Fangjia Hutong, outside the Fuguo Gong Efei Mansion.

Cao Hao rode on the horse and looked back, the plaque had been hung with white silk, and a pair of red lanterns had also been taken off. He touched the dagger on his waist, and sighed.

What kind of affection is this, which can make Efei still can't let go of it for more than 20 years. In order to keep his vow not to marry another wife or concubine, he lived alone for half his life.

Although he was unwilling to go against E Fei's dying wish, Cao Hao's "righteous father" was also called willing. For E Fei, who was covered with a lonely aura, Cao Hao really hoped to do something for him. Unexpectedly, he was only middle-aged, but he couldn't survive this illness.

Just now, at the moment when E Fei was breathing, E Qi was making tea and waiting in the outhouse. Hearing Cao Hao's voice calling for "adult", he entered the house. Seeing E Fei's happy expression, E Qi was very stunned.

Cao Hao knelt on one knee in front of the kang, holding the dagger in his hand, and was speechless for a long time.

E Qi sighed and said to Cao Hao: "This is the old man's body that never leaves his body at night, although I don't know what kind of dealings there are between the old man and Lord Cao. But look at him so cheerful, leaving this to you, it shows how close he is to you. ”

Cao Hao nodded and got up from the ground.

Due to Efei's illness, there was no preparation for the aftermath here, and Eqi was busy calling the stewards to arrange various injuries. Because Cao Hao was a guest, he couldn't take care of it at the moment, so Eqi didn't keep Cao Hao.

When he returned to the house, Cao Hao did not go back to the inner courtyard to change his clothes, but went to the study. He sat in his chair and looked at the dagger, feeling a little sad in his heart.

He closed his eyes and sighed, feeling only an indescribable weakness in his body. E Fei hid the secret in his heart for more than 20 years, and finally told Cao Hao. When will he hide the secret in Cao Hao's heart? I really want to talk to someone, and I don't do anything, just talk about the world I gave birth to for 26 years.

"Thousands of miles of sound" and "soaring clouds and fog", in the eyes of today's people, they are designated as a place for gods to stay.

He Cao Hao, Xiaoxian is not a fairy, but he is also a half-fairy. For those Kangqian celebrities, he also roughly knows seven, seven, eighty, eight.

Although Cao Hao was depressed and impatient to move, he also knew that the Thirteenth Elder Brother's Mansion could not go there.

He put the dagger away, got up and walked out of the study, and went back to Wutong Garden through the second gate.

Chu Yu was not in the room, Xicai and Wu En were in the east room with Hengsheng's nurse Ba's family, and they were teasing Hengsheng to talk. The Ba family is the Mongolian woman that Princess Khan gave to Cao Hao, because her man's name is Bagen, so everyone calls her so.

His man was a good handlebar type, so he worked on an errand in the stable.

Seeing Cao Hao coming back, everyone got up to greet him.

Cao Hao didn't see Chu Yu and asked Xicai, "Where is the county lord?" ”

Xicai replied: "Back to the forehead, Gege went to the second wife's courtyard." At the beginning of last month, the thick clothes that were cut were delivered, and Gege and the Amethyst girl brought them over. ”

Cao Hao nodded, asked Xicai to find clothes to go out, and sent someone to the Shaoyuan to invite Chu Yu. Today, the two of them are going to the Thirteenth Elder Brother's Mansion together to celebrate their birthday.

The birthday gift to the thirteenth elder brother was prepared a few days ago: a set of blue and white porcelain tea sets from the official kiln during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty; A Yuan Dynasty Jun kiln azure glazed porcelain lid jar for tea.

Although I don't know how to look ordinary, in the eyes of tea lovers, this is a good thing that can not be found.

Chu Yu got the letter, came back from the Shaoyuan, said that Cao Hao had already changed his clothes, stepped forward to help him tie the buckle, and said, "Are we going to go to the Thirteenth Uncle's Mansion?" ”

"Hmm!" Cao Hao nodded and said, "It's been a long time since I went over to say goodbye, and I can't say that I want to stay there for a while today." You are also relaxed and relaxed, and follow Fujin and them to listen to the play. ”

Chu Yu responded with a smile, thought for a while, and said, "By the way, E, the second wife just mentioned it, and also prepared a birthday gift for the thirteenth uncle, saying that it was for us to bring it over!" ”

"I know, before we go out later, let's go to the courtyard over there to get it!" Cao Hao flicked his sleeves and said.

Chu Yu remembered that he was eating longevity wine, and Cao Hao was drunk again, so he asked Xiyun to turn out two decanting stones. She made a small handkerchief, wrapped it, put it in Cao Hao's purse, and said in her mouth: "If you drink almost, your forehead will contain this." At that time, Chu Yu will accompany the thirteenth aunt behind, and the forehead will still need to take care of herself. ”

Cao Hao nodded and said with a smile: "Look at you, coaxing the child, even I don't feel at ease!" ”

Chu Yu smiled a little embarrassedly: "It's Chu Yu who is verbose, don't be annoyed!" ”

Cao Hao stretched out his hand and nodded the tip of her nose and said, "What's so annoying, I care about me so much, I really iron it in my heart!" ”

After Chu Yu also changed his clothes for going out, Cao Hao took out his pocket watch and looked at the hour, it was already noon (twelve o'clock at noon), and it was time to go.

Although people die like lights going out, and Efei Spring knows it, and he may not care about these false courtesies, Cao Hao still doesn't want to be slow with him. He turned to Chu Yu and said, "Eguo Gong is gone, so I went to see him for the last time." Ming'er discussed with Amethyst, prepared a gift list, and said that I would take you to worship in two days. ”

In addition to the home of friends so far, Cao Hao rarely takes his female dependents out of the house. The "Duke of Eguo" in Cao Hao's mouth, Chu Yu didn't know who it was, and the people who came and went to the house didn't seem to have seen the Duke of E's mansion at home.

Seeing that Chu Yu was confused, Cao Hao explained: "E Guogong is the former Minister of the Guard, E Fei, and his old boss when I first arrived in the capital. Although he rarely has contact with our house, he can be regarded as taking care of me. We only regard him as a relative or elder, and go to the spirit to offer incense. Speaking of this, he paused, and finally said to Chu Yu: "Fang Cai, before the Duke of Eguo took his breath, he recognized me as a righteous son." When the funeral comes, our house will also prepare a road sacrifice! ”

Although this righteous son recognized some child's play, Cao Hao didn't want to swagger under this guise. It's just that he has a lot of feelings, he doesn't want to bury everything in his heart, and he also wants to be more intimate with Chu Yu.

"Father-in-law?" Chu Yu was very surprised, his family's surname has always been cold, and he rarely pays attention to outsiders except for his closest relatives. Now that he has recognized his father-in-law, he can't complain about being so cautious.

The husband and wife were talking, and they came to the Shaoyuan, and as soon as they walked under the corridor, they heard Zhao Jia's scolding: "Tears hold me back, what kind of mourning?!" Is it a demonstration to me that you came up with such a fox? What kind of thing are you, but you bought it for a few dozen taels of silver, and you really think you are a grandmother? You spoil my tobacco, but you are annoyed that I took your two jackets? ”

Then, I heard a woman argue: "Madam, where does the servant dare to offend the wife? It's really unintentional, please spare the slave and maid! ”

But it was the voice of the jade spider, with a crying tone.

Cao Hao stood under the porch, a little embarrassed, not knowing whether to go in or exit the courtyard.

I heard the house Zhaojia sneered: "Hmph, spare you, it's strange to say it lightly." There are no rules, there is no circle, if I spare you today, you will not be able to turn the world upside down tomorrow! Come on, let this remember her surname for a long time, and call me! ”

Then, Cao Hao and Chu Yu heard the sound of "popping" slaps, and the sound of jade spiders crying and begging for mercy.

Cao Hao frowned, although he didn't have a good impression of the woman Jade Spider, he also hated this so-called family method. He whispered to Chu Yu and asked, "What is the reason for this, why is the second wife eyeing her?" ”

Chu Yu replied softly: "I don't know what the second wife remembered a few days ago, so I asked the jade dragon and the jade spider to set rules every time they came to her. The jade dragon is okay, she has always been diligent and cautious, although she has been tossed for most of the day, but she has not been found to be wrong in the end. The jade spider let the second wife target her, picking her nose and eyes. ”

Cao Haogang wanted to tell Chu Yu to let her persuade Zhao Jia's family, but after thinking about it, after all, Zhao Jia's family is an elder, and it is still inappropriate. Let's wait and see, if Zhao Jia's clan really abuses people, then he will still sing this black face, saving Chu Yu from being difficult to do.

He coughed and raised his voice: "Second aunt, my nephew is here!" ”

The room immediately closed its voice, and after a while, I heard Zhaojia's words: "Since the uncle is here, please speak in the hall!" ”

Cao Hao and Chu Yu entered the door together, and Zhao Jia's family had already come out of the inner room.

Zhao Jiashi saw that Cao Hao and his wife had changed into big clothes to go out, and said with a smile: "My nephew and my nephew and daughter-in-law are going to the Thirteenth Master's Mansion?" ”

Cao Hao responded: "Hmm! I have already asked the front to prepare a carriage, so let's go, what does the second aunt want to carry, my nephew will come and get it! ”

Zhao Jia's family asked someone to take out a few boxes in the back room, and said to Chu Yu: "This is the clothing material brought by the south, and our family is not short of this, so I will bring a lot of it to the capital." These pieces are just the best materials, and it is also cheap to send the Thirteenth Master and the Thirteenth Fujin. ”

Thirteen Fujin is the cousin of the Zhaojia clan, so she is also close to that side in her heart. She is a woman in a deep house, and she doesn't know the bad things of "seizing the heir" and "competing for the throne".

In her eyes, the thirteenth elder brother is the prince, the uncle of Zhaojia Mansion, and the most important person in the family's in-laws, so this gift is also very carefully prepared.

Cao Hao didn't expect this, but he knew that the relatives over there in Zhaojia Mansion were very close to the Thirteenth Elder Brother. After chatting with Zhao Jiashi for a few more words, he got up and left with Chu Yu, and the boxes containing clothes and materials were held by a few maids who followed Chu Yu out.

Because Chu Yu's carriage was very spacious, Cao Hao was too lazy to ride a horse, so the husband and wife got into the carriage and went to the Thirteenth Elder Brother's Mansion.

The carriage traveled slowly for half an hour and arrived at the Thirteenth Elder Brother's Mansion in Goldfish Alley.

Cao Hao got off the car, there were already a few stewards here to pick up guests, saw Cao Hao, went forward to salute a thousand times, and made people lead the way, and led Chu Yu's carriage to the Yimen.

Cao Hao saw that outside the Yimen, there were a lot of cars and horses, and it seemed that there were still a lot of guests coming today.

The thirteenth elder brother was wearing a royal blue robe, covered with a longevity pattern vest, and his newly shaved head was oily and shiny, and he looked a lot more energetic than before.

Hearing that Cao Hao had arrived, the thirteenth elder brother hurriedly asked someone to invite him to the flower hall.

Cao Hao glanced at the hall, and wondered a little in his heart, it is still common for the fourth elder brother, the sixteenth elder brother, and the seventeenth elder brother to come to celebrate his birthday, why are the third elder brothers, the fifth elder brothers, the seventh elder brothers, and the eighth elder brothers all here?

Among the princes of Kangxi, in addition to the eldest brother and the second elder brother who were circled, as well as a few nursing little brothers in the palace, the other thirteen elder brothers were all in the flower hall.

The fourth elder brother and the eighth elder brother didn't know what to say, and nodded frequently; The third elder brother and the fifth elder brother were next to each other, and the two talked and laughed. The sixteenth elder brother sat under the fourteenth elder brother, and the two brothers were about to break their wrists.

If he hadn't known the tragedy of "Nine Dragons Seizing the Heir", Cao Hao would have believed that these princes and brothers had a deep brotherhood when he saw this happy scene.

The flower hall is all made by the prince's elder brother, but the relatives on the side of Zhaojia Mansion are gone, and it seems that they are placed in other rooms.

When the sixteenth elder brother and the seventeenth elder brother saw Cao Hao come in, they all greeted him with a smile.

Seeing that everyone's eyes were looking at him, Cao Hao couldn't help but feel a little numb. What is the situation here, why haven't you been here for half a year, and the Thirteenth Elder Brother's Mansion has become such a lively place?

First greet the owner of the thirteenth elder brother, and after congratulating on his birthday, Cao Hao is to worship in a circle. Who made him the youngest and the lowest. beat the seventh elder brother of the father-in-law, and then the third elder brother and the fourth elder brother came in turn.

All the elder brothers, some smiled and said hello, and some waved their hands casually. Even the ninth elder brother and the fourteenth elder brother who don't like Cao Hao, because of the face of the seventh elder brother, it is not easy to eat Cao Hao on the spot.

Everyone has different purposes, but the sixteenth elder brother and the seventeenth elder brother are sincere to celebrate their birthday. They couldn't imagine how the sun would rise in the west today, and all the royal brothers would gather in this mansion.

Cao Hao asked everyone present to say goodbye, and whispered to the thirteenth elder brother that he was going to the side hall to find Yi Duli and talk to Bai Zhu.

The thirteenth elder brother looked at the brothers in the hall, and he didn't know what kind of drama he was going to stage. Today, this birthday banquet, although it was according to the past practice, sent invitations to the princes and brothers' mansions, but he also knew that there were only a few who could come. Others, just like last year and the year before last, are given as gifts, meaning meaning.

He knew that Cao Hao was the most impatient and troublesome, so he nodded and asked Cao Hao to go over there. Cao Hao said to the seventh elder brother that when he saw that the other elder brothers were chatting happily, he quietly withdrew.

The sixteenth elder brother and the seventeenth elder brother were in a panic, and when they saw it on the side, they also got up and followed Cao Hao to the side hall.

(To be continued)