As soon as Ouyang Rong opened his mouth to break the silence, he was interrupted gently by Rong Zhen.
At the same time, he also felt a jade hand that had grasped his thigh in a hurry tighten its grip.
Ouyang Rong looked back at the door and found that no one was there. He was slightly relieved and looked down. Rong Zhen looked back from the door like him.
He also breathed a sigh of relief.
After briefly looking at each other, Ouyang Rong bent down to help the person:
"The floor is slippery, be careful..."
Before he finished speaking, Rong Zhen suddenly let go of his hand, pushed his leg, and moved further away from him. At the same time, he turned his head and coldly ignored the palm he extended to help.
"You, carry it on your back." Rong Zhen lowered his head and whispered.
Ouyang Rong's condescending angle could only see her bangs covering her forehead, but could not see her specific expression.
He had no choice but to take back his hand, turned around and walked a few steps, turning his back to the cold and cold girl in palace clothes who was resting her elbows on the ground after losing his support.
Don't look at anything inappropriate.
After all...this lady history, who has always been aloof and dignified, fell to her knees in a very unsightly manner.
"Ms. Shi, please tell me." Ouyang Rong stared at the door and gave a warm reminder.
Behind him, Rong Zhen was silent.
After a while, Ouyang Rong heard the sound of soft rustling coming from behind, like the sound of clothes being smoothed, as well as the sound of moving footsteps and the sound of crutches hitting the floor.
He turned back tentatively and glanced out of the corner of his eye.
He found that Rong Zhen had already stood up and moved towards the table with his crutches. Looking from Ouyang Rong's perspective, he saw an expressionless face, a look of indifference and indifference.
Under the continuous gaze of him, an outsider, this cold and cold girl in palace clothes slightly raised her chin, just like she had done countless times before, she was strong and resolute in front of others, and the fall just now seemed as if it had never happened. If Ouyang Rong hadn't remembered it,
A rude cry.
"Okay, come here."
Rong Zhen walked to the table and glanced at someone who was stunned.
"good."
Ouyang Rong nodded quickly and stepped forward to take a seat.
He breathed a sigh of relief and couldn't help but smile.
It's not because of Rong Zhen's attitude.
But because after seeing the indecent and ugly behavior of this Rong Zhen female historian, she did not deduct any merit, which can be regarded as a blessing in misfortune.
As for the rest, I don't want to think about it.
Except for his junior sister and the embroidered mother-in-law who was somewhat owed, he usually didn't guess other women's thoughts. It was mainly a waste of time.
Rong Zhen stretched out his hand.
Ouyang Rong handed over the information report and sat at the table, pouring tea and waiting for her to read it.
After a while, Rong Zhen reported online.
She lowered her eyelashes, thought for a while, and asked a few questions.
Ouyang Rong answered fluently.
"What's going on over there at Donglin Buddha?" Rong Zhen changed the topic.
Ouyang Rong did not speak immediately, but took out a handkerchief from his arms. After opening it, several broken pieces of mung bean cake were revealed, and he handed it over.
"Thank you, no need." She shook her head, still staring at Ouyang Rong, not looking at the cakes.
So someone had to pick up a piece of mung bean cake by himself, put it in his mouth, and muttered:
"The visit to Xunyang Grottoes is going smoothly, but it may have to be postponed a little later."
Rong Zhen immediately said: "No!"
Ouyang Rong shook his head and nodded: "Actually, it's not postponed, it's as scheduled."
"What do you mean, please explain clearly."
"With the current manpower and material resources, if the current speed is maintained, it can be completed on time, but... it is the completion date originally issued by the court."
"Isn't that an extension? It's later than the date you told me before. So what is it if it's not an extension?"
"That's understandable."
Rong Zhen suppressed the look in his eyes and said coldly:
"Tell me the reason first."
Ouyang Rong lowered his eyes and looked at the tea cup:
“First of all, due to the material of the rock, the excavation of the grotto was more difficult than imagined.
"Secondly, there is a war on the front line now, and the logistics all fall on Jiangzhou Hall. Not long ago, the new Chinese Army Battalion Commander Shi ran back and negotiated with his subordinates to urgently allocate a manpower."
Speaking of this, Ouyang Rong shook his head:
"We have to help in this matter. The frontline war is also important. Now it seems that the redeployment of manpower has indeed produced results, and there is no place to blame.
“In addition, winter will begin soon. Based on the time it took for heavy snow to close the mountains after winter in previous years, even if we continue working as soon as the snow melts, we will have to stop for less than half a month, which is another loss of time.
"For all these reasons, the Donglin Giant Buddha is later than expected."
Rong Zhen first tightened his grip on the information in his hand, then loosened it again, keeping a calm tone:
"How late?"
"The details are still being calculated, and it is expected to take a few months. Jiangzhou Hall and the prince are planning the winter construction matters in the past two days."
"Have you reported the postponement to the court?"
"Well, not yet. I came today to discuss with the female historian in advance. I will prepare a letter to Luoyang with the prince in the next two days to explain the situation."
Rong Zhen stared into the eyes of Ouyang Rong, who was calm and composed, and pointed directly at the vital point:
"What should I do if His Majesty is angry?"
Ouyang Rong looked a little strange and asked curiously:
"Xiaguan did the math, and based on the worst-case scenario, the giant Buddha here in Jiangzhou will be completed the latest, and it will be completed faster than the Dazhou Songde Tianshu in Luoyang.
"And looking at the four states for statues, well, now it's three states. Over there in Yangzhou, I asked someone to ask, and the progress is almost the same as the completion date after the delay here, let alone Taiyuan, which has less financial and material resources than Yangzhou.
"
Ouyang Rong shook his head:
"Anyway, we in Jiangzhou are definitely not the last to complete the project, it's just not as fast as before. Why are Your Majesty and the princes of the court dissatisfied?"
Facing Ouyang Rong's confused look, Rong Zhen pursed his lips and remained silent, his eyes lowered, and his eyes fell on the crutches that seemed to be used by an old man.
This crutch was probably temporarily found by the imperial doctor, and it is rather old-fashioned.
Ouyang Rong also followed her gaze and landed on the crutch.
There was silence at the table.
Ouyang Rong couldn't help but speak first:
"Does the Donglin Buddha have any hidden secrets that the lower officials don't know about? Wasn't this Buddha built in conjunction with the Songde Tianshu of the Great Zhou Dynasty to promote Buddhism and pray for the fate of the country?"
Rong Zhen didn't look at him. He stood up again with his elbows on the table and declined Ouyang Rong's help with his hand.
She propped up the crutches and moved towards the bed slowly, while turning her back and saying:
"There is no reason. The sooner the better in Jiangzhou now. This is... your Majesty's ardent expectation, and it is also one of the reasons why I was specially sent here by your Majesty. You only need to know this.
"Ouyang Changshi, well, seeing that we have been getting along well recently, I would like to say a few words... If this matter can be done, it will mean that Jane is in the emperor's heart.
"Why did Guizhou Lan Changhao go crazy and spend all the state's money and manpower to build statues so quickly? Want to get the first prize before your other three states? Didn't someone enlighten him and know how to win that mighty holy grace?
"Now this opportunity is placed in front of Ouyang Changshi. I have said everything I can say. Stop asking and think about it yourself."
Ouyang Ronghu said:
"But the official is not Lan Changhao, and I heard that this brother's head is still hanging on the city gate of Guizhou."
"But you are more than a little bit better than Lan Changhao."
Rong Zhen frowned and interrupted. After a pause, she explained:
"That's why I have the patience to tell you these things now. I don't bother to talk to others."
Ouyang Rong responded calmly: "But the female historian still has something to say to me."
"What words?"
Rong Zhen turned a deaf ear, stopped, turned his back to Ouyang Rong and said:
"Think about it again. There are always more solutions than problems. I don't know much about statues. I only supervise the date and whether it is completed on time. Now that you are delayed, I have to take care of it. You can find your own solution."
Ouyang Rong tilted his head: "I'll do my best if I'm a low-ranking official."
"As much as possible?"
Rong Zhen turned around with some dissatisfaction, and his words became colder:
"It doesn't matter if the mountain is closed due to heavy snow. Everyone should work harder. Don't stop working and continue making statues."
Ouyang Rong's face became serious:
"Have you never been to the south of the Yangtze River before? Have you not? You may not know that the winter in the south is not as dry and cold as in the north. Instead, it is wet, cold, muddy, with snow and sleet. It is close to the river, the wind does not stop, and construction is forced during the snow period in winter.
When digging into the mountain wall, there will be fog in the mountains along the river bank in the morning... It is very dangerous anyway.
"This is not a waste of life and money. You can't escape the infamy. Even if the female historian wants to take the responsibility, Your Majesty and the imperial court will not be able to clean it up.
"Besides, when I was at the Temple of the Holy Master in Jiangzhou, I promised in public to the scholars of Jiangzhou and the people of the city that I would never make statues that wasted money or waste money. This was my promise.
"Anyway, as long as the lower officials are in office, they won't do this."
Ouyang Rong's tone was extremely firm.
Rong Zhen fell silent.
After a while, she looked out the window and looked at the scenery for a while. Her expression showed some dissatisfaction and she said:
"If the Buddha statue is built in the city and a standing statue is built, how can there be so many things? I have long wanted to say that Ouyang Changshi chose the twin peaks outside the city to build a stone Buddha statue. I heard that
We need to build many Buddha statues next to the Donglin Giant Buddha..."
Ouyang Rong interrupted:
"The Donglin Giant Buddha must be built first. The group of Buddha statues in the grottoes behind are just incidental. In order to share the cost, more money from rich people and temples will not affect the progress of the former. Besides, it is not spring that stands out. If the Xunyang Grottoes are completed,
, will be the masterpiece of Buddhist statue art from various sects in Jiangnan Buddhism, and can be passed down for thousands of years. Not to mention it is also a water conservancy project."
Rong Zhen frowned, looked back and said:
"But I have inquired about it and found that the statues in other states, including the Songde Center built in Luoyang, all built giant Buddhas in the city. This is simple and convenient. There is no need to worry about heavy snow closing the mountains in winter..."
Ouyang Rong shook his head:
"As you have seen, Ms. Shi, there is no place for statues in Xunyang City, so we can't demolish private houses. Right now, this is the best plan I can think of."
Rong Zhen looked directly into his eyes: "Some things have to be given and given."
Ouyang Rong was silent for a while, then pursed his lips: "Then give up some time and postpone it a little."
Rong Zhen looked worried and wanted to speak.
Ouyang Rong stood up, put his hands on the table, and said in a serious tone:
"The benefits of statues in the grottoes have been stated a hundred times. His Majesty and the imperial court have already agreed, so the construction started. Why is the female historian raising objections and complaining now?"
Rong Zhen's eyes turned up slightly, and he stared at his expression for a while without saying a word.
The two of them maintained this posture and were deadlocked for a while.
Until Rong Zhen sighed slightly, looked away, and took the lead in breaking the silence:
"I have almost rested in the past few days. Let's go and take a look first. Come here on time tomorrow morning and we will go out of the city together. We will wait until I go to Xunyang Grottoes to have a look before making any plans. Before that, you don't want to
Reveal any postponement news."
"good."
Ouyang Rong nodded. After the discussion, he turned around and left without any hesitation.
After a busy day in the Jiangzhou lobby, he returned to the Huaiye Lane mansion in the evening, grabbed a few bites of rice in the dining room, and then returned to the Yinbingzhai, seemingly getting busier.
This made Zhen Shuyuan and several other girls look at each other in confusion...
Early the next morning.
In the hospital ward, Rong Zhen finished dressing with the help of several personal female officers. She hobbled out with a pair of old-fashioned crutches and waited.
Not long after waiting, Ouyang Rong's figure arrived at the entrance of the courtyard on time.
Just as Rong Zhen was about to speak, he saw the panting Ouyang Rong hand over something.
She was slightly startled and lowered her head.
I saw that it was an emerald green cane, extremely brand new, made of bamboo, just like jasper.
This staff is more than five feet long. The bamboo body has been scraped, and the burrs on it have been carefully polished and polished. One end was even burned with fire, and the distance from the ground was covered with iron sheets.
Lightweight and durable, suitable for travel.
Obviously a lot of thought was put into it.
She looked at the handsome man in front of her and saw that the bags under his eyes were slightly heavy.
After Ouyang Rong handed over the jade bamboo stick, he took out a piece of flax cake bought from a street stall from his arms, took a bite and said casually:
"When we get to the peaks of the twin peaks later and have to hike the mountain road, try this pair. It turns out that the other pair is too high. Ms. Shi is so tall that it's awkward to use it and she will fall easily."
Rong Zhen silently stretched out his hand, took it, and touched the handle of the jade bamboo cane. It was smooth, round, strong and easy to use.
She tried this new bamboo stick and found that it was really easy to use and the height was just right. She walked a little faster while holding it on.
"Ms. Shi, why are you looking at what I'm doing? Are you hungry too? Doesn't the state medical office send breakfast to the patients... Well, I can only give you half. Your subordinates are also hungry. This half has never been touched.
"
After noticing Rong Zhen's gaze, Ouyang Rong painfully broke off half of the sesame cake and handed it out.
Rong Zhen did not accept the cake or speak. She looked away and walked in front first. Ouyang Rong found that she still had a cold face.
Ouyang Rong had no choice but to follow behind, but after a while, some familiar sounds suddenly sounded in his ears.
It was the small wooden fish in a certain quaint little pagoda that was forced to open its business early in the morning.
Merit plus one, merit plus one, merit plus one...
Ouyang Rong couldn't help but glance at the cold back of the cold girl in palace attire.
at this time.
"Ouyang Lianghan, don't submit your postponed memorial yet. King Xunyang also advised you to slow down and wait..."
Rong Zhen, who was walking in front, waved his hand without looking back.
Ouyang Rong was slightly stunned: "What does the female historian want us to wait for?"
Rong Zhen looked expressionless and didn't answer him.
Not long after, the two of them took a carriage and headed west out of the city, heading to the Twin Peaks to observe the Donglin Giant Buddha under construction...