Chapter 454 Huang Xuan's Choice
Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang arrived at the Xunyang Prince's Mansion.
They walked deeper into the Prince's mansion.
They stopped in front of a rockery garden with shimmering blue water and turned into a dense grove.
Walking through the garden path, a brand-new study comes into view, as if it were coming right in front of you.
At the same time, it gives people a sense of unexpected hope or relief.
It is the newly renovated Juxianyuan Study, the place where Dalang studied.
Like the study of the Prince of Xunyang, this place where the heir of the Prince of Xunyang studies is usually off-limits to the maids and servants of the Prince's mansion.
Ouyang Rong is naturally not included in this category.
When he arrived at the entrance of Juxian Study, Li Dalang was pacing along the corridor, holding a book in his hands.
Upon seeing Ouyang Rong, Li Dalang put down his book and greeted him with a smile:
"Why did you take so long, my love? Um, what happened to the injury on your head?"
Ouyang Rong waved his hand, "I bumped into it by accident this morning, let's not talk about it. Why is Dalang outside?"
Li Dalang laughed and said:
"The study was given to Master Lu and Miss Huang Xuan. Master Lu seemed to have something to say."
Ouyang Rong turned around and glanced at Xie Lingjiang.
The two exchanged a glance.
Xie Lingjiang smiled faintly, her expression calm.
As if hearing the commotion outside, the study door opened, and Lu Ya and Huang Xuan came out.
Ouyang Rong didn't ask what they talked about, but instead asked directly:
"How is Miss Miaosi?"
Huang Xuan looked tense and turned to look at the expressionless young man in the Taoist robe beside her.
Ouyang Rong, Xie Lingjiang, and others also turned their gazes in that direction.
Lu Ya shook his head and glanced back at the room next door.
In the next room, on a sickbed, lay a small figure, unconscious.
Li Dalang sighed:
"He's still not awake. Master Lu just went to check on him and said we should talk again when Tanlang arrives."
A look of worry appeared in Ouyang Rong's eyes.
He had previously heard Lu Ya say that Xiao Mo Jing was severely injured and fell into a coma because someone had used Fang Xiangmian's power to call out her true name.
The true names of spirits and monsters cannot be called out casually.
In particular, it involved the use of forbidden items, which violated taboos.
Facing the gazes of the crowd, Lu Ya waved his hand:
"We'll talk about it later. There's no rush for treatment. By the way, I just had an important conversation with Miss Huang Xuan."
"What's so important?"
"This humble Taoist priest wishes to formally invite Miss Huang Xuan to join the sect of Shangqing Maoshan. I was sent down the mountain to take on disciples on my master's dying wish, but Miss Huang Xuan said..."
"What did you say?" Ouyang Rong asked.
Before Lu Ya could speak, Huang Xuan lowered her head and whispered:
"My brilliant ideas are not here. I would like to hear the opinion of Chief Secretary. I trust Chief Secretary's... judgment."
Upon hearing this, Xie Lingjiang couldn't help but glance at the little girl in the red coat.
However, she wasn't unhappy; instead, she smiled sweetly and gently rubbed Huang Xuan's forehead.
“If you choose the Confucian school, I will recommend you and write a letter to introduce you to the White Deer Grotto Academy, or you can go to my father’s place, who is also the teacher of your Chief Secretary, and study under him.”
After thinking for a moment, she added:
"If you really don't want to leave Jiangzhou, you can directly become my disciple and follow me to study and practice Qi. That way, you can see your senior brother every day, and he can teach you."
"Senior Brother, don't you think so?"
Lu Ya noticed Huang Xuan's expression of interest, which was completely different from her almost calm reaction when he made the promise that "Yuan Xuanzi" was of extremely high seniority and might succeed the position of the Shangqing Sect Leader in her lifetime.
Lu Ya sighed and muttered, "We arrived the earliest, but ended up being late..."
Unexpectedly, Ouyang Rong did not respond to Xie Lingjiang's words, nor did he stand up for her. Instead, he suddenly spoke:
"I'd like to say a few words. Let's go inside and talk." He turned and instructed, "Miss Huang Xuan, you stay outside and wait with His Highness."
With that, he led the way into the study.
"oh oh."
Huang Xuan nodded vigorously, then watched with curiosity as Ouyang Rong, Xie Lingjiang, and Lu Ya rejoined the army.
Are you hungry?
Outside the door, Li Dalang handed a plate of snacks to Huang Xuan.
Huang Xuan shook her head, looked around, and went to the next bed to visit Miao Si.
Yesterday, it seems that the Chief Secretary, with the help of a magic array left by the Qi cultivators of the Imperial Observatory, escaped from the encirclement of the blonde older sister and her companions.
They were teleported by earth magic to a dilapidated temple outside the city.
If the estimate is correct, the distance to Huang Xuan's collapsed home is about 180 miles.
Perhaps because they didn't carry that snow-white longsword, their whereabouts were not subsequently discovered.
Huang Xuan and the unconscious Miao Si were also secretly brought to the Xunyang Prince's Mansion by the Chief Secretary, and stayed there for one night.
Miao Si is still seriously injured and unconscious. Originally, Huang Xuan had no intention of leaving Xunyang City or her father's side.
However, everyone told her that after the Lady Rongzhen woke up, she would likely search her. It didn't matter that her father didn't know anything, but if she was caught, he would inevitably interrogate her about the owner of the Butterfly Love Flower and the specific truth of what happened that day. The Lady Rongzhen's dedication to investigating the case was indeed evident to all.
Moreover, it wasn't just because of Rongzhen; even without Rongzhen, there could have been someone else.
If she stays in Xunyang City, not only will her innocent and bright eyes attract unwanted attention, but it may even affect the Chief Secretary's benefactor.
This becomes the latter's weakness.
Because it allows us to see the "truth" hidden behind his mask.
Countless people are greedy for those bright, expressive eyes.
Huang Xuan knew that this was evidence of her whereabouts, so going out to avoid trouble and hiding was the most rational choice at the moment, at least to prevent that Lady Rongzhen from finding her easily.
So even though she didn't want to leave Xunyang, where she was born and raised, Huang Xuan still had to leave, but where to go became a difficult problem.
Soon, the meeting in the study adjourned, and Ouyang Rong and the other two came out one after another.
Huang Xuan had no idea what Ouyang Rong, Xie Lingjiang, and Lu Ya had talked about.
However, after leaving the house, the expressionless young man in the Taoist robe seemed quite surprised, glancing at Ouyang Rong from time to time.
As for the smiling noblewoman, her face was tense, her eyes were calm, and she occasionally glanced at someone.
Huang Xuan tilted her head slightly, looking at Ouyang Rong in the middle. She saw him point to the two people beside him, his voice gentle:
"Xiao Xuan, I consulted Master Lu and Junior Sister, and learned about the conditions they can offer for accepting disciples. Their arrangements are actually quite good; they are all treating you as a key disciple to be cultivated."
"In addition, there is one more thing I need to clarify, so that you won't misunderstand."
“If Xiaoxuan chooses the Confucian school, she can’t stay with her junior sister all the time. She has to go to the academy or to my mentor Xie Xun’s place. This is for safety reasons.”
Ouyang Rong smiled and nodded slightly:
"Both are good choices, I'm at ease with them. It's up to Miss Huang Xuan to choose, or you can go back and ask your father."
Lu Ya quickly replied, "Indeed, we should ask Brother Huang. Miss Huang should listen to her family's opinion."
Xie Lingjiang said gently:
“Miss Huang, if you join Bailudong Academy, you will be a junior disciple of me and my senior brother. This will not only make it easier to mentor and take care of you, but also allow us to stay in touch even after leaving Xunyang City, since Bailudong is not far from Xunyang City.”
She couldn't help but glance at Huang Xuan's black, pearl-like eyes again, seemingly quite fond of them.
Lu Ya turned to look at Xie Lingjiang.
Xie Lingjiang smiled but didn't look at him.
Lu Ya immediately explained:
“If Miss Huang misses her father or Prefect Ouyang, she can send a letter. We, the Three Pure Ones and the Three Mountains, are one, and we can share the same post station. As long as we are in the Jiangnan region, sending a letter is not difficult.”
It was as if they hadn't noticed the open and covert struggle between the two.
Ouyang Rong nodded and said softly:
“Master Lu is right. Whether you are a Confucian or a Taoist, you can send letters back and visit occasionally. It shouldn’t be the deciding factor in your choices.”
Lu Ya breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Xie Lingjiang glared at her senior brother.
The latter, however, remained aloof and detached.
Huang Xuan glanced at the handsome chief secretary in front of her who was always thinking of her.
After a short while, he looked away.
She hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Did Chief Secretary Benefactor also study under Sister Xie's father before?"
Ouyang Rong nodded: "Yes, I benefited greatly from that experience."
Upon hearing this, Xie Lingjiang's eyes lit up slightly, and she pressed her advantage:
“That’s right. Father is a famous teacher. Xiaoxuan can come and be our junior sister. Senior brother is our role model.”
The little girl in the red coat couldn't help but look at Ouyang Rong. The expressionless young man next to her noticed that there was undisguised admiration and complex emotions in the little girl's eyes.
Although Lu Ya sighed inwardly, she thought to herself that if she were also a poor girl, and she met a gentle and handsome man like Chief Secretary Ouyang, she would also be unforgettable.
Ouyang Rong pursed his lips:
“Miss Huang Xuan, choose according to your heart, and don’t worry too much.”
After speaking, Ouyang Rong then suggested to his companions on either side:
"How about Junior Sister and Master Lu each have a few words with Miss Huang?"
Xie Lingjiang and Lu Ya immediately agreed, each bringing Huang Xuan into the house for a chat.
Huang Xuan's mind was in a mess this morning after what happened yesterday.
She didn't even know what she was thinking.
She just felt that her whole life had been disrupted, and her next decision, choosing where to practice Qi cultivation, would affect her future.
This is a choice that will affect your entire life.
Huang Xuan really wanted to hear the Chief Secretary's opinion, but the Chief Secretary did not try to control her or exert any influence. Instead, after stating the pros and cons, he handed the initiative over to her.
It's as if they're not worried at all about her being young and immature, but rather treat her like an adult.
This trust also put some pressure on Huang Xuan.
She followed Xie Lingjiang and Lu Ya into the house, and was somewhat dazed the whole time.
Huang Xuan didn't quite catch what the two of them said, what preferential treatment they offered, or what they promised in terms of Qi cultivation resources and future prospects.
After their somewhat distracted conversation, the little girl in the red coat suddenly turned to Ouyang Rong and said as she walked out the door:
"My Lord Chief Secretary, is there anything you want to say to me?"
Ouyang Rong was taken aback. He wanted to shake his head, but then stopped:
"Well then, whatever you choose, I'll give you a piece of advice."
“Please speak, my benefactor,” she said earnestly.
Ouyang Rong looked into her innocent and carefree eyes:
"One cannot become a mature person without experiencing poverty, and one will remain naive without experiencing setbacks."
Huang Xuan lowered her head and chewed.
He bent down, patted her head, and whispered:
"Xiaoxuan, no matter where you go in the future, look back often, look at the very beginning, and never forget your original aspirations."
Just as Huang Xuan hesitated to speak, Lu Ya suddenly turned his head and gestured to Ouyang Rong with his eyes towards the ward next door.
Ouyang Rong nodded, said nothing more, turned and walked towards the ward to visit the unconscious young woman in Confucian robes.
Xie Lingjiang followed suit, but with a stern face, she stared at the back of the person who was too fair and had ruined her plans.
Intentionally or unintentionally, Lu Ya lagged behind, only stepping forward after Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang had both entered the room.
However, as he passed by Huang Xuan, this expressionless young man in a Taoist robe suddenly uttered a sentence:
“Miss Huang, Chief Secretary Ouyang already has a junior sister. When you go there, you will indeed be a junior sister, but you will not be his junior sister. You will be... Miss Xie’s junior sister.”
Upon hearing this, Li Dalang, who was reading and listening nearby, was puzzled.
Huang Xuan, who had been looking down and struggling with her thoughts, raised her head, glanced at Lu Ya, and then followed the gaze of the expressionless young man in the Taoist robe towards the ward.
As soon as the gentle Xie family lady entered the room, she quickly approached the Chief Steward and stood beside him. She seemed to secretly reach out from her sleeve, causing the Chief Steward to gasp and straighten his back. The Xie family lady gave a soft groan and turned her head away. The Chief Steward seemed to lower his voice and plead for forgiveness in her ear. The Xie family lady, whose face had turned cold for some unknown reason, glared at him reproachfully…
The sight of the two senior and junior disciples playfully teasing each other was immediately noticed by Huang Xuan and Lu Ya.
After saying that, Lu Ya acted as if nothing had happened, left Huang Xuan's side, and strode into the ward.
Huang Xuan was left standing alone at the door, lost in thought.
Inside the room, Ouyang Rong was bending over to examine Miao Si's condition.
"Prefect Ouyang, let's talk over here."
"good."
Lu Ya led Ouyang Rong aside, seemingly to discuss something.
It seemed to be about the injuries of the unconscious Xiao Mo Jing, and Ouyang Rong's expression gradually became more serious.
On the other side, Xie Lingjiang seized the opportunity, turned around and left the ward, came to Huang Xuan's side, and chatted with her in a relaxed tone.
Huang Xuan responded with a smile.
And so, there was one big sister and one small sister, a gentle older sister and a well-behaved younger sister.
The two women got along quite well.
But at one moment, the obedient little girl in the red coat turned her head and glanced at the profile of the confident and talkative Miss Xie beside her.
His eyes seemed to be lost in thought.
"Thank you, Sister Xie."
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
"You...you are such a kind person. Why is there such a gentle and outstanding woman like you in this world?"
"You flatter me. But our Bailudong Academy is indeed a great place for teaching and nurturing people. After you go there, study hard and become our junior sister. You can achieve the same."
Xie Lingjiang stroked her chin thoughtfully for a moment, then said sincerely:
"But you are better than your older sister. You have encountered a rare ink spirit at such a young age. You are very talented. Who knows, you may become a famous talented woman in the future. You are amazing."
Huang Xuan lowered her head slightly, rubbed her bright eyes hard, and whispered:
"Yeah……"
Xie Lingjiang nodded affirmatively:
"Yeah, I'd be a dog if I lied to your senior brother!"
The little girl in the red coat suddenly looked up and smiled at her.
"Understood, Sister Xie."
(End of this chapter)
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