Except for Ouyang Rong, Pei Shisanniang, Miss Qin, and Hongxiao all looked at the sudden appearance of the girl in red clothes with surprised faces.
When she broke in, she had a look of eager concern on her face, as if she was a close person of this Nagashiro-kun.
Xie Lingjiang held the hilt of his sword in his hand and looked at Ouyang Rong, who was wearing only a plain white lining, for a while.
Miss Qin lowered her head and glanced at the men's robes, realized something, and opened her mouth to speak.
Pei Shisanniang remained calm and prepared to watch.
But Ouyang Rong suddenly raised his hand.
"ah!"
Xie Lingjiang suddenly covered his white forehead, making a sound of pain and widening his beautiful eyes.
I was rewarded with a chestnut on the spot.
Ouyang Rong waved his hand and said: "What are you guessing about? I have such a rich imagination. Let's go. It's okay."
He walked towards the door first.
Xie Lingjiang was stunned for a moment and rubbed his forehead after being knocked awake by his senior brother.
She nodded and followed honestly.
Just as he crossed the threshold, Xie Lingjiang stopped.
"Senior Brother, wait for me outside."
Wearing a fiery red dress, she turned around and rushed into the lobby again.
Ouyang Rong stood in the yard, holding his hands behind his back, looking at the moon and waiting.
After a while, Xie Lingjiang was seen walking out of the lobby again, with a moon-white men's robe in his hand, neatly folded and draped on his arms.
The girl in red dress held her sword and walked out with her head held high, leaving only a tall and graceful figure behind her in the lobby.
"Let's go, senior brother." She greeted.
Ouyang Rong nodded.
The two of them left Youlan Courtyard together.
On the way, they kept quiet and made a tacit understanding not to talk about what happened just now.
At the entrance of Xunyang Tower, Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang met Wang Caozhi.
The short young man was waiting in the dimly lit area of the alley with his groom and entourage.
"Sister, brother-in-law!"
Seeing the figures of Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang, Wang Caozhi's eyes lit up and he came forward to greet them.
Upon hearing this address, Xie Lingjiang in the dark turned his face away slightly.
"Brother-in-law, where did you go just now? Why did you disappear as soon as I left the Narcissus Box? After searching for half a circle, only your beloved horse was still waiting outside."
Wang Cao had a worried look on his face.
Ouyang Rong saw a groom pulling Dongmei out behind him.
"Something happened just now. I received an invitation at the last minute...It's okay now."
Ouyang Rong shook his head.
"It's okay."
Wang Caozhi breathed a sigh of relief and didn't ask any more questions. He just complained a little:
"Just now, Sister Jiang suddenly rushed in to see you, and asked me where you were with a worried look on her face. I didn't know how to answer, and I obviously didn't have any plans for the second half...ahem."
His mutterings gradually became quieter, and under Xie Lingjiang's dangerous gaze, he covered his mouth and coughed twice, then shut up obediently.
"It's okay now. Thank you for your concern. You can go back first."
Ouyang Rong said with a smile to Wang Caozhi.
"Okay, brother-in-law, I won't disturb you and Sister Lingjiang anymore. You can chat slowly and meet again later. I'm leaving now."
Before Xie Lingjiang's long legs showed signs of being kicked, Wang Caozhi shrank his head and ran away.
Dongmei, who lowered her head and snorted, was left on the spot.
Ouyang Rong went to lead the horse.
Xie Lingjiang followed silently.
At the entrance of the alley, silence returned to the room between the two senior fellow apprentices.
Wait until you reach a place with slightly brighter lights.
Ouyang Rong turned to look at Xie Lingjiang, looking up and down calmly.
Today, the junior sister wore a floor-length peach red dress that is popular among aristocratic ladies. She also wore an elegant wine-colored make-up. The dimples on her cheeks were dotted with two charming dimples. If she looked carefully, she actually had a light makeup on.
Rouge and thin powder... I dressed up specially to go out.
But at this moment, there was a layer of fine sweat on her forehead, and her well-groomed phoenix crown hair was a bit messy.
Apparently it was because I was looking for him in a hurry just now.
Before that, the two had clearly agreed that she would be a graceful lady, gentle and well-behaved in Xunyang City.
Ouyang Rong's eyes silently moved away from the long sword on Xie Lingjiang's waist that did not match the lady's dress:
There was no blame on his face, on the contrary, he looked a little guilty.
"Eldest brother, don't look at it. Your makeup is all gone. What's there to look good at?"
Xie Lingjiang turned sideways and raised the men's robe in his hand to cover his face.
Ouyang Rong nodded:
"When I called you with the skirt knife, I thought you were far away from Xunyang Prince's Mansion in Chaisangfang, and it would take a while to arrive."
Xie Lingjiang bit his lip: "When the sensor was detected, I was not far outside Xunyang Tower. I heard tonight...I heard that this guy Wang Caozhi came to Xunyang City. I was going to come over and have a look to see if this guy was there.
Listen to Senior Brother."
Ouyang Rong raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at her more.
After thinking about it, he still didn't ask the younger junior sister why she dressed so solemnly and came here specifically to make friends with her clan brothers.
Don't expose her.
"It was just a misunderstanding."
Ouyang Rong changed the topic and briefly told Pei Shisanniang's story.
Xie Lingjiang, who originally pretended to be nonchalant, couldn't help but turn his head as he listened, his expression extremely serious.
"It turns out it's a beauty trap."
Xie Lingjiang nodded and concluded.
Ouyang Rong shrugged his shoulders: "Who would have thought that the top-notch husbandman who sells his art but not his body would come here. That Pei Shisanniang has some tricks and knows how to manipulate women."
"Elder brother is so powerful, yet so young and handsome."
Xie Lingjiang looked at him sideways and praised:
"Maybe it's because I was impressed by the charm of senior brother."
She smiled and said in a nonchalant tone:
"Well, the young man is powerful and the young lady is pretty, so it's considered your love and my love."
"Whatever you want me to do, I don't want to."
"Like a jade beauty, a spring beauty playing a pipa, a man and a woman alone, isn't it possible that my senior brother is not moved at all?"
Heartbeat?
Ouyang Rong wanted to say that he only moved a little bit, but he was firmly held down by a skirt knife.
How dare you raise your head?
"Not moved." He shook his head firmly without hesitation.
"Why is this?"
Xie Lingjiang bent his index finger, tapped his red lips, looked at his senior brother, his voice was like a cat, and he was a little persuasive:
"To get such a well-known and sought-after number one Qinghuan from Xunyang to volunteer his life, Senior Brother is really not tempted at all?
"Well, I'm a woman, so I can't help but be a little tempted. I just wish I wasn't a man."
"Don't be tempted."
Ouyang Rong still shook his head firmly and said softly: "Because I know that there is an important person waiting for me outside."
Xie Jinjiang choked and the smile disappeared from his face.
Her voice was trembling: "What...some important person?"
"My little junior sister."
Ouyang Rong smiled brightly and paused:
"Well, as senior brother, of course I have to set an example. At that time, I could only throw one robe for that little lady Qin to wear. Any more, and it would really be gone."
Seeing that he was prevaricating again, Xie Ling Jiang opened his mouth and put on a pretty face:
"I understand, it's because you accidentally touched the skirt knife in advance and informed me to come, so you held back, right, okay, okay, next time I won't come, senior brother can use it to his heart's content without caring about his face."
Ouyang Rong nodded: "That's okay. Then I'll take off a few more clothes next time so that people don't catch a cold."
"you dare?"
Xie Lingjiang stared and asked angrily.
Ouyang Rong suddenly stretched out his hand and said, "Don't move."
"What are you doing."
She subconsciously shrank back, but when the man in front of her gave him a domineering glare, she suddenly felt an urge to be honest and obedient. She didn't dare to disobey, and she was unwilling to disobey. Instead, she felt a little excited and looked forward to it.
"Your hair is messed up."
Xie Lingjiang paused and looked up to see Ouyang Rong tucking a strand of hair that fell in front of her forehead behind her ear.
Xie Lingjiang was a little shy. She turned her pretty face towards his arms and wanted to hide away, but then she found that there was something stuck to her ear. She raised her hand and touched it, and was surprised to find that it was an orchid.
There was a delicate fragrance lingering between the two of them.
"This is……"
Ouyang Rong had already left and walked forward without looking back:
"I just picked one in the yard while I was waiting for you to pick up your clothes. It really looks good on you."
After a pause, he whispered:
"Tonight...thank you for your hard work."
Xie Lingjiang was slightly startled and stopped where he was, his cheeks getting a little hot.
Not long after, after the two of them walked out of the alley, a carriage from Xunyang Prince's Palace came and stopped in front of them.
Ouyang Rong helped Xie Lingjiang, who was dressed in fine clothes, to board the carriage.
He rode Dongmei himself and escorted him beside the carriage.
"Go to Huaiye Lane and stay one night and go back tomorrow morning."
"good."
On the way, through the thin car curtain, the two chatted about Pei Shisanniang again.
Xie Lingjiang whispered: "I don't like this woman."
Ouyang Rong nodded and said calmly: "A very standard Jianghuai businessman, full of gold standard and official standard ideas."
"Gold standard, official standard thinking?" Xie Lingjiang chewed on new words.
Ouyang Rong looked at her and explained:
"It can be understood that money is supreme and official position is supreme. Both are valued and respected, especially the latter."
"No wonder she pleases senior brother so much, but..." Xie Lingjiang asked: "Most men should feel comfortable being served by such a rich and beautiful woman with great care, right?"
Ouyang Rong turned around with a serious look on his face:
"It's not me that she respects and pleases, but my crimson official uniform. Today she can respect me because of this crimson official uniform, and tomorrow, she can also obey my words in another crimson official uniform."
"I don't feel any comfort. We have different paths and don't work together."
Xie Lingjiang looked at Ouyang Rong who was speaking righteously and felt a little dazed.
"Elder brother can see it really clearly."
And she always has something new to say that makes her suddenly enlightened.
After a while, she asked:
"What about the water control plan she proposed? It seems to make some sense."
Ouyang Rong nodded: "It's feasible."
Xie Lingjiang was curious: "Then why did senior brother refuse directly?"
Ouyang Rong took a long breath as he felt the oncoming river wind:
"She wanted to renovate Xingzifang and make it a business for wealthy people, but a city must not only accommodate wealthy people, but also provide a place for poor people to live.
"The prosperity of Xunyang City is not only supported by wealthy businessmen.
"There is more than one brother Huaimin in Xingzifang.
"They are the foundation of Xunyang City's prosperity."
Xie Lingjiang whispered: "During the holidays, how about Senior Brother accompanying me and Sister Guo'er to go shopping, attend some parties, and relax?"
Ouyang Rong hesitated: "Okay."
Xie Ling Jiang Mei smiled happily.
Not long after, the carriage arrived at the Huaiye Lane mansion...
The next day.
Ouyang Rong walked into the lobby of Jiangzhou and continued his work to implement the construction of the Xunyang Grottoes.
He ran into Yuan Huaimin head-on.
Yuan Huaimin suddenly asked: "Brother Lianghan went to Xunyang Tower last night?"
Ouyang Rong paused and did not look back: "Yes, I have been there. What happened to Brother Huaimin?"
"Brother Lianghan went to see Miss Qin, right?"
Ouyang Rong asked calmly: "How did Brother Huaimin know that I went to Xunyang Tower?"
He quietly looked at the clothes on his body. They were obviously brand new and did not leave any trace of Miss Qin's scent from last night.
Yuan Huaimin said bluntly:
"I was also in Xunyang Tower last night. When I left, I saw Dongmei and guessed that you were also in Xunyang Tower. But I waited beside Dongmei for a while and saw no sign of you, so I went back in a hurry."
"I see." Ouyang Rong couldn't help but glance at Yuan Huaimin: "Brother Huaimin, why are you going to Xunyang Tower to listen to music?"
"Yes, as usual, there was Miss Qin's pipa performance at Xunyang Tower last night. Wait, didn't Brother Lianghan also want to listen to pipa when he came over? What other matters does Brother Lianghan have?"
Yuan Huaimin shook his head: "I thought Brother Lianghan went there after hearing my description. Hearing it a hundred times is worse than seeing it."
Ouyang Rong kept smiling:
"I think so. I want to hear Miss Qin's pipa music. I happen to have a private banquet, so I'm on my way. But... I don't seem to have good luck. There seemed to be a song and dance performance on the first floor of Xunyang Building last night.
I didn’t see that pipa master.”
"Sigh." Yuan Huaimin sighed sadly: "I wasted no time. I heard that Miss Qin seems to be unwell and has been depressed recently. She specifically asked for leave to rest in the boudoir and refused to receive guests."
His eyes were filled with longing: "A pipa player like Mrs. Qin is not easy for the owner of Xunyang House to control. Everything depends on her mood. We were not very lucky last night. It must have been the first time for Brother Lianghan."
Go listen to pipa music, you are even more unlucky than me."
Yuan Huaimin looked like an old man who had come before him. He patted the arm of Ouyang Rong, who looked ignorant and honest, and expressed relief:
"It's okay. There will be a chance next time. There is a long way to go. There will always be a chance to hear Miss Qin's pipa music. Brother Lianghan, don't be disappointed."
"Okay, I'm looking forward to it." Ouyang Rong nodded and paused, "Next time, I must appreciate her beauty."
"It's a fairy sound appreciation. Miss Qin likes to be veiled. She usually covers up a lot, so it's hard to see her beautiful face. I've been there so many times and only got a glimpse of it once. I hope Brother Lianghan will do it next time.
You can have such good luck."
"Okay, okay."
As he responded, Ouyang Rong couldn't help but look at the honest man Yuan Huaimin, his eyes were slightly dazed, as if another snow-white and dazzling scene flashed before his eyes... Ouyang Rong nodded quickly in a serious manner:
"Okay, brother Huaimin."
After showing off and sharing, Yuan Huaimin left with satisfaction.
Ouyang Rong glanced at the backs of his colleagues and friends leaving happily, and felt a strange feeling of guilt in his heart.
Two days later, Jiangzhou Hall finally ushered in Yuan Zheng's long vacation.
This holiday is similar to New Year's Eve, saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new.
However, officials from various places are prohibited from returning to their hometowns to celebrate the festival.
Ouyang Rong, who had been busy for a long time, finally had some time to spare.
However, on the first day of the holiday, I only slept once, and when I went back to sleep in the morning, I was pulled out again...