Chapter 342

Seventy-one: I Stand Still

"Wang Lengran is despicable, shameless, and short-sighted. How does he have the face to question the Ru Shixiong."

In the study of Juxian Garden at the Xunyang Prince's Office, Xie Lingjiang's voice was cold and clear, and her expression was cold:

"He doesn't even use his pig brain to think. Li Zhengyan, Wei Shaoqi, and their party passed through Xunyang City before and lingered for a long time. Wasn't it just to do the uprising in Guizhou now, looking for an opportunity?

"If it weren't for the Ru Shixiong constantly maneuvering and dealing with them, watching them, and they couldn't find a loophole in Xunyang City, the one who would be imprisoned and beheaded, with his head sent to several prefectures, would not be Lan Changhao, but him, Wang Lengran, the great Prefect Wang."

Only one lamp was lit in the room today, quietly placed on the desk.

The open window next to it let in the evening breeze, and the flame flickered in the wind.

The orange halo pushed the shadows of Ouyang Rong, Li Lixian, and his family reflected on the wall, making them sway.

After Xie Lingjiang's voice speaking up for the Ru Shixiong fell, the room was quiet for a while.

Li Lixian, Li Dalang, and others turned their heads to look at Ouyang Rong, who was motionless.

He sat on a pear-wood chair, holding a teacup that Wei Mei had just handed him with both hands to warm them, lowering his eyes to stare at the tea leaves floating on the water in the cup, without saying a word.

"In the four prefectures where statues were built, besides Taiyuan Prefecture in the north, the south includes Yangzhou, Jiangzhou, and Guizhou. These are the three prefectures most affected by the central government's statue-building storm.

"Li Zhengyan and the others were demoted and resentful, looking for righteousness and the hearts of the people. Guizhou is the biggest loophole."

It was Li Guoer who spoke. Today she did not hold a cat, but leaned sideways on the chair. Her beautiful face, painted with noble lady's slanted red makeup and plum blossoms between her eyebrows, frowned slightly:

"Looking back now, Jiangzhou is actually better than Guizhou, followed by Yangzhou. If I were Li Zhengyan, I would also prioritize these two prefectures to start the uprising."

After a pause, her red lips pursed into a line:

"Especially Jiangzhou, where Father and Brother are.

"The days Li Zhengyan and the others spent in Xunyang must have been when they really couldn't find an opportunity, so they ran to the far-off Guizhou to drill through the loophole.

"Lan Changhao, oh Lan Changhao, ambitious but small-minded, with talent but lacking insight, proud and complacent, ended up fulfilling Li Zhengyan. It's one thing to be stupid himself, but he also caused the situation in the southwest to rot. He simply deserves to die."

"Alright, it's useless to say these things now."

Li Dalang sighed, his expression a bit fearful:

"Fortunately, Father and I didn't see Li Zhengyan at that time, otherwise the trouble would have been huge, and we wouldn't be able to clear our names."

Wei Mei was worried:

"I'm just afraid that we are still under suspicion, Li Zhengyan keeps talking about some belt edict. This matter cannot be verified, nor can it be falsified. That Empress might have doubts about us."

Xie Lingjiang raised her head slightly: "If we didn't do it, we didn't do it. We are not afraid of them investigating. If you don't do anything shameful, you are not afraid of ghosts knocking on the door. Isn't it said that the Yin-Yang masters of the Astronomical Bureau are powerful? At worst, let them come and investigate."

Li Guoer, who was on the side, lowered her head to tidy her sleeves and said softly:

"What's important is not whether we did it or not, but whether Grandmother believes it. Public opinion is like gold, and accumulated slander can melt bones."

Xie Lingjiang said crisply:

"The Wei clan is not the only one dominating the court. Let them slander us casually and splash dirty water. Father is also in Luoyang. With him, Master, and Uncle Shen there, they won't let the Sage be blinded.

"Moreover, Empress Wei is not a fool. Suspicious is suspicious, but when Father's imperial position was abolished back then, didn't someone also rebel under Father's banner?

"At that time, it was even more sensitive, and Father was even more suspicious, but Empress Wei didn't order poisonous wine, let alone now?

"No one knows a son better than his mother. Presumably, Empress Wei knows Father's character and that he wouldn't, and wouldn't dare to, rebel."

Xie Lingjiang spoke clearly, and on her plain hands, she habitually peeled a pear, handed it to a certain Ru Shixiong, and said firmly:

"Moreover, now, as the Ru Shixiong analyzed, Father returning to the capital to serve as the Imperial Heir is the most efficient choice to end the Li-Wei struggle at a low intensity.

"Empress Wei must know that without conclusive evidence pointing to Father colluding with the enemy, a wise person would not disrupt the arrangement."

Ouyang Rong took a bite of the pear, chewed it, and his cheeks bulged slightly:

"In this situation, the more and fiercer the dirty water the Wei clan splashes, the safer Father will be, because that Sage knows clearly in her heart that this is highly likely the factional struggle of the two Wei princes."

Hearing him speak steadily, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Lixian was still worried, took a letter from his robe sleeve, and asked with worry:

"Does Tanlang know about Wang Lengran submitting a memorial to complain? Guo Yu from Prince Xiang's Office sent new news from the Luoyang court, saying that Wang Lengran accused this Prince of privately communicating with Hongzhou Protector Zhu Lingxu and Prince Teng Li Lou.

"Now that these two have rebelled with Li Zhengyan, the suspicion has fallen on this Prince again. What should be done? What if the Empress Mother really believes it?"

He was worried and couldn't solve it, only feeling that he shouldn't have been proud and foolishly accepted the replies from Zhu Lingxu and Prince Teng.

Not every olive branch can be accepted at will. Perhaps it's like now, becoming a source of disaster.

Wei Mei, Li Dalang, and others heard this, and their expressions immediately became worried:

"So Wang Lengran and the Wei clan knew about this long ago and were just waiting for something to happen to complain now."

Wei Mei narrowed her eyes and gritted her teeth.

Clearly it was bad news, but Xie Lingjiang's expression was not panicked at all.

She immediately said for Ouyang Rong, who was too busy eating the pear to speak:

"Regarding Wang Lengran's memorial, the Ru Shixiong learned of it immediately and has already submitted a memorial to resolve it."

"What do you mean?" Li Lixian and others were stunned.

Xie Lingjiang smiled: "Has Father Li forgotten that the Ru Shixiong took away the letters from Zhu Lingxu and Prince Teng back then?"

"There was such a thing, what does the niece mean?"

"At that time, the Ru Shixiong had already written a memorial, reporting this matter in detail, and attached the letters from Zhu Lingxu and others, proposing a warning, but it wasn't taken seriously at the time.

"Now, I heard that the Phoenix Pavilion in the central government has found this dusty memorial in the treasury and discovered that it had indeed been reported long ago."

Xie Lingjiang smiled lightly:

"Heh, Wang Lengran embarrassed himself for nothing. Now it's him who is embarrassed. As the deputy, the Ru Shixiong had already reported it. He is only now talking about old news. Why didn't he say anything before?

"Anyone with a discerning eye knows his little thoughts. In the Empress's eyes, he probably also became a clown.

"Now the imperial court has discovered that the Ru Shixiong had warned about the inappropriate relationship between Zhu Lingxu and Prince Teng Li Lou long ago. Uncle Shen and many other court officials have praised the Ru Shixiong for his foresight."

Li Lixian was stunned, and then his face beamed with joy.

Wei Mei and Li Dalang also breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Guoer had been facing Ouyang Rong sideways since she entered the room. At this moment, hearing that someone had regained a city in silence, her expression remained unchanged, but she couldn't help but glance at him, who was unfazed by favor or humiliation.

Li Lixian looked at Ouyang Rong with full admiration:

"Tanlang is still the one who anticipates things like a god and takes precautions. Otherwise, our situation would be much more severe and dangerous."

Ouyang Rong shook his head: "It was just a coincidence. Actually, I didn't expect it to really work. It can be considered an unintentional planting of a willow."

Li Lixian patted the back of his hand and said sincerely: "Tanlang, don't be humble."

Wei Mei, as the Xunyang Princess, saw him put down the teacup, immediately stepped forward, and smiled softly to pour tea for him again.

Ouyang Rong immediately stood up, but was pulled down by Li Dalang: "Tanlang, why are you still being polite."

Wei Mei smiled and said:

"Dalang is right, Tanlang is family. Pouring tea is something women do. It's just that Guoer is lazy and the youngest, so she should be the one to do it. Alas, who told me to give birth to a little ancestor."

"Don't."

Hearing Li Guoer, Ouyang Rong reached out to stop her subconsciously.

Wei Mei and others looked curiously, he couldn't explain, but glanced at the tea leaves floating in the hot teacup like intestines.

Li Guoer suddenly stood up, took the teapot from the slightly surprised Wei Mei, and walked over prettily to fill his teacup.

Ouyang Rong glanced at the teacup.

Good fellow, don't people usually pour tea to seven-tenths full when pouring for guests? You poured the tea completely full, almost overflowing. If you didn't know, you would think you were chasing the guest away.

I don't know if she was careless or intentional, Ouyang Rong restrained the corner of his mouth and said thank you.

He turned his head and said to Li Lixian again:

"Father Li, write another memorial immediately, saying that you are willing to go to the capital to see the Emperor to prove your innocence."

Li Lixian was stunned, and then his eyes lit up:

"Does Tanlang mean... taking the opportunity to show loyalty to return to the capital?"

"That's right."

Ouyang Rong nodded:

"In addition, like Prince Xiang, hope to get the Emperor's surname bestowed."

Li Lixian hesitated, unable to save face: "This... is not very good."

"You submit the memorial first. Whether it succeeds or not is another matter. Actually, what's important is the attitude."

"Listen to Tanlang, this Prince will go write it immediately."

"Father Li has worked hard."

"It is Tanlang who has worked hard."

Ouyang Rong suddenly said: "Wang Junzhi, has Father Li seen him recently?" Li Lixian shook his head repeatedly and said awkwardly: "Haven't seen him in the last two days."

"Better to talk less."

"What does Tanlang mean..."

"This person has a deep relationship with Li Zhengyan. In this sensitive moment, it's better not to contact him."

"Good."

In the next few days, Ouyang Rong honestly went to the Jiangzhou Great Hall to serve every day.

At the same time, he waited for the imperial court's reaction.

Xie Lingjiang and Yan Liulang found that his mentality was quite optimistic.

However, during this period,

Wang Lengran, who had been tricked by Ouyang Rong's memorial, began to interfere with the official business of the Jiangzhou Great Hall, subtly marginalizing Ouyang Rong.

It seemed to be out of worry that Ouyang Rong would defect to the enemy, collude with the Hongzhou rebels, and offer the city to Cai Qin.

Many Jiangzhou officials could feel the public conflict between the two main officials.

Ouyang Rong was neither humble nor arrogant.

He continued to consolidate the city's defenses and the inspection intensity of passing ships at Xunyang Ferry.

On this day, Ye Weilai suddenly told Ouyang Rong that the flower pots on the wall of Zhengguang Street had been changed.

Qin Heng requested to see him.

In the private room on the third floor of Yunshui Pavilion.

Ouyang Rong and Qin Heng met again.

The atmosphere was silent.

The two looked at each other.

The matter of Cai Qin and Li Zhengyan had almost declared that the water-drifting Su Commandant was beyond redemption.

Qin Heng glanced at Ouyang Rong, his eyes full of guilt.

"I heard that Wang Lengran is marginalizing Chief Clerk Ouyang and increasing the surveillance of the Xunyang Prince's Office."

He suddenly spoke.

"It's okay." Ouyang Rong smiled, waved his hand in a relaxed manner: "General Qin doesn't need to worry."

"Now the Mobile Corps has only five hundred soldiers. I have felt recently that Wang Lengran's control over the Mobile Corps is stricter, and the garrison at the Xunyang Prince's Office is becoming more and more strictly prepared..."

"General Qin, don't think too much."

"Chief Clerk, take this token."

Qin Heng suddenly took out a certain token from his bosom and handed it to Ouyang Rong.

After taking the private token, Ouyang Rong was curious: "This is..."

Qin Heng said calmly: "There are some of my soldiers in the Mobile Corps. Seeing the token is like seeing me. In addition, Wang Lengran actually doesn't know that I am familiar with the Chief Clerk."

Ouyang Rong was silent, and after a while, he lowered his eyes and asked:

"Did General Qin hear any wind?"

Qin Heng shook his head and sighed: "No, but I just don't feel at ease... just in case."

Ouyang Rong hesitated and nodded.

Before the two parted, he urged again: "If there is anything, contact me at any time."

"Good."

Qin Heng left cautiously.

Ouyang Rong sat alone in the private room, pouring tea and drinking alone for a while.

His gaze fell on the small copper token at hand.

After a while, Ouyang Rong's figure disappeared from the third floor of Yunshui Pavilion.

He took the token.

In the following days.

Wang Lengran's suppression became more and more severe. As the main official of Jiangzhou, he commanded subtly, gradually marginalizing Ouyang Rong.

I don't know if it was a coincidence.

On this day, a military report suddenly came from the direction of Hongzhou.

Cai Qin's army, which had responded to Li Zhengyan's restoration banner in Guizhou, did not wait to join forces with the northern-marching Li Zhengyan's troops, but left Hongzhou City directly.

Cai Qin, Zhu Lingxu, and others were leading troops rushing toward Jiangzhou, both by water and land, pointing their blades directly at Xunyang City.

And the imperial army was still on the way from Yangzhou, with nearly ten days of travel left.

The situation in Jiangzhou became tense instantly.

Wang Lengran stopped pretending and immediately increased his intervention in the Jiangzhou Great Hall.

He began to openly "guard against" Ouyang Rong, who might be colluding with the enemy.

For example, consolidating city defenses, inspecting Xunyang Ferry, and the iron chains across the river, which Ouyang Rong had prepared and worried about before,

Were all roughly taken over by Wang Lengran using his status and procedures.

Ouyang Rong was almost sidelined.

Yan Liulang was also sidelined together.

It was also at this time that the arbitrary power of a prefect was fully displayed in front of everyone.

Moreover, it seemed that he saw the situation where he and the Xunyang Prince's Office were currently suspected by the imperial court,

Many Jiangzhou officials with keen senses who had previously shown favor to Ouyang Rong one after another moved away quietly.

Ouyang Rong experienced this kind of fickleness of human nature once.

However, just as Yan Liulang said with hatred and injustice,

With a great enemy in front, the infighting in the Jiangzhou Great Hall was the truly chilling thing.

But even though he was so distrusted, Ouyang Rong remained calm.

He went to the Jiangzhou Great Hall on time every day and sat in the empty main hall to handle official business.

He did whatever was at hand, even if it was just sitting idly, watching the front-line battle reports, and how much closer Cai Qin's army was to Xunyang City.

If he had any opinions, he would write them down and hand them to Wang Lengran, even if the latter had a look of vigilance and impatience.

Regarding this, Xie Lingjiang's indignation went without saying, and Li Lixian's family was also worried for him, feeling guilty for dragging him down.

But they were comforted by Ouyang Rong, who calmly said three sentences:

If someone wants to knock you down, no matter how they hit, don't fall yourself.

If someone drives you away, no matter how they drive, don't leave yourself.

If someone fixes you, no matter how they fix, don't die yourself.

Li Lixian, Xie Lingjiang, and others were thoughtful.

Li Guoer stood up and silently poured another cup of tea for someone who remained motionless.

This time it was seven-tenths full.