Chapter 428: 196. Lord Lord Xiaoguan Lingtai Lang

196. Lord Lord Xiaoguan Lingtai Lang

"Senior Secretary Ouyang likes to eat breakfast from this place?"

"Old regular customer."

"Old regular customer means you come here often?"

"About that."

Ouyang Rong actually wanted to say that Rong Zhen often bought these oil-sesame cakes on the way, and he didn't actually come often.

But in front of this newly arrived Xia Guan Lord Lord Xiaoguan Lingtai Lang, he certainly couldn't say that.

Lin Cheng put down his bowl.

"Does Senior Secretary Ouyang often go to the Inspectorate to find Female Official Rong Zhen?"

Ouyang Rong nodded.

"Yes. Before, it was because of the Butterfly Loves Flower owner case, and recently it's because of the Donglin Great Buddha matter, so I go often."

"I see."

Lin Cheng smiled:

"I am here for the first time, shouldn't Senior Secretary Ouyang, as an old regular customer, treat me?"

Ouyang Rong spread his hands: "Didn't bring silver."

Pausing, he sighed again:

"Besides, Brother Lin came from Luoyang and is a special Imperial Envoy. If I were to pay for the meal, wouldn't that be bribing an Imperial Envoy? That won't do, eh, Brother Lin should pay."

At this time, the breakfast stall owner presented the hot and sour soup and oil-sesame cakes.

Ouyang Rong took out an empty bowl, poured half with one hand, pushed it in front of Lin Cheng, and gestured with his hands for him to taste.

After Lin Cheng finished the hot and sour soup and wiped his mouth, he waved his fingers and said slowly:

"Article 21, Chapter 8 of the Zhou Code, gifts for meals worth less than 100 coins are not considered bribery, so Senior Secretary Ouyang should pay, to fulfill the duties of a host.

"Besides, isn't Senior Secretary Ouyang's carriage right beside us? I can wait, wait for Senior Secretary Ouyang to get the silver."

"The carriage driver brother is even poorer than me, how can I be embarrassed to ask him for it? Forget it, next time, next time.

"However, Brother Lin is quite familiar with the law."

Ouyang Rong said shamelessly.

Lin Cheng thought for a moment, nodded, and made a suggestion:

"Then when I leave, Senior Secretary Ouyang must treat me to a meal, I have to eat it back."

"Brother Lin truly doesn't suffer any loss."

"We Qi-refiners of the School of Yin-Yang emphasize the way of balance between Yin and Yang. Treating people to meals is the same."

"Makes sense. Good, next time before you leave, I will treat you."

The two talked back and forth and solemnly finalized the matter of paying for the meal.

"Is Senior Secretary Ouyang here to find Female Official Rong Zhen?"

"Yes."

"Let's go, coincidentally, I am too."

Lin Cheng stood up, paid the money, and walked into the Inspectorate with Ouyang Rong.

Soon they saw Rong Zhen in the main hall.

The cold, palace-dressed young girl was sitting on a chair, lowering her eyes to browse a letter in her hand.

On the table beside her lay a familiar green bamboo staff.

Rong Zhen's injuries had healed, and she hadn't used it for a long time.

Noticing the movement of Ouyang Rong and Lin Cheng arriving, Rong Zhen folded the letter and quickly stuffed it into her sleeve, saying nothing, her eyes sizing up the two.

"Morning, Female Official Rong Zhen." Lin Cheng smiled.

Rong Zhen nodded, but her gaze fell on Ouyang Rong, who was wearing a lotus-white sachet at his waist behind him.

Ouyang Rong opened his mouth: "Has Female Official Rong eaten? I just had some breakfast with Brother Lin outside..."

Rong Zhen said expressionlessly:

"If you've eaten, you've eaten, there's no need to report to me. Don't talk about these irrelevant topics when you come in the morning in the future; this is not a restaurant."

Ouyang Rong was immediately choked.

He had been worried that she had helped buy oil-sesame cakes again and he wouldn't be able to eat them, but looking at her expression and tone now... he guessed there was nothing.

"That letter just now, does Female Official Rong have urgent business?"

Lin Cheng asked curiously.

Rong Zhen shook her head: "No, Lin Cheng, let's talk about business."

"Good."

Lin Cheng nodded, looking at Ouyang Rong with some hesitation.

However, seeing that Rong Zhen didn't react, he didn't say anything and said slowly:

"This time, besides accompanying Middle Envoy Hu to Xunyang to inspect the Donglin Great Buddha, the bureau also gave me a task: to assist Female Official Rong Zhen in investigating the Butterfly Loves Flower owner matter you reported.

"This is a strange sword-wielder who has never been recorded in the register for more than ten years, and the tripod-sword used is also very strange and novel. The Great Diviner is very interested in this person..."

He looked serious.

Rong Zhen nodded:

"Thinking about it carefully, a sword-wielder acting alone is very strange."

Ouyang Rong sat on the side, honestly drinking tea, listening silently.

"Female Official Rong Zhen, what did that sword look like?" Lin Cheng asked proactively.

Rong Zhen frowned:

"Like a crescent moon but not a crescent moon, like a curved saber but not a curved saber, more like a sharp arc formed after a thin sword was bent, flying in mid-air, killing people like hemp, taking heads as if reaching into a bag..."

As she spoke, she slowly closed her eyes, as if recalling something:

"The supernatural power he is known to have mastered should be the legendary tripod-sword supernatural power of the cold scholar, 'Return and Come'.

"I specifically targeted this point when I set up the formation... but looking at it now, he likely mastered at least one other tripod-sword supernatural power, which allowed him to break the formation, and this tripod-sword supernatural power is strange..."

Lin Cheng said thoughtfully:

"Could it be a new tripod-sword..."

Everyone chatted for a while, mainly about the causes and consequences of the accident at the old courtyard.

Lin Cheng also asked about the situation when Ouyang Rong first saw the Butterfly Loves Flower owner outside the courtyard.

Ouyang Rong gave a rough account, the same as what he had said in front of Rong Zhen before.

Immediately, Lin Cheng suddenly proposed to go to the ruins of the old courtyard to check.

Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen naturally had no objections.

The three went out, left the Inspectorate, and soon arrived at the former residence of Huang Xuan in Xingzi Square.

The old courtyard was now a ruin.

Lin Cheng walked into the courtyard first.

Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen fell behind, walking side by side.

Ouyang Rong looked at Lin Cheng's back as he looked around, and asked curiously in a low voice:

"Brother Lin seems quite interested."

Rong Zhen didn't look sideways.

At first, she didn't answer.

Since meeting this morning, Rong Zhen had been in this indifferent attitude, as if she were not familiar with Ouyang Rong at all.

At this moment, under Ouyang Rong's gaze, she pursed her lips:

"This Xia Guan Lord Lord Xiaoguan Lingtai Lang previously cooperated with the Dali Temple in Luoyang to solve many cases, and he is meticulous, considered one of the most experienced criminal investigation experts in the Astronomical Bureau... This time, the Great Diviner, the Deputy Supervisor, and others sent him here, likely with the intention of assisting in the investigation."

"Why does Female Official Rong look unhappy?"

"Are you very concerned about this?"

"No."

"Then ask less."

"Good."

Not long after, Lin Cheng returned, and Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen's whispering was interrupted.

"Lin Cheng, did you find anything?" Rong Zhen asked.

"Too much time has passed, some traces have dissipated, it's not convenient to find." Lin Cheng sighed.

Rong Zhen's expression didn't show much disappointment, as if she had expected it and hadn't held much hope to begin with.

"Are there any other specific details?" Lin Cheng asked again.

She nodded slightly, raising her chin to signal Ouyang Rong:

"Senior Secretary Ouyang has been assisting me and knows a lot. He will tell you. If you have any questions recently, you can also find him first."

Rong Zhen paused and added:

"Lin Cheng, these two days, Senior Secretary Ouyang will also accompany you and Middle Envoy Hu to inspect the Donglin Great Buddha. I have something to attend to."

"Good."

Neither Ouyang Rong nor Lin Cheng asked much about what Rong Zhen had to deal with.

Ouyang Rong glanced at the sleeve where she had put away the letter not long ago.

A moment later, Rong Zhen left with a slight frown, her steps swift.

Ouyang Rong didn't stand on ceremony, turned to lead Lin Cheng, and toured Xunyang City.

The second day, morning.

Ouyang Rong solemnly invited Middle Envoy Hu again to go to the Xunyang Grotto together.

Xunyang Prince Wang Lixian was the Jiang Nan Supervisor responsible for the construction of the Donglin Great Buddha, but everyone knew that the person fully responsible for this matter was Jiangzhou Senior Secretary Ouyang Lianghan.

At this moment, naturally, he couldn't let Xunyang Prince Wang Lixian personally take Hu Fu and Lin Cheng to visit the Donglin Great Buddha.

So the task fell on the shoulders of someone in charge of the statue construction.

On the first day, the three took a group of accompanying officials from the Jiangzhou government out of the city to the Twin Peaks.

Ouyang Rong accompanied and explained the whole way.

As Hu Fu revealed that night, there were only two key figures inspecting this time.

One was Hu Fu himself, representing the Inner Palace Service.

The other was Xia Guan Lord Lord Xiaoguan Lingtai Lang Lin Cheng, representing the Astronomical Bureau.

After the two inspected and understood the situation, they would return to Luoyang to report, roughly submitting a memorial stating the results and opinions of this inspection...

So the attitude of these two was quite important.

At this moment, there was no need to worry too much about Hu Fu, and what remained was this Xia Guan Lord Lord Xiaoguan Lingtai Lang, Lin Cheng.

This was a smart person; Ouyang Rong had seen it from the moment they met at the pier.

A smart person also meant he was not easy to fool.

So Ouyang Rong chose to treat him with sincerity, just like when he treated Rong Zhen regarding the extension.

He didn't use any means of bribery with wealth or pulling strings with connections.

Fortunately, after two days of contact, Lin Cheng's attitude was friendly. After testing him with things like treating him to breakfast on the first day, the two got along quite well.

And just like when he took Rong Zhen to visit and introduce, Ouyang Rong also took Hu Fu and Lin Cheng to stroll around the Xunyang Grotto and other places.

Hu Fu only followed Ouyang Rong to visit properly on the first day, and later found excuses not to come, as if the inspection was finished and he had gone back to write the memorial.

In front of Lin Cheng, the attitude conveyed was very clear.

However, after Hu Fu expressed his stance, Lin Cheng's attitude remained ambiguous, looking around along the way, as if interested in everything.

Regarding this, Ouyang Rong was tireless, like a tour guide, introducing him to everything, including various matters of the Xunyang Grotto construction.

During this period, Wang Lengran was nowhere to be seen, with only Ouyang Rong hosting, because this was not his responsibility, and he wouldn't take the blame.

However, although Wang Lengran, the Jiangzhou Cishi, didn't come, this afternoon, Ouyang Rong and Lin Cheng, who had just returned to Xunyang City from the Twin Peaks, encountered another person waiting at the gate of the West Chengmenkou.

Xunyang Prince's heir, Jiangzhou Assistant Jiangzhou Cishi Li Fusu.

"Eldest son... Assistant Jiangzhou Cishi."

At the city gate where the crowd was like weaving, Ouyang Rong changed his address and bowed respectfully.

Lin Cheng also cupped his hands in salute:

"Greetings, Assistant Jiangzhou Cishi."

Li Fusu seemed to have been waiting at the city gate for a long time, stepped down from a carriage, and greeted them with a smile:

"Please rise, Tanlang, Lord Lord Xiaoguan Lingtai Lang Lin, don't be so polite."

Ouyang Rong asked:

"May I ask why the Assistant Jiangzhou Cishi has come?"

Li Fusu seemed not to have seen the questioning gaze Ouyang Rong cast.

He turned his head to look at Lin Cheng, who had a calm expression, and said solemnly:

"It's like this: I originally came to find Tanlang to drink tea, but what a coincidence, Lord Lord Xiaoguan Lingtai Lang Lin is also here.

"I have long heard of Lord Lord Xiaoguan Lingtai Lang Lin's great name, and today I finally get to see you; you are indeed heroic and spirited.

"Does Lord Lord Xiaoguan Lingtai Lang Lin have anything to do this evening? What about Tanlang? There is a good teahouse nearby, why don't we go and drink some tea.

"Lord Lord Xiaoguan Lingtai Lang Lin came from Luoyang, could you tell us about the scenery of the capital? Having left for many years, I miss it very much."

Drink tea?

Ouyang Rong and Lin Cheng couldn't help but exchange glances.

Lin Cheng was carefully sizing up Ouyang Rong's subtle expression, wanting to explore some clues.

Unfortunately, Ouyang Rong was equally confused, frowning endlessly.

Lin Cheng's tone was a bit difficult:

"Assistant Jiangzhou Cishi, I came to Xunyang with a mission, such an invitation is probably inappropriate, let's talk about it another day, after completing the inspection..."

"What's the rush, and we aren't booking the whole place for a banquet or wasting extravagantly."

Li Fusu shook his head:

"A few days ago, didn't Lord Lord Xiaoguan Lingtai Lang Lin and Middle Envoy Hu also go to the welcoming banquet of Jiangzhou Cishi Wang?

"Besides, it's just chatting happily, sitting in a roadside teahouse drinking tea, there's nothing to avoid."

Lin Cheng's expression was hesitant, looking at Ouyang Rong and Li Fusu, preparing to open his mouth to refuse.

"Young Master Ouyang."

At this moment, a familiar female voice sounded from the carriage behind Li Fusu.

Looking over, Qin Ying stepped down from the carriage, wearing a dark blue Zhongnan Mountain female Daoist robe today, and greeted Ouyang Rong generously.

She turned to look at Lin Cheng, sized him up, and also greeted him with a smile.

"Who is this young lady?" Lin Cheng asked curiously.

"Young Xie Xiao Niangzi Qin is the granddaughter of General Qin."

Li Fusu introduced with a smile.

"General Qin?"

"It is that General Qin who is currently serving as the Grand Commander of the Jiang Nan Circuit Army on the Hongzhou frontline."

Li Fusu explained patiently, while quietly observing Lin Cheng's expression.

Upon hearing this, Lin Cheng's calm expression suddenly became serious, and he bowed and saluted to Qin Ying again, praising Qin Jingqin solemnly.

The Qin family was currently extremely popular in the aristocratic circles of the two capitals.

General Qin, who was leading troops on the frontline, was now the focus of attention for the princes and officials of the imperial court.

Facing Lin Cheng's sudden respectful attitude, Qin Ying smiled without speaking, turned to greet Ouyang Rong, and acted very familiar and concerned.

Lin Cheng naturally saw it in his eyes.

With two noble people coming "just right," how could he not know the meaning behind it?

Li Fusu greeted:

"The teahouse next door called Yunshui Pavilion has good health tea, and Young Xie Xiao Niangzi Qin and I have already booked a private room, suitable for heart-to-heart talks. Let's go, let's go drink a cup, you two have been busy all day."

This time, facing the enthusiastic invitation of the Xunyang Prince's heir and the granddaughter of General Qin, Lin Cheng only hesitated for a moment before nodding.

Li Fusu and Qin Ying exchanged glances quietly, both revealing smiles.

Ouyang Rong couldn't listen anymore, pulled Li Fusu aside, and asked in a low voice:

"Why drink tea for no reason? Dalu, why did you and Young Xie Xiao Niangzi Qin suddenly have time to come? Also, this is my business, don't you..."

Li Fusu interrupted:

"Alright, Tanlang, hurry, hurry, don't ask."

He pushed Ouyang Rong away lightly, greeted everyone with a smile, and led Lin Cheng toward Yunshui Pavilion while chatting and laughing.

Looking at his friend's enthusiastic back, how could Ouyang Rong not know the meaning of him and Qin Ying standing up to express their stance?

But some words that were about to blurt out were swallowed back.

He felt quite warm in his heart.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 429 =====