Chapter 424 Parking and Enjoying Love in the Maple Forest at Dusk
Ouyang Rong left Hanlei Mozhai and rode alone on Dongmei, lightly dressed, to the agreed location not far from the West Gate... in front of a bookstore.
Today is a beautiful autumn day, perfect for hiking and enjoying the autumn scenery, so many people are heading out of the city.
Wearing a felt hat and a moon-white robe, Ouyang Rong spotted the crowd queuing at the city gate from afar.
However, there is one advantage to riding a horse: it avoids traffic jams. I just don't know if the carriages that Junior Sister and the others traveled through were stuck in traffic.
Upon arriving at the agreed location, Ouyang Rong dismounted and touched the smooth jade hilt of the skirt-shaped sword at his waist.
This can be considered a signal to the junior sister.
Ouyang Rong pulled down his felt hat to cover his face and waited for a while.
Sure enough, the junior sister was late.
The agreed-upon time of 9:30 AM has passed.
However, being late is a woman's privilege. Ouyang Rong remained calm as she strolled around the bookstore, flipping through old books and waiting patiently.
A quarter of an hour later, a large, low-key luxury carriage bearing the character "谢" (Xie) arrived late at the bookstore. Ouyang Rong put down his old books and left calmly under the owner's mournful gaze... What's the point of visiting a bookstore if you don't read anything and just want to freeload?
At the entrance, the carriage slowly came to a stop. Ouyang Rong greeted the familiar coachman and nimbly boarded the carriage.
As he bent down to enter the carriage, he suppressed a smile and spoke in a serious tone:
"Book-tearer Xie Lingjiang, your book-tearer is here! Surrender now... I just saw an interesting poem about autumn while browsing the bookstore. Let me read it to you... Uh."
Ouyang Rong stammered, because in the spacious carriage, pairs of eyes were all fixed on him.
Li Guo'er, Li Dalang, Qin Ying, and the Shangqing Taoist Lu Ya all cast strange glances at him.
The junior sister had a stern face, holding a half-open book in her hands, pressing it against her chest. At this moment, she was with the others, her autumn eyes slightly narrowed as she looked at him, her eyes seeming to say, "Everyone is here, let's see if you know how to be ashamed."
“…” Ouyang Rong.
She coughed twice, her expression composed: "Why is everyone here? Ahem, good morning, Miss Qin. Oh, Your Highness, why do you have the leisure to go out with your junior sister?"
He took off his felt hat and sat down in the carriage.
Li Dalang asked curiously, "Tanlang, what is a book turner? Is it Miss Xie's new job? I don't know about it."
Li Guo'er glanced sideways: "What interesting poem about autumn is it? Read it to me."
"Forehead……"
Ouyang Rong was embarrassed and hesitated. Lu Ya suddenly said, "The person who turned the pages is a seventh-grade scholar, which should be Fellow Daoist Xie's current Qi Refining realm."
"I see." Li Dalang habitually stroked his chin. He had been forced to shave his head bald by his mother and sister before leaving the house today, and he was quite uncomfortable with it.
"And who tore up the book? Is this Tanlang's Qi Refining Realm?"
Lu Ya shook his head: "I don't know, this is the first time I've heard of this either."
He paused for a moment, then asked curiously, "Is Young Master Ouyang also a Qi cultivator, or does he also follow the path of the scholar?"
After some questioning, Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang couldn't help but exchange glances.
Xie Lingjiang snorted and turned her head away, not wanting to pay attention to Ouyang Rong, as if letting him explain himself.
Ouyang Rong noticed that his junior sister was wearing a fox fur shawl today, which covered her swan-like, high neck. At this moment, she turned her head and faintly revealed the fair skin behind her ears. There were several faint pink marks there, like strawberries.
Li Guo'er suddenly said, "Book-turner, book-tearer? You two have quite a few tricks up your sleeves."
Qin Xiaoniangzi, who was sitting demurely to the side, covered her mouth and chuckled. But when she saw Xie's sister's ears turn red, she immediately suppressed her laughter.
"What nonsense are you talking about, Sister Guo'er? What book-turning person and book-tearing person? It's all made up by Senior Brother. Don't be fooled by how serious he is in the main hall of Jiangzhou every day. He makes all sorts of jokes in private. Sometimes I really don't want to talk to him."
Ouyang Rong nodded: "Junior Sister is right, it was just a joke, everyone please don't take it seriously... By the way, what brings you here, Da Lang and Qin Xiao Niangzi? And... Master Lu."
Li Dalang looked around curiously, still not understanding, but he didn't press the matter further and explained:
"I heard that Miss Xie is going on an outing, and I... no... I was thinking that I should also go out for an autumn outing to relax, so I invited Miss Qin to go with me."
"I heard that the maple leaves along the riverbank on the outskirts of the city are one of the ten scenic spots of Xunyang, and should not be missed. At this time last year, we were still in Longcheng and didn't have a chance to see them. We can't miss them this year."
"And what about Her Highness the Princess, and Master Lu?"
As Ouyang Rong turned to speak, his eyes secretly glanced at Xie Lingjiang, who was looking out the window at the scenery.
It's as if they're asking why there are so many extra people in their private time together. Is today's theme a thrilling affair? Hmm... that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Ouyang Rong silently raised his hand and gently stroked the soft, smooth jade hilt of the skirt knife at his waist, his technique skillful.
Faced with his questioning gaze, Xie Lingjiang's ears were already burning. At this moment, when he touched the Heart-to-Heart Skirt Knife at close range, her delicate body trembled slightly, but she quickly regained her composure, immediately turned her head, and subtly snatched the skirt knife from his hand.
Xie Lingjiang's cheeks puffed out slightly, and her eyebrows arched as she glared at him:
"Why ask so many questions? Couldn't Sister Guo'er and Fellow Daoist Lu have just hitched a ride together? Even if... even if they weren't going the same way, they could have gone on a picnic together. Senior Brother, really, you're bringing your work style into your private life, prying into everything and putting pressure on others. This is not the main hall of Jiangzhou."
“…” Ouyang Rong.
Li Guo'er shifted her gaze from Xie Lingjiang Xuebai's fox fur shawl to ask in return:
"Sister Xie is right, does that mean I can't come out for an autumn outing?"
"There happens to be a chrysanthemum-picking poetry gathering in the suburbs today, and they sent an invitation. If you don't have any interesting activities to pass the time, I'll go and take a look. Don't worry, I won't bother Young Master Ouyang and Sister Xie for too long."
Ouyang Rong frowned, feigning a reproachful tone: "What are you saying? How have you bothered me? We're more than happy to welcome you. Everyone's here, it's a beautiful day, let's go on an autumn outing together."
Li Guo'er pouted.
Qin Xiaoniangzi patted the hem of her Hu-style men's clothing:
“Young Master Ouyang, I’m planning to go hunting in the autumn. It’s been a long time since I’ve gone hunting. Dalang said there’s a hunting ground in the mountains on the outskirts of the city, which would be a good place to go. If you and Sister Xie don’t have anything else to do, you can come with us.”
Ouyang Rong nodded: "Okay."
Although this young lady Qin is a bit blunt, she has a forthright personality, and he quite likes her as a friend. It's just a pity that Dalang doesn't like this type.
However, according to the current beauty standards of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Qin Xiaoniangzi's chubby face is indeed not as pretty as her junior sister and Li Guo'er.
The skinny Yan Liulang had a taste for "tall and slightly plump women," but unfortunately, the Qin family was a prominent family in Guanzhong, striving to be among the top five noble families and seven prominent clans, so it was impossible for him to marry into such a family.
While everyone was chattering away, Lu Ya remained silent, opened the carriage curtain, and looked outside.
Dongmei, whom Ouyang Rong left outside, was well taken care of by the Xie family's stewards. The Xie family's stewards in Xunyang City treated Ouyang Rong, their new son-in-law, with utmost respect.
Before long, the carriages arrived at the city gate, where a long queue formed.
Li Dalang lowered the carriage curtain and muttered, "Why are we still in line?"
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Rong remained calm and composed under his felt hat, chatting casually with Xie and Qin, without showing any intention of getting out of the carriage.
No one urged them on; they continued to wait in the car, chatting idly along the way.
Ouyang Rong glanced at the expressionless young man with his sword across his knees: "Fellow Daoist Lu, are you going on the autumn hunt or the poetry gathering?"
Lu Ya shook his head: "Looking for someone."
"Does Fellow Daoist Lu know anyone in Xunyang City?" Ouyang Rong asked curiously.
Lu Ya nodded, then shook his head.
Ouyang Rong glanced at his peach wood sword: "Fellow Daoist Lu knows swordsmanship?"
"I know a little bit."
Ouyang Rong smiled and said, "Me too."
Lu Ya thought for a moment and then asked tentatively, "Has Young Master Ouyang been to Peach Valley?"
"No." Ouyang Rong raised an eyebrow: "Fellow Daoist Lu has been there?"
"Oh." The slight interest that had risen in Lu Ya's eyes faded, and he nodded: "Losing it to Xue Zhongzhu Yijian."
Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang exchanged a glance, recalling the news of the Peach Valley Sword Challenge last year. At that time, they had asked Ouyang Rong to inquire at Yunshui Pavilion.
The first three to step onto the stage to challenge Xue Zhongzhu were an unnamed swordsman, a swordsman from Chang'an, and a Taoist priest from Shangqing. In the end, one died, one was injured, and one tumbled off the stage in a sorry state.
Xie Lingjiang couldn't help but ask, "So Fellow Daoist Lu is the Shangqing Daoist who went up on stage? Doesn't that mean you lost your sword?"
Lu Ya's expression remained calm, showing none of the defeat and anger described in the tabloids as a disheveled fall from the stage. He shook his head and said:
"If you lose a peach wood sword, I'll just break another one."
Everyone was speechless. They looked at the peach wood sword on his lap and realized that it was indeed true, unlike other sword cultivators who carried famous and beloved swords.
It's just a peach wood sword, its main purpose is to prevent the Grand Queen of Yunmeng from getting her equipment.
Lu Ya suddenly said, "Xue Zhongzhu is indeed powerful. She has now reached the upper grade and is truly deserving of the title of the world's top swordsman. She can be called the number one among her peers. The Celestial Masters and uncles of Longhu Mountain will have to avoid her sharp edge. She has already gained momentum. When the next Peach Valley Sword Competition comes, it will be even more difficult for any genius to disarm her."
"Cough cough."
"Young Master Ouyang, is your throat sore?"
"It's nothing, it's nothing," Ouyang Rong waved his hand.
After chatting for a quarter of an hour, seeing the slow progress of the long queue of carriages leaving the city, the group discussed it and decided to get off the carriages, travel light, and ride horses out of the city, which would be faster.
Li Guo'er went to the poetry gathering alone.
Lu Ya glanced at the fiery red maple leaves covering the mountains outside the city gate, then suddenly took his leave.
Before leaving, he seemed to be muttering to himself: "Master said that person has a deep connection with red leaves..."
Li Dalang and Qin Xiaoniangzi also got off the carriage, preparing to ride out of the city for an autumn hunt.
The two invited Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang to join them.
Xie Lingjiang was about to nod in agreement, but Ouyang Rong decisively shook his head and pointed to his mouth:
"My mouth has been dry these past few days, and I accidentally bit my lip, so I can't ride a horse in the wind. I'd better not go. I'll just sit in the carriage and drink tea. Have fun."
Xie Lingjiang swallowed her words, blushing slightly.
“Autumn hunting is a lot of fun… Young Master Ouyang, are you really not going? What a pity. Well then.”
Qin Ying spoke with a regretful tone, hoping her gaze would turn to Xie Lingjiang:
"Where is Sister Xie..."
Li Dalang suddenly interrupted:
"The horses and bows and arrows are ready outside. Miss Qin, let's hurry up. They know the way and will come looking for us if they want to go."
Li Dalang quickly pulled the emotionally inept Qin Ying away, and they agreed on a meeting point in the suburbs where they would return to the city together in the evening.
After they left, only Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang remained in the carriage.
The two silently turned their heads and looked at each other.
Ouyang Rong thought to himself, "My good brother Dalang, I didn't give you any pointers for nothing."
Xie Lingjiang lowered her head, her eyes darting away, no longer displaying the aloof and arrogant demeanor she had shown in public just moments before. She raised her hand and used her slender fingers to comb through her bangs.
"Aren't we going hunting? It's been a long time since I rode a horse and shot arrows."
"You're still trying to draw a bow and shoot arrows? You're the one who turns the pages of the book. You should understand the book first. You're only allowed to read the texts these days, no fighting."
Xie Lingjiang couldn't bring herself to be forceful:
"Okay, they've all left, let's get off the bus too..."
Ouyang Rong did not answer, but suddenly leaned forward.
"What...what are you doing..."
"I...I don't want to do anything, why are you getting off the bus?"
"Let's go out of the city to admire the autumn leaves. Didn't we agree yesterday that you would take the day off to accompany me to enjoy the scenery and discuss the matter of the Book Turner's advancement?"
"Oh, to admire the autumn leaves..." he chuckled. "Actually, you can admire the autumn leaves from the car, so why get off?"
"How are we going to be rewarded? The carriage hasn't even moved, and we don't know how long this queue will last. We haven't even left the city yet. Why don't we get off the carriage and ride horses out of the city?"
The hot, masculine breath he exhaled made Xie Lingjiang feel weak. She weakly pushed against Ouyang Rong's approaching chest with both hands, but to outsiders, her weak appearance seemed more like an act.
"Didn't you say you'd help me figure out how to break through the barrier today? You're not allowed to act recklessly. Be good, Senior Brother, listen to me."
With a face more beautiful than a flower, she coaxed him with a fierce yet gentle expression, trying to intimidate the bad guy.
Ouyang Rong shook his head seriously:
"Let's not get off the carriage and ride horses yet. There's a poem that goes, 'Stopping the carriage to admire the maple forest at dusk,' which is perfect for this season and really complements the scenery."
"What kind of poem is this? I've never heard of it before. What does it mean? What are the preceding and following lines?" Xie Lingjiang asked suspiciously, "Could it be a doggerel?"
"You've never heard of this? Junior Sister's book-flipping skills are getting worse and worse. No wonder she's stuck on a bottleneck, not finishing many books. Unlike me, I can flip through a whole bunch of books and then tear them up at will..."
"It's alright, I have plenty of poems here. With your senior brother here today, I'll teach you slowly..."
Someone drew back the curtains, speaking as they approached like a big bad wolf, their upper body slowly shifting forward, as if a jade mountain were about to topple:
"Let's start with 'Parking in the Maple Forest at Dusk,' which, as the name suggests, means doing lovemaking in a car."
"The next line is 'Frosty leaves are redder than February flowers.' This line is even more interesting. The aloof and unparalleled frost-covered leaves are actually more fiery and vibrant than the red flowers of spring. Do you know why, Junior Sister?"
Xie Lingjiang tensed up, stammering slightly as she shrank back into a corner, her eyes filled with wariness.
"Why? What...what do you mean by doing lovemaking? You, you're not allowed to do anything reckless again, like tearing up books."
"Frosty leaves are redder than February flowers? This line of poetry is wonderful, I've never heard of it before. Could it really not have been written by my senior brother? I don't believe it... But the frost-covered leaves are outside the city. If you want to admire them... What are you doing? Why are you so close... Mmmm!"
The noblewoman Xie was originally lecturing with a stern face, appreciating the poems, but suddenly her lips were covered.
The car fell silent for a moment, the silence speaking volumes.
A woman's snow-white fox fur shawl slid down from the goose's neck to the woman's ample breasts, and at the same time to the man's wrist. How it ended up on both the woman's breasts and the man's wrists at the same time is unknown... Then it fell down along a pair of taut, long legs that were bent together and covered the two pairs of crossed and misaligned ankles on the carpet.
They bit each other again.
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
