Chapter 752 They messed up the other person's life.
For some reason, Ouyang Rong heard again the casual words of advice Li Guo'er had given him a few days ago:
"Ouyang Lianghan, don't you dare ruin her life."
This little princess is such a jinx!
Ouyang Rong walked ahead, his back to the graceful young woman in palace attire. His face was filled with bitterness, guilt, and worry.
Before he could even process what was happening, Rong Zhen quickly stepped forward from behind to stand shoulder to shoulder with him.
Ouyang Rong straightened his back and his expression returned to normal.
We walked towards the high platform for a while.
"Why haven't I seen you enjoy spinning prayer beads so much before?"
Rongzhen turned her head to look at Ouyang Rong, who was turning the wooden prayer beads along the way, and asked with some curiosity.
Ouyang Rong, with a serious expression on his face, said:
"I am deeply grateful for the Emperor's grace in bestowing this pearl upon me. This is my way of praying for the Emperor's long life."
Rong Zhen, whose pretty face was initially tense, stepped forward with her sleeves tucked behind her sleeves, walking side by side with Ouyang Rong. Upon hearing this, however, a hint of happiness flickered in her voice:
"Your words sound a lot like Senior Song's tone. However, it's quite good. Ouyang Lianghan, sometimes don't be too annoyed by Senior Song's constant references to sages and his empty rhetoric. Listening to him occasionally and learning from him will greatly help your future career in the capital. In fact, Senior Song is the smartest. This is how to survive in the palace."
"Then...why doesn't Lady Rong study?"
Rong Zhen turned her head away, her gaze lowered, and spoke softly:
"I have never been good with words and am not good at expressing my emotions. Don't you know that?"
Ouyang Rong dared not reply. He gripped the prayer beads tightly in his hand, no longer bothering to turn them, and strode forward.
Approaching the high platform, looking up, Yi Qianqiu and Duan Quanwu were not there; they had probably gone down to deploy troops.
Instead, an old woman with disdainful eyes appeared on the stage, looking at them; it seemed she had returned after delivering the white jade prayer beads.
Judging from Rong Zhen's high regard for that string of white jade prayer beads, her instructions to Granny Song when she handed it over, and her so-called special quota for managing the Great Buddha, it is highly likely that this item is related to the Donglin Great Buddha and the Tian Shu Great Array, and may symbolize some kind of authority that can mobilize the array... Ouyang Rong secretly speculated.
With the "strange female historian" following closely behind, and a mountain of complicated and chaotic information piling up in his mind, waiting for him to make a calm judgment, Ouyang Rong's state of mind inevitably became somewhat agitated amidst all the thoughts swirling around him.
He licked his lips and was about to head up the steps when a flash of inspiration suddenly crossed his mind.
It's to avoid the sword energy beam.
Inspiration is sometimes like that. It doesn't come when you're circling around and racking your brains, but now that you've been startled by "Lady Historian's strange behavior" and fallen silent, it suddenly appears on its own, even though he wasn't thinking calmly at the moment.
If, when the true sound of the sword technique and zither music of the [Emperor Wen] arrives, he casts the Divine Decree in advance, causing Tao Yuanming to possess him in time, could he avoid the azure sword energy pillar of the [Craftsman] Sword Master?
Ouyang Rong had previously used the Divine Decree at the Xingzi Lake construction site, using Huang Feihong as a vessel, and had experienced it once, gaining valuable experience.
As the vessel, Huang Feihong can dominate the body or relinquish control to Ouyang Rong. When Ouyang Rong controls Huang Feihong's body, he can temporarily reshape the vessel with the help of abundant spiritual energy, gain the cultivation of the Sword-wielding Human Dao lineage, and control [Craftsmanship].
Theoretically, Huang Feihong possessed the sword energy of the "Craftsmanship" skill at that time.
Similarly, if one were to invite the spirit of Tao Yuanming to possess one's body, the same thing could be achieved.
Tao Yuanming was the legendary swordsman of the "Humble Scholar," whose sword aura was sky blue.
Regardless of why he is the "Sword Master of the Poor Scholar," he can simply pretend to be ignorant and explain that he is a hot-tempered person from the Poor Scholar, and that he had a serendipitous encounter with the Poor Scholar because of the original copy of "Peach Blossom Spring" that Yuan Huaimin lent him.
Anyway, this lame excuse is better than waiting for the old musician to start playing his zither, and everyone to be eager and ready, only to have a straight, sky-piercing blue beam of light shoot out from him standing in the middle of the crowd... That scene is too outrageous for Ouyang Rong to even imagine. He is gentle, kind, handsome, and has achieved perfect merit; Heaven cannot treat him like this.
Ouyang Rong began to spin the prayer beads again in his sleeve, this time at a much faster speed.
He nodded almost imperceptibly... Hmm, this substitution method is logically feasible and worth a try. Let's use it together with blocking hearing.
Rongzhen, who was walking up the steps side by side with Ouyang Rong, had actually been paying attention to him all along.
She glanced at his hand under his sleeve and asked in confusion:
Why do you look like you have something on your mind?
Ouyang Rong suddenly sighed, turned his head, and said with a serious expression:
"Ms. Rong, actually I am... a master. I'm confessing now, do you believe me?"
Rongzhen nodded without hesitation:
"I believe you. Yesterday, I saw you bring the embroiderer into your home in full view of everyone, without arousing any jealousy or opposition from Xie Lingjiang and Miss Ye... With such ability, of course I believe you."
Ouyang Rong was taken aback for a moment, then realized that what she firmly believed in was matters of the heart.
"I'm not being frivolous, I'm not talking about that kind of expert, Lady Rong, please don't joke around. I'm referring to spiritual energy cultivation..."
Rong Zhen waved his sleeve and interrupted:
"Don't even think about it. Just follow behind me. Leave the task of capturing the lecherous thief to me and General Duan."
The haughty female historian snorted coldly, looked away, and said in a slightly warning tone:
"You're not allowed to act recklessly. Even a peerless master wouldn't be able to help you, understand?"
Ouyang Rong: "..."
Perhaps feeling that her tone was too cold and forceful, Rong Zhen lowered her eyes slightly, silently waiting for a while. When Ouyang Rong still didn't speak, her voice softened a little:
"I know your good intentions, and I also want that lecherous thief to be brought to justice and taught him a lesson by my own hands. I wish I could tear him to pieces, right? I appreciate it, but you are not allowed to take any risks, do you hear me? The Xunyang Grottoes and the people of Jiangzhou still need you. If anything happens to you, how can I explain it to them?"
As Rongzhen finished speaking, she raised her eyes and looked directly at him, her small face full of righteous indignation.
Just then, the two of them went up on stage, and Granny Song came over.
Rong Zhen quickly looked away, reverting to her composed and serious demeanor as a lady-in-waiting, and ignored Ouyang Rong.
Looking at her straight and slender back, Ouyang Rong opened his mouth, then closed it again.
He thought to himself, "Just touch on it enough, enough with the groundwork laid..."
While Rongzhen and Granny Song were talking, Ouyang Rong observed the two sticks of incense in the incense burner, and at the same time silently prepared to issue a decree to summon the gods.
He took a moment to glance at the small wooden fish inside the pagoda of merit.
He currently has over six thousand merits, enough for Ouyang Rong to use twice...
"Did Senior Song meet Senior Yu?"
Facing Granny Song, Rongzhen got straight to the point, making no attempt to hide anything from Ouyang Rong standing nearby.
"Hmm." Granny Song nodded slightly: "I gave him the prayer beads. He said there was no problem. The owner of the Butterfly Love Flower you are looking for will definitely be exposed as long as he is within a hundred miles. However, he said that the zither music will only be played once, and the echo will remain inside the Buddha... You only have the time of one piece of music, so you should make the most of it."
Rongzhen seemed to have mentally calculated what she had planned, and nodded earnestly:
"Of course, no problem."
Seeing the displeasure on Song Mama's wrinkled face, she asked:
"What would you like to say, Senior Song?"
Granny Song gave a cold snort, clearly displeased:
"That fellow surnamed Yu is truly ungrateful. I don't know what's so great about his dilapidated hometown. He refuses the wealth and honor bestowed upon him by the sage, and he won't even accept the offer to return home in glory. He just wants to go back like an old bachelor, without taking anything with him. He's really getting more and more backward as he gets older."
"Before I left, he kept me occupied, asking me a lot of questions and confirming things, asking how his return home was going, and whether our Imperial Observatory could really keep our promise and never go looking for him again."
Rongzhen asked, "What was Senior Song's reply?"
Granny Song said in a hoarse and stiff voice:
"I said that as long as the matter of the Donglin Buddha is resolved satisfactorily, I will guarantee to let him go. Otherwise, no matter where he runs, I will bring him back."
Rongzhen asked again, "A perfect ending?"
The old woman with the white eyes said calmly:
"Well, for example, let's settle these grudges first, including you learning that zither music and sword technique."
After a pause, Granny Song gave another instruction:
"Rong girl, learn the sword technique quickly, don't delay."
"good."
Rongzhen agreed, and sighed softly:
“Senior Song, I had promised Senior Yu that after I finished playing this piece and left its echo inside the Buddha, I would let him leave once today’s business was mostly finished. The boats and such were already prepared. Senior Song, it’s not appropriate for you to add another condition.”
Granny Song sneered, "No wonder he looked so unwilling just now. But, Rong girl, don't spoil him. This old fellow is just cunning and disrespectful to his elders. He's taking advantage of how easy it is for you young people to talk to."
She waved her hand dismissively:
"It's alright. These are all acts of kindness from the sage. What's wrong with adding one more? I will make the decision on this matter. You don't need to speak up for him anymore."
Rongzhen frowned, as if about to speak.
Granny Song asked, "Has the princess left?"
Rongzhen came to her senses and said softly, "Yes, I left this morning and went to Xunyang Ferry."
Granny Song glanced at Rong Zhen's expression.
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Rong seemed to remember something, frowned, and interrupted them:
"Princess Anhui is still going out today? Why didn't you stop her?"
Just then, a deep voice suddenly came from below the stage, accompanied by the sound of heavy armor being stepped on the steps.
“Prefect Ouyang, Lady Rongzhen, General Li is looking for you. He came from the ferry on the south bank.”
It was Duan Quanwu.
Beside him stood a young general in white robes with striking eyebrows and bright eyes; it was none other than Li Congshan.
The two White Tiger Guard generals are walking quickly onto the stage.
Not far behind them, there was a group of armored soldiers who seemed to be escorting several people, but they did not enter. They were blocked outside the main grotto by the guards of the main grotto.
The discipline inside and outside Shuangfengjian is currently very strict. Even though they are all White Tiger Guard soldiers, without the orders of Rong Zhen and Yi Qianqiu, the soldiers and female officials left behind on the south bank cannot cross the river without authorization. Even the soldiers accompanying Li Congshan and Duan Quanwu are not allowed to cross. Today, the closer people are to the Donglin Buddha, the more elite and trusted they are...
Miaozhen was nowhere to be seen beside Li Congshan. Ouyang Rong and Rongzhen noticed that he looked anxious, as if he was in a hurry.
"What happened to General Li?"
Rong Zhen immediately stepped forward and pressed for an answer:
"Has something happened at the ferry crossing?"
Ouyang Rong asked in return, "Have those river pirates arrived?"
Li Congshan immediately shook his head, clasped his hands in a fist and said:
"Nothing happened at the ferry crossing, and the river pirates haven't attacked yet. Lady Miaozhen is watching over there. She will report immediately if there is any enemy attack. Please rest assured, Lady Miaozhen and Governor."
Ouyang Rong frowned and asked, "Then what are you doing here?"
Li Congshan pointed to the group of followers who were being stopped at the entrance of the main grotto behind them:
"The pirates didn't come, but a boat arrived at the ferry and was stopped by our men. A young man surnamed Wang, who claimed to be your brother-in-law, got off the boat."
“Prefect Ouyang, I remember that before you crossed the river, you left instructions that if a man named Wang Caozhi came looking for you, you should bring him to see you immediately. I don’t know if it is him…”
Ouyang Rong was stunned, and exchanged a glance with Rong Zhen, whose expression was equally surprised.
Just then, from the entrance of the main grotto in the distance came the shouts of a short young man, who jumped and shouted:
"Brother-in-law! I'm back! Let me in quickly, I have something to report! Oh, Sister Rong, you're here too! Sister Rong, can you do something about these people? Why are they stopping me for inspection? It's not like I haven't been here before, don't they recognize me? This is so strange..."
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Rong's lips twitched slightly.
Rong Zhen, with a stern face, snorted, as if she was somewhat displeased.
Ouyang Rong rubbed his forehead: "That's right, it's him. General Li, you've worked hard."
Li Congshan shook his head and said solemnly, "It is what I should do..."
Ouyang Rong didn't stand on ceremony with him anymore, stepped off the stage, and went to pick up his brother-in-law, Wang Caozhi.
Rongzhen lifted her foot to follow, her hands tucked into her sleeves, following him like a shadow.
Upon seeing this, Li Congshan, who was standing with his fists clasped in place, immediately turned around and followed behind Ouyang Rong, just like Rong Zhen.
A hint of urgency appeared on the young general's face as he pressed for an answer:
"Prefect Ouyang, this morning the Prince asked you to send me and Lady Miaozhen to set up defenses here. You instructed me to ambush the river pirates at Shuangfengjian Ferry, but our men have been waiting all morning without seeing a trace of them, nor have we seen any large number of government ships on the river. Prefect Ouyang, is this arrangement somewhat inappropriate? Is the Prince's residence in the city safe? I am somewhat worried, and I have a bad feeling about this..."
After a pause, Li Congshan said in a somewhat serious tone:
"You might not believe it, but since I woke up this morning, my right eyelid has been twitching every now and then. As the saying goes... never mind. Governor Ouyang, what do you think? Should we reconsider our plans and change our strategy, so that I and Lady Miaozhen can lead our men back to the city to guard the Xunyang Prince's Mansion, just in case?"
Ouyang Rong paused slightly and turned to look at Li Congshan's young and inexperienced face.
The latter cast a pleading look at him.
Ouyang Rong laughed heartily:
"What a coincidence, it's the same for me, but my right eyelid has been twitching since I woke up yesterday morning."
He smiled and asked considerately, "General Li, what you're actually trying to say is... as the saying goes... a twitching right eyelid means bad luck, right?"
“That’s right!” Li Congshan readily admitted.
Ouyang Rong stared at Li Congshan for a moment, then suddenly stepped forward and patted the dust off his shoulder:
"All the old sayings are nonsense. There's no such thing as an eyelid twitching disaster. Eyelid twitching is just eye strain. General Li, try not to read by lamplight at night... Never mind, tomorrow I'll teach you White Tiger Guards a secret technique that's not passed down to outsiders. It's called eye exercises. If you don't have time, General Li, lead your brothers to do more exercises. That's all. You can go back now. Guard the ferry well; that's a great achievement."
Li Congshan: ...?
Rongzhen, Granny Song, and others: ...
(End of this chapter)
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