Rehe, Chunwangfu Garden, front hall.

Yuan Zhi did not sit down, but sweated profusely and looked eagerly at the direction of the door. Hearing footsteps outside, he had already run to the door.

Seeing that it was Cao Hao, his eyes were already red, and he took two steps forward and said urgently: "Master Cao...... Master Cao...... Mr. Cao......"

In a panic, I don't know what to call it.

Cao Hao entered the living room and asked, "Is someone coming to your house?" ”

Yuan Zhi nodded his head, stabilized his mind, and said, "Well, it's coming." I've asked people to keep an eye on the access control, but I didn't expect it to be like this. I have already followed Cao Ye's instructions, and asked the old man if he was looking for Qi Niang. If so, invite him to drink tea in Fumanlou. Looking at his appearance, he is really looking for Qi Niang. just said that he was afraid that Cao Ye would trick him, so he was only willing to let Cao Ye pass, but he didn't come out, and he returned my brother as a hostage. ”

Cao Hao is not interested in playing "going to the meeting alone", his own life is nothing to others, but it is precious to his family.

He took out a purse that had been prepared from his sleeve and handed it to Yuan Zhidao: "This is his daughter's old belongings, and he should recognize it." Inside was a small wooden sword carved by his daughter a few days ago. Tell him that if he hurts a cold hair of your brother, he won't expect to see his daughter in this life. ”

Seeing that Cao Hao was confident, Yuan Zhi was also much more relieved.

Although in his heart, he hoped that Cao Hao would be able to return home with him without saying a word, but he also knew that no one was a fool. In case the other party's dog jumps over the wall in a hurry and causes an accident, no one can afford it.

He took the purse and asked, "Master Cao, is it Fumanlou?" Although he is an old man, his hands and feet are very sharp, what if he can't catch him outside? ”

"It's not an enemy, it's just a bit of a misunderstanding." Cao Hao said.

Yuan Zhi put away his purse, seemed to understand whether he understood or not, hesitated for a moment, and said: "Master Cao, what's the matter, he is eyeing our family?" Do you have anything to do with Aunt Yang? ”

A few days ago, after Yi Duli found out that something was wrong, he was afraid that it would be a big deal, so he didn't dare to hide it from Cao Hao, and told him the truth.

Although the two brothers Yuan Wei and Yuan Zhi were implicated for no reason and were quite innocent, Cao Hao also felt fortunate in his heart.

If the other party directly finds the garden of King Chun's mansion, there are a lot of female dependents here, and if they are disturbed and make a mess, Cao Hao will not know how to apologize.

With the Guogong Mansion in the way, it can be regarded as giving Cao Hao a chance to buffer.

For those Jianghu people who don't play cards according to common sense, Cao Hao is really a little afraid. The other party can be willful, enthusiastic, and reckless; Where can I let go, there are still too many responsibilities to bear.

The barefoot are not afraid to wear shoes, which is also a folk old reason.

Seeing Yuan Zhi asking, Cao Hao couldn't say that it was the subordinate of the Yidu Li family who "caused trouble to the east", so he said: "Xu yes, I got the news because of the investigation of Neizi, and I know that someone is paying attention to your side." ”

Yuan Zhi listened and said with a little gratitude: "Fortunately, Cao Ye has the heart and told us in advance, otherwise I don't know what will happen if I anger that person." ”

Cao Hao was a little embarrassed, "coughed", and said, "Do you brothers want to live in the capital for a long time?" Now that you're old, why don't you go and be knighted? ”

According to the knighthood system determined by Kangxi in the twenty-third year of Kangxi, the fathers of brothers like Yuanwei and Yuanzhi are not included in the eight-point auxiliary dukes, one son is demoted to one level to be crowned, and the other sons are demoted to two levels of title.

The sons here refer to the sons-in-law, and if they are concubines, they will be demoted and awarded according to the status of the biological mother.

The yellow and red ribbons of the clan, after reaching the age of 20, in addition to being sealed by their parents, they can also participate in the examination of the Zongren Mansion. is nothing more than horseback archery, and the rank of the seal is also based on the position of the father and the biological mother.

Yuan Zhi heard Cao Hao mention "knighthood", and couldn't help but bow his head and said: "Before leaving Beijing, my brother told Ama once. The stepmother was afraid that after her brother had a knighthood, the position of the eldest became more and more secure, so she used means to persuade Amma not to ask us for a title. My brother wanted to take me to Kaofeng, but when Ama heard about it, he stopped us and forced us to leave for Rehe immediately, or he would sue our brother for disobedience. ”

Although the five fingers are long and short, I have not seen eccentricity like this.

Cao Hao listened to it and was not angry, but he did not praise other people's family affairs, so he said: "Previously, the sixteenth master saw that your brother was difficult, and he deliberately kept it in mind, and after returning to Beijing, he mentioned it to Prince Jian, and looked at the meaning of his letter, the matter seems to be a little eyebrow-raising. The general meaning is that if your father does not ask for the seal, he will arrange for your brother to take the seal. Horseback archery or something, you two brothers also practice first. The details were not clearly stated in the letter, and when the sixteenth master arrived in Rehe a few days, he would know. ”

Yuan Zhi was stunned when he heard this, and he didn't react for a while.

There is no profit and it is not early, and this sentence is more appropriate to use on Cao Hao. Speaking of which, most of Cao Hao's intentions in these years of personnel exchanges are not pure.

For the help of Yuan Wei and Yuan Zhi brothers, Cao Hao had no purpose. It's just that I saw that they were on a blind date and in a difficult situation, but it was a matter of effort on my side. Therefore, he did not mean to take credit, and put all the credit on the sixteenth elder brother.

Yuan Zhi had already understood, and looked at Cao Hao speechless.

"I just happened to go out too, let's go along." Cao Hao sighed in his heart, thinking that he had also envied Yuan Wei and the Yuan Zhi brothers back then.

How refreshing, no heart and lungs, no need to think about anything. The whole day was about caged birds, wandering around Sijiu City, seeing good-looking big girls and little daughters-in-law, posing as scoundrels and teasing one or two.

In fact, he would be happy to live like that. It's just that he is a human being in two lives, his mind is familiar, he thinks too much, and he can't be crazy when he is young.

The two rode horses and walked side by side, Yuan Zhi was a little grateful, and said: "Cao Ye's kindness, our brothers will remember it." ”

Cao Hao waved his hand and said, "What is not gracious, it is not yet possible." Even if I have a quasi-letter, it is the credit of the Sixteenth Master, and I dare not accept it. ”

Yuan Zhi's brain is bright, and he already understands it in his heart, and there is Cao Hao's statement in it. Otherwise, the sixteenth elder brother would not have mentioned the process of this matter in detail in the letter.

It's just that Cao Hao didn't want to mention this, so Yuan Zhi didn't answer, and the more grateful he was in his heart.

When they arrived at the intersection, the two said goodbye, Yuan Zhi returned home, and Cao Hao went to visit his mother in the other courtyard.

Li sat on the kang and held all kinds of gadgets in his hands. Most of them are played by children, which were collected by Cao Hao and Chu Yu before, just waiting to be distributed to the children.

There are also some bone carvings and other things, which were sent by Baoya.

Qi Niang sat on the edge of the kang and was talking to Tianyou and Hengsheng about what she had seen and heard before she traveled south and north. For example, what kind of monkey tricks, what kind of stilt walking, what kind of bowl or something.

Listening to Tianyou and Hengsheng, his eyes were already shining.

Vanilla sat on a small stool next to the kang, talking with Li and paying attention to the children.

After a few years of hard work, Qi Niang subdued both Tianyou and Hengsheng.

It's not that Qi Niang can coax children, but she can't bear to find another way, seeing that the two boys are naughty, she secretly took out two silver needles to scare people.

Although Tianyou and Hengsheng claim to be little men, they are still afraid of drinking medicine and pricking needles. In addition, the two of them have been used to being "commanded" by Niuniu since they were children, and there is an older sister here who can "climb the wall and go up" and "somersault".

This time they went north, and they came in a hurry, and the master did not accompany them, but the martial master Ren brothers followed the escort to Rehe.

The two little guys were eccentric, and when they saw that Fang Qiniang seemed to be very powerful, they encouraged her to compete with the Ren brothers.

Where did the Ren brothers be serious with the little girl, coped with a few rounds, and fought a draw.

When Tianyou and Hengsheng met, they felt more and more that Fang Qiniang was powerful, and they were willing to play with her.

When Li first arrived in Rehe, because of the rush on the road, he had a bit of an unbalanced diet and was not accustomed to the water and soil. I was afraid that the two grandsons would be naughty, so I didn't look at it, but with Qi Niang as a helper, I also liked this little girl very much.

Speaking of identity, it can't be said that Fang Qiniang was snatched from someone else's house in February, only that it is Wei Hei's relative.

Fang Qiniang is naughty in front of others, but she is very well-behaved in front of the Li family, and she looks no different from ordinary children. Hearing her say that she lost her mother since she was a child, Li also took pity on her, and asked someone to prepare good food for her throughout the day.

Seeing Cao Hao coming, Tianyou and Hengsheng both got up and climbed down the kang. Vanilla also got up and stepped aside.

"Father...... "God blesses his little neck, still so regular.

"Father......" Hengsheng pulled Cao Hao's sleeve, his small mouth cracked to his ears, and he looked very happy.

Cao Hao touched their heads and met with his mother and vanilla. Fang Qiniang was already wide open, leaned in front of Cao Hao, and asked in a low voice, "Is the county lord's grandmother's injury better?" In addition to ginseng chicken soup, you should also use some food to clear the lungs, otherwise it will get hot this day, and you will have a rash if you accumulate dampness and heat. ”

"Well, the Imperial Doctor also said the same, and the new prescription has been used in the past two days." Cao Hao nodded and said.

"Imperial Doctor...... Fang Qiniang heard this, and her heart was already alive.

It's just that she also knows that medical skills are mostly "private dishes", and there are many hidden dishes. If it doesn't matter, who would want to teach someone else?

When Li saw his son, in addition to asking his daughter-in-law about the situation, the rest was to ask him to eat more and make up for it. If you continue to clear it like this, you will lose its vitality again.

Tianhui didn't come here, and was taken care of by King Fujin of Chunjun.

Seeing their mother and son talking, Vanilla wanted to take Qi Niang to avoid.

Seeing this, Cao Hao got up and said, "Sister-in-law, I am looking for Brother Wei and going with you." ”

Because the Li family was here, Cao Hao was afraid that a "Xiaoxiao" would come in and disturb his mother and children, so he asked Wei Hei to take the Ren brothers to stay here to guard.

Around him, in addition to Xiaoman and Zhang Yi, they are the Cao Jia brothers and others.

"Let's go......" Li Shi saw it, a little reluctant.

Cao Hao said with a smile: "Don't go, I'll go back after dinner." Do we have deer tendons here? I want to eat braised deer tendon. ”

Li got up from the kang and said, "Yes, Hengsheng loves to eat this dish, and yesterday he specially asked someone to make it for him." If there is anything else you want to eat, I will have someone tell you to go to the kitchen. ”

"Others? I couldn't think of it for a while, if there were vegetarian meatballs, I would use that to make soup. Cao Hao thought for a moment and said.

Li couldn't help nodding and said, "I know, I know, in addition to the deer tendons, there is also vegetarian ball soup...... We ate the radish cake this morning, and we asked the kitchen to make some for you to try......"

While talking, Cao Hao came out with Vanilla and Qi Niang, and the Li family began to ponder the recipe for dinner.

After leaving the Li family's courtyard, Fang Qiniang made a grimace at Cao Hao and said, "How old a person is, you still have to follow your mother to be coquettish." If you want to eat roasted deer tendon, meatball soup or something, are you ashamed? ”

"Qi Niang, don't be rude to your uncle." Seeing her like this, Vanilla felt a headache and said with a straight face.

Qi Niang stuck out her tongue, but she was much more well-behaved.

Cao Hao thought of Fang Chonggong and said to Qi Niang: "Children are the debts of their parents, and when you are older, you will know." For the sake of their children, this parent must not cease to have an inexhaustible heart. Children should also know filial piety, and have nothing to do to coax their elders to please. ”

When Fang Qiniang heard the mention of her parents, she thought of her father, her smile froze on her little face, and she murmured: "There are still things heavier than children, faith and righteousness." Even if she is a daughter, she can't be ranked in front of morality......"

Thinking of her father's throwing herself in the capital in order to send her benefactor's son back to the south, her little face tightened and tears were about to come out.

Cao Hao just said casually, seeing that it made her uncomfortable, he said: "Don't worry, maybe your father has gone north to pick up his baby girl." ”

Fang Qiniang lowered her head, kicked the stones on the ground, and said, "It's been half a year, and I'm going to come early." ”

"It's a long way from Beijing to Fujian, and you have to give people the kung fu to go back and forth." Cao Hao persuaded.

While speaking, the group had already gone out of the second gate and arrived at the front of the courtyard.

Wei Hei was not in the house, and Vanilla was just about to go out to look for it, when he saw Wei Hei coming in a hurry, and said to Cao Hao: "I was just about to send someone to the second gate, Gongzi, Lao Zheng sent someone back to tell him, and said that the 'guest' had arrived at Fumanlou, and asked Gongzi to show it." ”

Fang Chonggong got his daughter's letter in the Fuguo Mansion, and it took three or four days of hard work to step on the point, which shows that he is a smart and calm person.

It's just flesh and blood, seeing his daughter's needle bag, even if he is an old man, he will lose his usual composure.

"How many people? With the eldest young master of the Auxiliary Mansion? Cao Hao asked.

Wei Hei shook his head and said, "I heard that I went to the meeting alone, and I asked for a few dishes, and I waited while eating over there." Looking at this style, he looks like a man. ”

Fang Qiniang was listening, very curious. It's just that unlike Cao Hao's casualness, she was a little afraid of Wei Hei and didn't dare to interject rashly.

Looking at her suffocated and flushed face, Wei Hei couldn't help but feel funny. Cao Hao hesitated for a moment, and said to Qi Niang: "Let's go, go over with us and have a look." Someone came to Rehe to look for you, looking at the age and dressing up, like Ling Zun. ”

Fang Qiniang's side still couldn't believe it, but when Cao Hao lied to herself, she pouted and said: "Fang just said that Fujian is far away, why do I have an extra father this time?" Just coax me to play, it's strange to believe you. ”

Seeing her like this, Cao Hao didn't say much, and said to Wei Hei: "Since Qi Niang is not going, then let's go over and have a look." Look at who is sacred, who dares to deceive in a big way, and will be thrown out with a stick. ”

Wei Hei responded, and Cao Hao went out with him.

Seeing that they were serious, Fang Qiniang was a little undecided, hesitated for a moment, and still followed.

*Fu Man Building, 2nd floor.

Since it was not yet a meal, there was only one table of guests sitting by the window. said it was a table, but in fact it was just an old man.

In his fifties, he has a lean figure, a half-new blue cloth coat, and cloth shoes with mille-feuille soles.

The few side dishes in front of me are also common dishes, fried bean sprouts, roasted tofu, mixed with small radish, and only braised elbow is a meat dish. In addition to the four-dish dish, there is also a bowl of noodle soup.

There were already two empty bowls next to him, and the old man was eating the third bowl of rice. A few dishes have bottomed out, and the old man used noodle soup to shake the bottom of a few plates, poured them into a bowl, and ate them.

After eating and drinking, the old man put down his chopsticks, looked out the window not far away, and came over six or seven rides, among which there was a familiar figure, and the old man's body trembled.

This old man is none other than Fang Qiniang's father, Fang Chonggong.

At the beginning of February, he escorted Fang Baikui's son south. Not long after returning to Fujian, he heard the news of the Fang family's bad things.

Fortunately, they hurried all the way, and after arriving in Fujian, they gathered some of the Fang family's floating wealth and prepared a boat to go to sea. Before the government sent people to close their homes and arrest them, they ran out.

The eldest young master of the Fang family obeyed his father's orders and lived in the sea, in the end, he was a son of man, how could he rest assured that his father who was in prison.

There was no one else around him, so he had to beg Fang Chonggong to go to Beijing to find out the news.

Fang Chonggong was also worried about his daughter's whereabouts, and returned to the capital from Fujian. Unexpectedly, when he arrived in the capital, Fang Baikui had already come out of prison.

It took more than half a month to track the two to meet.

Regarding Fang Qiniang's whereabouts, Fang Baikui is also uncertain. However, since it was not on the night when Cao Hao brought people to the Fang family, most of them had nothing to do with the Cao family.

This time, he made the gun of the ninth elder brother and offended the Cao family. If the Cao family didn't let go, he wouldn't be able to get out of prison. Fang Baikui knew this, and he was also grateful to the Cao family in his heart.

He was afraid that Fang Chonggong would have a dispute with the Cao family, so he didn't say anything.

Fang Chonggong had no choice, so he had to return to the capital and investigate in many ways near the Fang family's house.

By chance, I got the news, saying that someone in the Zhili area took in the girl, took Rehe to train her, and sold it to the palace and the Mongolian prince over there as a concubine.

Although Fang Chonggong knew that his daughter had some skills, but in the end, she was a child, and if there were really two strong nurses watching, she would not be able to do anything.

With a glimmer of hope, he chased after Rehe, but he didn't expect it to come.

When it comes to Cao Hao's name, he knows it. When Fang Baikui was forced to get involved in the affairs of the imperial business, he nagged in front of Fang Chonggong.

Cao Hao was on an errand for the emperor Lao Tzu, how could that be a good stubble?

It's just that he has no ability, and when he gets to that position, he has the ability. Not to mention, the son of the Cao family has a way to make money, he is not an ordinary person......* Since his daughter is in Cao Hao's hands, how can Fang Baikui not know anything?

The two have been friends for half a lifetime, and he knows that he only has such a girl, and he doesn't tell the truth. What is the reason? Is he afraid that Cao Hao is too powerful, and he is not his opponent: or is he afraid that Cao Hao is a nobleman, and he has disturbed the nobleman......

(To be continued)