Chapter 390 Junior Sister's Leg, Senior Brother's Sword
Ouyang Rong's path to the Sword Master's Secret Meridian is the eighth rank, named "Craftsman".
He used the back door of the Xie family of Chenjun to access the secret library of this prestigious family that had stood in Jiangzuo for six hundred years.
At the same time, I also browsed the inscription left by Master Zhongma, the swordsman of an unnamed ding sword, on the wall of the Pure Land Palace seventy years ago.
From this, I learned many secrets about the cauldron sword and the severed meridians of the sword wielder.
The Daoist lineage of the Swordsman is a dead lineage; each advancement to the next rank requires a complete Dingjian Sword Manual.
Therefore, the order in which each swordsman, whether a wild one or one from the imperial court or a powerful family, acquires the sword manual is almost always different.
Therefore, those who wield the sword and have severed meridians, from the ninth to the first rank, do not have a unified name.
After all, fewer people follow this path, unlike Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, which have mature systems and have cultivated numerous Qi practitioners throughout history, summarizing and developing methods for rapid advancement...
There's not much to refer to regarding the swordsman's severed meridians; or rather, every swordsman is a legend.
And legends, of course, have their own uniqueness.
Therefore, based on his own understanding, Ouyang Rong named the ninth-rank sword-wielder "Humble Scholar".
The swordsman, of the eighth rank, is named Craftsman.
It shares the same name as Dingjian.
This time, he gathered all the elements of the ceremony at the West Gate, publicly beheaded Zhu Lingxu, and silently advanced to the eighth-rank "Craftsman".
These past two days, the brand-new eighth rank gave Ouyang Rong a mysterious and novel experience. However, he had been subjected to intense interrogation and had his statement taken a few days ago, so he didn't have time to ponder it all. He could only discuss it when he got back...
The carriage slowly drove away from the newly reopened Jiangzhou Grand Hall.
The carriage that came to pick up the person was unassuming and ordinary, but inconspicuously displayed two flags that read "Leaving" and "Thanking".
But to those in the know, it's astonishing.
Within Xunyang City, there is only one royal mansion with the surname "Li," and who else besides the Five Families and Seven Noble Families would dare to put the surname "Xie" together with "Li"?
This is the most understated and silent form of prominence.
Ouyang Rong was unaware that the carriage that came to pick him up was so high-profile. Even while driving quietly on the road, it made many carriages of wealthy people and officials humbly give way, thus promoting traffic discipline in Xunyang City.
Inside the carriage, a man and a woman were cuddling together. After a moment of silence, Ouyang Rong spoke, changing the subject.
"This white dress looks good."
"This is men's clothing, not a skirt."
"Oh. You look best in men's clothing." He nodded. "I noticed it the first time I saw you; you look even better in men's clothes than in women's dresses."
"First time meeting, didn't you get kicked?"
Xie Lingjiang wrinkled her delicate nose, tapped her chin with her slender white index finger, and turned her head to look at him with a puzzled expression:
"Still have time to glance around? Oh, you were lustful at first sight, weren't you?"
"What do you mean by lust at first sight? You're allowed to make a dazzling entrance, but I'm not allowed to fall in love at first sight?"
Ouyang Rong blinked, coughed, and, using his already hoarse voice, imitated the speech of a passerby:
"Hey, whose young lady is this? She's both fierce and pretty, and so beautiful, yet she has such a serious face, even more so than a bookworm... Oh, it's my junior sister."
Xie Lingjiang tried hard to suppress her smile and rolled her eyes at him.
"Pah! What love at first sight? You're just trying to flatter me. I felt like you were avoiding me like the plague back then. Even the pickled radishes on the table were more appealing than me. You were only eating the pickled radishes from Zaozhaiyuan. You ignored Father and Aunt Zhen's subtle exchanges... Is this what you call love at first sight?"
She couldn't help but pout when she thought about it.
Ouyang Rong naturally heard the slight resentment in his junior sister's words, but he pretended not to understand. Well, he couldn't just honestly explain everything, like that he wasn't interested in his junior sister's marriage at the time and only wanted to return home.
He nodded.
In addition, while you were complaining, I was hearing the little wooden fish of merit making a "cackling" sound, which seemed to indicate that you were increasing your merit.
You're just saying one thing but meaning another, aren't you? You're actually feeling sweet inside after being coaxed, aren't you?
Okay, you say one thing but mean another, just like your name suggests, woman.
Ouyang Rong chuckled inwardly, suddenly finding his junior sister adorable.
"A kick on our first meeting? Junior sister, you have the nerve to bring that up? Fine, fine, fine."
He feigned anger and pulled Xie Lingjiang into his arms.
"Ah—" the beauty exclaimed softly, stiffly sitting sideways in the young man's arms.
"Don't move."
Ouyang Rong gave the order, and he embraced the soft, fragrant body from behind, gently resting his chin on her thick, dark hair, pressing down on her head without warning.
At the same time, a large hand reached out from below and grabbed, giving him a small punishment.
Ouyang Rong squinted and asked, "Does this long-legged woman still dare to kick her husband?"
"I'll kick you then." She was more stubborn than a duck.
"Hmm?" Ouyang Rong's voice suddenly became nasal, as did his rough hand.
"Ugh... Waaah..."
Xie Lingjiang bit her lip, trying hard to hold back, but her sensitive constitution made it impossible for her to bear even the slightest thing. Her face flushed, and she whispered, "Take...take it away, don't be silly, there are people here."
Ouyang Rong looked around: "Where is he?"
"The street...the street."
"They can't see us anyway."
"Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it's not there. It's so close, you...you have no shame."
After their playful banter, Ouyang Rong's fatigue had lessened considerably, and although his voice was hoarse, it was much more relaxed:
"Junior sister, could you please answer again? Do you still dare to kick?"
"I...you..."
"Hmm?" Ouyang Rong blinked, then gently patted her head with his chin. "What do you mean, what do you mean? Speak louder."
She buried her face in his chest: "I won't kick anymore, you, you move your hand away...it itches..."
Ouyang Rong found his junior sister's voice even more ticklish, tickling his heart.
"Hmm, that's more like it. Cough cough, show some respect to your senior brother, you know? You're just a junior sister who's trying to defy your superior."
Sitting in the man's lap, Xie Lingjiang buried her head in his chest and didn't speak. Her loose high ponytail covered her profile, making it impossible to see her expression. At the same time, it tickled Ouyang Rong's nose. Only soft "woof" sounds came from her mouth, like a kitten purring in its owner's arms.
"Alright, let it go for now."
A pair of long legs were taut beneath a man's robe, only letting out a long sigh of relief when a hand was removed.
Then, the woman dressed as a man began to mutter to herself:
“I am me, and my legs are my legs. I said I wouldn’t kick you, but it didn’t agree. It was the one that kicked you, so what does it have to do with me? If you’re so capable, go and lecture it. Don’t just bully me.”
At this point, she suddenly turned around, her two slender hands intertwined with his large hand, holding his mischievous hand so it couldn't move. At the same time, Xie Lingjiang rolled her eyes and glared at him, her eyes full of defiance:
"Hmph, watch out, if you mess with it, it'll kick you again next time."
As he spoke, a pair of small black boots stepped on Ouyang Rong's foot on the carpet below.
Arrogant and unruly.
Ouyang Rong was speechless. He straightened her head, her chin still pressed against the top of her head, and squinted as she stared ahead, saying:
"Don't worry, Senior Brother can kill one junior sister with one sword now. I'll see how it goes when I kill it with one sword."
"Hmm, as expected of an eighth-rank Grand Sword Master, quite imposing indeed. But... are you referring to craftsmanship?"
Xie Lingjiang smiled sweetly, showing no fear whatsoever, and blinked as she said:
“Hey, this little guy won’t listen to you. He spends more time with me than you do. Hmph, you think he can bully me? You can’t control him. He’s much closer to me.”
Ouyang Rong looked at him strangely: "That's not what I was talking about."
"...??" Xie Lingjiang.
A moment later, Ouyang Rong, whose instep had been secretly numb from the beauty's retaliatory step, coughed twice and withdrew his foot.
He said seriously:
"Thank you for your hard work. You've been waiting outside for so long these past two days."
Xie Lingjiang shook her head:
"It's not hard work for you, you're the one who suffers the most."
"Your uncle and aunt, and your eldest son and son are all very worried about you. Although we had discussed it beforehand... it's not convenient for them to come in a big way today. They are waiting for you anxiously at the Prince's Mansion. Let's go there first to let them know you're safe, and then go back to Huaiye Lane to see your aunt. We'll have dinner there tonight."
"Okay, you can arrange it."
Xie Lingjiang turned around, glanced at Ouyang Rong's stubble chin, reached out and touched his Adam's apple, her pretty face showing concern:
“My uncle said that when he went there this morning, you were being interrogated all night by the censor and the old constable. Now your voice is hoarse. In just two days, you have lost a lot of weight. Aunt Zhen and the others will be worried about you again… Senior brother must be starving. Before I left, I made some food and kept it warm in the pot. We’ll eat it later.”
“When something goes wrong, someone always has to take responsibility.” Ouyang Rong shook his head. “It’s not just me; everyone is being interrogated like this. I have no special privileges. But that Rong Zhen is really a pain.”
Xie Lingjiang snorted: "I'll settle this score with her later."
Ouyang Rong smiled.
The two embraced, enjoying a rare moment of peace.
During this period, due to the matter involving the Wei family and Zhu Lingxu, the entire Prince's mansion was on edge, and Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang had no time for tender moments.
The overall situation has now turned around, and the outcome is now certain.
That way I can relax a little.
Ouyang Rong preferred this way of hugging his junior sister from behind, because a face-to-face hug would be a bit cramped, and his junior sister would easily become shy, blushing and stammering; but when they were facing away from each other, she was bolder and could say some bolder things...
"Drive slowly, there's no rush."
Ouyang Rong raised his voice a bit and gave instructions to Yan Liulang, who was driving the carriage outside with his head down.
Turning back, he smiled at Xie Lingjiang and said:
"I'll carry you to rest on the way. I'm a little tired, so take a nap. Call me when we get to the Prince's Mansion... Oh, by the way, I'll go to your courtyard to take a bath later. I'm all sweaty and dirty, and I haven't washed up for two days. I'm too embarrassed to see my uncle and eldest son."
"What's the big deal?" Xie Lingjiang shook her head.
"You don't mind at all," Ouyang Rong said with a smile. "You're all sweaty, and I've gotten your clean clothes dirty."
"I...I despise you so much."
Xie Lingjiang puffed out her cheeks, looked away from her trembling gaze, and gently slapped the big pig's trotter below her. She then grabbed his hand and pressed it against her waist to suppress his misbehavior.
The eldest brother seems to hold a grudge against the legs that once kicked his butt.
"If you're going to wash, I'll go wash too. After all, someone's pig's feet wrinkled other people's clothes... Hmph, he's really not a gentleman at all. I've really wasted my time."
Xie Lingjiang's delicate chin is upturned.
Ouyang Rong pondered, "It seems like my junior sister was pursuing me, and she was crying her eyes out."
Xie Lingjiang turned around: "Hmm?"
Ouyang Rong discovered that there were so many different tones in the simple sound "hmm".
She said earnestly, "Say it again."
Ouyang Rong said in a serious tone, "I said, okay, let's shower together then, it's good that we're all taking a shower..."
“Not this sentence.” After a pause, Xie Lingjiang rolled her eyes cutely: “You wish. Be honest, I’ll give you another chance to rephrase the previous sentence.”
“Oh, the previous sentence, why didn’t you say so earlier?” Ouyang Rong sat up straight: “I said… I’m really a disgrace to being a gentleman, I didn’t even let go of my junior sister, I fell in love at first sight, and then I pursued her relentlessly.”
"Hmm, really? Is that true?"
She tilted her head and asked.
"Yes!" he said decisively.
"Alright then." Xie Lingjiang bit her lip, showing him two small, white canine teeth: "From now on, you have to answer everyone's questions like this, understand?"
"clear!"
Ouyang Rong kept his eyes straight ahead.
Xie Lingjiang nodded in satisfaction.
Being a good wife and mother is half the battle won; what does it mean to marry a woman from one of the five surnames?
Xie Lingjiang smiled faintly.
Then, as if nothing had happened, he released his hand that was pressing down on Ouyang Rong, as if he had forgotten about it.
Surprisingly, her senior brother behind her did nothing to embarrass her.
He simply bent his arm and put his arm around her waist.
The two sat close together, snuggling close.
Xie Lingjiang felt a sweet warmth in her heart.
However, their sitting posture caused the carriage to sway back and forth due to the rolling wheels.
This caused the noble lady of the Xie family to blush slightly, her starry eyes lowered.
Ouyang Rong was immediately impressed. Although Liu Lang outside hadn't uttered a sound from beginning to end, he was capable of driving.
Knowing that his junior sister was there, he drove the carriage quite erratically. Come to think of it, why haven't I seen him drive this "bad" before?
That's really loyal.
Ouyang Rong put his arm around the beautiful woman's waist, her eyes slightly closed, as if she were resting.
Xie Lingjiang, oblivious to these subtle hints, glanced down at her snow-white men's clothing and changed the subject:
"Does it really look good? I don't think it looks that great. Hmm, I was busy going out this afternoon, so I made you a bowl of ginger soup and stir-fried a few side dishes in the kitchen. I rushed back to the house and just picked this out on the spot... Do you really like it?"
"Um."
Ouyang Rong nodded, closed his eyes, and whispered in a hoarse voice:
"You look great... You look good in anything. The important thing is the person, not the clothes."
“Even in tattered monk’s robes, you would look charming and beautiful in them.”
Xie Lingjiang's voice softened as she asked, "Why are you so sweet-talking?"
"These past two days, being locked up inside and being asked tedious, mechanical questions all night long, I've suddenly come to understand some things."
Ouyang Rong did not open his eyes, and began to speak slowly and deliberately:
"At that time, I was thinking about what I would do after I got out, what kind of food I would eat, and who I would meet..."
“Some things and people that were easily overlooked in the past suddenly became important to me.”
"For example, junior sister's noodles and pears, aunt's and Wei Lai's pastries, Aunt Wei's signature dishes... such thoughts don't lie."
Xie Lingjiang asked curiously, "Why is it all food?"
“…” Ouyang Rong was speechless.
Xie Lingjiang chuckled, "I know, I was just kidding."
Ouyang Rong smiled.
A moment later, Xie Lingjiang felt Ouyang Rong, who was holding her from behind, begin to breathe steadily, as if he were asleep. She dared not move, afraid of waking him.
However, in the next instant, a man's voice came:
"Thanks."
Xie Lingjiang knew what he meant, and pursed her lips:
"After the incident, your uncle and aunt praised your wisdom, Guo'er admired your courage, and Dalang said he had promised you that he would not let those who carried firewood freeze to death in the wind and snow..."
"Eldest brother said he misses us, saying that thoughts don't lie. But actually, when eldest brother was not around, my uncle and I also realized how important eldest brother was. Everyone missed you. It felt like we were missing our backbone when you weren't around."
"So, there's no need for thanks or anything like that."
He paused for a moment, then said, "We are companions."
Ouyang Rong interrupted abruptly, asking, "And what about you?"
"I..." Xie Lingjiang lowered her head: "It breaks my heart."
Ouyang Rong pursed his lips.
He suddenly untied Xie Lingjiang's high ponytail that she had hastily tied when she left home, and carefully combed her cascading black hair, then retied it with a red ribbon.
Xie Lingjiang lowered her head, letting Jun tie her hair up. She raised her hand to cover her cheek, her eyebrows curving, and continued speaking:
"Before you left, you instructed us not to use any of the connections or prestige of the Prince's Mansion or the Xie family to pressure them into letting you get away with it. You wanted to outwit and outmaneuver everyone to get through this."
"But everyone is very worried about you, and there's really no other way... It's Guo'er who's smart enough to get her uncle involved. On the grounds of prioritizing the overall situation and the fact that Jiangzhou can't be shut down for too long, she urged the female officials to lift the lockdown on the Jiangzhou main hall. Well, this doesn't really go against your plan."
"After all, we've already done all the necessary investigations and taken all the necessary statements in the past two days. That's enough. There's no need to delay any longer."
"If we drag this out and something else happens in Jiangzhou, it will be Rongzhen and the others' responsibility."
"So even if Rongzhen still suspects and makes things difficult for you, if you continue to investigate, her female officials will also complain."
Ouyang Rong remained silent for a while.
"Good." He nodded.
After a moment of silence, Ouyang Rong teased:
"Hmm, why do I feel like a gang leader?"
"It's fine to criticize yourself, but don't drag us into it. We're not some stupid lackeys."
Xie Lingjiang pouted:
"No joke."
She solemnly reminded him, "Senior Brother, you still need to be careful of Rong Zhen. This woman is not simple; we might not be able to..."
Ouyang Rong nodded:
"You have to be prepared to bear the consequences of whatever you do. Rongzhen did nothing wrong, it's just that we have different positions."
"You're actually speaking up for her."
Xie Lingjiang retorted, as if remembering something, and reminded him:
"The criminal investigators and head constables in Jiangzhou are just appetizers. Father said that there are many skilled detectives in the Dali Temple and the Imperial Observatory in Luoyang, the capital. Senior Brother, you must be careful..."
Ouyang Rong nodded.
(End of this chapter)
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