Chapter 650: Five Hundred and Fifty: Ancestral Benevolence, Filial Descendants

Five Hundred and Fifty: Ancestral Benevolence, Filial Descendants

The sound of cicadas wove a web among the locust leaves, trapping the gossamer-like summer heat.

The summer day was long and languid.

On the threshold before the main hall, Ouyang Rong stroked the pipa resting on his knees.

It was scorched by the sun and felt a bit hot to the touch, even though he hadn't played it much.

The quiet little courtyard had been empty for a long time, but recently a black cat had started visiting from time to time; he didn't know which household it had been lost from.

The black cat must have regarded this silent courtyard as its own territory. When they first met, it had been pacing with an elegant gait along the top of the wall, its brownish-green eyes reflecting Ouyang Rong—who had arrived today carrying a pipa—with a hint of wariness.

He didn't know if it was because it felt this "uninvited guest" of a scholar in Confucian robes looked gentle and kind, or if the clumsy pipa performance he had just played was a bit sleep-inducing.

The black cat lay lazily on the eastern wall behind the swing, eyelids drooping; it didn't enter the courtyard, but it wasn't exactly afraid of people either.

It and Ouyang Rong, who sat on the western threshold, were separated by the courtyard.

Before Yan Liulang came over, man and cat lived in peaceful coexistence.

"Prefect, someone has come from Luoyang. It's Eunuch Hu Zhong. Also, I heard him whisper that he brought a letter from Miss Xie."

Yan Liulang had a booming voice.

It startled the black cat napping on the wall, and a string of plum blossom prints was instantly branded onto the blue tiles.

Yan Liulang didn't mind the little stray cat and looked at Ouyang Rong with anticipation:

"Is Eunuch Hu the person you've been waiting for all these days, Prefect? Did you know Luoyang would send someone?"

Ouyang Rong didn't answer, only asking:

"Where is Eunuch Hu?"

"At the Jiangzhou Government Office. Registrar Yuan is hosting him. Prefect, Eunuch Hu's visit this time must be good news. Seeing how jubilant he is, the colleagues in the office are all very excited and happy for you. It seems there won't be any punishment for the matter at Twin Peaks Peak last time."

Ouyang Rong patted his backside and stood up, holding the pipa, and walked past Yan Liulang, exiting the courtyard.

"Let's go, back to the Jiangzhou Government Office."

"Yes, Prefect."

Yan Liulang was just about to turn and follow.

"Ling-long—Ling-long—"

The scholar in Confucian robes walking in front turned abruptly, looking back at the courtyard.

Yan Liulang was stunned, then reacted; this was a special and familiar sound.

However, when the two looked back, they discovered an icy white jade hairpin lying on the stone table. The black cat that had just run away had returned, seemingly preparing to move back in now that it saw Ouyang Rong and Yan Liulang leaving. It jumped onto the table and was swatting at the icy white jade hairpin with its paws.

"Shoo, shoo, shoo, go stay somewhere else."

Yan Liulang noticed the Prefect's dark eyes dimming behind him and immediately stepped forward with a stern face to drive the black cat away.

Ouyang Rong waved his hand:

"It's fine, let it stay. It'll be a bit livelier."

He walked over silently, retrieved the icy white jade hairpin, and turned to leave.

Yan Liulang glanced at Ouyang Rong's back and followed honestly.

The two left the quiet little courtyard together and boarded the carriage.

On the road, Yan Liulang tried to find a topic to liven up the atmosphere:

"Prefect, where is the Big White Fish? Why haven't I seen it?"

Ouyang Rong had already taken off the wooden hairpin from his head and inserted the icy white jade hairpin left behind by his mother into his hair to secure his scholar's cap.

He lowered his head, examining a compass; this compass hung at his waist, worn together with the academy jade pendant Xie Lingjiang had given him.

Hearing this, he put down the compass, smiled, and said:

"The black cat is there, so I let it go a bit further away, not to show itself. It should still be wandering in Star Fall Lake now; when there are fewer people at night, it will come back."

Yan Liulang said subconsciously:

"Is it afraid that it will float in the air and scare the black cat and pedestrians?"

Ouyang Rong shook his head with a straight face:

"No, it's afraid of being scared."

Yan Liulang was speechless.

Ouyang Rong wasn't lying. Although the white sturgeon was miraculous, it was a bit of a coward; usually, it was afraid of seeing strangers and just liked to follow him.

Ouyang Rong had figured out its temperament.

It was said to be elusive.

But in reality, sometimes it was just because there were too many people around, so it hid, only emerging at night when there was no one left.

A total coward.

If it weren't for occasionally seeing the remnants of the Twin Peaks Peak battle like Yi Qianqi, Ouyang Rong would have almost forgotten that a certain mythical white dragon, the culprit, was transformed from this white sturgeon.

It was too embarrassing for the dragon species.

Ouyang Rong shook his head.

"By the way, is there any news from Daoist Zhang?"

"Not yet."

Ouyang Rong stroked the compass that was reacting faintly and muttered: "It should be soon."

Yan Liulang drove the carriage back to the Jiangzhou Government Office. On the way, he saw the Prefect staring at the compass in a daze and sighed lightly.

"Don't worry, Prefect. Long Hushan, behind Daoist Zhang, is very powerful. Maybe tomorrow he'll bring news from the Lady Yunmeng Yunmeng Yunmeng Jian Ze."

"Mm-hmm."

Half an hour later, they returned to the Jiangzhou Government Office.

Ouyang Rong prepared to go to the main hall to see Hu Fu.

Halfway there, he suddenly turned back.

He saw a young Daoist figure standing at the entrance, appearing travel-worn, being blocked outside by the government office runners.

"Daoist Zhang."

"Prefect Ouyang."

Zhang Shixiu said helplessly to the government office runners on both sides:

"I told you I knew your Prefect."

Ouyang Rong didn't go to the main hall for the time being and immediately took Zhang Shixiu to the side hall...

An incense stick of time later, inside the main hall.

Yi Qianqi was relieved and, together with Watching Yuan Huaimin, accompanied Hu Fu.

"Eunuch Hu, what does Luoyang say?"

Hu Fu smiled without a word, putting down his teacup:

"Wait for Prefect Ouyang to arrive."

Yi Qianqi had to hold back for the time being.

She looked at Yan Liulang standing at the door and found it a bit strange; why hadn't Ouyang Rong arrived yet?

Just then, Ouyang Rong's figure appeared in the corridor.

"Prefect Ouyang, you've finally arrived. I've missed you to death."

Hu Fu, who had been drinking tea calmly, "whooshed" and stood up, reacting faster than Yi Qianqi beside him. He rushed out, came to Ouyang Rong's side, and immediately grabbed his hand.

Yi Qianqi and Watching Yuan Huaimin were both stunned.

Seemingly not expecting Hu Fu to be so mushy, Ouyang Rong, who was lowering his head thinking about something, was also startled.

However, he reacted quickly, avoiding the hand Hu Fu reached out to grab, only letting the latter grab his sleeve.

But it still felt strange.

Although Ouyang Rong knew that this hand-holding etiquette was very popular in the Divine Capital of Luoyang, he didn't know where it came from.

Generally, among good friends of the same year or close teachers and students, when excited or happy, they would hold hands or grab sleeves to show concern and closeness.

But Ouyang Rong still couldn't bring himself to do it.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Eunuch Hu."

"Not waiting long, not waiting long. But Prefect Ouyang, were you busy with some urgent matter just now? I saw Constable Yan, who went to find you, has already returned."

Ouyang Rong nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed:

"There was a bit of an urgent matter, it's already been handled. Eunuch Hu, please don't take offense."

Hu Fu said with a smile:

"It's fine, it's fine. I understand. You capable people are all prone to being forgetful."

Yi Qianqi, Watching Yuan Huaimin, and the others couldn't help but look at Hu Fu.

By logic, Hu Fu was the middle envoy from Luoyang, the Son of Heaven's messenger; local officials should be the ones fawning over him and trying to get close.

How did it become the opposite when it came to Ouyang Lianghan?

Those who didn't know would think Ouyang Lianghan was the messenger sent by the Son of Heaven.

"What brings Eunuch Hu here?"

"Ahem, it's nothing major. By the way, the Saint's decree: Prefect Ouyang, Registrar Yuan, and Commander Yi, receive the decree!"

Everyone followed etiquette and received the decree in the hall.

Hu Fu read out the decree.

The content was simple, yet unexpected to everyone except Ouyang Rong.

First, regarding the great battle at Twin Peaks Peak, there was no blame for everyone; they were just told to continue holding their posts. As for the casualties this time, they were to continue to be counted as planned. Apart from that, they were to wait for orders on the spot, awaiting subsequent deployment.

However, the imperial decree did order the Jiang Nan government, including the Jiangzhou Government Office, to issue a comprehensive wanted notice for the Lady Yunmeng Yunmeng Yunmeng Jian Ze, not letting go of a single Yue woman.

This was a complete falling out, and also the harshest rhetoric from the imperial court toward the Jianghu side, similar to two parties fighting, and the side that suffered a secret loss saying harsh words in front of a group of underlings: "Remember this for me, if you have the guts, don't run after school."

For White Tiger Guard Commander Yi Qianqi and the colorful-robed female official Miao Zhen, the imperial decree only asked them to hand over their current affairs to the Jiangzhou Government Office and then set off to return to the capital and return to their original posts.

It was considered a lateral transfer, neither promoted nor demoted.

Even so, Yi Qianqi was relieved.

Watching Yuan Huaimin turned his head to look at his cousin, who had a look of joy, and sighed.

He knew Qiuniang didn't care about personal honor or disgrace, but was worried about implicating the Jingzhao Yuan clan. Although she had long changed her surname and was out in the open, the imperial court defaulted to her being bound to the Jingzhao Yuan clan. If one day the nine clans were exterminated, they would also go to the Jingzhao Yuan clan to count heads...

In fact, one could tell from Hu Fu's attitude after arriving that this imperial decree was not bad news.

The reason why most people were surprised was because of the content at the end of the imperial decree.

The Saint rejected Ouyang Lianghan's request to resign as Acting Prefect of Jiangzhou and Scholar of the Xiuwen Pavilion.

The general meaning was that the responsibility for the great battle at Twin Peaks Peak did not lie with him, and he and the Jiangzhou government had already done their best.

Ouyang Lianghan was not allowed to resign, and he was encouraged to continue holding his post and first finish the aftermath of the ripples in Xunyang City.

Subsequently, if the imperial court found a suitable candidate for Prefect who could take over, they would then consider the situation and transfer him back to the Xiuwen Pavilion in the capital.

In any case, the general attitude was appeasement and encouragement, with no intention of blame at all.

Yi Qianqi and Watching Yuan Huaimin both looked at Ouyang Rong with some surprise.

They never expected that the memorial Ouyang Rong had submitted earlier was to take all the responsibility upon himself and resign to plead guilty.

They had seen people taking the blame for others, but never a high-ranking leader taking the blame voluntarily.

Yi Qianqi's gaze toward Ouyang Rong was a bit complex, and there was even a hint of shame... She lowered her head silently.

Watching Yuan Huaimin saw this and also sighed, complaining to Ouyang Rong:

"Why didn't Lianghan discuss it with us before resigning? What if the imperial court had actually agreed?"

Ouyang Rong shook his head, his tone serious: "I really wanted to resign."

Everyone was speechless and unable to understand, so they began to persuade him one after another.

"Alright, let me talk to Prefect Ouyang."

Hu Fu dismissed everyone and pulled Ouyang Rong to the side.

Ouyang Rong saw that this bearded eunuch was in high spirits and full of energy.

"Prefect Ouyang, do you know the situation in Luoyang now?"

He asked jubilantly.

Ouyang Rong said softly: "Please tell me, Eunuch."

Hu Fu lowered his voice:

"The Prince's family has already entered the palace and is serving at the Saint's knees. The whole family lives in the imperial palace. The Saint especially likes the little Princess; she even brings her along to court meetings. Everyone says this is affection across generations..."

Hu Fu narrated in detail.

Ouyang Rong's reaction was flat, and he said "Oh."

This time it was Hu Fu's turn to be stunned.

"Prefect Ouyang seems to have guessed it long ago..."

Ouyang Rong didn't speak.

Hu Fu looked around, covered his mouth with his palm, and muttered quietly:

"Prefect Ouyang, if I'm not mistaken, the Prince's entry into the capital this time was planned by you?"

Ouyang Rong looked at him and changed the subject:

"Does Eunuch Hu have anything else? I'll have someone arrange a courtyard. How about the courtyard you stayed in last time?"

Hu Fu scratched his head:

"Prefect Ouyang, Prefect, Scholar, I beg you, please tell me, is it really you? Oh my, what's there to be mysterious about? Who doesn't know you are the Tanlang of the Xunyang Prince's Mansion?

"Tell me, how did you win the Saint's favor this time? How could things go so smoothly? Originally, I heard the Prince was returning to the capital and was worried. Was it too rushed? I even felt it was precarious...

"As a result, the next day, the Saint ordered the opening of the Yinglong Gate of the imperial palace, letting the Prince enter the palace openly, not the sneaky kind in the middle of the night. I heard the Saint even brought the Prince and the Heir to see the Master..."

Ouyang Rong listened silently and said noncommittally:

"The Prince should have reported to the Saint when returning to the capital, right? The Prince's Mansion was burned down by rebels, and he was in critical condition, returning to the capital to take refuge."

Hu Fu was speechless and even more itching with curiosity:

"How can Prefect Ouyang treat me like a three-year-old? Although I don't know the reason that made the Saint happy, it's definitely not as simple as it looks on the surface. And others might not know, but I know how much the Prince listens to you in major matters..."

Ouyang Rong looked at the bearded eunuch's curious and inquisitive expression.

Looking at it this way, the matter of offering the Xin Dingjian hadn't spread yet; outsiders probably didn't know about it.

At least before Hu Fu received the decree and left the capital, no one in Luoyang knew...

However, it was only a matter of time before that Xin Dingjian was announced, but it was impressive that the Saint could wait so patiently.

There should be undercurrents in Luoyang now. The Xunyang Prince's family, who suddenly returned to the capital, would break the balance of the Li-Wei struggle, especially since they brought a Xin Dingjian...

Ouyang Rong remembered something and asked curiously:

"By the way, what's this about the affection across generations that Eunuch Hu mentioned?"

Hu Fu said casually:

"The little Princess presented a night-luminescent pearl to the Saint. The Saint was very pleased. At the little Princess's suggestion, it was inlaid on the crown and worn to court... Truly deep affection between grandmother and granddaughter, the elder is benevolent and the younger is filial."

Ouyang Rong:...

"Why does Prefect Ouyang have this expression, and why are you silent again?"

"No, nothing."

Hu Fu didn't know what he thought of, and sighed:

"So, people, it really is one time, one situation. No one knows when they will fly up. Most people in the court love to fawn over the powerful but don't understand how to look at the trend.

"Just like this little Princess, when I saw her in Xunyang, I guessed that the Saint would likely like her, because she is too much like the Saint when she was young. Prefect Ouyang, look, this time entering the capital, didn't the affection across generations come? Now the palace maids are all discussing what title the Saint will give the Princess. According to the titles of Princesses of this dynasty, for example, Princess Changle, the new title should have the word 'Le'..."

"Yes, yes, yes."

Hearing those words earlier, Ouyang Rong had nothing to say, only nodding blindly.