Chapter 60: Passing on Skills

Chapter 60: Passing on Skills

After giving Hu Qian a few pointers, Nie Yanyan left the training ground to look for Xun Mei.

As it happened, Xun Mei had a visitor, none other than Jiang Shuanyou.

"Teacher Nie," Jiang Shuanyou said, feeling rather awkward, and hurriedly paid his respects.

"What's the matter? Does Xun Mei owe you wages?" Nie Yanyan casually sat down and took the tea cup offered by a maid.

Xun Mei smiled but remained silent.

"I dare not, I dare not," Jiang Shuanyou said humbly. "I just feel that the work is too easy. There's nothing to do all day, and there are people to feed and take care of the horses. I was thinking of going back to the ranch to help out."

"You're too honest," Nie Yanyan laughed upon hearing this. "This job was meant for you to retire!"

"My granddaughter is settled, and Little Meng is showing great promise. I feel guilty doing nothing and still receiving a monthly salary," Jiang Shuanyou said.

"You don't understand," Nie Yanyan took a sip of tea and pointed at Jiang Shuanyou as he spoke. "Little Caunjiang is the Empress Dowager's bodyguard, and he hasn't been assigned any tasks yet, but he will be busy in the future. When the Empress Dowager goes out or inspects Tranquil Garden, he will have to contribute."

Jiang Shuanyou still looked confused, obviously not grasping the situation.

"Being a bodyguard is different from other positions. Loyalty is the top priority. If one is loyal and capable, they will be highly valued," Nie Yanyan explained patiently. "Little Caunjiang was recommended by Xun Mei, and I taught him personally. Loyalty is evident in his every word and action, and his abilities are passable."

Nie Yanyan pointed to Meng Yuan's residence and said, "Think about it, being so close to the Empress Dowager. If he had a family member who fell ill and couldn't afford treatment, or couldn't marry a wife, wouldn't he have to find a way to make money? If he were to spread the Empress Dowager's private matters or, worse, get involved in some sort of conspiracy, wouldn't that be disastrous?"

"That won't happen," Jiang Shuanyou said earnestly. "Little Meng said that in his heart, there is only one sun, and that is the Empress Dowager!"

"Well said!" Xun Mei nodded in approval.

Nie Yanyan glanced at Xun Mei but ultimately chose not to embarrass Meng Yuan. Instead, he continued, "Little Caunjiang has my guarantee and Xun Mei's. In the future, he will be a close bodyguard. In the past, this would be a private guard, and in the army, they would be adopted as a sworn brother. Do you understand?"

Jiang Shuanyou finally understood, and after a moment of stunned silence, he asked, "Swear allegiance to the Empress Dowager as a foster mother?"

"Our Empress Dowager doesn't do that!" Nie Yanyan smiled.

"He definitely considers the Empress Dowager as his foster mother!" Jiang Shuanyou said confidently, then added in a low voice, "Teacher Nie, when Little Meng returned last night, there was blood on his clothes. Did something happen?"

Xun Mei, who also seemed to have just learned about this, looked at Nie Yanyan with curiosity.

"I took him out yesterday to see some blood. It's nothing," Nie Yanyan smiled and then asked, "I heard from Little Caunjiang that when he was a refugee, he received a favor from a prostitute?"

"Prostitute..." Jiang Shuanyou glanced at Xun Mei's furrowed brows and decided to remain silent. After a moment of thought, he said, "But it was just a torn mat and dry bread. The former was for someone who spoke up for a righteous cause and wrapped a corpse, and the latter, you two shared and ate?"

"Yes, Little Meng thought more than I did. He still remembers the favor," Jiang Shuanyou felt a sense of how much things had changed, and today's visit seemed even more precious.

"Alright, Old Jiang, you can go back now!" Nie Yanyan took a sip of tea and added, "Don't tell Little Caunjiang about today's matter.

"Yes, yes, yes," Jiang Shuanyou hurriedly replied.

As soon as Jiang Shuanyou left, Xun Mei didn't plan to continue the game either. Instead, she curiously asked, "Where did he go yesterday?"

"Yesterday, he went to settle a debt with a prostitute and ran into an old acquaintance from the Demon Suppressing Commandery. He was taken to help out," Nie Yanian chuckled, "Seeing a bit of blood is a good thing, don't be afraid."

"I'm not afraid of that," Xun Mei said earnestly. "I initially helped him because of his pure and simple nature. Of course, I want to see him succeed, but Uncle Nie, I've noticed that ever since he followed you, he's been drinking more, and he frequently visits the Intoxicating Moon Tower. Uncle Nie, young people are most susceptible to the temptations of wine, women, and wealth, which can erode their aspirations."

Nie Yanian laughed so hard he became angry, "He's even purer than the Crown Prince! It's all because I've corrupted him!"

"That's not what I meant," Xun Mei quickly stood up and poured tea for Nie Yanian as an apology. "He's a grateful person, and since I see you mentoring him, you should teach him some real skills and discipline him more."

"I've already taught him," Nie Yanian sighed, thinking to himself that she didn't know how persistent the castrator could be.

"Then when the Empress Dowager goes on an outing, take him along and introduce him to people. That way, he can start doing things," Xun Mei calculated.

Nie Yanian had already intended to do so and immediately agreed. He then asked, "Where did that kid go?"

"He took a leave of absence and went out with Jiang Tang, saying he wanted to go on a spring excursion," Mei replied, finally understanding. "What did he do yesterday?"

"The Empress Dowager hasn't even gone on her outing, but he's already started his own!" Nie Yanian laughed in exasperation. "He challenged a monk to a duel, and I suspect he encountered some kind of dharma that leads to enlightenment about life and death. Perhaps in his dream, he spent a lifetime shoveling manure, and the little girl suffered alongside him. Now that he's awake, he feels sorry for his little girl. I've seen this happen many times; it'll be fine in a couple of days."

"Then you should teach him some real skills," Xun Mei said earnestly.

"I know, I know!" Nie Yanian impatiently stood up and returned to the training ground.

Upon arriving at the training ground, Nie Yanian decided to have Wu Changsheng bring over a reclining chair, and he began chatting with the various trainees one by one.

As dusk approached and it was almost time for dinner, Nie Yanian finally left.

Just as he exited the main gate of the training ground, he saw Meng Yuan and his maid returning. The two were talking with their heads down, and the maid couldn't stop laughing.

"Come here, come here," Nie Yanian beckoned with his finger.

"Master Nie! I've brought you honor!" Meng Yuan hurriedly approached to claim credit.

Nie Yanian knew that the castrator would bring up the topic of borrowing money next, so he immediately said, "That's enough, that's enough! Your face is big enough!"

Seeing that Meng Yuan was still holding several books, Nie Yanian snatched them away. They turned out to be Twenty-Nine Ancient Poems, Rhyme, and Verses.

"Incredible! The castrator is studying poetry now! Tsk tsk tsk, a cultured person indeed! He can become sworn brothers with the Crown Prince!" Nie Yanian mocked.

"Master Nie, don't underestimate him," Meng Yuan said earnestly. "Poetry can be both vulgar and refined, and everyone, from royalty to commoners, can sing it."

"Good, good! Then you write one!" Nie Yanian grabbed Meng Yuan's arm. "Let's see if you're better than the Crown Prince!"

"I haven't learned yet," Meng Yuan replied, unable to write a decent poem. Besides, these books weren't meant for him; they were for Xiang Ling.

"Poetry is for cultured people. You can't become a poet!" Nie Yanian chuckled and confidently said, "But I'll teach you some light body skills. When you're asked to compose a poem and can't come up with anything, you can just run away, and you won't even hear people cursing behind your back!"

"It's not that bad, I can still write a couple of folk rhymes," Meng Yuan quickly explained.

"The Crown Prince's confidant! Let's go!" Nie Yanian laughed.

"Weren't we supposed to wait until we met the Empress Dowager to start learning?" Meng Yuan asked curiously.

"There's no need to go through that formality; it's all the same," Nie Yanian said as he took a step and returned to the training ground.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end