Chapter 307 Humiliation?
After Wang Lengran finished speaking, he turned to look at Ouyang Rong and smiled.
Seeing his gentle demeanor, and considering that the two officials from Jiangzhou, one old and one young, were seated close together,
They all subconsciously assumed that their relationship was harmonious, and that this was just a lighthearted remark from someone with a close friendship.
After all, the nobles and gentry attending the banquet tonight come from all over Jiangnan Province and are all from other places.
Only Master Sihui, a local, and other renowned scholars at the table vaguely sensed the strange atmosphere between the two Jiangzhou officials, though they were still among the few present.
At this moment, most of the guests in the hall were focused on the young man in plain clothes wearing a white fox fur shawl, their eyes filled with curiosity and inquiry.
I wonder what kind of gift this renowned gentleman would give?
In the back row of the hall, Yan Liulang, who had been fraternizing with Li Heng and boasting about the magistrate, suddenly felt a pang of unease. He frowned and looked at Wang Lengran, who was smiling like an old fox.
This person is so annoying. He flattered the Prefect so much that he put him on such a high pedestal, and he said everything he wanted to say, leaving the Prefect no room for maneuver or explanation.
If the gifts from the magistrate were as expensive as those of young talents who display their talents like peacocks, wouldn't that be contrary to the standards of a virtuous gentleman?
Everyone in the storage room couldn't help but wonder how such an upright and honest official could have such wealth.
So after tonight's banquet, all sorts of rumors can spread.
They're a wolf in sheep's clothing, with a vicious heart.
Yan Liulang was anxious.
He suddenly remembered that Li Dalang had casually mentioned during his meal earlier that his younger sister, Li Xiaoniangzi, had sent a generous gift to the Ming family through her personal maid, which the Ming family had accepted.
"Oh? Is that so?"
The noblewoman, seated at the head of the table, spoke, scrutinizing Ouyang Rong with keen interest:
"Young Master Ouyang also sent a gift? Why is Young Master Ouyang being so polite? Seventeen Sister is already very happy that you senior brothers from the academy could come to the banquet. There is no need for such formalities."
Xie Xue'e politely shook her head:
"If my brother finds out, he'll surely scold me for being impolite."
She turned to look at Xie Lingjiang, whose pretty face looked somewhat unnatural, and said in a slightly reproachful tone:
"Seventeenth Sister is really something. Didn't I tell you to inform your teachers and fellow disciples not to be too formal before the birthday banquet? Did you forget to inform Young Master Ouyang?"
Ouyang Rong gave Wang Lengran a deep look, then looked away and addressed Xie Xue'e and the guests earnestly:
"Please don't blame my junior sister, madam. It was my insistence that I bring this. It's my junior sister's birthday, how could I, as her senior brother, come empty-handed?"
Xie Xue'e raised an eyebrow slightly, Ouyang Rong shook his head gently, and continued:
"However, I am short of money and my humble gift cannot compare to the rich and generous gifts of you gentlemen. I will not make a fool of myself and will not disturb your meal."
"No, no, no, Lord Ouyang is too modest."
Wang waved his hand dismissively, his smile sincere:
"Even if the gift is meager, it carries great meaning. It's not some shameful gift. Why doesn't Lord Ouyang bring it out and let everyone see it? Look, everyone is quite curious about Lord Ouyang's way of giving gifts."
He stood up, looked around, and said with a sigh:
"It is said that gifts reflect a person's character. Lord Ouyang is always methodical and meticulous in his work in the Jiangzhou Hall, which I and my colleagues have all witnessed and greatly admire. I'm sure the gifts he gives must be of high quality as well. Who knows, this will become a wonderful story after today."
Ouyang Rong glanced at the old fox Wang Lengran, then at the plate of braised crucian carp in front of him, and shook his head.
He seemed to be muttering to himself, "I just picked up some food from your plate, why are you so shameless and relentlessly pursuing me?"
Seeing the young man in the white fox fur coat remain silent and indifferent, Wang Lengran's bright smile froze slightly. Several of his close friends and subordinates immediately chimed in to support him.
"Lord Ouyang, please don't be shy. We're all on the same side, and everyone wants to see."
"Lord Ouyang, you're being too disappointing. Well then, Lord Wang and everyone else, please don't make things difficult. Perhaps Lord Ouyang's gift is indeed inconvenient..."
Ouyang Rong ignored him and was not swayed by his provocation.
The other guests in the hall gradually realized something was amiss, so they stood by and watched, some even joining in the commotion.
At the main table, the eldest son of the Hongzhou governor's family and Wang Hengzhi, a direct descendant of the Langya Wang clan, temporarily shifted their gazes from the Xie family's noblewoman and began to scrutinize Ouyang Rong with great interest.
The youngest son of the Li clan, named Li Yi, was about seventeen or eighteen years old. His face was still young, but he wore a tall crown. He didn't look to the side, and didn't look directly at Ouyang Rong and Wang Lengran. His attention was entirely on Xie Lingjiang.
Li Yi raised his wine glass, gesturing to Xie Lingjiang with a proper and polite posture, and said in a friendly tone:
"Seventeenth Sister, ignore those vulgar people. It's been three years since we parted ways in Jinling. Let's have a drink."
Xie Lingjiang, who was frowning and looking at something, said without turning her head:
"How many times have I told you, don't call me Seventeenth Sister, Li Yi. It's been so long, how come you've become so disrespectful?"
Wang Hengzhi turned and interjected:
“That’s right, Sister Wanwan. You haven’t been to Jinling all these years, so you don’t know how far Li Yi has gone. He’s getting more and more arrogant. Now he’s even trying to be your peer.”
Li Yi blushed slightly: "Wang Houzi, you..."
Xie Lingjiang turned her head and said to Wang Hengzhi with a stern face, "What do you mean, 'Sister Wanwan'? Don't call me that. Call me the same way you used to."
Li Yi gloated.
Wang Hengzhi chuckled awkwardly, "Alright, thank you, Sister Xie."
Li Yi's eyes held a hint of admiration as he cautiously said:
"Sister Xie, my father recently purchased a hunting ground not far from Xunyang City. In a few days, how about Sister Xie take us hunting deer and rabbits, just like when we were children?"
Xie Lingjiang did not answer.
Li Yi and Wang Hengzhi, who were whispering to each other, turned their heads and found Xie Lingjiang glancing sideways, her eyes fixed on the sounds and movements on the field, forgetting to speak.
Li Yi and Wang Hengzhi followed Xie Lingjiang's gaze and frowned as they looked at a young man in a white fox fur coat.
Are Sister Xie and he very close in private?
Before they could hesitate and ask any more questions, they heard Xie Xue'e, the host and the focus of everyone's attention, stand up and speak to the crowd:
“Young Master Ouyang, my elder brother instructed that if any of you fellow students from the academy were to offer valuable gifts, my sister-in-law and I could not accept them, so…”
She turned her head away and said without further ado, "Someone, go and fetch the gift that Young Master Ouyang sent."
Ouyang Rong, who had been looking down and ignoring Wang Lengran and the other jeering crowd, slowly turned his head and stared at the noblewoman with the hairpin at the main table.
Xie Xue'e smiled and met Ouyang Rong's gaze.
She glanced discreetly at the familiar skirt knife at his waist.
Wang Lengran looked at Xie Xue'e with some surprise, then stroked his beard and smiled.
Yan Liulang, sitting in the back row at a distance, suddenly clenched his fist, his face flushed red, feeling indignant on behalf of the prefect.
As the host of the banquet, Miss Xie's aunt not only refused to let things go, but also acted so rudely by opening the gift in public without the Lord's permission.
"don't want."
Just as everyone was watching the show with curiosity, a somewhat flustered female voice suddenly rang out on the stage.
Following the sound, Xie Lingjiang stood up.
Everyone was slightly taken aback.
Xie Lingjiang looked towards Ouyang Rong, biting her lip apologetically: "I didn't mean to prepare that gift."
The crowd was puzzled.
Knowing that his junior sister was talking to him, Ouyang Rong did not answer, and lowered his eyes, not looking at her.
Xie Xue'e frowned, then relaxed her brows and turned to say, "Seventeenth Sister, sit down."
"No." Xie Lingjiang shook her head, her tone stubborn: "How can one open a guest's gift in public?"
Xie Xue'e said in a calm tone, "Your father said that we should not accept expensive gifts."
“My father didn’t say.”
"I didn't tell you, I told you."
"Auntie, you're lying..."
"Seventeenth Sister!"
Xie Xue'e suddenly turned her head, her delicate eyebrows furrowed, and looked at Xie Lingjiang.
The stunningly beautiful young woman, dressed to the nines, was interrupted in public for her defiant words, her pretty face turning bright red.
"lady."
At this moment, a clever maidservant rushed over, walked to Xie Xue'e's side, and respectfully handed her a gift box.
Xie Xue'e glanced at the long gift box, immediately took it, and opened it.
Under the curious gazes of the crowd, the noblewoman with the hairpin pulled out a long umbrella from the long gift box.
Xie Xue'e opened her oil-paper umbrella; the ribs seemed newly made, and the fan surface featured a newly painted portrait of a lady.
She took a close look, and also made sure everyone in the room could see it clearly.
"umbrella?"
The guests in the hall looked at each other in bewilderment.
Wang Lengran raised an eyebrow slightly, seemingly a little surprised, but his smile remained unchanged. He glanced at Ouyang Rong, who was silent with his eyes downcast, and suddenly spoke:
"Only sending an oil-paper umbrella, it seems Lord Ouyang is truly frugal, but..."
Wang Lengran changed the subject:
"I had heard that Lord Ouyang and Miss Xie were very close friends from their time as fellow disciples. How come Lord Ouyang only gave Miss Xie a few coins' worth of umbrella for her birthday? Hmm, a few coins' worth of stuff, it certainly doesn't smell like money."
He smiled and said, "But it seems that Lord Ouyang and Lady Xie's relationship isn't as good as we thought."
"Well, perhaps Lord Ouyang is just frugal, but to be frugal with those close to him like that is a bit too stingy..."
The governor of Jiangzhou paused at the right moment, chuckled, shook his head, and said nothing more.
"Ha, Lord Wang certainly knows how to talk."
Yan Liulang thumped up, pushed back his chair, clasped his hands in a sarcastic gesture, and said:
"Just now, it was you who said 'it's a small gift but a big sentiment,' and now you're saying it's stingy to send an umbrella. You've said everything you could want."
Wang Lengran said indifferently, "What sentiment can a mere umbrella worth a few coins hold?"
Yan Liulang argued, "This was made by the Prefect himself, and he put so much thought and effort into it. How could you outsiders know how busy the Prefect is? He spends all his free time on this. Isn't that a great sentiment?"
"Alright." Ouyang Rong suddenly spoke, calmly addressing Yan Liulang, whose face was flushed:
"Sixth Brother, why bother with so much talk?"
The young man in the white fox fur coat stood up in front of everyone and left his seat.
"Where is Young Master Ouyang going?" Xie Xue'e asked, glancing sideways.
He waved his hand and calmly walked towards the door: "If Madam does not welcome me, what reason do I have to stay here?"
Xie Xue'e shook her head: "How could I not welcome Young Master Ouyang? It was just a misunderstanding, and it will be cleared up soon."
After speaking, she handed her hand to the clever maid and smiled:
"Put it away. It's not a very valuable gift. The Xie family of Chenjun can accept it."
For some reason, some of the veteran nobles and gentry who were originally watching the show did not laugh at all when they saw this scene. Instead, they looked at Ouyang Rong, who had been humiliated by the Xie family of Chen County, with strange eyes and looked him over again. There was a hint of envy in their eyes.
It seems that he did not feel ashamed or indignant about being humiliated by the Xie family of Chenjun.
Some people even glanced sideways at the pretty little birthday girl tonight…
Li Yi, Wang Hengzhi, and Young Master Zhu, instead of gloating, strangely fell silent, turning to look at Madam Xie, who had specially invited them. Their expressions were complex...
The clever maidservant folded up the oil-paper umbrella and carried it away. Several famous scholars, including Master Sihui, couldn't help but take a second look.
"This is an insult!"
Yan Liulang angrily got up from his seat and followed Ouyang Rong.
Wang Lengran tried to suppress the corners of his mouth, shrugged, and sat down with an innocent look on his face.
Watching Ouyang Rong and Yan Liulang leave their seats, Xie Xue'e frowned, as if about to speak.
"lady."
Suddenly someone spoke up.
Xie Xue'e turned her head and saw Wang Caozhi, who had been quietly eating the meal, standing up.
"What brings you here, Young Master Wang?"
Wang Caozhi scratched his head, looking somewhat embarrassed, and said, "Madam, since this umbrella isn't valuable, could you please give it to me?"
Xie Xue'e asked curiously, "How can this be?"
Wang Caozhi thought for a moment, then looked serious and held up one finger: "I can offer one hundred taels of silver."
Xie Xue'e was slightly taken aback.
Wang Lengran frowned slightly, then calmly relaxed his gaze, his tone slightly sarcastic: "Young Master Wang is truly a man of honor."
But at this moment...
"Madam, how about I sell it to you for five hundred taels of silver?"
Everyone looked over and saw Qin Xiaoniangzi, who had been playing the pipa, asking timidly. She smiled gently at everyone and said, "I really like this umbrella."
Xie Xue'e looked puzzled.
Wang Caozhi still held up one finger, and opened his mouth to announce another price, but the next moment, a silvery laugh rang out, interrupting him:
“Madam Xie, it has been a long time since we last met in Yangzhou. I have long admired your demeanor. It is a pity that I did not receive an invitation to your banquet and was too embarrassed to ask. I was planning to wait outside until the banquet was over before coming over, but I was in such a hurry that I had no choice but to shamelessly come out early.”
Pei Shisan Niang walked out of the kitchen with the owner of Xunyang Tower, her face full of apology.
Xie Xue'e sized up the unfamiliar woman draped in a purple and gold shawl and asked in surprise, "What urgent matter do you have, sir?"
"Madam Xie, I also desire this umbrella; I am delighted to have it."
Pei Shisan Niang stopped, her back to a certain Jiangzhou Prefect, and gracefully curtsied:
“I am willing to pay a thousand taels of silver to buy this umbrella. How about it? Even if you lend it to me for three days, it will still be a thousand taels. I will return it after three days and will not take away what you love.”
The entire room fell silent, and Wang Lengran's old face gradually turned ugly.
Xie Xue'e asked in surprise and doubt: "You..."
"lady."
Master Sihui suddenly stood up, his eyes fixed intently on the painting of a lady on the umbrella, his expression unusually serious.
"Three thousand taels, madam. This humble monk believes this umbrella has a connection with Buddhism and is willing to offer three thousand taels to purchase it. What do you say?"
Pei Shisan Niang frowned, giving these annoying scholars a disapproving look: "Five thousand taels!"
Master Sihui refused to budge an inch: "This humble monk will add another five hundred taels."
"I'll add another five hundred taels, making it six thousand taels! I really like this umbrella, especially the painting... Would you gentlemen be willing to part with it?"
Several prominent figures from Xunyang couldn't help but stand up and argue with Master Sihui and Pei Shisan Niang.
On the contrary, Wang Caozhi, who was the first to grab it, was a little stunned, as if he did not expect that his brother-in-law's umbrella would become a hot commodity, and he could not get a turn.
The atmosphere at the other dozen or so tables, filled with nobles and gentry, was somewhat quiet. They all stared blankly at the scene, some rubbing their eyes as they carefully examined the ordinary handmade oil-paper umbrella.
A bamboo umbrella that costs a few coins on the street was fought over for more than six thousand taels of silver.
This price covers all the expenses of Xunyang Tower tonight, and even the sum of all the gifts that everyone brought.
Why are so many people scrambling to buy this umbrella made by the young man in the white fox fur coat?
"Master, you..."
The sudden turn of events caused Wang Lengran's face to turn a deep purplish-red. The words he had just heard felt like a series of resounding slaps to his face, burning hot.
Xie Xue'e also looked surprised and uncertain.
The clever maidservant beside her looked around, holding the light oil-paper umbrella with trembling body, as if she couldn't hold it steady.
Xie Lingjiang, who had been looking guilty, stared blankly at the oil-paper umbrella that had become the focus of everyone's attention.
She slowly turned her head and looked at the dashing back of her senior brother, who had already walked to the door. Her mouth opened and closed in vain.
There are countless words to say.
(End of this chapter)
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