Jiubeizi Mansion, living room.

Brother Jiu was furious, and slammed the blue and white bowl in his hand to the ground: "It's too much to deceive people, is this a raft for the master?" ”

Brother Ten sat down, looked at the angry Brother Nine, frowned, and said, "Brother Nine, now that the situation is a foregone conclusion, it is better to avoid the edge a little." ”

The ninth elder brother laughed angrily: "Tenth brother, is this avoidable?" You see, in the past few months since the death of Huang Ama, I will be the eighth king of the neck. What the result is, it's just a lesson for Sun Jue, but let him catch the pigtails! ”

Brother Ten hesitated for a moment and said, "After all, I didn't point to Brother Jiu clearly, so Brother Jiu still didn't feel impatient...... Today, it is said that it is not the same as in the past, and the fourteenth and fifteenth brothers are a lesson from the past......"

When Brother Jiu heard this, he raised his eyebrows, and the corners of his mouth added a little smile: "I forgot about this stubble, the old fourteenth is still guarding the spirit in Jingshan, and the fifteenth Changchun Garden is 'recuperating', and these two are the sons that the Queen Mother values the most......"

Seeing that he was smiling weirdly, Brother Shi's eyelids jumped, and he said, "Brother Jiu, can't you bear it?" ”

Brother Nine let out a long breath and said with a bit of self-deprecation: "Tenth brother thinks he is a big-hearted person? I can bear it, but he may not be able to spare me. While his chair is still hot, I can still feel more comfortable and let out a few bad breaths. I'm afraid it's my end, and I'm not even as good as the boss. Hmph, I have enjoyed the well-being that I should enjoy in this life, but are you still afraid? He never dared to bear the infamy of 'slaughtering his brother'. Even the old fourteen are kept by him, what else do I have to be afraid of? ”

Brother Ten listened, worried.

He knew that Brother Jiu's dissatisfaction with the new emperor was not a matter of one or two.

The new emperor ascended the throne and honored the first emperor's harem, Tong Guifei was honored as the imperial concubine, and the concubine was honored as the imperial concubine, and the concubine and the princess were honored as concubines. Concubine Yi, who was originally the first person in the harem, did not get any honorifics.

Among the four palace concubines of the first emperor, Concubine Hui was affected by the eldest brother and was silent for many years; Concubine Rong is old and frail, and in recent years, she has also been lingering on the sickbed, only Concubine Yi, without the name of a concubine, has already done the things of a concubine.

With Concubine Yi's status in the harem, it is reasonable to be honored as the imperial concubine.

Partial, Yongzheng acted as he pleased, without taking into account Concubine Yi's face.

"Brother Jiu, it's just a false name, what's the point of fighting for this? I heard that the third and fifth brothers are going to go to the fold recently, and welcome several concubines out of the palace to be raised. The gathering of flesh and blood is not better than the false name. Seeing that the ninth elder brother was indignant, the tenth elder brother acted more and more strangely and extremely, and he was very worried in his heart, and persuaded him bitterly.

Although the tenth elder brother knew that he had good intentions, he had always been used to it, and he still didn't think so.

At this time, I saw the housekeeper hurriedly come to report: "Master, Yitai has sent someone here, saying that the old prince is afraid that it will not work......"

When the ninth elder brother heard this, his face showed a little joy, and he got up and said to the tenth elder brother: "Tenth brother, let's go, let's take a look!" ”

"Itai?" Brother Ten only felt that this name was familiar: "Prince Zhuang's nephew? The one who competes with Fucang for the throne of the world? ”

Brother Jiu nodded and said, "That kid is still open-eyed, and he knows that the master is here to hit the big bell!" Zhuangwang's mansion is rich and oily, and I am worried that I can't intervene. ”

The tenth elder brother knows the surname of the ninth elder brother, and he loves money the most.

It is taboo to meddle in the establishment of heirs in other palaces, but Brother Jiu has the position of the left sect of the Zongren Mansion, and within the scope of his duties, he will also have a certain amount of convenience at that time...... * Forbidden City, the Palace of Nourishing the Heart.

Cao Hao knelt on the ground, not daring to raise his head.

is really this emperor, familiar is familiar, but he is too famous in later generations.

And Cao Hao truly witnessed the existence of the sticky rod.

Even if he believed that he knew something about the fourth elder brother who did not ascend the throne, Cao Hao still did not dare to speculate easily about the Yongzheng Emperor who ascended the dragon chair.

Cao Hao is a human being, so he compares his heart to his heart and can guess people's hearts. But after all, he is just a human being, and he has never been a human king.

So far, what Yongzheng has shown is inconsistent with his earlier surname.

If it weren't for Cao Hao's attention to the royal family for 20 years, being a Beijing official for more than 10 years, and having some understanding of Yongzheng's past, he would have thought that Yongzheng, the emperor, was really too humane.

Just like now, he was holding Cao Hao's fold in his hand, and his face showed a little compassion, and said, "Five years is too long." No matter how difficult the people's livelihood is, if these two crops are promoted as soon as possible, tens of thousands of more people can be saved! Speaking of this, he looked at Cao Hao, raised his voice, and said, "I asked you to preside over this matter, and you are too careful." Could it be that he was afraid of taking responsibility, so he used these old and serious methods? ”

"If you go back to the emperor, it is really a matter of people's livelihood, and the ministers dare not slack off. Although this bud grain is a cold-tolerant and high-yield crop, the soil quality is different in various places, and the actual harvest is not a general statement, and the storage of sweet potatoes is also a problem. Although the minister does not serve farming, he does not dare to forget the words 'adapt measures to local conditions'. Cao Hao bowed his head and replied: "The emperor promoted these two crops to the world, originally to benefit the people, if it is due to the negligence of the ministers, it has become a harm to the people, and it is not a pity for the ministers to die, but it is a pity for the people to live and cannot bathe in the emperor's grace." ”

Yongzheng listened to Cao Hao's words, his expression was slightly softened, and he didn't care about Cao Hao's slow surname: "Don't be greedy for merit, you can think of the people everywhere, you can be described as a good minister." Speaking of this, he paused and said: "It's just that the treasury is empty, and only by promoting buds and sweet potatoes, it can save the people in one place." In the event of a natural disaster, the imperial court is still needed to provide relief. You have investigated Jingcang with me, and you have also served as a foreign official, and you also know a thing or two about the situation and disadvantages of this local official warehouse. I want you to think of a way, either to enrich the treasury, or to fill the official warehouse, and always make the people in distress, the court has the ability to help. ”

In the end, he leaned forward slightly and looked at Cao Hao's face with a bit of hope.

The thirteenth elder brother stood on one side, looking at his nose and nose and mouth, and asking his heart.

He knew in his heart that the emperor was forced to do nothing, so he pinned his hopes on Cao Hao.

If you don't know how expensive firewood and rice are, the thirteenth elder brother only knew how urgent the imperial court's finances were after accepting the three libraries of the household department.

It can be said that not only did the treasury not have any silver, but also a pile of foreign debts from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which were spent on the funeral of the emperor.

Cao Hao listened to Yongzheng's words, but he was shocked.

The official warehouse in this place is not as good as Jingcang, Jingcang is responsible for the Eight Banners and the hundred official Lu rice of the clan, even if someone is bold and moves some hands and feet, it is just old grain for new rice, less weight or something, and dare not be too presumptuous.

The magistrate's warehouse, that is, the fat that fell into the kennel, where is there left?

If he really touched the local granary and took out the radish and brought out the mud, he would become Yongzheng's gun.

Therefore, Cao Hao was very "embarrassed" to express his difficulties, and he was really unfamiliar with the local granary. When he was released, he was still a weak-crowned teenager, and the so-called release was just a false name.

Yongzheng thought about it, Cao Hao has been in Shandong for a year, and he really has no political achievements. At that time, there was a Zhuang seat beside Cao Hao, a Zhuang seat that was inextricably linked with the emperor.

"That being the case, the matter of the official warehouse is over. In addition to farming, you should also take the matter of enriching the treasury to heart, which is also your duty, if you have any difficulties, you can go to your thirteenth master! Yongzheng thought of the emperor's care for Cao Hao, and thought that this was his own nephew, and his tone was much gentler.

Cao Hao's mouth responded, but he was still very restrained, Yongzheng saw this, waved his hand and told him to kneel.

Waiting for Cao Hao to go down, Yongzheng complained a little and said to the thirteenth elder brother: "I'm so terrifying, can't I? Even in the past, I didn't say it like this, Cao Hao was still close to me in the past, but now he is so rusty. ”

He is really a little disappointed, he has few people, and now he is the first to become a treasure, it is the time to employ people, this Cao Hao is the person he wants to reuse. But Cao Hao's indecisive surname made him a little disliked.

He is a resolute surname, and he also likes courtiers with the surname Ge Shuangli.

The thirteenth elder brother sighed in his heart, but said with a smile on his face: "The emperor is majestic, how can a courtier bear it?" Even if Cao Hao is close to the emperor in his heart, the word 'awe' has to be kept, this is the duty of a courtier. ”

Listening to the thirteenth elder brother say this, Yongzheng straightened his waist, and he really looked a little unpredictable, but his eyes showed a look of reminiscence: "Time is like an arrow, when I first saw Cao Hao, he was still a child, and now he has grown into a pillar of the Qing Dynasty." Thirteenth brother, do you remember when we went to Jiangnan? ”

The thirteenth elder brother smiled and said, "Why don't you remember? He also impeached the prefect of Hangzhou, took off his crown, and eliminated harm for the people......"

*Ministry of Internal Affairs, main hall.

Cao Hao was slightly stunned: "So fast? ”

The sixteenth elder brother held an account book in his hand, shook his head, and said: "It's not fast, didn't I tell you, as early as a few years ago, the emperor transferred the account books of the three weaving mansions in Jiangnan. ”

"How heavy can this crime be if the tribute is flooded?" Cao Hao asked.

He was a little surprised, originally thought that with Yongzheng's surname, even if he wanted to replace the three major weaving in Jiangnan, he would either take the Li family in Suzhou first, or strike the Lu family in Jiangning first.

After all, the Sun family has always behaved dutifully, and the Li family is the most ostentatious, and the Lu family, who succeeded the Cao family, has the least qualifications. Unexpectedly, Yongzheng checked the Sun family first.

"The size of the crime depends on whether Sun Wencheng has other tricks in the eyes of the emperor. Xu is the Sun family is unlucky, Jiangning weaving and Suzhou weaving, every year in March and September tribute, Hangzhou weaving in April and October. Hangzhou paid tribute last year, and it was Su Silk, which happened to be used in the funeral of Emperor Daxing. In addition, Sun Jue's kid made such a fuss again, which reminded the emperor of this matter. Brother Sixteen said.

Cao Hao remembered the matter of raising the heart of the palace and facing the king, Yongzheng was troubled by the lack of money, and the "emperor of copying the house" should also start to carry out the great cause of "copying the house".

"If Sun Wencheng is dismissed, Li Xu is afraid that it will not be far away. You say hello to the mother, and the province will scare the mother when the time comes. Cao Hao said.

Although the sixteenth elder brother is not close to the Li family, his mother's concubine is Li Xu's cousin, and she entered the palace from the Li family.

Speaking of his mother, the sixteenth elder brother was immediately a little deflated, and said, "Fu Ruo, when did the emperor remember to ask me to open a mansion?" I saw that I was still a prince living in the palace. Recently, several older brothers are going to take the concubines and mothers out of the palace, when will I be able to stay up until the opening of the mansion? ”

Speaking of this, his eyes lit up: "I know, this opening of the mansion costs silver, and now there is no silver in the inner treasury or the national treasury." Fu Ruo, Fu Ruo, the freedom that the master wants will fall on your head. You have to help you think of ideas and earn some money as soon as possible, so that you can open your mansion earlier! Cining Palace is so big, and there are many widows of Huang Ama, I don't want my mother to be wronged! ”

Speaking of this, Cao Hao always felt as if he had neglected something.

Seeing that he was silent, the sixteenth elder brother glanced at him and said: "It's a shame that the lord still believes in you, and I also look forward to being able to make a dragon and wear a prince's hat, but as a result, don't talk about the prince, I didn't even catch the shellfish." ”

said this in his mouth, but he never complained about Cao Hao in his heart.

The new emperor is indeed generous, the seventh elder brother is the prince of Jin, the twelfth elder brother is the king of the county of Jin, and the thirteenth elder brother of the most hardcore "four masters" is directly crowned the prince.

And he, he has a half-brother who offended the new emperor, not to mention being knighted, but he is not implicated, he already feels lucky. When the princess was honored as a concubine, he was only grateful to the new emperor.

When Cao Hao heard the word "prince", he finally remembered what he had overlooked.

"I heard that Prince Zhuang is sick, does the Sixteenth Master know the details?" Cao Hao asked.

"It's just that I'm old, I was tired during the national funeral a year ago, and now I have a ......," the sixteenth elder brother replied disappreciatively: "After all, he is the only remaining elder in the clan, and the emperor attaches great importance to that side, so I have taken the imperial doctor a few times." I went a while ago, and I saw that my spirits were much better. Listen to the Tai Doctor's meaning, when the weather is warm, the disease should be almost better. His two nephews made too much trouble, and when I went back to the past, I was just in time for Lao Fujin to stare at people......"

Before the words fell, I heard someone raise their voice: "The sixteenth master is here?" ”

The sixteenth elder brother took the words, raised his head, and said, "Who?" ”

The one who came in hurriedly was the imperial eunuch Chen Fu: "Sixteenth master, the slave maid has come to pass on the emperor's message!" ”

The sixteenth elder brother and Cao Hao both got up, and listened to Chen Fudao: "The emperor has a decree to summon the sixteenth elder brother to immediately raise the heart palace to see him!" ”

The sixteenth elder brother agreed in his mouth, and then asked: "Chief Manager Chen, what did the emperor call me for, in such a hurry?" I just handed over the sign in the morning. ”

Chen Fu thought that he was in a hurry, his forehead was sweaty, he sighed, and said: "Prince Jian handed over the sign to see the driver, Prince Zhuang is gone, and please mourn the sixteenth master!" ”

"Huh?" The sixteenth elder brother was surprised.

Cao Hao was beside him, but he was happy in his heart.

Sixteen elder brothers inherit the heir, it is at this time!

The sixteenth elder brother was full of doubts, did not delay much, explained to Cao Hao, and went with Chen Fu to see the driver.

Cao Hao thought about the words of the sixteenth elder brother before, this Prince Zhuang's illness was about to be cured, and now he suddenly died, and he didn't know if it had anything to do with his two nephews.

But as long as there is the slightest involvement, the emperor will be in the past.

When Cao Hao returned home from the yamen, the house had already received a mourning report.

Cao Hao and Chu Yu had to change into plain clothes and went to Prince Zhuang's mansion to mourn together.

As the highest person in the clan, Prince Zhuang is a scholar, and there is an endless stream of people who are mourning. The sixteenth elder brother, who was in charge of the Internal Affairs Office, was ordered by the emperor to take care of the funeral.

Cao Hao and Chu Yu didn't stay for long, and after seeing Lao Fujin and the sixteenth elder brother, they returned home.

After waiting for fifteen, the Yamen of Shuntian Mansion was almost cleaned up, and Chen Shouchuang finally remembered to hand over Sun Jue to the Yamen of the infantry army.

Sun Jue's case is not complicated, in the final analysis, it is caused by being deceived.

On closer examination, he is not guilty. Although he lives separately from his wife and children, the house and land are, in the final analysis, the property of the Sun family. In addition, there are several noble relatives in the capital, and there is no reason to take risks for a few hundred taels of silver.

Therefore, after he handed over the Yamen of the infantry army, he was "bailed" out by the Sun family.

This time, after receiving Cao Hao's letter, Sun Wencheng still asked his brother Sun Wenqian to enter Beijing. In addition to watching Sun Jue prevent him from getting into trouble, it is to arrange the matter of the Sun family's Sun imperial examination.

But he was a step late and went directly to Sun Jue, who was outside the yamen.

Unexpectedly, the blessing is incomparable, the disaster is not a single line, just when Sun Jue came out of the yamen, Yongzheng had a clear will, and Hangzhou weaving Sun Wencheng stopped weaving because of "improper effectiveness" ......*

(To be continued)