No, gentlemen also guard against

Chapter 596: Born as Yuanming, Entered the World as Lianghan [asking for monthly votes! ]

"Brother Lianghan? Why are you here so early in the morning? Xingzifang is so far away, why did you come all the way from Xunyangfang..."

Early in the morning, in a courtyard of Chengtian Temple.

Yuan Huaimin was sitting with his butt sticking out, busy working in the yard.

Hearing the sound of the door being pushed open, he looked back vigilantly and saw Ouyang Rong appear at the gate of the courtyard. Yuan Huaimin's face changed slightly and he asked.

Ouyang Rong walked into the yard with a calm face, ignoring Yuan Huaimin who was bending over and looking back with a strange posture. He looked around, walked to the back kitchen, and scooped a mouthful of spring water from the jar to drink.

The movements were so skillful that it felt like being back home.

"Good morning, Brother Huaimin. Why are you getting up so early to sunbathe...your butt?"

Ouyang Rongping took the ladle and walked out of the kitchen, drinking water while speaking casually.

"Early? How early?"

Yuan Huaimin's face was stern, and he corrected her seriously:
"It's getting late. I'm just about to go on duty. Brother Lianghan, have you eaten? If not, there's nothing I can do. I haven't eaten either. There's really nothing to eat here. Brother Lianghan, don't walk around. Hey, don't go in."

Ouyang Rong strolled around without stopping, looking here and there, and nodded with a smile:
"It's really late. Well, it's really like the sun is shining on your butt."

"..."

Yuan Huaimin spoke in a resentful tone, stepped aside, pointed at the bamboo slips and ancient books lying on the ground in the sun, and sighed:

"What do you mean by showing off your butt? I'm showing off my books. Brother Lianghan, don't talk nonsense and destroy my innocence."

Ouyang Rong waved his hand:
"It's okay. It's okay to sunbathe with your butt and the book."

Yuan Huaimin spread his hands helplessly: "Can you please stop talking about your butt?"

The morning sun was cold yet warm. Yuan Huaimin took advantage of the sun to dry his books in the courtyard. After a busy morning, his forehead was covered with beads of sweat. He raised his sleeves to wipe them off.

A sweat towel was handed over.

Yuan Huaimin first lowered his eyes to look at it, then looked up at his good friend Ouyang Rong who was smiling and handing him a sweat towel.

He didn't answer, and continued to wipe his sweat with his sleeves, while saying expressionlessly:

"This is what I use to wipe my feet after soaking them every day. Put it back."

Ouyang Rong's expression remained unchanged, and he nodded: "Actually, they are all the same."

"?"

Yuan Huaimin was speechless for a while, then asked curiously, "When did Liang Han return to Xunyang City?"

Ouyang Rong put his hands behind his back, walked around Yuan Huaimin and the pile of books on the ground twice, looked up at the not-too-bright morning sun, squinted his eyes and said:
"If you don't come back, Brother Huaimin's vacation will be longer than the annual vacation."

Yuan Huaimin smiled wryly, "Brother Lianghan, you are joking. I, I was really not feeling well the day before yesterday, so I asked for two days off. I also asked for permission from the Madam Historian, and she personally approved it, so it doesn't count as a fake leave."

Ouyang Rong nodded: "I can see that. No wonder you are out in the sun and your butt is getting hot. It turns out you are feeling unwell. That makes sense."

Yuan Huaimin scratched his head: "I feel much better today. I was just planning to go out to Jiangzhou Hall, but I didn't expect Liang Han to come. Haha, what a coincidence."

Ouyang Rong saw through it but didn't say anything. He said calmly:
"Okay, hurry up and change your clothes and get ready to go out. I really didn't eat. Don't worry, you don't have to pay for the meal today. I'll do it."

Yuan Huaimin looked puzzled: "Hey, why is Liang Han so nice to me today?"

"Hasn't it always been like this?" Ouyang Rong asked seriously.

The corner of Yuan Huaimin's mouth twitched.

He swallowed his words and decided to talk about it after finishing his breakfast.

"Okay, wait for me."

Yuan Huaimin ran back to his room and dressed quickly, not wanting to waste even a moment as he could eat, drink and hang out with his friends for free.

Ouyang Rong curled his lips, thinking that if everyone had a motto, then Yuan Huaimin's should be easy to guess:

Every day that you don’t slack off and get something for free is a day that is wasted.

"Hey, what are you watching lately?"

Ouyang Rong wanted to go to the gate of the courtyard and wait, but he caught a glimpse of the words on the book on the ground. He squatted down in the morning sun, flipped a few pages with his fingers, and couldn't help but raise his eyebrows and asked.

"The Collected Works of Tao Yuanming, the life story of Tao Yuanming, the biography of Tao Yuanming compiled by scholars in the Sui and Qian dynasties, and some unofficial historical anecdotes, including his own biography of Mr. Wu Liu..."

Yuan Huaimin's voice came from inside the room, answering casually and knowing everything.

Ouyang Rong lowered his eyes and flipped through the pages, expressionless:
"Brother Huaimin, why are you interested in Tao Yuanming?"

"I used to admire Mr. Tao a lot, but recently, well, it's because you all come to ask, and I've become interested."

There was a pause in the voice inside the house, and Ouyang Rong saw Yuan Huaimin walking out of the house while lowering his head to tidy up his official uniform.

Yuan Huaimin twisted his wrist and said casually:

"By the way, Brother Lianghan, Lord Tao also served as a county magistrate in Longcheng. Haha, you two are the same. Moreover, the more I look at you, the more I feel that Brother Lianghan and Lord Tao are very similar."

"looks like?"

"picture."

Ouyang Rong looked at Yuan Huaimin calmly and asked:
"Where does it look like?"

"I don't know how to describe it. Let me put it this way. You both have a contradictory temperament. You have the elegance of a hermit who has left the world, but also the melancholy of someone who has stepped into the world to save the people. It's interesting, really interesting."

Ouyang Rong picked up a copy of "Biography of Mr. Wu Liu" from the ground and shook the book:
"Brother Huaimin, you are wrong. Tao Yuanming himself said in his autobiography that he had only three major interests in life: reading, drinking, and writing. There is no interest in saving the world or the people."

"That's not right. Brother Lianghan, when you look at Tao Yuanming, you can't just read his collection of essays to see what he wrote."

Yuan Huaimin shook his head and spoke a lot of theories:

"Instead, we need to look at the era he lived in and what he did during that era. These can only be found in official and unofficial history, not in his collected works.

"If you only read his poems and essays, you would think he was really a hermit who was devoted to the countryside and the mountains and rivers.

"But if you look at the era he lived in, there was a confrontation between the Southern and Northern Dynasties, with the Southern Song in the south and the Northern Wei in the north.

"When the Southern Song Dynasty was newly established, Emperor Wu of Song promoted many poor scholars. Later, the Yuanjia Northern Expedition took place, and the Southern Song Dynasty and the Northern Wei Dynasty fought a war that ended the country.

"That is the Yuanjia that Brother Lianghan mentioned before, 'Yuanjia was hasty, conquered the Wolf's Lair, and won the hasty Northern Look'. During the three Yuanjia expeditions to the north, the Northern Wei won each time, and the newly born Southern Song Dynasty suffered a great loss of national strength...

"Tao Gong lived in such an era, with war and chaos. There was hope for the Northern Expedition to restore the Central Plains, but there was also the danger of defeat and destruction of the country. I would like to ask Brother Lianghan, can scholars of this era really indulge in the mountains and rivers and live in seclusion?

"Not really. Besides, since he has retired from the world, why did he want to be an official before? He served as the county magistrate in Longcheng for 81 days? Did he do it just for a few dollars? I don't believe it."

Ouyang Rong listened patiently and raised his eyebrows:

"You are a Yuan, and your ancestors are from the Tuoba clan of the Northern Wei Dynasty. It sounds weird to say that you feel sorry for the failure of the Northern Expedition of the Southern Song Dynasty."

"Hey, that's not important. Three hundred years ago, my name was Tuoba Huaimin. Three hundred years later, my name is Yuan Huaimin. I am a citizen of the Great Zhou who has long been honored by the saints. Hey, brother Lianghan, you are still talking about me. You have a double surname. Maybe you were also a Hu outside the Great Wall three hundred years ago."

"Brother Huaimin, please don't be so mean. The genealogy of the Nanlong Ouyang family can be traced back to the lineage of the King of Yue during the Spring and Autumn Period..."

Yuan Huaimin muttered: "Isn't that also southern barbarians?"

"What did you say?"

"nothing."

Yuan Huaimin waved his hand and laughed. He walked over, took the "Biography of Mr. Five Willows" from Ouyang Rong's hand, put it on the ground again, and spread it out to bask in the sun.

Standing up from his bent waist, he said seriously, "No matter what, Mr. Tao, like Brother Lianghan, has a contradictory temperament that is both worldly and otherworldly.

“It’s just that Mr. Tao’s temperament is more focused on retreating from the world and living in seclusion, and less on being involved in the world and caring about the people;
"Brother Lianghan, your temperament is more focused on being involved in the world and caring about the people, and you are less inclined to be a hermit."

Yuan Huaimin stroked his chin, looked at his friend, and said with a smile:

“But I always feel that this should be related to the experiences of the two of you. Mr. Tao should have been a scholar who entered the world at first. Like the scholars of that era, he may have worked hard with passion, but after failure, he chose to leave the world and live in seclusion. Therefore, this aspect of his temperament is more prominent.

"And you, Brother Lianghan, are one of the few scholars with the most outstanding abilities. You are better than Mr. Tao in terms of socializing. You have been successful in helping the people. That is why you have such a tenacious determination. You are admired and envied.
"As for Brother Lianghan's relatively weak otherworldly temperament..."

Yuan Huaimin paused and stared at Ouyang Rong for a moment. He looked puzzled for a moment, then shook his head and said:

"I have known Brother Lianghan for such a long time, and his personality and conversation give me a very novel feeling from time to time, as if he came from a cultural atmosphere that I have never been exposed to. Brother Lianghan's hometown, Luling Nanlong, must be an interesting place, like a paradise, which can cultivate such an otherworldly temperament."

Ouyang Rong lowered his eyes and listened, remaining silent.

After making some casual comments, Yuan Huaimin clapped his hands and laughed, pointing at him and said:
"What's interesting is that Mr. Tao may have spent the rest of his life searching for a Peach Blossom Spring, while Lianghan came from the Peach Blossom Spring and went to the secular world below the mountain. One is a person in the world who gradually became addicted to the outside world, while the other is a person outside the world who actively strives to enter the world. And they are both considered humble scholars. Brother Lianghan, you still say that you are not like Mr. Tao. His temperament is really amazing.

"When I get older and retire to my hometown, I'll see if I can write a biography for both of you, haha."

Under the sun, Ouyang Rong narrowed his eyes, was silent for a while, and said slowly:

"You're full of jingles. Are you going to take the postgraduate entrance exam?"

"Graduate entrance examination? What is this? Is it to study something?" Yuan Huaimin wondered.

Ouyang Rong twitched the corner of his mouth slightly without explaining.

However, after hearing these words, he looked up to Yuan Huaimin. Although this guy was unreliable, lived a sloppy and casual life, and was free and easy and optimistic, he had profound attainments in literature and history, and was very observant. There were some angles that he had never thought of.

In a sense, Ouyang Rong could indeed be considered a "person from outside the world" who was actively participating in society, and he was right.

As for Tao Yuanming, one of his hidden identities is the legendary swordsman of Hanshi. In the era of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, could the master of the Ding Sword be a completely detached person? How did he become the sword master? Hanshi was born in the Southern Song Dynasty.

Ouyang Rong suddenly pointed to the books on the ground and said, "You can read more of these things. If you have any new discoveries or insights about Tao Yuanming, you can discuss them with me."

Yuan Huaimin scratched his head: "Brother Lianghan, aren't you afraid that I will delay your official duties?"

Ouyang Rong wanted to ask, "Does it matter to you whether it's delayed or not?", but he said seriously, "This is also part of official business. It involves the important court affairs that Ms. Rong and I are in charge of. I can't tell you what they are for the time being."

Ouyang Rong was half joking at first, but he didn't expect Yuan Huaimin to nod seriously.

"I see. It seems that Mr. Tao is indeed not a simple person now." He muttered suddenly.

Ouyang Rong glanced at Yuan Huaimin.

At this time, the latter had also finished cleaning up, touched his stomach, and looked at him expectantly. Ouyang Rong turned and went out, Yuan Huaimin followed, and the two went to have breakfast together.

While walking on the road, Ouyang Rong turned around, his face somewhat serious:
"By the way, since we are talking about Tao Yuanming, I actually have another favor to ask. When we were talking about the traitor Li Zhengyan before, didn't you mention that your Jingzhao Yuanshi has collected the original copy of Tao Yuanming's Peach Blossom Spring?
"Where is it now? Can you lend it to me to read? It's okay. If the journey is far, you can wait. If you don't have a convenient channel to pass on the message, I can also help you find someone to send the letter back to Beijing..."

Ouyang Rong was speaking sincerely when he noticed Yuan Huaimin had a strange look on his face, so he stopped talking.

"What's wrong? Just say whatever you want to say."

"Liang Han, there's no need to go back to Beijing to get it. The original copy of Peach Blossom Spring is in Xunyang City now."

"What do you mean?"

"Um, didn't Ms. Rong Zhen tell you that she asked me for it a long time ago? Someone from the Overwatch Council took my letter back to get it. It was delivered the day before yesterday. It should be in Ms. Rong Zhen's hands. Eh, I didn't even take a look at it, and I haven't asked her what she wants it for."

At this point, Yuan Huaimin touched the back of his head and laughed:
"But the lady historian was quite prompt in approving the leave... Hey, where are you going, Brother Lianghan? You are running so fast. Didn't we agree that you would treat me to breakfast?... A gentleman's word is as good as gold! A real man's promise is as good as gold!" he shouted anxiously.

"What are you eating? Go take the postgraduate entrance exam."

Yuan Huaimin: ...

……

"How did Master Ouyang find time to come here?"

"Ms. Rong, you are joking. This is my duty. Of course I have to come and check it out often. I have been monitoring the progress of the Buddha statue every day. I know more about it than anyone else. What Wang Caozhi and his men did was arranged by me. Although it is still under construction, it will not delay the progress."

"Oh, the progress is not delayed. So, is your heart back with us?"

"Ms. Rong, please stop teasing me."

"How dare I joke with you?"

Xunyang Grottoes, Ouyang Rong came directly from Xingzifang.

The fact that Rong Zhen asked Yuan Huaimin for the original manuscript of "Peach Blossom Spring" in advance caught him off guard.

But it's not surprising. Rong Zhen will definitely not ignore the unusual clues about the traitors. Previously, Li Zhengyan's people found Yuan Huaimin with a painting of Wu Daozi's Peach Blossom Spring and asked about the content of "Peach Blossom Spring"...

In a pavilion next to the Buddha construction site, after chatting for a while, Ouyang Rong smiled and said:

"Madam Historian, Yuan Huaimin asked me this morning about his original copy of Peach Blossom Spring. How did you guys feel about it..."

"Do you want to see it?"

Rong Zhen asked directly.

Ouyang Rong paused for a moment, he didn't expect him to be so direct.

Without waiting for his reply, Rong Zhen waved his hand, turned around and walked out of the pavilion: "I remember that when you received the imperial edict, you also asked Xiuwenguan whether there were any authentic works of these famous scholars. Are you scholars interested in this stuff?
"That's right. You are not bad at literature, but you are just low-key. I underestimated you before... Please wait here. I will get it for you. Don't leave. I have something to discuss with you later."

"Ah?" Ouyang Rong didn't expect Rong Zhen to be so straightforward and considerate, or was he just imagining things?
The cold figure of the girl in palace dress had just walked a few steps out of the pavilion when she suddenly stopped and turned back to ask:

"Where is your ice-white jade hairpin?" Her cold eyes fell on the wooden hairpin that tied his crown.

Ouyang Rong clenched his fist and covered his mouth: "At home, I don't wear it."

Rong Zhen curled her lips and continued to walk away with her sleeves rolled up. Ouyang Rong saw her back and waved his hand:

"It's best not to wear it. The jingling sound is a bit noisy. Anyway, it's not appropriate for men to wear it..."

Ouyang Rong was speechless and wanted to say, "Why do you still want it?", but her next sentence interrupted him.

Ouyang Rong watched Rong Zhen's back as he walked into a nearby forest. The leaves in early spring were still sparse, and he could faintly see a corner of a roof emerging from the depths of the forest, which seemed to be a house.

There was a faint sound of melodious piano coming from there.

Is the original copy of "Peach Blossom Spring" placed here? Rong Zhen and the others have already checked it...

He frowned slightly.

He suddenly became alert... Was it too obvious that he came here to ask for it? Could it be that Ms. Rong was testing him?

But he didn't let on, and Rong Zhen gave it to him without saying a word.

Ouyang Rong rolled up his sleeves and stood quietly in the pavilion. He looked around and glanced at the carriage driven by Ali not far away. Under the seat of the carriage, there was a violin case quietly placed...

He observed the situation calmly.

At this moment, a voice as sad as that of a woman in seclusion came from the side:
"Good brother-in-law, you are finally here, you have to give me some justice. I can't stay in this cave for another day..."

Ouyang Rong frowned and turned around to look.

It was Wang Caozhi who came hurriedly.

------

PS: I only tried to write 5k words for this chapter, not including the extra chapters.

Another 20 votes. Currently 2 chapters are owed. It seems a bit bad. The monthly votes are really going to be filled up and overflow or (whisper)
(End of this chapter)