Qianqing Palace, upper study.

After Master Manmeng finished teaching, everyone had breakfast, and sat and talked in twos and threes. Brother Hongsheng of the Chengjun Royal Mansion walked up to Cao Yan for the first time and asked, "Cao Yan, I heard what happened to Tao Ran yesterday, what is the reason?" I heard that Uncle Nine still had several deaths? ”

Hongsheng's words attracted the attention of many people, and everyone looked over to Cao Yan. On the side of the companion reading, many people have also heard about yesterday's incident, and when they heard Hongsheng ask, they talked and talked a lot.

"I heard that it was the front door that made the fire explode, killing more than a dozen people, which caused the old man Shi to be angry!" One spoke.

"Where are the dozen?" Another person retorted: "I heard that there are dozens, and the corpses that were blown up are all over the lobby of Shuntian Mansion, and there are more people who wear linen and filial piety to the Yamen of Shuntian Mansion to shout grievances!" ”

"It seems to be an assassination of Gege, but I don't know which palace it is!" Someone laughed weirdly: "I don't know if it's because of love and hate, asking for it, and using such a decisive means!" ”

"Didn't someone besiege Cao Yan?" Someone else looked at Cao Yan carefully: "Look at the way it looks today, those people don't have a hand to go, and the others must be false!" ”

Everyone was talking lively, and the sixteenth elder brother listened, his face became darker and darker, and he walked to Cao Yan and asked in a deep voice, "What is the matter with Tao Ranju?" It's a dead man again, it's a fire yao, which one doesn't open his eyes, and hits you with the idea again? If this is not a stable life, then we will make a fuss, so that everyone will have to step on it! ”

Cao Yan saw that the sixteenth elder brother was full of concern, and knew that he was worried about himself, afraid that those princes were secretly making a wrench and deliberately saying such things in front of all the little elder brothers. I had the heart to tell him the inside story, but now that everyone was watching, it was really inappropriate to talk about it in public, so he said: "It's my second brother who had an argument with a few hooligans at the front door, and I can't say it clearly for a while, I'll tell you when I'm free!" ”

The sixteenth elder brother glanced at Cao Yan and knew that he didn't want to mention it in public, so he nodded and returned to his seat. The others didn't hear the excitement, so they dispersed, and still whispered in private. Only Brother Honghui over there didn't say a word, and looked back at Cao Yan, thoughtful.

*

Qianqing Palace, East Warm Pavilion.

Kangxi looked at the fold sent by Shuntianfu, and he couldn't tell the joy and anger on his face, but the corners of his eyes narrowed twice. It just so happened that Liang Jiugong, the chief eunuch, came in to pass the word, and when he saw this, he understood in his heart that the master was afraid that he would be annoyed again, but his face did not dare to be the slightest abnormal, and he bowed his waist and said: "Long live the Lord Qiqi, Yin Shilun of the Shuntian Mansion will see you outside the door!" ”

Kangxi threw the fold on the bookcase: "Biography!" ”

"Huh!" Liang Jiugong answered the call and went out to deliver the message.

Shi Shilun was summoned, naturally for what was written on his excerpt - who was the murderer in Gyeonggi with the intention of killing Cao Yin's nephew?

Shi Shilun entered the warm pavilion, and after bowing to Kangxi, he knelt down and returned according to the rules.

"In the Gyeonggi Heavy Land, there is such an illegal thing, you are a good person in the Shuntian Mansion!" Kangxi was angry in his heart and said lukewarmly.

Shi Shilun listened and kowtowed again: "Long live the lesson." Gangsters commit murder on the streets, causing innocent people to die in vain, and the ministers cannot escape the crime of negligence! ”

Kangxi saw his gray hair and swaying appearance, thinking about the merits of his father and son, closed his eyes slightly, and made a statement to let him get up and reply.

"How is the case investigated, what can be done?" Kangxi asked.

"Back to the words of the Long Live Lord, according to the confessions of those murderers, last night I went to the Hougou Hutong in Chongwenmen in Nancheng to arrest Li Xiong, who provided Huoyao, but Li Xiong was killed in the house." Shi Shilun replied.

"Indeed, as you said, this fire Yao flowed out of the army?" Kangxi asked.

"Back to the words of the Long Live Lord, according to the fire residue left at the scene, supplemented by the traces after the explosion, all kinds of signs indicate that this is indeed the case. This dynasty has very strict control over fire, and the people rarely have such a powerful fire. Those murderers met Li Xiong in the casino, and they originally wanted to buy some firecrackers with smoke and fog after the explosion, but they only used to escape after doing things, but they didn't expect to get this kind of fire! Shi Shilun had a little regret on his face, and sighed in his heart that those civilians died in vain.

"It seems that there are a lot of people who want to add fuel to the fire!" Kangxi said this brainlessly.

Shi Shilun guessed a few points in his heart, thinking about the current situation of the Cao family, he also felt a little sad, and couldn't help but speak: "Long live Lord Qiqi, in order to prevent the murderer behind the scenes, he also arranged for others to go to Jiangning, should Lord Cao's side inform him, so as to save his second son in the south from any accidents!" ”

Kangxi sighed: "Don't bother about that, Cao Yin's youngest son died in August!" Right now, before the murderer behind the scenes is identified, Cao Yanzhi's safety will be handed over to you Shuntianfu! Speaking of this, there was a bit of heaviness in his voice: "Check, check carefully for me, yesterday I went to the street to rob and kill the son of a courtier, and today I may dare to murder the prince and hundreds of officials, and maybe I will have to worry about me in the future!" ”

Kangxi's last words hit Shi Shilun's heart like a hammer, and he couldn't help but shudder.

*

Before the second hour, go to the study and get out of class.

Cao Yan did not leave the palace directly, but was dragged to the elder brother by the sixteen elder brothers. After listening to Cao Yan's detailed explanation, the sixteenth elder brother fell into deep thought, and only spoke for a while: "How much grudge does it have to be to cut off the heirs?" Do you have any rivals? ”

Cao Yan shook his head: "This, my father never mentioned it!" However, although the other party bought the murderer, the person invited was so unpopular, it can be seen that the matter was not carefully planned, and it is estimated that the decision was made in a hurry. However, I really can't think of how my father, who is far away in Jiangning, can offend the people in the capital in the near future! ”

The sixteenth elder brother breathed a sigh of relief: "Let a few ruffians be killers, I'm afraid it's not a person with brains!" Originally, I was worried that the gang on the grassland found out about you, and that was a situation that would never die! ”

Cao Yan smiled bitterly, it seems that he is really "extremely lucky", and the past six months have been more turbulent than Jiangning's eight years. But where is the way back? There are always responsibilities to carry, and it is a man's duty to protect his loved ones from harm. His expression grew resolute.

*

Cao Mansion, Inner Courtyard

Cao Hao and Cao Song had dinner with the Wei brothers and Mr. Zhuang Xi as usual, and then the brothers went to the backyard to see Cao Yi, Yongjia, and Baoya. Her personal maid sparrow also followed, and helped her pick up her body, and persuaded: "My good character, this intention is enough, sincerity is not on this, let the slave and maid come." ”

Bao Ya pouted and said, "No, if I say I'll do it, I'll do it." Again, I don't believe I can't make a soup! As he spoke, he pulled up his arms and sleeves and went into the kitchen again.

Suddenly, he heard laughter behind him, and Cao Song's big voice sounded, "What's wrong with Bao Gege?" Got in the noodle tank? ”

Cao Song and Bao Ya are of the same age, and they are both straightforward and not so particular about size and humility, so they get along with each other and are very familiar with each other, often making jokes with each other and mocking each other, but it is not more serious to have fun.

At this moment, Bao Ya listened to his voice, stomped her foot, turned around and replied, "Hmph! You see, Bengege has a time to heal the noodle jar! ”

Seeing that her eyebrows and bangs were like hoarfrost, and there was still residual powder on her face, and she was pouting angrily, Cao Hao couldn't help laughing: "Gege, what are you doing?" ”

Bao Ya saw that Cao Hao was also there, and waved her hand weakly: "Sister Yongjia has lost her appetite for drinking medicine these two days, she only said that her mouth is bitter, and she hasn't eaten much since last night." I only drank two mouthfuls of porridge tonight and ate half of the dumplings. I saw that her body would not be able to survive like this, so I thought about making cat ear soup for her. Once upon a time, when I was sick and didn't like to eat, my grandmother made me delicious cat ear soup......"

Cao Song said: "It's not that there is no cook in our house, why do you still let you do it?"

Bao Ya glanced at Cao Song: "What do you know?" I did it myself, and that's sincerity! ”

Cao Song pouted: "Then will you do it?" Look at you—you don't have to spoil anything! ”

Bao Ya was touched by his soft underbelly and wrinkled her nose. Just now, she was trying her best to recall the details of Mama's cooking, and there was a sparrow on-site guidance, but she still made a mess, but because she refused to admit defeat, she stiffened her neck and said, "How do you know that I can't do it?" I'll show you! With that, he went to the kitchen.

Cao Song hurriedly dragged Cao Yan: "Brother, let's go and have a look." How fresh, Bulgege can cook! Look at her like that, hehe......"

Baoya's ears were pointed, and after listening to Cao Song's words, she hated: "Look at my excitement? It's not possible! You've got to do it! ”

Cao Song said with a smile: "The gentleman is far away from cooking." ”

Bao Ya stomped her feet angrily: "No, no, give me a hand!" As he spoke, he ran over and dragged the two of them to the kitchen.

Cao Hao looked at the minced meat on the desk and asked, "What are you going to do here?" ”

Bao Ya replied with a smile: "After a while, I had a three-piece fried meat dumpling, which is also my favorite food, and it is the most delicious." ”

Cao Hao shook his head: "Yongjia has no appetite because of the bitter medicine, and he hasn't eaten well for a few meals, so he shouldn't eat these greasy ones, so he needs to make them lighter." ”

Bao Ya tilted her head and thought for a while: "Then what do you say?" ”

Cao Song clapped his hands and said, "You really asked, my brother was in charge of many of the menus in Linxia Zhai back then!" The master listened to him. ”

Bao Yaqi said: "What is Lin Xia Zhai? ”

Cao Hao turned over: "Since you made cat ear soup, you might as well mix it with four light side dishes, appetizing and eating." As he spoke, he looked at the various vegetables in the baskets and baskets, and said, "First boil a peanut in salted water; Then soak the jellyfish skin and make a jellyfish skin mixed with shredded radish; The chicken feet are ready-made, very good, and the bones are removed to make pickled pepper phoenix feet; Finally, the yam is steamed, peeled and pureed, poured into a mold and compacted to make yam cake. It's all salty, sour, spicy and sweet, it looks good, eats delicious, and isn't greasy, how? ”

Bao Ya nodded with a smile: "Okay, good, I didn't expect you to understand these!" ”

Cao Hao said with a smile: "In this way, there are four dishes and one soup, just choose one to make it, and it is also the intention to come, so you don't have to compare it with the cat's ear soup." ”

The sparrow was also busy beating the side drum: "Yes, Gege, you can leave it to the slave!" Gege's mind is in it, can't the slave do the same? ”

Bao Ya thought about it, thinking that she really couldn't do it, and nodded immediately: "Then I'll make yam cakes." ”

Cao Song shook his head and teased her: "That's it, Gege, you still boil peanuts, don't stick to the heat, add more water, and don't be afraid of sticking to the pot." ”

Bao Ya gave him a punch and feigned, "I'm so useless? Not! I have to make yam cakes! But you, go and show me the fire of boiling peanuts. ”

These dishes are very easy to make, and they will be made quickly, only Bao Ya's yam cake, poured out, but cut crookedly, wide and narrow, and not very shaped.

Cao Hao looked at it and thought that his brother's niece, who was not a few years younger than him, was also like this, and uneven slicing may be a problem that all beginners in cooking will encounter. At the beginning, he also personally instructed his niece on slicing skills, but now that he remembered it, he couldn't help but take the knife from Baoya's hand, and while comparing and measuring, he taught Baoya how to cut the knife effortlessly and steadily. One move and one style, very similar to the posture of a chef, Cao Song and Baoya were surprised.

After a few dishes were put on the plate, Lingque took a vermilion lacquer food box and put it in it, and asked Baoya: "Gege will go back first to change his clothes and wash his face, and then go to Yongjia Gege's side, right?" ”

Baoya waved her hand: "It's cold, the food is cold quickly, send it to Sister Yongjia first, see her eat, and then I'll go back to the room to change clothes." He said to Cao Hao and Cao Song: "This is done by the two of us, and I don't have the reason to invite merit alone!" Let's go together. ”