Success

The north wind still howled, but the snow had stopped. The sky was gray and hazy, as though it had been drained of all vigor.

This trip through the snow to seek Mei had already achieved Meng Yuan's purpose. As for the outcome, it was still unknown.

With neither power, influence, nor a blade in hand, he had no choice but to borrow another's strength if he wanted to accomplish anything. Naturally, the consequences would be difficult to control.

If he could pull Manor Head Li from his horse, everything would be easy. If not, Meng Yuan would have to find another way.

Many commoners hurried along the main road of Songhe Prefecture City. Even in winter, no one could afford to be idle.

Meng Yuan bought a pig trotter, carefully wrapped it in oiled paper, and tucked it into his chest. He also bought two large pancakes, eating as he walked.

After leaving the city, he caught a ride with an old charcoal seller, then continued westward.

Riding the wind and treading snow, his worn shoes became soaked. It was dark by the time he returned to Shepherd Manor.

Dinner had long since passed, so Meng Yuan went straight back to his quarters.

"Running around in such heavy snow." Seeing that Meng Yuan's shoes and socks were soaked through, Jiang Tang's heart ached terribly. Without waiting for him to say anything, she made him sit down, removed his shoes and socks, and brought over hot water for him to wash.

"Is your cough any better today?" Meng Yuan took out a packet of medicine and the oiled-paper bundle from his chest.

"I'm fine. You're the one who ran around all day in ice and snow." Old Man Jiang had no idea Meng Yuan had gone to find Xun Mei and assumed he had only gone to buy medicine. Smiling, he said, "This girl went to Tie Niu for firewood. The stove hasn't stopped burning all day, saying she had to keep hot water ready for you. She's never treated me this well. When you didn't come back, she kept talking about going out to fetch you."

Jiang Tang sat on a small stool, washing Meng Yuan's feet with her head lowered, not saying a word.

"Silly girl." Meng Yuan smiled and flicked Jiang Tang's forehead. She raised her head, her cheeks glowing red, and who knew what she was so embarrassed about.

"I'm not silly." Jiang Tang lowered her head again. Thinking of something, she gave two foolish little laughs and scratched the sole of Meng Yuan's foot.

Once his feet had soaked enough, Jiang Tang carefully dried them. Only then did she pick up his discarded shoes and socks, toss them into the basin, and prepare to take them out to wash.

"Don't be in such a hurry." Meng Yuan caught hold of her and said, "I bought you some meat. Eat first, then get busy."

"Meat?" Jiang Tang's dark eyes lit up, and she hurriedly said, "Then I'll wash these first before I eat!"

She quickly carried the basin outside. Soon after washing everything, she set the medicine to boil, and only then did she have time to open the oiled-paper bundle.

The pig trotter had long gone cold, but Jiang Tang was still delighted. She first urged Old Man Jiang to eat, then urged Meng Yuan to eat. Naturally, neither of them would compete with her for food.

The room was dim. As Jiang Tang gnawed on the pig trotter, Old Man Jiang chatted idly with Meng Yuan, saying that Jiang Tang's grandmother had borne seven children, and that her aunts all had sons and daughters too, using that as proof that Jiang Tang would surely be fertile in the future.

The next day, with the snow yet to melt, there was no need to work the fields. But Manor Head Li truly worked people to death, making Meng Yuan shovel manure fertilizer for an entire day.

Nothing happened on the third or fourth day either. As the New Year drew ever closer, Meng Yuan had begun to think there would be no result until after the holiday when the thundering of hoofbeats shook Shepherd Manor.

All the manor folk surged out to look, only to see six fine horses escorting a carriage to the hall.

All six guards carried blades. After dismounting, they surrounded and protected the carriage.

An elderly man stepped down from the carriage first, followed by Xun Mei.

Xun Mei had changed her attire. Draped in a bright red cloak and wearing a touch of makeup, she unexpectedly possessed a measure of heroic spirit.

"Bind him!" Before Manor Head Li could understand what was happening, he heard Xun Mei give the order.

Two guards stepped forward and immediately seized Manor Head Li, binding his hands behind his back.

"What are you doing? What are you doing?" Manor Head Li still had no idea what was going on. His face filled with terror as he knelt on the ground and shouted, "Xun Mei, what are you doing? What right do you have to bind me? I'm an old servant who came with the Princess Consort when she married! I want to see the Princess Consort!"

Xun Mei folded her hands into her sleeves and said coldly, "You know you are someone who came with the Princess Consort when she married? Then have you listened to even half a word of the Princess Consort's teachings? The Princess Consort has always been considerate toward old servants like you. Your usual petty greed, your theft, your selling off the manor's chickens, ducks, meat, and eggs—she turned a blind eye to it all."

As she spoke, Xun Mei took two steps forward and continued, "But the Princess Consort has repeatedly decreed that none may use the Prince's Manor's name to bully the common people! Yet you used the Prince's Manor's name, colluded with outsiders, oppressed the lonely and helpless, seized farmland, and devoured entire households!"

"I didn't..." Manor Head Li knew the matter had been exposed. His voice dropped considerably as he knelt there in a daze.

"When I came last time, I told you to treat the manor folk generously. Yet you forcibly ordered them to plow and turn the earth in winter!"

As Xun Mei spoke, her tone grew increasingly harsh. "The Princess Consort said that when refugees gather and cause trouble in years of disaster, one reason is incompetent officials, and the other is people like you driving them into a corner!"

Manor Head Li trembled all over, unable to say a single word. None of his former arrogance remained.

"I know you refuse to accept this. Once the land deeds are returned to the victims and all that you obtained is accounted for, go back to your hometown and explain yourself to Old Madam!" Xun Mei gave Manor Head Li no chance to argue. Clearly, she had received instructions from the Princess Consort.

Meng Yuan watched from the side in amazement. He had not expected the Princess Consort to possess such insight, nor to act with such thunderbolt methods.

Xun Mei was not finished yet. She ordered Manor Head Li's home sealed as well, pending an inventory.

"From now on, he will be your new manor head." Xun Mei pointed to the elderly man who had arrived with her, then instructed him, "The common folk are easy to abuse. I hope you will not fail the Princess Consort's trust. Do not treat the manor folk harshly."

Having said that, Xun Mei did not linger and boarded the carriage.

The wheels crushed the snow with creaks and crunches. As the carriage headed out, a curtain was lifted.

Xun Mei saw that the manor folk were still in a daze. That young man stood among the crowd, equally astonished, while a girl leaned against him, lost and helpless.

Seeing this, Xun Mei thought that the young man likely had no idea that today's events had begun with a careless remark from him.

"Come here." Xun Mei smiled and beckoned to the young man. He froze for a moment before hurrying forward.

"Mei-jie." Meng Yuan looked utterly honest and guileless.

"Do you still want to go to the Prince's Manor to learn martial arts?" Xun Mei asked with a smile.

"I do!" Meng Yuan answered at once.

"You have a simple, honest nature. Once you reach the Prince's Manor, I'm afraid others will bully you." Xun Mei smiled faintly. "But I'll protect you. Go find the new manor head later and have him write you a note. Report to the Prince's Manor tomorrow."

"Thank you, Sister!" Meng Yuan's wish had been fulfilled, and his heart felt utterly unburdened.

The carriage drove away. Manor Head Li and his son followed behind it, long stripped of their former arrogance.

The manor folk hurried to pay their respects to the new manor head.

The new manor head's surname was Sun. After he inspected the manor, Meng Yuan, Old Man Jiang, and Zhao Datou and his son went to see him together.

Manor Head Sun was quite amiable. He swiftly wrote a letter of recommendation and even told Zhao Datou to drive his donkey cart over to deliver them the next morning.

"Things really are different after changing people! In the end, the Princess Consort is the good one!" Once night fell, Zhao Datou and his son came over and grabbed Meng Yuan without letting go. "Tie Niu is slow-witted. He speaks and acts without thinking. Little Meng, I'll have to trouble you to look after him more."

Zhao Datou pressed Tie Niu's head down as well, making him promise to listen to Meng Yuan in everything.

Meng Yuan agreed, then asked Zhao Datou to look after Old Man Jiang more as well.

After seeing Zhao Datou and his son off, Meng Yuan noticed Jiang Tang had not said a word, so he pinched her cheek.

"Brother, will you come back?" Jiang Tang asked cautiously.

"I will." Meng Yuan was utterly serious as he said earnestly, "At most half a year. I'll bring you into the city to live then."

Jiang Tang nodded obediently. She did not say much more, merely sat at Meng Yuan's bedside and mended his sleeve cuff. Her stitches were fine and dense, as though they would never wear through.

Morning came with fog. Meng Yuan and Tie Niu ate breakfast, then Zhao Datou drove the donkey cart as the three of them disappeared into the mist.