Chapter 369 First Meeting with Rong Zhen
The morning breeze was a bit chilly.
Especially when there is still cold sweat on my back, my body will instinctively shiver in waves.
The carriage curtain, which Ouyang Rong had lifted with his hand, swayed in the wind near his ear, making a hissing sound.
However, Ouyang Rong ignored all of this at the moment. All his attention was focused on the palace-dressed girl who suddenly appeared in the carriage, and he met her cold gaze.
At this moment, he was in a comical pose, bending over and lifting the carriage curtain, with one foot even dangling in the air outside the carriage.
In short, it was a meeting that took him by surprise.
Before getting into the carriage, Ouyang Rong was completely unaware of the presence of the palace-dressed girl.
This indicates that the other party is at least a Qi cultivator of a higher quality than him.
Combined with her familiar palace attire, Ouyang Rong had seen it on Miaozhen not long ago.
Clearly, this aloof palace-dressed girl is also a female official in colorful robes.
As for why this unfamiliar female official appeared in Aunt and Wei Lai's carriage...
Ouyang Rong frowned slightly, his eyes filled with doubt, and he adopted the demeanor of a passerby:
"Sorry, wrong carriage. Please continue... Wait, that's strange, where's my carriage..."
Pretending not to see the wide-eyed Zhen Shuyuan and Ye Weilai, Ouyang Rong turned his head and was about to get out of the car and leave without glancing at them.
The cold, palace-dressed girl remained motionless, sitting upright with her sleeves folded.
The next second, Ouyang Rong, who was about to leave, turned around, lifted the curtain again, and obediently returned to the carriage.
He sat down opposite the girl in palace attire, behaving very obediently.
His vital energy was locked.
Ouyang Rong understood perfectly what this cold-faced palace-dressed girl, who seemed to imply that everyone owed her eighty thousand taels of silver, meant.
Take another step, and you'll bear the consequences.
This woman is a bit difficult to deal with... Ouyang Rong nodded inwardly.
"Are you a Qi cultivator?"
The first words spoken by the girl in palace attire were spoken with her eyes fixed on Ouyang Rong:
"I didn't notice you before you spoke."
Ouyang Rong hesitated for a moment, then nodded slightly:
"I know a little bit, it's what my teacher taught me."
"White Deer Cave?"
"uh-huh."
The girl in palace attire nodded: "What rank?"
Ouyang Rong thought for a moment, then opened his palm and circulated his energy in his dantian.
Although lower-level Qi cultivators cannot project their spiritual energy from their bodies, my junior sister told me that in the eyes of experts, as long as one uses their energy, the color of their spiritual energy can still be faintly revealed.
The light blue spiritual energy flows through the Shaoyang meridian of the hand.
The girl in palace attire said coldly:
"Ninth rank? Can a scholar's cultivation be so hidden and concealed? Who is your master, or did you have some special encounter or take some special medicine?"
Ouyang Rong thought for a moment, then asked in a serious tone, "Couldn't it be that I have a special talent?"
The girl in palace attire gave a soft chuckle as someone spoke of extraordinary talent in front of her.
Ouyang Rong also smiled.
The craftsmanship is still hidden in the Prince's mansion, kept by his junior sister. He didn't bring it with him on this trip.
Moreover, the girl in palace attire in front of her clearly possessed a spiritual cultivation level of no less than the seventh rank, and she didn't seem like someone who could be easily fooled.
Since he couldn't win a fight or escape anyway, Ouyang Rong simply stopped looking back and forth.
Inside the carriage, he remained calm and composed, sat down, and looked around at the scene inside the carriage and the appearance of the girl in palace attire in front of him.
The girl in palace attire seemed to be observing him as well.
The two remained silent.
The carriage fell silent for a moment.
At this moment, Ouyang Rong noticed that Zhen Shuyuan and Ye Weilai were acting strangely.
Apart from their expressive eyes, their bodies remained completely still, like statues.
At the feet of the two women, a short sword and a short knife lying haphazardly were scattered about.
Inside the cramped carriage, where space was limited, elegant utensils such as incense burners and tea tables were scattered haphazardly on the floor.
Ouyang Rong observed carefully and found that only the items around Zhen Shuyuan and Ye Weilai were scattered on the ground, while the cushions and other items around the girl in palace attire were perfectly neat and unaffected.
Zhen Shuyuan's phoenix eyes were glaring angrily at the girl in palace attire.
Ye Weilai's long, white hair, reaching her waist, was quite disheveled, with a few strands of white hair falling pitifully on her forehead. However, her blue eyes were fixed on the uninvited guest, a girl in palace attire, exuding the unruly and fierce spirit of a foreign barbarian.
However, after Ouyang Rong entered the carriage, his eyes, which had been filled with hatred as he glared at his enemy, gradually became misty and bright.
The white-haired girl held back her tears, but this only added to her unyielding and stubborn spirit.
Ouyang Rong pursed his lips; he had never seen this look in Ye Weilai's eyes before.
If I had to describe it, it would be the difference between a docile domestic cat and a wild cat.
Ouyang Rong suddenly remembered that when he entered the carriage without warning and with a smile, Ye Weilai and Zhen Shuyuan had not said a word to remind him.
Judging from the current appearance of the two women, it can be foreseen that not long ago, while they were waiting for Ouyang Rong, the girl in palace attire suddenly got into the carriage, and the two sides had a fierce but short-lived battle that was resolved in just a few breaths.
The outcome was obvious.
Zhen Shuyuan and Ye Weilai were both restrained by the palace-dressed girl using a technique similar to acupressure, and they couldn't even make a sound.
Ouyang Rong glanced at Ye Weilai. The two of them were sitting side by side, closest to each other. Logically, the white-haired girl could also turn her gaze to him and exchange glances.
However, under Ouyang Rong's prolonged gaze, she did not turn her head to meet his eyes. Ye Weilai's petite figure seemed to sway slightly, but she pursed her lips tightly until the vermilion color faded, her misty blue eyes staring hatefully at the girl in palace attire.
Was he ashamed of becoming a burden to him when he left the city...? Ouyang Rong remained silent.
"I haven't yet asked your honorable name." He looked up and asked, "Are you also a lady-in-waiting serving His Majesty?"
The girl in palace attire ignored her and instead asked:
"Prefect Ouyang is saying he's leaving, and he's secretly gathering at the city gate in the middle of the night. Where is he and his family going?"
"Moving the whole family? What do you mean by moving the whole family? We didn't even bring any luggage. You're too kind, Lady Historian."
Ouyang Rong, appearing completely unconcerned, waved his hand dismissively:
"The weather has been lovely lately. Today I'd like to take my family out of the city for a summer outing and visit Xiliu Temple, about ten miles outside the city, to burn incense and pray to Buddha. Would you like to join me, Lady Historian?"
"A summer outing?" The girl in palace attire said, "Heh, the way you two ladies-in-waiting reacted just now makes it seem like you've done something guilty and cowardly, afraid of being discovered."
Ouyang Rong smiled and said, "Perhaps it's because the Lady Historian's eyebrows are fierce and she doesn't look like someone easy to get along with, which is why she misunderstood. The city's security has indeed been unstable lately."
The girl in palace attire narrowed her eyes: "You dare to say that."
"It all depends on whether Lady Historian dares to listen."
"Speak again."
Ouyang Rong said without blinking:
"Red sky at morning, sailors take warning; red sky at night, sailors' delight. I just glanced at the sky and there's a red sky at dawn. It seems best not to go out this morning. I'll take my family and head back home now. Would you like to come to my humble abode for a cup of tea, Lady?"
The girl in palace attire didn't agree with this statement and coldly said:
"I've heard there are rebels in the city tonight."
"That is indeed true."
Ouyang Rong nodded directly, boldly admitting it, which made the girl in palace attire glance at him a few more times.
Ouyang Rong continued, maintaining his speaking pace:
"I just came from the Prince's residence. Two of the rebels have been executed, and one remains, who has been caught in Lord Wang's net. However, the Prince has also fainted from shock, and Lady Miaozhen is leading the imperial physicians to treat him."
His tone was somewhat doubtful:
"However, Lady Historian, instead of going to arrest the rebels or looking after the Prince, you've come here to sit idly in the carriage. Isn't that a bit inappropriate?"
The girl in palace attire twitched the corners of her mouth, as if she were smiling, but Ouyang Rong felt that her smile was also very cold, so it would be better if she didn't smile at all.
"Me? I'm waiting for a traitor."
"Oh? Where are the rebels? There are no rebels here." Ouyang Rong looked around curiously. "Then what are we doing now?"
"As luck would have it, the rebels disappeared as soon as Chief Secretary Ouyang arrived."
Ouyang Rong said with a serious expression, "Hey, it seems that my reputation as the nemesis of rebels and the vanguard of eliminating evil has spread. Everyone is giving me a wide berth. I'm sorry, I'm sorry for delaying Your Excellency's efforts to catch the thief and eliminate the villain."
Ouyang Rong smiled sheepishly and said:
"How about this, I will also provide you with a clue that may be related to the rebels' plot, as compensation for your waiting."
The young woman in palace attire glanced at the composed and completely relaxed Chief Secretary of Jiangzhou before her, and uttered a single word:
"speak."
Ouyang Rong stared into her dark eyes and said loudly:
"These past two days, Your Highness and I have learned from Wang Junzhi that the rebel leader Li Zhengyan once took a painting of Peach Blossom Spring to the prefectural magistrate Yuan Huaimin to ask for two poems by the famous Eastern Jin scholar Tao Yuanming..."
"At that time, Li Zhengyan was passing through Xunyang and had not yet raised the banner of rebellion. Yuan Huaimin, unaware of this, provided them with one of the rare copies of the Peach Blossom Spring, a family heirloom of the Yuan clan of the Northern Wei Dynasty..."
Ouyang Rong spoke fluently and clearly, following his promise to Yuan Huaimin. He slightly altered and repackaged the message, then took the opportunity to inform the Empress's confidant, thus also informing the Great Zhou court...
As the palace-dressed girl listened, at one point her gaze suddenly sharpened, and she stared directly at Ouyang Rong:
"Is this... really true?"
"I have asked Yuan Sima, and it is indeed true."
The palace-dressed girl remained silent for a long time before suddenly reaching out. Before Ouyang Rong could even see what color her spiritual energy was or how she made her move, the binding restraints on Ye Weilai and Zhen Shuyuan were completely released.
Both women were exhausted and panting, collapsing back in their chairs. However, in the next instant, Ye Weilai, who had been freed, rushed towards the girl in palace attire like a mother leopard whose cub had been taken away. But she was instantly caught by Ouyang Rong, who grabbed her around the waist.
He pressed down on a struggling white-haired head, nodded to the girl in palace attire, and said, "It seems this news is quite important."
A young woman in palace attire slipped a slender hand out from the snow-white sleeve embroidered with gold phoenix patterns. The sleeve slid down her fair wrist, and she raised a single index finger. At this moment, her cold face was quite serious.
“Prefect Ouyang, from this day forward, continue the construction of the Donglin Buddha. No further delays or suspensions are permitted. If you delay His Majesty’s and the court’s important affairs, you will not be able to bear the consequences.”
Ouyang Rong asked curiously, "Could Li Zhengyan and that Peach Blossom Spring painting also be related to the statues in our four prefectures?"
Upon hearing this question, the girl in palace attire gave him a deep look:
"Prefect Ouyang has so many problems."
Ouyang Rong shrugged helplessly: "I'm just curious. Shouldn't I at least know what I'm doing?"
The girl in palace attire did not answer, her brows furrowed as if she were processing and pondering the new information she had just received.
The air inside the carriage fell silent.
The next instant, the girl in palace attire stood up and got out of the carriage.
Before leaving, she flicked her embroidered shoe, and with a clang, the short sword on the floor flew up and shot towards Ye Weilai.
A wisp of white hair floated in the air inside the carriage like a kite with a broken string... The short sword remained still between the two raised fingers.
Ouyang Rong embraced Ye Weilai protectively, catching the short sword with one hand. The girl in palace attire suddenly said to Ye Weilai:
"Your 'Virgin Cleave' move is a sword technique from the Yue Maiden, derived from the legend of the first Yue maiden slaying the dragon and chopping down the mountain during the Spring and Autumn Period. Although you only learned the basics... What is your relationship with Yunmeng Sword Marsh? Have you ever met a Yue Maiden of the Queenly level?"
Ye Weilai's pretty face flushed red, her chin held high, her blue eyes piercing.
Ouyang Rong lowered his eyes and glanced at the little white head in his arms.
The girl in palace attire shook her head, got out of the carriage alone, and before leaving, uttered two words:
"Rong Zhen."
Ouyang Rong lifted the carriage curtain, and the female official Rong Zhen's figure disappeared.
They come and go without a trace.
Ouyang Rong's expression was thoughtful:
“Rongzhen…Miaozhen…Are all eight of the female officials in colorful robes of this generation of the Imperial Observatory named with ‘zhen’ in their names? That’s interesting.”
"What level is Rong Zhen in there... Could it be that everyone is like that? Luoyang is truly a place where hidden talents abound."
Turning around, he noticed that Zhen Shuyuan and Ye Weilai both looked ashamed and dared not look at him.
"It's alright, go back now."
Zhen Shuyuan hesitated and said, "Tanlang, didn't we say we were going to go out of town? Aren't we... going to be a burden?"
"A burden? Not at all. We're not leaving the city. It was a false alarm. Let's go back."
Ouyang Rong, accompanied by his family, returned to his residence in Huaiye Lane.
On the way, Ye Weilei twirled a stray hair between her fingers, her face blank. At one moment, she tilted her head and glanced at Tanlang's profile, only to find that his expression was normal and he didn't ask any questions...
Ouyang Rong returned home, ate a quick breakfast, and then closed his eyes to rest. He had been concentrating all night, and in the morning he had to deal with the unfathomable Rong Zhen. He was exhausted.
The Luoyang delegation arrived at Xunyang Ferry that morning.
Ouyang Rong and Wang Lengran went to greet them personally.
There was no poisoned wine given to them.
As Ouyang Rong had guessed, the Luoyang envoys arrived in a huff this time. After disembarking, they first gave Ouyang Rong, Wang Lengran, and others a cold shoulder, and then prepared to rush straight to the Xunyang Prince's Mansion, seemingly to criticize His Majesty on his behalf.
However, upon being informed of the assassination attempt by rebels and Li Xian's fainting last night, the Luoyang envoys, who had just arrived in Xunyang, were surprised. Their plans were disrupted, and they hesitated for a moment.
At this moment, Wang Lengran also brought a "trivial piece of news": the traitor who was captured last night had committed suicide by biting his tongue out of fear of punishment.
Ouyang Rong showed no surprise. He went to the state prison, saw the corpse, and clicked his tongue in amazement.
"Lord Wang, this method of suicide is quite novel. Biting your tongue is one thing, but your face is burned to a crisp."
Wang Lengran snorted coldly:
"This morning we conducted an emergency interrogation and torture. Unexpectedly, this thief was stubborn and unyielding, and struggled wildly. He accidentally hit his head on the fire pit, injuring his face. It's all the fault of the people below for not taking good care of him, which allowed him to bite his tongue and commit suicide."
He forced a smile and respectfully addressed the Luoyang envoy and the two female officials in colorful robes, saying, "However, the prisoner has already confessed during the interrogation. Please see the confession, gentlemen."
After Ouyang Rong finished his examination, he clapped his hands and stood up:
"His tongue is bitten quite neatly. It seems that this unfortunate prisoner, like Lord Wang, is truly sharp-tongued and quick-witted."
Wang Lengran's expression was somewhat unpleasant as he said, displeased:
“Speak to Chief Secretary Ouyang, is it that traitor who escaped the net last night? You and the people from the Prince’s mansion have met him.”
Ouyang Rong glanced at the familiar corpse of Guo Yu. His signature goatee was now completely burned away, and his face was so distorted that it was impossible to tell what kind of torture he had suffered before his death.
There was no pity in his eyes; he nodded and smiled.
"Lord Wang is indeed incredibly fast."
Wang Lengran pretended not to hear.
The envoy from Luoyang and the female officials, including Miaozhen, exchanged glances. That same day, they reported back to Luoyang about the rebels' night attack on the Prince of Xunyang.
Everyone waited for the imperial court's response.
(End of this chapter)
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