Iron Lion Hutong, Jiubeizi Mansion.

Brother Jiu looked at the sparse visitors, and his face couldn't help but be a little gloomy. This life is said to be every year, but no year is this year. Once upon a time, there was a lot of business here. Now, most of the officials just sent people to give birthday gifts.

Even if it was the birthday of the ninth elder brother, the tenth elder brother was not good, sitting on the side and drinking tea with a purple sand teapot in his hand. There were a few knowledgeable Guogong on the side who saw it, and they couldn't help but feel a little envious. Who doesn't know that Brother Ten loves antiques and treasures, and there are really a lot of good things in this house.

The fourteenth elder brother was talking and laughing, and was chatting speculatively with several military officials on the other side of the hall. Brother Jiu looked at it coldly, and couldn't help but snort coldly in his heart.

The holy car left Beijing, but the fourteenth elder brother did not stop. The Fourteenth Elder Brother's Mansion invited a gentleman, the scholar Chen Wance. The fourteenth elder brother called him "sir", and the teacher treated him politely.

Now, there is a word in Shilin, and the way is "Fourteenth Elder Brother Idle Corporal".

The name of bullshit is just something else. Brother Jiu picked the corners of his mouth and scolded in his heart.

This Chen Wance is just a move to take the exam in Beijing, and it is only because of an unusual teacher that he will attract the attention of the fourteenth elder brother. He was a disciple of Lee Kwang-di, a scholar of the dynasty.

Although Li Guangdi is over seventy years old and is already old, he is one of Kangxi's most relied on ministers.

Thinking of this, Brother Jiu felt irritable in his heart. Xu was due to fatigue on the road, and before he arrived in the capital, the eighth elder brother fell ill, dragged his sick body back to the capital, and did not come over today.

The fourteenth elder brother was talking to these two officials, when he saw the little servant next to him coming, and said in a low voice: "Master, Master Fang Caiyi sent a long entourage to present the birthday gift, saying that there is an urgent matter at home, so I won't come in today, please ask the master to talk to the ninth master." ”

When the fourteenth elder brother heard this, he couldn't help frowning a little. I met this morning or said yes, why don't you give face like this?

At this time, I saw the chief housekeeper of the Ninth Elder Brother's Mansion hurriedly coming in, and said to the Ninth Elder Brother's side: "Master, the fourth master is here!" ”

When the fourteenth elder brother heard this, he couldn't help but lose his mind a little. Where did this sun stone come out today? Why shouldn't you come, but shouldn't come to the door...... * Xicheng, Caofu, Songyuan upper room.

Cao Shuo took medicine after breakfast, and fell asleep again groggily, and did not wake up until noon. When he opened his eyes, he saw Cao Song and Cao Xiang sitting on the edge of the kang, his face was a little uncomfortable, and he struggled to get up.

Cao Song held it down and said, "It's good to lie down, what are you going to do when you get up?" Xiaosi and I will come over to see you, say a few words and leave. ”

Cao Shuo still sat up, his face was full of shame, hesitated for a moment, and said to Cao Song: "Brother,...... Why don't I go back to Jiangning to serve my uncle and uncle? It's cold in the north, and my brother can't get used to it. "In the end, with his head down, his voice was already inaudible.

Cao Song listened, turned to Cao Xiang and said, "Little Fourth go out first, I have something to say to your third brother." ”

Cao Xiang glanced at Cao Shuo with some concern, and said in a low voice: "Second brother, third brother is not in good health. ”

Cao Song waved his hand and said, "Mother-in-law, what?" Save your province! ”

Cao Xiang went out at this time, Cao Song looked at Cao Shuo, and said, "Third brother, you tell the truth to your brother, is it cold in the north, or are you impatient to take the exam?" ”

When Cao Shuo heard this, his face turned pale, and he lowered his head and said nothing.

Seeing that he was so unhappy, Cao Song stretched out his hand, slammed him on the shoulder, and said, "Look at your bear, who forced you to take the exam?" When you were young, you didn't love to read, but you always refused to speak. Isn't it true that my eldest brother and I don't have the imperial examination? What's the point if you don't take the test? ”

Although Cao Shuo is said to be calm, he is only sixteen, but he is only a half-grown child. After listening to Cao Song's words, he couldn't hold back any longer, tears had already come out, and he said in a low voice: "My father was right when he was alive, I was just a waste, a waste who couldn't do anything, and I had nowhere to go even if I wanted to eat!" ”

Cao Song was impatient when he heard it, and the word "" came to his lips and swallowed it raw. After all, it was said by the deceased father, and that seemed disrespectful. Therefore, he frowned and said, "In my father's eyes, apart from the eldest brother, who of our brothers is promising?" These words, don't say it's you, it's me, with the fourth and fifth grades, which one has never heard of it? It's just that I'm looking forward to our chances, but you take it seriously. ”

Cao Shuo was a little unconvinced, raised his head, and said with a little doubt: "Father also told my brother?" Cao Song showed a look of amazement on his face, and said: "Of course I have heard it, the left and right are nothing more than those few sentences, there are not ten times, but there are eight times." Speaking of this, there was a little discomfort on his face.

Now, he can't do anything, and he relies on his brother for everything, but what is not waste?

Not to mention that in the house, Cao Song and Cao Xiang's brothers talked earnestly, Cao Xiang stood outside the pine courtyard, but with a little urgency. The second brother has always had a bad temper, in case the third brother's words angered him...... Thinking of this, Cao Xiang shook his head again, it shouldn't be. The third brother is sick, even if there is a gaffe, the second brother will not care. At this time, I heard someone behind me: "What are you thinking about here?" ”

But it was Cao Hao who came back, because he was worried about Cao Shuo's condition, so after entering the second gate, he came to Songyuan to go around. I didn't expect this to come to him, and seeing Cao Xiang talking to himself, he couldn't help but ask.

Cao Xiang was startled, it turned out that he had just said the last sentence to himself. He hurriedly turned around and saluted Cao Hao, Cao Hao saw that his complexion looked much stronger than yesterday, and said, "I still have to rest a few more days, and I must take care of my body first." ”

Cao Xiang nodded and complied.

Seeing that he didn't enter the courtyard, Cao Hao circled around the door, raised his chin, and said, "Go, go in with me." ”

Cao Xiang shook his head and said, "Big brother, the second brother is talking to the third brother inside, so he sent me out." ”

"Oh?" Hearing that Cao Song was talking inside, Cao Hao was quite surprised, Xiao Er went to comfort his younger brother?

When I entered the house just now, I saw a lot of worship notes in the front yard, many of which were handed to Cao Xiang by scholars. Because Cao Hao didn't know what the rumors in the market were like, and he didn't know whether Cao Xiang was good or bad, he didn't send the post in.

Perhaps some scholars admired Cao Xiang's virtues, but most of them still came to the signboard of this earl's palace and Cao Hao's high position.

Among the worship posts, many of them were voted directly for Cao Hao. The above titles are varied, but the lower ones are almost the same, mostly "Ling Lang is the same person who is the student", or "Ling Brother is the same as the scholar so-and-so".

Cao Hao flipped through a few casually, but he couldn't laugh or cry.

Cao Xiang's homework was praised by Mr. Zhuang. If he didn't pass this subject, he could only wait for the next subject until he was impatient to take the test.

Thinking of this, Cao Hao said to Cao Xiang: "After a month of rest, you should also go out to school." After that, with classmates and friends, your life can be more relaxed. Do you want to go to the Eight Flags Academy or learn from the Zhaojia Clan, do you have any plans in your heart? ”

Cao Xiang was a little dazed when he heard this, and said, "My younger brother doesn't know, if the eldest brother is cheap, let's go to the Eight Banners Academy." After all, unlike the second and third brothers, it's better to go to official school. ”

Cao Hao nodded and said, "I know, I'll send someone to plan in two days." Although reading is important, the body must also be well maintained. You can be regarded as having seen the end this time. This is not a good physique, and it is really not easy to survive these three games. ”

When it came to the science field, Cao Xiang couldn't help but stick out his tongue and said, "What the eldest brother said is that the first few days are not bad, and in the next few days, the doctor did carry six or seven over the row. ”

While speaking, Cao Song came out of the house with a curtain, saw Cao Hao standing at the door, hurriedly stepped forward, and said, "Brother is back!" ”

Cao Hao nodded and asked, "What is the condition of the third brother?" ”

Cao Song said: "He has been thinking about this and that, I have already trained him, and now I tell him to lie down and sleep." ”

That being the case, Cao Hao didn't go to the room again, went to the Peony Courtyard, said hello to Zhaojia, and went back to Wutong Garden.

Cao Song and Cao Xiang also followed Cao Hao to the main house of the Shaoyuan.

In the morning, Zhao Jia's had already sent someone to Cao Xiang and asked Cao Shuo about the symptoms of his illness before and after. Therefore, looking at Cao Xiang now, she has nothing to say, waved her hand, and said: "You are also tired these days, so let's give birth and rest!" ”

Cao Xiang listened and went down, but Cao Song sat in the chair and did not leave.

Waiting for Cao Xiang to go out, Cao Song turned around and said to Zhao Jia's family: "Mother, the third child is really not a material for reading, I asked him just now, but I don't want to go out of office." ”

When Zhao Jiashi heard this, he was very surprised, and said, "How is this good, and what kind of moth is it about?" If he doesn't go out to eat on an errand, will he drink the northwest wind in the future? I've already thought about it, and I don't have to take the imperial examination for Na Lao Shizi, so it's only right to ask your uncle or your brother to go around the six departments and make up a pen-like errand for your brother. ”

When Cao Song heard this, he sighed in his heart and said, "Mother, this errand is made up when you open your mouth!" I don't know how much favor my brother wants, although my father is gone, and my uncle and brother take care of us, but this shouldn't be my brother's business. ”

Zhao Jia's family just mentioned it, and I haven't thought about it now, but today the waiter's house sent a post, and it was the waiter's wife, Wu Yashi, who invited her sister-in-law to come to the house to listen to the play.

This "listening to the play" is fake, and I am afraid that it is necessary to mention that Ruhui's family affairs are true.

Zhaojia's family is from his brother's compatriots, and he has a good relationship. The elder brother can not dislike their side of the family and agree to marry his daughter to Caofu, but it is just a love for his sister.

Now, Ruhui's illness has come out, and those who used to think about their relatives in Shilang's Mansion have long been hiding far away.

Thinking of this, Zhao Jiashi sighed and said to Cao Song: "Your aunt sent someone to send a letter today, and I will go over there tomorrow." Which young lady are you looking at, you told me earlier, and I have something to say in front of your aunt. Speaking of this, she took a sullen puff of her cigarette and said, "It's really not good, just do as you say, and tell your cousin to the third child!" ”

Cao Song listened, hurriedly waved his hand, and said: "Mother, my cousin is sick, so I said this to the third child, the two of them are sick and sick, how can they live?" On the third brother's side, it is always good to find someone who can take care of it. ”

Zhao Jiashi glared at Cao Song and said, "This is not something you made up, if it weren't for the young lady you fell in love with, Ruhui wouldn't have been able to take someone else's turn." It's just that your uncle only has this only daughter, if it's ordinary, it's okay, but if you go to someone else's house like this, isn't it suffering? ”

Cao Song knew that his mother's stubbornness could not be persuaded. A few days ago, when it came to the illness of Tong Ruhui in the Shilang Mansion, she also complained about Wu Ya's family several times, but now it seems that she has indeed changed her mind...... Cao Hao returned to Wutong Garden and entered the house. Chu Yu was dressed in regular clothes, sat on the edge of the kang, and coaxed Hengsheng to turn over nine consecutive rings.

Seeing Cao Hao coming back, Hengsheng immediately kicked his little short legs to get off the kang. Cao Hao was afraid that he would fall, so he took two steps forward and took him in his hand. didn't see Tianhui's cradle, Cao Hao asked, "Is the girl sleeping in the east house?" ”

Chu Yu nodded and said, "Well, Fang Milk took a while before falling asleep!" ”

Cao Hao shook the Hengsheng in his hand, and said to Chu Yu with a smile: "This little guy, he grows fast enough, you can't hold it, right?" ”

Chu Yu said: "It's okay, it's just that I've been holding it for a long time, and my arm is sore." ”

While speaking, Xiyun and Xicai had already sent Qing Shui over. Cao Hao put down Hengsheng, washed his hands, changed the clothes on his body, and asked Chu Yu: "Did you come back early, or did you not go?" ”

Chu Yu said: "I didn't pass, the things were sent early." I see that I don't like to interact with those mansions very much, and it's not interesting for me to go over like this, and the left and right etiquette is exhausted. ”

"If you don't go, you won't go, but it's not good to be bored at home all the time, and go out for a walk before it's winter. Didn't the eldest sister also send a post a few days ago, Sun Jue's concubine is a full moon these days, you can take this opportunity to go out and take a breath. Cao Hao sat on the edge of the kang and said.

Chu Yu accepted the nine links and said, "Speaking of going out, the second aunt also talked to me about it, and wanted me to accompany her to the Shilang Mansion as a guest." I guess that the second aunt wants to push the family affairs over there, but it's hard to speak, so she wants to push it on us. They are close relatives, and we are juniors, so it is not easy to mix, so I found a reason to push ......"

*

(To be continued)