Chapter 455

Two hundred forty-five, Rong Zhen: Just Colleagues

Compared to the noisy and busy statue construction site outside, in the cold and empty conference hall.

Wang Wang Lengran's words were earnest and well-meaning.

There was no lack of warnings and reprimands in them.

It was unknown how this frail scholar, who couldn't even truss a chicken, dared to say these heavy words to the chubby young man in the silent hall where only the two of them were present.

Because in front of him was a Grade 6 Qi Refining cultivator of the Yin-Yang School known as the Jade Girl and Golden Boy, who could twist off his withered head with one hand as he stretched his neck forward.

"Many thanks for the guidance, Lord Wang."

Lin Cheng lowered his head slightly, thanking him.

The corners of Wang Wang Lengran's mouth instantly curved, then retracted.

"By the way, regarding the Wang family incident this time, why doesn't Young Master Lin suspect Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan? Now you are the one being scolded, isn't he the one who would be most happy to see this?"

Hearing this, Lin Cheng's expression didn't change at all as he said:

"I might not like Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan's attitude of standing and talking without back pain, but I know his character and conduct very well.

"So it definitely wouldn't be him."

"Heh, worthy of both being from humble backgrounds, you really do cherish each other."

Wang Wang Lengran hummed, actually not denying something anymore.

Putting down his teacup, he sighed and patted Lin Cheng's shoulder:

"Young Master Lin, keep it up. Let's work together this time to share the worries for His Majesty and build this giant Buddha in Xingzi Ward well.

"In a sense, we actually have no way out. Don't think so far ahead. Without the credit of this statue construction, how can you say the Prince Xunyang Prince's Mansion and Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan will regain imperial favor?

"It's still early, who knows if they can hold on until then."

Lin Cheng suddenly spoke:

"Female Historian Rong Zhen seems to have an unusual relationship with Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan. The two often work together, and someone saw them attending poetry gatherings together recently. The completion of the East Forest Giant Buddha is hosted by Female Historian Rong Zhen."

Hearing this, Wang Wang Lengran couldn't help but retort:

"Is this giant Buddha really that powerful?"

This Lord Lingtai Lang of the Ministry of Rites who had been in contact with that legendary giant Buddha in the Shangyang Palace of Luodu didn't even lift his eyelids:

"The day the giant Buddha is completed is the beginning of the pacification of the rebellion in the southwest."

Wang Wang Lengran sighed:

"His Majesty's favor for Female Historian Rong Zhen is truly great."

Lin Cheng's brows furrowed slightly:

"On the day the Wang family mother and son died tragically, Female Historian Rong Zhen was also at the scene. Her gaze towards me was a bit off. Later, when we met, I tried to greet her several times, but was ignored."

Wang Wang Lengran nodded: "I can see that, Young Master Lin is not as likable as Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan."

"What time is it now, and Lord Wang is still making jokes. Lord Wang just said it, we are working together."

Lin Cheng said righteously, straightening his face: "So, regarding what the Third Young Master said before, does the so-called favor recommended by the Wei Prince's Mansion for Rong Zhen actually work? Does Female Historian Rong Zhen appreciate it?"

Wang Wang Lengran asked: "Besides Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan, has Young Master Lin seen Female Historian Rong Zhen get close to anyone else in the Prince Xunyang Prince's Mansion?"

"No. Except for Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan, with whom she has a working relationship, this Female Historian seems to have no good face for anyone."

"Then that's it. What is Young Master Lin worried about?"

Wang Wang Lengran shook his head.

"In a sense, Rong Zhen and you, Young Master Lin, are the same kind of people, both bathed in His Majesty's great favor, and should naturally be extra considerate of His Majesty, sharing worries and solving problems for His Majesty.

"Look at this Wang family mother and son incident, has Rong Zhen made things difficult for you on the surface so far? Arrested you, not letting you build the statue?"

"That's true... that's also true."

Lin Cheng nodded, slightly relieved.

Wang Wang Lengran suddenly asked:

"You say, is Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan really that honest? The Wang family mother and son incident this time made such a big scene, died so tragically, and he has no emotion at all? He didn't even follow the Prince Xunyang Prince to impulsively submit a memorial to attack us... is this still that guy who refused to obey the imperial edict before?"

Lin Cheng glanced sideways:

"If he really dared to intervene, wouldn't he be suspected by His Majesty this time? With that memorial of yours, Lord Wang."

Wang Wang Lengran locked his brows and pondered:

"That's true, but these are all hindsight. Did he know beforehand? Was he guessing, or was he too alert... This person is truly cunning, making one's teeth itch."

"Could it be that he is truly afraid, knowing that the Saint's will is like the Five Sacred Mountains and cannot be defied, so he has become honest and doesn't want to show off and cause trouble in the short term?"

Lin Cheng said.

Wang Wang Lengran looked at him with a frown.

Without waiting for Wang Wang Lengran to speak, Lin Cheng continued to analyze:

"This person is stubborn, but not inflexible. He was just smooth-sailing for too long before and forgot the pain of his demotion. After this setback, smart people will open their minds, and he is naturally no exception."

Wang Wang Lengran hesitated, but still insisted on his point of view:

"No, the analysis is like that, but this official has clashed with him for a long time and knows this person better... This person is a bit weird. Every time he seems to be able to turn things around by luck. It's truly puzzling. This official always feels it's not that simple, and we still have to be careful."

Lin Cheng glanced at him, noncommittal:

"It's a good thing that Lord Wang has the consciousness of vigilance and prevention."

Wang Wang Lengran stood up at this time, patting the dust off his palms:

"Looking at it this way, Female Historian Rong Zhen getting close to him is not a bad thing either, Young Master Lin. You really didn't find the wrong person when you went to find Female Historian Rong Zhen before.

"In this Prince Xunyang City, the person who should most protect the East Forest Giant Buddha in Xingzi Ward should be this Female Historian Rong Zhen. Letting her keep an eye on Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan is just right."

Lin Cheng nodded, then asked:

"By the way, how is it on Lord Wang's side now?"

Wang Wang Lengran nodded with satisfaction:

"Young Master Lin is indeed sharp in judging people. This Pei Shishanniang is indeed a talent. She wants to make money, but she and that Yangzhou Chamber of Commerce in the city know how to do things, knowing how to honor this official's political achievements. The renovation plan for the new houses in Xingzi Ward is very beautiful, and this official is quite satisfied."

"I am not asking about this." Lin Cheng shook his head. "What about the Jiangzhou Hall side? What have Yuan Yuan Huaimin and the others been doing recently? Are there any signs of intervention?"

Wang Wang Lengran immediately sneered:

"This Yuan Yuan Huaimin is very honest, but also quite mediocre and useless, just busy with some trivial matters. I heard that they have been busy repairing the old city gates and worrying about the prices in the East Market these days."

"Renovating the city gates, East Market prices?" Lin Cheng lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment before nodding: "That's good, Lord Wang, keep an eye on them at all times."

"This is natural."

A moment later, the secret meeting ended, and Wang Wang Lengran's figure with his hands behind his back disappeared at the door.

Lin Cheng withdrew his gaze and sat alone in the hall for a long while.

Wang Wang Lengran could be considered lucky this time. Clearly, it was a benefit exchange discussed between Lin Cheng and Pei Shishanniang and other Yang merchants, but it invisibly allowed Wang Wang Lengran to share a piece of the pie:

The location of the East Forest Giant Buddha in Xingzi Ward was bound to make the remaining residential land in Xingzi Ward appreciate significantly. Not only was it in short supply, but it was also close to the water, able to view this spectacular giant Buddha. I believe many wealthy merchants in Jiang Nan would be willing to pay for it.

Pei Shishanniang, Shen Shen Bingqiang, and other Yang merchants, who were almost forced out of Prince Xunyang City by Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan, naturally saw the business opportunity.

Now, with the opportunity of building the East Forest Giant Buddha and the strong support of the Jiangzhou Cishi Prefecture, after lifting the restrictions previously imposed by Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan, they began to acquire residential land in Xingzi Ward on a large scale.

At the same time, they also reached a tacit agreement with Wang Wang Lengran.

Pei Shishanniang, Shen Shen Bingqiang, and others helped the Jiangzhou Cishi Prefecture to renovate Xingzi Ward to earn profits. The Jiangzhou Cishi Prefecture took a large share and also gained political achievements.

After all, Xingzi Ward had been a difficult problem for a long time, and even the publicly capable Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan was suspected of not daring to solve it. If Wang Wang Lengran succeeded, submitting a brilliant answer sheet to the imperial court would naturally be a glorious achievement, leading to a smooth promotion.

Thinking about the little thoughts and interests of all parties, and not knowing how long he sat alone, Lin Cheng drank a cup of tea and stood up to walk out the main gate.

A moment later, the chubby young man crossed the bustling construction site and came to the side of Xingzi Lake.

With his back to the towering headless giant Buddha that was gradually taking shape, he stared at the small pavilion in the center of the lake and murmured to himself:

"Plucking stars and avoiding the moon, plucking stars and avoiding the moon... The teacher's divination is truly accurate. Building a statue here, the dantian spiritual energy is restless, but..."

He suddenly looked back at the Qingyang Heng Street that had already been demolished, and the scene of the "two balls of fire" from that day flashed before his eyes again.

"Great Zhou belongs to the Metal Virtue, Metal generates Water, Water overcomes Fire, Fire overcomes Metal... Fire overcomes Metal?"

After finishing eating in the breakfast shop, seeing Rong Zhen not moving, Magistrate Ouyang Rong had to take the initiative to take out silver and place it on the table.

Getting some change back from the shop owner, he stuffed it back into his pocket. Turning his head, Rong Zhen had already stood up and walked towards the Supervision Institute, as if she didn't want to wait for him.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong stepped forward to chase: "That..."

"Owe it, I'll treat you next time."

Rong Zhen said softly.

"There's a next time? Okay. That's not what I'm talking about."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong looked at the back of her head with her black hair tied up, frowned and asked:

"That special quota, and Lin Cheng's matter, why didn't you say anything before?"

"How would this palace know you would misunderstand, and trust Lin Cheng's words so easily."

"But regarding the giant Buddha and the special quota, you also deliberately didn't say anything. I naturally could only refer to his words, and besides, he hadn't shown his true colors then."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong frowned and explained:

"Looking at it now, it turns out there was this selfish motive in competing for the statue construction rights."

Rong Zhen straightened her face: "This palace has repeatedly said that my position here cannot be taken away by him. It's you who didn't listen carefully. Smart people can figure it out, and you aren't stupid."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong was speechless, squeezing out a sentence: "With so few words, how am I supposed to guess? Just like serving the Saint, right, weighing every word."

She frowned: "If there is tacit understanding between colleagues, you can understand even without saying."

"......"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong thought for a moment and tried to ask: "Are you sure this is colleagues?"

"Otherwise?"

"Okay, it's my stupidity, not enough tacit understanding. Then next time I'll act according to the Female Historian's face... forget it, seems there's no face."

He immediately changed his words, his tone serious:

"Then next time, can the Female Historian say more? This colleague of yours is incompetent, but I'm afraid I won't understand again, pretending to understand when I don't, and misunderstanding something."

"Oh." Her hair temples were blown by the wind, as if nodding, her voice drifting with the wind: "No."

"No?"

"Many things shouldn't be said to a local official like you. This is the rule. Saying so much is already an exception. When I was in the palace before, besides answering the Saint, I didn't have many words with others in a month. Deep palace forbidden ground, be cautious in words and deeds, the nannies taught me..."

She looked back with her sleeves tucked, her pair of beautiful, lacquer-like eyes staring at Magistrate Ouyang Rong and asking.

"So Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan, what else do you want this palace to do."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong was speechless.

After staring for a while, Rong Zhen turned her gaze away:

"Many thanks for your comfort today. But regarding the giant Buddha, very few people know about it, so I really can't say more. Just like before at the Prince Xunyang Grottoes, you just need to be responsible for the statue construction and work. Knowing too much is not good."

"What exactly is not good about it..."

Rong Zhen suddenly spoke, her voice somewhat gentle:

"I just don't want you to know... is that okay?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong was stunned.

"Okay."

He shrugged: "You hide it then."

"Are you angry?"

Rong Zhen turned her head and glanced at him.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong shook his head, followed behind Rong Zhen, and walked into the Supervision Institute.

He changed the subject and asked:

"I heard that on the front line, there were thieves who raided the central army camp at night recently... The Qi Refining cultivators in the front line army also suffered quite a few losses."

"There is such a thing, it's been half a month... With Mistress Miao Zhen over there, it's fine for now."

Rong Zhen answered straight-faced;

"This kind of small trouble cannot affect the overall situation."

"That's fine, your Directorate of Astronomy must protect General Qin well."

"This is natural, and Grand Marshal Qin is an old general with rich experience, no need to worry... Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan, you've started worrying."

Rong Zhen twitched the corner of her mouth.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong saw her take some things from the office and turn to walk out of the Supervision Institute. He asked curiously:

"What is the Female Historian going to do?"

She tightened her face: "Go back to rest, in a bad mood today... why, you want to follow?"

"Then I'll go back too..."

Rong Zhen suddenly called him to stop:

"Wait, there happens to be a poetry gathering with a high standard outside the city this afternoon, but the requirements are quite strange, only allowing men and women to participate in pairs. I suspect there might be the owner of Butterfly Loves Flowers, so I have to go this afternoon. How about you, do you have time this afternoon?"

"Aren't you in a bad mood?"

"Better now."

"But for this kind of strange poetry gathering, will the owner of Butterfly Loves Flowers go?"

"This kind of lecherous scoundrel is more likely to go. Maybe he has many mistresses and women, and just loves to run to this kind of occasion."

"Yes, very... very reasonable."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong nodded.

Rong Zhen's expression didn't change: "Then prepare yourself..."

"Oh..." Magistrate Ouyang Rong suddenly reacted:

"Wait, participating in pairs, doesn't that mean going with that identity..."

"That's why I called you. It's not convenient for me to go alone, can't investigate in disguise as usual, too lazy to find others."

With your temper, there's no one else in Prince Xunyang City you can call, right... Magistrate Ouyang Rong complained in his heart.

She made the final decision: "It's you, don't dawdle, accompany me once."

"But..." Magistrate Ouyang Rong looked troubled.

She stopped and said without looking back:

"But what? Aren't we colleagues who trust each other? Known each other for so long, not enough friendship?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong complained: "Friendship is enough, but you're still speaking in riddles."

"Hmm?" Rong Zhen asked with a light hum in her nose: "What did you say?"

"Nothing, nothing, okay, go, go."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong waved his hand reluctantly, muttering: "Then I have to dress low-key, and let the Junior Sister know, after all, it counts as going to handle business..."

"As you wish."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong was helpless, watching the back of the Female Historian who was walking away in a hurry...

(End of chapter)