No, gentlemen also guard against

Chapter 844 Still holding the pipa, half-hiding the face

"Mr. Yu?"

The lights on the pleasure boat were on, but it was not completely docked.

Yuan Huaimin stood on the shore and tried to shout.

The pleasure boat remained motionless, and the sound of the pipa continued.

Ouyang Rong came with Hu Fu and others, stopped beside Yuan Huaimin, and stared at the pleasure boat.

There is no doubt that the sound of the pipa comes from this pleasure boat.

Yuan Huaimin and Ouyang Rong looked at each other and continued to shout:

"Is that you, Mr. Yu?"

Until the second sound, the sound of the piano in the houseboat paused for a moment.

An old boatman walked out of the pleasure boat and looked at the people on the shore.

Yuan Huaimin showed his delight:
"Old man, can you please stop for a while? I heard the sound of the pipa. The owner of the boat may be an old friend of mine. Can you let me visit him?"

The old boatman seemed to glance at him, turned quickly and returned to the pleasure boat.

Yuan Huaimin turned around and smiled at everyone.

After only three breaths, the pleasure boat started to move.

It sailed away from the shore, farther and farther away, as if avoiding everyone.

At the same time, the sound of the pipa stopped completely.

Yuan Huaimin: ...

"Cough cough."

Yuan Huaimin covered his mouth and coughed, then gritted his teeth and did not turn back to look at Ouyang Rong and the others.

He continued confidently:
"Who is on the boat? May I come over and see you? I am Yuan Huaimin, the governor of Jiangzhou. You may have heard of my name."

The pleasure boat paused for a moment.

Behind the pearl curtain at the entrance of the pleasure boat, a figure holding a pipa seemed to slow down.

Yuan Huaimin saw it and immediately said:
"I am not a bad person, I just like the sound of the pipa played by my old friend..."

The originally stopped pleasure boat started moving again.

This time, he drove away at high speed.

Ouyang Rong, Yi Qianqiu and others silently turned their heads to look at Yuan Huaimin.

Yuan Huaimin: ...

His old face turned red, and veins popped out in anxiety:

"No, you..."

The next moment, Yuan Huaimin was stopped by Ouyang Rong.

Ouyang Rong brushed aside his friend with a red neck, walked forward, clasped his fists towards Hua Fang, and said loudly:
"I am sorry to bother you so late at night, but the sound of your pipa is indeed very similar to that of an old friend of mine, and the pipa music seems to be composed by him. I am Ouyang Lianghan, and I wonder if you would be so kind as to meet me and help me solve my doubts."

The pleasure boat slowly stopped.

This time, a timid and soft female voice came from the pleasure boat.

Ouyang Rong felt unfamiliar with the sound.

"Ouyang... Lianghan? Excuse me, are you the current Sima of Jiangzhou and the acting governor, Ouyang Lianghan? Is that the young master?"

Ouyang Rong stood on the shore, clasped his fists, and saluted solemnly: "It is me."

The owner of the timid female voice hesitated for a moment, turned her head, and spoke to the old boatman:
"Old man, take the distinguished guest aboard."

Ouyang Rong breathed a sigh of relief, walked forward and waited for the boat to stop.

His eyes fell on the silhouette of the woman holding a pipa in the pleasure boat, and his eyes were somewhat thoughtful.

This is indeed the sound of Mr. Yu’s pipa, and it is the pipa version of the Lotus Boat Song. What is the relationship between this woman and Mr. Yu, and why does she know the [Emperor Wen] sword technique?

Behind, Yuan Huaimin followed with a sad look on his face.

Being double-standard, he kept muttering:
"Liang Han, the position of the Chief Secretary of Jiangzhou is not low, at least a fifth-rank official. Wearing a red robe, these people are really ignorant..."

Yi Qianqiu seemed to be amused and patted Yuan Huaimin's shoulder heavily:

"The official position is not low, but it depends on the person and who holds it."

Yuan Huaimin's face turned red and he argued, "What's wrong with me? I haven't done anything to bully men or women. I just went to work a little later and came back early every day... That was in the past. It's not like that now." Then he used difficult words like "prejudice in people's hearts" and "a huge mountain", which made everyone laugh.

While waiting for the boat on the shore, Miao Zhen suddenly spoke to Ouyang Rong:
"According to the Si Tian Jian, Mr. Yu really has no relatives. He has lived in the palace for half his life and has never married."

Ouyang Rong nodded lightly.

"Ah."

Mr. Hu didn't know any Mr. Yu.

But seeing the serious expressions on everyone's faces, and thinking about what Miaozhen said and the sound of the pipa, he seemed to remember the rumors about some important figures in the palace, and his face became solemn.

Khufu turned around and told the palace servants: "Let the boat wait for a while, don't rush to leave."

"Yes, father-in-law."

While everyone was whispering, the pleasure boat pushed aside the waves of the river and docked at the riverside.

Ouyang Rong and Yuan Huaimin were the first to board the ship.

Hu Fu, Yi Qianqiu, Miao Zhen, Yan Liulang, and Pei Shisan Niang followed closely behind.

The pleasure boat was quite large and could accommodate about ten people. The entrance was blocked by a double layer of gauze and a bead curtain, so the sound of the pipa could be easily heard.

And judging from the decoration, it also has the taste of a girl.

After Ouyang Rong and his companions entered the pleasure boat, the person they saw was indeed a plump woman.

She was holding a pipa in her arms, which covered half of her face, so her full appearance could not be seen clearly.

Ouyang Rong took a few glances and saw that the woman playing the Pipa was wearing a royal blue silk dress. Her clothes were not as luxurious as Pei Shisan Niang's, but she was also considered wealthy.

The houseboat was empty except for her, and there was a maidservant pouring tea. The maidservant lowered her brows, had a bitter look on her face, and knelt on the carpet, silently pouring tea for the guests.

When everyone came in, the Pipa Woman was holding a long pipa horizontally, covering half of her face, sitting on the south side of the pleasure boat with her back against the river.

The eyes that peeked out from behind the Pipa timidly looked at Ouyang Rong and his group.

In front of her was the only lamp on the pleasure boat, and its orange light lengthened the silhouette of the woman playing the pipa on the wall behind her.

Coupled with the thin and drowsy maid next to her.

This scene is lonely and a bit desolate.

While Ouyang Rong was observing, he had already sat down. As soon as he sat down, the Pipa Lady couldn't wait to ask:
"Are you really Ouyang Lianghan?"

Ouyang Rong nodded gently:
"It is me, and I have the seal to prove it."

The Pipa Lady waved her hand, politely refusing the seal he handed over, and said:
"No need. In Xunyang City, no one dares to impersonate that young master."

Ouyang Rong was stunned for a moment. The Pipa Lady looked him up and down and said with a sad smile:

"It's fate, it's really fate."

Ouyang Rong asked sharply: "What is fate?"

The woman playing the Pipa lowered her head in silence and wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

Before she could say a few words, the woman began to sob for unknown reasons.

Ouyang Rong was a little at a loss.

As men, Hu, Yuan, Yan and others understood almost immediately and subconsciously looked at Ouyang Rong, as if asking if he was a heartless man.

Ouyang Rong took the handkerchief from Shisan Niang and immediately handed it over, feeling somewhat amused:
"Madam, why are you crying? Did I scare you?"

The Pipa Lady sniffed and shook her head.

"No, I am just happy to see you, young master. I won't mention my name, my husband's surname is Luo, you can call me Luo."

Ouyang Rong nodded, his eyes fell on the pipa in her arms, and asked in a gentle voice:

"Who taught Luo Niang how to play the pipa?" Luo Niang asked with a look of reminiscence:
"I learned it at Luoyang Qufang. I once worked at the Jiaofang Division, so I know a little bit about pipa."

Ouyang Rong frowned slightly.

This is a bit far-fetched, but considering that the old musician came from Luoyang and spent half his life in Luoyang, it seems normal that he had some connections with the Luoyang Jiaofangsi.

He looked thoughtful.

Seeing this, Luo Niang suddenly asked:
"You want to ask about the pipa music, not just the pipa skills."

Ouyang Rong reacted and nodded immediately:

"Yes, who taught you this song?"

Luo Niang pointed to Xunyang City in the distance and said with a wry smile:
"At the beginning of the year, I was in Xunyang Tower, following Master Qin, and we consulted an old gentleman. The old gentleman was very generous and taught me this pipa piece and some qin pieces. I learned it at that time."

Ouyang Rong was stunned.

Suddenly I remembered that the old musician went to Xunyang Tower to listen to the pipa. It seemed that he later gathered some young ladies who were good at music in the city and the pipa master Miss Qin to hold a pipa dinner and discuss pipa skills.

However, at that time, Ouyang Rong and Rong Zhen both thought that the [Emperor Wen] sword technique was a piano piece, and did not pay much attention to the sound of the pipa. Even the old musician did not understand it at first and had to ask Miss Qin for advice, not to mention them who could not even play the piano piece clearly.

Instead, the two of them were slacking off on the rooftop of Xunyang Tower, whispering a lot of things that "colleagues shouldn't have."

Ouyang Rong suddenly asked:
"Did Mr. Yu teach you alone? Did he tell you anything? Did you stay here tonight to listen to him?"

"neither."

Luo Niang shook her head:
"I didn't tell you anything, nor did I ask you to stay here. I stayed by the river today to wait for my husband's family. They do some tea business in Xunyang City, and they didn't return home during the curfew...

"As for this pipa piece, the old gentleman said at the time that he was a master of his craft and that meeting was fate, so he taught it to us. However, there probably weren't many girls who learned it on the spot, because the old gentleman only played it once improvised and then changed the piece. I guess apart from Mr. Qin, few people learned it at the time."

Feeling Ouyang Rong's burning gaze, Luo Niang bent her neck, hugged the pipa tightly in her arms, and whispered:
"I was able to learn it, not only because I am quite good at playing the pipa, but also because I was feeling a little depressed and disappointed at the time. When I first heard this song, I felt even more melancholy. The sound of the song was so memorable that I wrote it down, and by chance I was able to learn it."

Ouyang Rong suddenly remembered the pipa that he had forgotten in the study of Yinbingzhai.

As parting gifts, the old musician gave Rong Zhen a wooden harp and a wooden pipa.

At that time, I thought it was just the so-called "harmony between the harp and the zither".

Ouyang Rong took a deep breath.

Before the Battle of Xunyang, the Lotus Boat Tune, which had always been missing from the seven-character quatrain and piano music, was unexpectedly passed on to these young pipa players casually by the old musician.

There is also the name Lianzhouqu.

"Lotus Boat...Lotus Boat...It is indeed Lotus Boat. Is it a coincidence or intentional? Or...is it really fate..."

He looked around the pleasure boat in a daze.

A mysterious sense of fate lingered in his heart, and it was impossible to cut it off or sort it out.

As Luo Niang and the others looked at him sideways, the young man in scholarly robes suddenly smiled and said loudly:

"It's fate. I can play this song a little bit, but... Madam's song seems to be more complete and exquisite. Madam, can you play this song again for me in its entirety?"

Luo Niang was stunned for a moment, then nodded slightly:

"Of course. Wait a moment, young master. I'll tune up my pipa. I was so excited when I saw you on board that the plectrum dropped to the ground."

As she spoke, she bent down to pick up the pipa plectrum, tuned the pipa, and prepared to play another song.

Ouyang Rong turned around and ordered:
"Shisan Niang, go prepare some dishes and set up a table of wine so that everyone can rest in the boat."

"Yes, son."

Pei Shisan Niang immediately got off the boat and bought some wine and food.

Ouyang Rong stood up and prepared to move closer.

Hu Fu suddenly reached out to stop Ouyang Rong and asked Luo Niang seriously:

"Wait, Madam said she used to work at Luoyang Jiaofangsi, so now she should be on land and a married woman, right?"

His tone was somewhat impolite.

The Pipa lady was not angry, she nodded slightly:

"Yes, I am already a married woman."

Khufu frowned and asked:
"Then why did you go to a place like Xunyang Tower at the beginning of the year? We know that it is a place of romance and love. You already have a family, so going there would be unfaithful to your husband."

At the side, where no one could see, Yi Qianqiu heard what was said, reached out his hand with a cold face, and pinched Yuan Huaimin's waist, causing the latter to gasp.

Luo Niang was not angry. She turned to look at Ouyang Rong and stared at him silently for a while.

Everyone was puzzled as to why they were looking at Ouyang Lianghan for no reason.

Without waiting for Ouyang Rong to speak, the Pipa Lady whispered:
"Because of you, my little sir."

"Because I'm down there?"

Ouyang Rong was also a little surprised, and pointed to his face to confirm.

Luo Niang chuckled and said:
"At the beginning of the year, my husband's family came to Xunyang to do business. I heard that you were going to host a Pipa party at Xunyang Tower, so I asked for your permission and went there to meet you. Unfortunately, perhaps because of my humble fate, I didn't even get to see you at the party."

She stroked the pipa and sighed:
"Instead, I learned some very beneficial pipa music from a respectable old gentleman."

This time, not only Hu Fu, Yuan Huaimin and others, but even Ye Weilai and Pei Shisan Niang could not help but look at Ouyang Rong with inexplicable eyes.

Ouyang Rongqi asked:
"What do you want to see me for, Madam?"

After a pause, he subconsciously asked, "But is there any grievance that needs me to preside over it?"

Luo Niang shook her head and murmured:

"There is no injustice. How can there be injustice? It's all fate..."

Ouyang Rong asked seriously:

"Why is the lady so persistent in seeing me?"

Luo Niang's eyes showed some reminiscence, and she did not speak immediately.

At this time, Pei Shisan Niang returned with wine and food, brought her servants, and carried the boxes into the boat.

Soon, a table of wine and banquet was placed in front of everyone, and everyone sat down cross-legged.

Pei Shisan Niang sat down again next to Ouyang Rong and poured wine for him. Ouyang Rong took the wine jug from her hand, leaned forward, and poured a glass of wine for the woman playing the pipa opposite him.

Luo Niang held the wine pick in her hand but did not touch the wine glass.

She had been motionless, but at one moment, she suddenly waved her hand and pulled a pipa string, which was pulled up and bounced back.

"Zheng——!"

The sound of a resounding pipa echoed in the pleasure boat.

The clear and loud sound makes the river seem even quieter.

When everyone heard the sound, as if they had received the signal for the pipa music to begin, they quieted down and looked at Luo Niang.

The woman playing the pipa tightened the pipa axis, plucked the thin strings with a plectrum, and tried playing a few more notes in succession.

Although it had not yet become a melody, the sound of the pipa was already very emotional, moving everyone in the pleasure boat who were about to leave.

Especially Ye Weilai.

Ouyang Rong realized something and looked down, and found that the little girl's hand had unconsciously clenched his wrist, her fingertips turning white.

The sound of the pipa echoed in the boat, each string was sad and mournful, with a hint of grief, as if telling of some kind of frustration.

Luo Niang lowered her head and played the piano continuously.

The sound of the pipa alone seems to have expressed all the past events in my heart.

In addition, her melodious voice echoed in the ears of Ouyang Rong and everyone else:

"Speaking of which... the young master and I are old friends."

The young man in a Confucian robe paused with his glass of wine:

"Old... person?"

The woman holds a pipa in her arms, but her face is half-smiling:
"Old friend."

(End of this chapter)