Chapter 434

Two hundred and eight, Rong Zhen: Who exactly are you waiting for?

"Tanlang, what is the signal on the Zhenguang Street side when winter comes?"

Before going out in the morning, Ye Weilai asked curiously while helping Ouyang Rong put on his clothes.

Ouyang Rong paused in the action of tidying his cuffs and answered:

"It's also placing a flower pot. You don't have to put flowers in it, but the flower pot must be on the wall of that courtyard. If there is no flower pot, come back and tell me, just like now."

Ouyang Rong said lightly.

Ye Weilai nodded: "I understand, just like the chrysanthemum flower pot placed daily in this autumn season. If it's gone, I have to notify Tanlang, right?"

"Mm."

Ouyang Rong lowered his eyes.

This was a crisis warning signal he had agreed upon with Qin Heng a long time ago.

If there was a change in the flower pot on the wall of Qin Heng's house on Zhenguang Street, it was a warning of something, and they would need to meet in a private room at Yunshui Pavilion.

However, in different seasons, some flowers didn't bloom, so they had agreed on different signals for different seasons.

It was spring and summer at the time, and they had agreed on the switching between azaleas and crabapple flowers, while now it was the golden autumn season, so it was the presence or absence of a chrysanthemum potted plant.

This signal warning had once helped Ouyang Rong in the matter of Meng Shouguang's fake messenger, giving him no small amount of help.

Later, it was always kept. Ouyang Rong would let Ye Weilai find time to go out every day to check the signal on Zhenguang Street in Xingzi Ward, and sometimes he would let maids like Banxi do it for him.

Although Qin Heng was currently selected by General Qin as the vanguard to go on an expedition, the two of them still tacitly kept this agreement, just in case.

"If there is any change... even if it's just the type of flower pot changed on the wall, you must notify me at the first opportunity."

Before leaving, Ouyang Rong didn't forget to urge her again.

"Yes, Tanlang. But in this season, besides chrysanthemums, there aren't any other flower potted plants, right?"

Ye Weilai nodded and looked back toward the wardrobe.

"Tanlang, what about that little one?" She asked in a low voice.

"Sent to Xiao Shimei's place."

Ouyang Rong said without raising his eyelids.

Miaosi had recently been sent by him to Xiao Shimei's place and hidden in Jingyi Court, but Xiao Shimei had complained to him these past two days that this Female Immortal adult was about to pluck all the feathers off the geese kept in Jingyi Court.

And Ouyang Rong heard from Xiao Shimei that Miaosi had also given these geese nicknames, and among them, the one that had been plucked the most thoroughly, according to her proud mutterings, seemed to be called "Little Rongzi."

After Ouyang Rong finished listening at the time, he didn't speak, just decided that next time when she returned, he would have to properly welcome the Female Immortal adult.

While lost in thought, after finishing dressing, Ouyang Rong turned and went out.

Jiangzhou Hall, in the main hall.

Ouyang Rong summoned Yan Liulang, dismissed the others, and asked directly:

"What movements have the middle envoy Hu and the Lord Lingtai official Lin had these past few days?"

Yan Liulang said in a low voice:

"Middle Envoy Hu has been at Tingzhu Pavilion and doesn't go out much, except for occasional banquets... For the sake of defense, I have been accompanying Middle Envoy Hu.

"As for Lord Lingtai official Lin, the whereabouts our people can find out are that he has been going to the area between the two peaks recently. Compared to Middle Envoy Hu, he seems quite concerned about the progress of the East Forest Great Buddha.

"In addition, our people discovered the day before yesterday that Lord Lingtai official Lin appeared on a ferry at Xunyang Ferry. We checked, and the ferry was heading south, passing through Longcheng and Jishui.

"Later, we sent someone to verify it, and he indeed went to Longcheng. Moreover, Magistrate Diao also sent a letter immediately, saying that Lord Lingtai official Lin strolled around Longcheng County, personally went to see the Zhe Yi Channel, as well as the East Forest Temple on Mount Dagu, the ruins of the Gu Yue Sword Shop, and..."

"And what else?"

Ouyang Rong, who was listening silently, turned to ask Yan Liulang, who wanted to say something but stopped.

The latter took a deep breath: "And the memorial hall for Brother A-Shan on Little Gu Mountain. Lord Lingtai official Lin went in and lit a stick of incense at that time."

Ouyang Rong nodded: "Understood."

Yan Liulang couldn't help but say:

"Prefect, what does he mean by this? Is he going to inquire about the situation and investigate the case, or... show favor to the Prefect?"

Ouyang Rong said softly: "Maybe both."

"Both?"

Yan Liulang pondered: "It seems that last time, when Dala and Young Lady Qin went to find him for tea together, it wasn't in vain."

Ouyang Rong interrupted and asked: "So he said he returned yesterday morning? As soon as he returned, he went to Yunshui Pavilion to drink tea."

Yan Liulang nodded: "Mm, I've also seen him go often before."

"Good."

Ouyang Rong nodded, then asked again:

"By the way, what about Rong Zhen?"

"We almost can't catch the tracks of this female scribe official. I haven't seen anyone report where she has been seen." Yan Liulang shook his head: "These Yin-Yang school qi cultivators are all somewhat elusive."

Ouyang Rong shook his head: "Isn't Lin Cheng one? He also came out of the Astronomical Bureau."

Yan Liulang was stunned and scratched his head:

"Eh, it seems that is indeed the case. Why does Lin Cheng have tracks? Wait, does the Prefect mean that this Xia Guan Lord Lingtai official is deliberately revealing some whereabouts to us? He could have been traceless originally? Is he trying to mislead us, or is he exposing himself out of goodwill to put us at ease?"

Ouyang Rong shook his head and didn't answer:

"Keep watching, report if there is any situation, especially... pay attention to Rong Zhen."

"Yes."

Yan Liulang clasped his fists heavily, but before leaving, he glanced at the autumn sun in the corridor in the morning and asked curiously:

"Doesn't the Prefect go to the Supervisory Court every morning? Why don't you inquire yourself? I remember a few days ago, there was still gossip..."

Under Ouyang Rong's narrowed eyes when he looked back, Yan Liulang hurriedly coughed and ran away, leaving the main hall.

Before leaving, Yan Liulang didn't forget to leave a new intelligence report for today.

Ouyang Rong looked at this new intelligence report that he sent to the Supervisory Court himself every day, and was silent for a moment...

He handled some urgent official business for a while, a moment later, stood up, tidied his appearance, and walked out of the main hall.

Two quarters of an hour later.

Ouyang Rong came to the Supervisory Court as usual.

However, he didn't go in immediately, but first sat down at a breakfast stall outside the Supervisory Court to order a meal.

After eating a bowl of hot and sour soup and two sesame cakes, and feeling full, Ouyang Rong took out some broken silver and placed it on the table. Amidst the laughter with the stall owner, he walked into the Supervisory Court.

Ouyang Rong brought the new intelligence report and arrived at the Supervisory Court on time.

Rong Zhen was still not there.

He stood outside the main hall door where the floor was full of sunlight and looked around the empty hall.

A moment later, Ouyang Rong, whose expression was not surprised at all, walked in, came to the desk and chair belonging to Rong Zhen at the very top, and placed this new intelligence report down.

He turned and left.

Passing by a few familiar female scribes, Ouyang Rong chatted for a few sentences, then walked out of the Supervisory Court.

According to what they said, the female scribe official seemed to have things to do every morning these past few days, and only came to the Supervisory Court in the afternoon to handle accumulated official business like the new intelligence report.

Ouyang Rong boarded the carriage and returned.

On the way, he lifted the carriage curtain to look outside, his face calm.

After that secret meeting attended by Wei Shaoqi and Wang Lengran, Rong Zhen had been like this.

Ouyang Rong came over to deliver the new intelligence report on time every morning, but hadn't met her again.

Rong Zhen should know that he came on time every morning, but she didn't go find him in the afternoon.

Of course, thinking about it carefully, it seemed there was no need.

Ouyang Rong put down the carriage curtain and sighed lightly.

"I can't say that I knew her nickname Zhishuang only after I seized the sword of the Snow Candle. Even if I told you seriously, you wouldn't believe it. I guess no one in the world would believe it.

"As for... Xiuniang, I'm not even sure if she is the hidden Female Sovereign, and even if she is, I wouldn't know the title."

Pausing, he sat alone in the carriage and rubbed his right cheek:

"Can't you smile like Wei Shaoqi and Wang Lengran and look down on me?"

Xingzi Ward, Zhenguang Street.

Not far from the courtyard with the chrysanthemum pot on the wall, in an inconspicuous small alley, a cold, palace-dressed young girl stood.

Occasionally, peddlers and porters passed by the dark alley entrance, but none discovered the silent girl hiding inside.

Rong Zhen raised her head and looked at the sky.

Morning had just passed, and the morning market on Zhenguang Street was exceptionally lively, with the noise on the street coming from time to time.

She had heard Ouyang Lianghan introduce before that there were many delicious breakfast stalls on the street here in Xingzi Ward, which were even more delicious than the one at the entrance of her Supervisory Court.

But Rong Zhen hadn't eaten for the past few days, and today was the same.

She couldn't eat.

Rong Zhen was expressionless, wearing the stinking face of the debt-owing fairy in Miaosi's mouth.

She quietly looked at the chrysanthemum on the wall of the courtyard not far away.

This chrysanthemum was unremarkable, but it was carefully cared for, watered, and placed there by the hostess in the courtyard every day.

At the same time, every morning at a certain time after the sun had just risen, a low-key procurement carriage from the residence in Huaiye Lane in Xunyang Ward would pass through here.

It was a carriage for female family members going out to buy melons, fruits, pastries, and other items, and there should be maids from the residence sitting on it.

Every time it passed through this Zhenguang Street, it would happen to lift a corner of the carriage curtain that couldn't be noticed, passing by like a white horse passing a crack.

Rong Zhen had sharp eyes and saw that in the corner of the lifted carriage curtain, there was always a familiar silver-white that she had seen before...

Rong Zhen knew her.

Seeing that the time for that carriage to pass by again hadn't arrived yet, and having come too early today, Rong Zhen stood quietly and watched the yellow flowers on the wall that hadn't changed for many days.

Suddenly, she didn't want to wait anymore.

An autumn wind blew, and the palace-dressed girl's figure in the alley disappeared.

A moment later, the palace-dressed girl's figure reappeared in the residence with the chrysanthemum on the wall, passing through the living room, side room, kitchen, backyard, and other places.

The Zhao-surname housewife and several maids in the residence were eating, washing dishes, arranging flowers, and doing other daily life activities as usual. Rong Zhen was like a cloud floating by, without attracting anyone's attention.

This wasn't Rong Zhen's first time coming in.

Actually, the first time she came in, she wasn't as free as she was now, but was cautious at every step, stopping from time to time, and was very vigilant about the Yue Maiden's sword that might emerge from behind a certain curtain...

Rong Zhen moved forward silently. Regarding the identity of the owner of this residence, she had long since known it like the back of her hand.

This Zhao-surname woman was a female family member of Qin Heng, the Fruit-Determined Commandant of the Zhechong Prefecture, and this private residence on Zhenguang Street belonged to him.

However, right now, Qin Heng, as the vanguard general of the expeditionary army, was following the Great General of the Jiang Nan Circuit Expedition, Qin Jingqin, on an expedition outside. With the male owner missing, the courtyard suddenly became much emptier...

A moment later, Rong Zhen's figure appeared silently inside the wall where the flower pot was placed.

She turned and looked around the courtyard.

She saw that besides the chrysanthemum on the wall, there were seven other pots of chrysanthemums placed in the courtyard.

There were no other flower colors, and the models of these flower pots were almost the same as the one on the wall. At least, Rong Zhen, who was as meticulous as a hair, couldn't see any clues.

Rong Zhen pursed her lips.

She looked at the conspicuous chrysanthemum blooming in late autumn on the wall again.

A moment later, an autumn wind brushed across the courtyard, and the cold palace-dressed figure also disappeared by the wall.

At the same time, this autumn wind also brushed across the wall.

That conspicuous chrysanthemum blooming in late autumn fell down and "plop" smashed onto the mud ground inside the wall.

This little movement, which seemed like an accident, didn't attract the attention of the Zhao-surname housewife and maids in the main hall at all. The female family members in the hall were chatting and laughing.

When Ouyang Rong received this urgent news, he had just returned from the Supervisory Court.

Jiangzhou Hall, at the back door.

Ouyang Rong boarded the carriage silently and looked at the white-haired girl wearing a veil opposite him.

Under the white gauze, her melon-shaped face was exceptionally serious.

Ouyang Rong patted Ye Weilai's little shoulder with his large hand:

"I know, you've worked hard."

"Tanlang, what should we do now?"

Ouyang Rong pondered for a while, raised his head, and instructed:

"Don't rush. You go to Yunshui Pavilion first, book an empty private room in your private capacity, then leave, and go directly back to the residence in Huaiye Lane. Don't come out again... Go, do as I say."

"Yes, Tanlang."

Ye Weilai nodded nervously, preparing to leave.

"Weilai."

Ouyang Rong turned his head and called her.

"What is it, Tanlang?"

Ouyang Rong looked at her for a while and asked with pursed lips:

"You've read quite a few books these days, right?"

"Mm."

"Then you should have cultivated some calm energy." He nodded: "No matter what happens, you cannot be impulsive again. Protect yourself first. No matter what happens, remember... wait for Tanlang to come."

Ye Weilai was startled and nodded vigorously.

"Mm-hmm."

Watching Ye Weilai's low-key carriage leave in a hurry.

Ouyang Rong turned back to the main hall, first simply explained some official business, then asked for half a day off, changed into casual clothes, and left the Jiangzhou Hall.

The carriage Ouyang Rong took circled a few times on purpose before stopping at Yunshui Pavilion.

On the third floor, Ouyang Rong walked into a familiar private room and sat down calmly.

He lowered his head to pour tea and waited quietly for Qin Heng's people.

At the same time, he didn't forget to pour seven-tenths full of hot tea into the teacup on the seat opposite him.

After a long time.

No one came for a long time.

Ouyang Rong refilled the cold teacup on the table with hot tea several times.

During this period, he frowned slightly and looked at the tightly closed private room door from time to time, his expression somewhat puzzled.

Ouyang Rong stood up, turned around in the private room several times, and finally sat down.

Continued to wait.

He didn't know how long it had been.

The sun rose to the middle of the sky and then slowly fell behind the mountain.

Guests at Yunshui Pavilion came in batches, and the sound downstairs went from lively to silent.

Inside the private room, Ouyang Rong sat alone with his head lowered, only refilling the teacup on the empty seat in front of him with hot tea.

Finally.

The private room door in front of him was pushed open by someone.

A cold, palace-dressed young girl walked in, sat down in front of Ouyang Rong, and directly picked up the hot teacup and splashed it onto the floor beside her.

Tea leaves fell all over the floor.

She asked the handsome young man in front of her, whose expression was exceptionally astonished, with a calm face:

"Ouyang Lianghan, who exactly are you waiting for?"

(End of chapter)