Changchun Garden, West School Factory.

Cao Hao wore an official uniform, standing beside the sixteenth elder brother and the seventeenth elder brother, watching the martial arts cavalry on the field. Although Yongqing is burly, compared with his friends, he is a first-class height, but he is not obvious among the crowds.

Seeing that there was a move on the field, riding and shooting five shots, the sixteenth elder brother and the seventeenth elder brother couldn't help but applaud.

Today, on the seventh day of November, in the morning, the martial artists took the test in the Taihe Palace, and in the afternoon, they went to Changchun Garden to test the riding and archery. Cao Hao didn't have an errand to come to the garden, but because he was worried about Yongqing's martial arts, he found a small errand in the yamen and went to Changchun Garden in person.

After finishing his errand, he went to the school and happened to meet the sixteenth elder brother and the seventeenth elder brother, so they talked together.

After a few words of gossip, the sixteenth elder brother felt that something was wrong. Cao Hao is now a hall official, and now he is not a court, and he is not a court, how can he come to this side of the garden? Even if he has an errand to pass the word and run errands, it won't be his turn?

The sixteenth elder brother turned his head and just wanted to ask a question, when he saw Cao Hao looking intently at the lifter on the field. The sixteenth elder brother followed his line of sight, but because he was far away, he couldn't really see it, and he only felt that there was a burly man with a beard who was a little kind.

He touched Cao Hao's arm and asked, "Who is Fu Ruo looking at?" ”

Cao Hao pointed and said, "That, it's Yongqing, he's here to participate in the Enke system!" ”

Yongqing is Cao Hao's friend, and the sixteenth elder brother also saw it a few years ago, and he couldn't help but be surprised when he heard it: "Why does he still participate in this?" ”

As he spoke, he remembered that Cao Hao had written back last spring to help Yan Yongqing exonerate him, and he vaguely understood some reasons.

Although the seventeenth elder brother didn't know much about Yan Yongqing, he followed the two of them and looked at Yan Yongqing twice, and said: "Isn't this the cousin of the fourteenth sister-in-law, the eldest son of the earl's mansion, who had a good relationship with the fourteenth brother a few years ago." The year before last, Brother Fourteen took me to their house, which was in Xinjiekou. ”

Cao Hao nodded and said, "Well, it's him, he lives in another household!" ”

Whether it is the palace or the common people's family, there are many brothers, and it is common for them to live in another household after marrying. It's just that the eldest son has to inherit the fame and inheritance of his ancestors, but he has rarely heard of the other family.

Presumably, there are some messy family entanglements in this, and the seventeenth elder brother was impatient to ask more, "oh", and did not speak again.

The sixteenth elder brother thought more, and whispered to Cao Hao: "Although I know that you have affection, you should pay attention to it." He is already an abandoned son of the family, and you have dealings with him, but you don't look good with the fourteenth elder brother and the Wanyan family. ”

Although this is not good, but the sixteenth elder brother is out of kindness, so Cao Hao still thanked him.

The sixteenth elder brother saw that he thanked him, but he didn't look like he took it to heart, and knew that he was affectionate, so he could only sigh.

Hearing the sound of whips, Kangxi was surrounded by officials and guards, and rode a foot of sixteen people to slowly arrive.

Inside and outside the school grounds, everyone immediately became shorter. The lifters who were originally on the horse also turned over and dismounted, and knelt down.

Kangxi got off the seat and said "flat", and everyone on the field stood up.

Cao Hao also saw this scene a few years ago, Kangxi just went through the motions, read and tried martial arts riding and archery skills, and the next step should be to personally lead the guards to shoot a few arrows.

Sure enough, Kangxi shot first, and personally sent five arrows, all of which were hit. Then, two imperial guards came out of the ranks, and they also shot a few arrows, although they were also hit, but they both had one or two slightly off the bull's-eye.

When the upper and lower voices were immediately chanted in unison, Kangxi Fu took advantage of the public opinion again and left the school with the officials and guards. The crowd had to kneel down and send the holy car again.

When the holy car was getting farther away, everyone got up one after another.

The seventeenth elder brother looked at the target that Kangxi had shot just now, and said to the sixteenth elder brother: "Huang Ama's arm strength has not decreased, and it looks the same as the previous two years. ”

The sixteenth elder brother nodded and said: "There are fewer bad things this year, and Huang Ama is also happy!" When he said that, he didn't believe it himself.

Although it is said that there are now "two wasted princes", there are many people who are worried about the prince being reinstated, inside and out. It is all made by Confucian etiquette, and everyone in the world is noble and "concubine" is light.

No matter what personal morality the second elder brother has, after all, he is the noble concubine of the Empress Yuan, and he should be the heir to the throne according to the etiquette law.

Cao Hao's mind is still on the field, Yongqing has already done three rounds of foot shooting, and the results are good. Cao Hao couldn't help but have a little itchy hands, if he was also on the field, maybe he could also mix a top three.

The sixteenth elder brother and the seventeenth elder brother looked at it for a while, and felt bored, so they both went back. Only Cao Hao was left, and when the public finished the exam, he said a few words to Yongqing before leaving.

Yongqing said that there would be other exams tomorrow, so they did not go out of the garden, and were led by officials from the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Rites, and placed in a row room on this side of the school field.

As soon as he came out of Changchun Garden, Cao Hao saw the fourteenth elder brother and the fifteenth elder brother coming together. Cao Hao had no choice but to step forward and flick his sleeves and say, "Fourteen masters, fifteen masters!" ”

Seeing that it was Cao Hao, the fourteenth elder brother looked at him thoughtfully, but did not respond; The fifteenth elder brother glanced at the official uniform on his body, asked a few gossips, and then entered the garden with the fourteenth elder brother.

Cao Hao looked at the backs of the two of them, and remembered what the sixteenth elder brother said, the fifteenth elder brother was raised by Concubine De's mother, and he was very respectful to Concubine De.

The fourteenth elder brother is the son of Concubine De, and the fifteenth elder brother is the adopted son, and the relationship between the two brothers is better, which is normal. It's just that, I don't know why, no one has ever said that these two elder brothers have been put together.

If history remains unchanged, the fourteenth elder brother will have the strength to seize the crown in two years by virtue of his military exploits in the Western Expedition, so is the fifteenth elder brother an incognito "Fourteenth Party"?

Later generations, through the clues left by history, summarized the last years of Kangxi in four words, that is, "Nine Dragons seize the heir".

So far, Kangxi's harem concubines have given birth to more than 30 princes and elder brothers, of which not counting those who died young, and more than 20 of them were prefaced.

The famous "Nine Dragons" is said to be the nine princes who are involved in the succession, that is, the eldest brother and the abolished prince who are now trapped, the thirteenth elder brother who has grounded himself, the eighth, ninth, tenth, and fourteenth elder brothers, and the third elder brother and the fourth elder brother.

There shouldn't be a few little brothers in this, right? Cao Hao thought in his heart.

Although I don't know how the fifteenth elder brother ended up in history, but the sixteenth elder brother attacked the iron hat king, Cao Hao knew, the two are brothers of the same mother, if the fifteenth elder brother really interfered with the matter of seizing the heir, how could the fourth elder brother still treat the sixteenth elder brother so well? Cao Hao rode on the horse and felt that he was thinking too much.

When Cao Hao returned to the city, it was already getting dark.

As soon as he entered the house, Cao Hao saw Mr. Zhuang standing at the door of the front hall and beckoning to him. He handed the whip in his hand to Xiao Man, stepped forward quickly, and said with a smile: "Is Mr. waiting for me?" ”

Mr. Zhuang's face was a little solemn, and he said with his hands behind his back: "Talking in the study!" ”

Cao Hao was a little surprised, he didn't know what was going on, and followed him into the study.

When the little guy brought the tea, Mr. Zhuang waved his hand and sent everyone down, before he said to Cao Hao: "Our house has called someone to target it, and someone is checking the identity of Wei Hei and the Ren brothers!" ”

Cao Hao thought of the person who was talking to him, frowned slightly, and said, "Or the people in the mansion over there?" ”

The people around Cao Hao, except for Wei Hei and the Ren brothers, are mostly children in the family. Although Wei Hei regarded himself as a servant, he was not a slave; The two brothers of the Ren family were on errands in Daotai Mansion back then, and they did not enter the slave status of Cao Mansion.

Wei Hei is based in Jiangning, and the Ren brothers are good people in Yizhou, and Cao Hao is not afraid of people checking their identities. It's just that if it goes on like this, I'm afraid that other things will be involved.

I heard Mr. Zhuang say: "It may not be someone from the fourth elder brother's side, or it may be someone from the ninth elder brother's mansion or the Li family." Speaking of this, he smiled bitterly and said: "A few days ago, someone made the silver money to inquire about the condition of the old decay, maybe this time it was reckless, this pole went down, and a lot of snakes were startled!" ”

Cao Hao heard Mr. Zhuang's sentence of making money probe and asked, "Someone said, which one?" ”

Mr. Zhuang waved his hand and said, "It is a good thing to be strict in governing the family, but when the water is clear, there are no fish." You have always given people the impression of being gentle and kind, and you should not be too strict with the people in the house, otherwise if you compare with others, you will know that you are hiding clumsy. ”

Although Cao Hao knew that Mr. Zhuang was right, he was still a little uncomfortable in his heart. I don't expect everyone to be loyal and righteous, but since they have received the money from the Cao Mansion, it is better to have fewer people who eat inside and out.

Mr. Zhuang thought about it for a while and said, "The brothers of the Ren family are different from Wei Hei, and they don't have any kindness with the Cao family, but they are just for fame." These two people, if Fu wants to think about staying by his side to call and call, it is better to become a householder, or he will use it less in the future. ”

Cao Hao himself is a cautious person, but he is still not used to turning people into slaves. Mr. Zhuang was right, and Wei Hei had already mentioned these words to him.

"These words, I can't say that someone has to fight the idea of the two brothers of the Ren family, which can be regarded as a test. If the two of them are useless, it's serious to send them away as soon as possible! Mr. Zhuang said.

Cao Hao nodded, keeping it in mind. Fortunately, he has always been cautious, and when he encounters confidential matters, Wei Hei does it, and he does not go through the hands of others.

The two brothers knew about the drunkenness at the Li family that night. If it is known that Cao Hao and Li Ding have friction, then Cao Hao will be suspicious of Li Ding's disappearance.

"Kill", Cao Hao thought of this word, and he was startled. If you really want to eliminate all the clues, then there are several people on the Li Mansion who know about it. What's wrong with you?

Cao Hao was surprised in his heart and began to reflect.

It seems that it is not easy to commit murder, or people's psychology is dependent on the surname, and when they encounter any trouble, they want to kill it, and the world is pure.

After discussing with Mr. Zhuang, Cao Hao decided to respond to all changes with the same. Whether it is the fourth elder brother, or the ninth elder brother or the Li family, since he is eyeing the Cao family, let him check it, at most he can find out that he has a general relationship with Li Ding's cousin, and can he also find out the flowers?

On the desk in the study, there was an invitation, which was sent by Cheng Mengxing yesterday, saying that he was going to visit tomorrow. When Cao Hao saw this, he thought of Wen Xiu's sister Han Jiang.

Han Jiang is Cheng Mengxing's niece, and she settled in Cheng's family in the capital. Cheng Mengxing said that he came to embroider the ashes for Wen.

It was already dark outside the window, Cao Hao hadn't eaten yet, and he was a little hungry, so he said goodbye to Mr. Zhuang and entered the second door.

After walking a few steps, when he was about to arrive at the Peony Courtyard, Cao Hao happened to see Chu Yu coming out of the courtyard with the maid and the maid. He walked two quick steps and returned to Wutong Garden with Chu Yu.

A few days ago, he told Chu Yu about Cao Song's thoughts, and asked Chu Yu to help him talk in front of Zhao Jia's family.

Dong E's family is also a serious Manchurian family, and there are many commanders and deputy generals in the clan who hold titles. It's just that the Kali branch is now in decline, otherwise with the Dong E family's family, the Cao family is really nothing.

Chu Yu waited for Cao Hao to change his clothes, and asked Xiyun to pass the meal and set the table. The husband and wife are talking about family cooking while eating.

Chu Yu likes Dong E Jinghui from the bottom of her heart, and thinks she is a good girl, her surname is docile, and she can handle all kinds of cooking skills. However, even so, she is not very optimistic about this family business.

Although Zhao Jia's family doesn't talk much, now everyone gets along and gets along with each other. But after living in a house for half a year, Chu Yu saw that she was not a good talker, and her surname was a little stubborn.

After all, Cao Hao and Chu Yu are in the next room, not serious brothers and sisters-in-law. Now that there is Zhaojia's family, Cao Song's family affairs have to be her last decision.

One is the niece of the squire's mansion, and the other is the orphan daughter of the criminal official's mansion, how will the Zhaojia clan choose, the answer is obvious.

"E, listening to the second wife's words today, I have a lot of complaints about the waiter's mansion. For example, the uncle's wife is unwilling to give her daughter to the second brother. Chu Yu said.

For the sake of the health of the next generation of the Cao family, Cao Hao is against the marriage of his aunt and cousin from the bottom of his heart. But when he heard Chu Yu say this, he was still a little unhappy, and frowned: "What's the matter, their girl is a fairy, why can't our little two be worthy?" ”

Chu Yu said with a smile: "Look at what the forehead said, whose parents don't see the girl in the eyes of the fairy baby?" The second wife's surname is strict, maybe the uncle is afraid that her daughter will be wronged, and she is not at ease. ”

Cao Hao watched Cao Song grow up, and he had the deepest feelings for this brother, and now he knows his heart, and he is naturally also concerned.

After thinking about it for a while, he said to Chu Yu: "In a few days, find a time for you to meet Dong E's girl." If she is also willing, let's be my brother and sister-in-law, so we have to think of a way to help the second brother. There is still more than half a year of hard work left and right, and I will always come up with a fold! ”

Chu Yu thought about the two rooms in Cao Song's house, and he didn't agree with talking to Dong E's family, for fear of wronging Jinghui. However, seeing Cao Hao say this, knowing that he was the most fond of this younger brother, she said "um" and didn't say anything else.

(To be continued)