Chapter 759 It's all the purple little bellyband's fault!
Just like when naming a child, "boys shouldn't have 'heaven' in their names, and girls shouldn't have 'immortal' in their names."
Throughout history, the title of princesses and noblewomen could not be arbitrarily modified by adding the word "immortal".
But right now.
Princess Zhenxian.
Upon hearing these four words, Ouyang Rong's first focus was on the word "immortal".
The title "True Immortal" is far too grand! It's not something an ordinary, ill-fated princess could handle. Titles like "Changning," "Shou'an," or "Yongping" would be more appropriate, reflecting a gentle and refined nature.
For a princess to dare to claim the title of "True Immortal," she must either have become a nun seeking immortality or have some other reason, and she must also be deeply favored and pampered! Because the expectations that the royal family places on her, like the title itself, are not about peaceful enjoyment, but about achieving glorious immortality.
Ouyang Rong felt a bit thirsty.
At this moment, on the high platform, he was being stared at by Rong Zhen... no, by Wei Rong.
After saying those words with her little face tilted up, her eyes glistened, her gaze was bright, her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and she stared at him intently for a while.
"Now you know my deepest selfish desires, Ouyang Lianghan. Don't you feel a little smug?"
Ouyang Rong looked away.
"No."
The girl in palace attire took a deep breath, spoke again, her voice now trembling with suppressed sobs, forcing a smile:
"No, you do have ulterior motives, haha, so she has ulterior motives too, just like keeping her adopted daughter-in-law hidden away. So she has no right to criticize you, right?"
She tried to imitate Ouyang Rong's tone of voice, but Ouyang Rong immediately denied it:
"Absolutely not, the True Immortal Princess..."
"Don't call me Princess Zhenxian, and don't use the surname Wei either!" Rongzhen suddenly interrupted him, saying somewhat excitedly, "I don't like these titles, I haven't liked them since the first day I got them. I want you to call me by my original name, preferably Rongzhen, like we did outside the bamboo forest just now, and you're not allowed to add the title of Lady Historian."
Under Rong Zhen's incredibly bold gaze, Ouyang Rong remained silent for a moment before speaking:
"Rongzhen, what is your relationship with Wei Jisi and Wei Sixing?"
"Cousins".
Ouyang Rong frowned: "Cousins? You're of the same generation?"
"Um."
"Then your age is..."
"What are you thinking? I am younger than you. My mother gave birth to me very late. She was the youngest of her brothers and sisters. She was my maternal grandfather's daughter in his old age... I only entered the Golden Boy and Jade Girl realm of the Yin-Yang School at an early age, which is why I was able to preserve my youth and form. I am not an old maid."
He paused for a moment, then said, "I didn't think that way, that's not what I meant. I just didn't expect you to be of such a high seniority in the Wei family. Wouldn't Princess Anhui and the former Third Young Master Wei be calling you 'cousin'?"
"That's how it is legally, but I don't like them calling each other by their clan seniority, nor do I like dealing with them. I usually stay in the palace."
"Legal principles?"
"Yes, my mother and the father of Wei Jisi and Wei Sixing are half-siblings."
"Wait, doesn't that mean your mother and the current emperor are also..."
Ouyang Rong couldn't help but look up, his words hesitant.
Wei Jisi, the Prince of Wei, and Wei Sixing, the Prince of Liang, were cousins and both nephews of the reigning emperor.
The two men's fathers were the two elder brothers of the current emperor, but they both died young, leaving only the two brothers. As the male heirs of the family, they were considered the second generation of the Wei family's successors.
Ouyang Rong remained silent for a moment.
Rongzhen sniffed:
“My mother was the emperor’s younger sister. When I was eight years old, my mother passed away. Perhaps out of guilt and to make amends, the emperor took me back to the palace and raised me by his side…”
After listening carefully, Ouyang Rong finally understood.
The current emperor had two elder brothers, an elder sister, and a younger sister.
The two older brothers were half-brothers.
The older sister and younger sister are actually full siblings, sharing the same parents.
There are subtle differences in the degree of intimacy among them.
From the perspective of the current emperor, it is clear that he was closer to the two sisters.
You can tell from the fact that Rongzhen was brought back to the palace and raised by the emperor's own side that she is the only daughter of the emperor's younger sister.
If she were a male, her status in the Wei clan would at least be no less than that of the King of Wei or the King of Liang, and she might even replace them as the second-generation successor of the Wei clan.
After all, the current emperor is a female emperor, so what difference does it make whether the sons of sisters or brothers are close or distant?
Therefore, although Rongzhen was a woman, she held a very special status in the Wei clan at that time. She was of the same generation as Wei Jisi, the King of Wei, and Liang Sixing, and was also deeply favored by the emperor.
Ouyang Rong sighed:
"No wonder the Sage favored you so much as the Lady in Colorful Robes before, even though there was more than one Lady in Colorful Robes."
After a pause, he asked:
"Then... what's the deal with the title of True Immortal Princess? Also, don't you take your father's surname? Were your parents from the same clan who got married?"
Rongzhen whispered:
"Not of the same clan... but the Sage regarded me as a descendant of the Wei family, and ordered me to take my mother's surname and change it to Wei. My rank was also raised by one grade, from county princess to county princess, equivalent to the daughter of a prince. As for the title of True Immortal..."
“My mother once told the Sage that when she was pregnant with me, she dreamed of immortals, and when she woke up, there was auspicious wind and rainbows over her bed… After my mother passed away, I was taken back to the Luoyang Imperial Palace. The Sage made me become a monk to pray for blessings, and I was given the Taoist name Zhenxian. Later, by chance, the Qi Observer of the Imperial Observatory discovered my talent for Qi cultivation. The Sage was overjoyed, and the Grand Master of Fate personally came out of seclusion and accepted me as his disciple…”
"You know what happened after that. I chose to stay by the Emperor's side as Lady Caishang. Besides that, it seems the Emperor was reluctant to let me marry far away from the capital and follow in my mother's footsteps..."
Rongzhen's words were sometimes detailed and sometimes brief.
Ouyang Rong listened quietly without asking any more questions, as if his confusion had been resolved.
The two faced each other, their hands still tucked into their sleeves, yet they remained silent.
Rong Zhen calmed down a bit and kept her eyes fixed on his face, observing his expression:
"Ouyang Lianghan, is there anything else you want to ask?"
Ouyang Rong shook his head.
Rongzhen suddenly said:
"You really didn't look."
Ouyang Rong asked, puzzled, "Didn't you see anything?"
With strangers around, Rong Zhen didn't answer, her almond-shaped eyes slightly lowered, and she murmured to herself:
“I did not mistrust you. You are a true gentleman. My name, ‘Wei Rong,’ was clearly written on that garment. It was embroidered by my mother herself. Anyone who saw it would know this. Yet, when you handled it, you never opened it to peek. You are truly different from other men. That lecherous thief who stole the Butterfly Love Flower is no match for you at all… You are a true gentleman.”
It took Ouyang Rong a full three breaths to realize what she was talking about.
His gaze swept over Rongzhen's neck, which was completely covered by her purple palace dress.
The young woman in palace attire is dressed entirely in regal purple today, and if nothing unexpected happens, the inner garment is also purple... still that little purple undergarment that she lost and found, now faded from washing.
At this moment, Ouyang Rong's face remained calm, his eyes slightly indifferent, but his heart was in turmoil.
Depend on!
You mean the name was embroidered on the bib?
Can I tell your surname is Wei just by looking at you?
Why didn't you say so sooner?
Hiss, no wonder Rong Zhen never doubted him from beginning to end, and didn't think he was the master of Butterfly Love Flower.
If he were truly the owner of the Butterfly Loves Flower, given his reputation as a lecherous thief who stole the undergarment, he would almost certainly have opened it, examined it closely, and defiled it. It would be impossible for him not to have noticed the name on the undergarment.
Therefore, it is obvious that the "Master of Butterfly Love Flower," who is a lecherous thief, must know that her surname is Wei. If he did not know, then he is neither the Master of Butterfly Love Flower nor his accomplice!
Especially after the conflict in Huang Xuan's courtyard, Ouyang Rong pretended to find it and returned the purple undergarment to her while she was recovering from serious injuries.
Afterwards, he would inquire about her well-being and visit her whenever he felt like it, but in reality, he was just afraid of being exposed. Being close to her would allow him to keep track of the investigation's progress and prevent the Lady Historian from finding fault with him.
However, Rongzhen certainly didn't see it that way, and it gave her a different feeling.
After all, anyone with eyes to see knows that Ouyang Rong has a close relationship with the Xunyang Prince's Mansion, and may even be its chief strategist. Rong Zhen must be aware of this as well.
Thus, his actions further highlighted his gentlemanly integrity; despite having handled the purple undergarment, he remained completely unaware that she was a lady from the Wei family.
This starkly contrasted with the lecherous master of the Butterfly Love Flower Sect; she was simply radiant and righteous. One wonders what this lady of the court was thinking during that time…
Ouyang Rong was hesitant to continue reviewing the events.
If I remember correctly, his "colleague relationship" with Rongzhen gradually deepened after he returned the purple undergarment. Rongzhen's impression of him also changed after that. Later, the two began to cooperate sincerely and became more and more in sync... to this day.
Good grief, what a gentleman's test this is.
They don't guard against lecherous thieves, but only against virtuous men, right?
In an instant, a single thought flashed through his mind, and everything connected, leading Ouyang Rong to complete enlightenment.
I was simply following my personal principles and returning the item to its rightful owner, but unexpectedly, things turned out much better than I thought.
At this moment, his feelings were indescribable, a complex mix of emotions.
I don't know whether to blame this strange encounter or be grateful that it protected my account.
At this moment, no one on the stage knew what the young man in the scholar's robe was thinking.
All I could see was his stern face, which seemed somewhat cold and indifferent.
Rongzhen saw it too. From the moment he spoke frankly about his personal feelings and revealed his background, her gaze followed closely on Ouyang Rong's thin and handsome face.
At this moment, the crimson glow flowing on the palace-dressed girl's long dress had faded, returning to a purple dress that was elegant, aloof, and noble, with a hint of mystery and profundity.
She said coldly:
"You dog of a servant, who gave you permission to come over and use the knife?"
Duan Quanwu remained kneeling on one knee, pleading for mercy. Upon hearing this, he glanced furtively at Qian Chen's corpse not far away, then looked at Wei Wu's tall and imposing back as he stood silently with his head bowed, accepting punishment.
Without saying a word, Wei Wu walked to the position between Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen.
The square-faced man slammed his knees heavily on the ground, then knelt on one knee before Ouyang Rong, clasping his hands in apology.
"Princess, Your Excellency, it was my recklessness and presumptuousness that caused you to offend you. I hope you will forgive me and let it go."
Ouyang Rong lowered his eyes and stared at the ground in front of him, remaining silent.
Wei Wu paused, raised his head slightly, and glanced at the cold expression on the pretty face of the noble-looking girl in palace attire beside him.
He withdrew his gaze, and a solemn expression appeared on his swollen and bleeding chubby face. He clasped his hands in a fist salute again towards Ouyang Rong, who stood with his hands behind his back, and said:
“Your Excellency, there were some minor misunderstandings and conflicts that happened in the past. At that time, the people under the Prince’s Palace acted without authorization and were blind to your greatness. They slightly offended you. It was truly a case of the flood washing away the Dragon King’s temple. As long as these good-for-nothings are still around, you can speak up and deal with them as you see fit.”
Ouyang Rong tilted his head and glanced at Wei Wu.
Seeing this, the latter immediately pressed his advantage, saying:
"Your Excellency, the Princes of Wei and Liang recently learned of your deeds from a message from Princess Zhenxian. They deeply regret their previous carelessness and the slight misunderstanding they had about you due to listening to the slander of petty people. This misunderstanding has now been resolved, and the petty people involved have been dealt with seriously."
"In fact, both princes have always admired your talent. Now, like Princess Zhenxian, they highly recognize your benevolent governance in Jiangzhou. You are a rare talent for governing the country, a rare honest and upright official, doing practical things for the sage, for the Great Zhou Dynasty, and for the people of the world! A pillar of the nation, with a promising future!"
At this point, Wei Wu reached into his robes, rummaged around, and pulled out a red paper invitation with gold lettering. He held it up with both hands and presented it to Ouyang Rong:
"After today's grand Buddhist ceremony and the dealing with those unruly rebels, His Highness Prince Wei and His Highness Prince Liang will jointly submit a petition to the Emperor, praising you and requesting your immediate return to the capital. At that time, the two princes will sincerely invite you to their residence for tea. They are known for their respect for the virtuous and talented, and they will have the opportunity to discuss state affairs with you and sincerely seek your guidance. They hope you can offer some pointers."
Ouyang Rong lowered his eyes and looked at the red and gold invitation card lying quietly in the kneeling man's palm.
This is an admission ticket.
A ticket to the highest level of power in the capital city.
The people on the platform had different expressions.
Duan Quanwu craned his neck, gazing at the red and gold invitation card with immense envy on his face. He wished he could take the place of the original and have the opportunity fall into his own lap, his eyes revealing his undisguised ambition.
Yi Qianqiu, covered in snow armor, tilted his head slightly, not looking at the red and gold invitation, but gazing at the calm Ouyang Rong with a strangely complex expression.
Granny Song was unusually silent, her white eyes seemingly fixed on Rong Zhen, who was dressed in elegant purple, and it was unclear what she was thinking.
However, Rongzhen did not look at Granny Song. Perhaps she was aware of her gaze, but she did not care. At this moment, all her attention was focused on one place.
Ouyang Rong, dressed in a scholar's robe, picked up the red and gold invitation and weighed it in his palm.
Before Wei Wu could even smile, he suddenly said:
"I don't like drinking tea."
Wei Wu asked in confusion, "What?"
Ouyang Rong said to himself, "I like to eat pears. Do you have pears where you are?"
"Pear...pear?"
“That’s right.” Ouyang Rong emphasized the word: “pear.”
"Your Excellency, what do you mean by this? Is it a homophone, like 'separation'...?"
Before Wei Wu could finish asking his question, Rong Zhen suddenly stepped forward, pushed him aside, and took the red and gold invitation from Ouyang Rong's hand.
In front of everyone, she folded it in half, tore it into pieces, and scattered them on the floor at her feet.
The girl in palace attire looked up at the young man in scholar's robes and said:
"We won't drink any tea from anywhere, and we'll ignore them. From now on, I'll peel pears for you, okay?"
(End of this chapter)
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