Return to the Huaiye Lane mansion from Xunyang Prince's Mansion.
Ouyang Rong went to bed early.
A night of silence.
Ouyang Rong got up early to get dressed.
The sky outside the doors and windows is still dark gray.
"Why did Tanlang wake up so early today? You kept tossing and turning. Are you thinking about something?"
Ye Weilai was wearing a white nightgown, kneeling on the bed and tidying up the bedding, and asked in a strange tone.
"I went to bed early last night." Ouyang Rong whispered.
Ye Weilai walked over, half hugged his waist from behind, poked her face out from one side of Ouyang Rong's body, carefully looked at the reflection in the bronze mirror, and tied his belt carefully.
"Is Tanlang doing something important today?" She suddenly felt distressed and frowned: "Tanlang has lost weight, look at his belt."
Ouyang Rong didn't seem to hear or look at the gesture of her lace-up palm below, so he turned around and asked:
"Doesn't our family have the custom of celebrating the Winter Clothes Festival?"
"Winter Clothes Festival?" The white-haired maid was stunned and shook her head, "I guess it's because I didn't listen to the lady's instructions in advance."
"That's good. It's good to keep everything simple. It's good to keep everything simple."
Ouyang Rong rubbed his face and muttered to go out. He picked up a small bundle with two fingers and took away a certain Mohist sword box.
"Morning."
At the gate, he greeted Ali and boarded the long-awaited carriage with two items.
The carriage drove slowly. The deeper the autumn, the shorter the days and the longer the nights.
At the same time of travel, the sky outside the car was already bright in summer, but now it was gray and there was no daylight, but the streets that had been quiet all night were already lively.
However, Ouyang Rong didn't care about this, and his focus was elsewhere.
Inside the carriage, he sniffed the air first, then frowned slightly:
"Sure enough, it still tastes..."
As he said that, he pushed open the window and raised the car curtain, and the sound of wind and the noise of the market came to his face.
For the time being, I can no longer smell the faint scent of sweet-scented osmanthus.
Ouyang Rong bent down and took out a small black box that he had hidden yesterday from the space under his seat. After opening it, he took out an orange-red sachet.
This orange-red sachet, which the hostess's embroidery skills were very poor, exudes the fragrance of osmanthus.
It was exactly what Rong Zhen sent it yesterday. I heard that it was made by the female officials of the Supervisory Yuan who picked up the golden osmanthus seeds under the tree when they were homesick and had nothing to do.
"Why put so many cinnamon seeds? It smells like this."
Someone frowned, grabbed some ripe orange-red osmanthus seeds from the sachet, and threw it out the window. Unfortunately, the sachet was still filled with fragrance. Soon, he calmed down his expression.
"Fortunately, I expected it..." he muttered.
When he arrived at the street near Jiangzhou Hall, Ouyang Rong quickly closed the curtains and car doors to stop ventilation.
He sniffed around.
Although it is still there, the cinnamon fragrance in the carriage has faded a lot and is almost unsmellable.
Ouyang Rong no longer hesitated, quickly opened the sword box and stuffed an orange sachet of "The Source of Disaster" in his hand into it.
After a while, he touched the long sword box lying across his knees and smiled slightly.
"You are still reliable and can hide anything."
Ouyang Rong bent down and placed the long sword box in an empty space under the seat.
At the same time, the small bundle brought out in the morning was also placed on top of the wooden box.
This sword box not only stores wind and gathers energy, but is also a sealed space that can lock in fragrance.
"The effect is not bad." Ouyang Rong couldn't help but mutter to himself.
"What's good, is Tanlang ordering me..." Ali's doubtful voice came from outside.
"No. Rest for a while and call me when you get there." He turned around and ordered.
"Yes, Tanlang."
Ali promised seriously. Seeing that there was no more noise in the carriage behind him, he concentrated on driving the carriage.
Soon, the carriage arrived at the Jiangzhou lobby, and Ali turned to call his son...
After sending Ouyang Rong off, the new groom Ali turned to the stable and prepared to feed Dongmei some rationed fodder.
I didn't see that weird official named Yuan today, and the groom couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
After working for a while and just relaxing, Ali heard the conversation between the young master and the noble daughter of the Xie family not far away.
He got out of the way in advance and went to the stable to clean the trough.
Two people came not far away.
"Why does Senior Brother have to go to the Overwatch Council every day?"
"Junior sister, do you want to come with me?"
"Forget it, I won't go. Didn't I say that the female officer who owes me money is here too? I have no interest in going there and getting her cold face."
"That's true."
"Why are you interested in going?" A certain lady of the Xie family suddenly lowered her voice: "By the way, is she still pursuing that matter..."
"Yes, I mentioned it."
"No wonder Senior Brother goes over every day to take a look..."
"Ahem, you really have to keep an eye on it."
Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang walked to the stable at the back door and stopped.
Ouyang Rong glanced at Ali.
"Tanolang, wait a moment."
The latter immediately went to fetch the horse and prepare the carriage.
While waiting, the slim Xie daughter in red clothes standing next to Ouyang Rong with her hands behind her back suddenly asked:
"Eldest brother, do you know what's the holiday today?"
"What?" Ouyang Rong looked curious.
Xie Ling Jiang Yanran smiled:
"Guess."
"Hot spring foot soaking festival."
"?"
"Then I couldn't guess." He sighed.
"Huh, close your eyes and I'll tell you." She was not angry.
Ouyang Rong suppressed his smile and closed his eyes solemnly.
Immediately, he felt something being tied around his waist.
Open an eye and take a look.
really.
It is a lotus-white sachet.
The embroidery is exquisite, the silk threads are shining, and the phoenix made of gold threads is flying on the sachet. It contains the fragrance of ambergris, and it is extremely precious at first sight.
"This is..." Ouyang Rong showed a surprised expression.
Xie Ling Jiang put his hands on his back and raised his head, feeling proud of his sweetness.
The surprise that is about to overflow from someone's eyes is simply the sweetest candy for her.
Xie Lingjiang couldn't help but hold his arm affectionately and said:
"Today is the Winter Clothes Festival. In addition to buying winter clothes, you also need to wear sachets to ward off evil spirits. Here, I made one for you and one for my father. It took a lot of time. Not only today, but also for these two days.
Wear it, don't take it off."
Ouyang Rong nodded hurriedly.
"That's for sure, this gift is extremely important."
A certain new groom was very discerning, and it was not until his son and the young lady Xie were about to get intimate that he happened to lead the horse back.
"Tanlang's car is ready."
"Well, thank you for your hard work."
Ouyang Rong first said goodbye to Xie Lingjiang who was reluctant to leave, boarded the carriage and went to the Supervisory Yuan.
When Ouyang Rong boarded the car, Ali turned his head and glanced at the sachet on his waist, with a look of envy and blessing in his eyes.
Tan Lang and the noble daughter of the Xie family are truly a match made in heaven.
Mrs. Zhen had previously threatened to say when chatting in front of her clansmen in Nanlong Township that her beloved nephew could marry a noble girl of the fifth surname, and it was indeed true.
It is estimated that only an outstanding man like Tanlang can be favored by the noble ladies of the fifth surname... Ali said in his stomach.
He cheered up, drove the carriage with due diligence, and arrived at the Overwatch Council on a familiar road.
I saw the young master getting off the carriage.
Ali reflexively said goodbye, but his peripheral vision suddenly glanced at the young master's waist.
He was stunned.
I saw that a lotus-white sachet was missing, and instead, an orange-red sachet hung.
Before Alido could even look, the handsome young master had already entered the door and disappeared.
"It's strange. Could it be that I saw it wrong? Why did it suddenly change its color..."
Ali was confused for a long time.
He waited at the back door of the Overwatch Council for half an hour and finally saw the young master coming out.
Ali quickly rubbed his eyes.
He looked intently at the young master's waist.
It’s really an orange-red sachet.
The young master who left the Overwatch Council today seemed to be in a good mood and returned to the carriage humming a little tune.
"What are you looking at Ali?"
"No...nothing, it's just dazzling."
"Eat more vegetables, what can you do if your eyesight is not good while driving?"
"Yes, Tanlang." Ali asked subconsciously: "Tanlang, where are you going now?"
"Go back to the Jiangzhou lobby first, but...just like yesterday, you should walk around outside a few more times and don't go back immediately."
"yes."
Although he didn't quite understand the young master's skillful operation, he was obedient and nodded hurriedly.
Ouyang Rong returned to the carriage, sat down with satisfaction, and exhaled.
"It's okay, I've passed the test, but it's a bit strange. Why is Rong Zhen paying so much attention to the ambergris on me? Does he like this one? But this is my junior sister's sachet. I definitely can't tell her, and I can't give it to her...
"
He rubbed his face.
Immediately, he did the same thing as he did not long ago... He took off the orange-red sachet from his waist, opened the Mohist sword box immediately, and with lightning speed, took out a lotus-white sachet, and then the orange-red sachet
Put it in the box and re-close the sword box.
Ouyang Rong tied the lotus white sachet again.
After the replacement was completed, he smiled and opened the window again, taking advantage of Ali's carriage driving a detour outside Jiangzhou Hall to get some fresh air.
"Why did Tanlang open the window again?" Ali, who was driving outside, couldn't help asking through the car curtain.
“It’s a bit stuffy and the wind is blowing through.”
"oh oh."
"Ali, when you arrive at the Jiangzhou lobby later, clean the carriage and change the curtains, seat cushions, etc.," Ouyang Rong ordered.
"But Tanlang, didn't we just change yesterday..."
"Change again." He nodded.
"Okay, wait a minute, is there a strange smell in the car?"
"It has taste." Ouyang Rong said in a serious tone.
"Okay, Tanlang."
Just after giving the instructions, Ouyang Rong suddenly noticed that the long sword box under his seat was creaking and vibrating.
Fortunately, the wheels of the carriage were bumpy, so Ali and other outsiders didn't notice him immediately.
"Don't make trouble."
Sitting alone in the carriage, Ouyang Rong suddenly lowered his head and scolded the air.
It turned out that the little guy in the sword box discovered someone's scumbag behavior and started making trouble to protest.
Just like at the beginning, Ouyang Rong was very unhappy with her and secretly brought back the purple bellyband and the snow-white sword.
But he couldn't defeat the sword master.
Soon, the sword box became quiet again.
Not long after, we arrived at the Jiangzhou lobby again.
Ouyang Rong got out of the car, stood in front of the door, and Shi Shiran entered.
Ali's peripheral vision glanced at the shadow of a lotus-white sachet on his waist again, and he was stunned again, with a confused expression.
Why did it change color again?
Wasn’t it still an orange-red sachet just now?
"Tallo has so many sachets."
He couldn't help but mutter.
But immediately, remembering his master's instructions, Ali changed the curtains, cushions and other items of the carriage.
During this period, I saw the long piano case under the seat.
Ali didn't even touch it.
This seems to be the young master's Aegean. In the Huaiye Lane mansion, a small number of maids and servants who are responsible for taking care of the young master's daily life are aware of its existence. It seems to be a gift from the noble lady of the Xie family.
A thing of love.
At the same time, Tanlang seems to have some mysophobia and does not allow any outsiders to touch him. Everyone respects this.
A similar thing happened last time. When a high-end maid from Yinbingzhai was wiping the table, she accidentally touched it. I don’t know where she learned that the young master had returned immediately... It seemed that she attached great importance to this promise of love.
things.
Ali honestly bypassed the piano case and didn't even care about the small baggage on it.
There seemed to be no peculiar smell in the carriage, but he still followed the master's instructions and cleaned it carefully.
As soon as Ali packed his things, he saw Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang returning again.
The two of them greeted him and boarded the carriage together.
"We went to Prince Xunyang's Mansion to eat in the evening. The princess personally cooked and prepared a family banquet."
"good."
Xie Lingjiang lowered his head and touched the lotus-white sachet on his waist with his small hands. The more he looked at it, the more satisfied he became.
She suddenly frowned: "Why does it have other flavors?"
Ouyang Rong seemed stunned: "What...what does it smell like?"
Xie Lingjiang raised his head and looked at him: "It's not ambergris."
"oh!"
Ouyang Rong suddenly realized:
"Almost forgot."
Without hesitation, he bent down and took out something from under the seat, placed it on his lap, and opened it under Xie Lingjiang's curious eyes.
Ouyang Rong took out two sachets of the same color and standard from the small bag, and his tone was a bit awkward:
"I just met Da Lang. He handed me two sachets. He said he gave them to both of us as a gift for the Winter Clothes Festival. I asked me to pass these to you, little junior sister, look..."
Xie Lingjiang frowned and looked at the two similar goose-yellow sachets. He opened one with his fingers and took a look. It contained chrysanthemum petals:
"The sachet given by Dalang? What does it mean?"
He touched his chin and guessed: "It should be given to both of us to ward off evil spirits."
"But isn't this thing only given to each other between lovers or relatives?"
Xie Lingjiang hesitated: "Da Lang and us..."
He said thoughtfully: "It may be that the customs in Luoyang, Chang'an, are different from those in your place, little junior sister."
"It turns out that the custom over there can still be used to give gifts to people other than lovers and relatives..."
Xie Lingjiang held a goose-yellow sachet in his hand, pointed his index finger on his sharp chin and muttered to himself.
Ouyang Rong nodded vigorously.
On this point, he felt that he still had a say, otherwise how could he explain the two coins he received yesterday.
Ouyang Rong spread his hands and asked:
"What should I do? We have different customs and don't compromise. Why don't we put them away and stop wearing them?"
"no."
Xie Lingjiang raised his hand to stop him, frowned and corrected:
"The eldest brother can also be regarded as representing Uncle Li, Weber and the others. At the family dinner in the evening, the eldest brother still has to wear it to be more polite.
"Furthermore, the relationship between senior brother and Da Lang is extraordinary and cannot be affected."
"A normal relationship does not go beyond friendship." Ouyang Rong corrected firmly.
"Okay, okay, okay."
He sighed: "Well, it seems that this is the only way. By the way, little junior sister, you are wearing it."
Xie Lingjiang shook his head and handed the goose-yellow sachet back to Ouyang Rong:
"I won't wear it anymore. I'm a woman after all, and I'm different from my senior brother."
"Junior sister is still thoughtful."
Ouyang Rong condemned: "You said Dalang is a grown man, why should he give you a sachet? It's true."
"Da Lang also cares about you. Okay, Senior Brother, be good and obedient."
Xie Lingjiang coaxed him softly.
"Well, there's really nothing I can do against you."