Chapter 409 The Master of Butterfly Love Flower
After a brief afternoon study of the unfamiliar and difficult-to-understand "Zhen Gao," Ouyang Rong took a short nap and then went to the main hall of Jiangzhou.
Such secret Taoist scriptures are quite unfamiliar and difficult to understand.
Moreover, it is expressed in some kind of divine or celestial oral tradition, with ancient pre-Qin sayings constantly being used to slowly reveal the secret formulas... making it quite strange to read.
In short, it's not easy to chew.
Although the diagrams of meridians and acupoints in the old book were all understandable to Ouyang Rong, who had some experience,
However, the annotations and narrations beside the text contained many Taoist terms that even Ouyang Rong found novel, so he had to check the classics...
This may also be related to the fact that Ouyang Rong cheated by skipping the learning order of the Shangqing Sect's introductory Qi cultivation technique, the "Shangqing Great Cave True Scripture," and directly learned the most difficult chapter.
In any case, Ouyang Rong needs to understand these terms; otherwise, if he overlooks any precautions, he might go astray and be doomed.
This is just like reading the instruction manual before using a product. In his previous life, Ouyang Rong was a very proper person, and he always liked to read the instruction manual before buying things...
So there's no rush, I'll take my time and work through it slowly.
On the way to the Jiangzhou Hall, in the bumpy carriage, Ouyang Rong closed his eyes and sank into the Merit Pagoda.
I glanced at the cyan-gold characters above the small wooden fish.
[Merit: 3,921]
Before the trip to Dagushan, there were more than 3,800 merits.
During this period, he gained merit from his junior sister, received positive feedback from dealing with corrupt officials during his inspection tour with Da Lang, and also received merit from various old projects such as the Shuangfengjian New Canal and the Zheyi Canal. In total, he gained three or four hundred merits, bringing his total merit points to over four thousand two hundred.
However, it was only noon, and I tried to run the "Zhen Gao" to study the Shangqing secrets, which consumed more than 300 merits. Now I only have more than 3,900 merits left.
I wonder if all this merit is enough for him to finish reading the entire "True Teachings".
This is quite a drain, but there's no other way. He follows the path of the Swordholder and the Sorcerer, which has nothing to do with the Taoist path. The only way for him to learn the profound Taoist Qi Refining Techniques is to consume Merit Purple Mist.
So we still need to find a way to accumulate more merit points. Even without discovering this new use, we can never have too many of these items...
Noticing that the carriage beneath him had come to a slow stop, Ouyang Rong got off and walked into the main hall of Jiangzhou. He immediately summoned Yan Liulang and others to go out of the city to Shuangfengjian to inspect the Donglin Buddha that was under construction.
Arriving at the waterside grotto at the foot of the north peak of Shuangfengjian, Ouyang Rong had only been strolling around for a short while when he spotted an unexpected, cold figure.
The girl in palace attire stood at the foot of the large Buddha statue not far away, her figure appearing extremely small and frail.
At this moment, she had her back to everyone, her hands tucked into her sleeves, and looked up at the sky. No one dared to disturb her among the busy laborers around her. In the distance, a group of female officials in green robes accompanied her, silently waiting for their superior.
Ouyang Rong felt slightly guilty, but he smoothly looked away as if nothing had happened. He turned his head and casually called to Liu Lang and the others, preparing to slip away and pretend he hadn't seen anything.
"stop."
After taking only two steps, the clear, cold voice of the girl in palace attire reached them.
Under everyone's gaze, Ouyang Rong smoothly turned around and walked forward without pausing. Reaching the foot of the Donglin Buddha, he neither humbly nor arrogantly clasped his hands in a slight gesture of respect.
"What a coincidence, Lady Historian, you're here to enjoy the scenery too? May I ask what brings you here?"
After a moment of silence, Rong Zhen asked without turning her head:
"You went to Dragon City too?"
"Also?" The tone was questioning. "The Lady Historian went too? When did that happen?"
clang--!
Merit is reduced by one.
The dull sound of a wooden fish echoed in his ears, but Ouyang Rong's expression remained unchanged.
Rongzhen turned her head, glanced at his harmless yet concerned expression, and pursed her lips:
"You don't need to know."
“Alright.” Ouyang Rong nodded and sighed softly.
"His Highness the Crown Prince and I did indeed pass through Longcheng, but we were unaware that Lady Historian was also there. We were unable to entertain you and apologize for any neglect."
"There's no such thing as being negligent or not; we're all doing our jobs for His Majesty and the court."
Rong Zhen interrupted him, saying, "My trip to Longcheng this time is to investigate the case of Zhao Rushi. I'm sure Chief Secretary Ouyang has heard of this case..."
Ouyang Rong glanced sideways and saw that the girl in palace attire in front of him had a slight frown. She was unusually talkative today, and patiently recounted the Zhao Rushi case in Longcheng to him.
I don’t know if it’s just my imagination, but although her words still sounded cold, Rong Zhen’s attitude towards him seemed to have softened a bit after she came back from her trip to Longcheng… In all the time we’ve known each other, she has never said as much to him as she has this time.
Aside from his attitude being slightly better, judging from Rong Zhen's relentless pursuit, he seems to really care about the Zhao Rushi case, or rather... really wants to find out who it is?
Remembering something, Ouyang Rong couldn't help but glance at the skin beneath the collar of her palace dress. The fair skin was dazzling in the sunlight, but he quickly looked away.
Before me, the girl in palace attire had a serious expression, and spoke in a businesslike manner.
The events of that night at Dagushan left no trace on her face, as if they had never happened.
Could it be that faded purple undergarment not be hers? And where did the craftsman find it from?
And what happened when Rongzhen left Longcheng and hurriedly returned two days ago, seemingly in a bad mood?
Ouyang Rong couldn't help but feel uneasy.
After Rong Zhen finished speaking, Ouyang Rong nodded solemnly:
"I have heard about this case. It happened in Longcheng. The Longcheng County Government is currently handling the matter."
Rongzhen glanced at him, "Prefect Ouyang certainly knows how to distinguish between public and private matters."
"You flatter me. The main reason is that I am very busy with affairs in Xunyang and also have to supervise the construction of the statues. I can't possibly manage everything in detail. That's why I declined His Majesty's favor some time ago."
"For those in charge, some things only require defining the scope and grasping the outline."
Ouyang Rong stood ramrod straight, looking up at the giant Buddha statue under construction, and spoke eloquently:
"To my shame, when I was an official in Longcheng, I meddle in everything. I felt like I had inexhaustible energy and ran around every day. I did enjoy it, but that was in a county, where there weren't that many things to do."
"When I arrived in Xunyang City and became the Chief Clerk of the Prefecture, overseeing several counties, I was overwhelmed with paperwork every day. Only then did I realize that manpower was limited and that I needed help; I could not fight alone."
"Later I occasionally heard people say that bosses who do everything themselves and like to micromanage are actually very annoying to their subordinates. Apart from sly and lazy officials who neglect their duties, if a boss takes over even the most basic tasks from the people below, what are the people below supposed to do?"
"From then on, I became more flexible, learning from that scholar in the court, striving to grasp the essentials in my official duties, such as controlling key aspects like finance, and avoiding taking away the jobs of those below me..."
During their casual conversation, Ouyang Rong abruptly changed the subject:
"What do you think of this reasoning, Your Excellency?"
Rong Zhen remained expressionless, looked at him for a while, nodded, and asked, "Is Chief Secretary Ouyang instructing me on how to do things?"
"I dare not. However, Grand Steward Qin will arrive tomorrow, and Lady Historian holds many positions, but the position of military supervisor in the Jiangnan camp is quite important. His Majesty's dispatch of Lady Historian here seems to indicate that he values this matter most, hoping to quell the rebellion as soon as possible and bring peace to the people of Jiangnan..."
"I have noticed that Your Excellency has been somewhat absent-minded lately, as if you are preoccupied with trivial matters. I couldn't help but say a few words. I am a straightforward person, so please forgive me."
Rongzhen waved her sleeve:
"There's no need for Chief Secretary Ouyang to instruct me. I am of lowly rank and foolish, unlike Chief Secretary Ouyang who is busy with countless affairs every day. Moreover, based on my speculation, the case of Zhao Rushi is very likely to be intricately connected with Zhu Lingxu's defection. This is an important clue that needs to be carefully investigated."
Ouyang Rong asked curiously, "Oh? Where did Your Excellency come to this conclusion?"
Rong Zhen countered, "Didn't Chief Secretary Ouyang just mean that he doesn't care about trivial matters? As for the details of this case, let's not bother Chief Secretary Ouyang any further."
Ouyang Rong's lips twitched, as if he was about to speak, but Rong Zhen interrupted him again:
"There's something I wanted to ask you to come here about."
She stretched out her hand, and in her palm lay a piece of red paper and five scraps of paper:
"This item is suspected to have been left by the murderer in the Zhao Rushi case. The red paper contains a poem that I reconstructed using the secret techniques of the Imperial Observatory. It is a poem called 'Butterfly Loves Flowers,' and the poet's talent is quite remarkable."
"I had the shredded paper investigated. Based on the paper's texture and the ink, the owner of this Butterfly Love Flower paper is suspected to be in Xunyang City."
Ouyang Rong raised an eyebrow slightly, stared at the crumbs in her hand for a moment, and asked, "How did you get this?"
"The paper-producing workshops are located in Xunyang City, and they only supply a few fixed stores. The ink is also a specialty of Kuanglu."
Ouyang Rong suddenly asked, "What about the handwriting?"
Rongzhen remained silent. She couldn't very well say that she had almost vomited blood and was seriously injured by trying to trace the strange, non-calligraphy, and was unable to stare at it directly, could she?
After a moment of silence, under Ouyang Lianghan's increasingly curious gaze, she slowly spoke:
"However, after my investigation, I found that the paper and ink were not the official supplies that the Jiangzhou government regularly provided. This rules out the possibility that this person is a member of the bureaucratic system and eliminates most of the suspicion of being a government official."
Ouyang Rong lowered his eyes, nodded, and understood Rong Zhen's meaning.
Not only the officials in Jiangzhou Hall, but also the officials of the Great Zhou Dynasty in this era, more or less used their official power for private purposes. When they needed paper or ink at home, they would take some back from the government office.
This phenomenon has occurred so often that everyone has become accustomed to it, and even takes it for granted, regarding it as a benefit.
Ouyang Rong had always turned a blind eye to the extra consumption of the writing brushes and ink purchased monthly by the Jiangzhou Hall.
As for himself?
Perhaps out of consideration for her beloved nephew's reputation, Zhen Shuyuan instructed Ye Weilai and her family to purchase additional supplies such as writing brushes, ink, and paper for the residence in Huaiye Lane.
Therefore, Ouyang Rong never took paper and ink from the government office to use, and Ye Weilai practiced calligraphy and read books using stationery purchased by the family.
To my shame, after serving as the Prefect of Jiangzhou for so long, the only thing Ouyang Rong brought home from the main hall of Jiangzhou was the horse feed from Dongmei's belly.
Ouyang Rong worked in the government office every day, while Dongmei ate heartily in the stable, returning home full every day...
Ouyang Rong had never publicized his incorruptibility before, partly out of indifference, and partly because he didn't want to appear aloof or make it difficult to integrate his subordinates.
But unexpectedly, it seems to have worked out by accident and become a protective charm.
Rongzhen, oblivious to the speechless look on someone's face, continued her analysis:
"The reason I called you this time is to ask the people in Jiangzhou's main hall to help investigate the source of ink and paper in the city, to narrow down the time frame, and to investigate one shop at a time."
"Compare the two and check the groups of people who buy this kind of paper and ink at the same time. This will narrow down the search."
"Furthermore, families that can afford this kind of paper and ink must at least have scholars, either wealthy families, scholarly families, or scholars from the state academy... If it's a scholar buying it personally, that's even more obvious. Moreover, very few people have this talent for composing lyrics, so it's impossible for them to be unknown. In this way, a small group of people can be identified..."
Ouyang Rong immediately nodded in agreement:
“That makes sense. Your logic is clear and you are very capable. Although the scope is much smaller, it is still a big project. No wonder Your Excellency came to me to borrow manpower.”
Rongzhen left after saying that:
"You can send someone to cooperate. I won't trouble you with this matter. Before tomorrow afternoon, send all the people from the Ministry of Justice to cooperate with me. The number of people will be increased or decreased as needed. That's all."
Without further ado.
Ouyang Rong couldn't help but glance at him sideways.
After a moment, he stood still, nodded slightly as if in admiration, then suddenly turned and called out to her retreating figure:
"Lady, please remember to pick someone up at Xunyang Ferry tomorrow morning."
Rong Zhen's figure had disappeared.
Ouyang Rong stood rooted to the spot. After a moment, he looked up, squinting at the broken Buddha statue under the blinding sunlight.
"The owner of Butterfly Love Flower? He doesn't sound like a decent person. But he managed to find clues and pinpoint Xunyang City. Hmm, you little thief, who told you to show off your literary skills all the time? Now look what happened. Not only did you expose yourself, but it also seems like you deliberately left evidence to provoke the Lady Historian. Well, you're going to die."
"But speaking of which, how exactly did you offend the Lady Historian? It's getting more and more like a fight to the death, is this how you're investigating..."
Someone sighed, dusted off their sleeves, and turned to leave.
...
The next morning.
Ouyang Rong, along with the officials from the Xunyang Prince's Mansion and the Jiangzhou government, went to the dock together.
Today we are to welcome Qin Jingzhen, the Grand General of the Jiangnan Road Army, and his officials.
Rong Zhen arrived as scheduled, and Wang Lengran, whom they hadn't seen for many days, also arrived.
The latter has been avoiding suspicion lately, fearing being implicated in the Zhu Lingxu incident, and has taken sick leave, essentially keeping a low profile.
The arrival of the new Grand Commander of the Jiangnan Circuit also marked the end of the Wei King and Zhu Lingxu affair. Wang Lengran naturally stepped forward again to avoid leaving a bad impression on the new military commander.
The various factions in Xunyang City all harbored their own ambitions regarding General Qin, who was about to take charge of the suppression of the rebellion in Jiangnan and Lingnan...
The crowd waited respectfully and patiently at the Xunyang Ferry dock, but the appointed time passed, and even lunchtime arrived, yet the expected Yangzhou official ship still hadn't arrived.
This prompted the owner of Xunyanglou, who had prepared a banquet in advance, to come and inquire personally, while the officials in the Jiangzhou hall also looked around in confusion.
At the pier, the group waiting to pick up passengers was getting restless, whispering amongst themselves...
(End of this chapter)
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