No, gentlemen also guard against

Chapter 824: Farewell Banquet

When Ouyang Rong looked over with an expressionless face.

Wang Caozhi stood up and said to Ouyang Rong seriously:
"Brother-in-law, Madam Zhen, I have reflected and reviewed. The preparations for this luncheon were a bit hasty. The prince still has to go north, so it is not easy to make it public. We can only purchase some food and drinks from the largest restaurant in Hanyang County in a low-key manner. The banquet can only be held outdoors, which is a bit shabby..."

He sighed and said with some guilt:
"However, isn't it popular among Luoyang scholars to have wine banquets with wine flowing and water swaying? I am a common merchant, but my brother-in-law and the prince are not. It's a good opportunity for me and Shisan Niang to take advantage of your influence and show off our elegance for once."

Hearing this, Zhen Shuyuan smiled dumbly:
"Okay, you're doing a good job. I can see you're putting a lot of thought into it. Stop playing tricks on Tan Lang."

After Zhen Shuyuan spoke, Ouyang Rong looked away.

Wang Caozhi remained calm, as if nothing had happened, neither arrogant nor impatient.

He, Pei Shisanniang, Shunbo, Caishou, and Banxi were all called by Li Xian to sit down.

Li Xian cares about:
"By the way, Tan Lang, is General Yan okay?"

Ouyang Rong replied:

"Liu Lang is guarding Xunyang City and everything is fine."

Li Xian said with relief: "That's good, we have Tan Lang as a good role model. Liu Lang is really doing a good job as a military officer in Jiangzhou."

Wei Mei passed Li Xian and suddenly interrupted:
"Tan Lang, when you sent someone away just now, did Miao Zhen say anything?"

Li Xian's face turned pale slightly, and when Wei Mei saw him, he quickly picked up the ice pack on the table and continued to apply it to his face, covering up his expression at the same time.

Ouyang Rong shook his head:

"Nothing was said. Ms. Miaozhen just left without leaving any words."

At this point, he turned his head and glanced at Li Xian who looked serious. He felt a little curious. He wondered what Li Xian had talked about with Miao Zhen not long ago, and why Princess Wei Mei had taught her husband a lesson.

But no matter how curious he was, Ouyang Rong never interfered in other people's family affairs.

Just like Li Xian and Wei Mei don’t interfere in his private affairs.

"Oh, is that so?"

Wei Mei looked calm and patiently asked Li Xian:

"Has Qilang finished talking to her? It's not too late to chase her now. After all, she is my savior."

Li Xian waved his hand subconsciously:
"I'm done, I'm done... Wait, I have nothing to say to her, how can I say I haven't finished, Mei Niang, please stop teasing me, haha."

The atmosphere at the table was quiet, with only Li Xian's laughter, which made the laughter seem even more awkward.

Everyone looks at the nose with their eyes and the heart with their nose.

Li Xian quickly put an ice pack on his face to cover it. After a while, he changed the subject:

"By the way, Tan Lang, when are we going to set off?"

Ouyang Rong stared at the wine glass in front of him and said without raising his head:
"Tomorrow morning, Cao Zhi, Shisan Niang and I will plan our route north, and then go to Hanyang County to buy some things in the afternoon.

"Now that there are no pursuers, we are like fish entering the sea, unimpeded. Your Majesty, please keep everything simple. Let's take the fastest route back to the capital and stop as little as possible along the way."

"Okay, I'll follow Tan Lang's arrangements."

Li Xian nodded happily, looking at the organized Tan Lang, a warm feeling flowed through his heart.

Wei Mei and Li Dalang couldn't suppress the smile on their faces, and their hearts were warm.

When Tan Lang was around, every time they asked about something they were worried about, Tan Lang had a plan or had already solved it, giving them a sense of security as he worried before everyone else.

Li Xian took a sip of the wine, smacked his lips, and sighed:
"Twenty years have passed in a flash. I almost forgot the Luoyang dialect. Before we enter the imperial city, we pass by Suzaku Street and have to sit down and eat some mutton soup buns. Tan Lang should also have a good taste. There are also the eight delicacies of Luoyang, Kaikouxiao, Jinmajujube, and Wuxiang Niusui..."

When she heard the word "eat", Caishou swallowed her saliva, with a look of anticipation on her little face.

Li Dalang was a little confused after hearing this.

Li Guoer was quiet, picked up the food and put it into his mouth, chewing it carefully.

Compared to the rough northern cuisine that sounds like it’s mixed with sand and dust, she, who was raised in the southern part of the Yangtze River, seems to prefer the delicate southern cuisine.

Wei Mei seemed to be worried about something, and she solemnly instructed Li Dalang and Li Guoer:

"Fusu, Guo'er, remember, although you grew up in the south, you are actually northerners. Hundreds of years ago, your ancestors of the Li clan rode their horses to the west of Liangzhou, from Yumen to Gaochang, bending their bows and drinking feathers, drinking the wind and sand."

She carefully reminded him: "When you return to Luoyang, you will be the purest northerners and the most noble descendants of Guanlong. You don't need to be self-deprecating and timid. You can show up boldly and get to know the children of other noble families. No, they should take the initiative to approach you."

Li Dalang scratched his head: "I'm not very good at making friends. With Tan Lang and Liu Lang around, I can be more relaxed. But as for A-mei, you don't have to worry about her, mother."

He smiled and pointed at his sister, his tone somewhat doting like an older brother:

"You and I have different standards. People are shaped by the environment. My sister has the beautiful and graceful appearance of a girl from the south of the Yangtze River. This is a gift from God. When we go to Luoyang, I don't know how many eyes she will attract and how many young men from aristocratic families she will attract. Those girls from the northern noble families can never catch up with my sister's beauty."

Lu Ya, who had remained silent at the table, nodded seriously:
"That's right, Master said that a girl with a northern appearance and a southern face is a great blessing. When the sage of the time was young, he had this kind of face. Coupled with his different temperament of hitting a fierce horse with an iron hammer, Taizong and Gaozong looked at him with a frown..."

The Taoist priest with expressionless face was halfway through his speech when someone pulled his sleeve under the table. He turned around in confusion and looked at Brother Zhang next to him.

Zhang Shixiu did not look away.

Wei Mei and Li Dalang just took it as a compliment.

Wei Mei touched her slightly yellow face and said proudly, "Gu'er looks like me, just like me when I was young, as juicy as a young cabbage."

Li Xian: ...

Li Dalang: ...

Li Guoer couldn't stand it anymore, and put on a stern face to stop his mother and brother from teasing him.

Li Dalang laughed and filled A-mei's glass with wine. He noticed that A-mei was looking away and winking at him.

Li Dalang turned around and saw Ouyang Rong drinking alone. His cup was empty, so he quickly filled it up:
"Why is Tan Lang drinking alone?"

Ouyang Rong didn't touch the wine glass. He stared at the reflection of his handsome face in the glass and said without raising his head:
"Aunt, Wei Lai wants to stay. You can only go back to Nanlong alone tomorrow. I will let Shisan Niang take you back."

Zhen Shuyuan, who was trying the fish soup cooked by Rong Zhen, looked a little reluctant, but was ready to nod:

"Listen to Tan Lang..."

"Hey, Madam Zhen, wait a minute."

Wei Mei interrupted with a smile:
"Tan Lang, why don't you take Madam Zhen back to the capital instead of going back to Nanlong? Ye Weilai will also be training on her way to the capital. It will be inconvenient for Madam Zhen to have no one by her side. Besides, Madam Zhen is not young anymore. As her nephew, you should always be by her side and show your filial piety to her.

"Besides, this time when we return to the capital, we have Ding Jian's great contribution, so the danger is very small. With Madam Zhen following us, there won't be any big problems, unlike when we first arrived in Xunyang City."

Zhen Shuyuan's face seemed to be moved, but she was reasonable:

"Tan Lang, I'm fine with whatever you arrange. Whether you go to the capital first to gain a foothold and then take me there, or I go with you now, it's all fine. Speaking of which, I haven't been to Luoyang yet. It's good to see the world and see how the people in the imperial city live. What's the difference between them and us in Jiangnan?"

Ouyang Rong said nothing more and everyone laughed.

Wei Mei took the opportunity to talk about Luoyang's specialties and customs, which made Zhen Shuyuan sigh with emotion.

As everyone laughed, they couldn't help but look sideways at Ouyang Rong.

As the invisible backbone, everyone's attention is always on him.

But at this moment, they found that Tan Lang had not smiled.

The young man in Confucian robes lowered his head, took off the Moonlight Sword and Red Lotus Sword Seal from his waist, stood up and walked away, placed them on Li Xian's desk and folded them.

This strange move immediately attracted the attention of everyone in the audience.

Li Dalang asked in confusion: "Tan Lang, what are you doing..."

Zhen Shuyuan asked with concern: "Why don't you eat some food? Is your wound still hurting? I'll let Wei Lai give it to you later..."

Ouyang Rong returned to his seat, lowered his head to adjust his cuffs, sat down slowly, and said:
"Aunt has misunderstood, and the princess has also misunderstood. I am not going back to the capital, but you, my lord, should go back. I will send you off tomorrow morning and go back to Xunyang. I stayed here today to see you off."

The whole place fell silent for a moment.

Ouyang Rong didn't look around, he picked up the wine glass in front of him, raised his head and drank it all in one gulp.

After taking a long breath, he said softly:
"I will bring the embroiderer back. I promised to take her to Luoyang."

In the open air, you can hear a pin drop.

There was only the slight gurgling sound of a trickle of water.

Everyone's eyes turned to the young man in scholar's robe who spoke solemnly.

They hesitated to speak.

Zhen Shuyuan's eyes turned slightly red.

Rong Zhen looked straight at Ouyang Rong.

Xie Lingjiang lowered her eyes and stared quietly at the ladylike dress she had specially changed into today.

Actually, since everyone got together yesterday, there was one issue that everyone tried to avoid talking about. That was the matter of the embroiderer.

Xie Lingjiang asked this question once.

But Ouyang Rong did not answer carefully.

Li Xian and others were afraid to ask and reveal Ouyang Rong's scars.

Because the matter of the embroiderer is very sensitive.

However, at this moment, the thing they were most worried about happened.

Just because something isn't mentioned doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

Especially someone like Ouyang Rong who has a firm character and is determined to stick to his principles.

However, it is precisely because of knowing this that people are more afraid to ask... It sounds a bit contradictory.

Li Xian whispered:

"Tanlang..."

Ouyang Rong suddenly turned around and pointed at the Moonlight Sword and the Red Lotus Sword Seal and said:

"Your Highness, please keep these two items. This is related to the Ding Sword. What if Cai Shou and Wei Lai don't reach the ninth level of Qi Refining, or even the ninth level, but the real name on the little princess's note doesn't match and the Ding Sword is not activated? Then we can only offer the Night Pearl Ding Sword directly. At that time, we will use these two items to activate the proof in front of the Saint."

Li Xian didn't look at the Moonlight Sword and the sword seal, his eyes were still on him.

Ouyang Rong's face was calm. Li Dalang stood there, not saying a word. So he poured the wine, took a sip, and continued to instruct:

"Wang Caozhi, you follow the prince to the capital, and Shisan Niang, you stay first and send your aunt back to Nanlong.

"Wei Lai, you should follow Junior Sister and Ms. Rong Zhen, and practice Qi on the way. Do your best. If you don't become a sword master, it's okay. I know your personality. You must have studied hard. Maybe it's not your destiny. I don't blame you."

Ouyang Rong turned around and pointed at Li Guoer.
"When I'm not here, if there are any difficult decisions, the little princess's suggestions will take precedence. The little princess is brave and decisive in big things, so the prince and the heir can rest assured to follow her advice."

He then said to Li Guoer:
"Miss Qin knows a lot of people in Luoyang, all of them are the sons of powerful nobles and celebrities. Your Highness the little princess likes to make friends, so you can write more letters to Miss Qin to open up the situation."

Noticing that everyone was looking at him, Ouyang Rong pointed at himself calmly:
"I'm not being willful this time. First, I need to go back to Xunyang City. I can't let Liu Lang clean up the mess alone. Second, I can't leave until Xiu Niang returns."

Zhang Shixiu suddenly asked:

"The embroiderer that Master Ouyang is talking about, is it Lady Yue Chuzi?"

Ouyang Rong nodded and looked at him with a searching look.

Zhang Shixiu pondered:

"I heard it from Junior Brother Lu... I remember that before we left that day, I saw the Second Lady bringing Virgin Yue back to the villa. Virgin Yue seemed to be unconscious and seriously injured. The First and Second Lady were quite anxious and seemed to want to send her back to Jianze for treatment."

Ouyang Rong suddenly fell silent.

After a while, he suddenly nodded:

"Thank you. Can you help me find the location of Yunmeng Jianze? Yunmeng is too big."

Zhang Shixiu hesitated and nodded:

"I will do my best, but you have to be careful of the female monarchs. They are not easy to talk to, so don't mess with them, young master."

"Okay." Ouyang Rong narrowed his eyes slightly: "Master, just help me find the location of the Female Monarch Hall. I will go to visit it in person. Master Lu Ya should have told you that I am very reasonable and polite."

Rong Zhen couldn't help but look sideways.

Lu Ya didn't notice anything was wrong and continued, "Master Ouyang is indeed kind to others, don't worry, Senior Brother Zhang."

"Okay." Zhang Shixiu breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that this Master Ouyang was indeed elegant and easy-going. In the short two days they had known each other, he was deeply impressed by his calm and reasonable personality.

After giving the general instructions, Ouyang Rong calmed down and went to pick up some food to eat.

Everyone around remained silent.

Some of them hesitated to speak.

Until Wei Mei's worried voice broke the silence:
"Qi Lang, stop drinking..."

Ouyang Rong turned his head and saw Li Xian with his head down, drinking cup after cup without saying a word.

Li Xian waved his hand, buried his head in picking up food, and his expression could not be seen clearly:

"It's okay, I feel cold, drink a few more cups to warm myself up..."

As soon as he finished speaking, he choked on the wine and his face turned red from coughing.

Wei Mei quickly patted his back and said angrily:

"You said it yourself. The last time Master Yuan whispered to you, he wanted you to pay more attention to your health, regulate your work and rest schedule, and drink less strong alcohol..."

"Okay, Mei Niang."

Li Xian suddenly called out to Wei Mei loudly.

The latter got stuck.

Ouyang Rong tilted his head sharply and asked immediately, "My Lord, what did Master Yuan say specifically?"

"Don't listen to Mei Niang's out-of-context interpretation. The palace was burned that day, and he was a little frightened and looked bad. The old Taoist priest probably remembered the illness of my father, Emperor Gaozong. But the old Taoist priest also said that it was nothing, it was just a precaution. I still remember that when Emperor Gaozong was seriously ill, the old Taoist priest went to look for medicine, but later failed."

The atmosphere was quiet and everyone exchanged glances.

Li Guo'er was a little worried and winked at Lu Ya.

Lu Ya stepped forward, felt Li Xian's pulse, and shook his head after a while:

"It is indeed safe, but we still need the imperial physician to take a look. My medical skills are average, definitely not as good as Master's."

Li Xian said helplessly: "I've said it's okay. Think about it, if there is something wrong, the imperial doctors sent by the mother queen from the capital will not be able to diagnose it. They have seen it several times."

"That's true."

Everyone was relieved.

At this time, Ouyang Rong smiled and said:

"Let's eat first."

Xie Lingjiang suddenly asked:

"How long will you stay, Senior Brother?"

"I will finish the mess in Xunyang, pick up the embroiderer, and then come back to Beijing to find you when the time is right."

Li Guoer said at the right time:
"Ouyang Lianghan, if you don't return to the capital this time, you won't have a good excuse next time. We can only wait until your father is on his feet and we can make some arrangements to transfer you back to the capital. You have to think it over carefully."

Ouyang Rong smiled and said, "I'll wait for your good news."

Li Xian and others were moved.

Looking at the young man who treats wealth and fame as dirt, I don't know what to say.

Xie Lingjiang had actually guessed something before. At this moment, she was filled with regret. She looked at the eldest brother and said eagerly:
"It won't work if it's released two days later."

"No, we'll leave tomorrow, little apprentice sister, don't be willful."

Xie Lingjiang looked at his gentle smile and suddenly felt that he shouldn't have been jealous and ignored him last night.

Wasted a night of time together.

At this moment, she saw Rong Zhen opposite her also looking straight at Ouyang Rong, with his ten fingers clenched in his sleeves, showing some regret.

Xie Lingjiang took a deep breath.

Ouyang Rong greeted them and everyone continued to eat.

It was just because Ouyang Rong's parting words weighed on people's minds that the atmosphere in the room felt a little stuffy.

Before everyone sat down at the table, they thought it was a reunion dinner, but now it seems to be a farewell banquet.

After a while, Ouyang Rong finished eating first, stood up, and called Wang Caozhi and Pei Shisanniang:

"You guys eat first. I'll take Cao Zhi and Shisan Niang to Hanyang County to buy supplies...

"By the way, I'll be the one keeping watch tonight. You guys should get some rest. We still have to travel tomorrow."

Ouyang Rong stood up and left, disappearing.

Xie Lingjiang, Rong Zhen, Li Xian and his family sat back in their original seats, and for a long time, the food in front of them remained untouched.

(End of this chapter)