Chapter 463: Two hundred fifty-nine, Princess please mourn, ladies and widows please mourn

Two hundred fifty-nine, Princess please mourn, ladies and widows please mourn

"The end general especially admires one point about Ouyang Sima."

"What."

"Determination, the determination to sit on the cold bench.

"The Grand Marshal often says that there are not a few young talents and amazing talents, but there are not many who can resist temptation, endure loneliness, and keep clean.

"Ouyang Sima definitely counts as one."

"Qin Lao is over-praising. After General Qin goes back, please thank him on my behalf."

"Okay."

Outside Xunyang City, at the Ten-Mile Pavilion, under the withered willow tree.

Ouyang Rong, in a white dress, wrapped in a fox-white fur shawl, clasped his fists and saw Qin Yanqing off.

The storm in Xunyang City was temporarily calmed, not expanded, and everything was stable and progressing.

Qin Yanqing, as the Changshi of the Central Army Camp on the front line, was busy with affairs and needed to return immediately, but only took away a small part of the generals, traveling light and returning.

Left behind were most of the black-armored generals, all elite, continuing to cooperate with the female officials of the Inspectorate to protect the Buddha head and assist the Jiangzhou Hall in maintaining the stability of Xunyang City.

On the Inspectorate side, besides Song Mama sitting in town and strictly protecting the Buddha head, they were actively communicating with Luoyang, and at the same time, in the name of the Jiangzhou Hall, issued a wanted order to arrest the Tiannan Jianghu suspects involved in this matter.

However, these were all hindsight, routine measures, and were the duties of female officials like Song Mama and Rong Zhen.

Not within the scope of Ouyang Rong and Qin Yanqing's duties, the two were relaxed.

Before leaving, Qin Yanqing raised the horse head of the good horse, and suddenly took out an object from his bosom and handed it to Ouyang Rong.

"Before coming, actually the Grand Marshal also gave me an object, and told me that if there is a change in Xunyang and the situation is urgent, and it is difficult to invite Ouyang Sima, then hand this object over on his behalf. Haha, but looking at it now, it was not used. That Lady Female Official Rong still has some ability, and still invited Ouyang Sima.

"However, it is not too late now, Ouyang Sima, take it."

A thin object, but Qin Yanqing held it with both hands and handed it out solemnly.

"This is..."

Ouyang Rong's expression was a bit surprised, took this object, and opened it to look.

Yuan Huaimin, Yan Liulang, Chen You, and others who were seeing him off together also curiously leaned their heads to watch.

"Door god couplet?"

Yuan Huaimin muttered curiously, and everyone was puzzled.

Ouyang Rong was stunned for a moment, his gaze falling straight on the Hu Guo Gong statue on the left side of the door god couplet.

Qin Yanqing put away his smile and said seriously:

"This was painted by the Grand Marshal. The Grand Marshal was idle in Yangzhou before, and every year there were guests coming to the door to ask for the door god couplets of my Qin family. The Grand Marshal would paint a few every year. Approaching the end of the year, the Grand Marshal said, this one is for Ouyang Sima."

Ouyang Rong was silent for a moment, took it, took a deep breath, and opened his mouth:

"Qin Lao has heart, but I was negligent and didn't have anything to return the gift for a while."

"Haha, it's okay! Ouyang Sima's gift, the end general has already prepared it on his behalf, and will send it to the Grand Marshal and Yingniang when I go back. They will definitely like it, especially Yingniang!"

Without waiting for Ouyang Rong to ask or everyone to react, Qin Yanqing whipped his horse fiercely and left with the team, leaving only a hearty laughing back.

At the same time, the people staying in place faintly heard a laughing sound coming from the distance:

"Rustling west wind planted in the courtyard, the stamens are cold and the fragrance is cold, butterflies are hard to come... If I am the Green Emperor in another year, report to the peach blossoms in one place! Good poem! Especially the person who composed the poem, the poem is excellent, the person is even more excellent... What a white-clad scholar."

Ouyang Rong watched Qin Yanqing go away, was silent for a moment, and then laughed out loud.

He shook his head and turned around.

Greeted everyone and returned to Xunyang City together.

On the way, Yan Liulang rode to Ouyang Rong's carriage and lowered his voice to Ouyang Rong, who lifted the carriage curtain:

"Mingfu, Brother Huang has left, together with Fellow Daoist Lu and Xiaoxuan. Before leaving, Brother Huang left a sentence for Mingfu, and this object, let the humble position return it on his behalf."

"What sentence?"

Ouyang Rong took the felt hat handed by Yan Liulang, his expression not surprised, and asked casually.

Yan Liulang's expression was slightly hesitant, and finally tightened his face and said:

"Brother Huang said... Young Master, pick up more vegetables next time, don't just drink."

Ouyang Rong's expression was a bit stunned, watching Yan Liulang's back as he ran away.

Sitting alone in the carriage for a while, he raised his hand and rubbed his face, looking at the felt hat, and muttered with a laugh:

"Mmm, have to let you see next time, what is called never drunk in a thousand cups..."

A moment later, his expression calmed down, and he turned to give an order:

"Ali, go to the Xingzi Lake construction site."

"Yes, Master."

Ouyang Rong sat alone in the carriage, took out a zither-shaped sword box from under the seat, and knocked on it lightly. It was still empty inside.

At this time, the carriage entered the Xingzi Lake construction site, and there were

Ouyang Rong used two fingers to pull open the curtain and glanced at the calm Xingzi Lake beside him.

He withdrew his gaze and, with unhurried movements, placed his felt hat over the zither-shaped empty sword case that was missing its Xin Dingjian, then placed both of them back under his seat.

Ouyang Rong got out of the carriage and called out to a familiar female official:

"Where is Lady Official Rong? Please help me call her; tell her I have something to discuss."

"Alright."

Watching the female official leave, Ouyang Rong returned to the carriage, closed his eyes to rest, and waited patiently.

Outside the carriage, Dongmei, who was tying the reins, yawned and exhaled white mist.

Inside the carriage, the young man with his eyes closed frowned slightly, and at one moment, he murmured inaudibly:

"Stop messing around, I'll come back to fish you out later... What? You say the lake water isn't as cold as my heart? Heh, Lord Xin Dingjian, you joke. Who did you learn that from? Could it be Miaosi? The tone is exactly the same. I can't let you stay with her next time."

At this moment, the female officials busy sealing off the crime scene on the construction site did not know that the clear blue moon that had risen a few days ago, striking fear into the hearts of Lin Cheng and the others, was currently floating somewhere at the bottom of the lake, as dim as an ordinary object, swaying with the water plants while simultaneously grieving from afar for a certain cheap sword master...

He had been dead drunk, used a divine decree to descend upon another, deployed the sword to kill the enemy, and then escaped and ran away at the first opportunity, yet he had thrown it into the deep lake, calling it "the most dangerous place is the safest place," and "I'm on fire from killing, I need to cool down and calm down," and then he had been out of contact ever since, like a dead ghost... If resentment could be manifested, the pillar of resentment from the Xin Dingjian in the lake would already be shooting into the sky.

"Senior Brother, what's wrong?" Xie Lingjiang asked with concern.

The seal was made of jade, square and simple, with a curved chi-dragon knob. The bottom was engraved with the four small seal script characters "Jiangzhou Golden Seal," the seal script style round, vigorous, simple, and lush, with natural and fluent strokes.

This official seal of the Jiangzhou Jiangzhou Cishi was handed to him personally by Rong Zhen and the others on that night when they asked him to step forward.

Letting Ouyang Rong hold the seal on their behalf.

Bypassing the Jiangzhou Chief Clerk Yuan Huaimin to oversee the affairs of Xunyang City.

A tiny seal, not heavy in the palm of one's hand, yet it represented the power to govern the military and political affairs of an entire prefecture.

In the past, when he had just been promoted and arrived in Xunyang City, often suppressed by his superior Wang Lengran, Ouyang Rong, as the second-in-command, might have looked forward to obtaining this seal.

But now...

Inside the carriage, one man and one seal faced each other in silence.

Ouyang Rong stared at this Jiangzhou Cishi's seal.

The lifelike jade chi-dragon head carved on the seal seemed to be staring back at him as well.

"Lady Official is not here. She had urgent business earlier and went out with Deputy Supervisor Song. Magistrate Ouyang has arrived late."

Ouyang Rong came back to his senses, flipped his hand to put away the seal, and looked at the female official outside the carriage.

He nodded slightly, said nothing, and turned to give an order:

"Then let's go to the Jiangzhou Great Hall."

Under the curious gaze of the female official, the carriage left the Xingzi Lake construction site.

Two quarter-hours later, Ouyang Rong got out of the carriage outside the Jiangzhou Great Hall.

The surrounding officials greeted the young man in white, who was acting as the Jiangzhou Cishi, with enthusiastic pleasantries.

Given the current situation in Xunyang City, any smart person knew that the "acting" hat on the young man in white's head would likely be removed, changing from "acting" to "official."

Ouyang Rong nodded with his hands in his sleeves, his smile gentle, and walked all the way to the main hall.

The young man in white, who had been praised by Qin Yanqing not long ago for having the determination to make it to the top, walked up to the Jiangzhou Cishi's seat at the very top. He did not sit down, but casually hung the li-dragon official seal on the corner of the long table, turned around, and left the Jiangzhou Great Hall.

Walking out the door, Ouyang Rong checked the time; it was still early. He called for Yan Liulang and asked:

"Has Pei Pei Shisan Niang woken up yet?"

"Not yet. This subordinate goes to check on her every day; she is still in a coma today."

"Alright. Once this woman wakes up, notify me."

"Yes, Magistrate."

Ouyang Rong asked again: "Is today their seventh day since passing?"

Yan Liulang nodded, "Chief Clerk Yuan said that it would be best for the Magistrate to represent the Jiangzhou Great Hall to offer condolences to the families... Lady Official Rong and the others certainly cannot do this, so it must be you; you are skilled at handling such things."

I'm just afraid they'll be angered to death down below.

Ouyang Rong muttered to himself and nodded slightly:

"As long as one is a monk for a day, one must ring the bell for a day. Let's be diligent for one more day. Let's go."

Yan Liulang was somewhat puzzled by the first sentence, but he didn't ask further and went out with him.

A short while later, the group arrived at Wang Lengran's residence first.

Inside the Jiangzhou Cishi's residence, white cloth and mourning flags were hung.

Ouyang Rong walked into the mourning hall and offered condolences to Wang Lengran's widow and family in a serious and formal manner.

"My ladies, please accept my condolences."

The female relatives wept in sorrow. Ouyang Rong comforted them and ordered the Jiangzhou Great Hall to treat them well and arrange for their return to their hometown.

However, the comfort had little effect. Several people, led by Wang Lengran's son and elderly wife, began to curse the owner of the Butterfly Loves Flowers bitterly, not even noticing when Ouyang Rong had left.

It was mainly because Ouyang Rong felt somewhat embarrassed staying there. Just as he walked out the door amidst the cursing, a series of crisp wooden fish sounds rang out in his ears at the right moment.

Ouyang Rong was stunned for a moment, turned his head to look at the family members in the mourning hall behind him who were cursing the owner of the Butterfly Loves Flowers, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.

He vaguely understood something, yet it seemed he didn't understand... Ouyang Rong didn't really want to understand.

He turned and went to Wei Shaoqi's residence. As soon as he entered the mourning hall, he saw a pretty figure.

It was Princess Anhui. She was dressed in mourning clothes, her eyes red and swollen. Currently, there was no one from the Wei clan in Jiangzhou. As a cousin, Wei Anhui was considered the main relative, presiding over the funeral while waiting for people from Luoyang.

"Princess, please accept my condolences."

Ouyang Rong said subconsciously, preparing to stay for a while to offer comfort.

Judging people on their own merits, he had a fairly good impression of this Princess of the Wei clan. So far, he hadn't seen any signs of her acting.

At this moment, with a clatter, a stool seemed to have been knocked over behind the mourning hall. Ouyang Rong turned his head to look and discovered a figure dodging inside.

It was vaguely the familiar footsteps of the eldest brother Li, as if he were hiding from him.

Ouyang Rong's eye twitched. A moment later, he pretended not to see it, said nothing more, and turned to take his leave... He didn't need to offer comfort here. However, before leaving, Ouyang Rong left Yan Liulang behind, just in case.

Arriving at Shen Bingqiang's house, Ouyang Rong saw the Shen family members in the mourning hall. Just like at Wei Shaoqi's place, standing at the very front was only a young, small wife dressed in snow-white mourning clothes.

A subordinate whispered to Ouyang Rong: "This is the newly married wife of Squire Shen."

"Oh." Ouyang Rong nodded and stepped forward to offer a few official words of comfort. During this time, he saw the small wife in snow-white mourning clothes crying and sobbing before Shen Bingqiang's spirit tablet, frequently peeking through the gaps in her handkerchief, her gaze seeming to land on his face.

He didn't think much of it; after all, he was long accustomed to being handsome.

A short while later, it began to snow outside. The small wife in white mourning clothes walked up and invited Ouyang Rong to the side hall to drink warm wine and wait for the snow to stop before leaving.

Ouyang Rong offered a few polite words, and seeing her sincerity, he didn't insist further and stayed behind to wait for the snow to stop.

"My lord, please come in. This concubine will go warm the wine."

"Alright."

Ouyang Rong moved to the side hall and sat alone for only a short while.

Creak—Clang—!

Turning his head to look, the small wife in mourning clothes had bolted the front door and closed the back door as well. She walked in alone carrying the wine, pulled up a stool, and sat down by the fire. With cups and plates laid out on the table, the small wife in white mourning clothes held a cup of wine in her hand, looked at Ouyang Rong, and said:

"My lord has worked hard. Drink this cup to the full."

"Ah?"

She reached out one hand and pinched Ouyang Rong's shoulder: "My lord is only wearing these clothes, aren't you cold?"

Seeing that he didn't move, the small wife in white mourning clothes tilted her head and drank half the wine, much of which leaked onto the collar of her snow-white mourning clothes, soaking most of it. She breathed slightly, held the wine cup forward with both hands, and exhaled:

"If you are cold, then have this half-cup of leftover wine."

Ouyang Rong's gaze slowly moved downward, only to see her soft breasts slightly exposed, her hair half-fallen, and a pair of misty eyes looking up at him. Added to her mourning attire, she was truly pitiful and lovely, making one feel compassion.

He immediately thought to himself, "Oh my god."

As if recalling a sad event, her red eyes welled up with tears: "That thief killed my beloved husband. My lord, you must seek justice for this concubine..."

Seek justice? What justice? To be the master? How could Ouyang Rong dare to stay here any longer?

He brushed her aside, hurriedly stood up, pretended to be calm, and took his leave...

Leaving behind the grieving young widow in the room.

Every one of your families is truly outrageous, especially this little widow at Shen Bingqiang's house... Ouyang Rong was speechless, feeling that he shouldn't have worked this last day; he had only encountered bizarre things.

Immediately, he also began to suspect himself as a semi-official. Had the atmosphere of Jiangzhou City been corrupted by him? You all haven't learned even a bit of the upright gentleman side of me.

Braving the wind and snow, he had only taken a few steps out the door when he bumped into a certain pretty figure.

Inside the mourning hall, a palace-dressed young girl stood alone and cold under the curtain, watching the young man in white, wearing a fox-fur cape, walking through the snow, stepping on the scattered jade-like snow.

"Why not stay inside a little longer? Drink a few more cups of wine with her?" she asked coldly.

"When did you arrive?" Ouyang Rong asked curiously.

"When I arrived is not important. I hope I didn't delay your good deed."

"What good deed? Isn't it a funeral inside?" he asked, playing dumb.

"It can turn into a happy event."

"Lady Official is joking."

"Hmph."

However, seemingly satisfied with the speed at which Ouyang Rong had left to avoid suspicion, Rong Zhen said no more.

This cold palace-dressed young girl took out a li-dragon official seal and asked him word for word:

"Ouyang Lianghan, what are you doing looking for this palace today, and what is the meaning of this, why did you hang up the seal and leave?"

Ouyang Rong passed by her side, silent and unresponsive.

(End of chapter)