From a refugee to a martial artist

Chapter 84 Sharpening the Knife
The mountain breeze is slightly cool.

Xiangling stood on Meng Yuan's shoulder, peeled the eggshell, took two bites of the egg white, took out the yolk, and stuffed it into Meng Yuan's mouth, "Eat an egg yolk and sleep well!"

The two of them went down the mountain together. She kept eating with a crunching sound, and her mouth was never idle. When she discussed poetry with Meng Yuan, it really sounded like the real thing.

The two idiots chatted for a while and finally arrived at the foot of the mountain. Xiangling was about to say goodbye, saying that she had to go to class.

"When you come next time, we'll set up a poetry club called Laobiekeng Poetry Club, and you'll be the vice president!" Xiangling vowed with great ambition.

Poetry clubs are for elegant people to play with, but when combined with the three words "Laobiekeng", it seems awkward.

Meng Yuan couldn't help but sigh. Dugu Kang wanted him to be the vice president, and Xiang Ling also wanted him to be the vice president. It can be seen that people with talents will shine wherever they go, and it cannot be concealed at all!

"Obedience is worse than respect." Meng Yuan accepted it with a smile, and thought about asking the princess if she wanted to set up a poetry club.

"Hey, you're so nice to hear!" Xiangling couldn't resist being coaxed, and she was so happy that she said, "Then I'll go to class."

She happily jumped off Meng Yuan's shoulder, ran forward a few steps, and seemed to remember something. She quickly turned around, stood up on her hind legs, spread her arms and legs, leaned her head forward, and said with round eyes, "My godmother said that being alive is good, and dying is also OK. But I still think being alive is the best! Don't die out there, little gelder! If you want to fight, remember to come find me first. I'm very powerful!"

"Okay." Meng Yuan agreed with a smile.

"Remember to come find me!" Xiangling repeated. She didn't bow anymore, but waved her hand happily and went to class in a flash.

Seeing that she had disappeared, Meng Yuan returned to Muzhuang.

He led the little red horse and leisurely returned home. Meng Yuan closed the door and planned to open the acupoints again, but Jiang Tang came to find him.

"Sister Mei is looking for you." Jiang Tang said.

Didn't you just say you'll have five days off? Are you here to urge the Demon Notes? Meng Yuan stood up and asked, "What did you say?"

"A gentleman came yesterday, probably he is related to that gentleman." Jiang Tang said.

For a moment, Meng Yuan thought of the Confucian scholar leading the donkey he met yesterday.

Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism coexist in this world. Meng Yuan has seen Taoists and met monks, but has never dealt with serious Confucian scholars.

Of course, the Qingke Wang Xiucai was also a Confucian scholar, but Meng Yuan never discussed academic matters with him, but only talked with him from time to time.

In that case, Meng Yuan didn't say anything more and went to look for Mei immediately.

Xunmei was not in her office, but in Jingyuan.

This was Meng Yuan's first time entering Jingyuan. Jiang Tang led the way. They came to the side of a pond and saw a pavilion.

There was a person in the pavilion, wearing plain clothes and with his hair tied with a red rope. He was putting green plums into a wine jar, making green plum wine.

Even though Xiangling was a country bumpkin, she always dressed neatly and decently no matter what she did, whereas this princess was very casual, as if she had just stepped out of the bath.

Meng Yuan came to the steps of the pavilion and bowed to the princess first, but the princess ignored him.

"I called you here for something important." Xunmei walked out of the pavilion and explained the reason with a smile.

It turns out that it is really related to the Confucian scholar I met yesterday.

The scholar's name was Chen Shouzhuo, and his wife was the princess's childhood teacher.

Chen Shouzhe's wife had died of illness a long time ago. When he was examining his wife's belongings, he found that she still had some of the princess's old poems.

As he was on a post outside the capital, he was not allowed to send it. Chen Shouzhuo was on his way to Hedong County to take up a post and happened to pass by here, so he returned the relics to the princess.

"Mr. Chen is an honest official, but he is not tolerated by the officialdom. He has not been promoted in recent years and has been wandering around as a county magistrate."

Xun Mei was much more serious, "The princess felt grateful for his kindness, and seeing that he had no one with him, she wanted to send someone to escort him to his post."

Meng Yuan understood that the princess was assigning him a task.

And this task is not difficult. Hedong County is just south of Canglang River, and it is about 200 miles away after crossing the Yangtze River.

"Since the princess has given the order, I naturally dare not refuse." Meng Yuan agreed immediately.

"He is unfamiliar with the place. When you arrive in Hedong County, you can stay for a few days so that you can help him with his affairs and learn some things." Xunmei said with a smile.

This was meant as a reminder, but Meng Yuan still asked, "Sister Mei, when I'm away from home, should I do what's appropriate? Or should I just listen to Mr. Chen?"

Meng Yuan is not afraid of doing things, and is willing to do things, but he doesn't want to be tied down. I have to make it clear that if I kill someone and get into trouble because of Chen Shouzhuo, will you, Miss Ying, cover for me?
After all, this was the first time he worked for the princess. If it was Master Nie, Meng Yuan wouldn't even ask.

After hearing this, Xunmei turned around and looked at the princess.

The princess picked up a green plum, looked at Meng Yuan and said, "You are both civil and military, whether you listen to him or not is up to you."

Meng Yuan understood that the Third Miss had agreed to cover the mess, but she was obviously insulting others by saying that she was both civil and martial!
She is a beautiful and dignified person, but she likes to bully honest people.

Meng Yuan was an honest man and just nodded in agreement.

"Go back and have a good rest. We will set out tomorrow." Xunmei smiled and took out a note. "Mr. Chen is frugal and does not charge for a gift. You can take two hundred taels of silver as travel expenses."

Meng Yuan received the note and left Jingyuan, feeling that the opportunity for revenge had come.

Xie Shen was the second son of the prefect. Although he was arrogant and domineering, he would never dare to come to the palace to kill anyone.

And Meng Yuan couldn't possibly attack the government office. At least, not now. Therefore, as long as they were in Songhe Prefecture, it would be difficult for both sides to fight.

But now that Meng Yuan is going out on business, there is an opportunity to take action.

Xie Shen's killing was a demonstration, which clearly showed that the matter was not over and he would never let it go. Meng Yuan didn't want to let it go either.

Meng Yuan believed that if Jie Shen knew that he was out, he would definitely come to his house.

When he arrived at Gou's accountant's office, Meng Yuan handed over a note, while still thinking about how to protect Chen Shouzhe and how to pass the message to Jie Shen.

"Why are you here, kid? It took me a long time to find you!" As soon as he received the silver, Nie Yannian came over excitedly and snatched the banknote away.

Meng Yuan didn't care. At worst he could just borrow it back from Nie Qingqing. He was used to living off her.

Seeing that Meng Yuan was not in a hurry for the silver, Nie Yannian felt that it was boring to rob the silver notes, so he asked, "What fortune did you make?"

"The princess has an assignment." Meng Yuan told the truth.

After listening to this, Nie Yannian threw the banknote back and stroked his chin, saying, "I thought I would assign you a job in a few days, but I didn't expect it to be so soon!"

He dragged Meng Yuan out of the palace, saying, "Hedong County is on the south bank of the Yangtze River, and was not affected by last year's refugees. You can make some money there. I'm not very familiar with that place, but I know it's a medium-sized county, not too big or too small, and not a thoroughfare. There aren't many masters there, and an eighth-rank warrior can be a good example. I guess there are very few seventh-rank warriors, or even none. Just be careful, and nothing will happen."

After the experience of going out to fight monsters, Nie Yannian was very confident in Meng Yuan. He knew that this boy was strong and powerful, could defeat ten opponents with his own strength, and knew how to maneuver with a sword. He was not a reckless person, and two or three people of the same level were no match for him.

Nie Yannian felt that this boy had great talent in martial arts and had a promising future. If he had more luck in the future, he could reach the sixth or fifth rank, and even the fourth rank.

He put his arm around Meng Yuan's shoulders, and seeing that the boy was very obedient, he was even more satisfied, and said, "Qingqing always carries a feather duster with her. Did you give it to her?"

Meng Yuan smiled and nodded.

"You're getting the idea!" Nie Yannian laughed.

"Master Nie, how is the matter of Jie Shen going?" Meng Yuan asked.

"I came to you to talk about this matter. It has been dealt with." Nie Yannian said solemnly, "That bastard is not a human being, but his brother is a gentleman and humble. Once he talked it out, it will be over."

Meng Yuan didn't know what kind of person Jie Shen's brother was, but he knew that Jie Shen would never give up his intention to kill him.

"People are much more polite now that they know we are the princess's people. No one is hurt anyway, and it's normal for young people to have quarrels." Nie Yannian pulled Meng Yuan out of the palace and pointed his chin at the distance.

I saw a man leading a horse next to the stone lion. He was the middle-aged attendant who had tried to persuade the couple to make peace that day.

Nie Yannian held Meng Yuan and whispered, "I know you are not convinced, but don't worry. When your rank rises, we will fight back! What's a mere prefect? ​​When the time comes, slap him twice in front of everyone! Doesn't he have several concubines? You slept with him in front of him!"

Meng Yuan was just thinking about how to notify Jie Shen when this guy came.

But...Meng Yuan looked at Nie Yannian and asked, "Master Nie, they came to our house in person, how can we give them such a big honor?"

"It's not that you have a lot of face, nor is it that I have a lot of face. His brother Jie Kaiping is an upright gentleman and he came out personally to mediate." Nie Yannian was annoyed.

So that's how it is, but can it be reconciled? The person is dead.

There was no need to say anything more, Meng Yuan immediately stepped forward with a smile.

"Hey, Brother Meng!" The middle-aged man smiled and stepped forward and bowed.

"I dare not call you brother." Meng Yuan bowed in return and said with a smile, "I don't even know your name."

"My humble name is Xie Zhongliang, I am a retainer of the Xie family, just an unknown person." He smiled and said, "I didn't know that you were from the palace, I almost made a fool of myself."

"I was a little reckless." Meng Yuan said with a smile.

"As the saying goes, we met each other without fighting, so now we know each other, right?" Xie Zhongliang smiled honestly and said casually, "I don't know what happened to that family of three. If it weren't for them, we wouldn't have met each other. I gave them money at that time, and now I think of it as a thank you gift."

As he spoke, he stared closely into Meng Yuan's eyes.

"That's true." Meng Yuan also smiled, "I came back in a hurry and forgot to go back and take a look. I really want to go back and take a look when I have time in the future."

Xie Zhongliang saw that Meng Yuan looked normal, without any abnormality, as if he really did not encounter the three corpses on the road.

Looking at Nie Yannian again, he was seen yawning, showing no concern at all, as if he knew he was just going through the motions.

"My master has held a banquet today and sent me to invite Brother Meng. Let's drink and chat. I wonder if Brother Meng would do me the honor?" Xie Zhongliang said.

"Master Jie, I shouldn't have turned down your kindness."

Meng Yuan smiled helplessly, "I just got the job, and I have to go to Hedong County tomorrow morning for business. I guess I'll be there for a while. When I come back, I'll host a banquet, and then I'll invite Master Jie to get drunk with me. How do you think?"

"I see. I came at an inopportune moment." Xie Zhongliang smiled apologetically. "Then I'll wait for Brother Meng to come back and we'll get drunk together."

After a few polite words, Xie Zhongliang left on horseback.

Nie Yannian said a few more words and then left.

Meng Yuan returned home, fetched water from the well, and brought a whetstone.

It was getting dark, the moon was dark and the stars were sparse, and Meng Yuan was sharpening his knife again and again.

(End of this chapter)