Xiao Yue didn't expect that he hadn't seen Mr. Cao for a few months, he had become so old now, not that his face was not good, but that his spirit was obviously not good, and he looked a little tired with a cane.

Xiao Yue hurriedly stepped forward, held Mr. Cao's hand, and said with feeling, "Master, what's wrong with you?"

Mr. Cao smiled and said, "I'm fine, how did I remember to come to see me, an old man, and I didn't send someone to deliver a letter in advance." ”

"It's just that I remembered that I've seen you for a long time, and I miss you strangely, so I just want to think about it temporarily. ”

"You've got a heart. Old Mr. Cao didn't fully believe Xiao Yue's words, "Let's go, sit down in the first room." ”

Xiao Yue asked Lao Chen to follow Yun Yan to take the gifts to the house and put them away, and then go out to take care of the carriage.

She herself helped Mr. Cao and walked back to the house slowly.

"Why are Master's legs and feet suddenly like this?"

"I accidentally fell a few days ago, but now it's fine. ”

"Alas, why didn't the master ask someone to tell me, the disciples don't know. Xiao Yue looked at Mr. Cao's limping appearance with some annoyance, and her heart was full of sadness.

At this time, a woman who was full of energy came out of the side room, she was very kind, and the smile on her face was very infectious.

"Old man, who is this handsome descendant?"

Mr. Cao pulled Xiaoyue and introduced her: "Old woman, this is the Wenyue I often tell you," he said to Xiaoyue: "This is the old student's insider." ”

Xiao Yue quickly saluted when she heard this, and said respectfully: "Xiao Sheng has seen his wife. ”

Mrs. Cao smiled happily: "No courtesy, no courtesy, I heard my old man say that you are a temperamental person, since this is the case, you don't have to be formal, just treat this as your own home." She turned to Mr. Cao and said, "Then add some food tonight, how many drinks will your master and apprentice drink?"

Mr. Cao stroked his beard and said with a smile: "Okay, after this leg injury, I haven't drunk for a long time." ”

Xiao Yue originally wanted to refuse, but when she saw the scene in front of her, she couldn't open her mouth, so she had to smile and say, "Thank you for your hard work, Master, let's go in and sit down, you can't stand on your legs all the time." ”

Mrs. Cao waved her hand, "Yes, yes, come into the house, you guys come into the house and talk, this kid is still weird and careful." ”

After Xiao Yue and Mr. Cao entered the house, An Pu also made the tea, "Brother Yue, drink tea." ”

"Well, thank you, Xiaoyu. Xiao Yue sat beside Mr. Cao, watching An Pu bow her head and not reply, her face was slightly embarrassed.

Mr. Cao also saw that something was wrong with the two, and hurriedly said, "An Pu, you go to the kitchen to help your wife." ”

"Hmm. As if she had wings on her shoulders, An Pu hurried out of the hall where she was entertaining.

"It's been a hard journey, drink some water. Mr. Cao said to Xiao Yue with a smile.

"Uh-huh. Xiao Yue knew that An Pu's youngest daughter had not yet recovered, so she lowered her head and slowly drank hot tea.

"Speaking of which, you and I still really have a heart, if it weren't for the old man's bad legs, I guess I would have gone to Yingjun City to find you a long time ago. ”

Xiao Yue listened and asked suspiciously, "What is the urgency of the master looking for Xiao Yue?"

Mr. Cao smiled meaningfully.

"Oh, you didn't meet anyone else on the way when you came just now?"

Xiao Yue's mind immediately appeared in the dignified and beautiful woman's face, she nodded, and said with an embarrassed face: "I met." ”

"Oh?" asked Mr. Cao with a smile, "have you seen anyone?"

"See ... See. ”

Mr. Cao was a little surprised, "What a coincidence, do you know who she is?"

Xiao Yue swallowed a mouthful of saliva and squeezed out two words, "I know." ”

Mr. Cao slapped the table and laughed, "Wen Yue, Wen Yue, you... ”

"Master, what are you laughing at?"

"It's nothing, how did you meet, tell the old man. ”

Xiao Yue didn't expect Mr. Cao to gossip like this, but this matter was also a heart problem for Xiao Yue, and when she thought of the Queen Mother's dissatisfaction with her, she also wanted Mr. Cao to give her a move.

So Xiao Yue told Mr. Cao about the meeting with the Empress Dowager just now, and finally asked, "Did the Empress Dowager come here to visit Master, and why is she so dissatisfied with me?"

"Well, she left from the old man. Mr. Cao took a sip of tea, and then said slowly: "This is also the reason why I have always wanted to go to Yingjun to see you." ”

"Master, please speak, Xiao Yue listens. ”

"I remember the last time the old man went to see you, it should be after the Spring Festival," Mr. Cao fell into the memory.

"In fact, the last time the old man went, he had already heard some rumors, as if the emperor was preparing to purchase the mining and sale of salt and iron. At that time, the old man didn't take it to heart, do you know why?"

Satsuki shook her head.

"Because the old man thinks that this thing can't be done at all. Old Mr. Cao suddenly stared at Xiao Yue intently, and asked: "But now it seems that the old man was wrong, if I knew at that time that you were here to give the emperor an idea about this matter, maybe I would have changed my mind at that time." But then again, how the hell do you do that?"

Xiao Yue was a little embarrassed by his staring, lowered her head, and said curtly: "Actually, it hasn't been done yet, and there are still many variables." ”

"Variables?" Mr. Cao laughed, "Now that the emperor is gradually taking control of the imperial court, you have solved all the big problems that prevent this matter from advancing." So if you really want to talk about variables, it depends on who has the stronger will, the emperor or the queen mother. ”

Xiao Yue understood this sentence, and it seems that the Queen Mother really does not approve of the salt and iron franchise.

"What does the Queen Mother mean?"

Old Mr. Cao sighed, and instead of answering Xiao Yue's question, he asked, "Did your teacher ever tell you a book called "On the Dao"?"

As soon as Xiao Yue heard the words "On the Dao", her eyes lit up. But to be honest, she didn't actually read this book at all, or didn't know what kind of book it was, but just heard the history teacher say that it was a philosophy book.

So, she shook her head and said, "I've just heard it, but I don't know what the book says." ”

"Hey, it's normal not to know. He looked at the light outside the house and saw that the light was getting dimmer and dimmer, and said to Xiao Yue: "I'm afraid these things can't be explained in a few words, you go to the kitchen to see if your master's meal is ready, let's continue to talk about this matter after dinner." ”

"Uh-huh, got it, Master. ”

That night, Xiao Yue had dinner with Mr. Cao's family, settled Lao Chen and the carriage outside the courtyard, and finally talked with Mr. Cao in the study, talking about dawn on the night of candlelight.

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