Chapter 498: 370. Bai Bu Band

370. Bai Bu Band

Morning.

The first ray of dawn brushed across the Great River, landing on the bricks and tiles of the warehouses at the Xunyang Ferry pier.

"Bang—!"

With the cooperation of the boatman and the small official on the shore, the large ship docked at the shore.

On the deck, Wei Wu turned around and walked off the deck.

The river water slapped against the shore and the large ship in waves.

At the disembarkation point, a small clerk who was placing the wooden plank for docking lost his balance and stumbled a few steps, about to fall into the water. At the critical moment, he was stopped by a steady, large hand.

"Thank, thank you, guest."

The small clerk was stunned, saw clearly Wei Wu's resolute face, and expressed his thanks.

Wei Wu passed by him, having just done it as a matter of convenience, and jumped off the ship without a word, landing steadily.

The small clerk couldn't help but look at the back of the square-faced man in soap-colored clothing.

This person seemed to be a distinguished guest from Luoyang in Guanzhong, had a Luoyang accent, and had boarded the ship in Yangzhou, bringing only two attendants.

However, for some reason, he was wearing a white cloth band on his head.

It seemed somewhat ominous.

Many passengers didn't dare to get close.

This square-faced man in soap-colored clothing and his two cold-faced attendants had also been silent all the way, appearing somewhat out of place among the fellow passengers.

"Um, guest, Xunyang City is dangerous right now, and it's close to the front line. It's not like Yangzhou. It seems they are hunting for some Jianghu rebels here; they even hijacked a water transport grain ship before. Now, no civilian ships are allowed to pass that stretch of the Yangtze River at Hukou County."

The small clerk gave a warm reminder: "So, guest, remember to go to the government office to report when you first arrive, so you don't get wrongly arrested. Also, our ship returns to Yangzhou in the afternoon; guest, if you are leaving, don't miss the time..."

Wei Wu didn't look back.

He nodded slightly.

He looked around the Xunyang Ferry.

The passenger ship he had taken before had passed the ferry crossing near the Xunyang Grottoes, but they hadn't been allowed to go ashore. The ferry crossing at the Xunyang Grottoes was currently in a closed state, and only official ships carrying special official documents could enter. He heard that this was a rule set by the Supervisory Court and Jiangzhou Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan.

Just as he walked out of the pier.

A Xianbei guard who had been waiting for a long time immediately approached, took out a secret report, and held it up with both hands.

"Master Wu."

Both of them were in the busy market, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of people and vehicles.

Wei Wu didn't stop. After taking the secret report, he walked forward while browsing it with lowered eyes.

"This morning, just now, Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan, Senior Secretary Yuan Huaimin, and others visited the Xunyang Prince's Mansion in Xiushui Ward. It seems they are going to invite the Prince of Xunyang and the Prince of Xunyang's heir to leave the city and go to the Xunyang Grottoes for a meeting.

"At the Xunyang Grottoes, Lady Did Rong Zhen, Lady Miao, and the newly arrived Commander Yi and others are all there..."

The Xianbei guard followed on the side, whispering the account.

Wei Wu didn't even lift his eyelids.

"Where is the Princess?"

He asked.

The Xianbei guard was stunned:

"At... at the mansion in Xunyang Ward. This morning, she was preparing to go to Mount Kuanglu to pay respects to Buddha..."

"Take me there."

"Yes, Master Wu..."

"Change the form of address."

"Steward Wu."

The Xianbei guard reacted very quickly.

Wei Wu didn't say anything more.

The two of them got on their horses and rode away.

Not long after, in front of a mansion gate, a Princess's procession that was about to depart was blocked.

Inside the carriage curtain, Wei Anhui, who was sitting quietly, seemed to notice the abnormality of the carriage, opened the curtain, and looked out.

"Uncle Wu?"

She spoke subconsciously.

"Princess."

Wei Wu nodded, walked onto the carriage, and glanced at the coachman:

"I'll take over."

"Yes."

The coachman took the initiative to leave and handed over the reins.

It was clear that he recognized this person; the square-faced man in soap-colored clothing had considerable prestige in the two Prince's Mansions of the Wei clan.

Wei Wu sat cross-legged, picked up the coachman's reins again, and while driving the carriage to turn, said steadily:

"Princess, you've been waiting a long time."

"What waiting a long time?"

Wei Anhui asked curiously:

"Have you been in Jiangzhou for a long time? It's fine, I'm used to it. Father was right; I should stay to observe mourning."

Speaking of this, she sighed lightly.

Wei Wu looked back. Inside the carriage curtain, this apple of the Liang Prince's Mansion's eye was wearing a white mourning garment over her jacket and skirt. Although she had a round face and the appearance of an ordinary woman, she was just a bit thin and petite. However, "a woman looks pretty in mourning," and this frail appearance was truly pitiful to behold.

Wei Wu averted his gaze, not looking at what he shouldn't, and said woodenly:

"The Prince sent me. Before leaving the capital, the Prince of Liang looked for me and asked me to bring a message, saying that Princess Anhui, you have worked hard, but for the sake of the Wei clan's reputation and the family's rituals, you should still stay for a while longer."

Wei Anhui's expression was neither happy nor sad:

"Still have to stay for a while..."

Sighing lightly, she looked out the window.

Deep in her eyes, which reflected the distant mountains, one couldn't tell if it was relief or renewed sorrow.

Wei Wu said earnestly:

"When the time comes, I will personally escort the Princess back to the capital."

Wei Anhui looked at the back of the square-faced man who was rigid and formal outside.

This man named Wei Wu was an attendant by the side of the Prince of Wei, having followed him for many years. It seemed he was born as a family servant of the Wei clan and was granted the surname Wei.

He had been in the mansion for a very long time, so the generation of Wei Anhui, including the late cousin Wei Shaoxuan, Wei Shaoqi, and others, had all grown up watching him, so they were quite familiar with him and affectionately called him Uncle Wu.

However, this Uncle Wu was very low-key in the two Prince's Mansions of the Wei clan. He was usually by the side of the Prince of Wei like a shadow, and their relationship was very close. Even some things that other members of the Wei clan couldn't say, when spoken by Uncle Wu to the Prince of Wei, would instead be adopted.

He was not at all like an outsider.

"Good. Then I'll have to trouble Uncle Wu when the time comes."

Wei Anhui smiled embarrassedly, her eyes curving into crescents.

"During these days, has the Princess suffered any grievances in Xunyang City?"

Wei Wu looked back, driving the carriage, and asked formally.

"No." Wei Anhui shook her head: "What grievances could I suffer?"

"I heard that Lady Did Rong Zhen often accompanies the Princess."

"Hmm, Sister Rong is truly a good person. She is cold on the outside but warm on the inside, just not good at expressing herself. It's hard for outsiders to get close to her, but her inner nature is actually very good. She's like a big sister, always taking care of me..."

Wei Anhui spoke endlessly, smiling brightly.

Wei Wu listened for a while and interrupted:

"That heir of the Xunyang Prince's Mansion, he hasn't come to look for you again, has he?"

Wei Anhui's voice slowly stopped, and after a while, she said:

"Young Master Li seems to have left the city recently; he's not in Xunyang."

"No, he's back."

Wei Wu shook his head and said truthfully.

Wei Anhui was silent for a while.

"Oh."

She responded lightly.

At this moment, she discovered that Wei Wu, who was driving the carriage without a word outside, had turned the carriage and was driving in another direction on the street; it didn't seem to be heading toward Mount Kuanglu.

She couldn't help but ask:

"Where is Uncle Wu going?"

"Xunyang Grottoes."

"Why go there for no reason?"

Wei Anhui asked with a puzzled expression, then reacted and said:

"Sister Rong, Mother Song, and the others seem very busy today, gathering many people for a meeting. If we go over, they shouldn't have time to entertain us."

Wei Wu shook his head, his hand gripping the reins motionless, without any intention of turning:

"It's fine, we'll just stroll around. The Princess can look around, burn incense and worship Buddha for the Young Master and the others. Doesn't the Princess have Buddha plaques set up for them?"

"I often go to worship Buddha; it's not just today." Wei Anhui said halfway, then reacted and asked: "Is it Uncle Wu who wants to go over?"

Wei Wu spoke in a muffled voice:

"I also want to worship Buddha and take a look at the spirit plaques enshrined by the Third Young Master and the Sixth Young Master."

"No wonder, Uncle Wu is also missing the cousins, right? I see you're still wearing a white cloth band. That's true; after all, you watched us grow up, but now they have met with misfortune..."

Inside the carriage curtain, Wei Anhui's tone became low.

"Princess, please restrain your grief."

Wei Wu said with lowered eyes.

While whipping the horse to drive, he freed one hand to touch the white cloth band on his forehead.

His eyes were somewhat indescribable.

Wei Anhui suddenly reacted and asked:

"By the way, why did Uncle Wei send Uncle Wu over this time? Why didn't Father or someone from the Liang Prince's Mansion come to pick me up?"

Wei Wu nodded:

"It was just on the way. The Prince of Liang didn't send anyone."

"On the way?"

Wei Anhui asked puzzledly.

Wei Wu nodded woodenly, pointed to the white cloth band on his forehead, and said:

"The Prince took it off and asked me to wear it and come over, telling me to be sure to bring it to Xunyang."

Inside the carriage curtain, Wei Anhui, dressed in mourning, seemed to look at this white cloth band and tilted her head slightly.

Xunyang Grottoes.

In front of a bamboo house in a bamboo forest.

"Father."

Just as Wang Lixian's face darkened and he was about to flare up, Li Dalang suddenly emerged from the bamboo forest on the side.

Yan Liulang followed beside him.

"Prince, Magistrate."

Ouyang Rong saw that both of them were somewhat covered in dust, but they were smiling, and in their hands, they were carrying some fresh bamboo shoots tied with hemp rope.

"I told you to wait in place; where did you run off to?"

Wang Lixian asked aggressively, and without waiting for Li Dalang to answer, he turned his head and asked Yan Liulang:

"Liulang, you tell me."

"The, the Heir saw fresh bamboo shoots in the forest and said that duck stewed with bamboo shoots is the best for nourishing the yin and kidneys, and benefiting qi and nourishing blood, suitable for nourishing the body. A few days ago, the Prince was kicked while fishing... accidentally fell into the water, and cold air entered the body. He picked some fresh bamboo shoots to take back so the Princess could boil soup for the Prince."

Wang Lixian glanced at Li Dalang, who was standing with his hands down and head lowered without a word.

He didn't speak again, his expression softening slightly.

Just as the atmosphere was somewhat silent and awkward.

Li Dalang raised his head and tried hard to squeeze out a smile:

"Father, actually there is no need to worry. The child promised to stay in place, so I definitely wouldn't have left, and wouldn't have done such a thing to drag you and Tanlang down..."

Ouyang Rong suddenly leaned over to look at the bamboo shoots and snatched a rope of bamboo shoots from Li Dalang's hand:

"Nourishing blood? Good stuff, I happen to need it. Give me a portion too, many thanks, Dalang."

Ouyang Rong said with a smile.

Everyone was stunned.

"Why does Tanlang need to nourish yin and kidneys for no reason?" Wang Lixian asked curiously.

"If Tanlang wants to eat it, why not come to the Prince's Mansion? Let Mother boil the soup, and we can all drink it together."

Li Dalang suggested.

Yan Liulang heard the four words "nourishing yin and kidneys" and couldn't help but take another look at the Magistrate who had been walking like the wind most of the time recently.

Ouyang Rong looked straight ahead and corrected seriously:

"It's not nourishing yin and kidneys; I don't lack that. It's... it's to nourish others, to nourish blood."

"Then who is it to nourish?" Wang Lixian asked strangely.

Ouyang Rong was solemn, almost speaking off the cuff:

"Yuan Huaimin."

A resentful voice came from behind; it was Yuan Huaimin.

"Brother Lianghan, I'm still here; I haven't left."

"Isn't your childhood sweetheart here? Don't worry, you'll use it soon."

Ouyang Rong's expression didn't change as he spoke casually.

However, when he said this, his peripheral vision still scanned the surroundings.

Hmm, no sign of Yi Qianqiu.

Yuan Huaimin had the same reaction, looking around worriedly.

Seeing that the tigress wasn't there, he relaxed slightly.

"Brother Lianghan, this kind of nonsense must not be spoken randomly. If it were me being loyal, if it were Qiuniang..."

The four of them chatted while walking out of the bamboo forest.

At this moment, an old man who was withered and tall suddenly walked out of the bamboo forest on the front right. He was wearing a white robe that had been washed until it was white, vaguely a green musician's uniform. He was carrying a small hoe on his shoulder and holding some fresh bamboo shoots in his hand, creating an atmosphere of leisurely rural living.

When the old man with the hoe saw Ouyang Rong and his party, he stopped leisurely.

"Young masters, if you don't eat the fresh bamboo shoots for a while, remember to soak them in water to preserve them and keep the fresh taste."

He exhorted with a gentle expression.

Ouyang Rong and Wang Lixian looked at each other and nodded, cupping their hands:

"We have been instructed."

The old musician's gentle gaze passed over Ouyang Rong and the others and landed on Yuan Huaimin:

"You are Jiangzhou Senior Secretary Yuan Huaimin, right? I heard that you know some of the 'Wu belt dancing in the wind' painting techniques. This is the unique skill of a painting saint surnamed Wu in Chang'an back then. Are you an old friend of his?"

Yuan Huaimin scratched his head: "We can be considered old friends, but we haven't been in contact for many years. Does the old gentleman know him too?"

"I stayed in Chang'an before. I have long admired his name, and I have some feelings."

The old musician adjusted the hoe on his shoulder and sighed lightly.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two sides brushed past each other.

After walking for a while, Ouyang Rong looked back at the old musician's back.

"Dalang, what is going on?" Wang Lixian asked, looking back.

Before Li Dalang could speak, Yan Liulang explained it in a few words.

It turned out that Ouyang Rong and Wang Lixian were having a morning meeting, and the two of them were strolling in the forest when they saw this old man digging bamboo shoots. They watched for a while and were invited by the old man with a smile, so they took the opportunity to get some bamboo shoots.

Ouyang Rong heard this, his expression thoughtful.

Wang Lixian frowned: "This old gentleman seems a bit familiar. Also, how does he live in this bamboo forest? This place is close to the Grottoes; hasn't it been sealed off by the Supervisory Court?"

Li Dalang opened his mouth:

"Father forgot. This is the old zither player we met once before. When the Xingzi Lake Buddha collapsed last time and Xingzi Ward was sealed off, Lady Did Rong Zhen and Deputy Supervisor Song invited him over to play a piece. This old gentleman should have connections with the Luojing Astronomical Bureau; I don't know who he is."

Yuan Huaimin nodded: "I also have a slight impression."

He looked at Ouyang Rong's quiet expression and explained:

"Lianghan wasn't in Xingzi Ward at that time; he was invited back later by Lady Did Rong Zhen, so it's normal that he hasn't seen him."

Ouyang Rong smiled and didn't speak.

In his ears, a segment of lingering zither sound that had swirled around Brother Huang when the god descended into the water room at the Xingzi Lake construction site rang out again.

The four of them walked out of the bamboo forest.

Seeing that Princess Anhui's carriage seemed to still be in the Xunyang Grottoes, chatting with Did Rong Zhen and the others.

Ouyang Rong and Wang Lixian didn't intend to stay long and were about to leave.

At this moment, a clear and quiet zither sound came from the bamboo forest behind them.

Just then, Did Rong Zhen suddenly hurried back and entered the bamboo forest.

Ouyang Rong looked back at her hurried back.

(PS: Begging for or2) ===== CHAPTER 499 =====