Chapter 519

391. The Fang sisters: You are Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan?!

Quiet courtyard.

The young man in the Confucian robe walked out the door after collecting the clothes, seeing Fang Fang Yiwu bending down and using his bare hands to hurriedly pick up the teacup shards.

Fang Fang Shengnan, who was sulking, couldn't help but look sideways.

Fang Fang Juxiu saw the blood spilling from the wounds on Fang Fang Yiwu's hands and hurriedly said:

"Dad, put them down. The Little Mistress isn't that petty; we'll clean it up."

After saying this, Fang Fang Juxiu gave Fang Fang Shengnan a look, and the latter had no choice but to straighten her face, bend down, and help Fang Fang Yiwu:

"Dad, why are you picking them up with your hands? Are you stupid? Move aside, I'll do it..."

Fang Fang Juxiu then withdrew her gaze and looked toward the direction Magistrate Ouyang Rong had left, frowning. She suddenly moved.

"Dad, Sister, wait a moment."

Before Fang Fang Yiwu and Fang Fang Juxiu could react, Fang Fang Juxiu had already run out of the courtyard in the rain. Arriving at the entrance, she called out to Magistrate Ouyang Rong, who was about to board a carriage.

"Young Master Magistrate Ouyang, please stay."

In the rain curtain, the figure of Magistrate Ouyang Rong holding the zither case paused.

Fang Fang Juxiu saw a luxurious carriage parked and waiting in the rain in front of him.

It was Xiao Niangzi Pei's carriage. Through the curtain, she could vaguely see the silhouette of a graceful woman waiting inside.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong held his umbrella and waited for a while. Not hearing her speak, he asked without turning his head:

"What is it, Eldest Xiao Niangzi Fang?"

Fang Fang Juxiu bit her lip, withdrew her gaze from the carriage, walked straight up, and blocked his path.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong tilted his head slightly: "What is the matter?"

Fang Fang Juxiu lowered her eyes and was silent for a while, then suddenly looked up:

"I'm sorry. Before today, I didn't know that my sister and I living in this courtyard would make you unhappy, Young Master Magistrate Ouyang... It is my fault for being too confident and wishful thinking."

Speaking of this, whether intentionally or not, her chin tilted up slightly, her tone earnest:

"My father did come over today and did break things in the courtyard. I am truly sorry. But please rest assured, my sister and father will restore the things in the courtyard. We will never take a single needle or thread. Our Fang family still understands this much etiquette. So, for what has already happened, I am very sorry, and I am also very grateful for your tolerance during these days, Young Master..."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong listened to the words of this gentle and refined lady from a prominent family as they gradually became distant. After listening for a while, he smiled:

"There's no need for that. Eldest Xiao Niangzi, you are overthinking it. It can't be called dislike; I haven't even thanked you for keeping Sister Xiuniang company."

Fang Fang Juxiu stared for a while at the young man in the Confucian robe who had no intention of holding an umbrella for her, and asked out of nowhere:

"Where are you going, Young Master... Never mind, don't ask that."

She shook her head as if talking to herself and changed the question:

"Young Master, where is Sister Xiuniang? Why hasn't she returned yet?"

She turned her head and glanced at the luxurious carriage.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong nodded and said truthfully:

"She is resting at Xiao Niangzi Pei's house, borrowing the kitchen to stew Dongpo pork. I happen to be entertaining friends tonight, so she will probably be back by evening."

Fang Fang Juxiu shook her head:

"Evening? Then I probably won't see her. My sister and I will be going home with our father later, so we can't wait too long. Please trouble Young Master Magistrate Ouyang to say goodbye to Sister Xiuniang for us. I am truly sorry; we won't be able to come see Sister Xiuniang for a short time."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong nodded again: "That is indeed the case. I will pass it on. Hmm, is there anything else?" His tone was questioning.

Fang Fang Juxiu looked at his calm and indifferent expression.

"No."

"Good."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong turned to board the carriage.

Fang Fang Juxiu suddenly said:

"Actually, I have a small reminder. I don't know if I should say it or not."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong stopped, did not speak, and his posture holding the zither case tilted slightly.

The meaning was self-evident.

Fang Fang Juxiu spoke slowly:

"Actually, we shouldn't meddle in this matter, and we shouldn't talk too much. But I truly feel sorry for Sister Xiuniang, and my sister also gets along very well with you, Young Master, and even praised you for being a real man who doesn't act cowardly toward women... So I still have to say a word. It is so presumptuous, I hope you won't be angry, Young Master."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong didn't look at her, but turned his head to look in the direction of Chengtian Temple, muttering to himself:

"Time isn't too urgent. I came back to collect clothes. If it takes a little longer, I suppose it can be understood, right..."

He turned his head back and smiled lightly at the frowning Fang Fang Juxiu:

"Hmm, Eldest Xiao Niangzi Fang, please speak. Since it's come to this."

Fang Fang Juxiu's expression was very serious:

"Young Master Magistrate Ouyang, Sister Xiuniang is an extremely good girl, so good that you cannot imagine. I dare say you won't find another one like her in the whole world; you will know in the future... Moreover, such a good girl only has one requirement for a man, and that is to live a down-to-earth life.

"My sister and I, as well as many friends and relatives who care about Sister Xiuniang, all have this expectation. Sister Xiuniang's man needs to be honest and reliable. This is actually very simple to do. We don't ask for him to be a hero who stands tall, achieves great things, or stands out from the crowd... as long as he is down-to-earth, that's enough."

The more Magistrate Ouyang Rong heard, the more his brows rose. He raised his hand to interrupt:

"Could Miss Fang please speak more clearly?"

Fang Fang Juxiu ignored him, as if talking to herself:

"Actually, my sister and I have no right to meddle, but Sister Xiuniang's true family members are not as easy to talk to as we are. This can be confirmed to you in advance, Young Master.

"If there is no blessing from her family, Sister Xiuniang will be very, very sad. My sister and I don't want to see this either; it's truly heartbreaking."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong looked at the riddle-maker in front of him, then at the zither case in his arms, his tone cautious and asking for advice:

"So?"

Fang Fang Juxiu looked at the luxurious carriage parked silently behind him and sighed:

"So I hope you can cut off some messy relationships early, Young Master, take fewer shortcuts, and be more down-to-earth. This kind of thing of pleasing people with beauty is ultimately hard to be elegant. Let alone doing great things, even family affairs will be turned into a mess. Sister Xiuniang might understand and not care, but the gossip of others will eventually become the straw that breaks the camel's back."

Magistrate Ouyang Rong:...

He vaguely, roughly, seemingly understood something.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong smiled.

Fang Fang Juxiu's tone was rigid:

"Alright, I won't say any more. I think you must understand better than I do, Young Master. I've talked too much. Please take care of yourself, Young Master."

She took a deep look at Magistrate Ouyang Rong, who was holding the umbrella, then withdrew her gaze, passed by him, and returned to the courtyard.

After Fang Fang Juxiu entered the gate.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong stood in the rain with his umbrella, maintaining the posture of watching her leave sideways.

Inside the luxurious carriage behind him, a certain beautiful woman in a purple-gold cape, who had been patiently eavesdropping with her ears pricked up for half a day, couldn't hold it in anymore.

"Young Master, could that young lady have meant that?"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong lowered his head to put away his umbrella and boarded the carriage calmly with the zither case.

"Go to Chengtian Temple."

"Yes, Young Master."

Lady Pei Shisan Xiao Niangzi nodded obediently and followed orders.

After a while, the luxurious carriage arrived at the silent entrance of Chengtian Temple, which was under martial law with black-armored soldiers everywhere. They were let through all the way and arrived in front of a certain meditation courtyard.

As Magistrate Ouyang Rong held his umbrella and stepped off the carriage.

Lady Pei Shisan Xiao Niangzi, who had been smiling and looking sideways at Magistrate Ouyang Rong's face all the way, couldn't hold it in anymore. She covered her mouth and giggled:

"Young Master is truly handsome. If one day Young Master gets tired of staying in the secular court and wants to be a kept man, could you please raise your eyes slightly and look at this concubine~"

Magistrate Ouyang Rong: "?"

……

Fang Fang Juxiu returned to the quiet courtyard.

Entering the gate, she found that the broken porcelain shards and tea leaves on the ground had been cleaned up.

Turning her head, she saw it was Dad who had done it. After cleaning, he had even used a rag to wipe away the bloodstains, and the spot was already clean. Fang Fang Shengnan was chasing after Fang Fang Yiwu, helping him bandage the wounds on his palms.

Fang Fang Shengnan's expression was helpless, and she gave Fang Fang Juxiu a look.

Fang Fang Yiwu still insisted on cleaning the floor himself.

However, after Magistrate Ouyang Rong's interruption, the tense atmosphere between the father and two daughters had vanished. At this moment, no one spoke, and there was an awkward silence.

"Dad..."

Fang Fang Juxiu was just about to say something caring when Fang Fang Yiwu asked bluntly:

"Where did you run off to just now?"

Fang Fang Juxiu shook her head: "I went to find Young Master Magistrate Ouyang to chat and gave him a suggestion before he left."

Fang Fang Yiwu's eyes widened: "Give a suggestion? Give him a suggestion?"

Fang Fang Juxiu lowered her eyes: "Yes."

Fang Fang Shengnan explained: "Dad, this Young Master Magistrate Ouyang is not from the Sword Marsh, but he has a close relationship with the Little Mistress. He can be considered... a man she likes. But the Little Mistress has a very good personality, and Young Master Magistrate Ouyang's words don't count for much, so don't be so afraid..."

Fang Fang Yiwu brushed Fang Fang Shengnan aside and asked: "Fang Juxiu, what did this Young Master say just now?"

"He didn't say anything. I just simply urged him a few words for his own good. He probably felt guilty too, so he didn't say much."

Fang Fang Yiwu opened his mouth, as if wanting to say something, but finally swallowed it back.

He waved his hand: "Forget it, forget it. Everyone shut up. Let's go, leave here first, follow me."

Fang Fang Yiwu ordered the two daughters to follow him out.

Fang Fang Juxiu and Fang Fang Shengnan had helpless expressions and could only follow.

"Dad, are we going back?"

Fang Fang Yiwu didn't speak, didn't even open his umbrella, and walked quickly into the rain curtain outside the quiet courtyard.

The Fang sisters caught up quickly and held an umbrella for him.

A short while later, the two sisters discovered that the direction Fang Fang Yiwu was leading them was Chengtian Temple.

Fang Fang Shengnan was puzzled. "Dad, where are we going?"

Fang Fang Juxiu was thoughtful: "Does Dad have something to find Master Master Yizhi for?"

Fang Fang Yiwu suddenly said:

"Remember, kneel later."

The Fang sisters wanted to say something but stopped, but knowing they had made a mistake, they lowered their heads and followed.

A short while later, the three arrived at the entrance of Chengtian Temple.

The Fang sisters immediately saw the heavily guarded black-armored soldiers at the entrance and turned to run, but discovered their arms were grabbed. Turning their heads to look, perhaps because they were facing the light, their father Fang Fang Yiwu's face, soaked by the rain, was very, very dark... like a stone in the water.

……

The rain was pouring down.

Raindrops hit the cold, dark iron armor in the courtyard, bouncing everywhere.

Magistrate Ouyang Rong held the zither case and returned to the meditation courtyard.

"Sorry, I remembered something halfway and went to take care of it. By the way, Master, where were we just now?"

As soon as he entered the door, he asked in a gentle tone.

In the courtyard, the atmosphere was silent at this moment.

Qin Yi and Yan Yan Liulang were leading troops to guard the scene with cold faces.

Master Master Yizhi was being surrounded by the panicked Abbot of Chengtian Temple and the chubby little novice monk, who were whispering and trying to persuade him.

The middle-aged Zen master sat cross-legged with his head down, not saying a word.

It had been like this ever since Magistrate Ouyang Rong finished announcing his name and left.

This made the Abbot of Chengtian Temple, the chubby little novice monk, and the others even more desperate.

After scanning the area, without asking, Magistrate Ouyang Rong already roughly understood the situation in the courtyard.

He walked over to sit down in front of Master Master Yizhi and the monks, smiling as he looked around:

"Well, Abbot, high monks, how is your persuasion going? Do you want to drink some water and continue?"

Everyone dared not make a sound, lowering their heads and murmuring.

Just after Magistrate Ouyang Rong appeared and took control of the scene, he spoke halfway, looked at the sky, and left first, saying he was going back to collect clothes, letting them continue to persuade Master Master Yizhi...

At that time, all the monks were dumbfounded. You, a dignified Jiangzhou Cishi of Jiangzhou, leading troops to search for suspects halfway, and you run back to collect clothes when it rains? What kind of ghost is that?

Only Yan Yan Liulang, Qin Yi, and others had normal expressions, as if they were used to it.

At this moment, the sound of a woman crying and making a scene came from the courtyard entrance.

Fang Fang Yiwu dragged his two daughters into the meditation courtyard.

Only then did they see Fang Fang Shengnan and Fang Fang Juxiu walking into the meditation courtyard with dazed expressions, their heads held by the swords of black-armored soldiers.

Fang Fang Yiwu walked in front with a gloomy face.

Fang Fang Shengnan was dumbfounded, looking at her father's back in front, still unable to believe the expression, and asked anxiously:

"Dad, what are you doing? You... why did you send people to catch us... Who are these people? Why do they look like military troops? Why are they in Master Master Yizhi's courtyard..."

When she and her sister Fang Fang Juxiu saw the figures of the imperial officials and generals like Yan Yan Liulang and Qin Yi in the courtyard, they opened their mouths silently, their eyes filled with despair, completely abandoning their fantasies.

The despair of the two daughters being sold out by their old father did not stop Fang Fang Yiwu's footsteps.

This square-faced man with hands wrapped in blood-stained white cloth led them into the courtyard and arrived at the door of the meditation room.

Without the obstruction of the tall black-armored soldiers lined up in the courtyard, Fang Fang Juxiu and Fang Fang Shengnan immediately saw the familiar slender figure surrounded by stars in the center of the room.

"Young Master Magistrate Ouyang?"

"Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan!"

Fang Fang Shengnan and Fang Fang Juxiu blurted out almost at the same time.

However, the latter address by Fang Fang Juxiu made Yan Yan Liulang and the others look sideways. A moment later, they moved their eyes away without changing their expressions, pretending they hadn't heard.

Fang Fang Yiwu abandoned the two daughters and went straight behind Magistrate Ouyang Rong, kneeling down heavily with a "thud":

"Jiangzhou Cishi, please spare our lives! The guilty Fang Fang Yiwu brings two guilty daughters to plead guilty!"

He held his fists above his head, but his head was pressed extremely low, his forehead against the cold, hard, and rough floor.

Watching the father she had always viewed as an idol in this humble and respectful posture, Fang Fang Shengnan's eyes gradually widened.

She looked at the back of Magistrate Ouyang Rong, whom she had previously thought was frail, her pale lips stammering:

"Jiangzhou Cishi? You... you are Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan, you are not Magistrate Ouyang Magistrate Ouyang Lianghan!"

Fang Fang Juxiu beside her did not speak, as if she had lost her sense of hearing. From the moment she was dragged into the courtyard by her father, her eyes were attracted by a certain figure... Fang Fang Juxiu turned her head in a daze, looking at the beautiful woman surnamed Pei who was walking over gracefully and pouring tea for Magistrate Ouyang Rong, who was sitting cross-legged, with a gentle and obedient expression.

Lady Pei Shisan Xiao Niangzi didn't even look at this young girl who loved to give people suggestions.

Fang Fang Juxiu turned her head sharply, staring straight at the calm side face of Magistrate Ouyang Rong, who showed no signs of turning his head.

Fang Fang Juxiu suddenly understood that the sentence about not making Sister Xiuniang's courtyard dirty and messy was not just said to them.

She was a bit... wishful thinking.

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