Chapter 320 Li Guo'er: You can forget about me wearing it! (Happy Mid-Autumn Festival)
A bright moon hangs high in the sky.
The silvery light poured down on a boudoir in Xunyang City.
A young woman lingered for a long time in front of a half-open window on the third floor.
This red fortune slip for marriage was obtained by Xie's older sister when she went to Donglin Temple to participate in a marriage fair.
It had been shelved for so long, but today the clouds have parted and the sun has finally come out, giving us a wake-up call.
Li Guo'er held the slip of paper in one hand and covered her burning face with the other, taking a deep breath.
"Fake visa, absolutely fake visa."
In an instant, she nodded vigorously, her small hands clenching the bamboo sticks and the paper slips, hurriedly crumpling them into a ball and quickly throwing them into a nearby wastebasket.
The little girl with plum blossom makeup blushed and showed displeasure. She paced around the empty window for a moment, and couldn't help but glance at the bright moon in the sky outside the half-closed window.
"Absurd, utterly absurd..."
Li Guo'er hurriedly closed the window, blocking the bright moon outside, as if not looking at it would prevent it from appearing.
She ran to return the hefty book to its place on the bookshelf, then hurried back to her bedside in the inner room, leaving behind only a soft, angry murmur:
"These monks at Donglin Temple don't properly worship Buddha; they just do all this nonsense, swindling money from ignorant young ladies all day long. Ha, they won't fool this princess..."
A short while later, from the outside, it appeared that the candlelight in the boudoir of the little princess of the Xunyang Prince's Mansion had gone out.
The pitch-black silence of the night returned once more.
Only a few rustling sounds could be heard from time to time.
It sounded as if her delicate body was turning over, causing the bedding to rub together.
Outside the window, a solitary moon hangs silently...
The moon sets and the sun rises, the light of dawn breaks through the darkness.
The next morning, Cai Shou and a group of maids carried toiletries upstairs and entered her boudoir.
Cai Shou yawned quietly, looking a little sleepy.
"Miss woke up so early? Hmm, you need to wash your face and get dressed. You made an appointment this morning to go outside the city with Madam to worship Buddha and burn incense."
"Um."
A slightly weak, nasal voice came from the inner room.
Rubbing her sleepy eyes, Cai Shou vaguely sensed that her young mistress's condition upon waking up today was a little off.
Could it be that she's having her period? But she remembers that her period isn't around these days, and she hasn't even started preparing the brown sugar ginger tea yet.
Before she could ask any more questions, the chubby-faced maid passed by the window and suddenly saw a wastebasket overturned, with scraps of paper and other debris spilled all over the floor.
Without thinking much, Cai Shou squatted down, clasped her hands together, and scooped the crumpled paper back into the wastebasket.
At this moment, Li Guo'er got up, wearing a slightly wrinkled moon-white nightgown, and walked out of the inner room.
As Li Guo'er passed by the colorful ribbon and the overturned wastebasket, she didn't look to the side or even glance at the wastebasket.
Her pretty face, with slight dark circles under her eyes, was tense, as if she was grumpy after waking up. She walked out of the room and went to the outer room to do her makeup.
Behind the grumpy little princess, a chubby-faced maid was obediently tidying up the overturned wastebasket.
There was no trace of that crumpled red label.
The little princess who coldly criticized the ineffective "fake signatures" last night has disappeared without a trace.
About an hour later.
After Li Guo'er finished dressing up, she wore a light green, waist-cinching long dress, exuding a cool and elegant aura.
However, the pretty face reflected in the bronze mirror had its usual light makeup, almost like a bare face, deliberately made up a bit heavier, especially around the eye bags.
A moment later, she went out with her maids, including Caishou.
As the group walked out of the boudoir, they passed by three new umbrellas leaning against the door.
The maids, including Cai Shou, couldn't help but glance at her.
"Don't move."
Li Guo'er, who was walking at the front, suddenly spoke without turning her head.
"Yes, Miss."
The maids, including Caishou, nodded hastily, like chicks pecking at rice.
They waited quietly for a while, but the young lady did not explain, and no one dared to ask any more questions.
The stunning figure in the long dress ahead quickened her pace, as if fleeing.
...
Recently, Ouyang Rong has been visiting the Xunyang Prince's Mansion more frequently late at night.
Mainly during the daytime, envoys from all sides would come to deliver gifts, and people would have casual encounters.
Ouyang Rong was afraid that he might say something wrong, so he needed to personally inquire and offer his advice.
Let's also analyze the attitudes and actions of the various factions towards the Xunyang Prince's Mansion.
In addition, Yue Zi'ang, whom Ouyang Rong had met briefly a few days ago, made him slightly uneasy.
This child's personality and beliefs are too fierce and extreme.
In the past, he might have just laughed it off.
But we are at a critical juncture, and we absolutely cannot allow a retainer like Yue Zi'ang to influence Li Xian and Li Dalang.
They were led astray from their original plan to wait and see how things unfolded before entering the city, a plan that remained steadfast and unchanging.
It's no wonder Ouyang Rong was so wary; he knew Li Xian and his son all too well.
Both of them are easily influenced and tend to listen to biased opinions from their confidants.
Especially Li Xian, while Da Lang was slightly better, having some of his own opinions, while Uncle Li was truly "soft and weak-willed".
Trust is built through close confidants, and only through frequent close contact can trust be established.
Ouyang Rong had no choice but to come frequently to maintain his so-called core status as a "former member of the Su family".
Indeed, at this moment, Ouyang Rong, Mr. Yuan, Steward Shunbo, and other old friends who had gone through thick and thin together in Longcheng County are here.
Currently, in the rapidly expanding Xunyang Prince's Mansion, where scholars from all directions are flocking to him, he is secretly referred to by his later retainers and advisors as "the old man of the Su family".
He was most trusted and close to Prince Li Xian of Xunyang and his heir Li Fusu.
Due to health reasons and his lack of strategic acumen, Mr. Yuan only taught Su Dalang to read in Juxian Garden and did not get involved in major planning matters.
Moreover, because of "On Teachers", Mr. Yuan had a rather complicated attitude towards Ouyang Rong. Even though their views differed, they would tacitly avoid each other and try their best not to cause any trouble.
As for the steward, Shunbo, he was a eunuch who had left the palace with Li Xian and wandered off. He was loyal and honest.
At present, the Xunyang Prince's family is far from taking over the Ziwei Palace in Luoyang, the capital city. The eunuch and Ouyang Rong, who is a strategist, are clearly not on the same track.
This Uncle Shun would even sometimes offer Ouyang Rong tea with the courtesy due to a gentleman.
Therefore, Ouyang Rong is the most core confidant among this small group of "old people from the Su family," and no one can shake his position for the time being.
At present, the advisors and retainers who have come from all directions to join the Xunyang Prince's Mansion have a vague idea of the existence of such a core strategist, who seems to be called "Tanlang". The Li Xian father and son listen to him without question.
This position was naturally the envy of the newly arrived staff and retainers, but it was something they couldn't force to attain.
Moreover, although they missed the opportunity to become "former members of the Su family", who can say for sure that they will not become "former members of the Xunyang Prince's Mansion" in the future?
If you win the bet, great things will be accomplished, and you will successfully support the dragon.
They were all close advisors to the prince during his lifetime.
Although the risks still seem quite high, it has still attracted many scholars from various states in Jiangnan to come and join them.
Like a peacock spreading its tail, she displays her talents and ambitions, aspiring to become the second "Tanlang".
However, not many of them knew the true identity of "Tanlang," so the matter was only semi-public.
In any case, as the Chief Secretary of Jiangzhou, Ouyang Rong would never admit to this "baseless rumor" in public.
Although the Wei family, Wang Lengran, and the Prince Xiang's Mansion and other forces or individuals generally knew who "Tanlang" was.
After all, some things that were discovered in Longcheng back then couldn't be kept secret if one really wanted to find out.
In addition, because of Yue Zi'ang's matter, Ouyang Rong began to feel uneasy about Li Guo'er, fearing that she would recommend unsuitable people to his father and brothers.
This is because the recent emperors of the Li family have been too easily swayed by rumors.
Besides these, of course, there's another personal reason why I've been frequently visiting the Xunyang Prince's Mansion lately.
Prepare a little surprise for my junior sister.
Ouyang Rong sighed apologetically, since it was on the way anyway, he wouldn't delay his business.
night.
Inside the Yinbingzhai Studio, at the desk in the study.
Ouyang Rong finished reading the letter and smiled.
Fold up this letter from my junior sister.
It was his junior sister telling him how much she missed him, and she also mentioned that she would be coming back soon.
Ouyang Rong estimated the distance from when she sent the letter while passing through Yangzhou until now.
They will arrive in Xunyang City around tonight.
It won't happen tonight, or at most by noon tomorrow.
Ouyang Rong was getting restless.
“My love…”
A white-haired maid suddenly walked into the study.
Ouyang Rong was taken aback. He looked up and saw that Ye Weilai seemed to have just finished bathing, wearing only a loose nightgown and holding a candle.
Right now, she's staring at him expectantly.
"It's so late, isn't Tanlang asleep yet?"
She bit her lower lip with her two silver teeth, and her gray-blue eyes had a slightly droopy look in them.
Ouyang Rong immediately understood, his tone helpless:
"Didn't we go to bed early together a few days ago? Why are you doing this again?"
Ye Weilai lowered her head, stood on tiptoe, and poked the floor with her fingers: "It's been, it's been three whole days."
Ouyang Rong frowned: "Is three days a long time?"
"Long..." She squinted at Ouyang Rong, her soft voice drawing out the word, "Long, my love~"
Ouyang Rong: "..."
I don't know how to answer.
The main reason was that he planned to go to the Xunyang Prince's Mansion early tonight to wait for his junior sister and give her a welcome dinner.
Ouyang Rong shook his head.
"You go to sleep first, I have things to do." He lowered his eyes and said calmly.
Ye Weilai glanced at her master, who sat motionless, then bit her lip, reached down with her small hand, and grabbed the edge of her skirt.
"My love..." she suddenly called out.
Ouyang Rong frowned and looked up.
Before him stood a beautiful woman with long white hair, holding a lamp in one hand. She slowly lifted her skirt, revealing her swan-like neck.
The area between the ankles and neck is completely exposed.
Someone slightly opened their eyes: "What are you doing?"
The little girl isn't a vacuum.
What left Ouyang Rong speechless was... underneath the skirt, on the small body, was a set of blue and pink striped undergarments that he knew all too well.
The same line used by junior sister Xie Lingjiang.
Ouyang Rong sighed and rubbed his forehead: "Take it off quickly. Didn't I tell you to wash and dry it? Why are you wearing it like this?"
Ye Weilai whispered, "I've noticed that Tanlang often... seems to really like this outfit. Does it make me look too small and thin in it? Doesn't Master like it?"
Ouyang Rong shook his head seriously:
"No, this set of clothes actually belongs to Wanwan. She asked me to dry it so I could return it to her. I'm not kidding, I should return it to her. What kind of man am I, keeping a girl's personal clothes all this time... It's time to return it."
"Take it off quickly, tidy it up, put it on the cabinet, and don't move it."
"Ah, I see." Ye Weilai stuck out her pink tongue, her little face full of embarrassment.
"Yes, my love."
She lowered her skirt, stepped forward, tiptoed and lightly pecked his cheek, then turned around and obediently did as she was told.
After a short while, they finally managed to coax the white-haired maid to sleep, her little face tired.
Ouyang Rong let out a long sigh: "He's getting more and more mischievous. I'll have to teach him a lesson next time."
After saying that, he glanced at the new umbrella on the table that hadn't been finished yet.
Upon receiving his junior sister's letter, he made a last-minute decision to go there tonight, but didn't have time to finish it.
Ouyang Rong shook his head regretfully, grabbed only a small bundle from the cabinet, and tiptoed out the door.
Before long, he sneaked into the Xunyang Prince's Mansion.
"My love has arrived?" Wei Mei greeted him.
Ouyang Rong carried a small bundle on his back, concealing it without taking it off, and simply nodded: "Okay. Let's begin."
Wei Mei suggested, "Why don't you wait for Guo'er, Tanlang? She told me today that she also wants to participate and will be back soon."
Ouyang Rong thought for a moment and nodded: "That works too. I happen to have something I want to talk to her about."
"Alright, I'll have my maid go to the poetry gathering and inform her to return. Please wait a moment, my lord."
"It's okay, I'll just take a stroll. I happen to have some time, I'll just go out for a bit and be right back."
After saying that, Wei Mei went to arrange for someone to call Li Guo'er.
With his bundle in hand, Ouyang Rong returned to the lakeside in the back garden.
There are two boudoirs ahead.
Previously, when Ouyang Rong first came to deliver the umbrella, one boudoir was brightly lit, while the other was dark.
The bright one was naturally Li Guo'er's, so Ouyang Rong placed the red umbrella in the dark boudoir for the first time.
On his two subsequent visits, both courtyards were dark, and Li Guo'er from next door had disappeared without a trace, so Ouyang Rong paid her no attention.
Right now, he climbed over the courtyard wall again and placed the small bundle he had brought into the entrance of the boudoir on the right.
At this moment, in the quiet, deserted courtyard, his three love umbrellas still lay silently in front of the door, untouched, as if waiting for his junior sister to return.
Ouyang Rong nodded in satisfaction and turned to leave.
Before long, he returned to his study in Juxian Garden.
Before long, a beautiful and aloof figure walked alone into the courtyard outside. It was Li Guo'er.
Li Xian, Li Fusu, and Wei Mei arrived one after another, and Ouyang Rong began his nighttime plot.
He first chatted about his junior sister's return that night, and everyone was all smiles. The atmosphere in the study was quite relaxed. After a while, they discussed serious matters.
Whether it was his imagination or not, Ouyang Rong noticed that Li Guo'er kept glancing at him sideways.
He turned his head, smiled politely, and seemed about to speak.
Li Guo'er quickly looked away, pouting slightly as if she were angry.
Ouyang Rong frowned. How could she be getting more and more unreasonable and so impolite?
He shook his head and then ignored it.
Out of the corner of her eye, Li Guo'er noticed that Ouyang Rong had come empty-handed tonight without an umbrella, and she breathed a slight sigh of relief, but a strange, inexplicable feeling of frustration arose in her heart.
Perhaps Sister Xie is coming back tonight, so he doesn't dare to be so bold and continue to flaunt his love so arrogantly... she thought to herself.
With a cold snort, Li Guo'er seemed to have a complex feeling in her mouth.
About an hour later, the meeting in the study ended.
Li Guo'er left quickly, not wanting to pay any attention to Ouyang Lianghan.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that after the meeting ended, he didn't leave immediately but stayed behind.
Is he waiting for Sister Xie?
Besides, she returned to her boudoir early this time, so he wouldn't dare to come and deliver the new umbrella in public again, would he? Moreover, Sister Xie is coming back tonight... Li Guo'er thought to herself, somewhat angrily.
"Hmph, so you're already chickening out? You're nothing special, Ouyang Lianghan." Li Guo'er curled her lip, secretly mocking him in her heart.
Before long, Li Guo'er returned to her boudoir with her maids. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she suddenly saw a small, unfamiliar bundle, quietly placed next to the three love umbrellas by the door.
Li Guo'er Mei's eyes widened for a moment, and she couldn't help but look back... Wait, did he arrive early before the meeting? Did he anticipate her little scheme and do the opposite?
Li Guo'er was immediately embarrassed and annoyed. She turned around and found an excuse to send Cai Shou and the other maids away. Then, she walked over and grabbed her bundle.
Suddenly, I grabbed a piece of light and soft fabric.
What is this? Is it a gift for her to wear?
Confused, Li Guo'er untied the bundle and took a closer look.
Inside was a neat set of blue and pink undergarments and a bodice.
Li Guo'er's pupils dilated in shock, her little face filled with utter astonishment.
Her fair neck visibly flushed red in an instant, and her lips trembled as if struck by a cold wind.
"I could tolerate you sending love umbrellas and writing shameless sweet nothings, but you... you're actually sending such personal items now, and right before Sister Xie is about to return! Ouyang Lianghan, are you already this bold and impatient...?"
She gritted her teeth and forced out a few words of shame and indignation from between her lips:
"Fine, fine, fine, you hypocrite! Ouyang Lianghan, you can forget about me wearing it! Impossible, absolutely impossible!"
A pair of delicate hands tightly gripped the clean and soft undergarment and bodice. The little princess had never received such a bold gift and such domineering and impolite request in her life.
She had never been so flustered before.
(End of this chapter)
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