridge is murderous,

Hengqiang immediately opened his eyes wide.

A sound like thunder,

Retire Cao's million soldiers alone.

After listening to a piece of "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms", Cao Yong's heart ached much faster, as a man should be!Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, which one is not a great hero, who kills fewer people?I just killed someone who deserved to be killed, if I keep it in my heart like this, it would be a bitch.

Seeing him, Zhuang Xi brushed his beard and said, "Go to Fushunzhai and cut into pieces of sauced beef, shall we go home?"

Cao Yong remembered that Amethyst also loved to eat that beef, so he nodded.

The two left the teahouse and walked leisurely all the way to Zhengyangmen.

Along the way, Zhuang Xi pointed to some famous shops along the street, and said a few words to Cao Yong, or commented on the famous products in the shop, or discussed the background of the business. These vivid words and sentences are full of wit and thought-provoking. Cao Yong listened with great interest, and admired Mr. Zhuang more and more from the bottom of his heart.

Just after passing the big fence, Cao Yong saw Suhebalu with a few entourages head-on. Cao Yong hurriedly pleaded guilty to Zhuang Xi, and rode his horse over to greet Suhebalu.

Su Hebalu was looking downcast at first, but he regained some energy when he saw Cao Yong, he grabbed him and said: "Little... Xiao, Xiao Cao, let's go, drink... drink."

Cao Yong looked at his expression, as if he was not very happy, so he nodded in agreement, turned around and said to Zhuang Xi, and said, "It's almost time for dinner, sir, let's go out to eat together."

Zhuang Xi declined with a smile, bowed his hands to salute Suhebalu, and went back to the residence on his own.

Cao Yong and Suhebalu found a restaurant nearby, entered the private room, ordered four or five dishes, ordered a jar of wine, and drank together.

Sukhbaru seemed to have something on his mind, but he refused to speak all the time, and he seldom ate food. He just drank bowl after bowl. In a blink of an eye, the jar of wine ran out, and he called Xiao Er for wine.

Although Cao Yong knows that he has a lot of alcohol, it is really not good for health to drink like this.So, while persuading Suhebalud to eat more vegetables, he used words to ask what happened.

Suhebaru raised his wrist and drank the contents of the cup. With red eyes, he smiled wryly, "I...I...I want...to...be...married."

Cao Yong's habitual first reaction is congratulations. Just as he opened his mouth, he suddenly remembered the matter of Su Hebalu Simu Baoya. Seeing his distraught appearance, he understood the reason for his sadness. Then "Congratulations" The two characters were swallowed back abruptly, and turned into an inaudible sigh.

Sukhbaru didn't look at his reaction at all, just said "Grace of the Empress Dowager", then lowered his head again, pouring wine like drinking water.

Cao Yong had a lovelorn experience in his previous life, and he also used alcohol to drown his sorrows, so he understands Suhebalu's mood very well.Speaking of which, Suhebalu was more helpless than him. After all, he had obtained that woman, but Suhebaru had no chance to win the heart of his beloved girl, and all hope was ruined by a marriage decree.

Thinking of the past and thinking about the present, Cao Yong drank a bowl of wine in one breath. Now, how can he decide his own marriage?Even if he can disobey the orders of his parents and the words of the matchmaker, and can bargain, what about Kangxi's marriage proposal?Can he resist?Who knows that Sukhbaru's today is not his future?
In theory, if there is no one you love, it is not too difficult to simply spend your life with a woman who is not in love.Cao Yong is not a person with emotional and cleanliness, at least he can respect each other as a guest and not hurt each other; but if he meets a woman he loves, but can't give him the title of wife, what will he do then?After staying in the house for many years, Cao Yong knows how low the status of a concubine is in this era, and he also knows how a spoiled concubine may bring turmoil to a family. He himself absolutely does not allow such a thing to happen.

Both of them were thinking about their own thoughts, and both drank without saying a word.Sukhbaru was full of melancholy, his drinking capacity was greatly reduced, and soon he fell drunk and couldn't get up while lying on the desk.Cao Yong's alcohol capacity is not weak, and he drank less fast than him, but now his mind is clear and there is no serious problem.

Cao Yong called Xiaoer to pay the bill, and then set up Suhebalu out of the private room and went downstairs.Downstairs, Suhebalu's entourage was sitting near the stairs in the lobby. When they saw Cao Yong coming out, they rushed up to pick up their master.

Sukhbaru suddenly called out in a very low voice, "Baoya..."

This sound carried one point of depression, two points of helplessness and seven points of sadness, Cao Yong's heart tightened when he heard it, and several followers also shook their heads secretly.Cao Yong patted the shoulder of one of his followers, told them to take good care of Suhebalu, and watched them leave.

Cao Yong wanted to buy the beef for Amethyst, so he didn't have the nerve to let Zhuang Xi take it.At this moment, he thought of Suhebalu's "Baoya" and didn't know how much Suhebalu had in Baoya's heart, so he planned to bring some food back to Baoya and the others.

*
Cao Mansion, Bamboo Courtyard

Cao Yi was holding an embroidery job, while walking the needle and thread, chatting with Yong Jia who was leaning on the back of Suo Zijin.Baoya lay lazily on the soft couch, playing with a purse that Cao Yi had embroidered in the past, looking bored.The little maid outside came in and said, "Master is coming this way."

After hearing this, Baoya got up immediately: "Well, I can't even catch him, and I won't take us when I go out to play, look at me and say he goes!" Said, he jumped off the soft couch and ran to the yard. Pull his sleeves in the past: "Where did you go?"

Although Cao Yong changed his clothes, he still smelled of alcohol. Bao Ya smelled it, wrinkled his nose, and pretended to be annoyed: "I went to drink! Don't call us! We should be punished!"

Cao Yong pointed to the food box held by the maid behind him: "I brought back some exquisite snacks, I don't know if it suits your appetite."

Baoya's eyes lit up, she rushed over, opened a food box, and said happily, "Walnut sticks, candied golden dates, chrysanthemum bergamot cakes? Okay, okay, I love all of these. You have a conscience!" He took the food box by himself, ran into the house happily, called the servant girl to bring the kang table over, put the food box on the table, and said to Yongjia Cao Yi with a smile: "Cao Yong has a conscience and brought us some snacks. Third sister , there are your favorite candied horseshoe and wood rhinoceros cake. There is also sister Yongjia's favorite green jade bean cake!"

While speaking, Cao Yong also entered the house.Both Yongjia and Cao Yi thanked each other with a smile, and then they washed their hands and ate some snacks.

Bao Ya took a bite of the cake, took a piece of candied fruit, smacked her tongue in satisfaction, and asked Cao Yong who was sitting on a chair drinking tea: "Which one did you go drinking with? You are so leisurely in broad daylight?"

Cao Yong put down the teacup: "I met Suhebalu." After a pause, he said again, "Suhebalu was married in the palace, so I went to drink." Glanced Bao Ya.

Bao Ya, on the other hand, was surprised, with big bright eyes open, and she looked elated: "I'm not invited for such a happy event! I want him to look good later! I must have a drink! Which lady are you referring to?"

Cao Yong didn't expect her to react like this, he shook his head and said, "I don't know... I only know that the queen mother gave me the marriage."

Baoya's small face collapsed, and she pouted: "You said you didn't know?! Hmph, you're so confused!! Is there anyone who drank wedding wine and didn't know which family to marry?!" Then she broke her fingers excitedly After counting, "Xiu Nu has already pointed it out, and Suhebalu is the young prince of Mongolia. She must be a clan girl. I don't think I can escape Sister Yierha or Sister Samusu, or Yala! Sister Yongjia, you Say no? Thinking about it, there is no one..."

Yongjia wiped the crumbs from the corner of her mouth with a silk cloth, smiled and said nothing.Baoya was still immersed in her own happiness, and excitedly began to think about what to give.

Cao Yong looked at Bao Ya so happy, knew that this was Luo Hua's intentional flow of water and ruthlessness, and somewhat felt sorry for Suhe Baru, but then he thought that this was good, it was better than beating mandarin ducks with sticks, which made the two of them sad, so he just bowed his head at the moment drink tea.

Seeing Baoya's innocence, Yongjia sighed secretly.She and her second brother Yongsheng are close in age and have the best relationship. Yongsheng also has a heart of admiration for Baoya, and he doesn't hide it from his sister.

Yongsheng originally thought that his younger sister praised him in front of Baoya, and later complained to his younger sister that since Baoya came back from the grassland, there has been an extra Sukhbaru by his side. Yes, for no reason gave Sukhbaru a chance.

In the past few days, whenever Baoya and Yongjia talked about the grassland, they must mention Suhebalu. It didn't mean that Suhebalu helped her hunt, or that Suhebalu gave her good things. Baru also knows something about his interest in Baoya.

Seeing Baoya's scene now, she couldn't help thinking about herself, isn't that person just as ignorant as Baoya?I have kept filial piety for three years, and I am already over the age of filial piety. At that time, I am afraid that the man has already found a good match and got married.Maybe, she is not as good as Suhebalu who still has friendship in Baoya's heart. From the beginning to the end, did she ever leave a little trace in his heart?
For a moment, Yongjia's heart was full of twists and turns, feeling a sense of melancholy.

(End of this chapter)