No, gentlemen also guard against

Chapter 836: Grandfather’s Kindness and Grandson’s Filial Piety
The sound of cicadas weaves their webs among the locust leaves, trapping the wispy summer heat.

The summer is warm.

On the threshold of the lobby, Ouyang Rong touched the pipa on his knees.

It was a little hot from the sun, and it didn't bounce much.

The quiet courtyard has been empty for a long time. Recently, a black cat came and visited from time to time. I don’t know which family the cat was lost from.

The black cat must have regarded this quiet courtyard as its own territory. When they first met, it was walking on the wall with elegant cat steps, and its brown eyes with a hint of green reflected Ouyang Rong, who came with the pipa today, with a certain vigilance.

I don't know whether I felt that this "uninvited" young man in scholar's robes was gentle and kind, or that the poor pipa playing he just played made me a little sleepy.

The black cat was lazily lying on the east wall behind the swing, with its eyelids drooping. It didn't enter the yard, but it wasn't afraid of people either.

It was separated from Ouyang Rong, who was sitting on the western threshold, by a courtyard.

Before Yan Liulang came, the man and the cat lived in peace.

"Mingsir, the person coming from Luoyang is Hu Fu, the envoy. In addition, he whispered that he also brought a letter from Miss Xie."

Yan Liulang has a loud voice.

The black cat that was napping on the wall was startled, and a string of plum blossom marks were instantly left on the green tiles.

Yan Liulang ignored the little wild cat and looked at Ouyang Rong expectantly:
"Is it the Hu envoy that Ming Fu has been waiting for these days? Do you know that Luoyang will send someone?"

Ouyang Rong did not answer, but just asked:
"Where is the Huzhong envoy?"

"In the lobby of Jiangzhou, Yuan Changshi is entertaining us. Sir, the arrival of Hu Zhongshi this time should be good news. He looks so happy. The colleagues in the office are all very excited. We are happy for you. It seems that there was no punishment for the incident at Shuangfeng Peak last time."

Ouyang Rong patted his butt, stood up, holding the pipa, passed by Yan Liulang, and walked out of the yard.

"Let's go back to Jiangzhou Hall."

"Yes, Mingfu."

Yan Liulang was just about to turn around and follow.

"Longling--Longling--"

The young man in Confucian robes walking in front suddenly turned around and looked back at the courtyard.

Yan Liulang was stunned, then he realized that this was a special and familiar sound.

However, when they looked back, they found an ice-white jade hairpin lying on the stone table. The black cat that had just escaped returned again, as if it saw Ouyang Rong and Yan Liulang leaving and was preparing to move in again. It jumped onto the table and used its claws to randomly stroke the ice-white jade hairpin.

"Go, go, go, stay aside."

Yan Liulang noticed that Mingfu's eyes behind him dimmed slightly, so he immediately stepped forward with a stern face and drove away the black cat.

Ouyang Rong waved his hand:

"It's okay, let it stay, it will be more lively."

He walked over silently, took the ice-white jade hairpin, turned around and left.

Yan Liulang glanced at Ouyang Rong's back and followed him obediently.

The two of them left the quiet courtyard together and got on the carriage.

On the way, Yan Liulang tried to find a topic to liven up the atmosphere:
"Mingfu, where is the big white fish? Why can't I see it?"

Ouyang Rong had taken off the wooden hairpin on his head and inserted the ice-white jade hairpin left by his mother into his hair to fix his Confucian cap.

He was looking down at a compass that was hanging around his waist, worn together with the jade pendant from the academy that Xie Lingjiang had given him.

Hearing this, he put down the compass, smiled and said:
"The black cat is here, so I told it to go away and not show up. It should still be wandering around Xingzi Lake. There are fewer people at night, so it will come back."

Yan Liulang said subconsciously:
"Are you afraid that it will float in the air and scare black cats and pedestrians?"

Ouyang Rong shook his head seriously:

"No, I'm afraid it will be scared."

Yan Liulang was speechless.

Ouyang Rong was not lying. Although the white sturgeon was magical, it was a little timid. It was usually afraid of meeting strangers and just liked to follow him.

Ouyang Rong finally figured out its nature.

It is said that he appears and disappears mysteriously.

But sometimes there are too many people around, so it hides and comes out again at night when there is no one around.

Such a coward.

If Ouyang Rong had not occasionally seen the remnants of the defeated troops of the Shuangfengjian battle such as Yi Qianqiu, he would have almost forgotten that the mythical white dragon that was the culprit was actually transformed from this white sturgeon.

It's such an embarrassment to the dragon species.

Ouyang Rong shook his head.

"By the way, is there any news about Taoist Master Zhang?"

"not yet."

Ouyang Rong touched the compass, which was responding faintly, and muttered, "It should be soon."

Yan Liulang drove the carriage back to Jiangzhou Hall. On the way, he saw Ming Fu staring at the compass in a daze and sighed softly.

"Don't worry, Master Ming. The Longhu Mountain behind Taoist Zhang is very powerful. Maybe they will bring news about Yunmeng Jianze tomorrow."

"Uh-huh."

Half an hour later, we returned to Jiangzhou lobby.

Ouyang Rong prepared to go to the main hall to meet Khufu.

Halfway through the walk, he suddenly turned back.

At the door, there was a young Taoist priest standing. He seemed to have come from afar, but was stopped outside by the yamen runners.

"Daozhang Zhang."

"Governor Ouyang."

Zhang Shixiu said helplessly to the yamen runners:
"I will just say that I know your governor."

Ouyang Rong did not go to the main hall for the time being, and immediately took Zhang Shixiu to the side hall...

After one stick of incense, in the main hall.

Yi Qianqiu felt relieved and stayed with Yuan Huaimin beside Khufu.

"Envoy Hu, what do people in Luoyang say?"

Khufu smiled without saying anything and put down his teacup:

"Wait for Governor Ouyang to come."

Yi Qianqiu had no choice but to hold it back for the time being.

She looked at Yan Liulang who was standing at the door, wondering why Ouyang Rong hadn't come yet.

Just then, Ouyang Rong appeared on the corridor.

"Governor Ouyang, you are finally here. We missed you so much."

Hu Fu, who had been drinking tea calmly, suddenly stood up. He reacted faster than Yi Qianqiu next to him. He rushed out, came to Ouyang Rong, and immediately grabbed his hand.

Yi Qianqiu and Yuan Huaimin were both stunned.

Ouyang Rong, who was thinking about something with his head down, seemed to have not expected Khufu to be so corny. He was also stunned.

However, he reacted quickly and dodged Khufu's grabbing hand, allowing the latter to grab his sleeve only.

But it still feels weird.

Although Ouyang Rong knew that this kind of hand-holding ceremony was very popular in the divine capital Luoyang, he didn't know where it came from. Generally, when classmates or close teachers were excited and happy, they would hold hands or grab sleeves to show their care and closeness.

But Ouyang Rong still couldn't bring himself to do it.

"Envoy Hu has been waiting for a long time."

"Just wait a minute, just wait a minute. But was Governor Ouyang busy with something urgent just now? It seems that Captain Yan who went to look for you has returned."

Ouyang Rong nodded, a little embarrassed:
"It was an urgent matter. I have already dealt with it. Please do not blame me, Hu Zhongshi."

Khufu smiled and said:

"It's okay, it's okay. We understand. You talented people tend to forget things."

Yi Qianqiu, Yuan Huaimin and others couldn't help but look at Khufu.

Logically, Hu Fu was the envoy from Luoyang, the emperor's messenger, and the local officials should have curryed favor with him and become familiar with him.

But when it comes to Ouyang Lianghan, it seems like the situation is the opposite.

If you don’t know, you might think Ouyang Lianghan is the messenger sent by the emperor.

"What is the purpose of the Hu envoy's visit?"

"Ahem, it's not a big deal. By the way, here is the order from the Saint. Governor Ouyang, Chief Clerk Yuan, and Commander Yi should accept it!"

Everyone received the order in front of the hall according to etiquette.

Khufu read out the decree.

The content was simple after all, but it was beyond the expectations of everyone except Ouyang Rong.

First of all, regarding the battle at Shuangfeng Peak, he did not blame everyone, but just asked them to continue to stick to their posts and continue to count the casualties according to regulations. Other than that, they were to stay on standby and await subsequent dispatch.

However, the imperial edict ordered the Jiangnan government, including the Jiangzhou Hall, to issue a comprehensive manhunt for Yunmeng Jianze and not to let any Yue woman go.

This was a complete fall-out, and it was the harshest wording the court had ever used against the Jianghu. It was like two parties fighting, and the one who got hurt threatened in front of all the younger brothers: "Remember this, don't leave after school if you dare."

As for Yi Qianqiu, the commander of the White Tiger Guard, and Miao Zhen, the female official in colorful clothes, the imperial edict only asked them to hand over the matters at hand to the Jiangzhou Hall, and then set off back to the capital and return to their original posts.

It's a flat adjustment, no increase or decrease.

Even so, Yi Qianqiu felt relieved.

Yuan Huaimin turned his head to look at his cousin who had a look of delight in her eyes, and sighed.

He knew that Qiu Niang didn't care about her personal honor or disgrace, but was worried about dragging down the Jingzhao Yuan clan. Although she had changed her surname long ago and had been out in the public eye, the court tacitly accepted that she was tied to the Jingzhao Yuan clan. If one day, the nine clans were exterminated, they would also go to the Jingzhao Yuan clan to claim their heads...

In fact, judging from Khufu's attitude after his arrival, this imperial edict was not bad news.

The reason why most people were surprised was because of the content behind the imperial edict.

The sage rejected Ouyang Lianghan's request to dismiss his posts as acting governor of Jiangzhou and scholar of Xiuwenguan.

The general meaning is that the responsibility for the Battle of Shuangfeng Peak was not his, and he and the Jiangzhou government had done their best.

He did not allow Ouyang Lianghan to resign, and encouraged him to continue to stick to his post and finish off the aftermath in Xunyang City first.

Later, if the court finds a suitable candidate for governor and is able to take over, he will be transferred back to the Xiuwenguan in the capital depending on the situation.

Anyway, the general attitude is to comfort and encourage, without any intention of blaming.

Yi Qianqiu and Yuan Huaimin looked at Ouyang Rong in surprise.
They never expected that the memorial Ouyang Rong had submitted earlier was to take all the responsibility on himself and resign from his post to apologize.

I’ve seen people taking the blame in the past, but I’ve never seen a senior leader take the blame on his own initiative.

Yi Qianqiu looked at Ouyang Rong with a complicated look, and a hint of shame... She lowered her head silently.

Yuan Huaimin saw this and sighed, complaining to Ouyang Rong:

"Why didn't Liang Han discuss his resignation with us? What if the court really agrees?"

Ouyang Rong shook his head and said seriously: "I really want to quit."

Everyone was speechless and couldn't understand, so they started to try to persuade him.

"Okay, let's talk to Governor Ouyang."

Khufu dismissed everyone and pulled Ouyang Rong aside.

Ouyang Rong saw that the bearded eunuch was in good spirits and full of energy.

"Governor Ouyang, do you know the current situation in Luoyang?"

he asked beamingly.

Ouyang Rong said softly: "Master, please tell me."

Khufu lowered his voice:

"The prince and his family have already entered the palace and are serving the saint. The whole family lives in the palace. The saint especially likes the little princess and always brings her to court meetings. Everyone says that this is a relationship between generations..."

Khufu told the story slowly.

Ouyang Rong's reaction was indifferent, he just said "Oh".

This time it was Khufu's turn to be stunned.

"It seems that Governor Ouyang has already guessed it..."

Ouyang Rong was silent.

Khufu looked around, covered his mouth with his hands, and muttered quietly:
"Governor Ouyang, if I'm not mistaken, you were the one who planned the prince's visit to the capital this time?"

Ouyang Rong looked at him and changed the subject:
"Does Envoy Hu have anything else to say? I'll have someone arrange a courtyard. How about the courtyard where you stayed last time?"

Khufu was scratching his head:
"Ouyang Governor, Governor, Junior Scholar, I beg you, please tell me, is this true or not? Oh, why keep it a secret? Everyone knows that you are the squire of Xunyang Palace.

"Tell me quickly, how did you please the Saint this time? How did things go so smoothly? When we heard that the prince was returning to the capital, we were worried. Was it too hasty? We thought it was hanging...

"As a result, the next day, the Saint had the Yinglong Gate of the Imperial Palace opened and allowed the prince to enter the palace openly, instead of sneaking in the middle of the night. I heard that the Saint even brought the prince and the crown prince to meet the Master..."

Ouyang Rong listened silently and said without comment:
"Your Highness should have reported to the Saint when he returned to the capital. The prince's palace was burned down by rebels and his life is in danger. He returned to the capital to seek refuge."

Khufu was speechless and felt even more itchy:
"How can Governor Ouyang treat me like a three-year-old child? Although I don't know why the saint is so happy, it is definitely not as simple as it seems. Others may not know it, but I know how much the prince listens to you on major matters..."

Ouyang Rong glanced at the bearded eunuch's curious expression.

From this perspective, the matter of presenting the Ding Sword has not been spread yet, and the outside world probably doesn't know about it.

At least before Hu Fu received the order and left the capital, no one in Luoyang knew about it...

However, the announcement of the Ding Sword is only a matter of time, but it is amazing that the saint can wait so patiently.

There should be undercurrents in Luoyang right now. The sudden return of Prince Xunyang and his family to the capital will upset the balance of the Li-Wei dispute, especially since they brought a Ding sword with them...

Ouyang Rong remembered something and asked curiously:
"By the way, what does Hu Zhongshi mean by grandparents?"

Khufu said casually:
"The little princess presented the saint with a night-shining pearl, and the saint was very pleased. At the suggestion of the little princess, the saint put it on his crown and took it to court... It is truly a deep love between grandparents and grandchildren, and a loving father and filial son."

Ouyang Rong:......

"Why does Governor Ouyang have such an expression and why is he silent?"

"No, it's okay."

Khufu sighed, not knowing what he was thinking:
"So, people are always changing, and no one knows when they will rise to the top. Most people in the court love to curry favor with the powerful, but they don't know how to look at the big picture.

"Just like this little princess, when I first saw her in Xunyang, I guessed that the Saint would like her because she looks so much like the Saint when he was young. Governor Ouyang, you see, this time when they come to the capital, the grandparents are here. Now the palace people are discussing what title the Saint will give to the princess. According to the titles of princesses in this dynasty, for example, the new title of Princess Changle should have the word 'le' in it..."

"Yes Yes Yes."

After hearing the previous words, Ouyang Rong had nothing to say and just nodded.

(End of this chapter)