Chapter 473 Scented Sachets for the Cold Clothes Festival
For the next few days, Xie Lingjiang came every morning.
Unless it's an important member of the Xunyang Prince's Mansion who has a trip outside the city and needs to accompany them for safety reasons, she will arrive a little later.
Perhaps he felt he hadn't spent enough time with his senior brother over the past six months and was trying to make up for it.
Xie Lingjiang, acting as a staff advisor, began to intervene in Ouyang Rong's work and life, just as she had done in Longcheng.
However, she didn't follow him every moment. For example, right now, it was morning, and Ouyang Rong was going to the Jiangzhou Procuratorate on the next street to report some materials to the resident censor and female supervisors.
Xie Lingjiang did not go with them, but waited in the main hall of Jiangzhou, agreeing to have lunch together at the Huaiye Lane residence at noon.
This has been the couple's daily routine at noon recently, making their aunt, Zhen Shuyuan, smile from ear to ear. She has been cooking for them personally for several days in a row, and most importantly, she hasn't been making black chicken, yam, and red date soup much anymore.
Sure enough, the only one who could keep Auntie in check was the junior sister, a well-bred young lady.
At the second quarter of the hour of Si (9-11 AM), Ouyang Rong arrived at the procuratorate and walked into a public hall with ease.
Rong Zhen was sitting in his seat, his fingers dipped in tea, writing and drawing something on the table.
Ouyang Rong approached.
Rong Zhen didn't lift her eyes, but swept the water stains off the table with her sleeve.
Ouyang Rong smelled a faint fragrance of osmanthus, which even overpowered the aroma of tea.
He sat down in the seat next to her and glanced at the teacup where Rong Zhen's fingers were wet; it contained osmanthus petals.
"I wasn't late today."
Rongzhen wiped her hands.
"I don't think I've ever been late."
"But they're always right on time. I imagine the lobby in Jiangzhou must be quite busy, so they need to be on time."
Ouyang Rong coughed, but didn't reply, and started talking about serious business.
However, while chatting, he kept looking around.
Rongzhen noticed this, and the stern-faced man took out an oil paper package from his sleeve and handed it over.
"You'll have to take care of your own breakfast next time. I don't have time to bring it to you every day."
Ouyang Rong didn't stand on ceremony. He opened the oil paper package, took a bite of the sesame seed cake, and mumbled:
"good."
What do you do every morning?
"I already said I'm busy."
Ouyang Rong's mouth was full of biscuits, and he spoke haltingly. Rong Zhen's lips were downturned, and she didn't want to talk to him anymore.
She has been bringing him breakfast for the past few days.
In the first few days, Rongzhen took the initiative, but later on, Ouyang Rong took it for granted. Every time he came over, he would ask if there was anything to eat, treating the place like a kitchen.
Her expression turned somewhat cold.
After finishing their business, Ouyang Rong prepared to leave and got up to go.
However, judging from Rong Zhen's silent expression, and the lack of any clear wooden fish sound in his ears, he could not hear anything.
He paused, sat back down, and poured himself a cup of tea.
Then, under the unfriendly gaze of a certain lady, he refilled her teacup.
“The osmanthus flowers are blooming again this autumn,” Ouyang Rong said with a smile.
"If you have nothing to say, you don't have to say anything."
"Yes, how could I not have anything to say? To be honest, Rongzhen, I have a lot to say as soon as I see you, but you have a stern face, so I'm too embarrassed to say it, and then I forget what I wanted to say."
"Doesn't that mean you have nothing to say?"
"No, that doesn't count." He shook his head firmly.
"On the contrary, I don't want to speak when I see you."
"That must be just like me, wanting to say it but too embarrassed to speak up, and then forgetting about it."
Rongzhen remained noncommittal, took a sip of tea, and asked in return:
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
Ouyang Rong pointed to the water stains on the table: "What are you writing?"
I won't tell you.
In the midst of this casual private conversation, Ouyang Rong suddenly revealed a sorrowful sigh and said in a melancholy tone:
"Ah, as expected of Rong Zhen, the genius of the Yin-Yang School, the innate Yin-Yang Holy Body, and known as the Little Master of Fate of the Astronomical Bureau. Lady Rong, a pitiful thick barrier has already separated us. The life-and-death friendship in Xingzifang Courtyard is now just a passing cloud."
"Alright, I understand. She's probably planning her future promotion and return to the capital. Of course, I, a mere nobody, shouldn't interfere. I'll be more than satisfied if Lady Rong can put in a good word for her with His Majesty in the future."
"What thick barrier? What nonsense are you spouting?"
Rongzhen glared at him.
Ouyang Rong asked in a serious tone:
"Tell me, isn't that right? Aren't you the Lady Rong, who can enter the sixth rank in your prime and the upper rank in your youth, with a bright future ahead? Unlike me, I can only shrink into this small Jiangzhou, working myself to the bone."
"What does this have to do with me not telling you? Can't it be that I'm in a bad mood and don't want to talk to you, but I don't mean to look down on you?"
Rongzhen put down her teacup, sat up straight, and asked in a serious and methodical manner.
Ouyang Rong suddenly realized: "So you were just in a bad mood. That's alright then, goodbye..."
"Are you alright?" Her face, which had just calmed down, immediately fell.
"Just kidding." Ouyang Rong, who had pretended to leave, sat back down and pretended to listen attentively: "You go ahead and talk, I'll listen. We're friends, you can talk about what's bothering you, so I can feel happy too... I can't be happy for a moment, um, I feel your pain."
Rong Zhen lowered her eyelids and said softly, "I'm feeling better, don't ask."
"OK."
He really didn't ask anymore, but Ouyang Rong, who had just gotten up to leave, was stopped by Rong Zhen's words:
"You only praise others, but aren't you also very promising? Such a young chief administrator is the first of its kind in this dynasty."
Ouyang Rong sighed:
"That's just a life of toil. Maybe he's a chief clerk now, and maybe in a dozen or so years, he'll end up as a chief clerk again."
Rongzhen, however, corrected him with a serious expression:
“Ouyang Lianghan, you have done very well. At least... you are the best I have ever seen. There is no need to belittle yourself.”
"Who knows, we might meet again in Luoyang next year."
"Then I'll take your good wishes."
Rong Zhen thought for a moment, then surprisingly gave the following instructions:
"Once the Donglin Buddha is completed, your contribution will definitely be enough. At that time, don't resign from your official post in the capital, understand? Ouyang Lianghan, are you listening?"
"Yes. Well, it seems we can indeed meet in the capital. The Donglin Buddha's contribution is enough for you to go back."
Rong Zhen shook her head: "I will definitely go back, but I can't say for sure when. I won't leave until I find that lecherous thief who wrote 'Butterfly Loves Flowers'."
Ouyang Rong asked calmly, "Well, what if he's not in Xunyang anymore? You can't just stay here forever, can you?"
Rong Zhen was silent for a while, then slowly nodded: "I have a premonition that this lecherous thief is still in Xunyang."
"A premonition? That's alright then, women's premonitions are usually very accurate." He nodded in agreement.
"You also trust my judgment?"
"Um."
Rongzhen turned her head, staring at his profile in a daze, and murmured:
"My female colleagues are now privately complaining about me, thinking I'm possessed, or as Buddhists would say, attached to appearances. In Luoyang, the people in the prison are also quite vocal in their opinions."
“Ouyang Lianghan, now you’re the only one who trusts me.”
Ouyang Rong sighed: "Mainly because I... really admire you. Your spirit is great. As the saying goes, there is endless joy in fighting with others. I feel that way, and I'm giving it to you as well."
"good."
She nodded emphatically, murmuring, "What endless fun!"
Ouyang Rong lowered his eyes and drank his tea, then reached out and silently poured her another cup.
The two people on either side of the tea table fell silent in tacit agreement.
After a moment, Rongzhen came to her senses, turned her head to look at the carefree and easygoing young chief secretary in front of her, and asked:
Do you know what holiday it is tomorrow?
"What festival?"
"Cold Clothes Festival".
"What festival is this?" Ouyang Rong asked curiously. "It sounds familiar."
"The Cold Clothes Festival isn't widely celebrated in Jiangnan, but it's popular among the common people in Guanzhong and the two capitals. His Majesty also loves celebrations, so every year on the Cold Clothes Festival he distributes clothing to all officials and also bestows sachets upon them in the palace..."
"oh."
Ouyang Rong said indifferently:
"No wonder, I was wondering why I didn't remember it. It turns out it's a city people's holiday... The main problem is that we don't get a day off, otherwise I would definitely remember it vividly and never forget it."
He smiled again.
Rongzhen pursed her lips, took something out of her sleeve, and tossed it onto someone's lap.
“In Luodu, during the Cold Clothes Festival, in addition to beautiful women giving clothes as gifts, some friends also exchange sachets as a way to ward off evil and pray for blessings, but they need to be worn for a whole day on that day to be effective.”
"This is……"
Ouyang Rong stared blankly at the sachet in his hand, sniffed it and found a strong osmanthus fragrance. Then he heard Rong Zhen say:
"Our group of female officials in the procuratorate are all from the capital. They haven't returned this year and have nothing to do, so they decided to make a few sachets. They picked some osmanthus blossoms in the golden autumn and put them inside. They gave me an extra one, which is just a spare. You can take it and wear it tomorrow to ward off evil."
She paused, gazing at the scenery outside, and said, "Remember, wear it for a day."
"Okay, okay."
Ouyang Rong left in a daze, carrying the osmanthus-scented sachet.
He went outside, returned to the carriage, and looked down at the sachet.
The pattern above should have been embroidered by a woman herself, stitch by stitch. It is clearly not made by the exquisite embroidery of a common shop, but by clumsy and awkward craftsmanship. It seems that it was indeed made by those female officials in their spare time.
The sachet exudes a faint fragrance of osmanthus.
"These female officials are really idle, and so is Rongzhen... Wait, do they have to wear it all day?"
Ouyang Rong realized what was happening and secretly glanced at the Jiangzhou main hall where someone was waiting.
"I have to come over again tomorrow morning... Hey, why bother with the Cold Clothes Festival? Jiangnan is so much better, without all this fancy stuff."
He quietly put the sachet away, but after thinking about it, he felt it wasn't safe, so he took out a box, put it inside, and covered up the fragrance.
After hiding the box, he immediately opened the doors and windows to let in some fresh air.
"Ali, don't go back to the main hall of Jiangzhou yet, take a stroll outside for a bit," Ouyang Rong suddenly instructed.
"Yes, Tanlang."
After the carriage circled the nearby streets twice, it felt that the smell inside the carriage had dissipated considerably before leisurely returning to the main hall of Jiangzhou.
"Um, please go and wash the carriage. Come pick me and my junior sister up at noon."
Ouyang Rong gave another instruction and then turned to enter the main hall.
In the deserted corridor, he took off his clothes and shook them, frowned and sniffed them. As he passed by the corridor, he stopped, broke off a sprig of osmanthus, and hid it in his sleeve.
"Senior Brother is back?"
"Um."
"This is……"
"This is for you."
"Why break a branch out of nowhere?"
"It smells so good, I want you to smell it too."
Looking at the serious-looking Ouyang Rong, Xie Lingjiang complained, but her body still honestly accepted the gift and took a light sniff.
A moment later, she placed it in a vase and put it on his office desk.
The two went back for lunch and went to the Xunyang Prince's Mansion for a meeting in the evening.
After dinner, everyone dispersed.
Ouyang Rong escorted Xie Lingjiang back to her courtyard.
They happened to run into Li Dalang, and the two walked together on the corridor.
As Li Dalang saw Ouyang Rong off, the former gave him some instructions:
"Tomorrow is a holiday, Lianghan will also come over for dinner tomorrow night, together with Miss Xie."
"What festival?" Ouyang Rong asked subconsciously.
"The Cold Clothes Festival, our family celebrates it every year. Oh, I remember, last year at the Su residence in Longcheng, Lianghan was still working on flood control and wasn't familiar with us."
Upon hearing the words "Cold Clothes Festival," Ouyang Rong coughed, preparing to find an excuse to politely decline his leave.
Just then, Li Guo'er suddenly arrived with Cai Shou and other maids.
"Brother, wait a moment."
She took a sachet from her sleeve and handed it to Li Dalang.
Then he glanced at Ouyang Rong again.
"Since you're here too, here's an extra one for practice. Here you go."
Li Guo'er took another one and tossed it to him, saying at the same time:
"This sachet is meant to ward off evil spirits. I put a few petals from a few withered chrysanthemums in the corner of the yard inside. Rather than sadly burying the flowers, it's better to bless the living. Hmm, come over for your mother's dinner tomorrow, and remember to wear it."
"Can A-mei also embroider and make sachets?" Li Da-lang asked curiously.
Ouyang Rong's expression changed slightly. Just as he was about to hand the sachet back, Cai Shou spoke crisply:
"Young Master Ouyang, you don't know this, but this is Miss's first time embroidering. She even made two pieces. I was wondering why she made one extra..."
“Colorful ribbon”.
Li Guo'er suddenly spoke, and the chubby-faced little girl immediately shut up.
The young woman with plum blossom makeup stared straight at Li Dalang, without glancing at Ouyang Rong.
"Practice."
She then addressed her brother:
"Clothes should be given out on the Cold Clothes Festival, but I don't know how to make clothes, so I'll give them to Mother. The sachet is simple, I just hope you won't mind it, brother."
"That's already amazing, thank you so much, sister, you're so thoughtful."
Li Dalang looked delighted.
Ouyang Rong couldn't help but glance at Li Guo'er's profile.
Surrounded by a group of maids, Li Guo'er stopped and asked Ouyang Rong before leaving:
"Was that pill effective last time?"
"Thank you so much, Princess, for saving my life. You are so kind to me."
Ouyang Rong sighed, his tone sincere:
"I owe the princess a favor."
As Lu Ya said, the elixir presented as a gift by the Jade Purity Sect Leader was indeed very precious. However, when he asked for it, a certain Plum Blossom Dress Princess gave it to him without hesitation.
Li Guo'er nodded calmly: "That's fine then. We'll skip the favor."
He turned and left.
Ouyang Rong swallowed his initial refusal, glanced down at Li Guo'er's sachet, and after a while, silently looked at Li Dalang.
My friend was happily putting on the sachet, looking like a gratified older brother who felt he hadn't spoiled his little sister for nothing.
"Lianghan, why are you looking at me like that?"
"Nothing, I just wanted to see you."
"..."
Li Dalang shrank back: "Don't do that, it's a little scary."
Ouyang Rong ignored him, turned to look at his junior sister's courtyard not far away, and suddenly asked:
"Big Brother, do they celebrate the Cold Clothes Festival in Jinling?"
"I think so too. You can ask Miss Xie and you'll know. I remember she sent a sachet to Mr. Xie in Luoyang last year."
"Understood."
He nodded.
After tying the sachet together, Li Dalang clapped his hands, left satisfied, and didn't forget to give a final word of advice:
"Remember to come over for dinner tomorrow night, my dear. Your mother should cook for you herself. You're so lucky..."
"Okay, I'll definitely be there."
As Li Dalang passed by Ouyang Rong, the latter suddenly reached out, pulled the sachet from Li Dalang's waist, and calmly put it into his bosom as if it were his own.
"Lianghan, what are you doing? Didn't you have one? Why did you steal mine?" he asked urgently.
"It's an emergency, don't ask questions."
Before his friend could ask any more questions, Ouyang Rong had already turned and slipped away.
(End of this chapter)
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