My father-in-law is Kangxi

Chapter 1888 Determined
In the front hall, brothers Zhang Tingyu and Zhang Tingguan were drinking tea.

Seeing that there was no one else in the house, Zhang Tingguan whispered, "This half of the street is all owned by the Dong E family? How many houses does that require?"

Zhang Tingguan was also the son of the prime minister. He was born in a designated residence in the imperial city. He was not from a poor family and had never seen the world.

However, compared with the grand mansion of this noble family, the four-courtyard mansion in the imperial city seemed small.

The house has five courtyards and two bays. It is not one big house but two houses next to each other.

This is equivalent to four five-courtyard mansions standing side by side, so they can occupy half of the street.

Zhang Tingyu said succinctly, "Master Qi's family originally consisted of two families, living next door to each other..."

He stayed in the Hanlin Academy for three years, where he was ordered to learn Mandarin. Most of the people he interacted with on a daily basis were Manchu seniors who were Jinshi graduates. He had become accustomed to the Manchu rule of "mentioning the name without mentioning the surname."

However, although Zhang Tingguan was also born in the capital, he returned to his hometown to study when he was in his teens. He had little contact with people from outside and was still used to calling others by their surnames.

Zhang Tingguan nodded and said, "So they say 'There are three kinds of unfilial behavior, and the worst is to have no descendants'. This branch of the Dong'e family is really weak."

After three generations, all the cousins ​​and close relatives were gone.

Fortunately, the head of the family of this generation can have children, otherwise this branch would have to be adopted out again.

There was movement outside.

The two brothers stood up when they heard the noise.

Then the door curtain was lifted and a group of people came in.

"Second Brother Zhang, Sixth Brother Zhang, Happy New Year..."

Zhu Liang stepped forward and bowed to the two of them to wish them a happy new year.

The two brothers returned the gift.

Others also came forward and greeted their in-laws.

The two families who were discussing the marriage had already met several times.

However, there were two strangers in the crowd.

Fu Song introduced Xiao Liu, "This is my younger brother, Shou Shan. He is currently studying with the fifteenth prince. He is in the palace all year round and can only be brought back for a few days during the New Year."

Then, he said to Xiaoliu: "This is Second Brother Zhang, and that is Sixth Brother Zhang..."

Xiaoliu stepped forward and performed the Han Chinese bow: "Hello, Second Brother Zhang, Hello, Sixth Brother Zhang, I wish you both a happy new year."

Because there were children in the Dutong Mansion, the Zhang brothers also brought purses.

Master Zhang Liu handed over his purse and said, "Happy New Year to Brother Shoushan as well."

Xiaoliu took the purse and asked in surprise, "Didn't there also be a Zhang San brother who came back to Beijing with my elder brother and elder sister-in-law last year? Why is he gone?"

Zhang Tingyu said, "My brother returned home after my younger sister got married."

Niguzhu had already gotten down from Xiaosan's arms, holding Xiaoqi's hand and standing beside Xiaoqi.

Fu Song pointed at her and said, "This is the eldest princess from the Prince's Mansion. She is spending the New Year here these few days..."

According to hierarchy, the Zhang brothers should have been introduced to the eldest princess first, but since they were just relatives, they followed family etiquette.

The Zhang brothers all looked at Niguzhu.

Is this the legendary "auspicious sign"?
He really looks like a blessed child.

Fu Song then said to Ni Guzhu: "This is Zhang's second uncle, this is Zhang's sixth uncle..."

Niguzhu was not afraid of strangers. He raised his little head and looked at the two of them. He used the newly learned kneeling ceremony and said, "Happy New Year to Uncle Zhang Er, Happy New Year to Uncle Zhang Liu..."

This is the emperor's granddaughter, and her status is noble. We cannot simply judge her by marriage, so both brothers should avoid her.

"Even the eldest princess is fine..."

As the two brothers were talking, Zhang Tingguan also took out his purse.

Niguzhu looked at Fusong and saw him nod. He took it with both hands and said with a smile, "Thank you, Uncle Zhang Liu..."

Because it is the New Year, it is the time for children to receive New Year’s money.

Niguzhu looked at Xiaoqi and Xiaowu, then at Xiaosan and Xiaosi.

Zhang Tingguan's forehead was covered with sweat.

Fortunately, I brought a lot of money, otherwise there wouldn’t be enough to go around.

The underage Xiaowu and the young Xiaoqi also got one each.

Zhu Liang was standing next to him, feeling a little embarrassed.

Before, I only thought about showing off my brother's reputation, so I brought all my younger brothers along, and forgot about the New Year's money.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, I brought my underage brother to meet guests, and it seemed like I was asking for New Year's money.

Zhang and Fusong had already come out, and the Zhang brothers did not delay and said goodbye.

After hearing this, Zhang looked at Niguzhu.

Niguzhu let go of Xiaoqi's hand and said, "I'm going home first. Please remember to invite me to play later. We can pick vegetables at home."

Xiao Qi nodded in agreement.

Although he didn't know what picking vegetables was, since his eldest niece thought it was a good idea, it should be fun.

Zhang went over and wanted to hug Niguzhu.

Niguzhu held her hand and said, "Aunt, just hold my hand. I'm heavy and it hurts your arm..."

Brother Zhang Tingyu was not surprised to see the fat girl following them.

Although Zhang is not very old, she has been influenced by her family since she was a child and is a thoughtful person.

As early as the 30th day, when it was confirmed that Niguzhu would return home with her, Zhang sent the wet nurse to Zhang's house.

When they arrived at the carriage, Fusong first carried Niguzhu onto the carriage, and then went to help Zhang.

Zhang took his hand and got into the carriage.

There were two more carriages at the back, which were prepared by the Governor's Mansion. One was carrying Zhang's wet nurse and the maid who came with her dowry, and the other was loaded with the homecoming gifts prepared by the Governor's Mansion.

The Zhang brothers took another carriage of the Zhang family.

Fusong waited until his two brothers-in-law got on the carriage before waving to the Zhuliang brothers and getting on Zhang's carriage.

The east is showing signs of dawn, and the sky is about to brighten.

There was a sheep horn lantern hanging in the carriage.

Niguzhu sat next to Zhang and wanted to pick up the carriage curtain. Fusong saw him and quickly stretched out his hand to hold it back, saying, "It's cold this morning. You must have a stomachache if you catch a cold."

Niguzhu immediately covered his stomach with his chubby hands and said, "Then don't look outside. My stomach hurts. It's time to drink porridge..."

Fusong and Zhang took care of the child for two days and understood Niguzhu's unfulfilled intentions.

If you drink porridge, you can’t eat delicious food.

The young couple smiled.

Zhang looked at Fusong tenderly, and hugged Niguzhu, hoping to have a daughter.

When a woman gets married, she will inevitably think about having children.

Zhang had been hoping to have a boy.

It's not that they favor boys over girls, but because they know that the daughters of the clan without titles will be criticized in their marriages in the future and it will be difficult for them to have a decent marriage.

It is difficult for a princess without a title from the Prince's Mansion to get married, let alone others.

If it was a boy, he would have money and food as soon as he was born.

In the Zhang family's carriage, Zhang Tingguan said, "Second brother, after the Spring Examination is over, shouldn't you leave the academy?"

Zhang Tingyu nodded and said, "Well, the academy will end in March. By then, I should be appointed as a reviewer of the Hanlin Academy..."

There are rules and regulations on how to appoint officials after the Shujishi are dismissed.

Zhang Tingguan was embarrassed and felt a little ashamed.

My second elder brother passed the imperial examinations and studied hard for twenty years, and his official career started from the seventh rank. I took advantage of my father's support, and after five years in the Imperial College, after passing the examination, I will be able to enter the ministry as a Yuanwailang, a fifth rank.

This blessing can be for sons or grandsons.

He was his father's illegitimate son, but he occupied the quota of being a concubine.

He knew his parents' plan, and they had originally intended to reserve this position for his fourth brother's family.

As for other sons, I hope they can pass the exams on their own.

My fourth brother is in poor health and has no chance of pursuing a career in politics, nor can he raise his children and grandchildren.

If the child of that family is good at studying and can pass the exam on his own, it will be fine. If he fails, this quota for being a "yinsheng" (a kind of offspring of a family with a family background) will be a future, ensuring that the family can stand on its own and will not have to rely on other families.

As a result, the fourth brother made a fuss about dividing the family property and was so aggressive in his division that he showed no kindness at all towards his younger sister, which hurt his parents' feelings. In a letter to his eldest brother, he mentioned the arrangement for Yinsheng.

This matter was kept secret from my hometown.

If Fourth Brother really knew, I don’t know what kind of fuss he would make.

Zhang Tingyu looked at his brother and said, "Don't think too much. Since it was arranged by father, he has his own intentions. If my eldest brother doesn't object, then no one else has the right to object."

Their father was not a pedantic person.

If one really wants to be pedantic, he cannot hold the highest official rank.

If this shade is used early, there are also benefits to using it early.

The eldest brother did not object to this. Besides being a brotherly lover, he also understood his father's painstaking efforts.

According to the rules, if this Yinsheng stays, he will be given to the eldest son of the legitimate wife.

Xiaoliu helped Yinsheng and did not do anything wrong to himself or the fourth brother. Instead, he should thank his eldest brother.

Zhang Tingguan exhaled, rubbed his hands and said: "I heard that in the ministries and government offices, the promotion of students is calculated according to the official path. I will be a good official when the time comes. After 30 years, I will return the title of "Yinsheng" to my elder brother!"

Zhang Tingyu looked at his brother and said, "If you have ambition, then study hard and graduate as soon as possible."

For civil officials, if they want to be eligible to have their children inherit the throne, they must be fourth-rank officials in the capital or third-rank officials in the local government.

For Zhang Tingguan, who entered the officialdom as a fifth-rank official, it was not difficult and he could have made it by following the procedures.

Zhang Tingguan thought of something and said, "My second brother is going to have a baby. He will need a wet nurse. Will the yard in South City be too small?"

Zhang Tingyu said: "That's fine, we'll talk about it later..."

The Zhang family had no house in the capital, so Zhang Tingyu, like other Hanlin officials, rented a house in the south city.

When Zhang Tingguan was on vacation, he would temporarily live at his eldest brother's and his wife's house, except when he was in the Imperial College.

The carriage drove for two quarters of an hour and arrived at the back street of Prince's Mansion.

Zhang Tingzan and his wife heard the news and went out to greet them.

This time, Fusong got off the car first, then helped Zhang get off, and finally carried Niguzhu down.

"Happy New Year, Brother and Sister-in-law..."

Zhang looked at her brother and sister-in-law, her voice becoming cheerful as she stepped forward to call for help.

She was the youngest girl, and later Madam Yao gave birth to a young son, so Zhang was taken care of more by the eldest sister-in-law.

Gu pulled her sister-in-law and looked at her carefully.

Zhang was originally slim and slender, but now her face is rosy and her hands are much fuller.

Gu was puzzled. She had only heard that brides worked hard and some became thin, but she had never heard of any gaining weight.

It seems that what she said when she "returned to her parents' home" after getting married was true. The governor's wife was very kind and amiable, and was also very tolerant towards her son-in-law and daughter-in-law, otherwise she would not be like this now. She actually looked even more cheerful than before she got married.

At this time, Ni Guzhu had already spoken to Zhang Tingzan: "Uncle Zhang, uncle said that I saw you when I was a child, but now that I'm older, why don't you come to see me?"

Zhang Tingzan only had three sons. He looked at the fat girl with envy and said in a slow voice, "I want to work in the government office, so I won't go to the Prince's Mansion often. When the eldest princess goes to school, I might want to go there to take a look."

He knew that the Prince's Mansion was going to set up an internal school for several children. Although it was a bit of a waste of his talents to educate young children, who asked him to still have the ceremonials of the Prince's Mansion.

The emperor appointed Ma Qi as the ninth prince's teacher, but Ma Qi was a Grand Secretary, and even though they had the title of teacher and student, the emperor might not be happy for him to have too close contact with the prince.

As a civil servant who came from a poet family, it is not a problem as I do not involve power.

However, the Ninth Prince's temperament has long been formed and it is difficult to persuade him. Therefore, I still spend some time and effort on the younger princes and princesses, which can be regarded as returning a favor.

In recent years, he has also served as an official in the Beile Mansion. In addition to receiving more money and food, he has also gotten a lot of good things throughout the year.

Niguzhu looked at Zhang Tingzan several times and said, "Are you going to be our teacher? What are you going to teach us? Can you teach us how to play the flute?"

Zhang Tingzan pondered and said, "I don't know what to teach you now, but I happen to know a little about the flute. If the eldest princess wants to learn it, I can teach her."

Niguzhu immediately smiled and pointed in the direction of the Eighth Prince's Mansion, saying, "When I learn it, I will play it for the aunt next door..."

Zhang Tingzan was a little confused and looked at Zhang.

Zhang heard Niguzhu mention it, so she said, "The Eighth Lady's resting place is next to Ning'an Hall. The eldest princess often heard the flute being played there, so she wanted to learn to play the flute..."

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