The news of the Cao family's father and son entering Beijing may be concerned by those who are interested, but Prince Cheng of the third elder brother did not take it to heart at first. He was the time when the spring breeze was proud, and on the ninth day of the first lunar month, he was invited to the Xingwang Garden for a banquet. The father and son were very happy.

The storage position is vacant, as the eldest brother of the princes who has the opportunity to obtain the great treasure, how can the third elder brother have no ideas? It's just that he has read a lot of Confucian classics, and he has always sought to be safe, and he is unwilling to act lightly, so he has become a bird, a target for his brothers, and like the two elder brothers, he ended up being circled.

However, the third elder brother is not worried, it does not mean that the rest of the palace is not worried, and several staff members mentioned this matter in front of the third elder brother.

As a prince, the third elder brother has 10,000 taels of silver every year, and there are also a few Zhuangzi when he opens the mansion, and there are always 20,000 or 30,000 silver coins in a year.

However, the more you earn, the more you spend. Not to mention the communication between various provinces, the third elder brother is also a well-known good person, with a high reputation in Shilin, and often helps some great Confucians to publish books, which is very generous.

In the past two years, due to the plot to save the position, there are more people under King Cheng's mansion, and the third elder brother's reward for the disciples has also been thicker.

If it weren't for some savings a few years ago, I am afraid that the books of the palace would have been empty, and I would have lived a very tight life. It is to build a garden, and it is necessary to allocate money from the inner treasury before it can be started.

Thinking of these, the third elder brother is envious of the fourth elder brother in his heart. The courtyard is deserted, and it is good to have a deserted courtyard, at least there is a lot less communication silver.

The cold-faced fourth brother, "wine-colored and wealthy", didn't touch anything, so he had to burn incense and worship a Buddha, but I don't know who to show it?

If the fourth elder brother has no intention of winning the heir, it is just a joke, and the third elder brother doesn't believe it at all. In his heart, the fourth elder brother is so cautious, but like him, he is afraid of falling into what is wrong and what is wrong.

Back then, before the crown prince was abolished, because of his violent temper and disorderly behavior, he was said: "This person is the king, and the royal family has no such thing!" "The reason why the imperial father abolished the crown prince may not have been affected by this sentence.

The third elder brother thought of the fourth elder brother, and by the way, he thought of the East Tea Garden under the name of the fourth elder brother's mansion, and his heart was a little uncomfortable.

The scribes love tea, they are elegant, and they prefer tea but can't. He is not like other people, who put down his skin and look around.

I heard the staff say: "Lord, speaking of which, Cao Hao has a favor for Mr. Chen in our house, and he specially came to the door to thank him. ”

The Mr. Chen in his mouth is a staff member of Prince Cheng's Mansion and Chen Hongdao, the former prefect of Qingyang Mansion.

Hearing his name, the third elder brother smiled slightly contemptuously, and felt some sympathy for his wife, Wang.

Chen Hongdao was locked up and taken to Beijing because he was involved in the "post station arson case" in the winter of the previous year, and after an investigation by the Bujun Yamen, he cleared the suspicion and was acquitted.

Because Chen Hongdao was born as a scholar, he also had a wide reputation in Shilin in his early years, and in the past two years, he became famous all over the world because of his wife Wang's "knocking", and became a person who is upright and proud in the eyes of the world.

The third elder brother and the eighth elder brother both wanted to receive it under their subordinates, so they secretly mediated, so that the Bujun Yamen side quickly concluded the case.

Because one of the staff members was a fellow villager of Chen Hongdao, he had some personal contacts in his early years, so in the end, it was the third elder brother who won it.

Chen Hongdao was originally a down-and-out person, but he was favored by the prince and the prince, and he compiled Confucian classics in the palace, which was also in line with his mind of learning, so he entered the palace of Prince Cheng as a staff member.

After the Wang family's anniversary last year, Chen Hongdao was matched by the third elder brother and married the daughter of the old master Bo is stepfamily. The husband and wife are very compatible, where do you remember the tragic death of his wife Wang? In order to be afraid of hindering the eyes of newcomers, Chen Hongdao is not very close to several sons and daughters.

Although he posed as a decent man, there were many people who laughed at him in private. It was the Fu Jin Dong E clan of the palace, and he also complained to the third elder brother a few times when he was gossiping, saying that the jokes in the palace had spread outside. The relatives and daughters outside mentioned that they looked down on this Chen Hongdao very much, and repeatedly asked if the young lady who was the lord [***] was a fairy-like figure, otherwise how could Chen Hongdao be dizzy and forget the kindness of Wang's wife.

The third elder brother was disgusting like swallowing a fly, he originally wanted to use Chen Hongdao's name to give himself a long face, who would have thought that it would become a joke?

Partiality is a family affair of the Chen family, and it is the matchmaker he gives insurance, so it is really difficult to speak. Because of the fear of the eighth brother's jokes, the other staff members were cold, even if they were disgusting, they still had to stay in the mansion.

Now, after listening to the suggestion of this staff, the third elder brother naturally understands that his "drunkard's intention is not to drink", and "thanks" is just a pretense, which is really to make Chen Hongdao go to the bottom of the matter. There is an exchange, and it does not make the palace suspected of having a personal relationship with foreign ministers.

After all, the Cao family has no contact with Prince Cheng's mansion, and if he rashly summons the Cao family's father and son to the mansion, or how, it is not appropriate to leave a tongue like this.

* On March 11, Cao Haozi woke up at 2:30 a.m.

It was still pitch black outside the window, and although he was really nostalgic for the hot bed, he still managed to get up. Although it is not a great court, he wants to accompany his father to Changchun Garden to hand over the sign and wait for His Majesty to see him.

The gates of the partial city will not be opened until dawn, and it will be too late. In order to deliver the sign before Kangxi's breakfast, you need to go to Xizhimen before Chouzheng (two o'clock in the morning).

This is the water gate, which sends the spring water of Yuquan Mountain to the palace, and opens the city gate once at two o'clock in the morning (two o'clock in the morning), just enough to go out of the city.

Chu Yu had already cleaned up, dressed in a lilac-colored flag suit, covered with a cyan bikini, and combed his two hairs, looking very refreshing.

Seeing Chu Yu get up so early, Cao Hao couldn't bear it, and said: "I'll freshen up myself, you hurry back to the kang and sleep a little longer, I haven't rested well on the boat these days." ”

Chu Yu smiled and said, "It's not early, my wife also got up early, so we have to say hello to the old lady!" ”

While talking, Xiyun and Xicai had already brought hot water in and waited for the two masters to wash.

Because he didn't see Xiyu and Xixue, Chu Yu was a little distracted. I think the two of them didn't go to the upper room to wait because of their previous avoidance. It's just that Wutong Yuan kept the two of them and the two rough mothers-in-law to watch the house before, which one waited when they returned to Beijing a year ago?

Chu Yu suddenly became irritable, although he knew that he shouldn't think nonsense, but he was still a little uncomfortable, and he only felt uncomfortable in his heart. It's just that she didn't show it at all, smiling and waiting for her husband to dress.

Cao Hao wanted to wear official uniforms to see the driver, but there were several sets in front of him, the military attache uniforms of the first grade and the Shuo Mansion, the Taoist supplement uniforms of the fourth grade, and the third-class guard uniforms of the fifth grade.

After thinking about it for a while, Cao Hao still put on the third-class guard uniform, not because he was afraid of wearing a fourth-grade civil official supplement uniform for fear of being ridiculed by his colleagues in the guard office, but because he felt that at his age, wearing a fourth-grade civil official supplement uniform was too eye-catching.

In the last year, there was nothing far away in Yizhou, and when he went to Jinan Mansion, Cao Hao received a lot of strange eyes.

Although the children of official eunuchs, some of them entered the ranks early, and most of them started from the seventh and eighth grades. In comparison, this fourth-grade official is too high for Cao Hao, who was in the year of the weak crown.

Seeing that the Wanshou Festival is approaching, almost all the lords and governors who have entered Beijing from all over the country have arrived in Beijing. I wore the top of the four products, and went to see my majesty with my father, a little ostentatious, where is there a guard uniform, acting as a son-in-law?

Chu Yu knew that her husband was not a swaggering person, so she touched the dress with a large forehead, sent someone to take it down, and personally helped herself put on the pearls and the top.

By the time Cao Hao finished dressing, the porridge and side dishes had already been put on the table.

two-grade porridge, japonica rice porridge and old yellow rice and red bean porridge; a few plates of dim sum, door nails, mutton siu mai, milk-white steamed buns, honeysuckle rolls; There are also a few side dishes, mustard and blue silk, ginger pine eggs, red oil belly shreds, and old vinegar peanuts.

Cao Hao drank two bowls of japonica rice porridge, burned it with a few door nails, and ate to his heart's content. After a while, I have to ride a horse to Changchun Garden, and I don't know how long I will have to wait, and I will only suffer if I am hungry.

Chu Yu accompanied him to drink a bowl of porridge and used two small steamed buns, and when he saw that Cao Hao was running out, he also put down his chopsticks, thought about it for a while, and asked, "E, should some girls go out of the house?" There are a few of them, and they are not young. ”

Cao Hao was rinsing his mouth with tea, and after listening to Chu Yu's words, he thought she was talking about Zhu'er and Cui'er. The two of them have been waiting by Wu'er's side since last year, and then Wu'er went to Chu Yu's side and followed back to Chu Yu's eyes.

Zhu'er and Cui'er's little thoughts, Cao Hao also knew a little, and discussed with Amethyst and sent the two out. But because the two of them were born in the southern mansion and were the people pointed out by the Li family, Amethyst was not easy to speak, so the matter dragged on.

After pondering for a while, Cao Hao said: "It stands to reason that you are in charge of the affairs of the inner house." It's just that now that my mother is here, it's not appropriate for you to come forward in this matter, so it's better to wait for me to come back from the garden and quietly give my mother! ”

Chu Yu was puzzled, and sent his girl out, why did she say it? Could it be that he is also afraid of his mother-in-law's misunderstanding, and he doesn't want to let himself fall into the notoriety of "jealousy", or is he a jealous woman in his heart?

Cao Hao saw Chu Yu's brows frowning slightly, her face was confused, and her little appearance was very cute, so she couldn't help but stretch out her arm and grab her and peck her face.

Chu Yu saw Cao Hao's hot expression, his face couldn't help but turn red, he gently pushed Cao Hao, and said coquettishly: "Forehead...... It's time for us to go and say hello to the old lady! ”

It just so happened that Xiyun picked up the curtain and came in to remove the table. Cao Hao let go of his hand, helped Chu Yu up, and asked, "What about Wu'er, why didn't you see her?" ”

Chu Yu replied: "When I got off the boat yesterday, Wu'er was a little windy and a little uncomfortable. We don't have a kang in the Westinghouse here, so we let Sister Amethyst take it and place it in Kwai Courtyard. ”

"That's just right, the upper room over there is empty and empty, and Amethyst can't live there, it's a waste of nothing." Cao Hao nodded and said.

However, hearing her say this, Cao Hao noticed that her clothes were also thin, so he asked Xiyun to get a thin shawl and put it on her with his own hands. Subsequently, the husband and wife carried a glass lamp and went to the Orchid Courtyard.

Orchid Courtyard, the upper room is lit up.

Just happened to embroider the heron and the embroidered warbler and the little girl to take the little girl out of the dining table, and when they saw Cao Hao and his wife coming, they were busy shortening their bodies and said, "Uncle An, big grandma An!" ”

Cao Hao nodded, glanced at the dining table, and thought that his father and mother had already had breakfast, so he asked Xiulu to report inside.

Cao Yin was in the house, and he had already heard the movement outside, and knew that it was his son and daughter-in-law who were coming, so he raised his voice and said, "Come in!" ”

Xiulu picked up the curtain, and Xiuying took the glass lamp in Chu Yu's hand and invited the two masters into the house.

Cao Yin dressed neatly, and the two of the Li family came out of the east house, went to the hall, and accepted the greetings of his son and daughter-in-law.

The father and son, one is a five-grade civil official uniform, and the other is a five-grade guard uniform, they glanced at each other and smiled.

Under the imperial power, the rank of knighthood is just a false name, even if he is the prince of Manchuria, Baylor, is just a servant of the emperor.

That's it, it's not up or down, it's just right. Even if you are a dish, there is no need to put the position high and be roasted on the fire.

Although Li and Chu Yu didn't understand why their father and son were laughing, they could see that their father and son were in a good mood, and they were both happy.

It was already eleven, and the moon was half round, shining on the road, and it looked very cold.

According to the rules, in addition to the prince and the prince of the county, other civil officials such as Baylor, Beizi, Gong, and Bo are above the second rank, unless the elderly can use a sedan chair, and other civil and military officials must ride horses.

Although Cao Yin is not young anymore, he has not yet reached the age of arrogance, and the horseback riding is a little bumpy, so he takes the golden mean and takes the carriage.

Cao Hao rode a horse, Cao Yuan and Wei Hei accompanied them with a few servants, and the group went to Xizhimen.

Inside the Xizhi Gate, it can be said that the carriages and horses gathered, all of them are going out of the city to Changchun Garden, just waiting for the city gate to be opened.

Because of the small population of the Cao family, the carriage was also inconspicuous and did not attract attention.

There are two families, like foreign governors who have entered Beijing, from a large number of people, surrounded by a carriage, looking very mighty. The pro-soldier of one of the families didn't know how to quarrel with the steward of a nearby Beizi Mansion, so he asked the steward to bring a lot of domestic slaves over, chased after the pro-soldier, and beat him half to death. In the end, it was the official who came out in person, and it was only after he made the other party stop that he didn't.

Under the shadowy lights, the official was wearing a repair uniform of the second grade, and he listened to the people on his side call him "Lord Zhongtang", thinking that he was the governor who entered Beijing to celebrate his birthday.

Cao Yin heard the noise outside in the car, raised the curtain, asked Cao Hao in a low voice, and after listening to the general situation, he couldn't help frowning.

Although I don't know that the governor was attacked, but in front of everyone's eyes, the dignified local officials were forced to pay compensation by the clan slaves, which is really touching.

Cao Hao just watched coldly, looking at the arrogance and rudeness of the governor's own soldiers, and he was used to being arrogant in the place. If it wasn't from Beizi Mansion just now, but a family with a low door, I don't know which one the bully is? When the crow falls on the pig, it is all generally black, and no one is pitied.

Sitting on his horse, he waited for a long time, but the gate was not opened. He took out his pocket watch and looked at it, and there was still a quarter of an hour, so he had to wait. At this time, I saw someone coming over and said, "Huh? Are you really in Beijing? The minions have said hello to you! ”

But he was the steward of the Chunjun Palace, waiting for the Chunjun King to go out. Cao Hao got off the horse, helped him weakly, and asked, "It's you!" Why, the prince also went to the garden? ”

The steward replied: "Back to the forehead, the prince is busy with the ceremony in a few days, and he wants to see the long live lord." Fang just told that the movement in front was too big, and sent the servants to take a look, and I happened to see the forehead there. ”

Because it was already afternoon when he entered the city yesterday, Cao Hao hadn't gone to the Chunjun Palace's palace to ask for peace, even if he met him, he couldn't wait for the other party to come over. Therefore, he said hello to his father, and the father and son, following the steward, went back and asked the seventh elder brother to say goodbye.

The seventh elder brother sat in the eight-carried sedan chair with red cover, red curtain and red curtain, and heard that the father and son of the Cao family were coming, so he came out of the sedan chair and greeted him. Speaking of which, this is the first time that the seventh elder brother and Cao Yin have met after the two families got married.

The seventh elder brother saw the supplementary clothes on Cao Yin's body, and then looked at the guard clothes on Cao Hao's body, thoughtful.

Because it was about to be time to open the city gate, Cao Yin and the seventh elder brother exchanged pleasantries, and then went back, leaving Cao Hao to talk here.

The seventh elder brother greeted him and got into the sedan chair. The sedan chair is very spacious, the seventh elder brother sits in the center, there are two glass lamps on the handles on both sides, and there are two side stools on both sides. He pointed to his right hand and told Cao Hao to sit down.

Hearing that Chu Yu took Xiao Tianyou into Beijing together, the seventh elder brother was very happy, and said that he would send someone to pick up his daughter and grandson and go back to the house.

Cao Haoyuan also planned to send his wife and children back to the county king's mansion tomorrow, so he naturally nodded and agreed.

The seventh elder brother asked about some local errands, and finally his eyes fell on the guard uniform worn by Cao Hao, and asked: "Shandong is not rich, and Yizhou is a poor place, Fu Ruoke wants to go back to Beijing?" ”

Cao Hao was puzzled, shook his head and said, "The son-in-law didn't have this intention, how could my father-in-law think of this?" ”

The seventh elder brother touched the wrench on his hand and said: "You are the only son in the family, and you want to grow up pampered since you were a child, and you are young, even if you can't endure hardship." ”

Cao Hao was a little confused, and said in a low voice: "Father-in-law, the son-in-law is already twenty!" ”

Even if someone used to talk about his age, this is the year of the weak crown, and he should be an adult.

(To be continued)