Chapter 401: 157. Suspicious

157. Suspicious

"Go to Jingyi Pavilion."

"Yes."

Ouyang Rong held the golden oil sesame cake wrapped in oil paper and boarded the carriage waiting on the street.

He ordered casually, the carriage driver responded, and the carriage turned toward Xiushui Workshop.

At dawn, the dew hanging precariously on the weeds by the roadside was shaken off by the "clatter-clatter" sound of the carriage's horse hooves.

Inside the carriage, the golden oil sesame cake had just come out of the pot and was a bit hot. Ouyang Rong changed hands several times before trying to take a small bite.

The hot cake filled his hungry stomach a little. He leaned against the back of the carriage seat and let out a long breath.

The carriage Ouyang Rong was sitting in was entering the city from the West City Gate.

He had been outside the city for the past two days.

Eating, drinking, and lodging were all solved at Twin Peaks Point.

The construction of the Great Buddha in the Xunyang Grottoes was entering a critical stage, and he needed to go over and watch it personally.

Ouyang Rong finished the sesame cake in two or three bites. After hearing the sound of children playing outside the carriage, he folded the remaining oil paper into a paper airplane.

He lifted the carriage curtain and flew the paper airplane out with a smile.

Watching the group of snot-nosed children chasing the paper airplane in the sunlight go far away.

Ouyang Rong withdrew his gaze and sniffed the fabric on his left and right shoulders.

He hadn't bathed for a few days, so it was just right to go to the Xiao Shimei's place to rub a hot spring.

The Xiao Shimei had been living in Jingyi Pavilion recently, which was convenient for accompanying Qin Ying to attend elegant literary banquets.

Before long, the carriage drove into the back door of Jingyi Pavilion with ease.

Before getting off the carriage, Ouyang Rong took out a long cloth bag from under the carriage seat and carried it inside.

Outside the quiet boudoir courtyard, after seeing Xie Lingjiang, he handed the long cloth bag to her casually.

Ouyang Rong walked into the courtyard alone.

Xie Lingjiang skillfully held the long cloth bag and followed him step by step.

It seemed that she hadn't been up long. Xie Lingjiang had a plain, egg-shaped face, without any makeup, naturally carved, and her satin-like hair was tied casually with a red string.

She rubbed her sleepy apricot eyes from time to time, and her gestures carried a lazy temperament of a beauty who got up late and didn't comb her hair.

"Why are you suddenly back?"

"Back to the city to handle the accumulated official business, and by the way, to see you."

"Go wash quickly, you are full of sweat."

"Not together?"

"You think beautifully."

"I will go to the hot spring eye to fetch water to wash, no need to waste it."

"You just go ahead and ruin it, humph."

"You don't drink it, so what if I take a bath? Oh, I remember, that is someone's foot-washing water, right? No wonder you value it so much, it turns out you couldn't bear to part with it."

"You are not allowed to mention it again." The plain-faced beauty glared at him fiercely, feeling a bit unhappy and asking: "You still use it even if it is foot-washing water?"

A certain person was noncommittal, blinking: "So after helping you wash it that day, did you fall in love with it and go wash it secretly again?"

"Who is as shameless as you."

"Understood, it's that without me, soaking feet alone is boring, it seems I still have to come."

"You, you go take your bath, don't be glib."

Xie Lingjiang gave a coquettish shout and pushed his chest lightly.

Ouyang Rong smiled and didn't tease the Xiao Shimei anymore.

"You have a set of clothes left here, just right to get them for you, wait."

Approaching the hot spring eye that both were familiar with, Xie Lingjiang suddenly opened her mouth and turned to run to get the clothes.

However, Ouyang Rong felt that she was finding an excuse to run away, afraid that he would make trouble and pull her "into the water" halfway through the bath.

Ouyang Rong shook his head with a smile, too lazy to expose her.

Perhaps because he still had to go to the Jiangzhou Main Hall to handle official business in the morning, he came over to take a bath this time, and throughout the whole process, he didn't make any trouble.

Coming to the hot spring eye, he used a wooden bucket to fetch water, washed casually, and changed into the clean clothes the Xiao Shimei had just found for him.

Xie Lingjiang, who had deliberately narrowed her eyes and kept a distance to observe carefully, looked at the Ru Shixiong who was honestly wiping his hair in the sunlight, and found that he didn't have any bad intentions of asking her to pass towels or clothes throughout the process. Xie Lingjiang couldn't help but feel some novelty and strangeness in her heart.

Did he change his nature? It was rare that he didn't make trouble.

However... why did she feel a little empty and disappointed in her heart?

Xie Lingjiang, standing on the side, shifted her gaze away, bit her lip, and secretly criticized her own wild thoughts in her heart.

"The clothes are full of sweat, so dirty, don't know how to change them. No one manages you outside, really just wear one set of clothes down without knowing how to change..."

She muttered and muttered.

However, Ouyang discovered that the Xiao Shimei's action of bending down to tidy up his dirty clothes didn't stop. She rolled them into a ball, held them in her arms, sniffed them after lowering her head, and her little face turned her head away with slight disgust...

"Why did you bring it with you when you went to Twin Peaks Point this time?"

After dealing with the dirty clothes, Xie Lingjiang returned holding the long cloth bag and asked with her head tilted.

"Just in case."

"To guard against those unconvinced Yang merchants?"

"Also, guard against people."

"Actually, just let Liulang watch it. Ru Shixiong... is really cautious."

"Have to be cautious. Xiao Shimei might feel that the interests of Starry Workshop are not much, but for those people, it is enough to take risks."

"Makes sense." Xie Lingjiang nodded lightly, quickly understanding.

Actually, this was also the reason why Ouyang Rong liked to talk more with Xiao Shimei Xie and often acted as a teacher in front of her—the Xiao Shimei was not stubborn or arrogant, but sensible, and had a gentle temperament unique to women. Which man wouldn't love that?

Her eyes cast straight at Ouyang Rong:

"However, that Pei Shiniang doesn't look like someone who doesn't know the score. They happen to come from Yangzhou and know the methods and power of the Aunt. Daring to make small moves, they have to consider how to deal with the Aunt later."

"Just afraid of the greenhorns." Ouyang Rong said softly, Xie Lingjiang lowered her head and untied the cloth bag casually.

"Cough cough, don't open it."

"Reason." Her eyes slanted.

"There is a sword from the Yunmeng Sword Marsh inside. The craftsmanship needs to be pressed, cannot leave the box casually, don't let the little guy slip out."

"Oh."

Xie Lingjiang nodded, indeed feeling that the sword box was much heavier than usual, curious:

"This sword, the sword Qi is very flourishing."

"Follows its master."

Before Xie Lingjiang could ask more, Qin Ying's voice rang out outside the courtyard, looking for her.

Ouyang Rong put on his coat and went out hand in hand with Xie Lingjiang.

Xie Lingjiang and Qin Ying were going to the Xunyang Prince's Mansion to find Li Guoer to travel together.

Ouyang Rong was going to the Jiangzhou Main Hall, and also had to find Li Xian and Li Dalang to discuss the recent situation, which happened to be on the way.

The group took the same carriage and arrived at the Xunyang Prince's Mansion.

After the two women got off the carriage, they said goodbye and left first.

Ouyang Rong turned to go to the study and happened to run into Lu Ya who was leaving the study.

"Where is Daoist Lu going?"

"Little Princess is traveling in a while, going to Kuanglu. The Prince asked this poor Daoist to follow and protect."

Ouyang Rong nodded, remembered something, and asked calmly:

"Daoist Lu, have you been to Starry Workshop recently to find the Huang family father and daughter?"

"Went the day before yesterday."

"Haven't asked, Daoist Lu, why do you often go to find them, just to help me watch?"

Lu Ya hesitated.

"Not entirely."

"Wish to hear the details."

"Actually, this matter has also been told to the Little Princess. It is not a secret. The little girl with the surname Huang whom Ouyang Young Master helped has a fate with this poor Daoist's sect."

Lu Ya's words stopped at the point.

Ouyang Rong raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at the paralyzed-faced Daoist-robed youth.

"Fate... understood. However, does your Shangqing Sect also accept female Daoists?"

"The Shangqing where this poor Daoist is has no class in teaching, unlike the Taiqing and Yuqing that refuse alien disciples or female Daoists."

"So that's how it is."

Hua Xuanji, between the two, there was silence.

Before long, Ouyang Rong said goodbye to Lu Ya, finished his business in the study, left the Xunyang Prince's Mansion, and went to the Jiangzhou Main Hall with the long cloth bag.

After arriving at the main hall, he placed the plain long cloth bag aside and turned to handle official business.

When he was in Jingyi Pavilion just now, he didn't fool the Xiao Shimei. The craftsmanship indeed could not leave the Mo family sword box.

It is needed to suppress the snow-white sword belonging to the Candle in the Snow, which goes by the name "Knowing Frost." Hmm, although it also comes with a purple bellyband.

As if knowing Ouyang Rong had returned in advance, Beside Yan Liulang rushed over.

Ouyang Rong asked him.

"Liulang, the Pei Shiniang you were asked to watch, and those few Yang merchants, how are they now?"

"There has been no movement recently, but they often gather. That Pei Shiniang performed okay, but those few Yang merchants had complaints about the Mingfu in private dinners."

After Ouyang Rong finished listening, he nodded:

"Complaints are complaints. This official cannot control the mouths in private. You continue to watch, remember, the most critical thing is to keep a close eye on whether they have... signs of contact with Wang Lengran."

"Yes. Wait. Does the Mingfu mean..."

Beside Yan Liulang couldn't help but look sideways.

Ouyang Rong lowered his eyes without speaking.

After thinking for a while, Beside Yan Liulang frowned and thought:

"Previously, he was cleaned up so miserably by the Mingfu, his majesty was lost, and recently the Wei clan has suffered setbacks. This Wang should not dare, right."

"Not worried or afraid, this official mainly doesn't like the feeling of being beyond expectations. Liulang, just pay attention to this aspect. If there is a situation, report it."

"Yes."

Ouyang Rong withdrew his gaze, opened a document on his hand, and prepared to let Beside Yan Liulang go back to work, but the latter didn't mean to leave immediately, but took out a letter from his bosom and handed it up.

"Wait Mingfu, a letter was mailed from Longcheng this morning."

"Whose from Longcheng?"

"Diao my lord."

Ouyang Rong took the envelope with some curiosity, opened the wax seal, took out a letter paper, and the handwriting of Diao County Magistrate was quite familiar on the paper.

He scanned it, the content was not much, but immediately, his face was slightly stunned.

It wasn't Diao County Magistrate looking for him, but rarely, Aqing looking for him. The letter was also written on behalf by Diao County Magistrate.

On the letter, the little girl only mentioned one thing.

The evening before yesterday, that tall foreign woman with golden hair like flames came to find her again.

Snow Candle seemed to be fulfilling the promise she made when leaving Sanhui Temple that day, coming to visit Aqing again and asking for her opinion again.

Aqing naturally declined, and, cleverly cooperated with her sister-in-law and mother, to cover for this "older brother" who was not on the scene.

Snow Candle should not have noticed anything. After being declined, she left with some disappointment, but still left a piece of jade for Aqing, saying to use it when she changed her mind...

Ouyang Rong put down the letter paper, and a warm current flowed in his heart for what Aqing and the others did.

However, a moment later, his brows gathered slightly again, muttering:

"Was it just to find Aqing, or was it, on the way to do something..."

However, Ouyang Rong wanted to know more whether Xiuniang came with Snow Candle, but unfortunately, Aqing didn't mention it in the letter.

Just as Ouyang Rong was frowning and thinking about the movements of the Yue Maiden, outside the main hall, Beside Yan Liulang suddenly ran back and said in a deep voice:

"Mingfu, Xie Miss is looking for you, it seems to be an urgent matter. She is waiting for you in the courtyard next to the back door."

"Did she say what matter?"

"She didn't tell the humble official, urging you to go over quickly..."

Before Beside Yan Liulang finished speaking, Ouyang Rong stood up immediately, walked out the door with big strides, and before long, rushed to the side courtyard by the back door.

Pushing open the door, he immediately saw the tall red-clothed beauty figure pacing in the courtyard.

"What's wrong, Xiao Shimei, aren't you taking Qin Xiaoniangzi to attend the literary banquet, why did you run over?"

Xie Lingjiang's face was a bit complicated, and she took out several things in succession and handed them forward.

"Ru Shixiong, you look at these..."

Ouyang Rong's gaze condensed, falling on the Xiao Shimei's two hands.

He saw that in her hand, there was a basket of red leaves, and three oil-paper umbrellas...

The night was as black as ink, and the autumn wind roared.

In a corner of Starry Workshop, courtyards and houses that had been in disrepair for years were located, and at this moment they were all hidden in the darkness.

The population density of this cheap housing area in Starry Workshop was definitely the highest in Xunyang. Someone joked that if a tile fell from the roof, it could hit two people, one tall and one short.

However, at this moment, it was already the third watch, and most of the households had turned off the lights to rest, with only the occasional zero star black shadow flashing by. There was no bright light that never went out and played all night like the Xunyang riverside or several other wealthy workshops.

At this moment, inside a pitch-black house in a dilapidated small courtyard, snoring sounds were ringing rhythmically and on time, and most people had fallen into dreams.

With a "creak" sound.

Half of the cabinet door was quietly pushed open from the inside.

A certain little head wearing a lotus crown poked out from the cabinet, as if looking at the pitch-black house.

After confirming repeatedly that the Huang family father and daughter on the straw mat were already asleep, she breathed a slight sigh of relief.

A moment later, the little female Daoist wearing an ink-black Confucian robe jumped down from the highest part of the cabinet layer by layer skillfully, without making too much noise throughout the process, lighter than a cat, but her expression was vaguely solemn.

In the past, she often did this, taking advantage of Huang Xuan and Huang Feihong sleeping, to slip to Hanlei Ink Studio to forage for food.

However, tonight, she didn't have the expectation and cheerful mood of the past.

Miaosi turned her head and took a look at the pitch-black night sky outside the window like thick ink.

The three-day deadline had arrived.

Tonight was the final deadline set by that cold, palace-dressed girl.

A moment later, inside the house, the small figure of the little female Daoist in a Confucian robe disappeared.

On the straw mat in the house, the bearded man was still snoring, and even turned over; the little girl sleeping on her back didn't know what she dreamed of, muttered a few times, and the corners of her mouth smiled...

Saw many traffic jams along the way, mostly caused by traffic accidents.

The Spring Festival travel rush is imminent, brothers, pay attention to safety on the road, brothers driving, don't be anxious. Finally, the New Year is approaching, wish everyone everything goes well!)

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 402 =====