Chapter 475 Whose sachet is this?
Ali was no longer surprised that his young master had a new sachet on him.
For example, right now, he saw a pale yellow sachet hanging from the young master's waist. In addition to the orange-red and lotus-white sachets that had appeared during the day, three had appeared in just one day.
Ali pretended not to see it.
The carriage stopped at the back gate of the Xunyang Prince's Mansion, and Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang went inside.
Xie Lingjiang, dressed simply as a man, followed him for a day. After bidding farewell to her senior brother, she returned to her boudoir in the Prince's mansion, changed into a traditional Chinese dress, and attended dinner.
Before they parted ways at the gallery, Ouyang Rong suddenly took out a lotus-white sachet and tied it around her slender waist.
It was the sachet she gave to Ouyang Rong.
"What is Senior Brother doing?"
"Wear it obediently, consider it a gift from me."
"You sent it?"
Ouyang Rong blinked and patted the pale yellow sachet at his waist:
"It was given to me by my elder brother. Due to cultural differences, if you don't want to wear it, it will be awkward when we go over for dinner if you don't wear anything."
"If you wear this, consider it a gift from me. I'm sure Dalang and the others will understand since we bumped into each other today."
"Alright."
Under the lantern, the graceful Xie woman, with a sachet tied around her waist, turned around and smiled faintly at him:
"Senior Brother is so thoughtful."
Ouyang Rong waved his hand dismissively.
After watching his junior sister's figure disappear from sight for a while.
He couldn't help but raise his hand and wipe the sweat from his forehead.
Ouyang Rong touched his chest.
At present, apart from the orange-red sachet given by Rong Zhen hidden in the sword box under the carriage seat.
He now has two pale yellow sachets on him.
The one that Junior Sister didn't want to wear was taken by Ouyang Rong under some pretext. Xie Lingjiang didn't care and left it with him.
While his junior sister was changing clothes and before dinner had started, Ouyang Rong turned and ran, rushing to Juxian Garden without stopping.
On the way, he didn't forget to look at the pale yellow sachet on his waist.
The image above is a simple design of mountains and flowing water.
Like the orange-red sachet Rongzhen gave it, it may not be very well embroidered, but it is very clever and knows how to play to its strengths and avoid its weaknesses.
Moreover, this sachet also has a unique charm, as it is filled with a mysterious spice from the Western Regions. The unique musk and agarwood intertwine, exuding an aura that is both elegant and alluring.
To be honest, although it wasn't as extravagant as the lotus-white sachet that his junior sister had given him, it was surprisingly in line with Ouyang Rong's taste.
If we set aside subjective feelings and only talk about personal preference, Ouyang Rong would still prefer to wear this one.
Upon arriving at Juxian Garden, Ouyang Rong encountered Li Dalang, who was all dressed up and ready to leave.
"Ahem, you're too kind, Dalang. Why have you been waiting outside? Have you been waiting long? Here, take the sachet back."
He immediately took out the pale yellow sachet from his pocket and handed it over, blinking his eyes as he spoke.
Li Dalang glared at him first, then sighed and accepted the pale yellow sachet that his sister had given him, but did not wear it immediately. Instead, he handed it to the maids who were serving him as he left.
The maid put away the pale yellow sachet, took out a purple sachet that Ouyang Rong found unfamiliar from the tray beside her, put it on the waist of a certain prince of Xunyang, and tidied his clothes.
Ouyang Rong couldn't help but ask curiously:
"You're not wearing the one your sister gave you anymore? And who gave you this one?"
Li Dalang shrugged:
"Tonight is the family dinner, and Mother has also invited Miss Qin over. This is a gift from her, and I have to wear it to the dinner. It was given to me by Mother and my sister."
"Miss Qin?"
Ouyang Rong was speechless for a moment, and exchanged a glance with Li Dalang.
He couldn't help but pat his friend on the shoulder:
"Big Brother has quite a lot of sachets today... You've had a tough time too."
Despite their mutual sympathy, Ouyang Rong's movements didn't falter; he smoothly and effortlessly slipped the extra pale yellow sachet back into place.
After all, it still needs to be returned to the junior sister.
After today's training, someone's sachet management skills have reached a state of perfection.
Li Dalang didn't pay much attention, but looked curiously at the pale yellow sachet tied around his friend's waist:
"What is my beloved going to do with the sachet that my sister gave me yesterday?"
"By the way, Miss Xie didn't give your lover a sachet today? You've been wearing your sister's all day? Didn't Miss Xie say anything to you?"
Ouyang Rong's face was stern, and his tone was serious:
“Junior Sister is different from Auntie and the others. She is gentle and generous, not petty and narrow-minded.”
Just by listening to him, you can tell he has perfect moral character.
Li Dalang leaned back slightly, then peeked behind him, only to find an empty corridor.
Li Dalang looked around and then glanced back at himself.
Miss Xie was still nowhere to be seen.
Li Dalang looked on with admiration:
"Miss Xie isn't here, yet you're still saying such nice things, sir. You're really... too cautious."
Ouyang Rong remained unmoved and countered with a question:
"What is Dalang saying? I don't understand."
"Alright, Tanlang is right." After a pause, Li Dalang turned around and dismissed the serving maids. He leaned closer and asked in a low voice:
"How about you teach me, Tanlang? Tell me how to handle these life-threatening problems. I love listening to you; you might be able to use it."
Ouyang Rong glanced at Li Dalang, who was eager to improve, and shook his head:
"No, you don't need it."
Keeping everyone in suspense, Ouyang Rong left with his hands behind his back.
"Moreover, one should not easily pass on the skills one has to make a living."
Li Dalang looked on with envy. If only he had his friend's ability to adapt to changing circumstances, he wouldn't have been manipulated so easily by his mother, sister, and blind date...
Before long, the two went to the back of the house for a meal.
Tonight's family dinner is being held in an open-air pavilion.
Besides Li Xian and Li Guo'er's family, there are also three outsiders: Ouyang Rong, Xie Lingjiang, and Qin Xiaoniangzi.
There were seven people in total.
This was Qin Xiaoniangzi's first time dining at the Prince's Mansion.
Although in name she was merely accepting the invitation from Li Guo'er and Xie Lingjiang, she was not actually engaged to the Crown Prince's wife.
However, it also clearly shows that the relationship between the Xunyang Prince's Mansion and the Qin family has become even closer.
Therefore, the Xunyang Prince's family attached great importance to this.
For example, Princess Wei Mei kept asking Qin Xiao Niangzi all sorts of questions during the banquet.
Li Dalang, on the other hand, buried himself in his rice.
Alongside him, engrossed in his meal, was Ouyang Rong.
Qin Ying answered Li Xian and Wei Mei's questions with composure.
Although it was somewhat disloyal, Ouyang Rong did feel a sense of relief at returning to obscurity tonight.
Fortunately, Li Dalang's situation diverted some of the attention, otherwise he would have been the main character.
As soon as they took their seats, Li Guo'er kept glancing at the pale yellow sachet that Ouyang Rong wore at his waist.
Then he glanced at Ouyang Rong, who was calm and collected.
Her expression remained unchanged, revealing no emotion, but at one moment she glanced slightly at Xie's older sister.
The Xie family elder sister was having a quiet meal, speaking little during the meal, only occasionally saying a few words in support of Qin Xiao Niangzi, and spending most of the time serving food to Ouyang Lianghan.
As if noticing her gaze, Xie Lingjiang looked up and responded with a slight smile, as if she didn't mind at all.
Li Guo'er also politely curved the corners of her mouth.
But he secretly thought it was strange.
Then, remembering something, she glanced at the lotus-white sachet at Xie Lingjiang's waist.
Her eyebrows, which had been perfectly composed, furrowed slightly.
Li Guo'er turned her gaze to Ouyang Rong, the man who was eating rice.
He stopped his chopsticks, which were about to pick up some food, and instead took a small cup of his mother's homemade rice wine and sipped it.
"What's wrong with Guo'er? Is she drinking alone? Is the food bad? That dish is too salty, did I put too much salt in it?"
Wei Mei, who was smiling at her future daughter-in-law, noticed this out of the corner of her eye and turned to ask with concern.
"No, it's just that I don't have a good appetite, I don't eat much."
Li Guo'er shook her head.
"That's good. Come on, come on, Tanlang, Dalang, please have more. Eat as much as you like."
Wei Mei placed a few bites of food on Ouyang Rong and Li Dalang's plates, who were focused on eating without looking to the side, and smiled at them.
An hour later, the family banquet ended.
The group bid each other a reluctant farewell.
During the latter half of the family banquet, Ouyang Rong, known for his inability to drink a thousand cups of wine, was given some more wine by Li Xian and Li Dalang.
I seem a little dizzy.
On the long corridor, Xie Lingjiang took Ouyang Rong's arm, and the two of them, along with Li Dalang and Qin Xiaoniangzi, strolled for a while on the garden path next to them.
A moment later, Li Dalang took his leave first.
Because Qin Xiaoniangzi and Xie Lingjiang were traveling the same way.
So they rode together in Ouyang Rong's carriage back to Jingyi Court.
The three of them walked towards the back door.
Xie Lingjiang kept a close eye on her senior brother's flushed face. Seeing that he was not completely sober yet, she turned to Qin Ying and asked her to look after him. She went to the stables not far away and got into the carriage to get some hangover remedies, which she always kept on hand.
Qin Ying asked with concern:
"Is Young Master Ouyang alright?"
"How could something happen if you can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk?"
“Young Master Ouyang, you’ve taken the wrong path,” she pointed.
"..."
A moment later, Qin Ying glanced at the sachet tied around Ouyang Rong's waist:
"Did Sister Xie embroider this?"
Ouyang Rong remained noncommittal, and asked somewhat drunkenly:
"The sachet that Da Lang is wearing today was also made by Qin Xiao Niangzi, it's very beautiful."
"Young Master Ouyang likes it too?"
She suddenly asked a question, while reaching into her sleeve.
Just as Ouyang Rong was about to offer his praise, Xie Lingjiang suddenly stepped down from the carriage.
She held something in her hand and calmly asked:
"Excuse me, my lord, whose sachet is this? Why is it hidden so well?"
Ouyang Rong sobered up instantly.
Upon closer inspection, it was indeed Rongzhen's orange-red sachet.
Inside the carriage behind the junior sister, a sword box appeared to have been opened.
"This sachet smells quite nice, a delicate osmanthus fragrance. The design on it is very thoughtful. Which girl embroidered it?"
Xie Lingjiang spoke in a normal tone, even with a hint of curiosity.
However, Ouyang Rong froze on the spot upon hearing this.
Sweat beaded on his forehead, and he dared not move an inch.
This prompted Qin Ying, who was standing next to him, to turn her head and look at him.
"Junior Sister, what is this?"
Ouyang Rong scratched his head curiously and asked drunkenly.
"Is Senior Brother sober yet? If not, have some hangover soup first. If you look closer, you might be able to recognize him."
Under Xie Lingjiang's calm gaze.
The sound of wooden fish drums filled Ouyang Rong's ears.
Merit decreases by one, merit decreases by one, merit decreases by one...
He swallowed hard, as if sensing something, and glanced sideways at the carriage behind Xie Lingjiang.
There's a little mole!
He betrayed him.
When her junior sister entered the carriage, the shaking of the box caught her attention.
Ouyang Rong was drunk and did not notice this subtle sensation for a short time.
"This...this is..."
Xie Lingjiang lowered her eyes and shook her head: "Alright, Senior Brother, get in the car first and take Sister Qin back..."
Qin Ying suddenly said:
"Sister Xie, you like it? Then I'll give you one another day."
"What's the meaning?"
Xie Lingjiang frowned and turned to look with the stunned Ouyang Rong.
Qin Ying didn't look at Ouyang Rong, whose eyes were wide open.
She whispered:
"This sachet... is a gift I gave to Young Master Ouyang. I asked Dalang to pass it on to him before."
The air in front of the carriage was completely silent.
Xie Lingjiang glanced at her again.
Ouyang Rong couldn't help but turn his head.
Qin Ying didn't look at Ouyang Rong, smiled slightly, explained a few words to Xie Lingjiang, and then said to Ouyang Rong:
“Young Master Ouyang, why don’t you tell us? Why did you keep it to yourself? I thought you would tell Sister Xie. Besides, even if you didn’t tell us, I was going to anyway.”
Ouyang Rong quickly cooperated and offered an explanation.
After a while, Xie Lingjiang's expression softened slightly.
The atmosphere was somewhat silent on the way back in the carriage. The two first saw Qin Ying off.
Xie Lingjiang did not return to Jingyiting with Qin Ying, and the latter did not say much, only apologizing. Xie Lingjiang quickly stopped her.
Xie Lingjiang continued to stare at the carriage and sat with Ouyang Rong for a while.
Inside the carriage, Ouyang Rong sat upright and properly.
"Speak, explain what happened."
"What do you mean, 'explain'? Isn't the item in Junior Sister's hands?"
"Do you have anything else?"
"That's all! There really isn't any left."
"Why are you hiding this gift from the Qin family's younger sister?"
Ouyang Rong, with a serious expression, scratched his head: "I'm mainly afraid..."
Xie Lingjiang then asked, "When was it delivered?"
"Didn't Dalang bring over two sachets this morning? He brought them over at the same time, and my first instinct was to hide them."
"Your first reaction? Then it's not the first time, it's become instinctive. Have you had similar experiences before?"
“That’s not quite right,” Ouyang Rong corrected seriously. “It’s precisely because it’s the first time that I had this initial reaction…”
Xie Lingjiang interrupted, "Senior Brother, do you think everyone likes you?"
"Junior Sister, I was overthinking things. It's better to avoid trouble." Ouyang Rong said apologetically.
Xie Lingjiang paused for a moment, then nodded: "Not necessarily."
"ah?"
Xie Lingjiang remained silent.
A moment later, he suddenly praised:
"There's not a trace of smell. You sure know how to hide it."
"The sword case is right here, isn't that convenient..."
"Senior Brother, do I look like the kind of person who gets jealous so easily?" she asked.
Ouyang Rong wanted to say yes, but seeing Xie Lingjiang's eyes, he shook his head firmly and definitely.
Xie Lingjiang turned her head away, not wanting to talk to him, as if she was sulking.
There was silence inside the carriage for a long while.
Ouyang Rong tried to coax her a few times, but she put on a stern face and asked again:
"As long as you tell the truth, I won't doubt you."
Ouyang Rong immediately felt guilty: "Junior Sister, I understand, actually...actually..."
Xie Lingjiang suddenly pressed his head down, leaned forward, and bit his lip with her pearly teeth.
A metallic taste immediately filled Ouyang Rong's mouth...
After being punished by her junior sister's sharp teeth, she was no longer as magnanimous as before.
Ouyang Rong quietly swallowed his words.
Xie Lingjiang pushed her away forcefully, then, remembering something, casually asked:
What were you trying to say?
"It's nothing, I just wanted to say... actually, my junior sister is a reasonable person and never gets jealous."
"That's more like it."
(End of this chapter)
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