Chapter 472 Innate Yin-Yang Sacred Body?
"Could Lady Rong possess an innate Yin-Yang sacred body?"
"What is this Innate Yin-Yang Sacred Body? What is this thing?"
"It's nothing, I was just asking out of curiosity." Ouyang Rong sighed, "Ms. Rong truly deserves to be called a genius of the Yin-Yang School."
"That's true, and I'm too lazy to be modest with you."
Rong Zhenlong walked along the side corridor, where sunlight streamed through, her head slightly raised, like a swan with a long, graceful neck. Her tone was somewhat indifferent as she spoke to the person leading the way:
"The Grand Master of Fate predicted in public long ago that I, Princess Biyu, would enter the sixth rank in my prime and the upper rank in my prime."
"She's already at the sixth rank, so she's only around twenty-four when she's in her prime. How old is Lady Rong now? She probably doesn't have many years left."
She suddenly turned her head: "Why are you asking so many questions?"
"Didn't you bring it up first?"
“But I didn’t ask you to.” Rong Zhen lowered her eyelids.
"..."
"Are you so eager to know about my private affairs?" she asked again.
"No, no, I was just asking casually. I didn't mean to pry into your privacy. Please don't mind."
"Just a casual question is fine." Rong Zhen turned her face away, looking at the scenery outside the corridor, and said coldly, "Lead the way."
"Alright. Lady Rong, this way... Oh, how did you end up ahead of me? I was the one leading the way..."
Ouyang Rong made perfunctory remarks, but occasionally glanced back secretly at the direction of the main hall behind him.
He wasn't lying; he was just casually asking questions following Rongzhen's lead, but he didn't expect her attitude to be so bad, which killed the conversation.
Ouyang Rong was leading Rong Zhen, whose words were as cold and thorny as a white rose, toward the back gate stable.
Perhaps it was because they saw Ouyang Rong's honest and sincere attitude in personally leading the way, or perhaps they caught a glimpse of him opening the oil paper package and munching on the pancake as he walked.
The cold, aloof girl, who had casually bought an extra pancake today, softened her expression slightly, though her tone remained harsh:
“Ouyang Lianghan, if I’m disturbing your business, you can just say so. There’s no need to patiently accompany you. Being polite but delaying official business is not good for anyone. I’m easy to talk to and not an unreasonable person.”
She, who was usually very easy to talk to, slightly raised her lowered eyelids and said:
"Okay, you can take the cakes back to the main hall to eat. I'll just say something at the gate and leave."
"No, I'm not busy. I just went out. Haha, I'm going to the Ministry of Personnel to take care of something. It's not urgent. You can tell me if you have something to say first. I'm just going to grab a bite to fill my stomach. This morning, my aunt was nagging me so I forgot to eat."
"But you keep turning around, what are you looking at?"
"Watching the road."
"Is the road ahead?"
"Isn't this because you're afraid of going the wrong way? This is called looking ahead and behind."
"Isn't this a derogatory term?"
“When you actually start walking, that’s an advantage. Unlike doing things, when you walk, you have to look ahead and behind so you don’t get lost.”
"Oh, really?"
She paused, then said softly:
"I thought you were embarrassed by me visiting you every day and being addressed by my full name in front of your subordinates, so you went out to stop me and send me away."
"Ms. Rong is overthinking it. A name is meant to be called. The fact that you can call me by my name shows that you're not being distant and that you consider me one of your own."
"Then when you call me 'Empress,' isn't it still a respectful title for a lady-in-waiting?"
Ouyang Rong was embarrassed; even with high emotional intelligence, he couldn't withstand such a low-EQ attack.
"Um, then from now on... I'll just call you Rongzhen in private?"
"what ever."
Rongzhen neither confirmed nor denied this, and walked at the front with her sleeves covered.
Ouyang Rong ate most of the pancake, and then wrapped the rest in oil paper and quietly stuffed it into his pocket.
His mouth was covered in grease, and he subconsciously reached into his pocket, looking for a handkerchief.
Rong Zhen kept her eyes straight ahead and took a few steps, but he still hadn't taken it out. She then subtly reached her hands inside her sleeves.
Just as he was about to pull it out, the young man, who had forgotten to bring a handkerchief, suddenly raised his hand and hastily wiped the corner of his mouth with the cuff of his crimson official robe with black trim. He then turned to the cold, aloof girl in palace attire and gave her an embarrassed smile.
"Coincidentally, I didn't see Yuan Huaimin in his seat just now. I don't need to guess where he went."
“Rongzhen, weren’t you curious about why I’m so familiar with this path? Come on, I’ll take you to the stables to check on the guards.”
"Checking the stables?" Rong Zhen asked curiously. "You, the Prefect of Jiangzhou, are in charge of the stables?"
Below, the hands hidden in the sleeves pulled back slightly.
Ouyang Rong seemed not to have seen it, smiled, and led Rong Zhen to the stable.
Upon arrival, he saw the new stableman, Ali, standing helplessly outside the stable with a green official robe hanging on his arm. When he saw Ouyang Rong arrive, he looked at him as if he had seen a savior and immediately pointed into the stable.
Ouyang Rong waved his hand at him, indicating that it was alright.
He peeked out.
Sure enough, in front of Dongmei's feeding trough in the stable, there was a familiar figure with its rear end sticking out.
Anyone who didn't know better would think he was fighting with Dongmei for food.
"What is Yuan Sima doing?"
Rong Zhen asked with a frown.
Ouyang Rong didn't answer, nor did he bother with any more words, and immediately kicked the buttocks.
"Still standing there? You're almost late. You always arrive just in time, don't you? You never learn even after having your salary docked. I've told you so many times, you're not allowed to wander around or do anything unrelated to official duties during your shift."
"Ouch... Brother Lianghan, can you be a little more civilized? You can't just kick a man's butt like that, it's right in front of him!"
"Really? It feels like your ass is connected to your brain."
Yuan Huaimin awkwardly got up, supporting his back, but his attitude remained firm:
"Brother Lianghan, I must say this, but I really can't stand seeing Dongmei being raised so carelessly by you all."
"Tell me, how can such a fine steed be used for such dirty and physically demanding work as pulling a cart? It's a waste of a horse's life and a great sin in the world."
"If it won't come, why don't you come? Why don't you pull me away?"
Ouyang Rong looked displeased.
"It seems to be having a good time. It's already fat, so pulling the cart can help it get some exercise. On the contrary, you old rascal, you come here to bother it every day."
“You said you were feeding it, and you are feeding it with the fodder I bought. You're just using my money to feed it, and you didn't spend a penny of your own money. But why are you touching its butt like that? If I were Dongmei, I would kick you too.”
“Let me tell you, Yuan Huaimin, you better watch out. When I came in just now, Dongmei was already very impatient with you. She’s straightforward, and she can’t hide the look in her eyes when she wants to kick someone. If Rong Nushi and I had come any later, you would have been getting kicked in the backside.”
Yuan Huaimin, still stubbornly insisting, said:
“Brother Lianghan, you are mistaken. I have spent many days with Dongmei and we have a deep bond. Even crows have the instinct to feed their parents. How could it possibly hurt me? How could it bear to hurt me? I have said before that Dongmei is a kind horse. Alas, it is a pity that she has encountered bad people…”
Seeing someone roll up their sleeves, Yuan Huaimin immediately stopped talking and changed his words:
"Although Brother Lianghan bought all the horse feed, he was a bit too stingy and not as generous as I am. Dongmei will definitely remember my kindness in secret."
"Besides, it's autumn now, so the horses should eat more. This is called gaining weight for winter, so they won't be skinny horses in winter. What the hell is dieting and weight loss? Brother Lianghan, do you really think of it as a human being?"
Ouyang Rong nodded:
Whether it's human or not, I don't know. But you're definitely not human.
Yuan Huaimin's expression was serious:
“Brother Lianghan, listen to me. This way of raising horses is wrong. They need to fatten up in the autumn and not starve them through the winter. This is cruelty to horses… I like to tell the truth.”
Ouyang Rong, expressionless, walked over to shoo the person away.
"If one day I see Yuan Sima lying stiffly on the ground in the stable, his whole body would probably be limp, but his mouth would still be stubborn."
Rongzhen listened with some curiosity to the two lively characters chatting away in the stable.
Immediately, it was seen that Yuan Huaimin had been chased out, took the green official coat from Ali's hand, and fled in a disheveled state.
"Wait, stop."
Ouyang Rong walked out of the stable, dusted off his sleeves, and scolded.
Yuan Huaimin reacted instinctively and actually stopped.
But with Rongzhen by his side today, he seemed to feel ashamed and stood there awkwardly. However, the next second, a package of oil paper was thrown into his arms.
“This is…” Yuan Huaimin was stunned.
"Here you go. You sneaked over early in the morning, only remembering to feed the horses, but you don't eat yourself, huh?"
“Lianghan…”
The half-eaten pancake was still warm, and his voice was slightly choked with emotion.
My friend is cold on the outside but warm on the inside.
"Stop being so mushy, go back. Be on time. Also, remember not to mention the cakes to anyone in the lobby, especially not to mention me or Lady Rong. That's a matter of discipline."
Ouyang Rong gave instructions.
"Okay, okay."
Yuan Huaimin nodded gratefully and prepared to leave, but suddenly realized something, turned back and asked in surprise:
"Isn't Lianghan going back? What are you doing here? And Lady Historian, by the way, what are you two doing here...? Aren't we not allowed to wander around or do anything unrelated to official duties during our shifts?"
He finally realized what was happening and looked at the two of them and the pancake in his hand with a suspicious expression.
Ouyang Rong's face hardened:
"We're here to catch you. If we don't find you soon, you'll be late. If it weren't for our concern, who would care about you? You're such a worry."
"Alright, I have some things to discuss with Lady Rong, and these are important matters. You should go back to your shift and stop dawdling."
"Oh, okay. Brother Lianghan is truly a loyal friend, a true friend of mine."
Yuan Huaimin didn't think much of it, and left with the leftover hot pancakes that someone had eaten, his face full of gratitude.
After he left, Ouyang Rong turned and glanced at Rong Zhen, then went to the carriage and retrieved a food box.
"You weren't angry that you gave the pancakes you bought to someone else, were you? Actually, I was already full, so I left some..."
"It doesn't matter who eats it."
Rong Zhen pouted and said again:
“You and Yuan Sima have a good relationship. He’s not even angry that you kicked him like that.”
"It's alright. Here, take it."
"This is……"
Ouyang Rong said calmly:
"Since you treated me to breakfast, I should reciprocate with something. I made some fresh chicken soup, and since you seemed to enjoy it, I stewed some more."
Rongzhen pursed her lips.
"But when you were making soup, you didn't know that I would be buying you cakes this morning."
"They're all the same."
Ouyang Rong looked puzzled.
Are they the same?
"Aren't they the same?"
"Okay, same thing."
Rongzhen silently accepted the food box without saying anything more.
The two began discussing serious matters, but Ouyang Rong noticed that Rong Zhen's previously somewhat stiff tone had softened.
Meanwhile, he could hear the clear sound of a small wooden fish from time to time.
Ouyang Rong breathed a slight sigh of relief.
This is a new gift of merit, we can't afford to offend it.
A short while later, after finishing their business, before leaving, Ouyang Rong suddenly called out to the cold, palace-dressed girl:
"Rongzhen, don't come here in the mornings anymore."
"Oh, okay, why didn't you say so earlier? There was no need to do so much buildup."
She nodded and handed the chicken soup back directly.
Ouyang Rong shook his head:
"No, what I mean is that it's inconvenient for you to come here, and it's also against the rules. You have more authority, so I should be the one to come to you in person."
He stroked his chin and offered a sincere suggestion:
"How about this, if you have something to say, don't come over suddenly. I'll... I'll take some time each morning to come see you, and then we can talk."
Rongzhen suddenly stared at his expression without saying a word.
Ouyang Rong touched his face. "Is there something on my face?"
"what ever."
Rongzhen suddenly turned and left, but she took the box of chicken soup with her.
Before leaving, he left behind a sentence:
"At 4:30 AM, the Control Yuan will be waiting for you."
"Okay."
Ouyang Rong agreed, and then noticed that the sound of the wooden fish in his ear had become even louder.
Huh, it's gone up again?
He glanced at Rongzhen's departing figure, then at Ali, who was obediently feeding the horses in the distance, as if he hadn't heard anything.
Finally done!
Ouyang Rong breathed a sigh of relief and left satisfied.
However, he did not immediately return to the main hall, but instead went to get a pass for his junior sister.
They brought it back to the main hall and handed it to their junior sister.
"Why is Senior Brother back so late? Does it take this long to get a certificate?"
"I went to the stable to add some hay for Dongmei."
Ouyang Rong said in a serious tone:
"Junior sister, you may not know this, but Dongmei has been working very hard pulling the cart lately. She needs to eat more and gain some weight for winter so she won't become a skinny horse in winter."
Yuan Huaimin, who had arrived not far away and was quietly eating a pancake to replenish his energy, couldn't help but look up at the back of a good friend across from him.
Ouyang Rong sat down next to Xie Lingjiang and carefully helped her organize her things.
"I see." Xie Lingjiang smiled faintly, took out a handkerchief, and wiped the sweat from his neck. "No wonder you're sweating so much."
Xie Lingjiang sniffed the air, pointed to the cuff of his outstretched hand, and frowned slightly:
"But why are there so many oil stains on your sleeves?"
“Sima Yuan bought a cake, and when he saw me, he shared half with me. It wasn’t easy to refuse,” he sighed.
“Oh, next time you’re hungry, just tell me and I’ll bring you some. We shouldn’t eat other people’s food indiscriminately, and street vendors’ pancakes aren’t hygienic either. Friends are friends, but don’t follow his example,” she said with concern.
"Alright. Brother Huaimin is actually feeling guilty, afraid that I'll remember him for being late. Hey, it doesn't really matter whether you bring the cakes or not, I'm not an unreasonable person."
Ouyang Rong frowned and sighed:
"I've told him many times that eating is not allowed during official business hours. Oh well, let him be. He's had a tough time too."
"Senior Brother, you're such a kind person," Xie Lingjiang exclaimed.
“…??” Yuan Huaimin.
Ouyang Rong didn't look at his friend behind him, whose eyes were filled with sorrow, and carefully gave him instructions:
"By the way, junior sister, I'm going to Xunyang Ferry later. Pack your things and come with me. Now that you're back as a staff member, you'll be staying close by most of the time. Don't waste any time, understand?"
"Okay, I understand. I'll do whatever you say. You go about your business and don't let me bother you. I'm just checking in to help you out..."
"I'm not bothering you at all. I'd be delighted if you could come and help, but I still need to do my job as a staff member well and not let anyone gossip. I need to follow the rules. For example, there are some things that need to be reported to superiors, but it's not really convenient to bring staff along, so, junior sister..."
"Don't worry, I understand. I'll be by your side when things are fine. If you have something important to say, just let me know. I'm not an unreasonable woman."
She waved her hand tolerantly and said softly.
"With a junior sister like this, what more could a senior brother ask for?" Ouyang Rong sighed.
The two students whispered to each other, occasionally laughing and joking.
Yuan Huaimin, sitting opposite him, looked down at the half-eaten pancake under the table and suddenly felt that he wasn't the only one who wasn't human.
(End of this chapter)
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