Chapter 510

382. Why, going to see your little lover?

Dongmei snorted, letting out a puff of hot air.

She lowered her head to nuzzle her master, Ouyang Rong.

Ouyang Rong patted her head, exchanged a few laughs with A Li, hugged his zither case, and boarded the carriage.

"Go to Chengtiansi Temple and pick up Watching Yuan Huaimin."

"Yes, Young Master."

Before the carriage moved, a graceful woman in purple-gold silk, wearing a thin veil hat and a feather-satin cloak, stepped out of a nearby alley. Inside, she wore a low-key, luxurious black silk dress with red-trimmed sleeves—the ultimate human wealth that best nourishes a woman.

Before the carriage, Xie Xiao Niangzi Pei Pei Shisan Niang offered a greeting in a soft, sweet voice and entered the carriage.

"Young Master, Young Master."

Before she could even take off her veil hat and cloak, the ripe woman knelt on her knees by the feet of the young man in scholar's robes. Her knees were rubbed raw and red by the ordinary carriage floor, which lacked an expensive rug, yet her eyes remained soft and charming as she pounded his legs to relax his muscles.

Ouyang Rong remained calm and dodged slightly.

Xie Xiao Niangzi Pei Pei Shisan Niang laughed and scolded:

"Young Master, why are your thighs so tense? Relax; it's easy to hit a nerve this way... It doesn't matter if my hands hurt, but I can't let your legs get hurt."

He stiffened his face: "Pei Shisan Niang, be normal."

"Where am I not normal?"

Xie Xiao Niangzi Pei Pei Shisan Niang took off her veil hat and cloak, revealing a round, jade-like face. She looked down at her own noblewoman attire for the day and continued to pound Ouyang Rong's legs softly, just like a young girl, pouting her red lips:

"Hmm, my body is very straight. Are you sure it isn't your heart, Young Master, that has become slightly crooked from the carriage's jolting?"

Ouyang Rong's tone became somewhat stiff:

"Xie Xiao Niangzi Pei, please respect yourself."

She immediately begged: "Why has the Young Master suddenly become so distant? I was wrong; please, Young Master, never call me that."

Ouyang Rong shook his head and took out a zither he had been using recently from under his seat, beginning to wipe it.

Sensing his silence, Xie Xiao Niangzi Pei Pei Shisan Niang looked up slightly, appraising Ouyang Rong.

She found him sitting upright, his expression calm and indifferent as he wiped the wooden zither; it didn't look like he was pretending.

Xie Xiao Niangzi Pei Pei Shisan Niang pounded Ouyang Rong's legs quietly for a while, then at one point raised her head, resting her chin lightly on his thigh.

The noblewoman in the black dress, with her round face, looked up at the young man in scholar's robes and said softly:

"It's mainly because you've been at the Xunyang Grottoes for the past few days, Young Master. Not seeing you for many days, I've truly missed you in my heart. I don't know why, but sometimes being by your side, listening to your teachings, makes my heart feel very settled. I have indeed learned many new things."

Ouyang Rong didn't stop wiping the zither, his voice softening slightly, though still somewhat irritable:

"Fine, but the floor is cold and hard. If you love kneeling, kneel, just don't go around saying I abused you."

Sensing that his tone wasn't truly one of disgust or rejection, Xie Xiao Niangzi Pei Pei Shisan Niang covered her mouth and smiled sweetly:

"If it's you, Young Master, abuse is fine. It's not abuse; it's called affection. I don't know how many young ladies outside are longing for this; they don't even have this blessing."

"You have a blessing too, right?"

Xie Xiao Niangzi Pei Pei Shisan Niang became serious:

"Meeting you, Young Master, and turning over a new leaf is indeed my blessing."

Ouyang Rong thought for a moment and sighed:

"Six."

"This subordinate is here. Does the Magistrate have any new orders?"

A voice, both dull and respectful, suddenly came from the carriage curtain.

It was Yan Liulang.

The carriage was halfway to Chengtiansi Temple when the blue-clad constable quietly boarded halfway, preparing to lift the curtain, just in time to hear Ouyang Rong's "shout."

You two connect quite well... Ouyang Rong's mouth twitched.

"No new orders, everything as usual."

"Yes, Magistrate."

As Yan Liulang spoke, he lifted the curtain and squeezed into the carriage. Just as he was about to sit down, he saw the scene inside: Ouyang Rong sitting and Xie Xiao Niangzi Pei Pei Shisan Niang kneeling.

Both of them turned their heads at the same time and looked at him.

Yan Liulang's butt stopped three inches above the soft cushion on the seat opposite Ouyang Rong, suspended in mid-air.

With almost no hesitation, he stood back up, turned, and walked away.

"Why are you running? Come back."

Ouyang Rong frowned.

"Yes, Magistrate, sorry, this subordinate is late."

Yan Liulang sat down in an instant.

A sudden stop, then a violent sit—it was a bit hard on his butt, but who told him he wanted to advance?

Ouyang Rong didn't know that the blue-clad constable before him had just had a profound image of Wang Caozhi sweetly calling "Sister Rong" flash before his eyes.

He shook his head:

"Pei Shisan Niang hasn't been here long, so you aren't late."

The carriage jolted. Yan Liulang sat upright, not looking at the ripe woman's figure at the Magistrate's feet. He looked straight ahead and nodded heavily:

"This subordinate understands."

Ouyang Rong asked: "Also, why did you run just now?"

"I, I remembered an urgent matter I hadn't done."

Ouyang Rong didn't blame him and asked with concern:

"Do you need to go do it now?"

"No need. This subordinate remembered that my subordinates should be able to help solve it. Like me, they have been bathed in the Magistrate's brilliance for a long time, and they have become much more capable and mature in their work."

"That's good. However, don't learn from Wang Caozhi and flatter me."

"Yes, yes."

Yan Liulang nodded earnestly.

Ouyang Rong moved his thigh:

"Pei Shisan Niang, look at Liulang. Can you learn from him and sit properly?"

Xie Xiao Niangzi Pei Pei Shisan Niang turned her head while pounding his legs and took a look.

"Young Master, I can't sit."

Ouyang Rong frowned and looked over, finding that Yan Liulang was sitting in a somewhat bold, unconstrained manner.

His waist saber was also placed on the seat next to him, occupying the space.

Before Ouyang Rong could speak, Xie Xiao Niangzi Pei Pei Shisan Niang took the initiative to speak with a serious face:

"Young Master, that Tao Shou Zhai really has something fishy. Their news follows this path to get out."

Yan Liulang also reported with a fist salute:

"Young Master, Chengtiansi Temple has been quiet these past few days, but they are hiding quite deep. Heh, if it weren't for Fang Juxiu's letter a few days ago forcing them to take the initiative to contact Tao Shou Zhai, they probably wouldn't have been exposed by now..."

Ouyang Rong closed his eyes, his expression unchanged:

"Wait, wait one more time to ensure nothing is missed."

He paused and added:

"News goes out and comes back, like throwing a stone to ask the way."

Xie Xiao Niangzi Pei Pei Shisan Niang nodded: "Indeed, a cunning rabbit has three burrows; we must find them all."

Yan Liulang sighed: "Yes, the Magistrate truly has great patience."

Remembering something, he added:

"Miss Xiuniang doesn't seem to go to Chengtiansi Temple much anymore; it's all the Fang sisters going."

Xie Xiao Niangzi Pei Pei Shisan Niang, who was pounding his legs, appraised Ouyang Rong's expression and interjected cautiously:

"Miss Xiuniang seems to know that you don't like her going to the temple, Young Master, and don't like her seeing those monks. Wasn't that misunderstanding last time because you were worried and ran to find her, but she wasn't in the courtyard, so you went personally to bring her back? Miss Xiuniang should have sensed that you weren't very happy."

Ouyang Rong suddenly asked: "Was my mood that obvious at the time?"

Xie Xiao Niangzi Pei Pei Shisan Niang shook her head: "Not obvious. You are always emotionally stable, Young Master, but... women are very sensitive, especially toward those they care about. Even a slight emotional fluctuation can be sensed. Please remember this, Young Master."

Ouyang Rong pursed his lips and was silent for a while:

"I wasn't unhappy at the time, but I was indeed a bit anxious, worried about her. Otherwise, I would only have gone to take a look at that meditation hall and that meditation master at the very end; otherwise, it would be easy to startle the snake."

"The Magistrate didn't startle the snake." Yan Liulang shook his head: "This monk and Fang Juxiu were still meeting a few days ago; it's quite funny."

Ouyang Rong said softly:

"Two possibilities: first, a makeshift troupe; second, they aren't afraid of us."

Yan Liulang tilted his head: "It should be the first. These Fang sisters are two blockheads, but that monk..."

Xie Xiao Niangzi Pei Pei Shisan Niang smiled: "I took a look that day; this monk is a bit unfathomable."

Ouyang Rong, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them:

"That day, what did he say to Xiuniang?"

Xie Xiao Niangzi Pei Pei Shisan Niang lowered her brows:

"Young Master, he didn't say anything."

Yan Liulang was curious: "Didn't say anything?"

Xie Xiao Niangzi Pei Pei Shisan Niang looked at Ouyang Rong's calm expression and nodded:

"Yes, didn't say anything. I didn't hear anything outside, but I vaguely saw him just hold up one finger."

"Hold up one finger?" Yan Liulang pondered: "Miss Xiuniang only writes; does this monk also write? Writing in the air with his finger?"

Ouyang Rong suddenly asked: "What was his dharma name again?"

Yan Liulang reacted: "Zen Master Yizhi (One Finger)."

Ouyang Rong smiled lightly.

Xie Xiao Niangzi Pei Pei Shisan Niang narrowed her eyes and said:

"It shouldn't be writing. I've heard of this monk before; he has quite a reputation in Xingzi Ward. It's said that for all the donors seeking guidance, he just holds up one finger.

"And when the donors see this finger, they often suddenly realize and understand the Buddha's law... It's passed on as something miraculous."

"Playing god and acting like a ghost."

Yan Liulang snorted coldly, subconsciously crossing his arms, only to find his waist saber wasn't there—it was occupying a seat next to him—so he held back from touching his beloved blade.

Ouyang Rong waved his hand.

"It's fine. The side that moves first always reveals flaws, so... let's not move first."

He smiled.

Yan Liulang and Xie Xiao Niangzi Pei Pei Shisan Niang looked at each other and nodded vigorously.

The carriage continued, but stopped intermittently twice to let Yan Liulang and Xie Xiao Niangzi Pei Pei Shisan Niang off.

Before long, the carriage arrived at a courtyard of Chengtiansi Temple.

Ouyang Rong walked into the courtyard and urged Watching Yuan Huaimin.

"Coming, coming."

Watching Yuan Huaimin ran to get dressed.

Ouyang Rong frowned as he looked at his friend bathing and changing:

"What are you doing? Still bathing?"

"This is called bathing and perfuming."

"I know it's bathing and perfuming. I'm asking why you're doing this for no reason. Why, going to see your little lover?"

"What little lover? Lianghan, don't talk nonsense. Tonight is the Pipa Banquet hosted by the famous Qin. The immortal music is pleasant to the ear; we must bathe and perfume to prepare. This is called a sense of ritual."

Ouyang Rong:...

He stiffened his face: "First, let me clarify: you are not the protagonist of this banquet."

"I know. Didn't you say it's an old senior brought by Xie Xiao Niangzi Rong? We met in the bamboo forest during the morning discussion last time. I must dress well. This old senior might be a musician like me, and we could become friends across generations."

Ouyang Rong took a deep breath, held it in, and waited in the courtyard.

Li Yu was as speechless as Ouyang Rong, looking at Watching Yuan Huaimin, who was dawdling over changing clothes like a woman.

Ouyang Rong looked at the sky.

This Pipa Banquet was prepared by him and Rong Zhen for the old senior Yu.

"Lianghan, why are you dressed so casually? This won't do; you must learn from me."

Ouyang Rong shook his head: "I'm not as vain as you."

Watching Yuan Huaimin suddenly poked his head out, blinking:

"Did you bring your zither?"

"I did."

"Great. After the Pipa Banquet ends tonight, let's go to the rooftop terrace on the top floor of Xunyang Tower. We'll invite the famous Qin again to see if she has time to come to the top floor, and the three of us can play music and drink together."

Ouyang Rong frowned: "What do you mean?"

Watching Yuan Huaimin chuckled:

"Of course, it's to relax. I've been busy these days and haven't drunk with Lianghan for a long time. I must let Lianghan see my leisurely life from before. Besides, tonight is the 15th, there's a full moon, suitable for moon-viewing...

"I also have a few jars of fine wine stored at Xunyang Tower. Wouldn't it be beautiful for us to have a drink together..."

Ouyang Rong suddenly asked: "Do young ladies all like this kind of style?"

"Of course. When I was young, I used to invite young ladies like this. Prepare some fireworks and Kongming lanterns; which young lady wouldn't like it? It's basically a marriage proposal and a pledge of love."

"Makes sense." Ouyang Rong looked thoughtful.

"So tonight we'll attend the banquet first, and when it ends, we'll send Xie Xiao Niangzi Rong and the others away, then go to the top floor to relax... Hey, hey, Lianghan, what are you doing?"

"I want to take a bath too."

"Oh, but why did you suddenly figure it out?" Watching Yuan Huaimin curiously appraised his friend, who was suddenly full of initiative, but felt somewhat gratified: "Sure enough, brother Lianghan is a true friend, wanting to drink with me and enjoy the new music and the full moon..."

Ouyang Rong interrupted and asked: "How do you perfume? Lend me some to perfume too."

"Sure, sure."

"As for the famous Qin, don't invite her tonight."

Watching Yuan Huaimin rubbed his chin, "Uh... that's fine too. Just the two of us, a friendship of soulmates, no need to call women."

Ouyang Rong instructed carefully:

"Remember to send the wine you stored at Xunyang Tower to the moon-viewing terrace on the top floor in advance."

"Got it!"

"After the banquet ends, remember to send Xie Xiao Niangzi Rong and the old senior off. I'll go to the terrace first."

"Good, good, good..."

Ouyang Rong patted him on the shoulder:

"After you send them out of the city, remember to come back early to rest. You have to be on duty tomorrow; no absences allowed."

"Good, good... ah?"

Watching Yuan Huaimin was stunned, his mouth wide open, and he let out an even longer tone:

"Ah?"

……

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