Cao Mansion, Liu Yuan, study.

Cao Xiang sat on the chair, flipped through the "Annotations to the Analects" on the desk, and remembered the test question in the first session, which was finally a little insufficient. He took the pen from the pen holder, dipped it in ink, and moved it.

One less time, an article entitled "A Word of Self-denial and Self-Revenge, the World Returns to Benevolence" has been done.

Cao Xiang looked at it from the beginning, and his heart was much happier. But he didn't put the article away, but threw it into a paper basket.

The paper ball rolled on the ground a few times before stopping.

Cao Xiang was still silent in the joy of the beginning of the article, muttering the last sentence.

Someone gently bent down, picked up the paper ball, and said with some doubts: "The fourth master is not good at giving birth, and he has started to study again?" ”

Cao Xiang listened, and hurriedly looked up, and it was Lu Ju who was wearing a flowing water pattern light cyan dark satin trimmed gown, looking at him with a smile.

There was a little joy on his face, and he got up and said, "Sister is here, didn't you say that Mrs. is going out today?" ”

Lu Ju didn't throw the paper ball in his hand into the paper basket, and replied with a smile: "Well, Zilan is waiting for Mrs. The wife was not worried about the third master, so she sent the slave maid to stay and take care of it. ”

Cao Xiang listened and asked, "I went to the third brother in the morning to take a look, and it was no big deal to look at the third brother." ”

Lu Ju nodded and said, "Yes, the third master is okay over there." Even if there is anything uncomfortable, there is incense and Tibetan incense, and there is no need for slaves and maids to do a lot of things. The slave and maid were lazy and came to see the fourth master. ”

Cao Xiang looked at the green chrysanthemum and smiled like a flower, and couldn't help but take two steps forward. Lu Ju's face turned red, and he avoided it sideways, and said: "I heard that the fourth master is also tired these days, so you should take a good rest for two days, and look at the reduction a lot, and call ...... asked my aunt to see it, and I was distressed. ”

Between the two, the distance is only two or three steps, but it seems to be a long distance. Cao Xiang clenched his fists, raised his head and asked, "Green Ju, you should know what Mrs. means." If the second brother and the third brother's relationship are decided, I'm afraid it will be your turn to arrange it. When the time comes, shall I go and ask my wife? ”

When Lu Ju heard this, his face turned pale immediately, and he said with a little helplessness: "I just thought I was young, but I didn't expect it to be so old." What did the fourth master beg, begging the slave to come over and be a girl for the fourth master? ”

Cao Xiang shook his head vigorously and said, "My mother is a girl, how can I still wronged you to be a girl...... I am also a concubine, and I beg my wife to give you a ......."

When Lu Ju heard this, the tenderness on her face became even stronger, and then she turned gloomy, bowed her head and said: "Even if the fourth master is not born by his wife, he is also the master, where is the reason for a maid to be a wife?" ”

"It's all the same mother's father, who is much more noble than whom? If I hadn't been born in this family and had been a poor boy, you wouldn't have been able to afford it? Cao Xiang frowned and asked.

Hearing this, Lu Ju hurriedly said, "The slave didn't mean that...... Just ...... backwards"

Seeing her like this, Cao Xiang reached out and pulled her wrist, and said, "Do you believe me?" If you are willing to follow me, no matter how much suffering there is, we can always come up with a way...... If you're not happy, it's my own doing......"

Lu Ju's body trembled slightly, and he said for a while: "I believe you ......"

* Cao Hao sat at the yamen of Taifu Temple and dealt with the errand at hand, and he was a little bored. Today, Iduli did not come to the yamen, but sent someone to the yamen to ask for personal leave.

When he was there, he didn't feel that this was not there, but it seemed a little deserted in the yamen.

Yesterday, Zhang Yi and Zhao Tong went to the teahouse to inquire, but fortunately, they were all good things about Cao Xiang, but there were no derogatory words.

It's the end of August now, and Cao Hao is thinking that it's time to go to the Zhengbai Flag School these days. When the time comes, let's see what way to find and send Cao Shuo and Cao Xiang brothers to school over there.

These two are still half-sized, no matter whether they take the imperial examination or not, they are not always detained in the house.

Although the holy driver is not in the capital, he is the chief official himself, and no one cares if he leaves early, but it is not good to leave early. Therefore, Cao Hao opened some old official documents and boiled them up.

But it was Xiao Manlai who whispered and said, "Uncle, the second master is here, waiting outside the yamen!" ”

Cao Hao was a little surprised, he got up early and saw Cao Song in front of the yamen, and heard that he was going to Dong E's house today, is this already back?

When he got out of the yamen, Cao Hao saw Cao Song standing not far away, bowing his head and spinning.

Seeing Cao Hao come out, Cao Song hurriedly strode over, but with a little twist, he laughed twice.

Seeing him like this, Cao Hao was a little confused, and said, "Are you happy?" Jinghui girl answered you? ”

Cao Song listened, reached out and touched the back of his head. He said in a muffled voice: "Brother, I didn't dare to go in." I've been there a few times before, but she doesn't come out to see me, and I'm afraid that it will be the same now. ”

After all, Jinghui is the daughter's family who has not left the cabinet, and it is the rule not to come out to meet guests. According to the requirements of this era, it is the only thing that makes people look down on them if they often show their heads.

Cao Hao didn't take it seriously, and said, "Since you can't see it, then what's wrong with you?" Do you want to ask to see the old lady directly? ”

Cao Song hesitated for a moment and said, "Brother, my mother went to my uncle's house, and I still have to talk about my cousin." No matter what, I want to see Jinghui and ask if she wants to marry me. If I wanted, I told my mother to go; If I don't want to, then I won't force it. At the end of the day, there was a bit of frustration on his face.

When Cao Hao heard this, he also knew that this family affair could not be settled for a day, and he was afraid that Cao Song would not be able to settle down for a day.

"You came to look for me, do you want me to accompany you on a walk?" Cao Hao asked.

Cao Song nodded hurriedly, looked at Cao Hao and said, "Brother, I am scared in my heart." ”

Looking at Cao Song's appearance of suffering from gains and losses, Cao Hao couldn't help but be a little shaken.

The young man is amorous, and he must be old.

No matter how cumbersome the rules of etiquette are, they can't suppress the young man's heart.

In this era of marriage events, paying attention to "parents' covenants and matchmakers' words", it is not easy to insist on it like Cao Song.

Cao Hao looked up at the sky, the sky was sunny and blue, which made people's mood much brighter.

Now, it is the late autumn season, the fallen leaves are colorful, and it is said that the rest is not the time to go to the Bada Mountain with Chu Yu. Cao Hao held his head and thought in his heart.

Don't talk about it before marriage, after marriage, directly in the era of old husbands and wives, think about it carefully, and always feel that there is something missing between husband and wife. I'm okay, I've lived two lives, and I won't talk about these feelings and loves.

Chu Yu was only nineteen, married to him for four years, and from the little girl with a little childishness at the beginning, she became the mother of two children in a blink of an eye. Now that she is revolving around the child's housework all day, she should really take her out more to relax.

Cao Hao was running away here, but Cao Song on the side was a little uneasy.

He hesitated, and said for a while: "Brother, then why don't I go over by myself......"

Seeing Cao Song's cramped and uneasy appearance, Cao Hao patted him on the shoulder and said, "I will accompany you, but you have to know, when you see Jinghui girl later, what to say and what to ask, but you have to know in your heart." Whether you are afraid or not, there are some things that no one else can do for you. ”

Cao Song lowered his head and said, "Well, these younger brothers can save it!" ”

Since there was something wrong, Cao Hao asked Xiaoman to lead the horse first, and he went back to the yamen first, and explained a few words, and then came out again.

The group, riding horses, went to Fangjia Hutong. On the way, he happened to pass by a shop in Daoxiang Village, so Cao Hao sent someone to buy a few packs of dim sum, but it was always difficult to come to the door empty-handed.

After Jue Luo and Jinghui moved here, Cao Hao only came once, so he went with Hu. After coming back, he rarely went out because of something at home. So, counting it, today is the second time I've come here.

It looked old and dilapidated when I came back last time, but now it looks like it's a lot more neat. Cao Hao glanced back at Cao Song, which should be due to his contributions.

Cao Hao motioned for Xiao Man to call the door, and when he heard a "squeak", the door opened, and he poked his head out and asked, "Who are you looking for?" ”

Seeing Cao Hao in an official uniform, the man was still in a trance; When he saw Cao Song behind Cao Hao, he pulled the door and came out to ask for Andao: "Second master, you are here, this is ......"

Cao Song turned over and dismounted, and said, "This is my brother, who also came once in April, have you forgotten?" ”

It was Chang Gui who opened the door, and after listening to Cao Song's words, he hurriedly asked Cao Hao to say goodbye, and said: "It turned out to be the uncle of the Cao family, you came last time, and the little one happened to be not there, please come in, and the little one will tell the old lady to go." ”

Cao Hao dismounted, entered the courtyard with Cao Song, and waited in the front hall.

Chang Gui hurriedly called her daughter-in-law and asked her to pass the word to the inner courtyard, and he personally brought the tea up.

Cao Song looked around and said, "Where is Shen De, why haven't you seen him?" ”

Chang Gui didn't reply immediately, hesitated for a moment, and then said: "The girl did some work and sent Shen De to find a shop to sell." ”

Cao Hao frowned a little when he heard this.

Not to mention anything else, even before and after he followed Hu, he sent people to send money and food here, but the old lady sent someone back. Although Cao Hao has the heart to help, since the other party does not appreciate it, it is not easy to force it.

Unexpectedly, this side is relying on Jinghui to do needlework for silver. This Jue Luo, even if he loves face, he should feel sorry for his granddaughter.

Cao Song was beside him, but he couldn't sit still, got up and said, "Since it is the needlework made in your girl's boudoir, why is it still flowing outside, isn't this confused?" Go over there, tell the master, and the master will chase him back. ”

Chang Gui said in a low voice: "It's been a long time, and I guess it's time to come back!" ”

Before the words fell, he heard the door ring, and Cao Song got up and looked at the door. After hitting the shadow wall, it was Shen De who turned around, and his hands were empty.

When Cao Song saw it, he was in a hurry, hurriedly strode out, looked Shen De up and down, and said, "Is this really sold?" What kind of shop is selling, take the master to buy it back! ”

This face-splitting question made Shen De a little dazed, and asked, "Second master, are you ......?"

Cao Hao sat in the hall, looked at Cao Song's gaffe, and shook his head, this kid, how can he not distinguish between priorities and urgency.

At this time, I saw Jinghui coming in from the door with a maid.

In the courtyard, Cao Song and Shen De both stopped talking, thinking that they saw Jinghui coming.

I haven't seen her for a few months, Jing Hui looked much calmer, and she looked like some adults, so she stepped forward and bowed, and said, "Please cousin!" ”

Cao Hao stood up and said, "These words are not empty, I just came to see you today, the old lady is better?" ”

Jinghui nodded and said, "I'm tired of my cousin, my grandmother has gradually recovered, and this is thanks to the medicine sent by my cousin-in-law a few days ago." ”

While the two were talking, Cao Song had already come in from the courtyard.

Seeing that Cao Hao was not sitting, he honestly stood to the side and looked at Jinghui without speaking.

Jing Hui lowered her head when she was watched, and also asked Cao Song for peace.

Cao Song said in a humble voice: "I haven't seen you for a while, but I have lost a lot of money when I look at you." ”

Jinghui didn't know how to respond, so Cao Hao said: "Cousin, you accompany him to have tea here, and I'll go and ask the old lady to go and ask for a peace!" After speaking, without waiting for Jinghui to squeak, Cao Hao said to the maid behind her: "I'm sorry for you to take me over!" ”

That maid is Jinghui's personal maid Chun'er, Cao Song, who often comes and goes, and is not a person who can cover his thoughts, who can hide that meaning?

It's just that the old lady didn't see anyone in the inner courtyard, and she didn't know that the other subordinates treated Cao Song as half an aunt. On the side of Jinghui, she is becoming more and more estranged, and she came out to meet occasionally earlier and say a few words, but she has not seen each other for the past two months.

Dong E's family has become like this, the old lady is old again, how can the girl's lifelong event be delayed?

When it comes to appearance, Cao Song can be regarded as the best choice. Now that the girl has no mother's family to rely on and no dowry, how easy is it to find a family affair that is suitable?

In private, Chun'er has persuaded Jinghui several times, but Jinghui does not let go, only saying that she will not marry and stay at home to serve the old lady.

Seeing Cao Hao's instructions, Chun'er was just in tune with her intentions, and hurriedly said: "Uncle, please come with the slave!" ”

Cao Hao glanced at Cao Song and followed Chun'er out.

Jinghui wanted to stop her, but she felt rude, so she didn't respond.

Entering the inner courtyard, Chun'er stopped and said in a low voice: "Uncle, I have to bother you to wait for a while." Just now, when the old lady heard that the uncle was coming, she wanted to come out to thank you in person. It's just that because of these illnesses, I put down my hair and just made people comb their hair, I'm afraid it will be delayed for a while......"

(To be continued)