Chapter 849 Returning to the Great Empress, My Name is A Liang [The End! Requesting Monthly Tickets!]

"How long will you be staying, brother..."

"Brother, why are you still wearing that scholar's robe? It's even a thick autumn coat. Didn't I send you a lot of new ones...?"

"Brother, get me a different plate of food, let me help you..."

"Brother, are you thirsty? Wait a minute, I'll get you some water..."

The dinner table resembled a family reunion, with four people sitting around it.

Among them, the young man in the scholar's robe was engrossed in eating, while a thin, bamboo-like girl with her hair in a topknot next to him would occasionally put down her bowl and chopsticks and chatter away.

The girl's eyes never left the young man, as if she had endless things to say.

Ouyang Rong was not annoyed at all. Except for the first question, he answered every question she asked without nodding or shaking his head in a perfunctory manner.

"I'm used to wearing this, and it's almost autumn; hmm, this plate of greens is quite delicious, did you grow it in the vegetable garden in the yard? I'm not thirsty, no need to go... Ah Qing, eat more, grow taller."

Aqing put down her chopsticks again, her eyes curving into crescents, and said in a clear voice:

“If you like this one, I’ll make you two thinner ones. You can wear it all year round, and add an inner layer when it gets cold. It’s convenient…”

Her brother and sister-in-law, Yunniang, suppressed a laugh and chewed their rice with their heads down.

It was Liu's mother who couldn't stand it anymore. She glanced at her somewhat excited youngest daughter and glared at her:

"Alright, you've been talking nonstop during the meal. A girl like you has so much to say, how will you ever get married... Only your brother has the patience to listen. You should learn from your sister-in-law, be quiet and gentle."

Mother was stern and strict, and Aqing dared not argue with her. She stopped talking and said "Oh".

The slender, bamboo-like girl sat obediently, head bowed, eating in small bites.

Yunniang immediately spoke up to ease the tension:

"Grandma, it's not my fault. It's not always been like this. It's just that I haven't seen my husband for a long time, and I have a lot to say."

Aqing didn't dare to respond. She quietly looked up and shook her head vigorously at her sister-in-law, signaling her not to speak up for her.

Liu's mother didn't say anything, but tremblingly picked up a piece of lean meat and placed it in Ouyang Rong's bowl.

Ouyang Rong shoveled a large mouthful of rice into his mouth and offered his help:

“Mother, don’t worry, Aqing is very well-behaved. Master Shandao and the others I met all praised her highly.”

Liu's mother nodded gently.

The family continued their enjoyable meal together.

The old woman had a small appetite, and there wasn't much rice in her bowl. She put the bowl down after a short while.

Ouyang Rong once heard Yunniang say in a letter that Liu's mother liked to drink cold porridge and eat leftovers from the previous day. Yunniang and Aqing wanted to make her hot food every day, but Liu's mother stubbornly refused to eat it and insisted on reheating the leftovers from the previous night.

Yunniang and Aqing were both somewhat helpless.

Fortunately, the medicine from Gezao Mountain worked, and with Ouyang Rong and the others by her side, the old woman was able to emerge from the shadow of her eldest son's death and, having recovered from her serious illness, was able to get out of bed and move around in the courtyard.

Seeing that Liu's mother had put down the bowl, Yunniang stood up, but Liu's mother immediately waved her hand:

"No need, I'm full..."

Ouyang Rong suddenly stood up, took the empty bowl that Liu's mother had put down, and along with his own empty bowl, went to the kitchen without saying a word.

A moment later, he returned with two bowls of white rice, placing one on Liu's mother's table.

Aqing and Yunniang glanced sideways and saw the young man in the scholar's robe laughing heartily as he said:

"Mom, I've brought all the leftovers from the pot. Let's eat more together. The food is delicious today, so let's finish it all and try not to leave any leftovers."

The two women thought that Liu's mother would refuse again, but to their surprise, the old woman's wrinkled face broke into a smile, and she picked up her rice bowl and was coaxed by Ouyang Rong to continue eating.

They couldn't help but look at each other in bewilderment.

Before long, the food on the table was almost gone.

Everyone put down their bowls one after another.

Looking around, Liu's mother said with some satisfaction to Ouyang Rong, who had gotten up to clear the dishes:

“In the past, there were often leftovers. It’s so good that Tanlang is here. We can finish everything on our plates. Is Tanlang still hungry? Let’s cook more for the next meal.”

Ouyang Rong mimed touching his stomach, smiling broadly:

"It seems that you were waiting for me to come back to eat, Mother. I'm quite full. I can cook more next time, but Mother, you have to help me finish it all."

Mother Liu looked somewhat helpless, but her gaze towards Ouyang Rong was full of doting affection and indulgence:

"Okay, okay."

Ouyang Rong, Yunniang, and Aqing went to the kitchen to wash the dishes.

With her cane in hand, Liu's mother slowly moved out of the house, stopped at the kitchen door, leaned against the door frame with her hunched back, and stared intently at the backs of the young man, the woman, and the girl chatting and washing dishes together.

Her old eyes were yellowish and cloudy, staring blankly, seemingly lost in thought.

The three of them quickly finished washing the dishes and turned around to see Liu's mother.

Aqing, without even untying her apron, rushed to help him, anxiously saying:

Why is Mother crying?

Liu's mother immediately shook her head.

"No, no, that's not it. I just got some sand in my eye. The wind is really strong today, sand and leaves are flying everywhere, it might rain tonight."

Ouyang Rong and Yunniang saw the old woman turn her head to look at the night, rub her eyes with her fingers, and act as if nothing was wrong.

The three of them helped Liu's mother back to the main house.

It was indeed windy outside tonight, the leaves were rustling, and many monks near Sanhui Temple were making creaking noises in the night wind.

They closed the doors and windows, then returned together to the brightly lit table and sat down to chat.

In the middle was a brazier with a burning charcoal fire. This new charcoal was sent by Xiu, because the old woman's legs were cold, and although it was not yet late autumn, she still needed to keep warm at night.

Ouyang Rong and A Qing sat on either side of Liu's mother.

Yunniang added another spoonful of oil to the lamp.

Ouyang Rong held Liu's mother's hand in one hand and bent down to stir the charcoal fire with a wooden stick.

The charcoal fire quickly grew stronger, and the warm, faint orange light fell on his thin face, softening the sharp, marble-like curves.

"When will Tanlang get married? How is his relationship with that noble lady from the Xie family progressing?"

When Ouyang Rong took her hand, Liu's mother squeezed his hand back and asked with concern.

Ouyang Rong's expression was calm and peaceful.

He told the truth:

"We're going to Luoyang. It's already arranged, and my aunt is talking to the elders of my junior sister's family."

Liu's mother was somewhat relieved:

"That's good. Is the wedding going to be in Luoyang? That's right under the emperor's nose. My lord is truly accomplished. He holds a high-ranking official position and is even able to marry a woman from one of the five noble families... I've been thinking about something lately."

"What's up?"

"It was Tanlang who mentioned taking us to Luoyang."

Ouyang Rong immediately felt ashamed and said:

"Mother, it's my fault. This matter has to wait. Actually, I could have sent you there already, but I can't go right now. I'm not comfortable sending you there alone..."

Seeing this, Liu's mother was taken aback, but after hearing him finish speaking, she breathed a sigh of relief and waved her withered hand:

"It's alright, it's alright. There's no rush. What I was actually trying to say was, if I were to go back, could I only stay for a short time to attend my husband's wedding banquet? And if there's nothing else going on afterward, could you please send me back?"

“I’ve lived in Longcheng County my whole life, and my husband is buried here. I’m thinking that with my body like this, I can’t just drift around outside after I die.”

Aqing and Yunniang were moved upon hearing this.

Ouyang Rong was silent for a moment, then said:

"Mother will surely live to be a hundred years old."

The two women also gripped the old woman's hands tightly.

Mother Liu shook her head:

"I hope so. But I have no regrets. Apart from Tanlang, the only ones I can't let go of are Aqing and Yunniang."

"Could you take them to Luoyang and settle them properly, so that they are not separated?"

Yunniang immediately shook her head:

"I'm not going anywhere. I just want to stay by Grandma's side. I'll come back with Grandma too. Let my little sister stay in Luoyang and keep my love company."

Ah Qing hurriedly said, "Then I..."

Her hands were grabbed by both Liu's mother and Yunniang.

Liu's mother and Yunniang exchanged glances for a moment, then the old woman sighed and nodded, interrupting Aqing's words:

"My dear, you are destined for great things, with abilities far surpassing those of ordinary people. Apart from eating well, drinking well, and sleeping well, I can't offer you any useful advice. I have no regrets as I can witness you getting married and having children. However, I am still worried about Aqing. I have something on my mind and often find it hard to eat."

Ouyang Rong asked earnestly, "What's on your mind?"

Mother Liu stroked her youngest daughter's flushed face and said with a hearty smile:

"I hope that Aqing can find a good husband and live a peaceful life. I don't ask for anything more, as long as she doesn't cause you any trouble. Other than that, it would be good if she could live a peaceful and safe life."

"I would like to entrust Aqing's marriage to you. As her elder brother, would you be willing to make the decision for her? Whether you find her in Longcheng or take her to Luoyang, it is all up to you."

Beside her, a pretty young girl blushed deeply.

“Mother, I…I…I don’t want to get married. I only want to stay by your and my brother’s side. That’s why I won’t get married…ah.”

Aqing was speaking when she was suddenly flicked on the forehead by Liu's mother. She covered her forehead and looked at Yan's mother with tears in her eyes.

The girl dared not look at her "brother" Ouyang Rong, but looked at her mother's tearful eyes with a pleading expression, hoping that her mother could change her mind.

Liu's mother didn't look at her, but gazed expectantly at the young man in the scholar's robe.

Ouyang Rong's face grew increasingly ashamed.

Liu's mother and Yunniang were somewhat puzzled.

Ouyang Rong glanced at the tightly closed wooden door and said in a low voice:

“Mother, I’ve come back this time not only to visit you, but also to find someone. My sister can’t make arrangements for that right now.”

Yunniang shook her head first:

"It's alright, it's alright, there's no rush. Grandma and I are just asking for your help. There's no need to rush. If you have something to do, you can go ahead and do it. However, Grandma and I have discussed it and think it would be better for Aqing to stay with you. We heard that Miss Ye and Miss Xie are not in Xunyang, so Aqing can take care of you."

Upon hearing Ouyang Rong's words, Aqing initially breathed a sigh of relief, but upon hearing her sister-in-law's subsequent remarks, she lowered her head again for some reason.

Ouyang Rong pondered, his eyes as dark as ink, as if deep in thought. Just as he was about to speak, Mother Liu suddenly asked:

"Is the person Tanlang is looking for a woman?"

Ouyang Rong fell silent.

Aqing immediately looked up and stared straight at him along with Yunniang.

Under the watchful eyes of Liu's mother and the others, Ouyang Rong hummed in agreement and said softly:

“Her name is Xiu Niang, and I promised to take her to Luoyang.”

Mother Liu and Yunniang exchanged a glance, not intending to ask any further questions, but Aqing suddenly said:

"Does my brother like her?"

Ouyang Rong replied earnestly, "We are family now, just like you."

Aqing lowered her eyes and muttered to herself, "It's different. Look into my brother's eyes. She's special. She's very important to my brother."

Ouyang Rong took a deep breath and nodded emphatically.

Aqing suddenly looked up, a smile on her face:

“Find her, brother! Don’t let her go again. Family should stay together. I… I’ll go with you to find her, okay? This embroiderer sister is also Aqing’s family.”

Ouyang Rong looked at her intently:

"Ah Qing, are you really willing to go with me?"

Aqing said firmly:

"willing!"

Ouyang Rong slowly nodded, his eyes fixed on him: "Alright, wait two more days..."

A hoarse voice suddenly came from the side, interrupting him.

"Don't wait."

Ouyang Rong turned his head and saw it was Liu's mother.

The elderly woman with white hair smiled broadly:

"My love, don't wait any longer. Go find her now. I haven't read many books, but I've lived for so many years and I understand some things. People get lazier the longer they wait. Just do what you think of, especially if you like a girl. Hurry up and go find her. Hold her tight and don't say there's plenty of time. Be together every day! Don't waste a single moment of your youth. Waiting in one place is for old age, not for you young people!"

Ouyang Rong was slightly moved, gazing intently at the old woman who was speaking earnestly:

"But I only spent one night with you..."

Mother Liu waved her hand forcefully, her hoarse, aged voice surprisingly powerful, echoing in Ouyang Rong and the two women's ears:

"No, the night has been long enough. The person who should be with me is not you, and the person I should be with is not me either. I shouldn't spend my best years with an old woman."

"When I was young, I already had someone to accompany me. He was the youngest of them all back then. Even though I left early, I have no regrets. My love, what about you? What are you waiting for?"

"If the younger generation stays by the side of the older generation, generation after generation, wouldn't all the good years be wasted? You young people should go out and explore, find the people you love, do the things you want to do, and not stay with the old people who are full of energy all the time. It's enough if you can come back to visit and have a meal... This is not a matter of filial piety."

“Back then, Ah Shan was like that, always staying close to home with me. I was the one who sent him down the mountain to venture out into the city and do things that young people do. If he met a girl he liked, he should go after her... Later, he met you, my love, and followed you faithfully.”

As Liu's mother spoke, she choked up and her eyes reddened.

But suppressing a deep sadness, he gave these words of advice to Aqing, who was also in tears:

"You are the same; these words are also for you."

With a thud, Aqing knelt down before the old woman, unable to contain her emotions:

"Mother!"

Ouyang Rong slowly stood up and coaxed the old woman in front of him in the gentlest tone.

"Mother, I understand, I'll go right away."

The old woman wiped away her tears:

"Alright! Go then, child."

Ouyang Rong turned his head and said to Yunniang:

"Bring the monk's robes that were delivered from the temple this evening, along with my bundle."

He then said to Aqing:

"Aqing, go pack your things. I'll come with you. There's something I want to tell you..."

Aqing immediately stood up and went to her room.

Yunniang was taken aback by these words, stood up, and awkwardly grabbed her apron with both hands:

"Shall we leave now, or wait until tomorrow to go down the mountain?"

She glanced outside with some concern:

"It's still raining outside, and it doesn't look like it'll stop anytime soon. The mountain roads are hard to walk on in the rain..."

Mother Liu glanced at Yunniang.

The latter immediately shut his mouth and bent down to retrieve Ouyang Rong's luggage.

Ouyang Rong went to A Qing's room, seemingly to help her pack her things.

Only the old woman remained at the table, her cloudy eyes staring blankly at the blazing charcoal fire, lost in thought.

Yunniang was the first to return, carrying a small bundle and a stack of dark blue monk robes.

The small bundle was very light, and judging from its appearance, it seemed to contain a scroll, but no other clothes... Yunniang glanced at it curiously.

About an incense stick later,

Ouyang Rong and A Qing returned to the main house one after the other.

Ouyang Rong handed the floral bundle he was carrying back to Aqing.

Liu's mother and Yunniang saw that Aqing was holding a bundle, her little face serious, staring straight at Ouyang Rong's back.

A small fist was hidden under the sleeve of her right skirt, clenched tightly.

Yunniang looked at the small floral bundle and stepped forward to ask, "Is this all my aunt's luggage? What about the scholar's robes that my aunt sewed for Tanlang?"

Aqing didn't look at her and shook her head.

Yunniang and Liu's mother followed Aqing's gaze.

They discovered that Ouyang Rong had walked to the table, turned his back to everyone, and taken out a scroll from his bundle, spreading it out on the table.

"Longling—"

The young man in the scholar's robe pulled the white hairpin from his hair ornament with one hand and placed it into the painting.

She then took the sword from her waist, the jade pendant, and the Dragon and Tiger Pill box from her bosom, and placed them all into the painting.

Next, he began to take off his faded blue scholar's robe, and in the same way, he put it into the painting.

Ouyang Rong, his black hair loose, had changed into a dark blue monk's robe. He reached into a scroll, took something out, and placed it on the table.

He tucked the scroll back into his pocket and turned around.

Ouyang Rong stroked the object on the table with one hand and asked A Qing calmly:

Where is the stuff?

Aqing's right hand was sticking out of her sleeve, her small fist clenched tightly around something.

He said:

"It fell."

Aqing flipped her right hand, loosened her fist, and something fell straight to the ground.

Yunniang and Liu's mother looked on with curiosity, noticing that the object resembled a piece of purple jade and seemed vaguely familiar.

Crack!

With a crisp sound, the purple jade shattered into pieces.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the purple color of the shattered jade gradually faded, returning to its original milky white color.

"This, this is..."

Yunniang and Liu's mother exchanged a glance, as if they had suddenly realized something.

Like Aqing, they all turned their gazes toward the young man at the table who had changed into monk's robes.

He had already picked up the bronze fox fur guard beside him, lowered his head and put it on his face, so his expression was not visible.

In the next instant, Ouyang Rong disappeared from the table.

In their place stood a dull young man, wearing the same monk's robe, but his dull, thin face was all too familiar to the three women.

"Ah Shan" tilted his head and glanced at them.

Aqing suddenly called out, "Brother!"

Liu's mother and Yunniang took two steps forward uncontrollably, then stopped.

They stopped where they were, took a deep breath, and tacitly refrained from going forward.

The taciturn young man bowed his head, walked towards Aqing, took the bundle from her arms, and stood behind the girl.

It seems they are waiting.

The room was silent; everyone held their breath.

"Ah Shan" lowered his head.

Aqing stood at the front, her eyes fixed on the tightly closed wooden door.

One incense stick has burned... two incense sticks have burned...

The house remained completely silent, save for the increasingly fierce wind and rain outside.

It's going to rain heavily tonight.

The embers in the center of the room were burning bright red, slowly leaving layers of ash that covered the surface and concealed the glowing embers.

"Clang—!"

A sudden gust of night wind swept through the courtyard, slamming open the previously tightly closed doors.

A raging mountain wind, carrying slanting rain, rushed into the house.

The room, which had been warmed by the charcoal fire, suddenly became chilly.

The four people's sleeves fluttered, and the charcoal in the dish shed its "gray coat," turning as red as a branding iron.

Yunniang, who was closest to the door, instinctively took a step forward to close it.

But he stopped in front of the door.

A tall, blond figure slowly walked in through the door.

She stepped into the room, her blue eyes scanning the crowd.

Their gaze fell on the skinny, stick-like girl.

Using the awkward yet elegant language unique to mixed-race Orangutans:

"You're the one who broke the jade, and now you're coming to me?"

Aqing boldly looked up and stared directly at this goddess-like figure.

Despite the wind and rain raging outside, her traditional dress remained completely dry.

Aqing nodded vigorously:

"Yes! You can call me Aqing. I... I want to be a Yue woman too!"

Ignoring everyone else, Xuezhongzhu asked her, word by word:

"Why did you change your mind?"

Aqing sniffed, then suddenly turned her head and sobbed towards Liu's mother:

“Mother, I will not get married, nor will I be a burden on the family. I will find a job for my brother.”

Xue Zhongzhu's gaze shifted, sweeping over the old woman with white hair, the young woman with her hair in a bun and wearing an apron, and the dull-looking young man in monk's robes.

Both the skinny girl and the dull-witted young man had the character "Yue" embroidered on their foreheads, a mark of their low social status, coming from the now-defunct Liu Family Ancient Yue Sword Shop.

Aqing asked timidly:

"Goddess, if I become your disciple, can I also cultivate the Dao and live a carefree life?"

The snow candle that had once left behind the purple jade was now somewhat silent.

She asked, her pronunciation stiff:

"You can enjoy a carefree life, but think it over carefully. Become my disciple, and from now on you will be a member of the Queen's Palace. You will be removed from the list and become the new Queen. From now on, all ties such as marriage contracts and other bonds from down the mountain must be severed, and you will not be allowed to act willfully."

Xuezhongzhu saw the girl in front of him turn her head and glance at her taciturn brother who had his head down.

She smiled faintly and nodded deeply:

"Okay!"

The cold expression on Xue Zhongzhu's face softened slightly as he prepared to turn around.

"Let's go, it's not safe to stay down the mountain for long."

Aqing had just taken a step when she seemed to remember something:

"Wait, Goddess..."

Xuezhongzhu interrupted, "What did you call me?"

"Master...Master."

The candle in the snow gently nodded:

"I am the chief matriarch of the Yunmeng Sword Marsh Palace. You will soon know what kind of existence my sect holds in the world."

"oh oh."

Aqing nodded like a chick pecking at rice, then boldly grasped the sleeve of the tall, blonde oriental woman, her eyes pleading:

"I would like to ask Master if my elder brother can come along with me."

The candle in the snow coldly shook its head.

Aqing shook her head with a tearful face: "Then, then I won't go. If my brother isn't going, I won't go either."

Xuezhongzhu stared straight at Aqing:

"Our sect only accepts female disciples, and there are no exceptions."

Aqing immediately pointed at him:

“My brother just wants to find a job and take care of me. He can do anything, cooking and doing odd jobs. He can even read a few words. As long as he has a stable wage, that's fine. I don't ask for much. My brother is so honest... Master, our Jianze is so powerful, can't you even arrange such a small thing?”

As Xuezhongzhu listened, he frowned slightly.

Liu's mother and Yunniang immediately pleaded with tears in their eyes:

"Goddess, please have mercy and give him a chance, so that the brother and sister can look after each other."

Xuezhongzhu finally looked at the dull young man properly, glancing at the dark blue monk's robe he was wearing.

She asked:

What did you do before?

The taciturn young man, not daring to look people in the eye, answered in a muffled voice:

“The bell is rung to announce the time. The bell and drum tower north of the temple rings the bell 108 times at dawn and dusk to alert the monks.”

Whispering Candle in the Snow:

"The bell ringer... ringing the bell... there is a bell in Fengshan... it rings when the frost falls... just right..."

For some unknown reason, after a moment, she suddenly said:

"Lift your face and let me see it."

The dull-witted youth had just raised his head when Xue Zhongzhu suddenly raised his sword finger and thrust it straight into his brow.

The young man was startled and fell backward, clumsily landing on the ground.

The sword in the snow still reached a hair's breadth from his forehead, and he couldn't dodge it.

However, the dull-witted young man seemed to realize something, rolled his eyes upward, and looked at the woman's slender fingers hanging on his forehead.

She infused spiritual energy into her fingertips from a distance, and the examination was completed in an instant. She then withdrew her hand and put it back in her sleeve.

There was not a trace of spiritual energy fluctuation.

Xuezhongzhu's face was expressionless as he turned and left.

She was also unaware that, just two breaths later, the golden light emanating from the dantian and eight extraordinary meridians of the collapsed, dwindled, returning to reality...

Let's go.

Aqing immediately went over, helped the taciturn young man up, and followed Xuezhongzhu out the door together.

Xuezhongzhu took out another piece of purple jade, tossed it behind him, and it landed in Yunniang's arms.

Her earnest tone came through:

"The Yunmeng Token cannot be kept any longer. If you encounter any difficulties, you may break the jade again."

Yunniang lowered her head obediently: "Yes, Goddess."

Xuezhongzhu strode out the door, and as he stepped across the threshold, as if remembering something, he casually asked:

"By the way, what's your name?"

Aqing and the other women all turned to look at the taciturn young man.

"Your Majesty, my name is A Liang."

He paused slightly, glanced up at the solitary, swan-like figure of Xue Zhongzhu, and said, deliberately:

"The 'liang' in 'pure and good'."

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(End of Volume Two)

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(End of this chapter)