Chapter 345

His expression seemed completely unsurprised; he just took off his felt hat, covered his chest, and turned back.

"What did Li Gong want with you?"

Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin noticed that Magistrate Ouyang Rong did not question why he hadn't said anything before, but instead showed a serious attitude of listening attentively.

"I hid it before, aren't you angry, Brother Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan?" He asked curiously.

"Angry." Magistrate Ouyang Rong nodded, his expression unchanged:

"Of course I'm angry. I want to bring Dongmei in right now and kick your butt hard. Are you satisfied, Brother Watching Yuan Huaimin?"

Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin shrank his head: "Dongmei is kind by nature; Brother Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan must not corrupt it."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong's mouth twitched; he didn't speak and silently watched Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin.

Seeing this, the latter restrained his apologetic smile, his expression became serious, and he answered:

"I was indeed not familiar with Li Gong or Wang Wang Junzhi before; I was only on good terms with a certain cousin of Du Du Shuqing. When we were young, we were dashing and unrestrained together. After Li Li Zhengyan and the others arrived in Jiangzhou, it was Du Du Shuqing who took the initiative to come and find me to reminisce.

"Until one night, I was undressing to sleep when Du Du Shuqing suddenly brought someone to the door, saying he wanted to introduce a friend, having long admired my talent.

"This person was none other than Li Li Zhengyan, Li Gong.

"Brother Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan knows my temperament; I only like pipa, poetry, and painting, not talking about state affairs. It's better to keep a distance from such famous exiled figures. Based on the principle that more trouble is worse than less, I wanted to decline, but I didn't expect him to take out an object."

"What object?"

"A painting." Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin's eyes revealed reminiscence: "A familiar painting, a painting of an old friend."

"Whose painting?"

"Does Brother Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan still remember the 'Court Ladies Wearing Flowers' painting I helped you paint on the oil-paper umbrella?"

"I remember."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong nodded slightly, his memory extremely good:

"You later said that this painting skill was taught to you by a strange old Daoist who painted murals, whom you met when you were young in Chang'an, when you woke up drunk in a ruined temple.

"Looking at the painting technique of this old Daoist now, it is very likely the ephemeral Painting Saint surnamed Wu during the reign of the Two Sages."

Hearing this, Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin sighed.

He didn't speak again.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong reacted, his brows furrowed slightly, and he pursued:

"So the scroll Li Li Zhengyan took out was the 'Court Ladies Wearing Flowers' painted by the old Daoist himself? Or some Buddhist or Daoist painting?"

"Neither."

Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin shook his head and sighed with emotion:

"It was a painting of the Peach Blossom Spring.

"Brother Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan, I had only seen Mr. Wu paint Buddha statues before, and I traveled with him to thousands of temples in Chang'an and Shenjing Luoyang. I thought Mr. Wu was only interested in Buddhist and Daoist paintings. I didn't expect him to paint a Peach Blossom Spring painting.

"And I don't know why this painting is in Li Li Zhengyan's hands."

"Peach Blossom Spring painting?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong gathered his brows, pondered for a while, and asked curiously: "Later, why did he carry the painting to find you?"

Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin shook his head, his expression equally confused:

"He had some strange questions, asking me about the rhapsodies and travelogues of a certain Eastern Jin famous scholar, asking if I knew these lost works."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong became vigilant instantly and asked calmly: "Which Eastern Jin famous scholar?"

"Speaking of which, Brother Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan should know him."

Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin confessed directly:

"Tao Li Qian, courtesy name Yuanming."

"Oh."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong smiled lightly: "I am quite familiar with him."

He asked casually:

"However, there is no scholar in Jiangzhou who is not familiar with him. I just didn't expect Li Gong to also like Tao Yuanming's articles; that is rare. Hmm, which rhapsodies did he ask you about?"

Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin did not hide it:

"A rhapsody called 'Return to the Fields' and a travelogue called 'Peach Blossom Spring'."

He recalled it, nodded, and said:

"Mainly because Tao Yuanming was a recluse from several hundred years ago, and he lived in seclusion in his later years. Most of his literary works were lost, and not many remain in the world.

"Even if there are any, they are treasured by prominent families and literary families in the North and South. I also don't know why this Li Gong is suddenly interested in these two obscure works."

Not noticing the slight movement in the expression of the young man in the felt hat in front of him, Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin continued to mutter in frustration:

"I thought at the time that this Li Gong had a desire for seclusion, which is why he was interested in the articles of a famous recluse like Tao Li Qian."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong nodded: "Then what about now? Do you still think so?"

Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin smiled bitterly, sighed, and looked south toward Guizhou outside the window:

"Naturally, I am even more confused.

"This is also the reason why I confessed to Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan today. There are some oddities in it, and I am a bit afraid. After thinking for a long time, I thought it better to report to Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong looked at him, nodded slightly, and first asked:

"But I have one thing I don't understand. Tao Yuanming is a famous person from Prince Xunyang, and there are so many famous scholars in Prince Xunyang who know him. Why did Li Gong come to find Brother Watching Yuan Huaimin alone, and visit secretly at night?"

Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin scratched his head:

"Someone must have said something to him, so he came to find me specifically. And indeed, he didn't find the wrong person.

"I am indeed familiar with one of these two lost works. I didn't think much at the time and told them."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong asked immediately: "Which one?"

"It's the travelogue called 'Peach Blossom Spring'."

Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin raised his chin slightly, his expression a bit proud:

"Although our Yuan clan has declined, our ancestors were wealthy after all. From the Northern Wei to the Great Zhou, for three or four hundred years, our family has secretly collected many rare literary works, and Tao Yuanming's articles are also included. 'Peach Blossom Spring' is one of them. I remember it was my grandfather's favorite, kept in a high pavilion.

"It is a treasure of our Yuan clan, and the number of outsiders who have browsed it does not exceed the number of one hand."

While he was boasting, at the entrance, Yan Beside Yan Liulang, who was standing holding the zither case, lowered his head and looked at the zither case.

Just now, the case seemed to tremble slightly, like a dragonfly flapping its wings.

This movement disappeared in a flash.

The zither case was now motionless, and Yan Beside Yan Liulang, who was guarding the door, continued to look straight ahead.

Inside the room, Magistrate Ouyang Rong relaxed his shoulders, and his originally tense body relaxed a bit:

"So that's it. It is worthy of being the Tuoba clan of the Northern Wei; the family foundation is rich."

He praised.

Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin said embarrassedly: "Brother Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan is too kind."

However, the next moment, he saw Magistrate Ouyang Rong reciting with a calm expression:

"'Peach Blossom Spring' by Tao Yuanming, hmm, is it... 'During the Taiyuan period of the Jin Dynasty, a man from Wuling made a living by fishing, following the stream...' that piece?"

Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin was stunned first.

The atmosphere in the room was silent.

This descendant of the Yuan clan was dumbfounded:

"How does Brother Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan know? This is a lost work left in the world. Who did Brother Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan hear it from!"

Who did he hear it from?

Oh, the eighth-grade volume one of the People's Education Press.

Should I tell you that I know it by heart just like 'Return to the Fields'... Magistrate Ouyang Rong thought to himself.

On the surface, he remained as usual and shook his head:

"Brother Watching Yuan Huaimin should know that I once served as a magistrate in Longcheng. This is the place where Tao Yuanming served as an official for the last time, and many ancient books were left there, which I obtained by chance."

Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin's expression was suspicious: "Really?"

"Otherwise?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong nodded and asked a few questions:

"It couldn't be that you accidentally told Li Gong, and Li Gong later accidentally told me?"

Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin was about to speak but stopped.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong asked suddenly:

"Is that Mr. Wu in Brother Watching Yuan Huaimin's mouth from Mount Mount Zhongnan?"

"It is true that he came from Mount Mount Zhongnan. When I last saw him, Mr. Wu said he was going back to the mountains..."

The room went quiet.

The two seemed to be pondering.

After a long time, Magistrate Ouyang Rong broke the silence first:

"Then today, being wanted, Wang Wang Junzhi didn't run away, but came to find you immediately. What was he seeking?"

Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin fell silent for a while and answered:

"He previously introduced me to the Juhua Poetry Society, where I met the Little Princess, and we had some friendship. He recently asked me about other lost rhapsodies by Tao Yuanming, especially that 'Return to the Fields'..."

"How did you answer?"

"I didn't know, so how could I answer?"

Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin said in distress.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong stood up again, walked to the door, and before going out, asked calmly:

"I have one last question. How did Brother Watching Yuan Huaimin guess that after he left you, he would go to the Prince Xunyang Prince's Mansion?"

Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin hesitated:

"From the perspective of friendship, I advised him to run and be careful of the imperial court's arrest, but he drank tea leisurely as if strolling in a courtyard, wiped his hands with a handkerchief, and told me that today is a good day, so why run."

His tone was quite helpless:

"He said he was going to do an important thing. He came to Prince Xunyang City just waiting for today...

"He also promised me that it wouldn't be long before my position as Jiangzhou Yuan Sima would have real power, and later, the Yuan clan would no longer be a small clan in Jingzhao, and my name, Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin, would definitely be at the forefront of the genealogy."

"Then Brother Watching Yuan Huaimin was tempted?"

"No, actually... I don't care about this. From beginning to end, it was only because of friendship, helping as much as I could."

"I understand."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong nodded, put on his felt hat again, and turned to walk out of the main house door.

Yan Beside Yan Liulang, who was waiting outside, followed behind him.

Just before the two were about to walk out of the courtyard gate, a shout came from behind:

"Brother Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan."

"Hmm?" Magistrate Ouyang Rong paused slightly.

"I am ignorant and slow to state affairs... Will what Li Gong and Brother Du did in Guizhou this time affect many, many people, more severely than Cai Qin in Hongzhou?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong nodded: "Some people will die."

"Will our Jiangzhou also bear the brunt?"

"Hmm."

Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin was silent for a while and said seriously:

"I am worried that I have done something bad unintentionally...

"Can Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan report what I told you today to the imperial court? But can you not mention my name? Find an excuse, mainly reporting the strange painting and travelogue."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong asked with a smile: "Is Brother Watching Yuan Huaimin so timid?"

Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin sighed: "Brother Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan understands me after all."

"That works too."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong turned his head, looked at Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin deeply, and said suddenly:

"Brother Watching Yuan Huaimin's name was not chosen wrongly; it was chosen quite well. The person is like his name. Speaking of which, it is quite suitable to be on the genealogy."

Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin pulled a long face and waved his hand:

"Brother Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan, please spare me. Don't joke."

After a pause, he pointed to the zither case in Yan Beside Yan Liulang's hand:

"Suddenly I have an elegant interest. Can you leave it behind and lend it to me to play?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong said without looking back:

"Next time. I have use for this zither today."

Leaving Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin's courtyard, Magistrate Ouyang Rong restrained his smile, remained silent all the way, and boarded the carriage.

"Prefect, where are we going now?"

Yan Beside Yan Liulang, who was holding the zither case, asked.

"Prince Xunyang Prince's Mansion."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong sat in the carriage, closed his eyes to ponder, and answered.

Yan Beside Yan Liulang was about to respond, then was stunned for a moment, glanced at the bright sun, and asked worriedly:

"Prefect, it's broad daylight. Going directly, it's not good, is it? There are many eyes and ears."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong shook his head: "It's already come to this, it's fine. Go, it doesn't matter anymore."

"Okay." Yan Beside Yan Liulang nodded.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong said suddenly:

"Wait, don't go together. I'll go myself.

"Beside Yan Liulang, go back to Huaiye Lane and wait. If Ye Weilai has anything to report, you must come and tell me immediately."

"Is the Prefect saying that there is a change in General Qin's military prefecture..."

Yan Beside Yan Liulang stopped talking and nodded vigorously:

"Yes, Prefect."

The carriage continued to drive.

Yan Beside Yan Liulang left halfway.

Only the attendant coachman and someone closing their eyes in the carriage remained.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong muttered to himself:

"Daoists from Mount Mount Zhongnan... The most famous one on Mount Mount Zhongnan is a prominent sect, the Northern Louguan Daoist sect. Could there be an origin?

"What is the relationship between this Daoist Wu and the Daoist from Mount Mount Zhongnan who mentioned that there was royal energy in the southeast when Li Li Zhengyan left? Or is it just a coincidence...

"In addition, Daoist Wu appeared during the reign of the Two Sages, entered the palace to paint. At that time, Gao Zong was still there, and the Great Gan rule was still there. He was considered a minister of Great Gan...

"Speaking of which, when he went into seclusion and disappeared, it seemed to be when Gao Zong passed away, Empress Wei deposed the Emperor, and she began to rule from behind the curtain."

He suddenly remembered the matter of the North and South Daoist sects mentioned by his Junior Sister and inferred:

"They all say North Northern Louguan, South Sanqing. The Northern Louguan Daoist sect entrenched in Guanzhong was even more prominent than the Southern Sanqing Daoist sect. They were good at observing stars and looking at energy. In the late Sui Dynasty, they supported the Li clan, thus becoming the Great Gan state religion.

"And since changing Gan to Zhou, the Daoist school has been suppressed by Empress Wei, who worships Buddhism. The Northern Louguan Daoist sect should bear the brunt...

"So Li Li Zhengyan just happened to raise the banner of restoring Great Gan. Could it be that he received secret support from the Northern Louguan Daoist sect? Was the royal energy in the southeast also revealed by them?"

Thinking of this, Magistrate Ouyang Rong took a deep breath:

"What is known at present is that the Peach Blossom Spring painting should have been handed over to Li Li Zhengyan by Daoist Wu, who has been missing for a long time, or the party he belongs to.

"What is the use?

"Acting as a token for meeting? But what is the connection between this restoration of Great Gan and the descendants of the Northern Wei royal family three hundred years ago? Could the royal energy refer to Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin?

"That's not right. The Northern Wei royal family is old history from how many years ago. Except for the Buddhist sect in the world that still remembers the good of the Tuoba clan who worshipped Buddhism and built temples in the past, the scholars and people of the world, and the five surnames and seven clans have long forgotten it. Its legitimacy is not even as good as Wei Zhou.

"Why did Li Li Zhengyan specifically come to find him and ask for the lost copy of 'Peach Blossom Spring' that Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin happened to collect? What is the purpose... I can understand seeking 'Return to the Fields', but seeking 'Peach Blossom Spring'...

"Do the two look equally important? But the sword technique shouldn't have two copies.

"If so, having already obtained the original 'Peach Blossom Spring' from Yuan Watching Yuan Huaimin, why does Wang Wang Junzhi repeatedly come to ask about 'Return to the Fields'?"

After a round of analysis, Magistrate Ouyang Rong's logic temporarily fell into a dead end.

At this time, he remembered that when he accompanied Li Li Zhengyan, who was turned away, to leave the Prince Xunyang Prince's Mansion, Li Li Zhengyan seemed to have mentioned Tao Yuanming casually on the way, comparing himself to him.

At that time, I just thought it was ordinary.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong rubbed his face:

"Tao Yuanming, oh Tao Yuanming, if it were other famous scholars of the past, it would be fine, but you are the legendary Sword Master who once created the Scholar Sword Technique.

"Looking at it now, Li Li Zhengyan and the others likely also know this identity. I don't know if they were guided by an expert to search for 'Return to the Fields'.

"And searching for sword techniques must be related to the Tripod Sword.

"Could it be that legendary one lost during the Northern and Southern Dynasties... Scholar?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong murmured: "'Peach Blossom Spring'..."

After a long silence, he nodded:

"As for what the royal energy in Jiangzhou that Li Li Zhengyan determined is, looking at Wang Wang Junzhi's words and deeds... it is already obvious."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong lifted the carriage curtain, cast his gaze toward the distant Xiushui Workshop, and spoke suddenly:

"Make the carriage faster."

"Yes."

The coachman whipped the horse, and the carriage wheels rolled toward the Prince Xunyang Prince's Mansion.

Writer's block, sorry for being a bit late... I probably won't be able to be on time at twelve tonight either, wuwuwu (or2)

(End of chapter)