How the Duan clan reprimanded and how the Kang brothers defended, Cao Xiang could still hear it at first, but he didn't know what was behind, because he fainted.

In the moment before fainting, he was secretly glad. He knew that the old woman was kind to him, and that the delicate girl looked at him with concern.

When he opened his eyes again, he woke up in pain, only to feel his lips chapped and moan from the pain in his back.

He looked around and saw a pair of eyes with compassion. This is not the hut where he usually lives, and there are no two strong men watching him in the house.

Duan originally held a string of Bodhi seeds in his hand and chanted the scriptures in a low voice, and only when he heard Cao Xiang's voice did he raise his head to look at him. Seeing him open his eyes, the old man reached out and touched Cao Xiang's forehead.

"Thanks to the Buddha and Bodhisattva, I burned it for two days, and finally retreated. Otherwise, something big will happen. The old man nagged as if he cared about his children and grandchildren, so naturally and kindly.

For a moment, Cao Xiang couldn't help but have an illusion, as if the old woman in front of him overlapped with the shadow of his grandmother in his memory.

However, the idea was fleeting.

Even if the old lady cared for her grandchildren during her lifetime, it all fell on the eldest grandson Cao Hao. Cao Xiang, a second-room concubine, has not enjoyed this kind of love.

Duan Shi looked at Cao Xiang, his eyes were already red, and he asked in a kind voice, "Child, does it hurt?" ”

Although Cao Xiang resented the Kang brothers, he was unwilling to be angry with the old woman in front of him. In order not to worry her, she shook her head in pain and said in a hoarse voice, "It doesn't hurt." ”

Hearing this, Duan's couldn't help it more and more, and couldn't help but cry.

Jiaojiao stood behind Duan, saw her grandmother's gaffe, stepped forward, helped Duan's arm, and said in a low voice: "Grandmother ......"

Duan turned around tremblingly, took his granddaughter's hand, and cried speechless.

Cao Xiang was on the kang, and when he saw the old man so sad, he was a little uneasy, but he didn't know how to persuade him.

At this time, I heard Jiaojiao whispering: "My brother is the most filial, even if he goes underground, he doesn't want his grandmother to be sad for him......"

"Shao Geng, my poor grandson......" Duan slowly closed his eyes, and his cry was extremely poignant...... * Henan Prefect's Yamen, lobby.

Although the prefect is the fourth product, Cao Hao, the palm print of the six departments, is also the fourth product, but he bears the holy order and thoroughly investigates the matter, so of course he does not let the ground be in the right position.

What was placed in front of him was the cause and effect of the civil unrest in Yiyang County. Among them, there are two things that he did not know when he was in the capital.

The first thing, that Yiyang Zhixian Zhang Yuhui is Ding Weizhi County, and he is at the time of his father's funeral, but because the imperial court has not made up for Xinzhi County, he is still in the county.

Also, the Kang brothers, who escaped from prison and rebelled, were convicted of colluding with bandits and imprisoned. Also imprisoned at the same time is Kang Ting's son Kang Shaogeng. The Kang family is also a big family in Yiyang, with hundreds of hectares of fertile land at home, cultivating and reading heirlooms, and has a good reputation in the local area.

This Kang Shaogeng is a scholar, and he was originally a scribe in the county government. Later, I didn't know how to find out that he had colluded with the bandits, and he was beaten in the hall and "died" in prison.

The Kang brothers escaped from prison and rebelled three days after Kang Shaogeng's death.

I'm afraid, this is the truth of the matter. It's just a change of rhetoric, and the fault has shifted from Zhang Yuhui's side to the Kang brothers. From the squires of the peace who were forced to flee helplessly, all of a sudden to the mob dissatisfied with the imperial court. What is called killing with a knife and pen, Cao Hao can be regarded as having seen it.

He sighed inwardly, regardless of the cause, things had come to this point. I only hope that this Kang brother is worthy of the words "Shoushan Family", and there is no habit of anger and killing, in that case, Cao Xiang's life should be quite stable.

Li Tingchen stood beside him, secretly raised his head, and secretly looked at Cao Hao's expression.

There was no joy or anger on the face of this Heshuo forehead.

Li Tingchen couldn't help but regret in his heart, why he didn't send Cao Xiang to other places, but had to send him to Yongning County. If it were another place, it would not have been robbed by the rioters.

Those chaotic people are also, wronged and debtors, and the grudges they have in Yiyang County, so they attacked Yiyang County, why did they run to Yongning Yamen? It's just bullying the soft and afraid of the hard, because Yongning County has few people.

Cao Hao took out his watch from his arms and looked at it twice, it was about noon. He stood up and said to Li Tingchen: "Lord Li, does the governor's yamen have any documents?" ”

When Li Tingchen saw him get up, he hurriedly got up and said, "No." If there is an official document, the lower official will naturally send it to the adult immediately. ”

Cao Hao nodded, looked at his fat figure, nodded, and said, "Then Master Li is busy first, and this official is one step ahead." Speaking of this, he pointed to the stack of documents on the case, and said, "These officials haven't finished reading yet, and they are sent to the post station by the tired adults." ”

Li Tingchen bowed down, hurriedly responded, and then said with a bit of flattery. "Ming said that it was the birthday of the adult, and the lower official prepared water and wine to congratulate the adult on his birthday, and hoped that the adult would appreciate his face."

Cao Hao listened, his heart sank, and he said for a while: "Since this is the case, I have thanked Master Li for his kindness, and it is better to be respectful." ”

When he came here, it was just a few words, and Li Tingchen had already sent a lot of "filial piety" with various eyebrows. This time, I even inquired about his birthday, and it seems that he wants to give a "birthday gift".

"Three years of Qing Governor's Mansion, 100,000 snowflakes of silver", this is not false at all. As far as Cao Hao came to these days, Li Tingchen's "filial piety" amounted to thousands of taels of silver, and he was generous and tight.

If it weren't for Li Tingchen's "generosity", this Henan Mansion would not have been devastated by him.

Up and down, he, the prefect, is extremely greedy, and the county officials below are becoming more and more bold.

The popular uprising in Henan, this Li Tingchen is really "indispensable".

For Li Tingchen, Cao Hao is a life-saving straw and driftwood in the water, so he naturally has to do his best to stammer.

is accustomed to seeing the human sperm in the six departments, like Li Tingchen, who is moody and angry, Cao Hao can also see through it when he looks at it. He snorted coldly in his heart, ignored him again, and walked out of the yamen.

When he went to Henan Mansion for the third time, he should give Kangxi a fold. How to put this down in the end must be discussed with Jiang Jian. The pen knife kills, this makes Cao Hao wake up.

In the end, how to write will calm the anger in the emperor's heart and leave a way for the people in this place to live, it will take some thought.

It's not that he Cao Hao is full of food, he cares about these idle things, it's just idealism.

Outside the Yimen, Cao Song was already waiting, and when he saw Cao Hao coming out, he stepped forward and said, "Brother, the Qu family sent someone to ask the eldest brother to come over for a free trip." ”

"Qu's?" Cao Hao listened, raised his eyebrows, and looked at Cao Song with some doubts.

"It's the girl from the green chrysanthemum." Cao Song scratched his head and said, "Since she is the fourth child's concubine, it's not good to call her name again." ”

Cao Hao nodded, only knowing that Lu Ju was Mama Zhang's granddaughter, and only now did she know that her surname was Qu.

Seeing that she is an honest and honest person, like a person who knows the importance of things, she will not send someone to ask the eldest brother to come over without anything.

Cao Hao called a long follower, explained two sentences, and sent him back to the post station to talk to Jiang Jian; Then he went to Cao Xiang's house with Cao Song.

Green Ju is still as thin as ever, and his expression has calmed down a lot, not as flustered and uneasy as he showed last time.

"Uncle, second master, slaves and maids have important things to do." After the green chrysanthemum brother asked for peace, he didn't say anything, and sent away the mother-in-law and maid who followed him, and said bluntly.

Seeing her solemn expression, Cao Hao waved his hand at the little maid standing at the door and said, "You guys also step down." ”

There were only three people left in the room, Lu Ju, Cao Hao, and Cao Song, and Lu Ju took out a thin booklet from his sleeve, put it in front of Cao Hao with both hands, and said: "Uncle, this is the account book of the fourth master who has been in Luoyang for more than a year, and the prefect's yamen. ”

Cao Hao glanced at Lu Ju before taking the account book and opening the first page. He said, what happened, what kind of eyes, and how many taels of silver were received, and they were clearly recorded.

This font is beautiful and girlish.

Cao Hao closed the account book and said, "This is what the fourth master asked you to remember?" ”

The last time I came, I was in a hurry and didn't look closely. Sitting in the living room today, Cao Hao found that the furnishings in this room were simple and unpretentious. The dress of the green chrysanthemum is also very elegant, and the clothes and jewelry are not as gorgeous as when they were maids in the capital.

"Back to the uncle's words, the fourth master instructed the slave and maid to remember. The fourth master saw that Lord Li was not acting very properly, and he was afraid of being implicated, which would disgrace the family, so he had the intention to keep his distance, and because he was the top boss, he had no choice but to make this decision. So saying, she crouched down, took the key, and opened the side cabinet in the hall.

Inside, gold, silver, jewelry, clothing and jewelry, everything is available.

Seeing that Cao Hao and Cao Songzhi frowned, there was a case of civil unrest in Henan Mansion, and this Li Tingchen must bear the charge of "greedy ink". This also involves Cao Xiang, but I don't know if he has it intentionally or unintentionally.

The thief takes a bite and goes into the wood for three points.

If when the criminal department asks for the crime, Li Tingchen wants to "not blame the public", then Cao Xiang will also have to be responsible.

"All here?" Cao Hao looked at the account book, looked at the things again, and asked.

"Yes, in order to hide from people, when I went to the prefect's yamen for a banquet, the slave and maid wore the jewelry here, and they were still put back here later." Green chrysanthemum replied.

"Gifts are still exchanged, how did you return these gifts?" Cao Hao thought about it for a while and replied.

Lu Ju hesitated for a moment, took out another account book from his sleeve, and sent it to Cao Hao.

When, when, and what name to return the gift, what kind of gift is it, and the cost of the silver is geometric, and the above is also clearly listed.

Cao Hao saw it, but he frowned slowly, but after more than a year, he spent more than 4,000 taels of silver on gifts in return. Even if Cao Xiang had some pocket money in his hand, he didn't have so much silver.

No wonder the green chrysanthemum is dressed up like this, and the room is also empty on the treasure grid, and there are no exquisite ornaments.

In such a situation, every time I write to my family, I don't mention it at all. For this cousin, Cao Hao is really a little impressed; For green chrysanthemum, he also secretly praised it in his heart.

Although Luju died of both parents, I heard that she also left some family wealth, and all of them were her dowry. There are also Chu Yu and Jing Hui, who also helped her and gave her a lot of jewelry.

In response to the favor of the upper and lower people, most of the silver given as gifts is her dowry.

"Go get the ticket." Cao Hao put down the account book and said to Lu Ju.

Cao Song is still in a state of chaos.

"Uncle......" Lu Ju hesitated when he heard this, slowly lowered his head, and did not move.

"You can share your worries for Cao Xiang and deserve the word 'virtuous'. It's just that our Cao family is quite passable, and it is not so dilapidated that it will let the Cao family's daughter-in-law be the dowry. Cao Hao said slowly.

The daughter-in-law of the Cao family? Green Ju's tears fell, and her vision was blurred, and in order to hide her gaffe, she nodded hurriedly and walked out.

Cao Hao looked at her back and somewhat understood why Cao Xiang would rather give up his career in the imperial examination and want to be with this woman. It's hard for this green chrysanthemum, with such a grandmother, and she has been by Zhaojia's side for many years, she can still grow into a respectable and amiable smart woman, and she can be regarded as out of the sludge without staining.

Cao Song picked up the account book of returning gifts that Cao Hao put down, looked at it from the beginning, and Fang reacted, and said: "Yes, although the fourth brother and I have some silver over there, there are also counts, where is there so much?" It turned out that the dowry of green chrysanthemum was used. ”

Speaking of this, he also carried a little shame and uneasiness.

One time later, Green Ju had already come out of the back room, holding a jewelry box in his hand. She had already tried her tears and put the box on the case that Cao Hao had in hand.

Cao Hao opened it and looked at it twice, but his face changed.

The whole half of the box is a ticket, and they are all dead, without exception.

It seems that this younger brother and sister-in-law are really noble, they know that they have limited money, and they have the intention of redeeming their deaths, and they have no intention of asking for silver from the capital family.

This younger brother, the world looks down on him.

Cao Hao tapped his fingers on the table, and was speechless for a while. Cao Song couldn't sit still anymore, stood up, blushed, and said to Lu Ju: "You are older than the fourth master, why don't you persuade him well?" I don't have any money, so don't tell me, when my brother is a decoration? ”

Lu Ju lowered her head and replied softly: "Second master, fourth master doesn't want the second master to bother. ”

Cao Song bit his lip, only to feel that his heart was blocked. Cao Hao stood up and said to the door: "Zhao Tong! ”

Zhao Tong came in in response, bowed down and said, "The little one is here." ”

Cao Hao pointed to the cabinet and instructed, "Make two people carry this to the post station." Speaking of this, he pointed to the two account books on several cases and said, "Put them away too......

* Yongning, Shenyan Village.

Listening to Duan's words, Cao Xiang couldn't help but be stunned and speechless for a long time. Seeing this, Duan said with a smile: "Is this Huanxi stupid?" ”

Cao Xiang hurriedly shook his head, struggled to sit up, and accidentally pulled the wound on his back, causing cold sweat in pain. When Duan saw it, he couldn't help but say angrily: "Lie down and say, don't touch the wound, otherwise you will have to make us Jiaojiao suffer." ”

Cao Xiang listened, thinking of what Fang Cai Duan said, he was in a coma for two days, it was the girl named Jiaojiao who medicated herself, her body couldn't help but freeze, and her face was more uncomfortable.

Seeing that he was not moving, Duan was satisfied, and said with a smile: "I know that listening to the old man, he is really a good boy." ”

"The old man has already married a wife." Cao Xiang raised his head and said calmly: "The kindness of the old man and his granddaughter's care will be remembered in my heart, and I will definitely repay it if I have the opportunity in the future." ”

When Duan heard this, he smiled, looked Cao Xiang up and down, added anger, and said, "Isn't it that you are an official, so you look down on us countrymen?" If the old woman doesn't find out with your colleagues, will she talk about her baby granddaughter? ”

When Cao Xiang heard this, he couldn't help but lose his speech.

According to the words of the world, he only has one concubine by his side, and he really has no wife.

In fact, according to his original intention, he only needs one green chrysanthemum, and he treats each other as a wife in his heart, and he doesn't want others to look down on green chrysanthemum because of his status as a concubine. It's just that Lu Ju is smart and knows how to measure, and finally persuaded Cao Xiang to truthfully explain Lu Ju's identity to the outside world. Otherwise, it is also a sin to take a concubine as a wife. Not to mention, over there in the capital, there is already a main room that has not passed through the door given by the mother-in-law.

"The old man, although he has not married in the next year, the elders in the family have already given a kiss, and they will get married when they return to Beijing after their term of office expires." Cao Xiang said stubbornly.

Seeing that he didn't let go, Duan's face couldn't help but show sadness, and he looked at Cao Xiang and said, "It is said that the grace of dripping water should be reciprocated by a spring." The old woman saw that you were a knowledgeable person, and thought that her character was also good, so she asked Jiaojiao to take care of you personally. She is a big girl with yellow flowers, and she has been waiting for you for a few days, do you have a conscience? Could it be that without a grandson, the granddaughter of the old woman can't be saved? In the end, Duan's had lost his coolness and silently left tears.

Hearing her words full of despair, Cao Xiang thought of her ordinary care, and felt a little unbearable, raised his head and said: "The kindness of the old man and the delicate girl to the next is in the next Minggan. If the old man doesn't dislike it, he is willing to treat the delicate girl as a sibling. When the words came out, he regretted it a little.

This Jiaojiao looks good, but she is the daughter of Kang Ting, the daughter of the "anti-thief" of the imperial court. Recognize this girl yourself, don't cause any more trouble?

However, as a man, he should also know about Entu. If it weren't for Duan's care, he would have died under the board a few days ago. Therefore, Cao Xiang dispelled the remorse in his heart and his eyes became firm.

Duan looked at Cao Xiang, his expression became more and more loving, and said, "You are a good boy, the old woman is not wrong." Speaking of this, she rushed to the door and said, "Jiaojiao, come in." ”

Cao Xiang was young in the end, but he didn't expect the person in the conversation just now to listen outside the door, and he was embarrassed. Jiaojiao but generously tightened, answered, entered the house, and walked in front of Duan's eyes.

"Grandmother......" Jiaojiao didn't look at Cao Xiang, and pulled Duan's arm, revealing a bit of coquettishness.

"Get on your knees!" Duan didn't smile, and said with a straight face.

Jiaojiao seemed to be obedient to this grandmother, and knelt down obediently.

"The words of the old woman, just say them once, you have to take them to heart." Duan said slowly: "From now on, you and your wife will be surnamed Duan, and you will no longer be a Kang woman. The person lying on the kang is the distant relative of the old woman, your cousin. After a few days, when your cousin's injury is better, the old woman will arrange to send you out of the village. ”

It was only at this time that Cao Xiang understood Duan's intentions. In the end, he has lived most of his life, and he knows that the crime of "rebellion" is to raid his family and exterminate his family, and he wants to protect his granddaughter.

Although he is good to Cao Xiang and has the intention of taking advantage of it, Cao Xiang can't be resentful when comparing his heart to his heart.

Listening to Duan's words, Jiaojiao couldn't help but be moved, raised her head and said, "Grandmother, Jiaojiao is not going anywhere, Jiaojiao is not leaving!" ”

"If you want to give filial piety to your old wife, don't leave......" Duan's attitude was resolute, and there was no room for maneuver.

"Grandmother ......" Jiaojiao saw the old man's appearance, knew that she had no choice, and couldn't help crying and fell to the ground...... * Henan Mansion, post station.

Jiang Jian read all the documents sent by the prefect's yamen, and drew up an excerpt in Cao Hao's tone. Cao Hao looked at it carefully, nodded, and was very satisfied. looked impartial, but it was just a truthful report of the situation of the officials of Henan Prefecture, but it unconsciously left some leeway for the Kang brothers.

"Your Excellency really wants to send the Fourth Master's things to the Imperial Palace?" Jiang Jian hesitated for a moment and asked.

Cao Hao nodded and said, "This is not only circumstantial evidence of the erosion of Henan Mansion officialdom, but also prevents Cao Xiang from being implicated." My younger brother has suffered a lot, and I, as an elder brother, can't let him suffer these grievances in vain......"

(To be continued)