Chapter 521: 393. Woke up too fast, saw Yue Chuzi in a man's arms [Last three days of the month, begging for monthly votes!]

393. Woke up too fast, saw Yue Chuzi in a man's arms 【Last three days of the month, begging for monthly votes!】

"Just lean the umbrellas by the door. Make yourselves at home, don't be formal. Xiuniang and I live quite casually."

In the quiet courtyard, Ouyang Rong walked through the gate first, greeting them casually.

He raised his hand and waved at Watching Yuan Huaimin and Li Yu, who were following behind with curious expressions, signaling them to relax.

"Lianghan, this courtyard of yours is indeed quite close to Chengtian Temple; it only takes a few steps to get there."

Watching Yuan Huaimin looked left and right, his expression full of interest.

Li Yu didn't say a word, following behind the two. He was the last to enter, helping Watching Yuan Huaimin shake the raindrops off his umbrella, leaning it against the doorframe, and lowering his head to straighten his lapels.

When he looked up, Ouyang Rong and Watching Yuan Huaimin had already walked into the main hall and were pouring tea. The two turned their heads to smile and greet Li Yu, beckoning him over.

"Brother Yu, why so formal? Come on in."

Watching Yuan Huaimin waved his hand carelessly:

"We're not at the Huaiye Lane residence; that meddlesome Lady Zhen isn't here. Let's relax. Brother Lianghan is treating us to a meal, it's just like a family dinner."

Li Yu nodded first, and after taking the teacup handed to him by Ouyang Rong with both hands, he shook his head:

"Since the Young Master's wife is here, we should still be mindful. After all, we are guests here for a meal; we shouldn't let the Lady think we lack manners."

Ouyang Rong smiled, glancing at Li Yu's rather serious expression.

He and Watching Yuan Huaimin were truly two different types of people.

But it must be said, the two had been living quite harmoniously in the same courtyard these past few days.

Watching Yuan Huaimin was an open-minded and casual person, free-spirited and unconventional, but he had no concept of time.

For instance, just now when Ouyang Rong came to invite them for a meal, Watching Yuan Huaimin dawdled for a long time before leaving. Ouyang Rong and Li Yu waited for ages at the door. Most importantly, while Watching Yuan Huaimin was tidying up inside the room, he kept shouting: "Almost there, almost there, wait for me a moment."

His promises were truly empty, just a stalling tactic.

Li Yu, on the other hand, looked easy-going, but in his dealings with others, he was cautious inside. He was methodical and meticulous in his work, and he had a strong sense of time.

In the past, when the Li family acted as an outpost for the Yunmeng Sword Swamp in Xunyang City, they ran a medicinal herb shop. Business requires diligence, and the Li family's upbringing was quite good.

So, Yuan and Li living together was a complementary arrangement. Every time Ouyang Rong visited Watching Yuan Huaimin's courtyard, he found it much cleaner and tidier; it seemed Li Yu was silently tidying up.

In Watching Yuan Huaimin's neurotic words when he reported this: "Brother Li has obsessive-compulsive disorder. Even the straight branches he picks up while walking outside are arranged neatly on the wall inside the room, looking just like swords."

Ouyang Rong just felt that both had their own merits.

Staying with that old rascal Watching Yuan Huaimin, in a word, was comfortable; there was a beauty to it that made one want to slack off together.

As for Li Yu... Ouyang Rong admired him a little.

Running a dozen ancestral medicinal herb shops in Xunyang City and being a wealthy man—well, it was a bit of a waste of talent.

But it was also clear that this person had lived a very steady first half of his life, marrying a wife, having a daughter, and managing the family business without any great desires.

By the way, Li Yu also greatly respected cultured scholars. This wasn't just evident from his admiration for Ouyang Rong, but also from when he hired the "female teacher Yu Nianyuan" to teach his only daughter, Li Shu, to read and write.

This person had the air of a Confucian merchant, focusing on culture without the stench of copper.

Also a merchant, Pei Shiniang was more wolfish; she loved to gamble in business, liked excitement and adventure, and before being "beaten and reformed" by Ouyang Rong, she was crazily profit-driven, doing whatever made money.

The two represented two types of merchants: conservative and radical.

The reason Ouyang Rong bailed this person out from the hands of Rong Zhen and Old Yang Tou in the water prison of the state jail back then...

Admiration was one reason.

Under the inhuman torture of waterboarding, he was able to keep his mouth shut, not revealing the whereabouts of Yue Chuzi, not selling out his old master to save his life, and even engaging in a battle of wits with Rong Zhen. It was only after being exposed that he laughed miserably and begged for death.

One might ask, which master wouldn't like such a subordinate?

Because once he was caught, he truly wouldn't sell you out, even if he was ruthlessly abandoned by his master—similar to when the Yunmeng Sword Swamp exposed itself and withdrew from Xunyang, abandoning Li Yu and the others.

Therefore, not everyone was qualified to be invited by Ouyang Rong to this courtyard to eat a meal cooked by Xiuniang.

In the main hall, the three rested for a while and drank a few cups of tea.

During this time, Ouyang Rong didn't communicate much with Li Yu. Just now, while waiting for the slow Watching Yuan Huaimin in his courtyard, there hadn't been much conversation either.

He didn't talk to Li Yu about the matter of him seeking out Yan Liulang to issue a warning that afternoon.

Ouyang Rong didn't speak, and Li Yu didn't take the initiative to ask.

The two acted as if nothing had happened, while Watching Yuan Huaimin was the only one happily enjoying himself. As long as he wasn't working and there was free delicious food, he was happy.

Watching Yuan Huaimin might still be a bit confused about what happened at Chengtian Temple today, but Li Yu certainly wasn't.

The Fang sisters, representing the Yunmeng Sword Swamp, had come knocking, and shortly after, Chengtian Temple was surrounded by heavy troops. He must have known what had happened.

But from the fact that Li Yu didn't get involved in the matter between the Fang sisters and Master Yizhi, one could see that his attitude toward the Yunmeng Sword Swamp had undergone some changes—subtle changes.

Ouyang Rong chuckled.

At this moment, Watching Yuan Huaimin cast his gaze toward the backyard kitchen, which was making some noise, and pursed his lips, asking:

"Lianghan, is the Young Mistress cooking in the kitchen?"

"Yes."

"Aren't there any servants here? Making the Young Mistress cook herself, we can't really afford to be so burdensome."

Ouyang Rong sipped his tea unhurriedly: "Then don't eat."

"That won't do. I must taste the dishes made by the Young Mistress; I cannot let down the kind intentions of you and the Young Mistress."

"It's fine if you let them down; we have good tempers."

"No, no, that won't do."

Watching Yuan Huaimin shook his head firmly. A moment later, he looked toward the backyard kitchen with some curiosity.

Beside him, Li Yu looked straight ahead, as if he didn't care about anything.

Watching Yuan Huaimin asked again with novelty:

"Lianghan, when did you meet this Miss Xiuniang? And you settled her down here, having a little nest—how come I didn't know? We meet almost every day; you've hidden this too well. Good, what else are you hiding from me?"

Ouyang Rong touched his chin and thought, then asked in return:

"You and Commander Yi are old flames, I didn't know that either, did I? Why didn't you tell me sooner? What else are you hiding from me?"

Watching Yuan Huaimin's old face darkened:

"Nothing else! What could I hide from you? Am I as disloyal as you? And I've said it many times, there's nothing between me and Qiuniang. We are clan cousins, don't talk nonsense, it's insulting to the refined, insulting to the refined!"

The Grand Historian Yuan shook his sleeves, his face flushed, and he was a bit angry.

Ouyang Rong laughed and didn't tease him on this sensitive issue anymore.

At this moment, Li Yu snapped out of his daze and spoke in a low voice:

"Young Master, tell the Lady to prepare fewer dishes. We can't finish them all. Yuan and I have to go back early later, no need to go to such trouble."

"It's fine, it's Xiuniang's wish. She knows I'm bringing friends and wants to treat you well. If we can't finish, we can't finish. Like Brother Huaimin said, the intention must be conveyed. At worst, um, at worst I'll eat it. I have a big appetite, I've trained for it."

"You two wait a moment, I'll go check the kitchen. The food will be ready soon. There's already Dongpo pork; Xiuniang probably wants to add a few more dishes."

Ouyang Rong smiled, finished the tea in his cup in one gulp, patted his sleeves, and got up to go to the backyard.

Watching Yuan Huaimin and Li Yu exchanged a look, their eyes holding a hint of a smile.

Before long, they heard Ouyang Rong enter the kitchen, seemingly conversing with that Miss Xiuniang.

But what was strange was that only Ouyang Rong's voice could be heard in the kitchen; there was no voice from that Miss Xiuniang. Ouyang Rong seemed to be talking to himself.

Watching Yuan Huaimin's expression was puzzled.

Li Yu didn't pay much attention, being somewhat absent-minded throughout, occasionally turning his head to glance in the direction of Chengtian Temple.

A quarter of an hour later, Ouyang Rong, wearing a small apron, walked out of the kitchen carrying two plates of dishes and came to the main hall.

"Come, let's eat in the main hall. There's rainwater on the stone table in the courtyard, so we won't go out there."

Ouyang Rong hosted the two, coming to an Eight Immortals table in the main hall to eat.

Watching Yuan Huaimin sat down directly.

Li Yu was more particular, going to wash his hands first.

The well was in the southeast corner of the backyard and required passing through a long corridor and taking a detour. As he reached the well and was drawing water to wash his hands, he heard someone walk out of the kitchen to the rear right. The footsteps blended with Young Master Ouyang's, and the two walked together to carry the dishes to the main hall.

Li Yu didn't look back.

Without guessing, he knew it must be the Young Master's Lady—um, to put it bluntly, a little wife kept outside who hadn't been brought home yet.

The relationship was certainly a bit complicated, but Li Yu didn't ask or listen to other people's family affairs. To put it nicely, just calling her "Lady" was enough.

"Haha, many thanks, Young Mistress. The dishes are enough, enough. No wine, no wine... eh, why are you getting more? You're too polite. Alright, Lady, walk carefully..."

Li Yu heard Watching Yuan Huaimin's laughing greeting from the main hall.

His expression was peaceful. After washing his hands, he turned and returned to the main hall.

Just as Li Yu walked through the gate, what met his eyes was a delicate young girl with a sky-blue ribbon covering her eyes. She was carefully carrying a pot of wine, groping her way back to the table, and lowering her head to help Watching Yuan Huaimin pour wine, her side profile facing him at the door.

Li Yu seemed to have been hit by a freezing spell; his feet were nailed to the main hall door. Ouyang Rong walked up to hand him a towel to wipe his hands, but he turned a deaf ear.

Ouyang Rong noticed the pupils of this slightly plump squire contract slightly.

He suddenly asked:

"What is Squire Li dazed about?"

Li Yu snapped out of it, first looking at Ouyang Rong, then turning his head to look at Zhao Qingxiu and Watching Yuan Huaimin.

After looking back and forth twice, he swallowed his saliva:

"No... nothing."

Ouyang Rong looked carefully at the slightly flustered Li Yu and asked softly:

"Really nothing?"

"No, nothing."

Li Yu hurriedly averted his gaze, ran to sit down, and lowered his head to look at the food.

Zhao Qingxiu, wearing an apron, scooped a bowl of rice and handed it to him.

Li Yu didn't look up, mumbled "mm-hmm" as he took it, and began to bury his head in eating.

Throughout the meal, he ate exceptionally hurriedly, staring at the plate of Dongpo pork in front of him. When he finished, he would pick from another plate, without stopping.

He didn't say a word.

Ouyang Rong glanced at him and felt that these dishes didn't need him to finish them; Brother Li could eat them all.

Li Yu was already a man of few words, and Watching Yuan Huaimin didn't pay much attention.

Perhaps it was because there was a woman present, or perhaps he noticed the slight abnormality of her eyes being covered and her not speaking, but Watching Yuan Huaimin didn't have much to say throughout the meal either. He didn't ask Ouyang Rong much at the table, only occasionally praising a few times that the dishes made by the girl were truly delicious.

His praise made Zhao Qingxiu beam with joy. Listening to the sound of the bowls to judge if they were empty or full, she frequently served them rice.

Watching Yuan Huaimin waved his hand to decline, while Li Yu accepted every bowl. He had just told Ouyang Rong that he didn't have a big appetite; it seemed he was being modest.

Ouyang Rong smiled. He picked up a piece of food for Zhao Qingxiu. The two were sitting close together. Zhao Qingxiu held her bowl and ate, lowering her head and taking small bites, her body leaning slightly against Ouyang Rong, just like a little wife.

This scene made Yuan and Li glance sideways.

Watching Yuan Huaimin's eyes held a teasing smile, while Li Yu licked his dry lips and swiftly raised his wine cup, tilting his head to drink it in one gulp.

Watching Yuan Huaimin was stunned for a moment.

This was his wine cup, because Ouyang Rong hadn't poured wine for Li Yu.

Watching Yuan Huaimin looked puzzled:

"Brother Yu, don't you not drink? Every time I call you to Xunyang Tower, you don't go, saying you don't touch a drop of alcohol to maintain rationality."

"Good, good wine. Haha, I'm happy today, what need is there for rationality."

Li Yu's face was flushed, and he smiled as he looked at Watching Yuan Huaimin.

He didn't look at the young man in Confucian robes and the blind mute girl across from him who were looking up with some curiosity.

Before long, they were full of food and wine.

Watching Yuan Huaimin and Li Yu prepared to leave, and Ouyang Rong personally sent them out:

"Let's go, I'll see you off, and take a walk by the way. Uh, Brother Li, why are you so absent-minded today?"

"Delicious, because it's delicious. The... the Young Mistress's cooking is very delicious." Li Yu lowered his head and murmured, nodding very firmly.

"Is that so?" Ouyang Rong laughed.

"Mm!" Li Yu nodded vigorously, his eyes looking at the distant mountain scenery, not meeting his gaze.

"Then come again next time." Ouyang Rong nodded, and Li Yu swallowed his saliva.

Before the three left the door, Zhao Qingxiu came to the entrance and gently tugged on Ouyang Rong's sleeve.

Ouyang Rong was chatting and joking with Watching Yuan Huaimin and Li Yu, and asked without looking back: "What's wrong?"

Zhao Qingxiu lowered her head and wrote on his palm: 【Where are Juxiu and Shengnan? Why aren't they home?】

Ouyang Rong still had a smile on his face from joking with Watching Yuan Huaimin and Li Yu: "They went back, saying they'd come to see you again in a while."

Zhao Qingxiu tilted her head slightly: "Oh."

Immediately, as if thinking of the matter the three had arranged together in the morning, she lowered her head slightly.

Before Ouyang Rong left, his large hand rubbed her head:

"Wait for me at home, Xiuniang. I'll see them off and be back in a moment."

"Mm."

Zhao Qingxiu smiled faintly and stood on tiptoe to straighten his collar.

Not far outside the door, Li Yu couldn't help but look back at the two who were deeply in love. His gaze fell on the sweet dimples on the cheeks of the blind mute girl. The plump squire turned his head and took a deep breath.

A moment later, Zhao Qingxiu, who clearly couldn't see clearly, watched the three off at the door.

After they left, Zhao Qingxiu stood quietly for a while, then raised both hands and groped forward to return to the courtyard.

With the Fang sisters gone, the courtyard became completely quiet.

She didn't go to tidy up the table or wash the dishes, but walked without stopping to the main bedroom.

Zhao Qingxiu came to a wardrobe in a corner, opened it quite skillfully, and took out a sword wrapped deeply in gray cloth from the bottom of the chest.

Zhao Qingxiu was quiet for a moment, then drew the long sword.

A deep, profound light belonging to bronze spread throughout the dim room.

If Ouyang Rong were present, he would find that the blade of this long sword was cast entirely from blood bronze.

The materials and bronze texture were more exaggerated than all the bronze short swords he had captured before.

Moreover, the blood bronze material constituting the blade of this long sword was subtly different compared to all the Yunmeng Tokens he had captured previously.

There were large patches of dark red spots on it, as if splashed with the blood of some unknown creature.

The suspected dried blood spots, combined with the profound texture of the bronze itself.

Ancient and cold.

It was like a bloody ritual vessel used by a priest of an ancient human tribe just after presiding over a human sacrifice ceremony.

It was either to please beasts or to please gods.

——————

PS: Double monthly votes, everyone don't forget to vote.

Rolling 360 degrees begging for monthly votes!

or2 ===== CHAPTER 522 =====