Chapter 663 Spring Arrives, Peach Blossom Water Everywhere [Seeking Monthly Tickets!]
Perhaps they didn't notice Ouyang Rong's awkwardness.
Xie Lingjiang said to herself:
"As the eldest brother just said, it is possible to take a concubine without marrying the principal wife first, but one must have the ability to reconcile the conflict between the two."
"That's the problem. Dalang doesn't actually have the ability. He probably realized it himself, so he'd rather avoid trouble."
Ouyang Rong immediately agreed:
"That's right, Junior Sister's analysis is indeed more insightful."
Xie Lingjiang tapped her lips with her index finger, one tap at a time:
"Actually, I think if Dalang simply refused to get married, it would be understandable. Everyone has refused marriage before. But he insisted on not taking a concubine in advance, which inevitably made Uncle Li, Sister Guo'er and others think that he just didn't want to get married. It wasn't any other excuse. He just wanted to wait for someone and used those words as an excuse."
Ouyang Rong exclaimed, "Junior Sister is absolutely right."
Xie Lingjiang glanced at him sideways: "Senior Brother, don't flatter me. Why did you suddenly come to see me today? There's no reason for you to be so attentive."
"No, I just wanted to ask about the peach blossom forest in Mount Lu, and I came to take a look while I was at it."
"Just a side trip?"
Ouyang Rong immediately changed his tune:
"No, after thinking about it again, I mainly came to see you, and just happened to ask you some questions. You see, I didn't even go to ask the prince and princess any questions."
"My senior brother's words are getting sweeter and sweeter."
Ouyang Rong didn't respond, but suddenly covered Xie Lingjiang's eyes, took something out of his sleeve, and placed it in front of her.
What are you doing?
"Open your eyes."
"What era are we living in? Still playing such outdated tricks."
"The third year of Tianyou in the Great Zhou Dynasty".
Ouyang Rong's serious words came from behind.
"Pfft."
Xie Lingjiang couldn't help but chuckle, and opened her eyes after he let go.
Actually, she could smell the fragrance of flowers when she closed her eyes, but when she opened them and saw them, Xie Lingjiang still smiled.
His eyes showed a hint of surprise.
"Is it pretty?" Ouyang Rong asked.
"Hmph, so-so." Xie Lingjiang suppressed a laugh and lowered her head to gently smell the flower petals.
Ouyang Rong nodded: "That means you like it, but you're just saying it."
Xie Lingjiang didn't answer, but instead picked up a flower with two fingers and examined it closely. After a moment of pleasure, she asked with a puzzled look:
"Why would Senior Brother send an apricot blossom out of the blue? Is today some special day?"
"No, but I think that every day from the moment two people meet to the moment they get to know each other is special and should be treated with great care... Does Junior Sister like it?"
"I like it, but... Senior Brother, did you take this apricot blossom from Aunt Zhen's vase?"
"No, it's by the roadside. I saw it was springtime and the flowers were in full bloom. I noticed this one was particularly beautiful and thought it would suit my junior sister perfectly, as vibrant as the spring sun, so I picked it."
The garden path of the Xunyang Prince's Mansion is also the roadside.
Ouyang Rong nodded quietly.
"Then it's truly an undeserved disaster." Xie Lingjiang joked, then lowered her head to touch the petals for a while before opening the pastry box, picking up a piece of osmanthus cake, which melted upon contact with her lips.
Two pairs of star-like eyes curved into crescent moons.
"Hmm, the apricot blossoms smell quite nice... This osmanthus cake is really sweet. I tried it with Aunt Zhen last time and wanted to ask her how it was made."
Xie Lingjiang tasted the pastry, mumbled a few words, and her speech was somewhat slurred.
Ouyang Rong kept his eyes down and focused on his own thoughts, obediently wiping his junior sister's hair and tying her sideburns.
Xie Lingjiang suddenly closed the lid of the pastry, and said with a half-smile:
"My senior brother is sending flowers and pastries... it's making me feel a little uncomfortable."
Ouyang Rong smiled without saying a word, put down the towel, went into the room to fetch the mandarin duck jade hairpin, helped Xie Lingjiang tie her hair into a high bun, looked down carefully at it, and then inserted the hairpin properly.
Xie Lingjiang got up, went over and put the apricot blossoms into the vase, then looked down at the small patch of water in the vase and reflected her reflection.
A beautiful woman in the water, with a charming smile.
"nice."
Ouyang Rong's voice suddenly came from behind.
Xie Lingjiang turned around and saw his senior brother bending over, smiling as he looked him up and down.
She turned her face away shyly.
Ouyang Rong hugged her from behind. This time, surprisingly, his hands didn't try to climb up, but instead held her obediently. He rested his chin on her shoulder and gently inhaled the fragrance of Xie Lingjiang's fair neck. Xie Lingjiang had very thick hair, with many black strands that had broken away from her high temples on her neck. He tickled Ouyang Rong's nose.
Xie Lingjiang asked softly, "Senior Brother, you're so kind."
Ouyang Rong scratched his nose where it itched:
"Miaosi produced some spiritual ink for me last night."
"Oh? Really? That's great." She turned her head, her face showing a hint of surprise.
Ouyang Rong tilted his head and said directly:
"You are a sixth-rank virtuous person of Confucianism. You clearly need spiritual ink, but you not only gave it to me, but also secretly fed it your family's treasured ink for me, without even telling your senior brother."
Xie Lingjiang's expression gradually calmed down. She turned her head and looked at the swallows that had returned to their nests under the eaves not far away.
"I am willing, it has nothing to do with Senior Brother, you don't need to feel guilty."
Ouyang Rong pointed to the flowers in the vase and the pastry box and said:
"I'm happy to do it. When I saw some nice flowers, I just wanted to give them to my junior sister. It has nothing to do with her."
Xie Lingjiang glared at him, but couldn't refute him. She snorted and went back to her room.
Ouyang Rong followed and changed the subject.
"Judging from Dalang's expression, he's determined to refuse the marriage, even if it means getting beaten up."
"Well, so you should talk to Dalang more, he'll probably listen to you. I just don't think Uncle and Sister Guo'er's methods are right."
Ouyang Rong remained silent for a while.
"Actually, I understand Dalang a little."
"understand?"
Ouyang Rong asked, "If we put ourselves in his and Princess Anhui's positions, how would we interpret this?"
Xie Lingjiang said without thinking:
“If my eldest brother were in his position, he would definitely not sit idly by and wait for his doom. Uncle Li and Sister Guo’er wouldn’t worry about him making mistakes either. My eldest brother is different. As for me…”
The noble lady Xie slightly raised her chin:
"It's just a surname. So what if I'm surnamed Wei? No one can stop me. My father said something good: the wealth and honor that our ancestors fought for were all for the sake of giving our descendants better choices. Otherwise, it's better not to stay in this family. It can't make people genuinely believe in it and strive for it."
Xie Lingjiang then changed her style again:
"However, Li Dalang is different. Uncle Li and Sister Guo'er still treat him more like a child. Even though he is now the heir apparent, they still think he will definitely mess things up."
"If he could be more resolute, and sometimes stand up clearly like Sister Guo'er to prove that he's grown up and make Uncle Li and the others realize this, they might not stop him, and might even help him persuade us..."
Ouyang Rong was quiet for a moment, then sighed softly:
"good."
After a short while, Ouyang Rong asked a few questions about the peach blossom forest on Mount Lu, then took his leave. Before leaving, Xie Lingjiang suddenly said:
"Senior Brother, is there something you want to say today?"
Ouyang Rong pondered for a moment.
"It would be best to hold Aunt's birthday banquet after the Donglin Buddha is completed, to avoid any scheduling conflicts. It can be postponed for a few days, which is also Aunt's wish... Junior Sister, you can decide what to do."
"Okay." Xie Lingjiang nodded, then asked, "Are you sure there's nothing else to say?"
Ouyang Rong laughed and said:
"Thank you... Junior Sister, you've worked hard."
Xie Lingjiang shook her head, and before she could speak, Ouyang Rong continued:
"Junior Sister just said something very true."
"What did you say?" she asked curiously.
"If it were me, I could definitely handle it."
After Ouyang Rong finished speaking, he chuckled and turned to leave.
Xie Lingjiang was slightly taken aback.
...
Mount Lu is very large.
It is not a single mountain, but a group of mountains, with an average elevation higher than the basin where Xunyang City is located.
Therefore, it is also known as a summer resort in Jiangnan.
There is a valley on the west side of Mount Lu, which is rarely visited by people.
In this spring season, there is a grove of bright pink peach blossoms.
In the afternoon, the spring sun shone on the woods, and peach blossoms bloomed in abundance.
There were three figures in the woods.
The old musician carried a xylophone and walked at the front.
Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen fell behind.
The two stood side by side, quite a distance from the old musician.
Ouyang Rong asked with a hint of resentment, "Why didn't Lady Rong bring her zither?"
"Just use yours."
"Then you can take one too."
"No, I'm not as big as you. How can you let me carry something so heavy?"
Ouyang Rong glanced at the Lady of the Palace's short and petite stature and said speechlessly:
“You are definitely stronger than me.”
"It's good that you know."
"What's the meaning?"
"Whoever is stronger gets to decide. I am stronger and more powerful, so you should listen to me."
Ouyang Rong: ..."
What is Rong's contrast method?
He thought to himself, "What am I complaining about?"
A moment later, Ouyang Rong's gaze followed Rong Zhen's, and they both looked at the old musician in front of them.
From the moment he entered the peach grove, the old musician's smile never left his face. He would walk and stop, stretching out his palm to make the petals floating in the air pause temporarily.
Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen exchanged a glance and smiled.
It seems this senior musician is in a good mood; he might be able to play a couple more pieces for them.
Just then, a commotion suddenly came from ahead. Looking closely, they saw seven or eight scholars and Taoist priests drinking and making merry in a pavilion in the middle of the peach grove, with singing girls playing the flute and zither nearby.
The old musician paused, and after seeing clearly, his expression became interested as he prepared to step forward.
Ouyang Rong, carrying the zither, was about to follow when he noticed Rong Zhen beside him slightly frowning and waving his hand.
A group of stern-faced female officials suddenly appeared out of nowhere, quickly stepped forward, passed by the old musician, went to the pavilion, and escorted the group of drunken guests away. Before leaving, they checked the identities of each person to prevent assassination attempts.
Rong Zhen's expression softened slightly.
Ouyang Rong silently turned his head and saw that the smile on Mr. Yu's face had disappeared.
After asking the female official a few questions, Rong Zhen returned to the old musician and Ouyang Rong's side and said apologetically:
"Please, senior. We've made room for you. We apologize; our staff was negligent and didn't check thoroughly, letting a stranger in."
The old musician shook his head, picked up his zither, turned and left, without entering the quiet pavilion that Rongzhen had helped to clear out.
Rongzhen couldn't help but frown and look back.
Ouyang Rong shook his head.
On their way back down the mountain, Rongzhen seemed to have figured something out and took the initiative to apologize to the old musician.
"I apologize for disturbing your enjoyment, senior. However, the situation is urgent right now, and it's best to be cautious and minimize contact with strangers."
"It's alright."
Ouyang Rong noticed that Mr. Yu's expression was calm and showed no dissatisfaction.
It seems I forget these things very quickly.
The female officials who were clearing the area were driven away by Rongzhen and had disappeared without a trace, no longer following them.
At this moment, the three people descending the mountain passed by a clear stream, where sunlight filtered through the shadows of the trees, casting dappled patterns of sunlight.
The spring water gurgled and tinkled.
The old musician suddenly picked up a large rock on the bank of the stream, sat down on the ground, and placed his zither across his lap.
Rong Zhen's pretty face lit up slightly. She gave Ouyang Rong a look, and the two of them immediately sat down on the spot.
Just as Ouyang Rong was about to put down the zither, he found his hands empty. It turned out to be Rong Zhen, who had unceremoniously taken the zither and placed it on her lap.
This time, no one said anything about her being small.
Rong Zhen ignored Ouyang Rong's increasingly mournful gaze.
The old musician used his hand as a ladle to scoop up a handful of spring water, tilted his head back to taste it, and exhaled a long breath.
"Do you believe in a paradise on earth?" he suddenly asked.
Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen exchanged glances.
Ouyang Rong tried asking, "Mr. Yu, are you referring to the Peach Blossom Spring in Tao Qian's poem?"
Rongzhen said softly:
"As long as the old gentleman desires it, no matter how many paradises there are, the Sage and the Imperial Observatory can find them for you."
The old musician shook his head.
Rong Zhen, fearing he wouldn't believe her, said directly:
"Senior, the hometown you mentioned to Deputy Supervisor Song last time has been found by the Imperial Observatory. It's in a township in Wutong County, Cangzhou, Lingnan Circuit... The village is halfway up the mountain and it's still there."
"Senior, there's no need to look for the way anymore. This matter is settled. I and Deputy Supervisor Song will personally escort you back to the village. The imperial court has already notified the officials of Cangzhou in Lingnan Circuit to prepare to welcome you back. You will return home in glory and honor, so that all the villagers will know of your glory... As for the peach grove at the entrance of the village, it seems a bit withered, but it's not a big problem. Someone has already gone to help replant it..."
The old musician's thin face, etched with countless wrinkles, first smiled, then smoothed out the wrinkles and fell silent. After a while, he continued smiling and said:
"Yeah."
Rongzhen was about to nod.
Ouyang Rong suddenly tugged at Rong Zhen's sleeve, and the latter frowned and glared at him: "What are you doing?"
Ahead, the old musician's murmured words could be heard:
"You tell me, if we find it, can it still be called the Peach Blossom Spring?"
Suddenly, the topic of Peach Blossom Spring came up again. Rongzhen frowned in thought, unsure how to respond.
Ouyang Rong murmured:
"At the time, I only remembered entering deep into the mountains, and the green stream leading to the cloud-shrouded forest several times. In spring, the waters were filled with peach blossoms, and I could no longer discern where the immortal spring was to be found..."
The old musician glanced sideways.
Ouyang Rong nodded and said:
"Why do the elders insist on seeking a place to find peace of mind? The so-called hometown is just the last stop of our ancestors' wandering. Where my heart finds peace is my home."
The old musician pondered for a moment, then smiled smugly.
"What a wonderful state of mind! What a wonderful saying, 'Where my heart finds peace is my home.' It's a pity that I am just an ordinary person."
He smiled and pointed to Ouyang Rong, who was sitting upright. He then scooped up a spoonful of stream water with his palms together, wiped the wooden zither, and began to play without warning.
The softest sound is like a mountain stream, like clouds rolling and unrolling, or like fleeting clouds.
Ouyang Rong listened attentively.
Rong Zhen, who was standing to the side, listened attentively for a while, but after a short while, a look of disappointment appeared on her face.
When the music ended, the old musician didn't say much, got up and left.
While recalling the piece, Ouyang Rong took the zither from Rong Zhen's lap and played it again carefully.
After a moment, he composed himself, turned to Rong Zhen who was about to leave, and asked her with a curious look:
"Shouldn't Lady Rong learn from this?"
Rongzhen waved her hand:
"Not this one... that piece should be a military march..."
"What's the meaning?"
Rong Zhen frowned but did not answer. She got up and followed him.
"Military march?"
Ouyang Rong murmured as he stood up. The piece he had just played was indeed unrelated to military music.
Could it be that the piece that Lady Rong wants to learn from the old musician is related to military battle music, similar to the zither piece in Xingzifang that could make Qi cultivators manifest? Could it help with the defense of Xunyang Grottoes this time?
Ouyang Rong seemed to be deep in thought, then picked up his zither and followed.
...
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(End of this chapter)
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