Chapter 263: 273. Scholar-Official Strategist

273. Scholar-Official Strategist

Outside the government office, the atmosphere was generally joyous.

Li Fusu looked back, wanting to smile and speak, but saw the expressions of Wang Lixian and his wife, and was slightly stunned:

"Father, Mother, what's wrong with you? Why aren't you speaking?"

"Ah, I was just distracted for a moment. It's nothing, nothing. Lianghan has been promoted, his future is bright, we should drink a big cup of wine."

Wang Lixian's face was both worried and happy. He waved his hand, sighed, and said:

"These are all things Nephew Lianghan deserves, he is worthy of them."

This wealthy man couldn't help but let his shoulders slump, turned his head and exchanged a glance with his wife Wei Mei, and continued to mutter in his mouth:

"Gold will always shine. We should have thought of it earlier. With Nephew Lianghan's talent and achievements, being able to be directly promoted to the capital, granted the pure and noble position of Censor, and obtaining a boundless future—it's all a matter of course. A hidden dragon in the abyss, soaring to the sky, not weak at all..."

Li Fusu listened, suddenly opened his eyes, and understood the pros and cons of this matter.

The pros, needless to say, the cons, naturally, were that with a great future, he couldn't win over Brother Lianghan anymore and keep him to accompany their family.

Not being a Grade 6 capital official Censor, but staying in this godforsaken place to wait for them?

"There are also high-ranking people in Luojing, with discerning eyes, who have also seen Lianghan's ability."

Wang Lixian's voice came. He rubbed his tired face, a bit dejected, and muttered:

"That's right, this kind of worthy person in the wild, like a pearl in the dark night, how can it be easily hidden..."

Li Fusu heard this, and there was also disappointment and reluctance in his eyes, but he was happy from the bottom of his heart for his friend's promotion. His mood was complicated:

"Father, let's not delay..."

Wang Lixian turned his head and interrupted directly:

"Eldest Brother, go back to the mansion now, prepare a heavy gift, plus a hundred taels of gold, as a travel gift. After the Divine Capital imperial envoy leaves, send the gift to the Plum Blossom Courtyard."

The middle-aged wealthy man ordered with a smile, but couldn't hide the sadness in his eyes. Wei Mei reached out and gently covered the back of his hand.

Li Guoer listened silently for a while, then she suddenly turned her head and asked the red-clad woman who was smiling lightly in front:

"Is Xie Jie also going to the capital?"

Xie Lingjiang didn't turn her head, didn't answer, and asked softly:

"How is Guoer sister planning to keep him now? Have you thought of a way? Do you need my help?"

Li Guoer bit her lip, was silent for a while, turned her face away, stared at the floor tiles beside her, and said unhappily:

"In Xie Jie's eyes, is Guoer such a purely unscrupulous person?"

"Guoer sister, you also know shame?"

Xie Lingjiang nodded, her five fingers gently stroking the long, narrow sword box placed by her feet, lowered her eyes and said:

"If Ru Shixiong doesn't want to leave, he won't leave no matter what. If he wants to leave, no matter what kind of well-intentioned lies you tell, he will leave. You can't keep him.

"Just like now, how can Guoer sister keep him?

"Promise him a marquisate or premiership? Is Ru Shixiong the kind of person who eats big cakes?

"Moreover, with Ru Shixiong's ability, this bright future of being a Grade 6 official at twenty, this trend of soaring to the sky—is this difficult?

"If we only talk about pros and cons, not friendship, why bet solely on your family?

"There are clearly the Prince Xiang's Mansion, the Prince Wei's Mansion, and Princess Changle—more powerful and stable choices. Are the odds of winning on the table and under the table not higher than your family's?

"At worst, he could temporarily remain neutral, follow whoever wins, or climb the mountain alone, accumulate capital, and wait quietly for the future, being begged to be won over by all parties whose eyes are red from fighting for the throne.

"Then weigh the pros and cons, settle down, and make a fortune—wouldn't that be more experienced and stable?

"Why take such a big risk so early by putting all his eggs in one basket."

Li Guoer was speechless, and a blush appeared on her palm-sized, hibiscus-pretty face under the snow-white thin veil.

The little girl was a bit shy.

Xie Lingjiang didn't turn her head to look at her, pressed her hand on the edge of the box, closed her eyes and said:

"So I said earlier, there's no need to hide some things from him. Moreover, you can hide it for a while, but can you hide it for a lifetime?"

She seemed to be asking someone, and seemed to be asking herself.

Li Guoer was quiet for a while, didn't raise her head and asked: "That matter, is Xie Jie still a bit resentful of us?"

The red-clad woman turned her head, her tone extremely serious: "Is this called resentment?"

Li Guoer discovered that the way this Xie Jie spoke was becoming more and more intriguing, and she didn't know who she learned to be 'bad' from.

Li Guoer lowered her head and sighed lightly:

"I don't blame Xie Jie for criticizing us. The way we did things at the time was indeed... worth considering. But if we bring it up now, wouldn't it be even more embarrassing, making everyone feel ashamed and awkward."

Li Guoer said halfway, and suddenly discovered a fair jade palm reaching out in front of her.

"Give me your purse, borrow a little."

Xie Lingjiang was not polite at all, reaching out to ask for it:

"My small treasury has all been invested in the newly established Child-Rearing Division. I've been trying to stand on my own feet for the past six months, and I haven't asked my father for an allowance for a long time, and I'm too lazy to go to the Xie Mansion in Wu Yi Lane."

The red-clad woman, who was outstanding and ranked seventeenth in the clan, stood straight, her pretty face stern, and her words were orderly:

"Ru Shixiong has accepted the imperial decree, so he has to entertain the imperial envoy's party, and giving gifts and the like is hard to avoid—it's all the usual practice in the Great Zhou officialdom. Ru Shixiong shouldn't appear too out of place.

"I know Guoer sister's purse is bulging, you received quite a lot for your birthday gift last time."

Li Guoer couldn't help but look at Xie Lingjiang's side profile.

"Xie Jie, this Junior Sister, worries more than a virtuous wife. She has considered everything for him."

Complaining in her mouth, the little girl with plum blossom makeup lowered her head, took out a bulging embroidered purse from her sleeve, and handed it silently to Xie Lingjiang in front.

The latter glanced at her sideways and put away the purse.

Just at this moment, there was a commotion at the entrance of the County Magistrate's Office, and the crowded crowd naturally separated.

Xie Lingjiang and Li Guoer turned their heads to look, and it turned out to be the Luoyang imperial envoy's party who had been drinking tea in the public hall of the County Magistrate's Office, walking out slowly accompanied by Ouyang Rong.

Ouyang Rong and Song Hao walked and stopped, exchanging greetings and questions, as if saying goodbye.

"Lord Song, won't you stay a while longer?"

"Better not. I rushed here urgently this time, originally for Lianghan's matter. Now that... the matter is done, I'd better go back early to report."

Song Hao sighed and shook his head. Ouyang Rong nodded peacefully:

"Then Lord Song, walk slowly, and pay attention to safety on the road."

The young Magistrate seemed to be just being polite, without any real intention of keeping him.

Song Hao couldn't help but look at him more.

Before leaving, this Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel nodded solemnly:

"Magistrate Ouyang, please stay. I will do my best to convey the matter you entrusted to me."

After a pause, he said again:

"Magistrate Ouyang, we will meet again."

"Lord Song, have a safe journey."

The two exchanged polite farewells and left.

However, the onlookers around curiously discovered that when this Divine Capital imperial envoy, Lord Song, looked at Ouyang Rong before leaving, his eyes seemed to be mixed with some strange color.

The accompanying officials beside Lord Song also frequently looked sideways before leaving, looking at Ouyang Rong several more times, their expressions indescribably complicated, and no one knew why.

Song Hao led the group of accompanying officials to leave one after another.

Ouyang Rong stood at the entrance of the County Magistrate's Office, watching them off.

Xie Lingjiang, the Wang Lixian family, and Assistant Magistrate Diao and other officials of the County Magistrate's Office quickly surrounded him, mostly full of enthusiasm.

Assistant Magistrate Diao leaned over and said cautiously: "Magistrate, why did the imperial envoy leave so quickly? Is there an urgent matter?"

The old Assistant Magistrate looked back at the direction Song Hao left with longing, looking as if he was heading straight for Peng Lang Ferry, preparing to take a boat and return to report.

Ouyang Rong looked into the distance with him and nodded.

Xie Lingjiang tossed the small purse with her plain hands and tilted her head curiously:

"Ru Shixiong, aren't you keeping them for a meal? Giving some gifts? At least they came from thousands of miles away to deliver good news. Won't they think we don't understand the rules, human feelings and social interactions, etc.? Still need to pay attention... It's fine, the expenses, Guoer sister will cover them all."

The red-clad woman said impolitely.

Li Guoer: "..."

Ouyang Rong shook his head lightly.

Wang Lixian and Wei Mei exchanged a glance, took the red-cloth travel money from the tray held by the maid behind them, and Wang Lixian and his wife stepped forward, stuffing the travel money and a promotion gift into the young Magistrate's hands.

Wang Lixian patted Ouyang Rong's hand, hiding the disappointment and sadness in his eyes, and tried hard to show a smile:

"Congratulations, Nephew, congratulations, Nephew, for obtaining a beautiful position and returning to Luojing. Censor is a good position... Ordinary officials, if they don't experience prefectures and counties, they won't be appointed to the Terrace and Secretariat.

"Nephew Lianghan has the achievements of Longcheng in the local area, which has already exceeded too many talented peers. One step fast, every step fast, truly a prosperous official career. Nephew Lianghan, grasp the opportunity, and you can ascend the blue clouds."

Wei Mei also interjected: "Nephew Lianghan, accept it. This is a little bit of heart from Uncle and Aunt. Actually, it's not much."

Ouyang Rong caught the travel money and gifts, and found them heavy in his hands. This is called not much?

"Originally, I could have helped Nephew a little more."

The woman in the long dress wanted to say something but stopped. Her eyebrows, as slender as willows, gathered and frowned. She looked at the north and said with worry:

"Unfortunately, although I was born in that branch of the Jingzhao Wei clan, I am currently a commoner who has committed a crime, so it is not good to implicate them."

Wei Mei shook her head and continued:

"However, Nephew, when you return to Luojing, if you need money for official gifts, opening up connections, or buying a house to settle down, just say it. Even if we are separated, the friendship is still there. Your Uncle Li has also saved up savings over the years, don't be polite with him at all."

Wang Lixian scratched his head, "Listen to Meiniang, Meiniang is thoughtful."

Ouyang Rong heard this and nodded, weighed the gold for travel, and accepted it into his sleeve calmly. The next instant, he suddenly turned his head and asked a question that was quite out of place:

"Even this hundred taels of gold is a small amount for Uncle and Aunt? That is to say, there is still quite a lot of wealth in Uncle's mansion?"

Wang Lixian was slightly stunned, didn't feel offended, and nodded in admission:

"There is quite a lot of gold and silver saved, and Guoer also receives quite a lot for her birthday gifts every year, but most of them are antiques, calligraphy, and paintings, which need to be discounted and sold. These household expenses are usually managed by Guoer and her mother. The money bag belongs to them."

Ouyang Rong nodded slightly, thoughtful.

Before Wang Lixian and his wife could be curious about why he asked this, Eldest Brother Li and Yan Liulang had already squeezed up.

Eldest Brother Li smiled and said: "Lianghan, don't forget to write to us when you get to the capital, and tell us about the magnificent scenery of Luoyang where ten thousand countries come to pay homage."

Yan Liulang rubbed his hands and said excitedly:

"Magistrate, the imperial decree, the imperial decree, show it to everyone. I, Liulang, have grown up so big, and I have never seen an imperial decree of this specification.

"I heard that on this kind of imperial decree, there will be a word 'Chi' written by the current Saint herself.

"We commoners in the wild can't see the Dragon Face of the Son of Heaven, but it's good to see the respected word of the Son of Heaven. It's enough to brag to the descendants."

Ouyang Rong glanced at him, then looked at the crowd gathered outside the gate. The atmosphere was joyous, and they all cast expectant gazes.

Under the eyes of everyone, the young Magistrate, who was empty-handed today and even had a memorial missing from his sleeve, shook his head and said:

"The imperial decree is not with me, it's with Lord Song."

Yan Liulang was stunned and asked for the crowd behind him: "With Lord Song... then where is Lord Song?"

"He left," Ouyang Rong said truthfully. "He went back to the capital to report."

Assistant Magistrate Diao couldn't figure it out: "Then why did he take the Magistrate's imperial decree away? Wasn't the Magistrate appointed as a Censor of the Censorate... uh."

The old Assistant Magistrate's words stopped abruptly, his eyes slowly widened like copper bells, unbelievable: "You, you, you shouldn't have..."

"Why shouldn't I?" Ouyang Rong looked curious: "They promoted me, do I have to go?"

After a pause:

"But it's just right this time. Someone from Luoyang came, and I handed a memorial to him on the way. It saves the trouble of Liulang and the others making a trip."

Ouyang Rong nodded with a smile and looked around.

But he found that the air at the entrance of the County Magistrate's Office was a bit silent.

The Wang Lixian family, Assistant Magistrate Diao, Yan Liulang and other officials of the County Magistrate's Office, and the onlookers... everyone in the field looked at him with shock and astonishment, and for a while, they couldn't speak.

A Grade 6 capital official Censor, you... don't want it?

Digested for a long time.

Xie Lingjiang spoke first, worried: "Ru Shixiong, does this count as defying the imperial decree?"

"It doesn't count, it's just an imperial decree."

Li Guoer looked at Ouyang Rong with complicated eyes and explained first:

"An imperial decree is proposed by the Secretariat or the Ministry of Personnel, and signed by the Emperor. It is not an imperial decree personally ordered by the Saint, so it doesn't count as defying the Saint's will, just a reasonable resignation.

"In this regard, this dynasty still has the legacy of the Wei and Jin Dynasties. When the imperial court recruits, sages and famous scholars can naturally refuse. However, except for mourning or illness, this dynasty has never heard of anyone refusing an imperial decree..."

Li Guoer looked at Ouyang Rong, who was calm and composed, again.

Assistant Magistrate Diao looked at Ouyang Rong and sighed:

"Famous scholars can refuse to cultivate their reputation, but... what if the people above take it seriously, or get angry, and don't promote you next time? Wouldn't it be a mess? Ask who dares to try."

The old Assistant Magistrate couldn't help but ask: "Is the Magistrate trying to cultivate a clean reputation or..."

"Don't guess blindly."

Ouyang Rong shook his head, interrupting the chattering of the crowd:

"I just simply feel that this Censor position is not suitable."

He teased the crowd: "Who knows, maybe I will be unable to help but remonstrate on the second day of taking office, the Emperor will be angry, and I will be demoted to Longcheng again to meet you all.

"Besides."

Ouyang Rong narrowed his eyes and said: "I recently found a new 'position,' so I can't leave the Jiang Nan Circuit casually."

The young Magistrate waved his hand and left.

Everyone watched his free and easy slender back in astonishment.

Xie Lingjiang looked sideways, the Wang Lixian family was lost in thought, standing still.

Everyone was not a fool, and naturally knew the true meaning behind this series of measures.

The meaning that was heavier than a thousand gold.

This surprise seemed to come... a bit too fast.

Wang Lixian suddenly wanted to cry a little.

Li Fusu lowered his head and rubbed the corners of his eyes, raised his head to look again, confirming it wasn't an illusion.

"Everyone go back."

Ouyang Rong didn't look at the Wang Lixian family, took the lead in leaving the entrance of the County Magistrate's Office, and left in the blank gaze of everyone.

Xie Lingjiang's expression returned to calm, and she followed the Ru Shixiong's footsteps with the box.

The Wang Lixian family reacted quickly and followed.

Passing the entrance of Meilu Garden, Wang Lixian and the others originally thought that the young figure in front would turn into the door as usual, but they didn't expect that he passed the entrance of Meilu Garden without looking sideways, walked straight to the mansion with the 'Su Fu' sign, and entered the door as if no one was there.

Xie Lingjiang and the Wang Lixian family looked at each other.

A moment later, in the corridor of the Su Fu, Ouyang Rong, with a calm expression, neither went to Yilanxuan nor to Wang Lixian's study, the head of the family, but walked familiarly toward Juxian Academy.

The young Magistrate walked into Li Fusu's study, picked a chair at the end, sat down calmly, supported his chin with his hand, tapped the armrest with two fingers, and waited with lowered eyes, as if in deep thought.

A moment later, the Wang Lixian family who followed behind entered the room one after another, either unable to restrain their emotions, or ecstatic, or busy pouring tea.

From today on, the Zhou court in Luoyang had one less youngest Censor, and the Su Fu in Jiang Nan had one more scholar-official strategist of humble origin.

(End of chapter)

, ===== CHAPTER 264 =====