Chapter 365 Great Kindness Without Merit

Ouyang Rong and Qin Heng, the Commandant of the Vanguard, had made an agreement.

Qin Heng's wife and concubine, Zhao, loved to grow crabapple trees.

If he were to place a pot of begonia flowers on the wall of his house on Zhenguang Street in Xingzifang as usual,

That means everything is fine, which puts Ouyang Rong and the others at ease, and everything can continue as usual.

If the crabapple blossoms disappear, and a pot of azaleas appears on the wall instead...

That means there's something amiss in Jiangzhou's Third Zhechong Prefecture. Qin Heng has sensed something is going on, and it involves Ouyang Rong and the Xunyang Prince's Mansion. They need to be vigilant.

However, the meaning of this code is not static.

Initially, this was a crisis warning agreed upon by the two people who had reconnected and were dealing with each other again.

However, as the incident involving the soldiers returning north escaping to their posts escalated, Ouyang Rong and Qin Heng began to meet frequently to exchange information.

Their relationship gradually warmed up, and the two became closer.

Not long ago, to thank Ouyang Rong and the Xunyang Prince's Mansion for their righteous assistance, Qin Heng gave Ouyang Rong a private token.

It should be noted that Wang Lengran is Qin Heng's superior, in charge of the military and political affairs of Jiangzhou, and holds the power to evaluate and promote Qin Heng.

Qin Heng's actions can be seen as him flirting with his newly appointed deputy behind the back of the top leader, and even secretly communicating with him.

Unlike a private meeting, giving someone a personal token is like "giving them a handle," since if the token falls into Wang Lengran's hands, it would be impossible to explain.

It's practically a pledge of allegiance to Ouyang Rong and the Xunyang Prince's Mansion.

Therefore, the disappearance of the crabapple blossoms on the wall and the appearance of azaleas have now become a secret signal for Ouyang Rong and Qin Heng to meet in the Qinghe private room on the third floor of Yunshui Pavilion.

The initial warning message was less explicit, but it was still largely the same.

This simple method is safe.

However, because it is too simple and cautious, it conveys too little information and can only serve as a general barometer.

Therefore, with the tense situation in Xunyang City, Ouyang Rong has been considering replacing the flowerpot code with a new set of early warning signals that can subdivide the crisis levels in the past few days.

Unfortunately, before he could contact Qin Heng and discuss the plan, a life-or-death situation arose tonight...

Guo Yu and Meng Shouguang were puzzled to find everyone silent along with Ouyang Rong. Guo Yu asked curiously:

"Excuse me, what is the meaning behind this crabapple blossom?"

Ouyang Rong did not answer.

Seeing that Ouyang Rong and the others seemed hesitant to speak, as if they had something to discuss, Guo Yu and Meng Shouguang, with their keen eyes, took the initiative to step aside.

Meng Shouguang was reunited with his lord tonight. He looked hesitant and reluctant to leave Li Xian's side. However, after receiving Li Xian's comforting words, he obediently withdrew for the time being.

Inside the flower hall, only Ouyang Rong, Xie Lingjiang, and Li Xian's family remained.

Li Dalang whispered:

"Could it be that no one in Jiangzhou has received the news of the poisoned wine yet, including Wang Lengran? The news is still on its way, which is why the Jiangzhou General's Office has not made any move."

He sighed, "It is thanks to Mr. Guo and General Meng that we learned of this news first."

"That makes sense." Li Guo'er nodded.

"From this perspective, this is the last window of opportunity. The longer it drags on, the greater the danger it will be for Wang Lengran to receive the Wei family's message and set up a blockade..."

"By the way, senior brother, there was something rather strange on this trip."

Xie Lingjiang, who had returned with news at night, looked up and said to Ouyang Rong:

"In the middle of the night, there were still lights on in the house on Zhenguang Street. I don't know if they were up early or still awake."

Ouyang Rong asked, "Did you go in?"

“I didn’t get close.” Xie Lingjiang shook his head, then asked疑惑地问道, “Does Senior Brother suspect there’s danger inside?”

Ouyang Rong shook his head: "It's unlikely. If it were really dangerous, they would probably turn off the lights to avoid alerting anyone."

He paused, then murmured, "Qin Heng and Zhao Shi are up so late at night, just like us. Could it be something important...?"

Li Guo'er turned her head and said:

“Ouyang Lianghan, the lights are on inside, which at least proves that Zhao and the others are at home. The flowerpots weren't left untouched because no one was home; rather, they were placed there to signal that there was no danger.”

Ouyang Rong glanced at her: "That makes sense."

Xie Lingjiang suddenly asked:

"Thinking the worst, could it be that General Qin has encountered some trouble? He hasn't brought back any new information, and his concubine Zhao is unaware of it. Moreover, because he didn't return home in the middle of the night, Zhao kept the lights on and waited for him, worried and unable to sleep."

Li Guo'er shook her head:

"If that's the case, then the incident involving General Qin, regardless of how it was exposed, indicates that Wang Lengran has completely broken off relations. It's very likely that he already knows about the female official sending the poisoned wine and has begun to mobilize troops on guard."

"After all, since Mr. Guo and General Meng were able to send news from Luoyang, the Wei family had no reason not to send someone to inform Wang Lengran and the others in advance to make arrangements."

"The area around the Xunyang Prince's Mansion is definitely not safe now. The elite soldiers of the Zhechong Prefecture are probably already on their way, and the city gates are being sealed off one by one. If we don't leave now, we'll be waiting to die."

"Once the lady-in-waiting arrives tomorrow morning, it will be difficult to leave unscathed without anyone missing."

Xie Lingjiang blamed herself:

"If only I had sneaked into the courtyard and taken a look when we were on Zhenguang Street, it would have been better than guessing now... Should I go back and look for General Qin?"

"There's no time left. Sister Xie won't be back until morning."

Li Guo'er glanced at the water clock in the corner of the hall, her delicate brows furrowing slightly:

"Time is of the essence, so we can only guess and cannot verify everything. The poisoned wine incident was too sudden, and the death warrant will arrive at dawn. There is no time to investigate the truth."

She glanced at Ouyang Rong, who was frowning and silent:

"Now that everything that can be verified has been verified, we must make a decision. Rather than being indecisive, we should take a gamble."

Ouyang Rong suddenly asked, "What was our initial purpose in coming to Xunyang City?"

“Stay put and wait for an opportunity to return to the capital.” Li Guo’er immediately answered crisply, then pursed her lips: “But situations can change in an instant, and times can change.”

Ouyang Rong nodded slowly and muttered to himself, "Yes, times have changed."

“My love, my sister.” Li Dalang suddenly spoke up:

"According to Mr. Guo, the poisoned wine that my grandmother gave me was only two cups, given to my father and me, and she didn't say it was meant to be used against you..."

He exchanged a glance with Li Xian and gave a somewhat bitter smile:

"If we're truly cornered and trapped by imperial decree, not everyone will die... Tanlang, Miss Xie, my father and I will see if we can help you distance yourselves from each other. After we leave, please remember to take good care of my sister and mother..."

“Brother!” Li Guo’er rebuked, “What do you mean by ‘we’ and ‘you’? What nonsense are you spouting! If you and Father die, why should Mother and I live alone?”

Xie Lingjiang nodded and said:

"If it weren't for my uncle and eldest brother, my elder brother, father, and I would no longer want to get involved in the affairs of this cold and indifferent imperial family."

"Your Highness and Junior Sister are right. We share the same fate, whether it is one or the other."

Ouyang Rong looked at everyone and said softly:

"When we left Longcheng, we all agreed to stand together through thick and thin. How can we live on our own?"

Li Xian and Li Dalang stared at them blankly, their expressions somewhat dazed.

Li Guo'er acted swiftly and decisively, making the first decision:

"Then let's vote. Everyone has a teacup and fruit plate with them."

"Those who wish to stay and gamble, please have a cup of tea."

"Those who wish to leave and flee west may take a raw pear."

"Those who do not move abstain."

After the words were spoken, the flower hall fell silent.

Li Guo'er looked around and picked up a raw pear first.

Wei Mei glanced at Li Xian, hesitated for a moment, and then reached out to take a raw pear.

The mother and daughter noticed that Xie Lingjiang, Li Xian, and Li Dalang had not moved. They turned their heads in unison and stared at Ouyang Rong.

It seemed they were waiting for his move, wanting to follow.

All eyes turned to Ouyang Rong.

The situation is urgent, and every second counts; there is no time to hesitate or delay.

Will it remain as immovable as a mountain, or will it undergo a sudden and dramatic transformation?

A choice must be made.

Ouyang Rong suddenly stood up, walked to Li Guo'er's table, and picked up a large, plump pear from the fruit plate.

Upon seeing this, Xie Lingjiang, Li Xian, and Li Dalang all took out raw pears.

pear.

Separation.

The vote was unanimously in favor.

Li Guo'er breathed a slight sigh of relief and was about to speak: "Ouyang Lianghan..."

Ouyang Rong tossed the raw pear in his hand, then took a bite of it and interrupted:

"Actually, if we put ourselves in their shoes, there is another possibility that the crabapple blossoms on the wall will remain unchanged."

Li Guo'er frowned, and Li Xian and the others exchanged puzzled glances, asking in surprise:

"What's possible?"

Ouyang Rong glanced at them, then turned and looked towards the door, without saying a word...

The doors to the flower hall opened again.

The group regrouped.

"Mr. Guo has left?"

"Yes." Meng Shouguang nodded: "It's almost dawn. He has to return to the capital and can't see His Highness off. He has to go back to the Prince Xiang's residence to report."

Ouyang Rong and the others nodded.

In truth, it was an unspoken understanding that Guo Yu was loyal to the Prince Xiang's Mansion, so he naturally wouldn't flee west with Li Xian and the others.

"And what about General Meng?" Ouyang Rong asked.

“Wherever Your Highness goes, I will go!” Meng Shouguang said in a deep voice.

"Shouguang, it is I who have implicated you." After a night of emotional turmoil, Li Xian's eyes were a little red.

"I will never forget Your Highness's kindness in promoting me!"

Wei Mei sighed as she looked at Li Dalang and Li Guo'er:

"Back when your father was still the Crown Prince and held the position of Right Cavalry General, General Meng was still the Commander. Once, during a western hunt, an assassin attacked, and it was General Meng who blocked a sword."

"Qilang asked the imperial physician to take good care of him, and later took him as a trusted bodyguard... Later, Qilang and I were demoted to commoners, which also implicated him. In recent years, I was afraid of implicating him again, so I did not contact him. I did not expect that General Meng would still come to help during this crisis."

Li Dalang and Li Guo'er both respectfully addressed him as "Uncle Meng".

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Rong's expression also showed some emotion:

"I never expected that there would be such loyal and righteous men under the Prince's command. This is quite a story."

He paused, then asked somewhat hesitantly:

"General Meng just listened in, so he should know where Your Highness is going now."

"I understand."

Meng Shouguang nodded emphatically, his resolve unwavering:

"So what if we become rebels? After being ostracized by treacherous officials in the court for so many years, becoming rebels is actually quite dashing! Your Highness, Mr. Ouyang, have you made up your minds? Shall we leave now?"

"That's right."

Ouyang Rong did not hide anything:

"Let's go now, following the route we discussed before, but we need to be a little more precise."

"We will do as Mr. Ouyang says," Meng Shouguang said solemnly.

Ouyang Rong nodded, and first addressed Xie Lingjiang:

"Did Liu Lang go to Huaiye Lane?"

"Yes, as instructed by my senior brother, I've already gone over there to prepare, and to take Aunt Zhen and Miss Ye to the West Gate..."

"good."

Ouyang Rong breathed a sigh of relief:

"Let's make the arrangements and then head to the West Gate to meet them."

He turned to the crowd and said:

"The plan is this: we'll go in two groups, not together, it's too dangerous."

"The prince and his eldest son, along with their junior sister and General Meng, set off lightly, taking advantage of the night to scale the city walls and leave the city."

"Your Highness, Princess Consort, please make yourselves at home and dress as the ladies of my household. We will travel together in a carriage and leave the city through the west gate."

"Let's meet at Twin Peaks. I've prepared a fast boat and the Heavenly Dragon Oil there..."

After giving his instructions methodically, Ouyang Rong looked at everyone with a questioning gaze.

Xie Lingjiang and Li Xian's family nodded vigorously.

Meng Shouguang exclaimed, "Mr. Ouyang is indeed a great talent with a meticulous mind."

Ouyang Rong waved his hand modestly, then asked seriously:

"General Meng, I haven't asked what your cultivation level is yet. My junior sister is a seventh-grade Confucian book reader, capable of easily carrying one person over the city."

Meng Shouguang succinctly stated: "Seventh rank, Qin Ruishi."

"A military strategist who cultivates qi?"

"Um."

"good."

Ouyang Rong praised him and breathed a slight sigh of relief:

"Two seventh-grade Qi cultivators should be enough. We won't be afraid of encountering a full-strength patrol of soldiers."

Meng Shouguang smiled and asked, "Has Mr. Ouyang ever practiced Qi cultivation?"

"I?"

Ouyang Rong smiled sheepishly and shook his head:

"He's just a scholar; this is all he knows how to order."

Meng Shouguang lowered his gaze and saw the handsome young man in front of him. He lightly patted a simple and unadorned violin case on the table twice.

"Guard the light."

Just then, Li Xian took out a jade token, walked up, and stuffed it into Meng Shouguang's hand, interrupting his attention.

"Your Highness, this is..." Meng Shouguang asked.

Li Xian explained:

"There are only two of these Hetian jade plaques in the world. They were given to me by my late elder brother, and my younger brother's is also in my possession now."

"This one is mine. Shouguang, please keep it safe. I'm in a hurry right now and don't have anything valuable to offer. Please forgive me."

Meng Shouguang quickly waved his hand: "It's so precious, I can't accept it, I can't accept it."

Li Xian stubbornly blocked the way, leaving Meng Shouguang helpless.

"Keep this safe. You gave up fame and fortune in Luoyang to come to this remote southern border and follow me. With such loyalty, I would give you anything you want."

"This, this..." Meng Shouguang was caught off guard.

Li Xian grasped his hand and said sincerely:

"Rest assured, I will not mistreat you for following me to the death. Once we reach Guizhou and I take over the Kuangfu Prefecture, I will discuss with Lord Li the possibility of making you the Grand Marshal of the Kuangfu Prefecture, commanding ten thousand archers, a position far more prestigious than your position as the Chief of the Imperial Guard in Luoyang..."

"Furthermore, from now on, your surname will be 'Li'. I bestow it upon you. Let's see who dares to laugh at your barbarian bloodline now. From now on, we are one family."

Upon hearing this, Meng Shouguang was first shocked, then his eyes instantly reddened and tears welled up.

"Your Highness, this...this is such a great favor..."

Li Xian waved his hand to interrupt, pointing to Ouyang Rong, who was smiling beside him, and said:

"If you want to thank someone, thank Tanlang. I am foolish in this matter of rewards, but fortunately Tanlang reminded me. These were all Tanlang's suggestions, and he entrusted me to never fail to live up to his loyalty."

Ouyang Rong waved his hand and said:

"It was all Your Highness's wise decision. However, General Meng... no, it's General Li now. General Li, please rest assured, once we escape this predicament and join the Kuangfu Army, we will work together to achieve our great cause. Becoming a marquis or prime minister will be a given..."

Before he could finish speaking, there was a loud crash.

The tall, muscular man, standing 1.8 meters tall, was already kneeling on one knee, kowtowing to Li Xian and Ouyang Rong.

Meng Shouguang's face was flushed, he clutched the jade pendant tightly, and his voice choked with emotion:

"Your Highness, Mr. Ouyang, I am ready to go through fire and water without hesitation!"

Li Xian and the others looked pleased.

Ouyang Rong smiled, waited for a while, walked over, gently helped up the grateful and loyal Meng Shouguang, and looked him up and down.

Just as Meng Shouguang was feeling uneasy under the gaze and was about to ask a question, Ouyang Rong suddenly asked:

"Why is there no sound of the wooden fish?"

It is a statement in tone, but a question.

Meng Shouguang was taken aback: "What?"

"It's alright, it's alright."

Ouyang Rong's smile grew even brighter as he pointed to a violin case on the table:

"Come, come, before you leave, I have to show you a great treasure. I don't usually let just anyone have it."

"What precious treasure?"

The people around immediately burst into good-natured laughter.

Meng Shouguang's expression grew increasingly curious.

(End of this chapter)