Chapter 180 I Believe She's a Beauty That Could Topple Kingdoms

"We can't go drinking with Dalang anymore."

That evening, at the entrance of the county government office, Ouyang Rong said to Yan Liulang, who was chasing after him with great interest.

The latter was taken aback, "Your Excellency wants to abstain from alcohol?"

Ouyang Rong shook his head and said seriously:

"No, Liu Lang, think about it. Going to other people's mansions to eat and drink every day, what kind of behavior is that? Even the relationship between officials and the people isn't like this."

Yan Liulang stroked his chin:

“But Lord Ming, this is a personal matter between us and Dalang. What’s the big deal? Dalang is a man of honor, and we can’t be petty. If we don’t go, we’ll be disrespecting him, and Dalang will definitely be unhappy.”

Ouyang Rong's lips twitched, and he immediately turned to Yan Liulang, who was even more shameless and loved to freeload, and said righteously:

"There's no reason to go there every day. If it's too frequent and outsiders see it, it will have a bad influence."

Yan Liulang was still worried about the cost of his meal tickets and wine tickets, and said with a struggling expression, "What you said makes sense, but Uncle Su and the others didn't ask us for any favors. It's just a private matter. We can keep public and private matters separate, and we have a clear conscience."

"You have a clear conscience, but my conscience hurts."

Ouyang Rong waved his hand to shoo them away, then turned and left, leaving behind the words:

"Alright, let's go back. I've already declined today's invitation, so let's not go anytime soon. Hey, I don't know why there are so many banquets at Dalang's house, and they're all different, with something new every day..."

"What an extravagant waste! Speaking of which, where did the money in the eldest son's family come from? I haven't seen Uncle Su doing any business. Is he just sitting around living off his family's inheritance? That's one thing, but what if... I'll have to investigate later."

Yan Liulang stared blankly at the departing figure of a young county magistrate, whose righteous aura was palpable. The faint, awe-inspiring murmur that he heard made his eyes twitch involuntarily.

Ouyang Rong returned to the Deer Park.

In fact, the overly enthusiastic and frequent invitations from Su Xian and Su Fu made him feel embarrassed, but also raised some doubts.

Back at the Plum Grove Courtyard.

Pushing open the courtyard gate, Ouyang Rong caught a glimpse of a figure with waist-length silver hair under the grape trellis, waving a tree branch around and stabbing left and right.

"Wei Lai? What are you doing?"

Ouyang Rong asked curiously.

Ye Weilai quickly tossed the small twig in her hand to the ground, put her hands behind her back, stood ramrod straight, and nodded obediently:

"Master, your servant is practicing martial arts techniques to protect you in the future."

She looked very serious.

Ouyang Rong chuckled, glanced at the bare, thin twig on the ground, nodded, and gave an approving and encouraging look:

"Practice hard, your master will be counting on you from now on."

At this point, Ouyang Rong smiled again, walked over, and gave him a gentle pat on the head.

"Okay!" Ye Weilai nodded vigorously, then looked around. "Master must be tired after a day of official business. Wash your face and rest. I'll go to the kitchen and urge the embroiderer to bring dinner soon."

The white-haired maid, her sideburns somewhat disheveled from being ruffled by someone, scurried into the house, carrying a freshly washed hot towel in both hands. She handed it to Ouyang Rong and then turned to walk out of the courtyard.

Ouyang Rong watched Ye Weilai's departing figure, then shook his head with a chuckle.

He crouched down, picked up the long branch from the ground, and placed it on the swing next to him.

To be honest, Wei Lai is indeed quite young. Girls of this age should be enjoying their youth and playing freely, but in this era, she has to serve as a maid.

But lately, why does this little girl seem to be playing with sticks like a boy?

Ouyang Rong didn't pay much attention to it.

Just then, a melodious sound of a zither drifted from behind.

Ouyang Rong, who was standing in the courtyard, and Ye Weilai, who had just stepped out of the courtyard gate, were both stunned and turned around to look.

"Master, what is this?"

The sound of the zither seemed to be coming from the back of the courtyard, deep within the nearby plum grove.

It doesn't seem to be too far away.

"Why is someone playing the piano there? Who would go there?"

Ye Weilai stopped, her small face showing a slight confusion.

This plum grove is located behind the courtyard. The maids and servants of the Plum Deer Garden could only enter this plum grove by passing through this courtyard.

Could it be that the music is coming from the Su residence, which is located next door...?

Ye Weilai frowned, about to turn back, but Ouyang Rong turned his head and said, "Go to the kitchen and prepare the meal."

Ye Weilai glanced at her master's calm expression as he silently wiped his face, then nodded and turned to leave.

After the white-haired maid left, Ouyang Rong hung the hot towel on the rack, turned around, and walked towards the plum grove at the back of the courtyard.

He came to a back door that hadn't been opened for a long time, unlocked it, pushed open the wooden door, and entered the plum grove.

Since his junior sister recovered from her illness, he hadn't walked this plum grove path to the Su residence for a long time.

The main reason is that at the end of this plum-lined path, you have to pass by the boudoir of Su Xiaomei.

I remember it was locked up, as if outsiders weren't allowed to pass through.

But right now, this familiar sound of a piano...

On the path through the plum grove, Ouyang Rong, lost in thought, had only walked halfway when he slowly stopped and stood still.

In the distance, there was a stone screen wall in the long-abandoned pavilion by the roadside. The sound of a zither was coming from behind the screen wall, as if someone was playing it.

The screen wall obscured the figure of the person playing the zither, but a maidservant stood to the side, whose figure could be seen.

The maid appears to be holding an umbrella, and is vaguely dressed in the attire of a maid from the Su family that Ouyang Rong is familiar with.

Ouyang Rong glanced at it silently.

He didn't immediately step forward.

He had heard that music a few days ago.

Finally, he was made to leave behind the number "six".

Ouyang Rong turned his head and glanced at the road he had come from, seemingly hesitant.

But as soon as he turned around, he saw a chubby-faced maid walk out of the pavilion. She seemed to have spotted Ouyang Rong and walked straight towards him.

The chubby-faced maidservant looked quite clever and cute, and carrying a red oil-paper umbrella, she came to Ouyang Rong.

"Greetings, sir." She bowed gracefully.

Ouyang Rong seemed to remember something and looked at the maid's rather familiar baby fat.

He nodded. "Sorry to bother you."

He wanted to leave.

"Hey!"

Cai Shou stepped forward and called out to Ouyang Rong. Her face flushed slightly, and she said in a clear voice, "Does my lord still remember this oil-paper umbrella?"

Ouyang Rong was slightly surprised. He glanced at the umbrella she handed him, took it, touched it, and then remembered.

"Was it at Donglin Temple on Dagu Mountain last month? I seem to remember it."

Upon hearing this, Cai Shou smiled, revealing her dimples, but then pouted slightly: "My lord is truly a man of high status with a short memory, but my young lady remembers it vividly and can't forget it..."

As Cai Shou finished speaking, the music of "High Mountains and Flowing Water" that had been playing in the pavilion behind her suddenly stopped for a moment, then resumed, but the tone was slightly off, as if the fingers plucking the strings were a little unsteady.

Ouyang Rong was taken aback and looked over.

Cai Shou quietly stuck out her tongue, stopped rambling, and went straight to stating her purpose:

"I happened to meet you today, young master. Miss instructed me to return the umbrella. Thank you for the umbrella you gave me that day."

Ouyang Rong shook his head: "It was nothing, no need for such formalities."

Cai Shou then said:

"Then, young master, please don't stand on ceremony. My young lady invites you to come into the pavilion for a chat. Enjoying music in the plum grove at dusk would be a very elegant affair."

"My young lady is a refined and elegant lady, like a hermit, and you, my lord, are a cultured scholar from an academy. It is fate that we met by chance in the plum grove today and were drawn together by the sound of your zither."

"Therefore, there's no need for excessive formalities or complicated procedures. How are you, my lord?"

Ouyang Rong glanced at the bright eyes of the chubby-cheeked maid in front of him, thought for a moment, and nodded gently.

"I cannot refuse your kind invitation, so I shall respectfully accept your offer."

There's nothing to do right now, so I'd like to see what kind of map of Yan this is... Ouyang Rong walked straight into the pavilion without any ceremony and went around the screen wall.

What comes into view.

The beauty, dressed in a dark Taoist robe, had her snow-white skin accentuated.

Her long, black hair was tied up with a finely carved plum blossom hairpin, forming a jade lotus crown.

Long, narrow piano stand.

Incense burner.

Opposite the beautiful woman was a tea table.

There are two teacups.

The tea is already seven-tenths full.

Ouyang Rong sat down behind the tea table, picked up a teacup, took a sip, and calmly looked up, saying:

"Fine tea, fine incense, fine zither, it's just a pity that I don't know much about advanced zither playing, I only know some common folk music."

The music suddenly stopped. Su Guo'er's ten fingers hovered in the air, lightly pressing on the strings. She sat upright in her original position on the zither stand, merely nodding calmly in place of worldly greetings, and said softly:

"Wonderful writing, wonderful poetry, wonderful person, your presence is an honor to our humble abode, truly a masterpiece of elegance."

Ouyang Rong chuckled, raised his cup to sip his tea, and seemingly without ceremony, stared directly at Su Xiaomei, who was dressed as a man, in front of him.

It seemed like he was sizing him up.

After all, who doesn't love to look at a beautiful woman? Moreover, this was one of the most beautiful faces Ouyang Rong had ever seen in this world. Ouyang Rong didn't hold back his gaze or hide his thoughts.

Su Guo'er was equally unshy, straightening her back and raising her head, her chin pointed, her red lips slightly pursed, her eyes dark, as she met the gaze of the man in front of her.

Generous and open.

"You're truly a remarkable woman," Ouyang Rong exclaimed, then suddenly changed the subject, "Are you Su Dalang's younger sister?"

"So you already knew, young master."

“Junior Sister mentioned it briefly.” Ouyang Rong paused, “Elder Brother hasn’t said much about you, Miss.”

Su Guo'er was not surprised at all. She nodded and asked, "Where did Sister Xie go? Why did you suddenly go on a long trip without leaving a message?"

Ouyang Rong lowered his head and drank his tea: "I went out on business and it's related to a case at the county government. I should be back soon, Miss Su, so there's no need to worry."

Su Guo'er looked at him.

The atmosphere between the two quieted down, and they each drank their tea.

Occasionally our eyes meet.

For some reason, despite the frequent eye contact, Su Guo'er didn't find Ouyang Lianghan's scrutinizing gaze distasteful.

Was it because the other person was a handsome man? Su Guo'er didn't think so. She had seen plenty of handsome men and beautiful women. The entire Su family were all good-looking people. She really wasn't attracted to good looks.

Because this person's eyes were clear and bright, when he stared at her, his eyes remained still and his pupils were focused.

There was none of that timid or hesitant look that comes from wanting to see something but being afraid to look too much for fear of upsetting the beauty or considering the pride of some pitiful men.

Su Guo'er had seen many men like this who were outwardly proud but inwardly insecure, and of course, she had also seen many who pretended to be indifferent.

But the gaze that Ouyang Lianghan cast at him was one of appreciation for beauty.

It's like seeing a beautiful flower on a mountaintop; you can only admire it from afar and marvel at the wonders of the Creator.

Instead of feeling possessive and reaching out to pluck it.

Because humans are born with a possessive and protective instinct towards beautiful things.

But to appreciate something with completely clear eyes is counterintuitive.

Therefore, this is rare among most self-centered men in the world.

This only shows that he truly had no desire to pick them.

With a tranquil mind, I simply enjoy the beautiful scenery and appreciate it all.

As for the flowers, they would naturally look at such a unique passerby with appreciation, just as the green hills would say, "So it is with me that the green hills see me."

Su Guo'er suddenly picked up her teacup, looked away, and took a sip.

She broke the silence by looking up again:

"There is something I don't quite understand. What is the meaning of the 'six' you left in the waterside pavilion outside Juxian Garden that day?"

Ouyang Rong smiled faintly, sipped his tea, and didn't speak immediately.

Su Guo'er was unaware that someone was having doubts. She frowned slightly, as if pondering the matter again, then shook her head slightly, her expression firm:

“Young master, please don’t say it. I will think about it myself. I was just being too concerned about appearances and shouldn’t have asked so many questions.”

She looked up, exhaled softly, and leaned forward slightly.

"Then let's talk about yesterday. Young master left a wonderful poem at the Drunken Old Man's Pavilion, which surprised me quite a bit."

Ouyang Rong's eyes widened for a moment. He put down his teacup and said sincerely, "If I said I wrote it down casually, would you believe me, young lady?"

The pavilion immediately fell silent.

Ouyang Rong was about to speak again when he suddenly noticed that the elegant smile was gradually appearing on the oval face of the Taoist priestess in front of him, a face that could make even the evening scenery of the plum grove pale in comparison.

"I believe you, of course I believe you. I believe everything you say, young master."

Su Guo'er gazed at him with a smile and nodded slightly.

"Really?" Ouyang Rong raised an eyebrow slightly.

"real."

Su Guo'er habitually raised her chin, and because of this elegant and graceful sitting posture, a glimpse of her snow-white skin was faintly revealed under the cross-collar Taoist robe below her slender neck.

Even in the dimly lit pavilion at dusk, the white light was dazzling.

Ouyang Rong felt it was inappropriate to look at this scene any longer, so he lowered his head and sipped his tea. "Just believe me, let's not talk about this anymore."

Su Guo'er's soft voice then reached his ears:

"Of course, the young master wrote it casually, but just like all descriptions of scenery are expressions of emotion, the poet may not have put pen to paper, but between the lines there is a sincere heart speaking to itself."

Su Guo'er smiled elegantly and softly recited:

"The Han emperor was obsessed with beauty and longed for a woman who could topple a kingdom... What a 'obsessed with beauty' and 'longed for a woman who could topple a kingdom'! He was clearly the Han emperor, so why couldn't he find a woman who could topple a kingdom?"

"This entire empire belongs to the Han emperor, yet he has no beauty to rival the nation's beauty by his side. It's not that he can't find one, but rather that treacherous officials are in power. Even if the Han emperor is thirsty for beauty, he will find it difficult to find one who can rival the nation's beauty."

"It seems that someone has some unique views on the political situation. He compares himself to a beautiful woman, with the beauty to topple kingdoms. He is different from those vulgar and pretentious women in the court. It's just a pity that he is envied by all the women and will never meet the Emperor of Han."

Su Guo'er unconsciously leaned forward, her gaze fixed intently on Ouyang Rong, admiration in her eyes.

This scene was just like when Ouyang Rong sat down and stared at her not long ago.

Su Guo'er looked at him, seemingly admiring another kind of captivating beauty.

She doesn't care about looks, but she cares about something else.

Ouyang Rong's teacup froze at his lips, and his left eyelid twitched twice uncontrollably.

He couldn't help but glance at the elegant, poised, and intelligent youngest sister of the Su family standing before him.

I wonder if I misheard.

Is Su Dalang's sister going to... have some political maneuvering with me?

Ouyang Rong turned his head and silently looked around.

As the sun sets in the west, plum branches sway in the wind, fragrance wafts from the old pavilion, and tea is steamed and savored.

In this setting, one would expect a tranquil and leisurely conversation, but the beautiful young woman before him gave him a furtive, cat-like look, while her deliberately lowered, melodious voice filled his ears.

Wait a minute, wasn't she supposed to be a carefree and elegant young lady, but why is this happening in such a strange way?

Hey, can we not talk about such a dangerous topic?

(End of this chapter)