Chapter 453 Rong Zhen: You're actually a pretty nice person.
“Prefect Ouyang is optimistic.”
Seeing the smile on Ouyang Rong's face, Rong Zhen, who was seriously injured and bedridden, looked somewhat dazed and murmured something.
"Actually, as long as people are safe, that's all that matters. Life is the most precious thing. As long as you're alive, you can always rebuild."
"Is the person alright?"
"Well, what I mean is that friends and relatives I know are fine, but as for those I don't know, I can only feel a little sorry for them."
Ouyang Rong explained, and seemingly noticing Rong Zhen's disappointed expression, he paused, then said apologetically:
"I apologize for bringing up such a painful topic for you, Lady Historian. Yan Zhang and Lian Qing were your colleagues at the Imperial Observatory. It is truly a pity that they were murdered. As I am not directly involved, I do not feel much empathy for them and should not have made any sarcastic remarks."
"It's nothing."
Rongzhen shook her head, holding the medicine in both hands, her pretty face pale and bloodless.
Coupled with her already slender figure, the plain white undershirt she wore resembled the attire of a widow or a daughter in mourning, making her appear charming and pitiful.
Ouyang Rong also glanced at him again.
She stared blankly at the bowl of medicine sloshing around in dark broth for a moment, then suddenly asked:
"Prefect Ouyang said that as long as he and his friends are alright, that means... that includes me?"
Ouyang Rong was taken aback, seemingly not expecting the usually aloof Lady Rongzhen to ask such a question, and hesitated for a moment.
Rong Zhen suddenly said sternly, "Tell the truth."
Ouyang Rong immediately nodded like a chick pecking at rice:
"Yes, that includes you, Lady Historian. After all, we've worked together for so long, and there's some colleagueship between us. Please don't take offense, Lady Historian. I didn't mean to disrespect you."
Upon hearing this, Rong Zhen changed the subject, frowning as she asked:
"In Huang Xuan's courtyard, are we really the only three survivors? What about the others? Are they all gone? Are their bodies still there?"
Ouyang Rong couldn't help but glance at the aloof girl with a concerned expression, seemingly curious about how she could switch between these expressions so smoothly.
Under his constant gaze, Rong Zhen slightly shifted her eyes away.
Rongzhen didn't really know why she suddenly became stern. She hadn't meant to scare him, but as she spoke, she unconsciously adopted her usual professional attitude in public, and felt impatient and wanted to urge him on when he was slow.
However, this is not a public setting for official business; it is a private hospital room. Moreover, Ouyang Lianghan had just shown concern for her condition, even coming over to feed her medicine despite being ill himself, and even saying things like "friends."
Rong Zhen felt slightly embarrassed after being suddenly scolded, but remained silent...
Fortunately, at this moment, Ouyang Rong, seemingly unconcerned, spoke up, easing her embarrassment:
"Yes, most of them have been found, but two bodies are missing."
Which two people?
"Huang Xuan, and that little ink spirit named Miao Si, the judicial officers came to visit this morning. I inquired and found that their bodies were not found in the ruins of the courtyard in Xingzifang. There was no trace of them around, and we don't know if they are still alive or where they went."
Ouyang Rong shook his head and sighed.
Rong Zhen straightened up, her starry eyes narrowing slightly.
"Be careful not to spill the medicine on your clothes or the blankets."
Ouyang Rong glanced at it and reminded him.
If it were his junior sister, he would definitely say, "Don't spill it on your clothes," but Rongzhen... should be more concerned about the bedding below.
It's actually normal. The junior sister is special; she tends to spill food on her chest when she eats...
Rongzhen had no idea about the art and subtlety of someone's speech, and frowned as she asked:
"Does Chief Secretary Ouyang know what exactly happened that day?"
"Well, I only heard it from the judicial officers later. They said that when they arrived there, they saw a group of women wearing ancient Wu-style dresses and carrying swords in the distance. By the time they arrived, it was over and they had all left."
Upon hearing this, Rong Zhen took a sip of her medicine, lowered her eyes, and murmured to herself:
"The snow-white sword energy in the courtyard at that time seemed to be the sword intent of a woman, wearing an ancient Wu-style dress... Could it be the Yue female sword cultivator from Yunmeng Sword Marsh?"
"But why did you end up fighting with the owner of the Butterfly Love Flower?"
"Then why didn't the master of Butterfly Love Flower kill me? Was it because she was distracted by those Yue women and forgot to be ruthless? Or did she think that the Yue women were invited by me to be used as hostages, and then forgot about them during the fight...?"
She nodded slowly, a thoughtful expression on her face:
"And Huang Xuan and that little ink spirit are also missing. Could they have been taken away by the Yunmeng Yue women? Did they also discover Huang Xuan's talent and spiritual eyes...?"
"That's true. This little girl comes from Jiangzhou, which is part of the Wu-Yue region and falls within the sphere of influence of Yunmeng Sword Marsh."
"However, it's also possible that they were taken away by the owner of Butterfly Love Flower, and that little ink spirit as well. It's very likely that they knew the owner of Butterfly Love Flower, which is why they lied to me and didn't find any similar literary energy. Later, they escaped midway through setting up the formation and refused to confess no matter what."
"I just don't know if Huang Xuan knows about this, or if Xiao Mo Jing has told her. The two of them argued, and it seems like they don't get along, but that's not necessarily true..."
"Your analysis makes sense."
Ouyang Rong immediately interrupted, his tone somewhat displeased:
"This little ink spirit named Si is very likely the mole. The owner of Butterfly Love Flower came to our door, and it's possible that she was the one who tipped us off and came to save her. Alas, it's a pity that Lady Historian trusted her so much."
Rongzhen shook her head:
"At the time, I didn't really believe this Mo Jing who was spouting nonsense, but I never expected her to be so dishonest and have an affair with the master of Butterfly Love Flower."
"However, judging from the unparalleled literary talent and vibrant literary spirit of the Butterfly Lovers Master, it's not surprising that Little Ink Spirit has connections with him. Perhaps they were acquaintances before. I really didn't expect this; I miscalculated in this respect..."
Ouyang Rong sighed softly, his face filled with regret, just like hers.
Rong Zhen couldn't help but glance at Ouyang Rong's attire.
He was also wearing the white undershirt that patients wear, having just gotten up from next door, but his forehead was wrapped in a cloth, and there was a bloodstain the size of a baby's fist seeping through the white cloth on his right forehead.
At the same time, there was also a dagger stab wound on his right chest, which was wrapped in bandages. It was probably left by Huang Xuan, who suddenly changed her attitude that day.
It looks rather pitiful.
However, compared to her, who was still weak and lying in bed taking medicine, he seemed much more energetic. Perhaps it was because men are more resilient and robust.
In truth, it was only by sheer luck that the three of them survived this time.
Rongzhen couldn't help but feel a sense of sympathy for someone in the same boat, and then, incidentally, she also found the person slightly more pleasing to the eye.
The air fell silent for a moment.
At her bedside, Rongzhen spoke with a hint of sadness:
"It was I who implicated the Chief Secretary, and caused the Astronomical Bureau's main force in Jiangzhou to be almost completely wiped out..."
"It's alright, it's alright now. You were just doing your duty and did your best. Like I said, as long as everyone is okay, that's all that matters."
Rongzhen saw the handsome young man wave his hand dismissively, then suddenly stand up and run to open the window to let in some fresh air.
The window was pushed open, and the midday sun shone through the bare treetops, dappling the windowsill, while some dappled golden rays fell onto her bed and bedding.
Sunlight streamed into the room, brightening it considerably, but it made Rongzhen squint slightly.
After her eyes adjusted to the midday sun, she stared blankly at the tiny specks of dust that were clearly visible in the sunlight above the bedding.
"Are you hungry? Should we go and get something to eat for the lady of the house?"
Ouyang Rong, who was by the window, turned around and asked.
Rong Zhen glanced at his concerned expression towards his companion and pursed her lips:
"No need... Are you alright? I thought you had been murdered at the door by the Butterfly Love Flower Master."
"Uh, no, but..."
Ouyang Rong rubbed his lower back, gritted his teeth, and hissed:
"That thief is truly despicable, always resorting to sneak attacks and kicks. If I hadn't been careless and failed to dodge, I would have certainly captured him. Hmm, Your Excellency, don't disbelieve me, but look at me like that. Well, at least I must have exchanged a few blows, which would have given you all some time to react..."
Rong Zhen ignored these boastful words and shook her head.
However, if it were in the past, if she had heard the man in front of her say such polite and boastful words, she would have definitely looked at him with disdain and utter contempt.
But right now, glancing at Ouyang Rong, who was muttering indignantly, she didn't feel much dislike for him. Maybe it was because they were familiar with each other... she thought to herself.
Rong Zhen glanced at Ouyang Rong's waist, her eyes showing a hint of apology, as if she was worried about something.
Ouyang Rong immediately shook his head and said righteously:
"My back is fine, it's just... just a little sore. I'll recover quickly and be fine again. Your Excellency doesn't need to worry about that."
Rong Zhen ignored her and asked directly, "When you were outside the courtyard, did you see the face of the owner of the Butterfly Love Flower?"
"No, when I and Liu Lang found him, he was standing at the alley entrance, acting suspiciously. We didn't pay much attention at the time. We were planning to ask him something when we went over, but he sneaked in beforehand and launched a despicable sneak attack..."
Having roughly grasped the process, Rongzhen didn't listen to what followed.
Just then, the imperial physician from the Jiangzhou Medical Bureau returned, saying that something had just happened and asking the lady of the house not to be offended.
Rongzhen waved her hand, and the imperial physician continued to treat her. She turned her head and gestured for Ouyang Rong to go back and rest.
Ouyang Rong nodded, walked to the door, then seemed to remember something, turned back and said:
"Oh, right, there's something else. Uh, when I woke up groggily in the ruins yesterday, I found something there, but it's not with me right now. I forgot to bring it. I'll bring it to you next time, Your Excellency..."
Rongzhen didn't pay much attention, nodded slightly, and stopped looking at him at the door. Instead, she stared blankly at the bedding in front of her.
Just before Ouyang Rong left the ward, he saw her staring blankly into space.
With a soft sigh, he left the ward.
After leaving the house, Ouyang Rong first returned to his ward, but did not stay long. He dressed and strode out.
Outside the back gate of the medical center, a discreet carriage had been waiting for some time under the shade of the trees.
Ouyang Rong climbed into the carriage.
Inside the car, Xie Lingjiang, who was bending over to adjust the smokeless charcoal in the incense burner, immediately put down the silver tongs and gently put her arm around his.
"how's it going."
"It's alright, they shouldn't suspect anything."
Ouyang Rong gently shook his head and calmly said:
"When people are still half asleep and have just woken up, their minds are just starting to work, and they are more likely to believe the first person next to them. It's hard to resist that kind of tendency."
He was more qualified to speak on this point, after all, he had awakened twice in the Pure Land Palace and had even believed the lies of the same group of people, such as that old Taoist priest in a crane-cloak...
"That's good." He paused, then pouted, "Senior Brother is so mean."
Ouyang Rong was taking a deep breath and sitting down, supporting his back, when he heard this, his face immediately fell:
"So badly that you hurt your back?"
Xie Lingjiang's expression changed slightly. She quickly reached out and touched Ouyang Rong's waist, whispering with concern:
"Does your back still hurt, Senior Brother?"
The mere mention of this made Ouyang Rong furious; his face hardened and he gritted his teeth.
"Didn't I tell you to just kick my ass?"
"It's...it's kicking my butt. Didn't you say that a fleshy butt is more resistant to kicks?"
"It can withstand a kick but not a flying injury. You kicked so hard that it was fine if it hit the head, at least it could be faked as an injury. Who would have thought there would be an extra injury? Ugh, get a soft cushion, my back hurts from leaning against the hard backboard."
"Who knew you'd hurt your back? You're so fragile..."
Xie Lingjiang spoke weakly, but upon noticing her senior brother's wide eyes, she immediately stopped talking. Her eyes darted around, and she quickly found a small excuse, muttering something else:
"Didn't you say, didn't you say you wanted to act more convincingly? And you even made me use that kicking effect from when we first met at Sanhui Courtyard in Dagushan..."
"Senior brother, that kick was my masterpiece, hehe, I guess I'll never be able to surpass it in my lifetime."
“No, you’ve surpassed it now, that’s what you call a masterpiece.” Ouyang Rong nodded: “So you kicked your husband’s back?”
"..." Xie Lingjiang.
The atmosphere inside the car was silent, yet incredibly oppressive, especially under the senior brother's mournful gaze.
The noblewoman Xie quickly acted coquettishly, touching his waist with her small hands, clearly reluctant to let go, her face showing guilt.
"Oh dear, don't be angry anymore. Let me rub it for you, rub it a little. Does it still hurt? Hmm, good boy, senior brother..."
Ouyang Rong's expression softened slightly, but he was still not satisfied. He reached out and lifted the beauty's skirt, his palm kneading her taut, long legs. While enjoying their smooth, shapely shape, he occasionally applied a little pressure to teach her a lesson, causing Xie Lingjiang, who had buried her head in his chest, to let out a few soft snorts...
The young couple nuzzled and playfully wrestled.
Ouyang Rong withdrew his hand, regained his composure, and asked:
"Are they at the Prince's residence?"
Xie Lingjiang couldn't stand this person's habit of being irreverent one moment and serious the next.
She patted her flushed cheeks with her delicate hand, looking at him shyly, and turned to open the window a little:
"Yes. Master Lu is looking after them."
"Let's go to the Prince's Mansion. There are some things we can discuss there."
Ouyang Rong interrupted his junior sister, who was about to speak, and gave her an order.
"Okay." Xie Lingjiang nodded.
Just as the carriage started moving and Xie Lingjiang was secretly on guard against him doing something bad, Ouyang Rong, who was deep in thought, suddenly looked up.
A series of clear, crisp wooden fish sounds were ringing in his ears, and they didn't stop for a while.
Actually, the clear wooden fish sounds had already started when I was in Rongzhen's ward, but at the time I thought it was just a coincidence and assumed it might be some kind of intermittent feedback from the Longcheng Zheyi Canal or Shuangfengjian Grottoes, reflecting the well-being of the people.
But it seems that's not necessarily the case right now.
From the moment Rong Zhen woke up until now, she has gained nearly 300 merit points.
His expression was somewhat dazed.
"What's wrong, Senior Brother?" Xie Lingjiang asked with concern.
"Uh, it's nothing important."
Ouyang Rong glanced at his junior sister, who seemed like a curious child, shook his head, covered his mouth, and coughed.
Since it's about accumulating merit, there must be someone who is genuinely grateful to him.
A moment later, he glanced discreetly at the hospital and wards behind him.
Well, it was just an accidental discovery of yet another silly little thing that could actually accumulate merit points.
The last time this rare species was discovered was by my junior sister.
Looks like I'll have to come here more often these next few days.
Ouyang Rong nodded secretly.
(End of this chapter)
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