Chapter 272 Imperial Nobles

Suddenly, Li Fusu noticed a hand reaching out in front of him, holding a slice of watermelon.

He was taken aback, then reached out to take it: "Thank... thank you, Lianghan."

"Why should I thank you for the melon you brought?"

Ouyang Rong found it amusing, shook his head, and then buried himself in his melon seeds.

Li Fusu smiled and suddenly felt less nervous.

Afterwards, the two friends squatted face to face on the ground and ate watermelon together, showing a great deal of tacit understanding.

"His name is Li Fusu..."

Ouyang Rong muttered to himself, then asked without looking up, "So, Emperor Gaozong was your biological grandfather?"

“That’s right.” Li Fusu nodded.

"What's it like to be the Crown Prince?" he suddenly asked.

"Huh?" Li Fusu was stunned.

Ouyang Rong thought for a moment, racked his brains for a bit, took a big bite of melon, and grinned as he chewed, asking:

"If I remember correctly, when Emperor Gaozong was critically ill, Empress Wei interfered in politics, the original crown prince was deposed, and your father was made the new crown prince. You also became the eldest grandson of the legitimate wife."

"To stabilize the foundation of the country, Emperor Gaozong appointed you as the Crown Prince and granted you a residence early on, thus confirming the order of succession."

"Yes, the rightful third-generation crown prince, the sole heir to the throne, that should be correct, right?"

"What you said is true, but..."

Li Fusu put down the melon ladle with both hands, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and said with a bitter face:

“But when my grandfather made me emperor, I was only one year old. I didn’t last long. My father lost the throne, my grandmother changed the dynasty to the new one, and I was deposed and demoted to a commoner.”

"You haven't even warmed your seat yet, how would you know what it's like to be the Crown Prince? Hey, Lianghan, you'd better stop teasing me."

The scruffy-bearded young man munching on a melon sighed and shook his head.

Ouyang Rong chuckled.

"As a member of the imperial family, you've at least won at the starting line. It's not a loss to have experienced it."

"Well."

Li Dalang didn't quite understand his friend's strange joke, but being an honest person, he didn't pursue it and continued to eat the watermelon in his hand.

At one point, he suddenly whispered:

"Actually, thinking about it carefully, life is pretty good now, if it weren't for the last time when we were chased by the Wei family."

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Rong remained silent, observing the situation without responding.

"Last time on the fifteenth of the month at Dagushan, thanks to Lianghan and Miss Xie, our family escaped a disaster. Later, on the way back to Luming Street from the mountain, my sister suddenly said that we probably could no longer continue to be commoners."

"We can no longer live the carefree life we ​​used to, living in anonymity. Our family has been spotted by certain people in Luoyang, and we are destined to be drawn into the future conflict..."

Li Fusu raised his head, looked at Ouyang Rong, and couldn't help but confirm again:

"Lianghan, tell me, is this true? Is it really impossible for our family to go back home?"

Ouyang Rong said without looking up:

"Didn't you all hear what I said in the Yilanxuan study last time, Dalang?"

Li Fusu was taken aback, then his expression turned somewhat awkward, "Lianghan, back then we..."

"It's alright, my junior sister has already told me."

"And I had already guessed some of it. During that time, your father and sister were always trying to curry favor with you."

Ouyang Rong put down the cleanly gnawed melon seedpod, picked up a handkerchief to wipe his hands, and casually asked:

"What, does Dalang not believe my prediction?"

"No."

Li Fusu shook his head vigorously and said softly:

"I just feel that even if Lianghan's judgment comes true, and Grandmother really brings our family back to Luoyang, the process is peaceful and smooth, and even after returning to the capital, she re-establishes Father as the heir apparent."

"But I'm afraid we can't handle this enormous wealth. There's no such thing as a free lunch."

"It would be better to live in seclusion in Longcheng, with the family, and live a simple and peaceful life."

Ouyang Rong nodded: "Alright, then for the rest of your life, Dalang can continue to study diligently and serve your teacher every day in Juxian Garden."

"Hey Lianghan, what are you saying? You've said it before: studying requires a balance of work and rest. Why can't you occasionally go to Yunshui Pavilion to cultivate your mind and body?"

Ouyang Rong interrupted with a sneer:

"You haven't even returned to Beijing yet, and you're already being sentimental. Others are thinking about potential dangers even in times of peace, but you're just staying in a secluded corner and talking about missing out on ordinary days. You should focus on living your life right now first."

The young magistrate lowered his head, patted his sleeves, and said in a somewhat cold voice:

"Your noble birth already puts you ahead of most people in this world. Does Dalang only want to enjoy its benefits while shirking its risks and responsibilities?"

"Then all the principles of identity and responsibility that I just talked to you about were for nothing?"

"This is a one-time exception. If you continue to think such nonsense and hesitate like this, don't come looking for me again. Let's end our friendship here."

"Lianghan, please calm down." Li Fusu quickly waved his hand, grabbed his friend's sleeve, and tried to make amends, saying, "It was my mistake, I won't dare to do it again!"

Ouyang Rong glanced at him.

Li Fusu chuckled awkwardly, and after a moment, he let out a soft "Eh," as if he had vaguely realized something:

"Lianghan's meaning... is actually that he's willing to help my family?"

Ouyang Rong did not answer, but packed up the food box and stood up.

"I'm full. Come on, I'll take you somewhere."

He stood tall, one hand on his waist knife, the other holding a food box, and walked down from the platform without hesitation.

Li Fusu hurriedly followed.

The two met up with Xie Lingjiang and Yan Liulang in the shade of the trees below the high platform.

The four looked at each other in silence and left together.

Where is Lianghan going?

Ouyang Rong walked at the front without saying a word.

Xie Lingjiang followed closely behind.

Li Fusu and Yan Liulang exchanged a glance and obediently followed.

Ouyang Rong led them across the ancient Yue sword shop to the foot of Xiaogushan Mountain, where they climbed the steps.

Li Fusu discovered that Ouyang Rong's destination seemed to be the mountaintop.

As they walked up the mountain, they silently passed the ruins of the overgrown Jiazi Sword Furnace and the Liu family ancestral home, which had been ransacked and destroyed.

Finally, we arrived at the summit of Little Lonely Mountain.

A brand-new ancestral hall appeared in Li Fusu's field of vision.

At this time of day, craftsmen and laborers are moving things in and out, indicating that it is not yet fully completed.

Xie Lingjiang and Yan Liulang, who were standing beside them, remained calm and seemed completely unsurprised.

Li Fusu looked curious. He remembered that this place used to be a Dragon King Temple, a place of worship for the superstitious people of Dragon City.

"Is this a shrine built by the people for Liang Han?" he wondered curiously.

Ouyang Rong did not answer.

Soon, Li Fusu realized he had guessed wrong.

This shrine is not used to worship ghosts or gods, nor to worship any upright officials.

It is used to commemorate all the brave men of Longcheng, like Liu Ashan, who sacrificed their lives for the cause of controlling floods and eliminating disasters in Longcheng.

At the entrance of the shrine, there were two couplets that appeared to be in Liang Han's handwriting. Li Fusu turned his head and stared at them, silently reciting them for a while, but ultimately did not read them aloud.

Li Fusu saw the name of Brother Ashan on the wall in the center of the hall.

The sound of footsteps echoed in the empty main hall of the ancestral temple.

The atmosphere was somewhat solemn.

Li Fusu followed the young county magistrate ahead as they inspected the ancestral temples, remaining silent throughout.

The shrine was not yet fully completed, and some craftsmen were working shirtless, their backs covered in sweat.

Li Fusu saw that Liang Han, who hadn't spoken the whole time, stopped, put down his food box, and shared the chilled rice wine he hadn't drunk with, along with half a ladle of watermelon, with the craftsmen.

Before long, Ouyang Rong, Li Dalang and their group left the shrine on the mountaintop.

On the way down the mountain.

Li Dalang said, "I heard that the imperial court has always strictly prohibited the establishment of shrines by the common people. Is Lianghan alright? Shouldn't there have been a report?"

Ouyang Rong casually said:

"The first report was submitted to Jiangzhou, and an explanation was given that it was not a superstitious or supernatural worship, but simply a commemoration of the heroes who tamed the floods. The governor's office immediately issued a document opposing it."

"That Lord Wang said that this matter violated the imperial edict and the prime minister's regulations. He said that I was relying on my achievements in flood control to be arrogant and demand rewards. He strongly protested and said that if I dared to build privately, he would write a memorial to impeach me."

"How could it be so serious? What should we do about Lianghan?"

Ouyang Rong said softly, "Let him protest. Since he says I'm abusing my power to force a reward, then I'll force him to do it. I've already submitted a memorial to the Council of State Affairs. Hmm, that won't count as unauthorized construction."

"Um, wouldn't it be a bad idea to bypass Shangguan like this? Wouldn't that offend him..."

He asked with a smile, "He offended me, so is that all right?"

Li Fusu was speechless.

If anyone else had said that, he would have thought it was arrogant.

But when these words came out of Ouyang Lianghan's mouth, they seemed... to make a lot of sense.

Li Fusu nodded slowly.

Yes, Lord Wang, why did you provoke him?

Behind her, Xie Lingjiang, who was listening intently, smiled.

Ouyang Rong, who was walking at the front, suddenly stopped and turned around, saying:

"Brother, I have a question, and I will only ask this one question. Please answer me truthfully."

Sensing the seriousness in Ouyang Rong's words, Li Fusu straightened his back and became serious:

"Lianghan, please speak."

"If one day you and your father have the opportunity to ascend the throne, will you tolerate me doing something similar?"

"Lianghan's statement is too far ahead."

Li Fusu scratched his head, "Ascending the throne... neither my father nor I dare to even dream of it."

The next moment, he met Ouyang Rong's calm gaze, and he swallowed his words.

Realizing Ouyang Rong's serious attitude, Li Fusu's expression gradually became serious.

He pursed his lips:

Liang Han once said, "Those who carry firewood for the masses should not be left to freeze to death in the wind and snow."

"Although Fusu is dull-witted and lacks wisdom, and has lived a mediocre life, he has a heart that admires the virtuous and good. Fusu, on behalf of his father, promises Lianghan that if he is fortunate enough to ascend the throne one day, he will not let down all those who have contributed their efforts, including Lianghan!"

Ouyang Rong nodded.

"Remember these words."

He turned around and led the way down the mountain.

Xie Lingjiang seemed to have had enough of sightseeing and stepped forward to ask, "Senior Brother, where are we going now?"

Ouyang Rong smiled:

"Junior Sister, is the crispy mountain delicious?"

"Um."

"Then let's go back to Meiluyuan and try some more."

"go back?"

"Well, if we don't go back soon, what if Uncle and the others get heatstroke while waiting? Wouldn't that ruin our friendship?"

“Lianghan…” Li Fusu was a little embarrassed.

The group returned to Luming Street. Yan Liulang had official business to attend to, so they temporarily separated and headed to the county government office.

Ouyang Rong, Xie Lingjiang, and Li Fusu returned to the Plum Deer Garden.

Meilin Courtyard.

As soon as I entered the courtyard, I saw a group of people who had been waiting for a long time.

Li Xian, Wei Mei, Li Guo'er, and Cai Shou, along with two or three maids.

The warm afternoon breeze rustled like a gentle hand, and a large jujube tree in the center of the courtyard rustled softly.

Golden sunlight filtered through the green leaves at the treetops, casting soft, swaying shadows on the ground.

Li Xian sat on a stone bench under a tree, head drooping and dozing off, his hat askew.

Just like the master, the chubby-faced maid Caishou was also dozing off, but she was standing behind Li Guo'er, nodding her little head a few times like a chick pecking at rice.

Li Guo'er and Wei Mei were the first to notice Ouyang Rong and his group's return.

His eyes lit up with surprise.

"Shhh."

Ouyang Rong raised his index finger and put it to his lips, gesturing to the mother and daughter.

Turning to wake up Wei Mei and Li Guo'er, who were about to leave, he suddenly stopped.

Inside the courtyard, Ouyang Rong took the lead, walking quietly with a calm expression, and together with Xie Lingjiang, they passed by Li Xian and the other two, heading towards the study.

Wei Mei turned her head and looked at Li Fusu, who had returned with her. They exchanged a glance, her eyes asking a question.

Li Guo'er's bright, starry eyes glanced sideways at Ouyang Rong, who calmly passed by her, following his figure all the way.

The white veil covering her face concealed the expression on the young woman's face, leaving her lost in thought.

Squeak—!

The inevitable sound of the door being pushed open startled Li Xian from his slumber.

"Mmm..." Li Xian opened his eyes and looked around, mumbling in his sleep, a little dazed.

The next second, he saw Ouyang Rong's figure in the study ahead.

"Nephew Lianghan! You're back?"

Li Xian jumped up from the stone bench in the courtyard, the weariness that had been covering her face vanished, and she exclaimed with joy.

This middle-aged wealthy man acted like a child, gesturing wildly and looking around to inform his wife and children.

Wei Mei, Li Guo'er, and Li Fusu all looked at him with somewhat helpless expressions.

Seemingly sensing the awkward atmosphere, Li Xian paused, his face flushed, and turned to Li Fusu, lowering his voice to ask:

"When did you return, my nephew Lianghan? I haven't slept for too long, have I?"

Li Fusu shook his head.

Xie Lingjiang walked out of the study, as if to speak.

Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard.

Everyone turned around.

Yan Liulang rushed into the courtyard, looked around, and shouted towards the study:

"Your Excellency! An imperial envoy has arrived from Luoyang! He is accompanied by officials from the prefecture, and they have just arrived at the county government office!"

"An imperial envoy from Luoyang?!"

Upon hearing this, Li Xian was struck dumb, as if by a bolt from the blue, and stood there muttering to himself:

"Oh no, oh no, people from Luoyang have come again! What's their purpose this time...?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Mei, Li Fusu, and Li Guo'er immediately stood up, and chaos erupted in the courtyard.

"Forehead."

Yan Liulang turned his head, his face hesitant, and said to Li Xian and the others who were anxiously pacing back and forth:

“Uncle, eldest son, the imperial envoy doesn’t seem to be here to see you… He’s not a palace maid, he’s an official from the Ministry of Personnel, and it seems he’s looking for you, Your Excellency…”

"Huh?" Li Xian turned around in surprise.

At that moment, there was a slight "clang".

In the courtyard, someone pushed open the door and walked out alone.

Ouyang Rong had changed into a light green seventh-rank official robe at some point.

"oh."

He stuffed the stack of memorials in his hand into his sleeve, bent down to straighten the wide, dark green cuffs of his official robe, and calmly walked past Yan Liulang and the others in the courtyard before heading outside.

The young magistrate slowly nodded:

"Finally, someone has arrived. I've been waiting quite a while. Let's go, junior sister, go and see. Uncle Li, eldest brother, please wait a moment."

The people in the courtyard looked at each other in bewilderment.

Looking at her composed senior brother, Xie Lingjiang smiled faintly, took a few steps forward, tiptoed slightly, and used her two delicate hands to straighten his collar.

"Wait, don't move, this place is a mess..."

After getting dressed, Ouyang Rong was the first to walk out of the courtyard, leaving with Xie Lingjiang and Yan Liulang.

Li Xian, Li Fusu, and the others realized what was happening and followed after them in a daze.

Shortly after, the group from Meiluyuan arrived at the Longcheng County Government Office.

At this time, a large crowd had gathered on Luming Street.

The main gate of Longcheng County Government Office was wide open today, and it was crowded with people.

Officials such as County Magistrate Diao, who were originally on their days off, appeared inside the gate.

At this moment, they were waiting with a mixture of excitement and anxiety, frequently looking back at the county government hall behind them, and occasionally glancing at the direction of the Deer Park.

At that moment, Magistrate Diao's eyes lit up, and he stepped forward:

"Your Excellency, you've finally arrived! Hurry, hurry, the imperial envoy from the capital is waiting for you! Go quickly, go quickly!"

(End of this chapter)