It was cloudy, and it was because of the red saying that the west was sinking, and a lot of summer heat was dispersed.

Cao Yin and Cao Hao's father and son were in the Xifu Mourning Hall, and after burning Sanqi for Cao Quan, they walked back to the Weaving Mansion. Seeing that his son's face was full of fatigue, Cao Yin was a little worried and asked, "Come back in such a hurry, I've been busy for a long time today, let's have a good rest for a while!" ”

Cao Hao said: "The son is not in the way, but the father, you need to take care of yourself, don't be too sad!" ”

That being said, Cao Hao's body seemed to fall apart. Since June 11, in the past 20 days, he has really tossed a lot.

On June 11, he went north to Jinan Mansion and arrived on June 15, and the person who sent the news to Mr. Zhuang chased him to Jinan Mansion. At that time, he only knew that Cao Quan was seriously ill, and Cao Song set off to return to Jiangning to serve the sick.

On June 18, the funeral letter arrived in Jinan Mansion. Cao Hao really can't believe it, Cao Quan is a decade younger than Cao Yin, and his body has always been good, how can he say that it is gone? It was so loud that I couldn't speak.

After two days in a daze, after completing the procedure of going out of the city to pick up the official pavilion, Cao Hao found a vacancy and privately asked the new official for leave to go to the funeral.

Gan Guobi, the newly appointed political envoy of Shandong, had just been transferred from Jiangsu as an envoy and also had personal relations with the Cao Yin and Cao Quan brothers. Hearing that Cao Quan died of illness, he was also embarrassed, and generously gave Cao Hao a 40-day leave to go south to mourn.

Although he was saddened by his uncle's death, Cao Hao was even more worried about whether his father Cao Yin could withstand the grief of losing his siblings, so he did not delay for a day, and set off to return to Yizhou overnight.

On June 23, when Cao Hao returned to Yizhou, the servants of the Cao family all changed their filial piety clothes up and down the Daotai Mansion, even Mr. Zhuang, Master Lu, and Master Han, all of whom were in plain clothes.

At this time, Cao Hao knew the details of Cao Quan's death. When he knew that he had died of malaria and not dysentery as he had heard before, he immediately remembered the cinchona cream in his father's hand. Was it that it didn't work, or because of the medicine given by the emperor, Cao Yin didn't take it out? But thinking about Cao Yin's surname, he takes great care of Cao Quan's younger brother, and there is no reason not to take it out?

It was the two foreign stewards who were sent to Yizhou to report the funeral, where did they know these allusions about Cao Yin sending medicine and Cao Quan giving medicine?

Malaria is contagious, and I remember what I knew before, malaria is a high incidence in spring and summer, in case it ...... After only half a day's effort, Cao Hao's mouth was full of blisters.

Because he wanted to go back to Jiangning for the funeral, after the affairs of the Daotai Yamen and the affairs of the inner house were clearly explained, Cao Hao was going to leave for Jiangning. Just in time for Chu Yu to get hit by the heat and feel unwell, he stayed for two more days and left on June 27. Before leaving, I found a wooden couch or something where Chu Yu needed to live, and packed it up, so that she couldn't lie on the ground with a big belly.

On the morning of the first day of July, when Cao Hao arrived in Jiangning, he was catching up with Cao Quan's "Sanqi". After meeting his father and mother, he went to the Xifu Spiritual Hall and burned incense and paper for his uncle.

This time, Zhang Luo said for a long time, until now, Cao Hao followed his father back to the house. Thinking that Cao Quan gave the life-saving cinchona cream to the young girl, Cao Hao could only sigh.

Speaking of which, Cao Song seems to be a lot older in the past half month, with his three younger brothers guarding the spirit, and there is even a brother's calmness between words and deeds. Cao Yin has already made an excerpt to the imperial court to let Cao Song attack Cao Quan's Wupinyun cavalry, if nothing else, in a month or two, he should be able to have a will.

After returning to the weaving mansion and entering the second gate, Cao Yin waved his hand and sent his son to rest first. Cao Hao didn't move, hesitated for a while, and said, "Father, why don't you fold the child and ask for a piece of cinchona to prepare?" ”

Cao Yin listened, shook his head, and said: "In the end, it is the royal holy medicine, it is already a grace given to our family last time, why don't we know what to do and speak again?" ”

Cao Hao looked at his father's increasingly thin face due to bereavement, and only felt sour and uncomfortable.

Cao Yin saw that his son frowned and was silent, knowing that he was worried about himself, and said with relief: "It's already July, and it will be cold in a few days, and it won't get in the way!" You've been on the road for a few days, and you're tired, so go freshen up and get a good night's sleep! ”

Cao Hao nodded, went to the courtyard where he and Chu Yu were settled during the Chinese New Year, and asked someone to bring water. Because of the prohibition of bathing within the filial piety period, he had to wipe it inside and out and clean it up.

The chalk room was located in the east chamber, and Cao Hao was really tired, so he fell on the bunk on the ground and fell into a deep sleep.

When he opened his eyes again, it was already the next morning, and Cao Hao saw Li sitting at the table. Although Li did not tie his hair with hemp rope on his head, he wore filial piety clothes sewn from cooked linen.

Because of the old lady's affairs in his early years, Cao Hao also knows a little about the funeral rites of this world. Nothing else is fine, but I can't understand that the elderly and those with high seniority should also follow the "five services" to keep filial piety for the deceased.

Let's just say that Cao Quan died of illness, and the four brothers Zhaojia and Cao Song, plus the four sisters and the five sons, the two unmarried daughters, must be filial piety for three years. Cao Ying and Cao Yi, the two married daughters, only need to keep for one year, and Cao Ying's children keep five months for their maternal grandfather and three months for their two sons-in-law.

Cao Yin and Cao Hao's father and son all need to mourn for one year, Li's, Chuyu and Cao Jia's are all mourned for nine months, and Pingjun Wang Nersu, Fupeng and Fuxiu brothers do not need to mourn.

In addition to the Cao family, according to the "five suits", in addition to serving three months to one year of mourning, Changling in the capital also needs to mourn for his uncle for three months.

Because Cao Shun was still young when he died, according to the saying "under the age of eight, all are unserved", Cao Hao did not mourn his younger brother.

Just changing filial piety clothes, it is better to say, thinking that his parents are so old and have to lie on the ground for three months like himself, Cao Hao has even more headaches for this cumbersome funeral etiquette.

He turned over and sat up, and couldn't help but say, "Mother, find a wooden couch in the chalk room where you and your father have settled!" My father is old, and my mother's health is not good, if the second uncle has a spirit underground, he will definitely feel uneasy when he sees you like this! ”

Li sat on the small pestle in front of the table, lovingly touched the hair stubble on Cao Hao's head in front of him, and said, "Your father is just your second uncle, a brother, and he is somehow sad in his heart, how can he agree to this?" On my side, you don't need to worry, it's just that your face is not very good now. It's going back and forth to Jinan Mansion again, and it's rushing south, see what it looks like you're tired! ”

Being treated as a child, Cao Hao was a little embarrassed, but there was indescribable warmth in his heart, and he called: "Mother! ”

"Huh?" Lee looked at his son lovingly.

In fact, he wanted to tell his mother that he would let his parents go back to Shandong with him, and come back in autumn, so that he would not be worried about the threat of "malaria" here. But when the words came to his mouth, he already felt that it was inappropriate, on the second room, Zhao Jia's illness did not say, even Cao Song, who was the head of the second room, was only a half-old child, how could he leave them alone here?

Remembering that he didn't see Xiao Wu'er in the mourning hall yesterday, Cao Hao asked: "I heard that Wu'er was also sick at the beginning, how is it now?" I haven't seen this little girl for half a year, I don't know if she is strong, and I saw that she was too thin during the New Year! ”

Li said: "Poor child, although he has recovered from his illness, he has been weak since he was a child, how can he withstand the turbid atmosphere in the mourning hall? It's called ** to take care of it, and it's placed next door to your third sister's previous yard! ”

Cao Hao remembered that when he saw Zhaojia yesterday, he was completely clever, his eyes were wooden, and he looked a little wrong.

I heard Cao Song mention it, saying that a few days ago, in addition to sleeping, she often cried, and the situation was very unstable. Sometimes, I would wake up crying in the middle of the night and say things like "retribution", "life", "south courtyard", "north courtyard" and so on.

Because she didn't say it really, everyone didn't understand what it meant, but she was too sad and lost her mind, and took care of it carefully.

Although he is not close to this second aunt, after all, he is the mother-in-law of Cao Song and their six brothers and sisters, Cao Hao said to his mother: "Second aunt, don't look for two good doctors anymore!" It's really not good, send someone to send a letter to my sister, and ask a doctor to come to Jiangning to take a good look! ”

Li Shi listened, hesitated slightly, thought about it, sighed, and said, "Your second aunt is a heart disease, and she can't turn it around for a while." After a while, the pain of bereavement will be reduced a little, and then slowly relieved! ”

"Heart disease? But complaining that the second uncle gave the cinchona to Wu'er, or complaining that Wu'er shouldn't be sick? Cao Hao thinks about his five sons, he has no mother, and his biological father is affected, and his mother is afraid that he will not be compatible. Thinking of this, he looked at his mother, wondering if she had the intention of raising five children; If not, he brought Wu'er back to Yizhou, which can be regarded as the second uncle's love for his daughter.

Li shook his head and said, "She's complaining about herself!" That year, your second uncle Aunt Nalu entered the house, she made trouble for a while, and finally she had no choice, so she had to admit it, but she was unwilling, and in the place where Aunt Lu lived, she moved some hands and feet, all of which were spices, potted plants and other things that were not conducive to pregnancy. This Aunt Lu also has some knowledge, and she cleaned up several of them, and then she had a body! If you think about it, you will die of dystocia if you are still damaged, and even with your five children, you are also congenitally deficient, and you will take medicine as a meal all day! Your second aunt has always been hard-mouthed, but she is not a vicious person, maybe when Aunt Lu didn't have time in the morning, she fell ill. Now, your second uncle only went because she gave the medicine to Wu'er, and she thought that she had piled all the mistakes on herself in her heart! ”

Now that Cao Quan has passed away, what can be done to investigate who is right and wrong? was sighing, only listening to the "grunt", Cao Hao's stomach rang, think about it carefully, except for eating some dumplings yesterday afternoon, he didn't have to eat for a day and a half.

Li also heard it, stood up from the pestle, and said to Cao Hao: "You freshen up, I'll call someone to give you longevity noodles, I made a bowl last night, and when you sent it, you have already placed it." Yesterday was your birthday, and I didn't care about what happened in this house! After a while, you have eaten, and you have gone to Xifu, and Song'er has never stopped these days. He has always listened to your brother, and he went to persuade him! ”

"The child is born, that is, the mother suffers, what is the good thing? On the second brother's side, my mother doesn't have to worry, I saw him fine yesterday, and there are more things to do every 'seven', and the others are called the vigil and don't deal with outsiders. The son went over to take a look, lined up with several younger brothers, and took shifts to keep vigil, and there was still nearly a month before the funeral, and they couldn't all stay up like this day and night! Cao Hao said.

After Cao Hao finished grooming, the longevity noodles on Li's side were also better, and the two of them used it together. Because of some errands a few days ago, Cao Yin went to the front yamen to take care of those affairs, and was not in the back house.

After eating noodles, Cao Hao did not go directly to Xifu, but first asked someone to send a pen and paper and wrote a letter to Chu Yu, which was nothing more than that he arrived safely, don't read it; The elders and younger siblings are all good, and the funeral is properly cooked; In the end, I had to ask my wife to take good care of her body, but she was really bored, so she asked Amethyst to accompany her to live in the Lotus Garden for a few days.

* West House, Front Yard.

The coffin was erected here, and Cao Quan's coffin was parked in the middle, with white curtains hanging on both sides. On the left are dozens of monks chanting, and on the right are dozens of Taoist priests chanting mantras. They were all invited for money, and they had to do 7749 rituals at the Cao family, and they would leave after the funeral ceremony was over.

Cao Hao understood that his mother was not worried about letting Wu'er come to the spirit, even he, a healthy man, was almost smoked by the smell in this mourning hall. Every time I come over, I have to get used to it for a while.

Because it was the height of summer, and the spirit was about to stop for 7749 days, except for Cao Quan's corpse, the rest of the coffin was spices.

Although there is a coffin lid covered, you can still smell a pungent aroma, coupled with the smell of sweat of a hundred and ten monks and Taoists, mixed together, it is really smoky.

Cao Song and his brothers, when they saw Cao Hao coming, they all greeted them.

Cao Hao looked at his younger brothers, Cao Song didn't need to say that Cao Shuo was fourteen years old, and he looked like a little adult, if it weren't for the fact that he still had a little childishness on his face, he looked more calm than Cao Song; Cao Xiang Twelve, who has grown a lot in the past six months, is no longer as timid as when he was a child, with a bit of elegance in his gestures, and he has the best homework among the brothers; Cao Fu Eleven, full of smart eyes, every word and deed is full of cleverness, not only good-looking, but also able to speak, very amiable, so that people can't get bored.

Looking at the bloodshot in the eyes of several little brothers, Cao Hao frowned slightly, and said to Cao Song: "It's not okay to go on like this, you have to keep the spirit for twenty-eight days, if you go on like this, don't mention a few of them, even you may not be able to bear it!" ”

"Brother, the younger brother is fine, the third brother is them, the younger brother is thinking about letting them have three rounds, leaving one to accompany the younger brother to keep the spirit, and the other two will either take care of the mother, or take care of the elderly." Cao Song said.

While talking, the little brothers went to the side of the mourning hall to sit in the place where the guests were entertained. Cao Fu picked up the teapot on the table, poured tea for several brothers, and then said to Cao Hao: "Thank you eldest brother for your concern, the younger brothers are nothing, this is all for the son of man!" It's the uncle and the aunt, the two elders are both old, and it's hot in the summer, so they still need the eldest brother to take care of them! ”

Cao Hao had heard his mother mention it a few times, but Cao Fu was not close to his mother Zhaojia, but was more respectful and filial to his aunt Li. Come to think of it, this is also the reason why he was selected as the "heir" of the big house in the future.

Seeing that Cao Fu was as sensible as a little adult, Cao Hao was embarrassed to eat, nodded, and said: "It's okay over there, but it's still a turn to guard the spirit here, if you don't stay up for a month, which one is tired, but how can it be good?" Since I'm the eldest brother, I'll have an idea about this, and the younger brothers deserve it? ”

The four brothers, Cao Song and Cao Xiang, all admired Cao Hao and respected this eldest brother from the bottom of their hearts; Cao Shuo and Cao Fu are still a little estranged from their cousins because of their contact with each other, but their father ordered them to listen to their uncle and brother, so naturally there will be no objections?

The four brothers in front of him, plus Cao Hao himself, are a total of five people, and it is not enough to divide into three shifts, and there is one person left in two shifts. Cao Hao asked the youngest Cao Fu to take care of the inner house and wait for Zhaojia's decoction; There were four people left, Cao Song took Cao Xiang to a class, and he himself accompanied Cao Shuo to a class, each class for one day. In this way, it will not make the little brothers too tired.

Although they are all boys, their bodies are solid, but they are here for a long time, and it is a hot day, if there is really uncomfortable, it is also worrying.

Next, it was a wake-up period of nearly a month, and every "seven" was said, it was a ** event. Inside and outside Cao's house, there are funeral dishes.

In mid-July, the Ministry of Rites issued an official document that Cao Quan's first-class cloud cavalry captain was attacked by his eldest son, Cao Song. According to the regulations, it should have been demoted by one level, but because of Kangxi's grace, it was specially ordered to inherit the original level.

During this period, the Liangjiang Governor Kali and the Jiangsu Governor Zhang Boxing, who had been in turmoil for two years, participated in each other's cases, and gradually had the intention of closing the case. First, Zhang Pengxi, the scholar who went to Jiangnan to preside over the case, replied that Zhang Boxing should be dismissed and ordered to be redeemed; Kali was demoted one level to remain in office.

Kangxi was not satisfied with this result, and thought that Zhang Boxing had asked for 500,000 taels of silver in Shengali, and the trial was a hypocrisy, "A province in the south of the Yangtze River can raise people, how can there be geometry?" Even if you pay bribes and buy them, you can't go so far", and repeatedly protected "If Kali receives bribes, that is, 50,000 yuan should also be put on the table, Kali was not an honest official, but it is also effective in the local area", "Zhang Pengxi and others tried Kali and Zhang Boxing, but did not come up with a trial. Zhang Boxing's original counsellor contained a statement about the state, but it was not clearly tried", so he ordered "the case to be remanded." Scholars and scholars such as Jiuqing will see the conference performance in detail".

A few days later, Kangxi ordered that the case should not be handed over to Zhang Pengxi and others for trial, and Mu Helun, the secretary of the Ministry of Households, and Zhang Tingshu, the secretary of the Ministry of Industry, took the Manchu and Han officials to the south of the Yangtze River and went to strictly interrogate the Ming Gu.

Because of their holy orders, Mu Helun, the secretary of the Ministry of Households, and Zhang Tingshu, the secretary of the Ministry of Works, did not go directly to Cao's house to pay respects, but they both sent their cronies over and sent the funeral. The officials below have fewer scruples, a few of the Ministry of Industry have no contacts, and the household department has a friendship with Cao Hao, and those who know that Cao Hao is mourning in the countryside have to come to worship.

(To be continued)