Chapter 301: Thirty, Another Romantic Blessing

Thirty, Another Romantic Blessing

Magistrate Ouyang Rong somewhat understood why Li Su Xian was stirring up trouble—so close to him, even a prince with actual fiefdom nearly slipped up and sent a careless letter.

The next morning, at the entrance of Prince Xunyang Wang Fu, Magistrate Ouyang Rong, in a crisp crimson official robe, watched another group of envoys from afar depart.

After the New Year's celebrations ended, the Prince Xunyang Wang Fu received not only imperial rewards from Shenjing Luoyanggong's Empress, but also gifts of goodwill from the Guanlong aristocracy, the Five Surnames and Seven Clans, and the southern noble families.

The offerings came nonstop, and they always found a suitable excuse to deliver them.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong's horizons had broadened slightly.

Hmm, this was the normal social norm for a Great Zhou prince.

The previous isolation of Longcheng—empty gates, no visitors—was the rare anomaly.

Anyone encountering such a stark contrast would inevitably feel invigorated, and certain idle, overfed thoughts would sprout.

Fortunately, Magistrate Ouyang Rong was there to draw a clear red line for Li Su Xian.

Aside from this matter, overall, Magistrate Ouyang Rong felt Li Su Xian and his father were still decent—at least they listened to advice.

After finishing his morning supervision at Prince Xunyang Wang Fu, Magistrate Ouyang Rong returned to Jiangzhou's main hall in the afternoon, walking in with a calm expression.

Yuan Yuan Huaimin, as expected, was not in the hall—no one knew where he'd gone to fool around.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong paid no mind; since the hall was empty, he sat down and pulled out a blank memorial.

"This matter… it's better to report it, follow the proper procedure."

After a moment's thought, Magistrate Ouyang Rong bent over and began writing.

Soon, the memorial was complete, lying quietly on the desk.

He set down his brush, lowered his gaze to review it, and gave a slight nod.

The memorial's content was simple.

Prince of Prince Xunyang, Li Su Xian, on the seventeenth day of the first month of Tianyou Year Two, voluntarily submitted a letter from Zhu Zhu Lingxu, the Governor of Hongzhou, to the Jiangzhou Inspector, showing respectful demeanor, and so on, and so forth.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong had written many similar surveillance reports before.

It was routine.

Even officials like Wang Wang Lengran had written plenty of such memorials in private.

For instance, recording when Prince of Prince Xunyang met certain guests, attended whose banquet, and what he drunkenly said at the feast—all could be reported.

It wasn't just about monitoring Prince of Prince Xunyang.

In Jiangzhou's Prince Xunyang City, some surveillance censors or Shenjing Luoyang palace personnel quietly recorded the actions of Magistrate Ouyang Rong, Wang Wang Lengran, and other Jiangzhou chief and deputy officials.

Even the tiniest trivial matter could be reported as a whisper.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong didn't need to guess—he knew for certain Wang Wang Lengran had written plenty of such whispers about him.

Laughable.

Who can't do it? He writes too.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong smiled sheepishly.

But he usually only wrote a few perfunctory memorials at month's end, praising Wang Wang Lengran, just to get them submitted and done.

Today was different.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong reviewed the memorial again, polished it slightly, and attached Zhu Zhu Lingxu's letter.

The memorial was finished.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong rose, picked up the memorial, and personally delivered it to a senior censor stationed long-term in Jiangzhou by the Censorate's Jiang Nan Branch.

Such memorials would be rushed to Shenjing Luoyang by express courier.

After simply completing this procedure, Magistrate Ouyang Rong returned to his official duties.

In the days that followed, Magistrate Ouyang Rong carefully observed the movements of the surveillance censors and Shenjing Luoyang.

Everything remained calm.

According to protocol, his memorial should arrive at Fengge as scheduled.

Below the Fengge's chief were several Secretaries of the Central Secretariat, and beneath them, the Attendants.

A memorial would be passed up this chain, layer by layer.

If the matter involved minor authority or minor issues, Fengge could resolve it independently; if serious, it would be presented to the Emperor.

If there was no response at all, it was likely stalled at some level.

That was normal—across the empire's ten circuits, thousands of local officials submitted memorials to Fengge daily like falling snowflakes; only a handful ever drew attention.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong nodded lightly and soon forgot about it.

In Xingzi Lane, a riverside street west of Prince Xunyang City, the second floor of the restaurant bearing the sign "Yunshui Pavilion."

At a window seat, Magistrate Ouyang Rong picked up a bite of food, squinted at the bustling Xingzi Lane outside, and occasionally turned to glance at the staircase leading to the third floor.

On the table before him, besides his own set of chopsticks and bowl, there were two extra sets.

At this moment, no one sat before those two extra sets.

It was noon; Magistrate Ouyang Rong leisurely ate, unhurried, as if waiting for someone.

Soon, two male figures appeared at the staircase entrance, descended to the second floor, and quickly approached Magistrate Ouyang Rong, taking their seats.

"Phew…"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong heard Li Li Fusu and Yan Yan Liulang exhale deeply—he smirked slightly.

Li Li Fusu and Yan Yan Liulang, having descended from the third floor, exchanged a silent glance and deliberately looked away.

Their eyes fixed on the dishes before them, showing faint satisfaction, yet they refused to pick up their chopsticks—no one knew what they were lingering over or savoring…

Magistrate Ouyang Rong didn't look up: "Aren't you two going to eat? Fill your stomachs?"

Yan Yan Liulang covered his mouth with a fist: "Cough, cough… a bit full."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong nodded: "So it's beauty that satisfies you?"

Li Li Fusu explained: "No, no—it's the tea. I drank too much."

Yan Yan Liulang chuckled.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong gave a strange look at Li Li Fusu, now clearly influenced by Yan Yan Liulang, then said:

"Young Master, mind your hygiene."

Li Li Fusu's face flushed red: "You misunderstand, my lord—I get nervous and drink water. I just drank a lot."

"Still nervous?" Magistrate Ouyang Rong couldn't help laughing.

Today, Magistrate Ouyang Rong had half a day off; the three hadn't met in a long while, so they dressed casually and came to Yunshui Pavilion for a meal.

But before Magistrate Ouyang Rong's dishes were fully served, the light-clad waitresses drew the eyes of his two friends—Yan Yan Liulang dragged Li Li Fusu upstairs for "health tea."

Eating at Yunshui Pavilion had become a ritual among the three.

It was a habit formed since their days in Longcheng.

Back then, Liu Ashan had accompanied them.

Now that one was gone, the three would sometimes come here for a meal together—unspoken understanding.

Of course, going upstairs for "health tea" didn't count.

Li Li Fusu couldn't help asking: "My lord, won't you go up and have some tea?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong shook his head, shifting to serious tea talk: "Their tea art isn't as good as mine—they're clumsy, it gives me a headache just watching."

Yan Yan Liulang interjected: "The magistrate fears Chenjun Xie Miss will come checking."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong glared at him; Li Li Fusu laughed: "Chenjun Xie Miss hasn't returned yet—she's still days away. What's there to fear?"

He looked envious: "Besides, my lord isn't like my family—you can have three wives and four concubines…"

"Not interested."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong immediately changed the subject, sighing: "Why don't you ask your father to arrange a marriage for you? Or even take a concubine—it'd save you from being led astray by Yan Liulang. He can fool around all he wants—he's single, no one else to suffer."

"You're different—you need to be careful. Your status is too sensitive. Avoid places like this."

Yan Yan Liulang raised his hand in protest:

"Magistrate, you can't say that! What's 'fooling around'? It's healthy relaxation—not some brothel or gambling den. I don't gamble or take drugs—I just drink tea."

"You don't understand, Magistrate—our jobs, wielding swords and spears, carry immense pressure. We must enjoy life while we can."

"Oh." Magistrate Ouyang Rong turned: "So that's your excuse for tagging along and freeloading off Li Fusu?"

Yan Yan Liulang: "…"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong turned to Li Li Fusu, returning to his earlier question. Li Li Fusu quickly waved his hands:

"Mother asked before—I turned her down. I'll… I'll think about it later."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong glanced at Li Li Fusu's evasive expression and sighed: "Is it too much pressure from Lady Wei and your little sister? Don't want another ancestor to bow to?"

Li Li Fusu smiled bitterly, unwilling to admit it.

But thinking about it, the men in Li Su Xian's family all seemed to inherit a fear-of-women gene—Magistrate Ouyang Rong understood.

Li Li Fusu looked around the familiar Yunshui Pavilion, his eyes filled with nostalgia:

"Every time I come here, I can't help thinking of last year in Longcheng—when I first met my lord and Yan Liulang, and Ashan was still with us."

"We'd never been to a place like this before—we were wide-eyed, nervous, excited. Even now, I know their health tea here is worse than back then—but it's unforgettable…"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong nodded: "Alright, alright—you've developed feelings for it, right?"

Li Li Fusu blinked.

"Prince?"

At that moment, a young man in scholarly robes, who had been glancing around for a long time at a nearby table, suddenly stood and walked over.

He approached the table, stared in surprise at Li Li Fusu, clearly recognizing the Prince of Prince Xunyang Wang Fu in casual attire.

Why is the prince out alone? And just now, did the eldest young master come down from upstairs?

Magistrate Ouyang Rong and Yan Yan Liulang frowned over, seeing the young man in literary robes wearing an expression of utter disbelief, sternly confronting Li Li Fusu.

Fortunately, there were few guests on the second floor, so no crowd gathered.

Yet Li Li Fusu's face still flushed red, his expression deeply awkward.

He seemed to know the young man in literary robes.

Li Li Fusu hastily waved his hands: "Brother Liu Zian, don't be angry—I'm just accompanying a friend out for a meal."

"Don't think I don't know what's going on upstairs. You come to a place like this—does the Prince know? Does the Young Princess know? Does Master Yuan know?"

Yue Liu Zian grew more agitated with each question, his brows knotted tightly:

"Others might be excusable, but you, Prince, are the direct great-grandson of Emperor Taizong, burdened with a sacred mission. How can you come here, wasting your will? If the Prince or the Young Princess find out, they'll be utterly disappointed. Prince, come with me at once!"

Saying this, he reached to pull Li Li Fusu away; Li Li Fusu resisted:

"Alright, alright, I get it—I won't come again. Let me finish this meal first. Brother Liu Zian, lower your voice—my friend's still here."

Then he turned to Magistrate Ouyang Rong with a pained expression:

"Forgive me, Tanlang—Brother Liu Zian was a disciple Master Yuan took in Shenjing Luoyang long ago. He just arrived in Jiangzhou recently and also resides at the Prince's mansion."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong nodded.

"What friend? You brought the Prince here?" Yue Liu Zian, brimming with moral outrage, pointed at Magistrate Ouyang Rong and Yan Yan Liulang: "Prince, ditch these disreputable companions—come with me!"

Li Li Fusu's eyes widened in fury, his breath quickening.

"Hah. Where did this dog bark come from?" Yan Yan Liulang set down his chopsticks, sipped tea to moisten his throat, and sneered:

"If you're lodging at Prince Xunyang Prince's mansion, aren't you just a beggar seeking handouts? Do you speak to your lord like this every day? Clearly, Su Dalang has been too kind to you."

"Who are you, to dare bark like this?!"

Yan Yan Liulang slapped his official badge on the table: "I am Judicial Assistant of Jiangzhou. Who are you? Keep barking and I'll arrest you and fine you right now."

He pressed on: "I'm here on official business—someone reported this place harbors suspects. I'm conducting covert surveillance, and you, brat, suddenly jumped out and disrupted my duty. Do you think I won't arrest you and fine you on the spot?"

Yue Liu Zian choked, face crimson, stammering: "Y-y-y—"

Yan Yan Liulang sneered. "What? If you don't leave now, you'll regret it."

Yue Liu Zian glared with bulging eyes, then suddenly turned, fixing his gaze on Magistrate Ouyang Rong, who had been quietly picking up food:

"You're the Judicial Assistant—so you must be Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong kept eating, didn't look up, didn't speak.

Yan Yan Liulang rose abruptly.

"I… I thought you were a gentleman. I misjudged you completely!"

The young man in literary robes hurled down a final remark, then angrily flung his sleeve and stormed off.

Yan Yan Liulang turned, indignant: "These penniless scholars? You've got to scare them like this. The Magistrate and I are too soft-hearted."

"Tanlang," Li Su Dalang said, looking slightly embarrassed, then explained:

Recently, the Prince Xunyang Prince's mansion had received many aspiring retainers—some came directly, others through connections with old figures from Longcheng like Master Yuan.

Some even came through Ju Hua Poetry Society, linked by Li Su Guoer. Li Su Guoer herself used the society to recruit many "unappreciated talents," since Jiangzhou was full of exiled officials; the Prince Xunyang Prince's mansion now seemed to be regaining favor, naturally drawing scholars and bureaucrats to its side.

According to Li Su Dalang, Yue Liu Zian was also a member of Ju Hua Poetry Society.

During the day, when Magistrate Ouyang Rong was away, these literary retainers often clustered around Li Su Xian and his family, pretending to be skilled in poetry, music, strategy, and statecraft.

But Li Su Xian and Li Li Fusu rarely took their advice—they mostly just kept them as guests.

Especially Li Su Dalang—he barely acknowledged any member of Ju Hua Poetry Society.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong had never cared much about them; he thought if any true talent emerged among these applicants, it would benefit everyone, and he wasn't worried about threats to his position—let the capable rise.

"When you return home, you should proactively explain to your father and mother—don't wait passively. Say… say I took you out for dinner. Afterward, I'll explain to them myself."

"Alright," Li Su Dalang sighed.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong glanced toward the direction Yue Liu Zian had left.

More fiery than I was at his age.

"Tanlang, aren't you sleeping yet?"

"I'll sleep later—still have matters to attend to. Ye Weilai, you rest first."

"Why are you making an umbrella again, Tanlang?"

"To calm my mind."

Ye Ye Weilai whispered: "It's for Chenjun Xie the Young Lady, isn't it?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong smiled slightly.

Soon after, Ye Ye Weilai obediently went to sleep in the inner chamber.

At the table, Magistrate Ouyang Rong looked at the finished oil-paper umbrella, its surface still bearing some of his overly sentimental verses.

He planned to find a chance to give it to his junior sister.

"If she sees these when she returns, she'll probably be quite happy," he murmured.

Suddenly, the Blessing Bell rang sharply beside his ear.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong froze, closed his eyes, and peered inward—inside the Merit Tower, the Blessing Bell was pouring out continuous purple mist, faintly tinged with a streak of peach-red.

A thousand merit points?

But this color of blessing seemed… off?

After absorbing the information, Magistrate Ouyang Rong pondered.

What triggered this… could it be related to his junior sister?

He muttered to himself.