As soon as you enter the East Warm Pavilion, the familiar sandalwood fragrance will come to your face.

This is the sandalwood of Jiangning Qingliang Temple, which has now become a tribute exclusively for the inner court, and does not need to go through Cao Xuan's transit.

After Cao Yan knelt down, Yongzheng waved his hand and said, "Get up and talk back." ”

Cao Yan rose in response, stood aside with his head down, his eyes and nose, his nose and mouth, and his mouth and heart.

Yongzheng couldn't help but look at Cao Yanlai, and then glanced at the thirteenth elder brother, and in comparison, he saw something else.

If Cao Yan was self-contained in the mirror, he felt that he had lost too much heart, and he was a little old.

When I didn't have a beard a few years ago, I could still dress up as a teenager, and now I am in a high position, for the sake of official authority, I grew a beard and looked much more stable.

In addition, in the past two years in Zhili, he often ran down with Tang Zhiyu, and his originally fair face also tanned a lot, fading away from wealth and wealth, leaving a little bit of vicissitudes of time.

But where can it be compared with the thirteenth elder brother?

The thirteenth elder brother was worried about the emperor, saying that he could not sleep for two hours a day; How can the thirteenth elder brother, the prime minister who is relied on by the emperor as his right-hand man, be idle?

Cao Yan is just becoming more and more stable, but the thirteenth elder brother is showing his old state.

Yongzheng felt a little pantothenic acid in his heart, and he was a little envious of Cao Yan's youth.

His face was cloudy, and the thirteenth elder brother was faintly anxious. He didn't know why the emperor's face changed, and he obviously still admired Cao Yan.

Cao Yan also felt that his scalp was numb, and this feeling of being looked at and looked at by the Ninety-Five Venerable was really uncomfortable.

Fortunately, Yongzheng finally looked away, raised the sea trade strip, snorted, and said, "I thought you were still cautious earlier, how can you talk about it now?" If it is true, as you have said, that the wealth of the people is collected to enrich the country, even if the land annexation can be postponed, how long can it be postponed, and when the gold and silver increase, will the annexation not become more and more intense? ”

In fact, there is no need for Cao Yan to consider this problem at all, because in less than two years, the policy of "the gentry pay for food in one" will come out.

Cao Yan knew it in his heart, but he still showed a look of enlightenment, and said honestly: "I can't complain that Weichen always feels that he has neglected something, it turns out that this is here." also asked the emperor to forgive the sin, it was really because of the micro-minister's thoughtlessness. Weichen just thought that the treasury was not rich in money, and there was a lot of floating wealth among the people, so he had this shallow idea. ”

Yongzheng's expression was slightly soothed, Cao Yan's years of experience are here, and it is not easy to stare at his own one-third of an acre to consider the problem, and there are also those who can't be far-sighted.

Yongzheng put Tiao Chen down and said: "Treating the symptoms but not the root cause is not beneficial to the locality." ”

Cao Yan listened honestly, the so-called "for the locality" is just a big banner, just a first step to add fuel to the fire and promote maritime trade.

When Yongzheng and the magnates taste the sweetness of sea trade, there is no need for Cao Yan to worry about it, and naturally there will be people who are willing to be promoters.

Next, Yongzheng raised a few questions about maritime trade.

Although Cao Yan was prepared, he was still sweating when asked.

Listening to Yongzheng's meaning, he wanted the court to take the lion's share and handle this matter.

In that case, wouldn't it start with shipbuilding? There are many yamen involved, and I don't know what it will look like in the end.

According to Cao Yan's idea, it is best to supervise the imperial court, solicit powerful merchants to carry out this matter in the same way as bidding from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and like the East India Company, go abroad in the form of economy and trade, and resist the enemy's country.

It can be seen that Yongzheng is quite interested, and Cao Yan listened honestly.

There is really no need to argue with Yongzheng at this time, he has watched it for more than ten years, and he knows some of Yongzheng's surnames, which are the most pragmatic and not love false names.

If it is the strength of the country, it may be possible to form a large fleet and go to the Western Ocean of the Qing Kingdom, but that is not Yongzheng's style of acting.

He is just rising now, and when he calms down, he will calculate the cost and gain, and finally slow down.

When Cao Yan was asked to kneel down, Yongzheng and Cao Jun were both satisfied.

"Cao Yan is still diligent, but he is still young in the end, and he still needs to have a good life experience." Yongzheng said to the thirteenth elder brother with a warm face.

The thirteenth elder brother echoed: "Yes, I still need the emperor's teaching to be able to see better." ”

Having said that, he knew that the emperor was satisfied with Cao Yan.

The emperor is very affectionate and affectionate, and whoever is pleasing to the eye is full of good; If you are disgusted, no matter how good it is, it is not good.

Now Zhang Tingyu is in his hands, and there are also some rumors in front of the palace. Of course, some people say that Zhang Tingyu relied on his identity to suppress Cao Yan, and some people say that Cao Yan was dissatisfied with his work.

For this matter, the emperor also asked him if Cao Yan had been imprisoned.

Now there is this sea trade matter leading, showing that Cao Yan is still diligent, and there is no complaint and grievance in front of the emperor's answer, which is in line with the emperor's thoughts...... * Out of the palace, the sky has darkened, Cao Man brought a few long entourage, carrying lanterns, and waited not far away.

The corners of Cao Yan's mouth were slightly upturned, and Yongzheng asked him to supplement the matter of sea trade, draw up a detailed statement, and discuss it first.

Needless to say, in that case, the person who will take the lead will not be him Cao Yan, but Zhang Tingyu.

This is very good, after all, the trade of the whole country is the first time in the Qing Dynasty, and I don't know how many rights and wrongs and mistakes will be made in it.

Cao Yan was depressed without any achievements, but gave birth to a little bit of relaxation under the big tree.

Returned to Cao's Mansion, entered the second gate, and didn't walk a few steps before seeing Chu Yu come out of the second gate.

Cao Yan glanced at the upper room of the Orchid Courtyard, and through the glass window, the figures inside flickered.

Cao Yan was a little surprised: "The children are still in the old lady's room? ”

"The children are waiting for the master to come back for a reunion dinner." Chu Yu said with a smile: "I can't persuade them, I can only let them." ”

When Cao Yan heard this, he couldn't help but shake his head and said, "Why are you messing around with them, there are old and young here, how can you be hungry?" ”

"I just ate the dumplings, even if the children are a piece of heart, the master still bears it." Chu Yu said.

Cao Yan listened, but he was still not free and sped up, went back to Wutong Garden to change his supplementary clothes, and then the husband and wife went back to Lanyuan.

Up to Gao Taijun, down to Tianbao, four generations in the same hall, up and down more than a dozen mouths, plus Zuo Zhu and Zuo Cheng brothers, everyone sat at the big table.

The hot sauerkraut pot, as well as Hengsheng's favorite barbecue steak, and the scorched meatballs that the Zuozhu brothers love to eat, are full of tables.

Except for Tianbao snuggling up to Li's side and eating a few meatballs with a spoon, everyone else poured Caofu's self-brewed "Wufu Wine" in front of them.

Although the teenagers are not very old and should not drink alcohol, this "Wufu Wine" is fruit wine, which is not easy to get drunk, but Cao Yan does not stop it.

This is Hengsheng's catch wine, and the little brother has to raise a glass to salute him.

Hengsheng does not refuse, he is really happy, for the middle of several brothers, for Zuo Zhu, Zuo Cheng's family affairs, for his father to be safe and sound, for the eldest uncle to be robbed and alive, for the old lady and the old lady to be healthy and safe.

After a round of this round, he ate a lot of wine.

Tianyou was on the side, a little worried, took a step ahead of the wine jug, and said, "The second brother has eaten a lot, it's almost." ”

Heng Sheng's face was slightly drunk, and he smiled: "Big brother, this wine is like sugar water, it's really nothing." My brother came home and was happy, so my brother let me eat two more cups. ”

Tianyou wanted to say it again, Cao Yan said: "Pour it for him, hurry up, I want to come and have a lack of body, it's good to eat some wine and sleep." ”

When his father spoke, Tianyou naturally had nothing to say, poured it for Hengsheng, and then filled his wine cup.

Although Hengsheng ate happily, he knew that in front of his elders, he was still very restrained, and after eating the wine in the jug, he put down the wine cup.

Changsheng is a few years younger than everyone else, but it is the same as Niuniu and Tianhui, and it just means the same thing.

Seeing that a few nephews had eaten a small jar of "Wufu Wine", and it wasn't good, Changsheng couldn't help but be speechless, and said: "When I saw you during the New Year, I didn't have such a amount of alcohol, how did I grow a lot of alcohol?" ”

A small jar of "Wufu Wine" is two catties, even if this wine is not intoxicating, it is a lot.

In a word, the Li family and Cao Yan and his wife also looked at the four children.

Although the Cao family has several kinds of fine wine, they are strict with the children, even if it is fruit wine, it is only to eat two cups every year.

Hengsheng is nothing, but Tianyou and Zuozhu brothers are uncomfortable.

Tianyou laughed twice and said, "There were too many drinks last month. However, the nephews never forgot their father's teachings, and they didn't dare to be greedy for cups, but they couldn't push it, so they ate two cups. ”

Zuo Zhu echoed: "That's it, that's it, not to mention the side, even if you eat in the same year, there will be seven or eight times, and there are brothers in the same room, fellow villagers, and classmates, which is not easy to fall behind." It's good that this month has stopped, otherwise I wouldn't have survived. ”

Zuo Cheng also nodded and said: "Most of you are dealing with each other for the first time, and most of them are in moderation, and there are few people who don't know how to drink, so Uncle Seven don't worry." ”

After taking his brothers, Hengsheng said: "The meal in Khalkha is different from that in Beijing, except for milk, it is meat, and it is mostly eaten with wine." In addition, it is cold early on the grassland, so eat some wine in the morning and evening, which is also good to keep out the cold. ”

Changsheng nodded and said, "I see, then it's not unusual. ”

Cao Yan glanced at everyone and said, "I'm not forcing you not to drink, it's just that you are now older, and you also go out to socialize, and when you see the drunken ugliness of others, you still need to remember to introspect." ”

"Yes." Sixiao got up and responded, and he felt happy in his heart.

If they really get drunk outside, even if the elders don't say it, they will die of shame.

A meal, eat until eight o'clock in the evening.

Because the children had eaten and drank, it was late again, so Chu Yu stayed with Zuo and Zuo Cheng, and sent the little maid to the Ning Mansion to inform Tian.

As soon as the wind blew from the Orchid Courtyard, Hengsheng was drunk, and he was carried down by Tianyou and Zuozhu.

Niuniu and Tianhui went back to their respective yards together, and Cao Yan and his wife also returned to Wutong Garden.

"Hengsheng's surname is sincere, and this time the injury is not light." Chu Yu said with distress while serving her husband and taking off his clothes.

Cao Yan said with a little self-reproach: "It's me who is too rash." It is long overdue for a person to go to Khalkha to see it first, but because it is far away, it is negligent. ”

No matter how sensible Hengsheng is, he is also a fifteen-year-old child.

Although he had heard about those wives and concubines and brothers fighting for property, he had only heard of them in the capital, and he had never experienced them personally.

"The horse of Seon, how do you know if it is a blessing? Don't blame yourself too much, after all, this time Hengsheng is just a guest, and he can come back. If we go to the light now, and we will be able to take care of Hengsheng, and then we will not be able to take care of these means, then it will harm Hengsheng. Chu Yu said.

Cao Yan nodded, he didn't stop the son from recognizing his son earlier, because he couldn't give up his kindness. Now it seems that the heart of the son of the world's bullshit and love for the son, whether it is lip service, or really has weight, remains to be considered.

At this time, Cao Yu remembered what Cao Yi had mentioned and said it to Chu Yu.

When Chu Yu heard this, he couldn't help frowning, and said, "Is the second offering a little older?" ”

Cao Yan knew that after his wife returned to Beijing, he asked people outside the mansion to inquire about Xiqiu's family, and asked, "Is there anyone else outside?" ”

"A few days ago, I asked people to inquire, but there were two candidates, one was the shopkeeper of the drum tower shop in Daoxiang Village, thirty-five, and the widow had a daughter, who was about the same age as Tianhui, and it was time to talk about people. There is also a Zhong Juren, who is the uncle of Sister Zhong, who lives in Beijing, has a reputation for raising people, and is now sitting in the Shilang Mansion. is a few years older than the shopkeeper, his wife died of illness, and his two sons are studying in the countryside and have married a daughter-in-law. Chu Yu said.

The former Cao Yan heard of it for the first time, but the latter Cao Yan had seen it.

Back then, Zhong Juren entered Beijing to Kaoenke, and sent his niece Zhong to Beijing by the way, Cao Yan once met Jiang Jian at his wedding, he was not tall, he spoke quite loudly, and he looked quite square.

He did not return to his hometown, but stayed in Beijing, and it seems that he will wait for the meeting next spring.

"Since Zhong Juren stayed in Beijing, he had to wait for the test. If you want to go on a career path, you should be picky about marrying a wife, which is very inappropriate. Cao Yan said.

Chu Yu nodded and said, "I said the same too." I just heard Sister Zhong mention that although their family is a scholarly heirloom, their children are not too picky in marriage, as long as they are innocent and have no relatives within three generations, they can worship the family temple. She had a brother, and she married a maidservant girl released by a big family in the same township. ”

There is an old saying, "It is better to marry a maid than a little girl".

Moreover, the current Xiqiu is not the servant daughter of the Cao family, but the little master of Cao Yan.

If you are a scholar who has no help, you can take advantage of this to take advantage of the relationship of the Cao family, I am afraid that I would like to marry Xiqiu.

Cao Yan didn't want to maliciously speculate on people's hearts, and now he wasn't too worried about what bad intentions this Zhong Juren really had, because there were too many disparities between the two sides.

Regardless of whether the other party is sincere or wants to build a bridge, as long as you treat the autumn with kindness, everything is easy to say; Otherwise, Cao Yan also has the ability to make everything empty.

"Ming said that you mentioned it to Xiqiu and see what she thinks. If she wants to be decent, even if there is no Zhong Juren, please ask Mr. Song to think of a way, and she can find another proper person. If you want to live a down-to-earth life, it's good to become a shopkeeper and two offerings. Cao Yan said.

Although Mr. Song has been retired at home, his disciples and grandchildren are all over the officialdom.

Not to mention that there is no official award, even if you directly find a candidate with a top, it is not difficult.

Chu Yu smiled when he heard this: "With the support of the master, it is natural to find a second aunt who agrees." It's just that I look at her as usual, she is a quiet and honest person, but she may not have any rich intentions......"

* There was no word for a night, and the next time Cao Yan went to the yamen as usual, Chu Yu first went to the Orchid Courtyard to ask for peace, and then took care of the housework in the Wutong Garden.

Tianhui is also here, and the two aunts and nephews are busy in the small kitchen of Rongyuan, and they heard that Chu Yu is coming over and is busy bringing the prepared food.

"Is this a milk dumpling?" Looking at the white with a little bit of red milk, Chu Yu smiled and pinched a piece, looked at it twice, and said, "This is mixed with wolfberry minced?" ”

Niuniu smiled: "It's not wolfberry, it's ephedra." Hengsheng said, the milk food in Khalkha is mixed with this. Ephedra sweats and dissipates cold, and the lungs relieve asthma, which is something that should be used as a tonic in winter. With this, eat two pieces at a time, just as conditioning. ”

Ephedra is a common traditional Chinese medicine, and the government also makes some ephedra honey pills every year, which are prepared in winter.

Chu Yu put the dumplings in his mouth, full of milky fragrance, and the smell of medicine was covered, but it was not obvious at all: "It's very soft and sweet, I want to meet the appetite of the old lady and the old lady." ”

Tianhui said: "Mother, this is with milk skin and honey, if you want to eat chewy, you can skip those two." ”

Chu Yu nodded with a smile, looked at the plate full of milk dumplings, and said, "No matter how good the things are, they are also added with medicinal herbs, so it is better to eat less." If you want to eat more milk, you can add more dried fruits and candied fruits. ”

Niuniu and Tianhui responded, and seeing that their aunt and nephew were still unsatisfied, Chu Yu sent them busy and talked to Pian Qiu and Xi Qiu.

A few words of gossip led to the marriage of Xiqiu.

Although Xiqiu's face was flushed, she was not a yellow flower girl after all, and there was nothing to avoid, I heard Chu Yu say three candidates.

Lianqiu took a fancy to the shopkeeper and said: "This is the same age, and he is an old man who has been used by his wife for many years, and he knows the roots." Even if you have a girl, you have to go out, and it doesn't bother much. ”

Xiqiu listened, but was a little hesitant.

Seeing this, Lianqiu couldn't help frowning, and said, "Could it be that my sister hasn't changed her original intention, and she thinks that reading people is good?" You didn't hear my wife say that the old man will end up next year, if he doesn't hit, he will be fine; If you win the Jinshi, how can you be willing to marry us? Even if it is a matter of this, eighty percent is to cling to the house, where can the character be reliable? ”

Although Chu Yu is still there, everyone has been together for more than ten years, and there is nothing to avoid.

Xiqiu hurriedly shook her head, blushing and said, "My sister misunderstood, my sister didn't think that the old man was ......."

Lianqiu breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It's good that you understand it in your heart." The big guy is looking for someone for you, and I still hope that you will live in peace and stability for the rest of your life. You are still young, find a man of the same age, have two children, and save the loneliness. ”

Xiqiu pursed her lips, but she didn't nod or shake her head.

Lianqiu couldn't help but wonder, but Chu Yu saw something, and said bluntly: "Could it be that the second aunt didn't take a fancy to the shopkeeper?" ”

Xiqiu's face blushed even more, her head lowered, and her chin was about to be pushed up to the placket.

Lianqiu's face changed: "I didn't take a fancy to Zhong Juren, nor did I fancy Cheng as a shopkeeper...... Could it be that you can't choose two to worship? ”

Xiqiu lowered her head and whispered, "I followed my sister into the mansion when I was fifteen years old, and I have been in the mansion for seventeen years so far...... Outside, I'm a little scared...... I really don't want to leave this house......"

Lianqiu shook her head and said, "Even then, you don't have to choose two to worship." If you have this heart, you told my wife earlier that you should find someone in the house, so why bother your wife to bother to find you outside? ”

Xiqiu didn't say anything, just red eyes.

Chu Yu has always been empathetic, and he knows that he cherishes his worries.

Xiqiu's identity, even if he is half of Cao Yan's elders, how can he marry the Cao family, then he will lose his dignity and humility, and everyone will not look good in the future.

Although Cao Yi is a native of Cao's mansion, he is a worshipper, a good citizen, and not a slave.

He has a high prestige, and most of the nursing homes in the house are taught by him, and the Cao family respects him.

Marriage is a major event, and it is related to the joy of cherishing the second half of autumn.

The two sisters disagreed, and Chu Yu couldn't say anything, so under the pretext that there was housework, she took the first step and let the sisters discuss it by themselves, and they were not in a hurry to say this.

She is not in a hurry, but someone is in a hurry.

Following Hengsheng to Khalkha, Cao Yan thanked everyone for their hard work, and in addition to rewarding each person with silver money, he also gave him half a month's leave.

Cao Yi didn't know the hard work, so he only rested for a while, and then appeared in front of Cao Yi again, leading people to escort Cao Yan in and out.

Cao Yan persuaded him to rest, and he patted his chest, only saying that he had recovered and was not tired at all.

Then, he looked at Cao Yan with an expectant and eager look.

Cao Yi was stared at by him uncomfortably, so he could only ask Chu Yu to urge again, whether it was successful or not, or give a letter, otherwise Cao Yi would become a complaining husband.

This time, I finally got the letter.

The eldest aunt nodded...... The second worship is famous, she has scruples, or Niuniu came forward to persuade her...... Niu Niu said, although the second worship is a little uninhibited, but the heart is not bad, and he likes to play with the children, maybe he is in harmony with the second aunt......" Chu Yu said to Cao Yan with a smile.

Since he heard his wife say that the three people chose the second worship that Xiqiu fancied, Cao Yan knew that this family affair was eighty percent dramatic.

Even if Lianqiu is picky, it still depends on Xiqiu's mind in the end.

"It's okay to worship the second, if you really marry outside, it's okay to live a good life, if it doesn't go well, it's still sad." Cao Yan is very satisfied with this result.

Although the second of the three may not be the best candidate for a husband, it is a pity that Qiu's choice simplifies her marriage and saves her a lot of unpredictable troubles.

"Although I have the quasi-letter, I am afraid that I will have to make the second offering wait for some time. The second aunt said that no matter what, she would wait for Niuniu to come out of the cabinet before her. Chu Yu said.

It's just that he has been waiting for half a year, and since his wish has come true, Cao Yi must be willing to wait.

Sure enough, when he heard that Xiqiu would not remarry until Niuniu came out of the cabinet, Cao Yi was not dissatisfied, but brought a little joy, and said: "Don't worry, don't worry, as long as the family affairs are decided first." ”

Although Xiqiu is remarried, Cao Yi is the first time to propose marriage.

Although he didn't know this, he consulted Zhang Yi and Cao Man, took out three hundred taels of silver, and prepared a decent dowry on the spot, and invited someone to send it to the Rong Yuan.

Xiqiu personally sewed a pair of clothes and a pair of shoes and socks to return the gift, and the relationship between the two was decided.

Although Cao Yi didn't save any money in the Cao family, he also saved a few good things before entering the Cao Mansion.

Now that he wants to marry, he naturally can't wait for twenty taels of silver every month to prepare for family affairs.

In addition to two pieces of jewelry, a dowry was added, there was also a pair of swords handed down from the previous dynasty, and a jade belt.

He handed over the sword and jade belt to Zhang Yi and asked him to take it off on his behalf.

Zhang Yi did not take the things out of the mansion directly, but sent them to Cao Yan.

Cao Yan saw that the sword was new, but the handle was smooth and oily; The jade belt was wrapped in flannel cloth and hidden in the brocade box, knowing that these two things were Cao Yi's beloved things, so he instructed Zhang Yi to leave the things and let him go to the account office to pay two thousand taels of silver to Cao Yi ......* to complete the task and scatter flowers. Tomorrow we will start to get some time earlier.

still

(To be continued)