Chapter 426: 192. Old Acquaintances, New Faces

192. Old Acquaintances, New Faces

Craftsman, Craftsman

The Xunyang Ferry in late autumn remained exceptionally bustling.

Early in the morning, constables from the Jiangzhou government office arrived to clear the area, vacating a docking pier. Commandant Yan Wuxu led the constables to cordon it off, beginning strict preparations.

Officials of all ranks from the Jiangzhou government, special female envoys from the Inspectorate, and the resident Imperial Censor all arrived.

Representing the Prince of Xunyang, the Prince's heir Li Fusu, along with special commissioners sent from the Jiang Nan Circuit frontline army camp... arrived at the pier one after another.

Such a grand display naturally became the talk of the surrounding commoners and tourists.

In the very front row of the waiting crowd, three figures stood:

Rong Zhen, Wang Lengran, and Li Fusu.

There was little to say between the three; they either stared blankly or gazed into the distance at the river water.

A Middle Envoy is the Emperor's private messenger, inspecting the provinces on behalf of the Emperor in Luoyang; naturally, no level of protocol could be considered excessive.

As the morning sun climbed, its light fell upon the crowd and the river, warding off some of the chill from the river breeze.

"Make way."

Ouyang Rong politely squeezed forward from the crowd behind, arriving at the front row beside Rong Zhen and the others.

Except for Wang Lengran, who stared straight ahead with a furrowed brow.

Rong Zhen and the eldest son of the Li family both cast glances at him.

"Why has Tanlang come so late?"

"Why come so early? I rested a bit more at home and had breakfast made by my aunt before coming."

"But today is the day the Middle Envoy's ship arrives..." the eldest son of the Li family lowered his voice.

"I know, I was the one who notified you all yesterday."

Ouyang Rong looked left and right, then smiled:

"But coming so early is useless. I often pick people up here, I know the ropes; every time before, I came too early.

"Hmm, I guess they are likely changing ships over in Yangzhou. I've figured out the schedule of ships from Yangzhou to here perfectly; they won't arrive until nearly noon.

"So why come so early? The Middle Envoy doesn't know you've been waiting so long. Besides, one's reverence for the Middle Envoy should be kept silently in one's heart. Coming so early to blow in the cold wind—the Middle Envoy might even feel added guilt if he knew."

The eldest son of the Li family couldn't help but sigh again: "Tanlang is indeed experienced."

A certain cold, palace-dressed young girl pursed her lips and lightly spat out four words:

"Nonsense."

However, the voices of these three in the front row were very low; apart from Wang Lengran beside them, the subordinate officials at the back could not hear their conversation.

Ouyang Rong smiled and handed over two oil-paper packets; Rong Zhen received one as well.

"What is this?" The eldest son of the Li family curiously took it and opened it to check.

"Pastries from Jingyi Pavilion. My junior sister just stuffed them into my hands. You all eat; I know you haven't eaten. Later, when you get hungry, remember to pretend to lift your hand to cough and take the opportunity to sneak a bite of two pieces.

"These Moon-Cold Pastries melt in your mouth and can be held in the cheek, which is convenient for such occasions... I used to be too busy when going out and would be empty-handed, so I always did this."

Someone was enthusiastically imparting tips on how to slack off.

Wang Lengran, who was being vaguely ignored and excluded at the very front, couldn't take it anymore and turned back to glare fiercely at Ouyang Rong.

His gaze seemed to be saying: Kid, don't go too far.

Ouyang Rong ignored him completely.

Wang Lengran glanced at the cold, palace-dressed young girl standing not too far from Ouyang Rong.

This Jiangzhou Jiangzhou Cishi felt a bit helpless and puzzled.

He didn't know why this female official of significant status was following Ouyang Lianghan in this nonsense. It was the same last time when the petition for the Donglin Great Buddha extension was submitted; it was beyond his expectations...

"Who is she?"

Rong Zhen, with her hands tucked in her sleeves, asked.

Ouyang Rong curiously turned his head, following her line of sight to look behind the crowd where he had come from.

Because the four of them in the front row were standing on a raised step at the ferry, the view was good.

At this moment, on the street behind the crowd, Ouyang Rong's carriage was parked, and beside the carriage stood a slender, red-clad figure waiting gracefully.

It was his junior sister.

She seemed to have her hands clasped together in front of her lips, occasionally blowing warm air to heat her hands, gazing into the distance at the crowd waiting at the pier.

"How is it that Female Official Rong has such good eyesight?"

Ouyang Rong couldn't help but admire her; he still had one oil-paper packet left in his hand that he hadn't handed out.

Rong Zhen didn't raise her hand, as if she had forgotten to take it, and asked casually:

"Is she a female relative of yours? Does Senior Secretary Ouyang have a family? Won't you introduce her?"

"No." Ouyang Rong shook his head: "She is my junior sister."

As if realizing something, he asked curiously:

"Hasn't Female Official Rong seen her before? Back when that Zhu Lingxu incident happened, at the West City Gate, my junior sister was also nearby."

"Just a junior sister... Oh, I remember now, I have seen her. I have a slight impression, but I didn't recognize her after she changed clothes. I haven't seen her for a long time and thought she had left."

Rong Zhen raised her hand to take the oil-paper packet containing the pastries, her eyelashes lowered, and she asked:

"Is she the only daughter of your teacher Xie Xun, a direct descendant of the Chen Jun Xie clan of Jin Ling? If I remember correctly."

"Yes, she is." Ouyang Rong nodded.

"Her father should be in Luoyang, right? Why is she still in Xunyang City, accompanying you? Did your teacher arrange it?"

"No."

Ouyang Rong shook his head and said softly:

"My junior sister stayed behind on her own. She is quite close with General Qin's granddaughter and the little princess of the Xunyang Prince's Mansion. Recently, they often play together at Mount Kuanglu and attend literary gatherings. As for the specific details, as her senior brother, it is not convenient for me to ask too much. At most, I occasionally stand in for my teacher to show concern."

The eldest son of the Li family turned his head to look at his tight-lipped friend.

Even when facing Rong Zhen, who trusted him, Ouyang Rong did not reveal too much about the Xunyang Prince's Mansion.

Rong Zhen nodded, weighing the oil-paper packet in her hand with her jade-like fingers, teasing slightly:

"Why does it feel like it's your junior sister showing concern for you, her senior brother? Even early in the morning, she obediently came to see you off."

"Female Official Rong mocks me."

Ouyang Rong felt a bit helpless and explained briefly:

"It's like this: recently, my junior sister wanted to gain some experience, so I let her follow me during the day to see and learn more. She is quite happy with this kind of experience."

Rong Zhen suddenly asked: "So she has been following you all day recently?"

"Yes."

"Then why haven't I seen her these past few days?"

"Uh."

Ouyang Rong was a bit dumbfounded by Rong Zhen's focus.

"You didn't bring her?" she asked.

He had no choice but to say:

"When I went to the Inspectorate to find you this morning, she was too lazy to move and didn't follow..."

"Is that so? What a coincidence, I haven't met her even once. Heh."

"Yes, that's how it is. Haven't we met once today, haha."

Ouyang Rong nodded happily.

But immediately, he realized something.

He felt... something seemed wrong.

Why was this tone like interrogating a criminal?

He wasn't a criminal; why did her rapid-fire questioning make him feel a little panicked?

Ouyang Rong was a bit vigilant:

"Why is Female Official Rong asking all this?"

Rong Zhen looked into the distance with her hands in her sleeves, not looking at him, and asked with a pout:

"You said you are teaching her?

"If my Qi-gazing is correct, this is a Mid-grade Confucian Qi-refiner. Isn't it true that in your Confucian school, the higher the realm, the deeper the understanding?

"Does she still need you to teach her?

"Ouyang Lianghan, you are only a tiny Grade 9, a Lower-grade Qi-refiner. Are you sure you are teaching her? Instead of her teaching you?"

In front of Ouyang Rong, her tone suddenly became a bit disdainful.

Ouyang Rong, who had been suspicious, suddenly felt unhappy and said calmly:

"Does Female Official Rong look down on Grade 9? And Lower-grade is not even worthy of being seen, right?"

"No."

He hummed: "You had better not be..."

She interrupted: "I just have some doubts about your ability."

"..." Ouyang Rong.

A moment later, he said solemnly:

"Female Official Rong, in learning, there is no distinction between first and last; each has its own specialty. I may not be as good at Qi-refining as my junior sister, but as my junior sister said, in some aspects, she also needs to learn from me, which is why she has been following me to gain experience these days."

"That's right." Rong Zhen nodded vigorously.

The sudden change in attitude left Ouyang Rong, who was about to regain his footing, stunned:

"What did you say?"

Rong Zhen pursed her lips and looked into his eyes, saying:

"I said, you are right. You are indeed very capable in some aspects, with profound insights, and are worth learning from."

She nodded: "Your junior sister has good taste, just like me."

Ouyang Rong chewed on this, tentatively asking:

"Will Female Official Rong also learn from me?"

"Unh-huh." She was noncommittal.

That should count as a compliment... right?

Ouyang Rong smiled and was about to ask more when Rong Zhen suddenly asked:

"Has she become a Sage?"

"What?"

"I asked, is your junior sister Grade 6? Is she a Grade 6 Confucian Qi-refiner?"

"Yes. Female Official Rong's Qi-gazing skill is quite good."

Rong Zhen asked calmly:

"If I remember correctly, wasn't she a Grade 7 Book-flipper before? How is it so fast?"

"If I said it was because I, this tiny Grade 9, helped her a little, would Female Official Rong believe me?"

Rong Zhen stared at him for a while, then looked at the red-clad figure waiting gently beside the carriage in the distance, and she nodded slowly:

"No wonder she likes following you."

"What do you mean?" Ouyang Rong frowned.

Rong Zhen ignored him.

The palace-dressed young girl stood on the high platform, squinting slightly, gazing at the distant river water with her hands in her sleeves.

Her petite figure, dressed in a simple, plain white palace skirt, was bathed in the pale golden sunlight like light gauze, and her previously cold temperament lessened a bit with the shift in color tone.

Before the two could chat more, a commotion suddenly erupted in the crowd, as if cheering for something.

Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen immediately followed their gaze, only to see that on the distant horizon at the end of the vast Xunyang River, the golden, surging river water was pushing a huge official ship from Yangzhou toward them.

Riding the wind and breaking the waves.

A quarter of an hour later, this official ship that had changed passengers in Yangzhou docked heavily at the cleared pier.

The ship's gangplank was lowered with a "bang."

The crowd, which had been whispering, suddenly fell silent, waiting quietly.

Ouyang Rong, Rong Zhen, Wang Lengran, and the eldest son of the Li family walked forward in the lead.

A moment later, a man with a thick beard appeared on the deck, his steps vigorous, and he leaped off the ship in two or three bounds.

This thick-bearded man was about thirty years old, very fair-skinned, but tall, burly, and powerful.

"Jiangzhou Cishi Wang, Senior Secretary Ouyang, long time no see!"

His voice was deep and powerful, and his laughter was very hearty.

After getting off the ship, he scanned the crowd of greeters, and his gaze fell on the cold, palace-dressed young girl. Only then did his attitude become slightly more serious, though his tone was somewhat reminiscent:

"Female Official Rong, back when we came to Xunyang from Luoyang together, it must have been at this pier, right? We parted ways here, and Female Official Rong disembarked early... In the blink of an eye, more than half a year has passed, and Female Official Rong's grace remains the same."

It was Hu Fu!

Ouyang Rong and the eldest son of the Li family exchanged glances, their expressions somewhat surprised.

Hu Fu had served as a Middle Envoy once before, but it hadn't gone very smoothly at the time. They had thought he would be demoted and punished after returning, but looking at him now... they didn't know what he had experienced after returning to Luoyang.

However, since he was an acquaintance, things would be easier to handle.

The eldest son of the Li family breathed a sigh of relief and winked at his friend.

Ouyang Rong said nothing, turning his head to observe.

Facing Hu Fu's familiar attitude, Rong Zhen nodded, which counted as a greeting.

Her gaze passed over Hu Fu and fell on the others on the deck.

"Middle Envoy, long time no see, are you still as you were? The Middle Envoy is even more heroic than last time, which makes this subordinate admire you."

Wang Lengran squeezed a flattering smile onto his old face.

"Jiangzhou Cishi Wang is too polite, your spirit is also quite good."

Hu Fu exchanged two polite words, then turned to look at Ouyang Rong.

The two exchanged a brief glance for two and a half seconds.

Hu Fu nodded at him, which counted as a greeting.

He turned to chat and exchange pleasantries with Li Fusu, the Jiangzhou Assistant Jiangzhou Cishi.

His attitude toward Ouyang Rong and Wang Lengran was almost the same: polite and courteous.

Ouyang Rong raised his eyebrows and looked at the back of this tall, thick-bearded eunuch.

"Middle Envoy Hu, this way please."

"Good, good, good. Jiangzhou Cishi Wang, lead the way."

Wang Lengran led Hu Fu and walked out of the pier first; the crowd that had come to greet them spontaneously parted a path to let them pass.

The eldest son of the Li family also followed.

Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen fell behind.

Rong Zhen turned back to look at the crowd on the deck following Hu Fu down one after another, frowned slightly, and stepped forward to follow Hu Fu.

Before leaving, she suddenly stuffed the oil-paper packet into Ouyang Rong's hand and left with a cold expression.

Ouyang Rong was slightly stunned; a moment later, he shook his head.

He didn't follow immediately, standing in place, opening the oil-paper packet, picking up a pastry, and putting it into his mouth to chew.

"If you don't want to eat it, forget it," he muttered.

At this moment, he saw a slightly chubby young man walking down from the deck behind.

He was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with an ordinary appearance, somewhat plump, with a naturally smiling face, looking amiable and chuckling.

The slightly chubby young man walked to Ouyang Rong's side, rubbed his belly, turned his head, and looked at him eating with some longing.

Ouyang Rong didn't turn his head, reaching out to hand one over.

The slightly chubby young man reached out directly, unceremoniously picked one, put it in his mouth, and said indistinctly:

"Very delicious. It wouldn't be made by Female Official Rong Zhen, would it? That would truly be a blessing I've cultivated for eight lifetimes to be able to taste."

"Bought on the street, three big boxes for one tael of silver." Ouyang Rong asked with a smile: "Who are you?"

The slightly chubby young man who had flattered the wrong person wasn't annoyed:

"I am from Jingzhao, a tiny Spirit Platform Official of the Astronomical Bureau, Lin Cheng, the 'Cheng' of treating people with sincerity."

"Long heard of you, long heard of you." Ouyang Rong cupped his hands.

The slightly chubby young man smiled: "And you are?"

He didn't stand on ceremony and said casually: "I am the third-place graduate of the Metropolitan Graduate examination in the first year of Jiushi, a reading seed of the White Deer Cave Academy, a world-renowned gentleman who stays away from women, a Southeast Pearl personally appointed by Her Majesty the Empress, the creator of the Zhe Yi Canal Xunyang Grotto, and the Junior Secretary of Jiangzhou, Ouyang Rong, the 'Rong' of laying down the pen to join the army."

"Dis... disrespect, disrespect."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 427 =====