Chapter 34: Making a Living

Chapter 34: Making a Living

"Elder Sister, may I ask where the Empress Consort is from? I heard from Nie Shi that he once followed the Empress Consort's elder brother."

Since they had nothing better to do, Meng Yuan poured wine for Nie Qingqing and asked about the origins of their master.

"You don't even know about your master's family?" Nie Qingqing smiled as she took a sip.

"I truly don't know, please enlighten me, sister." Meng Yuan earnestly requested.

Currently, Meng Yuan had gained some success, and although it was due to his own efforts, the Empress Consort had also genuinely shown him gratitude.

Not to mention, Xun Mei, who was under the Empress Consort, had helped him, and Nie Shi had taught him the Dao.

Meng Yuan had plans to establish his own business once he had sufficient resources. Of course, he didn't intend to create enmity with the Empress Consort, but rather, he wanted to repay her kindness.

Moreover, Meng Yuan knew that the Empress Consort was extremely knowledgeable and benevolent, unlike the typical secluded noblewoman.

Although Meng Yuan had never met the Empress Consort, he sincerely admired her.

However, Nie Qingqing was reluctant to say more and only replied, "You can ask my father later when we have time. He served the Empress Consort's elder brother and even called himself a dog of the Ying family."

The Empress Consort's surname was Ying, and Nie Shi had followed her elder brother. With Nie Shi's playful and hot-tempered personality, the fact that he called himself a dog of the Ying family indicated that the Empress Consort's brother was truly extraordinary.

"Let's drink." Nie Qingqing, with her charming demeanor, eagerly offered more wine and took the opportunity to inquire about Meng Yuan's background.

Meng Yuan was an honest man, so he didn't hide anything. He shared his experience of fleeing from danger and his skills as a castrator.

Nie Qingqing didn't find it vulgar; instead, she listened attentively while encouraging him to drink, as if she were using his story as a topic for drinking.

The two of them were chatting happily when they suddenly heard the laughter of the Prince, Du Guokang, who was laughing heartily without any regard for the gazes of others.

The second floor was filled with refined guests and scholars, and they all turned to look at the Prince.

Meng Yuan also looked over and saw that the Prince's four scholarly guests were flattering him and asking him to compose a poem.

Du Guokang first showed humility with a few words, and then, without hesitation, he stood up, tapped his folding fan against his palm, and walked slowly while deep in thought, seemingly searching for the right words. He truly had the demeanor of a poet.

Many of the refined guests on the second floor also looked over, clearly filled with anticipation.

However, Du Guokang shook his head and pondered for a long time, but he couldn't come up with anything. The four scholarly guests didn't seem to be in a hurry and were smiling as they waited.

Meng Yuan was also curious, but he noticed that Liu He had already spotted him, and his expression showed both disbelief and disdain.

After a while, Du Guokang walked back and forth, looking down at the river and up at the white clouds in the sky, and then he happily clapped his hands and said, "I've got it!"

With one hand behind his back and the other holding a folding fan, he circled around the group and proudly said, "Listen, everyone."

The four scholarly guests quickly pretended to listen intently, and the other guests on the second floor of the Intoxicating Moon Tower also leaned in to listen, as they had already heard that the Prince had composed a poem.

Meng Yuan and Nie Qingqing also wanted to see what kind of poem the Prince, who had been praised as 'pure and simple', could create.

"What is that thing floating in the sky, one piece in the east and one strip in the west. Could it be a celestial weaving cloth, that has fallen to the ground and turned into floating willow catkins?" Du Guokang recited his poem with great satisfaction, and the entire second floor of the Intoxicating Moon Tower fell silent.

Then, some people snickered, some shook their heads, some dug their ears, and some even threw down their chopsticks and left.

Meng Yuan was also impressed; the Prince's poem was a mess, but it showed his talent.

Nie Qingqing shook her head and laughed, saying, "Although he lacks poetic talent, being born into a royal family is still a blessing."

Many of the refined guests on the second floor showed disdain, but the Prince had his flattering scholarly guests, and they had already started praising him.

"Wonderful! The rhymes and tones are exquisite, and the meaning is profound! The Prince's talent is unparalleled in this world!"

"This poem is easy to recite, pure and genuine, fitting the scenery and the emotions! If there were celestial beings, they would surely wear white clouds as skirts and willow catkins as skirts! How marvelous!"

As the scholarly guests praised and toasted the Prince, Du Guokang became even more proud.

Meng Yuan found it uninteresting and was about to take his leave when he noticed Liu He approaching Du Guokang and whispering a few words, constantly glancing in their direction.

Then, Du Guokang also looked over at them and said a few words to Liu He with a smile, and Liu He walked over with a smug expression.

"Castrator, what are you doing here? The Intoxicating Moon Tower is a place for refined scholars, not someone like you." Liu He walked up to Meng Yuan with a smug expression.

Nie Qingqing remained silent, clasped her hands, and looked at Meng Yuan.

Meng Yuan found it uninteresting and didn't understand why Liu He was so proud. Was it because he thought he had gained an advantage? But he was just a close attendant of the Prince.

Currently, both Meng Yuan and Liu He were still slaves, but Meng Yuan was steadily improving, and his position was becoming stronger. Liu He, on the other hand, was sinking deeper into his servitude.

With different paths, Meng Yuan considered it a waste of time to say another word to Liu He.

Seeing that Meng Yuan wasn't speaking, Liu He assumed that Meng Yuan was intimidated. He turned to Nie Qingqing and said, "Nie young lady, the Prince would like to invite you over for a drink."

Nie Qingqing's expression didn't show any displeasure, clearly accustomed to such situations. She smiled and said, "Please convey my message to the Prince: with my willow-like grace, I cannot handle alcohol, and I dare not disturb the Prince's poetic inspiration. Today, the Prince has left a poem here, and I, the Intoxicating Moon Tower, am honored. The cost of the banquet is on the house. Later, I will send two jars of Lake Dream Spring wine to the Imperial Mansion."

Liu He listened to her words and couldn't find any fault in them. He turned and saw that Du Guokang was carefully examining a calligraphy masterpiece, while the four scholarly guests were fawning over it, clearly planning to buy it at a high price.

For a moment, Liu He felt ignored by the Prince and looked down upon by Nie Qingqing. He frowned and said to Nie Qingqing, "I've already spoken to the Prince, please give me face and just offer a drink."

Nie Qingqing assessed Liu He with a smile and said, "Please, Liu brother, for the sake of my father, give me face. I'm just a woman, so please don't make things difficult for me. I'll invite you for a drink another day."

"Why should I give you face?" Liu He didn't sense any displeasure in Nie Qingqing's words; he only felt that she was showing weakness by mentioning her father. "In the past, in front of so many people, I knelt before your father, but he didn't accept me and even mocked me. Why should I give you face now?"

Meng Yuan shook his head in disappointment. Liu He was truly clueless; Nie Qingqing had already politely refused and even offered to waive the bill and send wine, which was a clear gesture of goodwill. Liu He, as a close attendant, should just listen to his master.

Could someone who opens a restaurant in this location be easily manipulated? What abilities could a mere prince's attendant have?

A real commotion broke out, and the pure and simple Prince was about to stand up for a servant. Moreover, Nie Qingqing's father had a connection with the Empress Dowager's brother, and he was also close friends with Hundred Household Commander Zhang Guinian, who hailed from the Demon Control Bureau and possessed extraordinary power with his Spring Thunder Burst.

Meng Yuan had crossed over, and everything he had experienced made him deeply respect fists and blades.

But this Liu He had obviously never experienced any setbacks, having never left the Imperial Mansion. He lacked an understanding of fists and only knew how to curry favor with the powerful. He thought that status and power were everything.

However, he didn't realize that fists were the most direct form of logic. Status and power were also built upon fists and blades.

Meng Yuan respected violence and deeply understood its value.

Therefore, he stood up, reached out, and placed his hand on Liu He's head, grabbing his hair.

"What are you doing?" Liu He had been beaten by Meng Yuan before, and he never expected Meng Yuan to dare to lay a hand on him in front of the Prince. At this moment, he panicked and shouted, struggling to break free.

But at this very moment, compared to the first time he was beaten, Liu He felt that Meng Yuan's strength was even greater. His hand tightly grasped the hair at the back of his head, and he couldn't break free. When he tried to grab Meng Yuan's wrists, he found it even more difficult to shake him off.

"Prince, save me..." Liu He hadn't even finished shouting when he felt a surge of strength from the hand at the back of his head. His entire body was bent down, and his head was smashed heavily on the table, causing the dishes to shatter.

Liu He felt blood and mucus in his nose and mouth, and everything went dark before his eyes. But before he could react, the hand grabbed his head again and slammed it onto the table once more.

After three consecutive blows, Liu He's face was covered in blood, his head seemed to have bloomed, and he became listless. Yet, the hand still hadn't let go of his head.

Liu He lay on the table, blood and pastries covering the entire surface. Then, Meng Yuan leaned over.

"Who is she?" Meng Yuan pressed Liu He's head down, making his bloody face stick to the table, right in front of Nie Qingqing.

Nie Qingqing remained seated and silent.

"It's...Nie Qingqing...Nie Shi's daughter..." Liu He's nose was crooked, blood dripping from it as he struggled to answer.

"If I ever hear you speaking to Nie Shi or his daughter like that again, I'll cripple you."

Meng Yuan lifted Liu He's head and then forcefully pressed it down on the table, "Do you understand?"

"I...I understand..." Liu He dared not refuse, his face covered in blood and mucus.

The commotion on the second floor was too loud, and without any verbal conflict, they immediately started fighting. Everyone on the second floor was stunned, and even some people from the first floor came to watch. Several young servants quickly gathered around Nie Qingqing, waiting for instructions.

The Prince, Solitary Lonely, sat in his original spot, looking dazed, revealing his pure and simple nature. His martial guard did not step forward to help but stood behind Solitary Lonely, his hand resting on the hilt of his waist knife.

Meng Yuan looked around at the people on the second floor, clasped his fists in a four-way salute, and said, "I apologize for disturbing your enjoyment, it was truly inappropriate. I offer a jar of Lake Dream Spring wine to each table as compensation, and I hope you gentlemen will forgive me."

Some of the guests ignored him, some smiled, and a few young scholars smiled and returned the salute.

Meng Yuan then turned to the Prince, Solitary Lonely, and clasped his fists again. He placed his hand on his waist knife and said, "Prince, please don't worry. I am a guard under the Empress Dowager."

Although Solitary Lonely was pure and simple, he wasn't a fool. Hearing this, he felt more at ease and asked with a frown, "But you can't beat my dog!"

"..." Meng Yuan felt that Liu He wasn't worth it and calmly said, "This person is the son of Supervisor Liu. He is a servant of the Empress Dowager. He spoke rudely and disrespectfully here, tarnishing the Empress Dowager's reputation. I took action to discipline him, not out of disrespect to the Prince."

"Is what he said true?" Solitary Lonely actually asked an elderly guest beside him.

The elderly guest saw that Meng Yuan was still holding his waist knife and that his words were reasonable. Nie Qingqing also didn't show any signs of panic, and the other refined guests on the second floor were also watching. So, he whispered to a middle-aged guard.

After a brief discussion, the elderly guest leaned over and whispered a few words to Solitary Lonely. Then, Solitary Lonely said in a daze, "I haven't bullied anyone, and they won't let me attend the poetry gathering because of this?"

"That's right. We don't need to cause trouble outside. Those scholars' mouths are the best at spreading rumors." The elderly guest reassured him.

"Don't call them scholars!" Solitary Lonely, obviously considering himself a refined gentleman, said, "Then I'll listen to you. We'll deal with him when we get back!"

Solitary Lonely hummed twice, not bothering to ask Meng Yuan's name. He just muttered about some crude martial artist's words and headed downstairs, followed by several attendants who lifted Liu He and accompanied him.

The elderly guest stayed until the end, took a good look at Meng Yuan, smiled, and nodded, saying, "Young people have hot tempers, but you've offended the Prince, and it might be difficult to resolve. When you get back, come find me, and I'll help you smooth things over with the Prince."

After speaking, the elderly guest took a step downstairs.

Meng Yuan didn't understand why the elderly guest was suddenly being friendly. Was it a hidden threat?

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

Nie Qingqing shook her head with a smile, saying, "My father says you're sometimes smart and sometimes foolish. It seems he's right. These guests are just here to flatter the Prince, all for that bit of wealth. Liu He has nothing to do with them, so they won't help. They just want to take advantage and get more silver. The Prince is pure and simple and doesn't think much. It's the people below who come up with ideas."

Indeed, wasn't it all for a few coins that they flattered the Prince? There was no need to offend a young martial artist, especially one who was the Empress Dowager's man. It was better to get some silver and avoid trouble.

Meng Yuan understood and smiled.

"You should go back first. I'll need to discuss this with Xun Mei. I've sent someone to find my father, so don't worry. My father still has some influence with the Empress Dowager." Nie Qingqing spoke softly with a smile, carefully examining Meng Yuan.

"I've caused trouble for you, sister. I'll go back first." Meng Yuan nodded and took a step towards the stairs.

But just as he reached the railing, Nie Qingqing spoke again, "Meng Gongzi, you promised a jar of wine for every table, but you haven't paid yet."

She smiled charmingly.

"Please, sister, let me owe you this time." Meng Yuan acknowledged the cost of the wine with a smile, "I'll settle the bill once I borrow some money."

"Borrowing money to survive isn't a long-term solution." Nie Qingqing clasped her hands and smiled, "You just asked if you could make money with my father, right? Now I'll tell you, making money is a small matter. I've agreed on his behalf."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end