When the thief beat Cheng Menghan, Wang Lusheng's eyes lit up. Without hesitation, he looked at Cao with a small "heart."

Cao Yi is not a person who likes to deal with strangers, but he didn't say anything about two more people on the same boat. After all, after starting to take the sea route, the sea surface is windy and rough, and there is less effort to get to the deck. Besides, the ship was not hired by him.

Wang Lusheng saw that he was not unhappy, so he asked Guo Quanyou to take the steward to the Fan family's boat to invite someone.

After being invited by Wang Lusheng. Fan Shishen thanked him gratefully, accepted this kindness, and combined the fleets of the two places into one, and he also brought a personal servant to live on the passenger ship.

After all, it will take more than a month to walk by sea, and it will be more appropriate to be able to be in one place with the royal fleet. If nothing else, you can avoid being blackmailed like today.

The cabin he lived in was not larger than Cao Yuan and Cheng Mengxing's, but it was also spacious.

The second young master of the Fan family, although he is not very old, he is well-connected. When he arrived on this side of the ship, he went to Wang Lusheng's cabin every day to say goodbye, and he never bothered Cao Cheng and the others.

It's not just peppermint oil that's done. I've been sitting on a boat for a long time, and I'm a little used to it. Fan Shishen's symptoms of seasickness are getting milder.

On the vast sea, life on board is not easy. Only in the early morning and late afternoon can you walk around the deck, other times. It's all scorching sun, and you can only stay in the cabin.

Before Cao Yi boarded the ship, he brought a lot of books mentioning the customs and geography of the South Seas. Because of his concern about rice seeds in the past two years, Cao Liang also paid special attention to the agricultural records in them, but there were very few, and some were just a few mentions.

Cheng Mengxing was idle and bored, borrowed a few books from Cao Yi's side, and forgot to sleep and eat, and was not even stunned by the fatigue of the journey. Every time I see Cao Mei, I have to sigh two sentences like "the world is big".

Along the way, the weather changed. There were a few times when I almost got lost; Another time, I encountered pirates. However, because there are many ships in the fleet here, and there are also under the banner of the Fan family in Guangzhou, the other party did not come forward, so they avoided it twice.

Cao Yi and Cheng Mengxing were both in the cabin, and when they got the news, there was only a shadow left on the pirate ship.

At the end of March, the ship arrived in Quanzhou. After a day's rest, we set off again.

In mid-April, the Wang fleet finally arrived in Guangzhou.

Although Cao Yi was not seasick, he was tired on the road and lost several catties. When he stepped onto the dock, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart, he really didn't want to take a boat again.

Seeing Cheng Mengxing's long sigh, I am afraid that I think about it in my heart is similar to Cao Cheek.

The Wang family has a house in Guangzhou, Wang Lusheng asked Yizi to take someone to unload the goods, he said goodbye to Fan Shishen himself, and took Cao Yi and Cheng Mengxing to the royal house.

Nowadays, Guangzhou, because it is a customs, can sometimes see yellow-haired and blue-eyed foreigners, as well as merchants dressed in Nanyang countries.

Not to mention Cheng Mengxing, even Cao Ming, he couldn't help but look at it twice.

When they arrived at the palace, Wang Lusheng arranged for Cao Cheng and the two to settle down, and ordered a banquet for the two to pick up the wind.

When Cao Yu was in the room, after bathing, he came out with a change of clean clothes. Wang Lusheng, on his side, was already listening to the reply of the housekeeper.

He knew that Cao Mei came to find someone, and without waiting for Cao Mei to speak, he sent someone to the Ai family firm to investigate.

The Ai family is actually the Ai Velo family, a Portuguese businessman in Macau, who has a trading house in Guangzhou. Chinese can't pronounce the foreigner's surname, so the first sound prevails.

"Master Cao, I asked the Ai family firm at the dock just now, and their eldest girl's and aunt's boat haven't come back yet." Wang Lusheng said to Cao Mei.

Cao Yi was not surprised when he heard this.

Because the long-distance voyages at this time are all related to the monsoon.

In winter, the wind blows from north to south; In summer, the wind comes from the south. Ships coming from the West are all after May, after the summer monsoon blows. Only then did they arrive at the port of Guangzhou.

Wei Xin and his wife Ida were supposed to return to Guangzhou last summer. I don't know what happened on the way, but as long as there is a ship coming back from Europa this year, I should be able to find out some news.

While the two were talking, a housekeeper came in and replied, "Master, there is a manager Zhang from the Ai family firm outside, who asks to see the master." ”

"Steward Zhang?" Wang Lusheng listened and said, "The manager of the Ai family firm has been replaced?" Wasn't the original steward surnamed Bai? ”

The butler replied, "Master." This is the deputy steward, who came to Guangzhou in March, and I heard that he came from Macao. ”

Cao Yi listened, his heart moved, and said, "Is it a Beijing accent?" ”

The housekeeper nodded and said, "Back to Cao Ye's words, this steward is an authentic Beijing film."

"Cao Ye knows this person?" Wang Lusheng asked.

Yu Ye, this may be Zhang Yi of my family, who came with Wei Xin a few years ago. Cao Po replied.

Wang Lusheng heard this, and hurriedly asked the housekeeper to invite him in.

The visitor was dressed in a blue silk garment. With a short beard, he followed the housekeeper in, not Zhang Yi, but where

Judged, I have seen the uncle, the prince. Zhang Yi saw Cao Yu, his face was a little excited, and he bowed down.

"Haha, it's really Steward Zhang. Get up. Wang Lusheng was busy helping out. Road.

Back then, Zhang Yi was Cao Mei's long-term follower. I followed the appointment of Shandong Province. So Wang Lusheng also knows. After a few pleasantries, Wang Lusheng saw that their master and servant were reunited, and they had something to say, so he found a reason to go out and left them to speak by themselves.

"Why did you transfer to Guangzhou? Is it the meaning of the head of the Ai family? Cao Yi looked at Zhang Yi and asked.

Zhang Yi shook his head and said, "It was the little self who begged Ai Ye to come to Guangzhou Commercial Bank." Uncle, there were letters to the little ones every month, but this time there has been no letter for several months. Bu thought about it, Uncle Xu was not worried about Wei Ye, maybe he wanted to come over and take a look, but he didn't expect to guess

The Cao family's previous business in Guangzhou. There are also hundreds of thousands of silver bought and sold. The last time Wei Xin came to Beijing, he originally wanted Cao Liang to send someone over to take over.

Cao Yi let Wei Xindu deal with it. Invested in the Aijia fleet. Zhang Yi was ordered to go south, that is, in Macao, to give Wei Xin to the foreign country for future defense.

Cao Yi went south this time, although he didn't come for the hundreds of thousands of taels of silver, but he didn't want the Ai family to take advantage of the fire to rob.

"What does the Ai family say?" Cao asked me.

"The Ai family is treacherous, and they want to use Wei Ye to take this ship to get rid of Wei Ye, but the second girl of the Ai family doesn't do it and entrusts the matter down." Zhang Yi replied.

Sister? Cao Yi pondered for a moment and asked, "Is it Ada's sister from the same mother?" Can she speak in Ai's house? ”

"Back to Uncle, although Master Ai married several wives, he gave birth to daughters. His brothers are not good at stubble. He really couldn't help it, so he pushed the second girl out. This time, he praised the second girl more, otherwise even if Wei Ye didn't lose all his money, he would definitely have to suffer some dark losses. Zhang Yi said.

When Cao Yi heard this, he couldn't help frowning, and said to Zhang Yi: "Foreigners are used to mercenary, and his family is a pirate, so there is no morality at all. Xiyun mother and son, did you come to Guangzhou with you this time?

"Coming together, the Ai family is afraid that they will want to let the little ones leave Macau, and there will be no ink at all." Zhang Yi replied: "But they don't know that the deed, title deed, note, and work deeds of several shopkeepers and account offices of Guangzhou Foreign Bank are all collected here in Xiaoxiao. Even if they wanted to leave Wei Ye behind, it was not so easy. ”

Cao Mei listened and said, "Guangzhou Foreign Bank, is it Ida's dowry?" ”

Zhang Yi nodded and replied with a smile: "Yes, I heard that Wei Ye asked for it." He used tens of thousands of taels of silver as a gift. and used hundreds of thousands of taels of silver to enter the fleet of the Ai family, making the Ai family make a comeback. Not to mention that it was a small shop, but at that time, he asked Master Ai for two daughters as concubines, and Master Ai would also send them obediently. ”

When Cao Yu heard this, he also laughed. I know that Wei Xin is a person who refuses to suffer. Although the Ai family only needs money to be pressed on the fleet. But this Guangzhou foreign company is also a decades-old signboard. Wei Xin took this and put the connections of the Ai family's business. If you want to swallow the Ai family, or if you want to set up another portal, you have this foreign bank in your hands. can do more with less,,

The capital, Cao Fu.

This year, the weather was cold, and it was only in late February that there were two heavy snowfalls in the capital, and it began to warm up in March. Now, halfway through April. It's still a little cold in the morning and evening, and you have to wear thick armor.

The courtyards of the inner house have been replaced with window screens, light green, pink and blue. It's refreshing to look at. However, the old and young in the family are only at noon. before daring to open the window for a meeting.

Although last year in Changping Zhuangzi had a leisurely life, but this year, because Cao Mei was not at home, Li's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law did not really go out of the city to live.

Cao Ying's mother and son returned to Beijing in late March, and the Li family said to Zhaojia because of the small number of people in the family, so they asked someone to take Cao Ying's mother and son to live here. It's a bit more lively.

During this period, Chu Yu returned to her parents' home several times, and Fang Fujin's mind was more relaxed, and his illness gradually improved, and he began to work with Zhang Luohong.

On this day, just in time for the funeral of Mrs. Guo's uncle's mansion, Li and Chu Yu went to see each other off.

This old lady is the wife of the late Minister of the Guard, Zhong Guowei, and the mother of Empress Xiaoyi and the Governor of Jiumen, Long Keduo, and her identity is extraordinary.

For his aunt and mother-in-law, although Kangxi did not go to the sacrifice in person, he also attached great importance to it, and ordered De, Yi Erfei, and the princes to worship; When the introduction was made, he ordered the princes, the Fujin and the ministers and guards to send each other.

It can be described as a great honor. The Li family and Chu Yu's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law followed the female dependents and accompanied them for a long time before they returned home after the funeral.

Speaking of this Mrs. of the end of the family. He is also a long-lived person.

Today's funeral is small, but it is also a joyful mourning.

Although the Cao family also has a title, the final family is the founding minister, and there are two queens in a row, which is far from being comparable to the Cao family who was born in Baoyi. As a result, there is little contact between the two families.

Li's mother-in-law passed today. It's just a whole number of rituals, so much so that there's nothing to mourn about.

Changsheng followed his nephews to study, and Li was afraid that he would not be able to sit still and feel bored, so he told Fangcao to let Wei Yaohui study with him.

Because he was a little tired of getting up early in the morning, Li changed out of his coat and crooked for a while.

When Zhaoji heard that she was back, he brought his daughter-in-law over to find Li to play cards.

It's only been two rounds here. A maid came to report, saying that the sixteenth elder brother was coming.

When Cao Mei was there, the sixteenth elder brother often came, and he often came to the Lan Courtyard to greet the Li family. Although he is a noble prince, he has had a lot of contacts, and the Li family also regards him as a nephew in his heart.

Cao Mei has been out for two months. The sixteenth elder brother also often sent people over to say goodbye and send some fresh fruits that were not available outside. Needless to say, this was all made by him from the Ministry of Internal Affairs "under the guise of public and private interests".

It's just that Cao Po is not here now. It is a little inappropriate to invite the sixteenth elder brother into the inner house. Li said a few words to Zhao Jia, changed his coat, and took Chu Yu to the living room in the front yard.

Zhao Jiashi put down the cards in his hand. complained to his daughter: "Rare good luck, if you break it in the middle, I'm afraid that it will fly if it's good luck." ”

Cao Ying said with a smile: "In the morning, my daughter looked at the imperial calendar, and now the God of Wealth is in the north, which is the position of the mother." It can be seen that it is destined to be the mother who wants the silver today. ”

"Really?" Zhao Jiashi said with a little joy: "I can't complain about it so easily." What do you want? ”

Thinking that the Li family sealed his wife's edict, and his daughter-in-law was Heshuo Gege, and the people who came and went to socialize were all relatives and magnates, what was he? Zhao Jiashi suddenly felt bored.

The same is a widow. When others see the Li family, who dares to snub; How many people know who she is?

"Sixteenth elder brother is also diligent, right? The brother is not here, and there are four and five children, and it is not his turn to worry about this side of the house. Zhao Jia said with a little resentment.

Cao Ying listened and hurriedly said: "Who doesn't know that the sixteenth master and his younger brother have been in love for many years, and they are the nephew of the uncle, so they are so estranged." It's weird. ”

"What nephew? It's just a name. It is true that Concubine Wang is the cousin of the Li family's uncle, but she is not related to your uncle. Speaking of this, she pursed her lips: "What is this world?" Speaking of which, your uncle's family is the heirloom of the Li family, and Uncle Li's family in Suzhou is just the fake son of the Li family, and now it is also up.

Like the Sun family, they are all snobs who can't get on the stage, what kind of thing? ”

She said happily, but Cao Ying couldn't say anything, and there was a maid watching next to her.

Seeing that her daughter did not answer. Zhao Jiashi also felt bored, pursed his sideburns, and said: "If you grow up today, it's not good to be bored at home all day, find a good day another day, let's go to your sister's house for a visit,"

Front yard, living room.

The sixteenth elder brother has always come from his final home, wearing a plain clothes. These days, he has been thinking about coming over to take a look, but he is busy with all kinds of trivial matters when the saint drives out of Beijing, and he has never had time to leave the palace.

Today, he still went to the funeral of Mrs. Zhongtai, and he was ordered to follow the princes to send this titular "grandmother" to be able to put down his errand.

This year's list of followers has been decided, and the sixteenth elder brother is among them.

Thinking about what Cao Yin entrusted him before leaving Beijing, he was a little uneasy, so after returning from the funeral today, he went to Cao's Mansion to have a look.

The guest and the host had seen it, served tea, and sat down to talk.

I heard that the sixteenth elder brother wants to follow him. Wang Concubine also followed out of Beijing, and Li said: "Last month, my eldest girl came back from Hangzhou and brought a lot of peppermint oil and rose dew. There are many mosquitoes outside the plug, so it is just right to use this. A few days ago, I was thinking about when, filial piety to Niangniang, but it happened that a sixth master came today, and it was just right to bring it back

Inside the Anding Gate, Prince Yong's Mansion, study.

The face of the fourth elder brother. But it's a little unsightly.

Because he is the adopted son of Queen Xiaoyi. Mrs. Tong Zhong really has a bit of ancestral and grandchild affection. However, his mood was not sad for the funeral, but thinking of his uncle Roncodo.

Three years of worrying about the little emperor's father, will he win love?