No, gentlemen also guard against

Chapter 840: As if We First Met [5k5, monthly ticket requested! ]

In her hazy sleep, Ye Weilai felt Tan Lang lying down beside her to rest. He touched her feet and covered her with a quilt.

But then he disappeared again.

It was a foregone conclusion that Ye Weilai would soon be holding the letter with a hairpin in her hand and follow Hu Fu and other people in the team that was delivering the imperial edict back to the capital. Therefore, she had been particularly attached to Tan Lang these past few days, and was affectionate and affectionate with him as soon as they got into bed.

Therefore, when I fall asleep and feel that the person next to me is gone in a daze, I become particularly sensitive.

"Tanlang?"

Ye Weilai put one hand across her chest, propped up her upper body, and looked around in confusion.

It was dawn outside the window and dark inside the house.

There was no Dabai wandering around either.

There is no one by my pillow, but the warmth is still there.

……

The young man holds a pipa and wears a scholar's robe.

He came to the door of the quiet courtyard with an expressionless face.

His back standing in front of the door looked a little lonely.

Ouyang Rong held the pipa with his arms, freed his right hand, and took out the key from his left sleeve.

Opened the door of the quiet courtyard.

He looked back and found that the white sturgeon that had followed him all the way had disappeared after he left the Huaiye Lane mansion.

I don’t know where he went.

When Ouyang Rong pushed the door open, he suddenly remembered the dream that Dalang had mentioned in the letter from his junior sister.

The night before Dalang entered the palace, he dreamed of his wedding with his junior sister. Dalang himself was trying hard to make it on time, but in the end he could not make it to their wedding.

The young man in Confucian robes remained silent, walked into the yard, and closed the door behind him.

He rubbed his face vigorously.

The eyes are as dark as ink.

When I read this part of the letter, I actually found it a bit funny to me.

Until now, Ouyang Rong also had a dream. After waking up, he felt lost, as if the dream was real.

The feeling of being suddenly pulled away seems like a lifetime ago.

Ouyang Rong walked to the backyard.

Dew was silently condensing in the cracks of the bluestone steps.

At the base of the blue brick wall there is a curled up moss flower, with a frosty crab-blue color.

The last drum beat came from the long street outside.

The sky above the green tiles of the courtyard wall had poured out the Milky Way all night, leaving only a faint blue veil that was soaked in the morning mist and was about to turn over to reveal a fish belly white.

The breeze blew gently at dawn, but the swing in the yard did not move.

Ouyang Rong turned around and looked.

A black cat was lying on a swing, curled up and sleeping.

His footsteps seemed to wake it up.

The black cat raised his eyes, saw the visitor clearly, opened his mouth and yawned.

Lazy and motionless.

Ouyang Rong simply rolled up the long hem of his Confucian robe and sat down on the spot.

Sit on the two bluestone steps in front of the lobby.

Holding the pipa, looking at the black cat.

The young man stared at the cat.

He suddenly took off the white hairpin on his hair crown, twisted the end of the hairpin, and let it sway slightly in the wind.

"Longling--Longling--"

The black cat suddenly stood up, jumped to Ouyang Rong, circled around him, and stretched out its claws to try to reach the icy white jade hairpin.

In the darkness, the young man seemed to smile.

Squeak-!
Along with the sound of the door opening, footsteps were heard from the other side of the courtyard gate.

Soft and delicate, it belongs to women.

On the bluestone steps, Black Cat discovered that the hairpin that made the noise suddenly disappeared, and the young man sitting in front of him also disappeared.

Even the sharp cat's eyes failed to catch his movements.

"M-Sir?"

As soon as Pei Shisan Niang closed the door and turned around, she was startled.

The woman leaned back, folded her arms, and stared at the young man in scholarly robes who walked out of the darkness.

After seeing his face clearly, Pei Shisan Niang put down her arms, looked at the gray sky outside, and tried to ask in a low voice:

"Why are you still here? I told you who unlocked the door. I thought it was the maid who forgot to close the door after taking a shift, so I planned to scold her tomorrow."

Ouyang Rong shook his head without saying anything, turned around and went back to the backyard and sat down in his original position.

When a stranger came, the black cat jumped back to the courtyard wall and looked warily at the man and woman in the courtyard, wandering on the green tiles.

Pei Shisan Niang followed in and sat down next to Ouyang Rong with smooth movements.

The black silk dress inlaid with gold thread on her delicate body was not at all bothered by the dust on the bluestone steps, and she sat with her young master.

Ouyang Rong lowered his head and re-tied the hairpin without paying any attention.

The two sat for a while.

As if they were waiting tacitly for a hint of dawn behind the wall.

Pei Shisan Niang tightened the purple and gold shawl around her shoulders to keep warm, while her eyes were fixed on the black cat on the wall.

She suddenly broke the silence under the eaves:

"You have lost weight since the first time I saw you."

Ouyang Rong did not turn his head and said softly:

"Do you remember the first time you met?"

Pei Shisanniang became particularly serious:

"Of course I remember. I will never forget. If I hadn't met you, I would still be a money-obsessed merchant woman...

"I remember the first time I met you. It was the first day that you took office as the Chief Clerk of Jiangzhou. At that time, people in Xunyang's business circle said that a young Chief Clerk had come to Jiangzhou. He was a righteous gentleman. He had contradicted the favored princess of the dynasty and survived. His bones were harder than stones in the toilet.

"At that time, I was really curious, so I joined the crowd outside the Jiangzhou Hall and took a look from afar. At first glance, I felt..."

Pei Shisanniang paused at this point.

Ouyang Rong stared at the sky in a trance for a while, and just as the beautiful woman expected, he asked:
"What do you think?"

Seeing that the young man beside her had broken away from the worrying silence, Pei Shisan Niang breathed a sigh of relief.

She smiled brightly and generously, and told the truth:
"I thought this young master Changshi had such a handsome face, better looking than the actors in the troupe. At that time, I was a little frivolous and eccentric, and I thought, this young master Changshi is not just a show-off, or the lover of a noble lady above, and the rumors about his reputation are all deliberately arranged."

Pei Shisanniang's eyes showed some reminiscence, and she sighed:
"Only later did I know what a great man is, how approachable you are, and what it means to be a gentleman who hides his talent and waits for the right time to act, showing others his dullness and using his sharpness to guide himself. Thank you for teaching me."

Ouyang Rong was silent for a moment, then said:
"Wang Caozhi, that brat, has corrupted both you and Liu Lang. Each one of them flatters more than the other."

"Puch."

Hearing about a colleague who was "exiled" to Luoyang with a face full of resentment, Pei Shisan Niang couldn't help laughing, then restrained her smile and said seriously:

"I'm not flattering you, I really feel that way. If you don't believe me, ask other people and ask them to tell the truth. See if they are like me, focusing all their attention on your handsome face when they first met you."

The beautiful woman tilted her head like a little girl and said:
"I used to watch a play that all the young ladies loved to watch. It was about a famous general from the royal family during the Northern Dynasty a hundred years ago. He was brave and good at fighting, but his appearance was as beautiful as a woman. Perhaps he felt that his appearance could not deter the enemy, so he carved a wooden mask and wore it when fighting. He often showed himself as a mask. Later, he was the bravest among the three armies and was praised by the world. It became a good story.

"Young Master, you see, a handsome man is also a kind of trouble. It does affect the first impression of the world, and most of the world's people are a mob."

Ouyang Rong looked stern and said calmly:

"As long as a man is thin, he's not bad. I've just been weak and sickly since childhood, so I'm thin and hard to gain weight. But it will be soon. Wait, men change every year after they're twenty, and I'm no exception."

"Do not."

Pei Shisanniang raised a finger and shook it gently, staring at the profile of the young man in the scholar's robe with sharp eyes:

"In my eyes and heart, you will always be the young man with a dashing appearance when I first met you."

"It won't always be the same as when we first met."

Ouyang Rong immediately shook his head. Without turning around to look at the beautiful woman's subordinates, he paused for a moment and murmured as if repeating himself:
"If only it could be like the first time we met, everything would stay like that."

"If only it were like the first time we met."

Although the speaker didn't mean it, Pei Shisan Niang chewed it over carefully, and suddenly asked with some expectation:

"What was your impression when you first saw me?"

"forget."

Pei Shisan Niang didn't believe it and kept asking:

"Or, what did you think when you first met me? You can tell me without any worries. If it's not a good word or a good impression, I won't be angry."

She moved her legs together, hugged her knees, and slightly tilted her plump body so that she could look at Ouyang Rong without blinking.

The beautiful woman's face was full of curiosity, and she eventually led the originally quiet atmosphere into a chatty one.

Ouyang Rong was silent for a while:
"I want to slap you."

Pei Shisan Niang was a little confused.

I never expected this answer.

Ouyang Rong curled his lips:

"When we first met, you were so arrogant and lawless that anyone who saw you wanted to teach you a lesson and would want to whip you severely."

Pei Shisan Niang quickly adjusted herself and her confused expression disappeared completely.

She smiled charmingly, and in front of Ouyang Rong and the black cat on the wall, she hugged her chest and lowered her head in a coquettish manner:
"If it's your turn, then yes."

Ouyang Rong frowned and said speechlessly:
"Be serious and use the whip for real, not as a joke."

Pei Shisan Niang lowered her head more and more, and said shyly:
"Well, sure, draw more. I love you, young master."

Ouyang Rong:……?
Something is wrong with you.

Ouyang Rong quickly changed the subject:

"Wear a mask on the battlefield? I have a mask too." Pei Shisan Niang was stunned for a moment and didn't react:
"Ah, what mask?"

Ouyang Rong shook his head gently:
"It's okay, just kidding."

Instead, ask:

"Why did Thirteenth Lady come here so early?"

Pei Shisanniang smiled:
"I went to bed early last night and got up early too. I have to go to Kuanglu Mountain to inspect the ice-making grottoes in the morning. It's on my way, so I thought I'd come over and water the flowers that the embroiderer is raising..."

Ouyang Rong was silent for a while, then pointed to the kitchen and said:
"You don't need to replace the rice in the rice jar with new ones. Take the rice you have back home and eat it first. If the embroiderer comes back and sees the kitchen wasting so much, she will feel bad."

Pei Shisan Niang restrained her smile and nodded slightly.

"Yes, son."

She looked curiously:

"What about the young master? Why did you come here so late at night? How long have you been sitting in the yard?"

Ouyang Rong said softly: "Same, get up early and come over for a walk."

Pei Shisan Niang couldn't help but look at his slightly tired face, but she didn't expose him and nodded slightly:
"Ah."

Ouyang Rong raised his head and said with a smile:
"I had a dream last night. Coincidentally, that dream was also about first meeting."

"First meeting? With whom..." Pei Shisan Niang paused and asked cautiously, "With Miss Xiu Niang?"

Pei Shisan Niang saw that the young man in Confucian robes was sitting on the bluestone steps next to her, with his head slightly raised, as if he was looking at the dawn glow in the distant sky, and he did not speak for a long time.

Under the dim eaves, his profile was thin, with distinct cheekbones. Although his expression and eyes were not clear, he had a unique and elegant charm.

After a while, Ouyang Rong nodded slowly:
"I dreamed of an underground palace, the place where I first saw her in Longcheng. At that time, I had just taken office as the commander of Longcheng. I drowned and fell into a coma. I woke up in the middle of the night. I was in a foreign land, all alone."

"Underground Palace? Where is this?"

He kept his pace and continued to tell the story: "In the Donglin Temple on Dagu Mountain, there are paintings of Buddha's previous lives on each of the four walls. In the center is a lotus stone seat. An old monk once passed away there, and now there is a mad monk chanting sutras."

"Oh……"

Pei Shisan Niang nodded as if she understood...but actually she didn't understand.

However, when she saw the young man, who was not interested in sex, finally started talking about sex, she immediately said:
"Sir, what did you do in your dream when you went to the underground palace? Was it about their first meeting? Did Miss Xiu Niang say...write anything in your dream?"

Ouyang Rong rubbed his face and murmured:

"I woke up in the underground palace. She and Taoist Sun didn't say anything. They turned around and walked into the northern mural."

Pei Shisanniang was puzzled: "Walk into the mural?"

“Well, I didn’t expect that Yunmeng Jianze was behind the mural. I followed him in.”

She asked curiously: "And then?"

“Then I woke up.”

Pei Shisan Niang was speechless.

Ouyang Rong turned around, smiled at her and said:
"I've never been there, so of course I don't know what Jianze looks like. How could I possibly dream about it?"

Pei Shisan Niang nodded suddenly:

"That's true. If you think about something during the day, you will dream about it at night. Even if you dream about something you have never seen, you cannot get close to it."

"Ah."

Ouyang Rong looked at the morning sun rising slowly behind the courtyard wall. He was lost in thought for a moment, then suddenly stood up and said towards the rising sun:
"I want to go to the underground palace."

Pei Shisan Niang subconsciously asked: "When will you leave, young master?"

The golden sunlight fell on his face, not hot or dazzling, but Ouyang Rong lowered his eyes slightly:
"Wait until Wei Lai, Khufu and the others are gone."

As if remembering something, he asked without turning his head:

"Where are Master Shandao and his disciples? Are they still in Xunyang Grottoes?"

After Pei Shisanniang sent Zhen Shuyuan to Nanlong, Ouyang Rong handed over all the affairs of Xunyang Grottoes that Wang Caozhi had originally managed to her.

Pei Shisan Niang was responsible for contacting the staff left behind by Wang Caozhi and other cooperating grain merchants.

The matter of Donglin Temple obtaining the right to use the main cave was also handed over to Pei Shisan Niang.

The beautiful woman immediately replied:
"The master returned to Dragon City the day before yesterday, leaving a few disciples to guard the main cave and prepare for the follow-up matters."

She suddenly remembered something and stood up:

"Oh, Master, before Master Shandao left, he asked me to ask you that there will be a lantern festival in the temple during the Mid-Autumn Festival. You hosted it a few years ago when you were the magistrate of Longcheng. The master wanted to ask if you are free to come and enjoy the festival with the people."

Ouyang Rong did not turn around. He patted the dust off his palms and the hem of his clothes. After a moment of silence, he spoke:

"Shisan Niang replied for me, saying that after I finish my work and send off the Luoyang envoy, I will go to Donglin Temple to recuperate and may preside over the Lantern Festival.

"You can add one more thing, tell the temple and the county not to make a big fuss about my presence, and don't prepare any luxurious vegetarian halls. I have a place to live."

Pei Shisan Niang nodded immediately:

"Yes, son."

She said cautiously:

"It would be better for you to take a rest, sir. So many things have happened this year, and you have been too exhausted. Even a strong body needs a rest.

"It just so happens that the Buddha incident has come to an end, the prince is doing well, the court has made its attitude clear, and there is no war on the southwest front... How long do you plan to go to Dragon City to relax and recuperate?"

"It depends on the situation. If anything happens, I will come back."

Pei Shisanniang smiled:
"Okay, Dragon City is close anyway, so it's convenient for us to come back. Sir, I will go with you..."

"Thirteenth Lady."

Ouyang Rong interrupted her, turned around, and patted her shoulders covered with purple and gold silk:

"You stay with Liu Lang and assist him. Liu Lang will be in charge of the affairs of Jiangzhou Hall. As for other matters in the city, I will feel at ease if you help to keep an eye on them."

"M-Sir!"

Pei Shisan Niang remembered the last time the young master patted her on the shoulder. It seemed that the young master recognized and accepted her. Her face flushed a little, and her tone was full of excitement that she could not hide.

The beautiful woman crossed her arms, tightened the shawl around her shoulders, and nodded heavily:

"I will obey you."

Ouyang Rong asked in a gentle voice: "Shisan Niang, do you have anything else to ask?"

"Well, there are some."

Pei Shisanniang said sincerely:

"Sir, I will send people to keep looking for news from all over Jiangnan. If I catch any news about Yunmeng Jianze or Yuenu, I will send someone to Donglin Temple to report to you immediately."

Ouyang Rong was stunned for a moment and uttered "hmm".

One more thing to add:
"Then it's hard work for you."

"As I should. I miss Xiu Niang too..."

Pei Shisan Niang seemed to be afraid to talk about this sad thing and immediately changed the subject:

"Li Yu and Fang Yiwu came to me these past two days, saying they wanted to see you, young master."

"Got it. Let them come to Jiangzhou Hall to find me in the morning."

Pei Shisan Niang whispered, "Sir, judging from their intentions, they seem to want to follow you."

Ouyang Rong pondered, "It just so happens that they are also doing business. Let them follow you first. You can arrange it and try it out first. Li Yu doesn't need to doubt it and can use it directly. As for Fang Yiwu, you can test it and you can check it for me."

Pei Shisan Niang covered her mouth and smiled:

"Don't worry, Master, leave it to me. By the way, there is also the matter of the Ice Drinking Room. The ice-making recipe was given to me by Master. You have the largest share and are the largest owner. We will share the profits accordingly. I plan to expand the business of the Ice Drinking Room and open it to various prefectures in Jiangnan Road, but I will not use Master's name unless someone makes things difficult for me.

"Besides that, I wonder if you have any explanation."

Ouyang Rong waved his hand:
"Okay, it's up to you. Make your own decision."

"Oh, and there's also the matter of the Xunyang Grottoes."

Pei Shisanniang held up her palm and counted a few fingers, listing them like the back of her hand:
"My lord, you have handed over all the stalls that my brother left behind to me. I visited all the grottoes on the north bank of Shuangfeng Peak a few days ago and have a general idea of ​​what's going on. I feel that the kind of business that Master Shandao and his people are doing has great potential.

"I have made some small achievements in the past few days, but my knowledge is shallow. I don't know if you are satisfied. I hope you can give me some advice..."

Ouyang Rong heard the beautiful woman's modest and cautious tone and thought she was cautiously asking for an early exemption, so he interrupted her casually:
“No need, Shisan Niang, just go ahead and do it. Just don’t lose too much money. Just remember one thing.

"The Xunyang Grottoes are a century-long project for the city of Xunyang. They were not completed overnight, nor can they be filled by the Buddhist temples and Taoist temples in Xunyang. What is important is the Taoist principles of various sects in the world and the stone carving techniques that embody them...

"These things that embrace all rivers and seas are the treasures that can be passed on to future generations. They are the true millennium cultural heritage and the 'Buddha' that should be enshrined in the grottoes.

"In this matter, gains and losses are only temporary and not worth mentioning."

Pei Shisanniang, who was originally preparing to discuss in detail and ask for advice, was stunned by what she heard.

Ouyang Rong noticed that the beautiful woman in front of him was staring at him absentmindedly, and asked back:
"What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"No, it's okay."

Pei Shisan Niang looked away, lowered her head and swallowed silently.

She spoke in a low voice, her tone somewhat complicated.

"Young Master is truly far-sighted and has a broad mind."

The beautiful woman's downcast eyes could not hide her admiration and respect:
"I used to think these words were just flattery from our ancestors, but now I know that they are prepared for men like you, and they can really be used. It is said that those who plan for eternity are not worthy of planning for the moment. It is true, and my young master is like this."

Ouyang Rong was a little embarrassed, he adjusted his hairpin and asked softly:
"Well, okay, is there anything else?"

Pei Shisan Niang shook her head.

Ouyang Rong stepped out of the door.

"Son!"

Pei Shisanniang's cry suddenly came from behind.

"uh-huh?"

Ouyang Rong stopped and waited with some doubt.

Before he could turn around, Pei Shisanniang's teasing voice came:
"If you are restless and can't sleep, use Suanzaoren Decoction. You often say that."

"..."

The young man in Confucian robes strode out, waved his hand from behind, and cursed with a smile:
"Get lost."

……

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(End of this chapter)