Chapter 344

(Second Update) (Second Update)

"Why ask me, Lord Wang? Isn't it Lord Wang who manages all the affairs in the city?"

"I am still on leave; I was just bored and came over to sit for a while."

In the main hall, Wang Wang Lengran and a squad of armored soldiers blocked the sunlight at the entrance.

Behind them followed a group of officials from the Jiangzhou main hall, who gathered around to watch the drama.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong, who was reviewing official documents, turned his head to glance at the somewhat anxious Wang Wang Lengran and answered with a smile.

Wang Wang Lengran frowned, walked in, and paced back and forth in front of Magistrate Ouyang Rong's desk:

"Does Chief Clerk Magistrate Ouyang truly know nothing?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong nodded: "I do know a little."

"What?" Wang Wang Lengran asked with wide eyes.

"He should be gone by now."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong glanced at the soldiers standing ready with spears at the entrance, nodded, and added:

"Unable to find the person, Lord Wang is very anxious now."

Wang Wang Lengran glared at the smiling young man who was teasing him while talking nonsense; his eyelids twitched uncontrollably, and the corners of his wrinkled eyes gradually narrowed:

"Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan, if you dare to withhold information, you know the consequences. Don't think that just because you have people speaking for you in the imperial court, you can do whatever you want and flirt with the rebel army.

"We are currently in a national crisis; the Emperor's patience is limited. Do not let criminals escape and become someone who undermines the overall situation of the imperial court."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong looked puzzled, glanced around, and then looked at Wang Wang Lengran with a strange expression:

"It's a bit strange. No, let's sort this out first."

He rubbed his chin and said:

"How do I remember it? When I was in charge of the Jiangzhou main hall, Wang Wang Junzhi was still at the prefectural school, honest and obedient, being watched by the Judicial Bureau's informants from morning till night.

"Why is it that when Lord Wang took over and presided over the Jiangzhou main hall, the Judicial Bureau lost track of the person and couldn't find a trace?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong frowned and said to the crowd around him:

"How come whatever Lord Wang takes over, problems arise? Now the suspect is lost... You tell others to prioritize the overall situation every day. In my opinion, Lord Wang is the one undermining the overall situation.

"Why not search Lord Wang's residence first? Maybe there will be a surprise."

"Haha... cough cough." Someone in the crowd at the entrance stifled a laugh.

"..." Wang Wang Lengran's old face flushed red.

A moment later, seeing that he couldn't get any answers, the Inspector of Jiangzhou looked displeased, flicked his sleeves, and left.

Seeing the crowd at the entrance disperse and Wang Wang Lengran taking his soldiers to search elsewhere,

Magistrate Ouyang Rong withdrew his gaze.

The smile on his lips slowly disappeared, and he pursed his lips in silence.

He had just listened roughly.

It turned out that after Li Li Zhengyan started the uprising in Guizhou, everyone related to him was implicated.

It wasn't just Magistrate Ouyang Rong and the Prince Xunyang Prince's Mansion; Wang Wang Junzhi, who had been sent to the Jiangzhou prefectural school by Li Li Zhengyan and Wei Shaoqing, bore the brunt of it.

However, before this, there was no concrete evidence; he was just being closely monitored by the Censor sent to Jiangzhou and was confined within Prince Xunyang City.

Yet, a few days ago, in Yangzhou, an old friend of Wang Wang Junzhi from the same year came forward and reported Wang Wang Junzhi to the Censor of the Jiang Nan Circuit.

He stated bluntly that Wang Wang Junzhi had met with Li Li Zhengyan, Wei Wei Shaoqi, and others in Yangzhou, and at a private drinking party, they were all dissatisfied due to losing their official positions, conspired to rebel, and had made treasonous remarks...

Thus, the Censor in Yangzhou issued a document ordering the Jiangzhou government to arrest Wang Wang Junzhi and imprison him for the crime of being an accomplice to rebellion.

Also hailing from the old Wang clan, Wang Wang Lengran had long found Wang Wang Junzhi an eyesore.

You kid, born into a prominent family in Jingzhao, Guanzhong, yet you don't want a good future and insist on mixing with the Baoli faction, and now you even dare to raise a banner of rebellion.

You're truly carrying a dung basket and running through the streets, courting death.

However, Wang Wang Lengran took his soldiers and excitedly went to the door, only to find it empty.

The residence that had been under surveillance was now empty.

So Wang Wang Lengran ran to find Magistrate Ouyang Rong immediately, suspecting that he was the one causing trouble...

"What a bunch of losers."

Looking outside the door, Yan Beside Yan Liulang crossed his arms and said with a cold expression:

"If the Judicial Bureau were still in my hands, Wang Wang Junzhi wouldn't have been able to escape even with wings."

"The atmosphere is wrong."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong suddenly spoke:

"Wang Wang Junzhi participated in the Juhua Poetry Society and met with the Prince of Prince Xunyang and the Heir Apparent. Wang Wang Lengran's grand display today is not just about catching rebel accomplices to claim credit.

"He might want to capture him alive, use torture to force a confession, and frame me and the Prince Xunyang Prince's Mansion."

Yan Beside Yan Liulang stood up immediately and said nervously: "Then what should we do?" He paused, "Fortunately, this kid ran away, otherwise we would be implicated."

He frowned again:

"But he was seen entering his house by the people watching him yesterday, and he only disappeared this morning.

"Prince Xunyang City is strictly guarded recently, and the city gates only open at 6:30 AM. Wang Wang Lengran must have sent soldiers to guard them strictly.

"Could this kid still be in Prince Xunyang City? Damn it, we can't let Wang Wang Lengran catch him first."

While Yan Beside Yan Liulang was analyzing, Magistrate Ouyang Rong had already stood up and walked out the door.

He looked back at him.

Seeing this, Yan Beside Yan Liulang picked up his sword and followed tacitly.

A stick of incense later.

In an alley not far from the Jiangzhou main hall, a carriage started quietly and slowly drove into the distance...

"Brother Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan? Assistant Yan? What brings you to visit today?"

Yuan Yuan Huaimin opened the courtyard gate and looked at Magistrate Ouyang Rong and Yan Beside Yan Liulang, who had visited suddenly, with a curious expression.

In front of the courtyard gate, Magistrate Ouyang Rong stood with his hands behind his back, wearing a plain white soap robe and a felt hat.

Yan Beside Yan Liulang stood behind him, holding a long, strip-shaped zither case in his arms, carved from rosewood and shaped like a miniature ancient zither.

Yuan Yuan Huaimin moved his gaze away from the strange zither case and asked the calm young man in the felt hat with a smile:

"Brother Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan, you wouldn't be here to make friends through music, would you?"

He scratched his head: "It's a pity I am more skilled at the pipa; I haven't studied zither music much, only knowing a little."

"Knowing a little? Oh, that means you know a lot." Magistrate Ouyang Rong's gaze crossed his shoulder and glanced into the courtyard:

"Brother Yuan Huaimin, why are you living in the guest courtyard of a temple?"

Yuan Yuan Huaimin's old face flushed:

"Life is like a journey, sailing on a single reed. Speaking of which, sleeping anywhere is just sleeping at night; it's all the same, hahaha, all the same."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong nodded:

"Brother Yuan Huaimin is indeed open-minded. If you could also see the matter of being fined for lateness clearly, it would be even more relaxing."

The grinning Yuan Yuan Huaimin immediately straightened his face: "Absolutely no more deductions."

He shook his head firmly: "There are thirteen days left this month; I will definitely not be late or absent again."

"Ambitious." Magistrate Ouyang Rong passed Yuan Yuan Huaimin, walked into the courtyard, looked left and right, and asked:

"Why is there a smell of alcohol on you? Did you attend another evening banquet or literary gathering and return with a hangover?"

"Something like that." Yuan Yuan Huaimin lowered his head and sniffed his sleeves, muttering: "Is there a smell of alcohol?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong did not stop his steps and walked straight toward the largest main house in front.

Yuan Yuan Huaimin looked back and showed a helpless expression. He followed behind someone who had "broken into" the courtyard unceremoniously and advised:

"My humble abode is messy and hasn't been tidied up for a long time. Why don't you sit in the courtyard, Brother Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong shook his head: "Is there a beauty hidden in the house?"

"This..." While Yuan Yuan Huaimin hesitated, he saw Yan Beside Yan Liulang, who was holding the zither case, stop at the entrance of the main house and stay outside the door with the zither.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong walked into the house with composure.

Yuan Yuan Huaimin had no choice but to follow honestly.

"Why are there two teacups, and both have tea leaves?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong looked back and chuckled: "Could it be that Brother Yuan Huaimin predicted my arrival and poured tea in advance? But why did you drink mine?"

After joking, he asked calmly: "Or is it that there were other guests this morning?"

Yuan Yuan Huaimin nodded: "I woke up from the alcohol early in the morning, and a friend did come over for tea."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong sat down, took a new teacup, poured tea for himself, and asked lightly:

"Is this friend of yours named Wang Wang Junzhi?"

Yuan Yuan Huaimin fell silent immediately.

His smile faded a little, he sat down, and while tidying up the tea set, he nodded gently.

"Then where is he now?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong seemed completely unsurprised and looked around.

Yuan Yuan Huaimin sighed: "Naturally, he left."

"Did he really leave or pretend to leave?" Magistrate Ouyang Rong asked with a smile: "Could he be hiding? Why not call him out to have tea together?"

"He really left." He answered helplessly: "The tea hadn't even cooled yet, and he had already left."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong gave a light "hmm" and asked: "Then do you know that the Jiangzhou main hall is hunting him down?"

"I don't know..."

Yuan Yuan Huaimin raised his head but met Magistrate Ouyang Rong's straight gaze. He hesitated, nodded, and then shook his head:

"I only guessed it."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong sighed:

"You guessed it and still let him go? He is now a criminal of the imperial court. Brother Yuan Huaimin, if you withhold information, if Lord Wang Wang Lengran finds out... then it won't be a matter of not being able to get the remaining thirteen days of salary this month."

Yuan Yuan Huaimin said wearily: "I am indeed at fault. I will submit to Brother Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan's disposal and am willing to surrender."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong did not answer and looked at him without blinking:

"Where is he now? Did he run out of the city?"

"I don't know."

Yuan Yuan Huaimin shook his head, hesitated, and added: "But... I can guess a little."

"Speak."

Yuan Yuan Huaimin sighed: "If I guessed correctly, he went to the Prince Xunyang Prince's Mansion."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong frowned instantly.

After being quiet for a while, his brows relaxed.

He smiled and said:

"Heh, what a Wang Wang Junzhi, truly bold."

Putting down the teacup, Magistrate Ouyang Rong stood up, ignored Yuan Yuan Huaimin, and prepared to leave.

It seemed he would no longer pursue the matter.

Yuan Yuan Huaimin suddenly spoke:

"Brother Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan."

"Hmm?"

"That day, you said you would wait for me every day when you went to work. Does that still count?"

Hearing this, Magistrate Ouyang Rong remembered another sentence before he said that day. He said irritably:

"If you have something to say, say it quickly. Don't be all literary and sentimental... What I said is always valid and never an exception. Whatever you have, you can tell me. I will handle what I can handle; if I can't handle it, then don't say it."

The originally serious Yuan Yuan Huaimin was stunned for a moment, then laughed. He returned to a serious expression, and his gaze fell on Magistrate Ouyang Rong's felt hat:

"Actually... Li Li Zhengyan came to find me before."

The air in the room went quiet.

Here it comes!

(End of chapter)