Chapter 707 Li Guo'er: Don't ruin her! [Seeking monthly votes!]
"This princess has no objection; I will listen to Young Master Ouyang's suggestion."
In a boudoir within the Xunyang Prince's Mansion, in a study on the third floor of a vermilion building, two figures were present.
Ouyang Rong had just gone to see his junior sister first, and then stopped by next door to find this little princess.
At that moment, he spoke to Li Guo'er, who was flipping through a book, about Lu Ya and asked for her opinion... He only heard Li Guo'er answer without turning her head.
"good."
Ouyang Rong sat upright in his seat, picked up his teacup without looking to the side, and took a sip.
Li Guo'er stood in front of a row of tall bookshelves at the inner end of the study. The afternoon sun shone on half of her cheek, making her skin glow. The plum blossom makeup mark on her forehead was as red as blood. Her beautiful profile was full of serious and focused expression.
Li Guo'er stood before the bookshelf, head bowed, slowly turning the pages one by one. After a while, she asked a question:
"Does Young Master Ouyang have anything else to say?"
Ouyang Rong looked down at the little creature wriggling around his feet, picked it up, and stroked its fluffy head, his expression somewhat hesitant.
Regarding the luminous pearl, it might be the "moon-like object" that Li Guo'er has been looking for, but he has never told Li Guo'er about it... He's a little embarrassed.
In the end, Ouyang Rong still couldn't remove it, shaking his head and saying:
"It's nothing, I just feel I'm troubling Your Highness a bit."
"It's alright, I'm used to troubling you."
"..."
Ouyang Rong regained his composure and cupped his hands in greeting:
"If there are any other matters in the future, Your Highness, please feel free to give your orders!"
Li Guo'er said calmly, "Okay, I'll have it now."
Ouyang Rong was taken aback: "What? What are your orders?"
Beside the bookshelf, Li Guo'er gently turned a page, seemingly engrossed in reading.
She said, "Tell me the whole story. Who is the man that Lu Ya is asked to help find?"
After a moment's thought, Ouyang Rong recounted the general outline of the incident involving the thin-faced man, including his views on the issue of whether or not the White Tiger Guards of Hukou County should stay or leave with Rong Zhen.
Li Guo'er put down her book, and Ouyang Rong saw her slightly narrow her eyes as she spoke:
"You mean that Princess Anhui's people contacted Miaozhen in private and have now gone to Hukou County, seemingly to find Duan Quanwu... so you suspect this person is up to something, is that what you mean?"
"almost."
Li Guo'er touched her lips with her index finger, pondered for a moment, and asked in detail:
How many people know about this right now?
Ouyang Rong said softly, "Besides my people, the only people on the Prince's side are Junior Sister and you. I haven't even spoken to the Prince yet, mainly because the matter hasn't been investigated clearly. If I speak rashly, it will deepen the Prince and Princess's prejudice against Princess Anhui, and they will blame Dalang even more, especially regarding Qin Ying's matter, which could easily bring up old grievances."
"You mean, Wei Anhui might not know? But isn't this her person? How could she not know anything about someone leaving her residence?"
Li Guo'er emerged from behind the bookshelf, holding a scroll of scriptures in her hands, a mocking smile playing on her lips:
"You really think she's a delicate flower? You men are so chivalrous, you can even make excuses for beautiful women."
Upon hearing the words "Little White Flower," Ouyang Rong couldn't help but glance at Li Guo'er.
If Wei Shaoqi were here, he would probably give this statement a thumbs up.
Why are you looking at me, the princess?
"fine."
Ouyang Rong shook his head and continued:
"It's not out of pity for her, it's just that I don't want to hurt Dalang's feelings, especially since the evidence is insufficient. Anyway, no matter if Wei Anhui is an innocent girl or not, Dalang can't have any contact with her. Let's just assume she is. Think of the worst-case scenario. However, don't rub salt into Dalang's wounds for no reason. Dalang has done quite well these days. Last time, Princess Anhui invited him repeatedly, but he didn't go. He took the initiative to refuse and reported honestly."
That makes sense.
Li Guo'er nodded gently: "But he still has it in mind. Don't think that just because he's hiding it well, others won't notice and he can only keep it from his father."
She then said crisply:
"Actually, brother, you just don't know enough about relationships. A real man shouldn't worry about not having a wife. You can't even forget a woman you shouldn't like. Brother, you're not rational enough and you're a bit naive."
Ouyang Rong coughed.
Li Guo'er glanced sideways, a half-smile playing on her lips:
"What, did I touch a nerve with someone?"
Ouyang Rong did not answer.
Li Guo'er nodded to herself:
"Hmm, so it was empathy. No wonder you care so much about your brother's feelings. You understand him now, right? Getting entangled with a woman you shouldn't like."
Ouyang Rong did not want to answer.
Li Guo'er changed the subject: "But I'll say it again, brother is not you. You can understand him, but don't encourage him. You are you, and he is him. He can't handle things as well as you, and he's more likely to get himself into trouble."
"Your Highness, please continue with your business."
Ouyang Rong got up to leave, but Li Guo'er called him back:
"etc."
"What is it?"
"There's something about what you just said that I don't know if you've noticed."
"Your Highness, please speak."
Li Guo'er analyzed:
"Have you noticed Rongzhen's attitude? This time, her insistence on a victory celebration seems to indicate that she's hoping the rebels from the Tiannan Jianghu will come."
Ouyang Rong glanced at her again and nodded:
"That's right. Duan Quanwu bringing people back on the fifteenth was probably her idea. She supports this, and I could feel that when I talked to her."
“That’s right.” Li Guo’er pondered, “Before the Buddha statue landed, she was still trying to hide it, but now that it’s landed ahead of schedule, is she so confident in controlling the rebels in the Southern Jianghu? Is she looking forward to their arrival?”
Ouyang Rong nodded: "Actually, part of the reason might be... that she has a grudge against the owner of the Butterfly Love Flower whom I was impersonating, and it's not a small one. She has always wanted to take revenge."
Li Guo'er asked curiously, "What did you do to upset her?"
Ouyang Rong's answer was vague: "An accident."
Li Guo'er looked him up and down, then said with great interest:
"I remember, she's on very good terms with you now."
Ouyang Rong said with a somewhat helpless expression:
"I'm just a little guilty, afraid that she and the Imperial Observatory will catch me red-handed. I have to maintain good relations with them, keep track of the progress, and avoid being exposed."
Li Guo'er seemed not to hear, and continued to speak to herself:
"I've met this Lady Rongzhen before. She's very proud, but she's cold on the outside and warm on the inside. She appears icy, but once her heart warms up, no one can stop her. The contrast is huge. Most importantly, this kind of woman's love and hate are exceptionally clear... Tsk tsk, Ouyang Lianghan, don't ruin this young lady."
Before Ouyang Rong could speak, Li Guo'er chuckled, waved her hand, and went downstairs to leave.
Ouyang Rong watched her disappearing figure, shook his head speechlessly, and after a while, he put down his teacup, went downstairs and left.
...
The governor's mansion, the council hall.
It was deserted today, except for a few figures.
Ouyang Rong, Pei Shisan Niang, Yan Liulang, and Magistrate Diao.
"Brother-in-law."
Wang Caozhi strode in, picked up his teacup, and drank it all in one gulp.
"They've all left?"
Ouyang Rong put down his teacup and asked.
Wang Caozhi nodded and said:
"Yes, they've all left. The arrangements are mostly complete. Master Lu will accompany Magistrate Meng back to Hukou County first. I've sent my men with them. Once they arrive in Hukou County, the people tracking them will contact them... I'll go back to the grotto to pack my things and hand things over to Madam Pei. I'll head over there too; the boat leaves this afternoon."
Ouyang Rong nodded slightly: "You've worked hard."
Pei Shisan Niang poured Ouyang Rong a cup of hot tea and gently comforted him:
"Young master, you can rest assured. With Magistrate Meng's help and Daoist Lu's assistance, we will definitely be able to find the person in a small county like Hukou. It's just a matter of time."
Yan Liulang nodded: "That's right, and we need to focus on the key point. We should keep a close eye on Duan Quanwu and see if anyone is in contact with him."
Wang Caozhi agreed: "Good idea."
After a short while, Ouyang Rong changed the subject.
He summoned Pei Shisan Niang and Wang Caozhi today to discuss Pei Shisan Niang joining the project and participating in the subsequent construction of Xunyang Grottoes.
This was actually something Ouyang Rong had promised a long time ago.
Now that Pei Shisan Niang has finished dealing with the renovation of the old houses in Xingzifang, it's time to bring her on board, which would be a deeper level of mutual benefit.
This is also why Wang Caozhi is staying in Hukou County instead of going there today; he needs to finish dealing with this matter first.
In addition, Ouyang Rong recently had an idea to have the grain merchants who had followed him for a long time at Xunyang Grottoes, along with Pei Shisan Niang and the Yangzhou merchants under her command, jointly prepare for the establishment of a chamber of commerce.
It's similar to the Yangzhou Chamber of Commerce that previously banded together for mutual support.
However, this new chamber of commerce will use Xunyang Grottoes as its initial link of interests, which will also make it convenient for him to do things in other places later, whether he stays in a local area as a prefect or goes to the capital.
Ouyang Rong has only put forward an idea so far, and the name has not yet been decided.
But at this moment, Wang Caozhi and Pei Shisan Niang were already having a serious discussion, temporarily putting aside all their conflicts and disagreements.
Ouyang Rong told Wang Caozhi and Pei Shisan Niang to talk amongst themselves, and then turned to discuss the matter with Magistrate Diao.
Previously, he had entered the Xunyang Grottoes into seclusion for ten days. He had asked Pei Shisan Niang to secretly visit Magistrate Diao. At that time, he arranged a way out from Xunyang Ferry to Longcheng County, which was for the Xunyang Prince's Mansion.
Ouyang Rong pondered for a moment, then stepped forward and whispered a few words in his ear.
Magistrate Diao nodded with a serious expression.
After a short while, Magistrate Diao said in a low voice:
"Understood, young master. We will be ready in Dragon City at any time."
Ouyang Rong nodded slightly, then frowned, seemingly lost in thought.
A short while later, the private meeting ended, and Magistrate Diao left with a beaming smile. Being entrusted with an important task by his superior meant he had no worries about advancement.
Ouyang Rong turned around and handed Pei Shisan Niang a letter.
"Young master, what brings you here?"
Pei Shisan Niang opened it out of curiosity and began to browse.
Ouyang Rong said softly:
"Thirteenth Sister, you did a good job with the renovation of the old houses in Xingzifang this time. Although you said you didn't lose money, I know that for you merchants, not making a profit is actually a loss. Even if you don't care, in the long run, your subordinates will eventually become disloyal. Not everyone has such a high level of awareness as you."
"Keep this letter of recommendation safe. If necessary, you can give it to Madam Xie in Yangzhou. You Yangzhou merchants should all have a base of support in your hometown of Yangzhou. If anything happens, you can go to Madam Xie and just mention my name."
Pei Shisan Niang was pleasantly surprised and quickly thanked him, saying, "Thank you so much, young master. This letter is worth a fortune."
Xie Xue'e's husband, who is also her junior sister's uncle, is the governor of Yangzhou. Being able to get in touch with the governor's wife is invaluable. Even if you do nothing, just mentioning Xie Xue'e's name can solve most of the problems in Yangzhou.
A short while later, Ouyang Rong bid farewell to Pei Shisan Niang, left the governor's mansion, and went to Xunyang Grottoes with Wang Caozhi.
In a familiar pavilion, I saw Rongzhen again.
The lady-in-waiting looked somewhat impatient and asked him, "Why are you here again?"
Ouyang Rong laughed and said, "Help Cao Zhi pack his things."
Rongzhen asked, puzzled, "Packing his things? Where is he going?"
“Go back to his business. Anyway, things have calmed down here at the grottoes, and we don’t need him anymore. He can’t just stay here forever.”
Wang Caozhi, who had just finished packing and arrived, poked his head out from behind Ouyang Rong and said with a grin:
"Good morning, Sister Rong. Goodbye, Sister Rong."
Before Rong Zhen could even frown and reprimand him, Wang Caozhi had already run away in a flash.
Ouyang Rong looked helpless and pointed to Wang Caozhi's back: "I'll see him off."
Rong Zhen snorted coldly, as if remembering something, and called out, "After you've seen them off, remember to come back later, there's something I need to tell you."
Ouyang Rong asked curiously, "What is it?"
Rongzhen said softly, "The senior is leaving."
Ouyang Rong paused, then asked, "Mr. Yu?"
She nodded: "Mm."
When are you leaving?
"Take them away first, we'll talk when you get back."
Rongzhen waved her hand, her pretty face stern, and left for the time being.
Ouyang Rong nodded thoughtfully, then turned and left.
On the way back to Xunyang City, Ouyang Rong and Wang Caozhi rode in the same carriage. Along the way, Ouyang Rong gave Wang Caozhi some instructions about Hukou County, and the two arrived at Xunyang Grottoes.
Before boarding the ship, Wang Caozhi suddenly asked:
"I've been in the grotto for a long time and often see Lady Rongzhen. I've discovered something, and I wonder if my brother-in-law has noticed it either."
Ouyang Rong asked curiously, "What did you discover?"
“I noticed that Ms. Rongzhen was always cold or indifferent to everyone else, and she never smiled. But I only saw her smile at you, brother-in-law, and she only showed that expression when she was talking to you.”
Ouyang Rong asked, "What do you mean?"
"It doesn't mean anything, I just think it's interesting, that's all..."
Wang Caozhi finished reciting a series of words in a rhyming manner, slipped onto the ship, and his figure disappeared on the deck.
"Is that so? Why does she seem cold to everyone, to the point of being rude? Is that how you treat everyone the same..."
Ouyang Rong muttered something to himself, his brow furrowed for a long time, and quietly watched Wang Caozhi's ship sail away.
He turned around, his back to the river, and walked silently down the bustling street with his sleeves tucked in.
At one point, the young man with the sleeves turned around and glanced back at the long corridor where he had guessed riddles with her during the Lantern Festival.
The red lanterns and the grandfather and grandson who set up the stall were gone, but the lady of the house did seem to have smiled that night when he walked back with the hairpin prize between his two fingers.
For some reason, the soft laughter of a certain little princess faintly echoed in my ears yesterday.
“…Ouyang Lianghan, don’t you dare ruin that young girl…”
(End of this chapter)
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