Because of the national filial piety, there is no banquet for this year's Lantern Festival.

However, the atmosphere in the capital has become eerie since the New Year. Even Cao Hao also listened to his father's reminder that it was Kangxi recuperating from his illness, which made many people think about it.

Cao Hao thought to himself, where is this just for the sake of recuperation. A few days before the death of the Queen Mother, the "edict" that Kangxi issued to his courtiers was the root cause of the demons dancing.

In a family, the inheritance of heirs is a major event, not to mention the national court.

Those who have not climbed to a high position want to use their "fiery eyes" to make a contribution and go to the next level; Those who climbed to a high position are accustomed to calling for wind and rain, and they are also afraid of "a son of heaven and a courtier", and want to be a "veteran of two dynasties".

Kangxi first issued an edict, and then endlessly recuperated, how could this not attract speculation from people with a heart?

Those who are well-informed also don't know much about the situation at the Tai Hospital. In the past two years, Kangxi's body has really taken a sharp turn. Some people even speculate in their hearts whether they will suffer another ...... Don't talk about others, just talk about Cao Yin, if it weren't for Cao Hao's vague words twice, Kangxi would have been fine for three years and two years, and he would also be worried. It's just that he is more loyal to Kangxi than other courtiers, and he doesn't think about what benefits he seeks.

Cao Song was on duty in the palace, and he also heard all kinds of rumors.

He naturally knew that all the glory and status of the Cao family were given by Kangxi. In addition to the emperor's favor, the Cao family is not close to several other princes and elder brothers who are expected to wait for the throne, and some have festivals.

He hurried to Xifu to find Cao Hao and tell him what he had heard.

It's time to make a deposit.

I heard that these six ministries and nine secretaries have all moved, and almost all the officials above the third grade in the capital are named.

"Big brother, what should I do? Uncle Zhishi, the eldest brother was demoted from a cousin to a judge, and he didn't even have the opportunity to be named. Speaking of this, Cao Song bowed his head and said: "It's all because of my younger brother, not only can he not win glory for the family, but he also doesn't govern the family strictly, dragging down the uncle and brother." It's really in vain for the eldest brother to take care of the younger brother. ”

Seeing that Cao Song was worried, Cao Hao said with a straight face: "The sacred heart is unpredictable, how can the courtiers influence it?" Don't listen to the wind or the rain. On an errand in the palace, he is well-informed, but his ears are long, but his mouth is not long. The prince is abolished, and the emperor has his own heart, and we only need to do our part as courtiers. I still remember what your uncle said on the night of Chinese New Year's Eve, do not ask us to hear the world, but only ask for peace and security. ”

"The younger brother is not rich and wealthy in the Xitu family, but he is afraid that the new monarch will not know the gold and jade, and bury the eldest brother." Cao Song raised his head and said with some concern: "If the eldest brother is small, he is much stronger than others. As my father-in-law said, the eldest brother is not a thing in the pool, and there will always be a time to soar into the sky. If it is because of his younger brother that he has cut off his brother's Qingyun Road, where will the younger brother have the face to see his brother again. ”

Cao Hao listened and was speechless.

These words were said by Fu Nai. I don't know what he thinks, but he has greatly admired Cao Hao in recent years. Every time relatives meet, they have to praise Cao Hao. Cao Hao's career is smooth and fashionable and not obvious, and when he encounters a demotion punishment, the number of likes will be doubled.

At the beginning, Cao Hao also reflected on whether he had offended him somewhere, causing him to "kill" himself. Later, after more contact, Cao Hao realized that Fu Nai was a little talkative, plus "warm-hearted", and there was no malicious intent. It's just because Cao Hao encountered ups and downs, and he was afraid that he would be discouraged, as an elder, he deliberately encouraged him a few more words, for fear that he would be discouraged.

This is nothing, but because Fu Nai has been the retainer of the fourth elder brother, Cao Hao has to think hard about it, for fear that he has other intentions.

Later, I heard about several things about him taking care of his relatives' younger generations, such as the return of his cousin's concubine, which cost a lot of money, but it caused his relatives to complain, and his nephew almost did something with him; There is also the second uncle of the cousin's brother-in-law, who offended people and got involved in a lawsuit, he came forward to deal with him, causing the fire, and later begged the powerful to come forward to say yes, Yunyun.

In general, Fu Nai is "righteous" enough, and he is good for juniors, but he has a lot of enthusiasm, and his means of handling things cannot be complimented.

Seeing that Cao Hao didn't speak, Cao Song became more and more bottomless, lowered his head, and said, "Why don't you let Jinghui walk around a few elder brothers' mansions?" ”

Jinghui's mother family is a big family, and there are many elders or sisters who marry into the royal family, so Cao Songcai said so.

"Not necessarily." When Cao Hao heard this, he didn't hesitate at all, immediately waved his hand, and said, "Don't say that my younger brother and sister are inconvenient, even if she is in good health, she doesn't need to show up." The men of the Cao family are still there, where can they use women and children to shield the family from the wind and rain? ”

Cao Song also knew that he was speechless, and said, "Then why should our family wait?" ”

Cao Hao patted him on the shoulder and said, "Second brother, the more you look at the turmoil, the more you have to stabilize your heart." Now, with my father and me, you still have someone to ask, and there is always a time when you need to make your own decisions. There are eight words, you have to keep in mind, and when you encounter this kind of decision in the future, you should turn these eight words out and repeat them twice. ”

"Eight words?" Cao Song scratched the back of his head and said, "My younger brother is not as smart as my brother when he is young, where is my brother not as good as having ideas?" Don't say it's eight words, even if you tell your younger brother eighty, eight hundred words, your younger brother can't become a smart person immediately. ”

"Do more wrong, do less wrong." Cao Hao's voice was not loud, but it was loud: "How old are you, there is still a long way to go." But whenever you are in trouble, and it is related to the safety and glory of your family and yourself, you should remember this one. ”

Cao Song repeated this sentence seriously, nodded vigorously, and said with a little firmness on his face: "My brother has written it down." The younger brother is stupid, and he can't be the help of the elder brother, and he is already ashamed; I will be cautious and cautious, and I don't dare to act nonsense, tired of my brother's heart......"

* Imperial City, Yanxi Palace.

Concubine Yi sat on a soft couch with a jewelry box inlaid with seven-colored gemstones. She opened it with a smile, and when she saw the objects placed inside, she smiled even more and said, "Where did you find it?" Last year, the Jianan incense purchased by the Ministry of Internal Affairs was only twenty catties, and the Queen Mother added a new dynasty bead, and the rest, the harem has a head and face, and it is just a fan pendant, or a flat square. Or the emperor knew that I liked this, so he rewarded me with a pair of beads. Although it is also a honey knot, the color is not as moist as this, and the taste is not as fragrant as this. ”

"I know that E-Niang likes this, my son made a special trip to Guangzhou to find foreigners to buy, and bought ten catties, in addition to five catties of looking for people to make these small objects, there are also five catties of materials, my son did not move, with E-Niang's heart." Brother Jiu said with a smile.

Concubine Yi glanced at him and said, "How much money does this cost?" I know that you are generous, and you should not spend so much. E-Niang is in the palace, and there are a lot of these? I heard that you have opened a foreign goods shop again, and you are also restrained and restrained, don't just think about this all day, it is better to do the emperor's errand well, or the foundation of your life. ”

Brother Jiu raised his eyebrows and said, "Eniang is a lot less than Eniang's, and his son's filial piety is his son's." The son is not promising, and he has worked hard all these years, and if he does not let his son do his best, his son is afraid that he will have trouble sleeping. ”

Concubine Yi looked at Brother Jiu carefully a few times, frowned and said, "Your insomnia is not better, looking at this face, how can you not make Eniang worry?" ”

Brother Jiu lowered his eyes and said with a smile: "It's a temporary matter, it's good to be early, E-Niang still mentions it?" are all guarded by Ningshou Palace, all boiled and smoky, how many people have good faces? ”

Knowing her son Mo Ruo's mother, Concubine Yi knew that her son didn't want to mention this, so she sighed in her heart, and waved her hand to send out a few palace maids standing at the door.

There were only two mother and son left in the room, Concubine Yi thought about it for a while, and said: "It's not right outside, whether you want to be close to the fourteenth elder brother, or turn your face, it's all up to you, you don't have to wronged yourself for him." However, the storage position is abolished, which is the reverse scale of the dragon and cannot be touched. You just have to watch the excitement, and don't mix with it. ”

"E-niang is really, my son only loves money, so he will not be idle, and he will be a pawn for others." Brother Nine said slowly.

Concubine Yi glared at him and said, "If you can be as peaceful as your fifth brother, E-Niang's hair will not be half white." Over the years, I have let you mess around, thinking of Eniang's face, the emperor has not blamed you deeply, and you know that it is better. ”

"E-niang, don't worry, my son is not a fool, if there is a lot of excitement, don't you go to this troubled water?" Brother Jiu picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said: "But on the other side of Tangquan, the fourth concubine Emperor Ama didn't bring any of them, and only let the princess wait by his side, is it appropriate?" ”

Concubine Yi smiled and said, "What about the emperor's wisdom, use our hearts?" To put it nicely, she is a concubine, but she is just a little nobleman. Even if the sixteenth elder brother is favored again, he is no longer as good as you. If the emperor thinks of sealing the mansion, the sixteenth elder brother is a shell in the sky. If...... In the future, without the identity of the prince, it is not impossible to seal the country. ”

When Brother Nine mentioned this, he was not worried about the division of the sixteenth elder brother, but wanted to ask his mother for the exact news. However, seeing that his mother misunderstood, he didn't say much.

*Elder Brother's Office, Honghui's residence.

Looking at the half piece of paper in his hand, Honghui's eyes widened, his face turned pale with horror, his hands couldn't help trembling slightly, and he gritted his teeth and said, "Go and prepare the horse, I want to go to Tangquan to enter the Huangma Law!" ”

There was a person kneeling on the ground, dressed as a guard, and he didn't get up immediately, he raised his head and said: "Master, in addition to asking the slave to send a letter to the master, Mr. also asked the slave to tell the master, it is already a step too late, and the master should think twice." Otherwise, if it falls into the eyes of the emperor, the master will not be able to get out of it. ”

Honghui crumpled the paper in his hand, clenched his fists painfully, let out a long sigh, and said, "Yes, this is the set they gave to the master, it is all wolf ambition, there is no good thing." Is it just a matter of waiting for death? You go out of the palace and tell Mr. that you want to see him, let him arrange it as soon as possible! ”

The man answered and withdrew.

Honghui's body seemed to have drained his strength, and he sat softly in the chair, his face full of endless resentment.

These words, the capital is moving, he sees it in his eyes, and he is still waiting to see the excitement. This old lion is also a lion, and his reverence for Huang Marfa on the dragon chair has not diminished in the slightest.

Unexpectedly, this "Lichu" drama was Xiang Zhuang's sword dance, which was intended for Pei Gong.

Honghui only felt a chill in his back, and his face was distorted by pain and fear...... * On the twenty-first day of the first lunar month, the six departments and nine kings of the capital all went to Tangquan.

If it wasn't for the small dynasty selected by the Ministry of Rites, Cao Hao, the four-grade official, would not be able to join in this excitement. Although he behaved as usual, his mind flew to Tangquan as he sat behind the bookcase.

He was also surprised, he thought it was another farce of "please stand", but he didn't expect someone to bother to plan and involve the second elder brother.

Yesterday, the Hanlin Academy reviewed Zhu Tianbao to go to the Tangquan Palace, and personally handed over the excerpt requesting the second elder brother to be reinstated as the crown prince, which caused Kangxi to be angry and personally went to the main gate of the palace to ask questions.

Early this morning, several Manchu and Han scholars, together with the officials of the six departments and nine secretaries, went to Tangquan. The storm is coming, and people's hearts are unstable.

The law does not blame the public, no matter how angry Kangxi is, he can't hold these court officials accountable, otherwise the court will be empty. That Hanlin will definitely not be spared. The anger of the emperor, I am afraid that if I die can relieve my hatred, I will destroy my family and the family, which is right in front of me.

Is it because of the bookseller's anger, or was he fooled by others and became a bird?

Cao Hao contemplated the beneficiary of this matter.

Is it that the third elder brother can't hold back and wants to get a letter from Kangxi? He was hit repeatedly last year, and he has begun to be a man with his tail between his legs, can he have such courage? Or the fourteenth elder brother, who wants to "justifiably" meddle in the military affairs of the Northwest? Or the fourth elder brother...... It won't be the fourth elder brother, such a radical thing is not in line with the fourth elder brother's style of ordinary and obscure.

I only felt that there was a fog, I knew that someone was fueling the troubles, and I couldn't see that person's face clearly, which made Cao Hao feel bottomless.

Fifteen elder brothers? Brother Jiu?

It seems that everyone is suspicious, and it seems that everyone is wronged, and a similar scene is a bit familiar.

Cao Hao touched his chin, picked up an official document from his desk, read it carefully from beginning to end, and then stamped the official seal.

He thought that the sixteenth elder brother would come, but he didn't expect the sixteenth elder brother to calm down and did not show up.

Until Luoya, there was no news from Tangquan Palace, but more and more news about Zhu Tianbao.

I heard that when he went out of the Desheng Gate yesterday, crows gathered in front of his horse and hindered him from moving forward; The little servant knelt down and pulled him on the reins of his horse, and asked him to turn around, but he was unmoved, dispersed the crows, and went on.

I heard that yesterday at the main gate of the palace, the emperor came in person, and the royal mouth was held accountable, Zhu Tianbao held the crown, knelt on the ground and answered, and began to speak loudly, without the slightest fear, and finally was asked speechless, and could only ask for the death penalty.

Back in the mansion, Cao Hao finally asked Cao Yin the question that he had been puzzled for a long time: "Father, even if you are the prince of Heshuo and a first-class scholar, you don't dare to state this matter directly in front of the emperor, this Zhu Tianbao is not a fool, don't you know that it is a dead end?" Knowing that he is begging for death, he can still do this, but I haven't heard that his family has any enmity with the second elder brother, why is it so? ”

Cao Yin's face showed a little admiration, and he sighed: "I really didn't expect that their father and son could do this." Although there is no place to die, his loyal heart is respectable and lamentable! ”

Cao Hao was confused when he heard this, and frowned: "Isn't it that he was bewitched by others and calculated the second elder brother?" ”

Cao Yin shook his head and said, "Although Zhu Duna is not a tide file, he was blessed by Suo Etu when he was young. The intention of this is to calculate that the second elder brother is not false, not to harm the second elder brother, but to protect the second elder brother in the future. ”

Zhu Duna was the father of Zhu Tianbao and was a squire in the military department at the time.

Cao Hao thought of something and asked, "Father, is it related to the second elder brother's illness recently?" ”

Although the second elder brother is circled, he has a special identity, and his every move is also heard by the outside world. Cao Hao had heard of it, but he didn't pay much attention to it, because the change of seasons in winter and spring is the season when it is easy to get sick.

"It's not a disease, it's a poisonous ......," Cao Yin said......

(To be continued)