The Deed is Done

The north wind still blew, but the snow had stopped. The sky was a dull gray, as if it had been castrated.

Having braved the snow to find Xun Mei, Meng Yuan's objective had been achieved. As for the outcome, that remained to be seen.

Now without power, influence, or a blade, doing things was inevitably difficult and required borrowing power, making the consequences hard to control.

If Manor Head Li could be brought down, then everything would be fine. If not, Meng Yuan would have to find another way.

There were many people coming and going on the main road in Songhe Prefecture city, all in a hurry, showing that winter was not a time for leisure.

Meng Yuan bought a pig trotters, carefully wrapped it in oil paper, and tucked it into his chest. He also bought two Large Pancakes, eating one as he walked.

After leaving the city, he hitched a ride with a charcoal seller and continued west.

Riding the wind and stepping on the snow, his worn-out shoes got wet. He didn't return to Pasture Manor until dark.

Dinner time had passed, so Meng Yuan went straight back to his lodging.

"Running around outside in such heavy snow." Jiang Tang saw that Meng Yuan's shoes and socks were wet. Her heart ached terribly. Without waiting for Meng Yuan to say anything, she ordered him to sit down, took off his shoes and socks, and brought hot water for him to wash.

"Is your cough better today?" Meng Yuan took out the medicine packet and the oil paper package from his chest.

"I'm fine. It's you, running around all day in the ice and snow." Old Man Jiang didn't know that Meng Yuan had gone to find Xun Mei, only thinking he had gone to buy medicine. He smiled and said, "This girl asked Tie Niu for firewood, and the stove hasn't stopped. She said she had to prepare hot water for you. She's not even this good to me. Seeing you didn't come back, she kept muttering about going to pick you up."

Jiang Tang sat on a small stool, lowering her head to wash Meng Yuan's feet, not saying a word.

"Silly girl." Meng Yuan smiled and flicked Jiang Tang's forehead. She looked up, her face flushed, not knowing what she was shy about.

"I'm not silly." Jiang Tang lowered her head again. Not knowing what she thought of, she giggled twice and tickled the sole of Meng Yuan's foot.

After soaking his feet, Jiang Tang carefully dried them. Only then did she pick up the changed shoes and socks, throw them into the basin, and prepare to go out and wash them.

"Don't rush." Meng Yuan pulled her back and said, "I bought you meat. Eat first before you get busy."

"Meat?" Jiang Tang's dark eyes lit up. She quickly said, "Then I'll wash the things first before eating!"

She quickly carried the basin out and soon finished washing. She then brewed the medicine, and only then did she have time to open the oil paper package.

The pig trotters had long since cooled, but Jiang Tang was still very happy. She first let Old Man Jiang eat, then let Meng Yuan eat. The two naturally wouldn't compete with her for food.

The room was dim. Jiang Tang gnawed on the pig trotters. Old Man Jiang chatted idly with Meng Yuan, saying that Jiang Tang's maternal grandmother had seven children, and several aunts also had both sons and daughters, using this to prove that Jiang Tang would also be able to bear children in the future.

The next day, because the snow hadn't melted, there was no need to work the fields. However, Manor Head Li was truly working people to death, making Meng Yuan shovel manure all day.

There was no movement on the third or fourth day. As the New Year approached, Meng Yuan thought there would be no results until after the year, when a series of horse hooves shook Pasture Manor.

All the villagers rushed out to see. They saw six fine horses guarding a carriage arriving in front of the hall.

The six guards were all armed with knives. After dismounting, they guarded the carriage.

An old man got off the carriage first, followed by Xun Mei.

Xun Mei had changed her attire. She wore a bright red cloak and light makeup, giving her a hint of heroic spirit.

"Tie him up!" Manor Head Li hadn't understood what was happening when he heard Xun Mei give the order.

Two guards stepped forward and immediately held down Manor Head Li, tying his hands behind his back.

"What are you doing? What are you doing?" Manor Head Li still didn't know what was going on. He was full of panic, kneeling on the ground and shouting, "Xun Mei, what are you doing? Why are you tying me up? I'm an old man who came with the Princess Consort when she married! I want to see the Princess Consort!"

Xun Mei tucked her hands into her sleeves and said coldly, "You know you came with the Princess Consort when she married? Have you listened to any of the Princess Consort's teachings? The Princess Consort has always been considerate of you old people. She turned a blind eye to your usual greed and selling of chickens, ducks, meat, and eggs from the manor."

As she spoke, Xun Mei took two steps forward and continued, "But the Princess Consort has repeatedly ordered that you must not bully the common people in the name of the Royal Residence! Yet you have used the name of the Royal Residence to collude with outsiders, bully the lonely and widowed, seize land, and wipe out entire families!"

"I didn't..." Manor Head Li knew that the matter had been exposed. His voice also became much smaller, and he knelt on the ground in a daze.

"When I came last time, I told you to be lenient with the villagers, but you forced them to plow and turn the land in winter!"

As Xun Mei spoke, her tone became increasingly unfriendly. She said, "The Princess Consort said that the gathering of refugees and rioting in disaster years is due to the incompetence of officials, and second, it is forced by people like you!"

Manor Head Li trembled, unable to say a word, completely losing his usual arrogance.

"I know you are not convinced. After returning the land deeds to the victims and counting your gains, go back to your hometown and tell the Old Madam!" Xun Mei didn't give Manor Head Li a chance to argue, clearly acting on the Princess Consort's instructions.

Meng Yuan watched from the side in surprise. He didn't expect the Princess Consort to be so insightful and act with such decisive means.

Xun Mei was not finished. She ordered people to seal Manor Head Li's house as well, pending inventory.

"From now on, he will be your new Manor Head." Xun Mei pointed to the old man who had come with her and instructed the old man, saying, "The common people are easy to abuse. I hope you will not fail the Princess Consort's trust and do not mistreat the villagers."

After speaking, Xun Mei did not stay any longer and boarded the carriage.

The wheels crunched on the snow, creaking as they moved outwards. As the carriage left, the curtain was pulled open.

Xun Mei saw that the villagers were still in a daze. The young man stood in the crowd, also full of surprise. A girl leaned against the young man, also looking lost and helpless.

Seeing this scene, Xun Mei thought that the young man probably didn't know that it was his unintentional words that led to today's events.

"Come here." Xun Mei smiled and waved at the young man. Seeing that the young man was stunned for a moment before quickly coming forward.

"Mei-jie." Meng Yuan was honest and simple.

"Do you still want to go to the Royal Residence to learn martial arts now?" Xun Mei asked with a smile.

"Yes!" Meng Yuan immediately said.

"You are simple and honest. You might be bullied when you get to the Royal Residence." Xun Mei smiled sweetly and said, "But I will protect you. Go find the new Manor Head later and ask him to give you a note. Report to the Royal Residence tomorrow."

"Thank you, Sister!" Meng Yuan's wish was granted, and he felt a sense of relief in his heart.

The carriage drove away, with Manor Head Li and his son following behind, their usual arrogance long gone.

The villagers quickly came to pay respects to the new manor head.

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

Manor Head Sun was amiable and quickly wrote a letter of recommendation, even asking Zhao Datou to drive the donkey cart to deliver it the next morning.

"It's really different with a new person! In the end, it's still the Princess Consort who's good!" When night fell, Zhao Datou and his son came over and grabbed Meng Yuan, refusing to let go. "Tie Niu is simple-minded and doesn't think before he speaks or acts. Little Meng, please look after him more."

Zhao Datou then pressed Tie Niu's head, telling him to listen to Meng Yuan in everything.

Meng Yuan agreed and asked Zhao Datou to look after Old Man Jiang more.

After seeing off Zhao Datou and his son, Meng Yuan saw that Jiang Tang hadn't spoken the whole time, so he pinched her face.

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

"Yes," Meng Yuan said very seriously and earnestly. "At most in half a year, I will bring you to live in the city."

Jiang Tang nodded obediently. She didn't say much, just sat by Meng Yuan's bed and sewed his cuffs for him. The stitches were fine and dense, as if they would never wear out.

There was fog in the morning. Meng Yuan and Tie Niu ate breakfast and, driven by Zhao Datou in the donkey cart, disappeared into the fog together.