No, gentlemen also guard against

Chapter 692: Light and Dark Take the Lead, Lady Style [asking for monthly ticket]

"Where's the junior sister?"

In Xunyang Palace, Ouyang Rong had just walked into the study when he suddenly turned around and asked.

"Um, Xie Xian's niece seems to be unwell and didn't come tonight. She said she had something to do. Let's discuss it first. Let Guoer report the results and arrangements of our discussion back."

Li Xian and Li Dalang looked at each other and replied.

Ouyang Rong was silent for a while and looked around the study.

Wei Mei and Li Guo'er were waiting, but there was no sign of their junior sister.

There were several empty chairs in the study, which should have been reserved for them. The tea at other seats had already been brewed, but it was not known who poured it between the mother and daughter.

However, those who are fortunate enough to enter this study to discuss matters will have the pleasure of tasting the tea art prepared by Her Royal Highness the Princess and the Little Princess.

"Tanlang?"

Li Fusu saw Ouyang Rong's silent and dazed expression and couldn't help but call out to him.

"Ah."

Ouyang Rong woke up and walked into the study.

He didn't sit down, but stood in front of everyone, picked up the tea and took a sip first.

Li Xian asked with a worried look:

"Tan Lang, before you came, I heard from someone that your Jiangzhou Hall issued a notice asking everyone to stay away from Xunyang City in the near future, and not to go near Shuangfeng Peak, saying that there is a danger of flooding, and that it may affect the construction of Xunyang Grottoes, so the construction is suspended for ten days. Is that true?"

Ouyang Rong nodded:
"That's true. I was the one who drafted and published the announcement."

"Tan Lang, what does this mean?"

Everyone is puzzled.

Ouyang Rong whispered:
"Rong Zhen mentioned a special plan to me a few days ago."

"A special plan? So today's events are part of it?"

"Yes."

Li Guoer suddenly asked:

"Will the Buddha be put on hold for another ten days, or will it be quietly put down within the ten days when the 'flood' comes and the government takes control?"

The study fell into silence.

Li Xian, Li Fusu, and Wei Mei reacted and turned to look at Ouyang Rong's expression.

He said calmly:
"When I come back from there this time, the situation in Xunyang Grottoes will be roughly settled after ten days. Your Highness, Prince, and Little Princess, please wait for me with peace of mind. I will not let you down."

Hearing the words "the dust has settled", Li Guoer understood and stopped asking questions.

Li Fusu frowned and thought carefully.

Li Xian and Wei Mei looked at each other with some worry in their eyes.

"Tan Lang, please be safe. Will we be unable to return to the city for nearly ten days?"

"Well, during this period, the area between the two peaks will be blocked off, and not even a fly can fly out, let alone people."

"Okay, Tan Lang, take care."

At this moment, Ouyang Rong pointed curiously at the flower and bird screen inside the study.

The flower and bird screen subtly divides the study into two halves.

He asked curiously, "Who gave this screen? Why would the prince buy this?"

Li Guoer nodded:
"This is a new gift from the princess to my father. How is it? Does it look good?"

Ouyang Rong shook his head and said calmly:
“While I’m away, Liu Lang will be responsible for reporting to the prince and understanding the situation in the city.

"In addition, I have also arranged a retreat. I have secretly prepared a ship at Xunyang Ferry and have also planned a retreat route, so that I can pick you up and leave when the situation becomes desperate..."

Ouyang Rong talked eloquently, and Li Xian, Li Guoer and others couldn't help but look at him sideways.

"Finally, there is one more thing."

Ouyang Rong put down the teacup and spoke.

Li Xian seemed to know what the previous sentence was about, and he continued to ask:

"Please tell me, what other plans does Tan Lang have?"

"Transfer Li Congshan and Miaozhen. They cannot stay in Xunyang Palace, especially when I am not here."

Everyone frowned and looked at the somewhat bold Ouyang Rong:
"But they are acting under the emperor's order. Is it inappropriate to forcibly transfer them?"

Ouyang Rong whispered:
"What's wrong with that? Even if we ask Luoyang for permission, it will take time on the road, leaving us plenty of time to find a suitable excuse.

"Well, let's transfer them tonight. I have brought the governor's seal, and the prince has also taken out the prince's seal. We will send out the handwritten letter. How dare they disobey my order? If they don't obey, there must be something fishy. Naturally, we have ways to deal with them.

"Actually, I have discussed this matter with Ms. Rong in advance. One thing that has been confirmed is that she can allow Miao, Li Congshan and others to return to the caves for the blockade of Shuangfeng Peak this time, just like me. In addition, she can be a little more tolerant of the time I spent there..."

Ouyang Rong finished his explanation in detail.

The Lixian family listened attentively.

After finishing speaking, Ouyang Rong put down his teacup, said goodbye and left:

"It's getting late. I have to report to Xunyang Grottoes early tomorrow morning. I'll go back first."

"it is good."

"Tanlang, be careful on the road at night."

As he was in a hurry, he never sat down.

Everyone watched his slender figure disappear into the distance.

"Tan Lang, wait a moment."

Li Dalang suddenly called out to Ouyang Rong.

The latter paused for a moment, without turning back:

"What's the matter?"

Li Dalang stared at Ouyang Rong's back for a while and asked:

"You are staying in Xunyang Grottoes this time. Isn't it dangerous? You may face those rebels in Tiannan Jianghu at any time?"

Ouyang Rong shook his head:
“Little things, what is supposed to come will always come.

"Da Lang, you, Junior Sister, and Taoist Lu stay in the palace and protect the prince and princess. Don't worry about what's happening outside. I'll take care of it."

Li Dalang knew what his friend meant when he asked him to protect him. He took a deep breath, words coming to his throat, and when he was about to speak, he was stopped by Li Guoer.

Ouyang Rong strode away.

Only the people with heavy hearts were left in the study.

Ouyang Rong walked out of the palace gate and glanced at the big red lanterns at the door before getting into the car.

After hesitating for a moment, I didn't go to find her.

After taking a look at the dark night, he lowered his eyes slightly and got on the carriage.

He took out a sword box full of swords, placed it across his knees, and sat down dejectedly.

At some point, he whispered:

"Emperor Wen... Emperor Wen... What is Emperor Wen... Where did that old senior hide the missing Lotus Boat Song in the sword technique..."

Not long after, Ouyang Rong looked towards the Xunyang Grottoes in the distance, and his eyes lit up again.

"Let's go back to the Huaiye Lane mansion first."

"Yes, son."

……

"He's gone, why don't you come out?"

In the empty study.

All that was left was the figure of a little girl in a light pink skirt and plum blossom makeup.

Li Xian and others have all left.

Li Guoer lowered her head to tidy up the tea bowl while speaking.

I saw a little girl in red walking out from behind the screen.

Li Guoer saw that Xie Lingjiang looked a little dazed, and she didn't know what he was thinking.

Li Guoer asked calmly:

"You haven't seen him yet? He's leaving." Xie Lingjiang said, "He's just going to Xunyang Grottoes, not far away."

Li Guoer pointed out:
"But it's very dangerous. Who knows if the two sides will fight within ten days, and he will be left there alone."

Li Guoer glanced and saw that the hand of the sister of the Xie family seemed to tremble as she sat upright on her abdomen. A trace of worry emerged on her face, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated, mixed with those looks of loss and regret... The expression on her face became more and more complicated.

"If you want to go, just go. If you hesitate, even if you believe he can come back safely, what if? Can you bet on it?"

"I didn't want to say much about your nonsense, but I just can't stand people like you who are so twisted and hesitant. There's no need to be so entangled. Love if you love, hate if you hate. Isn't it simple?"

Xie Lingjiang pursed his lips:
"I don't want to see him."

Li Guoer praised: "Okay, then we won't see each other again. Never see each other again for the rest of our lives. That's great."

"No, I just don't want to see him now. I'm afraid I can't help but beat him up."

Li Guoer still nodded: "Okay, we won't see each other now, we'll talk later."

Xie Lingjiang suddenly asked with a lost look:

"Tell me, should I have met him just now?"

Li Guoer's pretty face couldn't hold it anymore:
"Whatever you want to do."

Xie Lingjiang shook his head: "You don't understand."

"I don't understand? I... that's right, I don't understand men, but I know how to make myself feel comfortable."

"How do you feel comfortable?"

Li Guoer waved his sleeves nonchalantly:

"I'm different from you. I think it's okay for a man to have more than one concubine. All the great men in history books had three wives and four concubines, but it didn't stop them from leaving their names in history. This shows that outstanding men always have many beautiful women. The presence of peach blossoms also indirectly proves that they are indeed outstanding. Otherwise, why would so many women fight for them...

"Of course, I just said it casually. I don't know if it's right or not. But knowing that people think so, I'm naturally more tolerant of it and treat it as normal. On the contrary, I feel..."

"What do you think?"

"You are a little petty. Besides, the embroiderer was the first one to come. Strictly speaking, you were the one who met Ouyang Lianghan later. What is there to argue about?"

Xie Lingjiang immediately said, "I don't blame Sister Xiu Niang."

"Who do you blame, then? Ouyang Lianghan."

Xie Lingjiang did not answer. He was silent for a while and said softly:
"There is a grain of truth in what you said."

Li Guoer asked with a smile: "Only a little?"

Xie Lingjiang pursed his lips and stared into the night distance.

At this time, she heard the plum blossom makeup girl next to her muttering:
"Actually, every time I hear you talk about this, I feel like you're being a bit stubborn. Ouyang Lianghan didn't do anything special. He seems like a good man for his thoughtful actions towards you..."

Xie Lingjiang asked: "What did you say?"

"nothing."

Li Guoer clapped her hands, turned around and left.

Only Xie Lingjiang was left sitting there alone.

……

Before dawn, Ouyang Rong arrived at the quiet courtyard.

At night he returned to his residence in Huaiye Lane and made some arrangements, asking his aunt and others to pack their luggage in advance and be ready to follow the people from the palace to leave Xunyang City and take the boat.

Ouyang Rong took a deep breath.

Step into the quiet courtyard.

"Ah?"

Zhao Qingxiu was in the room, seeming a little confused about his arrival in the early morning.

Ouyang Rong smiled and ate porridge with her for breakfast.

The Xunyang Grottoes were not mentioned at all.

"I may have to go out to do something. I will be back in about ten days. Please wait for me, Madam Xiu. Madam Pei will come to accompany you every day."

"Ah."

After a pause, Zhao Qingxiu took the initiative to write:

[It's been a few days. How is Sister Xie doing? Has Tan Lang talked to her? Has he managed to comfort her?]

Ouyang Rong was silent for a while, then said:
"Soon. She's busy lately, and so am I. Wait until I finish what's happening right now, okay?"

"Ah."

Zhao Qingxiu responded, with a curious look on her face.

[What’s the hurry? I have to leave right away]

Ouyang Rong glanced at the seemingly ignorant embroiderer, and after a while, he picked up a bite of food for her and chuckled:
"It's a small matter. I'll feel relieved once I finish it. Next up is my aunt's birthday party..."

Zhao Qingxiu didn't ask any more questions and listened carefully.

Soon, after settling the embroiderer, Ouyang Rong left the yard and walked away.

The yard became quiet.

After dawn, the first rays of sunlight fell on the river.

Zhao Qingxiu tidied up in the yard, washed some clothes, picked up the wooden bucket, and prepared to go to the clothesline to dry them.

At this moment, she suddenly heard a rhythmic knock on the door.

Zhao Qingxiu walked over immediately and opened the gate.

A familiar feminine scent wafted towards me.

Zhao Qingxiu couldn't help but tilt his head.

"Err?"

"Yes, it's me." After a pause, he asked, "Has my sister eaten?"

Xie Lingjiang at the door spoke the first sentence.

Zhao Qingxiu nodded immediately: "Yes."

"Well, I haven't eaten yet. Please make some for me."

As Xie Lingjiang said this, he lowered his head and walked into the yard, not being polite at all.

But Zhao Qingxiu was a little surprised and quickly went to the kitchen.

"Uh-huh."

Xie Lingjiang couldn't help but remind him: "Be gentle, don't fall, forget it, or I'll do it."

Of course Zhao Qingxiu would not let Xie Lingjiang cook by herself, so she gently pushed her out of the kitchen.

The latter did not force it.

When Zhao Qingxiu came out with the hot porridge, she noticed that Sister Xie seemed to be helping her hang up clothes.

Zhao Qingxiu stopped silently.

Xie Lingjiang stood on tiptoe with his back to her, hanging clothes, and suddenly asked:
"Is he gone?"

"Ah."

Zhao Qingxiu felt that Sister Xie stopped talking and seemed to be a little disappointed and... regretful.

After a while, Zhao Qingxiu heard her voice again, which seemed to be cheering up again.

"I've hung up your clothes. Come, let's eat some porridge."

The two girls sat at the table. Xie Lingjiang lowered her head to drink porridge and tasted the familiar pickled radish from Donglin Temple, which was brought back by Ouyang Rong from Longcheng last time.

The girl in red was eating halfway when she suddenly raised her hand and lifted the hair by the ear of the blindfolded girl in white.

Zhao Qingxiu was a little shy at first, but then she heard her light words:

"I'll help you collect your clothes these few days, but when he comes back, don't mention me. Just pretend I'm not here, okay?"

Zhao Qingxiu was quiet for a moment, nodded and agreed "yes", then lowered her head and couldn't help but smile. However, after noticing the angry look in Sister Xie's eyes, she tried hard to suppress the corners of her lips. She stretched out a small hand and gently pulled the sleeve of Xie Lingjiang, who had a stern face.

Gradually, the two women who were pulling their sleeves below held their hands together.

Xie Lingjiang turned his face away.

This time, she didn't shake it off.

(End of this chapter)