From a refugee to a martial artist

Chapter 34 Making Money
"Sister, I wonder where the princess came from? I heard from Master Nie that he once followed the princess's brother."

Since he had nothing to do, Meng Yuan poured Nie Qingqing some wine and started to inquire about the origins of the host family.

"You don't even know about the master's family?" Nie Qingqing drank with a smile.

"I really don't know. Please give me some advice, sister." Meng Yuan pleaded sincerely.

Meng Yuan is now able to achieve some success. Although it is inseparable from his own efforts, the princess is also very kind to him.

Not to mention the princess's subordinate Xunmei who has helped her, and Master Nie who has taught her.

Meng Yuan planned to set up his own business after he had grown stronger. Of course, he did not want to have a grudge against the princess, but he wanted to repay her.

Besides, Meng Yuan knew that the princess was very knowledgeable and kind to her subordinates, which was not comparable to ordinary noble ladies in the inner court.

Although Meng Yuan had never met the princess, he admired her from the bottom of his heart.

Nie Qingqing was unwilling to say more, and only said: "When you have time in the future, you should ask my father. He worked with the princess's elder brother and once called himself a running dog of the Ying family."

The princess's surname was Ying, and Master Nie had followed the princess's brother. With Master Nie's playful and angry temperament, he even called himself a running dog of the Ying family, which showed that the princess's brother was very good.

"Let's drink." Nie Qingqing was very charming. She urged people to drink and asked about Meng Yuan's background.

Meng Yuan was an honest man, and he did not hide anything at the moment. He talked about his escape experience and the skills of a gelder.

Nie Qingqing did not find it rude. Instead, she listened and urged him to drink, as if she was using Meng Yuan's experience as a compliment.

The two were chatting happily when they suddenly heard the prince Dugu Kang laughing loudly, without caring about other people's eyes.

The second floor was full of elegant scholars and writers, and they all looked over at once.

Meng Yuan also looked over, and saw a few hangers-on of the prince flattering him and asking Dugu Kang to write a poem.

Dugu Kang first said a few humble words, and then took the responsibility, stood up, tapped his palm with a folding fan, walked slowly, and seemed to be in deep thought about the words. He really had some of the style of a poet.

Seeing this, many elegant guests on the second floor also came to look over, clearly with some anticipation.

But Dugu Kang shook his head and pondered for a long time, but he couldn't come up with an answer. The four scholars and guests were not in a hurry either, they were all waiting with a smile.

Meng Yuan was also curious, but he saw that Liu He had already seen him, with an expression of disbelief and then contempt.

After a long while, Dugu Kang paced back and forth, looking down at the river below and looking up at the white clouds in the sky, then he clapped his hands happily and said, "Got it!"

He was seen walking around the crowd with one hand behind his back and the other holding a folding fan in front of him, and said proudly, "Listen, everyone."

The four scholars and scholars quickly pretended to listen attentively. Seeing that someone had already written a poem, the other guests on the second floor of Zuiyue Tower also listened attentively.

Meng Yuan and Nie Qingqing also wanted to see what kind of poetry this prince who had been evaluated as "pure" could write.

"What is floating in the sky, a piece coming from the east and a strand coming from the west. Could it be that the gods are weaving cloth, and the willow catkins fall to the ground and float." Dugu Kang finished chanting with three sighs, and the entire second floor of Zuiyue Tower fell silent.

Then some people sneered, some shook their heads, some dug their ears hard, and some just threw down their chopsticks and left.

Meng Yuan was also convinced. The fact that he could write such a messy doggerel showed his talent.

Nie Qingqing laughed and shook her head, saying: "Although I don't have the talent for poetry, I was born in a royal family, which is considered a blessing."

Most of the guests on the second floor were contemptuous, but Dugu Kang brought along some literati and guests who were flattering him, and they started to praise him.

"Wonderful! The rhythm is well-balanced and meaningful! Your talent is unparalleled in the world!"

"This poem is catchy, simple and pure, and fits the scene and the mood! If there really are gods, they must be dressed in white clouds and willow catkins! Wonderful, wonderful!"

Seeing all the scholars and literati toasting and praising him, Dugu Kang became even more proud.

Meng Yuan found the scene boring and was about to say goodbye and leave, but he saw Liu He approach Dugu Kang, whispering a few words to him and glancing over here.

Afterwards, Dugu Kang also looked over here twice, said a few words to Liu He with a smile, and then saw Liu He walking over with a proud look on his face.

"Castrator, why are you here? Zuiyue Tower is a place for scholars and literati. How can someone like you come here?" Liu He walked up to Meng Yuan with a smile, not without pride.

Nie Qingqing didn't say anything. She clasped her hands together and looked at Meng Yuan.

Meng Yuan just felt bored, and didn't know what Liu He was so proud of. Did he think he was in power again? But he was just the prince's attendant, and he came here to pick a fight. He was really pitiful and ignorant.

Today, Meng Yuan and Liu He are still slaves, but Meng Yuan has been making steady progress and his power has grown stronger. Although he still has to borrow money to make ends meet, things are getting better and better.

However, Liu He changed his allegiance, but he continued to be a slave.

Since they had different ideas, it would be a waste of time for Meng Yuan to say any more words to him.

Seeing Meng Yuan didn't say anything, Liu He thought Meng Yuan was afraid of him, so he smiled smugly, looked at Nie Qingqing again, and said, "Miss Nie, the prince wants to invite Miss Nie to come over for a drink."

Nie Qingqing didn't look unhappy at all, obviously she had seen this kind of scene many times. She smiled and said, "Please tell His Royal Highness that I am a weak and weak person and cannot handle the alcohol. How dare I disturb His Royal Highness's poetic mood? Today, His Royal Highness is leaving his poem here, and my humble Zuiyue Tower is honored. All expenses for the banquet will be waived. I will send two jars of Menghuchun to the palace later."

Liu He couldn't find any fault with what he said. He turned around and saw Dugu Kang carefully examining a piece of calligraphy. Four guests were holding it, and it was clear that they wanted Dugu Kang to buy it at a high price.

For a moment, Liu He felt that he was ignored by the prince and looked down upon by Nie Qingqing. He immediately frowned and said to Nie Qingqing: "I have already told the prince, please give me some face, Miss Nie, and just go and toast me with a glass of wine."

Nie Qingqing sat still, looked at Liu He, and said with a smile: "Brother Liu, please give me some face for my father's sake and don't embarrass me, a woman. I will treat you to a drink some other day."

"Why should I give you face?" Liu He didn't hear that Nie Qingqing was unhappy at all. He just felt that seeing Nie Qingqing mention Master Nie showed weakness, so he said, "At the beginning, I knelt down in front of so many people to your father and begged him to take me in. Not only did he not take me in, he also laughed at me and didn't give me any face. Why should I give you face now?"

Meng Yuan shook his head in disappointment. Liu He really didn't know what was going on. Nie Qingqing had politely declined and even offered free wine. This was a gesture of goodwill, which was already a great honor. You, a long-time servant, should just obey orders, but you have to rely on others' power. How could someone who could open a restaurant in this area be bullied?
How capable can a son of an idle prince be? If something really goes wrong, can a pure-hearted son stand up for a servant like you?
Moreover, Nie Qingqing's father has an old relationship with the princess's brother, and is also a close friend of Captain Zhang Guinian. He was born in the Demon Suppression Division and has extraordinary power by making his hand burst into spring thunder.

Meng Yuan traveled through time and space, and everything he experienced made him extremely awed by fists and swords.

But Liu He had obviously never suffered any setbacks, had never left the palace, lacked the knowledge of fists, only knew how to curry favor with the powerful, and thought that status and power were everything.

But he didn't understand that fists were the most direct truth. The so-called status and power were also built up by fists and swords.

Meng Yuan respects violence and also knows the value of violence.

So he stood up, put his hand on Liu He's head and grabbed his hair.

"What are you doing?" Liu He had been beaten up by Meng Yuan before. He did not expect that Meng Yuan would dare to attack him in front of the prince. At this moment, he shouted in panic and struggled to break free.

But at this moment, Liu He felt that Meng Yuan was even stronger than the first time he was beaten. His hand tightly grasped his hair and he couldn't break free. He tried to grab Meng Yuan's wrist with both hands, but it was even harder to shake it.

"Prince, save me..." Before Liu He could shout out, he felt a huge force coming from the hand behind his head. He was bent down and his head hit the table heavily, smashing the plate to pieces.

Liu He felt blood in his mouth and nose and everything went black in front of his eyes. But before he could react, the hand suddenly grabbed his head and then slammed it hard on the table.

This happened three times in a row. Liu He's face was covered in blood, his head seemed to be blooming, and he became listless, but the hand had not left his head.

Liu He was lying on the table, with blood and pastries all over the table, and then Meng Yuan came over.

"Who is she?" Meng Yuan held Liu He's head and pressed his bloody face against the table, facing Nie Qingqing.

Nie Qingqing still sat upright and said nothing.

"It's... Nie Qingqing... Master Nie's daughter..." Liu He answered with difficulty, his nose crooked and bleeding.

"If I hear you talking to Master Nie or his daughter like this again, I will definitely destroy you."

Meng Yuan lifted Liu He's head again, and then pressed it hard on the table, "Do you remember it?"

"Remember... remember..." Liu He didn't dare not answer, his face was covered with blood and snot.

There was too much noise here, and there was no verbal conflict, they just started fighting, everyone on the second floor was stunned, and even people on the first floor came to watch. Several servants also quickly gathered around Nie Qingqing, waiting to receive orders.

The prince Dugu Kang sat there, looking bewildered, showing his pure nature. His warrior guard did not come forward to help, but just stood behind Dugu Kang, his hand on the sword at his waist.

Meng Yuan looked around at the people on the second floor, clasped his fists, and said, "It is wrong to disturb your leisure. I would like to offer a pot of Menghuchun to each table as an apology. I hope you gentlemen will forgive me."

When everyone heard Meng Yuan say this, some ignored him, some smiled and nodded, and a few young scholars smiled and clasped their fists.

Meng Yuan clasped his fists towards the Crown Prince Dugu Kang, then put his hand on his sword and said, "Don't worry, Crown Prince. I am the guard of the Princess."

Although Dugu Kang was pure, he was not a fool. He felt relieved after hearing this. He frowned and asked, "Then you can't hit my dog!"

"..." Meng Yuan felt sorry for Liu He and said calmly, "This man is the son of General Manager Liu, and a servant of the princess. He is speaking nonsense here, and his words are rude, which damages the princess's reputation. I punished him, not to disrespect the prince."

"Is what he said true or false?" Dugu Kang actually asked an old guest beside him.

The old guest saw that Meng Yuan was holding the knife at his waist the whole time and was right, and Nie Qingqing did not seem to be panicking. The guests on the second floor also looked over, and he whispered to a middle-aged guard to discuss something.

After discussing for a few sentences, the old guest whispered something in Dugu Kang's ear, and then Dugu Kang said at a loss: "I haven't bullied anyone yet, so why don't they take me to the poetry meeting because of this?"

"That's right, we don't need to cause trouble outside. Those stinky scholars are the best at spreading lies." The old Qingke comforted.

"Don't call him a stinking scholar!" Dugu Kang obviously considered himself a scholar, "Then I'll listen to you. I'll deal with him when I get back!"

Dugu Kang snorted twice, without asking Meng Yuan's name, and just muttered some crude warrior words, and went downstairs immediately. Several long-time servants came forward, lifted up Liu He, and followed together.

The old courtier stayed behind and looked at Meng Yuan. He smiled and nodded, saying, "Young people are prone to hot tempers, but if you offend the prince, I'm afraid it will be difficult to deal with. When you return, come find me and I will help you turn things around in front of the prince, and then the matter will be resolved."

After saying this, the old guest walked downstairs.

Meng Yuan didn't understand what this old Qingke meant. Why did he suddenly show his goodwill? Or was he smiling but hiding a dagger?

"Sister, what does he mean?" Meng Yuan asked Nie Qingqing curiously.

Nie Qingqing laughed and shook her head, saying, "My father said that you are sometimes smart and sometimes stupid, and it seems to be true. That person is asking you for money. Aren't these hangers-on hanging around the prince just for that little bit of money? Liu He has nothing to do with them, so they won't help him. They just want to take the opportunity to get more money. The prince is pure and likes to show off his knowledge. Although you have hurt his face, he can't think too much, and in the end it is the subordinates who come up with ideas."

Yes, isn't it just for a few bucks to flatter the prince? There's really no need to make enemies with the impulsive young warrior, and the young man is the princess's man, so if he can get some money to fool the matter, it's good for everyone.

Meng Yuan figured out the key and couldn't help laughing.

"You go back first. We have to inform Xunmei about this matter. I have sent people to look for my father. Don't worry. My father still has some face in front of the princess." Nie Qingqing spoke softly with a smile on her face, looking at Meng Yuan carefully.

"I'm sorry to have caused trouble for my sister. I'll go back first." Meng Yuan nodded and walked downstairs.

But just before he reached the guard post, Nie Qingqing spoke up again, "Master Meng, you promised to send a pot of wine to each table, but you haven't left the money yet."

She was all smiles.

"Please give me credit for a while." Meng Yuan accepted the money for the wine and said with a smile, "I will come to settle the debt when I borrow the money."

"Living on borrowed money is not a long-term solution." Nie Qingqing clasped her hands and smiled, "Didn't you just ask if you could follow my father to make money? Now I tell you, making money is just a side job. I agreed on behalf of my father."

(End of this chapter)