On April 22, Kangxi set off from Changchun Garden in the Empress Dowager to escape the heat. Ordered the prince Yinren, the fifth elder brother Yinqi, the seventh elder brother Yinyou, the eighth elder brother Yinyu, the twelfth elder brother Yinyu, the fourteenth elder brother Yinyu, the fifteenth elder brother Yinyu, the sixteenth elder brother Yinlu and the seventeenth Yinli to accompany him.

With the departure of the holy car, the tension in the yamen of the capital gradually dissipated, and everyone gradually calmed down.

This said, Cao Yin came to the family letter. When Cao Haoban came back, he first went to the study to read the letter with Zhuang Xi, and discussed a few words about the matters in the south of the Yangtze River mentioned by Cao Yin, and then went back to Wutong Garden for dinner. As soon as I walked out of the study, I saw Amethyst looking for me.

Cao Hao asked, "But what's the matter?" ”

Amethyst replied: "I was about to find my uncle to reply." Miss Fang Caiqiu's housekeeper and daughter-in-law Chang Gui's family came. was so anxious that Miss Qiu was sick these two times, and Ning Ye was not in the capital. The Chang Gui couple didn't dare to take responsibility because Miss Qiu was pregnant, so according to what Ning Ye explained in the past, they came to our side, and wanted to beg the uncle to send someone to Baoding to send a letter! ”

Cao Hao nodded: "I know, I'll ask Wu Mao to take two of them to Baoding to find Ning Chun." They said that there was something missing, such as medicine or something, send some to her, and then send some to her, and tell her to find a good doctor to see, she has a body, but it is not a trivial matter. ”

Amethyst said: "Chang Gui's family didn't mention anything missing, I thought about it and went back to the uncle to know, Ming'er had time to take a look at Miss Qiu." Let's take what she lacks when she sees it!

Cao Hao went to the front yard again, asked someone to find Wu Mao, and asked him to take two people to clean up and go to Baoding to find Ning Chun to report the news. This Qiu Niang is Ning Chun's top heart, and I am afraid that she will turn around immediately if she gets the letter.

When she returned to Wutong Garden, Zhu'er was ordering two little maids to sprinkle water on the green bricks in the yard, and when she saw Cao Hao coming back, she bowed down and saluted.

Cao Hao nodded, and then looked at the two sycamores in the yard, although they were watered every time, they still didn't look energetic. Chu Yu heard the movement in the upper room and greeted him with a smile.

Cao Hao saw that she was wearing a thimble in her hand, and couldn't help frowning: "Doing needlework again?" Now that the weather is so stuffy, it's just a good rest, and it's so bothersome! ”

Chu Yu just smiled and welcomed Cao Hao in. Cao Hao took her right hand to check, and sure enough, how many needles were on her fingers. On the kang on the west side, there is a muslin tunic that has not yet been sewn. Chu Yu is a surname who is soft on the outside and strong on the inside, and he recognized something, even Cao Hao's persuasion was just heard.

Since she got married, she has sewed Cao Hao's personal belongings by herself. She has been clothed and fed since she was a child, and when she grew up, the school girl was just a pastime for embroidering a handkerchief purse. Cao Hao didn't want her to work hard, and persuaded her several times, but she was like this, just smiling and listening, and then when Cao Hao went out on an errand, she fiddled with these at home again.

Cao Hao shook his head helplessly, and after changing his clothes, he asked Cui'er to bring cotton yarn over. He pulled Chu Yu to sit on the side of the kang, first wiped the fingers of her right hand with a wet handkerchief, wrapped them with cotton yarn, and finally found thread from the sewing box and tied them.

Chu Yu looked at the five wrapped bags and pointed at his fingers, and couldn't help but feel bitter, tilting his head and looking at Cao Hao with a pleading face.

Cao Hao only did not see it, asked someone to set the meal, and specially ordered to prepare a spoon for the county lord. Xiyun and Xicai both went with a smile, and Zhu'er and Cui'er saw that the uncle was so gentle and considerate to the county lord, and they couldn't tell whether they were jealous or envious in their hearts.

The next time, when Cao Hao arrived at the household department, he heard the director Fu Xiangong and Peng Zhu mention that Li Xiang was sick. The Li Xiang they are talking about is Li Guangdi, a scholar of Wenyuan Pavilion.

Li Guangdi was a Jinshi in the ninth year of Kangxi, starting from Hanlin, tired of officials to a university scholar, and was known as the "officialdom tumbler". Although he has kept a low profile and has been unsubtly psychological in recent years, he has not reduced his influence in officialdom at all. His protégés are old, although it cannot be said that they are all over the government and the opposition, but there are many people who have done all the books.

Sick again? Cao Hao frowned slightly when he heard this, but it was not surprising to think that Li Guangdi was already a septuagenarian.

Because they are busy at the end of the year and the beginning of the year, the division is really idle at the moment, and only the provincial civil and military township associations need to keep an eye on it. Cao Hao was really bored, so he randomly found a book and flipped through it.

Finally, at noon, Cao Hao packed up, and was about to say to the others that those who had finished their errands could go down to the house, so he saw Chade coming: "My lord, the governor of your mansion sent a message with the trustee, saying that there was an emergency, please go back quickly!" ”

Outside the household, Wei Hei, Wei Bai and Xiao Man were all looking at this side, and there was a half-grown teenager sweating profusely next to him. Seeing Cao Hao coming out, Xiao Man hurriedly greeted him: "Uncle, the housekeeper sent Xiao Liuzi to report that Sister Amethyst is sick, Mr. Zhuang, please go back quickly!" ”

I saw it before I came out in the morning, and they were all good, how can I say that I am sick? Cao Hao asked Xiao Liuzi, "What happened?" Why are you sick, did the doctor please come over? ”

"Uncle, the little one doesn't know the details, but he just looks at Mr. Zhuang and the big housekeeper are full of worries. When the little one came out, the housekeeper had already arranged for someone else to pick up Imperial Doctor Chen! Xiao Liuzi replied.

When Cao Hao heard this, he "chuckled" in his heart, if it was an ordinary illness, how could it be to bother Imperial Doctor Chen? Mr. Zhuang will not send people to find him.

Fortunately, it was nearly noon, and there were not many pedestrians on the road, so Cao Hao hurried back to Cao's mansion all the way.

The person who went to pick up Imperial Doctor Chen had not yet returned, and when Cao Hao saw Mr. Zhuang and Cao Zhong, he hurriedly asked, "Why did you get sick well, but what unclean things did you eat in the morning?" ”

Mr. Zhuang's expression was solemn, and while persuading Cao Hao not to be anxious, he told Cao Hao the reason. Amethyst went to Eggplant Hutong in the morning to visit the sick Qiu Niang. Seeing Qiu Niang's illness, she was shocked in her heart, because this was so similar to Mrs. Jueluo's illness a few days ago! At first, he vomited, then he vomited and discharged, grabbed the medicine and took it, and these two symptoms stopped, and he had fever again, and he intermittently added phlegm.

Amethyst experienced ups and downs when she was young, and she also had some insight, and immediately thought of two words "epidemic". didn't stay long at the moment, and hurried back home with people. went back to Kwai Yuan directly, sent hairpins and Huan'er out, and asked Mr. Zhuang to tell him about the situation through the window.

The more Cao Hao listened, the heavier his heart became, and he said to Mr. Zhuang: "I'll go and see Amethyst!" ”

Before Mr. Zhuang and Cao Zhong could persuade him, Cao Hao had already raised his legs and walked away.

In the Kwai Courtyard, Hai'er and Huan'er stood outside the Amethyst Gate with red eyes, and when they saw Cao Hao, their faces were a little more happy. Because Amethyst said vaguely, they didn't know what kind of illness she was, they didn't know what kind of illness she had, and they didn't dare to disobey Amethyst's words, so they went to the county lord, and they were panicking.

Cao Hao pushed the door, but it was tied inside, so he opened the door and said: "Amethyst, it's me, how are you now, are you uncomfortable?" ”

"Uncle, the slave is fine, just in case! On Qiu Niang's side, the uncle still asked someone to go over for a good diagnosis, and if it was an epidemic, it was better to take precautions as soon as possible. Amethyst's voice was very gentle, and there was no fear or anxiety.

The ancients believed that the epidemic was caused by the introduction of the epidemic virus from the mouth and nose, and it was an epidemic caused by the time of day. The spring plague is called "spring plague", summer is called "time plague", autumn is called "autumn plague", and winter is called winter plague. Therefore, most of the diseases have a strong infectious surname, and ancient medicine was not developed, and when there was an outbreak of epidemics, the patients were isolated, and some were burned alive.

Although Cao Hao was worried, he still smiled and comforted: "Maybe it's because you are too careful, isn't Mrs. Jueluo's side good?" The old man and Qiu Niang, one is old, the other has a body, and now that the weather is changing, it is possible to get the same disease! ”

After a while, Fang listened to the amethyst inside: "The slave's mother died of the epidemic, Mrs. Jueluo was less ill and not obvious, but Qiu Niang's situation was the same as that of the slave maid before her death." Speaking of this, he paused: "If it is really as the uncle said, then it is really a blessing!" ”

Cao Hao felt uncomfortable when he heard this, and instructed Hai'er and Huan'er: "Ask the kitchen to send hot water, it will be a lot!" Grab a few more bottles of vinegar! ”

Although Hai'er and Huan'er were confused, they still responded.

After a while, Imperial Physician Chen arrived, and after asking about Qiu Niang's detailed condition, Amethyst offered to diagnose and check it in person. Amethyst here, two more prescriptions for clearing heat and detoxifying.

Cao Hao was at the door and said to Amethyst: "Be cautious, there is no harm after all, but it is not good with the door closed." Later, they will bring hot water, you change your clothes, the house is sprinkling more vinegar, and I will go to Qiu Niang's side with Imperial Doctor Chen to take a look. ”

Amethyst heard that Cao Hao was going to Qiu Niang's side, so she hurriedly said loudly: "Uncle can't!" ”

"I don't go into the room, don't worry, not all epidemics are contagious, isn't it okay to be in Jueluo Mansion!" After Cao Hao finished speaking, he went out with Imperial Physician Chen and went to Ningchun's house in Eggplant Hutong.

* Thirteen Mansions, Appreciating the Green Garden.

A boy of four or five years old was jumping around by the flower pond, pulling a leaf and pulling a flower, picking up stones and clods to throw the dragonfly flying on the flower, not at all willing to settle down, and he was having a lot of fun, it was the eldest son of the thirteenth elder brother, Hongchang.

Hongchang's nurse and mother followed him with a few little maids, coming over from time to time to wipe his sweat, and persuaded him to cool down under the shade. He is on the rise, where will he leave? I just thought these people were so long-winded that they waved them away.

When he was picking people up again, Hongchang just raised his hand to push a maid, and he saw the thirteenth elder brother and the Fu Jin Zhaojia clan coming here, and hurriedly withdrew his hand, and he felt uncomfortable for a while.

In the voice of the maid's mother-in-law, Hongchang hung his head and rubbed his mouth, and greeted his father and grandmother in a proper manner, and said, "My son asks Ama and Eniang to say goodbye." ”

Although the thirteenth elder brother is easy-going, he still has a strict fatherly side to his children. So Hongchang has a deep fear of his father. Now out of the corner of his eye, he looked at the leaf petals that he had thrown all over the ground, and he was a little scared, he didn't feel anything when he was playing, but now he was worried about being scolded.

Thirteen Fujin knew that the thirteenth elder brother was bored and wanted to come out of the garden for a walk today, and he was afraid that he would be angry when he saw Hongchang lose flowers, so he hurriedly walked over and said to Hongchang's nursing mother: "Look at the eldest brother, who is sweaty and vicious, don't bask him, don't take him back!" ”

The nurse and grandmother were too busy to confess, and Hongchang didn't dare to move, only glancing at the thirteenth elder brother with his eyes. The thirteenth elder brother didn't look so fierce, only nodded, "um", and told him to go down.

Hongchang breathed a sigh of relief, thanked Ama Eniang, and cautiously withdrew from the garden.

The thirteenth elder brother looked at his son's back, remembering that he was also a naughty when he was young, and he often relied on the favor of Huang Ama to make a nest in the imperial garden, and the flowers, plants, birds and birds also caused him to damage and injure countless people. Thinking that after the former emperor Ama reprimanded him sharply, he could always turn into a gentle face, and thinking of more than 20 years of holy grace, the thirteenth elder brother sighed in his heart and shook his head gently.

Seeing this, Thirteen Fujin knew that it touched his heart, and he was busy thinking about it, so he pointed to the pavilion not far away, and said with a smile: "The master has also been gone for a long time, can you sit over there and enjoy the cool?" ”

The thirteenth elder brother nodded, moved to the pavilion, and after a few steps, a little eunuch ran in behind him panting, and replied: "Master, the fourth master is here!" ”

The thirteenth elder brother was overjoyed and hurriedly said, "If you don't hurry up and invite it to the hall, I'll go ahead." As he spoke, he strode out, took two steps and suddenly stopped, looked back at the thirteen Fujin behind him, and said with a smile: "You don't have to go back to change your clothes, the fourth brother is not an outsider, so I'll just go over like this." You're following me, so go shopping on your own! ”

Seeing that he also had a smile on his face, Thirteen Fujin felt a little more steady, paused and smiled: "Master, go quickly!" Then, I watched him leave.

Entering the main hall, the thirteenth elder brother saw Prince Yong holding a tea cup, as if he was thinking about something, and did not drink tea. He hurriedly went over to ask for peace, and said with a smile: "Fourth brother is not busy today, why is he free?" ”

How could Prince Yong not be busy? Since April 22, the saint drove out of Beijing to escape the summer, and the affairs in Beijing were all under the full responsibility of Prince Cheng and Prince Yong, the third Elder Brother Cheng and the fourth Prince Elder Yong, and they were busy all the time. However, no matter how busy he is, he has to take the time to take a look at his brother, not because of anything else, just because he didn't bring the thirteenth elder brother with him when he drove out of Beijing this time.

After fighting for forty-seven years and abolishing the crown prince, the thirteenth elder brother lost his sacred heart, first was confined, and then he was not knighted, but because in the past two years, Kangxi would also inquire about the thirteenth elder brother's leg disease from time to time, whether in the hearts of the elder brothers, or in the eyes of the Manchu courtiers, the thirteenth elder brother has not completely lost power.

At the beginning of last year, the thirteenth elder brother's leg disease recurred, so he couldn't follow the holy car outside the plug, but he didn't let people think about it. But this year, he has been completely well, and there is nothing to do, but Kangxi still hasn't asked him to go with him. Although he is the elder brother who stayed in Beijing, he doesn't have any errands on him, so he is idle and endowed, what does this mean by the Lord of Long Live ...... Both inside and outside the government and the opposition can't help but ponder.

Although the thirteenth elder brother has experienced a huge setback and has survived in the end, Prince Yong is still not very relieved. He knows this younger brother best, Thirteen has also been on an errand in the Sixth Department many times, and he is unambiguous in political affairs, and he also knows how much hope he wants to return to the court after Thirteen recovers from his leg. In the current situation, I am afraid that he will be disappointed.

Prince Yong was afraid that he would be depressed, so he pushed away many affairs and came to comfort and enlighten the thirteenth elder brother. After listening to the thirteenth elder brother's question, Prince Yong said: "I've been here, so I'll come and take a look, I haven't seen you for a few days!" ”

The thirteenth elder brother smiled: "Fourth brother Xie is worried." I'm fine. The fourth brother came by coincidence, because the weather was hot and dry, he began to serve ice, the newly boiled sour plum soup, I tasted it okay, the fourth brother walked this way and it was hot, okay, come to a bowl to moisten your throat? ”

Prince Yong smiled and nodded, looking at the thirteenth elder brother's face with nothing. He had to think about the wording, and think about how to persuade him.

The sour plum soup was brought here, and the ochre-colored soup in the white porcelain bowl and the clear ice cubes were refreshing to look at. Prince Yong looked at the broken ice that seemed to float and sink, smiled, and said to the thirteenth elder brother: "This ice looks frozen solid, as long as it is hot, it will eventually melt." ”

The thirteenth elder brother's face changed, he paused, and said with a smile: "The fourth brother has been worshipping the Buddha all day, and this speech has a Zen flavor!" smiled, but with a little loneliness: "Don't hide it from the fourth brother, hey, I can't hide it from the fourth brother, it's really a bit blocked." I thought in my heart that the relationship between myself and the imperial father was really as frozen as this, but I didn't know how long it would be able to dissolve.

Prince Yong said, "I know your thoughts, but the establishment of a career is not at this time. Recently, the DPRK and China have been in a mess, and you can see that you are also upset. The leg injury is healed, but you need to go to the roots, and you need to take care of your body and bones before you can survive with them. It's not Zen, it's the truth, this ice will eventually melt. ”

The thirteenth elder brother said gloomily: "I am also worthy of more than enough. I'm afraid that Huang Ama is discouraged by me, and these two people often think about the past again, and they are more and more unsettled. ”

Prince Yong was silent for a moment, and then said: "Huang Ama's thoughts, when did we expect it accurately?" It's busy over there, but the busier it is, the more you don't want to see Huang Amma, what do you say are you tossing? There are also people from the six departments who have been transferred back and forth recently, and Lao Jiu over there jumped to his feet and scolded, who is Huang Ama against? You should cultivate your body and bones in a down-to-earth manner, and good things will follow. ”

Although the thirteenth elder brother nodded seriously, his eyes were still a little gloomy. He has fear and admiration for the emperor's father, as well as dependence and respect, and that deep affection is not only due to his surname, but also accumulated bit by bit in the past 20 years of getting along. was given up by his father like this, or maybe he was completely given up, and his heart couldn't open up no matter what.

Prince Yong didn't expect to persuade him to come to a great understanding once, and besides, this enlightenment was not necessarily a good thing. At that time, he didn't mention this anymore, and roughly told him some things inside and outside the court and in the local area. The thirteenth elder brother also analyzed the political situation a few words, but also put aside the previous dullness.

After changing two teas, Prince Yong politely refused the banquet of the thirteenth elder brother, got up to say goodbye, and the thirteenth elder brother followed to see him off. Only then did he walk to the courtyard, and the little guy on the door ran back and forth, and the county lord and the head of the household asked for an urgent meeting.

(To be continued)