Jinyu Hutong, the Thirteenth Elder Brother's Mansion.

On the kang table, there is a hot copper stove hot pot, the bottom of the pot of sauerkraut and white meat is bubbling with fish scales, and the room is full of the fragrance of hot pot, which is refreshing.

Seeing that the fourth elder brother could not hide his lack of color, the thirteenth elder brother took a chopstick to eat, sent it to the plate in front of the fourth elder brother, and said: "This is the tofu skin of the front door tofu Liu, the most powerful but, the fourth brother gives his younger brother face, and it is good to eat two more bites." ”

The fourth elder brother picked it up and put it in his mouth, nodded and said, "It tastes really good." ”

The thirteenth elder brother put down his chopsticks, looked at the fourth elder brother carefully, and said, "Even if the fourth elder brother is sincere in worshiping the Buddha, he can't all be vegetarians." In the end, the body matters. It's been a month and a half since the news of the soldiers came out, and the fourth brother is going to lose weight. ”

"Three soldiers and horses, next month will go out of Beijing one after another, logistics supply is a major matter, and the household money is not abundant, and it may be busy for a while." The fourth elder brother used a spoon to hold two spoons of vegetable soup, put them in a bowl, and drank them in small sips.

Seeing this, the thirteenth elder brother called a small servant to come in and whispered two words.

After a while, the little guy came in with a tray, and there were two small bowls of blue flowers with white backgrounds, and the red ones inside were two bowls of steamed blood soup.

"Deer blood is the most nourishing, it is tight with broth, the fourth brother should eat it while it is hot, it will be fishy when it is cold." The thirteenth elder brother personally sent a bowl to the fourth elder brother.

The fourth elder brother has been accustomed to being a vegetarian in the past few years, and when he saw this red one, his appetite couldn't help but roll. However, seeing that the thirteenth elder brother was full of concern, he did not accept his kindness, so he lowered his head and used a spoon.

But the entrance is smooth and tender, and there is no smell yet, and the fourth elder brother has used up a few spoons, and he only feels that his forehead is already sweating.

The thirteenth elder brother was happy to see him use it, and pushed his bowl forward, saying, "The fourth brother used it well, so use a few more sips." ”

The fourth elder brother had already put down the spoon in his hand, waved his hand and said: "Use it well, I have used the blessing of the thirteenth brother more today than before." My stomach, the thirteenth brother knows, eating too much, but it is uncomfortable. Vomiting in vain and ruining things. ”

The thirteenth elder brother knew that he was telling the truth, so he stopped persuading him, drank the blood soup himself, and ate two sesame baked cakes with the white meat in the hot pot before putting down the chopsticks.

After the little servant withdrew the table and served the tea, the thirteenth elder brother looked up at the sky outside, it was already dusk, so he called a steward and ordered: "Ming'er Cao's mansion is funeral, the time and route of the introduction should be set, go to Cao's house to have a look, and copy a copy of the time line back." ”

The steward went down in response, the fourth elder brother picked up the tea, took two sips, and asked slowly, "Thirteenth brother Ming'er wants to set up a road sacrifice?" ”

"Well, even if you don't look at the face of Zhongzhenggong, just look at Cao Hao, this road sacrifice shed has to be set up. Huang Ama thinks of me now, and he knows who my thirteenth old man is, except for the fourth brother and Cao Hao, who else remembers me? ”

Speaking of the past, the thirteenth elder brother was a little bitter and a little emotional.

The fourth elder brother sighed and said, "It's all over, let's mention it less in the future." Save the little life, and play right and wrong in front of the emperor. ”

"It's just a nagging in front of the fourth brother. In front of others, my brother won't say this. On the fourth brother's house, is there a road sacrifice shed for Ming'er? The thirteenth elder brother laughed self-deprecatingly twice and diverted from the conversation.

The fourth elder brother didn't seem to have considered this topic, groped for the handle of the teacup, and muttered, "Is there a road sacrifice?" ”

He seemed to have some scruples, and frowned: "It's not convenient for me to come forward, right?" Will Huang Ama be too careful? ”

When the thirteenth elder brother heard this, he shook his head and said, "Fourth brother, don't be so careful. You and Cao Hao have the grace to save their lives, Cao Hao has been in Beijing for more than ten years, and the fourth brother has been respectful, what does Huang Ama know? Besides, what can you do if you sell Cao Hao's favor? He is now worried, and he is a real Heshuo forehead, and the sewage of this private prince can't be splashed on his head. ”

When the fourth elder brother heard this, he calmed down and said, "Well, it can be regarded as my half-master gift with the loyal and righteous father." ”

Before Cao Yin arrived in Jiangning in his early years, he worked as an errand in front of the emperor and instructed several elder brothers in archery, so the fourth elder brother said this...... * Today is October 28, which is the day before Cao Yin's funeral.

At the entrance of the shed, the whole piece of yellow rough-edged paper has been used to write the specific time and route of the introduction. There are many younger generations of Caofu's in-laws, deceased families, or those in charge, who came to copy.

I saw that it read: "At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty (nine o'clock in the morning), it was launched on time." Out of the hall to the Gulou West Street officially carried out, through Di'anmen Street, the root of the West Imperial City, out of the west exit of Juer Hutong to Xisi South Street, Xisi Pailou, Mutton Street, Fuchengmen Street, Fuchengmen to Haidian three nests for burial. ”

In addition to marking the streets and intersections where the funeral passed, the addresses of the road sacrifice tents, road sacrifice tables, and tea tables that have been determined are also indicated.

In this way, everyone has a good idea of the itinerary of tomorrow morning. The road sacrifice shed and the road sacrifice table are staggered, saving the pile of not beautiful.

Cao Hao discussed the funeral with several stewards, and when he saw that the sky was about to twilight, he saw the lamp in the funeral shed, and then went back to the house for dinner.

Before returning to Wutong Garden, he first went to the Orchid Courtyard to visit his mother Li.

The mourning period was long and protracted, coupled with the heartache of Li's widow, and he couldn't stand the illness when he insisted on "March Seven", and now he has been recuperating for ten months, and his spirit is still insufficient.

When Cao Hao entered the house, Chu Yu was serving Li's cloth vegetables and waiting for her dinner.

Li looked at it, but he was just stiff in front of his son and daughter-in-law.

Cao Hao sat opposite his mother, and when he saw the porridge bowl in front of her, he went to a shallow layer, and several porridge dishes did not move at all, so he couldn't help frowning, and said, "Mother still has no appetite?" Tomorrow said that the wind was blowing, and it was going to cool down, and my mother was not in good health, so it seemed that I still had to ask the imperial doctor to come over and give my mother a second look. ”

Li Shi heard that it was wrong, and hurriedly shook his head and said: "Don't get in the way, it's clear that it's the old man, but you can't delay." ”

Cao Hao's attitude was very resolute, and said: "Even if you have to worry about your father, you can't ignore your mother, otherwise wouldn't your son become an unfilial son?" ”

"Knowing the son is Mo Ruo's mother", Li knows that his son is twisted up, and he is not cured as a mother.

She sighed, picked up the porridge bowl in front of her, and said with a little helplessness: "Okay, can't I eat it?" ”

Li originally looked very young, nearly fifty years old, and looked like he was in his thirties. Cao Yin's death this time made her a lot older all of a sudden. The frown at the corner of his eyes was already dense, and he looked a little old.

Cao Hao was afraid that his mother would not have a taste for eating alone, so he asked Chu Yu to help him fill a bowl of porridge and accompany the Li family to use it.

When dinner was served, the maid brought the medicine bowl. Cao Hao sat on the side of the kang and personally served the Li family, and then returned to Wutong Garden with Chu Yu.

At this time, a maid came to report that several masters and grandmothers from Dongfu came to sit for the night.

Chu Yu was so anxious that he couldn't even eat dinner, so he got up and went to the front yard after using two pieces of dumplings. Cao Hao was about to go with him, but was stopped by Chu Yu: "I just forgot one thing and said with my forehead, Sister Amethyst seems to have something to look for, so she sent someone to ask twice." ”

"Amethyst, how's her illness?" Cao Hao stopped and asked.

Amethyst was also sick at the beginning of the month, and now she will be raised in Aoi Yuan. Tianyou and Hengsheng were both taken to Tian's courtyard to take care of.

"I asked the imperial doctor twice, but I only said that I was overworked and had an evil feeling." Speaking of this, Chu Yu said with a little guilt: "It's still useless, I rely on Sister Amethyst too much, and I tired her all the time." ”

"Who wants to be sick? Amethyst won't complain, you go to see your brother and sisters first, I'll go to Kwai Courtyard and take a turn.

While talking, the husband and wife arrived at the second gate, Chu Yu took the maid and mother-in-law out, and Cao Hao went to Kwai Courtyard.

When I entered the courtyard, I saw that the upper room was dark, and only the west wing was lit up. Cao Hao walked to the door and heard someone inside: "Good sister, you can take two sips." If you keep up, you'll be burned out. ”

It was Wuen's voice, Cao Hao knocked on the door twice, and said through the door: "Amethyst, it's me." ”

I heard the squirming in the room, and then Amethyst's slightly weak voice: "It's uncle, come in." ”

Cao Hao picked up the cotton curtain and went in, and saw Amethyst getting down from the kang with her clothes on, and Wu En holding her by the side, her face full of worry. On the small table on the kang, there was a bowl of brown soup, which was no longer hot.

"What to do when you toss up, or lie down and talk." Cao Hao saw that Amethyst was about to get up, so he hurriedly stepped forward and held her down, only to feel that the place where he started was skin and bones, which made people panic.

"How did you lose weight like this?" Cao Hao was startled, and out of the corner of his eyes, he saw a strand of black pressed hair, scattered on Amethyst's mattress.

Seeing the amethyst falling like this, he couldn't help but be frightened, he didn't dare to look at it anymore, his eyes looked away, fell on the bowl of decoction, and frowned: "Who is on an errand in the courtyard here?" Are you so sick that you don't even have a bowl of hot medicine? ”

Amethyst pulled Cao Hao's arm and gasped, "Don't worry, uncle. It was really because I was so scared by this Laoshzi that I couldn't swallow it, and I delayed it, so that the medicine was cold. ”

Speaking of this, she paused and instructed Un, "Trouble my sister to take the medicine and heat it." If there is a new pear on the market this year in the kitchen, I will make someone add rock sugar and thickly boil a bowl of pear juice for me to remove the bitterness in my mouth. ”

When Wu En heard that she was willing to drink medicine, his face was full of joy, and he blessed Cao Hao, without delaying for a moment, and flew out with the medicine bowl.

After saying these few words, Amethyst was already lacking in strength, her forehead was densely covered with beads of sweat, and her body was shaking.

Seeing that her face was so dark and frightened, Cao Hao was horrified, took out a handkerchief, wiped the sweat off her forehead, and said, "It's not good to delay, it's better to ask the imperial doctor to change the prescription." ”

Amethyst covered her mouth with her hand and coughed a few times, her eyes already rippling.

"Uncle, the slave maid has something to ask the uncle......" As she spoke, I saw that her tears had rolled down, and her body bowed down.

"Sister!" Cao Hao snorted and carried her to the side of the kang: "What is the direct thing to say, over the years, how have I ever been a slave or a slave?" Or does my sister think that I have a bad treatment for my sister and sincerely want to shame me? ”

"Brother Hao'er......" Amethyst choked, but her tears were like beads with broken threads, falling in a sloppy manner, and her mouth was already the old name.

Cao Hao has known her for nearly 20 years, and he has never seen her so sad and embarrassed. Even when her former fiancé came to the door and spoke badly, she didn't see her so sad.

Cao Hao only felt that his eyes were hot, and his heart became anxious, and he said, "What is it that makes my sister embarrassed like this?" If you think I can do it, just say it, and I'll refuse you? If I really can't do it, then maybe I can accompany my sister to cry and make my sister's heart happy. ”

"Brother Hao'er......" Amethyst pulled Cao Hao's arm, her face showed a little shame and uneasiness, and said slowly: "Please let me say it clearly...... Let me be clear...... Send the lord on his last ......"

In the end, she let go of Cao Hao's arm and lowered her eyes, her face was no longer bloody, like a prisoner waiting for trial.

Seeing that Amethyst was so embarrassed, Cao Hao thought it was a big deal, and listened attentively. Unexpectedly, he heard this sentence, and he couldn't help but be stunned.

Amethyst only felt like she had been waiting for a few lifetimes, and she didn't wait for Cao Hao to speak. She closed her eyes in pain, her body already limp.

Cao Hao held on, so she didn't fall to the ground.

"If it's freezing today, and you're sick like this, how can you afford to toss?" Cao Hao said with a bit of disgust.

In his heart, he faintly felt a little strange, and he felt that it was unlikely. My father is sixty-one this year, and Amethyst is thirty-two and three, and the difference between the two is thirty years, how can they be related?

Amethyst heard that Cao Hao didn't say anything to death, and opened her teary eyes, which were already full of prayers: "Uncle, my lord is my benefactor." Without the master, I would have fallen into that unsightly place, I am afraid that I would have lost my surname a long time ago, and there would be no bones left. Twenty-two years ago, my lord led me into the Cao family. I can't repay such a life-saving grace, and now I can only give my master a ride one last time, so as to ...... with all my heart."

Seeing Amethyst like this, even if Cao Hao felt weird, he couldn't say anything if he refused.

He helped Amethyst wipe his tears, and pretended to be relaxed: "You can go if you want, but you are also sick, rest early tonight, and sweat well." Ming said to wear more clothes, and for these vains, your illness will be serious, and the lord will not be safe, right? ”

Amethyst nodded vigorously, and as she spoke, she heard footsteps in the yard, and Unn came over with a little maid carrying a food box.

Amethyst knew that she was "sitting at night" today, and she was still busy ahead, so she sent Cao Hao to the front yard.

Coming out of the Kwai Courtyard, Cao Hao picked the corners of his mouth, not knowing whether to admire his father or not.

Before his father died, he didn't say a word, and Cao Hao still felt strange. Later, in the box containing the fold, I saw the suicide note left by my father.

In addition to honoring his mother and taking care of his second cousin, Cao Yin also specially confessed to his son a confidential matter.

mentioned in the suicide note that he had an outroom in Jiangnan and gave birth to a son for the Cao family.

For various reasons, the woman was never included in the house, nor was she given a title. He asked his son to send someone down to the south of the Yangtze River to find this person and take care of him. It was also mentioned that if the other party is willing, after a hundred years, the other party can be buried in the tomb of the Cao family and buried with Cao Yin. Naturally, this is to be hidden from the Li family.

The son born in the outer room, Cao Yin didn't specifically mention where it was, but just said that he thought that the child "died" back then, and the "premature death" was the day Cao Hao landed.

For this reason, when Cao Yin saw his young son-in-law, it was not just the joy of making Zhang, but also the "pain of losing a child......

(To be continued)