Chapter 687 A Battleground! [Seeking Monthly Tickets]
It still rained.
As Xie Lingjiang strode out of the quiet courtyard.
But she didn't turn back to get the umbrella.
They went straight into the rain.
They bumped into a woman in purple waiting at the intersection not far from the courtyard.
Red dress against purple dress.
The former is tall and voluptuous, while the latter is petite and delicate.
The two women were six steps apart.
The light drizzle fell on them, making their reddish-purple hues deepen, leaning towards a darker tone.
Xie Lingjiang spoke first, saying a sentence.
However, it was drowned out by the booming thunder overhead.
Pei Shisan Niang, who was standing to the side, did not hear clearly. In addition, when she turned around, she found that Yan Liulang's figure had disappeared again.
Rongzhen, unsure if she had heard the words in the thunder, tilted her head and asked:
"If Miss Xie hadn't pulled their heads out, she would have been truly laughable."
Xie Lingjiang said each word clearly:
"I said, move aside, are you deaf?"
The desolate look on Rong Zhen's face had vanished, replaced by boundless indifference, with only her slightly reddened eyes remaining. She replied calmly:
"Can't you see that I'm here to investigate a case and catch the traitorous witch? Are you blind?"
Xie Lingjiang asked in a cold voice:
"There are no traitorous witches here. Don't believe everything you hear. Also, who told you, Lady Historian, that there are witches here?"
"However, if we have to call her a witch, there is one here that fits the description, a vixen witch, but she's not in the courtyard, she's outside."
"Heh, you should worry about your self-proclaimed man first. I'm getting anxious for you. Don't bring back a few more girls next time. Tell me, aren't you furious?"
Xie Lingjiang nodded:
"Oh, you're angry. He dared to bring a new sister home, but it wasn't you. You're furious, really furious. First come, first served, and now you're inferior. Ugh, how can you complain about this?"
At this point, Xie Lingjiang glanced at the girl in purple palace attire in front of her, seemingly assessing her height, making a double entendre.
Rongzhen smiled:
"Don't become the younger sister one day after being the older sister. Standing taller than others, but shorter when sitting down, how ridiculous! Miss Xie should learn how to manage a man first. If you can't learn, you can step down. Just be able to look up and call me 'older sister' is enough."
Xie Lingjiang took three steps closer, then looked down at the palace-dressed girl in front of her with some confusion:
"Do you think some people need me to crane my neck? They find it tiring to even look down. Your Excellency, don't you think so?"
Rong Zhen didn't look up, but glanced at her with his dark eyes, a slight smile playing on his lips:
"I don't have time for your riddles. Miss Xie, are you done yet? If you are, hurry up and leave. Don't delay my work on the case."
"Investigating a case? What case is there to investigate? Has Your Excellency become confused from being soaked in the rain? Go back quickly. In this heavy rain, talking nonsense is easy to get struck by lightning. Didn't your family teach you that?"
Rong Zhen remained motionless, as if she were radiating true energy, preventing the surrounding fine rain from penetrating within three steps of her.
And three steps is exactly the straight-line distance between Xie Lingjiang and her.
Rong Zhen turned her dark eyes away with a nonchalant air:
"Of course, it's about handling cases you can't handle and managing people you can't manage."
Xie Lingjiang smiled as well:
"Then you must be careful, Lady Historian, lest you be taken advantage of. In this respect, you are always a cause for concern."
Rong Zhen's voice grew louder: "Him? I have no idea what Miss Xie is talking about, it's all nonsense."
Xie Lingjiang looked her up and down, somewhat seriously:
"Whether you've taken it personally or not, Lady Historian knows for sure. Actually, setting aside other conflicts, I hope Lady Historian will show some backbone and stand up for herself."
Rong Zhen said coldly, "Nonsense."
Xie Lingjiang nodded: "You know perfectly well why I'm asking."
Rongzhen retorted: "You're so self-righteous."
"Unrequited love."
Xie Lingjiang offered a brief comment and continued nodding in summary:
"From the first time I met Lady Historian, I knew that you were a clingy, jealous person who lacked love, and you were also very stingy, controlling, and liked to possess everything, but you would never admit it. To put it nicely, you are concerned about your image; to put it bluntly, you are arrogant and spoiled to the extreme."
Rong Zhen squinted:
"It's better than some people who pretend to be righteous and generous, but when things come to a head, they're so anxious they almost cry, yet they lack confidence and back down in a cowardly manner. If you beat up your senior brother, I might actually think more highly of you. But now, well, once is never enough..."
Xie Lingjiang said softly, "Isn't this because I was afraid you'd feel bad about it?"
Rong Zhen said expressionlessly, "He doesn't deserve it."
Xie Lingjiang suddenly said:
"Does Your Excellency wish for me to make a scene, preferably a big one, to fight and tear each other apart over the Embroidery Sister, preferably a fight to the death, a fight to the death, so that Senior Brother can choose? That way you can change your attitude and take advantage of the situation."
"Heh, no wonder Lady Historian was a step slower today, no wonder she stood outside and kept quiet. She's really scheming. I could hear her from the courtyard. It's so noisy."
At this point, like Rongzhen, the smile on her face gradually disappeared, and she waved her fingers:
"But I won't."
Rong Zhen flicked his sleeve and turned his head away:
"Nonsense, far-fetched, I can't be bothered with you."
Then he immediately added:
"But I can understand you, after all, you have a younger sister now."
Xie Lingjiang smiled and corrected, "You have gained an older sister. Remember, call her Embroiderer Sister."
Rong Zhen seemed unperturbed. He slowly turned around, narrowed his eyes, and stared at her intently, as if scrutinizing something. He asked:
"Did you already know about this woman?"
Xie Lingjiang did not answer, but instead asked a question:
"How did you, Lady Historian, know about your sister, the embroiderer? Who told you?"
Rong Zhen's eyes suddenly turned icy cold: "Xie Lingjiang, try saying another word?"
Xie Lingjiang's face was gentle, but her fists clenched tightly in her sleeves. She took a step forward and asked in a soft voice, "Are you referring to your embroiderer sister's words? You seem to really want to hear them. What a strange request."
Just as the two women were about to clash, the gate to the quiet courtyard was pushed open. The two women turned around abruptly and saw Ouyang Rong coming out with an oil-paper umbrella and an empty one in his hand. At this moment, he seemed to be frightened by the looks the two women gave him. He stopped and turned to re-enter the courtyard, but Xie Lingjiang suddenly ordered, "Bring the umbrella over."
Ouyang Rong, who was about to return to the courtyard to get another umbrella, suddenly froze, quickly turned around, and rushed to the two women.
Ouyang Rong said apologetically, "Sorry, I was looking for an umbrella and I'm late... It's raining so hard, why are you still standing here in the rain? Come on, let's go back." He then gestured for the two women to leave.
Rongzhen remained motionless.
Xie Lingjiang remained completely still.
Only Pei Shisan Niang took a few steps forward, then turned around and saw that the two women and the young master hadn't left, so she obediently stopped.
The four of them stood there in the rain.
Seeing this, Ouyang Rong's expression changed slightly.
"Thanks."
Xie Lingjiang reached out and took the empty umbrella from his hand, opening it to shield himself from the rain.
In fact, she had been using her inner energy to protect herself from the rain, just like Rong Zhen had been. This was a simple thing for a mid-level Qi cultivator.
Rongzhen turned her head and looked at Ouyang Rong, who was holding an umbrella.
She didn't know when it started, but rain began to fall on her again, gradually wetting her purple clothes.
Rong Zhen stared directly at Ouyang Rong.
Ouyang Rong suddenly turned his head and asked Pei Shisan Niang first:
"Thirteenth Sister, do you need an umbrella? I'm in good health. The doctor said I have excessive liver fire, so a little rain won't hurt me."
Pei Shisan Niang hurriedly waved her hand: "No need, no need, I... I'll go back now, the carriage is right next to me."
"oh."
Under Xie Lingjiang's watchful gaze, Ouyang Rong nodded and casually placed the umbrella into Rong Zhen's hand.
"Ms. Rong, well, never mind, just call me directly. It seems you came alone, without a carriage."
So, Xie Lingjiang and Rong Zhen each got an umbrella.
Ouyang Rong stood obediently outside the two umbrellas, a smile on his face, as if asking casually:
"By the way, what were you guys talking about just now?"
No one answered.
Xie Lingjiang suddenly walked towards Pei Shisan Niang, startling the latter into shrinking back.
"Don't move."
Xie Lingjiang softly took out a handkerchief embroidered with orchids and, while Pei Shisan Niang was still in a daze, gently wiped her right cheek, which bore the handprint of a slap:
“I was impulsive before, and I didn’t distinguish right from wrong. I apologize to Madam Pei. Strictly speaking, you were just doing your duty. No matter what, it’s not your fault. You were in a difficult position… I’m very sorry. It won’t happen again next time.”
After a pause, Xie Lingjiang tilted her head slightly:
"Senior Brother, don't you think so?"
"Yes, yes, I bear the greatest responsibility. I won't do it again. Don't worry, Thirteen Sister, go back and get some rest."
"Okay, sure."
After being personally comforted by the noble lady Xie, Pei Shisan Niang was filled with gratitude and tears welled up in her eyes. She quickly said goodbye and left.
After walking a distance, the beautiful woman in the purple and gold robe raised her hand to touch the two bright red handprints on her face that day. Only then did she realize the significance of the blue-clad constable's disappearing and reappearing maneuvers. With a resentful sigh, she thought, "I still have a lot to learn and improve..."
After Pei Shisan Niang left, only Ouyang Rong, Xie Ling Jiang, and Rong Zhen remained on the field.
The two then shared an umbrella in the rain. Ouyang Rong did not go under either of their umbrellas. Instead, he looked up at the rain, as if observing when it would stop.
Rong Zhen stared at Ouyang Rong.
Their gaze fell on his disheveled clothes and the footprints on his chest.
Xie Lingjiang seemed to ignore Rong Zhen's existence, and suddenly asked Ouyang Rong in surprise:
"What happened to Senior Brother? He's covered in dust."
Ouyang Rong replied instantly: "I tripped and fell just before I left the house."
Rong Zhen sneered: "You fell down, and you still managed to leave footprints on your chest?"
Ouyang Rong analyzed with a serious expression: "It's quite possible. The boots came off first, and I fell on them."
Xie Lingjiang's expression softened slightly. In front of Rong Zhen, she walked up to him, affectionately patted the dust off his clothes, and whispered a word of advice in his ear:
“That jingling white jade hairpin really suits her, so you don’t need to take it back. It just so happens that we met today, and I forgot to bring a gift, but she gave me a talisman instead, and she even obediently called me ‘sister’. So let’s consider this white jade hairpin as a gift from you and me to her together.”
They were whispering, yet their voices seemed louder than the sound of rain.
Rong Zhen suddenly looked up at Ouyang Rong.
Xie Lingjiang ignored him, gave Ouyang Rong a few more instructions, chuckled, and turned to leave.
With an apologetic expression, Ouyang Rong gestured to Rong Zhen, who remained silent, to wait a moment, then quickly stepped forward to see Xie Lingjiang off.
The two walked side by side, and as soon as they were out of sight, he reached out to take Xie Lingjiang's hand, who was walking silently forward. But the junior sister who had just been affectionately cleaning the dust off his clothes shook off his arm and asked coldly, "Do you want your boots to slip off and fall on them again?"
"Yes." Ouyang Rong nodded shamelessly, calmly touching his chest, and continued to reach out to hold her hand.
"You... are sick!" Xie Lingjiang was furious. She took a deep breath, calmed down, and shook off his hand.
Under the azure rain curtain, a stunningly beautiful woman in a red dress walked alone with an umbrella, aloof and indifferent, into the distance.
Ouyang Rong stopped and watched her figure disappear before turning back. When he returned to the spot, he found that Rong Zhen's figure had vanished.
Ouyang Rong subconsciously looked towards the quiet courtyard and was about to rush over when Yan Liulang suddenly appeared at the street corner, carrying several umbrellas in his arms.
He said weakly, "Your Excellency, the Lady Hermit didn't go in; she just turned around and left."
Ouyang Rong breathed a sigh of relief, then asked curiously, "Where did Liu Lang go just now? I haven't seen you anywhere."
Yan Liulang, with his thick eyebrows and large eyes, said, "It's raining, I'll go get an umbrella."
Ouyang Rong frowned, finding the excuse somewhat familiar.
"You're looking for an umbrella too? Okay, just be quick next time."
Yan Liulang nodded quickly: "Yes, yes."
Ouyang Rong then asked Ming Rongzhen which direction she had gone after leaving, and immediately chased after her.
Rongzhen didn't go far, walking with an umbrella, as if she wanted to stroll by the lake.
Ouyang Rong caught up with her, then breathed a sigh of relief, wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve, and asked with concern:
"Where is Lady Rong going?"
"Has the Prefect finished dealing with his family matters?"
Ouyang Rong shook his head: "It's not over yet, there's probably more to come... Please forgive my rudeness, Lady Rong."
"It's not funny. Please move aside and don't block the way."
"Is Lady Rong going back?"
"Okay, go back and call for help."
"Why are you calling for help?"
"The case involves harboring a woman from Yue."
Ouyang Rong immediately stepped in front of Rong Zhen, carefully examined her face, and said softly:
"Please calm down, Lady Rong."
Rongzhen suddenly stopped and said:
"Don't you think she's childish?"
"What?" Ouyang Rong asked in confusion.
"If you're playing dumb, then there's nothing to talk about. Get out of my way, I'm going back to the Censorate to get someone."
Ouyang Rong suddenly said:
"She is indeed a woman from Yue."
"You're quite proud of yourself?"
"How did Lady Ke Rong find out about this, and why did she suddenly come to see you today?"
"If you don't want anyone to know, then don't do it in the first place. You've done such a despicable thing, and I, as the head of the Censorate, oversee Jiangzhou, why shouldn't I know?"
"because……"
He paused, speechless, but still frowned in confusion.
Rongzhen walked quietly for a while, then said:
"Do you remember what we deduced after we seized the first Yunmeng Token from the great hero Zheng Jun and interrogated Li Yu in the water dungeon?"
"What?"
"At that time, it was highly likely that the young woman was hiding in the city."
"Remember."
Ouyang Rong nodded calmly, noticing that Rong Zhen's expression remained unchanged.
She lowered her eyes and spoke softly:
"I have been keeping an eye on this matter and have left a team of female officials to secretly search the city. A few days ago, you suddenly led troops to investigate, which aroused their suspicion. During the investigation, they unexpectedly discovered your courtyard where people were hiding. At first, it was suspected that a Yue woman who had escaped the net was living there and was colluding with the Fang sisters. But later, it was discovered that you were also coming and going, and that you had an intimate relationship with the young lady in the courtyard. I naturally know who she is..."
"Today, Xie Lingjiang and you arrived one after another, which is quite a self-incriminating statement. It seems that you really are that Yue girl who was raised as a child bride. What a coincidence! This fate is just like the song in the storybook, which is so complicated that it is impossible to untangle it."
"Heh, no wonder the governor has been coming here so often these days. Something is definitely amiss."
(End of this chapter)
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