Rehe, a summer resort.

The holy driver returned to Rehe on the seventh day of the ninth month, and Kangxi rested for a few days before he eased his spirits. Looking at the white seals on several cases, Kangxi sighed in his heart.

Who is gone? Since the beginning of autumn, there are funeral excerpts to the front of the emperor. Those old ministers in the early years of Kangxi have long since withered away, and even those courtiers who were enabled in the middle of Kangxi have also reached the age of retirement.

He is becoming more and more like a loner.

When he saw the words "second-class Uncle Cao Yin", Kangxi couldn't help but widen his eyes, supported the kang table with one hand, and leaned forward with his upper body, shocked.

In addition to the excerpt of the Ministry of Rites to report the death of Cao Yin, the second-class uncle, there are also Cao Yin's testament, the excerpt of Cao Yin's eldest son Cao Yin's handover to Ding Wei, Cao Yin's eldest son, Cao Yin's eldest son, Hu Ke's palm print to the matter, and Cao Hao's report of his father's death at the first moment of September 11 (1:15 a.m.).

Kangxi only felt that his eyes were black and his mind was messed up.

The last time I saw Cao Yin was at the funeral of the Empress Dowager of Daxing. Cao Yin stood among the lords, although he was thin and looked old, Kangxi still saw him at a glance.

has been friends for more than 50 years, and with just one look, Kangxi can understand the worry in the eyes of this confidant courtier.

He was both sentimental and funny at the time, Cao Yin was a few years younger than himself, and he was worried about him?

Yes, there is no need for him to worry.

The emperor, who ascended the throne at the age of eight, has an unrivaled pride.

In his heart, he has never looked down on Cao Yin. Treating courtiers like "siblings" is also the way of the young emperor. Even when his face is full of warmth, is his heart also full of the pride of the emperor playing with people's hearts and applauding?

For him, Cao Yin is the son of a nanny and a slave who can be called with confidence.

Just when he was wearing a dragon robe, sitting on the cold dragon chair, and carefully looking at the face of the auxiliary minister, did he also envy the freedom of the young Cao Yin in his heart?

When his emperor's authority was persecuted by the three feudatories and he lost half of the country, did he also envy Cao Yin's youthful talent and fame?

can be pitiful and talented, promoted to the side, and favored; But he didn't want Cao Yin to be proud of the spring breeze and be on the list, so he was transferred away before the exam, what was the reason?

One was born in the Prime Minister's Mansion, is a descendant of the Yehe Department of Manchuria, and is the grandson of Aixin Jueluo; A former courtier, royal coat, and a servant of the Son of Heaven. That's the difference between the two. The former treats it with "affection" and treats it with sincerity; The latter is promoted to the end of the emperor with "grace", which is the emperor's mental technique.

When looking at Mama Sun, who was dependent on her child, and praised Cao Yin, who was a few years younger than herself, for her "early wisdom", the young emperor was also faintly jealous in his heart.

The emperor's emotions were domineering, even if he was too young to be in charge of the government, but longing for the full attention of the people around him was the inevitable surname of every child.

Even if he grew up later, even if Mama Sun left the palace later, he didn't want Cao Yin to spread his wings and become Mama Sun's proudest son.

In his heart, there is only one person who hopes that Mama Sun will be proud of.

After he pacified the "Three Feudatories", recovered "Taiwan", defeated Galdan, and transformed into a mature emperor. The jealousy hidden in childhood has long been like a smoke in the past, and there is no trace.

Even if he is himself, when he dreams back at midnight, he will not admit that he was once a little "jealous" of a minion.

The kindness to the Cao family was exchanged for the loyalty of several generations of the Cao family.

It was only at this time that Kangxi really classified the Cao family as "his own people" in his heart.

It was a grandmother who had taken care of him for more than ten years and gave him countless loves; That's because of his words, two generations of the Cao family, father and son, who have been stationed in Jiangnan for more than 50 years.

After learning that the Li family was older, Kangxi assigned her to marry Cao Yin, also because of his wholehearted trust in the Cao family.

Now, Cao Yin, who has looked up to him all his life and is loyal to him, is gone, leaving only him, the old emperor, feeling the boundless loneliness of the ...... * Beijing, Cao Mansion.

On the gate, a white tent has been hung, flying in the autumn wind, with a bit of solemnity. More than a dozen gongs and drummers dressed in filial piety clothes blew the funeral music every two or three quarters of an hour, and people became more and more sad when they heard it.

In the courtyard, a mourning shed has been erected, full of tables and chairs, and the housekeeper dressed in full filial piety followed the skills of several masters of the main family to entertain the guests who came to the door to hang the sacrifice.

Monks, lamas, and Taoist priests work in shifts day and night, chanting non-stop. There was a cigarette in the shed, which made people's eyes red, but it added a bit of sadness.

Today is September 13, the third day of Cao Yin's death.

According to the funeral rites, the mourners will have to do a lot of work today. It is said that "clothing and burial", "coffin", "receiving three", "sending three", or "family sacrifice", "first sacrifice", is the grand ceremony in the funeral.

After a long time of busy work, the "clothes and burials" and "coffins" have been completed, and they are only waiting for the "three pick-up" and "three-send-off" ceremonies at dusk.

In the past two and a half days since Cao Yin took his last breath, Cao Hao has been supporting him non-stop for three days.

Now that his eyes are red, he is talking to the sixteenth and seventeenth elder brothers who came to pay tribute in the study. said "accompanying" the sixteenth elder brother, but in fact, the sixteenth elder brother saw that he was too tired, so he pulled over to rest.

"Fu Ruo, the funeral is still a child, and you can't fight too hard. Uncle is only your one-year-old son, if you are tired and sick, who will rely on Zhang Luo for the big things inside and outside here? Seeing Cao Hao's gloomy face, the sixteenth elder brother shook his head disapprovingly.

After a few sleepless days, Cao Hao only felt pain in his temples. He stroked his forehead and said, "Thank you for the sixteenth master's concern, you can still survive." ”

This is the pain of losing a father, even if the sixteenth elder brother and the seventeenth elder brother are friends with Cao Hao again, it is also the parents who are complete, and they can't empathize, and they don't know how to persuade for a while.

To put it mildly, it is disrespectful to the dead; Speaking of gravity, it can only add to the grief.

"Think more about your aunt and children, and take care of yourself. In the future, you will be the pillar of the Cao family. Brother Sixteen sighed and said.

Because the sixteenth elder brother and the seventeenth elder brother were both private sacrifices, wearing regular clothes, they dragged Cao Hao to the study after sacrificing wine in front of the spirit, and did not entertain the officials outside.

When a speculative official saw the two of them, he wanted to ask someone to meet him, saying that he wanted to greet the two elder brothers. At this time, three or four groups of people came.

The sixteenth elder brother was very impatient, but because they were hangers of the Cao family, he pushed a few people.

Right now, hearing that someone wants to say goodbye again, the sixteenth elder brother is hesitating whether to entertain or not to save face for the Cao family.

Cao Yin died of illness, Cao Hao was worried, and the Cao family was destined to be silent for two or three years.

At this time, I saw the housekeeper of the Cao family come to report: "Uncle, Lord Yong and the thirteenth elder brother are here, just at the door, the second master went to greet him, and told the little one to come and invite the uncle over." ”

Everyone got up, and the sixteenth elder brother looked at Cao Hao and hesitated, and said: "If Fu Ruo goes to greet him, I will go to the other end of the spiritual shed with the seventeenth brother to go around, so as to save those grandsons from muttering in their hearts." ”

The words were not clear, but Cao Hao was not a fool, he understood his intentions, and he was grateful, and he hugged his fists and said: "In this way, there are sixteen and seventeenth masters." I will go to greet the fourth master and the thirteenth master first, and ask the sixteenth and seventeenth masters to come back later to accompany them. ”

The sixteenth elder brother answered, and went to the spiritual shed with the seventeenth elder brother.

Cao Hao followed the housekeeper and walked briskly to the door. Halfway through, I saw Cao Song accompanying the fourth elder brother and the thirteenth elder brother over.

These two are also the same as the sixteenth elder brother and the seventeenth elder brother, wearing plain clothes, looking solemn and knife-carved faces, they look like two brothers in law.

Cao Hao stepped forward, and just as he was about to greet him, he was dragged by the fourth elder brother.

The fourth elder brother was rarely moved, his eyes were flowing with a little concern, and his voice was rarely a little warm: "There is no need to be polite today, first take me and the thirteenth master to worship in front of Ling Zunling." ”

The thirteenth elder brother also stepped forward and helped him with his other arm.

Cao Hao couldn't help but feel ashamed, for the two in front of him, most of the time he was too afraid of being too close and seeking benefits.

The group walked through the mourning shed and arrived in front of the altar.

The hangers in the mourning shed are talking in twos and threes, and there are also those who are flattering in every way around the sixteenth and seventeenth elder brothers. When they recognized that it was the fourth elder brother and the thirteenth elder brother who came in with the Cao family brothers, everyone gradually turned out to be silent.

The sixteenth elder brother touched the sparse beard on his lips, and he was very amused.

This fourth brother is really a well-deserved "iceberg", no matter how lively the place is, he is silent as soon as he appears. Even when the second elder brother was on the throne of the crown prince, he did not necessarily have such majesty.

It's a powerful, non-offensive momentum.

Thinking of this, the sixteenth elder brother's heart moved, and his face was already relaxed. He looked at the fourth elder brother, and then at Cao Hao, with a face, but his heart was turbulent, and countless thoughts were born.

"Brother Sixteen?" The seventeenth elder brother was beside him, and seeing that the sixteenth elder brother looked wrong, he tugged on his sleeve and said in a low voice: "It's time to come forward and say hello to the fourth and thirteenth brothers." ”

"Huh? Yes! The sixteenth elder brother came to his senses and said casually: "Don't worry, it's not too late to come forward after the fourth brother and the thirteenth brother have finished worshipping......

Among the several princes and elder brothers in the capital, in addition to the four elder brothers in the current spiritual shed, there are also seven elder brothers who come to the Cao family to worship. He came in the morning, went to the Ministry of Rites after the worship, and explained to Cao Hao that he would come back in the afternoon when he "introduced three".

The rest of the shells, Guogong, needless to say.

The hangers in the mourning shed, seeing this situation, could only envy Cao Yin's grief after his death. Now, I just don't know what it means on the other side of the Rehe, whether there is a slander or not, what it is, and there is a holy will in it to speculate...... * Inner house, Orchid Courtyard.

Because he was afraid that the Li family would not be able to support his body, he did not entertain guests in the Orchid Courtyard, but entertained the female relatives in the Wutong Garden.

In the end, it is a family, and at this time it is possible to see the effectiveness of everyone. The elderly female guest was received by Zhao Jia's accompanied by Cao Jia's; Jinghui is a thoughtful person, so she followed Cao Yi to entertain her orders; Chunhua was young and lively, and entertained the young ladies of relatives; Su Xin is careful and careful, and takes care of Li by Lee's side.

Chu Yu is a filial woman, with Changsheng, Tianyou and others, to stay behind the coffin to mourn and return the ceremony, and cannot leave for a moment. Amethyst is the housekeeper of the house, and he has no time to stay in one place.

As a filial piety, Li was half said to cry in the mourning hall, and half said that he was helped back to the Lan Courtyard to rest. Although he looked lacking in spirit, everyone persuaded him and supported him with ginseng soup, and finally he did not fall.

Finally, it is time to stay up until dusk, and it will be the time of "introduction three".

Chu Yu looked at everyone, only to feel that there was one person missing, and then he thought that the "righteous daughter" Han Jiang who was placed under the name of his in-laws had not yet appeared.

She frowned slightly, a little strange, after many years of contact, Han Jiang's family is not a person with short courtesies. Now that she has caught up with the old man's white affairs, even if she is not her own daughter, she is just a righteous daughter, she should not be said to be uncoming.

Will there be any surprises?

She was thinking crankily in her heart, when she saw the housekeeper's daughter-in-law leading a little daughter-in-law who was full of filial piety, which one was not Han Jiang's family?

Where is the Han Jiang clan still capable and calm in the past, a small face is not as thin as a palm, and it is terrifyingly pale, only a pair of almond eyes are left. The moment she saw Li and Chu Yu, her eyes showed grief and guilt.

"Madame, grandma." When she arrived, she leaned down and whispered goodbye, but by the old name.

In the grief of the Li family, he didn't pay attention, but he helped him and said, "Let's go and worship the master first." ”

Han Jiang answered, and was led to the spirit by someone and made a big salute.

At this time, Chu Yu has already relieved himself and knows that Han Jiang's heart is too much. She sighed in her heart, led Han Jiang to the side, and said, "Why should my aunt suffer herself? The old man is a chronic disease, and being able to survive until now is already the result of many years of health preservation, who would blame his aunt and grandmother? ”

On Han Jiang's side, the big tears of the bean had already rolled down, and he bowed his head and said, "The eldest grandmother is a generous person, but the little woman doesn't dare not know what to do." I am a lonely person, and I am grateful for the mercy and protection of my grandmother. If it is because of me that I bring bad luck to your house, the little woman will be able to pay for her sins even if she dies. ”

Chu Yu is not an ignorant woman, how could she be inexplicably angry with Han Jiang.

She shook her head, took out a handkerchief, handed it to Han Jiang's hand, and said, "Don't do this." If so, wouldn't it be a wife...... Why bother cursing yourself like this? Look at you, you've become a foolish woman, and you don't have any ordinary cleverness. Quickly collect the golden pimple, to help the lining, is filial piety. ”

It just so happened that Cao Yi went to the front yard to "lead the three", saw Chu Yu and Han Jiang's together, came to meet, and heard the two talking, and also said: "What my sister-in-law said is that my sister is confused." Birth, old age, sickness and death, the gods can't resist it, who will complain that you are a hard-working little woman. If bereavement involves me, then I am also a bad star. ”

Han Jiang's family has been beaten from small to large, how many eyes have been suffered, and countless ugly and vicious words have been heard, how can anyone treat her so leniently.

She covered her face with a handkerchief, grateful, and burst into tears.

However, she was still afraid in her heart, afraid that her parents and siblings would be her fate, and she had already made up her mind. Even if in the future, filial piety to the Li family is like a mother, and respectful to Cao Hao and Chu Yu are like brothers and sisters-in-law, this title cannot be changed back.

In this world, it is rare for someone to treat her like a relative, and she really doesn't want to bring any misfortune and sorrow...... From dusk, the ceremony of "receiving three" and "sending three" begins.

Outside the gate, gongs and drums sounded in unison, and the funeral music shook loudly. The official drum music in front of the spirit also began to play; On the platform, there is also the "Jiufu Class", which is a clean music of nine people.

In the mourning tent, the monks, fans, and Taoists all began to chant sutras and pray for the dead.

According to the folk saying, after three days of death, his soul went to the "Wangxiangtai" to visit and say goodbye to his family. In addition to the solemn sacrifice, filial piety is also said to invite the monks to chant sutras for the deceased to avoid sin, so that they will not fall into hell, hungry ghosts, and animals, and will be reincarnated as soon as possible.

It was another tedious ceremony, and by the time the toss was over, it was already eight o'clock in the evening.

The hangers with a shallow relationship dispersed one after another, and those with a good relationship and close to each other stayed and sat with the mourners for the night...... A few days passed in a blink of an eye, and in the blink of an eye, it was September 17, Cao Yin's "first seven" said, and there were more guests who went to Cao's mansion to pay tribute than "Pick up three".

Everyone was thinking in their hearts, and they knew that Rehe's will should also come down.

Who sacrificed on behalf of the Son of Heaven, whether there was a confession, what a confession, there were many questions in everyone's hearts.

In anticipation, the fourth elder brother of the prince came with a holy decree in his hand, and in addition to praising Cao Yin's life, Cao Yin's nickname was "Zhongzheng".

The people kneeling in the mourning hall were in an uproar. Needless to say, as a courtier who the Son of Heaven relies on all his life, Cao Yin deserves the word "loyalty", but this "righteousness" is extremely beautiful.

Throughout the ages, those who have received the nickname of "loyalty" have been important ministers of the country and exemplary subjects. The sorrow of the courtiers is nothing more than Si.

Cao Yin spent most of his life as an errand boy in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a slave of the Son of Heaven, and when he returned to the capital in his later years, he was just a nominal errand in the Ministry of Rites.

If it is a nickname proposed by the Ministry of Rites, it is still possible to "Zhongmin", "Zhongcheng", and "Zhongping", and it is absolutely impossible to be the word "Zhongzheng".

Cao Yin, who was once denounced as a "minister" and "national beetle" by the imperial historian, was finally sealed by the emperor who had been loyal to him all his life......

(To be continued)