Chapter 837 Humanity's Way: Luoyang is a City of Brocade
Hu Fu glanced at Ouyang Rong, cleared his throat, and said, "Actually, there's another person. I've long seen that he's extraordinary. Does Governor Ouyang know who he is..."
Ouyang Rong suddenly interrupted:
"What do you think is the reason that the Emperor is making such a grand show of welcoming the Prince of Xunyang and his family back to the capital?"
Seeing this, Hu Zhongshi thought he was being tested and became serious.
He looked around and said in a deep voice:
"I think that the Sage has accumulated dissatisfaction with the Wei family because of the collapse of Tian Shu and the Great Buddha. His attitude has changed. However, the Sage did not choose the Prince of Xiang, so he chose... chose... um."
He gave me a knowing look, but before finishing his sentence, he continued:
"It's just right, the Prince has returned to the capital. His Majesty is taking advantage of the situation and at the same time expressing his dissatisfaction with the Wei family. Tsk tsk, this move is truly brilliant. But the most brilliant thing is the person who suggested the Prince return to the capital. The timing was just right. That's what you call a master... Governor Ouyang, what do you think? And do you know who this master is?"
Ouyang Rong nodded in agreement: "Eunuch Hu's angle is good, I think so too."
Khufu: ...
You'd better really be one.
When Ouyang Rong saw Hu Fu, a grown man, looking at him with a somewhat resentful expression, anyone who didn't know better would have thought that Ouyang Rong had done something wrong.
“Prefect Ouyang, we’re old acquaintances, why not be frank with each other and not pretend to be confused?”
Ouyang Rong didn't stand on ceremony. While tidying up the table, he lowered his eyes and asked:
"Why don't you ask the Prince, Eunuch Hu? Isn't Uncle Shun your godfather? It shouldn't be difficult for him to introduce you."
Khufu looked somewhat embarrassed.
You can't exactly say that he's no longer even considered a worthy successor to Prince Xunyang or Her Highness the Princess, can you?
Actually, when Li Xian's family was still in Xunyang City, he didn't do much cooking. He was only helped a little by his godfather, but he certainly wasn't one of the core members of the old Longcheng or Xunyang faction.
This time, Li Xian's family was promoted to Luoyang, and their momentum was like the rising sun. Like oil being poured on a raging fire, countless people rushed to get in touch with them.
Khufu's ability to survive in the palace after his godfather was demoted demonstrates his keen sense of smell and skill in choosing sides.
Of course I know, it's best to choose a cold stove to cook on.
Adding flowers to brocade is not as good as providing charcoal in the snow.
After much thought, Hu Fu keenly noticed a detail: Ouyang Lianghan, whom he knew well, was still in Xunyang City.
Thinking back to the time he gave Ouyang Lianghan the knife to save his life, he and Ouyang Lianghan already had a good relationship.
Moreover, as far as he knew, the Li family privately obeyed this "young master" without question.
Although it is unknown why Ouyang Lianghan did not return to the capital this time, he even wrote a letter to apologize and resign from his post.
However, Hu Fu felt it was a great opportunity to rekindle their old romance while many people in Luoyang were still unaware of the shadow strategist "Tan Lang" behind the King of Xunyang.
Khufu then volunteered to take on the task of delivering the imperial edict.
Otherwise, given his status in the palace, he wouldn't even consider such a laborious and demanding job.
On the way to Xunyang, Hu Fu felt that this opportunity was an absolute steal.
Even without seeing the emperor's edict, would they all treat Governor Ouyang, who "voluntarily took the blame," with leniency?
Now, this young governor truly has powerful connections.
Who knows, one day, with the help of the Prince of Xunyang and the Princess in Luoyang, he might be promoted from a local governor to the Hall of State Affairs, becoming the second Master.
Ouyang Rong prepared to pack his things and leave.
Khufu quickly grabbed him and lowered his voice:
"Does Governor Ouyang know what's going on in the palace right now?"
"I don't know. I'm not a eunuch, and I'm not in the palace."
Khufu coughed and whispered:
"There are rumors that the Emperor is preparing a celebration, at which the succession to the throne is to be decided."
Ouyang Rong raised an eyebrow: "So fast?"
"Of course, the return of Prince Xunyang to the capital was unexpected by everyone. Now, there are voices in the capital supporting Prince Xunyang. Because the Wei family made a mistake and lost power, Prince Xiang naturally prioritizes his elder brother and would not compete with him. He also publicly supports his elder brother."
"Of course, the most crucial thing is the Sage's attitude. Although it is said that grandparents love their grandchildren more, and the Sage truly likes the little princess of the Xunyang Prince's family, for the Sage, her affection is mostly an attitude, a signal, so... the Sage also leans towards the Xunyang Prince."
Hu Fu thought that Ouyang Lianghan would be interested in asking more questions, after all, he came from Luoyang and had a lot of information, so it was impossible for Ouyang Lianghan not to pay attention to the matter of the Prince of Xunyang.
But to his surprise, Ouyang Rong simply nodded, said "Oh," and prepared to leave.
The young governor changed out of his official robes and into a light blue scholar's robe, looking as if he was about to leave as soon as his shift was over.
He glanced outside, then turned back and said:
"Envoy Hu, please settle in comfortably. We can return to the capital together after Commander Yi and Lady Miaozhen have finished packing. I will have Liu Lang take you back to your residence. It's getting late, and I must finish my shift... Oh, right."
He suddenly remembered something and said, "Did my junior sister send a message through you, sir?"
"Oh, right, look at my memory."
Hu Fu took out a wax letter and handed it to Ouyang Rong.
Ouyang Rong opened the envelope, glanced at it briefly, and then turned and left under Hu Fu's reluctant gaze.
Look around as you go.
Before leaving the main hall, Khufu vaguely heard the young man in the scholar's robe muttering something at the door:
"The imperial heir... then the second brocade pouch will be ready soon too..."
...
"Why does Governor Ouyang seem so distracted? Isn't the imperial edict from Envoy Hu good news?"
On the way back to Chengtian Temple's dining hall, Yi Qianqiu suddenly asked Yuan Huaimin, who was standing beside him.
The two were riding on horseback.
After finishing his shift at the Jiangzhou Hall, Ouyang Rong originally intended to have Yan Liulang escort Hu Fu to his lodgings. However, Yi Qianqiu and Yuan Huaimin, who had stayed outside, volunteered to escort Hu Fu back to his lodgings, politely said goodbye, and even made an appointment for dinner.
Unlike the relaxed and casual Ouyang Rong, Yi Qianqiu treated Hu Fu, the envoy from Luoyang, with some awe.
If you want to survive long-term in the imperial court, you can't underestimate anyone who comes from the palace.
Compared to Yuan Huaimin, who possesses an exceptionally high level of insensitivity, Yi Qianqiu understands the underlying principles deeply.
Even when serving in the White Tiger Guard, one must be mindful of human relationships.
Of course, people like Ouyang Lianghan can be ignored.
This is something Yi Qianqiu has been envious of lately.
Yuan Huaimin's slow reply:
"Oh, it must be that the news brought by that Taoist priest Zhang is not good."
"What do you mean? What message did that Taoist priest bring? Is there even worse news than the imperial court holding them accountable?"
Yuan Huaimin scratched his head and said:
"I only found out because I saw that Brother Lianghan was in a bad mood and asked Military Advisor Yan. It seems that our Jiangzhou government and the various states in Jiangnan are jointly hunting down Yunmeng Jianze, but they have been unable to find any trace of his sect and have no way to make a move."
"That Taoist priest Zhang is also a member of the martial arts world. The Taiqing Longhu Mountain behind him is considered a local bigwig in the martial arts world of southern China. But this time, the news they brought was also completely unanswered. Now, their last straw has been blown away."
Yuan Huaimin sighed:
"Brother Lianghan seems to have been very concerned about this matter from the very beginning, even more so than the news from Luoyang."
Yi Qianqiu was somewhat lost in thought.
She suddenly pulled back from her horse:
"Is that why he didn't return to Beijing?"
Yuan Huaimin turned around in confusion:
"What do you mean, returning to Beijing?"
Yi Qianqiu's eyes were filled with complex emotions as he murmured:
"Returning to the capital with Prince Xunyang and Lady Rong is such a great opportunity. I heard from Envoy Hu that Prince Xunyang's family is now a rising star in the capital and is deeply favored by the Emperor."
"Not only did the Wei clan avoid their sharp edge, but the Prince of Xiang also yielded to them. Even the former officials who had left the palace, such as the Master, rallied to their support. Even the most popular male favorites in the Imperial Crane Control Bureau and the astronomers in the Imperial Observatory were all cheering them on..."
"Of course, the most important thing is the Emperor's initial attitude. He opened the Yinglong Gate, welcomed the prince in front of his ministers, and doted on the youngest daughter of the Prince of Xunyang. Now the Prince of Xunyang's family has gained power, but it is unknown how far they can go in the end. It has the air of intercepting the imperial heir halfway."
Yuan Huaimin later realized:
"That's right, why doesn't Lianghan go back? If he returns to the capital together, wouldn't he be rising to prominence alongside Prince Xunyang?"
He paused, then murmured, "Not leaving? Is it because he misses his old brothers like me and Liu Lang? Liang Han is truly a man who cherishes old friendships..."
Yi Qianqiu: ...
Too lazy to correct this foolish question, and ignoring Yuan Huaimin's self-satisfied expression, she continued to speak:
"Not only did he not go back, but he also voluntarily stayed to take responsibility and requested to resign... How could anyone in the world be so stupid? What was he waiting for, or what was he looking for? Could it be the concubine he asked the Empress for redemption that day? I remember he threw out a string of cash and begged for her in public..."
“That day I thought he had gone mad, but now I see he’s serious… Could it be that wealth, honor, and a bright future are less important to him than that young lady? He doesn’t even care about his official position… He’s gone mad, he’s completely mad…”
After riding his horse across the street for a while, Yuan Huaimin finally noticed that Qiu Niang seemed to have quieted down.
When he felt slightly uncomfortable, he turned around and immediately met a gaze that was hard to describe... a resentful look.
At some point, Yi Qianqiu raised her head, her eyes fixed on his back, as if making some kind of comparison.
"Qiu, what's wrong with Qiu Niang? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Yi Qianqiu remained silent.
We rode forward for a while.
At one point, Yuan Huaimin flew out in a panic, shouting loudly.
He was kicked to the ground.
Look at other people.
...
Ouyang Rong walked through the long corridor and headed towards the back door.
He finished reading the letter on the way.
My junior sister didn't mention anything important in her letter.
The main purpose is to let you know I'm safe and sound, and also to give a brief overview of the situation in Luoyang.
In addition, there's the story of Cai Shou failing to become the sword master, plus an interesting anecdote.
It's about the Crown Prince.
It is said that the night before Li Dalang entered the palace, she had a dream in which she married Ouyang Rong. However, in the dream, Li Dalang could not make it to the wedding, no matter how fast she ran.
After Li Dalang told everyone what had happened, the atmosphere was quiet for a while. Then Wei Mei said speechlessly, "You always oversleep, of course you can't catch up."
Perhaps finding it amusing, Xie Lingjiang casually mentioned it in her letter...
Ouyang Rong also smiled.
As expected of Dalang.
He shook his head and went to the back door.
I saw Zhang Shixiu standing by the stable.
Ouyang Rong was not surprised, because he was the one who asked Zhang Shixiu to wait here. He had just been about to meet Hu Fu and could only listen to the news brought by Zhang Shixiu in a hurry. Only now did he have time to properly entertain him.
"Let's go have a meal in Huaiye Lane."
Ouyang Rong passed Zhang Shixiu and walked ahead.
"Prefect Ouyang, you are too kind."
Ouyang Rong shook his head.
"Thank you for your help in gathering information, Taoist priest."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Shixiu looked somewhat ashamed and followed.
"But the news for me is not good."
Ouyang Rong was somewhat quiet.
Neither Zhang Shixiu nor the Celestial Master's Mansion behind him had any news of the Yunmeng Sword Marsh's mountain gate.
Since the Battle of Twin Peaks ended, Yunmeng Sword Marsh has completely disappeared without a trace.
All the previously accessible branches of the sect have become defunct, as if they have completely disappeared from the world.
After dinner, Zhang Shixiu returned.
Ouyang Rong returned to his study.
Ye Weilai was folding the quilt.
Miao Si was playing around with the white sturgeon in the room, riding on its back and shouting "Giddy up!" as it rampaged through the room, though it looked more like the white sturgeon wanted to get off her.
What a boundless little ink spirit!
There were two sets of bedding on the bed. The little girl had recently started her period, so she had to sleep with separate bedding, otherwise it would easily spill onto Ouyang Rong, since the white-haired girl liked to put one leg on Ouyang Rong's stomach when she slept.
“Aqing made some summer clothes for the young master.”
Ye Weilai sat on the bed with her buttocks sticking out, making the bed while nagging.
"Uh-huh."
Ouyang Rong sat at the table and took out paper to write.
It seems he is replying to his junior sister's letter.
Ye Weilai kept turning back to look at Ouyang Rong, and noticed that he occasionally frowned, which made the little girl feel a little sorry for him.
I poured myself a cup of hot tea, stood by the table, and didn't leave.
Ouyang Rong didn't even raise his head, and snorted:
"Um?"
Ye Weilai whispered, "Is there still no news about the embroiderer?"
"Um."
Ye Weilai thought for a moment:
"Why don't we have someone clean up and guard the courtyard in Longcheng as well? The embroiderer went to that courtyard to look for you before. Besides, Longcheng County should be close to that Yunmengze."
She went over and massaged Ouyang Rong's shoulders, tilting her head to continue offering suggestions:
“Nu’er recommends A-Qing to keep watch, since it’s nearby anyway.”
Ouyang Rong suddenly stopped.
"What did you say?"
Ye Weilai was stunned, somewhat frightened, and stammered:
“Nu’er said… said… that A-Qing should go and guard the courtyard.”
"No, the previous sentence."
"The previous sentence... Oh, Longcheng might be closer to Yunmeng."
Ouyang Rong quieted down.
A moment later, he tore off the reply letter bit by bit, took out a new piece of paper, wrote a new letter, folded it, put it in an envelope, and sealed it with wax.
The white-haired girl had returned to her bed and continued making it.
"Wei Lai".
"Um?"
Ye Weilai, who was tidying up her clothes, turned around with some curiosity.
Upon seeing Ouyang Rong approach, holding a letter in his hand, he said to her:
"My junior sister wrote to say that Cai Shou did not succeed in getting the sword master."
Ye Weilai tilted her head: "Oh, what a pity."
"It's a pity, but you shouldn't try anymore. If I insist you try, don't have any hope."
"Hmm! Hmm? Wait, what does this mean, young master?"
Ouyang Rong grabbed Ye Weilai's hand, placed the envelope in it, and squeezed her hand tightly, saying each word clearly:
“Go back to the capital, find Junior Sister and Lady Rong, give them the letter, and then… stay in the capital.”
This time, his tone left no room for refusal.
Ye Weilai froze on the spot.
(End of this chapter)
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