Chapter 642: 542. Jade Needs to be Polished

542. Jade Needs to be Polished

The morning mist had not yet dispersed.

At the camp entrance, the saddles were covered with a layer of damp, cold light.

The leaf tips held dew drops that were about to fall, and a few lines of crab-shell green leaked out between the distant dark mountain shadows.

Li Dalang, Lu Ya, and Zhang Shixiu gripped the reins, with peach wood swords, water bottles, dry rations, and other luggage hanging beside their respective saddles.

Shunbo was feeding fresh grass to the horses of the only two carriages.

Wang Lixian and Wei Mei bent down and boarded one of the carriages.

Wang Lixian coughed and blew into his palms, looked around, didn't see that reassuring slender figure, and turned to look at the camp behind him.

After waiting for a while, he only saw his daughter walking out.

Li Guoer lifted the apricot-red skirt hem, avoided the dew on the grass by the road, and came to this gathering point at the entrance.

Only to see her hair disheveled like crumpled clouds, as if she hadn't slept well last night. Her pretty face was taut, with some cute puffy eye bags, and the color of her lips, bitten and then released, was more vivid than the coral on the hairpin head.

Caishou followed behind like a tail. The little maid carried a small bundle on her back and held another bundle in her arms. Her bun-like face had a somewhat dazed expression, also looking like she hadn't woken up. She followed her young lady, who was lifting her skirt hem, and boarded the carriage together.

A moment later, the figure of a young girl in plain white palace attire also appeared at the camp entrance, followed by the figures of Wang Caozhi and Pei Shiniang.

Rong Zhen was still wearing a high-bun hairstyle tied with a mandarin duck jade hairpin today, her face cold as she walked in front. Wang Caozhi followed behind with a full face of smiles, helping to lead a spirited white horse. His waist was bent just a little lower than the young girl in palace attire, and he kept talking. Rong Zhen didn't look back, only replying occasionally.

Pei Shiniang, who was beside her, just respectfully followed behind this Female Historian, but didn't come up to talk as enthusiastically as Wang Caozhi.

The noble lady draped in a purple-gold shawl occasionally looked sideways at the young man who was bending over and sticking his hot face to a cold butt, as if she had a new understanding of this colleague's thick skin.

Arriving at the camp entrance, facing everyone's gazes, Rong Zhen didn't speak again, and Wang Caozhi also shut his mouth, handing the white horse's reins to Sister Rong.

He glanced at Pei Shiniang beside him and straightened his waist again.

Pei Shiniang's mouth twitched, and she went to prepare the carriage for Madam Zhen.

Early in the morning, at the camp entrance, about to set off, everyone was busy, but the atmosphere was exceptionally silent.

Everyone was busy with their own things, without any communication. In the silence, eyes were exchanged or shifted away.

Until Madam Zhen walked out leisurely from the camp, followed by Ye Weilai and Banxi, who were carrying small floral bundles on their backs and supporting her left and right arms respectively.

Zhen Shuyuan looked around and broke the silence:

"Where is Tanlang?"

Everyone was speechless.

Madam Zhen saw their eyes looking toward a certain tent in the camp.

The lady followed these gazes and found that it should be Xie Lingjiang's tent.

However, Xie Lingjiang was not there at the moment, and only a slender figure sat quietly inside, as if waiting silently.

Madam Zhen was puzzled: "Where did Wanwan go?"

No one answered, until Wei Mei stepped forward and whispered a few words.

Madam Zhen also fell silent.

She didn't urge them anymore, standing in place, waiting for Ye Weilai and Banxi to prepare the carriage.

Time passed minute by minute.

The morning mist was steamed away by the early sun, and the dew drops hanging on the carriage wheels parked in the grass were reflecting the new rosy color dyed in the sky, as if drawn with a vermilion brush.

7:30 AM.

Inside the camp, the young man in the Confucian robe walked out of the tent where he had been sitting for a long time and arrived at the camp entrance on time.

It was the agreed gathering time.

Everyone was ready to set off, and their gazes fell on the young man in the Confucian robe.

Ouyang Rong took the reins from Wang Caozhi, and Dongmei snorted, rubbing its forehead against its silent master's arm.

Ouyang Rong touched its oily hair and said to everyone:

"Sorry to keep you waiting. I thought about it carefully last night, and I have to nag a few more words. After I finish nagging, everyone can set off. After Little Shimei receives the family letter, she might be waiting for you in Hanyang County."

The whole scene was silent.

Everyone saw the young man in the Confucian robe lower his head calmly, groping for objects from his sleeves, seemingly for his final instructions.

Wei Mei suggested with a forced smile:

"Hey, Tanlang, it's not that far anyway. Why don't you not rush back to Xunyang, and accompany us for a stretch, go to Hanyang County to see Lingjiang, and you senior brother and junior sister can get together again?"

Ouyang Rong shook his head, insisting on his principles:

"We cannot waste time on private matters anymore. The Prince is racing against time to return to the capital, and Aunt and Daoist Zhang also need to rush back. Let's follow what was discussed yesterday. Caozhi and Shiniang have already arranged the route behind you."

Wei Mei wanted to say something but stopped, turning to wink at Wang Lixian and Li Guoer, but the two didn't move.

Wei Mei was a little anxious, and her palm reached out to pinch Wang Lixian's waist in her sleeve...

"Tanlang."

Wang Lixian suddenly jumped off the carriage, left Wei Mei behind, and came to Ouyang Rong's side.

Ouyang Rong paused his movements slightly:

"Does the Prince have anything else?"

He saw that the bruises from the wrestling by the river not long ago hadn't faded, but new red marks had been added to his cheeks, and he didn't know what he had experienced last night.

Ouyang Rong couldn't help but take a few extra looks.

Wang Lixian said solemnly:

"Do you still remember that day in your courtyard, after Xiuniang went missing, when you urged this Prince to leave, the last sentence you said to this Prince?"

"This Prince likes your words very much."

Ouyang Rong didn't react for a moment:

"What words?"

Wang Lixian stroked his beard and smiled:

"Tanlang said, things that change one's life must be risked; things of great significance mostly happen by chance; only unimportant things have thorough plans... Does Tanlang still remember?"

"Mm."

Shunbo walked over tacitly, holding a tray of wine. Wang Lixian turned around, picked up a wine pot, poured a cup, held it up with both hands, and handed it to Tanlang:

"Meiniang wanted this Prince to persuade you, or even force you to leave together, but this Prince suddenly thought, isn't accompanying us back to the capital also something Tanlang is doing according to plan? These words are not only a gift from Tanlang to this Prince, but also a gift from Tanlang to himself.

"Tanlang, you are right. Things that change one's life must be risked. Tanlang, please go ahead with peace of mind. We will wait for you in the capital. You have taught us for so long, with so many earnest words, just like a private school teacher teaching painstakingly in that mountain village. It is time to test the quality of the students."

Wang Lixian smiled and looked at the distant mountains, looked around at the crowd who were sad about the separation, and laughed heartily:

"You gave me a word, and this Prince will also give you a word: Do not say that the spring of this year is coming to an end, the spring scenery of next year will be doubled!"

Ouyang Rong was stunned.

He stared at Wang Lixian for a while and nodded slowly:

"Thank you, Prince."

Wei Mei also fell silent. This time, she didn't stop him again.

It was just that when Wang Lixian returned to the carriage, she snorted coldly, and her sleeve shook off Wang Lixian's hand that was reaching out to please her, as if she still had some lingering anger toward her husband who didn't stand on her side.

At this time, Wang Caozhi stepped forward and opened his mouth to Ouyang Rong hesitantly:

"Brother-in-law, since you aren't returning to the capital, then I'll stay too."

Ouyang Rong shook his head:

"No, you go to the capital together first. You have traveled north and south, and have rich experience in going north. With you on the road, it will be safer."

"Then why not let Shiniang go?" Wang Caozhi worried: "The capital is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Without brother-in-law there, little brother is afraid of making mistakes."

Ouyang Rong's mouth twitched, and he joked:

"But so many sisters have gone, you have to accompany them? I feel you are quite good at this kind of situation."

Wang Caozhi:...

Ignoring the resentful look from his cheap brother-in-law, Ouyang Rong earnestly urged Pei Shiniang:

"Go to Hanyang County to board a boat, send Aunt to Nanlong, and then you return. I will wait for you in Xunyang City."

Being able to stay, Pei Shiniang smiled secretly and bowed gracefully: "Yes, Young Master."

Madam Zhen suddenly said:

"Tanlang, take Ye Weilai with you. I allow it."

Ouyang Rong turned his head to look, only to see Ye Weilai had already packed her things, carrying a small bundle, looking at him eagerly.

Ouyang Rong quieted down.

Li Guoer suddenly interjected: "Don't you want to try the Ding Sword?"

Ye Weilai shook her head, pointing to Caishou, who was quietly gnawing on an oil pancake, her mouth puffed into a bun face:

"Better let Caishou Jiejie come. She has been by your side for many years, influenced by what she sees and hears, smart and spiritual, more suitable to be a sword wielder than Nu'er."

Everyone's eyes were somewhat surprised, mainly because the impression this "little inner person" in Tanlang's room had given them in the past was that she was eager to learn and liked to make progress.

Although she also had the advantages of being well-behaved, sensible, and knowing her place, in the face of such a great opportunity that was within reach, logically speaking, anyone with a little ambition would fight for it. Not to mention that this time there was support from Xie Lingjiang and Rong Zhen. Even if her temperament was cautious, there was no need to not even try, wouldn't that be giving up the opportunity in vain?

Li Guoer squinted, examined Ye Weilai, and nodded slowly:

"Alright."

Ye Weilai's gaze was upright, but her peripheral vision quietly looked at the little princess with plum blossom makeup, whom she had been faintly afraid of for a long time, and then looked at the little maid with the bun face who was somewhat dazed and confused beside the calm little princess.

The white-haired young girl didn't know what she was thinking.

Madam Zhen sighed at Ouyang Rong, who was hesitating:

"I am not here, Weilai is suitable to take care of your life by your side."

Ye Weilai turned her head and gave a "it doesn't matter" smiling look to Rong Zhen, who was preparing to speak.

Rong Zhen pursed her lips and didn't speak again.

Ouyang Rong stood silently for a moment and nodded lightly.

Ye Weilai happily stepped forward to help him lead the horse.

Ouyang Rong touched a certain elixir box in his arms and cast his gaze toward Li Guoer.

He organized his wording:

"Little Princess..."

"Alright, no mushy words."

Li Guoer waved her hand and turned her face away. That beautiful, peerless little face was somewhat cold, and she said unhappily:

"You left without waiting for Xie Jiejie to come back and meet you. I can imagine her being resentful and sulky beside me every day in the future. In the end, the matter between you senior brother and junior sister is still affecting my mood."

Just then, a sound of horse hooves came from afar.

Everyone looked behind Ouyang Rong and was stunned.

Ouyang Rong frowned, turned around slowly, and the next instant, he froze in place.

A figure in red rode a rouge-colored spirited horse and galloped over.

It was Xie Lingjiang.

She was in red like a flame, but dusty and panting, her eyes red-rimmed, and there were some bloodshot eyes in her eyes, as if she had rushed for a whole night, without stopping for a moment.

The person and horse arrived at the camp entrance. Xie Lingjiang threw away the reins and dismounted.

Madam Zhen, Wei Mei, and other female relatives were both happy and surprised.

"Lingjiang?"

"Wanwan?"

Xie Lingjiang rushed forward like a fire, ignoring the crowd asking with concern, and threw herself into Ouyang Rong's arms.

"Little Shimei..." Ouyang Rong was stunned for a moment, forgetting to experience the feeling of Little Shimei bumping into him. In the past, he would have had to earnestly lecture the Little Shimei who "didn't know the weight of things."

Xie Lingjiang's forehead was covered with fine sweat, and she hurriedly took out a jade pendant.

She lowered her head, her hands trembling, and tied the jade pendant to his waist:

"Wear it well with the skirt knife. I wrote letters and pestered the academy head and the libationer for two years. A few days ago, they finally made an exception and agreed to make the jade. Aunt immediately sent someone to deliver it."

Xie Lingjiang's face was haggard. As she lowered her head to tie the jade, her red lips were pursed tightly, somewhat stubborn and proud:

"This is a life-bound jade pendant. Only Confucian scholars from the Bai Lu Dong Academy who have reached the 8th Grade Gentleman level or above are qualified to possess it. Although you aren't a scholar of the Daoist lineage, you are considered a Qi-refiner from the academy, and even more so a world-renowned, indisputable upright gentleman. So what if you aren't a scholar of the Daoist lineage? How can my senior brother not have one!"

She finished speaking somewhat proudly. Ouyang Rong heard Little Shimei's clear voice drop, and she whispered:

"Wear it on your body. Do not take it off at will before entering the capital. If the jade is there, the person is there; if the jade is destroyed, the person is dead. Remember, remember..."

Ouyang Rong stood in place, lowered his head, grabbed her plain hand that was helping him tie the jade pendant tightly, and touched the jade pendant at the same time.

He didn't know what kind of jade material this pendant was. The texture was warm and moist, and it was warm, as if a candle flame was hidden inside, making one's mind peaceful when touched.

There seemed to be characters carved on the back. He looked closely, and they were eight vigorous small seal script characters:

Merit does not go to waste, jade needs to be polished to become a vessel.

Xie Lingjiang's murmuring voice came:

"These are the words Headmaster Wan sent you. When you were at the academy, Headmaster Wan said he actually didn't pay much attention to you, just felt you were a piece of material, upright and proper, which could add a few inches of backbone to the academy, but couldn't change the world. Until later, you were demoted to Long City, and he heard about the subsequent deeds one after another, only then did he change his view and look at you differently."

Ouyang Rong pursed his lips. A moment later, he placed the jade pendant in position and prepared to speak:

"Little Shimei, I..."

Xie Lingjiang suddenly raised her head, half-jokingly, half-clangorously:

"Alright, I said, I am following you and Father into the world to practice. From the time we met in Long City until now, we have never been separated for so long like this time, but I will always firmly believe that my senior brother will never be wrong!

"Even if the whole world opposes him, slander fills the universe, and millions of people point at him and say he is wrong, I still firmly believe he is right, and I will guard his truth alone!"

She felt her nose was sour, pushed the broad shoulders of the silent and wooden young man in the Confucian robe in front of her, and said in a slightly relaxed tone:

"Alright, Ru Shixiong, go do what you want to do. The mountains are high and the waters are wide, do not refuse the distance; the wind destroys and the rain breaks, do not change your ambition. You, you take care on the way." ===== CHAPTER 643 =====