Outside the Xihua Gate, Jueluo Mansion, living room.

Cao Yi looked at the two brothers Cao Song and Cao Shuo on the seat, and said with a smile: "I want to say congratulations, the two younger siblings are about to enter the door!" ”

Cao Shuo was a little shy, blushing and just didn't speak, Cao Songhan laughed, stood up, took out a gift slip from his sleeve and gave it to him, and said: "The third sister is saying that she will have a big birthday, and my younger brother is ordered by my uncle, aunt, brother and sister-in-law to give my sister a birthday gift." ”

Cao Yi took the gift list and said, "It's all my own family, and I'm bothering everyone to spend these money, and I'm going home these two days!" ”

Cao Song sat down again and said, "Uncle Niang has also asked twice, and today my brother also specially instructed before coming out, let my brother ask my sister where she is free, so that someone will pick it up." Otherwise, after Laba, I'm afraid that my sister will not be idle here. ”

When Cao Yin and his wife arrived in Beijing, Cao Yi sent someone to greet him.

Although she was worried in her heart and couldn't wait to see each other immediately, after all, she was married and became a daughter-in-law, and she had a charter for everything, so it was better to be at ease when she was a daughter.

Seshtu went to Saiwai with Hu, and everything in the house here was complicated, and he still wanted to wait for Pingjun Wang Fujin to return to Ning, so Cao Yi had not gone back yet.

After listening to Cao Song's words, Cao Yi smiled and said, "Even if my younger brothers don't come today, I will also send someone back to talk about it." I heard that the second sister returned to the house yesterday, and if the queen mother said that she couldn't go out, I was about to go back to ask the old lady for peace. ”

"Uncle Niang just entered Beijing, and she couldn't endure the winter cold, so she said that she wanted to rest and recuperate. If I knew that the third sister planned to go back, I would be happy. Cao Song said with a smile.

Although Cao Yi has not been back since Tianhui Baiyue, the news of the two exchanges is known.

"How is it to live in Xinfu? How's the new house being cleaned up? There is not much difference between the two family affairs, so it can be seen that there is something busy over there? Cao Yi asked.

"Most of the housekeepers and the third child are busy, and the younger brother is only resting these days." Cao Song replied.

The two sisters and brothers talked a few more gossips, and the eldest maid next to Cao Yi talked back and forth, saying that the old lady woke up from a nap, and heard that the two uncles were coming, please come over to see the ceremony.

Cao Yi listened, got up and led Cao Song and Cao Shuo brothers over.

When the Hitara clan saw the two brothers, they had to say a few words of congratulations, and asked a few words about the safety of the eldest lord and the eldest wife of the in-laws.

The old man originally told Cao Yi to stay for dinner, but because the brothers were going to Sun's house, they didn't stay, and accompanied the old lady to say a few words of homely routine and left.

After sending off the two little brothers, Cao Yi sent the gift list to the Hitara clan to see if her mother-in-law liked it, so that she could keep it for use.

The Hitara clan swept his eyes twice, handed it back to Cao Yi and said: "Since it is a birthday gift for you, you can keep it, I am an old woman, what is it not used?" ”

Cao Yi smiled and said: "Since E-Niang said so, the daughter-in-law will send someone into the warehouse first, and then see what is useful and send it to E-niang." ”

The Hitara clan shook his head and said, "E-Niang said don't want it, didn't you say that you wanted to go back to the eldest lord and eldest lady of the in-laws in the future, and the prepared gifts are all ready?" The house over there is another happy event, and the gifts that should be given should also be prepared! ”

Cao Yi said: "The daughter-in-law thinks about it, this is already in the wax moon, or the daughter-in-law will send this year's New Year's gift in advance, and bring it the day after tomorrow, so as to save a few days and then send it." ”

"The day after tomorrow, the second day of the lunar month, well, make!" The Hitara clan nodded and responded: "The etiquette is thicker, Brother Shou'er is full moon, and Baiyue has given a lot of gifts, even if we can't be comparable, it's not too meager, and the number of gifts can't be owed." ”

Cao Yi responded, and said to the maid Chunya beside him: "Go back to my room and take the gift list on the Baibaoge to show your wife." ”

When the spring buds went down, Cao Yi sat on the small pestle by the kang and gently beat the legs of the Hitara clan.

While beating her legs, she asked: "E-Niang, Ming'er is the first day of the lunar month, does E-Niang want to incense in the temple?" ”

Hitara said, "What incense is on it?" Since it is according to the annual routine, I will give you a birthday. It's just that Tu'er is not in Beijing this year, so it's not easy to do it in a big way, so it's easier to do. ”

"What kind of life does a daughter-in-law have as a junior? Ask the kitchen to prepare two bowls of noodles, and that's it! Cao Yi said.

As the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were saying this, they heard the sound of hurried footsteps outside, and then heard the sound of "clicking" and smashing the curtains.

Cao Yi saw that her mother-in-law's face was not good-looking, so she stood up and looked at the door, just to see who was so unruly.

The one who is in the dust is not Seshtu, which one is it?

"Has you returned to Beijing?" Cao Yi was surprised, and the Xitara clan was also busy getting off the kang, and said: "A few days ago, I sent a letter, didn't I say that the holy car would not return to Beijing until the end of the month?" Did you come back first? ”

Seshtu nodded and said, "I was ordered by the Holy Father to return to Beijing first!" ”

He came in with a cool air.

Cao Yi saw that his face was red from the wind, and he was a little distressed, and said, "This is the fast horse coming back?" This cold winter wax moon, but if you are guilty, I will make someone prepare bath water for the master! ”

Seshtu rubbed his face vigorously and said, "Well, let the kitchen hurry up, you can't rest at home for more, you have to go out immediately!" ”

Hearing this, the Hitara clan was puzzled and said, "What kind of errand is it that you are so busy?" The foot is like hitting the back of the head, and it doesn't make people even out. ”

Cao Yi had already instructed people to ask for water in the kitchen, and when he saw that Seshtu was like this, he hurriedly poured a cup of hot tea to ward off the cold.

Seshtu took it, the cow drank two sips, Fang felt a little hot on his body, and said to the Xitara clan: "Eniang, the old man in Beixiaojie is sick, and the Tai Hospital has already been folded, and the saint ordered his son to return to Beijing to serve the sick." ”

Not only did the Hitara clan lose color when they heard this, but even Cao Yi couldn't help but be surprised.

The old man in Beixiaojie is the grade of Feng'en Fuguo Gong, and he is Seshtu's own family.

The ancestors of Seshtu can be traced back to the third brother of the ancestor Takshi, who was the king of the county. Now it has been passed down for several generations, and the current head of the family is called Demao, who is the same generation as the current princes, and is the uncle of Seshtu, and the Duke of Feng'en Fuguo.

Demao had only one son, who died when he was young, and later inherited an heir from his brother's family, raised him until sixteen or seventeen, and died before he could marry.

For the title of the duke, several of Demao's brothers and nephews can't wait for you to eat me, and I eat you, and it is very unpleasant.

Seshtu's father was a cousin of Demao, and he was a little bit farther away, so he was not close to the government before. I have only heard about the seizure of property over there, and I have never had the intention of mixing.

"Even if Songxi doesn't, there are several Songlu and their brothers, why do you want to assign you to serve the sick in the past?" Hitara forced himself to calm his mind and asked.

Seshtu returned: "The son was also puzzled at the beginning, but later inquired, it seems that the old man was cold because of his nephew's dispute over property, and he also handed the Banzai Lord an excerpt, and asked the Banzai Lord to be the master and choose one person from the clan as the heir." Speaking of this, he glanced at Cao Yi and said: "I may have borrowed the light of my father-in-law, my father-in-law is an old minister, and I will return to Beijing to raise my honor. ”

Seshtu's current title is the lowest "Feng'en General" in the clan, and if he really enters the public mansion as his heir, he will not be demoted to the title of the eighth town, which is several levels higher than the current title.

This is really pie in the sky, it's just that the son he raised will be given to others as an heir in the future, and Hitara can't tell whether he is happy or sad. Besides, it's not a shoulder in the next room, and there is no reason for an only son to be an heir.

While talking, there were already maids talking back and forth, and hot water had been prepared.

Seshtu said to the Hitara clan: "Eniang, not only the son, I'm afraid that Shou'er Eniang will also go with the son." Let's go over there first, and if it's not busy over there and you can be free, you'll come back in the evening; If you're busy, you'll probably have to stay there for a few more days! ”

The Hitara clan nodded and said, "Since there is a holy order, then you can go over with peace of mind, I will let ** take Shou'er to my room to rest, and you two don't have to worry about home." ”

*Cao Mansion, Orchid Temple.

Hearing Brother Cao Song reply that Cao Yi would return to the province the day after tomorrow, Li's face added a lot of smiles, and said to Chu Yu: "This is the best, this is the month of Layue, and it is time to buy New Year's goods, and the family is designated as a busy job." This time I came to my mother's house, so that the three girls could rest for a long time. ”

Speaking of this, he was a little insufficient, and said: "This is just in time for the wax moon, if the weather is warm in spring and summer, you can also see your grandson!" ”

Chu Yu said with a smile: "The third sister is really blessed, my mother is so worried, I heard that the wife of the in-laws over there also hurts as if she loves her own girl." When I came in September, I looked richer than before! ”

After Li accompanied Cao Yin into Beijing last spring, he saw the Xitara clan, nodded, and said: "The wife of the in-laws is a philanthropic person who eats fasting and recites Buddha!" After speaking, he said to Cao Song and Cao Shuo: "Just now, I said back and forth in the front yard, saying that the New Year's goods in Fengtian have arrived, and your uncle and brother are not there, and you two brothers are just going to follow the inventory." I heard your sister-in-law say that the list was prepared a long time ago, and if you count it carefully, you will be transported half of it to Dongfu, so that you don't have to change the trouble of tossing. ”

Cao Song and Cao Shuo got up, lowered their hands to listen, and went down.

Li asked Chu Yu to sit on the side of the kang and said, "Your brother-in-law is not in Beijing, and you won't prepare a seat if you want to come there. ”

Chu Yu listened to Li's words and wanted to visit, hesitated for a moment, and said, "My daughter-in-law is here to listen to her mother's orders." ”

Li hesitated, shook his head, and said, "Forget it, my grandson still waits for the weather to warm up and goodbye, your eldest sister and second sister didn't go to their house, and they went directly to your third sister's house, which is not the reason." ”

Chu Yu thought about it for a while and said: "I heard the uncle say that the third sister has cold hands in winter, and the pair of purple gold hand stoves given by her mother today, the third sister must love it very much." Jueluo's family didn't post it, and we can't be uninvited guests, my daughter-in-law has already sent someone to the shop to order, and Ming'er will send a few tables of dumplings over, which is more or less thoughtful. ”

Li Shi listened, nodded with a smile, and said: "This relationship is good, these days, I also eat the dumplings in the shop over there." It's not sweet, it's still soft to eat, it's really the same as what I ate in Suzhou in my early years. Eating this, I think of Suzhou. ”

* Suzhou, weaving yamen, study.

Li Xu looked at the letter in his hand, his expression was very gloomy. His eldest son, Li Nai, stood beside him, and couldn't help but worry when he saw it, and said, "Father, but is there any inappropriate news?" ”

Li Xu put down the letter, frowned, and said, "The eighth master was plotted by someone, and now he is already detained in the hot springs. Although he has made a self-defense excerpt, he still has applied for it several times! ”

"Ahh When Li Nai heard this, he couldn't help but be surprised.

Although he has been in the filial piety period for the past two years, he has also helped with the two errands of the weaving house and the family by his father's side. He also knew about his father's relationship with the eighth elder brother for a long time.

Thinking of the fact that the tide stall people were wantonly sent down two years ago, Li Nai couldn't help but feel a little worried, and asked: "Father, if the Long Live Lord wants to continue to attack the Eighth Master, then the father is ...... Do you need to send a letter to the uncle of the Cao family to ask for ideas? ”

Li Xu listened, pondered for a moment, and said: "Send a letter to Qian Zhongxuan, the New Year's gift sent to Cao's Mansion this year is thirty percent thicker than the example of previous years. ”

Li Nai responded, but with a little puzzlement, he asked: "Father, they are all close relatives, and there is an aunt, even if the uncle is a Beijing official, can there be any difference in treating our family?" ”

Li Xu smiled bitterly and said, "Your uncle treats us no differently, but are you still your uncle who is now the head of the Cao family?" Your cousin has an idea, and when it comes to life and death, honor and disgrace, this idea may not be taken into account. Giving these gifts is for the people of Beijing, even if Xiao Cao Hao wants to leave our family, he can't say anything morally. ”

When Li Nai heard this, he couldn't help but be stunned, and said: "Father Xu has thought a lot, his son entered Beijing last year, and his cousin is also affectionate. ”

Li Xu sneered twice and said, "You have a kind heart, and it is good to look at everyone." It's called being prepared, always being safe......"

(To be continued)