Chapter 504: Three hundred seventy-six, Xie Lingjiang: You wouldn't want to do that too, would you?

Three hundred seventy-six, Xie Lingjiang: You wouldn't want to do that too, would you?

"Fine, I told you not to raise bad women outside, and you actually rejected it! This immortal maiden is going to tell Xie Yatou right now."

From inside the tightly shut wardrobe came Miaosi's knocking and grumbling.

Ouyang Rong said earnestly: "I meant the part about raising other little ink spirits; that is rejected."

He turned and left the wardrobe. Miaosi pushed the door open, poked her little head out from inside, and looked suspicious:

"How come from your tone, it sounds like you want to reject everything."

Ouyang Rong didn't look back, hitting the nail on the head:

"I see you have a guilty conscience today, afraid that if I raised other little ink spirits outside who could produce spiritual ink, I wouldn't need you anymore.

"Otherwise, with your personality—slacking off and passive-aggressive, like a water buffalo that only plows the field after a whip—you've delayed telling me the detailed process of how you produce spiritual ink precisely because you're afraid that once I understand the principle, you'll have less room to make excuses for being lazy.

"So, even if you had the Xiao Shimei feeding you treasured spiritual ink, you would likely have delayed until the very end to hand over this spiritual ink. What? Are you having second thoughts today, truly afraid that I might be raising little ink spirits outside to compete with you for your job? You were still fishing for information and testing me right up until you handed over the ink just now. Looking at it this way, the Great Immortal Xiao Niangzi isn't stupid either."

Miaosi's little face changed, and the tone of her hands-on-hips retort weakened slightly:

"What kind of nonsense... you think you understand this immortal maiden, but you don't understand anything at all, hmph."

Behind the wardrobe door, she retorted while her eyes darted around:

"You're the most self-righteous person, bar none."

Ouyang Rong smiled and said nothing.

Miaosi suddenly asked:

"So, did you or did you not raise a little ink spirit outside?"

"Guess."

"This immortal maiden guesses you definitely did."

"Then I guess I did."

"What do you mean 'I guess I did'? Then this immortal maiden guesses you didn't."

"Guessed wrong."

"..."

Miaosi was suspicious and disbelieving, muttering to herself, becoming increasingly doubtful:

"You've often brought things back from outside for us lately, and the pastries too. Being so generous, it's clear you have some happy news. I haven't heard any good news from the Jiangzhou government or the Xunyang Grottoes either. It's not like you've been promoted or gotten rich. Besides women, I really can't think of any other aspect that would make you show such emotions."

Ouyang Rong sighed: "You understand this young master so well; it seems I really can't keep you."

Miaosi put on a straight face: "Sometimes I really want to bite you."

Ouyang Rong ignored her and returned to the desk.

Today could be considered a double harvest, with two pieces of good news in succession.

First was the unexpected gain of a new blessing, and second was the arrival of the new spiritual ink, which could be used to craft another red-and-black talisman as a backup.

The previous red-and-black talisman had been made into talisman water, mixed with the authentic manuscript of Tao Qian's "Returning to Live in the Countryside," and swallowed into his stomach, just like how Li Dalang had swallowed the late Master Yuan's legacy talisman, just in case.

Ouyang Rong collected his thoughts and cast his gaze toward the talisman-making materials on the table.

He had already torn three pages from the back of the withered yellow booklet that recorded the Supreme Clarity secret art, "True Declarations." With the guidance of the little ink spirit Miaosi, this was the highest-grade talisman paper.

The previous two red-and-black talismans had used up two sheets, and he was currently using the third.

Ouyang Rong picked up the withered yellow booklet and weighed it; there was still a stack left, so he didn't have to worry about running out for the time being.

The main issue was that the spiritual ink produced by the ink spirit was too rare, limiting the number of red-and-black talismans.

Ouyang Rong glanced at the blood-red ink in the golden alms bowl that was about to hit the bottom.

He reached out to take it and continued to pick up the brush to draw the talisman.

About half an hour later.

Ouyang Rong leaned back and let out a long breath of turbid air.

Immediately, a smile curled at the corners of his mouth as he looked at his palm.

A brand-new red-character, black-background talisman was lying quietly in his palm.

Carefully blowing the ink dry, Ouyang Rong put away the red-and-black talisman, tidied up, and stood up to leave the study.

Before leaving, he looked back at the desk where he had made the talisman.

Ouyang Rong suddenly remembered the evaluation from the elderly senior, Yu, earlier that day.

Spirituality, comprehension.

Thinking about it carefully, since arriving in this world, he had learned many things. Like the talisman-making just now, he had explored it himself, was self-taught, and had mastered it very quickly.

He seemed to adapt extremely quickly to many things in unfamiliar fields, which matched the evaluation of having high spirituality and comprehension.

Ouyang Rong hadn't felt it too much before, mainly because he had been burying his head and moving forward without stopping. And those around him, such as the Xiao Shimei, Yan Liulang, and Lixian, already viewed him as their backbone—someone who was almost omnipotent—so they took his abilities for granted.

Now, being commented on by an unfamiliar elderly bystander, thinking about it carefully, it could be considered quite objective.

While Ouyang Rong was lost in thought, he returned to the master bedroom.

Ye Weilai was tidying up clothes by the bed.

Now with her help, some of the clothes Ouyang Rong brought back from the quiet courtyard didn't need to be hidden away. Ye Weilai could even help him handle them, covering them up. Whenever he went out, Ye Weilai would thoughtfully stuff two sets of clothes for him to prevent him from having to borrow from Yuan Bangxian again.

Ye Weilai stood up to welcome him.

As soon as Ouyang Rong sat down, he heard a piece of news that could be considered good:

"Tanlang, that pastry you brought back last night—Madam Zhen seemed to have quietly tasted a piece this afternoon."

Ouyang Rong smiled and said: "Why quietly? Wouldn't it be fine to eat it openly?"

Ye Weilai pursed her lips and smiled.

"Tanlang, you know better than anyone that Madam cares most about face. But she must also be curious about what kind of sacred person the woman is who could make Tanlang go to such lengths to bring things home."

She tilted her head and said: "If Madam Zhen knew it was that former child bride, I wonder what she would think?"

Ouyang Rong didn't take the bait, asking softly:

"Having tasted the pastry, has Aunt still not guessed it? Xiuniang worked as a cook in the Plum Deer Garden in Dragon City for a while; I remember she made pastries back then too."

Ye Weilai shook her head:

"Madam Zhen doesn't really like sweet things. She might have believed what I explained in public before, thinking that these kinds of osmanthus pastries all taste the same."

Ouyang Rong remained silent, stroking the head of the white-haired girl who was providing assists.

Ye Weilai tilted her head, pressing her warm cheek into Ouyang Rong's palm, and parted her lips:

"Tanlang is very smart, and the train of thought and method are correct. You absolutely cannot wait until the birthday banquet to let Madam Zhen and Miss Xie know of Xiuniang's existence. It would be best if both sides knew of each other's existence before the birthday banquet and tacitly accepted it...

"As for bringing her home on the day of the birthday banquet, that would be a symbolic ceremony for outsiders to see, to give her a proper status..."

"Mm."

Ouyang Rong pinched her cheek and said:

"Sleep early. Don't go flipping through books and writing tonight; get some rest."

"Okay..."

Hearing the words "flipping through books and writing," Ye Weilai didn't know what she was thinking, but her little face flushed red as she ran off to change into clean clothes for Ouyang Rong.

The two ponytails tied into double buns at the back of her head bounced as she moved, making one unable to resist grabbing them.

Early the next morning.

Ouyang Rong left from Huaiye Lane and did not immediately go to the Xunyang Grottoes to meet up with the Xiao Niangzi Historian.

He first made a trip to the Xunyang Prince's Mansion.

He specifically brought a box of osmanthus pastries made by Xiuniang.

Arriving at the Prince's Mansion, Ouyang Rong went straight to the private courtyard of Xie Lingjiang and Li Guoer.

He didn't go to see the Wang Lixian couple or Li Dalang, otherwise, they would enthusiastically insist he stay for a meal, making it hard to get away.

Moreover, both sides were already as familiar as could be; Ouyang Rong didn't need to be like other Jiangzhou officials who had to pay a formal visit to the Xunyang Prince upon arriving at the mansion.

Ouyang Rong prepared to confirm the location of that peach blossom forest in the Kuanglu Mountains once more.

The journey was smooth and unimpeded.

The two women's private courtyards were right next to each other.

Just as he arrived, Ouyang Rong discovered that there was no one in the Xiao Shimei's courtyard, but it was lively in Li Guoer's courtyard next door.

The voices of the Wang Lixian couple, Li Guoer, and Li Dalang could be vaguely heard over the wall.

At the entrance to Li Guoer's private courtyard, many maidservants were gathered, carefully eating melons and watching the show, among them were a few familiar maidservants from the Xiao Shimei's courtyard.

The crowd of women were watching and didn't notice Ouyang Rong's approach.

Ouyang Rong curiously stepped forward and stood on tiptoe at the entrance to take a look.

As expected, he saw Li Dalang being chased and beaten by Wang Lixian with a broom, with Wei Mei blocking in front to protect Li Dalang, while Li Guoer sat to one side, holding a cat in her arms, her slender hands gently stroking it, smiling as she cracked melon seeds.

On Li Guoer's lap, the cat's pair of azure eyes reflected the scene of Li Dalang running around the courtyard, its eyeballs curiously following his figure.

Perhaps it was wondering why humans were stealing its venue for parkour today.

Ouyang Rong didn't watch Wang Lixian beating his son for long.

His gaze shifted, and beside the melon-seed-cracking Li Guoer, he discovered the Xiao Shimei's figure.

The morning sun was bright today. Xie Lingjiang must have finished bathing and washed her hair; she hadn't tied it up yet and was tilting her head somewhat cutely while wiping her wet hair with a white towel.

A head of black, shiny, soft hair draped over her shoulders like a waterfall, cascading down from her swan-like neck, yet it couldn't hide her full chest.

The smooth long hair was still damp and not yet dry, bathing in the golden morning sun in the courtyard, reflecting a micro-gloss like black silk.

Washing hair in this era was very troublesome; after wiping it, it needed to air dry naturally.

Xie Lingjiang was wiping her hair while frowning at the scene of the Heir Apparent being chased and beaten by the Prince.

She didn't take the melon seeds handed over by Li Guoer beside her.

She was about to speak, but her peripheral vision caught a familiar figure at the entrance.

Xie Lingjiang's eyes shone like stars.

Behind the crowd at the entrance, Ouyang Rong held a finger to his lips, signaling to her.

Xie Lingjiang understood in a second, not even telling her best friend beside her, and left the melon-eating scene on tiptoe.

At the entrance, the Ru Shixiong and Xiao Shimei met up and returned to the adjacent private courtyard.

They threw the commotion of the Xunyang Prince's family behind them.

The two chose a sunny spot in the courtyard and sat down.

"When did the Ru Shixiong arrive?"

"Just arrived a little while ago."

Ouyang Rong smiled, put down the pastry box, walked over to take the towel from Xie Lingjiang's hand, and went behind her to help wipe her wet hair, his expression focused and dedicated.

Xie Lingjiang cast her gaze toward the food box on the table. After waiting for a while and not seeing Ouyang Rong speak, she asked curiously:

"Is the Ru Shixiong not worried about Dalang's matter next door?"

"What's there to ask? A father beating his child is a matter of course; even the Most Holy Teacher couldn't stop it. And looking at the Prince Consort and the little Princess, it doesn't seem like a serious matter."

"The Ru Shixiong is indeed smart." Xie Lingjiang nodded: "It really isn't an important matter; it's just that Dalang doesn't want to take a concubine."

"Take a concubine?"

"Mm. Uncle Li arranged a concubine for Dalang—a young lady from a side branch of the Jingzhao Wei clan. This marriage was mentioned by Uncle Li when he wrote to the Wei father-in-law previously, and it should have also received the approval of the Wei mother."

"Today, the Jingzhao Wei clan replied. Originally, they were going to marry off a legitimate daughter as the primary wife, but the Jingzhao Wei clan of this generation has no legitimate noble daughter of the right age; the one closest in age is only seven, and they have to wait a few years. With no legitimate daughter to marry, the Prince prepared to pick a side-branch Wei lady from the list of candidates in the letter as Dalang's concubine, to first solve Dalang's widowhood problem..."

Ouyang Rong smiled: "Isn't that quite good?"

He paused and added: "Dalang hasn't married yet; there's no rush for a primary wife. Taking a concubine first should be quite normal."

"It is quite good, quite normal." Xie Lingjiang nodded, her tone helpless: "But Dalang firmly disagrees with taking a concubine, saying that he must have a primary wife before taking a concubine, otherwise it's easy to breed conflict later, just like..."

"Just like what?"

"Dalang said, otherwise it would be just like Uncle Li..."

Ouyang Rong understood in a second upon hearing this and laughed:

"Dalang is quite good at united front work. I finally understand why the Prince Consort is helping him block it, even though he is rejecting the Jingzhao Wei clan's marriage."

Xie Lingjiang was stunned for a moment, then understood too, and shook her head:

"Yeah, it seems the Wei mother quite agrees... Just rejecting the marriage wouldn't have made Uncle Li chase him and beat him; who told Dalang to have no filter."

Xie Lingjiang said again:

"However, Dalang running to Guoer's courtyard to seek help from his sister was looking for the wrong person."

Ouyang Rong asked curiously: "What do you mean?"

Xie Lingjiang's expression was strange: "Uncle Li wanting Dalang to marry a wife immediately was actually an idea Guoer proposed in private. I accompanied her. Sister Guoer said that to prevent him from still having thoughts about that Princess Anhui, it would be better to take a concubine to satisfy some of the needs that all men have, and that would be enough..."

Ouyang Rong nodded: "As expected of the Black-Hearted Princess."

"Black-Hearted Princess?"

"Nothing."

Ouyang Rong shook his head and calmly changed the subject:

"What does the Xiao Shimei think about this matter?"

Xie Lingjiang lightly tapped her lips with her index finger and thought for a while:

"Actually, what Dalang said isn't a problem either; I quite agree. Taking a concubine really does need the primary wife to look it over, otherwise, if their personalities don't match later and conflict arises in the house, it will be hard to handle.

"But Dalang's situation is best handled by marrying quickly, cutting the Gordian knot. So it's really troublesome. It's hard for an honest official to settle family affairs. Ru Shixiong, let's not worry about it."

"Mm-mm, not worrying, just chatting."

Ouyang Rong said again:

"Actually, in my opinion, Dalang still has some little schemes. Otherwise... otherwise, taking a concubine doesn't necessarily mean he has to have a primary wife first. As long as he has the ability, he can naturally reconcile them."

"That makes sense, wait."

Xie Lingjiang showed a suspicious expression and turned her head:

"Strange, why is the Ru Shixiong criticizing Dalang? Haven't you always been helping him speak?"

Ouyang Rong coughed: "Just discussing the matter as it stands."

Xie Lingjiang thought for a moment and tightened her pretty face:

"Is that so? Are you sure it's not... touching the scene and feeling the emotion?"

Ouyang Rong shook his head like a rattle.

Xie Lingjiang smiled sweetly:

"Oh, that's good. I thought the Ru Shixiong was thinking of doing that himself, which is why you were refuting Dalang."

Ouyang Rong:...

—————— ===== CHAPTER 505 =====