Chapter 899 Entering the Same Sect, Yet Vastly Different Worlds
morning.
I could hear a rooster crowing.
Ouyang Rong opened his eyes and thought of the chicken soup he had made yesterday.
And I must say, there are so many wild pheasants in this paradise, they're still so lively and energetic, it makes you want to have a barbecue tonight.
The arms and legs that had been pressing down on him were gone. Ouyang Rong got up from the bed, and the first thing he did was put on the bronze mask and switch back into the body of the dull young man.
Turning his head, he saw that there was no one on the pillow beside him. Ah Qing was not in the room, and the bedding was still covering him.
The sky outside the window was still a dark blue, just beginning to lighten, but you could vaguely see that the clear, orange-tinged light of the sky was already illuminating a corner of the dark blue sky beyond the eastern courtyard wall.
The rhythmic sound of washing clothes on the bluestone slabs came from the courtyard.
Ouyang Rong got off the bed.
The commotion seemed to have been heard by the people in the courtyard.
"Brother is awake?"
Aqing's clear voice rang out.
"Um."
Ouyang Rong walked out and saw A Qing squatting by the well washing clothes. She was wearing his oversized monk's robe "pajamas," with the sleeves rolled up to reveal her white arms. The half-bucket of cool well water was level with her petite figure as she squatted down.
At first glance, she looks rather pitiful.
Ouyang Rong went over to help hang the clothes out to dry. Aqing immediately looked up, wiped her forehead with the back of her still-damp hand, and smiled sweetly at him:
“This is the only one left. I’ll hang it up to dry. Brother, go to the kitchen and get some porridge. I also boiled four eggs, three for you and one for Brother Sha.”
"Um."
Ouyang Rong's reaction was rather indifferent, but before walking to the kitchen where the aroma of porridge wafted, he asked one more question:
"Ah Qing, why are you up so early? It's still early for the meeting time at the beach. You should rest a bit more, or maybe take a nap."
Aqing quickly replied:
“I’ve had a good night’s sleep. I usually only sleep for three hours, but last night with my brother here, I slept especially soundly and even slept for an extra half hour. That’s enough… Brother, go eat first. I’ll tidy up the bed and the room.”
Ouyang Rong did not answer, but said in an unyielding tone:
"Eat first. I'll serve you a bowl of porridge and three white eggs. Your brother has already grown to his full height."
Aqing hesitated, but Ouyang Rong had already entered the kitchen.
He took a bowl to scoop out the porridge, his eyes fixed straight ahead.
In fact, he had been awake for a while. When Aqing got up "quietly," Ouyang Rong was pretending to be asleep with his eyes closed. He heard everything, including her cooking porridge and washing clothes in the yard later... but he didn't go out beforehand.
After two cups of tea.
Sha Ergou also woke up and went out, where he was invited by Ouyang Rong and A Qing to have dinner together.
Looking at the vegetable porridge and white eggs in front of him, he looked a little embarrassed.
"Brother Liu, Miss Liu Qing, I can't accept this... umm."
Before he could finish speaking, Ouyang Rong shoved a peeled egg into his mouth, silencing him.
Aqing lowered her head to drink her porridge, glancing curiously out of the corner of her eye at her brother, whom she hadn't seen for many days, and his friend whom she didn't know where he had met.
Soon, breakfast was finished amidst Sha Ergou's flushed face and desperate attempt to swallow.
Aqing went back to her room to change her clothes, but she still had to take off the monk's robe she was wearing.
Ouyang Rong did not go in; he stood guard outside the door.
Turning his head, he saw that Sha Ergou had already packed up and was yawning and waiting for him by the gate.
Ouyang Rong nodded his chin toward the outhouse, his gaze questioning.
Sha Ergou shook his head vigorously and chuckled.
Ouyang Rong asked, somewhat puzzled, "Why didn't you go to the toilet this morning?"
After living together for a few days, Ouyang Rong discovered that this kid had a habit of going to the toilet every morning, almost without fail.
Sha Ergou covered his mouth with his hand and whispered:
"Let's not waste the morning, Brother Liu. I heard from my senior sister that we're going to the Bamboo Hall today and will be staying all day. There's plenty of time to use the restroom in the morning... Anyway, I've already joined the Bamboo Hall, so going today is just to become a disciple. If I don't make any mistakes, they won't kick me out, hehe."
As if recalling an old friend who enjoyed "paid bathroom breaks" during shifts, Ouyang Rong frowned:
"How come you've learned to be cunning and slippery too? If you can get in, then study hard."
Sha Ergou scratched his head:
"The main problem is that I don't know what I'm going to do. It's not like I'm going to do any work. My senior sister said that I'm going to learn Qi cultivation from a master. That means sitting all day long, and my butt will get calluses. It feels like the same as those kids in Taoyuan Town going to private schools."
"I hate going to this kind of school the most. I'm always so busy. I'd rather do farm work..."
Ouyang Rong's expression was somewhat blank.
I'm speechless.
If you had any ambition at all, you wouldn't be completely without it.
"Brother."
Aqing walked out the door, and Ouyang Rong turned around to look.
She had already changed into a snow-white Wu-style dress.
This Wu-style clothing should be exclusive to the direct disciples of the Queen's Palace, as its texture is noticeably different from that of ordinary Yue Numen disciples.
Aqing was already slender and pretty, and after wearing it, she looked graceful and charming.
There was no trace of the "country bumpkin girl" who had been wearing her brother's oversized monk's robe and squatting by the well washing clothes.
"Brother?"
Aqing noticed that Ouyang Rong was staring at her in a daze, and blushed slightly as she timidly called out.
"Uh-huh."
Ouyang Rong withdrew his gaze, immediately stepped into the house, and fetched some things.
He took a deep breath.
This snow-white Wu-style clothing reminded him of a slender, beautiful figure, who indeed vaguely resembled an embroiderer.
I remember when we missed each other at Sanhui Temple, Ouyang Rong caught a glimpse of the embroiderer's graceful figure in her snow-white Wu dress standing among her senior sisters; she was so delicate and petite...
He hid the Peach Blossom Spring painting and the Wonderful Inkstick in a bamboo tube, disguised it as a water bag, hung it on his waist, and then turned and went out.
Outside the door, the dazzling sunlight brightened, signaling a new day.
Ouyang Rong narrowed his eyes slightly.
This trip to that Qingliang Valley Dining Hall is an excellent opportunity.
Although Ouyang Rong is somewhat unconventional when it comes to cooking, he doesn't like to cook for anyone other than his close family or friends, or he considers it a tedious task.
This doesn't mean he was bound by the "gentleman keeps away from the kitchen" mentality... He did cook dishes like "Dongpo Pork" back in Xunyang City... Rather, it means that outside of official duties, he was actually lazy and easygoing in his personal life, and always felt that cooking should only be done when he was in a good mood and wanted to.
However, according to what the silver-medal Yue maiden Xi Qi said yesterday, the Sixth Lady and Uncle Tang had personally selected him to be a cook in the dining hall near Qingliang Valley, presumably to make it convenient for the ladies to prepare meals for them.
In that case, there might be some clues about the embroiderer, after all, people can't go without eating, right?
Even if the embroiderer was being held captive by her senior sisters, or was ill and recovering from an injury and had not yet regained consciousness.
He could also detect some clues in areas such as dining in the kitchen...
It seems that this job is definitely better than ringing a bell.
So when Ouyang Rong heard about this arrangement yesterday, he was pleasantly surprised.
About an incense stick later.
Ouyang Rong, A Qing, and Sha Er Gou arrived at the island's beach as dawn broke...
The three arrived relatively early, when there were still few people on the beach, but one figure was already standing at the very front of the sparse crowd.
Wearing a brocade robe, head held high, chest out, he holds his sword in the setting sun.
He was full of energy and spirit, just like a big rooster.
"Young Master Lu?"
Sha Ergou looked around and asked his friend's retreating figure curiously:
"Why did you come so early? Won't your legs go numb from standing for so long?"
Lu Jinghong didn't bother to answer him, as if she hadn't heard him. She turned to look at Ouyang Rong and A Qing, passed by Sha Ergou who had blindly come up to her, and walked towards the brother and sister.
Ouyang Rong saw that Lu Jinghong seemed to be waving in the direction behind them.
He glanced back and saw that Madam Li seemed to be there by the bamboo grove not far away, holding a handkerchief and smiling and waving at her son.
However, she did not approach, but Madam Li looked at her son, who was going to the Bamboo Hall to learn swordsmanship today, and seemed very satisfied, as if she hoped that her son would become a dragon.
Lu Jinghong withdrew his gaze and greeted Ouyang Rong with a smile.
He handed some snacks made by his mother to Ouyang Rong and A Qing, and apologized for not being a good host and not properly entertaining them at dinner last night because he was not feeling well.
Ah Qing remained polite, but showed no interest in these things, letting her brother socialize as he pleased. She looked towards the ferry crossing, as if waiting for a boat.
"Young Master Lu, you're too kind."
Ouyang Rong responded and handed the pastries to Sha Ergou, who was peeking around.
At that moment, he felt his sleeve being tugged.
It's Aqing from the back.
Looking back, Aqing pointed towards the small ferry crossing ahead and whispered to him:
"Brother, I have to go now. Senior Sister is looking for me. We arranged a boat last night. I'm going to the Queen's Palace to see Master this morning. I don't know if I'll be able to come back this evening."
Ouyang Rong immediately nodded: "Go ahead and get busy. I'm going to the dining hall today too. It seems to be near Qingliang Valley. Do you know where it is?"
Aqing also shook her head:
"I don't know, but if I have time, I'll come to see you. I hope Master isn't too busy."
"Um."
Under the watchful eyes of Lu Jinghong and Sha Ergou, A Qing blushed slightly and leaned closer to Ouyang Rong, whispering in his ear:
“I went to see Master yesterday. She lives alone and it’s quite lonely. She said I should stay by her side to cultivate. I don’t know if I can go back tonight. I’ll go ask her today if I can come back tonight and stay with my brother.”
"good."
In front of Lu and Sha, Ouyang Rong only gave them one piece of advice:
"You stay with the goddess and I can take care of myself."
"Alright, brother."
Just then, a strange Yue woman walked towards them, dressed in snow-white Wu clothing, with a rare gilded waist tag hanging from her waist, immediately attracting the attention of the young women who had already arrived on the beach.
Aqing stepped forward.
"...Thank you for your trouble, Senior Sister, for making this extra trip..."
Ouyang Rong and the others could only hear snippets of conversation.
The gilded Yue woman smiled, as if she had exchanged a few words with Aqing.
Whether it was a joke or not, Aqing seemed a little shy and shook her head, avoiding eye contact.
The gilded Yue woman turned to look at the crowd, glancing past Lu, Sha, and other young men and women, her gaze landing on Ouyang Rong. She seemed to sized him up, and after a moment, she clasped her hands in a gesture of respect from afar, revealing a smile.
Ouyang Rong returned the greeting with a fist and palm salute.
The gilded Yue woman took Aqing away.
After a moment of surprise, many of the young women on the beach realized that the sword-wielding woman who had been specially picked up by their senior sister was none other than Liu Qing, the girl who should be living on the next island... and they began to whisper among themselves.
However, apart from Lu Jinghong and Sha Ergou, very few people who were still half asleep when they woke up early could notice and see Aqing standing next to Ouyang Rong behaving intimately.
Watching Liu Qing leave, Sha Ergou muttered to himself:
"Brother Liu, your sister is so kind. She even cooks and does laundry for you this morning. She's my junior sister. My older sister used to beat me up all the time, and I'd run errands for her. It's only now that she's grown up that she's started to treat me well. She seems to have become gentler..."
Ouyang Rong casually remarked, "Being an older brother and being a younger brother are not the same thing."
Sha Ergou was completely confused.
Ouyang Rong suddenly turned around and asked, "What, you like Aqing?"
Sha Ergou hurriedly waved his hands, his face turning red like a pig's liver:
"How could I dare? Miss Liu Qing is so amazing, she's a disciple personally taught by the goddess. Even Miss Song admires her. She's more capable than that woman surnamed Chen. I know my own limitations. Besides, the dowry my sister left me for a wife is definitely not enough..."
Lu Jinghong interjected with a smirk:
"Don't even think about it, kid. It's not about having a wife. She was taken in as a disciple by the First Queen. You were right about something earlier. Even Chen Jiaxin is inferior to her because the First Queen is the chief queen of the palace and the one who truly makes the decisions. Even the five queens have to listen to her..."
"The Chief Female Ruler is one of the closest candidates to the position of Yunmeng Yunjun. In the era before Yue Chuzi, the position of Yunmeng Yuanjun was inherited in order of succession. She is the goddess in the legends of you wild men and woodcutters, the common ruler of the nine hundred miles of Yunmeng..."
"Think about it yourself. As the personal disciple of this great female ruler, and seemingly the first one, what is the future of this Miss Liu Qing? What kind of position can she reach in the future... Think about it yourself."
At this point, he added with surprising seriousness:
"Moreover, even if Miss Liu Qing were blind and out of her mind, and actually took a liking to us, the Great Queen and the Queen's Palace would absolutely not allow it. They would break the legs of anyone she fancyed... because the Queen of Yunmeng forbids marriage, and even after entering the palace, one must sever all worldly ties, conceal one's name, take a new title, remove the plaque, and serve the Queen of Yunmeng for life..."
After speaking seriously, Lu Jinghong shook his head, his tone somewhat wistful:
"So, Miss Liu Qing has only just been accepted as a disciple, and she hasn't shed her girlish innocence yet. That level of social circle hasn't formed yet, which is why we have the opportunity to benefit from Brother Liu's connections and meet and chat with her..."
"If you don't make a name for yourself in the Bamboo Hall and stand out from the crowd... you won't even have a chance to glance at her normally. Although we're all beginners, there's a world of difference between us. Ha, Brother Sha really doesn't take it seriously. He's so casual about the three assessments. If this continues, he'll suffer the consequences later..."
Lu Jinghong, fully prepared for his trip to Zhutang today, held his sword with his head held high, and as he glanced sideways at Sha Ergou, he managed a slight smile:
"Wait a minute, it's not like you can't see her at all. How about this, Brother Sha, you can go to Brother Liu's place every day to freeload a meal and see if you can catch a glimpse of Miss Liu Qing. But it depends on how embarrassed you are."
Sha Ergou listened in a daze, shaking his head repeatedly as if pounding garlic.
Lu Jinghong said no more to him. Once things were settled at Zhutang in the next couple of days, he and Sha Ergou would be worlds apart.
They were in the same bamboo hall, one above and one below.
Lu Jinghong turned to Ouyang Rong, and solemnly clasped his hands in greeting:
"Congratulations, Brother Liu! I envy you for having such a wonderful sister. Although she will have to avoid suspicion from you when she enters the palace, at least she will be safe and well-fed for life. No matter what path she takes from here on out, things will be fine..."
(End of this chapter)
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