Cao Yin and Cao Quan, wearing sackcloth and mourning, knelt in front of Mrs. Sun's spiritual throne.

As long as a guest came to pay homage and offer sacrifices, both of them would kowtow in return. Their backs ached, but they did not dare to move.

When Mrs. Sun was alive, Cao Quan was not necessarily very filial.

However, after his biological mother died, Cao Quan had to pretend to be a filial son, even if he was just pretending, to avoid being poked in the back.

Yuzhu was much more relaxed. He accompanied the guests, drank tea, chatted, exchanged greetings, and then saw the guests off. This was considered as fulfilling the obligations of his grandson-in-law.

Lao Twelve is well versed in the rules and regulations of funerals. He needs to make decisions on many matters, so he is very busy.

Finally, when Lao Twelve was a little free, he sat down opposite Yuzhu.

Wu Jiang closed the door, and then, like a magic trick, he brought out several delicious dishes to go with wine from two red lacquer food boxes, as well as two jugs of fine wine.

"Master Twelve, thank you for your hard work. Let me drink with you to relieve your fatigue." Yuzhu was polite to Lao Twelve while glancing at Wu Jiang.

Wu Jiang bent down and whispered: "The younger brother has already spread the word, saying that the Twelfth Master has important matters to discuss with you, and no idlers are allowed in. Besides, there are all our people outside, so I'm sure not even a fly can come in."

.”

Lao Twelve, who was still a little hesitant at first, immediately laughed and praised: "Little clever devil, go down and receive the reward."

The so-called go down to receive the reward, but the actual meaning is to keep an eye outside and don't let outsiders see Ben Beizi drinking.

During a funeral, it is not appropriate to drink alcohol in the home of the deceased. This is a common practice in Manchuria.

However, Yuzhu didn't take the Cao family seriously. The so-called old rules were just floating clouds in front of him.

Lao Twelve has a distinct characteristic when it comes to drinking. No matter how much he drinks, he never gets embarrassed.

Yuzhu clinked glasses with Lao Twelve, drank them all in one gulp, and said with a smile: "When I find a good time, I will help you find a good and serious job."

"Really?" Lao Twelve's eyes suddenly lit up and he stared at Yuzhu, his eyes full of expectation.

Yuzhu nodded and said seriously: "If it were before, I wouldn't be able to advise you on behalf of Master Twelve. But, you also know that I am currently working in the south study room."

Lao Twelve immediately smiled. Yuzhu, who was walking in the south study room, naturally had the right to make suggestions.

With Yuzhu's status and favor, as long as he is willing to find ways to help, Lao Twelve dare not say that he is the elder brother in charge of the temple, but he can always be in charge of a small yamen, right?

In fact, Yuzhu had no intention of suggesting that Kangxi reuse Lao Twelve.

It's just that, according to the course of history, either in the second half of this year or in the first half of next year, Lao Twelve will be appointed as the commander-in-chief of the army.

Many times, the people promoted by He Shen were not actually suggested by him to Qianlong, but because he figured out Qianlong's intentions.

To put it bluntly, He Shen saw through Qianlong's intentions before he made his decision.

He Shen deliberately let the parties know, giving people the illusion that the old emperor was obedient to He Zhongtang.

Yuzhu used the same trick on Lao Twelve.

Just kidding, Yuzhu had a close relationship with Lao Wu and Lao Qi. Kangxi knew it clearly but tolerated it.

That's because Lao Wu and Lao Seven have already been eliminated.

Lao Twelve is different. Not only is he in good health, but his biological mother is a decent Manchurian bannerman.

Kangxi lived too long, and his scope for selecting the heir apparent was extremely narrow.

The third child, the fourth child and the fourteenth child cannot be found among these three people.

Due to Lao Twelve's background issues, if he matures, he will pose a great threat to the next crown prince.

Objectively speaking, it was completely impossible for Kangxi to tolerate Yuzhu asking for an official position and military power for Lao Twelve.

Yuzhu is a truly sensible person, so it is naturally impossible for him to cross the threshold and do something stupid that will destroy his future.

After Lao Twelve drank a bottle of wine, he felt much happier. He stood up and patted Yuzhu's shoulder, and said with a smile: "I have not made a mistake in being a good friend of yours." The word "good" was emphasized very hard.

Lao Twelve got up and left. Alas, there were still many things waiting for his guidance and decision.

Yuzhu sat on the kang in the room, closed his clothes and squinted for two hours. After regaining his energy, he came to the mourning hall.

After kowtowing to Mrs. Sun and offering incense, the monks in the mourning hall began to chant sutras.

Cao Yin and Cao Quan kowtowed in return, but Yuzhu dodged them and said they didn't dare.

No matter how much Yuzhu looked down on the Cao family, Cao Yin was also his father-in-law and Xiao Tiechui's grandfather.

There were few people at night, so Cao Yin discussed with Cao Quan: "Second brother, you go and have a rest first. After you have had enough sleep, come and take my place."

Cao Quan's eyes were red, he shook his head and said, "I'm unfilial, how can I sleep here?"

Yuzhu was too lazy to interfere in the affairs of the Cao family. If the two brothers of the Cao family were tired, they would naturally go to rest.

According to convention, filial sons can actually take turns guarding the mourning hall.

Cao Quan held on and refused to leave.

Cao Yin felt that it would not be a problem to stay together like this, so he went to the back to find a seat and squinted his eyes.

Yuzhu has also held two funerals. Even though he is not as familiar with the rules as Lao Twelve, he still generally knows some old practices.

Hey, just these chanting monks in the mourning hall cost a lot of money.

According to the market conditions in the capital, it would only take about twelve days to hire a Taoist priest. For a monk, it would cost at least five times more, and maybe more.

There are more than thirty monks at the scene. How much money is one day?

Fortunately, Yuzhu took over the huge debt of the Cao family. Otherwise, such a luxurious funeral would definitely be impeached by the censor.

After the host of the funeral was changed to Yuzhu and Lao Twelve, the appearance and quality of the funeral suddenly increased many times.

The public officials of Kedao must also weigh carefully. Can they afford the serious consequences of losing Yuzhu's face?

To be honest, even the twelve old men could not control the situation, but Yuzhu, who had a strong aura, was able to control the situation.

The little censor offended the powerful Yuzhu. Alas, the consequences will be endless!

Yuzhu was not a religious man, and his military exploits in suppressing the bandits in Pianyuan were all soaked in the blood of the bandits.

In fact, among the officials in the capital, those who are most taboo about jade pillars are mainly those walking in the south study room and the imperial ministers.

Staying by the emperor's side every day, Yuzhu sees the right opportunity and bites you hard, which will definitely break your bones and tendons. Who can bear this?

According to the etiquette system of the Qing Dynasty, when Mrs. Sun died, Cao Yin and Cao Quan both had to be in mourning for three years, which meant twenty-seven months of mourning.

As for Cao Chun, because she is the granddaughter of a concubine, she has to serve for one year.

In layman's terms, after Cao Chun comes back and until the end of the Qishan year, she can no longer have sex with Yuzhu, and she can't eat meat, fish or other meat and fish, and can only be vegetarian.

As for the little hammer, he also has to serve Xiao Gong. Xiao Gong, also known as Shanghong, must mourn for five months and wear clothes of slightly coarse linen. During this period, the little hammer is not allowed to touch meat.

From cutting down, Qixing, Dagong, Xiaogong, to Ganma, they are the "five clothes" for mourning.

The biggest difference between the five clothes is the thickness of the linen clothes.

It goes without saying that Cao Yin and Cao Quan were defeated in submission. Their linen clothes were the thickest and heaviest.

Linen is the lightest and finest linen.

At the fourth watch, Yuzhu lifted up the thin quilt on his body, washed his face with cold water, put on the second-grade Golden Pheasant official uniform, and led Wu Jiang and Wu Sheng out.

There is no way, no matter how big the funeral is, can it be as big as Yumenzhengzheng?

However, when passing by a courtyard, Yuzhu suddenly heard vague noises and yells coming from inside the wall.

Yuzhu didn't have time to listen to the gossip of the Cao family, so he winked at Wu Sheng, then went out to board the sedan chair and went straight into the palace.

After the imperial court was over, Kangxi specifically stopped Yuzhu, who was about to leave, and asked carefully about the details of Mrs. Sun's funeral.

Yuzhu had nothing to hide, so he told the truth.

When Kangxi heard that the Cao family actually invited more than thirty monks to chant sutras, he was obviously stunned.

However, Kangxi did not get angry. He was silent for about half a stick of incense, and suddenly sighed heavily and issued a decree: "Five thousand taels of silver will be allocated from the inner treasury to reward Cao Yin for his funeral."

Yuzhu quickly thanked the saint for his father-in-law Cao Yin.

In any case, the old emperor was still very humane and considerate towards the elderly around him.

After leaving the palace, Yuzhu returned to the Cao family.

At this time, Wu Sheng came to his side and whispered: "Sir, Second Master Di stayed in the girl named Duo's house last night. Who would have thought that Second Grandma Di would find out and catch him?

There's a fuss."

How many girls?

Yuzhu shook his head. This Cao Di was really bold and incompetent. His direct grandmother had just passed away, and he dared to have fun secretly.

If this news spreads, the censor will find out and impeach him.

In today's world of strict feudal ethics, no matter how much Kangxi pampered the Cao family, the lightest punishment for Cao Di would be to be exiled to Ninggu Pagoda.

"Hui Ye, the younger one has taken our own people and captured all the servants nearby who were watching the fun." Wu Sheng reported this, and Yu Zhu was very satisfied.

To be honest, if Yuzhu hadn't presided over the funeral, Cao Di's secret stealing would have nothing to do with him.

The problem now is that as long as this scandal is exposed and brought to the imperial court, Yuzhu will definitely be forcibly convicted of the serious crime of negligence by Lao Ba's people and eat "Gualuo'er" with Cao Di.

Gua Luo'er, an old saying of the banner people, means being seriously implicated.
To be continued...