Chapter 268 A Lie of Kindness
A gentle breeze blows.
After a few drinks and a midday breeze, Ouyang Rong was a little tipsy.
From waking up from a sleepwalking episode in the underground palace in the early morning to now having lunch with my teacher and junior sister in the plum grove courtyard.
After a long ordeal and being unconscious for several days, I was indeed hungry.
Ouyang Rong didn't stand on ceremony with the whole table of dishes originally intended for his teacher. He kept picking up food with his chopsticks and soon devoured most of it.
He drank alcohol as if it were water, using it to swallow food.
The fine wine on the table was brought back by Xie Lingjiang from the "Su Mansion". Of course, Ouyang Rong now knows that the house next door is not the Su Mansion at all, but should be called the Li Mansion.
Of course, they couldn't openly display the sign, since the surname "Li" was a well-known imperial surname throughout the Great Zhou Dynasty.
"Lianghan has a good capacity for alcohol."
Watching Ouyang Rong intently eating his rice and occasionally taking a sip of wine, Xie Xun exchanged a glance with his daughter, then turned and smiled.
"It's alright, but you can't really taste anything."
Ouyang Rong put down his bowl, smiled, and reached for the wine pot, preparing to pour wine for his teacher.
But some people have already acted even faster.
“Father, Eldest Brother, I’m here.”
The three of them sat under the grape trellis, at a small square table, and ate their meal while kneeling.
Ouyang Rong and Xie Xun sat facing each other, facing north and south.
Xie Lingjiang sat between the two men, facing them sideways. To her left was Ouyang Rong, and to her right was Xie Xun.
At this moment, the Xie lady, having just bathed, was covered in fragrance. She was wearing a long, white, front-opening dress and kneeling on a prayer mat. The dress was made of expensive, soft, and form-fitting fabric, which accentuated her beautiful curves.
The woman's kneeling posture caused her slender buttocks to press against her calves, making the smooth fabric bulge and taut, like the gourd-shaped wine pot she held in her hand.
Xie Lingjiang volunteered, her long black hair neatly tied up with a glass red rope hairpin. She sat up, held the wine pot in her two jade hands, and poured the wine for her senior brother and father with a delicate, earnest expression.
Xie Xun couldn't help but glance at the hair clip that Xie Lingjiang had pinned to her black hair.
When she entered the kitchen, her long hair was still loose, but a little while later, when she came out with Liang Han to serve the food, her long hair was tied up and she had a peculiar hair clip.
His cheeks also turned quite red, although he still maintained a serious expression.
Xie Xun couldn't help but sigh.
He glanced again at the wine glass, and at the gentle and virtuous young woman pouring the wine in front of him.
Speaking of which, it had been so long since he had drunk wine poured by his own daughter. He remembered how well-behaved she was when she was little, but unfortunately, after she came of age, she stopped attending her parents' banquets, became unconventional, and often lectured him to drink less...
But today, something unprecedented has happened.
Actually, for an old father, he's not afraid of his daughter giving him the cold shoulder, but he's afraid of her suddenly becoming obedient.
Xie Xun turned his head: "Thank you for your hard work, Wanwan."
"It's alright, Father, please drink up." Xie Lingjiang smiled and replied, then immediately turned to Ouyang Rong, who was drinking heartily, and said with concern, "Senior Brother, please drink slowly..."
A loving father and a filial daughter.
Taking advantage of Liang Han's presence today, Xie Xun drank a few more cups without making a sound, but his mouth felt inexplicably sour.
Hmm, I don't know if the wine is sour or what.
Having filled most of his stomach, Ouyang Rong temporarily put down his chopsticks, raised his wine cup to Xie Xun, and gestured:
"Actually, I don't drink much on weekdays; I mainly drink with my teachers and friends."
He smiled and said, "Because I can never taste anything good in alcoholic beverages. They just taste like slightly sour water, which can quench thirst, but I can't say I like them."
"Is that so? Lianghan has indeed changed a lot."
Xie Xun rolled up his sleeves, put down his wine glass, and said with emotion:
“When Brother Shen returned to Jiangzhou from Longcheng, what he said to me was correct. I remember that when Lianghan was studying, he hated this kind of drinking and socializing the most. He didn’t drink a drop of alcohol and didn’t give face to anyone.”
The middle-aged scholar looked on with reminiscence: "It was later, when we were taking the imperial examination in Luoyang, and we were saying goodbye as master and disciple, under the swaying willows, that Lianghan took a small sip of wine. This matter was talked about with great interest at the academy for a while."
"Yeah?"
Xie Lingjiang looked at Ouyang Rong with curiosity, her eyes sparkling.
"Yes, that's true." Ouyang Rong nodded and chuckled, then paused, as if recalling something for a moment, and softly recited:
"I urge you to drink another cup of wine, for beyond Yangguan Pass you will find no old friends."
Xie Lingjiang glanced sideways, and Xie Xun laughed loudly, asking:
"Does Lianghan still remember the ambition he made when he bid farewell that day and went to Luoyang?"
The Xie father and daughter exchanged glances.
Ouyang Rong put down his chopsticks and remained silent for a long time.
"I was young and impetuous back then."
Xie Xun shook his head: "If you're not young and impetuous, what kind of young person are you? Besides, isn't Liang Han still young? He's only twenty years old."
Ouyang Rong sighed, "No one can compare to my teacher, Xie Jiabao, whose loyalty remains undiminished."
Seemingly understanding the riddle in her father's and elder brother's words, Xie Lingjiang turned her head and glanced at the Su residence next door.
Xie Xun put down his chopsticks, preparing to speak, but Ouyang Rong spoke first:
"Thank you for your hard work, Master and Junior Sister, during the days your disciple was in a coma."
Xie Xun shook his head and pointed at Xie Lingjiang, saying, "Wanwan has gone through even more trouble, traveling thousands of miles to Gezao Mountain to seek medical treatment for you."
Ouyang Rong asked calmly, "Are my injuries serious?"
Xie Xun nodded.
Ouyang Rong suddenly asked, "My injuries weren't treated by Master Shandao, were they?"
“That’s right.” Xie Xun said calmly.
"Wanwan went to Gezao Mountain to invite Daoist Chongxu, but Lianghan's injuries were too severe, and Daoist Chongxu was also helpless. At this time..."
Xie Lingjiang looked up as if to speak: "Senior Brother, actually this divine doctor..."
Xie Xun interrupted:
"Fortunately, at this time, Daoist Chongxu met a divine physician who was passing through Longcheng. He was also a senior Daoist and asked him for help, which saved Lianghan."
Xie Lingjiang frowned and turned to look at her father, who remained calm. He did not look at her but stared at Ouyang Rong.
Ouyang Rong pressed further, "Who is this divine physician? Is he still in Dragon City?"
"Lianghan has recovered, and the miracle doctor has left."
"May I leave my name?"
"The miracle doctor left no name."
“I see,” Ouyang Rong murmured.
Xie Xun turned his head, his gaze stopping Xie Lingjiang, then turned back and asked softly:
"How did Lianghan determine that it wasn't Master Shandao who treated him? Wanwan and I were just about to tell you."
“If it were Master Shandao, he would definitely have Xiufa and the others stay by my bedside. Especially if I am about to recover and wake up, according to Master Shandao’s nature, he would definitely appear at my bedside immediately.”
Ouyang Rong shook his head: "But when I woke up, I waited for a long time, but no one was in the room. My junior sister also arrived late..."
"Later, she also mentioned that some kind of miracle doctor had informed her that she had just been cooking in the kitchen and her mind had cleared up a bit, which made her think about this issue."
Xie Xun sighed, "Lianghan is indeed meticulous."
Ouyang Rong turned his head and asked Xie Lingjiang, who was frowning to the side:
"Junior sister, why do you look like that? Did the miracle doctor ask you for anything after saving me? Just tell me, it's nothing."
Xie Lingjiang shook her head: "They didn't make any demands on us."
Xie Xun said softly, "We wanted to give it to you, but the miracle doctor refused, saying that someone had already paid for you, Lianghan."
Ouyang Rong frowned: "Who?"
Xie Xun did not answer, his eyes fixed on Ouyang Rong.
As if he had understood something, Ouyang Rong slowly relaxed his brows:
"I see... He doesn't want the people he's helping to feel guilty. This miracle doctor is truly kind, practicing medicine to help the needy, and bringing blessings with a benevolent heart..."
Xie Xun nodded: "Perhaps he stood up to save people because he witnessed Liang Han's efforts to benefit the people of Longcheng. This can be considered as 'someone paying the price,' so Liang Han has no need to feel guilty."
“Is that so…” Ouyang Rong murmured.
He suddenly remembered the very long dream he had while he was unconscious.
Ouyang Rong looked up and asked, "Besides this miracle doctor, who else has been staying by my bedside these past few days?"
No matter how small the matter.
Xie Xun was not surprised at all. He glanced at Xie Lingjiang and said directly:
"It's not Wanwan, but a respectable girl Wanwan invited. Her surname is Zhao. This young lady Zhao is quick-witted and knows how to take care of people."
"Lianghan, you should also know that Wanwan is spoiled and can't take care of people."
"Since there is no one at Meiluyuan Park for the time being, we have no choice but to leave it this way."
"The divine doctor also preferred peace and quiet and forbade us to get close, so he had Zhao Xiaoniangzi assist him at his bedside."
Ouyang Rong let out a long breath: "That makes sense then."
After a satisfying meal, we were full and had plenty of food and drink.
Xie Xun glanced at Ouyang Rong, who was deep in thought, and stood up first:
“You have just recovered from your illness. The Li family next door originally wanted to come and see you, but I stopped them, saying that it was not appropriate for you to be disturbed by too many people since you had just recovered.”
"If you have some free time right now, would Lianghan be willing to visit the neighboring residence? That way, they won't have to worry anymore."
Ouyang Rong looked up at his mentor, who was earnestly inviting him, and pondered for a moment before saying:
"Thank you for thinking of me, teacher. I will not go for a stroll for the time being. I have just recovered from my illness and come down the mountain. I have a lot of official business to attend to. I will make plans after I have dealt with it for a couple of days. Farewell, dear teacher, and farewell, junior sister as well."
"good."
Xie Xun nodded readily and, without any hesitation, led Xie Lingjiang, who looked reluctant, to say goodbye.
Ouyang Rong personally saw the guests off.
"Senior Brother, wait a minute."
Xie Lingjiang stopped, took off the glass red rope hair clip, handed the glass shards that looked like blue butterfly petals back to her senior brother, and kept only the red rope to tie her ponytail.
"Aren't you going to take it back?" Ouyang Rong asked with a smile.
"You're so generous, and you're even good at sweet-talking people now..." Xie Lingjiang glared at Ouyang Rong, stuffed the cauldron sword into his arms, and squinted as she said:
"You're not allowed to use it to coax others anymore, not even as a joke."
Ouyang Rong chuckled and nodded.
A moment later, watching their figures disappear at the end of the plum grove path, he calmly turned to face the empty courtyard:
"A passing miracle doctor?"
He rubbed his face with his palm and murmured:
"What was that strange dream all about... I think I bit a woman."
...
"Father, why don't you just tell Senior Brother about Qingxiu?"
In a study at Meilu Garden, Xie Lingjiang frowned, looked at her father who was calmly drinking tea, and questioned him:
"Did her second senior sister say something to you?"
Xie Xun sighed: "Do some things need to be explained too clearly? From the moment her second senior sister walked in and smiled as she handed me a cup of tea, I knew what she meant..."
"This is just what her senior sisters meant, not what the pretty girl truly thought!"
Xie Xun shook his head: "It's about asking the divine doctor to help. Zhao Xiaoniangzi has already promised her two senior sisters."
Xie Lingjiang stubbornly said:
“This is unfair to this pretty girl.” She said each word carefully. “And my senior brother hates unfairness the most! We should talk to him about it.”
Xie Xun asked, "Isn't Wanwan worried at all that he might do something wrong?"
Xie Lingjiang shook her head:
“I have always believed that if it is really wrong, my senior brother will not do it, and if it is not wrong, what harm is there in him doing it? Then we should let him know even more. There is no need to fabricate lies, even if they are well-intentioned.”
"But lies don't hurt people; the truth is the sharpest knife."
Li Guo'er's clear voice rang out.
Xie Lingjiang frowned as she looked over.
At this moment, the study was not just occupied by her and Xie Xun; Li Guo'er, Li Xian, Li Dalang, and Wei Mei's entire family were also in the room.
The Xie family had just returned from the Meilin Courtyard when the Xie family came to visit, as if they had been waiting for them.
"Sister Guo'er, do you understand Senior Brother better, or do I?"
Xie Lingjiang asked impatiently.
Li Guo'er lowered her eyes and poured tea, nodding in acknowledgment: "Of course, it's Sister Xie who understands Ouyang Lianghan better. But I, your younger sister, understand people's hearts and the pros and cons even better."
It was that same arrogant and confident tone that made Xie Lingjiang very unhappy.
"You mean I don't understand?" Xie Lingjiang said with a sneer, "Who was it that didn't believe in Senior Brother's kingly way before, who looked down on the power of the people of Dragon City, who was just a small scoop of water? Now they've been proven wrong?"
Li Guo'er frowned slightly, nodded, and said:
"I admit that I misjudged him back then. I was the arrogant one. Ouyang Lianghan has the talent of a prime minister. The benevolent way he promotes is upright and righteous, worthy of being discussed in a grand and elegant manner!"
The young woman in plum blossom makeup turned her head and said to Xie Xun, Li Xian, and the others:
"Therefore, Father and Brother, we must ask him for help even more. We must not miss out on such a talented person."
"Uncle Xie did the right thing."
"Besides, this is also the instruction and advice from Zhao Xiaoniangzi's second senior sister. We are not allowed to mention a single word about Yunmeng Jianze and Zhao Xiaoniangzi in front of Ouyang Lianghan. This second lady is quite formidable. She can persuade us with reason and emotion, and she also uses the tactic of first being polite and then resorting to force. We can't beat them for the time being. What else can we do if we don't follow her advice? Telling Ouyang Lianghan would only harm him."
“Your logic is so twisted…” Xie Lingjiang stood up.
Xie Xun sighed, "Alright, Wanwan, stop arguing."
Li Xian quickly got up, grabbed Li Guo'er's sleeve, and said with a wry smile, "My dear niece, please calm down. Guo'er is straightforward, eh."
Xie Lingjiang shook her head: "She's not straightforward at all; she's full of twists and turns."
Li Guo'er smiled and said, "If we go straight to the point, we won't see Sister Xie win over anyone and make it a good thing."
"What nonsense are you spouting, you..." Xie Lingjiang's pretty face flushed red, and she slammed her hand on the table and stood up.
"Alright, alright, Guo'er, can you please say less?"
Li Xian and Xie Xun quickly stepped forward and persuaded the two women to stop.
Wei Mei stood aside, glancing discreetly at the blushing Xie family girl, then at her own daughter who seemed indifferent.
The woman in the long dress looked thoughtful.
"Actually... I also think Uncle Xie did the right thing."
Li Dalang interjected at the opportune moment.
Everyone immediately fell silent, and all eyes turned to look, including those of Li Xian and his wife.
They exchanged a glance, their eyes showing considerable surprise.
Normally, it's rare to see my eldest son express his opinion; he's always been the type to keep quiet and keep his head down.
"This is indeed good for Lianghan, and also good for the people of the world."
Li Dalang spoke earnestly:
"With your talent, Lianghan should go to a wider world to benefit more people, because there is more than one Dragon City in the whole world, but it lacks many Lianghans."
"But Dalang, didn't you used to dislike us getting involved with other people..."
Li Dalang turned his head, smiled at the surprised Li Xian and his wife, and said:
“Previously, we were worried that our family would jeopardize Lianghan’s future. Now, if Lianghan’s analysis here was correct and there is indeed a glimmer of hope, then as Amei said, our family certainly cannot miss out on Lianghan.”
Li Xian and the others looked pleased, while Xie Xun couldn't help but turn to look at Li Dalang, seemingly somewhat surprised.
If what his disciple Lianghan said in his "Longzhong Plan" is true, then as Li Xian's undisputed eldest son, this respectful, kind, and benevolent Li Dalang might become the emperor's eldest grandson in the future...
At this moment, Li Xian's words pulled Xie Xun back to reality:
"Brother Xie, what did your nephew Lianghan say about your lunch this time? What did he mean?"
Xie Xun pondered for a moment and said, "Liang Han said that he is busy with matters in Longcheng. He has just recovered from his illness and needs to deal with things for a few days. He doesn't have time to think about anything else for the time being."
Not long ago, the master and apprentice had lunch under the grape trellis. They didn't mention the matter of resigning from their official posts last time, but the whole time they talked about it.
In fact, what Xie Xun wanted to know was very simple: whether his prized student still harbored ambitions for an official career.
If not, then the matter of Xie Xun introducing the deposed emperor Li Xian's family would be impossible to discuss later.
Fortunately, the answer we got from this lunch wasn't bad.
Xie Xun stroked his beard.
"It's good that they didn't directly refuse." Li Xian breathed a sigh of relief.
"I was worried that my nephew Lianghan would continue to resign from his post. After all, he almost resigned and went into seclusion right under our noses. Fortunately, my niece brought him back."
"Right now, as long as he doesn't resign and continues to serve as the magistrate of Longcheng, it means he still has the desire to enter officialdom."
At this point, the Li couple couldn't help but turn their heads and glare fiercely at Li Guo'er, who was drinking tea alone, as if blaming her for not reporting the truth last time.
Li Guo'er lowered her eyelids slightly, sipped her tea, and remained silent.
The deposed emperor, dressed like a wealthy landowner, walked to the window and sighed.
"So, what could possibly move this nephew Lianghan?"
The atmosphere in the study fell silent for a moment.
Li Guo'er got up, dressed in a high-waisted ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), walked to the bookshelf, pulled out a book, and while opening it to examine it closely, she analyzed it crisply:
"Regardless of the matter, everyone should be careful about Zhao Xiaoniangzi's affairs and not let anything slip. We can't afford to offend Yunmeng Jianze for the time being, and the same goes for Ouyang Lianghan. Knowing too much will only cause us more trouble, which is not good for either him or us."
Apart from Xie Lingjiang, Li Xian and the others nodded slowly.
Li Guo'er left the study first, taking one of Xie Lingjiang's books with her, but the latter didn't have time to pursue the matter at the moment.
Seeing this, Li Xian and his wife, along with Li Dalang, also took their leave and departed one after another.
Only Xie Xun and his daughter Xie Lingjiang remained in the Yilanxuan study.
The atmosphere was quiet for a moment.
Xie Lingjiang immediately turned her head, breaking the silence:
"Even though I reluctantly agreed to the Second Lady's request... Father wasn't like this before."
Xie Xun stroked his beard for a moment, then suddenly said, "I hope Lianghan can inherit my mantle."
"So Father is like Uncle Li and the others?"
Xie Xun neither agreed nor disagreed.
She turned her head away and said sullenly:
“But Senior Brother has the right to know. I know Senior Brother; he is steady and won’t act impulsively…”
“No.” Xie Xun suddenly said, “In this respect, I understand him better than you do. He… will.”
Xie Lingjiang turned her head.
Father and daughter look at each other.
The house was quiet.
Outside Yilan Pavilion.
The Li family, having left the study, walked along the corridor.
“Brother is the most suitable to go.”
The young woman in plum blossom makeup, walking at the front, suddenly spoke, addressing the stunned Li Dalang:
“I’m only good at talking about pros and cons with smart people. I don’t know how to talk about feelings. My parents are too old. My brother is just right. Besides, we’re good friends.”
Before Li Dalang could respond, Wei Mei, with a half-smile, glanced at the proud Li Guo'er and said:
"Don't you understand feelings? In your opinion, that's not necessarily true. You might even be more suitable than Dalang."
"...??"
Li Guo'er turned her head and glared at her smiling mother, snorted coldly, and left with a flick of her sleeve.
Li Xian and Li Dalang were left looking at each other in bewilderment.
Sorry to keep you waiting, my brothers. I wrote an extra thousand words in this chapter. Goodnight everyone!
(End of this chapter)
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