Beijing, Taihedian Square.

On the high altar, there are seven large blue and white vats. In the sound of ritual music, there are officials of the Ministry of Rites chanting and praying for rain.

Although it was not yet noon, it was in the air, and the sun made people's eyes glaze.

The fourth elder brother was wearing a dress and standing in the square, and the sweat in his head did not stop. Around him, there were a few princes and bailes. On the other side, the place where the Kyodo should have been standing was also empty.

From now on, in accordance with the holy decree, the prayer for rain presided over by the Ministry of Rites will be held in the Taihedian Square.

Officials in Beijing pray for rain here every four hours from the hour to the end of the hour.

In the city, willow branches are already sweeping the streets, and it is forbidden to slaughter livestock.

Speaking of which, praying for rain is nothing new. When the rain is heavy, pray for sunshine; When there is no rain, pray for rain. Nine out of ten years have spring and summer prayers for rain.

The difference is only in the size and the length of time.

The prayers for rain are all selected according to the time given by the Qin Heavenly Prison. Normally, they will pray for the rain within three days, so that the people can bathe in the blessings of the court. Otherwise, if you can't pray, it will cause the people to panic, and wonder if it is a "warning from God" or something, wouldn't it be bad?

There has been little rain since the beginning of spring this year, and it is a year of great drought, so this prayer for rain is indispensable.

This prayer for the rain of the imperial court is not qualified by everyone, only the six ministries and nine secretaries, cabinet scholars, and the prince Baylor who has a position are on the list.

Although there are many trivial matters in the household department, the fourth elder brother still came early according to the specified time.

The errands of the household department are the most complicated, so Zhao Shenqiao, the secretary of the household department, did not come in person, only two waiters arrived, and it seems that he is a director of the yamen.

Praying for rain is the emperor's order, the fourth elder brother looked at the vacant places, and couldn't help frowning.

The Holy Driver is not in the capital, so he dares to be so lazy, which shows the laziness and rampant of these officials.

The fourth elder brother was thinking about it, when he heard someone behind him: "Fourth brother, here you go." ”

The fourth elder brother looked back and saw that it was the fourteenth elder brother and Narsu behind him, handing him a brocade bag.

The fourth elder brother glanced at the brocade bag in the fourteenth elder brother's hand suspiciously, and the fourteenth elder brother leaned over and said with a smile: "It's an ice pack." As he spoke, he stuffed it into the hands of the fourth elder brother.

Although it is separated by brocade, it is a little cold, which makes people feel a lot more comfortable.

The ice cellar of the Ministry of Internal Affairs only opens in May every year, and the fourth elder brother is holding an ice pack, a little curious. Could it be that the holy driver is not in Beijing, and the rules of the Ministry of Internal Affairs have changed.

The fourteenth elder brother picked the corner of his mouth and said, "It's the ice outside, this year's leap month, many people can't stand the heat anymore." ”

Nersu followed and said: "Yes, it's okay in the morning and evening, it's too hot to wear big clothes at noon." ”

While a few people were talking, they heard the footsteps of "Tara" and "Tara". Subsequently, I heard some officials say one after another: "I have seen Jiubei, please be safe in Jiubeizi." ”

The fourth elder brother turned his head to look, and just Zhendu came in, it was the ninth elder brother who had not been seen for several years.

"Brother Jiu, why are you free?" The fourteenth elder brother took two steps forward and said with a smile.

"Why, as long as you busy people can come over, this idler can't come?" Brother Jiu shook the folding fan vigorously, and his face was a little ugly.

"Look at what Brother Nine said, don't you know that Brother Nine is afraid of heat?" The fourteenth elder brother was not annoyed, and his expression was quite close.

The ninth elder brother glanced at the fourth elder brother, and said with a smile: "The younger brother has asked the fourth brother to say goodbye, and if there is something to talk to the fourteenth brother, I will not accompany him for the time being." ”

He has always been yin and yang, and the fourth elder brother didn't take it to heart, nodded and said, "The ninth brother is at his own convenience." ”

Seeing that the ninth elder brother was coming to find himself, the fourteenth elder brother looked at the people praying for rain, hesitated, and left with the ninth elder brother.

Seeing that the fourth elder brother bowed his head and prayed for rain, Nersu stood up and followed the words. But it's an east sentence, a west sentence, a little nonsense, and it's very awkward.

The fourth elder brother listened to a few words, but he couldn't listen to them anymore, turned his head and frowned, "What is this reading?" ”

"The prayer for rain in the Ministry of Rites." Nersu looked at the half note in his hand and said, "I don't know which adult wrote it this year, but my nephew read it with a lot of bite." ”

The fourth elder brother stretched out his hand, took the half note from Nersu's hand, swept it through, and shook his head.

Seeing the surprise, Narsu asked, "Huh?" Is there something wrong? The nephew received it from Wang Sishi, the waiter of the Ministry of Rites, in the morning. ”

The fourth elder brother took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it to Nersu.

Nersu took it and looked at it, although the words are the same words, but because of the different positions of the sentences, the taste of this reading is completely different.

"This Ministry of Rites official is too foolish." Nersu muttered, and handed the paper back to the fourth elder brother with both hands.

The fourth elder brother waved his hand and said, "Look, this king has already written it down." ”

"Then the nephew thanked the fourth uncle." Nersu bowed down and thanked him, and the fourth elder brother had already turned around and bowed his head in prayer again.

After a while, the fourth elder brother's back was already soaked, and a lot of sweat was dripping from the stone slab where he was standing.

The brocade bag left by the fourteenth elder brother, the fourth elder brother did not copy it in his hand, but put it at his feet. After the scorching sun, the ice inside has turned into water, leaving a circle of water stains.

Nersu couldn't help but speak, among the people who prayed for rain, the fourth elder brother was the most pious.

Recently, I heard many people complaining that because of praying for rain, it was forbidden to slaughter animals and to sing operas and banquets in various prefectures, and everyone felt that it was boring.

Come to think of it, only people like the fourth elder brother who eat fasting and chant Buddha every other day will not feel that there is anything annoying about praying for rain, and can live as usual.

The ninth elder brother has been silent for a while, what is the matter with coming to find the fourteenth elder brother this time?

Nersu's eyes fell on the prayer for rain in his hand, and he whispered in his mouth, his thoughts didn't know where he flew...... * Out of Jinshui Bridge, he rode a horse for half a street, and he didn't see the ninth elder brother talking, and the fourteenth elder brother looked back at the imperial city, feeling a little uncomfortable.

Although praying for rain is not a big errand, in the end, it is the emperor's father's order, and he, who is a son, obediently accepts the order, doesn't it seem sincere?

If it weren't for the sake of currying favor with the imperial father, the other princes would not be willing to suffer under the head.

But in the end, when he is older, he will no longer put joy and anger on his face, he smiled and asked: "On a hot day, Brother Jiu is not drinking herbal tea in the house, is this to take his younger brother to the road?" ”

Brother Nine turned his head to look at him, there was no smile on his face, and said, "What's the matter, the fourteenth brother is out of breath, and I can't call it, brother, right?" ”

"I don't mean that, it's that Brother Jiu doesn't come to look for his younger brother today, and his younger brother wants to say goodbye to Brother Jiu after praying for rain. Seeing that the Dragon Boat Festival is coming, my younger brother is still thinking about beating his teeth. The fourteenth elder brother said with a smile: "The ninth brother in the palace knows the food, and he is mostly fooling people. Fat duck and fat chicken, look bright, taste greasy, you can still eat it in winter, who is impatient to move that in summer? ”

When Brother Jiu heard this, his face showed a little pride, and he said, "If you say anything else, my brother doesn't dare to say it; Speaking of this cook, there is no house in the capital that can compare to ours. ”

When the fourteenth elder brother heard this, he couldn't help nodding: "Yes, yes, the prince's mansion outside here, as well as the famous restaurants in Sijiu City, my younger brother has also tasted more, and I still eat the most refreshing in the Ninth Brother's Mansion." The last time I boiled fish maw, my brother almost didn't bite off his tongue. ”

"If someone else wants to do it, they have to afford it. It was cooked with a hundred live carp in fish bubbles, and the dish cost ten taels of silver. Brother Nine said.

The fourteenth elder brother listened, and he also knew in his heart that what the ninth elder brother said was true.

Although the title of the ninth elder brother is just a solid mountain shell, he is more comfortable than the average palace, without it, just because of his rich family.

A few years ago, because of the eighth elder brother, he had to spend a lot of money to invite people to buy people's hearts; In the past few years, the eighth elder brother has been silent, and the ninth elder brother has a good financial route, many industries under his name, and he wants to save a lot of silver.

The fourteenth elder brother was a little more excited, but he felt a lot happier in his heart.

It seems that even the heavens appreciate their faces, and I don't know when a few clouds floated over and covered their heads. The fourteenth elder brother raised his head, glanced at the sky, and said to the ninth elder brother: "Ninth brother, it looks like it is going to rain, we have to walk a few steps quickly, or we will become a soup chicken." ”

"Go to the Mansion." Brother Jiu said, shook the reins of the horse, said "drive", and sped up.

"Confession?" The fourteenth elder brother had already smiled, hesitated for a moment, and rode his horse to follow.

"Brother Jiu...... Is this going to 'visit the sick'? The fourteenth elder brother asked without giving up: "Is it convenient to go at this time?" Brother Jiu's identity is precious, don't be 'sick' anymore? ”

Brother Jiu smiled proudly and said, "In this world, there have always been many people who fall into the well, and there are few people who send charcoal in the snow. Ye is a kind-hearted person, and he is loyal to the starling, what is not sick, Ye will go and see him, can Huang Ama still eat me? ”

The ninth elder brother said it decently, but the fourteenth elder brother didn't believe a word.

There is no profit and it is not early, Brother Jiu has talked about other things over the years, except for silver.

Zhu Xu is the second son of Mingzhu, Mingzhu is a powerful minister who has been prominent for decades, and he cannot be said to be rich enough to rival the country, but he is also one of the richest households in Beijing.

The fourteenth elder brother thought of this and laughed along.

It seems that he wants that position, and he really can't do without the "living God of Wealth" of Brother Jiu...... * Cao Mansion, East Courtyard, Inner House.

Aunt Baodie and Jade share a courtyard, with three upper rooms, the east and west are the house, and the middle is the hall. The fifth son, Bai Yueli, followed the fourth sister to learn the rules in the Zhaojia family's house, and also lived here at night and was raised by Jade.

Jade has no children and no daughters, and her five sons have lost their biological mother and father, all of whom are pitiful. The five sons are well-behaved, the jade surname is gentle and generous, and the mother and daughter have a very strong relationship.

The wings on both sides are the maid's residence and warehouse.

Seeing that Cao Xiang came back before he got out of school, and it was difficult to get this courtyard, Jade knew that he had designated something to hunt for treasure butterflies.

After seeing each other twice, she found an excuse and avoided it, leaving Baodie's mother and son to talk in the upper room.

Bao Die saw that her son was sweating on his forehead, and he was quite distressed, so he threw a towel with cold water, wiped his sweat, and said, "Why did you come back at noon, and you have a holiday in school?" ”

"Auntie, my son has something to discuss with you." Cao Xiang had already gone through the delivery procedures at the Ministry of Officials in the morning, and he would leave Beijing to take up his post within half a month.

If you want to convince Cao Shuo, how easy is it?

Cao Xiang was already so anxious that his mouth was full of bubbles, he originally thought simply, but he didn't expect that his status of dignity and humility was the biggest obstacle. If you don't get married, as long as Lu Ju doesn't leave the country, he can't marry her.

Even if Lu Ju gets rid of his slave status, he still has to be registered as a flag, and the two can officially get married. "Flag and Han do not intermarry", this is an iron law.

It's easy to want a concubine, no one asks, from the prince Baylor to the ordinary banner family, there are all of them; If you want to marry a Han wife, not to mention that your future is not guaranteed, you will be found out, and you will be sentenced to divorce.

Cao Xiang really had no way, so he thought about discussing it with his biological mother.

"I'm a woman, what can I think? If Xiang Er is embarrassed, just tell the second master. Bao Die shook her head and said.

"Auntie, my son wants to discuss with my aunt." Cao Xiang lowered his head and said, "Second brother, my son also said it." It's just that the second brother is ...... I don't agree with my son as a ......."

When Bao Die heard this, she couldn't help but worry, pulled her son's arm, and asked, "What is the matter, the second master does not allow it?" The second master is kind-hearted and treats you well. If you want to do something, the second master has no reason to stop it? What the hell is going on, don't scare my aunt. Is there someone who pulls you out to fool around, or is there something that makes the second master angry? Let's stop a little, and make trouble with my wife, where will you have your good fruit to eat? ”

Cao Xiang looked at his biological mother's trembling appearance, sighed in his heart, took out an official document from his sleeve, and sent it to Baodie.

Bao Die followed Jade to learn bookkeeping, and the number of words she knew was limited, looking at the official document, she didn't understand what it meant: "What is this?" ”

"Auntie, my son is going to be released, so I will leave after the Dragon Boat Festival and go to Henan Mansion to serve as a trainer." Cao Xiang replied.

When Bao Die heard this, she was stunned, and after a while, she came to her senses, and her mouth stumbled, and she had already said that it was not good: "Discipline...... Discipline...... Is it a gentleman? How old are you, you're still a student, where can you teach others? ”

"Auntie, you are an official, not a gentleman. He is an auxiliary official of the prefect's yamen, mainly dealing with local scholars, and he is idle and comfortable. Cao Xiang said.

To be honest, in the end, the county couldn't go, and it was his luck to make up for the lack of training.

For other people, they may think that Zhixian is a fat shortage, after all, they are parents, they don't have to be controlled by others, and it is convenient to scrape the ground; But for Cao Xiang, it is also a test.

At his age, it's too child's play. If there is a mistake, you have to blame it. This is the relationship between Cao Song and Cao Song who knew that his younger brother Tiexin was going to be released, and he cheekily went to a few cousins and uncles to find people.

Thinking of this, Cao Xiang felt a little more grateful to his brother in his heart.

It's just that as a man, you have to talk about faithfulness, if you abandon Luju because of difficulties, Cao Xiang will no longer look down on himself in the future.

Only then did Baodie understand the taste, she couldn't sit still, stood up, looked her son up and down, and tears had come out: "Xiang'er is going to be an official?" It's finally Chengren, and the lord will be happy underground. After saying that, he took his son by the arm and went into the back room.

She pulled out the key, opened the cabinet, and pulled out a box from inside.

The box was also locked, and she took the key to open it again and pushed it to Cao Xiang.

Inside is a lattice, containing gold rings, gold bracelets, silver hairpins, silver chains, and some ingots and broken silver.

"These ......" Cao Xiang looked at it, knowing that it was his biological mother's private silver. Thinking about the girls around his wife, they all wear gold and silver, but her biological mother doesn't even have a few decent jewelry, this is the suffering of being a concubine.

Thinking of this, Cao Xiang's chest was blocked, and his eyes were a little sour.

Bao Die picked up a pair of thin twisted gold bracelets from inside, and said to Cao Xiang with a smile: "This was given to me by the master back then, and kept for Xiang Er's daughter-in-law." For the rest, you take it out and exchange it for silver, and keep it for favors. I remember that when the uncle was released as an official, the eldest master also found several masters and long-term companions. You are no better than the uncle, you can also learn to Zhang Luo, don't feel sorry for the silver. In the end, he couldn't laugh anymore, wiped his eyes with a handkerchief, and said, "It's just, it's just...... This daughter-in-law didn't marry, so she went out of Beijing like this, and there was no one around her who knew the cold and the hot. ”

Speaking of this, she remembered something and said to Cao Xiang: "I see that the cloves are good, and they are also steady......

"Auntie, what are you talking about...... Cao Xiang said: "Auntie, what kind of daughter-in-law do you want in your heart?" ”

"Where can I intervene in this, it still depends on my wife." Baodie sighed and said, "I don't want anything else, I just hope that it will be a soft surname." Although you don't usually get angry, you have an idea in your heart, if you marry someone with a temper like a charcoal, how will you live in the future? ”

"Family background? What about the door? Have you ever thought about it? Cao Xiang asked tentatively.

Bao Die glanced at her son dotingly, and quipped: "Isn't it that you have a crush on a young lady from an adult family who wants to climb a high branch?" ”

"Auntie, my son is serious. If the son looks at the daughter of an ordinary family, isn't it everyone's daughter, will the aunt be disappointed? Cao Xiang looked at Baodie, and his heart had already risen to his throat.

In this world, in addition to Green Ju, there is another woman he can't betray, that is, the biological mother in front of him.

Bao Die smiled and said: "Ordinary people's daughters are good, there is no shelf." If a wealthy family comes out, I guess I won't look at my aunt. Speaking of this, he lowered his voice and said: "Mrs.'s surname is not easy to get along with, even if there is really a big family, and there is still the fifth child, where will it be Xiang'er's turn." We can't fight, and we won't fight with them. It's just that if the daughter-in-law's family background is ordinary, the dowry is limited, and it will be a little difficult to do it in the house, between the wife and the concubine. ”

Seeing that his biological mother did not have the heart to climb to power, Cao Xiang breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Auntie, my son has a sweetheart......

* Rehe, Chunwangfu Garden, West Courtyard.

Cao Hao fed Chu Yu to drink medicine, and when he saw that the weather was fine, he asked people to boil hot water and wiped Chu Yu's body.

For fear of touching Chu Yu's body, he was careful and careful, and it took him more than half an hour. After Chu Yu was wiped clean and his clothes changed, Cao Hao's forehead was already sweating.

I heard Xicai say under the corridor: "Eh, there is a visitor in the front yard, saying that it is the little grandfather in the Fuguo Mansion, waiting in the front hall." ”

Cao Hao helped Chu Yu lie down, and said in a low voice: "You rest first, I'll go to the front yard to take a look." ”

Chu Yu said: "I'm fine, after seeing the guest, let's go to the other courtyard to accompany my wife." The master hasn't arrived yet, and there is not even a person to talk to around the wife, and the person is boring. ”

Cao Hao nodded: "Well, I know." After a while, you send someone to talk to your father-in-law, and after seeing the guests in a while, I will go back to the house over there, and come back after dinner with my wife......"

(To be continued)