Chapter 779 A Shocking Turn of Events at Yinbingzhai (Here Comes the Spicy Event!)
As Ouyang Rong strode out of the ruins of the inner courtyard, Li Xian, along with his entire family and servants, came to greet him, asking eagerly:
"Tanlang, are you ready to leave? The carriage and important luggage are all prepared."
There was no need for Xie Lingjiang to urge them; the Li family was already prepared. With Wei Mei and Li Guo'er, this decisive mother and daughter, there was no way they would dawdle.
From the moment Ouyang Rong revealed the "strategy for returning to the capital," they were already eager to try it out.
"Okay, let's go."
Ouyang Rong did not stop. Holding the sword box, he nodded hastily, walked straight past them, strode out the door, and rode a fast horse.
Looking at his back, which seemed to be "preoccupied with something and didn't stand on ceremony."
Li Xian and Li Dalang looked at each other, while Li Guo'er and Wei Mei glanced at Xie Lingjiang who had followed behind.
She seemed to be asking what they had been talking about that had caused Tanlang to lose his composure.
Xie Lingjiang frowned and remained silent, following closely behind.
Li Xian and the others quickly followed.
Upon reaching the back gate, they discovered that Ouyang Rong had already seized a fast horse from the stable and was galloping towards Xunyangfang.
The Li family quickly got into the carriage, and servants such as Cai Shou and Shun Bo also accompanied them.
The maids and stewards who had been imprisoned in the woodshed of the outer residence by the fake river bandits were all released. However, when they left Xun to return to the capital, they did not bring any of their loyal servants, except for Cai Shou and Shun Bo.
Xie Lingjiang and Lu Ya each rode a fast horse, escorting the carriage where Li Xian's family was hiding, and drove out of the dilapidated Xunyang Prince's Mansion.
The streets were deserted, with few pedestrians and cluttered with debris. Occasionally, constables and auxiliary soldiers would hurry by.
Today, the city is filled with shocking events: the Jiangzhou government has issued a city lockdown order, river pirates have captured Xunyang Ferry, and a fire has suddenly broken out at the Xunyang Prince's Palace...
In addition, most of the personnel from the Imperial Observatory and the White Tiger and Black Tortoise Guards were transferred to Shuangfengjian this morning, leaving the city's defenses weak, and the situation at Xunyang Grottoes is currently uncertain.
At this moment, only the Jiangzhou government's own troops remained in the city, barely maintaining order. Several city gates were still in the hands of the Jiangzhou government officials, who were struggling to hold them up.
Perhaps it was the news that the young governor was still in the city that spread by word of mouth, or perhaps it was Yan Liulang still carrying out Ouyang Rong's orders to maintain stability.
Some important government and administrative structures in Xunyang City are still operating as usual. If this were in other prefectures or counties, these slippery officials would have scattered like birds and beasts long ago... How much salary do they get? Why are they working so hard?
Even so, this barely maintained special atmosphere could not withstand the aftershocks of the drastic changes that followed at the Xunyang Grottoes.
The discerning people in the city are all waiting for the final result from Twin Peaks.
If the Imperial Observatory and the two Imperial Guards win, things will be fine.
If the rebels of Tiannan Jianghu and the Kuangfu Army win, then Xunyang City will face a slaughter like a fish on a chopping board, and the stability maintenance troops under the command of Jiangzhou Datang will not be able to stop them.
However, most people in the city were unaware that the outcome of the battle at Xunyang Grottoes had the opposite effect on Xunyang City and the Xunyang Prince's Mansion.
At least from the current situation, the rebels in Tiannan Jianghu have won, which is of the greatest benefit to the Xunyang Prince's Mansion, whether it is to use this as an excuse to return to the capital or to eliminate political enemies such as Wei Wu and Granny Song.
However, the best outcome would be a Pyrrhic victory for the Jianghu of Tiannan and the rebels of the Kuangfu Army. In that case, even if they win, they will have no time to spare for the poorly defended Xunyang City.
To put it bluntly, the female officials of the Imperial Observatory and the two Imperial Guards on Shuangfengjian were not true allies of the people of Xunyang City.
The primary task for these court officials from Luoyang and Guanzhong was to protect the golden Buddha statue of the sage.
In Xunyang City, the situation falls into the category where minor sacrifices are acceptable.
Otherwise, there wouldn't have been the "unexpected incident" of the three hundred pirates disguised as Wei's assassins getting through unimpeded and launching a surprise attack on the city.
Just as stated in the secret letter that Xunyang Wang Lixian's family received this morning:
If you're not going to eat it, then serve it on the menu.
Today, even the Prince of Xunyang's residence is on that pre-written menu, let alone the people of Xunyang City.
Without someone representing the broadest interests of the people of Xunyang City sitting at the "Twin Peaks" table, who would be willing to give up the benefits they have fought and risked their lives to make selfless contributions?
Can we rely solely on other people's compassion?
The situation today is that simple, and that brutally honest.
Pei Shisan Niang's residence is located on the edge of Xunyang Ward, between the Huaiye Lane residence and the Xunyang Prince's Mansion route, close to the main road of Xunyang City. Whether going to Xunyang Ferry or leaving the city through other gates, transportation is very convenient.
Pei Shisan Niang had been to Longcheng County before and had recently been in charge of the activities of the Yinbingshi Trading Company in Kuanglu Mountain. She was very familiar with the two escape routes that Ouyang Rong had planned in advance.
This is also why Ouyang Rong previously set the meeting point here, allowing for flexibility.
When Xie Lingjiang, Li Xian, and the others arrived at Pei Shisan Niang's residence, Ouyang Rong had already arrived a while earlier.
When everyone entered the courtyard, they found that Ouyang Rong had not gone into the main hall to drink tea, but was pacing back and forth in the outer courtyard, his head down so that his expression could not be seen.
Pei Shisan Niang stood to the side with her hands clasped, looking both timid and worried.
As if she had anticipated the crisis of the day, this plump and beautiful woman dressed in men's clothing that allowed her to move around easily, and her trusted maids accompanying her were also dressed in men's clothing.
Currently, the entire Pei residence is under martial law, staffed by loyal guards hired at great expense.
When Xie Lingjiang, Li Xian and others arrived, Ouyang Rong only glanced up at them before continuing to pace back and forth.
Li Guo'er looked around and, finding no women from Huaiye Lane, gave Xie Lingjiang a wink.
Xie Lingjiang didn't actually need her teaching, so she didn't disturb her senior brother. She went over and called Pei Shisan Niang aside, asking her in a low voice:
"What happened?"
Pei Shisan Niang said with difficulty, "As soon as the young master came over, he asked me whether Xiu Niang and Madam Zhen had arrived."
Before Xie Lingjiang could speak, Pei Shisan Niang whispered:
"It can't be that fast. It's not the agreed time yet. This morning, the embroiderer went missing. Madam Zhen came looking for me and searched for a while. Later, news came from Huaiye Lane that the embroiderer had returned. I took the guards and personally escorted Madam Zhen back to her residence in Huaiye Lane. Finding her safe, I left some guards there and then left."
“I have only been back for a short time, and you have already come here, young master… Logically speaking, Madam Zhen should have been talking with the embroiderer and packing her luggage, so she shouldn’t have been able to come to my humble abode so quickly. In the short time since I left, they wouldn’t have had enough time to travel back and forth. However, I still sent someone to urge you, and you still seem to be worried.”
Seeing that she had done a good job, Xie Lingjiang pursed her lips, said nothing more, turned around, walked to Ouyang Rong, and asked softly:
"Is there something wrong with the old Celestial Master's words? Is Senior Brother worried about Sister Embroiderer, or Aunt Zhen?"
Ouyang Rong took a few steps forward and glanced back at her.
Beside him, Li Dalang cautiously spoke up, bringing up something that everyone present was actually quite concerned about:
“My lord, when Madam Zhen and the embroiderer arrive, let’s leave the city together and return to the capital. Although the governor’s post makes it inconvenient to leave the territory, it’s not a problem if we have a reason to ‘escort a seriously ill prince’ to the capital. Besides, you are a scholar of the Imperial Academy. As long as we implement the middle strategy, it’s no problem to get you a position in the capital. My lord, you also said that the closer to the center of power, the better…”
Ouyang Rong slowly stopped.
Just then, a series of footsteps suddenly came from outside.
Ouyang Rong immediately turned his head, and everyone else also turned to look.
But then a blue-clad constable, looking travel-worn, led a group of subordinates in, walking briskly through the door.
"Mr. Ming, you're back! How's the situation at Twin Peaks?"
It was Yan Liulang who brought his men to join them.
Xie Lingjiang, Pei Shisan Niang, and the others breathed a sigh of relief.
Yan Liulang sensed something was amiss and, noticing a hint of disappointment in Mingfu's eyes, asked curiously:
"Why are you all looking at me like that? What's wrong with the Prefect? Who are you waiting for?"
He couldn't help but turn around and look outside the gate.
The next instant, I felt a whirlwind pass by.
Yan Liulang looked closely and saw that Ouyang Rong had passed him and was rushing towards the long street outside the gate.
"Where is Your Excellency heading, sir?"
Ouyang Rong snatched the black horse that Yan Liulang had ridden, mounted the horse in his green robe, and galloped toward the mansion in Huaiye Lane.
It seemed that Xie Lingjiang, Yan Liulang, and Li Xian were chasing after them, but Ouyang Rong ignored them.
He was dressed in a blue robe, riding a black horse at breakneck speed, galloping across the long street, arriving at the familiar Huaiye Lane.
Before even reaching the mansion, they encountered a group of people hurrying by, led by Wang Caozhi, who seemed to have just left the mansion in Huaiye Lane.
The two vehicles collided and braked simultaneously.
The young man in the scholar's robe pulled hard on the whip, the black horse neighed, and reared up high. Before it even landed, the young man on horseback spoke in a commanding voice:
"Where are the embroiderers?"
Wang Caozhi had a miserable face, and when Ouyang Rong saw it, his heart skipped a beat.
When Wang Caozhi's nervous, stammering words reached his ears, they echoed like a stone thrown into an empty valley, lingering for a long time:
"Sister, brother-in-law, the embroiderer has disappeared. She was in the courtyard of Yinbingzhai half an hour ago. A maid brought her food... Madam Zhen and Miss Ye are looking for her... Miss Ye said that someone from her sect visited before the embroiderer disappeared... Hey, brother-in-law!"
Before Wang Caozhi could finish speaking, Ouyang Rong had already dropped his whip, shaken him off, and barged into the house.
Ouyang Rong no longer concealed his cultivation level. He leaped across rooftops and walls with lightning speed, arriving at the Yinbingzhai courtyard.
Outside the courtyard gate stood a large group of familiar maids, all of whom were from the aunt's side; they all bowed their heads and remained silent.
Before they could react, Ouyang Rong had already leaped over and rushed into the courtyard. As soon as he entered, he saw three people in the courtyard, one standing, one squatting, and one lying down by the stone table.
The one lying on the ground is my aunt's personal maid, Banxi!
She appeared to be unconscious, lying on the ground next to the stone table, with some bloodstains on her sleeves.
It seemed as if the bowls and utensils on the table had fallen to the ground. The Silla maid was surrounded by broken porcelain shards and splashed tea liquid. Among the tea stains, there were also some small pieces of noodles. The broken porcelain shards cut her palms.
The study and bedroom of Yinbingzhai were all neat and tidy, except for the mess around the stone table in the courtyard, which, along with the swing swaying in the wind, was reflected in Ouyang Rong's narrowed dark pupils.
Ye Weilai squatted down next to Banxi, showing concern and support, and pinching her philtrum.
Zhen Shuyuan stood to the side, her ten fingers gripping the handkerchief tightly, her fair face ashen.
"My love!"
Zhen Shuyuan and Ye Weilai both noticed Ouyang Rong standing at the door and called out in unison, their voices filled with sobs and...guilt.
Upon seeing this, Ouyang Rong slowed down.
He walked slowly to the three women and looked down at them.
Banxi was gradually awakened. Her eyes widened, and upon noticing the gazes of the crowd before her, she looked around in panic, her small face contorted with tears, and she sobbed sadly:
"Waaaaah, young master... It's all my fault, I'm useless, I didn't stop it... I'm such a good-for-nothing, waaaaah..."
Sobbing echoed in the courtyard; the words were broken and intermittent, the person crying so hard that they could barely speak.
Seeing Banxi's tearful, fearful, and incoherent appearance, Zhen Shuyuan and Ye Weilai felt as if they had fallen into an ice cave, without even hearing the rest of her words.
They dared not look at Tanlang beside them, terrified of seeing his expression or reaction.
However, after waiting for a while, the two women were surprised to find that the young man in the scholar's robe beside them was unusually quiet.
Ouyang Rong squatted down, wiping his half-covered, dirty face with his right sleeve, and looked at her calmly as he spoke:
"No rush, speak slowly, don't be afraid, I'm here. Tell me everything you've seen, don't leave anything out."
Banxi stared blankly at Ouyang Rong, sobbing for a while before finally catching her breath and saying in a tearful voice:
"Young master, sob sob sob, Sister Xiu Niang has an acquaintance who has come into the courtyard. I followed Sister Wei Lai's instructions and brought noodles and tea. I am waiting obediently outside Yin Bing Zhai, hoping that Sister Xiu Niang will see the guest off, sob sob sob."
"At first, everything was fine. There was no noise in the courtyard. They were probably eating noodles and drinking tea. But after a while, a special sound came from the courtyard: the sound of a white hairpin on the embroiderer's head. I found it a bit strange. As soon as I got close to the courtyard gate, I heard the sound of teacups and noodle bowls falling to the ground."
"I was worried, so I pushed open the door and went in. I saw that Sister Embroidery had fainted on the table. I didn't know what had happened. A strange, barefoot woman in a white dress was about to take her away. How could I let her? Sister Wei Lai had specifically instructed me to keep an eye on Sister Embroidery. I went to stop her and tried to take Sister Embroidery back, but the woman in the white dress was surprisingly strong and forcefully pushed me away. I panicked and shouted for help. The next moment, I felt a sharp pain in the back of my head, and everything went black. I don't remember anything..."
Ye Weilai's eyes reddened, and she lowered her head deeply.
"My lord, when I was escorting Sister Embroidery back to Yinbingzhai, I heard a strange bell sound and smelled an unfamiliar scent. Sister Embroidery made an excuse to send me away. I guessed that it was someone she knew who had come. I didn't want to disturb them, but I was worried, so I asked Weilai to bring noodles and tea to politely receive them on my behalf. I thought the guest would be polite and wouldn't dare to be rude, but who knew it would turn out like this..."
At this point, Ye Weilai choked up and couldn't speak, tears streaming down her face along with Banxi, who was crying out in grievance.
Ouyang Rong remained silent, looked around, then suddenly stood up, walked to the stone table, bent down, and picked up something from an inconspicuous pile of grass.
A white jade hairpin stained with gray.
(End of this chapter)
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