Chapter 842 Parting Thoughts
“My love.”
The residence in Huaiye Lane, at the entrance of Yinbingzhai.
As soon as Ouyang Rong returned from his shift, he saw Ye Weilai standing guard at the door, looking on with longing eyes.
As soon as Ouyang Rong entered, she immediately went forward, took his coat, and followed behind him, asking softly:
When will Ambassador Hu leave?
Ouyang Rong walked ahead, adjusting his cuffs:
"The original plan was for the official boat to stop at Shuangfengjian Ferry to rest and replenish supplies tomorrow morning, before arriving at Xunyang Ferry in the city tomorrow morning."
"However, Miaozhen and Yi Qianqiu are in a hurry, so Eunuch Hu has decided to go to Shuangfengjian Ferry tonight so that the boat won't have to go through Xunyang Ferry again. Once everyone is there, we can set off directly from Shuangfengjian Ferry without waiting until tomorrow morning."
Ye Weilai subconsciously said, "Isn't Nu'er leaving tonight?"
Ouyang Rong nodded. He had originally planned to talk to the little girl after dinner.
He smiled and said:
"Okay, we'll set off again at 9 PM. Let's eat first. I can already smell the food. Is Wei Lai cooking today?"
Ye Weilai remained silent for a moment.
"Yes, young master, please go and eat first. I'll be there shortly."
She turned and ran into the bedroom.
Ouyang Rong turned around with some surprise.
After putting his things away in the study, he went to the inner room of the bedroom.
The scene that caught his eye made him pause in surprise:
What are you doing?
Inside the bedroom, Ye Weilai was making the new bed.
They also slipped a sachet and a red envelope under Ouyang Rong's pillow.
Ye Weilai whispered:
"I went to Chengtian Temple to get this. The sachet contains cassia seeds, sandalwood, and silkworm excrement, which can help with sleep..."
Ouyang Rong walked over, picked up another small red envelope, and opened it to take a look.
There were two copper coins inside; they looked somewhat familiar.
"What about this one?"
Ye Weilai looked unusually serious and said:
"It's money. Put it under your pillow and sleep on it. It's called 'pillow money.' It was recommended by a high monk in the temple. I think it should help my lord's career go smoothly and get promoted step by step."
"..."
Ouyang Rong almost asked if it was Master Shandao, but after thinking about it, he realized that Master Shandao was specifically there to pray for female benefactors, and things like 'pillow money' were too vulgar and would insult Master Shandao's taste.
Ouyang Rong was somewhat helpless:
“As an official, what use is ‘pillow money’ to me? My salary isn’t that high, unless I embezzle some money.”
Ye Weilai realized that giving her lover a pillow was indeed not a good omen.
"I'm sorry, my love, I thought... I thought... my mind has been all muddled these past few days."
The little girl hurriedly explained a few words, took back the red envelope, and looked a bit lonely and dejected.
Ouyang Rong suddenly grabbed her hand, patted her forehead, and said:
"It's nothing, I was just worried. But Wei Lai is perfect for you, take her to the capital, you can use her as a pillow all the time, hmm, and make a lot of money."
Ye Weilai paused for a moment, then nodded emphatically.
"Um!"
The little girl solemnly put away the small red envelope.
Ouyang Rong glanced at the small red envelope she had stuffed into her arms and asked:
"You still have those two copper coins."
She remembered the two copper coins, which Ouyang Rong gave to her when he first bought Ye Weilai in Longcheng, saying that he wanted her to help keep her secret stash of money.
As a result, all that's left in his little treasury today are these two copper coins.
They were dirt poor.
Ye Weilai lowered her head:
"Hmm, my love, it seems that I don't make much money at all, like a jinx."
Ouyang Rong shook his head and said seriously:
"It's because Tanlang is too poor. No wonder everyone wants to be a corrupt official. If you work honestly, you won't get rich. You can only make a living. Not to mention, if you go to the capital, where prices are high, it will be very difficult to live there."
After saying that, he took out a money bag from his pocket, poured out only three taels of silver, and stuffed it back into his pocket.
He stuffed the purse containing the remaining salary into Ye Weilai's small hand and squeezed it tightly.
Ouyang Rong smiled.
“Take this as travel expenses. In a way, it’s Tanlang who’s limiting you. Once Weilai goes to Luoyang, she might become a wealthy woman and help Tanlang out.”
He said it jokingly.
Ye Weilai seemed to take it seriously, clutching her purse tightly, and suddenly asked:
"My dear, can I really give that wooden hairpin of yours to any of the ladies?"
"Um."
Ouyang Rong hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.
What I really wanted to ask was how she planned to choose.
But since the hairpin has already been given, asking any more questions would make him seem like a "patriarch," meddling in everything. Besides, Wei Lai is sensible and not the kind of person who would cause him worry by making random choices.
The gift of this wooden hairpin was actually a way for him to use his connections. Apart from his junior sister and the lady-in-waiting, he certainly had enough connections with Li Dalang and Li Guo'er.
Finally, he smiled with a hint of relief:
"Since you're going to Luoyang, we need to find you a comfortable place to stay. Don't be afraid of offending others; my junior sister and I mentioned it in our letters."
“You’ve always been observant and considerate of everyone, but you’ve kept your unhappiness to yourself. So, it’s true that you’ve been somewhat wronged by being by my side these past two years.”
Ye Weilai shook her head: "I'm not wronged!"
She paused, her voice trembling with barely concealed excitement:
"These two years with Tanlang have been the happiest days of my life, the happiest of all."
Ouyang Rong rubbed her sore eyes and couldn't help but joke:
"Although you are to 'pay for the pillow,' you must not go to Cao Zhi with the hairpin. That kid is all flattery and has no ambition."
Ye Weilai shook her head:
"Of course not, my love. In this world, as long as you have power, money will flow in endlessly. Not everyone is as honest and upright as my love. But the rich have to listen to the powerful, because power controls distribution, and everyone has to beg for it."
"When Tanlang taught me to read, he often said that the most intelligent people in the world were in the palace and court in Luoyang. That was the stage for the intelligent."
Ouyang Rong paused for a moment, then nodded:
"Wei Lai, you do learn very quickly. I didn't expect you to remember these words. But you must remember that in life, there are always some things that are more important. You can't buy happiness with money. Don't get greedy for money or let power blind you."
Ye Weilai hugged his arm, tilted her head up, and smiled sweetly:
"I have one too, but my beloved is the most important."
Ouyang Rong was speechless.
Ye Weilai murmured softly again:
“There are more important things… Tanlang stayed in Xunyang, wasn’t he just demonstrating this to everyone?”
A short while later, the two finished dinner and tidied up their luggage.
Ye Weilai didn't have much luggage.
While she was resting, Ouyang Rong went to the side and took out a scroll from the cabinet.
Activating the Kui Xing Talisman consumed one point of merit.
Where Ye Weilai couldn't see, he quietly packed a few changes of clothes, as well as his usual paper, ink, brush, and inkstone, and put them all into the Peach Blossom Spring painting.
He also pocketed the three taels of silver left over from his monthly salary.
Miao Si jumped out, hands on hips, and questioned:
"Where is Xiao Rongzi going? How should she pack her luggage?"
Ouyang Rong immediately covered her mouth.
He glanced back and saw that Ye Weilai had already finished packing his luggage in the inner room and was preparing bedding and daily necessities for him, in case Ouyang Rong lived a muddled life after she was gone.
"Don't speak."
Ouyang Rong put the brilliant idea into his sleeve.
He also took her, who had turned into an ink ingot, with him.
Just then, his expression froze for a moment.
A series of crisp wooden fish sounds filled my ears.
Ouyang Rong closed his eyes and entered the Merit Tower, only to find that his merit had inexplicably increased by two hundred.
In addition, there have been sporadic increases in the past two days.
[Merit: 2121]
Ouyang Rong was a little puzzled, but he had gotten used to the recent inexplicable surge in prices.
After a short while, seeing that it was getting late, Ouyang Rong and Ye Weilai went outside to wait for the carriage.
Ye Weilai was carrying a small bundle on her back.
Ouyang Rong helped her carry the two suitcases.
Yan Liulang arrived in a carriage, picked up the two, and prepared to head to the west gate.
It has been arranged that we will wait for Hu Fu, Yi Qianqiu, Miaozhen and their group there, and then we will go to Shuangfengjian Ferry together once everyone is there.
Ouyang Rong prepared to see them off.
Yan Liulang and Pei Shisan Niang will also be traveling together.
After parking the carriage, Yan Liulang turned around and said:
"My lord, Thirteen Sister has already gone to Shuangfengjian. She said she'd wait for us at the ferry. She went there this evening to deal with the Xunyang Grottoes. Apparently, a temple is looking for her..."
Ouyang Rong waved his hand dismissively:
"good."
He turned around and asked Ye Weilai:
"Are the drinks ready?"
Ye Weilai immediately picked up the box in her hand and said with a sweet smile:
"Two flasks were prepared. One was for the farewell, and the other was an extra one that Tanlang asked me to prepare."
Ouyang Rong nodded:
"Well, a pot of wine should be enough for a farewell feast. It wouldn't be good if he got drunk. I'm just worried that Yuan Huaimin might overindulge in wine."
Ye Weilai, clutching her small bundle, sniffed.
She reached out and silently took Ouyang Rong's hand.
This farewell drink also carries the implication that Tanlang (the young man) is entrusting Hu Zhongshi and his entourage to take good care of her; in this era, it was a very solemn entrustment of affection.
Ye Weilai felt that she had once again burdened Tanlang. Tanlang was a free and easy person who never asked anyone for anything. It was Hu Zhong and his people who were trying to curry favor with him.
However, for the sake of these women, the groom also needs to understand some social etiquette and social interactions.
Ouyang Rong turned and boarded the carriage, but suddenly stopped halfway there.
"Wait, where's my pipa?"
Ye Wei looked around and answered:
"I saw it on the table before I left, so I went to get it."
Ouyang Rong paused for a moment, then suddenly reached out his hand:
"Never mind, it's not necessary."
Ouyang Rong gestured for Ye Weilai to sit down.
He has been carrying the pipa that the old musician left behind with him a lot lately.
Regarding the Seven-Character Poetry, Qin Music, and Sword Technique, he struggled to comprehend the final move, the Lotus Boat Melody. In the words of the old musician, he was "attached to appearances."
Thinking about it carefully, isn't his daily practice of playing the instrument, yearning for something he can't have, just like Rongzhen back then?
On the contrary, he didn't grasp things as quickly as he used to when he casually listened in the carriage.
Seek the connection between fate and destiny in everything.
The same applies to comprehending sword techniques.
The carriage moved forward slowly.
As they approached the west gate, curfew officials came to check documents, but Yan Liulang calmly stopped the car.
Before he could even pull out the documents, the curfew officers had already recognized Yan Liulang:
"Military Advisor Yan..."
"Shhh."
Yan Liulang handed over the document, indicating to the yamen runners to proceed with the inspection as usual.
The latter readily agreed and began to perform his duties diligently.
During the inspection, Ouyang Rong suddenly said:
"Liu Lang, come in for a moment."
Yan Liulang was a little puzzled. He turned around and entered the carriage, where he saw that the magistrate was holding a pot of wine.
In addition, there was a smell of burning paper in the dimly lit carriage.
Yan Liulang noticed that both the Prefect Ming and Miss Ye were staring at him, and scratched his head, saying:
"My lord, what is this? Would you like me to have a drink with you?"
Ouyang Rong shook his head and handed over the wine pot:
"No, you drink it all in one gulp."
Without saying a word, Yan Liulang tilted his head back and drank the whole pot of wine in one gulp.
My mouth was filled with a bitter and sour taste, as if the wine contained the embers of burnt paper.
Ouyang Rong looked directly at Yan Liulang and said softly:
"After seeing Wei Lai and Eunuch Hu off, depending on the situation, I may take a boat from Shuangfengjian to Donglin Temple in Longcheng to recuperate. While I'm away, please take good care of things here. If anything happens..."
The young governor glanced at the wine pot.
Unaware of what was happening, Yan Liulang eagerly asked:
"When will Your Excellency return? I thought it would be some time before Your Excellency returned. I haven't sent anyone to inform Magistrate Diao and my father so that they can receive you."
"No."
Ouyang Rong waved his hand:
"If we disturb them while we're trying to relax and recover, it will only disrupt our peace. We should keep things simple. I've already asked Thirteen Sister to inform Donglin Temple. That's enough for them to know."
"My lord, if there is any news about Yunmeng Jianze and Yue Nu, may I go to you?"
"Don't come. Just send someone to deliver a message, or mail a letter to Donglin Temple."
"All right."
Ouyang Rong glanced at Yan Liulang, who seemed to want to say something but hesitated.
I understand his worries.
In fact, he took this into consideration when he heeded Hu Fu's advice and did not resign directly from his position as acting governor of Jiangzhou.
Ouyang Rong knew that he was the leader of a certain faction.
With him around, the people in Jiangzhou Hall can feel at ease.
He has steadily climbed the ranks in Longcheng, accumulating a vast network of followers, including Yan Liulang, Magistrate Diao, and Military Advisor Chen.
Even from the perspective of Li Xian's family, they hoped that he would not resign from his post as governor of Jiangzhou, because Xunyang City in Jiangzhou was the base of the Xunyang Prince's Mansion, which was also a tacit understanding in the officialdom of Jiangnan.
This isn't about clinging to the position; if he were to resign as governor, the question of who would succeed him would arise.
Ouyang Rong resigned without hesitation, showing remarkable composure.
But if the Wei family were to take advantage of the situation and plant a seed, that would be disgusting.
To avoid being purged and to prevent factional infighting, it would be best for Ouyang Rong to continue holding the position of Governor of Jiangzhou.
This is what Li Xian and his associates in Luoyang and the group in Xunyang all hoped to see.
Ouyang Rong remained silent for a moment.
The further you go, the more you feel like you're not in control of your own destiny.
There were pairs of eyes watching him from above and below, all his close friends and partners, and an invisible responsibility weighed on his shoulders.
He was no longer the carefree magistrate he once was in Longcheng.
As Yan Liulang hesitated, he suddenly felt a heavy weight on his shoulder; it was Ouyang Rong's palm striking him hard.
He looked up and saw the magistrate's radiant smile:
"Sixth Brother, let me teach you a mnemonic rhyme. You can recite it whenever something happens while I'm not around."
The constable in blue was taken aback.
As if realizing something, he quickly sat up straight:
"Teach me, Your Excellency!"
After an incense stick had burned, the carriage arrived at the west gate.
Not long after, everyone arrived.
Hu Fu led a group of palace servants, Miao Si led several female officials, and Yi Qianqiu led the talkative Yuan Huaimin.
The group gathered and headed together to Shuangfengjian Ferry.
The moon shines brightly on the distant horizon.
——————
(PS: Update failed during the day. My gums around my wisdom tooth have been swollen and painful for the past two days. I've been taking medicine and drinking porridge, and I've been lying in bed in a daze all day. I heard online that it seems to be a new strain. Now that it's the change of seasons, everyone should be careful of viruses.)
Note: Reading this chapter will not cause cyber infection!
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
