Chapter 754 Rong Zhen: You want to take me home to eat at the table?
Wang Caozhi discovered that his brother-in-law not only took off his clothes, but also tore them.
Wearing official robes is cumbersome, and so is taking them off.
He seemed too lazy to untie the straps one by one, and when he was halfway off, he tore it open from the chest.
Ouyang Rong puffed out his cheeks and, with a "ripping" sound, tore the crimson official robe, which symbolized a fifth-rank official of the Great Zhou Dynasty, in half.
However, the official robes were of very good quality, making them slightly difficult to tear by hand.
He decisively drew a delicate, woman's-style dagger from his waist and ripped open his official robe, splitting it in two.
This series of actions left Wang Caozhi stunned.
He glanced around at the secluded bamboo forest shrouded in white mist, shrank back, and said somewhat hesitantly:
"Brother-in-law, calm down! Why are you tearing my clothes for no reason..."
"Yes, calm down."
Ouyang Rong nodded calmly, grabbed Wang Caozhi's arm, and temporarily stuffed the crumpled pieces of his official robe into his arms.
"Brother-in-law, I'm scared by what you're doing."
Ouyang Rong ignored him and calmly asked:
"Did you bring a sheepskin water bladder?"
Sheepskin water sac?
Looking at his brother-in-law's handsome face, Wang Caozhi, for some unknown reason, subconsciously tightened his back door, his teeth chattering as he said:
"I brought it...I brought it, but it contains rice wine."
"The wine is just right."
Upon hearing this, Wang Caozhi's legs trembled, and his voice began to tremble with a hint of resentment and a sob:
"Sister...brother-in-law, could you be a little gentler?"
"Okay, be gentle."
Ouyang Rong nodded readily, as if he were doing something perfectly ordinary. He gripped Xie Lingjiang's skirt knife with his other hand, blade facing inward, and without a word, gently made a cut about an inch and a half long at the base of his right thumb.
Blood gushed out like a fountain, staining the lines on his right palm red.
Ouyang Rong seemed completely unaware, and under Wang Caozhi's wide, stunned gaze, he pulled out a red and black talisman from his sleeve.
His bloodied right hand, with two fingers held straight up, gripped the red and black talisman paper, maintaining this somewhat strange posture. He looked at Wang Caozhi and said softly:
"Don't just stand there, water bladder."
"oh oh."
Seeing this, Wang Caozhi suddenly realized what was going on and stopped thinking such things. He loosened his grip on the chest he had been holding tightly and hurriedly pulled out a sheepskin water bag, handing it over in a panic.
Ouyang Rong did not take it, but used a tinderbox to light the red and black talisman in his hand.
His eyes were fixed on the withered yellow flame that had bloomed between his two fingers, and he said in a low voice:
"Open."
Wang Caozhi quickly opened the water bag and presented it to Wang Caozhi.
He seemed to have misunderstood Ouyang Rong's meaning, and was about to pour out the yellow wine to help clean his bloody tiger's mouth.
"Brother-in-law, why are you cutting yourself with a knife? Are you poisoned and bleeding yourself out...?"
Ouyang Rong ignored him, grabbed Wang Caozhi's wrist with his left hand, and stuffed the burning rune into the mouth of the water bag.
Under Wang Caozhi's astonished gaze, he clenched his right fist, held it above the bag's opening, and squeezed it tightly, causing a series of drops of blood to fall from his palm.
Ouyang Rong pressed down hard on his shoulder, his gaze fixed on him as he gave him a warning:
"After you finish this wine, not a drop will be left. I will then teach you a mantra. Remember it well. After you leave the main cave, no matter where you are, keep reciting this mantra in your mind and do not stop."
Holding the sheepskin water bag mixed with talismans, blood, and wine, Wang Caozhi was somewhat bewildered after hearing the story. He looked up at his brother-in-law's calm and profound face and gradually realized the seriousness of the matter.
"well."
Wang Caozhi suppressed his nausea, tilted his head back, and gulped down the yellow wine.
Immediately, Ouyang Rong leaned closer and whispered something in his ear.
Wang Caozhi lowered his head and muttered to himself, as if he were reciting something.
Suddenly, he remembered what he had just said and asked, puzzled:
"What does brother-in-law mean? Leaving the main grotto? Are they abandoning me here? Aren't we supposed to interrogate Qian Chen? Old Yang hasn't even arrived yet..."
Ouyang Rong was busy and did not answer.
He casually tossed aside the sheepskin water pouch, reached out and took the two pieces of official robe cloth from Wang Caozhi's arms, and unfolded them one by one.
Wang Caozhi was shocked to see that Ouyang Rong used his clothes as paper, his fingers as a pen, and the hot blood flowing from the tiger's mouth as ink to write blood-written characters.
On each piece of official robe cloth was a blood-stained character.
It's still the same word being repeated.
Wang Caozhi rubbed his eyes and realized he hadn't misread it. Looking at the large blood-red characters, he licked his dry lips and became a little nervous.
What truly made Wang Caozhi tremble with nervousness was Ouyang Rong's last sentence:
"Go, go as far away as possible, but don't go back to Xunyang City for now... And while you're at it, give these two pieces of clothing to two different people, make sure they get them! Go!"
...
Wang Caozhi, carrying two pieces of official robes bearing the same blood-stained character and Ouyang Rong's governor's document, hurriedly left the bamboo forest.
Only Ouyang Rong remained in the same spot.
He stood alone, head bowed, and slowly wrapped the wound on the web of his right hand with the white cloth strip left by Wang Caozhi.
Ouyang Rong's crimson official robe was something he had hastily put on in the carriage not long ago. Underneath, he was actually wearing a blue scholar's robe, which was sewn by A Qing and recommended to him by the embroiderer a few days ago.
Without the imposing crimson official robes, Ouyang Rong, dressed in a simple blue robe, stood out rather unremarkable amidst the verdant bamboo forest.
Not far away, Old Yang had already entered the woods and began to cooperate with Wang Caozhi's entourage in interrogating the suspect Qian Chen.
Rongzhen and the female officials did not come in to interfere.
Ouyang Rong turned his head and glanced at it.
This lady was a very trustworthy person.
After bandaging his hand, Ouyang Rong took out his junior sister's skirt knife again.
Amidst the cold wind blowing through the forest, hundreds of miles away, he vigorously rubbed the blade of the skirt knife with his palm for a while.
The blade gradually heated up and became warm.
A moment later, as if sensing something from afar, the skirt-shaped knife in Ouyang Rong's hand trembled slightly, as if someone was responding to something...
After finishing these tasks, Ouyang Rong put away her skirt knife, straightened her clothes, and walked towards the bamboo grove where Qian Chen had been interrogated.
When he arrived at the open space, his entourage had already retreated to the side, and only Qian Chen and Old Yang remained under the big tree.
A crowd gathered around, curious onlookers.
Ouyang Rong glanced at it silently.
Qian Chen was covered in blood, many of his teeth were broken, and his mouth was full of blood. He was breathing heavily, but his teeth were clenched tightly, and he didn't utter a word.
While Ouyang Rong and Wang Caozhi were talking, their entourage was probably still unable to get any results from the interrogation.
Old Yang had just arrived, dressed in a loose, patched black jailer's uniform, with a full head of silver hair, and it seemed he hadn't brought any instruments of torture with him.
The old man held only a rusty little knife in his hand. Instead of walking towards the suspect Qian Chen, he slowly walked around him and came to the nearest bamboo stalk behind him. He lifted his robe, squatted down, and patiently began to peel the bamboo.
Soon, Old Yang stood up again, holding a piece of bamboo skin in his hand.
Old Yang, with his two withered fingers, lightly twirled a piece of bamboo skin, turned back, and slowly walked towards Qian Chen, who was completely unaware of his terrifying identity.
Before proceeding to execute the punishment with bamboo in front of Qian Chen, Old Yang turned to Ouyang Rong and said with a smile:
"Scholar, the book says that bamboo has the virtue of a gentleman. It does not break when the wind blows, nor does it get dirty when the rain falls. Its trunk has joints and few branches, and its proud bones are several feet tall..."
"What the sage said is truly wise. By the way, the next trick of mine is called 'Bamboo Gentleman,' which was once the specialty of a notorious and cruel official. I am foolish and have only learned a fraction of it from observing."
An elderly man, who loved reading classical texts and showing off his erudition, sighed:
"When this cruel official was in power, he offended many powerful people. Later, he was 'restored to the right path' and died a very tragic death. It is said that he died under the 'bamboo gentleman' he created. However, when he used it to interrogate those civil officials and powerful people before, he only used it to force confessions. He stopped once they confessed and signed their names. But when he was tortured, he continued to torture until he died of pain."
"I still remember a sentence he once said: 'Among those who cannot endure the 'bamboo gentleman,' there may be gentlemen, but those who can endure it must be true gentlemen without a doubt.'"
"Only a truly sincere person can refrain from lying."
With a sigh, Old Yang turned his back, twirled a bamboo stick between two fingers, and walked towards Qian Chen…
The bamboo torture ended quickly.
Old Yang was right; only a truly virtuous person could endure this punishment.
Qian Chen is clearly not.
Having obtained the bloodstained confession, Ouyang Rong calmly walked out of the bamboo forest, his hands tucked into his sleeves.
Outside the bamboo grove, a petite figure stood in the river breeze, sleeves tucked behind her arm, waiting.
Rong Zhen ignored the agonizing screams that had just echoed through the bamboo forest.
She tilted her head slightly:
"Finished with your busy work?"
Ouyang Rong was not annoyed at Rong Zhen's definition of it as trivial. He looked at the lady-in-waiting and nodded slightly.
"Yes, they've confessed everything, but there's one more important matter I need to trouble you with."
Rong Zhen said indifferently:
"Alright, it's fine as long as it doesn't interfere with our capture of the Butterfly Love Flower Master, Senior Yu, before you start playing the zither."
Ouyang Rong smiled and said, "Yes, it won't take up any time."
"You seem a little different."
"What's different?" he asked with a smile.
Rong Zhen pursed her pink lips. Actually, she really wanted to ask Ouyang Rong why he dared to stare at her now, when he had been more or less avoiding her gaze before.
Rong Zhen glanced up and down at Ouyang Rong's blue scholar's robe, then frowned and asked:
Where is your official robes as a prefect?
Ouyang Rong sighed softly:
"During the interrogation in the woods, I was stained with blood and smelled of blood, so I took off my clothes."
Rong Zhen nodded and said:
"It's better not to wear this. That bright red official robe of the governor is too conspicuous. You should keep a low profile today, lest the rebels of Tiannan Jianghu see you and have bad intentions, and target you."
"That makes sense, by the way..."
Ouyang Rong took the initiative to say:
“I sent Wang Caozhi back first. He’s just getting in the way. Staying here at the main grotto wouldn’t be of any help; he’d be a burden.”
He paused for a moment, then nodded and joked, "It's already quite a distraction for Lady Historian to protect just me."
Rong Zhen's expression was not surprised, and she said in a clear, cold voice:
“I know. A lady-in-waiting just reported that he took your documents to the dock and wanted to change ships and leave. I had him let go. At this critical moment, his coming here is indeed a burden. It’s better for him to leave. However, Ouyang Lianghan, you are different. You are not a burden… By the way, should we send someone to accompany him and protect him?”
Ouyang Rong waved his hand, his expression calm, and said:
"No need, let him be. That kid is cunning and quick-witted; he's the first to run away when trouble comes."
Rong Zhen said sternly, "That's true. He's so irresponsible and doesn't know his place. I don't know who taught him that."
After saying this, the lady-in-waiting quickly glanced at the young governor's calm face.
But the latter acted as if he hadn't heard.
Ouyang Rong released his sleeves, pulled out a bloodstained confession from them, and spoke solemnly:
"Ms. Rong was right just now. I am indeed no longer a burden. I have just solved a shocking case..."
Rongzhen suddenly interrupted:
"What happened to your hand? Why is it bleeding?"
Before Ouyang Rong could answer, his right palm, which was wrapped in white cloth, was grabbed by Rong Zhen's two small hands.
Rong Zhen's pretty face showed anxiety and heartache, and she couldn't help but stomp her foot and scold:
"Isn't Old Yang here? What's he good for? Why are you handling the knife? And you, what are you looking at? Standing there like an idiot, and you won't even let me scold you? You... you injured yourself while interrogating a prisoner. How stupid is that..."
After being scolded, Ouyang Rong quickly looked away, keeping his eyes fixed straight ahead. He tried to pull his hand away, but couldn't; it was being held tightly.
He shook his head:
"It's just a minor injury; the bleeding has stopped, it's nothing serious."
Rong was truly angry and had no time to listen. Her pretty face was flushed with rage as she coldly rebuked:
"Men, bring Old Yang here, and drag that little thief being tortured in the bamboo grove over here too!"
Ouyang Rong quickly stopped the four female officials who were about to receive the order:
"No, don't go, come back!"
His right hand, which was bandaging his wound, instinctively gripped Rongzhen's wrist, as he tried to explain:
"This injury has nothing to do with Old Yang and the others. It was an accident on my part. The prisoner has already confessed, so we can't hurt him. He's an important witness, and we'll need him later. This is also the important matter I just told you about..."
The four female officials paused in place, turning to look at the Lady Historian's expression, awaiting further instructions.
A female official glanced at the Lady Historian's fair wrist beneath her sleeve, which was being held by a man.
Rong Zhen's small chest heaved, clearly still angry. However, under the subtle gaze of her female subordinate, she slowly lowered her head, her originally warm red eyes looking at the man's hand on her wrist.
Ouyang Rong realized something and looked down as well.
The air was somewhat quiet.
For nearly ten breaths, Rong Zhen and Ouyang Rong kept their heads down.
Surprisingly, without waiting for further instructions from the Lady Historian, the four trusted female officials quietly withdrew.
Only two people remained.
Because he had her wrist in his grasp, Ouyang Rong could faintly feel the Lady Historian's pulse beating... faster and faster.
Ouyang Rong quietly withdrew his right palm.
In the next instant, it was grasped again by a jade-like hand.
"Don't move around, you're so clumsy." The girl in palace attire grabbed his hand, her ears turning red. She lowered her head as if to observe him closely, and pouted, saying, "I hate clumsy people the most."
At this moment, Ouyang Rong felt a gentle, warm current flowing from her palm to the wound on the web of his right hand, like a stream gently nourishing a mountain meadow, washing away the filth and pain.
Ouyang Rong remained still, allowing Rong Zhen to channel precious spiritual energy to heal his wounds.
There was a moment of silence between the two.
Ouyang Rong suddenly called out, "Rong Zhen."
"Hmm?" she replied somewhat absentmindedly.
"I have a question for you. Did you go to the Prince of Xunyang's residence to deliver anything at dawn this morning?"
Rongzhen asked in confusion, "What should I send?"
Ouyang Rong pondered the "dinner table talk" in the anonymous letter, carefully crafted his words, and asked cryptically:
"When we sit down to eat, which table will you like to sit at?"
Rongzhen glanced at him, her delicate brows slowly furrowing as if she had been thinking for a moment, before giving a similarly cautious and veiled reply:
"The head table...the seat of honor?"
Ouyang Rong frowned immediately, pondering the meaning of these words. But before he could seriously interpret them, Rong Zhen, her face burning, looked straight ahead and asked casually:
"What, Ouyang Lianghan, do you want to take me home for dinner?"
Ouyang Rong: ? ? !!
(End of this chapter)
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