Chapter 503

375. Zither Sounds Conceal Blessings

The next morning.

Ouyang Rong found Rong Zhen.

"Why did you come so late today?"

At the entrance of the Xunyang Grottoes, Rong Zhen's tone was somewhat dissatisfied.

Ouyang Rong took another look at her.

He didn't know if it was an illusion, or because the material of her clothing absorbed light under the sun, but Lady Official's palace dress looked a bit more purple today.

It gave people a deep and mysterious texture.

She was also wearing an exquisite and graceful Lingyun bun today, a high-style single bun, which was the style of noble ladies in the Luoyang circle.

Perhaps because she had been standing in the sun for too long, Rong Zhen's expression was very impatient.

Especially under the curious gazes of passersby, although they restrained their gazes out of fear of Lady Official's majesty and didn't dare to look too much.

Besides, he didn't know if the sun was too poisonous, but Lady Official's face looked a bit dark... well, maybe she was in a bad mood.

"Sorry, I was absorbed in reading last night and slept quite late, so I was delayed," Ouyang Rong apologized.

"Oh, is that so, reading." Rong Zhen stated.

Ouyang Rong looked at his nose and heart, as if he hadn't heard.

Rong Zhen examined him, as well as the food box and zither case he was carrying.

Rong Zhen reached out directly and took the food box from his hand:

"Let's go, follow me. Since you came so late, if we wait a while, we can have lunch. Let's go over first."

"Good."

Ouyang Rong followed Rong Zhen all the way to the bamboo forest he had visited a few days ago.

He had guessed right that day; the bamboo house discussed in the morning meeting was where the senior expert lived. Of course, the senior expert had gone out to dig bamboo shoots, leaving the space empty.

Walking into the bamboo house courtyard, Ouyang Rong saw an elderly man he recognized tidying up the potted plants in the courtyard.

In the courtyard, toward the kitchen, smoke was curling; lunch was ready, and judging by the apron the old man hadn't taken off, he must have cooked it himself.

When Rong Zhen brought Ouyang Rong in, the old musician didn't even turn his head: "You're all here? Then let's eat. Rong girl's friend can join too."

An incense stick later, the three were sitting around the table, with three dishes and one soup in front of them.

"This is Ouyang Lianghan, Sima of Jiangzhou, acting Cishi of Jiangzhou, and a scholar of the Xiuwen Pavilion appointed by His Majesty."

Rong Zhen took the initiative to introduce both sides.

"Senior Yu is a senior from the palace, formerly serving as a musician in the Shangyang Palace in Luoyang, and was once His Majesty's favorite court musician."

Ouyang Rong greeted him with a smile:

"Good afternoon, Senior Yu."

The old musician looked at Rong Zhen's serious face during the introduction, then looked at Ouyang Rong, and teased:

"I heard from Rong girl that your zither skills are not bad?"

"Just so-so."

Ouyang Rong said modestly.

The old musician didn't stand on ceremony and said directly:

"Play a piece for me to hear."

Ouyang Rong thought about it, took out the zither from the case that belonged to Yuan Huaimin, and played a piece on the spot.

After the piece, he pressed his hands on the strings and let out a light breath.

Rong Zhen was focused, but it wasn't until Ouyang Rong finished and looked up that she realized it was over, and she quickly looked at the old musician's expression.

This reaction made her seem a bit clumsy.

Lady Official was a bit cute in her clumsiness; it turned out she was tone-deaf...

Ouyang Rong's gaze turned to the old musician.

The latter stroked his beard and agreed:

"Indeed, just so-so."

Ouyang Rong laughed; he really hadn't studied zither skills much, having always listened to Li Guoer and others play in the past while he enjoyed it from the side.

Since he needed it temporarily, he could only learn a few simple pieces.

Hearing this, Rong Zhen felt a bit disappointed in her eyes.

The old musician suddenly said:

"However, one piece doesn't explain anything. I will play a piece, you listen carefully and learn well."

After speaking, the old musician took out an ancient zither.

Rong Zhen immediately sat upright, her expression focused on listening.

Ouyang Rong was more relaxed, turning his head curiously to examine this old man and young girl.

Rong Zhen's reaction surprised Ouyang Rong; he had originally thought this old musician should be a senior from the Si Tian Jian, participating in the defense of the Xunyang Grottoes, and Rong Zhen was just treating him well.

But now it seemed that Rong Zhen's serious and studious appearance, at this critical moment, still had the patience to learn; it seemed the things she had to learn were very important and could not be mistaken.

Ouyang Rong became increasingly curious.

What exactly was this old musician teaching?

The piece ended.

The old musician gestured to Ouyang Rong:

"You try."

Ouyang Rong came back to his senses; he hadn't actually listened very carefully, but he was familiar with the fingering and basics, and at this moment, he didn't think too much, following his feelings, and played a piece in return.

After listening, Rong Zhen felt there was still a difference between the first and second pieces, even he, a layman, could hear it, and couldn't help but shake her head in disappointment.

The old musician's expression didn't change, and he suddenly said:

"Listen again, and play another piece."

As he spoke, without waiting for Ouyang Rong to nod, the old musician played the piece he had just played again, and after finishing, cast his gaze toward Ouyang Rong.

Ouyang Rong didn't feel pressured either, playing it again, everything done impulsively, and even if he accidentally played a wrong note in the middle, he didn't deliberately correct it.

Only then did Rong Zhen see some clues.

Ouyang Rong's version, except for some details, was already almost the same.

The old musician didn't give a third chance.

He nodded lightly, stroked his beard, and laughed:

"Ouyang Scholar doesn't have much talent for the zither, but... he has great spiritual insight. In this regard, he is much stronger than Rong girl. With this insight, he won't be bad at learning anything. I have seen few people like you in Luoyang for many years; you are rare and hard to find."

Rong Zhen had originally had a smile on her lips when she heard Ouyang Rong being praised, but when she heard herself being compared, she felt a bit unconvinced:

"What is Senior saying? Why not try again, I will try..."

The old musician shook his head with a smile.

After lunch, the old musician took a sickle and hoe and went to the bamboo forest, saying he was looking for a quiet place to play the zither and pick some bamboo shoots along the way.

Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen accompanied him.

In the spring bamboo forest, bamboo grew wildly everywhere, blocking many paths that were originally clear.

Rong Zhen took a sword from the Xuanwu Guard somewhat impatiently and hacked at the bamboo.

The old musician, however, smiled and used his sickle to clear the path without haste, his speed not much slower than Rong Zhen's.

But Ouyang Rong didn't see this senior expert reveal any spiritual energy fluctuations.

Looking closely, he discovered that his movements for cutting bamboo and clearing the path were very particular; he first hooked the root of the bamboo with the sickle, the blade tilted upward, applied a little force, and pulled it toward his chest, and the bamboo was easily cut.

Ouyang Rong immediately took a sickle and followed suit, hooking the root of the bamboo, grabbing the handle, and pulling it toward his chest... it was indeed easy and labor-saving.

He nodded lightly; if one didn't have ten or eight years of experience in mountain and field life, one would never know this trick, just like farmers in the fields using clever strength to plow the land.

Rong Zhen, holding her long sword, cleared the path for a while, then turned her head to look, seeing this tacit understanding between the old man and the young man, and their speed was not much slower than hers; her cheeks turned red with shame...

The old musician didn't speak, and Ouyang Rong didn't cast any teasing glances.

But something became increasingly obvious.

Someone's cultivation talent was poor, but his insight and spiritual heart were indeed higher than hers, higher by more than one level.

Rong Zhen pursed her lips and secretly examined him.

An afternoon passed, and there was no substantial gain, at least not that Ouyang Rong could feel; accompanying this senior expert running around in the mountains and forests felt more like sightseeing.

During this time, Ouyang Rong saw that this Senior Yu seemed to have tuberculosis, carrying a handkerchief and covering his mouth to cough from time to time, but his expression remained calm and composed, and he even chatted with Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen about many idle topics with a smile.

According to Rong Zhen, the old musician had lived in the clear and breezy bamboo forest for a while, and this illness had eased quite a bit.

This place was also chosen for him by Song Mama; the two were old acquaintances...

At dusk, Ouyang Rong prepared to return to the city.

"Wait."

Rong Zhen's voice suddenly came from behind.

She caught up and ordered coldly:

"Go to Mount Kuanglu tomorrow, to the peach blossom forest you found before. Senior expert wants you to go together. If there is time, go to the Xunyang Tower and listen to the pipa music."

"Good, I will arrange it."

Rong Zhen suddenly said:

"When do you have time?"

"What do you mean?"

"In the future, when Senior expert teaches music, take some time every day to teach me again."

"Uh, why not let Senior expert teach you?"

"Why ask so much? You were brought here to help. Will you teach me or not?"

"I will, I will teach." Ouyang Rong was helpless.

The two agreed on a time and said goodbye.

Before leaving, Ouyang Rong suddenly said:

"Sorry, my insight is a bit better than Lady Official's."

Rong Zhen was stunned, then her pretty face turned red.

"You stop right there..."

Before she could explode, Ouyang Rong had already slipped away, disappearing from sight.

If he kept teasing her, Lady Official would really be furious.

The carriage Ouyang Rong was riding in drove out of the Xunyang Grottoes.

"Why did the merit points rise a bit faster? Lady Official is truly an experience pack..."

He muttered to himself while resting his eyes in the carriage, and the next moment, Ouyang Rong's expression suddenly froze.

His ears were filled with the trembling sound of the Blessing Bell.

Ouyang Rong entered the Merit Pagoda and looked carefully.

The Blessing Bell in the air was shaking crazily.

The purple mist pouring out contained golden threads.

He reached out to touch the bell and felt it.

Redeeming this blessing required 1,500 merit points.

Ouyang Rong scratched his nose.

What kind of blessing was this? Golden? The merit points required weren't few, but not many either, yet it had "gold content"?

He immediately turned his head and looked at the blue-gold characters above the small wooden fish:

【Merit: 4,509】

Without hesitating for too long, he took a deep breath and nodded to redeem it.

Above the small wooden fish, that line of blue-gold characters immediately turned into a swimming carp and rushed toward the Blessing Bell.

Dong—!

The sound of a great bell echoed through the Merit Pagoda.

The purple mist containing golden threads on the Blessing Bell exploded, spreading out as brilliantly as fireworks, and finally disappeared without a trace.

The Merit Pagoda returned to silence.

The light group formed by the blue-gold characters shrank by a circle and returned to hover above the small wooden fish.

【Merit: 3,009】

It was just right. After looking at the remaining merit points, Ouyang Rong nodded in satisfaction and turned to leave the Merit Pagoda.

In the carriage, Ouyang Rong opened his eyes, a thoughtful look appearing on his face.

"Today I accompanied Lady Official Rong to meet Senior Yu and played a few zither pieces... Could this blessing be related to Senior Yu and zither music?"

He pondered the whole way, and at nightfall, Ouyang Rong returned to the residence on Huaiye Lane.

Ouyang Rong distributed some of the pastries Xiuniang had made by hand to his aunt and the others, and kept some, intending to send them to his junior sister.

After dinner, Ouyang Rong returned to the Yinbing Study, and just as he walked into the study, Miaosi suddenly jumped out.

"Little Rongzi, we have it."

Ouyang Rong asked calmly: "What do you have?"

He couldn't help but examine the little Daoist nun in Confucian robes.

Feeling Ouyang Rong's gaze aiming at her stomach, Miaosi immediately said angrily:

"It's definitely spiritual ink, could it be a child?"

Ouyang Rong laughed:

"Good, then tell me clearly, where is the spiritual ink? Did you squeeze it out?"

"What do you mean squeeze? That's called brewing, brewing, understand? Do you really think this immortal is slacking off? I was actually brewing it secretly."

Miaosi hummed, ran back to the bookcase, and after a while, brought back a golden bowl filled with blood-red ink, which looked quite warm.

Ouyang Rong breathed a sigh of relief.

"Why are you suddenly so nice? You used to bargain."

Ouyang Rong asked curiously.

Miaosi hugged her chest and didn't speak.

Ouyang Rong took the spiritual ink and went to make talismans.

Miaosi watched from the side, and Ouyang Rong didn't stop her this time.

Seeing him working on the unique talisman scripts of the Shangqing Daoist Sect, Miaosi wasn't surprised; her expression was instead "as expected."

Ouyang Rong focused on making the talisman scripts.

Before long, seeing him take a break, Miaosi suddenly asked:

"Ouyang Lianghan, why are you so nice to this immortal? You never urge me for spiritual ink and are willing to wait for me?"

Ouyang Rong said casually:

"You are my grandmother, how would I dare to urge you easily."

Miaosi's originally serious little face couldn't hold back her laughter.

After laughing triumphantly for a while, she snorted coldly:

"You have a conscience, but you should thank Xie girl..."

"What do you mean?" Ouyang Rong raised his head and asked.

Miaosi immediately covered her mouth with both hands and looked around: "N-nothing."

Ouyang Rong turned his head slowly, his eyes fixed on the little ink spirit who had let it slip.

Feeling her hair stand on end, and having no other choice, Miaosi sighed and honestly told him about Xie Lingjiang privately feeding her precious spiritual ink from the Chen Jun Xie Clan.

Ouyang Rong listened and fell silent.

He suddenly realized he hadn't accompanied his serious junior sister for quite a while, yet she didn't urge or get angry.

When Ouyang Rong took the initiative to find her, she was overjoyed.

When he was busy and had no time like recently, his junior sister also guarded the Xunyang Prince's Mansion well and didn't go to make surprise inspections.

Speaking of which, Xiuniang lived in the quiet courtyard, and if his junior sister was watching him all day and following him, Ouyang Rong definitely wouldn't have time to go over, and it would be very easy to be discovered.

In a sense, Ouyang Rong was able to settle Xiuniang so well in the quiet courtyard because his junior sister was forgiving and generous.

He just didn't know if she did it on purpose or if she trusted her senior brother too much.

"Little Rongzi, Xie girl and this immortal are so close; if you are two-hearted, for example, raising other women outside, like a new little ink spirit, then you are truly a big pig's trotter, understand?"

At this moment, Miaosi's serious-sounding voice came from the side.

Ouyang Rong's expression was silent; he reached out with his large hand, grabbed the little ink spirit who was protesting with her hands on her hips, and threw her back into the wardrobe...

"Rejected."

Miaosi:...