Chapter 299

Twenty-Eight: Ringing Out the Old and Ringing In the New Another Year

Just as the monk's robe youth by the sink in the kitchen was looking at the place where a certain Xie family noble lady had accidentally "left behind" small clothes.

Lin'an Temple, main entrance.

In the drenched blue stone alley, a huge carriage pulled by four tall horses stopped quietly.

Inside the carriage, there was a hundred-flower carpet, silk quilt covers with incense, and a fire stove for heating.

A noble lady with a dangling hairpin sat inside, rubbing her eyebrows with her fingers, waiting with her eyes closed.

"Madam, the young lady is back!"

Wanqing ran out of the temple gate first and reported the good news to the carriage.

Xie Xuee breathed a sigh of relief, opened her eyes, and immediately saw a young lady in a plain face wearing a ceremonial long dress lightly board the carriage.

The blush on her face hadn't faded, and her red lips carried a hint of a smile. She didn't know what she was thinking. After entering the carriage and sitting down, she forgot to greet her aunt.

"Shiqi Niang still knows how to come back?" Xie Xuee's tone carried a hint of resentment.

"Ah?" Xie Lingjiang came back to her senses, dazed: "Oh, Aunt has worked hard waiting for a long time."

Xie Xuee saw her niece's silly look, and her blood pressure couldn't be suppressed.

Her gaze couldn't help but fall on the familiar white fox fur shawl on Xie Lingjiang's shoulders, her face changed slightly:

"What did Shiqi Niang and him do in the temple?"

Xie Lingjiang answered immediately: "Cooked a bowl of longevity noodles to eat."

Xie Xuee asked suspiciously: "Just cooked noodles to eat?"

"Otherwise?"

"Didn't do anything else?"

"Oh right, there is one thing."

Xie Xuee asked immediately: "What thing!"

"A mouse greedy for oil popped out in the kitchen. Before I changed into the monk's robe, Senior Brother warmly helped me catch it."

"Shiqi Niang is still afraid of mice?"

Xie Lingjiang thought about it, "I was a little afraid tonight."

"And then?"

"Then..."

In the carriage, Xie Lingjiang leaned forward, pinched the small iron tongs, and carefully fiddled with the charcoal in the fire stove, suddenly smiling sweetly:

"Then seeing its silly look of being greedy for oil, suddenly I wasn't afraid anymore, and even felt... very cute."

"..." Xie Xuee.

You better be talking about a mouse.

Lin'an Temple gate.

A luxury carriage drove away slowly.

The temple monks respectfully watched the two Xie family noble ladies leave and returned to the gate.

About a quarter of an hour later, a long figure walked out of the temple gate, waved goodbye to the monks who saw him off, and left the alley.

Ouyang Rong had only walked a few steps when a familiar snort suddenly came from behind.

"Dongmei?" He turned his head curiously.

Immediately saw Beside Yan Liulang walking out of the alley leading a large jujube-red horse in a straw raincoat and hat.

"Prefect, you finally came out! You made me wait for a long time."

Ouyang Rong looked them up and down: "Why is Liulang here?"

"Isn't it waiting for you, Prefect."

Beside Yan Liulang sighed:

"Just now I was ready to leave, not to disturb the two-person world of you and Miss Xie, but suddenly it rained heavily, and I remembered that your umbrella didn't seem enough, so I turned back to get rain gear to find you..."

Ouyang Rong nodded.

Beside Yan Liulang was talkative again, telling about what happened at the Xunyang Tower banquet after he and Xie Lingjiang left holding hands.

Ouyang Rong listened silently, nodded, and patted Beside Yan Liulang on the shoulder:

"Hard work."

"Okay." Beside Yan Liulang's eyes were curious: "Eh, what is in the Prefect's bosom?"

He looked at Ouyang Rong's somewhat bulging chest and collar, as if some clothes and fabric were stuffed inside.

Ouyang Rong, who had changed back into baked regular clothes, said seriously:

"It's a monk's robe, worn before, quite commemorative, take it back."

Beside Yan Liulang smiled: "So that's it, I thought it was some love token given to the Prefect by Miss Xie."

Ouyang Rong's eyelids jumped, turned his back, led the horse and walked away.

"What are you thinking about, go back quickly."

The tone was slightly guilty.

After the birthday banquet, Ouyang Rong didn't see the Xiao Shimei for three consecutive days.

Her aunt seemed to be staying in Jiangzhou for the New Year, and some relatives of the Chen Jun Xie clan arrived one after another.

The Xiao Shimei couldn't spare the time to come to Huaiye Lane for a while.

Ouyang Rong understood and didn't have too much resentment.

To become long-term lovers, one needs to learn to delay gratification.

That aunt also seemed to be watching her quite closely, spending all her time with the Xiao Shimei during the day, not giving him too many opportunities.

Faintly meaning to guard against fire, theft, and gentlemen.

Ouyang Rong was speechless.

It's just that the days without the Xiao Shimei were indeed a bit lonely.

Before, when he was focused on his career, Ouyang Rong didn't feel it, but now, during the New Year holiday, there was nothing to do.

And having set a precedent, experiencing the "stinky smell" of love, he was a bit addicted to it.

Especially the strong body in his twenties, simply like a fire stove, even drinking ice is hard to extinguish.

This led to Ouyang Rong looking up at the "Yinbingzhai" plaque every time he got up and went out.

A bit moved by the foresight of the original owner of this studio, his mentor Xie Xun, who gave him this house.

There is indeed a fire in the body.

Laughing to death, even drinking ice is hard to extinguish this fire of righteous energy.

Ouyang Rong rubbed his face.

Recently, when tossing and turning in the middle of the night, he gradually understood the good intentions of the two pieces of blue and pink thin, narrow, and soft fabric left by the Xiao Shimei.

This is called entrusting feelings to objects.

However, in this way, it seems that he needs to bake them every day.

Fortunately, he has the obedient and sensible Ye Weilai in his house, who can do it for him...

But after figuring this out, Ouyang Rong felt a bit guilty. If he had known, he would have given the Xiao Shimei some gifts too.

This kind of lovesickness, the Xiao Shimei's side, should also be hard to bear...

Regardless, after confessing and holding hands with the Xiao Shimei, the wild thoughts of these days were all left in the old year with the explosion of a brilliant firework on the night of "Year-End".

After getting up early the next day, opening the window, he suddenly saw the silver-clad world outside, a piece of white.

It's snow.

Jiangzhou is in the south, and the first heavy snow of this winter finally fell.

The New Year is coming, and Ouyang Rong is a bit busy.

The New Year's Eve is called "Year-End" in this era.

After "Year-End", the "New Year's Day" of the next day is officially welcomed.

In Xunyang City, every household gathers for dinner and drinks pepper wine, which both dispels cold and dampness and adds to the warm atmosphere of the festival.

At the same time, every household has to change to new peach charms to "ward off evil" and welcome the new.

The Huaiye Lane residence is no exception. On New Year's Day, Ouyang Rong, in new clothes, drank pepper wine together with the female family members such as Zhen Shuyuan, Ye Weilai, and Banxi.

This is a very spicy and pungent turbid wine, faintly with a bitter "aftertaste". Ouyang Rong sipped a few sips reluctantly, but Ye Weilai liked to drink it unexpectedly, a bit greedy for the cup, her little face was flushed by the wine, like two little apples, the white-haired girl lay in his arms, hiccuping cutely, calling Tanlang Tanlang...

Ouyang Rong couldn't help but laugh.

As the male master of the house, he led the female family members to the door, turned his back to the goose-feather snow on the street, and pasted a new peach charm on both sides of the mansion gate.

This can be considered the first New Year with a festive atmosphere that Ouyang Rong spent in this world.

The only pity is that the Xiao Shimei's figure is missing.

Hmm, strive to spend the New Year in the Divine Capital next year.

The first "flag" of the year was set up.

Ouyang Rong smiled, turned his head to look at the vast snow behind him, and felt incomparably steady in his heart.

He whispered softly:

"The old year passes in the sound of firecrackers, the spring breeze sends warmth into the Su wine.

"Thousands of households in the bright sun, always replace the old charms with new ones."

In the curious and shining eyes of Zhen Shuyuan, Ye Weilai, and Banxi, the youth who pasted the peach charms tucked his sleeves and turned around, walking into the gate.

The Great Zhou Dynasty welcomed a new year in a peaceful and joyful atmosphere.

Second Year of Tianyou, January.

After New Year's Day, there are four more days of holiday.

But Ouyang Rong has received notice to return to the Jiangzhou Hall and be busy again.

But he is not alone, and the same goes for Wang Lengran, Yuan Huaimin, and others.

Because what everyone is busy with is not imperial court official business, but the Emperor's family affairs.

Many gifts rewarded by the Empress to the Prince of Xunyang have arrived, as well as palace servants and messengers sent to comfort the Prince of Xunyang.

Among them, some are routine rewards, some are special gifts.

According to the current Majesty's nature of loving great achievements and liking auspicious signs, naturally, she doesn't skimp on rewards for the most important festival of the year, and there are many things.

The celebration in Luoyang is even grander, and Xunyang City, thousands of miles away, is considered to have benefited.

Actually, these are all imperial family conventions over the years, but this year Xunyang City has a special Prince of Xunyang who has been re-employed, which made the Jiangzhou officials enjoy a "trouble".

For most local officials, the Emperor's family affairs are more important than official business and people's livelihood.

Ouyang Rong, as the Jiangzhou Executive Assistant, followed the Prefect Wang Lengran, went out of the city together, and welcomed the angels from Luoyang who arrived one after another after New Year's Day.

On the way, Ouyang Rong and Wang Lengran rode horses at the very front of the team.

One behind the other, without any communication.

At the moment, the relationship between the two is stiff, only maintaining the most basic etiquette of not arguing in front of colleagues in the Jiangzhou Hall.

Ignoring each other, treating it as if they didn't see the other.

It's just that Ouyang Rong discovered that it seemed to be the aftermath of the birthday banquet of the Chen Jun Xie clan, except for Yuan Huaimin, who was still open-minded and salty, many colleagues' eyes looking at him had changed subtly.

Ouyang Rong even faintly discovered that they seemed to be more respectful and cautious toward him, a weak-crowned Executive Assistant, than toward Wang Lengran.

Ouyang Rong was helpless. As the top Jiang Nan scholar family, the Chen Jun Xie clan's influence for hundreds of years had long since penetrated into the bones of Jiang Nan scholars, people, and officials from top to bottom.

Xie family son-in-law, marrying a Five Surnames woman, rare.

However, Ouyang Rong felt that there were benefits to welcoming these Luoyang messengers in the cold winter snow.

He was able to enter and leave the Prince of Xunyang's mansion in Xiushui Ward openly.

Comforting the "newly recovered from illness" Prince of Xunyang Wang Lixian with the messengers, without having to sneak over the wall in the middle of the night.

Before, he had never visited here during the day, and didn't even know where the Xiao Shimei lived in the mansion...

These two days of welcoming and sending off, he had gradually become familiar with it.

This afternoon, another batch of palace messengers arrived with gifts, accompanied by some Ministry of Rites officials.

Ouyang Rong rode Dongmei to the ferry to welcome them.

A short while later, he walked at the very front, leading this Luoyang team to the Prince of Xunyang's mansion.

Walking halfway, turning a street corner, Ouyang Rong noticed a gaze falling on him and looking him over. Turning his head suddenly, he found it was an official with a goat beard at the back of the messenger team.

He was about thirty or forty years old, with a square face, thick eyebrows and big eyes, wearing a green official uniform, and should be of the seventh grade.

Being discovered by Ouyang Rong on the spot, the goat-bearded official didn't panic, smiled, counted as a greeting, and moved his gaze away naturally.

Ouyang Rong remembered the appearance and also moved his gaze away.

A short while later, the crowd entered the open gate of the Prince of Xunyang's mansion.

Passing the Zhechong Prefecture officers and soldiers patrolling the street and the gate, Ouyang Rong moved forward without looking aside, leading the messengers inside, and went to the main hall to find Wang Lixian.

He was familiar with the road.

Those Zhechong Prefecture officers and soldiers at the gate of the mansion were nominally protecting the Prince of Xunyang Wang Lixian, but were only mobilized by one person.

Wang Lengran.

Ouyang Rong, as the Executive Assistant, couldn't use them either.

During the day, in front of everyone, seeing Wang Lixian and Li Dalang and others, he could only pretend not to know them and handle official business.

About an hour later, the messengers left, and Ouyang Rong sent them out the door.

Passing a long corridor, his peripheral vision suddenly swept over the figure of the goat-bearded official before.

Only to see him walking out from the direction of the depths of the Li mansion, being led to the back door by a Li mansion servant, as if about to leave.

Looking at the gradually receding back, Ouyang Rong frowned slightly.

That night, on the day of the agreed study discussion, Ouyang Rong, in light attire, rushed to the Prince of Xunyang's mansion.

Inside the study, the Xiao Shimei's figure was not seen, only a sincere letter was left.

Ouyang Rong opened the letter while browsing, listening to Wang Lixian and Wei Mei narrating.

It turned out that after New Year's Day, the Xiao Shimei was temporarily taken back to Wu Yi Lane in Jin Ling by Xie Xuee to participate in some matters stipulated by the clan ancestors, and she would only be able to return after half a month.

Ouyang Rong looked east toward Jin Ling, sighed lightly, and quickly restrained his emotions.

A short while later, he nodded calmly and asked about the recent reception of messengers.

Wang Lixian replied honestly, in great detail.

A moment later, finding no suspicious points, Ouyang Rong turned his head and took the initiative to ask about the goat-bearded official.

Wang Lixian was stunned and answered truthfully:

"This person's name is Guo Yu, from the Prince of Xiang's mansion, he is the eighth brother's person. Since I was re-employed, he has come once every ten days to maintain communication.

"Whatever big or small things happen in the capital, he will notify us in time."

Wei Mei sighed: "We have no eyeliner in the palace, sometimes we are trembling with fear. The information passed by the Prince of Xiang's mansion is considered our most important channel for understanding the palace's movements."

Ouyang Rong nodded: "Is this person's identity confirmed to be reliable?"

"He is the direct line of the Prince of Xiang's mansion, and once came with the eighth brother's handwritten letter."

Ouyang Rong asked: "Does he know the relationship between me and you?"

"We have never revealed Tanlang, but..."

"But what?"

"But the eighth brother should know a little."

Wang Lixian smiled bitterly:

"A few days ago, the eighth brother's letter suddenly mentioned Tanlang, saying that when Tanlang impeached the little sister Changle, he was instigated by a villain and said some angry words, unintentionally offending a talent, hoping Tanlang wouldn't blame him."

Ouyang Rong picked up the teacup and took a sip:

"His Highness the Prince of Xiang truly thinks highly of me, personally stooping to apologize."

He looked up and smiled:

"There must be a talent in his mansion."

Wei Mei asked cautiously: "Is Tanlang angry?"

Ouyang Rong shook his head, calmly:

"Just sighing."

Wang Lixian scratched his head with a wry smile:

"When I was down and out in Dragon City, the eighth brother and little sister helped a lot.

"Tanlang, I heard that on that day's morning meeting, I was able to be restored, they also came out to speak for me."

He sighed to Ouyang Rong:

"The eighth brother lives in luxury and may be arrogant to outsiders, but he is sincere and concerned about me as an elder brother. I feel it might not be as malicious as Tanlang guessed..."

Ouyang Rong looked at Wang Lixian, who was respectful to his younger brother and friendly to his elder brother, and nodded lightly:

"But hopefully so, keep an eye on everything."

"Okay."