Chapter 526: 398. Who are you to me, why would I slap her? [National Day seven days can draw prizes for monthly votes!]

398. Who are you to me, why would I slap her? 【National Day seven days can draw prizes for monthly votes!】

"Stop."

"What is it, Aunt?"

"Are you coming back for lunch?"

"No, I can't come back."

"Is today a rest day? Didn't Tanlang say a few days ago that there was a half-day holiday? Accompany me for lunch."

"Temporary matter, need to go to the Xunyang Grottoes."

"Xunyang Grottoes again, why run there every day? I feel that in the whole Xunyang City, my Tanlang is the busiest. By the way, what are Yuan Huaimin and the others for?"

Huaiye Lane residence, inner courtyard, early morning, Ouyang Rong walked into the dining hall while putting on a cyan Confucian robe, quickly drank more than half a bowl of glutinous rice porridge in front of Zhen Shuyuan, who was prepared to accompany her beloved nephew for a meal with a graceful and elegant posture. He picked up a golden pancake from the table, held it in his mouth, and prepared to go out.

Zhen Shuyuan called him to a stop with a bad expression, inquired with a sidelong glance, and her willow eyebrows stood up:

"Tanlang, it's not that Aunt loves to meddle, but sometimes, you can't do everything yourself. You have to distribute things to people below. You are the highest-ranking official in Jiangzhou in name, how can you manage everything yourself? Won't you be exhausted?"

The beautiful woman in a Luo skirt said earnestly:

"You must be good at employing people. Look at Aunt, our family is so big, housework must be distributed to Banxi and the others, how can Aunt do it all? Don't you think so? Anyway, no matter how busy you are, it shouldn't be that you don't even have time to eat. You didn't have time to eat breakfast, you won't have time for lunch, and I guess you won't wait for dinner either, eh."

Ouyang Rong took the pancake out of his mouth, his expression somewhat embarrassed:

"Actually, I don't do everything myself. Liulang and Huaimin are still doing things. But today is special. I temporarily promised Lady Rong Zhen to go to the Xunyang Grottoes to discuss important matters with her, involving the Great Buddha, it's a matter of great importance..."

"Alright, alright, no need to say it. If it's an appointment with that Lady Historian, Aunt understands. Private meeting, indeed can't let outsiders do it for you. No wonder you are in such a hurry, anxious, right?"

Ouyang Rong felt more and more that these words were wrong:

"What private meeting, it's a serious discussion. She said there is a special plan that needs to be discussed..."

Zhen Shuyuan smiled like a smile: "Mm-hmm-hmm."

Ouyang Rong couldn't watch anymore: "Aunt, it's truly serious."

"Some people are serious, but some people might not be so serious. There is always one who is not serious."

"..."

Zhen Shuyuan's words were a bit roundabout.

Ouyang Rong frowned when he heard this, opened his mouth to say something, but closed it honestly after a moment, turned his head, and continued to walk away.

The beautiful woman in a Luo skirt sitting in the hall continued to shout with a straight face:

"Aunt doesn't care. You come back for lunch. This is the deadline. You discuss important matters with your Lady Historian, the round trip on the road, plus the discussion time, Aunt calculates, you left so early today, the whole morning is definitely enough. Unless there is a ghost, if it's truly a private meeting or something, if there isn't, you come back for lunch, understand?"

After she finished speaking, seeing Ouyang Rong stop honestly, she picked up a piece of rice cake with chopsticks, put it in her mouth and chewed, and hummed lightly.

Ouyang Rong wanted to speak but stopped.

Zhen Shuyuan put down her chopsticks, gave a warning look, and lowered her voice:

"Aunt called Wanwan in advance. She also thought you had a half-day holiday in the morning. You go now, she will come later. Aunt can only drag her until lunch at the latest. You have to come back to meet her, know?"

"Fine."

Without hesitating for long, Ouyang Rong nodded decisively and strode out the door.

Ouyang Rong left early, but didn't go to the Xunyang Grottoes immediately.

First, he went to the Jiangzhou Hall.

Speaking of which, Ouyang Rong hadn't been to the Jiangzhou Magistrate's Mansion for a while. Military and political official documents and the like were all sent to the Jiangzhou Hall by the Jiangzhou Magistrate's Historian for approval.

The functions of the Jiangzhou Magistrate's Mansion and the Jiangzhou Hall were different.

Because the Jiangzhou Magistrate held the military and political power of a state, it was considered a miniaturized version of a frontier official, including military and political affairs of the Jiangzhou Zhechong Mansion, which were all sent to the Jiangzhou Magistrate's Mansion first.

And the Jiangzhou Hall was under the actual presiding of the deputy, the Jiangzhou Historian, managing the civil affairs of a city and several counties within Jiangzhou.

In the main hall of the Jiangzhou Hall, the first seat was the office seat of the Magistrate, but generally, the Magistrate came less. For example, the former Jiangzhou Magistrate Wang Lengran, who sacrificed heroically... no, who sacrificed heroically, didn't come to the Jiangzhou Hall for a long time. This was already considered dereliction of duty.

After Ouyang Rong took over the position of acting Jiangzhou Magistrate, he reversed it, simply not going to the Magistrate's Mansion, and directly had people move the Magistrate's desk to the Jiangzhou Hall.

On weekdays, those military and political intelligence that were originally sent to the Jiangzhou Magistrate's Mansion were all sent to the Jiangzhou Hall.

Generally, wherever the Magistrate is, the decision-making team of the state is, with him as the core.

Actually, there should be another layer of consideration here, a possibility that outsiders who know the business can think of:

This young Magistrate surnamed Ouyang came from the Jiangzhou Hall, and there are more direct subordinates here, while the Jiangzhou Magistrate's Mansion is still using the team of people from the Wang Lengran period, inside which there might be his confidants who haven't been eliminated, hiding...

Once arriving at the Jiangzhou Hall, Ouyang Rong found Yan Liulang.

"How is the investigation? Is there anything that can be improved?"

Yan Liulang handed over a case scroll while smiling and comforting:

"Magistrate, you worry too much. You have always acted openly and honestly, and your family background is also clean. I can't think of any risk that the Directorate of Astronomy would not pass the audit."

Ouyang Rong nodded slowly.

He took the scroll handed by Yan Liulang and glanced at it.

This scroll came from the internal secret treasury of the Jiangzhou Hall, recording the portraits of officials in this state and the results of previous censor assessments.

Only the Censorate and the Magistrate of this state could read it.

The scroll in Ouyang Rong's hand was one of them, belonging to Ouyang Rong.

It had been recorded since he served as the Magistrate of Longcheng County in Jiangzhou, and there were indeed no stains.

Disaster relief, flood control, offering auspicious signs... the year-end assessments were all "top-tier."

Now he was creating statues for Her Majesty the Empress, and was deeply favored by Lady Historian Rong Zhen, who had the status of the Empress's special envoy, and had been reported and recommended repeatedly.

No wonder Wang Lengran, who served as Magistrate back then, couldn't find an angle to attack him and couldn't suppress his promotion.

However, the Censorate should have another more detailed case file about him.

Besides the kind of simple official career resume in Ouyang Rong's hand, there were also scrolls introducing his family background and detailed content of some life deeds.

There would even be state-level censors specially going to his hometown, Nanlong, to conduct on-site inspections to prevent impersonation...

Ouyang Rong put down this simple scroll and touched his chin.

Rong Zhen confessed the day before yesterday. Before confessing the secret defense of the Xunyang Grottoes to him, a confidentiality check by the Directorate of Astronomy was needed, which was similar to the political review of the previous life, just more detailed.

The Directorate of Astronomy should check the scrolls above once.

However, there was one more process, which was to send people to the places where he had served as an official, to open up the path of speech in the local officialdom and among the people, and widely collect the public opinion of this person.

Or the envoy sent by the Directorate of Astronomy would directly spot-check a few anonymous officials.

To see if anyone reported him for corruption and bribery. Of course, the whole process was confidential.

If there were no serious stains, it would be considered passed the confidentiality check.

Overall, the supervision system of the Great Zhou officialdom was quite mature.

After thinking for a moment, feeling that there was no omission, Ouyang Rong turned and went out.

Arriving at the Xunyang Grottoes.

"What? Lady Historian is not here?"

Ouyang Rong looked at Wang Caozhi in front of him and asked with a frown.

"Mm, Sister Rong seemed to have some urgent matter this morning and left."

"Where did she go?"

"Seems to have returned to Xunyang City."

Ouyang Rong frowned and asked again:

"How many people went?"

"Seems to be one person and one horse."

"One person?"

Ouyang Rong thought for a moment, shook his head, and left a sentence before walking:

"What kind of messy address is that? How many times have I said, call by position."

Wang Caozhi nodded: "Understood, good brother-in-law!"

"?"

Ouyang Rong couldn't be bothered to pay attention to him, looked up at the time of the sky, and decided to return to the city directly.

On the way, his expression was somewhat puzzled.

Where could Rong Zhen go alone? Wasn't it agreed to meet today to discuss important matters...

Half an hour later, Ouyang Rong, with a heavy heart, returned to the city and first went to find Yan Liulang:

"Lady Historian entered the city alone this morning. Pay attention, see where she went and who she met."

"Yes."

Yan Liulang cupped his hands and retired.

After ordering, Ouyang Rong looked at the sky and walked back to the Huaiye Lane residence with slightly hurried steps.

Just as he entered the dining hall, he found that he was indeed late.

Zhen Shuyuan didn't raise her head: "Wanwan finished eating and left."

Ouyang Rong was surprised: "How come you are so fast?"

"Fast? You don't look at what time it is, why is Tanlang so slow?"

"Sorry, my fault."

Zhen Shuyuan rolled her eyes and said:

"Hmph, and Tanlang truly suffered a loss today. Wanwan wore a vermilion skirt that looked extremely good, as dazzling as a ruby, truly a peerless young lady, and still a noble five-surname, eh, Tanlang is in a blessing and doesn't know it."

Ouyang Rong revealed an apologetic expression on his face:

"My fault, returned too late."

At this moment, Ye Weilai, who was eating beside, added in a small voice:

"Tanlang, Xie sister took the little guy out to play."

Ouyang Rong nodded gently.

Zhen Shuyuan asked with a curious face: "Little guy? Who is it?"

Ouyang Rong exchanged looks with Ye Weilai. He turned his head and blinked at his Aunt who was like a curious baby:

"Consider it a small pet raised in the courtyard, Wanwan likes it."

Xiao Shimei often took Miaosi out to eat good ink, the little guy was eager to do so.

Zhen Shuyuan nodded gently, as if thinking of some rumors, and began to nag:

"Oh, it's still you young people who love to toss. Don't raise small pets, it's very annoying. Put it in the house, who knows what day it will cause a big disaster..."

Ouyang Rong laughed helplessly.

After the meal, he returned to the study, glanced at the amulet sachet on the table, which was actually a pair. The other one was made by Xiuniang for Xiao Shimei, prepared to be sent when they met for the birthday ceremony, but it hadn't been sewn well yet.

Ouyang Rong picked up the amulet, prepared to stuff it into his arms, stopped halfway, and went to stuff it into the Mo family sword box.

He clapped his hands, prepared to read for a while before taking a nap, when hurried footsteps came from outside.

The courtyard gate was pushed open. Looking up, Ye Weilai was bringing Yan Liulang with a serious face into the courtyard.

Before entering the room, Yan Liulang shouted loudly:

"Magistrate, urgent matter!"

Ouyang Rong walked out of the room with his hands behind his back:

"What matter? Speak."

Yan Liulang said hesitantly:

"Subordinate... subordinate saw Lady Historian go to Xingzi Lake..."

Ouyang Rong was stunned for a moment, then rushed out of the door like lightning.

"When did it happen, why didn't you say so earlier!"

"About half an hour ago."

"Go!"

Ouyang Rong hurriedly took Yan Liulang to Xingzi Lake.

Just as he approached the quiet courtyard, he saw two quiet standing female figures in the alley not far from the courtyard.

One figure was a purple-gold draped beautiful woman, and one figure was... a purple palace-dressed girl.

Ouyang Rong at the street corner felt his heart skip a beat and stepped forward quickly.

Yan Liulang, who was originally burying his head and following behind him, suddenly raised a hand, covered his stomach, turned around, and while untying his belt with both hands, lowered his head and walked toward the corner of the nearest dark alley wall to relieve himself.

Ouyang Rong ran too fast and didn't notice the exquisite positioning of his trusted general for a while.

He ran to the front of the two women, panting and saying:

"Lady, Lady Historian, what are you doing here? Isn't it gathering at the Xunyang Grottoes? I was taking a nap at home just now and didn't receive you in the first time, hope you don't blame me..."

Rong Zhen didn't look back.

Ouyang Rong panted while wiping sweat, and examined the two women calmly.

Only to see that Rong Zhen's young, short back didn't move.

The purple-gold draped beautiful woman was like a wronged little wife, standing in punishment behind Rong Zhen with her head lowered, covering half of her face with one palm, not daring to make a sound.

Ouyang Rong silently took a step forward and came to Rong Zhen's side.

Immediately, he discovered that this Lady Historian had her hands behind her back, with a straight face, looking expressionlessly at the small courtyard in front.

At this moment, Ouyang Rong caught a glimpse of Pei Shiniang, who was secretly looking up at him, with a clear and incomparable bright red slap print on her face.

"Young Master..."

Pei Shiniang spoke weakly, but a loud shout came from the front:

"Ouyang Lianghan! Magistrate Ouyang!"

Ouyang Rong was startled and spoke first: "Here, Lady Historian, there's no need to hit people for no reason..."

Rong Zhen asked with a curious tone:

"Who are you to me, why would I slap her?"

Speaking of this, she suddenly shouted loudly:

"I didn't hit!"

Ouyang Rong smiled apologetically, "Good, didn't hit, Lady Historian listen to me..."

Rong Zhen, whose pretty face was always cold as ice, was smiling:

"I said I didn't hit, so I didn't hit. Don't be narcissistic, and don't explain. Hiding Yue women privately, I know, haha, hiding Yue women privately, golden house hiding beauty."

Ouyang Rong said with a serious face:

"That is my child bride. I have the responsibility to educate her, and I can guarantee that with me here, she will never follow to commit crimes."

Rong Zhen suddenly waved her large sleeve:

"I don't care if she is your child bride!"

Ouyang Rong calmed down and asked seriously: "Lady Historian... didn't go in, right?"

Rong Zhen turned her head suddenly and asked with a strange look:

"Why would I go in? Someone has already gone in."

"...?!"

Ouyang Rong's entire body stiffened. He first turned his head slowly to look at the incredibly bright red slap mark on Pei Shiniang's face.

Under Rong Zhen's light, scrutinizing chuckle, the young man in the Confucian robe turned his head again and gazed at the quiet little courtyard ahead, which was exceptionally tranquil at this moment.

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