On April 26, the 48th year of Kangxi, Kangxi set off from Changchun Garden, patrolling Xingsai, the crown prince Yinren, the third son of the emperor and Prince Shuocheng Yinzhi, the seventh son of the emperor Doluo Chunjun Wang Yinyou, the eighth son of the emperor Dorobelle Yinxi, the thirteenth son of the emperor Yinxiang, the fifteenth son of the emperor Yinlu, and the sixteenth son of the emperor Yinlu accompanied him.

When the emperor traveled, in addition to the imperial guards, there were also eight banner soldiers such as the cavalry battalion, the forward battalion, and the guard battalion. In front is the forward battalion to open the way, and then to the cavalry battalion. The two battalions of soldiers are brave and brave. Hundreds of imperial guards, riding horses on both sides of Luan's driving, and the periphery is the three banners of the guard battalion. Then, after a distance, there was a golden sedan chair accompanying the concubines. After some accompanying palace people, it was the chariot and horse of the prince and lord, civil and military officials. After that, there was a mighty convoy, and finally tens of thousands of infantry battalions.

Cao Hao rode on a horse, looked at the team that could not be seen in front of him, and looked at the yellow curtains on both sides of the road, which was regarded as seeing what the royal style was. Although I don't know how many people traveled this time, there were no less than 10,000 soldiers in the Three Banners Guard Battalion before and after Luan's drive.

No wonder yesterday it was stated that after talking about the march on horseback, he got off his horse and didn't want to get on the horse again. Cao Hao, who had been on the back of the horse for several hours, really wanted to lie down and rest immediately after dismounting.

Luan Jiachen set off from Changchun Garden at the beginning of the morning (7 o'clock in the morning) and arrived at the South Stone Trough before it was 2 o'clock in the afternoon. In just forty miles, Luan drove for three and a half hours. Cao Hao, as an accompanying guard, followed the others on horseback. The atmosphere was truly solemn, with hundreds of guards and tens of thousands of guards riding bravely on horseback, silent. In the entire marching procession, there was no movement except for the sound of chariots and horses.

*

The entourage of tents and bedding had already arrived on the south stone trough by the path, and it was ensured that the temporary sleeping tent could be set up in a flat and open area when the holy car arrived.

The emperor's temporary sleeping tent was in the center of the station, surrounded by concubines and royal families, and surrounded by civil and military officials. Around the other four are the eight banner soldiers according to the different flags, their respective stations.

The garrison of the guard camp was between the imperial family and the hundred officials, not very far from the emperor's sleeping tent. When Cao Hao led the horse over, Xiao Man had already arrived for a long time, and together with the miscellaneous servants of the guard camp, he set up a tent and boiled hot water.

Cao Hao has been in this world for a few years, except for the half month when he was kidnapped when he was a child, he really didn't suffer much. As it is today, it was the first time to march on horseback for several hours.

Cao Hao returned to the tent, wiped his face, and changed his clothes. Along the way, due to the actions of the army, a lot of smoke and dust were stirred. When he was done, he lay down on his bed, not wanting to get up.

Outside the tent, Naranfuson's voice came from outside, as if he was explaining something to someone. After a while, Naranfusen entered the tent. Cao Hao couldn't lie down anymore, got up and said, "Brother Fusen is here!" ”

Nalan Fusen found a cushion to sit down in front of Cao Hao's cover: "If you are tired, just crooked, and you will be on duty after dinner for a while!" ”

Cao Hao had already heard that because the holy car was outside, the guards should be stricter. These guards will be on duty every day in the future.

While talking, Heshan, who was in the same account as Cao Hao, and two other third-class guards came in, saw Nalan Fusen there, and asked with a smile: "Nalan, I am willing to lose the bet, what have you prepared for us today!" ”

Nalan Fusen replied: "It's been prepared for a long time, it's been handed over to the kitchen, it should be soon!" ”

Heshan was a little surprised: "You guys are coming, isn't it only a quarter of an hour?" Where to hit the game! ”

Nalan Fusen replied: "There are more than 100,000 soldiers and civilians along the way, even if there is game, they are also frightened. Shi Detou had already prepared and asked the little guy to buy two cages of fat chickens in the villages along the way. ”

Heshan smiled and said: "Fat chicken, I'm hungry right now, it seems that I can eat a full meal!" ”

*

When the meal is finished, it is Cao Hao's turn to be on duty. Cao Hao followed Shuming and the others and went to stand in front of the imperial tent for two hours. During this period, the accompanying princes, the six Shangshu, entered the imperial tent in turn. The thirteenth elder brother Yinxiang was also among them, taller than when Cao Hao saw it that year, his face was slightly thin, and he had a short beard on his lips.

Coming with the thirteenth elder brother were two young elder brothers, one sixteen and seven, and one fourteen and five, with eight points of similar appearance. Cao Hao looked at the two of them dressed up and knew that this was the fifteenth elder brother Yinlu and the sixteenth Yinlu of the same mother. Speaking of which, the two elder brothers and Cao Hao are cousins. The biological mother of the two elder brothers, the secret nobleman Wang, is the cousin of Cao Hao's mother, Li. It's just that because the harem is not allowed to make friends with foreign ministers at will, and the two families are not blood relatives with the same surname, they didn't move around.

Xu saw that Cao Hao was young and fresh, and the sixteenth elder brother paused outside the tent and asked, "Who are you, why haven't I seen you?" ”

Cao Hao was very reluctant in his heart, but he still saluted according to the rules and replied: "Back to Brother, the slave is the third-class guard Cao Hao." ”

"Cao Hao!" Elder Brother Sixteen's eyes lit up: "You are the Cao Hao who won the Dehezi in archery, okay, okay, I'll look for you to shoot arrows in my spare time in the future?" ”

"Not good, not good at all!" Cao Hao shouted in his heart, but his face was still respectful.

"You're so old, the last time I saw you, you were only a teenager!" The thirteenth elder brother smiled and gestured, but the twenty-three people had the vicissitudes of seeing through the world in their words: "The snake oil essence you sent is very useful, I haven't thanked you yet!" The last time he saw each other was the time when Kangxi accompanied him on his southern tour in the 44th year.

"Compared with the life-saving grace of the Thirteenth Master, that snake oil essence is really nothing!" Cao Hao said sincerely.

"Brother Thirteen, did you know Cao Hao earlier? Yes, I heard that he is the son of Cao Dongting, and he met him when he was on the southern tour of Emperor Amam? Brother Sixteen asked curiously.

The thirteenth elder brother nodded and entered the sleeping tent, followed by the fifteenth elder brother and the sixteenth elder brother.

Perhaps in the eyes of the fourth elder brother and the thirteenth elder brother, the rescue back then was just a trivial matter that was solved casually, but for Cao Hao, it was a real life-saving grace. If he hadn't met the two elder brothers, not to mention what would have saved the Cao family, it would have been said whether his little life would have survived to this day. Thinking of this, Cao Hao suddenly felt a strong sense of guilt. As a man, revenge and revenge are the least. However, because of various concerns, where did he think about repaying the two benefactors? Because of his prejudice against the fourth elder brother, he is suspicious; Because of avoiding suspicion, he didn't visit the thirteenth elder brother even though he knew that he was sick. What's wrong with you, how can you be so utilitarian? Cao Hao couldn't help but secretly despise himself.

*

After a while, a eunuch came out of the sleeping tent, but it was Cao Hao who recognized it, and it was Wei Zhu who took him to see the driver.

Wei Zhu first said loudly: "Long live the Lord has a will, the third-class guard Cao Hao will see you in front of the emperor!" After speaking, he said in a low voice: "The sixteenth elder brother mentioned Cao Guards to Long Live Lord, Long Live Lord was in a good mood, and Cao Guards were relieved." ”

Cao Hao was puzzled, listened to Wei Zhu's words, put his mind at ease, and said in a low voice: "Thank you!" ”

In the sleeping tent, in addition to Kangxi, who sat high, there were seven or eight princes. The one standing on Kangxi's right, wearing a bright yellow imperial costume, should be the prince who has gone through the abolition turmoil.

Cao Hao entered the outside of the sleeping tent, glanced at Kangxi's location, lowered his head and knelt down on one knee a few steps forward: "Slave Cao Hao has seen Long Live Lord!" ”

"Get up!" Kangxi spoke: "When did you start on duty, why didn't I see you?" ”

"Back to the Long Live Lord, the slave started to be on duty yesterday, and it was the afternoon shift, and the Long Live Lord didn't come out of the study, so I didn't see the minion!" Cao Hao got up in response and replied with his head down.

Kangxi nodded, looked at Cao Hao's slightly thin figure, and frowned slightly.

Although Cao Hao lowered his head, he could feel that the eyes of several princes were staring at him. He couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart, whether it was the prince, the third elder brother and the eighth elder brother, they were all offended by him. In order to avoid the misfortune of the queen, his little third-class guard actually offended the prince of the three parties. It seems that there is no other choice than hugging Kangxi's thick legs.

"Huang Ama, Rui Ying has tuberculosis, and the companion of the sons and daughters has been vacant for a long time, so let Cao Hao be the companion of the sons and daughters!" The sixteenth elder brother is young, and he is not as restrained as other older elder brothers in front of the imperial father.

Kangxi glanced at the sixteenth elder brother with a little meaning: "Do you know Cao Hao?" When did you meet? ”

The sixteenth elder brother replied with a smile: "I just saw him outside the tent that he was about the same age as his son, and I asked a few words, even if I knew him." Huang Ama, aren't you a good son of Lao Xun, I heard that Cao Hao is good at riding and shooting, and he can take his sons and daughters well. ”

Kangxi listened, and glared at the sixteenth elder brother: "I just said that I wanted to find a companion to read, but now I have become taking you to ride and shoot, but I just want to find someone to accompany you to mess around!" ”

The sixteenth elder brother smiled cheekily and did not deny it.

Kangxi looked at the sixteenth elder brother, thinking of his half-brother, the eighteenth elder brother who died last year, and felt a little more fatherly in his heart; Look at Cao Hao again, his body is not much taller than the sixteenth elder brother, and he is just a child, who has been in the capital for more than a month and suffered from unjustified disasters.

With Kangxi's nod and the laughter of the sixteenth elder brother, Cao Hao's fate took a small turn.

Cao Hao stood in front of the palace, and he was full of slander in his heart, it was really an evil feudal imperial power, and he was pointed out to the sixteenth elder brother as a companion like an object. Although the position of the imperial guard is still retained, his responsibilities have changed, and he is temporarily on an errand beside the sixteenth elder brother.

Subsequently, Kangxi wanted to summon the minister, so he waved his hand to let the princes and Cao Hao kneel down.

*

Out of the sleeping tent and looking at the sunset on the horizon, Cao Hao was a little confused. went to the capital as a guard, which was originally arranged by the Cao family to show loyalty. He himself wanted to be by Kangxi's side and do his best to eliminate the calamity of the Cao family, but he didn't expect that today's sixteenth elder brother had a whim and completely disrupted his plan.

"Cao Hao, you go back and move your luggage to the camp over there!" The sixteenth elder brother patted Cao Hao's shoulder and said.

"Yes, the minion obeys!" Cao Hao replied in a formal manner.

"In the future, in front of the master, don't be a slave!" The sixteenth elder brother said casually: "As soon as you call yourself a slave, your teeth chatter, I feel uncomfortable listening to it!" ”