Chapter 661 The Sound of the Qin Conceals Blessings [Seeking Monthly Tickets!]
The following morning.
Ouyang Rong found Rong Zhen.
Why are you so late today?
At the entrance of Xunyang Grottoes, Rongzhen spoke with some dissatisfaction.
Ouyang Rong glanced at her again.
I don't know if it's just my imagination, or if it's because the fabric absorbs light under the sun, but the lady's palace dress looks a bit more purple today.
It gives people a deep and mysterious feeling.
Today she also styled her hair in an exquisite and graceful Lingyun bun, a high-style single bun, a look typical of noble ladies in Luoyang.
Perhaps because she had been standing in the sun for too long, Rongzhen looked very impatient.
Especially under the curious gaze of passersby, although they were intimidated by the Lady-in-Waiting's imposing presence, they had already restrained their eyes and dared not look any longer.
Also, I don't know if it's because the sun is too strong, but the lady's face looks a bit dark... well, maybe she's not in a good mood.
"I'm sorry, I was engrossed in reading last night and went to bed quite late, which caused the delay," Ouyang Rong said apologetically.
"Oh, really? Reading a book," Rongzhen stated in a declarative tone.
Ouyang Rong kept his eyes down, seemingly oblivious to what was happening.
Rongzhen looked him over, noticing the soup box and zither case he carried with him.
Rongzhen reached out and took the soup box from his hand:
"Come on, follow me. You're late, so wait a little longer until lunchtime. Let's go over there first."
"good."
Ouyang Rong followed Rong Zhen to the bamboo forest they had visited a few days earlier.
That day, everyone guessed correctly. The bamboo house that everyone was discussing that morning was the place where the old man lived. Of course, the old man went out to dig bamboo shoots and cleared out the space.
As Ouyang Rong entered the bamboo house courtyard, he saw a familiar old man tending to the potted plants in the yard.
Inside the courtyard, towards the kitchen, smoke was rising, indicating that lunch was ready. Judging from the apron the old man was still wearing, he must have cooked for himself.
When Rong Zhen brought Ouyang Rong in, the old musician didn't even turn his head: "Everyone's here? Let's eat then, Rong's friends can come too."
After an incense stick had burned, the three of them sat around the table with three dishes and a soup in front of them.
"This is Ouyang Lianghan, the Sima of Jiangzhou, acting governor of Jiangzhou, and a scholar of the Xiuwen Academy appointed by His Majesty."
Rongzhen took the initiative to introduce herself to both parties.
"The senior's surname is Yu. He is a senior in the palace. He used to be a musician in Shangyang Palace in Luoyang and was His Majesty's favorite court musician."
Ouyang Rong greeted him with a smile:
Good afternoon, Mr. Yu.
The old musician glanced at Rong Zhen's serious expression as he introduced the situation, then at Ouyang Rong, and teased:
"I heard from Rong that you are quite skilled at playing the zither?"
So-so.
Ouyang Rong said modestly.
The old musician didn't stand on ceremony and said directly, "Play a piece for this old man."
After thinking for a moment, Ouyang Rong took out Yuan Huaimin's zither from its case and played a piece on the spot.
When the song ended, he pressed his hands on the strings and exhaled softly.
Rong Zhen was completely absorbed, but it wasn't until Ouyang Rong finished playing and looked up that she realized it was over, and she quickly looked at the old musician's expression.
This reaction seemed a little clumsy.
The lady-in-waiting is kind of adorably clumsy; turns out she's tone-deaf...
Ouyang Rong turned his gaze to the old musician.
The latter stroked his beard and agreed:
"It's just so-so."
Ouyang Rong chuckled. He really hadn't studied the zither much; he used to just listen to Li Guo'er and others play and appreciate it from the sidelines.
For the immediate needs, I can only learn a few simple pieces.
Upon hearing this, Rong Zhen's eyes showed a hint of disappointment.
The old musician suddenly said:
"However, one piece of music doesn't prove anything. I'll play one for you, so you can listen carefully and learn from it."
After saying that, the old musician took out a guqin (a seven-stringed zither).
Rongzhen immediately sat up straight and listened attentively.
Ouyang Rong relaxed a bit, turned his head curiously, and looked at the old man and the child.
Rongzhen's reaction surprised Ouyang Rong. He had thought that this old musician was a senior member of the Imperial Observatory who was involved in the defense of Xunyang Grottoes, and that Rongzhen was going to treat him well.
But now, Rongzhen's earnest and studious demeanor, and her patience in learning at this crucial moment, suggests that what she is learning is very important and must not be mistaken.
Ouyang Rong became increasingly curious.
What exactly did this old musician teach?
The song ended.
The old musician gestured to Ouyang Rong:
"Come here."
Ouyang Rong snapped out of his reverie. He hadn't actually listened very carefully, but he was familiar with the basic fingering techniques. Without thinking too much about it, he went up and played the piece again, following his instincts.
After listening, Rong Zhen felt that there was still some difference between the two songs. Even he, a layman, could tell the difference, and he couldn't help but shake his head in disappointment.
The old musician, however, remained expressionless and suddenly said:
"Listen to it again, play it again."
Before Ouyang Rong could nod, the old musician played the same piece again, and then looked at Ouyang Rong.
Ouyang Rong felt no pressure and played it again, doing everything as he pleased. Even when he accidentally played a wrong key, he didn't try to correct it.
Only then did Rongzhen begin to see some clues.
Except for a few minor details, Ouyang Rong's version was almost perfect.
The old musician did not give a third chance.
He nodded slightly, stroked his beard, and smiled, saying:
“Scholar Ouyang doesn’t have much talent in the zither, but… he is very insightful and perceptive. In this respect, he is much better than Rong’er. With this kind of comprehension, he will not be bad at anything he learns. I have rarely seen someone like you in all my years in Luoyang. You are a rare find.”
Rong Zhen initially smiled slightly upon hearing Ouyang Rong being praised, but when she heard herself being compared to him, she immediately became somewhat resentful:
"What are you saying, senior? Why not try again? Let me give it a shot..."
The old musician smiled and shook his head.
After lunch, the old musician took his sickle and hoe and went to the bamboo forest, saying he wanted to find a quiet place to play his instrument and pick some bamboo shoots along the way.
Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen accompanied him.
In spring, the bamboo forest is overgrown with bamboo, blocking many of the originally clear roads.
Rong Zhen impatiently took out a Xuanwu Guard's sword and split the bamboo.
The old musician smiled and calmly cleared a path with his sickle, his speed not much slower than Rong Zhen's.
However, Ouyang Rong did not see any spiritual energy fluctuations from this senior.
Upon closer inspection, it became clear that his method of cutting bamboo to clear a path was quite sophisticated. He first hooked the bamboo root with a sickle, with the blade angled upwards, applied a little force, and pulled it towards his chest, easily severing a bamboo stalk.
Ouyang Rong immediately grabbed a sickle and followed suit, hooking the sickle onto the bamboo root, grabbing the handle, and pulling it into his arms... Sure enough, it was easy and effortless.
He nodded slightly. This was a trick that no one could pull off without ten or eight years of experience living in the mountains and fields, just like how farmers in the fields would try to take shortcuts when cultivating the land.
Rong Zhen casually carried her long sword and led the way for a while. When she looked back, she saw the old man and the young man moving forward in perfect unison, their speed not much slower than hers. Her cheeks immediately flushed slightly...
The old musician remained silent, and Ouyang Rong did not cast a teasing glance his way.
But something is becoming increasingly clear.
Someone's talent for cultivation is lacking, but their comprehension and spiritual insight are indeed higher than hers, by more than one level.
Rongzhen pursed her lips and secretly glanced at him.
An afternoon passed without any substantial gains, at least not for Ouyang Rong. Accompanying this senior figure around the mountains and forests felt more like sightseeing.
During the visit, Ouyang Rong noticed that the old Mr. Yu seemed to have some tuberculosis. He carried a handkerchief with him and coughed and covered his mouth from time to time, but his expression remained calm and composed. He even chatted with Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen for a long time with a smile.
According to Rongzhen's private words, the old musician had stayed in a bamboo forest with a clear breeze for a while, and his illness had improved considerably.
This place was also chosen for him by Granny Song; the two were old acquaintances...
As evening approached, Ouyang Rong prepared to return to the city.
"etc."
Rongzhen's voice suddenly came from behind.
She caught up and coldly ordered:
"Tomorrow we'll go to Mount Lu, to the place where you found the peach blossom forest before. The old master invited you to go with him. If there's time then, we'll also go to Xunyang Tower to listen to the pipa music."
"Okay, I'll arrange it."
Rong Zhen suddenly said:
When do you have time?
"What's the meaning?"
"From now on, you should take some time each day to teach me the pieces that the senior teacher taught you."
"Um, why not let the senior teach you?"
"Why do you care so much? I brought you here to help, are you going to teach me or not?"
“Teach me, I’ll teach you,” Ouyang Rong said helplessly.
The two agreed on a time, said goodbye, and left.
Before leaving, Ouyang Rong suddenly said:
"I'm sorry, my comprehension is slightly better than yours, Lady Historian."
Rong Zhen was stunned for a moment, then her pretty face turned red.
"Stop right there!"
Before she could even lash out, Ouyang Rong had already vanished without a trace.
If this continues, the Lady Historian will truly be enraged.
The carriage carrying Ouyang Rong drove out of Xunyang Grottoes.
"Why is my merit increasing so fast? Lady Historian is a real experience booster..."
He muttered something while resting with his eyes closed in the car, and the next moment, Ouyang Rong's expression suddenly froze.
The air was filled with the trembling sound of the blessing bell.
Ouyang Rong entered the Pagoda of Merit and took a closer look.
The blessing bell in the air is shaking wildly.
Golden threads were embedded in the surging purple mist.
I reached out and touched the clock, feeling its texture.
To redeem this blessing, one thousand five hundred merit points are required.
Ouyang Rong scratched his nose.
What kind of blessing is this? Is it golden? The required merit points are not much, but not little either, but does it have any "gold content"?
He immediately turned his head and glanced at the cyan-gold characters above the small wooden fish:
[Merit: 4,509]
Without hesitating for too long, he took a deep breath and nodded to exchange the money.
Above the small wooden fish, the line of cyan-gold characters immediately transformed into a swimming carp, rushing towards the Blessing Bell.
Thump—!
The resounding sound of a great bell echoed throughout the Pagoda of Merit.
The purple mist containing golden threads on the Blessing Bell suddenly exploded, bursting out like fireworks before disappearing without a trace.
Silence returned to the Pagoda of Merit.
The cyan-gold characters, which had transformed into a ball of light, shrank and returned to hover above the small wooden fish.
[Merit: 3009]
The timing was perfect. After glancing at the remaining merit points, Ouyang Rong nodded in satisfaction, turned around, and left the Merit Tower.
Inside the carriage, Ouyang Rong opened his eyes, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Today I accompanied Ms. Rong to meet Mr. Yu, and we played a few pieces on the qin... Could this good fortune be related to Mr. Yu and the qin music?"
After pondering all the way, Ouyang Rong returned to his residence in Huaiye Lane as night fell.
Ouyang Rong distributed some of the pastries made by the embroiderer to his aunts and the others, and kept some to give to his junior sister.
After dinner, Ouyang Rong returned to Yinbingzhai. As soon as he entered the study, Miaosi suddenly jumped out.
"Little Rongzi, we're pregnant!"
Ouyang Rong asked calmly, "What's done?"
He couldn't help but take a closer look at the young woman in Confucian robes and a Taoist priest's headdress.
Feeling Ouyang Rong's gaze linger on her stomach, Miao Si immediately said in an annoyed tone:
"It must be Ling Mo, could it still be a child?"
Ouyang Rong chuckled:
"Okay, then explain clearly, where is Lingmo? Did you manage to squeeze out?"
"What do you mean by 'squeezing'? That's called 'brewing,' do you understand what 'brewing' means? You really think this fairy is slacking off? Actually, I'm secretly brewing something."
Miao Si hummed and ran back to the bookshelf. A moment later, she brought out a golden bowl filled with blood-red ink, which looked quite warm.
Ouyang Rong immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
"Why are you suddenly being so nice? You used to haggle over prices."
Ouyang Rong asked curiously.
Miao Si crossed her arms and remained silent.
Ouyang Rong took the spiritual ink and went to make a talisman.
Miao Si observed for a moment, and this time Ouyang Rong did not stop her.
Seeing him working on the unique runes of the Qingdao School, Miaosi was not surprised; instead, her expression was one of "just as I expected."
Ouyang Rong concentrated intently on creating the runes.
After a short while, seeing that he had rested for a bit, Miaosi suddenly asked:
"Ouyang Lianghan, why are you so good to me? You never urge Lingmo and are willing to wait for me."
Ouyang Rong casually said:
"You're my aunt, how could I dare to urge you so easily?"
Miao Si's originally serious face suddenly broke into a burst of laughter.
After laughing smugly for a while, she snorted coldly:
"At least you have a conscience, but you should thank Xie the girl..."
"What do you mean?" Ouyang Rong asked, looking up.
Miao Si immediately covered her mouth with both hands and looked around, saying, "N-nothing...nothing."
Ouyang Rong slowly turned his head, his eyes fixed on the little Mo Jing who had let the cat out of the bag.
Feeling uneasy under her gaze, and having no other choice, Miao Si sighed and honestly revealed that Xie Lingjiang had secretly fed her the precious spiritual ink from the Xie family of Chenjun.
As Ouyang Rong listened, he fell silent.
He suddenly realized that he hadn't spent much time with his serious junior sister for quite some time, but she neither urged him nor got annoyed.
She was overjoyed when Ouyang Rong took the initiative to go to him.
He's been so busy lately that he doesn't have time, and his junior sister is also keeping a close watch on the Xunyang Prince's Mansion, not going out to conduct surprise inspections.
Speaking of which, the embroiderer lives in a quiet little courtyard. If his junior sister keeps an eye on him all day and follows him around, Ouyang Rong definitely won't have time to go there, and he'll easily be discovered.
In a sense, Ouyang Rong was able to settle the embroiderer so well in the quiet courtyard because his junior sister was trusting, lenient, and generous.
It's unclear whether she did it intentionally or simply trusted her senior brother too much.
"Little Rongzi, Xie girl and I are such good friends. If you are fickle, like keeping other women outside, like the new Little Mo Jing, then you are a real jerk, you know?"
Just then, Miao Si's serious voice came from the side.
Ouyang Rong remained silent, reached out and grabbed the protesting little Mo Jing, who was standing with her hands on her hips, and tossed her back into the wardrobe...
"turn down."
Ingenious idea: ...
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(End of this chapter)
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