Chapter 424

One hundred eighty-eight, Tanlang really has many sachets

Returned to the Huaiye Lane residence from the Xunyang Prince's Mansion.

Ouyang Rong went to sleep early.

The night passed without incident.

Ouyang Rong got up early to dress.

The sky outside the doors and windows was still a dark gray.

"Why did Tanlang wake up so early today? Tossing and turning all night, is there something on your mind?"

Ye Weilai, in a pure white nightgown, knelt on the bed to tidy the quilt, her tone sounding a bit strange.

"Slept early last night." Ouyang Rong said softly.

Ye Weilai walked over, half-hugged his waist from behind, her small face poking out from one side of Ouyang Rong's body, carefully examining the reflection in the bronze mirror, and carefully tied his belt for him.

"Does Tanlang have something important today?" She suddenly frowned with heartache: "Tanlang has lost weight, look, the belt has an extra section."

Ouyang Rong seemed not to have heard, nor did he look at the gesture of her hands tying the belt below, and turned to ask:

"Does our family not have the custom of celebrating the Cold Clothing Festival?"

"Cold Clothing Festival?" The white-haired maid was stunned, shook her head, "Haven't heard the Mistress give instructions in advance, I suppose we don't celebrate it."

"That's good. Everything simple is good, everything simple is good."

Ouyang Rong rubbed his face, muttered as he went out, hooked a small bundle with two fingers, and incidentally took away a certain Mohist sword case.

"Morning."

At the main entrance, he greeted Ali, and with the two items, boarded the long-awaited carriage.

The carriage moved slowly; the deeper autumn gets, the shorter the days and longer the nights.

At the same departure time, in summer, the sky outside the carriage would have already brightened; right now, it was a gray, lightless expanse, but the streets that had been quiet for a night were already bustling.

However, Ouyang Rong didn't care about these things; his focus was elsewhere.

Inside the carriage, he first sniffed the air, then frowned slightly:

"Sure enough, there's still a smell..."

Saying this, he pushed open the window and lifted the carriage curtain; the sound of the wind and the bustling marketplace rushed toward him.

For the time being, he couldn't smell the faint osmanthus fragrance that had been permeating the air.

Ouyang Rong bent down from the empty space under the seat, took out a small black box he had hidden yesterday, opened it, and took out an orange-red sachet.

This orange-red sachet, whose owner's embroidery skills were very worrying, emitted a fragrance of osmanthus.

It was exactly what Rong Zhen had gifted yesterday; I heard it was made by those female officials of the Inspection Bureau who, having nothing to do while homesick, picked up the golden autumn osmanthus seeds under the trees.

"Why put so many osmanthus seeds, this scent."

Someone had a distressed face, grabbed some ripe orange-red seeds from the sachet, and tossed them out the window. Unfortunately, the sachet still permeated with fragrance. Hua Xuanji, he restrained his expression.

"Fortunately, I anticipated it early..." he muttered.

Upon arriving at the street near the Jiangzhou main hall, Ouyang Rong quickly closed the window curtains and carriage door, no longer ventilating.

He sniffed left and right.

Although it was still there, the osmanthus fragrance inside the carriage had faded quite a bit, almost imperceptible.

Ouyang Rong didn't hesitate, quickly opened the sword case, and stuffed the orange-red sachet, the "source of disaster" in his hand, inside.

A moment later, he stroked the long sword case placed horizontally on his knees and smiled slightly.

"You're still the reliable one, you can hide anything."

Ouyang Rong bent down and placed the long sword case in the empty space under the seat.

At the same time, the small bundle brought out in the morning was also pressed on top of the wooden box.

This sword case not only hides wind and gathers Qi, but is also a sealed space that can lock in the fragrance.

"The effect is not bad." Ouyang Rong couldn't help but mutter to himself.

"What's not bad, is Tanlang ordering me..." Ali's puzzled voice came from outside.

"Nothing. Rest for a while, call me when we arrive." He turned to order.

"Yes, Tanlang."

Ali answered seriously. Seeing that there was no more sound from the carriage cabin behind him, he drove the carriage with full concentration.

Hua Xuanji, the carriage arrived at the Jiangzhou main hall, and Ali turned to call his young master...

After sending Ouyang Rong away, the new coachman Ali turned to go to the stable, preparing to feed the winter plum some measured forage.

Not seeing that strange official surnamed Yuan today, the coachman couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

After working for a while, just as he relaxed, Ali heard the sound of conversation between his young master and the Xie noblewoman not far away.

He stepped aside in advance to go to the stable to wash the feed trough.

The two not far away walked over.

"Why does Ru Shixiong have to go to the Inspection Bureau every day?"

"Does Xiao Shimei want to go together?"

"Forget it, not going. Isn't that debt-collecting-faced female official there too? No interest in going over to get her cold face."

"That's true."

"Why are you interested in going?" A certain Xie noblewoman suddenly lowered her voice: "By the way, is she still pursuing that matter..."

"Mm, she mentioned it."

"No wonder Ru Shixiong goes over to check every day..."

"Cough, really have to keep an eye on it."

Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang walked to the side of the back door stable and stopped.

Ouyang Rong glanced at Ali.

"Tanlang, wait a moment."

The latter immediately went to lead the horse and prepare the carriage.

During the wait, the graceful Xie family woman, standing with her hands behind her back in red, suddenly asked:

"Does Ru Shixiong know what festival is today?"

"What?" Ouyang Rong had a curious expression.

Xie Lingjiang smiled sweetly:

"Guess."

"Hot Spring Foot-Soaking Festival."

"Then I can't guess it." He sighed.

"Hmph, close your eyes and I'll tell you." She said crossly.

Ouyang Rong restrained his smile and closed his eyes solemnly.

Hua Xuanji, he felt something being tied around his waist.

He opened a slit in his eyes to peek.

Sure enough.

It was a lotus-white sachet.

Only to see it was finely embroidered, the silk threads shining brightly, with phoenixes woven in gold thread dancing on the sachet, containing the fragrance of dragon saliva; at a glance, it was incomparably precious.

"This is..." Ouyang Rong revealed a surprised expression.

Xie Lingjiang stood with her hands behind her back, her head held high, sweet and proud.

The surprise fast overflowing from someone's eyes was simply the sweetest candy fed to her.

Xie Lingjiang couldn't help but be moved, took his arm, and said:

"Today is the Cold Clothing Festival. Besides buying winter clothes, one also needs to wear a sachet to ward off evil. Here, I made it, one for you, one for Father. It took quite a bit of time. You must wear it well not just today, but for these two days, don't lose it."

Ouyang Rong nodded busily.

"That's for sure, this gift is heavy as ten thousand parts."

The new coachman had a very keen eye; only after his young master and that Miss Xie had finished their intimacy did he very coincidentally return leading the horse.

"Tanlang, the carriage is ready."

"Mm, sorry for the trouble."

Ouyang Rong first said goodbye to the reluctant Xie Lingjiang, boarded the carriage, and went to the Inspection Bureau.

As Ouyang Rong boarded the carriage, Ali tilted his head and glanced at the sachet on his waist, his eyes revealing envy and blessing.

Tanlang and the Xie noblewoman are truly a talented man and beautiful woman, a match made in heaven.

What Mistress Zhen had boasted about in the Nanlong countryside, in front of the clansmen, that her beloved nephew could marry a noblewoman of the five surnames, was indeed correct.

It is estimated that only an excellent man like Tanlang could be favored by a noblewoman of the five surnames... Ali thought in his belly.

He shook his spirits, drove the carriage with duty, and came to the Inspection Bureau with ease.

Seeing the young master get off the carriage.

Ali said goodbye by reflex, but his peripheral vision suddenly swept over the young master's waist area.

He was stunned.

Only to see the lotus-white sachet gone, and in its place, an orange-red sachet hanging.

Without waiting for Ali to look more, the handsome, peerless young master had already entered the door and his figure disappeared.

"Strange, could it be that I saw wrong, how did it change color in a moment..."

Ali was puzzled for a long time.

He waited at the back door of the Inspection Bureau for half an hour, and finally saw the young master walk out.

Ali hurriedly rubbed his eyes.

He stared fixedly at the young master's waist area.

It was indeed an orange-red sachet, no mistake.

The young master who left the Inspection Bureau today seemed to be in a good mood, humming a little tune as he returned to the carriage.

"What is Ali looking at?"

"Nothing... nothing, my eyes were playing tricks."

"Eat more vegetables, how can you drive if your eyesight is bad."

"Yes, Tanlang." Ali asked subconsciously again: "Tanlang, where to now?"

"Return to the Jiangzhou main hall first, but... same as yesterday, stroll around outside a few more times, don't go back immediately."

"Yes."

Although he didn't quite understand this skillful operation ordered by the young master, he nodded busily as he was obedient.

Ouyang Rong returned to the carriage cabin, sat down satisfied, and exhaled.

"Not bad, counts as passing, but a bit strange, why is Rong Zhen so concerned about the dragon saliva fragrance on me, does she like this style? But this is Xiao Shimei's sachet, definitely can't tell her, nor give it to her..."

He rubbed his face.

Hua Xuanji, it was the same operation as not long ago... took off this orange-red sachet from his waist, opened the Mohist sword case at the speed of lightning, took out a lotus-white sachet, and immediately put the orange-red sachet into the box, re-sealing the sword case.

Ouyang Rong tied the lotus-white sachet back on.

After changing, he smiled and pushed open the window again, taking advantage of Ali driving the carriage to take extra detours outside the Jiangzhou main hall, to ventilate again.

"Why did Tanlang open the window again?" Ali, driving outside, couldn't help but ask through the curtain.

"A bit stuffy, ventilating."

"Oh, oh."

"Ali, when you arrive at the Jiangzhou main hall later, wash the carriage again, change the curtains, seat cushions, and the like." Ouyang Rong ordered.

"But Tanlang, didn't we just change them yesterday..."

"Change them again." He nodded.

"Good, wait, is, is it that there's a strange smell inside the carriage?"

"There is a smell." Ouyang Rong's tone was serious.

"Good, Tanlang."

Just after ordering, Ouyang Rong suddenly discovered the long sword case under the seat vibrating creakily.

Fortunately, the carriage wheels were bumping along, so it didn't immediately attract the attention of outsiders like Ali.

"Don't make trouble."

In the carriage where he sat alone, Ouyang Rong suddenly lowered his head and scolded the air.

It turned out that the little guy in the sword case had discovered someone's scumbag behavior and started making trouble in protest.

Just like back then, Ouyang Rong was very unhappy that it had privately brought back a purple bellyband and a snow-white long sword.

But it couldn't overcome the sword master.

Hua Xuanji, the sword case quieted down again.

Not long after, it arrived at the Jiangzhou main hall again.

Ouyang Rong got off the carriage, straightened his hat in front of the door, and entered in a leisurely manner.

Ali's peripheral vision again swept to the shadow of a lotus-white sachet on his waist, and he was stunned again, his expression confused.

How did it change color again?

Wasn't it just an orange-red sachet a moment ago?

"Tanlang really has many sachets."

He couldn't help but mutter.

But immediately, remembering the master's entrustment, Ali changed the carriage curtains, cushions, and other items once.

During this, he saw the long zither box under the seat.

Ali didn't even touch it.

This seemed to be the young master's beloved zither. In the Huaiye Lane residence, a small portion of the maidservants and servants responsible for taking care of the young master's daily life all knew of its existence. It seemed to be a gift from that Xie noblewoman, a token of love.

At the same time, Tanlang seemed to have some cleanliness obsession and did not allow any outsiders to touch it. Everyone respected this point.

A similar incident happened last time; a senior maid from the Yinbing Study accidentally touched it while wiping the table, and I don't know where he found out, but the young master returned immediately... It seems he values this token of love very much.

Ali honestly bypassed the zither box, and didn't even care about the small bundle on top.

There didn't seem to be any strange smell inside the carriage, but he still washed it carefully according to the young master's orders.

Ali had just finished tidying up when he saw Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang return again.

The two greeted him and boarded the carriage together.

"Eating at the Xunyang Prince's Mansion tonight, the Princess is cooking herself, prepared a family banquet."

"Good."

Xie Lingjiang lowered her head, touching the lotus-white sachet on his waist with her small hand, the more she looked, the more satisfied she was.

She suddenly frowned: "Why is there another smell?"

Ouyang Rong seemed stunned: "Wh... what smell?"

Xie Lingjiang raised her head to look at him: "It's not dragon saliva fragrance."

"Oh!"

Ouyang Rong suddenly realized:

"Almost forgot."

He didn't avoid it at all, bent down to take out an object from under the seat, placed it on his lap, and opened it under Xie Lingjiang's curious gaze.

Ouyang Rong took out two sachets of the same color and style from the small bundle, his tone a bit difficult:

"Just met Dalang, he gave me two sachets, said it was a little token for the Cold Clothing Festival, gifted to both of us. This one is for me to pass to you, Xiao Shimei, look..."

Xie Lingjiang frowned as she looked at these two similar goose-yellow sachets, picked one up with her fingers to take a look, and inside were chrysanthemum petals:

"Sachets gifted by Dalang? What does this mean?"

He touched his chin and guessed: "Should be gifted to both of us to ward off evil."

"But isn't this thing only gifted between lovers or relatives?"

Xie Lingjiang stopped mid-sentence: "Dalang and us..."

He said thoughtfully: "It's possible it's a custom over in Chang'an and Luoyang, different from yours, Xiao Shimei."

"So the customs over there can also gift people other than lovers and relatives..."

Xie Lingjiang held the goose-yellow sachet in her hand, her index finger tapping her pointed chin as she muttered to herself.

Ouyang Rong nodded vigorously.

On this point, he felt he still had quite a bit of say, otherwise how to explain the two he received yesterday.

Ouyang Rong spread his hands and asked:

"What to do? Customs are different, don't force it, why don't we put them away, don't wear them."

"No."

Xie Lingjiang raised her hand to stop him, frowned and corrected:

"Dalang also represents Uncle Li and Aunt Wei and the others. At the family banquet tonight, Ru Shixiong still has to wear it, be a bit polite.

"And the relationship between Ru Shixiong and Dalang is also extraordinary, it must not be affected."

"Normal relationship, didn't exceed friendship." Ouyang Rong corrected firmly.

"Fine, fine, fine."

He sighed: "Alas, it seems it can only be this way. By the way, Xiao Shimei, are you wearing yours?"

Xie Lingjiang shook her head and handed the goose-yellow sachet back to Ouyang Rong:

"I won't wear it, I am a woman after all, different from Ru Shixiong."

"Xiao Shimei is still thoughtful."

Ouyang Rong condemned: "You say Dalang, a grown man, gifting sachets, alas, really."

"Dalang is also concerned about you, alright, Ru Shixiong be good, listen."

Xie Lingjiang coaxed him softly.

"Fine, really can't do anything about you guys."

Ouyang Rong nodded reluctantly.

(End of chapter)