Chapter 841 A single glimpse of Liang Han could change one's life forever [Seeking monthly votes!]
Returning from Xingzifang to Xunyangfang, a long street passes right by the Censorate.
Ouyang Rong, familiar with the place, bought two golden and crispy sesame seed cakes from the breakfast stall in front of the Supervisory Commission.
“Young master, there’s no need to pay. The young lady has already paid for the previous bills. She even paid an extra tael of silver, saying that as long as you come to eat, it will be deducted from the bill. If you don’t come again, she’ll give it to us.”
Ouyang Rong paused for a moment, then withdrew his hand from the copper coin.
"Oh, okay."
He nodded calmly, then turned and left.
After walking a few steps, I slowly stopped at the street corner.
Ouyang Rong turned around and glanced at the breakfast stall.
I didn't expect that Lady Historian had already paid.
He remembered that in the past, when he and Rongzhen came to eat, they would always put the bill on the tab first, because she always forgot to bring money, and Ouyang Rong was often "short of money".
I always wait until he receives his monthly salary before I come to settle the bill...
Ouyang Rong's gaze passed over the breakfast stall and landed on the rather quiet Supervisory Council behind it.
After Miaozhen and the others left with Khufu, the Censorate was relatively empty, except for a few female officials who remained.
After looking at the gate of the Censorate for a while, I did not see the figure of a cold, palace-dressed girl walking out quickly.
Ouyang Rong turned and left, walking along the long street towards the Jiangzhou Hall.
She must have paid it secretly on the two days of her aunt's birthday celebration.
Back then, the two were still "good colleagues".
Although paying the bill himself is a bit unlike the Lady Historian's style of never carrying money, it is... very much in line with her personality.
When interacting with others, she is always cold and distant, but Rongzhen always thinks about things in advance, does them quietly, and doesn't actively publicize or tell others.
She seemed to have secretly kept in mind the promise Ouyang Rong had made to her, but she acted as if nothing had happened and never urged him to keep it up.
However, if someone fails to do so in the end, the Lady Historian will always remind him in ways such as "sulking inexplicably" or "looking like he owes her money."
Ouyang Rong suddenly remembered that he had promised Lady Historian that if he were to be promoted to an official position at the Luoyang Xiuwen Academy, he would finish his duty with her in the evenings at Yinglong Gate in the Imperial City, and they could go for a night cruise on the Luo River or visit the White Horse Temple to offer incense.
Rong Zhen definitely remembers this...
The new cakes were a little hot to the touch, even through the oil paper.
Ouyang Rong snapped out of his daze, switched hands to hold the food, and began to eat it with relish as he walked along the long street toward the Jiangzhou Hall.
He walked down the bustling street in a scholar's robe, without any attendants like Liu Lang in official attire. Apart from his handsome face attracting the casual glances of the aunties and ladies doing business and the young ladies shopping, he did not attract any special attention.
Just like any other young man.
But he was also a familiar face to the elderly women who had fixed stalls along the street.
Because I often saw him buying food from the breakfast stalls outside the Control Yuan.
Occasionally, a short, pretty but aloof young woman would accompany him, seemingly a junior female official in the Censorate...
Over time, coupled with that slender face that older women love, they naturally became familiar with each other.
However, most of them and passersby on the street assumed that Ouyang Rong was a student studying at the state school or a student at a small academy in the Kuanglu Mountains because of his attire.
As for further details, it's difficult to discern any more.
In one's life, one will encounter many such people. We often bump into them on familiar street corners, brush past them, remember their faces, but never interact with them. Then one day, we can no longer see them, their whereabouts are unknown, and we never know anything about them.
Everyone was busy with their own things.
Perhaps, as Pei Shisan Niang said, a man with a handsome face and fair complexion is indeed hard to "think highly" of; it's good enough if he doesn't inspire any fantasies.
In addition, not many people in Xunyang City had actually seen the face of Governor Ouyang Lianghan.
It wasn't that the young governor wasn't approachable.
In this era, there are no big screens or anything like that, so even if there are big occasions where people can see movies, they can only see them with their naked eyes.
If the celebration ceremony for the Donglin Buddha hadn't been abruptly canceled and had proceeded as scheduled, many people in Xunyang would have been able to get a clear look at the face of this young prefect who was renowned throughout Jiangzhou...
Apart from that, among the common people of Xunyang, the physical characteristics of such high-ranking officials and nobles could only be passed down orally.
When Ouyang Lianghan first took office, there were quite a few rumors circulating in the Jiangzhou government hall that this official was a handsome young man.
However, when ordinary people chat over tea and after meals, apart from infatuated young women and naive girls, most people think that it is exaggerated to some extent.
Moreover, whenever Ouyang Rong went out in a grand manner, he mostly sat quietly in a carriage and rarely rode a tall horse to make a show of it by crossing the street.
But that doesn't mean he's detached from ordinary people.
On the long street where the aroma of flatbread and flour mingled with the pungent smell of chicken and duck, Ouyang Rong chewed on a freshly baked flatbread and silently moved forward.
He knew the prices of meat, rice, and salt in the East Market every day, as well as the prices of cloth, gold, and silver in the West Market—more comprehensively than most people in Xunyang.
Like now, whenever Ouyang Rong has time to pass by in the morning, he will take a stroll or stop at a stall to ask questions.
"Your Excellency, you've arrived! I have breakfast today."
In the main hall of Jiangzhou, officials on their early shifts were already busy going back and forth.
As soon as Ouyang Rong stepped inside, Yan Liulang came to greet him.
Yan Liulang peeked behind Ouyang Rong and found that he was alone, which didn't surprise him.
The blue-clad constable clasped his hands and reported:
“Your Excellency, Li Yu and Fang Yiwu are requesting an audience. They say that Thirteen Sister sent them, as you instructed.”
"Take me to the main hall so I can change my clothes. You must be tired coming so early every day, Sixth Brother."
As Ouyang Rong passed by Yan Liulang, he stuffed the extra sesame seed cake he had bought into Yan Liulang's arms and then drifted away.
Yan Liulang couldn't help but glance at his master's back, grinned, peeled off the oil paper, started munching on the hot pancake, and jogged after him.
In fact, Yan Liulang, who had always been by Ouyang Rong's side, was the one who felt the change in Ouyang Rong's style of governance most clearly.
I remember when he was in Longcheng, the magistrate was decisive and hands-on, liked to mingle with the common people, and frequently made on-site inspections, appearing in front of the people of Longcheng. Hmm, he collected countless pickled radishes.
At that time, the people of Longcheng even nicknamed Magistrate Ming "Radish Magistrate".
But upon arriving in Xunyang City, the Ming government office suddenly changed its style, as if it had become completely immersed in something else.
He has reduced the number of times he appears in public and has been very low-key. He often goes to work quietly by himself, like this morning, by strolling through the morning market.
At first, Yan Liulang thought that the Ming government was lying low because there were ill-intentioned enemies like Wang Lengran at the time.
However, Wang Lengran and the Wei family members were all "outlasted" by the Ming government.
Now, the position of governor has changed hands, the entire Jiangzhou government is filled with their people, and the power of Jiangzhou is in the hands of the Prefect.
However, the Ming government maintained its low-key and inconspicuous style.
Yan Liulang was initially puzzled and even asked the prefect.
He recalled that the magistrate only replied with one sentence:
“Xunyang City is different from Longcheng County, governing a prefecture is different from governing a county, and governing a county is even more different from governing a township.”
Yan Liulang remembered that he had acted impulsively and asked, "What about governing a country?"
The magistrate was walking ahead at the time, and it seems he said something with a smile:
"That's not a good idea, but if I had to say..."
Yan Liulang was completely absorbed, expecting the magistrate to utter a phrase often found in books, such as "governing a large country is like cooking a small fish," but to his surprise, after his laughter, he only left behind four simple words:
"The greatest form is formless."
Yan Liulang only had a vague understanding at the time, but these days he has been pondering it repeatedly.
In the days following the Battle of Shuangfengjian, he followed the rules set by the Ming government, diligently managed the affairs of the city, and personally took charge. He found that the people's livelihood recovered extremely quickly. In two months, Xunyang City healed the scars of the Buddha incident and restored its former prosperity, even surpassing its former glory.
Meanwhile, within Xunyang City, a chorus of praise has recently begun to rise, commending the young governor for his lack of turmoil and for ensuring long-term stability.
Although many people have never seen the young governor, they can all feel that after he took office, the government has "fewer things to do". And the Buddha-building incident that has caused a great uproar throughout the country, Jiangzhou is clearly one of the main players, and a Donglin Buddha is about to be built.
But even after the Donglin Buddha inexplicably collapsed, the crowd, who were waiting for the storm, couldn't see the young governor doing anything to cause trouble, and couldn't help but look at each other in bewilderment.
It's like when children build a snowman in winter, it collapses, they let it melt, everyone goes home, and nothing happens.
Without any hesitation or fuss.
If you insist on calling it "lazy," that seems to be true, but if you ask whether you like this kind of governor and government, you definitely do, and you wish it were like this.
This caused a sensation among the people of Jiangzhou, and even the people in Yangzhou, far away, began to hear about it. They learned that Jiangzhou had a "non-fussy governor" who built a giant Buddha for the Empress without causing much hardship or expense to the people.
Yan Liulang was completely convinced.
At this moment, Yan Liulang first instructed his men to bring Li and Fang to the main hall, and then followed Ouyang Rong to report on the matter of "not causing trouble for one's reputation" in public opinion.
Ouyang Rong, who was walking in front, simply said "Oh".
"My lord, is this what the books mean by 'the best warriors achieve no great feats'?"
Before entering, Ouyang Rong turned around and solemnly corrected him:
"Nonsense! The renovations of Shuangfengjian, Xunyang Grottoes, and Xingzifang—aren't these great achievements? Aren't they remarkable accomplishments?"
He started to boast, but then he laughed at himself.
He stopped joking, turned around, and stepped into the main hall.
"Your Excellency."
Yan Liulang suddenly shouted.
"What's wrong?"
Ouyang Rong's step paused slightly in mid-air;
Yan Liulang paused for a moment, then smiled and said:
"So, we won't make a fuss about Magistrate Ming's temporary retreat this time, right? We don't need to let the whole city know?"
"Yes, everything as usual."
"good."
Yan Liulang turned and left.
Just then, a minor official arrived with Li Yu and Fang Yiwu. The two sides exchanged greetings and passed each other by.
Yan Liulang glanced back at the young governor's back as he worked on the crime, his back to the gate.
What he had just suddenly wanted to ask was, if you were to become an official in Luoyang, would your style be different from that of officials in Longcheng and Xunyang? What would that mean by "the great elephant has no form"?
After the blue-clad constable left, inside the main hall...
Ouyang Rong met with Li Yu and Fang Yiwu.
Li Yu was still the same as before, plump and kind-looking, bowing respectfully.
Ouyang Rong tilted his head and asked him first:
"Why didn't Brother Li go directly to Huaiye Lane to find me? Or come with Chief Clerk Yuan and ask Thirteen Sister for help?"
Li Yu shook his head:
“Young master is a man busy with important matters; the affairs of a commoner are merely minor matters. How could I possibly bother you so casually?”
"I went to see Madam Pei simply to ask if there was anything I could do to help. I wanted to do my part for the young master and the people."
Ouyang Rong offered a word of advice:
"The Control Yuan has dropped the charges against you, and there are no female officials guarding you anymore. You are now free."
"If you want to stay and find a job, there are some, but have you thought it through? Yunmeng Jianze is now at odds with the imperial court. Your actions are tantamount to taking sides, which may implicate your youngest daughter, Li Shu."
Li Yu remained silent for a moment, then shook his head:
"No, this humble subject has not submitted to the court. He wishes to follow you, young master, and to do things that benefit the people of Jiangnan. He is not an enemy of Jianze and Yuanjun. Moreover, the successor of Yuanjun, Lord Yue Chuzi, is with you..."
Li Yu stared at Ouyang Rong for a moment, her expression complicated. She paused, then changed her words:
"Yes, I also believe that the Second Lady is not a narrow-minded person, and my daughter Li Shu will be fine with her."
"This humble subject only hopes that... if one day it really comes to that, young master will spare Li Shu out of consideration for this humble subject's meager kindness."
Ouyang Rong waved his hand:
"There's no need to go that far. Your daughter is still young and ignorant. She's been coerced. Even according to the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty, she won't be harmed. You can rest assured for now. If that day ever comes, it will just be you saving your daughter from the 'tiger's mouth'."
Li Yu took a deep breath:
"I have no regrets. Thank you, young master. I will do my utmost to serve you."
Ouyang Rong offered a few more words of comfort, then turned his gaze to Fang Yiwu.
The latter quickly clasped his hands in a fist salute:
“I, like Master Li, also want to do things for the young master and the people. However, I know that I have made mistakes. Although the young master has not pursued the matter further, I feel guilty. After discussing it with my wife for a long time, I have come to atone for my sins and hope to make amends through meritorious service.”
Ouyang Rong glanced at him:
“Master Fang, you flatter me… By the way, where are your two daughters?”
Fang Yiwu clasped his hands in a deep fist salute, and said with a slight smile:
"These two girls have run away again, but this time, they didn't run away from home without permission. They sincerely discussed it with me and my wife first and got permission before leaving."
Seeing the curiosity on Ouyang Rong's face, Fang Yiwu scratched his head and said:
"Didn't the young master send someone to ask if this humble one had any news or channels about Yunmeng Jianze? All those channels have been closed, including the Yunmeng Tokens in the hands of the two girls, there's nowhere to contact Yunmeng Jianze."
"They said they felt bad about the misunderstanding with you before. They wanted to help you with the matter of Lord Yue. This time they left home with the Yunmeng Token to go to Tiannan Jianghu to find out about Jianze. They wanted to see if they could use the Yunmeng Token to enter Jianze and help you contact Lord Yue."
"My wife and I felt that this wasn't too much of a fuss, so we let them go. Of course, the condition is that their safety is guaranteed..."
Fang Yiwu stopped talking after a while, glanced at Ouyang Rong's expression, and asked cautiously:
"Your Excellency, I haven't done anything wrong, have I? If not, I'll call them back."
Ouyang Rong shook his head:
"It's alright, let them go. Whether they find it or not, I appreciate their kindness."
Fang Yiwu cheerfully clasped his hands in a fist salute:
"Alright, young master!"
Ouyang Rong then offered some encouragement to the two of them.
After a cup of tea, he picked up his teacup, sipped his tea, and saw his guest off.
Li Yu and Fang Yiwu clasped their hands in a gesture of respect and declined to speak.
Just as he stepped out the door, Fang Yiwu suddenly stopped.
"Oh, right, there's one more thing."
Ouyang Rong and Xi asked, "What?"
Fang Yiwu said somewhat embarrassedly:
"It was Xiu'er and Shengnan who left some words before they left, and they wanted me to pass them on to you, young master."
Ouyang Rong nodded:
"Please feel free to speak."
Fang Yiwu recalled:
"Shengnan said... she realized that not everyone can be like Young Master Ouyang, becoming that so-called dazzling protagonist in the martial arts world."
"The words of my mother and elders may be right, but there is no need to be discouraged. If you don't personally experience the world of martial arts in your heart, but only let others do it or listen to others talk about it, what a pity that would be."
Ouyang Rong was somewhat speechless.
After a short while, he laughed heartily:
"As expected of the great heroine Fang, she always speaks with her hands on her hips."
Fang Yiwu stared in astonishment:
"How did you know, young master, that this girl was asking for a beating with her hands on her hips when she said that?"
Ouyang Rong smiled without speaking and asked:
"And what about Miss Fang's?"
Fang Yiwu's expression showed some hesitation:
"As for the sleeves, make them shorter, shorter."
Ouyang Rong found it strange that he was acting so secretively:
"What did you say?"
"Sleeve said...said..."
Under the curious gaze of the scholar-robed youth and the sidelong glance of Li Yu beside him, Fang Yiwu, usually a rough and tough man, lowered his head somewhat awkwardly and muttered aloud:
"To not meet Liang Han is to regret one's life, and to meet Liang Han is also to regret one's life."
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(End of this chapter)
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