Chapter 531 Rong Zhen: Just a Colleague (Seeking Monthly Tickets~)
Compared to the bustling and busy statue construction site outside, the conference hall was quiet and empty.
Wang Lengran's words were earnest and meaningful.
Many of these were warnings or reprimands.
It's unclear how this frail civil official, who can't even kill a chicken, dared to speak such harsh words to the slightly overweight young man in the quiet hall where only the two of them were present.
Because in front of him was a sixth-rank Qi cultivator from the Yin-Yang School, known as the Jade Maiden and Golden Boy, whose withered head, which was stretched out forward, could be twisted off with one hand.
"Thank you for your guidance, Lord Wang."
Lin Cheng bowed slightly and expressed his gratitude.
A fleeting smile appeared on Wang Lengran's lips before vanishing again.
"By the way, why doesn't Young Master Lin suspect that Ouyang Lianghan was behind the Wang family incident? You're the one being scolded now, but isn't he the one who's happiest about it?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Cheng's expression remained completely unchanged as he said:
"I may not like Ouyang Lianghan's attitude of speaking without understanding the situation, but I know his character and personality very well."
"So it definitely can't be him."
"Heh, no wonder we both come from humble backgrounds, we really do appreciate each other."
Wang Lengran hummed softly, and surprisingly stopped denying the matter.
He put down his teacup, sighed, and patted Lin Cheng on the shoulder:
"Young Master Lin, keep up the good work! Let's work together to help His Majesty build this Xingzifang Buddha statue."
"In a sense, we have no way out. Don't think that far ahead. Without the merit of this statue, how do you think the Xunyang Prince's Mansion and Ouyang Lianghan could regain the Emperor's favor?"
"It's still early; we don't even know if they can hold out until then."
Lin Cheng suddenly spoke:
"It seems that Lady Rongzhen and Ouyang Lianghan have a good relationship. They often work together, and some people have seen them attending a poetry gathering together recently. Lady Rongzhen presided over the completion of the Donglin Buddha."
Upon hearing this, Wang Lengran couldn't help but retort with a question:
"Is this giant Buddha really that powerful?"
This Xia Guanlingtai Lang, who had come into contact with the legendary Buddha statue at Shangyang Palace in Luoyang, didn't even raise an eyelid:
"The day the Buddha statue is completed will mark the beginning of the pacification of the rebellion in the southwest."
Wang sighed:
"His Majesty truly favors Lady Rongzhen."
Lin Cheng frowned slightly:
"On the day the Wang family mother and son died tragically, Ms. Rongzhen was also present. She looked at me with a strange gaze. When we met later, I tried to greet her several times, but she ignored me each time."
Wang Lengran nodded: "I can see that. Young Master Lin is not as likable as Ouyang Lianghan."
"What time is it? Lord Wang is still joking. Lord Wang just said that we should work together."
Lin Chengyi spoke with righteous indignation and asked with a stern face: "So, what the Third Young Master said earlier, regarding Rongzhen, was the so-called favor that the Prince of Wei's mansion recommended her actually useful? Did Lady Rongzhen appreciate it?"
Wang asked coldly, "Besides Ouyang Lianghan, has Young Master Lin ever seen Lady Rongzhen get close to anyone else in the Xunyang Prince's Mansion?"
"No. Apart from Ouyang Lianghan, with whom she has a working relationship, this lady doesn't seem to have a friendly attitude towards anyone."
"That settles it then. What are you worried about, Young Master Lin?"
Wang Lengran shook his head.
"In a sense, Rongzhen and Young Master Lin are the same kind of people. Both of them have been blessed by His Majesty and should naturally be more considerate of His Majesty and share His Majesty's worries and difficulties."
"Look at this incident involving the Wang family mother and son. So far, has Rong Zhen openly made things difficult for you? Arrested you or prevented you from making the statue?"
"No, that's true."
Lin Cheng nodded and breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Wang Lengran suddenly asked:
"Do you really think Ouyang Lianghan is that honest? This incident involving the Wang family mother and son has caused such a big uproar, and they died so tragically, yet he doesn't show any emotion at all? He didn't even impulsively submit a memorial to criticize us along with the Prince of Xunyang... Is this still the same guy who refused to obey the imperial edict before?"
Lin Cheng glanced sideways:
"If we really dare to interfere, wouldn't His Majesty suspect us this time, given Lord Wang's memorial?"
Wang Lengran frowned and pondered:
"That's true, but it's all hindsight. Did he know beforehand? Did he guess or was he just too shrewd... This kid is really cunning, it makes my teeth itch."
"Could it be that they are truly afraid, knowing that the will of the sage is unassailable like the barbarians of the Five Sacred Mountains, and have become obedient, not wanting to stand out or cause trouble for the time being?"
Lin Cheng said.
Wang Lengran frowned as she looked at him.
Before Wang Lengran could speak, Lin Cheng continued his analysis:
"This boy may be stubborn, but he's not inflexible. He's just been having a smooth ride for too long and has forgotten the pain of being demoted. After this setback, even a smart person will understand, and he's no exception."
Wang Lengran hesitated for a moment, but still insisted on his point of view:
"No, that's the analysis, but I've been dealing with him for a long time and know him better... This kid is a bit strange. He seems to be able to turn his luck around every time, which is really puzzling. I always feel that he's not that simple, so I still have to be careful."
Lin Cheng glanced at him, neither confirming nor denying:
"It's a good thing that Lord Wang is vigilant and prepared."
Wang Lengran then stood up and dusted off his hands.
"Looking at it this way, it's not necessarily a bad thing that Lady Rongzhen is getting close to him. Young Master Lin, you certainly didn't go to the wrong person when you went to see Lady Rongzhen before."
"Within Xunyang City, the person who should be protecting the Donglin Buddha in Xingzifang the most is indeed this Lady Rongzhen. Having her keep an eye on Ouyang Lianghan is just right."
Lin Cheng nodded, then asked:
"By the way, how is Lord Wang doing now?"
Wang Lengran nodded in satisfaction:
"Young Master Lin is indeed a discerning judge of character. This Pei Shisan Niang is truly a talented individual. She may want to make money, but she knows how to curry favor with the Yangzhou Chamber of Commerce in the city. She knows how to curry favor with my achievements. The renovation plan for the new residence in Xingzifang is very well done, and I am quite satisfied."
"That's not what I'm asking about." Lin Cheng shook his head. "What have Yuan Huaimin and the others been doing lately in the Jiangzhou main hall? Have they shown any signs of interfering?"
Wang Lengran immediately scoffed:
"Yuan Huaimin is very honest, but also quite mediocre and useless. He's always busy with trivial matters. I heard that he's been busy repairing the old city gate and worrying about the prices in the East Market lately."
"Renovate the city gates, and check the prices in the East Market?" Lin Cheng lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment before nodding. "That's good. Lord Wang will keep a close eye on things."
"That's natural."
A short while later, the private meeting ended, and Wang Lengran's figure disappeared through the door with his hands behind his back.
Lin Cheng withdrew his gaze and sat in the lobby for a long while.
Wang Lengran really hit the jackpot this time. Even though it was clearly a deal between Lin Cheng and Pei Shisan Niang and other merchants, Wang Lengran inadvertently benefited as well.
The location of the Donglin Buddha in Xingzifang will inevitably cause the remaining residential land in Xingzifang to appreciate significantly. Not only will it be scarce, but it will also provide a prime location for residents to view this magnificent Buddha. It is believed that many wealthy people in Jiangnan will be willing to pay for it.
Pei Shisan Niang, Shen Bingqiang, and other Yangzhou merchants, who were almost forced out of Xunyang City by Ouyang Lianghan, naturally saw a business opportunity.
Now, taking advantage of the construction of the Donglin Buddha and with the strong support of the governor's office, and after the restrictions imposed by Ouyang Lianghan were lifted, they began to acquire residential land in Xingzifang on a large scale.
At the same time, they also reached a tacit agreement with Wang Lengran.
Pei Shisan Niang, Shen Bingqiang, and others helped the governor's mansion to renovate Xingzifang and make a profit. The governor's mansion got a large share of the profits and also gained political achievements.
After all, Xingzifang has been a major problem for a long time. Even the renowned Ouyang Lianghan, who is known for his outstanding abilities, seems hesitant to take action to solve it. If Wang Lengran were to succeed, he would be able to deliver a brilliant report to the court, which would naturally bring him glory and help him rise to prominence.
After pondering the ulterior motives and interests of all parties, and without knowing how long he had been sitting alone, Lin Cheng took a sip of tea, got up, and walked out the door.
A moment later, the slightly chubby young man crossed the bustling construction site and arrived at the shore of Xingzi Lake.
With his back to the gradually taking shape, towering headless Buddha statue, he gazed at the small pavilion in the center of the lake and murmured to himself:
"Plucking stars and avoiding the moon, plucking stars and avoiding the moon... Teacher's divination is truly accurate! While creating this image, the spiritual energy in my dantian is stirring, but..."
He suddenly turned around and looked at Qingyang Hengjie, which had been demolished not far away, and the image of "two balls of fire" from that day flashed before his eyes again.
"The Great Zhou Dynasty belongs to the Metal element, Metal generates Water, Water overcomes Fire, Fire overcomes Metal... Fire overcomes Metal?"
...
After finishing their breakfast at the breakfast stall, seeing that Rong Zhen didn't move, Ouyang Rong had no choice but to take out some silver and put it on the table.
He got some change back from the shop owner, stuffed it back into his pocket, and turned around. Rong Zhen had already stood up and was walking towards the Censorate, seemingly not wanting to wait for him.
Ouyang Rong stepped forward and chased after him: "That..."
"I'll leave it to you; I'll treat you next time."
Rongzhen spoke softly.
"There's another meal? Okay. That's not what we're talking about."
Ouyang Rong looked at the back of her head, where her hair was pulled back, and frowned as he asked:
"Why didn't you mention your special spot and Lin Cheng's matter before?"
"How could I have known you would misunderstand and so easily believe Lin Cheng's words?"
"But you deliberately didn't mention the Buddha statue and the special quota. I could only refer to his words, and besides, he hadn't revealed his true colors yet at that time."
Ouyang Rong frowned and explained:
"Now it seems that there was a hidden agenda behind the struggle for the right to create the statue in Xingzifang."
Rong Zhen said sternly, "I have said it repeatedly, he cannot take away my position here. You just didn't listen carefully. A smart person can figure it out, and you are not stupid."
Ouyang Rong was speechless, and managed to stammer, "How am I supposed to guess what you're saying? Is it like serving a saint, carefully choosing my words?"
She frowned: "If there's an unspoken understanding between colleagues, you'll understand even without being told."
"..."
Ouyang Rong thought for a moment and then tentatively asked, "Are you sure this is a colleague?"
"Otherwise what?"
"Alright, I was too stupid and lacked understanding. Next time, I'll just have to watch Lady Rong's expression... but never mind, she doesn't seem to have any expression."
He immediately changed his tune, speaking earnestly:
"Next time, could you please say more, Ms. Rong? My colleague is not doing a good job, but I'm afraid he doesn't understand and is pretending to know what he doesn't, which might lead to misunderstandings."
"Oh." Her hair was ruffled by the wind, as if she were nodding, and her voice drifted on the breeze: "No."
"no?"
"There are many things that shouldn't be said to a local official like you. That's the rule. Saying so much is already an exception. When I was in the palace, apart from answering the Emperor, I barely spoke a few words to anyone else in a month. In the deep palace, one must be careful with words and actions, as taught by the matrons..."
She turned her head, her sleeves tucked behind her ear, and stared intently at Ouyang Rongwen with her beautiful, dark eyes.
"So, Ouyang Lianghan, what else do you want from me?"
Ouyang Rong was speechless.
After staring for a while, Rong Zhen looked away:
"Thank you for your comfort today. But very few people know anything about the Buddha statue, so I really can't say much. Just like before at the Xunyang Grottoes, you only need to focus on the work of creating the statue. Knowing too much is not good."
"What's wrong with it...?"
Rong Zhen suddenly spoke, her voice somewhat melodious:
"I just don't want you to know... is that alright?"
Ouyang Rong was taken aback.
"OK."
He shrugged: "Go ahead and hide it."
Are you still angry?
Rongzhen turned her head and glanced at him.
Ouyang Rong shook his head and followed Rong Zhen into the Censorate.
He changed the subject and asked:
"I heard that there have been recent night raids on the central army camp by bandits at the front... and many Qi cultivators in the army at the front have also suffered losses."
"Yes, that's true. Half a month has passed... With Miaozhen there, it's alright for now."
Rong Zhen answered in a measured and methodical manner;
"These minor skirmishes will not affect the overall situation."
"That's good. Your Astronomical Bureau must protect General Qin well."
"That's natural, and Marshal Qin is a veteran with rich experience, so there's no need to worry... Ouyang Lianghan, you're really getting worried."
Rongzhen twitched the corner of her mouth.
Ouyang Rong saw her take some things from her office and turn to walk out of the Supervisory Commission. Curious, he asked:
"Where is Your Excellency going?"
She said with a stern face, "Go back and rest. I'm not in a good mood today... What, you want to come along too?"
"Then I shall return as well..."
Rongzhen suddenly called out to him:
“Wait, there’s a poetry gathering of a high standard outside the city this afternoon, but the requirements are quite strange. Only couples are allowed to participate. I suspect that the Butterfly Love Flower Master might be there. I have to go this afternoon. What about you? Do you have time this afternoon?”
"Weren't you in a bad mood?"
"I'm feeling better now."
He asked cautiously, "But will the owner of Butterfly Loves Flowers attend such a strange poetry gathering?"
She nodded: "It's more likely that such lecherous scoundrels would go there. There are probably many mistresses who like to frequent such places."
"Yes, that makes a lot of sense."
Ouyang Rong nodded.
Rong Zhen's expression remained unchanged: "Then you should get ready..."
“Oh…” Ouyang Rong suddenly realized:
"Wait, if men and women participate as a couple, doesn't that mean they're going in that kind of capacity..."
"That's why I called you. It's inconvenient for me to go alone. I can't conduct my usual incognito investigations, and I'm too lazy to ask anyone else."
"With your temper, there's probably no one else in Xunyang City who can yell at you like that..." Ouyang Rong thought to himself.
She made the decision immediately: "You're the one. Stop dawdling and come with me."
“But…” Ouyang Rong looked troubled.
She stopped and said without turning her head:
"But what? Aren't we colleagues who trust each other? We've known each other for so long, isn't our friendship strong enough?"
Ouyang Rong muttered to himself, "You're a familiar face, yet you're still a riddle teller."
"Hmm?" Rong Zhen asked with a nasal hum, "What did you say?"
"No, no, okay, go, go."
Ouyang Rong waved his hand reluctantly and muttered, "Then I should dress more modestly. I also need to meet my junior sister, since I'm going on business..."
"what ever."
Ouyang Rong sighed helplessly and watched the lady's hurried figure disappear into the distance...
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
