Earl's Court, across the courtyard, secluded.

Cao Hao said that he was worried about his heart, and Yongsheng was silent for a long time.

"Furuo, let me come!" Yongsheng seemed to have made up his mind: "Let me choose, don't let my brother choose." On the one hand, Amma's will, and on the other hand, the children should be filial, how does this make the eldest brother choose? Even if you come back to mourn, you have to blame yourself and feel guilty. If I don't have to carry it, I should do something for this family. Even if someone says it later, it will only rebuke me. ”

The human heart is very strange and likes malicious speculation.

Not only Yongqing will be suspected of "unfilial piety", but Yongsheng, who insists on obeying his father's orders and not giving his eldest brother a funeral, will also be put on the hat of "unrighteousness".

"You also have to think clearly, this is related to your reputation, and the future ......" Cao Hao knew that he didn't have a position, but he couldn't help but say more.

Yongsheng patted Cao Hao on the shoulder and said, "Fu Ruo, I'm not a promising person. What am I compared to my brother who is a good colleague? It's just an errand to make up for it. ”

In the end, he remembered that his parents wanted to discuss marriage with the Cao family in his early years, but he was inexplicable when he looked at Cao Hao.

Almost, to become a family.

Even if he didn't become a family, in the past few years since Yongqing went out of Beijing, Cao Hao has taken care of the house here. Before Wan Jiha died, he also helped find a lot of high-quality tonics.

"Ming'er 'pick up three', if Fu can get out, come here!" Yongsheng Road.

"That's nature." Cao Hao responded: "It's not good to look at my aunt's health, but it's even harder on your side." These days, just stay in a fixed room, and arrange for people to go down if you have any talking and errands, and save some physical strength. I really can't stand it, with a few pieces of ginseng on top. The mourning period is still long, and if you stay up, you can't get sick. ”

According to the rules, when his parents die, his filial son will not eat or drink for three days, so Cao Hao said so.

Yongsheng nodded and said, "I know, I haven't thanked Fu Ruo for last night's silver." This time the cost is larger, except for the middle of the year, there is no income, I am afraid that it will be repaid at the end of the year. ”

Cao Hao waved his hand and said, "Later, I don't have anything to do with money......

The funeral was complicated, and the two said a few more words, and Cao Hao wanted to leave.

Cao Hao was just about to speak, when he heard the immature child's voice: "Second uncle! ”

With the sound of talking, a little girl wearing filial piety clothes ran in at the gate of the courtyard. Seeing that the others were there, the little girl slowed down and stepped forward.

Although he is only four or five years old, he can see Yongjia's shadow in the shadows. Cao Hao saw this little girl a few months ago, she was Prince Jane's Yaerjiang Ah Zhen'er.

Yongsheng leaned over and picked up Zhen'er and said, "It's a mess, how did you run to the front yard?" What about your **? These few adults are busy, and they are really not allowed to be naughty. ”

When Zhen'er heard this, she pouted and said, "The second uncle has wronged people, Zhen'er is not naughty, he made a special trip to find the second uncle." ”

"Oh, really?" Yongsheng touched his niece's hair, turned around, and said to Cao Hao: "It's my niece, Fu Ruo hasn't seen it yet." Look at this, it's the same as when she was a child. ”

Zhen'er listened to Yongsheng's words, wrinkled her nose, scratched her little face, and said, "When my mother is young, my second uncle is also a child. My grandmother said a long time ago that my second uncle was naughty when he was young! ”

In the end, he is young and does not know how to worry.

Yongsheng wanted to laugh, but he couldn't laugh, and said to Zhen'er: "It's a friend of the uncles, call someone quickly, Uncle Cao." ”

Zhen'er pursed her lips, glanced at Cao Hao, with a little confusion, hesitated for a while, and still obediently followed the meaning of Yongsheng in her mouth, and said, "Uncle Cao!" ”

Cao Hao nodded in greeting and said, "Well, it's really good!" ”

Zhen'er's little eyes turned around, her little face showed a little confused, and she asked Yongsheng in a low voice: "Second uncle, isn't this person Zhen'er's brother-in-law, why is he an uncle again?" ”

Yongsheng was puzzled when he heard it, and Cao Hao said what he had seen a year ago.

While talking, there were several foreign stewards who came to find eternal victory. Cao Hao didn't stay any longer and left.

Yongsheng hugged Zhen'er and was inconvenient, so he instructed the housekeeper to send Cao Hao out.

As soon as Cao Hao left, Yongsheng turned his head to Zhen'er and said, "What is the matter of looking for uncle, should I also say it?" ”

"E-niang hasn't eaten for a day, what should I do? Second uncle. Zhen'er's little face showed concern.

"This is the filial piety of children to their parents, your grandfather is gone, and your mother is sad. Just stay up for another day. Don't worry, Zhen'er, your aunt has already prepared a ginseng film for your mother. Yongsheng sighed and said.

Zhen'er didn't seem to understand, "oh", and said, "Grandpa is gone, Zhen'er is also sad, can't Zhen'er eat?" ”

"Can you really eat, is it because your second aunt is busy entertaining guests and didn't prepare food for you? When you come back to the house here, if you want to eat, send the mother-in-law and maid around you to the kitchen and say. If anyone dares to be disobedient, tell your second aunt. "Yongsheng Road.

When Zhen'er heard this, her eyes couldn't help but light up, and she said, "Really? Is what the second uncle said true? Can Zhen'er just say to the kitchen what you want to eat? ”

Yongsheng was a little distressed when he saw his niece like this, and said, "Could it be that we are really hungry?" This is not someone else's house, of course Zhen'er can command it. ”

Zhen'er already had a smile on her face, and said, "Is it okay for Zhen'er to ask someone to make cat ear soup?" ”

"Okay, okay, as long as you really want to eat, you can do anything!" Yongsheng said.

"E-Niang likes to eat that, can Zhen'er not eat on behalf of E-niang, uncle......" Zhen'er begged.

Seeing his niece's age, he knew that he was distressed and kind, and Yongsheng felt a lot of pity in his heart, and said: "If you really want to go, go ahead." If you can persuade your mother to use two mouthfuls, it will be regarded as a meritorious service. If your mother refuses to use it, don't be too sad, your mother can be regarded as having received this filial piety. ”

Zhen'er saw that Yongsheng had no objection, and he was overjoyed.

It just so happened that the ** she was waiting for came to look for the little leader, she bent down from Yongsheng's arm and trotted back to the inner courtyard.

"Cat ear soup? What is that? I didn't hear that Yongjia's girl likes to drink soup. Yongsheng looked at Zhen'er's back, and wondered a little......* Shicha seaside, a certain house.

Sitting in the hall, holding a tea cup, Cao Hao's heart was very depressed. After leaving the gate of Yan's house, he was caught by the fourteenth elder brother and dragged him to eat and drink.

He originally refused, under the pretext of going back to the house in advance, but the fourteenth elder brother was surprisingly tough, saying that it was "better to choose than to bump", and Cao Hao was not allowed to say more, so he asked the guards to put Cao Hao in the carriage.

In the end, in front of people, Cao Hao couldn't tear up with him too much, so he came here.

Look at the person who served the tea just now, in his twenties, the woman was dressed up, dressed elegantly, and had a good temperament, not like a person in the dust. But there is no such thing as a serious woman.

Since Li Ding entered Beijing and opened a private restaurant by Haizi, there are many such private houses along the coast of Haizi.

Find two chefs and raise a few beauties for dignitaries to drink and have fun.

Although the Qing Dynasty law stipulates that officials are not allowed to be counted, these women are not counted as women, but can only be regarded as female slaves.

It's just getting down, it's still bright, the fourteenth elder brother won't be so boring, he wants to arrange one for Cao Hao, right?

Cao Hao drank tea and thought in his heart.

"It's been a long time, and I want to find you to drink, but I'm busy and can't be idle, and it's cheap today." The fourteenth elder brother took a sip of tea in the cup and said with a smile, "The errand of the Internal Affairs Office is beautiful, I should thank you." ”

The fourteenth elder brother's words were very beautiful, but Cao Hao could still feel that there was a bit of inquiry and jealousy in his gaze.

"It's mostly the emperor's wisdom and the hard work of the ministers, I just came up with an idea, and I really don't dare to take credit." Cao Hao pondered and said.

"Come on, you've always been like this. If you are too humble and deceitful, can you still rob you of your credit? The fourteenth elder brother raised his eyebrows, very dissatisfied with Cao Hao's words.

Cao Hao felt quite strange in his heart, obviously he was not so close, but now what is the fourteenth elder brother singing?

Do you want outsiders to show it? Who doesn't know that Cao Hao, like his father, does not form a party, does not stand in line, and is only loyal to the emperor?

Even if the Fourteen Agora drinks twice, it won't change anything? It is no secret that Brother Jiu and Cao Hao have a bad relationship.

After a while, the woman took two servants and set the food and drink.

On the table, there are four dishes and four bowls, which are not some delicacies from the mountains and seas, but home-cooked dishes.

The four dishes are old vinegar peanuts, mustard cabbage piles, toon eggs, and fried small yellow croaker, and the four bowls are snow fern tofu, stewed duck, braised elbow, and egg custard.

Cao Hao saw it, and he was very surprised, when did this Beijing restaurant become popular?

The fourteenth elder brother was full of joy, pulled the woman over, and said with a little doting: "Thank you for your hard work." ”

The woman blushed and said angrily, "Master, is there a guest?" ”

The fourteenth elder brother glanced at Cao Hao and said, "Cao Hao, I forgot to mention to you, this Wu family is the master's woman, you should call me a little aunt." ”

As he said this, Cao Hao had no choice but to get up and meet Wu again.

Wu Shi hurriedly leaned over, and said "don't dare to be", but his gaze at Cao Hao was a little curious.

"Look at Cao Haojun? My heart is going to be sour! "The fourteenth elder brother is half serious, half joking.

Wu hurriedly retracted his gaze and said: "The concubine has admired Cao Ye's name for a long time, and when she saw it for the first time, she was very curious, so it was rude, and I hope that Lord Cao and Cao Ye should not be blamed." ”

The fourteenth elder brother had already sat down, beckoning Cao Hao to sit down.

Wu sat on the side of the fourteenth elder brother and held the lamp for the two of them. looked at the slightest restraint, as if the person sitting next to her was not the prince and brother, but an ordinary man, that kind of ease and calmness was not something that ordinary women could have.

His words and demeanor seem to be from everyone's background, but he doesn't know why he fell into the situation of "Jinwu Zangjiao".

The fourteenth elder brother took the wine cup and said: "Master here, Cao Hao, you are still the first guest, come, do it!" After saying that, he drank it all in one gulp.

Cao Hao also did it, but his heart was tight.

It's really strange that it happens every year, especially this year.

Fourteen Agora he didn't say anything about eating and drinking, and he was still in such a private place, could he be so confident that he thought he could get on his ship?

The fourteenth elder brother put down the wine cup, his face had already received a smile, showing a little fortitude, looked at Cao Hao's eyes, and said, "Cao Hao, I know that you are cautious and do not want to stand in line." The master is not strong on you, and the master wants you to do him a favor. ”

Cao Hao put down his chopsticks and looked at the fourteenth elder brother, not knowing why he was so arrogant.

I owe him or owe him, even if I want to find someone to help, it shouldn't be this kind of commanding attitude, right?

In the end, he is a prince, even if he wants to be humble, he also has the words "taken for granted" in his bones.

"Fourteenth master, Cao Haowen can't be successful, martial arts can't be done, a few catties and twenty-four masters should also know, where is there anything that can help the fourteenth master? Isn't it a joke when you say this? Cao Hao didn't know the details of the fourteenth elder brother, so he had to say vaguely.

"Who wants you to wield a knife or a stick, or to be a scholar? Whether you have the ability or not, you don't need to say. Even Yun Niang, a deep woman, knows your name as a 'good wealth boy', and if you say these useless things, it will be tasteless! "Fourteenth Elder Brother said.

When Cao Hao heard this, he already knew it in his heart, and it seemed that it was still related to money.

"Ye is waiting for the opportunity, Ye wants to fight in the northwest." The fourteenth elder brother slapped the table and said loudly: "The terrain in the northwest is complicated, and the Huizi and Mongols living there are many restless, and I am afraid that the war in the imperial court will not be finished for a while." If you want to win the war, you must have silver, and the logistics supply must be full. ”

Speaking of this, he looked at Cao Hao and said, "Cao Hao, I know that you are avoiding the master." In addition to the fact that we were a little unhappy in the early years, you are also afraid of the hat of the 'Eight Masters Party' on your head, and you are afraid that your father and son will be implicated, is your father right? Don't tell me anything like the prince can't befriend foreign ministers, you avoid me, avoid the starling, the ninth brother, the fourth brother, how have you ever avoided the thirteenth brother and the little sixteen? ”

He said this truthfully, but what he said, Cao Hao did not respond well. Who knows what traps will be in and out of words, Cao Hao despises his prudence in his heart, but he is helpless.

Living in this imperial world, he would not be afraid to think that the fourteenth elder brother is so "friendly" that he can speak freely and become a buddy friend.

"Don't you admit it? I really don't know what you're afraid of, these years the master has watched you come all the way, but it's like a little old man, and there is no time to be at ease. Want to be a celebrity? Look, it's more tired than our princes and brothers. The fourteenth elder brother frowned.

"The fourteenth master, it's just the duty of a courtier, and I hope the fourteenth master will understand." Cao Hao looked at the moody and easy-spirited fourteenth elder brother, but he was a little envious.

Being as confident as the Fourteenth Elder Brother and living like this self-righteousness is also a kind of happiness.

"That's it, that's it, it's not verbose with you. The master will ask you, can you help me? The master will not make you in vain, as long as you respond, the beam between the ninth brother and you will be resolved. You should also know the temper of the ninth brother, he is the most shrewd, and he never wants to suffer a loss. Although the current emperor Ama is taking care of you, the ninth brother is not a generous person, and he must always find an opportunity to liquidate and come back. The fourteenth elder brother said: "You can also be regarded as a capable minister, and you are rightfully loyal to the country, if you are entangled in grievances against right and wrong, wouldn't it be regrettable." The lord is not embarrassed by you, it is not that you are disloyal to the emperor, as long as you think of it, you can make the treasury have more treasury silver this year and next year, and prepare for the northwest military expenses. This is also the duty of a courtier, and you have the ability to make money, why can't you? ”

In the end, the fourteenth elder brother's eyes were a little hotter, and his gaze at Cao Hao was hot, not like looking at a man, as if he was looking at a mountain of gold, and his face was undisguised ** and greed.

"As long as there is money in the treasury, what are you afraid of in war? When the lord invited the war, he recommended you as the Minister of Munitions, and we will make contributions together, what do you think, Cao Hao? The fourteenth elder brother had already stood up and looked directly at Cao Hao, wanting to listen to his reply immediately.

Cao Hao sighed in his heart, where is the second option?

Looking at the meaning of the fourteenth elder brother, as long as Cao Hao said the word "no", it would break his dream and cut off his future. Cao Hao knew that in that case, he would have to deal with not only the jealousy of the ninth elder brother in the future, but also the anger of the fourteenth elder brother.

Open guns are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are difficult to defend, what is his ability to Cao Hao, under the attack of the two princes and elder brothers, he patted his chest and said that he had nothing to protect himself?

"Fourteenth master, is it okay to listen to Cao Hao?" Cao Hao thought about it for a while and replied.

The fourteenth elder brother didn't see Cao Hao nodding, his face was cloudy, and he said, "Tell me about it?" ”

"The fourteenth master shares worries for the emperor and is loyal to the country, Cao Hao empathizes, and really admires the loyalty and filial piety of the fourteenth master. Although it is not Cao Hao's own job to do the money in the household department, Cao Hao is willing to do his best within the scope of his ability. As for what you get, it depends on the right time and place, but the amount is not good, and it is guaranteed now. After saying that the matter of the Minister of Munitions, please don't mention it to the Fourteenth Master. The minister's father has been deeply favored by the emperor for many years, and he is the most loyal to the emperor, and often teaches Cao Hao not to be greedy, to form a party because of selfishness, and not to forget the responsibility of the minister. Cao Hao's attitude was also extraordinarily serious, and he said very solemnly.

When the fourteenth elder brother heard this, his brows furrowed even tighter, and he said, "What do you mean, are you willing to think of making money, but you are unwilling to stand in line?" ”

In fact, Cao Hao is also unwilling to find a way to earn this silver.

It's just that he knows that Kangxi will not let him be idle, and he will be content with two million in two years. It's just that Cao Hao is busy with these words, even if he is an emperor, it is not easy to call people.

Therefore, for the proposal of the fourteenth elder brother, Cao Hao responded to the boat. But standing in line, unless he is crazy, otherwise how can he stand in line at this time, and stand next to the unlucky fourteenth elder brother?

Although Cao Hao never dared to underestimate any prince and elder brother, he really didn't value the fourteenth elder brother.

The fourteenth elder brother has the arrogance of the prince and the elder brother, the blood surname of the man, and the aggressiveness of the Manchurians, but he has a fatal flaw, that is, self-righteousness.

Now, the prince is abolished, the eldest brother is in the circle, and the eighth brother is reprimanded, and the storage position is empty.

The third elder brother and the fourth elder brother were both dormant, but the fourteenth elder brother took advantage of the situation and began to take over the power of the eighth elder brother.

His eyes were full of confidence, as if the storage position was his.

Therefore, when he asked Cao Hao if he still refused to stand in line, his eyes were like looking at a fool, which meant: "Master gave you a chance, but you didn't catch it, why are you so unenlightened?" ”

He can be self-righteous and have a sweet dream of the prince, but Cao Hao's brain is not broken, how can he cooperate?

"Fourteenth Master, my father's order cannot be violated, please be sympathetic to the Fourteenth Master." Cao Hao stood up and bowed.

After a while, Fang heard the fourteenth elder brother say: "That's it, it's up to you, the great fame is sent to your eyes, you don't want it, don't complain about the master in the future, it's good if you don't mention it......"

(To be continued)