On the fourth day of the ninth month, the Cao family's tomb was buried. The original divination results, the best auspicious year before last was in October, but Cao Yin was too late, Cao Hao was also afraid of the cold in winter, the old at home, the small one, and couldn't stand the toss. Therefore, the father and son agreed and chose this one.

Although it is only the beginning of September, this year because of the leap August, it is already a bleak autumn wind, and the grass and trees are yellow.

Around the cemetery, in addition to the monks and Taoist priests who practiced things, there were also men from the Cao family. Since Cao Yin, to Tianyang, who has lived a lot, all changed into dark clothes and went to the cemetery for burial.

The coffins and golden altars of the Cao family's elders have been carried to the cemetery by special bearers.

The tomb where Cao Xi and Sun Taijun were buried together, Cao Yin led his children and nephews to be buried together, and they bowed down. Cao Yin's biological mother, Aunt Gu, and Cao Quan's biological mother, Aunt Bai, gave birth to a child, and after Cao Xi's death, the bones were buried in Fengrun. The golden altar of the two of them was buried by Cao Hao, the bearer grandson, and the other descendants of the Cao family followed. The tomb is open under the tomb of Cao Xi, and the tomb is slightly smaller, which belongs to the burial.

Subsequently, it was Cao Yin's wife Gu's golden altar, which was also buried by Cao Hao himself, and Changsheng took Tianyou and Hengsheng to serve behind.

Cao Quan's coffin was carried by the three Cao Song brothers, and Tianhu and Tianyang were held and saluted.

After working for a long time, it was already the end of the day when the grave was built and the new soil was solidified.

The monks and Taoist priests who came to do the things went around the grave again, chanting the scriptures, and doing the practice, which can be regarded as the end of the burial ceremony.

Cao Yuan had already instructed the deacons of the monks and Taoists to ask them to go to Cao's mansion to settle the money. The monks and Taoists dispersed, and only the people of Caofu were left in the cemetery.

Cao Yin looked at the cemetery, his face flushed, and sometimes put his fist to his lips and coughed a few times. Even a yellow-mouthed child like Tianyou sensed that something was wrong with his grandfather, stretched out his little hand, grabbed the placket of his clothes, and raised his head and asked, "Is there anything wrong with my grandfather?" ”

Cao Yin smiled and stroked the top of his head, saying, "It's okay." ”

Cao Hao had already taken off the thin tweed cloak from the carriage, put it on his father with his own hands, and said, "It's windy in the wild, so my father should take the car." ”

Cao Yin said "Why is it here", but he couldn't help the persuasion of his nephew and got into the carriage.

Listening to the suppressed coughing sound in the carriage, everyone's faces showed a look of worry. Cao Fu hesitated for a moment and said, "Big brother, after standing for a long time, I'm also tired, can I take the car with my uncle?" ”

When Cao Hao heard this, his expression warmed, nodded at Cao Fu, and watched him get into the carriage.

The little ones of Changsheng and Tianyou were taken care of by people and got into the other two carriages.

Cao Hao, Cao Song and Cao Xiang rode horses, and took the housekeeper and family members back to the city with the carriage.

Cao Hao's face looked very haggard because he was blown by the autumn wind, or because he was worried about his father's body. Seeing this, Cao Song grabbed the reins of the horse and stepped forward and said, "Even if you are worried about your uncle, your eldest brother should also cherish himself." Maybe the uncle just stayed in the south for a long time, and he couldn't bear the bitter cold of the capital, so the cough was more serious. When the weather warms up, maybe it will be fine. ”

Cao Hao smiled bitterly: "If this is the case, it is a great fortune for the son of man." ”

Seeing that Cao Hao was so heavy, Cao Song also became worried, glanced at the carriage worriedly, and was speechless.

Cao Xiang rode behind the two elder brothers, and when he heard their conversation, he couldn't help but feel panic in his heart. I have to say that since his father died of illness six years ago, the uncle has replaced the role of Yan's father and has become the pillar of their brother's heart.

If the uncle is gone, Cao Xiang doesn't even dare to think about it...... After blowing in the wild for a long time, this old and small, Li Shiyuan couldn't rest assured, watched everyone drink a bowl of hot ginseng soup, and saw that there was sweat on their foreheads, so they refused to stop.

Xu wore a lot of clothes when he went out, Xu is ginseng soup played a role, and the old and young generations were all healthy and healthy, and there was no fever.

Cao Hao's vacation in the yamen was full, and he wanted to continue the vacation, but he was reprimanded by Cao Yin and rushed to the yamen on an errand.

Seeing his father's expression getting better, Cao Hao felt relieved. The errand on the side of the Huke Yamen, at the end of the year, was the busiest time, and Cao Hao also delayed it for too long, and was busy for a few days.

In the blink of an eye, it was the Ninety-Nine Double Festival.

In the shops in Daoxiang Village in Beijing, half-zhang high flower cakes are made and placed in the store, looking at the flowers and greenery very festive. In addition to the decorations, there are also takeaway chongyang cakes, the smallest is nine taels and the largest is eighteen catties.

Cao Yin was also in a good mood, going out to an appointment, drinking and appreciating chrysanthemums.

I was a little uncomfortable that night, and Li wanted to ask for a doctor, but was stopped by Cao Yin. Cao Yin only said that he was greedy for a cup, and he ate a few more cups and rested for a night. Li couldn't resist him, waited for him to drink the soup of the wine, and felt at ease when he saw him lying down.

Unexpectedly, Cao Yin had a high fever in the middle of the night.

Cao Yin's health is not good, although Cao Hao did not tell his mother the truth, but he also told him to pay attention to it.

Li Shi noticed that her husband was wrong, and she was also panicked, and while sending someone to pick up the imperial doctor, she sent someone to Wutong Garden to report the news.

Cao Hao's side, sleeping in a daze, listening to the maid calling through the window, his body was agitated, he sat up, got up and asked, "What's the matter?" ”

I heard the maid say through the window: "Uncle, the golden pigeon sister in the wife's room came to pass the word, saying that the master was uncomfortable, and the wife asked the uncle to come over." ”

This kung fu, Chu Yu also woke up, put on his clothes and went to the ground to light a lamp and candle.

The truth of Cao Yin's body, Chu Yu knows. Hearing the maid's words, she was also so frightened that her face turned pale, and she hurriedly took her clothes and wanted to serve her husband to put them on.

Cao Hao is in a hurry, where can he take care of it? He dragged the robe from his wife's hand, put it on his body, stepped on his shoes and went to the Orchid Courtyard.

When he arrived at the gate of the Orchid Courtyard, Cao Hao saw that the upper room of the Orchid Courtyard was brightly lit, and Cao Yin's cough was heard in the night.

In the house, Li Shi was already dressed, holding a dry towel in his hand, sitting by the kang, and testing her husband's sweat.

"What's wrong with my father?" Cao Hao took a few steps forward, stood behind his mother, and asked in a low voice.

"It's so hot that it's terrifying, and I've already sent a message to the second door, so that the housekeeper will go to ask for a doctor." Seeing that his son was coming, Li Shi seemed to have a backbone, stood up, took his arm and said.

Cao Hao patted his mother's arm and said, "Since the imperial doctor will come later, please rest assured." ”

With such comfort in his mouth, he didn't know the bottom in his heart, so he took over from his mother, sat on a small stool by the kang, and stretched out his hand to probe his father's forehead. But it was piping hot, and it made Cao Hao's heart tremble.

He was busy sending people to the Kwai Courtyard to find amethyst to get alcohol, and wanted to help his father relieve fever before the imperial doctor came.

One time less, the alcohol was taken, and Chu Yu also arrived. Cao Hao personally threw a veil and wiped it for his father. Cao Yin occasionally shivered, coughed a few times, and had a pained expression on his face.

Chu Yu followed her mother-in-law, and when she saw this situation, she couldn't help but shudder.

Touching his father's body with bones, Cao Hao almost wanted to cry.

After this toss, Cao Yin also woke up. He slowly opened his eyes, extremely tired, and said in a hoarse voice for a while: "Is it Hao'er?" ”

Cao Hao nodded and said, "Yes, it's here." ”

"Scattered golden stamens, although withered, do not change the fragrance. The deep bush is lonely, and the car is clear. This year, Chongyang is cold, and the chrysanthemums are getting better and better......" Cao Yin's eyes seemed to be looking at Cao Hao, and then seemed to look at the window behind Cao Hao, and he actually smiled a little and said in a low voice.

Cao Hao was sad when he heard this, and said softly: "Father is unwell, don't say a few words, and when he is in good health, his son is accompanying his father to drink and discuss poetry." ”

I don't know if Cao Yin ran out of strength, or listened to his son's persuasion, coughed a few words, and slowly closed his eyes.

The rooster reciprocated, the east was whitening, and Imperial Doctor Chen had already been invited.

After asking Cao Yin for the pulse, Imperial Doctor Chen's expression was also quite dignified, and when he arrived in the outer hall, he said to Cao Hao: "Lord Cao, Uncle is a carbuncle of the lungs, and at the moment he has heavy medicine, clearing heat and detoxifying, draining purulence and dissolving stasis, there is still a glimmer of life, but Uncle is weak, whether he can stand it or not, it is two words, he can only do his best and obey the destiny ......of heaven."

When Cao Hao heard this, his body staggered, and he could barely stand.

He has also read several medical books, and probably understands that the so-called "pulmonary carbuncle" of traditional Chinese medicine is the severe pneumonia of later generations. Three hundred years ago, this is a terminal disease.

He stood reluctantly and said in a deep voice: "Imperial Doctor, is there any medicine for treating carbuncles in the western pharmacy in the palace?" ”

Imperial Physician Chen thought for a while and said, "I haven't heard of it, and the Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites and the Zhenguo Gong Swallowing Pearls in August are also affected by this disease. After taking the medicine of the tenth month, he died. If there was medicine in the western pharmacy in the palace, I am afraid that the emperor's grace would have come down long ago. ”

Yes, it's only the beginning of the eighteenth century, and according to the Western calendar, it's 1718. Although Cao Hao did not study medicine, he vaguely knew that penicillin was discovered in the early twentieth century. There is a difference of more than 200 years.

Cao Hao only felt that his hands and feet were cold, and said with great difficulty: "Please come down to the imperial doctor." ”

Imperial Physician Chen took a breath, sat down, wrote two prescriptions, and pointed to the top: "Take two doses of the top first, if you can't stand it, take the next conditioning." Uncle is already in the year of the sixtieth year, and Lord Cao should prepare early. ”

Loyal to his ears, Cao Hao knew that Imperial Doctor Chen was kind, so he bowed down and took the prescription and thanked him.

After this toss, it was already bright outside.

sent Imperial Physician Chen away, and Cao Hao sent people to the yamen to ask for leave, and served his father beside him. When Cao Yin finished serving the medicine, Cao Hao's body was already weak.

Seeing his son's ugly face, Li asked Chu Yu to help him go back to rest. Because he was afraid of scaring her, he only said that he was an external evil.

Cao Hao looked at his mother who was unaware and opened his mouth, but he couldn't tell the truth.

After leaving the Orchid Courtyard, Cao Hao did not return to Wutong Garden, turned his head sideways, and said to Chu Yu: "It's a pulmonary carbuncle, I'm afraid of scaring my wife, so I didn't tell the truth." ”

When Chu Yu heard this, he let out a low cry, and his face changed.

Cao Hao only felt that his eyes were dry, and said to Chu Yu: "You help your wife take care of the master." I'll go to the front yard...... Anything else is good to say, Shoucai...... Shoucai has to prepare ...... in advance."

Even if he is unwilling, Cao Hao has to accept the status quo.

Even if he knew that his father was weak two months earlier, he was faintly aware of the matter of Shouyuan, but until now, it is still painful.

After giving instructions to Cao Yuan, Cao Hao rubbed his already wooden face and went to the second gate again.

It was dark, and it was raining lightly.

Cao Hao tightened his clothes, only to feel that the autumn wind was biting, making people feel cold all over his body.

As soon as I entered the second gate, I saw a little maid running towards me and almost bumped into Cao Hao's arms.

"Uncle, Mrs., please go quickly!" The little maid stopped straight, stroked her chest, and said breathlessly.

Cao Hao had already quickened his pace and strode towards the Orchid Courtyard.

Cao Yin's face was pale and he was lying on the kang. Li Shi held the handkerchief and stood by the kang, tears flashing in the corners of his eyes. Chu Yu stood behind her mother-in-law, her eyes were also red.

Seeing Cao Hao coming, Li pulled his sleeve out and said urgently: "Hao'er, I'm afraid that the medicine of the imperial doctor is wrong." The old man coughed up all the medicine...... I also coughed up blood...... How so? Would you like to ask a doctor to prescribe another prescription? Otherwise, Mrs. Fang will also succeed? ”

Cao Hao thought of the words that Imperial Physician Chen explained before leaving, and only felt that the circles under his eyes were dark. But even if he was desperate, he was not willing to be tied up like this, he nodded, turned around and went out, not losing his temper in front of his mother.

Next, Cao Hao sent people to the Thirteenth Elder Brother's Mansion to pick up Fang Chonggong, and sent people to Tai Hospital to invite famous internal medicine experts.

These two came over, and the diagnosis of Imperial Physician Chen was generally the same. Even if you can't stand the heavy medicine, you can only take something to ease up, it's just a matter of procrastination, or accompany the elderly more, and eat something when you should eat.

In this way, even the Li family can't hide it.

Li Shi listened to the truth and burst into tears, but he was stronger than Cao Hao imagined. She took Cao Hao's arm and muttered, "How can this be, how can it be? ”

"Please also mourn Mother's Day, the father of the province is sad, and ...... Not at ease. Cao Hao persuaded with tears.

Li covered his mouth with a handkerchief and wept silently...... Even the imperial physician couldn't pinch Cao Yin's time, and Cao Hao didn't dare to delay, so he sent a letter to the Pingjun Wangfu and the Guogong Mansion.

All of you in the East Mansion, when you come back from school on an errand, you have all got the news and come to the West Mansion together.

At dusk, Cao Yi and Cao Jia's carriage arrived. In July, Nersu went to Rehe with the fourteenth elder brother, and Seshtu also went out of Beijing on an errand.

Even if you are in a hurry, everyone knows that this is not the time to cry. When Cao Yin woke up in the middle of the night, everyone surrounded Cao Yin's kang, and they were all forced to laugh.

Cao Yin used a bowl of millet porridge and drank half a bowl of medicine, and his spirit looked better.

Seeing that Cao Jiashi was also there, he shook his head disapprovingly and said, "Why did you come here to ask for a noble person?" ”

"In front of my father, I am just the eldest daughter Yan'er. After more than ten years of marriage, does the father not recognize his daughter? Te is eccentric. Cao Jiashi endured his grief and said angrily.

Cao Yin smiled a little and said, "The prince is benevolent, and the nobles should also restrain their tempers." Prudent and courteous, worthy of the grace of God. ”

"A loving father is strict, and a daughter remembers to abide by it." Cao Jiashi bowed in response.

Cao Yin was very relieved when he saw it, turned to Cao Yi, and said softly: "You were bumpy in your childhood, and your surname is slightly extreme. In the future, it should be self-cultivation and surname, and cherish blessings and forgiveness. Remember. ”

On Cao Yi's side, tears were already falling. She didn't dare to raise her head, stood behind Cao Jiashi with her head down, and said in a dumb voice: "Father, don't worry, my daughter has written it down." ”

After saying a few words, Cao Yin began to cough again.

Li sat on the edge of the kang, wiped the corners of Cao Yin's mouth, and said with tears: "If you are tired, the master will rest and talk." ”

After coughing a few times, Cao Yin's face became redder and redder, and his eyes brightened a lot. Seeing this, Cao Hao knew that this was almost a "reflection of spiritual light", and he only lost consciousness in pain, and only felt that his body was wooden.

Cao Yin waved his hand at the Li family, looked at the Zhao Jia family, and said, "My younger brother and sister have children for the Cao family, and they can be worthy of the Cao family." It's just that as a woman, the surname is too resolute, and it is not a sign of blessing. The children are all older, and there will always be good fortune when they think twice about everything in the future. ”

No matter how stubborn Zhaojia's surname is, he can't stiffen his mouth now, and he choked up and said: "Uncle, Brother Hao'er, Changsheng and Dongyuan, your nephews are all young, and they can't do without the uncle." Uncle must get better as soon as possible, so that the children can have the backbone. ”

Cao Yin just smiled, did not answer, pointed to Cao Xiang and Cao Fu, and said to Cao Hao: "For the father's manuscript, the work of learning and economy, you and the fourth child equally, and the poem manuscript is left to the little five." ”

"Yes." Cao Hao clenched his fists vigorously before he spat out a word.

Cao Yin bowed his head slightly, looked at Cao Song and said, "As long as my nephew quits recklessness, he will be kind and take care of the family...... It is the blessing of the Cao family. ”

Cao Song's side, he couldn't help it anymore, knelt down with a "plop", leaned over and said: "My nephew doesn't dare to let my uncle worry about it, and I hope that my uncle will be considerate of his nephew, live a long life, and let his nephews get filial piety." ”

As soon as he knelt, Cao Xiang and Cao Fu also knelt down.

Cao Yin stretched out his arm, wanting to call them up, but he felt a burst of flowers in front of him.

It was still Cao Jiashi who saw that his father was wrong, and hurriedly instructed Chu Yu: "Quickly bring the children in, let the father see Changsheng and his grandchildren......"

Changsheng blessed a few of them with God, all of them were outside, and they were taken care of by Dongfu Jinghui and a few concubines.

Hearing that something was wrong in the back room, they led the children into the back room.

Cao Yin had been talking for a long time, and he had exhausted his strength, and his eyes slid over the faces of several children. Only when he saw the immature immortal and the eldest grandson Tianyou, who was still a little adult, did he stay for a moment.

Next, he coughed again, and the corners of his mouth were already bloody.

"Master......" Li Shi snorted in a low voice, holding Cao Yin's hand, and it was difficult to hide the sadness.

Cao Yin shook the Li family back, looked at her and said: "Madame was originally from Fugui Township, and she descended to the Cao family, but it was the Cao family and Yin who treated Madame badly...... Madame, don't blame ......"

"Don't shame me, I have lost my father and orphaned daughter, it is my great blessing to be able to marry my lord as a wife and have children." Li Shi said while wiping the corners of Cao Yin's mouth with a handkerchief.

Cao Yin's expression was complicated, as if he had a thousand words, and finally turned into a long sigh.

Cao Hao's kung fu at this time, in addition to numbness, is still numb. The feeling of weakness in his body that was being twitched made him want to pile up on the ground. But I also know that I am a son and a father, and I still have responsibilities to bear, and I either want to fall or fall.

I only felt that my face was cold, and I don't know when, it was already full of tears.

Cao Yin only felt that his vision was blurred, and he swept through the crowd several times before he fixed on Cao Hao's body and said, "Hao'er, Baibaoge...... Testament ...... Imperial ......"

Before he finished speaking, his arm hung down, and he had already fallen into Li's arms, as if he was asleep.

There was a mourning in the room. The autumn wind and autumn rain outside the window, like roaring and crying, between heaven and earth, only sad sounds......

(To be continued)