From a refugee to a martial artist

Chapter 108 Yang and Prince Xin

Midway through the afternoon, the sun was still shining brightly.

Meng Yuan covered Xiangling's ears and asked curiously, "Why are you here?"

"I came here with Taoist Master Ke to thank you for what happened before." Zhang Guinian explained.

"I see." Meng Yuan understood and asked, "Ms. Mingyue came to my aid. I admire you very much! Is Miss Mingyue's injury healed?"

Zhang Guinian had discussed with Meng Yuan how to get the Heavenly Secret Map from Mingyue, so he understood what Meng Yuan meant. He said seriously, "Miss Mingyue is blessed by heaven! Besides, it's not an external injury, it doesn't matter! But you, Miss Mingyue has been very kind to you, you should go visit her!"

"I understand, I understand." Meng Yuan put his hands on Xiang Ling's ears and lowered his chin. "This is my friend. Can I give him a job like the Announcer?"

Zhang Guinian frowned when he heard this, "Are you planning to assign all the wild dogs and boars from your hometown to work in the garrison so that they can also eat a share of the emperor's food?"

He pointed at Meng Yuan and said, "I'm telling you, as long as I, Zhang Guinian, am here, you'll never be able to rely on nepotism!"

"Uncle Zhang, everyone has gone far away." Meng Yuan said.

"Gone?" Zhang Guinian turned his head and saw that Zhao Jingsheng and Ke Qiuxian were already a hundred feet away. Then his expression changed and he said with a smile: "Oh, is this your little lover?"

Zhang Lingfeng also laughed.

They were just being so polite! Now they are becoming so unruly? Luckily I covered Xiangling's ears in advance!

Meng Yuan suddenly felt that he had not thought it through well, and decided not to let Xiang Ling work for the Demon Suppression Bureau.

Such a good seedling of poet will not only become as noisy as the annunciation fairy, but also learn to use dirty words. It is really not worth it!

Meng Yuan believed that Xiangling should live in a room full of orchids, not a shop selling abalone.

"She is still a child. Uncle Zhang, please be careful with your words." Meng Yuan warned solemnly, then let go of Xiangling's ear.

Xiangling shook her body vigorously, then stared with wide eyes, then looked up at Meng Yuan, and then at Zhang Guinian, looking confused.

"Oh." Zhang Guinian looked at the floral headband on Xiangling's head, raised his finger to lift it, and smiled at Zhang Lingfeng, "It's quite fashionable!"

"Fashionable, right? Captain Zhang, you also blame fashion!" Xiangling couldn't stand people praising her, especially when people praised her for being fashionable.

"Old Nie had a disciple before, and he liked this kind of person." Zhang Guinian said happily, "Nowadays, it's rare to meet a promising one. I think Old Nie will be so angry that he will die."

"There is another disciple? Why haven't I heard him mention it, and Sister Qingqing hasn't mentioned it either." Meng Yuan asked curiously.

"How dare he bring that up? He used to work at the Beijing Town Monster Division. His old friend died, leaving behind a son. Old Nie taught him for a few years. He's got quite a talent and is quite capable." Zhang Guinian lowered his voice, unable to suppress his smile. "It's a pity for that kid. Old Nie and his uncle took turns beating him, but he didn't win back."

"..."Meng Yuan didn't know how to respond for a moment.

Zhang Guinian touched Xiangling's hairpin twice and asked, "Niece, do you want to work in the Demon Suppression Bureau?"

Xiangling shook her head vigorously, "I am the most useless person!"

"You see, the girl doesn't want to." Zhang Guinian smiled and spread his hands.

"It's better not to go in." Meng Yuan has thought it through and cannot bring Xiangling into the mud.

"Give it to your princess to play with. The Ying family teaches everyone, and they might be happy to bring it to you." Zhang Guinian smiled and took out two pill bottles, "Here!"

Meng Yuan took it and knew it was the Hundred Herb Pill after just one sniff. He was surprised and asked, "The reward has arrived already?"

"What are you thinking about?" Zhang Guinian laughed, "It's about the last time we were on duty."

"How long has it been?" Meng Yuan was speechless.

"It's not bad that it arrived before the day you gave birth!" Zhang Guinian laughed.

"Brother Meng, what are you doing here?" Zhang Lingfeng asked.

There was nothing to hide, Meng Yuan said immediately: "This child's godmother used to come here often to listen to Taoist Jingxu's preaching, and the two of them fell in love. Later, her godmother passed away, and she wanted to come here to burn some paper."

"My godmother is not in love with the Taoist priest." Xiangling corrected immediately, "My godmother sticks her butt out, and the Taoist priest won't even look at it!"

"..."Meng Yuan took Xiangling out of his clothes and helped her untie the small bag.

Xiangling took out a crumpled piece of paper and looked up, saying, "Can I borrow a light?"

Meng Yuan stepped forward and helped her light it.

Xiangling was a respectable person who understood the customs of the world very well. She burned the paper while muttering something, as if she was reciting a poem. She burned one piece at a time, and she was really burning the draft of her poem.

Here, Zhang Guinian and Meng Yuan were talking about serious matters.

"Come to the garrison tomorrow. I have something for you to do." Zhang Guinian whispered. "What is it?" Meng Yuan asked curiously.

"We'll know tomorrow." Zhang Guinian didn't say much. He chatted for a few more words, then took Zhang Lingfeng and left.

Meng Yuan waited for Xiangling to burn the paper before they returned together the same way.

Xiangling was not very sad. Instead, she was in a very good mood and said that the wind on the mountain was just right for burning paper.

After going down the mountain, they met up with Dugu Kang, and the three of them went into the city together.

Xiangling didn't want to go at first, but Meng Yuan said that Dugu Kang was going to treat her to a tofu banquet, and Xiangling happily agreed.

They entered the city together and returned to Dugu Kang's grape courtyard.

Before the meal was ready, there was a knock on the door, and Xiangling immediately hid in Meng Yuan's clothes.

Mr. Wang led a boy of about sixteen or seventeen years old inside. The boy was wearing training clothes, looked decent, and his face showed no emotion.

The young man glanced at Meng Yuan but ignored him. He stepped forward and bowed to Dugu Kang, saying, "The prince has been ill recently and cannot go out. He said that the prince should take care of the ceremonies for the late princess's death anniversary alone."

"I understand." Dugu Kang's face looked unhappy.

The young man bowed again, then with Mr. Wang left.

Meng Yuan saw clearly that Dugu Kang wanted to pray for the late princess together with Prince Xin, but Prince Xin refused.

"What's his name?" Seeing that Dugu Kang was in a daze and didn't look like a monk, Meng Yuan helped him sit down.

"Who?" Dugu Kang was at a loss.

"The young man just now." Meng Yuan asked.

"His name seems to be Liu Pandeng." Dugu Kang said.

For a moment, Meng Yuan remembered when he first arrived in Songhe Prefecture, the sky was full of snow, and the housekeeper of the Yang Mansion came to buy a servant. The first person he chose was named Liu Dabao.

Times have changed and more than half a year has passed, but Meng Yuan still remembers the situation very clearly.

This young man was Liu Dabao! He had changed his clothes and looked better. He was no longer the refugee who had been begging for his life.

But this person was clearly taken away by the Yang family to be a servant, so how did he become Prince Xin’s man?

After thinking about it, Meng Yuan felt that it was probably the Yang family who trained it and then presented it to Prince Xin.

But Prince Xin has no real power and is just an idle prince. Is it worth it for the Yang family to curry favor with him?

"What is this person's background?" Meng Yuan asked.

"I don't know. They said they were adopted refugees." Dugu Kang closed his eyes and whispered, "All people in the world are suffering."

Don't know? It seems that the Yang family donated it privately.

Meng Yuan did not ask much, but suddenly remembered that Yang Huaiyi, the general flag of the garrison, was also from the Yang family, and the Yang family seemed to have private dealings with Prince Xin.

According to Gong Zihua, Yang Huaiyi was a lazy person who never cared about anything. But during the Qingshui Town incident, Yang Huaiyi first went out with Zhang Lingfeng, and then he was forced to replace Zhang Lingfeng and followed Zhang Guinian to help.

In the end, he fell into a cave under the river and was almost killed.

Yang Huaiyi was indeed a little abnormal, but he didn't hold us back.

Meng Yuan couldn't be sure whether Yang Huaiyi's move was intentional or unintentional. But if it was intentional, then what was the purpose?

"I remember your father practiced martial arts, right?" Meng Yuan asked.

"I am a monk. I have no parents, no brothers, and no sisters." Dugu Kang explained a few words and then whispered, "Are you talking about Dugu Sheng?"

“……”Meng Yuan nodded.

"He follows the path of a warrior." Dugu Kang said seriously, "The imperial court has rules that royal family members can practice other paths except Buddhism, but most of them practice martial arts. When Dugu Sheng was young, he guarded Ping'an Prefecture in Yunzhou. Later, he lost power for some reason and was demoted here."

"Ping'an Prefecture is more than 2,000 miles away from here, which is not too far." Meng Yuan smiled, "Do you know what rank of warrior he is?"

"I'm not sure. I haven't seen him for a long time." Dugu Kang spread out his hands and whispered, "He hasn't shown up since Donor Ying came here."

Meng Yuan nodded in understanding and planned to investigate further.

(End of this chapter)