Chapter 674 Candle in the Snow: Go and get rid of Ouyang Lianghan [Complete, please vote!]
Upon hearing what Li Dalang had done, Ouyang Rong and Yan Liulang exchanged a glance.
The worry that had been on his face vanished almost entirely.
However, his brows remained furrowed.
He held up two fingers.
"First, Princess An Hui dislikes Da Lang, so why did she suddenly invite him out on a date?"
“Princess Anhui seems reserved, why has she become so bold?”
Ouyang Rong spoke calmly, as if talking to himself:
"Secondly, why did she choose our banquet and invite people there? If she really wanted to meet with Dalang in secret, there should be many ways. Was it intentional or accidental?"
Yan Liulang nodded upon hearing this:
“What you say is correct, Your Excellency. The Prince also finds this matter strange, so he specifically sent me to ask Your Excellency what to do now.”
Ouyang Rong pondered for a moment:
"Go back and tell the Prince to politely decline the invitation for now. In the short term, avoid any events where you are with Princess Anhui to avoid running into her. Also, Dalang did a good job this time, informing us in time, which deserves praise... That's all for now. We'll discuss the other arrangements when I return to the Prince's residence in the next couple of days."
"Very well, I will obey Your Excellency's orders."
Ouyang Rong waved his hand, took out a white cloth, and wiped the wooden zither. After a while, he found that Yan Liulang had no intention of getting off the carriage.
The blue-clad constable's expression remained serious, and he even turned to glance outside the carriage.
Ouyang Rong asked without looking up:
"Is there anything else?"
Looking around to make sure no one was nearby, Yan Liulang lowered the carriage curtain, turned around, and whispered:
"Your Excellency, another letter arrived this morning."
Ouyang Rong kept wiping the xylophone.
He even hooked his finger and plucked a string.
"Clang~"
At the sound of a zither, Yan Liulang's eyelids twitched, and he lowered his head even further as he clasped his hands in a respectful greeting.
All that could be heard was a laugh from the young governor in front of him:
“What a fine zither, Liu Lang! Today is the perfect day to meet with friends.”
...
A quiet little courtyard.
A single dewdrop clung to a pear tree petal in the courtyard, poised to fall.
This morning, the wind was a bit strong around Xingzi Lake, and the sky was a bluish-gray.
Something is missing.
It is dawn.
Fang Shengnan withdrew her gaze from the drop of dew.
She glanced at Zhao Qingxiu, who sat quietly across the stone table, embroidering despite being blind.
This young lady would occasionally suck on her index finger.
Fang Shengnan noticed that her index finger was a little red, which was from being pricked by the embroidery needle repeatedly.
The young master remained calm, moving slowly and steadily, step by step, without stopping, as if climbing a mountain.
Although her five senses are still sharp except for her blindness, embroidery remains a great challenge for her. However, Zhao Qingxiu relies more on her previously skilled muscle memory to sew the clothes stitch by stitch.
At this moment, only Zhao Qingxiu and Fang Shengnan were in the courtyard.
Fang Juxiu's figure was nowhere to be seen.
Fang Shengnan held a sword in her arms, sat upright, and had a somewhat serious expression.
Zhao Qingxiu embroidered silently. Occasionally, she would prick her finger and suck on it, turning her head towards the courtyard gate as if listening to something.
Fang Shengnan shifted her gaze from the scholar's robe that Zhao Qingxiu was sewing to the earnest and focused face of the young mistress.
She suddenly became very curious about what this Lord Yue had gone through to be so devoted to a pale-faced scholar who was suspected of being kept by a merchant's wife and living off her.
Although Fang Shengnan had gotten to know Ouyang Rong better over the past few days, she felt that Brother Ouyang was not a bad person. He wasn't a complete gigolo, but at least he was a loyal, affectionate, and responsible gigolo, which suited her taste quite well, except for the fact that he was suspected of being kept by someone.
However, there is no shortage of good men in the world, and none of them are worthy of the incomparably noble Lady Yue's infatuation.
The young lady's devotion is so deep it's heartbreaking.
Just then.
A gust of wind swept through the courtyard, shaking off large dewdrops from the pear tree, causing the pink and white pear blossoms to fall like rain.
Zhao Qingxiu stopped embroidering and sewing, and slightly raised her small face, which was covered by a ribbon.
A cool breeze made the knotted ribbon at the back of her head flutter wildly.
She put down her embroidery and got up to walk to the clothes rack in the yard.
It looks like it's going to rain.
Fang Shengnan muttered to herself, preparing to help collect the clothes.
Suddenly, footsteps came from outside the courtyard.
The door was pushed open, and Fang Juxiu's figure appeared at the doorway. She quickly entered the courtyard and closed the gate tightly.
Fang Juxiu did not immediately enter the courtyard. With her back to Zhao and Fang, she cautiously observed the outside world through the crack in the courtyard gate.
After a while, Fang Juxiu breathed a sigh of relief and stepped into the courtyard.
"Your Highness has been waiting for a long time," she said respectfully.
Fang Juxiu was dressed in a low-key gray men's suit today, with a hat covering his face.
He sat down in front of Zhao Qingxiu and Fang Shengnan.
Zhao Qingxiu opened her small mouth at her: "Ah...ah?"
Fang pulled a letter from his pocket, took a deep breath, and said;
"My lady, letters have arrived from the First and Second Ladies."
Zhao Qingxiu immediately began writing with her slender index finger, which was covered in needle marks.
Strands of blood stained the clear water on my fingertips.
Read aloud what they said to me.
The characters had turned red, but she ignored them and focused intently on them.
Fang raised his sleeves, lowered his head, and opened the letter, his gaze falling on the elegant and lively handwriting of the second lady.
After confirming it once more, she glanced at Fang Shengnan and handed over the letter.
The latter understood immediately, took the letter, and strode to the kitchen to fetch an iron plate.
Fang Shengnan took out a tinderbox and blew on the sparks.
call out--!
The letter burned in the iron pan, gradually turning to ashes in the firelight and dissipating in the lake breeze.
The flickering firelight shone on Fang Juxiu's calm face.
"The letter mainly talks about two things, one is an instruction to you, and the other is an instruction to us."
【explain】
Fang raised his sleeves and slowly spoke:
"What I'm entrusting you is about breaking through to the next realm. The two ladies said that if you are absolutely certain that you can resist the influence of the Dream Abyss and that the surrounding area is safe, you can try to break through. You don't necessarily have to wait for them. Although they have always been by your side during previous breakthroughs, it is ultimately you who can truly resist the Dream Abyss. Their presence is more to reassure you. With an anchor in place, the evil dragon cannot harm you..."
"Now that we are in Xunyang City, we are under the enemy's nose. If it is appropriate, it will be beneficial to break through the realm and improve our strength as soon as possible."
"Furthermore, the Second Lady also said that it would be best to break through to the next realm before the Donglin Buddha lands. The Buddha will definitely have a negative impact on Mengyuan, the extent of which is still unknown, but according to the First Lady's estimation, it is still within a controllable range in the short term. However, it is still better not to take risks. If you reach the seventh rank before it, which involves the arrangement of the Yunmeng Token, you will have a greater chance of success..."
Fang Juxiu mostly repeated the words in the letter, speaking in the tone of that second lady.
She didn't quite understand some of the contents of the letter.
Fang Shengnan was the same, but this female knight-errant sat upright with bright eyes. Although she didn't quite understand many of what the second lady was saying, Fang Shengnan was full of energy.
Thanks to the light that relayed the message to Yue Chuzi, she heard quite a few incredible secrets.
Although she didn't understand, they were now considered one of their own. Surely they could finally enter Yunmengze this time... Fang Shengnan's mouth was dry.
Zhao Qingxiu was unaware of the two women's feelings of pride. After hearing the instructions in her second senior sister's letter, her expression remained unchanged, as if she had expected it.
"ah."
She suddenly raised her hand to interrupt Fang Juxiu.
[Anything else? Didn't they mention anything about Tanlang?]
Upon seeing the words on the table, Fang Juxiu's expression showed some hesitation:
"Yes, the Second Lady mentioned it at the end of the letter."
[Quickly tell me]
After writing the two characters, Zhao Qingxiu couldn't help but clench her sleeves tightly. The Fang sisters noticed that her face looked a little nervous, something they hadn't seen on her when she was listening to the two ladies' instructions.
"It means that the young mistress wants to take Young Master Ouyang back for protection. It seems that the eldest lord is not very satisfied. However, the second lord said that since being with this boy can help you recover your cultivation progress and even break through your realm, accepting him is not something that cannot be considered."
"The Second Lady said that what the First Lady is most concerned about is your safety. She was worried that this child would be a burden and unsafe... So she asked you to be patient and wait for her to come and take a look at the child. If he is suitable, then she will do as you said. The Second Lady also said at the end..."
【say what】
"It is said that you have grown up and can stand on your own. You don't need your senior sisters to make decisions for you in everything. The matter in Dragon City last time was not handled well and affected you. This can be seen as a side proof that the First Lady's concern for you and her decision-making may not be right. On this point, the Second Lady still stands with you."
Zhao Qingxiu suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.
“Eee-yah-yah-woo-woo…”
A smile appeared on her small face, but tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, wetting the sky-blue ribbon covering her eyes.
The Fang sisters were caught off guard by their alternating laughter and tears.
"Please don't cry, my lady..."
Zhao Qingxiu waved her hand, comforting the two women, and then focused on writing:
[Second Senior Sister is so nice, Eldest Senior Sister... In Tanlang's words, she has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. Tanlang is so good, they will definitely like him.]
The Fang sisters exchanged a glance.
Fang Shengnan hesitated to speak, but Fang Juxiu tugged at her sleeve, causing her to shut her mouth. She looked at the beautiful, blind and mute girl who suddenly seemed overjoyed with a complicated expression.
I always felt I wasn't being very loyal to Brother Ouyang.
What did I instruct you on?
Zhao Qingxiu felt relieved and continued writing.
Fang Juxiu's expression turned solemn:
"This is the First Queen's order, to gather information on someone's whereabouts and wait for the Second Queen to arrive in Xunyang City..."
Who is this person?
Fang Juxiu hesitated for once, but Fang Shengnan, who had just read and burned the article, interrupted with a happy expression:
"Ouyang Lianghan!"
She glanced smugly at her sister, who had always subtly admired and favored Ouyang Lianghan.
“This person was the first to issue the decree restricting women from the north, which is truly despicable. As a southerner, he works for the cruel officials from Luoyang in the north. He contributed the most to the Donglin Buddha... The eldest lady intends to find an opportunity to get rid of this person. My sister and I will scout ahead first.”
Zhao Qingxiu tilted her head.
Is it dangerous for you to go?
Fang Shengnan waved her little fist:
"Don't worry, with my sister and me, we can handle it."
Fang Juxiu shook his head helplessly:
“My lady, don’t listen to Shengnan’s nonsense. We’ll try first and proceed with caution. If we can find an opportunity, we can avoid the First and Second Queens having to intervene. If not… he has many guards around him, so we’ll try our best to find out his whereabouts and report back…”
Zhao Qingxiu looked somewhat hesitant.
Fang Juxiu understood and immediately said:
“My lady, you can’t go. You absolutely mustn’t take the risk. To put it bluntly, even if all our informants in Xunyang City, including us, are wiped out, we can’t let anything happen to you. Our departure is, in a sense, also to protect you.”
"The First and Second Ladies repeatedly instructed in their letters that you are not allowed to interfere in Ouyang Lianghan's affairs. They told you to stay put and focus on breaking through your cultivation level. This boy is cunning, and you could easily fall into his trap. Your safety is of utmost importance, and you cannot take even the slightest risk. We should wait for the Second Ladies to arrive in person; she should be on her way..."
"Well, in the days to come, Shengnan and I may not be able to stay here with you as often. We need to leave. Staying in this courtyard all the time is too isolated from information. We need to find a way to go home so that we can inquire about Ouyang Lianghan later."
"It's settled then. All that's left to do is arrange the time and place to pick her up with the Second Lady. Xunyang is under martial law right now, so we need to plan carefully to bring her into the city."
Zhao Qingxiu remained silent for a moment, then nodded gently:
Okay, please be careful.
"Don't worry, I'll protect my older sister."
Fang Shengnan patted her bulging chest: "If I capture Ouyang Lianghan alive, he'll be in big trouble!"
Fang Juxiu frowned slightly upon hearing this.
After a short while, she glanced at the sky.
"It's about to rain. Let's draft a letter and send it out, and arrange a time and place with the Second Lady."
"Well, we won't reveal the address of this courtyard for now, to prevent the letter from being leaked. Yes, let's change the meeting place, such as Chengtian Temple Zen Temple or our Fang family. Please wait quietly in this courtyard."
Okay, I'll wait for your news here.
Fang raised his sleeves and brought out paper, ink, brush, and inkstone, along with a letter, which he handed to his younger sister:
“Shengnan, this time you go and give it to the senior. I went there this morning, so it will be easy for people to remember you.”
"good."
Fang Shengnan changed into gray men's clothing and went out with the letter.
Fang raised his sleeves and watched her figure disappear into the distance.
Just then, a luxury car slowly drove up from the street corner.
Upon seeing this, Fang Juxiu immediately closed the door and hid in a room.
A moment later, Pei Shisan Niang got out of the carriage and entered the house.
As usual, he invited Zhao Qingxiu to go out and buy some things.
Zhao Qingxiu tidied herself up and followed her out, just like always.
Fang raised his sleeves and eavesdropped for a while, then peeked through the crack in the door at the beautiful woman surnamed Pei who was speaking softly to the young master in the courtyard outside. A complicated look appeared in his eyes.
Thinking of that young master Ouyang, she sighed softly:
"A man should stand tall and achieve great things... What a pity."
Pei Shisan Niang took Zhao Qingxiu's hand and they went out chatting and laughing.
Silence returned to the courtyard. Fang raised her sleeves and stepped out of the house, standing in the courtyard, waiting quietly. At one point, she gazed at the gray-blue sky and murmured to herself:
“Even men who can stand tall and accomplish great things, like Ouyang Lianghan, are easily swept away by the tide and crushed by the tide. It’s difficult, difficult, difficult… Perfect, let’s try to meet him this time.”
...
The luxurious vehicle slowly drove away from Xingzi Lake.
They left the Chengtian Temple and the quiet courtyard behind them out of their minds.
Inside the carriage, Zhao Qingxiu, who was blindfolded and listening to the sound of the wheels, suddenly tugged at Pei Shisan Niang's sleeve.
Pei Shisan Niang asked gently, "What's wrong, Miss Embroidery?"
She smiled and took Zhao Qingxiu's hand, placing it on her lap.
Zhao Qingxiu wrote the words on the woman's plump thigh:
Where to go? Not to Taoshouzhai?
Pei Shisan Niang smiled and replied:
"Tao Shou Zhai is closed today, let's go somewhere else."
Zhao Qingxiu was slightly taken aback.
...
——————
(PS: My buddies, please vote for me! ~or 2)
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
