Chapter 273: Two Hundred and Eighty-Four: Where Will I Wake After Tonight

Two Hundred and Eighty-Four: Where Will I Wake After Tonight's Wine?

Surely even a gentleman must guard against craftsmen—Two Hundred and Eighty-Four: Where Will I Wake After Tonight's Wine? Outside, the night was cold as water.

The room was pitch black.

A patch of moonlight spilled before a sleeping couch.

The young county magistrate rose occasionally to inspect tomorrow's travel bags, then lay back, closing his eyes to count sheep.

He tossed and turned, only slipping into drowsy sleep as dawn neared.

His sleep was shallow.

The rising sun pierced the paper window, warming the face of the sleeping man with faintly furrowed brows—Magistrate Ouyang Rong jolted awake.

After only two hours of sleep, he stared at the empty room awhile, then rose silently, dressed and slipped on his shoes, and pushed open the door.

"Sister, Big Brother, what are you doing here?"

In the courtyard stood Chenjun Xie Xie Lingjiang, Li Yu, and Su Su Guoer, quietly basking in the sun.

"Tianlang, you're awake!" Li Yu sprang up with delight.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong looked at them and asked softly:

"Didn't we agree to take the boat this afternoon to Prince Xunyang City? Has it been moved up?"

Li Su Xian and Su Su Guoer had already gone ahead to Prince Xunyang City to "recover from illness"; Li Yu and Su Su Guoer remained in Longcheng to organize the Su Fu relocation.

Coincidentally, Magistrate Ouyang Rong was to immediately assume his post as Jiangzhou's Jiangzhou Longshi.

They had agreed to depart together by boat this afternoon for Prince Xunyang City, the capital of Jiangzhou.

"The boat hasn't moved up—it's still this afternoon."

Chenjun Xie Xie Lingjiang jumped down from the swing, hugged her sword, and shook her head to explain:

"But to celebrate Master's promotion, and the good news of the county's tax exemption and the reduction of the second tax, Assistant County Magistrate Official Diao and several local gentry organized a promotion luncheon for you at Yuanming Tower."

She smiled:

"This morning, when you didn't show up at the government office, Assistant County Magistrate Official Diao asked me to pass on his request: you, the guest of honor, must attend."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong slapped his forehead: "I slept too long." He walked over, drew a bucket of well water, and washed his face.

Li Yu studied his complexion, then smiled: "Tianlang, insomnia from overthinking? Zao Ren Tang is the remedy."

"…"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong's lip twitched.

After washing up, he passed by the three of them and strode out the door:

"Let's go."

Chenjun Xie Xie Lingjiang and the others quickly followed.

On Lu Ming Street, before the gate of Mei Lu Yuan, a long-waiting carriage slowly rolled forward, heading toward the largest tavern in the county.

"I haven't yet congratulated you, Tianlang, on your promotion to Jiangzhou Jiangzhou Longshi!"

Inside the carriage, Li Yu beamed with joy.

"Father and Mother are also delighted, and they're preparing a promotion gift for you once you arrive…"

Li Yu, sitting upright, and Su Su Guoer, veiled and nodding gently, began discussing how to celebrate and present gifts after returning to Prince Xunyang City.

The Li imperial clan, born of noble blood, even in decline, still upheld countless formalities—this was the essence of supreme lineage.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong gazed out the window, distracted, barely listening.

Li Yu leaned close, lowering his voice:

"Tianlang, Father's feigned illness in Prince Xunyang City has been exhausting—the female officials and imperial physicians guard the vicinity. That pill's effect was fierce, but truly effective—no one has detected anything amiss."

"Now Father waits day and night for us to deliver the antidote…"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong nodded: "Hold on a little longer. Your uncle has suffered enough."

"This isn't suffering," Li Yu shook his head. "Without your brilliant plan, Father and we would still be cowering in Longcheng, trembling, never daring to dream of reclaiming the Prince Xunyang Prince title."

"Brother is right."

Su Su Guoer's bright eyes fixed on Magistrate Ouyang Rong, her voice clear:

"Regaining this princely status, combined with Grandmother's attention, means people like Wei Wei Shaoxuan won't dare threaten us openly anymore—at least not within Prince Xunyang City."

"Indeed," Li Yu and Magistrate Ouyang Rong gazed together out the carriage window, their faces filled with longing:

"Father's princely fief is in Prince Xunyang City, and Lihan has just been promoted to a provincial official—now we can all be together again, never apart!"

"Ah, His Majesty knows how to assign offices."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong gave a slight nod.

He watched the bustling street scene outside awhile, then suddenly turned back:

"After the luncheon, when does the boat to Jiangzhou depart?"

"At the first hour of You."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong pursed his lips—around five in the afternoon.

By the time the luncheon ended, it would already be two or three—then we'd have to leave the city to reach the new dock. The schedule is tight… there's no time left for anything else.

"Why is Master asking this?"

"Nothing."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong rubbed his face.

…

The promotion luncheon at Yuanming Tower was grander than Magistrate Ouyang Rong imagined.

Guests filled the three-story building to bursting.

Assistant County Magistrate Official Diao and other government office colleagues, over a dozen wealthy local gentry, literati of Longcheng with official degrees, and respected elders from every town and village in Longcheng.

Not to mention the common folk who spontaneously came from all over Longcheng to celebrate and feast.

The interior was so packed not even one extra stool could fit.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong hadn't expected such enthusiasm.

At the main table on the first floor, he raised his cup to the crowd, drained it in one gulp, then endured toast after toast from guests…

After nearly a quarter of a jar of wine, Magistrate Ouyang Rong slumped back in his chair.

Assistant County Magistrate Official Diao leaned in, grinning:

"Magistrate, you have a bottomless cup… Wait, I must change my address—now you're Jiangzhou Longshi, Jiangzhou Longshi, I've long admired you."

"I must change mine too." He took a wrapped bundle from his junior sister and handed it to the old magistrate.

The latter opened it: inside were a pale green official robe, the official seal, and the official sash.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong, slightly drunk, chuckled: "Now you must call me County Magistrate Official Diao—your seasonal robes just gained another piece. Magistrate Official Diao, my apologies."

Official Diao quickly waved his hands: "Nonsense, nonsense—Jiangzhou Longshi, don't jest with your humble subordinate."

Though he spoke humbly, his grin could not be contained, his face radiant with joy.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong's promotion to Jiangzhou Jiangzhou Longshi coincided with Official Diao's own rise—from eighth-rank Assistant County Magistrate to seventh-rank County Magistrate—for his role in flood control and being the first to report auspicious omens.

The only regret was his age—if he were younger, such achievements would have promised greater potential… but Official Diao was already content.

Official Diao sighed: "Jiangzhou Longshi… no, let's still call you Magistrate—it's more natural. Hey, if I could just keep following your footsteps as your subordinate, that'd be perfect."

The old magistrate's tone was joking, tinged with self-mockery.

After all, there was no doubt Magistrate Ouyang Rong's promotions would outpace his own—if this wish came true, wouldn't he rise just as swiftly?

But for now, the words still held truth.

Jiangzhou governed over a dozen counties; its Jiangzhou Longshi oversaw provincial affairs, making him the supreme superior of every county…

Previously, due to the Jiangzhou Jimin Granary corruption case, both the previous Jiangzhou Jiangzhou Cishi and Jiangzhou Longshi positions had remained vacant.

Later, Wang Wang Lengran was appointed Jiangzhou Jiangzhou Cishi, but the Jiangzhou Longshi post stayed empty; the Jiangzhou Cishi assumed the duties, rendering the role nearly invisible.

Now, Magistrate Ouyang Rong's timely promotion filled this vacancy.

In the remainder of the luncheon, Magistrate Ouyang Rong noticed the guests' gazes toward him had changed.

They were filled with awe and reverence.

In officialdom, beyond the great barrier from local to capital official, the leap from sixth to fifth rank was another critical threshold—many scholars turned white-haired trying to cross it.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong crossed it effortlessly.

To be honest, the pace was a bit too swift…

After serving one year as Longcheng County Magistrate, Magistrate Ouyang Rong deeply understood the vast scope of authority held by such local officials.

Moreover, among the Ten Circuits, the Jiang Nan Circuit ranked among the wealthiest, lying at the heart of the southern realm.

Among Jiang Nan's upper-tier prefectures, there were barely more than five—Jiangzhou was one. Though plagued by floods, it also nurtured thriving waterborne trade routes, controlling the lifelines of southern transportation.

The soon-to-be-appointed Jiangzhou Jiangzhou Longshi… how many resources could he mobilize? How much power over wealth distribution?

Long ago, during the Duanwu grain price battle, a ruthless grain merchant's patron was rumored to be the Jiangzhou Longshi of neighboring Hongzhou—think of the influence.

The luncheon ended, wine and food consumed.

After bidding farewell to the enthusiastic crowd, Magistrate Ouyang Rong returned briefly to Mei Lu Yuan to collect his luggage.

The Li siblings had already emptied Su Fu; ten carts lined Lu Ming Street, loaded with belongings, and dozens of maids and servants waited.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong bid farewell to the gatekeeper, slung his pack, and stepped out lightly.

The two groups met, then departed the county, heading toward Zhe Zhe Yiqu on the city's outskirts.

Too much luggage; Peng Lang Ferry was too small—they chose the spacious new dock.

But barely had they left the city.

"What is this…"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong pulled back the carriage curtain and stared at the crowd thronging the road ahead, his expression momentarily stunned.

Along the suburban road, a pavilion stood every half-mile.

But before him, for ten li along the suburb, every pavilion was filled with townsfolk who had gathered spontaneously, offering baskets of food and gourds of wine to see someone off.

Earlier, Magistrate Ouyang Rong had deliberately said nothing about leaving today, planning to slip away quietly.

He had only mentioned it casually at the midday banquet to Assistant Magistrate Official Diao and others.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong spotted Official Diao and the others standing before the pavilions, along with many guests from the banquet, all there to see him off.

His face wore a helpless expression: "Magistrate Official Diao, you all…"

"My Lord, this isn't just my doing—the elders and townsfolk came on their own. Everyone in the county has been watching your actions at the Meilu Garden."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong fell silent.

Chenjun Xie Xie Lingjiang, seated beside him, took his luggage and smiled brightly:

"Big Brother, you should go say goodbye to the people of Longcheng."

"Go, my beloved," Li Guo'er couldn't help laughing.

"What about you?"

Li Guo'er's gaze returned from the hopeful faces of the townsfolk outside the window, and she softly instructed:

"We'll take the luggage ahead to the dock and wait for you there. Go, Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan—say your goodbyes properly."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "Alright."

On the road, the carriage procession resumed its journey.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong took the reins from his junior sister, slung only his sword case over his back, and mounted his horse without looking back:

"Wait for me at the dock."

"Mm."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong rode away from the carriage column, alone, galloping toward the throng of warmly welcoming Longcheng townsfolk.

The wind whipped his bound hair and headband, like colorful prayer flags fluttering in the breeze.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong suddenly recalled how, when he first arrived in Longcheng, it had been just like this.

One man, one horse, arriving alone, empty-handed—nothing but his official status to his name.

Today, as he departed, he was still empty-handed.

But he was no longer without anything.

What had he left behind as an official?

Relief for famine, flood control, justice.

And what had he taken away?

A sword that could not easily be judged right or wrong—but vowed to cut through all falsehoods in the world.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong suddenly smiled, spurred his horse forward.

For ten li, the people of Longcheng offered food and wine, calling him affectionately "Radish Magistrate," holding his reins, tugging his sleeves. A young man with a sword case walked step by step, drinking with each well-wisher, accepting every cup without refusal.

For ten li beyond the city, every willow branch had been broken off—a scene of tender farewell…

As the wine flowed freely, Magistrate Ouyang Rong faintly heard the melody of a folk song:

Beyond the long pavilion,

Along the ancient road,

Verdant grass stretches to the sky.

Evening breeze brushes the willows, the flute's sound fades,

Beyond the mountains, the sun sets…

Dusk.

Zhe Zhe Yiqu, Tanlang Ferry.

The new ferry had no official name yet, but the people of Longcheng had privately named it Tanlang Ferry; the county clerks did not stop them, and the name gradually became customary.

Now, Tanlang Ferry bustled with prosperity, subtly surpassing Peng Lang Ferry in vibrancy.

On the road, a thin horse carried a drunken youth slumped over its back, slowly entering the ferry, drawing nearer to the dock.

Golden sunset draped over the young man's long form like a cloak.

As the thin horse passed through the bustling market, a cry rang out:

"Buns for sale~ Freshly baked sesame buns~ Don't miss out…"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong blinked drowsily, dismounted, swayed forward, and peered down at the steaming sesame buns in the pan.

The bun vendor greeted him warmly: "Still hot, honored guest, would you like one?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong's hazy eyes fixed on the buns, his flushed face slightly dazed.

He reached out a finger, touched the bun's surface, and snatched it back, burned.

Slightly sobered.

"Hey hey hey, don't touch with your hands!"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong pulled back his hand, glanced around—the noisy market dimmed much of his drunken haze.

"Where am I…" he muttered.

"This is Tanlang Ferry—did you drink too much?"

"Tanlang Ferry…" The young man with the sword case, nicknamed Tanlang, took a deep breath and spoke dazedly:

"Tanlang knows—the boat waits ahead, someone waits ahead. Tanlang must move forward, must look ahead—wasn't that how he taught Saving Aqing before?"

The bun vendor studied the dazed, sword-case-carrying youth and asked curiously:

"You're dressed for a journey, aren't you?"

"Mm…"

The vendor pressed: "Judging by your look, do you know my stall? Were you a regular customer before?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong nodded, then shook his head.

"Ah, this stall was my old man's—I took over last month. You wouldn't know me, that's normal.

But you must know our sesame buns are a time-honored brand from Longcheng—no new merchants from Tanlang Ferry can match them; we were already famous back at Peng Lang Ferry.

The vendor boasted, then suddenly asked:

"Do you know Liu Ashan, the hero who fought the local bully and controlled the floods? The one Magistrate Radish personally erected a shrine for?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong lifted his eyelids and nodded to him.

The vendor slapped his chest loudly: "My old man said this hero once bought buns right here at our stall… Our buns are loved even by heroes and warriors. Honored guest, won't you try one before you leave? It'd be a shame not to."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong slowly raised his head, fixed his gaze on the vendor, and asked: "Really a shame?"

"Of course! Never leave with regret!"

The drunken youth exhaled deeply, then suddenly nodded firmly:

"Alright."

…

Several market clerks stationed at Tanlang Ferry received word and hurried out.

But after waiting half an hour at the dock, they saw no sign of the young magistrate.

"Strange, where's the Lord? Didn't we just get word he'd arrived? Where is he?"

"Someone said they saw the Magistrate just now."

One clerk returned from the dock, wiping sweat:

"Master Chenjun Xie hasn't seen him either—Master Chenjun Xie has ordered the boat to delay departure. We're all waiting for the Magistrate."

The clerks exchanged glances, then turned to scour the bustling streets of Tanlang Ferry.

One clerk passed a bun stall where the vendor rubbed three silver fragments in his pocket, grinning broadly.

Three sentences had convinced the guest to buy every last bun… The vendor suddenly felt bright about the future of selling buns at the new ferry—full of promise. He began thinking of carving a sign: "Hero's Buns."

The vendor gazed toward the county town and muttered:

"Huh, strange—wasn't this noble guest supposed to catch a boat and leave? Why's he hunched over eating buns, heading back?"