From a refugee to a martial artist

Chapter 83 Xiangling Learns Poetry
It was April now and the weather was getting warmer.

Meng Yuan, riding on his horse, had already seen the north gate of Songhe Prefecture.

When I first saw this place last year, the sky was still covered with snow. I came here just for a full meal.

But now he rides a horse and carries a sword, so he has some ability to protect himself.

Meng Yuan gained a lot from this trip. He gained a lot of experience in fighting enemies and really saw the world.

After being away for half a month, although I was busy running around every day, I still opened up a few acupoints. So far, I have opened nineteen acupoints in the thirty-three days, which means I have already opened more than half of them.

And I also found a way to nourish the essence and fire.

During this trip, the garrison troops were divided into several groups. Meng Yuan and Gong Zihua were on one group. Any monster that Meng Yuan dealt with would be burned to death.

However, we didn't encounter any big monsters. Most of them were small monsters of the eighth and ninth ranks. Therefore, the spirit fire did not grow much, only about one-fourth of its size.

Meng Yuan was thinking that he should quickly reach the seventh level and find some seventh level monsters to kill.

Or, find a few people to give it a try.

After entering the city, Zhang Guinian promised Meng Yuan another bottle of Baicao Dan, but Nie Yannian said it was not enough. The two argued for a while before dispersing.

Meng Yuan and Nie Yannian were riding on horses and chatting again.

After a while, Nie Yannian said, "I have to go to the martial arts hall to take a look. You go back and rest for two days before we talk!"

"Okay, I'll go back to the palace first." Meng Yuan had no interest in the martial arts business. After all, all his money was borrowed, so he didn't need to go to the martial arts business to make money.

"Mr. Meng," Nie Yannian frowned and tapped Meng Yuan's nose, "I just came back from outside and went to see what happened to my daughter."

"I want to take a shower before going." Meng Yuan said with a smile.

"Go straight away!" Nie Yannian was annoyed and urged his horse to go away.

Meng Yuan was obedient and honest, and really went directly to Zuiyue Tower.

"Sister." As the weather got hotter, Meng Yuan noticed that Nie Qingqing's clothes had become thinner, and it seemed as if there was a monster hidden in them, so he called her more affectionately.

"You must have suffered a lot during those few days away from home," Nie Qingqing asked with concern.

"That's nothing." Meng Yuan took out a feather fan. "I met a wild pheasant outside and borrowed some feathers to weave a feather fan. Please don't despise it, sister."

Nie Qingqing took it and looked at it, and said happily: "The weather is getting hot, this thing is just right."

She asked people to prepare food, and without avoiding others, she pulled Meng Yuan upstairs.

Meng Yuan hadn't eaten hot food for some days, but he didn't mind the taste, nor was he afraid of the beauty beside him, so he started eating without hesitation.

Nie Qingqing sat beside him, supporting her chin with one hand and gently waving a feather fan with the other. She didn't say anything, just looked at Meng Yuan.

After eating and drinking, Meng Yuan planned to run away.

"Your appetite isn't as big as before." Nie Qingqing said.

In the past, he had to nourish his spirit and fire, so he ate a lot. Now that there was no spirit and fire to compete for food, Meng Yuan's appetite had returned to normal.

"Before, I was practicing martial arts hard and ate more. Now I feel better." Meng Yuan smiled and stood up, "Sister, I have to go back."

Nie Qingqing smiled and stood up, and walked him downstairs, then she realized something was wrong, "Where's my dad?"

Do you still remember your father? Meng Yuan smiled and said, "Master Nie went to the martial arts school."

Nie Qingqing was relieved and stopped talking about her father. She just said, "Bring the Jiang family's sister here some other day. I like her very much."

Meng Yuan naturally agreed.

When I returned to the palace and arrived at the back door, I saw a doorman talking to a middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man was about forty years old, leading a donkey, which was carrying two sacks, which should be books or something like that.

This man was a little thin, had an ordinary appearance, and was dressed simply. He was undoubtedly a Confucian scholar.

Meng Yuan listened to a few words and thought that this person must have had an old relationship with the princess and wanted to pass on some gifts. The doorman asked for a visiting card, but the other party was so poor that he had to write the visiting card on the spot. Naturally, the doorman was very unhappy.

Not having the time to care about it, Meng Yuan sent the little red horse back to the stable and went straight to look for Mei.

Although this time he was on official business with the people from the Demon Suppression Guard, Meng Yuan was from the royal palace, so naturally he had to find Mei to complete the task.

Jiang Tang was there too. She noticed that Meng Yuan's clothes were a little dirty, and although there was concern in her eyes, she remained patient and said nothing.

"You go out first." Xun Mei drove Jiang Tang away, then looked at Meng Yuan and said, "Uncle Nie insisted on letting you go out to see the world. It was useless for me to persuade him. At least he was not hurt."

"Master Nie is doing this for my own good. A sharp sword is forged through constant grinding. Although I am not a sharp sword, I can see more of the world and gain more abilities, so that I can be more adept at serving the princess in the future." Meng Yuan said seriously.

Xunmei asked in detail about what she had seen and heard during this trip, and she sighed, "Two hundred miles apart is like the distance between heaven and earth. The world is full of suffering, when will there be a great peace?"

Before Meng Yuan could reply, Xun Mei immediately said, "You have read a lot of books. When you go back, write down everything about this trip and give it to me. The princess may want to read it."

"..." Meng Yuan didn't expect that he would have to write a summary after finishing the work. He wanted to shirk it, but Xun Mei said again: "I will give you five days off, take a good rest."

She smiled and pointed outside, saying, "Since you haven't been here these days, the little girl has no energy to do anything. Take her away quickly."

Meng Yuan had no choice but to agree.

After returning home, Jiang Tang carefully pinched Meng Yuan's arm and was relieved to see that there was no injury.

"I'll go boil some water so you can take a hot bath." Jiang Tang started working in a hurry.

When the water boiled, Jiang Tang wanted to help scrub the body, "You are not an outsider!"

She spoke plausibly.

Meng Yuan pushed her out, rubbed himself for a long time, changed into clean clothes, and when he came out, he saw that the food was ready.

"Remember this." Meng Yuan held Jiang Tang's hand and said, "It's a bit chaotic outside these days, don't go out, just stay with Xunmei and do your work."

Not only did Jie Shen kill someone, he also hung himself on the road leading back to the city as a demonstration.

Meng Yuan was certain that the other party would not come to the palace to act recklessly, and since he was the princess's man, he could only do it in secret if he wanted to take revenge.

But no matter what, this matter is not over yet, and Meng Yuan doesn't think about it anymore. Jiang Tang nodded obediently, but didn't ask any more questions, just picked up some food for Meng Yuan.

The next day, Meng Yuan got up early and went to the training ground to give some instructions. When he was about to leave to take Xiangling to recite poems and burn paper, he saw Mr. Wang coming to him.

Mr. Wang grabbed Meng Yuan and started pulling him.

After listening to the end, Meng Yuan paused for a while before saying, "Mr. Wang, are you saying that the prince wants to set up a poetry club, with him as the president and me as the vice president?"

"That's right." said Mr. Wang.

"..." Meng Yuan rubbed his eyebrows. He knew that there was something wrong with Dugu Kang. The so-called poetry club thing was probably just a joke.

I guess he still wants to inquire about going out to kill monsters.

"Mr. Wang, when I was away this time, I saw that people's livelihood was declining. I decided to join the army and no longer write poems or compose couplets." Meng Yuan said solemnly, "Please tell the prince."

Mr. Wang was stunned. He looked at Meng Yuan and said, "Mr. Meng is really a man of great ambition."

He cupped his hands and said, "Then I will report this to the prince. He originally asked me to ask you how much monthly salary you want as the vice president."

"Hey? Don't go, don't go!" Meng Yuan quickly grabbed the man, "I still have money to take? How much do you want to give, Prince?"

"Twenty taels a month." Mr. Wang held up two fingers.

Meng Yuan was now rich and no longer cared about this little bit of money, so he waved his hand and said, "Please tell Mr. Wang that I know the prince's heart very well, but I have a job to do and it is really inconvenient for me to discuss poetry."

Mr. Wang knew that Meng Yuan complained that the money was too little, but he didn't say it out loud. He just said a few polite words and left.

"Alas, even the prince is impressed by my literary talent!" Meng Yuan boasted to himself, led the little red horse, went out to buy dried fruits, candied fruits, and boiled eggs, and then left the city.

All the way to Muzhuang, Zhao Datou became more and more worried.

"You didn't take Tieniu out to play, did you? He's still a child." asked Zhao Datou.

"..." Meng Yuan smiled helplessly, "Tie Niu is fine, he will take you to live in the city soon."

Zhao Datou was relieved and whispered, "My aunt sent a message saying that if you come, you should go directly to the mountain to find her. She is not free to come down."

"What is she doing?" Meng Yuan asked curiously.

"She said something about teaching and enlightening people, but we don't know what she meant!" Zhao Datou spread out his hands.

Meng Yuan understood that Xiangling used to be a know-it-all, and now that she had entered school today, she had finally become a teacher.

There was no need to say more. Meng Yuan walked into the mountain with his things in his pocket.

When we arrived at Datou Mountain, we saw a big black pig lying next to the old turtle pit, with a dozen piglets running around and grunting non-stop.

Xiangling stood on a bluestone, with a small bag on her back, a headscarf on her head, and a bamboo whip in her hand. "Be obedient! If you don't obey me, I will beat your little hooves!"

The piglets were completely disobedient. Xiangling put her hands on her hips and sighed, "I've been teaching for so many years, and you guys are the most naughty!"

She spoke like a teacher, which showed that she had indeed been educated.

"Xiang Ling!" Meng Yuan appeared, and the big black pig ran away immediately, and a bunch of little piglets followed immediately.

Seeing that all the students had finished running, Xiangling didn't get angry. She threw away the bamboo whip and quickly ran towards Meng Yuan, "Little gelder!"

She happily climbed onto Meng Yuan's shoulders and asked, "Are you coming to listen to my lecture too?"

"Are you teaching now?" Meng Yuan asked with a smile.

"Don't look down on me!" Xiangling stared with round eyes and said seriously, "I have learned a lot of skills and can even write poems!"

"Then write one for me." Meng Yuan said with a smile.

"Wait a minute, let me think about it." Xiangling jumped off Meng Yuan's shoulder, climbed up the hill, slid down, came to the rubble pile of the old turtle pit, crawled into her little nest, and then jumped out.

Others seek quietness when composing poetry, but she needs to run for a while.

Meng Yuan was not in a hurry and just sat down in front of the old turtle pit and waited.

"I got it!" Xiangling walked around and came forward happily, "Little gelder, you came to me, I'm very happy, I have a poem!"

"Please try to explain it." Meng Yuan said.

Xiangling tightened her small bag, straightened her head, and walked very solemnly with each step.

"Datou Mountain, the top of the mountain is big, I am laughing at the top of the mountain. After laughing, I will go back to my hometown and laugh again at my hometown."

Xiangling finished reciting the poem happily and went to see Meng Yuan's reaction.

"Great! The tone and rhyme are well-matched and meaningful!" Meng Yuan praised generously.

"Hey, little gelder, you speak very nicely!" Xiangling was so happy that she urged him, "Say a few more words."

People wanted to hear compliments, so Meng Yuan said, "This poem is catchy, simple and pure, and fits the scene and the mood!"

"Say a few more words!" Xiangling became even happier.

"The words and sentences of a poem are secondary. The most important thing is the idea. If the idea is genuine, even the words and sentences don't need to be embellished. It is good. This is called 'not letting the words harm the idea'." Meng Yuan thought about it this time before praising: "Your poem is very good."

"Little gelder, you are so kind!" Xiangling climbed onto Meng Yuan's shoulders and gave him a back massage.

After hitting him twice, Xiangling leaned forward to look at Meng Yuan's face and said, "Little gelder, has something happened to you? If you are unhappy, tell me! I am good at comforting you!"

As she spoke, she pounded his back even harder.

"How did you know that?" Meng Yuan asked with a smile.

"My godmother's lover is like this too. I can tell at a glance." Xiangling leaned on Meng Yuan's shoulder and whispered, "Do you want to fight? I don't want to burn paper for you anymore!"

"That's not the case." Meng Yuan smiled and said, "I came here today just to take you to burn paper for your godmother."

"No hurry." Xiangling had a new idea every day. She used her two hind legs to beat her back and said seriously: "I will burn the collection of poems for godmother when I publish it. When godmother reads it, she will praise me for my promising future!"

(End of this chapter)