Receiving the Reward

It was already evening when they returned to the Royal Residence.

"The credit isn't going anywhere, it's the same if we go find Xun Mei tomorrow," Nie Yannian originally wanted to go straight back to sleep, but was pulled back by Meng Yuan who wouldn't let him leave.

"Shouldn't the first thing after returning from a business trip be to report back?" Meng Yuan was thinking about the credit.

Nie Yannian was so angry he poked Meng Yuan's nose, "Sometimes you're a smart kid, other times you're as impatient as a young rooster!"

"I am a young rooster," Meng Yuan said sincerely.

Nie Yannian lost his temper and took Meng Yuan to find Xun Mei.

The Princess Consort's residence was called Tranquil Garden, and Xun Mei lived next to Tranquil Garden.

Although the Qing Kingdom had a fierce folk custom, the Princess Consort was a female dependent after all, so most of the people coming and going around Tranquil Garden were maids.

"Tranquil Garden was built by the Princess Consort in memory of her late father, it's the most elegant and quiet place, a good place to read," Nie Yannian didn't forget to remind him, "Our Princess Consort loves to read, she has countless books, and the several capable maids below her also follow suit. So for you, kid, to borrow books from Xun Mei, you've really hit the nail on the head."

"Master Nie, I borrow books for knowledge, to resolve doubts, to understand things, not for anything else," Meng Yuan said.

"That's what I like about you, kid, you're thick-skinned and shameless," Nie Yannian said.

Meng Yuan didn't say anything more, anyway, ever since Zhang Guinian mentioned Master Nie's daughter, he had been constantly mocking him.

Of course, the other person wasn't wrong, Meng Yuan was indeed thick-skinned and shameless.

Arriving at Xun Mei's residence, they had a young maid announce them, and then Xun Mei actually came out to greet them herself.

"Uncle Nie," Xun Mei performed a junior's bow to Nie Yannian, showing that what Nie Yannian said about him hanging out with the Princess Consort's brother before did have some basis.

"How has the Princess Consort been recently?" Nie Yannian was very casual, and spoke like he was talking to a junior.

"Everything is well," Xun Mei smiled.

After entering the reception hall and being served hot tea, Nie Yannian finally let Meng Yuan report on the trip to the Medicine Manor.

Meng Yuan didn't hide anything and told everything in detail.

"I heard that the Western Regions have the most Buddhism and Demons, and any demon that takes human form cultivates Buddhist dharma, but I didn't expect them to come here," Xun Mei looked at Meng Yuan, seeing that Meng Yuan had gained a bit of bravery and calmness, showing that he had indeed seen bloodshed.

"We can't manage this matter, there are many branches of Buddhism, and many strange and bizarre things, anyway, the Demon Suppression Division is handling it, let them worry about it," Nie Yannian didn't want to delve deeper, he pointed at Meng Yuan and said, "This kid has made a contribution and wants to bring his family from Pasture Manor back, you can arrange it for him."

"That's easy," Xun Mei smiled, immediately wrote a note for Meng Yuan, and said, "Since you've entered the ranks, you are a Guard, and your family shouldn't have to do strenuous work anymore. Even if you didn't mention it, I was planning to bring them back to the Royal Residence anyway. Tomorrow you go to Pasture Manor, give the note to Manor Head Sun, and bring your family back. As for the residence, there is an empty courtyard next to the Training Field, I will have someone clean it up later, you can temporarily live there. I remember Jiang Shuan is a veterinarian, so he can temporarily take on the position of horse doctor, and be in charge of the Royal Residence's horses."

Xun Mei smiled as she looked at Meng Yuan, she also didn't expect this little Gelder to actually have talent in martial arts, entering the ranks in less than two months, and even having the experience of killing and capturing demons.

Not only that, this person was simple and steady, could endure loneliness and hard training, and had the ambition to improve, knowing that reading more books would broaden his horizons.

And it could also be seen that Nie Yannian was very supportive of this young man, clearly loving his talent and wanting to teach him as a successor.

If such a person was guided well in the future and didn't go down the wrong path, he would definitely have a future.

Not to mention, this young man was someone she had promoted herself, so Xun Mei was willing to give him more preferential treatment, not only allowing his family to reunite but also arranging a place to live.

Moreover, the position of Guard was special, related to the Princess Consort's peace, and close to the Princess Consort, so Guards needed to be people with a clear background, and needed more preferential treatment than other positions.

"Thank you, Mei-jie!" Meng Yuan sincerely thanked her.

Since entering the Royal Residence before the New Year, it was now early February. Meng Yuan had promised Jiang Tang that he would bring her and her grandfather to live in the city within half a year, and now it had happened in less than two months.

"You borrowed history books to read, have you gained anything?" Xun Mei didn't mention the reward money, but instead smiled and started chatting.

"History books are all about ancient people's deeds, kings, marquises, and generals, I just read it for fun, I don't understand any great principles. But in the dead of night, from those vast and dense words, I saw one sentence," Meng Yuan said seriously.

"What sentence?" Xun Mei asked curiously.

Nie Yannian also pricked up his ears, planning to see how Meng Yuan would fool people.

"This sentence is, when a person lives between heaven and earth, loyalty and filial piety should be the foundation of their life."

Meng Yuan was very sincere, "Master Nie taught me martial arts, that's why I have today's credit, I am certainly grateful for Master Nie's kindness. But tracing back to the source, it was still the Princess Consort's promotion. If it weren't for the Princess Consort's promotion, I would still be castrating pigs and sheep in Pasture Manor."

Speaking of this, Meng Yuan paused slightly, then continued, "Of course, castrating pigs and sheep is not bad either, it's all working for the Princess Consort, but being a Guard in the Royal Residence is even more boundless."

Of the four words, propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame, Meng Yuan only occupied "loyalty".

Nie Yannian clapped his hands and said indifferently, "Good, good, good."

"You read history books well, the good thing is that you read out the Dao of loyalty and filial piety!" Xun Mei also nodded, praising happily, "Don't forget where you came from, then you know where you are going, very good."

She immediately wrote another note, stamped it, and handed it to Meng Yuan, saying, "The Princess Consort treats us the best. According to the rules, since you are a Royal Residence Guard, in addition to your monthly salary, there are separate allowances for official duties, and if you are injured, there is also a recuperation allowance. You captured two demons and killed one demon, that's three hundred taels. Take the note to Gou Accountant to withdraw it."

"Thank you, Mei-jie," Meng Yuan took it with satisfaction, this money was enough to buy Jiang Yatou a few new clothes, and also enough to eat meat every day.

After serving Xun Mei comfortably, Meng Yuan and Nie Yannian took their leave.

"If you went to be a pretty boy, you would have been rich long ago!" After leaving Xun Mei's residence, Nie Yannian immediately exclaimed.

Meng Yuan pretended not to understand and just pulled Nie Yannian to find Gou Accountant.

He exchanged Xun Mei's note for three silver notes, Meng Yuan took out two and gave them to Nie Yannian.

"What do you mean?" Nie Yannian frowned and refused to accept, showing a bit of integrity.

"If it weren't for Master Nie, I wouldn't have gotten the reward money. Not to mention Master Nie taught me martial arts and has repeatedly promoted me," Meng Yuan was very sincere.

"This is what you earned with your life, how can I take it?" Nie Yannian waved his hand and refused, "Besides, you still have a Little Wife to support, you need money everywhere, so I can't take it even more."

Meng Yuan carefully distinguished Master Nie's tone, and seeing his sincerity, he emulated the virtuous, thinking to himself, you are no worse than me when I was facing Xun Mei.

"Without Master Nie, there would be no me. You must accept this money." Meng Yuan simply handed over all three silver notes.

"No, no, I can't take money from a junior," Nie Yannian refused.

"Master Nie, if you don't take it, I won't dare to go out on official business with you anymore!"

"This is the Princess Consort's reward for you. What does it have to do with me?"

"Mine is Master Nie's!"

The two 'bitches' put up a paifang higher than the heavens, actually pushing and shoving each other. Anyone who didn't know would think they were a kind master and a filial disciple.

"How about we go eat first? Spring river fish aren't considered plump, but the steamed fish at Drunken Moon Pavilion has a unique flavor." Meng Yuan hadn't forgotten the pain after the wound healed. The matter of being a wine tout was still fresh in his mind, but he still invited Master Nie to go with him, planning to be scammed by the father and daughter again.

Although the three hundred taels of silver were earned through his hard work, it was ultimately due to Master Nie's guidance, so it was only right to give some to his daughter.

Last time he was accidentally scammed, this time he was willing to be scammed.

Of course, if he could steal some more techniques from Master Nie's mouth, he would have profited again.

Nie Yannian, however, had no intention of supporting his daughter's business. He just said, "Since you've made a fortune, why don't you treat me to some music? It won't cost us much!"

"Master Nie, it is important for a person to maintain their integrity. I would never go to such a place!" Meng Yuan refused very firmly. It wasn't really about maintaining integrity, but rather worrying about spending too much money.

Seeing Meng Yuan's appearance as a guardian of the Dao, Nie Yannian laughed and praised, "You've read a couple of broken books. Your knowledge hasn't increased much, but you've learned the whole act of being a hypocrite and a fake scholar! Don't let me catch you secretly going to prostitutes yourself!"

The two of them chatted idly and arrived at the Drunken Moon Pavilion.

The beautiful proprietress saw Meng Yuan again and smiled as she bowed.

Meng Yuan had a righteous expression, said nothing, just nodded slightly, truly looking like a gentleman.

They went up to the second floor and sat by the river, looking down at the water below. Meng Yuan diligently poured wine.

"Bring the Dream Lake Spring!" Nie Yannian immediately pushed away the wine when he saw Meng Yuan urging him to drink.

What is Dream Lake Spring? Meng Yuan was a bumpkin and didn't understand at all.

Nie Yannian clapped his hands, and a servant boy came closer, calling out Master Nie.

"Two pots of Dream Lake Spring!" Nie Yannian held up two fingers.

So it's fine wine! This time he's really acting as a wine tout! Master Nie, you're really going to great lengths for your daughter's business!

Meng Yuan was in a position to ask for something, and he had already planned to spend all three hundred taels, so he didn't ask for the price.

"The wine pots are too small, bring two jars! And change the wine bowls! Big bowls!" Meng Yuan looked like a nouveau riche.

Nie Yannian was originally picking up food, but when he heard this, he put down his chopsticks. He did plan to repeat the old trick, but the young man in front of him looked like he was lying down and letting himself be slaughtered, not resisting at all, which made the scamming feel tasteless.

"Master Nie, when will you teach me something else?" Meng Yuan changed to a large bowl, and after accompanying him for three bowls of wine, he revealed his true intentions. "I'm thinking that the Gale Wind Saber Technique's main point is speed, but it lacks fierceness. Can you teach me another saber technique that is straightforward and very fierce?"

Now Meng Yuan had tasted the feeling of having a saber in his hand for the first time, so he needed to make the saber sharper and learn more things to stand more firmly!

"The fact that you can think of this shows that you are not a dullard who only knows how to practice diligently!" Nie Yannian praised him and continued, "However, your Gale Wind Saber Technique is not yet perfected, so don't be greedy. When you open a few more acupoints, I will teach you the method of wielding the saber, which will guarantee you can dominate within your rank!"

"No need to wait any longer, why don't you tell me now?" Meng Yuan saw that Master Nie's face was red from drinking and urged him to drink even more enthusiastically.

Nie Yannian stroked his chin, looking at the very diligent young man. He thought to himself, I'm just scamming you out of a few coins for fun, and you actually want to get me drunk so you can steal my secrets?

"Master Nie, please tell me, please tell me. I feel uncomfortable all over if I don't listen to Master Nie's teachings for a day!" Meng Yuan poured the wine vigorously and clapped his hands again, summoning the servant boy. "Bring two more jars! Remember, from now on, whenever this Master Nie comes to eat, put all the expenses on my tab!"

This is my daughter's shop, eating here doesn't cost anything at all, and you want to put it on your tab? Do I even know you?

Nie Yannian frowned, originally wanting to maintain some reserve, but then he saw Meng Yuan pick up the wine bowl and shove it towards his face, looking like he wanted to get him drunk.

"Alright, alright, I'll tell you about it!" Nie Yannian couldn't stand it and sighed repeatedly, "Damn it, I finally know what it means for a strong woman to fear a persistent suitor!"