Chapter 719: The Birthday (Part 1)

In the "Legend of White Snake" that has been passed down through the ages, there is a paranoid monk Fahai. He stared at him and was unable to stand Bai Suzhen's "repaying kindness" snake demon. He created the right and wrong, and then created the Leifeng Pagoda, suppressing Bai Suzhen at the bottom of the West Lake Pagoda, forcing the good couple and mother to separate.

There was also a Fahai in the Kangxi Dynasty. Although it was not as famous as the monk Fahai, it was also a legend among the powerful people in the capital.

Speaking of which, he was born into the Tong family, known as the "Tong Ban Dynasty", and was the second son of the uncle Tong Guogang and the cousin of Kangxi. He should have been an authentic royal relative and had a very noble identity.

However, because Fahai's biological mother was not Tong Guogang's concubine, she was just a maid. According to the saying in the capital, she was raised by a maid. Therefore, since childhood, his identity was extremely embarrassing. He did not even treat an ordinary son as a concubine, and was discriminated against by his father and brother, and the Tong family did not regard him as his master.

His biological mother never raised her status until her death, and because of her brother Orolongdai's obstacle, she was not buried in the Tong family's ancestral tomb. For this reason, Fahai and his brother became enemies.

Fortunately, he was successful and knew that his father and brother were not reliable, so he took the imperial examination road and passed the imperial examination in his twenties. This was nothing. Because of his excellent character and academic performance, he became the prince's teacher before he was thirteenth prince and fourteenth prince. Among them, he was most in love with the Thirteenth prince, and the master and apprentice were very compatible.

When the prince was "destroyed", Fahai, the teacher, was also implicated because the Thirteenth Prince was involved in the battle for the throne, and was demoted to the sixth level. He was originally demoted from a fourth-rank lecturer to a seventh-rank Hanlin Academy for review.

It was not until last year that he was reinstated after the pleading of several senior officials.

In the winter of the 55th year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi, heavy snow in the capital was flying.

Ah Ling was sick and was no longer aware of the situation. The Seventeenth Prince brought the Seventeenth Prince out of the palace to serve the disease for several days. According to the Imperial Doctor, he is now dying and he is about to start preparing for funerals.

The Duke's Mansion was in bleakness. As A Ling's nephew, the tenth prince came to visit the hospital twice, but he was not energetic.

Some people are frustrated, others are proud.

Fahai was promoted to governor of Guangdong and was about to leave Beijing and take office on this day.

Among the people who saw him off were colleagues from the Fahai Hanlin Academy, as well as the two princes and students he taught. There were several distant relatives of the Tong family, the Tong family's own family and the nearby branch, but no one showed up because he was afraid of Oroqendai.

Cao Yong and Fahai were not familiar with each other, and today they were accompanying the Thirteenth Prince to see him off.

After the Eighth Prince burned the "May 7th" campaign, the Thirteenth Prince returned to Tangquan. He originally planned to come back when the Eighth Prince was in the funeral. Unexpectedly, he received the news of Fahai's promotion in just two days.

At the front door, the Thirteenth Prince happened to meet Cao Yong, so he pulled him to go with him.

Cao Yong did not know Fahai, and he was both a Beijing official for many years. This was the first time he saw him. However, he had long been famous and had heard from the Thirteenth Prince.

Fahai passed the 33rd year of Kangxi, and served in the Hanlin Academy for more than 20 years. The elegant temperament that he had cultivated throughout his body was indeed not the same as everyone else.

Even if the Tong family does not recognize him, but the emperor recognizes his cousin, his future will naturally be limitless. Once the governor comes, he will return to the capital, and then he will be the capital.

The Fourteenth Prince's attitude was particularly respectful and made people offer a thick Cheng Yi. In their words, they were full of gratitude for their mentor's teachings, and others were filled with emotion.

It is natural that some people must flatter you, either praise the 14th Prince for respecting his teachers and respecting the Tao, or praise Fahai for his extraordinary talent and knowledge.

In contrast, the Thirteenth Prince was also a disciple, but he was much quieter. Apart from bringing Cao Yong, he wore regular clothes and only brought two long followers.

If the Fourteenth Prince had not called "Thirteenth Brother" and Fahai said "Thirteenth Prince", there would probably be few who would have recognized him as the prince.

"The mountains are high and the water is far away, so please take care of it." After the Thirteenth Prince said the words of parting, he looked at Fahai and clasped his fists.

Fahai looked at the Thirteenth Prince and said slowly: "Does Thirteenth Master still remember the banner in his study?"

The Thirteenth Prince didn't expect Fahai to say this, he was slightly stunned and nodded.

"I would like to encourage you with the Thirteenth Prince." Fahai smiled a little and looked at the Thirteenth Prince with encouragement in his eyes.

The Thirteenth Prince felt a warm heart, his eyes were sore and hard to bear. He stepped forward a few steps to take the reins from the coachman and leaned over and said, "Students help the teacher get on the car."

Fahai nodded, and greeted everyone by seeing him off, held the Thirteenth Prince's arm and boarded the carriage.

The fourteenth prince stood aside and watched the carriage gradually fade away, but his heart became cold.

He and the Thirteenth Prince were both Fahai's students, so naturally he visited the teacher's study. On the banner was a Tang poem written by Fahai, "I don't know that the painting is coming, and wealth is like a floating cloud."

Is this to the Thirteenth Prince encouragement or to tell him the Fourteenth Prince?

Due to the relationship between teachers and students, the 14th Prince was a little happy about Fahai's comeback, but now he is also in a state of thunder. He glanced at the 13th Prince and felt a little afraid.

Back then, the Thirteenth Prince was neglected by the emperor's father because he was restless; now, if he had other thoughts, what should he do?

The Thirteenth Prince looked at the carriage away, looking sad. He turned around until he could not see it and said to Cao Yong: "Thank you to come with me. I want to go to the Fourth Brother's Mansion to wait for a while before leaving the city. It will be hard to pull you again. If you arrive at Xiaotangshan another day, let's have another drink."

Cao Yong agreed. The 14th Prince had already strolled over and said to the 13th Prince: "Brother Thirteen, is this going back to the house or..."

"Go and see the fourth brother, and then leave the city." The Thirteenth Prince replied peacefully.

The 14th Prince smiled and said, "That's right. I haven't gone to the Fourth Brother's Mansion for several days. Let's go together."

The Thirteenth Prince nodded with a smile, and left with Cao Yong, rode his horse and left with the Fourteenth Prince.

After seeing this scene of teachers and students being separated, Cao Yong felt uncomfortable. Another month was Mr. Zhuang’s anniversary. At this time last year, Mr. Zhuang was still worried about his student, but now he is a perfect separation of heaven and man.

After being silent all the way, when Cao Yong arrived at the door of his house, he saw several carriages parked outside.

Cao Yong turned over and got off the horse, and saw Wu Sheng bringing the doorman to lead the horse.

"Are you a visitor?" Cao Yong pointed to the carriage over there and asked.

"If you want to go back to the uncle, it was the princes' mansions who sent the housekeepers to deliver the birthday gift." Wu Sheng bowed and replied.

Tomorrow is October 30, Li's 46th birthday. Because it is not a full birthday, and Chu Yu is still filial, Li explained that he does not need to hold a birthday or invite a opera troupe, and just have a meal for the whole family.

Unexpectedly, there were even princes and princesses coming to celebrate their birthday.

Cao Yong nodded. Before he entered the mansion, he heard the sound of horse hooves "tap". Looking along with the sound, he saw two blue carriages coming from the entrance of the alley.

A moment later, a manager held a worship box. It seemed that he had seen the world. He recognized Cao Yong's clothes and said, "Is it Mr. Cao?"

Cao Yong nodded and said, "It's Cao, may I ask the Lord?"

The man bowed and replied, "Reply to Prince Cao's words, I am the foreign manager of Prince Yu's mansion, and I am ordered to present a birthday ceremony for Mrs. Bo."

Although the Cao family is a Count, it is a civil servant. Prince Yu's mansion is the blood of Emperor Wen, and his family is Kangxi's nephew Baotai. Even if he wants to send a birthday gift to the Cao family, he cannot use the word "jin".

It was because of rumors outside that even Baotai couldn't tell whether Li was his cousin or his own sister. As soon as the rumors about Li's life came out, they found that it was all about the old prince who went to Suzhou and sent nannies to Jiangning when he was alive.

Everyone knows that the best brothers and sisters are the most favorable, and several brothers were all named princes during their lifetime. Among them, the brother-in-law, the first generation Prince Yu, Fuquan, had the most intimate relationship.

Even if Li is not a princess, but a daughter of Prince Yu Fuquan who is wandering among the people, it is reasonable to see her as a daughter.

Cao Yong has been in the capital for many years, and it is hard to say anything else, but the management of various royal palaces is common. It is really a lot of people who rely on their power, and even if they treat Cao Yong, they are just mediocre.

There are not many people who are as respectful as the manager in front of you?

Could it be that Baotai really wants to recognize his nephew? He sent a gift with great help.

Cao Yong thought to himself and reached out to invite the manager to the living room for tea. In the carriage, the old woman who came to celebrate Li's birthday party, rushed directly to the second gate and entered the inner house to speak.

This manager is just eating tea, he just secretly looks at Cao Yong. Isn’t there that old saying? He called his nephew like his uncle.

The old prince has six sons and seven daughters. Now, except for the third son Baotai who inherited the throne, there are only five princes, six princes. The two princes have married to Mongolia and cannot provide assistance to their parents' families.

Although Li was not a princess or princess who was truly conferred a title, he had a son-in-law, a princess wife, and was favored by the empress dowager in the palace.

Even if he cannot recognize his relatives openly, it is his own family. Therefore, after discussing with Fu Jin, Baotai prepared a birthday gift and sent it to someone, which was not without temptation.

Cao Yong was a little uncomfortable when he was seen. Prince Yu Baotai had seen him. He was more than ten years older than him. He was a relatively modest figure among the princes. Even so, Cao Yong was not interested in recognizing his uncle.

What is private?

If Li's identity could see the light of day, why should he be "ruyi" and "honor" children? He would have been rewarded and given a royal certificate.

That's it. Prince Yu's mansion still wants to recognize his relatives, which is really stupid.

Inner house, orchid courtyard.

Mrs. Li sat by the kang and asked the maid to serve tea to the two nannies who came from the royal palace.

At this afternoon, she had already received several groups of guests. Some royal palaces were fine, but they had been walking around before, and they could say one or two sentences; some royal residences had no human relations with the Cao family.

The more unfamiliar it is, the harder it is to entertain.

You must not lose etiquette, because people think they are negligent; they are not easy to get close to you inexplicably, and they are suspected of flattery.

Fortunately, Chu Yu was by his side, and when he saw that his mother-in-law didn't like to talk, he said a few words to make the scene come over.

The person from Prince Yu's mansion is different from the person from other prince's mansions. Even Chuyu had some guesses in his heart, thinking that his mother-in-law might be the remains of the late old prince.

In addition to giving birthday gifts, the nanny who came to visit the birthday party also received an explanation from Baotai and Fujin. Let’s take a look at Li’s family.

Because Prince Ping Fujin was a beauty, and the prince Cao Yong had always been praised for his good looks, so he had long thought that Li should be a beauty. After meeting him, except for feeling fairer and younger, his appearance was not very outstanding.

It's just that calm and generous, unlike an ordinary lady, and it has a bit of royal style.

The two nannies sighed in their hearts, and became more respectful on their faces, and said a lot of auspicious words.

Li listened with a smile. Chu Yu had already asked someone to prepare a silver seal and give it to the two nannies.

After sending the two nannies away, Li breathed a sigh of relief and said to Chu Yu: "I have agreed not to do it, but I am more worried than in previous years. I won't eat the mat tomorrow. Do these gift-giving families still want me to return the gifts one by one?"

Chu Yu advised: "Madam is worried too much. It's almost time to end the year. Just need to be more generous at the New Year's Ceremony."

Li stroked his forehead and said, "It's good, otherwise I can't run away."

Chu Yu thought to himself, let alone can't escape, even if he goes to someone else's house, how should he treat him? The following is inappropriate; the flat courtesy is not appropriate, so how many people dare to accept it?

"By the way, the concubine, the eldest girl and the third girl all said that they would come back tomorrow. It's okay in the royal palace, but the prince and the concubine come back without using a carriage. The Sun family and the Duke's mansion have to prepare a carriage, so I will go to pick it up soon tomorrow." Li's face also had a smile when he thought that his daughters and niece were going to come home.

"I have already given orders and made people prepare." Chu Yu replied.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were talking when they heard a maid in the corridor saying, "Madam, grandma, second wife, second grandma is here."

Li remembered Zhao Jia's joke about Changsheng's capture of Zhou, and was depressed, and complained to Chu Yu: "Look, it must be a harm to me again. It's said that old children, little children, and this is true."

Li was wrongly guessed. Zhao Jia originally wanted to come over and show off her decent attitude when she made the decision yesterday, but she didn't expect that the Western Palace was about to meet the carriage from Prince Yu's Mansion and left.

In the past month, after Li was given the gift of "Ruyi", various royal secrets were flying all over the sky. However, after Zhaojia entered the winter, she felt a little uncomfortable and didn't like to go out, so she didn't know.

Zhao Jia only thought that Li had obtained the status of the emperor by borrowing the light of her husband and son. She had the decent today and was jealous in her heart.

When I heard that Cao Ying and Cao Yiming were both back, Zhao Jia's expression was a little stiff. She was a few months older than Li and did not handle it when she celebrated her birthday. Her two daughters just sent someone to send birthday gifts to her parents' home, and they did not show up.

OK? Even my mother cannot return to peace after her birthday; but my aunt has to go back to her parents' home after her birthday.

They are all their own flesh and blood, but they are still so snobbish.

She felt that she couldn't breathe. Looking at the kang table, the various birthday gifts on the ground that had not yet been put away, became more and more dazzling, and she lost her mood to lose two words of Li...

Front yard, study room.

Cao Yong sent the royal family to the office and asked Wu Sheng to send the gift books for the past few days. It was such a rich book, from royal family members to other powerful residences, many families gave gifts.
Chapter completed!