Chapter 529

401. Shura Field!

The rain fell after all.

Just as Xie Lingjiang walked quickly out of the quiet little courtyard.

But she didn't turn back to get an umbrella.

She went straight into the curtain of rain.

She ran into a figure in purple waiting at an intersection not far outside the little courtyard.

Red clothes versus purple clothes.

The former was tall and plump, the latter petite and exquisite.

The two women were six steps apart.

The fine, rustling rain fell on them, and the red and purple colors deepened a bit, leaning toward a dark black tone.

Xie Lingjiang spoke first and said a sentence.

But it was covered by the "rumbling" thunder overhead.

Pei Shiniang on the side didn't hear it clearly. Besides, when she turned back, she found that Yan Liulang's figure in the back had disappeared again.

Rong Zhen didn't know if she heard that sentence in the thunder, tilted her head and asked:

"Not bringing out both their heads, Miss Xie is truly laughable."

Xie Lingjiang said word by word:

"I said, move aside. Are you deaf?"

The desolate look on Rong Zhen's face had already disappeared, replaced by boundless coldness, with only slightly reddish eye sockets remaining. At this moment, she replied indifferently:

"Don't you see that I am here to handle a case, to capture a rebel demoness? Are you blind?"

Xie Lingjiang asked coldly:

"Where is there any rebel demoness here? Don't listen to the wind and rain. Also, who told Lady Official that there is a demoness here?

"However, if you insist on saying there is a demoness, there is indeed one that fits, a vixen demoness. But this woman is not in the courtyard, she is outside."

"Heh, you'd better manage the man you think is yours first. I'm anxious for you. Don't bring back a few more sisters next time. Tell me, isn't it infuriating?"

Xie Lingjiang nodded:

"Oh, you're angry. He dares to bring a new sister home, but it's not you. So angry, truly so angry. First come, first served, yet you're a head shorter. Tsk, this matter, where can one reason with it?"

Speaking of this, Xie Lingjiang also glanced at the purple-clothed palace-dressed young girl in front of her, as if sizing up her height, with a double entendre.

Rong Zhen smiled:

"Don't become a younger sister after being an older sister one day. Standing, you're taller than others, but sitting, you're a head shorter. Ridiculous, ridiculous. Miss Xie should learn how to manage a man first. If you can't learn, you can step down; just knowing how to raise your neck and shout 'Sister' will do."

Xie Lingjiang walked three steps closer, looked down at the palace-dressed young girl in front of her with some doubt:

"Do you think some people need me to raise my neck? Even looking down is tiring. Lady Official, don't you think so?"

Rong Zhen didn't look up, her dark eyes looking up at her, slightly pulling the corners of her lips:

"No time to listen to your riddles. Miss Xie, are you done? If you're done, hurry up and leave. Don't delay me from handling the case next."

"Handling a case, what case? What case is there to handle? Is Lady Official muddled from the rain? Hurry back. On a rainy day, it's easy to be struck by lightning if you talk big and nonsense. Didn't your family teach you?"

Rong Zhen's footsteps didn't move, as if she had true qi released, and the fine rustling rain around her couldn't get within three steps of her.

And three steps was exactly the straight-line distance between Xie Lingjiang and her.

Rong Zhen's pair of dark eyes turned away somewhat naturally:

"Of course, it's to handle cases you can't handle, and manage people you can't manage."

Xie Lingjiang also smiled:

"Then Lady Official must also be careful not to be handled by others. On this point, Lady Official is always worrying."

Rong Zhen's voice grew louder: "Just relying on him? I don't even know what Miss Xie is being sarcastic about. It's like a cow's head not matching a horse's mouth."

Xie Lingjiang sized her up from top to bottom, somewhat seriously:

"Whether you've taken it to heart, Lady Official knows clearly. Actually, excluding other contradictions, I hope Lady Official will strive for some spirit and be tougher."

Rong Zhen said coldly: "Nonsense."

Xie Lingjiang nodded: "Asking what you already know."

Rong Zhen countered: "Self-righteous."

"Self-deceiving."

Xie Lingjiang evaluated indifferently and continued to nod in summary:

"From the first time I saw you, I knew you were a jealous jar who is needy and clingy, and also very stingy, with a strong desire for control, liking to occupy everything, but refusing to admit it. To put it nicely, you care about face; to put it bluntly, you are a tsundere to the extreme."

Rong Zhen narrowed her eyes:

"Better than some people who are fake and serious, fake and generous. When things come to a head, you're so anxious you almost cry, yet you have no confidence, and you retreat cowardly. If you had beaten your Ru Shixiong, I would have thought more highly of you. Now, I can only say that if there's a first time, there's a second..."

Xie Lingjiang said softly: "Isn't this because I'm afraid you'll be heartbroken?"

Rong Zhen was expressionless: "He doesn't deserve it."

Xie Lingjiang suddenly said:

"Is Lady Official dying for me to make a scene? Best to make it big, fight and scratch with Embroidery Maid sister, best to have a life-and-death struggle, where either she goes or I go, and let Ru Shixiong choose? That way you could change your attitude and take advantage of the situation?

"Heh, no wonder Lady Official was one step slow today, no wonder you stood outside and didn't act. This little abacus of yours is beating so loudly. I heard it in the courtyard. It's truly noisy."

Speaking of this, she, like Rong Zhen, saw the smile on her face gradually disappear and waved her fingers:

"But I won't."

Rong Zhen flicked her large sleeves and turned her head away:

"Nonsense, far-fetched, I can't be bothered with you."

She immediately added another sentence:

"But I can understand you, after all, you have one more sister."

Xie Lingjiang corrected with a smile: "You have one more sister. Remember, call her Embroidery Maid sister."

Rong Zhen turned her head slowly, narrowing her eyes to stare at her, as if carefully sizing up something, and asked:

"Did you know about this woman early on?"

Xie Lingjiang didn't answer, but asked back:

"How did Lady Official know about your Embroidery Maid sister? Who told you?"

"None of your business."

"I send these words back to you."

Just at this moment, at the quiet little courtyard, the gate was pushed open. Ouyang Rong came out with an oil-paper umbrella, carrying an extra empty umbrella in his hand, and rushed to the two women.

"Sorry, I looked for an umbrella and came late... The rain is getting heavy, why are you still standing here in the rain? Hurry, hurry, let's go back."

Ouyang Rong had an apologetic face, greeting the women to leave.

Rong Zhen didn't move.

Xie Lingjiang also didn't move.

Only Pei Shiniang walked forward a few steps, turned her head and found that the two women and the Young Master didn't leave, so she stopped honestly.

The four of them stood in the rain like this.

Ouyang Rong's expression changed.

"Thanks."

Xie Lingjiang reached out directly, took the empty umbrella in his hand, and opened it to block the rain.

Actually, just now, she, like Rong Zhen, had been using true qi to protect her body, not letting the rain get close. This was very simple for a mid-grade Qi Refiner.

Rong Zhen turned her head and looked at Ouyang Rong who was holding the umbrella.

Since when did rain start falling on her body? The purple clothes were gradually getting wet.

Rong Zhen stared straight at Ouyang Rong.

Ouyang Rong suddenly turned his head and asked Pei Shiniang first:

"Does Shiniang want an umbrella? My body is healthy, the doctor says my liver fire is strong, a little rain doesn't matter."

Pei Shiniang hurriedly waved her hand: "I don't need it, I don't need it, I... I'll go back now, the carriage is right there."

"Oh."

Under Xie Lingjiang's gaze, Ouyang Rong nodded and naturally stuffed the umbrella into Rong Zhen's hand:

"Lady Rong, what about you? Forget it, just use it. You seem to have come alone, no carriage."

Thus, Xie Lingjiang and Rong Zhen each had an umbrella.

Ouyang Rong stood honestly outside the two umbrellas, with a smiling face, as if asking casually:

"By the way, what were you chatting about just now?"

No one answered.

Xie Lingjiang suddenly walked toward Pei Shiniang, scaring the latter into shrinking back.

"Don't move."

Xie Lingjiang said softly, took out a handkerchief embroidered with orchids, and in Pei Shiniang's daze, gently wiped her right cheek that had the slap mark:

"I was a bit impulsive before, not distinguishing right from wrong. I apologize to Lady Pei. Strictly speaking, you were just doing your duty. No matter how you say it, it can't be blamed on you, and you were in a difficult position... I'm very sorry, it won't happen next time."

Pausing, Xie Lingjiang tilted her head slightly:

"Ru Shixiong, don't you think so?"

"Yes, yes, I am the most responsible, it won't happen again. Shiniang, set your mind at ease, go back and rest well."

"Oh oh, okay."

Being personally comforted by the Xie family noblewoman, Pei Shiniang was filled with gratitude and hurriedly said goodbye and left.

This beautiful woman in purple and gold walked far away, raised her hand to touch the two bright red slap marks on her face today, and only then did she slightly come to her senses. She immediately understood the significance of the blue-clothed constable's disappearing and reappearing movements, sighed resentfully, still need to learn more and improve more...

After Pei Shiniang left, only Ouyang Rong, Xie Lingjiang, and Rong Zhen were left on the scene.

The latter two were holding umbrellas in the rain. Ouyang Rong didn't take the initiative to walk under either of their umbrellas, looking up at the rain, as if observing when the rain would stop.

Rong Zhen stared at Ouyang Rong.

Her gaze fell on his messy hem and the footprint on his chest.

Xie Lingjiang acted as if Rong Zhen didn't exist and suddenly asked Ouyang Rong with surprise:

"What happened to Ru Shixiong? You're covered in dust."

Ouyang Rong replied in seconds: "I fell by accident before going out."

Rong Zhen sneered: "You fell yourself, and you can still get a footprint on your chest?"

Ouyang Rong analyzed seriously: "It's really possible. The boot fell off first, and I fell on it."

Xie Lingjiang's face softened slightly. In front of Rong Zhen, she walked up, patted the dust off his hem somewhat intimately, and leaned her lips to his ear, whispering:

"That white jade hairpin that rings is indeed suitable for her to wear. You don't need to take it back. It just so happens that I forgot to bring a meeting gift today, but she gave me an amulet instead and obediently changed her address to call me 'Sister'. Then this white jade hairpin can be considered a gift from both of us to her."

It was clearly a whisper, but it was faintly louder than the sound of the rain.

Rong Zhen looked up at Ouyang Rong abruptly.

Xie Lingjiang turned a deaf ear, gave Ouyang Rong a few more instructions, laughed lightly, and turned to leave.

Ouyang Rong made a 'wait a moment' gesture to Rong Zhen, who was silent, and quickly went up to send Xie Lingjiang off.

The two walked side by side. Just as they walked far away, he reached out to pull Xie Lingjiang, who was walking silently. Only to see that Junior Sister, who had just intimately cleaned the dust for him, shook off his arm directly and asked coldly: "Still want your boot to fall off and fall on it again?"

"Yes." Ouyang Rong nodded with a very thick face, touched his chest calmly, and continued to reach out to pull her.

"You... are sick!" Xie Lingjiang was suddenly furious, took a deep breath, calmed down, and shook off his hand.

Under the sky-blue curtain of rain, the stunning beauty in a red dress, holding an umbrella alone, cold and indifferent, walked away alone.

Ouyang Rong stopped, watched her figure disappear, and immediately turned back. He returned to the original spot and found that Rong Zhen's figure had disappeared.

Ouyang Rong looked subconsciously toward the quiet courtyard and was about to rush over when Yan Liulang's figure suddenly appeared at the street corner, holding several umbrellas in his arms.

He said weakly: "Prefect, Lady Official didn't go in, she turned and left just now."

Ouyang Rong breathed a sigh of relief and asked curiously: "Where did Liulang go just now? Why didn't I see you?"

Yan Liulang said with thick brows and big eyes: "It's raining, this subordinate went to get umbrellas."

Ouyang Rong felt this excuse was a bit familiar and frowned:

"You also looked for umbrellas? Fine, be faster next time."

Yan Liulang nodded quickly: "Yes, yes."

Ouyang Rong asked for the direction Rong Zhen left in and immediately chased after her.

Rong Zhen didn't go far, walking with an umbrella, as if wanting to pace by the lake.

Ouyang Rong chased to her side, breathed a sigh of relief, wiped his sweat with his sleeve, and asked with concern:

"Where is Lady Official going?"

"Has Prefect handled his family matters?"

Ouyang Rong shook his head: "Not really, I guess there's more to suffer later... Lady Official, you've seen a joke."

"Not funny, please move aside, don't block the way."

"Is Lady Official going back?"

"Mm, going back to call people."

"Call people for what?"

"To handle a case, the case of harboring a Yue woman."

Ouyang Rong immediately blocked in front of Rong Zhen, examined her face carefully, and said softly:

"Lady Official, calm your anger."

Rong Zhen suddenly stopped and said:

"Don't you think she is very childish?"

"What?" Ouyang Rong was puzzled.

"If you play dumb, then there's nothing to talk about. Scram, I'm going back to the Supervisory Office to call people."

Ouyang Rong suddenly said:

"She is indeed a Yue woman, that's correct."

"Are you proud?"

"But how did Lady Official find out and come looking today?"

"If you don't want people to know, don't do it. You did the bastard thing yourself. I am in charge of the Supervisory Office, supervising Jiangzhou, why can't I know?"

"Because..."

He paused, having no response, but still frowned in confusion.

Rong Zhen walked quietly for a while and said:

"Do you remember what we inferred after seizing the first Dream Cloud Order from the hero Zheng Jun and interrogating Li Yu in the water prison?"

"What?"

"At that time, the Lady Yue Chuzi very likely lurked in the city."

"I remember."

Ouyang Rong nodded calmly, finding Rong Zhen's expression as usual.

She lowered her eyes and spoke softly:

"I have been paying attention to this matter, leaving a team of female officials to search secretly in the city. You suddenly led troops to handle a case a few days ago, which made them suspicious. During the investigation, they accidentally discovered this courtyard where you hide people. At first, it was suspected that a Yue woman who escaped the net was living there, colluding with the Fang sisters. As a result, it was later discovered that you were also coming and going, and were intimate with the young girl in the courtyard. I naturally knew who she was... Xie Lingjiang and you arriving one after another today was even more of a self-incriminating act. It seems it really is that Yue woman child-bride. What a coincidence. This fate is the same as what is sung in storybooks, impossible to cut, still chaotic. No wonder Prefect has been running here often these days. Truly, when things are abnormal, there must be demons."

After Ouyang Rong finished listening, he rubbed his face: "Accidental discovery, is it that simple..."

Rong Zhen didn't look back, her voice calm: "Otherwise?"

Ouyang Rong asked as usual: "Then did they find what they wanted to find?"

"No, the Lady Yue Chuzi likely left. Especially that massive arrest you made a few days ago, it startled the snake. You didn't catch anyone on your side, so she really ran."

"It is my dereliction of duty."

Ouyang Rong nodded, just about to brush it off, when Rong Zhen in front stopped slowly.

"What's wrong, Lady Official?"

Rong Zhen turned her head, her brows furrowed:

"Stop, you take me there first."

"Where to?"

Ouyang Rong saw her say expressionlessly:

"To see your child-bride."

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