Chapter 483 The Feeling of a Bad Guy
Although what Li Dalang said about "health-preserving tea ceremony" is not bad.
However, when he brought Ouyang Rong, Qin Ying, and Lin Cheng to Yunshui Pavilion, he certainly couldn't actually order the special health-preserving tea ceremony on the third floor.
It's just about renting a private room to have afternoon tea, chat, and get to know each other better.
I don't order certain special tea ceremony services.
This is probably why Qin Ying tacitly allowed Li Dalang to come to Yunshui Pavilion, since it was the "improper place" that Xie Lingjiang mentioned.
Putting aside some of the less serious remarks, the decor on the third floor of Yunshui Pavilion is indeed outstanding.
It imitates a garden landscape, with corridors covered with Persian carpets and the air filled with the sandalwood scent of ancient temples. The two most luxurious private rooms also have ponds and artificial hills covered with pebbles, as well as small waterwheels that leisurely scoop water.
It's probably the best teahouse in the entire Xunyang City right now. It doesn't show off much on weekdays, and its decorations are probably only better than those of Xunyanglou, a famous restaurant in Jiangnan.
Li Dalang and Qin Ying, who were hosting the dinner, didn't actually have much to talk about with Lin Cheng.
It was just a few polite greetings, followed by a brief chat about the shared memory of Luoyang, a thousand miles away.
Lin Cheng praised General Qin again, and Qin Ying responded politely and generously.
The most important thing is the attitude that Li Dalang and Qin Ying express today.
An hour later, after the tea was finished, everyone left the private room and said goodbye on the stairs.
"This building is elegant and quite nice. The young master and Lady Qin really know how to choose a place."
"You flatter me. Lin Lingtai, you can come here often. I highly recommend their health-preserving tea."
With Qin Ying by his side, Li Dalang immediately changed his tune.
"good."
Lin Cheng nodded seriously, glanced at Ouyang Rong who hadn't said much the whole time, smiled, and asked:
"Will Chief Secretary Ouyang come back to Xunyangfang together?"
"No need, Lin Lingtai, you should go back first. I have some things to discuss with Tanlang."
As soon as Li Dalang finished speaking, Qin Ying nodded, seemingly casually saying:
"I also have something to discuss with Young Master Ouyang, regarding the Xunyang Grottoes."
"Xunyang Grottoes?"
Lin Cheng stopped in his tracks, asking with a curious expression:
"Young Lady Qin is interested in this? Could it be that you are a Buddhist? But your attire..."
In front of everyone, Qin Ying nodded, then shook her head:
"Mainly because my grandfather trusts and also has great faith in Young Master Ouyang. For the construction of the Xunyang Grottoes, my grandfather had the family donate some money. I stayed in Xunyang City partly to coordinate this matter, so naturally I have to ask Young Master Ouyang about some things. My grandfather is also quite concerned about it. Young Master Ouyang, don't you agree?"
Faced with Qin Ying's smiling gaze and words from the platform, Ouyang Rong could only nod slightly.
"I see."
Lin Cheng couldn't help but glance at Ouyang Rong again.
A moment later, as he reached the doorway, Lin Cheng glanced back at Li Dalang and Qin Ying, who stood side by side, seemingly a couple, and smiled slightly, saying:
"Then I won't disturb you two any longer. I'll take my leave now."
Take care.
After watching the slightly chubby young man leave, Li Dalang withdrew his gaze.
Why isn't Tanlang saying anything?
"Next time you do something like this, it would be better if you told me first."
"Is Tanlang angry?"
"Not really."
Li Dalang shook his head: "Tanlang is just unhappy."
Qin Ying thought for a moment, then said softly:
“Young Master Ouyang, it’s not wrong for you to handle things officially and resolve them yourself; in fact, it’s quite admirable.”
"You know more about the Xunyang Grottoes, but Fusu and I probably know more about Lin Cheng and his group from Luoyang than you do."
"Although I don't know this Lin Cheng very well, I've heard that he comes from a bad background and climbed his way up in the Imperial Observatory. He's obviously not a good guy and has a lot of ambition. He might also like to play dumb to take advantage of others."
“Auntie once told me that when dealing with someone who has climbed up from the bottom, being humble, modest, and sincere is not very useful. Instead, you are more likely to be taken advantage of. You have to show your strength and bare your fangs as soon as you meet them in order to gain their respect and avoid making unnecessary misjudgments or offenses. This is the right way to get along.”
Qin Ying whispered a reminder:
"Therefore, it is more effective for Young Master Ouyang to directly demonstrate his strength and connections than to receive him in a formal, official manner and to say a lot of persuasive and reasoned words."
"Regarding the postponement, no matter how reasonable we are, we must have the strength to guarantee that 'reason' and prevent others from having ulterior motives."
"Lin Cheng is a smart man. Now that he knows that Young Master Ouyang is not alone and that he is not someone to be trifled with, he will know what to say and what not to say when he returns to Luoyang."
“Miss Qin is right, that’s what I think too.”
When Qin Ying spoke, Li Dalang replied:
"My sister said that the two key figures sent by Luoyang for this inspection should be dealt with using one soft approach and the other hard approach."
"Lin Cheng is different from Hu Zhongshi. Hu Zhongshi is good at being gentle, but Lin Cheng needs to be tough. He responds to force but not to gentleness."
"Or, perhaps we could offer him a gift privately to test whether he'll accept it. However, my sister knows you'd be averse to such private gifts, so we won't go overboard. That's why she sent me and Miss Qin over here..."
Li Dalang patted Ouyang Rong on the shoulder and started nagging:
“Tanlang, what Amei said is right. We are no longer in the dire situation we were in Longcheng. We don’t need Tanlang to be all alone and always stand alone at the front.”
"Now that Father has been reinstated, our Xunyang Prince's Mansion can also support you, my lord."
After listening to his friend's explanation and seeing his very serious expression, Ouyang Rong lowered his eyes, remained silent for a while, and then sighed:
“Brother, Miss Qin, I understand what you mean, and what you say makes sense, but…”
"But what?" Li Dalang asked curiously.
"But why do I feel like...we're the bad guys?"
Qin Ying sighed softly:
“Young Master Ouyang has too high a moral standard for himself. The current state of affairs is what forces people to live like this. Good people have to be just as ‘bad’ as bad people, otherwise they can’t keep the villains in check… These are the words of my grandfather, and I think they make a lot of sense.”
Ouyang Rong had no choice but to nod:
"Thank you for your hard work."
"Don't be so polite, my lord."
Ouyang Rong glanced at Qin Ying.
The slightly plump female Taoist priest waved her hand:
"Her Highness the Princess also told me that it's not hard work. If my grandfather were here, he would probably agree as well. Young Master Ouyang doesn't need to feel indebted."
A warm feeling washed over Ouyang Rong.
After a short while, the three chatted for a few more minutes before Li Dalang and Qin Ying left.
Although Li Dalang and Qin Ying were always perfunctory when it came to blind dates.
However, when it came to helping someone, the two surprisingly reached the same agreement, and today they acted together again...
Ouyang Rong looked up at the sunset on the horizon, where a line of wild geese, as black as ink drops, flew past beneath the orange-red clouds.
He rubbed his face and prepared to return to his residence in Huaiye Lane.
Just as he boarded the carriage, Ouyang Rong suddenly turned around and gave the order:
"Let's go to the Control Yuan first."
"Yes, young master." Ali immediately spurred his horse.
Half an hour later, Ouyang Rong arrived at the Supervisory Council again, walked into the hall, and looked around.
There was no one there; Rongzhen was nowhere to be seen.
He caught a passing female official and asked her curiously:
"Where is the female historian?"
"They went out."
"Hasn't Lady Rongzhen returned yet?"
"No."
A female officer on duty shook her head:
"I actually came back once in the afternoon, and then went out again. I think I went to Xunyang Ferry."
"What are you doing at Xunyang Ferry?"
Ouyang Rong asked curiously.
"I don't know."
After thinking for a moment, Ouyang Rong decided to come back to see her the next day and left the Censorate.
He walked out of the gate and returned by carriage.
Upon arriving at the mansion in Huaiye Lane, Ouyang Rong saw Yan Liulang lingering at the door.
"What's wrong with Liu Lang? How long have you been waiting?" he asked, frowning.
"Your Excellency, you're back! I just arrived. It wasn't long."
Yan Liulang stepped forward and immediately reported:
"At the governor's mansion, Wang Lengran suddenly went out this afternoon and then sent people to book the entire Xunyang Tower for a banquet. I wonder what he's up to?"
"Going out? Holding a banquet? Where is he going?"
Yan Liulang nodded:
"Xunyang Ferry, it seems like they're going to pick someone up."
"Xunyang Ferry?"
Ouyang Rong frowned even more.
He lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment, then muttered his analysis to himself:
"Rongzhen also went to Xunyang Ferry. Could it be for the same thing? Who is she picking up? Why didn't Rongzhen call me?"
“My lord, the informant we sent out is still following us. Should we wait for further news?”
"No need to wait."
Ouyang Rong gave a brief explanation to Zhen Shuyuan and the others who were curiously peering out the door, then turned and climbed back into the carriage.
"Go to Xunyang Ferry," he instructed Ali.
"Yes, young master."
Upon arriving at Xunyang Ferry, Ouyang Rong spotted a large ship docked at the pier not far away, with the character "Wei" faintly visible on its bow flag.
At the dock where large ships were moored, a large crowd had gathered, seemingly to welcome something.
Ouyang Rong didn't go over. He turned around and saw Wang Lengran's familiar car parked on the street outside the dock.
"Ouyang Lianghan?"
Just then, Ouyang Rong heard a familiar female voice behind him.
Looking back.
"Rong Zhen?"
Rong Zhenzhen, accompanied by two female officials, stood on the street behind Ouyang Rong's carriage, with the chestnut horses they led, seemingly preparing to leave.
At this moment, Rong Zhen stood with his sleeves tucked in, scrutinizing him with his eyes.
"Why are you here?" she asked coldly.
Ouyang Rong looked serious:
"Just finished eating and wanted to take a walk... Hmm, why can't we come here?"
"You take a walk or a carriage? And you traveled so far to Xunyang Ferry?"
Rong Zhen asked with a stern face.
Ouyang Rong, thick-skinned, remained noncommittal, about to speak.
Just then, a large convoy passed by Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen on the street behind them.
Among them was Wang Lengran's carriage. However, as the governor, Wang Lengran's carriage had to be moved slightly to the side of the convoy to make way for a luxurious red-lacquered carriage in the center.
"Lady Rongzhen, would you like to get in the carriage? I'll give you a ride."
From inside a luxurious red-lacquered carriage in the center, a man's playful voice could be heard.
The convoy stopped at the right time next to Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen.
Ouyang Rong turned his head to look.
A young man in a green brocade robe, about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, was lifting the carriage curtain and smilingly asking Rong Zhen a question.
The young man was dressed in a magnificent turquoise brocade robe with cloud patterns, the edges of which were inlaid with exquisite gold and silver threads, and a rhinoceros horn belt inlaid with pearls and agate was tied around his waist... He exuded an air of overwhelming wealth and power.
His appearance was anything but; he had long, slanted eyebrows, long, black hair that was casually draped over his shoulders, and a cynical smile on his lips.
"Who are you?"
At this moment, the young man in the green brocade robe seemed to have noticed Ouyang Rong beside Rong Zhen as well, and began to sized him up with a sidelong glance.
"Third Young Master, this is the Prefectural Chief Secretary, Ouyang Lianghan."
Inside the carriage at the back, Wang Lengran lifted the curtain and introduced the carriage in a lukewarm voice.
The young man in brocade ignored Ouyang Rong and turned his eyes to Rong Zhen, as if asking a question.
The latter shook his head: "No need."
"Alright, it's too late today, I'm going to have dinner. I'll visit you again tomorrow."
The young man in brocade robes waved his hand dismissively, and the convoy slowly drove away from the street.
As the caravan passed by, Ouyang Rong caught a glimpse of the curtain of a carriage in the center of the procession swaying slightly. In the dim light cast by the lights of countless homes behind the carriage, the silhouette of a veiled woman could be vaguely seen inside.
The woman's figure flashed by.
The massive convoy sped away, seemingly heading towards Xunyang Tower.
Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen stood quietly in place.
Ouyang Rong suddenly asked:
"Are you from the Wei family?"
"Mm." Rong Zhen nodded.
"What's their background? Why such a grand entrance?" he asked again.
Rongzhen said softly:
"Wei Shaoqi, the third son of the King of Wei, is currently the Prefect of Hongzhou. There is also a woman from the Wei family in the caravan, who is his cousin, but she comes from the Liang Prince's family."
"The Wei siblings came from Yangzhou and were on their way to Hongzhou, so they were passing through Xunyang City."
"As Chief Secretary Ouyang knows, Hongzhou has just been captured by the expeditionary army, and some of the original government agencies are being called back to their posts."
"The position of Prefect of Hongzhou is similar to that of Prefect of Jiangzhou, and it is more like a gilding for members of the imperial family. However, Wei Shaoqi was unlucky. When he first took office as Prefect of Hongzhou, the rebel army took over Hongzhou. With nowhere to go, he could only stay in Yangzhou."
"As for his cousin from the Liang Prince's Mansion, I don't know why she came along."
After listening, Ouyang Rong nodded and said with a smile:
"I understand now. It turns out to be the noble young master of the Prince of Wei's mansion. No wonder Governor Wang came to greet him and even held a banquet at Xunyang Tower."
The way he said "welcome the emperor" sounded incredibly sarcastic.
Rong Zhen glanced at Ouyang Rong again.
Ouyang Rong looked directly into her eyes and continued to ask:
"Why is Lady Rong also here to pick someone up? Could it be that she also..."
Rongzhen pursed her lips:
"I received a letter from Wei Shaoqi in Yangzhou this morning."
Ouyang Rong paused for a moment, then suddenly remembered the letter Rong Zhen had tucked into her sleeve when she went to find Rong Zhen with Lin Cheng that morning.
"Why didn't Lady Rong tell me and Lin Lingtai about this?" he asked.
Rongzhen looked at him with a strange expression.
"What's wrong?"
"It's nothing. I just heard from others that... you sympathize with the Xunyang Prince's family, are at odds with Wang Lengran, and your relationship with the Wei family might not be very good either, so I didn't say anything."
Ouyang Rong sighed and asked directly:
"Lady Rong hasn't said what the letter is yet?"
Rong Zhen said in a serious tone:
"Wei Shaoqi sent a message from Yangzhou saying that they have some clues about the owner of the Butterfly Love Flower and want to meet to report them. In addition, he also wants to report a case."
"A clue... report it to the police? Report what kind of police?"
"His sixth brother...the case of Wei Shaoxuan."
(End of this chapter)
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