No, gentlemen also guard against

Chapter 828 Yu Ru Yu Cheng
The morning mist has not yet dissipated.

At the entrance of the camp, a row of saddles were emitting a cold, wet glow.

The tip of the leaf was holding a dewdrop that was about to fall, and a few lines of crab-shell green could be seen among the dark green mountain shadows in the distance.

Li Dalang, Lu Ya, and Zhang Shixiu held the reins, and next to their saddles hung peach wood swords, water bottles, dry food and other luggage.

Shunbo was feeding fresh grass to the horses of the only two carriages.

Li Xian and Wei Mei bent down and boarded one of the carriages.

Li Xian coughed and blew air into his palm. He looked around and didn't see the reassuring tall figure. He turned his head to look at the camp behind him.

After waiting for a while, I saw my daughter coming out.

Li Guoer held the hem of her apricot-red skirt, avoided the dew on the grass by the roadside, and came to the gathering place at the door.

Her hair was disheveled like wrinkled clouds, as if she did not sleep well last night. Her pretty face was tense, with some cute eye bags, and the color of her lips, which were loosened after she bit them, was brighter than the coral on the hairpin.

Cai Shou followed behind like a follower. The little maid was carrying a small bundle on her back and holding another bundle in her arms. Her chubby face looked a little dazed, as if she had not yet woken up. She followed her young lady, who was holding the hem of her skirt, and got into the carriage together.

After a while, a girl in plain white dress appeared at the entrance of the camp, followed by Wang Caozhi and Pei Shisan Niang.

Rong Zhen was still wearing a mandarin duck jade hairpin and her hair was tied up in a high bun. She walked in front with a cold face. Wang Caozhi followed behind with a smile on his face, helping to lead a handsome white horse. His bent waist was just a little shorter than the girl in palace dress. He kept talking, but Rong Zhen didn't even turn her head, and only replied occasionally.

Pei Shisan Niang, who was standing next to her, just followed the lady historian respectfully, but did not approach her to talk to her as enthusiastically as Wang Caozhi.

The noble lady wearing a purple and gold shawl would occasionally glance sideways at the bent young man who was being treated coldly, as if she had a new understanding of the shamelessness of this colleague.

Arriving at the entrance of the camp, facing the gaze of everyone, Rong Zhen stopped talking. Wang Caozhi also closed his mouth and handed the reins of the white horse to Sister Rong.

He glanced at Pei Shisan Niang beside him and straightened his back again.

Pei Shisan Niang's mouth twitched as she went to prepare a carriage for Madam Zhen.

Early in the morning, at the camp gate, everyone was busy preparing to set off, but the atmosphere was exceptionally quiet.

Everyone was busy with their own things, there was no communication, and in silence, only glances were exchanged or looked away.

Until Madam Zhen walked out of the camp leisurely, followed by Ye Weilai and Ban Xi, each carrying a small floral bag and supporting her left and right arms.

Zhen Shuyuan looked around and broke the silence:

"Where's Tanlang?"

Everyone was speechless.

Zhen Shuyuan saw that their eyes were all looking towards a tent in the camp.

The woman followed the line of sight and found that it should be Xie Lingjiang's tent.

But at this moment, Xie Lingjiang was not there. There was only a slender figure sitting inside, seemingly waiting quietly.

Zhen Shuyuan was puzzled: "Where did Xianxian go?"

No one answered until Wei Mei stepped forward and whispered a few words.

Zhen Shuyuan also fell silent.

He stopped urging and stood where he was, waiting for Ye Weilai and Ban Xi to prepare the carriage.

Time passed by minute by minute.

The morning mist was evaporated by the early sun, and the dewdrops hanging from the wheels of a carriage parked in the grass were reflecting the newly dyed rosy clouds in the sky, as if drawn with a vermilion brush.

The second quarter of the morning.

Inside the camp, the young man in scholarly robes walked out of the tent where he had been sitting for a long time and arrived at the camp gate on time.

It is the agreed time to meet.

Everyone was ready to go, and their eyes were on the young man in Confucian robes.

Ouyang Rong took the reins from Wang Caozhi. Dongmei snorted and rubbed her forehead against the arm of her silent master.

Ouyang Rong stroked its shiny fur and said to everyone:
"Sorry for the long wait. I thought about it carefully last night. I have to say a few more words. After that, let's set off. After my junior sister receives the letter from home, she may wait for you in Hanyang County."

There was silence.

Everyone saw the young man in scholarly robes calmly lower his head and fumble for something from his sleeve, as if he was giving his final instructions.

Wei Meiqiang suggested with a smile:

"Hey, Tan Lang, it's not far anyway. Why don't you not rush back to Xunyang and accompany us for a while to Hanyang County to meet Ling Jiang and have a reunion with your brothers and sisters?"

Ouyang Rong shook his head and insisted on his principles:

"We can't waste any more time on personal matters. The prince is going back to the capital, and Aunt and Taoist Zhang also have to hurry back. Let's follow what we discussed yesterday. Cao Zhi and Shisan Niang have already arranged your route."

Wei Mei wanted to say something but stopped herself. She turned around and winked at Li Xian and Li Guoer, but the two did not move.

Wei Mei was a little anxious, and reached out her hand to pinch Li Xian's waist...

"Tanlang."

Li Xian suddenly jumped off the carriage, left Wei Mei behind, and came to Ouyang Rong.

Ouyang Rong paused for a moment:
"What else does your Majesty want?"

He saw that the prince's bruises from falling down in the river not long ago were still there, but there were a few new red marks on his cheeks. He didn't know what he had experienced last night.

Ouyang Rong couldn't help but take a few more glances.

Li Xian said solemnly:
"Do you still remember the last words you said to me when you urged me to leave after the embroiderer disappeared in your yard that day?

"I am very pleased with your words."

Ouyang Rong didn't react for a moment:
"What?"

Li Xian stroked his beard and smiled:

"Tan Lang said that things that change your life require risk; things of extraordinary significance mostly happen by chance; only unimportant things have a thorough plan... Do you remember, Tan Lang?"

"Ah."

Shunbo came over tacitly, holding a plate of wine in his hand. Li Xian turned around, picked up the wine pot, poured a cup, held it with both hands, and handed it to Tan Lang:
"Mei Niang wanted me to persuade you, or even force you to go with her, but I suddenly thought that accompanying us back to the capital was also what Tan Lang planned to do. This is not only from Tan Lang to me, but also from Tan Lang to himself.

"Tan Lang, you are right. To change your life, you must take risks. Don't worry, Tan Lang. We are waiting for you in the capital. You have taught us for so long and given us so many good advice. It is like a private school teacher in a mountain village who teaches with great patience. It is time to test the quality of his students."

Li Xianxiao looked towards the distant mountains, then looked around at the people who were feeling sad about the separation, and laughed heartily:
"You gave me a word, and I will give you one too: Don't say that this year's spring is about to end, for next year's spring will be twice as beautiful as before!"

Ouyang Rong was stunned.

He stared at Li Xian for a while and nodded slowly:
"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Wei Mei also fell silent. This time, she did not stop him. But when Li Xian returned to the carriage, she snorted coldly and shook off Li Xian's flattering hand with her sleeve, as if she was still a little angry with her husband for not standing together against the outside world.

At this time, Wang Caozhi stepped forward and spoke hesitantly to Ouyang Rong:
"Brother-in-law, since you are not going back to Beijing, I will stay here too."

Ouyang Rong shook his head:
"No, you should go to the capital first. You have been to many places and have a lot of experience in the north. It will be safer with you on the road."

"Then why don't you let Shisan Niang go?" Wang Caozhi was worried: "There are many hidden talents in the capital, and without my brother-in-law, I'm afraid I'll make a mistake."

Ouyang Rong curled his lips and said jokingly:

"But so many sisters are going, you have to accompany them? It seems that you are quite good at this kind of situation."

Wang Caozhi: ...

Ignoring the resentful look from his cheap brother-in-law, Ouyang Rong earnestly instructed Pei Shisanniang:

"Go to Hanyang County and board the ship. Send my aunt to Nanlong, then return. I'll wait for you in Xunyang City."

Pei Shisan Niang smiled secretly at being able to be kept, and bowed politely: "Yes, sir."

Zhen Shuyuan suddenly said;

"Tan Lang, please take Ye Weilai with you. I will let you go."

Ouyang Rong turned around and saw that Ye Weilai had already packed her things, carrying a small bag, and looking at him eagerly.

Ouyang Rong calmed down.

Li Guoer suddenly interrupted: "Why don't you try Dingjian?"

Ye Weilai shook her head and pointed at Caishou, who was quietly eating a fried cake with her mouth puffed up like a bun:
"Let Sister Caishou come. She has been by your side for many years, and has been influenced by you. She is smart and intelligent, and is more suitable to be the sword bearer than me."

Everyone looked a little surprised, mainly because the "little wife" in Tan Lang's room had previously given them the impression of being studious and keen on making progress.

Although she has the advantages of being well-behaved, sensible and knowing her limits, anyone with a little ambition would fight for this great opportunity that is within her reach. What's more, she has the support of Xie Lingjiang and Rong Zhen this time. Even if she is cautious, there is no need for her to not even try. Wouldn't that be giving up the opportunity in vain?

Li Guoer narrowed his eyes, looked at Ye Weilai, and nodded slowly:

"All right,"

Ye Weilai looked straight ahead, but her peripheral vision secretly glanced at the little princess with plum blossom makeup who had frightened her for a long time, and then glanced at the chubby-faced and bewildered little maidservant next to the calm little princess.

I don't know what the white-haired girl is thinking.

Zhen Shuyuan sighed towards the hesitant Ouyang Rong:
"While I am away, Wei Lai is the one who is more suitable to take care of you."

Ye Weilai turned her head and gave Rong Zhen, who was about to speak, a smiling look that said "it's okay".

Rong Zhen pursed her lips and said nothing more.

Ouyang Rong stood still for a moment and nodded slightly.

Ye Weilai happily stepped forward, helped him hold the horse, and went along.

Ouyang Rong touched a pill box in his arms and looked at Li Guoer.

He formulated the following words:
"Your Highness the little princess..."

"Okay, stop saying those cheesy words."

Li Guoer waved her hand and turned away. Her beautiful little face was a little cold and she said unhappily:

"If you leave without waiting for Sister Xie to come back and meet her, I can imagine how she will be complaining and sulking around me every day in the future. In the end, the matter between you and your senior brother and sister is still affecting my mood."

Just then, the sound of horse hooves came from a distance.

Everyone looked behind Ouyang Rong and was stunned.

Ouyang Rong frowned and turned around slowly. The next moment, he stopped and his brows relaxed.

There was a person dressed in red, riding a rouge horse, running towards us, as fast as lightning... It was the junior sister.

This scene suddenly reminded Ouyang Rong of their first meeting at Donglin Temple in Longcheng County. She also fell from the sky in a red dress, which caught him off guard.

Xie Lingjiang's red clothes were as bright as flames, but he was dusty and out of breath, with red circles around his eyes and some bloodshot, as if he had been traveling all night without stopping.

A man and a horse arrived at the camp gate. Xie Lingjiang threw away the reins and dismounted.

Zhen Shuyuan, Wei Mei and other female relatives were both happy and surprised.

"Ling Jiang?"

"婠婠?"

Xie Lingjiang rushed forward in a hurry, ignoring the people around him who were concerned and asking questions, and threw himself into Ouyang Rong's arms.

"Junior sister..." Ouyang Rong was at a loss, with his hands stretched out in the air, forgetting to experience the feeling of his junior sister bumping into people with the ball. If it were in the past, he would have lectured his "ignorant" junior sister in a serious manner.

Ouyang Rong saw that Xie Lingjiang's forehead was covered with sweat and he hurriedly took out a jade pendant from his sleeve.

She lowered her head and tied the jade pendant around his waist with trembling hands:
"Wear it together with the skirt knife. I have been pestering the academy's principal and the chief priest for two years by writing letters. Some time ago, they finally made an exception and agreed to make the jade. My aunt immediately sent someone to deliver it.

Xie Lingjiang looked haggard. As she lowered her head to tie the jade pendant, her red lips were tightly pursed, showing a bit of stubbornness and pride:

"This is a natal jade pendant. Only Confucian scholars who graduated from Bailudong Academy and whose cultivation is above the eighth rank gentleman are qualified to own it. Although you are not considered a scholar, you are also a Qigong practitioner who graduated from the academy, and you are also a world-famous and undisputed gentleman who upholds integrity. What's wrong with not having a scholar's lineage? How can my eldest brother not have it?"

She finished speaking with some pride, and Ouyang Rong heard the little sister clear her throat and lower her voice, and whispered:
"You must wear it on your body and do not take it off before entering the capital. The jade is there while the person is alive, but it will be destroyed when the person dies. Remember this..."

Ouyang Rong stood there with his head down, his palm tightly grasping her hand that was helping her to tie the jade pendant, and at the same time touching the jade pendant.

I don’t know what kind of jade this jade pendant is made of, but it has a smooth and warm texture, as if there is a candle flame hidden inside, which makes people feel peaceful when touching it.

There seemed to be words engraved on his back. He looked closely and saw eight strong small seal characters:

No effort will be in vain, and success will come to you.

Xie Lingjiang murmured:

"This is the calligraphy that Principal Wan Shan gave you. When you were in the academy, Principal Wan Shan said that he didn't really pay much attention to you. He just thought that you were a piece of paper, upright and honest, which could add a few inches of style to the academy, but could not change the world. It was not until later, when you were demoted to Longcheng, that he heard about your subsequent deeds and changed his mind and looked at you differently."

Ouyang Rong pursed his lips, and after a while he put the jade pendant in place and prepared to speak:
"Little junior sister, I..."

Xie Lingjiang suddenly raised his head and said half-jokingly and half-sonorily:
"Well, I've said before, I followed you and Father into the secular world to practice. From the time we first met in Dragon City until now, we have never been apart for such a long time, but I always firmly believe that my senior brother will never be wrong!

"Even if the whole world disapproves of him, and the universe is full of slander, and millions of people point out that he is wrong, I still firmly believe that he is right and I will stick to his truth!"

She felt her nose sour, pushed the broad shoulders of the silent and wooden young man in a scholar's robe in front of her, and said in a slightly relaxed tone:

"Alright, big brother, go do what you want to do. No matter how long the journey is, I will not refuse. No matter how hard the wind and rain are, I will not change my mind. You, take care of yourself along the way."

(End of this chapter)