The next day, when he arrived at the Yamen, Cao Hao heard the news that Yi Duli, the head of the Internal Affairs Bureau, the cabinet of the Agency, and the official of the Ministry of War, was promoted to the left squire of the Ministry of War.

"I-sama has finally come out of it." Jiang Jian and Yi Duli are also familiar with each other, and said to Cao Hao with a smile.

In Cao Hao's heart, he also rejoiced in Yiduli.

After all, he was born in the Prime Minister's Mansion, and there is a biological mother with both talent and virtue above, and Yi Duli is much more capable than ordinary officials in addition to being lustful.

He is the brother-in-law of the thirteenth elder brother and the in-laws of his children, and in the eyes of the emperor, he should also be his own person. It is important now, and it is reasonable.

As he was talking, he saw movement outside the window.

It was the official of the glass department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs who brought people to send glass, and when he heard that Cao Hao was there, he came to greet him. As long as it is an old man in the Internal Affairs Office, who doesn't know that Cao Hao has the best relationship with the sixteenth elder brother.

"After the glass is made, I will send it to the adults first, I don't know where the adults are saying Xiumu, and the villain will bring someone over to install it for the adults." After the little official said goodbye, he leaned over and said.

The glass windows in the central hall of the main hall and the two scholars have been replaced, and the windows are bright and clean, adding a bit of new atmosphere to the entire yamen.

Cao Hao said with a smile: "There is no need to bother so much, if there are enough people, just a few people come over at noon to put it on." ”

The little official was happy to flatter, and at noon, with a few nimble men, it took half an hour to change the window on Cao Hao's side.

Standing under the window, Jiang Jian said in a low voice: "I really didn't expect that glass could be used like this." I don't think it is in summer, but if the sun shines into the house in winter, the house will be much warmer, and a lot of charcoal can be saved in the yamen. ”

Cao Hao listened to this, thinking that he had greenhouses in Zhuangzi and Haidian Gardens in Changping, and planted some greens in autumn and winter. Now it seems that there is another use for this glass, and the sixteenth elder brother will also collect more silver.

When Luo Ya went home, he saw the chief housekeeper handing over two posts, one was a post about the banquet after Yidu Li, and the other was a post about the sixteenth day of Prince Chun's mansion.

"Ming'er sent someone to Lord Yi's house to say something, and said that I would arrive on time." Cao Hao instructed: "Lord Yi loves antique calligraphy and painting, you go to the warehouse to find a few, ask your wife to order a few, and send them as a congratulatory gift." ”

Cao Yuan bowed down and responded, and asked for the resettlement of the six households.

The six women were all familiar before coming to Cao's house, two were needlework people, two pulp washing people, one stove man, and one combing hair. Their men, two carpenters, two drivers, and two farmers, used to take care of the vegetable garden.

"Master, what Mrs. means, other people's errands remain the same, but the kitchen is heavy, and it is not easy to enter outsiders, and the person on the stove, if the craftsmanship is ordinary, order her to make up an errand casually; If the craftsmanship is really good, she will guide a few girls to cook. Outside, the wife asked the master to take ideas. Cao Yuandao.

"Keep some of the two Sinongs, I have my own use, and the other four, the chief manager will look at the arrangement." Cao Hao said.

After explaining this, Cao Hao went back to the inner courtyard.

When passing by Wutong Garden, I saw that there were people in the courtyard, and there was laughter and joy in the upper room, and Cao Hao's originally heavy mood was also soothed.

"The master is back!" There was already a maid under the corridor who saw Cao Hao, and raised her voice while picking up the bamboo curtain.

As Cao Hao entered the house, the laughter gradually stopped.

In addition to Li's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, Dongfu Zhaojia's and Suxin's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are also there.

There are brothers and daughters-in-law, Cao Hao, who is an uncle, is not good to stay, and after asking the two elders for peace, he went out of the Lan Courtyard.

Seeing this, Li sent Chu Yu out with him.

"How is the old lady in a good mood? Why? The husband and wife were in parallel, Cao Hao asked.

"It was the second old lady who went out and saw the glass windows of other people's houses, and came back and said to the old lady that the two of them had made an appointment to change the glass windows together." Chu Yu said: "The second old lady is really interested in it, and she praised it for a long time. also said that if the old lady was reluctant, she would take out the private money for the old lady to change. ”

Cao Hao smiled: "It's rare that the second old lady still has such a generous time." ”

Chu Yu lowered his voice and said, "I looked at the second old lady, I deliberately wanted to make the old lady happy." He also said that he would keep a shy face and follow the old lady out of the city to escape the summer, so that the old lady could arrange it earlier. Although she had a smile on her face, she seemed very urgent in her words, and she was afraid that there were other reasons. I also thought about asking Su Xin in private, but before I could speak, my lord came back. ”

When Cao Hao heard this, he paused and said, "It seems that the second old lady should also hear about the Li family being escorted to Beijing to be punished." ”

Chu Yu nodded and said, "Eighty percent is yes." If it was left in normal times, I heard that the palace rewarded people with things and people, and the second old lady had to spy a few words and say a few sour words, but she didn't mention it today. ”

As soon as the husband and wife returned to Wutong Garden, Li sent a maid over and told Chu Yu to keep Zhaojia's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law for dinner, and asked Chu Yu to arrange additional dishes.

"The palace just sent two river shrimp over today, just in time to add vegetables, I remember that the master also loves to eat." Chu Yu served her husband and changed into official clothes and said.

Cao Hao originally wanted to mention the matter of the Li family to his mother today, but after the mother and son passed the anger, they discussed a showdown with the Gao family. Seeing that Li was in a good mood today, he couldn't bear to be disappointed, so he thought about pushing it to Ming'er.

Unexpectedly, after dinner, Li took the initiative to send someone over and invite him to Lanyuan.

Li was very calm on his face, sent the maids away, leaving only his son, and asked, "What is your uncle, don't hide it from me." Even your second aunt knows, so it's easy to inquire outside. Or tell me the truth, so that I don't have to think cranky and scare myself. ”

Cao Hao sighed in his heart and said, "Listen to the meaning of the sixteenth master, the eldest uncle and they will be able to reach the capital in a few days." ”

When Li heard this, he was not surprised at all.

She has also been an edict for many years, and she knows that when the magistrate enters Beijing, except for the order of His Majesty, nothing else is good.

Her face turned pale, looked at Cao Hao and said, "Will you really be sentenced to exile?" ”

Cao Hao had spoken to her before, but when she came to her, she still felt sad.

Cao Hao nodded and said, "Now I'm afraid I have to tell my grandmother." ”

When Li heard this, he was a little flustered and said, "Don't ...... How old are you...... Why don't you just listen to your second aunt, clean up in the next two days, and I'll take your grandmother to Haidian Zhuangzi for the summer? ”

Cao Hao shook his head and said, "I'm afraid I can't hide it...... On this year's Ministry of Internal Affairs small selection book, there is Xiangyu's name......"

"Huh?!" Li Shi was surprised, stunned, and said for a while: "Is it to go to the palace on an errand, or is it like our family, just give it to other people's families?" ”

If you enter the palace on an errand and have a concubine mother, you can still take care of one or two; If you give it to your courtiers at will, you will be completely slaved.

Looking at the girls of other people's families as alternate errands, it is not easy to say only two words; Thinking of his niece's and granddaughter's alternatives, Li Shi only felt cold: "Although it is a concubine, it was your maternal grandmother who raised it herself, isn't this digging into her old man's heart?" ”

"After all, there are a number of people who can get the emperor's palace maids, even if they are really given outside, they are not afraid, maybe it will be easier to take care of them." Cao Hao comforted: "Mother doesn't have to worry too much, the three girls of the Sun family are also among the candidates." Ming said that he asked Chu Yu to take her over for a turn, and the two were strong, and she could take care of her in the future. ”

So far, Li can only think better.

She also knew in her heart that because of the matter of Xiangyu, Gao Taijun's side could no longer hide it.

After sending Cao Hao away, Li went to Shaoyuan.

There is a lamp lit on the kang table, and Gao is sitting on the kang, with a thin willow basin in front of him picking up Buddha beans; Xiangyu held the half-beaten luozi and sat aside, talking to Gao while playing the luozi.

Xiangyu is the same age as Tianhui, the month is younger than Tianhui, and she is ten years old this year. She inherited the good looks of her parents, her lips are red and her teeth are white, and because she grew up next to her elders, she is much more sensible than children of the same age, and she is quiet, but she is more pitiful than ordinary people.

Li's gaze fell on her, and he couldn't take his eyes off it. This is just an orphan girl without a father and mother, because she is not treated by her own grandmother, she has not enjoyed the blessings of the Li family, but she has to be dragged down by the family.

Seeing her standing at the door and not coming in, Gao said angrily: "Don't come in yet!" ”

Li came to his senses, entered the house, and sat on the edge of the kang.

Xiangyu had already gotten off the kang and instructed the maid to make tea, and then held it to Li with both hands: "Aunt and grandmother, eat tea." ”

Li took it and said to Gao: "Mother, Brother Hao's daughter-in-law Ming'er went to Sun's house, and the sister-in-law of the eldest sister's family is younger than Sister Xian'er, and no more than two years older than Tianhui and Xiangyu. ”

When Gao Shi heard this, he frowned and said, "It's big, why are you still going around with it?" I'm not afraid of what others say. ”

Xiangyu was listening, but there was a bit of expectation in her expression; Seeing that Gao didn't allow it, his little head drooped down all of a sudden.

Tianhui still has a chance to go out, and is picked up by King Ping's Mansion, or returns to Chun's Mansion with Chu Yu; Xiangyu followed Gao's side, and Gao's love is quiet, and he rarely goes out of the house.

In normal times, Li can still say "It's still young, it's not in the way", but now Li is slightly bitter in his mouth and can't say anything.

Gao looked at Xiangyu's little head melon seeds, and was a little distressed, and said: "Go and go, I heard that Brother Li'er of the eldest sister's family will also end this year, if there is good news, their mother and son will also have a support in the future." ”

Li said: "I just happened to go to see Tianhui, can I let my granddaughter go with me?" ”

Gao glanced at Xiangyu lovingly and said, "Okay, let her eat too." In the evening, she ate half a plate of seed shrimp, and I was afraid that she would accumulate food. ”

Xiangyu was embarrassed to be said, pulled her sleeve, bowed her head and said, "Ancestor......"

Seeing that their ancestors and grandchildren were getting along, Li squeezed out a wry smile, got up and said, "Since that's the case, I'll take her over first." ”

Gao lowered his head and pulled Xiangyu's clothes, smoothed her placket, and then asked them to be free, but he still lowered his head and picked up Buddha beans without mentioning it.

Because it is the tenth day of the first month, the moon in the sky is half round, the ground is full of clear light, and the night breeze is coming, warm and soft, with a little comfort.

There was a maid in front of her carrying a lantern to lead the way, and Xiangyu was led by Li, the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, and she was already thinking about going out tomorrow.

When Li stopped, she realized that it was not Tianhui's Jinyuan, but the apricot courtyard where Aunt Luo and Aunt Chang were located.

Xiangyu, Tianhui, and Niuniu come over every three days for half a day, and follow the two aunts to learn etiquette, so they are familiar with this side.

The wings on both sides, which were originally free, were lit up at this time.

Xiangyu looked at it curiously, she also knew that the newcomer in the house was placed at the two aunts, and she followed Niuniu to see it quietly last night.

Li Shi did not stop, took Xiangyu's hand, and went directly into the courtyard, signaling to follow the waiting maid to pass.

Aunt Luo and Aunt Chang heard the movement and hurriedly came out to welcome the Li family in.

Standing on the porch, Xiangyu glanced back, and there was a figure shaking under the window of the east wing, but it was quiet, without the slightest noise.

The apricot courtyard is smaller than the other courtyards, with three small upper rooms, the west one is the residence of the two aunts, and the other two are open rooms.

Although the two didn't know the meaning of Li's coming, they still invited her to sit down for tea.

Li said: "How do the two aunts look at these ten girls?" ”

The two aunts glanced at each other, and Aunt Luo spoke: "They are all trained, and the rules are not bad." There are two big ones, a little more clever, but they also know how to measure. If the old lady is in a hurry, she can also take errands now. ”

Li shook his head and said, "Don't worry, it's just that my granddaughter is curious, if it's cheap, call her over and ask her to take a look." ”

Xiangyu stood beside the Li family, and when she heard this, her eyes were crooked, thinking that her aunt and grandmother were so powerful, she actually knew what she was thinking; I thought that it wasn't a peeking thing for my aunt and grandmother to know.

She raised her head slightly, secretly looked at Li, and saw that she was not annoyed on her face, so she was relieved.

The master commanded, the two aunts were speechless, and Aunt Chang confessed her guilt and went out, and after a while, she came in with ten palace maids.

They measured their bodies today, and it would take two days for the clothes to be produced, so they were still wearing light green palace maid clothes, and they stood there, unable to tell which one was which for a while.

"This is Mrs. Tai, you were personally given by the emperor to serve Mrs. Tai, and you don't say hello to Mrs. Tai." Aunt Chang explained in a low voice.

"The slave maid has seen Mrs. Tai, please say hello to Mrs. Tai." Everyone bowed their knees and said in unison.

Li Shi nodded and said, "Let's get up, I met in a hurry yesterday, and I forgot to ask." Now that I've seen you, I've signed up for the registration and told me who else is in your family and how to enter the palace on an errand! As he spoke, he pointed to the shortest one in the front row and said, "Start with you." ”

"Slave Yuying, there is an uncle's family at home, as well as an old lady and a fellow brother...... My family chose my cousin last year, but when my cousin fell ill, my uncle pushed the slave to ......"

"Slave Mingxia, both parents and three younger siblings, when they reach their age, they are on the list of candidates, and they enter the palace ......"

"Slave Chaohua...... Because of my grandfather's sin, my parents were not included in the Banner of Clothing......"

"Slave Grove...... Lin Er...... Because of his grandfather's early questioning, he didn't enter the palace four years ago......"

"Slave ......"

Among the ten people, seven people were selected to enter the palace, and three people were punished into the palace by the relatives of the criminals.

Li Shi listened to them one by one, and pointed to the fourth one: "Your name is Lin'er?" Look at you, it's not a few years old, and you've been in the palace for four years? ”

The girl knelt down and said, "My aunt said that the name of the slave and maid offended the girl, and asked the slave and maid to take the surname as the name first, and then ask the masters to give the name when they were sent an errand." The slave maid and the mother and sister entered the palace four years ago, because of the young age in the early years, there was no errand, last year twelve, with the sisters who just entered the palace, learn the rules together......"

(To be continued)