Dugu

Arriving at the Training Field, after a brief warm-up, Meng Yuan decided to test the power of the Qilin Arm.

Now that the four acupoints in his right arm were open, infusing them with True Qi further increased his strength.

He settled into a horse stance, sinking his strength into his waist, placed his hands on the lifting points of the Stone Roller, and then slowly raised it.

After a slight pause, the True Qi from his Dantian surged into his right arm. Slowly releasing his left hand, Meng Yuan supported the Stone Roller with only his right arm, holding it for over thirty breaths.

Putting down the Stone Roller and catching his breath, Meng Yuan estimated that the strength of his right arm alone was about two hundred jin. If he infused True Qi into his right arm, it could reach around three hundred jin.

The improvement wasn't huge, but it wasn't small either.

Although strength could increase after entering the ranks, strength couldn't be quantified. It wasn't that opening an acupoint added a hundred jin of strength; there were differences between each person.

After opening the acupoints, the strength was still related to one's original strength, the strength of their muscles and bones, and the True Qi the acupoints could bear. Some people gained a lot of strength, while others gained less.

Some people who had opened acupoints and entered the ranks were even less strong than those who hadn't.

To put it simply, the Ninth Rank wasn't much different from ordinary people, and they might not even be guaranteed to win a fight against an ordinary person.

But after entering the ranks, the body was more coordinated and reactions were faster. The special aspect was the ability to cultivate True Qi, and when combined with boxing and sword techniques, as well as methods for circulating True Qi, it wasn't difficult to surpass ordinary people.

If one could also grasp the eight-character method of combining Qi and strength, and intention and Qi, taught by Master Nie, they would be considered outstanding among those of the same rank.

After another morning of training, it was almost noon, and Master Nie was still nowhere to be seen!

"Not doing anything proper all day! I can't even find someone to borrow money from!" Meng Yuan muttered secretly.

Taking advantage of the break, Wu Changsheng and Hu Qian also came to ask, and a group of students gathered around curiously, inquiring about Master Nie.

"Master Nie has been really lazy lately, not acting like a master at all!" Meng Yuan criticized in his heart, but when he spoke, he said, "What are you doing?"

Meng Yuan frowned, looking very serious and dissatisfied, saying, "Master Nie hasn't been here for several days, does that mean you have no backbone? You should know, this is Master Nie's test for us, and also his recognition of us! Because Master Nie knows that even if he's not here to supervise, everyone will never be lazy, never slack off, and will even train harder! Everyone, am I right?"

"Right!" The group of young people couldn't stand being provoked like this and responded loudly.

Meng Yuan was very pleased. He had intended to leave, but seeing that Hu Qian also seemed to agree, he put on a serious demeanor again.

"We come from different backgrounds. Some are from slave families, some are from displaced people, and I myself am from a castrator's background!"

Meng Yuan said loudly, "I was a person who was about to freeze and starve to death. It was the Princess Consort who gave me food, gave me drink, and gave me a house to live in! Although everyone works hard every day, they are well-fed and warmly dressed! In the future, you will be like me, or even live better than me! Everyone, who gave us all of this?"

Expressing loyalty was something that could be done anytime, anywhere.

"The Princess Consort!" the young people responded.

"Who gives us food?" Meng Yuan repeated the question.

"The Princess Consort!" The voices grew louder.

"Who gives us clothes?" Meng Yuan asked again.

"The Princess Consort!"

"Who do we pledge allegiance to?"

"The Princess Consort!" The young people shouted at the top of their lungs.

Seeing that the cohesion had emerged and the enthusiasm was high, Meng Yuan was very pleased.

Huh? But suddenly, Meng Yuan realized, why did that string of words sound like raising dead soldiers?

"Just remember these words in your hearts, be sincere! Don't say them everywhere!" Meng Yuan wiped the sweat from his forehead and added.

"Yes!" the young people shouted.

"Alright, alright, keep it down, keep it down." Meng Yuan didn't dare to stay long. He left the Training Field and headed straight for the Drunken Moon Pavilion.

Arriving at the Drunken Moon Pavilion, Meng Yuan saw Nie Qingqing and went straight to the point, saying, "Sister, I'm out of money."

Nie Qingqing saw that Meng Yuan was so straightforward and blunt that it was unbelievable. She smiled and shook her head, "Didn't you ask my father?"

"Master Nie doesn't know what he's busy with, he hasn't been to the Training Field for several days," Meng Yuan said.

"Then he's probably busy with the Martial Arts School's affairs," Nie Qingqing smiled. "Come on, sister keeps her word, I'll never let you go hungry."

She beckoned a waiter, whispered a few words, and then lightly moved her lotus steps, slowly ascending the stairs.

The Drunken Moon Pavilion was located in the prosperous area of the South City, built by the river.

Just based on this location, Meng Yuan felt that the Drunken Moon Pavilion shouldn't be Nie Qingqing's business alone. He feared that Master Nie had someone backing him.

Now that the spring wind was warm and it was near noon, there were many elegant guests on the second floor.

Looking at their attire, most were literati, Confucian scholars, and sons of wealthy families. They were either discussing poetry and lyrics or chatting in low voices. Although there were many people, there was a sense of tranquility.

Nie Qingqing invited Meng Yuan to sit in a corner, and then a young servant brought various pastries, fruits, candied fruits, and a pot of wine.

"Sister Qingqing, I just heard you say that Master Nie is busy with the Martial Arts School's affairs. Does he also have a Martial Arts School business?" Meng Yuan had long since realized that with Master Nie's temperament, he would never honestly stay in the Royal Residence.

Moreover, Master Nie had said that he had hung out with the Princess Consort's elder brother, and they had probably fought together, which was why the Princess Consort didn't restrain Master Nie much, and Xun Mei treated Master Nie with the courtesy due to an elder.

So it was normal for Master Nie to do some business outside.

"He and Uncle Zhang set it up together. It's been open for a few years, and the business is pretty good," Nie Qingqing clearly understood. She added, "The Martial Arts School recruits people with some family background. Their path is different from your hard training. They focus on medicinal baths and supplement with physical training."

Meng Yuan understood. Master Nie didn't earn money from the poor. The Martial Arts School accepted people who had some spare money and couldn't endure the hardship of training day and night, so they focused on medicinal baths.

In that case, the income must be excellent! Meng Yuan was very envious. Master Nie made money but didn't say anything about bringing him along.

"Does Master Nie need help? I have a family to support and am really short on money. Please point me to a clear path, sister." Meng Yuan was completely open and very sincere.

Nie Qingqing heard his blunt words and smiled as she poured wine. "Don't rush, drink first."

Meng Yuan took the wine cup and drained it in one gulp. Just as he was about to ask for more details, he saw a group of people surrounding a young man in luxurious clothes ascending the stairs.

The young man was about seventeen or eighteen years old, with a plump face and large ears, looking very fortunate. He lightly fanned himself with a folding fan, as if trying hard to appear somewhat cultured and refined.

Among his entourage, two had sharp eyes and swords hanging from their waists. They were likely martial artists who had entered the ranks, but probably only Ninth Rank.

There were also four people dressed as scholars, who were likely hangers-on and companions there to amuse him. Following behind were several attendants, and among them was even a familiar face, Liu He, who had been kicked out of the Training Field.

The greeter at Drunken Moon Pavilion led the group towards a private room, but the young master refused, insisting on sitting by the river in the main hall, claiming that viewing the river would inspire his poetic muse.

Liu He was clearly quick-witted. He immediately led the way and wiped the table, more diligent than the restaurant's waiters.

Meng Yuan glanced over and saw Liu He fawning over the young master, but the young master didn't spare him another look.

"Does sister know them? Are they regular customers?" Meng Yuan was in a corner, and Liu He hadn't noticed him.

"You don't know them?" Nie Qingqing smiled.

Upon hearing this, Meng Yuan immediately understood and whispered, "Is it the Prince Xin's heir?"

Nie Qingqing smiled and nodded.

The imperial surname of the Qing Kingdom was Dugu. Legend has it that the founding ancestor had no parents and was born of heaven and earth, hence the surname Dugu.

Another legend says that the founding ancestor came from a Buddhist temple and changed his surname to Dugu after returning to secular life.

Of course, the official explanation is that he was a descendant of a great Confucian scholar from the dynasty before the previous one.

Prince Xin was the current emperor's uncle, around forty years old, and had been enfeoffed outside the capital in earlier years.

Later, his first wife passed away, and for some reason, Prince Xin was sent to Songhe Prefecture. It was here that the emperor bestowed a marriage upon him, but after so many years of remarriage, he still had no children.

This current heir was born to Prince Xin's first wife and was Prince Xin's only bloodline.

Meng Yuan had been in the Royal Residence for nearly two months, but he knew very little about the affairs of the residence. Diligent practice day and night was one reason, and another was that he couldn't find anyone to ask.

"The heir's name is Dugu Kang. Their generation is named after constellations. The heir is honest and kind; outsiders all praise the heir's pure nature," Nie Qingqing said with a low laugh.

The so-called "pure nature" generally means simple and unadorned.

"Pure nature?" Meng Yuan was surprised and confused.

Nie Qingqing smiled and nodded.

Meng Yuan understood. The so-called "pure nature" was not a good word; it probably meant that his mind wasn't very sharp.

However, as a descendant of the imperial clan, a foolish person had foolish blessings.

Seeing that Nie Qingqing was willing to talk, Meng Yuan poured wine while asking, "The Princess Consort and Prince Xin are not getting along. Steward Liu is from the Princess Consort's hometown. How did Steward Liu's son become the heir's attendant?"

Meng Yuan had first assumed a premise.

As expected, Nie Qingqing clearly agreed with the premise that the Princess Consort and Prince Xin were not getting along. She smiled faintly and said, "Steward Liu comes from a background of refugees. Although he has the title of steward, he actually has little insight. He just handles some matters that are inconvenient for people like Xun Mei to deal with. There are countless people in this world who want to climb the social ladder but don't know their place, so it's not strange."

So the Princess Consort and Prince Xin really weren't getting along! And from Nie Qingqing's words, it seemed the Princess Consort was the real high branch.