Although the sixteenth elder brother looked smiling, when he approached, he could not hide the smell of alcohol. Seeing him lying on the sand, his face inadvertently showing fatigue, the thirteenth elder brother was quite surprised and asked, "Is this happy to have a son?" ”

When the sixteenth elder brother heard the thirteenth elder brother mention this, he closed his eyes, grinned at the corners of his mouth, and said with a wry smile: "The thirteenth elder brother is right, if he adds a son, the younger brother is naturally happy!" ”

The thirteenth elder brother didn't hear it, sat down next to the sixteenth elder brother, and asked, "What's the matter?" If you have any worries, tell your brother. ”

The sixteenth elder brother opened his eyes, perhaps blinded by the setting sun, stretched out his arm to cover his eyes, and was silent for a while before he said: "Thirteenth brother, my brother is afraid of ......" The voice was very lonely.

The thirteenth elder brother shook his head and said, "You are the dignified prince elder brother, what else is there to be afraid of?" Don't think nonsense, it's not early, and if you don't go back, you'll fall into the palace gate! ”

The sixteenth elder brother sat up and said to the thirteenth elder brother: "The lotus fragrance is dead!" ”

The thirteenth elder brother frowned, although it sounded like the name of a palace family, but it should not be the wife and concubine of the sixteenth elder brother, otherwise there would have been news a long time ago.

The sixteenth elder brother muttered: "My brother has been following him outside for a few months, and she will take care of the Li family's diet. ”

Although the thirteenth elder brother said that he had no head and no tail, he also faintly heard some meaning, so he heard the sixteenth elder brother say again: "I only said that I had an unknown disease in my stomach, and I didn't look for a doctor outside, but I only took medicine from the eunuch doctor and ate it, and it was gone on June 18." Due to the heat of the day, it was difficult to keep it, and the body was cremated. ”

The thirteenth elder brother pondered for a moment and asked, "Could it be that the sixteenth brother is too careful, isn't Li Fujin a mother and son?" ”

The sixteenth elder brother rubbed his face with his hand and said, "My brother also hopes that he is too worried!" The younger brother is just this one son, and he doesn't want him to have any mistakes. ”

The thirteenth elder brother patted the sixteenth elder brother on the shoulder and said, "With your love as an Amma, my nephew must be a blessed one." ”

The sixteenth elder brother temporarily put down the knot, and a smile appeared on his face: "It would be nice if he could be as strong as a few little elder brothers on the thirteenth brother's side, in the end, I hope he looks like an eldest brother." It's good now, but it doesn't look chubby! ”

While the two brothers were talking, they saw the Thirteen Fu Jin Zhaojia clan coming in with two herbal teas. One had an ice core added to it, and the other one was not.

The sixteenth elder brother hurriedly got up and said, "Sister-in-law, why did you bring tea?" Just send someone over! ”

The thirteenth elder brother also looked at Zhao Jia's with a little concern, and said, "That's it, seeing that the head is falling, be careful of catching a cold!" ”

Zhao Jiashi smiled and said to the thirteenth elder brother: "I have been lying in the house for more than a month, my body is wooden, and I want to move and move, so I don't get in the way!" Speaking of this, he said to the sixteenth elder brother: "Sixteenth brother, the little elder brother has landed in the middle of summer, and he is less than a month, so he will not grow as fast as the children born in winter." When the moon is full, it will grow slowly! ”

The sixteenth elder brother said with a smile: "Borrowing my sister-in-law's auspicious words, if this is the case, my younger brother will also feel at ease." It was the first time for the Li family to go through this, and the sister-in-law had nothing to do with walking around in the palace more, so that she could teach her. ”

Zhao Jiashi handed the herbal tea with the ice core to the sixteenth elder brother, and said with a smile: "Look at the appearance of the sixteenth brother, are you worried about the little elder brother, or are you worried about the little elder brother's mother?" ”

When the sixteenth elder brother heard this, he gradually lowered his head and said, "Sister-in-law, that one doesn't like the Li family, and my mother is not good at favoring the Li family." The Li family has no one who can speak in the palace, and even if the sister-in-law looks at her younger brother, she has to take care of it more. ”

Zhao Jia's family also knows something about Concubine Yi's dislike of the Li family, but she is also in an embarrassing situation. In addition to Concubine De, several other concubines did not have a good face towards her. However, she never mentioned these things in front of the Thirteenth Elder Brother.

Although Concubine Yi was a little more domineering, Zhao Jia's family looked at the Sixteen Fujin Guo Luo Luo clan as if he had a good temper, and he was quite polite when he spoke.

Although he knew that the sixteenth elder brother was devoted to pampering the Li family, Zhao Jiashi still persuaded: "In the final analysis, that niece is afraid of wronging her own son. Even if the sixteenth brother hurts the Li family, don't be too public, go past the sixteenth brother and sister. In this way, don't say it's causing trouble for the Li family; In the long run, the sixteenth brother will also lose his reputation. ”

The sixteenth elder brother listened to it, and then said, "Thank you sister-in-law for teaching, Xiao Sixteen wrote it down in his heart!" ”

* A few days later, the sixteenth Fujin Guo Luo Luo returned to Beijing. A few days ago, she left Rehe with the sixteenth elder brother, and because of the car on the road, she was delayed for a long time.

Because of this journey, Guo Luo Luo had a little bitter summer and a bad appetite, so he saw the imperial doctor after arriving in Beijing. But there was joy, and everyone on Brother's side reacted differently.

Sixteen blessings are joyful; The side Fujin Li is very worried, although he gave birth to an elder brother, but when Fujin gave birth to a son-in-law, his own child ......; The sixteenth elder brother was happy with a little guilt, and always felt that whether it was letting his pregnant wife take care of the Li family, or the Li family knew the news before the confinement period, he was a little inauthentic.

After two years of marriage, although there was some misunderstanding of Guo Luo Luo earlier, the sixteenth elder brother is not a fool, and after a long time of contact, he also knows that his wife is not a scheming person. Therefore, instead of guarding against her, she only guarded against the old man's lotus incense used by Concubine Yi.

The reason why the Li family's diet was entrusted to Lotus Lotus was also deliberately done by the sixteenth elder brother, wanting to contain Concubine Yi and prevent her from having other ideas. Unexpectedly, it was so strange in the end, which made him regret it.

Fortunately, the Li family and his son are safe, otherwise...... The sixteenth elder brother was a little unimaginable.

Because he only took a month's leave in front of the emperor, the sixteenth elder brother had to go north to follow him. Yushi, he entrusted the Li family and his son to Guo Luoluo's care.

After going to a few brothers who stayed in Beijing and the Cao family, the sixteenth elder brother hurriedly went north with his entourage, and arrived at Rehe on July 20, just in time for the siege on July 21.

On the 21st of July, the Holy Driver set off from the Rehe River, followed the grassland, all the way to the west, and on the 29th he was stationed at the Sutai of Kelle Uriya. Along the way, every Mongolian king came to the court, and then followed the siege.

Because this year is leap May, although it is only the end of July, it is already the end of the summer, and there is already some autumn coolness in the morning and evening.

After more than a month of busyness, Cao Hao and Tang Zhiyu have carefully summarized the laws of disease and weather changes of mules and horses in the pasture. They had sent their subordinates to the pasture of Taifu Temple, looking for the old shepherds, and checking their inferences.

For those months when there is a sunny drought and little rain or floods, the warning of abnormal weather on the pasture should be based on the experience of the herdsmen to designate corresponding epidemic prevention measures. Therefore, this small report inside the Taifu Temple, Cao Hao has not yet played it to Emperor Kangxi.

Near Kreuriya Sutai, there is a Eight Banners Ranch. Cao Hao may have been studying data recently, and he is also quite interested in mule and horse herding. Catching up with the proximity of the Holy Driver's Station and the ranch, he asked Tang Zhiyu to go over and go around.

Although the Eight Banners Ranch and the Taifu Temple are two systems, because Cao Hao only asked whether the Spring Horse Plague was crossing the border and the mules and horses were resting and the like, those ranch officials did not have anything to hide.

Some people are very worried in their hearts, thinking that this close minister of the Son of Heaven has received a secret visit from the Holy Order, and there are also people who stuff silver tickets into Cao Hao's hands in private. Cao Hao couldn't cry or laugh, but he didn't dare to accept it, so he pushed it with a smile.

The more Cao Hao refused to accept it, the more people identified him as a "Qin Cha", and the red-faced and white-faced people began to sing. This Tao is the disciple of the iron hat king who is the lord of his family, and the one who says that the lord of his family is a red belt.

After singing this time, Tang Zhiyu was dumbfounded, and Cao Hao sighed in his heart. "Don't do bad things, don't be afraid of ghosts calling the door", not only is it a taboo on the ranch, but it is also unclean to think about the accounts inside. Just like the Taifu Temple Ranch, the actual number of mules and horses does not match the number of mules and horses reported.

Those who can get a piece of the pie in the Eight Banners Ranch are all powerful families of various banners, and that is not something that Cao Hao can compete with. What's more, he is not an official of the imperial history, even if he exposes this matter, he will not be able to get good in front of Kangxi, and will only be reprimanded.

Tang Zhiyu went with Cao Hao a few months ago, and knew the situation of the ranch over there, so he naturally guessed this. Although he was very angry, he also remained silent and did not do much.

Regarding his attitude as a deputy, Cao Hao couldn't tell whether he was disappointed or satisfied, but vaguely felt that this Tang Zhiyu's future should be greater. can do things in a down-to-earth manner, and can act expediently, without being pedantic, and he is an official.

It's just that after this encounter with the ranch, Cao Hao and Tang Zhiyu temporarily extinguished their interest in studying horse plague.

As soon as Cao Hao returned to the tent at the station, he saw Wei Zhu, the eunuch beside Kangxi, greet him: "Oh, Master Cao, where have you been?" Long live the summons, go with the slave and maid! ”

Because in front of the Mongolian princes, Kangxi went out to patrol with a full guard of honor, and Cao Hao, the servant of the temple, followed him and saw it every day.

Hearing that Kangxi was specially summoned, Cao Hao wondered in his heart and didn't know what was going on. He straightened up his official uniform, took out a wrench from his waist, stuffed it into Wei Zhu's hand, and asked in a low voice: "Manager Wei, long live the lord's complexion?" ”

Wei Zhu knew Cao Hao before he made a career, and the two were now acquaintances, so he was not polite to him, and said in a low voice: "Slave thank Cao Ye for your reward!" The living Buddha of Jebtsundamba is here, long live the Lord looks good! Cao Ye doesn't have to worry, the slave and maid look at it, it seems to be a good thing. ”

Cao Hao listened and said in a low voice: "Thank you, the manager, so that I have the bottom in my heart!" ”

Wei Zhu couldn't help but look at Cao Hao, and said with a smile: "There are many people who have seen slaves and maids around Wan Sui Ye in recent years, but there are few people who are not arrogant or impatient like Cao Ye!" Speaking of which, Cao Ye is now half a celebrity in front of Long Live Ye, but he still treats people kindly, and rarely has a loud voice, unlike those things that are dogs fighting people. ”

Cao Hao hurriedly waved his hands and humbled himself, but he didn't dare to say anything.

Originally, he didn't have any contempt for eunuchs, not to mention that he knew the truth that "it depends on the owner to beat a dog". Just like this Wei Zhu in front of him, he was just a little eunuch running errands in the Qianqing Palace a few years ago, and now he has replaced Liang Jiugong and become the most powerful eunuch in front of the emperor.

Although Wei Zhu's position is the deputy head of the Qianqing Palace, inside and outside the palace, whoever still talks about the "deputy" will smile and talk when he sees him.

Perhaps because of Cao Hao's deep fortune, he had several dealings with Wei Zhu before he made a career. Because although Cao Hao is not close to people, he rarely has contempt, and he is generous to these servants in the palace, Wei Zhu is grateful. In the past few years, he has done his best to take care of the places that can be taken care of.

It is the emperor's taboo to serve and communicate with foreign officials, Wei Zhu didn't have the courage not to say it, and Cao Hao didn't have that mind. Therefore, the two did not deliberately interact, but they were satisfied with each other whenever they got along.

Last month, the eighth elder brother and the seventeenth elder brother returned to Beijing, and the fifth elder brother and the fourteenth elder brother who were on duty in Beijing went north to follow the Hu.

Cao Hao asked for the will, and when he entered the Kangxi imperial tent, the third elder brother, the fifth elder brother, the ninth elder brother, the fourteenth elder brother, the fifteenth elder brother and the sixteenth elder brother were all there.

Kangxi sat on the couch in his usual clothes, and sat an old lama in red with a white beard and hair at the bottom.

Although he could feel that the eyes of all the elder brothers were looking at him, Cao Hao still took two steps forward, knelt down and said, "Weichen Cao Hao has seen Long Live Lord, brothers!" ”

Kangxi waved his hand and ordered Cao Hao to calm down, then turned his head and said to the old lama: "Great lama, this is my grandson-in-law Cao Hao, what do you think of his well-being?" As he spoke, he said to Cao Hao: "This is the Great Lama Hutu Ketu, don't see it soon!" ”

Cao Hao only felt that his eyes were extremely hot when he fell on him, and he sighed in his heart. I don't know what kind of madness the old man Kangxi is smoking, even if he really takes care of his grandson-in-law in his heart, he doesn't have to show it in front of his sons, doesn't this turn him into a "fragrant dumpling"?

Although he was slandered in his heart, but in front of everyone's eyes, Cao Hao did not have the courage to resist the decree, and he respectfully saluted the great lama.

Although it was the first time he had seen this great lama, Cao Hao had already heard of his name. The Great Lama of Hutuketu may not know much about the people outside the Sai, but the living Buddha of Jebtsundamba is known to everyone. Jebtsundamba is not his Dharma name, but an honorific title, which means "supreme victory" in Tibetan. His Dharma name is Lobsang Dambe Gyaltsen, the son of the old Khan of Tushetu Gunbu Dorji, and the first living Buddha of Jebtsundamba who was elected by the Khalkha Khans.

Because during the Galdan rebellion, Lobsang Danbei Gyaltsen led the Khalkha tribes south to submit to the Qing court, so Kangxi treated him very favorably. In the thirtieth year of Kangxi, he was canonized as the Great Lama of Hutu Ketu and was in charge of the religious affairs of the Khalkha Department in Monan. The current Tushetu Khan is the grandnephew of the Great Lama, and he is also the forehead of the fourth princess of Kangxi, Borzigit clan Dundobu Dorji.

The Grand Lama was eighty years old, holding a string of brown Buddha beads in his hand, and smiling very kindly. However, after seeing Cao Hao a few times, he restrained his solemn face and became solemn, muttering in his mouth, which was inaudible.

The atmosphere in the room became strange, and Cao Hao also sensed that something was wrong, and raised his head to meet the old lama's perceptive gaze. Cao Hao only felt that the old lama's gaze was very distant, which made people can't help but have a heart of inquiry, although at this time there was a voice in his ears, but he didn't seem to hear it.

I heard someone ask in a Mongolian whisper: "The eagle will always land, the Gesang flower will eventually wither, why don't the tired travelers return?" ”

At that moment, Cao Hao only felt that the exhaustion of many years had come up, and he just wanted to close his eyes and rest well. However, listening to the "humming" scriptures and looking at the golden patches in the tent, he always felt that something was wrong. At this time, I heard Kangxi's slightly angry voice say: "Great Lama, ......what are you doing?"

Cao Hao let out a "chuckle" in his heart, and his consciousness gradually became clearer. Looking at the tent, the elder brothers didn't know when they would quit, only he, Kangxi, and the Great Lama were left.

Seeing that the big lama was still looking at himself solemnly, Cao Hao only felt a chill in his heart, could there really be a so-called "god and Buddha", could he really see that something was wrong?

The big lama didn't answer Kangxi's question, but still looked into Cao Hao's eyes and asked in a low voice, "Why hasn't the tired traveler returned?" ”

Cao Hao was sweating on his back, could it be that this big lama wanted to say that he was a "ghost"? He couldn't help but look at Kangxi, wondering if the emperor, who was proficient in Western studies, would believe the lama's theory of gods and ghosts. Could it be that if you have been careful for many years, you will die at the mouth of the lama?

Kangxi saw that Cao Hao's face showed a confused look, as if a drowning person was praying, his heart softened, and he nodded at Cao Hao.

Cao Hao's eyes widened, and as soon as he was talking to himself, Kangxi nodded very "cooperatively", which was really depressing. He turned his head, but his gaze at the Grand Lama became calm.

He is just an ordinary person, even if the soul confined to this body is different from ordinary people, but he has not done anything to harm the country and the people, what is there to be afraid of.

Seeing Cao Hao's expression change, the big lama's gaze also deepened. After seeing Cao Hao for a long time, he said to Kangxi next to him: "Long live, this son has clear eyes and a pure heart, so he can take on this responsibility!" ”

Hearing this, Kangxi and Cao Hao breathed a sigh of relief at the same time.

Kangxi is difficult to find someone he trusts, and it is difficult for the princes to do it, because the identity of the prince's elder brother is too ostentatious. Cao Hao was very happy, although he didn't know whether this living Buddha Lama was really profound or false, but he was always a "person" and was not accused of being a "ghost".

Kangxi turned his head, nodded at Cao Hao, and said, "Since the great lama said that you can take on this responsibility, then you will run for me!" ”

Qincha, I can't complain that Wei Zhu said it was a good thing, but I don't know why the old lama made this battle to bluff people? Cao Hao knelt down to receive the decree, but he had doubts in his heart.

Kangxi got up from the couch, took two steps with his hands behind his back, and said, "You go to the Khalkha Mongolian Zasaktu Khan Department to rescue a lama, you can't use it in the name of me, and you can't make a big disturbance." ”

Cao Hao was a little stunned when he heard this, and he also knew a little about the distribution of Mongolian tribes. Zasaktu Khan counted, but it was not close, it should be in the area of Outer Mongolia, where pure Mongols gathered. I can't use the sign of "Qincha" to rush over thousands of miles to save a lama, what kind of errand is this?

Maybe Kangxi was a little reluctant to go after saying the order, and said: "You can choose a few helpers from the guards, if there is a conflict with the Khan's palace, you can show your identity when necessary, but you can't say the reason." Why did he appear in the Zasaktu Khan Department, you have to arrange this yourself. ”

Although Cao Hao didn't know who the lama was who he was going to rescue, it was definitely not an ordinary person who could let a Mongolian living Buddha pass a message and let Kangxi personally intervene. Although he is a little curious, he also knows the blessing of ignorance, and knowing more is not necessarily a good thing.

If it weren't for the fact that there were many Mongolians who believed in the Yellow Religion, and there were many lamas in various ministries, Cao Hao didn't even want to ask about the characteristics of that person, but he couldn't run in vain, and wouldn't he be wronged if he saved the wrong one. Therefore, he had no choice but to ask: "Long live, is that master detained in the Khan's palace?" How can he and his ministers recognize each other? ”

Kangxi didn't expect Cao Hao to ask this, first nodded, then turned his head to the old lama and said, "Great lama, have you ever seen him?" ”

The Grand Lama seemed to be stuck in a distant memory: "It was seven years ago, on the shore of Qinghai Lake, I saw him once. Although I have never seen him again, I have heard that he has grown his hair and is fond of wine, and he is not with everyone. ”

Hearing these words, Kangxi frowned, but Cao Hao was curious, isn't this a "wine and meat monk"? It's really a bit of a master's style, but I don't know why I was trapped in the Khan's palace of the Zasaktu Khan, it can't be that I am molesting the ladies of the palace, right?

(To be continued)