Chapter 264: 274. Broken Jade Reunited

274. Broken Jade Reunited

... "Nephew Lianghan!"

Juxian Garden, study.

Facing the young Magistrate and twenty-year-old strategist sitting silently at the very end of a row of chairs directly in front.

Wang Lixian choked, tears wet his sleeves, both happy and crying, unable to speak.

He was not a resolute, strong, or deep-minded person, but rather indecisive, sentimental, and weak in the eyes of the world.

Unfortunately, he had a mother with iron-fisted wrists and a strong desire for power.

And he was born in the imperial family by mistake.

He was not as intelligent and patient as his eighth brother, Prince Xiang Li Lun.

This indecisive, sentimental, and weak personality, if placed in a commoner or wealthy family, might be considered kind and considerate, and to his wife and children, he could be considered a good husband and a good father.

But he was just not a good emperor, or a good lord.

Wang Lixian had deeply felt this point very early on, after experiencing the turmoil of the deposed emperor and being demoted to a commoner.

The close ministers of his former Eastern Palace, whom he had treated with generosity and kindness, left him one by one, silently severing ties.

The only one who didn't hesitate to resign and follow him was that old Mr. Yuan, who was pedantic and pedantic, but respected benevolence and etiquette.

Having experienced the ups and downs of life, Wang Lixian was disheartened and self-paralyzed.

He changed his name to Su and indulged in the small Jiang Nan city for more than ten years, which could be considered worthy of the word 'Xian' (leisure) in his name.

But how could an ordinary person accept this gap from emperor to commoner?

Wang Lixian actually endured it. He was an indecisive person by nature. Once, he told himself over and over again that "not losing the status of a wealthy man" was already the best ending.

Moreover, he could grow old with his wife and accompany Fusu and Guoer as they grew up. This could be considered a true feeling that was difficult to experience in the former imperial family, so he should be content.

Until last month, when the imperial court in Luoyang sent an angel again, and it was his former "love rival." He was scared to death, and that "Jue" (broken jade ring) given by his mother still made him afraid to get close to this day.

And what truly caused Wang Lixian's mentality to change was the story of "Zheng Boke Duan at Yan" that Ouyang Rong had told not long ago;

And the experience of Wei Shaoxuan uncovering the sheepskin and revealing his fangs to hunt down his wife and children on the fifteenth.

The latter ignited the indignation and lingering fear in his chest.

And the former, this strategist nephew with unparalleled wisdom, gave Wang Lixian hope.

He didn't want to be this coward anymore, whose life was precarious, who was even teased and hunted down by his nephews, and whose beloved daughter was forcibly snatched away.

Even if this thought made him tremble with fear, the figure of that iron-fisted mother in front was overwhelming, making people feel desperate when they looked at it.

But Wang Lixian still took this step, trying his best to keep his nephew Lianghan.

Not for his own desire for power, but for Meiniang, Fusu, and Guoer.

It didn't matter if he himself lived a muddled life and was a coward.

But Fusu and Guoer couldn't. They were still young, they were Li family descendants who should have "seeds," and their fate shouldn't be the same as his, a useless person.

Wang Lixian trembled all over.

At this moment, his family was behind him.

There was no way to retreat.

Weakness didn't mean one could be bullied without a bottom line.

Inside the study.

Wang Lixian tried hard to open his eyes, suppressed his tears, and looked at the twenty-year-old strategist in front of him who had once smashed Wei Shaoxuan, the sixth son of Prince Wei, into meat paste. He was filled with excitement and the guilt of feeling sorry for his resignation.

Even if Ouyang Rong walked into the Su Fu today and came to the study of Eldest Brother Fusu, making a certain silent statement.

Wang Lixian still didn't reduce his gratitude by half, and had no grudges.

After all, wasn't his future Eldest Brother Fusu's?

This was the consensus of the whole family without any dispute.

Wei Mei loved her eldest son the most.

Guoer also had a very good relationship with her brother. The two were born of the same mother, and Fusu had pampered and protected his younger sister since childhood, letting her have everything.

Although Wang Lixian had one or two other illegitimate sons born to concubines, they were either still infants waiting to be fed;

Or they had fled when disaster struck, returning to their maternal families with their mercenary concubines, far away in other lands, and hadn't followed him to Longcheng to suffer and live a precarious life.

Naturally, the feelings couldn't be compared with the four of them—Wang Lixian, Li Fusu, Li Guoer, and Wei Mei.

The four had shared weal and woe in Longcheng, and their family affection was the deepest.

Wang Lixian covered his face and cried for a while, wiped away his tears, collected his emotions, and for a time was at a loss, feeling ashamed to Ouyang Rong:

"Let Nephew Lianghan see a joke."

Ouyang Rong shook his head: "Uncle is a true person."

Wang Lixian was ashamed: "But it delayed Lianghan's future."

Ouyang Rong shook his head, pondered for a moment, and said softly:

"I have already promised Fusu that from today on, I will contribute some meager strength to your mansion."

Wang Lixian hurriedly waved his hand: "What are you saying, Lianghan!"

At this time, he couldn't help but look sideways at Ouyang Rong's eyes. Wang Lixian discovered that his eyes were vaguely purple, as if they had been like this since the entrance of the County Magistrate's Office.

He didn't know if it was a lighting problem.

Ouyang Rong seemed to notice Wang Lixian's gaze and lowered his eyes slightly.

At this time, Wei Mei and Li Guoer came over with tea and snacks.

Wei Mei was extremely kind, pouring tea for Ouyang Rong, and Li Guoer stood silently on the side, helping out, but the usually proud little girl with plum blossom makeup was vaguely quieter in the study today.

"Nephew Lianghan, moisten your throat. This is a small snack I made. You should try it, it can relieve the heat."

Ouyang Rong shook his head, "Xiao Shimei loves to eat this, let her try it."

He signaled Wei Mei to let them lift the Sushan, which looked like ice cream, and give it to the Xiao Shimei sitting opposite, who had been looking at him expectantly just now.

The Senior Brother and Xiao Shimei were becoming more and more tacit.

Li Guoer saw it in her eyes, including the sweet smile on Sister Xie's mouth.

Ice food snacks could be refused, but tea was hard to refuse.

Wang Lixian's expression turned serious, he called the scratching-headed Li Fusu, and ordered him to perform the student ceremony to Ouyang Rong. Li Fusu obeyed obediently.

For a time, this father and son, who flowed with the direct bloodline of Emperor Taizong, were serving tea and water in front of Ouyang Rong, like servants.

Ouyang Rong helplessly sipped his tea, immediately stood up to refuse, and pressed them to sit down.

"Uncle and Eldest Brother don't need to perform such great ceremonies." After a pause, he nodded and said: "Don't call me Nephew Lianghan anymore in the future, just call me Tanlang directly."

Wang Lixian and Li Fusu were overjoyed.

"Uncle, Aunt, Eldest Brother, and little Li lady, please sit down."

Ouyang Rong said casually, lowered his eyes, and covered the purple energy in his pupils. At this moment, his thoughts were slightly distracted, placed on a certain matter.

Ouyang Rong looked in the direction of Luoyang where the imperial envoy Song Hao had left.

After sending off the imperial envoy Song Hao and his party at the entrance of the County Magistrate's Office, inside the ancient small tower in his heart, a bronze ancient bell suddenly trembled, and familiar purple mist surged out.

An unexpected blessing.

Made Ouyang Rong feel a bit surprised.

Need two thousand merits.

Ouyang Rong took the time to glance at it on the way to the Su Fu.

Very good, he didn't have enough.

Currently.

Merits: 1581

Ouyang Rong sighed.

He had discovered recently that merits were very difficult to earn.

Ever since the flood control was over, Ouyang Rong had spent all the merits he had carefully accumulated on the fifteenth.

The growth of merits had been very slow.

Recently, he had been busy with the construction of the new ferry of the Zhe Yi Canal, and had presided over the construction of some scattered buildings in the corners that had collapsed in the flood, as well as comforting the families of the flood control martyrs and other affairs.

In more than half a month, Ouyang Rong had only increased by more than 1,500 merits, and was still nearly 500 short.

Ouyang Rong was prepared to give up, but this new blessing seemed to have maintained for a long time after being triggered.

The imperial envoy Song Hao and his party had gone far away, but the purple energy was still lingering in his eyes.

He didn't know how long it would last.

Ouyang Rong lowered his head to drink tea, covered the box, and temporarily put it aside.

At this moment, the young Magistrate raised his head and found that he had become the only focus in the study, and all eyes were cast on him.

He was clearly sitting at the very end of a row of chairs, but Wang Lixian and Li Fusu didn't sit down, but stood by his side, serving him tea.

Wei Mei and Li Guoer also stood upright in the back, their pair of wonderful eyes looking at him without blinking.

As for the Xiao Shimei, she was eating Sushan with a silver spoon opposite, her eyes curved like crescent moons, looking at him.

"There is still official business today, Uncle and Eldest Brother, please take your seats."

Ouyang Rong stood up helplessly, pulled the two to sit down, and the latter had to comply.

Ouyang Rong didn't sit down again, and asked the crowd directly:

"Uncle, where is the jade Jue (broken jade ring) sent by the Saint before? Take it."

Li Fusu immediately went out, and a moment later brought a jade Jue.

Ouyang Rong reached out to take it. The jade Jue was wrapped in a brocade box and red satin. The Jue was like a hollow full moon, but it was missing a corner, which was truly a pity.

Wang Lixian saw this and asked expectantly: "Does Tanlang have any wonderful interpretation? Is there a mystery in the jade Jue sent by the mother?"

"Mystery?"

Ouyang Rong glanced at the jade Jue and shook his head, "I don't know." The next second, he suddenly raised his hand and threw the jade Jue to the ground.

"Clang—!"

A crisp sound.

The jade Jue bestowed by the Empress was shattered into four pieces, splashing all over the room.

Everyone was stunned, and Wang Lixian showed a trace of fear.

"Sorry, my hand slipped. Eldest Brother, clean it up later." Ouyang Rong clapped the dust off his hands and laughed lightly: "Heh, since it's a Jue, and it has a missing corner, then don't want it."

Everyone was suspicious, but seeing his calm expression, they were slightly relieved.

"Eldest Brother, clean it up yourself, don't let outsiders see it." Wang Lixian ordered in a low voice, looking at his face, he was still a bit panicked.

Ouyang Rong turned his head directly and asked Li Guoer and Wei Mei:

"How much money can be directly taken from the mansion? Hmm, including your birthday gifts over the years."

Li Guoer didn't hesitate and reported a number.

Xie Lingjiang pinched the silver spoon, raised her head and looked sideways, her lips stained with milk, quite cute.

As expected of a princess, her birthday gifts were like robbing money.

She curled her lip.

Ouyang Rong said calmly: "I need to use it."

Li Guoer asked: "Okay, how much?"

Ouyang Rong nodded: "First take out a thousand taels of gold."

"Hmm, it's not too much." Li Guoer breathed a sigh of relief.

Ouyang Rong shook his head:

"I haven't finished yet. This thousand taels of gold is to be taken out and handed to Xiao Shimei.

"Take out all the rest, don't leave a single penny. Eldest Brother, take this money, find Liulang first, and he will find someone to escort you together."

"..." Li Guoer.

Ouyang Rong continued: "You go to Donglin Temple together, find Master Venerable Shan Dao, and just say I asked you to come. Hand all this money to him, he will understand."

"What are we using so much money for?" Wei Mei interjected, feeling a bit pained.

Ouyang Rong narrowed his eyes: "Not us, but Uncle. Uncle has a sudden pain of conscience and donated to build the largest Buddhist pagoda in Jiang Nan. Hmm, it will be built on top of a certain underground palace, on the original site of that lotus seat before. Is that okay?"

Everyone looked at each other.

"Why suddenly build such a large Buddhist pagoda..." Wang Lixian's face was a bit hesitant.

Ouyang Rong saw this and turned to Wang Lixian:

"If you are reluctant, or have doubts, then forget it. It was my presumption, sorry to bother you, goodbye..."

"No, no, no!" Wang Lixian hurriedly grabbed Ouyang Rong and nodded vigorously: "I believe you! Whatever Lianghan says, I will do! Meiniang, Guoer, do it immediately!"

"Yes."

Ouyang Rong nodded slightly, put his hands behind his back, and said leisurely: "Xiao Shimei, take a thousand taels of gold... By the way, I have some too, Xiao Shimei, take it."

He took out the travel money from his sleeve, handed it over without any heartache, smiled, and said:

"Xiao Shimei, go to the prosperous Guangzhou Prefecture in Lingnan Circuit immediately, buy a jade ring with the best quality and perfection. Remember, it's a jade ring, and bring it back.

"And, look at the market more. If there are other jade rings with similar origin and texture, buy them all, and then...

"Just find a place, learn from me and smash them. We only keep that one. Remember, in the short term, you must ensure that there is no second similar jade ring in the Great Zhou. We need uniqueness."

Xie Lingjiang didn't ask and nodded directly.

Li Fusu was curious, "Lianghan, why are we buying jade rings for no reason?"

Ouyang Rong smiled lightly: "What buying jade rings? We didn't buy any. Eldest Brother, don't talk nonsense."

He pointed to the jade Jue fragments on the ground, and said contradictorily: "Look, the jade Jue sent by the Saint to the unfilial son has actually rounded back."

The young Magistrate faced the frowning crowd and said happily:

"After the Buddhist pagoda starts construction, Uncle will live in Donglin Temple day and night, praying for the mother who worships Buddha. You are a great filial son. Your conscience is very painful, and you are correcting your mistakes. Don't forget."

"Then, after Xiao Shimei brings the jade ring back, then..."

He paused, nodded, and changed his words:

"Hmm, it's the 'jade Jue' enshrined in the pagoda by us, which grew back into a jade ring by itself. Uncle, you just chant scriptures day and night, and on a windy and rainy night, together with many masters, you accidentally discovered it.

"Eh, the jade Jue is like the moon, cloudy, sunny, round, and missing. This is an auspicious omen. Congratulations, congratulations.

"It's just that being a filial son since ancient times has been a physical and technical job. It's windy and rainy outside. Although it moved the Buddha, the filial piety can be seen, but the flesh is hard to bear."

Ouyang Rong turned his head again:

"I remember Xiao Shimei knows the Daoist doctor of Yiqing Gezao Mountain? After you return from Lingnan, go and ask for a prescription immediately.

"It's best to be a medicine that can make people sick but not serious. The symptoms should be miserable. Of course, the antidote must be prepared."

"Medicine that makes you sick?" Xiao Shimei was curious.

He smiled and said:

"Getting sick is simple if you say it's simple, and difficult if you say it's difficult. Sometimes it doesn't come, and sometimes it comes when it says it comes.

"Uncle is too honest, his acting skills are not good, so take medicine, just in case."

Everyone was stunned, their eyes cast over, and Wang Lixian was also confused on the spot, finally nodding honestly: "Good, good, good, I'll eat, I'll eat, listen to Lianghan."

Ouyang Rong thought for a while and sighed:

"Finally, with this auspicious omen, we can't hide it, it's disrespectful to the Saint. But offering an auspicious omen is a technical job.

"Hmm, we have to find someone to help. My skin is thin, and I'm an old upright gentleman. I'm not suitable for this kind of flattery. The style doesn't match. By the way, which hero should I find..."

The young Magistrate's gaze slowly cast toward the direction of the Longcheng County Magistrate's Office. A moment later, he relaxed his eyebrows, smiled, and nodded:

"Got it." ===== CHAPTER 265 =====