Cao Mansion, Wutong Garden.

After sending Li back to Lanyuan, the husband and wife returned to Wutong Garden. After going out early and returning late for a day, Cao Yan was already hungry, and immediately called someone to set the meal.

The husband and wife, while having dinner, talked about the situation in the palace during the day.

Chu Yu weighed it, and still told Cao Yan the queen mother's last incomprehensible words.

Cao Yan was also in chaos in his heart, seeing that he was only one step away from the truth, there was no reason not to explore. Moreover, if you know the reason, you will know where the abnormality of the queen mother and the emperor comes from.

It's just that the Queen Mother said eagerly, Cao Hao said Mongolian in Shang Shufang earlier, it sounded like "Fifth Aunt", and it didn't sound like it, he couldn't make up his mind.

Chu Yu saw that her husband was not sure, so she ordered someone to go to Aoi Yuan and pass on Wuen.

Chu Yu recalled the scene of the first day, learned half of what the Queen Mother didn't understand in the last sentence, and asked: "Maybe I don't learn it like it, the middle one is like 'Gu' and 'Tiger', what do you mean by that?" ”

Unn was a Mongol, and he only began to learn Chinese after following Cao Yan. In addition to the Mongolian ** around Hengsheng, her Mongolian language is the best in the house.

She was brought back to the capital by Cao Yan in the forty-eighth year of Kangxi, and it has been six years, and she has grown from a yellow-haired girl to a girl. She wore a thick whip, a snow-blue gown, and a purple pinched armor on the outside, which looked beautiful.

Her round face and slightly bulging cheekbones can still be seen to be different from others.

She was born as a Mongolian slave, and she was not very old when she entered Beijing with Cao Yan, but she knew how to read people's faces.

In addition, she has a good surname, treats people sincerely, and is very popular in the house. Everyone likes this honest Mongolian girl very much.

The Mongolian language that Chu Yu accompanied her mother-in-law to the Empress Dowager Palace to ask for peace this time was learned from Wuen.

When he was in the royal palace before, although Chu Yu had also entered the palace, he spoke Chinese. This time, because I accompanied my mother-in-law into the palace, my heart became more and more solemn, so I made a special trip to learn this sentence, wanting to please the queen mother.

"Taboguneng...... He Bohu Nengge...... "Seeing Chu Yu's special question, Wu En didn't dare to slack off, and repeated it, there was indeed no ambiguity, and then said: "This means that 'Fifth Aunt'...... 'Gu Nengge' is 'Aunt'......"

When Chu Yu and Cao Hao heard this, they glanced at each other, and they knew the affirmative answer.

is really the "fifth aunt", thinking of the one who can be called the emperor's "fifth aunt", the husband and wife are a little uncomfortable.

Chu Yu turned his head, thought for a while, and said to Wu En: "Go back today, you will cook the errand in your hand, tell your sister Amethyst, and ask her to find someone to pick up your errand." From now on, you'll be on an errand here. ”

Wu En has been in Cao's house for many years, and because of her young age, Cao Yan has long said that she doesn't need to send her on an errand.

She refuses to eat idle meals, although there is no positive difference, but she runs around Amethyst, doing some light work of passing words and handing things.

The year before last, when Hengsheng entered the mansion, Wu En was already fourteen, and he was on an errand by Tianyou's side.

In the blink of an eye, it has been two years. She was grateful to Cao Yan and his wife for their kindness, paid special attention to her errands, and put all her thoughts on the little master Hengsheng.

She was reluctant to say that she was going to change errands, but she didn't say much, and responded respectfully.

Although Chu Yu only explained that she wanted to change her errand and did not say anything else, the little girl sensed the importance of the matter from the solemnity of the two masters.

She didn't ask much, she didn't say much, and after listening to the order, she went back to Aoi-in.

When Wuen went out, Cao Yan turned his head and asked Chu Yu, "You transferred Wuen girl over, but you want to learn Mongolian language with her?" Even if you don't understand that sentence today, it's not a blessing to be unpaid. If you want to learn this, I'll have a few words here. ”

When Chu Yu heard this, she thought about the panic that Concubine Wang unintentionally revealed, but this is the truth.

She sighed and said, "Don't talk about it, madam, I should have learned from it here a long time ago." Although the Empress Dowager also understands Chinese, she speaks little, and those palace relatives who want to please the Empress Dowager and Mrs. Fujin outside mostly use Mongolian to stammer. It turns out that there are few people walking around with the Queen Mother's Palace on our side. During the New Year's holidays, it's just a matter of scheduling with other people. In the future...... If you go there to say goodbye in the future, you will still be able to say a few words. The forehead is busy, and the key is the ...... around the wife."

Speaking of this, she hesitated for a moment and said, "E, the fifth aunt of Huang Mafa that the Queen Mother said should be the eldest princess Gulun Shuhui, right?" Among the older generations in the near sect, there are no sect daughters who are five or five......"

Cao Yan thought of E Fei, but shook his head and said, "If the princess is ...... Why couldn't you marry the clan back then? Perhaps there is another hidden meaning in this. This eldest princess, even her adoptive mother, can't prepare it. ”

Cao Yan said this because he had heard of the eldest princess and knew that she was in Beijing more than ten years ago. Before, what he heard from Mr. Zhuang was Wu Sangui's granddaughter Yunyun.

He was a human being in two lives, but after all, he had never been in the palace, and he had no way of knowing the story in the gate decades ago.

Although Cao Yan was very curious about his mother's life experience, after listening to Chu Yu's story, he knew that the sentence was "the daughter of the fifth aunt". Coupled with Kangxi's previous attitude, I think this does involve the secrets of the palace.

If it is really as Mr. Zhuang said, this Gege who was raised in the palace in the past had a secret knot and left the palace to give birth, but he didn't know whether the child was Kangxi's or Prince Yu's Fuquan, then it was too unbearable.

Between Zhou Xuan and the Heavenly Brothers, the emperor and the prince are played with faults, which may be the reason why the Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang is incompatible.

If this is not the case, the news that Mr. Zhuang got here is wrong, and the Li family is the daughter of the eldest princess Gulun Shuhui, then this is also an out-and-out "scandal" of the heavenly family.

The eldest princess of Gulun Shuhui was widowed for the second time before she began to travel back and forth between the capital and Mongolia.

If the Li family is really her daughter, then the widow has a daughter, and it is even more unbearable.

No matter what kind of truth it is, it is the "secret" covered up by the royal family, and there is something that cannot be said to people, even if it is investigated, the trouble will come out, and how will the Li family deal with it in the end?

Thinking of this, Cao Yan no longer had the ** to explore, and his heart couldn't help sinking.

The palace is full of ears and eyes, and today's mother's entry into the palace and the queen mother's gaffe have attracted some people's attention.

What if someone finds out that something is wrong and investigates?

Cao Yan is not a person who loves vanity, no matter what Li is from, he is the biological mother of gratitude and filial piety in his heart.

He was just worried that when the truth was revealed, his mother would be innocently implicated, wouldn't that be depressing?

At this moment, Cao Yan missed the Li family a little.

Although Li Xu is too self-righteous and not trouble-free enough, the older he gets, the more confused he becomes, but if his mother is the bloodline of the Li family, instead of seeing flowers in the fog like now, and entangled with the royal family, it is really a lot more worry-free.

Chu Yu's heart regretted it, and he blamed himself for not being curious to investigate.

In her heart, after the previous clues, and today's trip to Changchun Garden, she has regarded her mother-in-law as the blood of the eldest princess Gulun Shuhui.

The eldest princess Gulun Shuhui is born by the Empress Dowager and the aunt of Huang Marfa.

If the mother-in-law is her bloodline and lives among the people, it is reasonable for the Emperor to treat each other with a good experience.

This dynasty advocates Confucianism, and when the royal family teaches Gege, they are all required by "chastity and virtuousness".

There are more than a dozen chaste arches ordered to be built by the imperial court every year...... Both husband and wife, both are a little heavy.

Seeing Chu Yu's bitter face, Cao Yan smiled heartily and said, "Look what are we doing?" It's a good thing to say, no matter what, seeing this meaning, the Queen Mother is thinking of the old people's affection, and she also takes care of her mother, and she won't make it difficult again after she wants to come and go......"

Chu Yu knew that he was talking about the two boxes of jewelry given by the Queen Mother, and said with a smile: "Well, I have long heard that the Queen Mother likes to do whatever she wants, and it is really good to meet someone who is sincerely treated." Those things are not vulgar things, and my wife was also bluffed......"

* In the upper room of the orchid garden, Li was still a little uneasy, looked at the two boxes of jewelry placed on the kang, frowned slightly, and said: "Master, as the saying goes, no merit will not be punished." Looking at the queen mother's meaning today, she mistook me for someone else, and Aiwu and Wudi gave these things, how can this be good? ”

Cao Yin also looked at the two boxes of jewelry for a long time, took out one of the bracelets inlaid with gems, and carefully looked at the yearbook in the hidden place.

It is exactly what I think in my heart, so exquisite, but it is a thing made inside.

Just looking at the number of years, it seems that there is a limit, and Cao Yin is also wondering in his heart.

It stands to reason that the jewelry given to foreign women in the palace is nothing, but the queen mother's reason seems to be too heavy.

He sighed in his heart, although some things were not confirmed, but he could guess some of the clues over the years.

He put the things back in the box and said, "Since it is given by the Queen Mother, just keep it." Let's look at a lot, but it's nothing to the Queen Mother. ”

In order to calm his wife's uneasiness, Cao Yin pretended to be relaxed and said.

Li is the woman in the inner courtyard in the end, and when she saw that her husband said something wrong, she was a little relieved.

It's just that she came from a wealthy family, and when she grew up, she married into the Cao family, which did not have the name of a prince, but had the reality of a prince, and she didn't care about external things.

Since her husband said that she should accept it, she waved her hand and beckoned the girl to take the two boxes and send them to the kang in the inner room to be shelved.

"But after half a effort, I got these things back, if it weren't for the cumbersome clothes and many rules, I really should have walked around the palace more." Li Shi hung his heart for a long time, and finally put it down, and said: "When Ming Fujin and the three girls return to the province, let them pick some, and then give some to the children's second aunt and nephew and daughter-in-law, and leave the rest to Tianhui to add a dowry." ”

Cao Yin saw that she was tired, so he asked the maid to take the pillow, put it on the kang for her personally, and said: "Since you are tired, you are crooked, and you have dinner left and right, and if you are tired, you will rest early tonight." ”

Although Li felt happy in his heart, he looked at the sky and said a little embarrassedly: "It's not dark yet......

The husband and wife were talking, when they heard someone reply under the porch: "Master, wife, the prince is here, and the uncle is drinking tea with him in the living room of the front yard, please come over." ”

Although it is not mentioned which prince it is, the only one who does not nominate the number in the palace is the Cao family's aunt Nersu.

Cao Yin was a little surprised in his heart, will there be anything important with this effort?

Li Shi also sat up and said, "Let's come here, it won't be Fujin's side......"

Cao Yin listened, waved his hand hurriedly, and said, "What are you thinking about?" If there's something wrong, can you still have the leisure to drink tea with? I'll go to the front yard and have a look. ”

Li didn't know why he said ominous, and he already regretted saying it.

She covered her mouth with a handkerchief and said, "Then the old man will come over, and I will send some refreshments." ”

Cao Yin nodded, glanced at Li, and said, "You were originally an open-minded person, how come you changed your surname as soon as you had a body." This is the blessing of our old couple, whether it is male or female, it is the grace of our ancestors. Don't worry about it, eat and sleep more, and raise your body to the fullest. At the beginning, Yan'er was not in good health, but you were very happy, and because you were worried, you forgot about it......"

Hearing this, Li nodded, but his heart was still beating "suddenly".

Sending her husband out of the door, Li stood under the porch and reached out to touch his eyelids. This old folk saying says "the left eye jumps wealth, the right eye jumps disaster", but I jump both.

Li frowned slightly, thinking of this, his heart was shocked.

Actually, it's just that she learned the Mongolian phrase last night, and she rested late and didn't sleep well.

In other words, she wouldn't take this to heart.

Today, as if singing a big opera, she was a little tired from going in and out of the garden. When the body is lacking, the spirit is a little insufficient.

She only felt dizzy in front of her eyes and her body was a little unstable, but fortunately she held on to the door frame so that she didn't fall.

Seeing the embroidery warbler, she was almost bluffed, so she hurriedly stepped forward to hold her and said, "Madam, it's been a tiring day, where is it okay to stand like this." As he spoke, he helped Li into the house...... * front yard, living room.

After listening to Nersu's relay, he knew that he had been arranged to go to the Great Lama of Outer Mongolia and would leave tomorrow morning, and Cao Yan's brows were twisted.

"Brother-in-law, how did you send this errand to me? Doesn't it sound like a fat difference, when a lot of people grab it? He was extremely depressed and puzzled.

Not to mention that the military situation is urgent now, business trips are galloping, which is an ordinary thing, and it is enough to suffer if you go to Outer Mongolia.

One round trip, thousands of miles away.

In the summer of the previous year, Cao Yan fed mosquitoes on the grassland for more than a month, and he suffered a lot of crimes, which was really too lazy to toss again.

Narsu thought about another thing, the Cao family's generation of Cao Yan, a man, and Cao Jia's family also loved this younger brother very much.

With Cao Yan's current identity, if nothing else, the earl of the Cao family will definitely fall on him in the future. This so-called "military merit" is just icing on the cake, and it is dispensable.

On the contrary, if there is a slight mistake, it is unthinkable...... However, seeing that Cao Hao's face was just tired and not afraid, Nersu was still somewhat relieved.

A good man should stand up to the sky, greedy for life and afraid of death, but he has lost his temper.

He smiled bitterly and said, "Who said it wasn't, serious fat shortage, for the sake of this official candidate, the ministry discussed it for a while." I don't know how the fourteenth elder brother thought of you, and when he saw that the adults were arguing, he recommended you out and slapped the table on the spot. I wanted to refuse for you, but I was blocked by a word from the fourteenth elder brother. It's okay to say anything else, mother-in-law and your sister, you have to find a way to hide it. ”

Cao Yan saw that Nersu's face was gloomy, and only then did he react, and the errand he was assigned to himself was not only to go to Khalkha to meet the Grand Lama Zebzundan Bahu Tuketu, but also to issue a holy edict to the army of Hami Tselu Alabutan.

Although there has been a saying since ancient times that "two armies are at war, and they do not behead them", in various stories throughout the ages, there is also a picture of "someone who comes and pushes this person out to behead the sacrificial flag".

Thinking of this, Cao Yan only felt a chill in his neck.

Seeing that Cao Yan didn't speak, Nersu asked with a smile, "What?" Are you scared? ”

Cao Yan saw a joking look on his face, and said: "Naturally, I am afraid, life is less than a hundred years, and there are too many variables in it." I have both parents and a wife and weak children. I am me, and I am not me, for a son, a husband, and a father, this little life is also very valuable. ”

When Nersu saw Cao Yan say this, he already had a smile on his face.

In the eyes of the Fourteenth Elder Brother and the other ministers, the Delirium Alabutan was nothing at all. They thought that as long as the court went down, they would naturally know that the power of heaven was unpredictable.

Nersu is Cao Yan's brother-in-law, and he has watched him grow up Chengren over the years, and he is only treated as his own flesh and blood.

"Since that's the case, then you can call it sick, and I'll talk to the fourteenth elder brother tomorrow." Nersu weighed it and said, but even he was a little lacking in confidence.

This time, not more than usual.

Since he was sent to Cao Yan on an errand, if he said that he was sick, it would be a stain for the rest of his life.

Although Cao Yan was reluctant in his heart, he also knew the severity, shook his head, and said, "Don't be, since that's the case, let's go." The fourteenth master is not a generous person. If I do quit this errand, I'm afraid he'll be really annoyed. ”

While the two were talking, Cao Yin had already come in, just in time to hear the last sentence.

He first met with Nersu, and then asked Cao Yan, "The ministry sent an errand?" Is it to naturalize, or to Khalkha? ”

Although he planned to hide it from the Li family, Cao Yin, the head of the family, couldn't hide it, so Cao Yin said it truthfully.

Cao Yin's face was calm, but he agreed with Nersu's opinion very much, thinking that he should hide it from the Li family and Cao Jia's family. Going out of such a far door, and going to the place of soldiers, the woman's family is careful and inevitably misses.

I will go into the garden tomorrow morning to receive the oracle and set off, and tonight I will have to pack my luggage.

Narsu didn't stay long, and got up and went back. Cao Yan personally sent it outside the mansion, and Nersu hesitated for a moment, and said, "Brother Yan, Hami is far away, if you don't know it, I will send a few guards to call you." ”

Hearing this, Cao Yan waved his hand and said: "Thank you brother-in-law for your kindness, but just those guards in your house, like uncles, are just scaring and scaring the people in the capital, and if you really get to the meadow, I'm afraid that if you see a wolf, your crotch will be wet." Besides, I'm a messenger, and the emperor will always send a few guards with me! ”

Nersu was amused by Cao Yan's words, and his mood was a little lighter, and he pointed at him and said: "This is what you said, be careful I tell Mu Lin a few of them, their skills are not counted in the capital, but they are not weaker than you." ”

"Ahem, ahem, Mullin doesn't count! What qualifications are they? Besides, they are martial artists, brother-in-law, and I am a civil official! Cao Yan said with a smile.

Nersu shook his head disapprovingly, and said, "Everything is wrong in the yamen, and you can stand it." If I were you, I would rather go back to be a guard, and guarding the door for the emperor would be better than the greasy and crooked ones in this yamen. ”

Cao Yan thought that his errand was not only to Khalkha, but also to Hami, to say the least, would take several months.

He smiled, his expression was more solemn, and said, "Brother-in-law, I am not in the capital, my father is old again, and my brother-in-law needs to take care of it more in the house here......"

Nersu said: "What are you talking about, these are from my province, you can rest assured." ”

Cao Yan thought of the fourteenth elder brother and continued: "Brother-in-law, there is one more sentence, don't be verbose. Except for the founding of the country, when it was necessary to rule by force, at other times it was still to rule the country with virtue and ability, and you should keep this in mind......"

Nersu nodded and said with a smile: "I know, there will be rules for how to act in the future, so that I can avoid right and wrong and avoid the disaster of the pond fish." ”

Looking at Nersu riding a horse in the distance, Cao Yan let out a long breath.

The fourteenth elder brother is really too "enthusiastic", even he feels difficult, and if Nersu doesn't want to stand in line, it must be uncomfortable.

However, Nersu is a well-known "slippery hand", and the fourteenth elder brother is due to his identity, and when he is straight, where will he be Narsu's opponent.

The only thing to worry about is not the fourteenth elder brother, but the fourth elder brother who is watching coldly, and it is always good that the one who does not misunderstand.

Cao Yan was thinking about what to do, so that the fourth elder brother would not suspect him, when he heard the sound of horses' hooves.

He thought it was Narsula who had said something, and went and returned, and when he looked up, it was Iduli who had rushed his horse.

"Haha, Fu Ruo, I just got the news that you are out of Beijing from the military department. Great, we're in company this time! Without waiting to dismount, Iduli said with his hands dancing.

But it was the smell of wine from the shop, Cao Yan saw him shaking on the horse's back, and hurriedly stretched out his hand to pull the reins of the horse, and said, "My lord is going to naturalize?" Please also get off the horse and serve tea first! ”

"Haha, look I'm confused with joy!" Yi Duli patted his forehead, turned over and dismounted, patted Cao Yan's shoulder and said, "I'm really happy today, haha, I've scolded me for being a wreck when I was alive, and I really haven't given the family a chance to grow face over the years." This time, it was as I wished! ”

Iduri's face was flushed, and he didn't know whether he was drunk or excited, and tears flashed in the corners of his eyes.

At this time, there is really nothing to say to be relieved.

Cao Yan said: "Adults are talking in the living room, so it seems that we can go on the same journey half." ”

Yi Duli refused to move his steps, and said with a smile: "Speaking of which, it is still thanks to Fu Ruo's blessing, you have increased a lot of livestock on the pasture in the past two years in the Yamen. Even if the livestock in the ranch died a year ago, it was much better than the Eight Banners Ranch. This time, a batch of horses will be sent over from the Taifu Temple Ranch. In addition to me going directly to the naturalization inventory and handover, Ming'er also had the official to go to the ranch to prepare horses. Not only is naturalization, but it is not good to make trouble, but you can also follow the soldiers over there to the northwest to see and learn. ”

As he spoke, his eyes were already full of yearning, and he was like the two of the Eight Banners who had to get by and was lazy in the past.

Now although the children of the Eight Banners are lazy and lazy, they still have blood surnames, and they are still looking forward to galloping on the field.

However, being able to go on a business trip with Yi Duli made it a little less boring on the way to come, and Cao Yan was still a little happier in his heart.

Iduli crackled a lot, but his heart was extremely happy, and he remembered something.

He hesitated for a moment and said, "Fu Ru, the person from the Thirteenth Master's side who received the surname Wang is the sister-in-law of the steward of your house, right?" In this way, what Yang said is true, her sister has also gone to Beijing! She mentioned it to me before, and she didn't have any family contacts, which was really miserable. Although the identities are different, they are close relatives in the end, and it is not good to die and not get along...... Fu Ruo, otherwise, look at my face, you can help persuade me to say a few words...... There are many maiden girls, and the Yang family doesn't have to touch tears all the time......"

Cao Yan didn't know why he thought of this, but he didn't want to have anything to do with Yang Ruixue in his heart, and said: "My lord, the Zheng family is already a wife, and now the two of them are the disciples of the Thirteenth Master. I can't talk here, and when I first entered Beijing before, Zheng Hu asked her sister what she meant, but the knot was unresolved......"

Although Cao Yan said it tactfully, the rejection in it was natural.

Yi Duli is not good for the sake of a concubine, and he chattered endlessly, so he stopped.

After a few more gossips, and after making an appointment with Ming'er to meet His Majesty in Changchun Garden, Yi Duli did not delay any longer, got on the horse, and went back with the elder and the little servant.

Every time Nersu came, Cao Yin had to send it out, but he didn't come out today, and I was afraid that he was worried about it.

Cao Yan thought that as soon as he was about to enter the mansion, he heard a noise and a barking dog from the east.

Cao Song is not at home, Cao Shuo is small, don't be a matter of Dongfu anymore. Cao Yan was not at ease, so he stretched out his hand and beckoned a foreign steward who was on duty in the front yard to visit.

One moment later, the noise in the distance had stopped.

The steward trotted back, bowed down and said, "Uncle, it's nothing, it's a few little ruffians, maybe they ate wine, they were confused, and they splashed at the side gate of Dongfu." Several nursing homes have been sent out and they have been driven away. ”

There is no wind and no waves, so you must be careful.

Thinking of this, Cao Yan said to the steward: "You go again, go to see the two big housekeepers of Dongfu, and say what I said, the second master is not at home, let them tighten the door." If something goes wrong carefully, when the second master comes back, they will have no face. ”

Although the long house and the second room have been separated, Cao Yan is the son of the long house, and the future patriarch naturally has the right to inquire about the affairs of the East Mansion.

The two stewards answered, and Cao Yan turned around and went back to the house...... * East Mansion, East Courtyard, and upper room.

It was already the time to hold the lamp, and Jing Hui was standing in the hall, but her face was pale. Cao Xiang stood on the side, looking at Cao Shuo who was kneeling on the ground, he couldn't bear it, and said softly: "Second sister-in-law......"

The maids had already retreated, and only Cao Shuo and Cao Xiang brothers and Jinghui were left in the house. Jinghui's eldest girl, Chun'er, is now watching her nose and nose under the porch of the door...... Jing Hui looked at Cao Shuo, who was kneeling on the ground silently, and asked, "Third brother, you have changed all those things for silver...... Speaking of this, she hesitated for a moment and said, "All of them have been changed for silver...... Bet...... The IOU of eight hundred taels is really your handprint......"

*

(To be continued)