Chapter 289: Fifteen, Xiao Shimei Checks the Post

Fifteen, Xiao Shimei Checks the Post

Inside the brightly lit hall.

Except for Ouyang Rong, Pei Pei Shisan Niang, Qin Xiaoniangzi, and Hongxiao all looked at the red-clothed girl who came suddenly with surprise.

Seeing her rush in, with an eager and concerned look, it seemed she was someone close to this Commandant young master.

Xie Lingjiang held the hilt of her sword and stared at Ouyang Rong, who was only wearing a plain white inner garment, for a while.

Qin Xiaoniangzi lowered her head and looked at the men's robe on her body, reacted to something, and opened her mouth to speak.

Pei Pei Shisan Niang did not change her expression, preparing to watch from the sidelines.

But Ouyang Rong suddenly raised his hand.

"Ouch!"

Xie Lingjiang suddenly covered her snow-white forehead, let out a painful sound, and widened her beautiful eyes.

She was rewarded with a chestnut on the spot.

Ouyang Rong waved his hand and said: "What are you guessing blindly? Your imagination is so rich. Let's go, it's fine."

He walked toward the door first.

Xie Lingjiang was stunned for a moment, rubbing the forehead that had been knocked awake by Ru Shixiong.

She nodded and followed honestly.

But just after crossing the threshold, Xie Lingjiang stopped.

"Ru Shixiong, wait for me outside."

The girl in the fiery red skirt turned her head and rushed into the hall again.

Ouyang Rong stood in the courtyard, with his hands behind his back, looking at the moon and waiting quietly.

A moment later, he saw Xie Lingjiang walk out of the hall again, with a moon-white men's long robe in her hand, folded neatly and draped over her lotus-root arms.

The red-clothed girl holding the sword walked out with her head held high, leaving only a tall and graceful back to the several women in the hall behind her.

"Let's go, Ru Shixiong." She greeted.

Ouyang Rong nodded.

The two left the Orchid Courtyard together.

On the way, they kept quiet, tacitly not talking about what had just happened.

At the entrance of the Xunyang Tower, Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang met Wang Caozhi.

The short young man was waiting in the dim light of the alley with his groom and attendants.

"Sister, Brother-in-law!"

Seeing the figures of Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang, Wang Caozhi's eyes lit up, and he greeted them.

Hearing this address, Xie Lingjiang in the darkness turned her face away slightly.

"Brother-in-law, where did you go just now? Why did you disappear as soon as I came out of the Narcissus room? I searched for half a circle, and only your horse was still waiting outside."

Wang Caozhi looked worried.

Ouyang Rong saw that behind him, a groom was leading out Dongmei.

"I had something to do just now, and I received an invitation temporarily... It's fine now."

Ouyang Rong shook his head.

"That's good."

Wang Caozhi breathed a sigh of relief, didn't ask much, just complained a little:

"Just now, Sister Lingjiang suddenly rushed in to find you, asking where you went with a worried face. I didn't know how to answer, even though I didn't arrange any second half... cough cough."

His muttering grew smaller, and under Xie Lingjiang's dangerous stare, he coughed twice and closed his mouth obediently.

"It's fine now, thank you for your concern, you go back first."

Ouyang Rong said to Wang Caozhi with a smile.

"You got it, Brother-in-law, I won't disturb you and Sister Lingjiang. You two chat slowly, we'll gather again later, this younger brother is off."

Before Xie Lingjiang's long legs under her long skirt could show signs of kicking, Wang Caozhi shrank his head and fled.

Dongmei was left in place, lowering her head and snorting.

Ouyang Rong went to lead the horse.

Xie Lingjiang followed silently.

At the entrance of the small alley, the silence returned between the Ru Shixiong and Xiao Shimei.

Waiting until they walked to a slightly brighter place.

Ouyang Rong turned to look at Xie Lingjiang, sizing her up calmly.

The Xiao Shimei was wearing a peach-red long skirt with a trailing hem that was popular among noble ladies today, and she had put on an elegant wine-halo makeup, with two charming flower dimples on her cheeks. Looking closer, she had even applied thin powder and rouge... She had dressed up specially to go out.

It was just that at this moment, there was a layer of fine fragrant sweat on her forehead, and her carefully dressed phoenix crown and hair bun were a bit messy.

Obviously, it was because of her hurried search for him.

And before this, the two had clearly agreed that she should be a graceful lady and gentle and obedient in Xunyang City.

Ouyang Rong's gaze moved away silently from the long sword at Xie Lingjiang's waist, which was very out of place with her grand lady's skirt:

There was no blame on his face, but rather a bit of guilt.

"Ru Shixiong, stop looking, the makeup is ruined, what's so good about it."

Xie Lingjiang turned her body sideways and raised the men's long robe in her hand to cover her face.

Ouyang Rong nodded:

"When I called you with the skirt knife, I thought you were far away at the Prince of Xunyang's mansion in Chaisang Ward, and it would take a while to arrive."

Xie Lingjiang bit her lip: "When I sensed it, I was not far outside the Xunyang Tower. I heard tonight... I heard that this guy Wang Caozhi came to Xunyang City, so I prepared to come over and take a look to see if this kid listened to Ru Shixiong."

Ouyang Rong raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at her more.

Thinking about it, he still didn't ask why Xiao Shimei dressed so solemnly and came specially to see her cousin.

He didn't expose her.

"Just now it was a misunderstanding."

Ouyang Rong changed the subject and briefly told the story of Pei Pei Shisan Niang.

Xie Lingjiang, who had originally pretended to be indifferent, listened and turned her head, her expression exceptionally serious.

"So it was a beauty trap."

Xie Lingjiang nodded in summary.

Ouyang Rong shrugged his shoulders: "Who could have thought that the top courtesan who sells art but not body would do this. That Pei Pei Shisan Niang has some means and knows how to handle women."

"Ru Shixiong is so powerful, and young and handsome."

Xie Lingjiang looked at him sideways and praised:

"Maybe it's also because she was conquered by Ru Shixiong's charm."

She smiled, in a tone of indifference:

"Well, a young man with power and influence, and a young lady with beauty, can be considered mutual willingness."

"What mutual willingness, I am not willing."

"A beauty like jade, pipa spring color, a man and a woman alone, does Ru Shixiong really not feel moved at all?"

Moved?

Ouyang Rong really wanted to say that he was moved, but was firmly pressed down by a certain skirt knife.

How dare he look up.

"Not moved." He shook his head firmly without hesitation.

"Why is this?"

Xie Lingjiang curled her index finger, tapped her red lips lightly, stared at Ru Shixiong, her voice like a cat, somewhat coaxing:

"To be able to get such a top courtesan who is famous in Xunyang and sought after by thousands of people to offer herself, does Ru Shixiong really not feel moved at all?

"Well, I am a woman, and I can't help but feel moved. I only hate that I am not a man."

"Not moved."

Ouyang Rong still shook his head firmly, and said softly: "Because I know there is an important person waiting for me outside."

Xie Lingjiang choked, and the smile on her face disappeared.

Her voice trembled: "Wh... what important person?"

"My Xiao Shimei."

Ouyang Rong smiled brilliantly, paused, and said:

"Well, as a Ru Shixiong, of course I have to lead by example. At that time, I just threw an outer robe to that Qin Xiaoniangzi to wear. As for more, there really wasn't any."

Seeing him brush it off again, Xie Lingjiang puffed her cheeks and straightened her pretty face:

"Understood, it's still because I accidentally touched the skirt knife in advance and notified me to come, so you held back, right? Fine, fine, fine, I won't come next time, Ru Shixiong, feel free to show off, no need to care about face."

Ouyang Rong nodded: "That's fine. Then I'll take off a few more next time, can't let people catch a cold."

"You dare?"

Xie Lingjiang stared and asked coquettishly.

Ouyang Rong suddenly reached out, "Don't move."

"What are you doing."

She shrank back subconsciously, but was stared at domineeringly by the man in front of her. She suddenly felt an urge to be honest and obedient, not daring to disobey, and not wanting to disobey, but rather felt a bit of excitement and anticipation.

"Your hair is messy."

Xie Lingjiang's body froze. Looking up, Ouyang Rong tucked a strand of hair that had fallen on her forehead behind her ear.

Xie Lingjiang was a bit shy, her pretty face hiding in his arms, wanting to dodge, but immediately found that there was something behind her ear. She reached out to touch it and was pleasantly surprised to find it was an orchid.

There was a secluded fragrance lingering between the two.

"This is..."

Ouyang Rong had already left, walking forward, saying without looking back:

"While waiting for you to take the clothes, I picked one in the courtyard. It really looks good wearing it."

Paused, and said softly:

"Tonight... you've worked hard."

Xie Lingjiang was slightly stunned, stopped in place, and her cheeks became a bit hot.

Not long after, after the two walked out of the alley, a carriage from the Prince of Xunyang's mansion drove over and stopped in front of them.

Ouyang Rong helped Xie Lingjiang, who was dressed in grand attire, get on the carriage.

He himself rode Dongmei and escorted her beside the carriage.

"Stay in the residence in Huaiye Lane for one night and go back tomorrow morning."

"Good."

On the way, separated by a thin curtain, the two talked about Pei Pei Shisan Niang again.

Xie Lingjiang said softly: "I don't like this woman."

Ouyang Rong nodded, calmly: "A very standard Jianghuai merchant, full of gold-standard and official-standard thinking."

"Gold-standard, official-standard thinking?" Xie Lingjiang chewed on the new words.

Ouyang Rong looked at her and explained:

"It can be understood as money first, official position first, taking these two as noble, and the latter as the most."

"No wonder she flattered Ru Shixiong so much, but..." Xie Lingjiang asked: "To be carefully flattered and served by such a wealthy and beautiful woman, most men should feel comfortable, right?"

Ouyang Rong turned his head back with a serious face:

"What she fears and flatters is not me, but this scarlet official uniform. Today, because of this scarlet official uniform, she honors me as noble. Tomorrow, she can also be obedient to another purple official uniform.

"I don't feel comfortable at all. Different paths, no common plans."

Xie Lingjiang looked at Ouyang Rong, who was speaking righteously, and was a bit dazed.

"Ru Shixiong sees it very clearly."

And he can always say some novel words that make her suddenly enlightened.

After a while, she asked:

"Then how is the water management plan she proposed? It seems to make some sense."

Ouyang Rong nodded: "Feasible."

Xie Lingjiang was curious: "Then why did Ru Shixiong refuse directly?"

Ouyang Rong bathed in the river wind blowing toward his face and let out a long breath:

"She wants to renovate and reorganize Xingzi Ward to do business for wealthy families, but a city must not only accommodate wealthy people but also provide a place for poor people to live.

"The prosperity of Xunyang City is by no means supported only by wealthy merchants.

"In Xingzi Ward, there is more than one Brother Huaimin.

"They are the foundation of Xunyang City's prosperity."

Xie Lingjiang was thoughtful.

Between the two, there was silence for a while.

Approaching Huaiye Lane, Xie Lingjiang suddenly asked:

"Is Ru Shixiong going to have a holiday soon?"

"Hmm."

Xie Lingjiang said in a low voice: "During the holiday, how about Ru Shixiong accompanies me and Xiao Shimei Guoer to go shopping and attend some gatherings to relax?"

Ouyang Rong hesitated: "Okay."

Xie Lingjiang smiled happily.

Not long after, the carriage arrived at the residence in Huaiye Lane...

The next day.

Ouyang Rong walked into the Jiangzhou Hall and continued to work, implementing the carving of the Twin Peaks and the Xunyang Grottoes.

He bumped into Watching Yuan Huaimin.

Watching Yuan Huaimin suddenly asked: "Did Brother Lianghan go to the Xunyang Tower last night?"

Ouyang Rong's steps paused, and he didn't look back: "Hmm, I went there. What's wrong, Brother Huaimin?"

"Brother Lianghan went to find Qin Xiaoniangzi, right?"

Ouyang Rong asked calmly: "How did Brother Huaimin know I went to the Xunyang Tower."

He quietly looked at his clothes. It was clearly a brand new one, and there should be no fragrance traces of Qin Xiaoniangzi from last night.

Watching Yuan Huaimin said directly:

"I was also at the Xunyang Tower last night. When I left, I saw Dongmei and guessed that you were also at the Xunyang Tower. It's just that I waited for a while next to Dongmei and didn't see your figure, so I went back because I was in a hurry."

"So that's how it is." Ouyang Rong couldn't help but look at Watching Yuan Huaimin more: "What did Brother Huaimin go to the Xunyang Tower for? Listening to zither music again?"

"Yes, according to the practice, there was Qin Xiaoniangzi's pipa performance at the Xunyang Tower last night. Wait, could it be that Brother Lianghan went there, wasn't it also to listen to the pipa? Does Brother Lianghan have any other business?"

Watching Yuan Huaimin shook his head: "I thought Brother Lianghan heard my description and that seeing is better than hearing a hundred times, so you went."

Ouyang Rong kept smiling:

"Both, I guess. I wanted to listen to Qin Xiaoniangzi's pipa music, and it just happened that there was a private banquet, so it was on the way. It's just... my luck doesn't seem to be very good. Last night in the lobby of the Xunyang Tower, it seemed to be a song and dance performance, and I didn't see the figure of that pipa master."

"Sigh." Watching Yuan Huaimin sighed with regret: "I also made a wasted trip. I heard that Qin Xiaoniangzi seemed to be unwell, and she has been depressed recently, so she specially asked for leave to rest in her boudoir and refused to receive guests."

His eyes were full of longing: "For a pipa master like Qin Xiaoniangzi, even the proprietor of the Xunyang Tower can't easily command her. Performances and such all depend on her mood. Our luck last night was not very good. Brother Lianghan should be the first time to listen to pipa music, right? A bit more unlucky than me."

Watching Yuan Huaimin had the expression of an experienced old brother, patted the arm of Ouyang Rong, who was ignorant and honest, and comforted:

"It's okay, there will be opportunities next time. There is a long way to go. There will always be opportunities to hear Qin Xiaoniangzi's pipa music. Brother Lianghan, don't be disappointed."

"Okay, looking forward to it." Ouyang Rong nodded, paused, "Must appreciate the beauty next time."

"It is to appreciate the immortal sound. Qin Xiaoniangzi likes to wear a veil, and she usually covers up a lot. It is very difficult to see her beauty. I have been there so many times, and I have only seen it once by chance. I hope Brother Lianghan can have such good luck next time."

"Good, good, good."

Responding in his mouth, Ouyang Rong couldn't help but look at the honest man Watching Yuan Huaimin, his eyes slightly dazed, as if some snow-white and dazzling scene flashed before his eyes again... Ouyang Rong nodded hurriedly with a serious face:

"Okay, Brother Huaimin."

After showing off and sharing, Watching Yuan Huaimin left satisfied.

Ouyang Rong looked at the back of his colleague and friend leaving happily, and a sense of strange guilt rose in his heart.

Two days later, the Jiangzhou Hall finally ushered in the long holiday of the New Year.

This holiday is similar to the New Year's Eve, bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new.

However, officials in various places are forbidden to return to their hometowns for the festival.

Ouyang Rong, who had been busy for a long time, finally had some leisure time.

However, on the first day of this holiday, after only sleeping for a morning nap, he was pulled out again...

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 290 =====