Chapter 953 Accidentally Entering a Women's Room
"The Jade Hall Fairy said that this trip down the mountain is urgent, and she can only stay at the foot of the mountain for three days."
"Three days is enough."
The warehouse is still busy moving goods.
Madam Chen led Ouyang Rong, chatting as they walked.
"What you mean, Miss, is that I should accompany you to Peach Blossom Town? I have an excuse to buy ingredients, and you can be my attendant. That way, the fairy from Jade Hall won't suspect anything."
She made the arrangements carefully:
"Once we get to town, we'll act together. Three days should be enough..."
Ouyang Rong immediately interrupted:
“I’ve already spoken with Miss. Once we reach Peach Blossom Town, we’ll split up. Madam, you can go about your business, and I’ll take care of my personal matters. This is what Miss promised.”
Madam Chen paused for a moment, looked at him, and asked:
"You don't believe me?"
Ouyang Rong retorted, "Don't you believe me, Madam?"
Madam Chen frowned: "Your private matters can't possibly take three days to resolve, can they?"
Ouyang Rong nodded calmly:
"I can't say for sure, but I will definitely be back on time before I leave on the third day. We'll meet there then."
Madam Chen hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.
However, as if she had already been instructed by Chen Jiaxin, she kept her mouth shut and didn't say anything more, instead giving the following instructions:
"Alright, but remember, you absolutely cannot leave the area of Peach Blossom Town for these three days. Otherwise, if the Jade Hall Fairies find out, no matter how you explain, it will be useless. You will be treated as a deserter and executed without mercy. This punishment will be carried out by the Jade Hall Fairies first and then after they have informed you... Even if Miss arrives in time, she cannot protect you. Do you understand?"
Ouyang Rong's face was expressionless:
"Understood. I won't go far. I'll just visit the servants and go buy some ingredients for pickling radishes."
Madam Chen looked at the honest-looking young man in front of her, and her expression softened somewhat:
"Okay, it's a deal."
...
The process of going down the mountain with Lantang Yue Nu this time was the same as last month.
Ouyang Rong mingled among the miscellaneous workers of the purchasing office, boarded the purchasing office's cargo ship, and followed the large ship carrying the Lantang Yue women, slowly sailing away from Yunmeng Sword Marsh.
As usual, the Yue women of Lantang distributed lotus seeds to detoxify the poison, and the fleet successfully passed through the poison barrier. After traveling for most of the day, they finally arrived at the safe island not far from the mainland of Taoyuan Town before dark.
Logically speaking, non-Lan Tang Yue women, like Ouyang Rong, who was a purchasing agent, could only stay on this safe island and were not allowed to go to Taoyuan Town.
But Madam Chen clearly had special connections and obtained permission to travel.
Shortly after arriving at the safe island, she and her "follower" Ouyang Rong boarded the ship again and headed towards Taoyuan Town.
Among the passengers were some women from Lantang Yue.
Their faces were serious and their discipline was impeccable, as if they were preparing to carry out a mission.
Ouyang Rong kept a low profile and remained quiet, glancing at them out of the corner of his eye at one point.
Although it is unknown how Madam Chen obtained her privileges, one thing is certain: even in the disciplined Lantang under the management of the Second Lady, there are quite a few Yue women from the nine clans of the small town.
As a leading figure among the younger generation of the nine surnames in the small town, Chen Jiaxin's connections within Jianze are indeed unfathomable.
Ouyang Rong simply didn't know whether the ladies in the Queen's Palace above knew about these things happening under their command.
However, no matter what, even if there are conflicts, they are internal conflicts among the Yue women. Right now, with a formidable enemy at hand... Jianze has turned against the Great Zhou Dynasty, and the two sides are locked in a life-or-death struggle... According to Ouyang Rong's observations, this atmosphere has only further strengthened the unity of the Yue women.
Take Chen Jiaxin for example. She may enjoy internal strife and compete with rivals for resources, but when it comes to external enemies, she is always the first to unite against them and prioritize the interests of the Queen's Palace...
This is also why Ouyang Rong held him in high regard and was willing to patiently pretend to join.
He could tell from the incident when Chen Jiaxin publicly slapped the underhanded henchman that this woman had a bottom line.
The safety island was not far from the mainland. By the time Ouyang Rong and his team arrived at Taoyuan Town, it was already night.
A hazy white mist permeated the night, making the darkness appear even more like black ink staining paper.
The lights of Peach Blossom Town stood out brightly in the dark wilderness, visible from afar, like a guiding light on the edge of Yunmeng Marsh, trying to point the way for lost travelers venturing into Sword Marsh.
Unfortunately, historically, more people go in than come out.
Madam Chen bid farewell to the Yue women of Lantang with a smile.
Ouyang Rong followed silently behind her.
After Lantang Yue Nu left, Madam Chen turned back to look at him and gave him another word of advice:
"Ah Liang, remember what I said, don't run around."
"Um."
Madam Chen sighed: "Go ahead, Miss has instructed that if anything happens, you can mention Madam Chen's name."
Ouyang Rong nodded, and without saying a word, turned and left.
From behind, one could faintly hear Madam Chen muttering intermittently.
"Hey, Miss is being far too lenient... What exactly is the purpose of arranging for him to be in the dining hall? Why such leniency... Could it be that you also enjoy his cooking..."
Ouyang Rong pretended not to hear.
Whether Chen Jiaxin likes his food or not is uncertain, but going to the water dungeon to find someone is definitely very dangerous.
When she initially entrusted the task, Chen Jiaxin didn't elaborate on one thing... that is, she said that the Fifth Lady wouldn't allow her to enter the water dungeon, due to some taboos.
Chen Jiaxin did not say what this taboo was.
But upon closer examination, it becomes clear that the Fifth Lady was protecting her as a promising cultivator... In any case, she certainly wasn't intentionally neglecting her disciple.
Knowing there was something fishy and dangerous, Ouyang Rong never asked, and Chen Jiaxin never mentioned it again.
The two seemed to be maintaining some kind of tacit understanding.
Under the bright moonlight, the lights in the market of Taoyuan Town shone even more brilliantly.
It wasn't yet midnight curfew, so people could still move around the town.
Ouyang Rong walked alone into the chaotic crowd.
Instead of heading straight to the Red Dust Inn, he drifted along with the crowd for a while, wandering aimlessly.
First, check if there are any tagalongs following behind.
Secondly, there's a subconscious connection to the everyday atmosphere.
After spending a long time in the secluded mountains, every time I come down, I feel as if I've stepped into another world.
About an incense stick's time later, after confirming that no suspicious spies were following him, the dull young man turned around and turned into an alley in a corner where the surrounding pedestrians were not paying attention.
About ten breaths later, a fierce-looking man emerged from the alley and silently merged into the crowd on the street.
It disappeared in the blink of an eye...
Ouyang Rong put on the fake "Zhao Rushi" mask again.
They walked briskly towards the Red Dust Inn.
Upon arriving near the inn, he didn't go in immediately. Instead, he ordered a cup of tea at a nearby teahouse, chose a seat by the window, and while drinking his tea, he glanced around out of the corner of his eye.
Meanwhile, Ouyang Rong listened to the conversations of the guests sitting next to him in the lobby.
You can also gather some information along the way.
I haven't been here for a month, so I'm not entirely sure what's going on in Taoyuan Town.
Acting rashly carries risks.
It's best to prioritize stability.
Anyway, there are still three days left, so it won't make a difference if we wait a little longer.
Ouyang Rong waited for half an hour at the teahouse across the street. At the Red Dust Inn across the street, travelers came and went from time to time.
He even saw Mrs. Yu laughing and joking as she went out to greet and see off the guests.
Ouyang Rong sat by the window of the teahouse, his posture as steady as Mount Tai.
After a short while, seeing nothing unusual, he took out the silver, placed it on the table, and prepared to leave.
The next instant, a figure on the street came into view, and Ouyang Rong froze on the spot.
He suddenly sat back down in his original seat.
The "fierce and ruthless man" picked up the teacup in front of him, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp.
During this time, he kept his eyes fixed on the figure of the young novice monk at the entrance of the Red Dust Inn.
The Empress of the Great Zhou Dynasty's veneration of Buddhist monks was unprecedented in history.
Therefore, there are many temples in the Great Zhou Dynasty, and monks can often be seen traveling and begging for alms in cities, towns, and streets.
Even in Peach Blossom Town, it wouldn't be surprising to see a young novice monk.
But strangely, it was someone they knew.
Ouyang Rong raised an eyebrow and stared at the figure with flowing hair as she walked into the Red Dust Inn.
No doubt about it, this is Xiufa, a young disciple of Master Shandao.
Ouyang Rong was not mistaken for that bald, shiny little forehead.
Ouyang Rong nodded slightly.
Xiufa, carrying a bunch of large and small bags, swayed as she walked into the Red Dust Inn, her destination unknown.
Ouyang Rong remained silent for a moment, then stood up again, put down the silver, and left.
He went out the door, but instead of entering the Red Dust Inn, he walked away into the distance.
He looked like a rough, unrefined man who had just finished drinking at night and was going home to rest.
Ouyang Rong lowered his eyes.
The letter he sent back last month was indeed sent to Donglin Temple in the name of Xiufa's family.
If Yan Liulang were to be cautious, sending Xiufa to make contact would be both safe and reasonable.
However, Ouyang Rong did not go looking for people easily.
A month has passed, and anything can happen in the meantime.
Most importantly, Xiu Fa is young, and if no one takes care of him while he lives here, he is prone to saying the wrong thing and his mouth is not easy to keep.
He's a safe contact, but not a reliable one.
Unlike Yan Liulang and Pei Shisan Niang, they are not trustworthy.
Ouyang Rong glanced back at the Red Dust Inn.
The quiet room on the upper floor that he rented hasn't expired yet, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, Xiufa will be staying there after she arrives, waiting for him.
However, just to be safe, Ouyang Rong still needed to check again, but not when there were many people around; he had to sneak over.
Taoyuan Town is right under the nose of Yunmeng Jianze, located in enemy-occupied territory, so every step must be taken with caution.
The image of the disciplined Yue women of Lantang flashed before Ouyang Rong's eyes before their parting at dusk.
If Lantang Yue Nu has already discovered Xiu Fa and is using him as bait, then it will be dangerous.
Striding into the Red Dust Inn is not a wise choice.
Ouyang Rong decided to try a different approach. If it really was a setup, then he was willing to fight it out; he wasn't afraid.
If it weren't for the arrangement, seeing Xiufa later wouldn't make any difference...
After making his plans, Ouyang Rong did not act immediately. Instead, he walked forward and circled the neighborhood where the Red Dust Inn was located twice.
Finally, midnight arrived, and the bell in the northeast corner of the town was rung.
This also means that it's now completely late at night, and the town's curfew has begun.
Ouyang Rong, who was strolling around, disappeared into the darkness at some point.
The nights in Taoyuan Town are mostly dark, with moonlight rarely seen. Even though Ouyang Rong used to ring the bell here, he was rarely seen doing so.
The dark and windy conditions provided perfect conditions for stealth.
About half an hour later, a dark figure quietly approached the Red Dust Inn and nimbly climbed over the courtyard wall.
With the blessing of a seventh-rank Taoist lineage, Ouyang Rong is best suited for nighttime infiltration.
This is why he chose this safe way to meet people; it's his old profession, his forte. As for the feeling of being smug in Xiu Fa's eyes... he doesn't care.
Before long, Ouyang Rong made his way through the backyard and arrived at the upper floor of the accommodation. Using his muscle control, he nimbly climbed up the stairs from outside the window, passing through many rooms.
Many rooms were already occupied, and the sound of snoring could be heard.
He gradually approached the reserved room, and throughout the entire process, he did not see anyone setting up a trap.
Ouyang Rong did not relax and silently went to the window of that house.
This is the most dangerous place, because it is "the safest place".
If he is Lantang Yue Nu or another enemy, after capturing the other party's line of work, he will also choose to ambush them in the room they have reserved, to catch them like turtles in a jar... Before that, he will also release the other party's informants to pretend that everything is normal.
Ouyang Rong's eyes narrowed slightly. He went to the window, took out the cooking oil he had just taken from the kitchen, and dripped it onto the window latch.
A moment later, the window opened silently without any wind, without making a sound.
The wind inside had picked up a bit, but it was still pitch black.
The window that Ouyang Rong opened faced the table, while the bed in the inner room was covered by a curtain.
Behind the curtains, one could faintly hear the even breathing of someone asleep.
After a moment of silence, Ouyang Rong quietly climbed through the window and entered the room.
Standing there, it seemed as if a strong wind had picked up outside. The dark clouds and mist in the sky outside the window had dissipated considerably, and a round, white jade disc quietly peeked out from behind the clouds.
It arrived just in time, precisely when Ouyang Rong had already climbed in through the window.
A rare ray of silver sunlight fell by the window and spilled onto Ouyang Rong's feet.
It was quiet and deserted, but the interior was a bit brighter.
But the next moment, the window was silently closed again.
Ouyang Rong kept Mingyue out.
He remained silent, controlled his breathing, and turned to look at the bed behind the curtain in front of him.
The even breathing sound remained unchanged, without any disturbance.
Ouyang Rong remained silent for a moment, then walked away.
Passing by the Eight Immortals Table on the way, I could vaguely see some leftover pastries and fruits on it, and some messy garbage on the ground... In addition, there were some other small traces of human habitation inside the house.
These clues all fell into Ouyang Rong's eyes.
They don't seem fake, and they're very difficult to fake.
If it were a trap set by waiting for prey to fall into a trap, it would be quite remarkable to act it out so realistically.
It seems that Xiufa has been living alone these days.
Ouyang Rong breathed a slight sigh of relief, quickened his pace, and walked straight towards the bed in the inner room.
He hadn't walked more than a few steps when, as he got closer, he suddenly smelled a fragrance.
I don't know if it's just my imagination... It's faint and gentle, like jasmine.
It's unclear whether it's a fragrance or body odor, but it's definitely a woman's scent.
There was a woman's scent in the room where Xiufa lived!
And it seems there's more than one dish.
Ouyang Rong stopped abruptly, turned around, and was about to leave...
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
