Cao Mansion, Inner Courtyard, Main Hall.

Seeing Cao Hao coming in, the woman looked over here. Amethyst, who was sitting under her, got up, glanced at Cao Hao, and said to the woman: "Miss Chen, this is my uncle!" ”

The woman Yingying got up, and Cao Hao took a few steps closer before she clenched her fists and leaned over and said, "Cao Hao has seen Sister Chen!" ”

Although it is separated by several meters, the hall is filled with the specious fragrance of juhua flowers. Cao Hao remembered that Amethyst privately mentioned that this cousin's surname was Aiju, not only with the word "chrysanthemum" in her name, but also that juhua flowers are used everywhere in incense, tea, and bathing. Such a "Yaju" was sent to the court, and Cao Hao always had the feeling of "tyrannical things". Besides, although Kangxi looked at his forties, he was an old man of nearly sixty years old after all, and his granddaughter was no more than two years younger than this Miss Chen. However, since people deliberately entered Beijing to be elected, it would be a bit unkind to expect her to not be elected, so I would like to bless this woman.

Miss Chen leaned down slightly, returned the salute, and said a few gossips in a soft voice.

Cao Hao also replied in a regular manner, and then there was a mother-in-law who was born with eyes, smiled and helped Miss Chen say that she was lacking, and went back to the chrysanthemum courtyard in a huddle.

Looking at the graceful figure in the distance, Cao Hao was a little distracted for a while. Amethyst was beside him, and couldn't help but urge: "Uncle, wake up, people are far away!" ”

Cao Hao sighed: "But I don't know what she was like before, now like this, the rules and etiquette have been counted, and people have lost their freshness!" ”

Amethyst smiled: "My sisters and sisters are not enough to worry about the uncle, and they are worried about others!" Miss Chen is a noble person who wants to enter the palace, and if there is anything wrong with her behavior, it will be a big disaster. According to the old ladies of Pingwangfu, this Chen girl is very talented in learning rules! ”

Cao Hao touched his stomach: "The guest has also met, let's go back to the courtyard for dinner!" ”

*

After the Holy Birthday Festival, on the fourth day of October, the show girls who left the sign entered the palace for re-election, this time it was chosen by Kangxi himself. The selected women, in addition to leaving a few nobles and promises, the others according to their family backgrounds, some became the prince Fujin, and some became the prince Shu Fujin. Even the eldest brother who was imprisoned, Kangxi chose a few show girls to send over.

In this draft, the youngest daughter of Dutong Shi Wenbing, the younger sister of the crown princess, Guerjia, was pointed out as the fifteenth elder brother's concubine; Nian, the daughter of the former governor of Huguang, was referred to as the side Fujin of the fourth elder brother. Cao Hao's cousin who loves Ju was favored by the old man Kangxi, was named a nobleman, and stayed in the palace.

Ju flowers, even if they compare themselves to gentlemen, are raised in it after all, delicate and playful.

*

At the same time as the Inner Court draft, it was the martial arts of Jinke.

On the fourth day of the first month of October, the Wuju people gathered in front of the Taihe Hall for an examination. Most of these little brothers in the study love to be lively, and they all go to the front after school. Cao Hao was also pulled away by the sixteenth elder brother, wanting to see the excitement, but only saw the back of the black head.

The content of martial arts, the first test horse shooting, the second trial foot shooting, and the third trial strategy. Because it is inconvenient to compete in the palace between mounted archery and foot shooting, it is a strategy competition in front of the Taihe Palace. The questions will be made by the Hanlin Academy, and the Ministry of Rites will be responsible for the examination. According to the exam questions given, each Wu Juzi made two strategies and one discussion within the specified time, and then two examiners and the four deputy examiners jointly marked the papers, and selected the best ones to be sent to Kangxi for review.

The sixteenth elder brother inquired about the riding and foot shooting in Changchun Garden, and he was so anxious that he scratched his ears and cheeks, and he really wanted to see the excitement, but he had just found Yuzi out of the palace a few days ago, and there was no good excuse at the moment.

However, on the morning of the fifth day of the new year, there was a decree to go down to the upper study, so that the princes and grandchildren were exempted from their afternoon homework and went to Changchun Garden at noon. It seems that Kangxi wants his children and grandchildren not to forget the tradition of riding and archery, and to see the heroes of the world.

Cao Hao naturally followed, and found an acquaintance in the lift, that is, the young man who was unhappy in the VIP building.

Whether it is the cavalry archery of the fifth year of junior high school or the infantry archery of the sixth junior high school, the young man's achievements are very outstanding, there is no missed target among the ten arrows, and there is at least ** bull's-eye. Occasionally, one or two of them are off, and they are also very close to the bull's-eye.

The sixteenth elder brother couldn't help but applaud on the side, but Cao Hao couldn't help but have itchy hands. Of course, Cao Hao was not the only one with itchy hands, even Kangxi, who was sitting in the stands, couldn't help but get off the field and personally shot five arrows, of course, both of them. Later, he picked three more people out of the guards and ordered everyone to demonstrate archery for you.

These three people are Detehei, Nalan Fusen and Cao Hao, and naturally they all have some strength in archery. You were still a little arrogant, but now that you have seen the skills of the three people, you know that there are people outside the world and there is heaven outside the sky, and you look at the emperor more and more respectfully.

Kangxi nodded with satisfaction, ordered someone to reward the three of them with imperial wine, and then summoned Ma Yan, the waiter of the Ministry of Rites, to answer in front of him.

Cao Hao was in the audience and greeted several fellow guards. The sixteenth elder brother is also there, his surname is easy-going, and he is familiar with these guards, and everyone is not formal. As he spoke, he inevitably mentioned the young man who was good at riding and shooting. That person's name is Tian Xuan, and he is the Huiyuan of the current branch examination, and it seems that the results of the palace examination will not be low, and the first class will not be able to run.

*

When it was time for Shen, the guards of Detehei were handed over, and because Cao Hao was also there, everyone made an appointment to go back to the city to drink.

Just out of Changchun Garden, Xiao Man and the Wei family brothers were already waiting there, and Cao Fang was still standing next to him. Didn't Cao Fang go back to the south? Cao Hao was puzzled.

Cao Fang took two steps forward, first greeted the guards with a thousand greetings, and then said to Cao Hao: "Uncle, the second master and the third girl are here." Please also ask the uncle's house to go. ”

Cao Haoqi said: "Song'er Ping'er is here? Seeing Cao Fang's solemn face, he immediately turned around and hugged his fists towards Detehei and Nalan Fusen and the others: "The little brother is doing mundane affairs, and I can't accompany you brothers today. "Everyone gave it away.

On the way back to Beijing, Cao Hao got an amazing news from Cao Fang's mouth - Cao Shun died!

Cao Hao has not been able to wake up from this news for a long time, Cao Shun died, it turned out that his efforts to cross his have not become that butterfly wings, history is still moving according to the original trajectory, if everything has not changed, isn't it that he is walking into death step by step?

"Uncle...... Uncle...... Uncle's Day mourns, uncle......"

Under Cao Fang's urgent call, Cao Hao came back to his senses, and seeing his eyes full of worry, he hurriedly waved his hand to signal that he was fine.

Cao Hao stabilized his mind and asked in a deep voice, "When did this happen?" …… How......... Dead? ”

Cao Fang explained the cause and effect in detail. It turned out that Cao Shun was naughty, and caught Cao Yi's little Jingba in the courtyard to play, regardless of the maid's obstruction, he snatched the puppy back to his house, accidentally provoked the puppy, and was bitten a few times. At that time, the doctor came to see that it was okay, bandaged the wound, and prescribed two pairs of medicines. Who knew that in the second half of the night, Cao Shun was convulsed all over his body, had difficulty breathing, and swallowed his breath before the doctor arrived.

At that time, Cao Yin went to Yangzhou to inspect, Li Shiyuan was guarding his daughter in Beijing to give birth, and the only person in charge of the Cao family was Cao Yi. However, it was precisely because Cao Yi's dog bit Cao Shun that caused this tragedy, in Liuli's eyes, she was the murderer, and Liuli, who couldn't bear the pain of losing her child, rushed over like crazy to fight with Cao Yi, but Cao Yi was powerless to fight back because of guilt and fear, and took a few beatings, and the Cao family made a mess up and down, and finally Zhaojia's came with a few sturdy grandmothers to save Cao Yi.

For such a thing, Cao Quan Zhaojia and his wife are also difficult to interfere in, so they have to confine Cao Yi in the courtyard on the one hand, and send someone to inform Cao Yin and Li on the other.

Although Cao Yin went home early, he was already in poor health, and fell ill due to the loss of his son. When Li rushed home, Liuli's hatred was not gone, and she cursed every night, almost crazy, Cao Yi was not in a good situation, and many suicide attempts eventually led to a trance, and Li had no choice but to let Cao Song escort her to Beijing to temporarily avoid the limelight and recuperate.

The more Cao Hao listened, the heavier his mood became, his mind was in a mess, and he only hurriedly urged the horse to run home.

*

Cao Song had already waited at the door with two little servants, and from time to time looked at the direction where Cao Hao came back at the entrance of the alley, and as soon as he saw him riding in, he immediately ran over quickly, and began to shout from afar: "Brother! ……”

Cao Hao dismounted and stepped forward, patting his muscular arms: "I haven't seen a lot of strength in half a year." ”

Cao Song smiled innocently, measured his height, and said, "Brother is much taller than me now." As he spoke, he suddenly smiled and said, "Third sister, she ...... Not so good. ”

Cao Hao silently followed Cao Song into the courtyard, and just after passing through the hall, he saw Fang Cha rushing towards him, grabbed his arm regardless of the salute, and said sadly: "Uncle, are you back......?"

Cao Songxian shouted impatiently: "What are you howling? ”

Cao Hao didn't like the pungent appearance of Fangcha, but seeing that her eyes were red and swollen like peaches from crying, she felt compassion in her heart, so she didn't want to talk about her, so she only gently pushed her away and asked Zhu'er, who came over: "Where is Amethyst?" ”

Zhu'er glanced at Fangcha, asked Cao Hao and Cao Song for peace, and replied: "Sister Amethyst is accompanying the third girl in the bamboo courtyard!" ”

*

Cao Mansion, Bamboo Courtyard East Wing Warm Pavilion.

Cao Yi held the string tied with a jade pendant in his hand, leaned on the back of the lock brocade, and nested quietly on the kang. Amethyst moved a stool and sat on the side of the kang, talking to her in a slow voice. Cao Yi always seemed to have not heard, with a sleepwalking look on her face, as if she was looking at amethyst, and as if she was looking at something void through her, a little wooden, a little trance.

Seeing Cao Hao and Cao Song coming into the house, Amethyst was overjoyed, and hurriedly nudged Cao Yi and said, "Three girls, let's see who's coming." ”

Cao Yi turned a deaf ear and did not react at all.

Cao Song lowered his voice and said to Cao Hao: "I still understand things for half a month, but I am looking for death and life every day. Later, he stopped making trouble, and became like this again, and he didn't recognize people, and sometimes he refused to eat or drink......"

Cao Hao looked at Cao Yi's emaciated face, his heart tightened, he walked over quickly, and gently touched her hair like when he was a child: "Ping'er, brother is back!" ”