Chapter 89: Mutual Understanding

Chapter 89: Mutual Understanding

Mid-April had passed.

That evening, Chen Shouzhuo set out a simple meal and wine.

"Now that only minor affairs remain in Donghe County, my two esteemed brothers might as well return early to guard the Empress Consort." After some small talk, Chen Shouzhuo finally stated his purpose.

Meng Yuan also felt it was time to go back. With the Central Thirty-Three Heavens fully open, he needed to map and refine his cultivation, aiming to achieve the Seventh Rank Martial Officer status after reaching perfection.

During this period, he planned to find Teacher Nie and have another chat.

Moreover, five days had passed since he killed Xie Shen, yet there was no sign of his brother, Xie Ping, coming to seek revenge, nor had the Governor's people come to inquire.

Meng Yuan had initially thought that if the other party came, he could test Xie Ping's abilities, but his calculations proved futile.

Now that Chen Shouzhuo was urging him to leave, Meng Yuan was happy to return, and he could also inquire further about the Xie Family's affairs.

"Please trouble you to deliver this letter to the Empress Consort on my behalf." Chen Shouzhuo took out a letter.

Meng Yuan accepted it. The letter was sealed with wax, but it couldn't prevent a small person from tampering with it.

However, Meng Yuan was a sincere gentleman and had no intention of snooping.

The next morning, Chen Shouzhuo came to see them off personally.

"Brother, Donghe County is short of personnel. If I encounter difficulties in the future and need to rely on your martial prowess, I hope you will come to help your foolish brother." Chen Shouzhuo smiled.

"Of course! Just send a letter!" Meng Yuan had a very good impression of Chen Shouzhuo, a clean official who was not stubborn or rigid and was also very intelligent.

After a few more words, Meng Yuan and Tie Niu mounted their horses and set off back to Songhe Prefecture.

This time, they didn't have Chen Shouzhuo's little donkey, so the two young men urged their horses to gallop, not sparing their strength.

By afternoon, they reached the Canglang River, paid the fare to cross, and by dusk, they had already entered the city.

Meng Yuan, being a man of principles, didn't make any detours and went straight to the Imperial Mansion.

Without removing his sword and bow, Meng Yuan first sought out Xun Mei to report his mission.

Upon arrival, he found Nie Yanian was also there, and the two seemed to be discussing something.

"Hey! You're back already?" Nie Yanian waved them over while sitting down. Meng Yuan and Tie Niu hurriedly approached.

Nie Yanian patted Tie Niu's arm and asked with a smile, "Tie Niu, have you been out for half a month? Did Scholar Meng take you to taste some meat?"

"Of course! Every day! I ate until I was full of dog legs! And even had some beef a few times!" Tie Niu was overjoyed.

"Good, good, good." Nie Yanian patted Tie Niu's shoulder, "You really had a good time!"

"Tie Niu is honest, Uncle Nie, don't tease him." Xun Mei, a kind-hearted person, smiled at Meng Yuan and asked, "How was the trip?"

"Everything went smoothly. Mr. Chen is very kind and knowledgeable about governance. To be honest, Tie Niu and I didn't help much; we just enjoyed eating and drinking." Meng Yuan smiled.

As he spoke, Meng Yuan took out the letter, "Mr. Chen asked me to deliver this to the Empress Consort."

Xun Mei accepted it, saw that the envelope was intact with no creases, and smiled in approval.

"It seems you did a good job and didn't disgrace yourself!" Nie Yanian also laughed, pulling out a few documents from his sleeve, "Scholar Meng will now be a true scholar, officially discharged!"

Meng Yuan took the documents and saw that they were the indenture papers he had signed last year.

At that time, to secure a meal, he had sold himself to the Empress Consort. He had castrated many men for the Empress Consort and wielded the sword for her for a long time. Now, he was finally a free man again.

"Teacher Nie, do I need to appear in the government office to sign and seal this for it to be official?" Meng Yuan asked curiously.

"You really are naive!" Nie Yanian laughed heartily, "I once had an old partner who was away on official business for two years, and when he returned, his wife was full-term and ready to give birth. No one found it strange, so why should you?"

"Is that the same?"

"Meng Yuan chuckled.

Nie Yanian also laughed.

'Enough, enough,' Xun Mei said, touching her forehead and shaking her head with a smile. 'Tie Niu is a kind and honest man; you two shouldn't talk about these things in front of him.'

Holding the letter, she said, 'Let me go and see the Princess Consort.'

Meng Yuan hadn't expected that delivering a letter would require him to personally meet the Third Miss. Moreover, it was already dark outside.

Recalling the image of the Princess Consort in the pavilion, the way she had just bathed and carefully picked green plums, Meng Yuan immediately said, 'Yes!'

'The Princess Consort usually sleeps late,' Xun Mei explained, seeing Meng Yuan's seriousness. 'Moreover, she mentioned beforehand that she wanted to hear about how Chen Shouzhuo governed Hedong County and ruled over its people.'

'I'll go and check it out first,' Xun Mei said, letting Meng Yuan and Tie Niu wait. She went ahead on her own.

Meng Yuan knew that the Princess Consort didn't dress properly, and Xun Mei was concerned about maintaining decorum.

After a while, Xun Mei returned and led Meng Yuan and Tie Niu into the Tranquil Garden.

'Let me take a look first,' Xun Mei told Meng Yuan and Tie Niu to wait. She went ahead on her own.

Meng Yuan understood that the Princess Consort didn't dress formally, and Xun Mei was concerned about maintaining propriety.

Soon, Xun Mei returned and brought Meng Yuan and Tie Niu into the Tranquil Garden.

It was the same pavilion, with no lanterns hanging at the four corners, but only a single oil lamp on the table in the center, along with an unopened letter.

Ying Ruisi, wearing a Daoist robe, leaned her head on her hand as she read a scroll, slightly tilting her head and smiling softly.

Her hair draped over her shoulders, without a trace of makeup, exuding a relaxed air. Under the dim yellow light, she seemed to have an otherworldly charm.

With no hint of a lady's demeanor, she appeared as if she had just woken up from an afternoon nap.

'The grass hall has slept deeply, the sun lingers outside the window,' Meng Yuan recited in his heart as he approached the pavilion and bowed.

Ying Ruisi slightly tilted her head and smiled, saying, 'Let's talk about what Chen Shouzhuo did in Hedong County.'

Meng Yuan knew that Ying Ruisi wanted to hear about certain things, so he first spoke about how Chen Shouzhuo won over the county government clerks, and then about how he dealt with the local aristocrats by pitting them against each other, as well as reopening old cases to remove harm from the people.

After listening for a while, Ying Ruisi put down the scroll, picked up the letter, and opened it to read.

She glanced at it, raised her eyebrows, and looked at Meng Yuan, but didn't say anything. Only the corners of her mouth curled up slightly in a smile.

The beauty's smile under the lamp left Meng Yuan's expression unchanged, as he proceeded to talk about what he had witnessed in Hedong County.

After Meng Yuan finished speaking, Tie Niu's account was much simpler and lacked focus, merely mentioning how Chen Shouzhuo was good to the common people.

'I remember you're already an Eighth Rank Warrior, and now you've opened all your energy points,' Ying Ruisi said, picking up the scroll again and leaning her head on her hand to read.

'All of them,' Meng Yuan replied.

Xun Mei, hearing this, tilted her head to look at Meng Yuan, and Tie Niu also looked at Meng Yuan in bewilderment.

Ying Ruisi put down the book, leaning her head on one hand, and carefully observed Meng Yuan.

After a while, she asked again, 'What martial arts did Nie Yanian teach you?'

'The Flying Cotton Technique and the Seven Absurd Winds Edge Sword,' Meng Yuan knew that this was about giving away something, so he quickly spoke up.

'Not bad,' Ying Ruisi nodded slightly. 'Go back and practice diligently. I'll need you again in the future.'

This was a promise to pass on the Heavenly Insight Map!

Meng Yuan and Tie Niu bowed and retreated, and at this moment, Ying Ruisi finally looked at Xun Mei.

'Miss, did Chen Shouzhuo say anything else?' Xun Mei asked curiously.

'Chen Shouzhuo said that he wants to borrow this person for his use tomorrow,' Ying Ruisi smiled. 'He came to the training ground in the first month and entered the ranks in mid-January. In just three months, he has already opened the Central Thirty-Three Heavens.'

Ying Ruisi put down the scroll and said, 'He has an unwavering determination and can also humble himself to do things. I think a scroll of the Heavenly Insight Map would be compatible with him.'

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end