Chapter 477 The Public
"Ms. Rong is not here? Do you know where she has gone?"
"I don't know. If you have any questions, please leave a message."
"It's alright, I'll wait a bit longer. Sorry to bother you."
"Yes, Chief Secretary."
A female official left with her head bowed.
Only Ouyang Rong, looking somewhat surprised, remained outside the hall.
He looked around.
I glanced at the sun, which was already past the second quarter of the morning.
He had specially worn an orange-red sachet today, and after pacing around the porch a few times without seeing Rong Zhenren, he turned and left.
Ouyang Rong did not go to the back gate to find Ali to take a carriage. Instead, he walked out of the gate of the Supervisory Bureau and strolled around the pedestrian snack street not far away.
A short while later, he returned to the Overwatch Council, carrying a food box in his hand.
Ouyang Rong carried the food box back to the entrance of the hall, basking in the morning sun, and squinted for a while.
Soon, a familiar figure appeared in the distance, dressed in a cold, aloof palace attire.
Ouyang Rong patted his butt and got up.
"Why are you sitting on the threshold instead of coming in?" Rong Zhen frowned, glanced at her, then looked away and asked, "How long have you been waiting?"
"It's a rare treat to soak up the sun. Not long after."
Ouyang Rong shook his head.
Following Rongzhen, who was leading the way, they entered the hall and sat down.
"I had something to do this morning," she said.
"good."
Ouyang Rong nodded without asking any further questions.
However, he turned to observe the expression on the seated girl in palace attire.
I noticed that her brows were slightly furrowed, as if she were troubled.
Ouyang Rong didn't ask.
At this moment, Rongzhen glanced at the orange-red sachet at his waist, and then at the food box he was about to hand over but hesitated to hand over.
"This is?"
Ouyang Rong immediately placed the food box on the table, took out two bowls of steaming hot spicy soup, and placed them in front of the two men.
He handed me a spoon: "Come on, have some. This place has pretty good spicy soup."
Rong Zhen slightly raised her eyelids, glanced at Ouyang Rong, took the spoon, sipped her food, and said:
Offering unsolicited favors.
Stop, the next sentence was left unsaid.
Ouyang Rong remained expressionless and continued drinking his soup.
Rong Zhen remained silent for a while, then took out a slightly cooled sesame seed cake from her sleeve and handed it to Ouyang Rong.
The latter took it, broke it in half, returned one half, and took the other half.
The two worked together seamlessly to make hot soup and ate some cold pancakes.
The atmosphere between them was quiet.
"In the morning, Miaozhen went back to Xunyang."
Rongzhen put down her chopsticks, held them in front of her abdomen with both hands, and spoke softly:
"They also brought news from inside the prison in Luoyang."
"What news?" Ouyang Rong asked curiously.
Rongzhen didn't go into details, but succinctly stated:
"His Majesty is somewhat dissatisfied with the postponement of the Donglin Buddha statue project."
Ouyang Rong showed no surprise, as if he hadn't heard, and nodded with an unchanged expression:
"The latest official document from the Luoyang court allows the Donglin Buddha to be postponed, but it also urges us to shorten the construction period as soon as possible. In addition, His Majesty has sent an imperial envoy out of the capital to Jiangzhou to inspect the situation and show his understanding of the difficulties."
Rongzhen nodded, as if she already knew, and sighed softly:
"Dissatisfaction is one thing, but His Majesty knows perfectly well that Ouyang Lianghan and the Jiangzhou Grand Secretary did not do it intentionally. The situation should be true, and there are also scholars in the court speaking up, so naturally, he can only nod in agreement."
"However... the Emperor's mind is unpredictable, and he has also sent a private envoy from the palace to inspect... Ouyang Lianghan, you must take this envoy seriously."
The aloof, palace-dressed girl who had long served by the Empress's side stopped there, lowering her eyes and focusing on adjusting the cuffs of her palace dress.
Ouyang Rong said gratefully, "Thank you for your kind guidance, Lady Rong."
Rong Zhen ignored him, as if she hadn't said anything and didn't understand anything.
Ouyang Rong boldly observed her expression.
Her eyebrows, slightly furrowed and veiled in mist, gazed intently at the small patch of blue sky and white clouds peeking out from the eaves outside the hall.
"Does Lady Rong have something on her mind?"
Rong Zhen was quiet for a moment, then suddenly asked:
"I've been lax these past few days, and there's been no progress on the matter of the Butterfly Love Flower Master. The last plan failed, resulting in the loss of elite colleagues and the loss of a precious square face... It was truly my fault."
Ouyang Rong glanced at the guilty and distressed expression on her cold, pretty face.
It's rare to see this cold, aloof young woman in her palace attire reveal her true feelings in public.
"It's not the lady's fault, that scoundrel is cunning."
He paused, then asked with some concern:
"But has the Imperial Observatory issued any accountability measures?"
Rongzhen shook her head:
"There is no accountability, but the more this is the case, the more guilty I feel. These days, while recuperating, I have been thinking about it and this feeling is very strong."
"I must capture this thief myself. Regardless of past grievances, this thief is extremely adept at hiding. If he is not eliminated, he will ultimately be the biggest hidden danger affecting your construction of the Buddha statue in Jiangzhou. This is intolerable."
"Thank you for your concern, Lady Historian." Ouyang Rong was somewhat moved.
He couldn't help but sigh, rolled up his sleeves, and echoed the Lady Historian's scathing criticism:
"What a pathetic brat! What kind of skill is it to hide and run? If he's so capable, he should show his face openly and honestly in front of Lady Rong. Only then will I respect him as a true man."
"Alright, no matter how much we curse, it's useless. Let's think of a way to catch this thief as soon as possible."
Rong Zhen shook his head, muttered to himself for a moment, then turned and asked seriously:
"Ouyang Lianghan, have you found any new leads lately? Those Yue women haven't shown up since?"
"Uh, no."
As if she had anticipated this and didn't have much hope for him, she didn't criticize Ouyang Rong, but frowned and analyzed:
"The previous clues about paper, ink, and literary energy have all been cut off. We have lost that rare ink essence. Even though I am familiar with that literary energy, how can I find it in such a large city as Xunyang?"
"He doesn't seem like the kind of person who would be so stupid as to give up on himself. After the last time he set up the formation, he should already know that we have grasped his literary clues. Now he should be even more cunning and cautious."
"That makes sense."
Ouyang Rong nodded, then shook his head:
"Alas, forgive my incompetence, but even Lady Rong and the experts of the Imperial Observatory are at a loss, and I really can't think of a reason for it."
“It’s normal, Ouyang Lianghan. You don’t need to put too much pressure on yourself. If you happen to get any clues, come to me immediately. Don’t be foolish and go on your own. You’re no match for that lecherous thief. Remember that.”
"good!"
He nodded vigorously, sighed along with Rongzhen, and asked in confusion:
"However, I find it strange. Why is Lady Rong so worried that this scoundrel will jeopardize the construction of the Donglin Buddha? Could it be that our construction of the Buddha has jeopardized him in some way, making him anxious?"
"It's just a possibility."
After a vague and unclear statement, Rongzhen fell silent once again.
Ouyang Rong was used to it. After observing Rong Zhen's expression for a while, he suddenly asked:
"The Donglin Buddha is not yet completed, and you became anxious about it this morning. Is it because the Luoyang Astronomical Bureau is urging you? Or perhaps... His Majesty has also inquired about this matter?"
Rong Zhen withdrew her gaze from the scenery outside the hall and looked at the concerned expression on the young chief secretary beside her, observing him for a while.
The topic was changed—anyway, Ouyang Rong felt that it was unrelated to the previous question after listening.
"Ouyang Lianghan, although we've spent quite a bit of time together and I know some of the answers, I still have a question for you."
"Go ahead and speak. Don't be so polite with me."
"Everyone says you are a gentleman, and I am very curious. With so many things happening in Xunyang City these past few days... have you ever had any selfish motives?"
Ouyang Rong nodded without hesitation: "Yes."
"for example?"
"Could you be more specific?" he asked with a helpless shrug.
"good."
Rongzhen nodded, looking directly at him with her eyes lowered the whole time, and said:
"Take the most recent example: Jiangzhou government promoted the construction of low-rent housing in the suburbs, and then seemingly casually arranged for Huang Xuan's father, Huang Feihong, to be relocated there. Was there any ulterior motive?"
"Yes," Ouyang Rong nodded in acknowledgment.
Rong Zhen's expression remained unchanged as she continued to ask:
"Go a little further ahead, and excavate the Twin Peaks. Did you have any ulterior motives in pushing forward the construction of the Xunyang Grottoes despite all opposition?"
"Yes," he sighed.
Rongzhen then asked, "Going back a bit further, when the Zheyi Canal was first built in Longcheng to benefit the people, was there any ulterior motive?"
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Rong smiled and nodded.
"Yes, there are."
"Okay, that's very honest."
Rongzhen stared into his honest gaze for a while, then slowly asked:
"Then... what about public-spiritedness?"
"Yes." After a pause, Ouyang Rong couldn't help but add, "It can't be without."
It seemed to mean the same thing, but Rongzhen's eyes flickered with emotion. She looked away, took a deep breath, and then asked:
"Then may I ask, in these matters, was it more driven by personal interests or by public interest?"
Ouyang Rong looked directly at him calmly, not answering whether it was more or less, but instead answering with order and sequence:
"Private first, then public."
Rongzhen pursed her lips:
Who is older and who is younger?
"Private and public."
"Choose one of the two."
"Select a public official."
"Putting aside the platitudes, why?"
"Private interests may last for a time, but public interests will last forever."
Ouyang Rong spoke without hesitation, his logic clear and unambiguous:
"A moment is but one person's moment, but a thousand years is but one moment of millions of people."
"Why must one be chosen over the other in the context of public versus private matters?"
"Public and private interests are not always opposed. I believe that selfishness is the selfishness of one person, while public interest is the shared selfishness of millions of people."
"To let one's personal desires closely follow the desires of millions, and to serve the public good—that is the true meaning of being a public servant."
Rong Zhen had turned around and was looking at Ouyang Rong without anyone noticing.
She listened with a somewhat dazed expression.
There seemed to be some kind of light brewing in his eyes.
The atmosphere between the two remained silent for a while.
"Isn't there a conflict between public and private interests...? So, Ouyang Lianghan, you want to be this kind of public servant? Then... what about the private servant?"
She seemed to remember something, her tone somewhat downcast, and she asked herself a question and answered it:
"Isn't this going against the grain, using the selfish desires of one person or one family to represent the selfish desires of millions of people and families?"
Ouyang Rong nodded and said softly, "So all the people and families under heaven became her torch."
"I see."
Rongzhen stood up, bowed her head, and quietly began clearing away the empty bowls and chopsticks, whispering as she spoke:
"Take the Xunyang Grottoes and the construction of Buddha statues as an example. When His Majesty... after the court announced this project, the scholars were in uproar and there was opposition from various prefectures and regions."
“Ouyang Lianghan, you were among the first to respond to the court, and even comforted thousands of scholars at the Temple of the Sage Confucius. Is it because you think that personal feelings can coexist with public interests?”
"And all of this is based on the conditions you publicly agreed to for the people of Jiangzhou: that it would not cause hardship to the people or waste money, and that it would also help with water management and attract investment, which would be of great benefit to Jiangzhou."
Ouyang Rong nodded, then looked somewhat embarrassed and said:
"Unfortunately, this has led to the current situation where it has to be postponed, which has caused you a lot of trouble."
Rongzhen seemed not to hear and continued talking to herself:
"And then there's the matter of low-rent housing. Ouyang Lianghan, as your benefactor, putting aside Huang Xuan's ungrateful act of stabbing you that day, you must have wanted to help Huang Xuan's family before, right? But you didn't limit yourself to helping just one family out of selfishness; you wanted to expand the program to benefit thousands of households. Huang Xuan's family was just one of them... Oh, and the Zheyi Canal too..."
The girl in palace attire remained calm as she rolled up her sleeves to reveal a white bowl while clearing away the dishes and chopsticks, counting them one by one.
After listening in silence for a while, Ouyang Rong couldn't help but ask:
"That's right, pretty much the same, but... Rongzhen, from what you're saying, it seems you were too preoccupied with the distinction between personal and public interests before."
"It's not just me, it seems to be the same with everyone around me. It's as if anyone who has even a little bit of personal motives is no longer considered an impartial person. Why is that? Could you explain in detail?"
Rongzhen ignored him and did not reply.
Ouyang Rong coughed to ease the awkwardness, and after thinking for a moment, he took the initiative to speak:
"Actually, besides what you've analyzed, I have another... special reason."
"What's so special about it?" Rongzhen pressed.
"It's a bit hard to describe. How about this, you can think of it this way: doing these public affairs makes me... makes me happy and cheerful, like I've gained something."
"A happy harvest?" she muttered, frowning.
Seeing this, Ouyang Rong reorganized his words and said with a very sincere expression:
"Well... that's how it is. My mother and aunt are both Buddhists, and I'm a little bit of a believer myself. I believe that doing good deeds can accumulate merit. Yes, that's right. It's better for people to accumulate more merit. In critical moments... you might be blessed and save your life."
Ouyang Rong paused, noticing that Rong Zhen seemed somewhat speechless as she looked at him.
It's as if it's asking, "You, a Confucian scholar who reads the classics, still believe in this stuff?"
However, the current trend of great undertakings and the grand Zhou Dynasty is a convergence of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism among the common people and in the imperial court. It is normal for some people to study all three teachings simultaneously and achieve a comprehensive understanding of them...
Without thinking much, she nodded in agreement and murmured:
"The Ouyang family of Nanlong is truly a family that accumulates good deeds, and they will surely have abundant blessings."
Ouyang Rong casually replied, "Your family is the same."
Rong Zhen suddenly frowned and looked at him, her expression somewhat strange.
"What's wrong? Did I say something wrong?"
Ouyang Rong touched his face and asked curiously.
"It's nothing, thank you for your kind words. I have other matters to attend to, so I won't see you off. I'm leaving now."
After collecting all the bowls and chopsticks into the food box and stuffing it into Ouyang Rong's arms, Rong Zhen turned and left the hall.
Hearing this, Ouyang Rong stepped out of the door, against the sunlight streaming in, and coldly uttered a sentence:
"I forgot to mention earlier, there's another piece of news that Miaozhen brought this morning, besides what I've already told you."
"Is there anything else?" He frowned. "Why are you speaking in such halting sentences?"
A completely emotionless voice came from the doorway:
"After careful consideration, the Grand Master of Fate and the Director of the Astronomical Bureau selected a Lingtai Lang to be dispatched to Jiangzhou to assist me in investigating the owner of the Butterfly Love Flower and to ensure the smooth completion of the Buddha statue!"
"Lingtai Lang will accompany the Imperial Envoy... to Jiangzhou together. You should prepare accordingly."
Ouyang Rong raised his eyebrows slightly.
"Lingtai Lang?"
He couldn't help but glance at the indifferent back of the girl in palace attire as she departed.
So it seems that the lady's unhappiness this morning wasn't just because of him...
(End of this chapter)
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