Chapter 524: 396. Lady Historian is a bit stupid [National Day seven days can draw prizes for monthly votes!]

396. Lady Historian is a bit stupid 【National Day seven days can draw prizes for monthly votes!】

"Why does Tanlang keep looking at me?"

"Dalang's reply just now was very mature, like a man."

"A man?"

"Mm, a man, not a boy."

In the Xunyang Prince's Mansion, on a long corridor with rain curtains hanging under the eaves, Ouyang Rong and Li Dalang walked side by side.

The study discussion just now had ended, and the two left together.

At this moment, Li Dalang was lowering his head and touching his chin, chewing on a word Ouyang Rong had proposed.

The daytime thunderstorm hadn't completely stopped. It stopped for a while in the evening, and now it continued late at night.

The night was accompanied by continuous overcast rain, and the sound of rain falling on the eaves was fine and rustling, somewhat quiet, making people wander in thought.

Xunyang was humid, with much rain, not to mention the plum rain season that had already arrived.

Ouyang Rong remembered that if he were in Longcheng, he would have to start considering the flood situation in this season, and would have to get busy, notifying the people to prevent floods... Speaking of which, it had been a year and a half since he left Longcheng, but his experiences in Longcheng County were still vivid in his eyes.

Ouyang Rong walked forward, tilted his head to look at the black shadows of the distant mountains, his expression somewhat lost in thought.

Until Li Dalang's words rang in his ears:

"Tanlang, haven't I long been a man? When I was in Longcheng, being taken to the third floor of the Cloud Water Pavilion by you and Liulang, that was already considered mature."

Ouyang Rong came back to his senses and shook his head gently:

"It's different. Before, you were still a boy; now you are a man, because you understand restraint."

"Restraint?"

"That's right, restraint, instead of feeling, 'I like her, I want her, I must have her'... completely disregarding the situation and timing."

Li Dalang was silent for a while, then waved his hand with a smile:

"Tanlang, what nonsense are you talking about? I don't like her, you misunderstood."

Ouyang Rong shook his head with a calm expression:

"Whether you like her or not, you did the right thing this time. You didn't sneak off, or act on your own to reply and communicate, but called us over directly. You are indeed mature.

"Because you understood the word 'risk'. A child of a thousand gold does not sit under a dangerous hall. Dalang, even if it makes you realize there is a tiny bit of risk, don't do it, even if it is very tempting, and the benefits and happiness obtained look far higher than the risk, you still shouldn't do it, because you are the Xunyang Prince's Heir, you can no longer afford to take such tiny risks.

"And in all things in the world, many traps and dangers are hidden in these things where the benefits look far greater than the risks, because it might be a trap set by someone who is proficient in human nature.

"I'll emphasize it again, Dalang, you don't need to take risks. We are no longer in Longcheng. Just follow the steps, wait quietly for the opportunity, and you will always be able to return to Luoyang. You and the Prince don't need to personally handle the matter of the East Forest Great Buddha. Just let the Jiangzhou Hall and the Censorate get busy. There will naturally be a share of credit for you. Understand?"

Speaking of this, Ouyang Rong smiled gently:

"So the Prince fishes at home all day, although the Princess always blames him, saying he is lazy and gluttonous, I never go to persuade him. This is the correct way to be the Xunyang Prince, and you, as the Xunyang Prince's Heir, are the same.

"Conversely, um, I don't know if I should say this, don't tell outsiders, conversely, it's your sister, the little Princess, she loves to take risks too much, likes exciting and extraordinary things, and has a gambling nature.

"But it's also normal. Smart people love to take risks, because most smart people think they are smart and special, can win the gamble, and be that person of destiny. This is not without reason. They are smart, and their overall winning odds are slightly higher.

"What's to be feared is those who pretend to be smart and think they are smart. Therefore, self-knowledge is precious, and this quality is rare. This is very good. Because weakness and ignorance are never obstacles to survival; arrogance is."

Ouyang Rong's expression was gentle and bright as he spoke eloquently. Li Dalang listened attentively and asked seriously:

"Tanlang, am I considered smart?"

"Regardless of whether you are or not, just don't gamble and don't take risks. Being steady is already winning over most people. Only those who are penniless will take risks to gamble. You are of noble birth, just don't mess around. Even your sister might not understand this principle, or rather, she understands it but refuses to listen. She just thinks she is special, um, can have destiny."

Li Dalang nodded and smiled:

"My sister is indeed very different. From childhood to adulthood, I've rarely seen her fail to do things, or fail to handle people..."

Speaking of this, Li Dalang couldn't help but glance at the side profile of Ouyang Rong on his front right, his eyes holding a hint of strangeness.

Ouyang Rong looked ahead and walked forward with large strides, not noticing his friend's gaze, and continued:

"Perhaps. My evaluation is, whichever hero can handle the little Princess in the future, then he, this life is set."

Li Dalang laughed from ear to ear.

"I can see Tanlang's resentment."

"I didn't say anything. If this life is set, can't it be a blessing?"

"Fine." Li Dalang nodded and asked again: "But we are in Xunyang City now, striving to return to the capital, isn't that also taking risks and gambling?"

"It is so, but the premise of this gamble is that if we don't gamble, we will die, and die even more miserably.

"The imperial heir is the foundation of the country. In the struggle for the foundation of the country, if you don't advance, you retreat. It's useless for our Prince's Mansion to live and work in peace in Xunyang City. If we don't take risks, we will slide into eternal damnation. It's considered choosing the lesser of two evils."

"I... understand."

Ouyang Rong turned his head to glance at Li Dalang's thoughtful expression and nodded gently:

"So tonight, Dalang, this beard of yours didn't grow in vain... well, I don't mean it was in vain before, I mean... I mean..."

Truly unable to round it off, Ouyang Rong laughed somewhat helplessly:

"Fine, it is indeed what I meant. Before, Dalang looked mature, with a beard, but actually, you were like a big child."

Li Dalang nodded seriously after hearing this:

"Then I have to thank Tanlang, thank the Cloud Water Pavilion. Going there every day, of course, it's a catalyst, just like a persimmon, placed in a sealed place with ripe things, of course, it's easy to ripen."

Ouyang Rong couldn't help but laugh when he heard this metaphor, and shook his hand:

"Don't blame me, it was Liulang who took you there, it has nothing to do with me."

"That's also an accomplice."

"That's not it. I did persuade you, you just didn't listen."

"How did you persuade me? I didn't see you stop me."

"'Shouldn't we just forget it?' Didn't I say that every time? Don't deny it."

"..."

Li Dalang shook his head speechlessly:

"Fine, Tanlang is a clean and self-respecting handsome young man, too lazy to go up. Both older and younger ladies like you, it's the women who stick to Tanlang."

A certain friend said sourly. Ouyang Rong pretended not to hear and said seriously:

"The Prince and the little Princess have truly looked at you with new eyes this time. The Qin Ying matter you messed up last time has been reversed. Dalang, keep it up."

"Good." Li Dalang promised and became somewhat silent.

The two walked quietly for a while, just as they were about to arrive at the gate of the Prince's Mansion.

Ouyang Rong suddenly turned his head:

"I heard from Xiao Shimei that you refused the marriage, and Liulang also said that you haven't been to the Cloud Water Pavilion for a long time. He called you to go, but you pushed it off, even though he said he would treat you after receiving his salary."

Li Dalang smiled, his voice somewhat gentle: "I won't go anymore. You let me, don't spend money lavishly."

Ouyang Rong looked Li Dalang up and down.

He suddenly spoke: "Remember, restraint."

He exhorted again.

Li Dalang nodded: "Mm."

Arriving outside the mansion gate, Ouyang Rong didn't know what he thought of, stopped, and said:

"Actually, think about it carefully, Dalang, I don't have much qualification to talk about you."

"No, Tanlang has already done a great job leading the way."

Pausing, Li Dalang was somewhat puzzled and asked in return:

"Does Tanlang mean that there are also things that make you unable to restrain yourself, related to women?"

"No... not really, that's a debt, it must be repaid. She didn't ask me for it, but, I can't not give it."

The young man in Confucian robes left a sentence and walked away silently.

Li Dalang stayed in front of the gate, lowering his head and chewing:

"Debt?"

"Where did you run off to yesterday morning? Didn't we agree that you would teach me zither music?"

Xunyang Grottoes, morning, bright sunshine.

Ouyang Rong arrived early with a wooden zither.

Not long after he arrived, Rong Zhen, who received the report, walked out, looking at him with a cold face that never changed for ten thousand years.

"I..."

"Is this how you teach zither music?"

She interrupted coldly and continued to question:

"I heard from others that you were still handling cases in the city yesterday, and invited manpower from the Xuanwu Camp of the frontline central army camp, excluding our Censorate, is that right?"

"Mm."

"Why?"

Ouyang Rong's expression calmed down. He looked at her calmly and nodded, saying:

"I'll handle the matters in the city, wasn't that agreed? The spies searched for in the city yesterday were ones I had been watching for a long time. I was afraid that if I asked you for manpower, the Xunyang Grottoes would be short of troops, so I didn't notify you.

"In short, I can solve it, and temporarily don't need Lady Rong to worry."

Rong Zhen watched his expression for a while and averted her gaze:

"Fine, if there is anything you need my help with, you must say it. Your arrogance is a small matter, but messing up the situation is a big matter."

"Good."

Ouyang Rong promised with a smile.

Rong Zhen pointed to the wooden zither in his arms and said:

"But why didn't you say anything to me before you left yesterday? You said you would teach me zither. I waited for you all morning, thinking you would be back soon, and you wouldn't break your promise. But I didn't expect you to go back to the city to handle affairs directly. If it weren't for the female official in the city reporting, I might have waited at the door until lunch was cold."

"Uh, sorry... I thought Lady Rong was busy, and you didn't come out for a long time."

"Heh. It was you who were busy, pushing all the responsibility onto me. Otherwise, how could Magistrate Ouyang be a scholar of the Xiouwen Hall? You are quite good at shifting blame."

Rong Zhen sneered.

Ouyang Rong immediately changed the subject:

"Hey, does Lady Historian have something important? Dressed so solemnly, and even put on makeup."

"There is a pipa gathering of an old senior tonight, did you forget? Otherwise, why do you think I dressed up? And you, you have to go tonight too. Dress decently, have some sense of ritual. We are going to accompany the old senior to appreciate zither music."

"Then fine, you learn zither first, strive to memorize six pieces of music within two days..."

"Simple." She tilted her chin slightly: "It's just that I was a bit negligent before, and I'm indeed not good at this, but as long as it's something I learn seriously, it won't be bad."

Ouyang Rong shook his head while putting down the wooden zither:

"Don't just use your mouth, use your hands. Sit down, play first."

"Hmph."

Ouyang Rong began to teach Rong Zhen zither music.

The cold expression on the latter's face gradually melted.

She was indeed learning seriously.

Late at night.

Xunyang Tower in Xunyang Ward was brightly lit.

In the lobby on the first floor, pipa music was constant, and a pipa gathering was being held.

The old musician was appraising with a group of women who were good at pipa.

Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen listened for a while, but didn't quite understand the way.

Ouyang Rong was pulled to the rooftop terrace by Rong Zhen.

Just after arriving, Rong Zhen looked around and asked with a smile that wasn't a smile:

"It's indeed quiet here. No wonder you chose this place to spend time with your Xiao Shimei that night."

"It was Brother Huaimin who chose it, he had something to do that day..."

"Do you believe it yourself?"

"...... Isn't Lady Historian learning zither music?"

After Ouyang Rong choked, he asked in return.

Rong Zhen had to sit down and take out the zither.

Ouyang Rong sat beside her, the two facing each other, their gazes colliding.

Rong Zhen was the first to avert her eyes, drifting to the side.

Ouyang Rong first took out a small booklet, opened it, and placed it in front of Rong Zhen for her to read.

Immediately, he began to teach zither music by example.

The zither music echoed melodiously on the rooftop terrace.

Ouyang Rong was devoted to his work and taught very seriously, but in the end, he wasn't a master and could only teach according to his own understanding.

So it was a bit nagging, using gestures to assist in the explanation, fearing she wouldn't understand.

At some moment, Rong Zhen glanced sideways quietly and saw Ouyang Rong lowering his head to demonstrate zither playing for her, his firm and serious face.

His lips were somewhat rosy, because he spoke too much and his mouth was dry, often drinking tea to quench his thirst, the tea leaving a rosy luster on his lips, which even shone with dazzling luster in the neon light coming from downstairs.

Rong Zhen silently took an extra look.

There seemed to be some fluff like beard stubble on the corner of his mouth.

So this guy doesn't have many beards, and it won't prick people... she thought for no reason.

During this period, Rong Zhen played the wrong music, and Ouyang Rong couldn't help but reach out to point it out for her, correcting her little finger's fingering. Their hands touched, but he didn't pay much attention.

Rong Zhen looked straight ahead, didn't say a word, and continued playing.

However, it might be that her skills weren't refined, and she played wrong three or four times later, still in the same place. Ouyang Rong couldn't help but reach out and correct her a few times, only feeling that his blood pressure was about to be cured.

However, seeing the cold and ruthless small face of Lady Historian, he had to swallow the word "stupid" that almost leaked out of his mouth.

About an hour later.

Under Ouyang Rong's gaze, Rong Zhen played the "fusion of six zither pieces" smoothly.

After listening, Ouyang Rong exhaled a long breath and clapped his hands:

"Almost there, Lady Historian should have mastered it. This is the six pieces of music taught by the old senior, connected together in the order of that poem."

Rong Zhen frowned slightly and didn't speak.

"What's wrong?"

Rong Zhen lowered her head to look at her palms, then looked at him, took a deep breath, and said:

"I... still don't know it."

Ouyang Rong's tone was puzzled: "Still don't know it? Didn't you play it all?"

"I mean, that, that essence hasn't been grasped yet."

Ouyang Rong pursued: "Essence?"

Rong Zhen was lowering her head in thought, and being asked by him, she became a bit impatient, waving her hand:

"You don't understand. Anyway, it's different from the superficial things you taught. I certainly know what you know. I learned for a day, I'm not stupid, but... but..."

"But what?"

"But what I really want is that essence. It requires comprehension. I certainly won't be bad... Ouyang Lianghan, are you sure you didn't play it wrong?"

"I didn't teach it wrong." Ouyang Rong restrained his expression and nodded to himself: "Then there's only one possibility."

Rong Zhen's expression was puzzled: "What?"

"Nothing."

Ouyang Rong waved his hand and lowered his head to tidy up the wooden zither.

Rong Zhen didn't pay attention, frowning and staring at her palms.

But after a while, her ears vaguely heard the whispering of someone beside her:

"Without this comprehension, it's just stupid. Taught like this and still doesn't know, and still essence. I understood it after listening twice. Hey, why is it so stupid..."

Rong Zhen:...?

—————— ===== CHAPTER 525 =====