Xu Liang Shi Shiran walked outside the noon gate and boarded the carriage back to Guanglu Temple. The iron head accompanies him.

Xu Liang sat in the carriage, looked at the bright sunshine outside, and couldn't help but sigh: "It's July again, and before you know it, half of the three years of Chongzhen have passed." ”

The iron head rode a horse to the side, and after listening to Xu Liang's emotion, he couldn't help but smile: "Young master, I see that the palace test in August is coming." Master Xu of his hometown is not relieved to be inferior to the eldest young master Xu Jiang, and he has already sent a letter, saying that he wants to rush into Beijing to accompany him. ”

Xu Liang listened to Tietou's reminder, and couldn't help but suddenly think of the palace examination in August. Thinking that he participated in the Qiu Yu four years ago, and now he is in the third grade, and Xu Jiang, the eldest young master of the Xu family, is still in a hurry to participate in some palace exams.

Xu Liang moved Xu Jiang's student status from Jiangxi to Shaanxi, and Xu Jiang was successfully promoted. For this reason, not only did Xu Changkun and his wife personally rush to the capital to admit their mistake to Xu Liang, but they also brought a letter from the eighty-year-old old lady Xu, recognizing Xu Liang as the Xu family!

Originally, Xu Liang was very disdainful of these things, but only later under the persuasion of Feng Suqin, Huang Daozhou and others, he reluctantly accepted them.

Hearing that Xu Changkun was going to come to the capital to accompany him in person, Xu Liang sighed with emotion, looked at the street carefully, and sure enough, found that among the pedestrians, there were more scholars in Confucian shirts and long sleeves.

Xu Liang put down the curtain of the car, waved his hand and said, "Let's go." ”

When he returned to Guanglu Temple, Xu Liang suddenly saw Zhu Shisan, the housekeeper of the Chengguo Mansion, actually standing in the Yamen courtyard of Guanglu Temple with his hands in his hands, and couldn't help but be taken aback, and welcomed Zhu Shisan into the house. ordered someone to serve tea, and then asked, "Steward Zhu is looking for this official." But what's the matter? ”

Zhu Shisan arched his hand and said, "Actually, it's not a big deal." Grandpa Guo heard that Lord Xu entered the palace today to present the bonus money for June to His Majesty. Grandpa Guo asked the little one to come and hear the news. Well. That one...... What does Your Majesty think about Grandpa Guo's involvement in the Xishan Coal Mine? ”

Xu Liang smiled secretly in his heart. What Xu Liang said in front of Emperor Chongzhen was that Cheng Guogong had joined the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, but there was no mention of Cheng Guogong's participation in the Xishan Coal Mine. However, Xu Liang didn't want to debunk this trick of fooling around, so he gave Steward Zhu a reassuring look and said with a smile: "Steward Zhu can return to Zhu Guogong, Your Majesty is not disgusted with the business in Grandpa Guo's mansion." ”

Zhu Shisan breathed a sigh of relief and said continuously: "That's good." That's good. After hearing the news, Steward Zhu thanked Xu Liang and hurriedly went back to report to Zhu Chunchen, the Duke of Chengguo.

Xu Liang was like a person standing in the dark, carefully peeping at Cao Ge Lao's every move, looking for Cao Ge Lao's flaws with wide eyes.

However, after waiting for several days, Cao Ge didn't make any big moves. Until one night, Tsing Yiwei reported a piece of news about Cao Ge's hometown, but it was not an officialdom matter, but a family matter of Cao Ge's hometown: Cao Ge's second son, Cao Chong, has been married for two years. Recently, I took a fancy to a house and wanted to move out to live, begging Cao Ge to buy the house. However, although Cao Ge Lao is in a high position, he is in the sensitive Metropolitan Procuratorate. As an official, he is cautious, pays attention to the impact, and is not greedy for any money. Naturally, there is no savings.

And the house that Cao Er Gongzi fancied was of great value! With Cao Ge's old family background. Naturally, they couldn't afford it, so they quarreled.

However, this kind of Cao Ge's old family affairs. It's always been secretive, and others don't know about it.

So when he went to court, Xu Liang deliberately noticed Cao Ge Lao's expression, and there was some annoyance. After the dispersal of the dynasty, Xu Liang deliberately went around to the cabinet duty room and turned into Cao Ge Lao's duty room.

Elder Cao Ge was very surprised by Xu Liang's arrival, and looked at Xu Liang in surprise.

"Lord Xu, is there something wrong?" Cao Ge Lao tensed every nerve in his body and asked.

Xu Liang took out this recital in his hand, smiled at Cao Ge Lao, and asked sincerely: "Ge Lao, Xia Guan heard that Ge Lao was also a Shaoqing of Guanglu Temple in his early years, and he is very familiar with the banquet. ”

Cao Ge was a little stunned, and after looking at Xu Liang for a long time, he came to his senses and said in a deep voice: "The old man was the Shaoqing of Guanglu Temple, how many years ago was it. The affairs of Guanglu Temple, the old man has almost forgotten about it now. Lord Xu asked the old man about the feast, but he was blind. ”

Xu Liang smiled and didn't think it was wrong. Still smiled and insisted: "For specific affairs, naturally I don't dare to bother the elder Ge. The elder of the pavilion is an important minister in the court, and he stands tall and sees far in everything, and the officials are here to listen to the court's expectations for this Qionglin banquet. Please also ask the elder to give advice! ”

Seeing that Xu Liang was so insistent, he nodded a few words about the ceremony of the Qionglin banquet in a general way in the spirit of quickly sending this guy away. Unexpectedly, Xu Liang actually gave a look of sudden realization, thanked Cao Ge for his kindness, and after giving his hands away, he carefully retreated.

Cao Ge was stunned for a while: Xu Liang, has he changed his attitude towards himself? It seems that today is the first time Xu Liang has entered his own duty room, right?

With such a question, Cao Ge Lao couldn't concentrate on handling official business in the duty room for the rest of the time. Seeing that his mind was in turmoil, Cao Ge simply took leave from Daofu Zhou Yanru and went back to Cao's mansion.

The official sedan chair entered the Cao Mansion, and the old Cao Ge got off the sedan chair, just entered the mansion, and was about to go back to the study, but saw the second son of the Cao family leading three subordinates, and the newly married lady, who were carrying a few boxes to a big carriage. The housekeeper of the Cao family and the eldest son of the Cao family followed out, staring at the scene in front of them, and stopped talking.

The people of the Cao family saw that Cao Ge Lao had returned home, and they hurriedly stepped forward to salute. And the second son of Cao Ge saw Cao Ge Lao, but he snorted lightly, as if he didn't see Cao Ge Lao, and then ordered his subordinates to move things.

Seeing this, Elder Cao Ge was very angry, pointed at Cao Ergongzi, and asked, "Rebel!" What do you want to do?! ”

Cao Ergongzi listened, stopped in front of Cao Ge's old body, and his nostrils were facing the sky: "Horizontal and vertical fathers can't buy a house for their children, this Cao family, this son is not staying!" My wife and I are moving out! Self-reliant portal! ”

Cao Ge was stunned when he heard this. couldn't help but laugh angrily: "Like you, you can't write." Wu didn't give up, and moved out of Caofu. Where else would you like to live? ”

Cao Er Gongzi snorted lightly: "Don't worry about it!" The son of the house has been found! ”

After that, Cao Ergongzi no longer paid attention to Cao Ge Lao and continued to command his subordinates to carry things. Cao Ge was so angry that he trembled all over, and pointed his finger at Cao Ergongzi, but he couldn't scold! In the final analysis, Cao Gelao, a father, failed to set up a house for his son, and he still felt guilty in his heart.

The eldest prince of the Cao family and the housekeeper saw that Cao Ge was so angry that they hurriedly rushed forward to comfort him. Cao Dagongzi advised: "Father doesn't have to be angry with the second brother!" In fact, even if the second brother moved out of Caofu. He and his siblings still have a place to go. The house that the second brother begged his father to buy the day before yesterday, the second brother has already bought it! ”

Elder Cao Ge was taken aback!

"Where did this rebel get the money?"

Cao Dagongzi said: "I heard from the second brother that there is a cloth merchant in the capital who has taken a fancy to the second brother's business talent and wants to partner with the second brother to do business. When the merchant learned that the second brother had taken a fancy to the house, he bought it and gave it to the second brother! ”

"It's not a delivery!" Cao Ergongzi's things were loaded, jumped into the carriage, and said to Cao Ge Lao and Cao Dagongzi: "The mansion that Shopkeeper Yan bought is specially for this son to live in!" All right. Father, big brother, you talk, this son will go first! ”

Let's talk about it. Greeted the two subordinates and drove the carriage away.

Grand Prince Cao still had an envious expression on his face, but Cao Ge Lao's face was gloomy! He lived in the court for a long time. I know that there is no such thing as a free lunch! What is the virtue of his second son, Cao Ge Lao himself is very clear. Say he has a talent for business? The shopkeeper of Yan was only afraid that he would say such a thing if he was blind!

Elder Cao Ge turned to the butler and shouted, "Butler, go and catch up with the second young master." Ask what the house is all about! ”

The housekeeper saw that Cao Ge was panicked, so he followed the direction of Cao Ergongzi and went out. The eldest prince Cao was busy helping Cao Ge Lao into the house. In the hall, he served tea and water.

Half an hour later, the housekeeper returned, and Cao Ge felt better.

"How?" Cao Ge Lao took Hakka's hand and asked anxiously.

"Master, the little one has asked." The housekeeper said: "The second son's house was indeed bought by a merchant and given to him to live in. ”

When Cao Ge heard this, he couldn't help but sneer: "Who would have such a good heart? Nothing to be courteous, either a traitor or a thief! What is the origin of the merchant? ”

The housekeeper said, "The little one has inquired clearly." That Yan shopkeeper is Yan Qi, the big shopkeeper of the whole world near Fahua Temple in the outer city! ”

Thump! Cao Ge Lao listened, but he sat back on the chair and muttered in despair: "Why is he?" ”

……

In the morning of the next day, Cao Ge Lao waited early in front of the noon gate for Xu Liang, the secretary of the Lulu Temple. Seeing Xu Liang Shi Ran get out of the carriage, Cao Ge Lao didn't care about the surprised eyes of others, hurriedly walked to Xu Liang's side, pulled Xu Liang aside, and lowered his voice: "Xu Liang, what do you want to do?" Don't think that if you give my son a house, the old man will easily let you go! The dispute between the old man and you is a difference of political opinion! ”

Xu Liang listened, but he broke free of Cao Ge Lao's grip on his hand, and chuckled: "Ge Lao pulled and pulled the subordinate officials, what is this for?" Others will be misunderstood! ”

Cao Ge Lao couldn't help but turn around, and when he saw several officials looking curiously in this direction, he let go of his hand stupidly.

Xu Liang smiled slightly, and then said: "What did the elder of the pavilion say about the matter that the shopkeeper Yan gave to the second son of Cao's house?" Hehe, yesterday the shopkeeper Yan told the official about it! It's just that this matter is the behavior of the shopkeeper Yan himself, and it is not easy for the official to interfere with it! ”

"You must have ordered it!" Cao Ge Lao gritted his teeth and said.

Xu Liang shook his head slightly, approached Elder Cao Ge, and said softly: "Since it was instructed by this official, so what?" The elder of the pavilion specially mentioned the matter of the official Qionglin banquet last time, and the official reciprocated the favor, why not! ”

"Little favor and little favor, don't want to buy the old man!" Cao Ge snorted coldly.

"Elder Cao Ge really thinks about it a lot, this official has no other meaning!" Xu Liang said sincerely.

Seeing that the bell of the court meeting rang, Xu Liang Shi Shiran returned to the team of the previous court, and Cao Ge Lao couldn't help but shake his head helplessly.

For several days in a row, Elder Cao Ge became more and more incomprehensible to Xu Liang's actions. This young Guanglu Siqing seems to really have traces of turning war with himself into jade silk! Xu Liang in the court, actually echoed Cao Ge Lao's remarks several times, for Cao Ge Lao's proposal for the appointment and dismissal of several officials, Xu Liang actually openly agreed, and stood up in the court to loudly echo Cao Ge Lao, his obvious flattery of his own words, made the ministers look sideways, and made Cao Ge Lao blush!

This guy is too obvious!

In the cabinet room, the other cabinet ministers saw that Guanglu Siqing ran extremely diligently to Cao Ge's old room, and ran to Cao Ge Lao for advice in three days, and even Zhou Yanru, the first assistant of the cabinet, saw Cao Ge Lao, and couldn't help but sigh with emotion: "Cao Ge Lao, this Lord Xu is really very respectful to the Ge Lao." ”

Cao Ge Lao actually had the feeling that he couldn't see through Xu Liang.

However, no matter what, the so-called reach out and don't hit the smiling person! Xu Liang flattered Cao Ge Lao so much, and everyone in the court saw it, which made Cao Ge Lao a little unable to erase his old face, and the killing moves that were originally designed to target Xu Liang were all stranded!

On this day, Cao Ge Lao called two confidant officials, Cheng Ma Yuan of Shuntian Mansion and Shi Fan of Shandong Imperial History, into Cao Mansion. In the living room, Cao Ge Lao Chao looked at Ma Fucheng and Shi Yushi, and sighed with emotion: "The old man has been in the court for decades, and the biggest gain is not that he is in a high position and admired by others, but that he has cultivated a few of your good protégés. ”

It turned out that Ma Fucheng and Shi Yushi were both students of Cao Gelao.

Now that the teacher sighed, the two students complimented obediently: "Our official position today is the result of the teacher's blessing." It's a pity that Lord Qi and Lord Lu have been sent to the local area, and it will be difficult to see each other again. ”

The Lord Qi and Lord Lu in the mouth of Shi Yushi were originally also the imperial history of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, but in the recent adjustment of local officials, due to the excellent evaluation of the Ministry of Officials, they were delegated to important positions in the local government and county.

Cao Ge Lao remembered his other two proud protégés, Lord Qi and Lord Lu, who were now the magistrates of the local prefectures and counties, and the key members of the same class were originally suspected that the new Imperial History of the Imperial Prefecture had weakened his power in the Imperial Court by borrowing the hands of the Ministry of Officials! However, in the end, the two protégés were promoted, and Cao Ge was suspicious, but he didn't want to hinder the future of the proud protégé.

Shi Yushi and Ma Fucheng accompanied Cao Ge Lao with emotion for a while, and suddenly saw the housekeeper of Cao Mansion walking in.

Cao Ge Lao raised his eyes to look at the housekeeper and asked in a deep voice, "Has the second son's house returned?" ”

The housekeeper's face was embarrassed, and he arched his hand towards Cao Ge and said, "Master, the little one told the second son everything you explained, but the second son was determined to move out and drove the little one back." ”

"This rebel!" Elder Cao Ge scolded angrily.

Shi Yushi also heard about Cao Ge's family affairs, and knew that the Yan shopkeeper, who was traveling all over the world, gave the second son of the Cao family a house for him to live in. He saw that Cao Ge was so angry, so he persuaded softly: "Teacher don't worry too much! Since the house was temporarily lent to the second son, not to the second son, it is not a bribe. Besides, I see that Xu Liang, the secretary of Guanglu Temple, is a lot more respectful to the teacher, and Xu Yan's shopkeeper's move is from Xu Liang's instructions! ”

Cao Ge said angrily: "The old man is just worried that this is Xu Liang's trap!" ”

Shi Yushi said: "Uh...... I think Xu Liang's move is mostly to ease the relationship with the teacher. ”

When Cao Ge heard this, he groaned for a while, thinking about Xu Liang's recent actions, he was indeed thinking of a way to get close to himself! I also felt that what Shi Yushi said made some sense, and the second son of the Cao family moved out to live, and since then, he has not been out of sight and out of mind, and he has been quiet!

After thinking for a long time, Elder Cao Ge sighed. Raising his eyes to look at Ma Fucheng and Shi Yushi, he said slowly: "Actually, I called the two of you here today because I have something for you to do. (To be continued.) )