He arrived at Ruiwei Hall in a huff, and as soon as he entered, he couldn't help but grumble inwardly, "No way! Seriously? Would a prince actually go back on his word? Would he really have the nerve to ask for the money back after giving it away?"
Despite his intense inner rant, it didn't stop Meng Shuping from putting on an obedient act as he bowed to the two men. "Grandfather, greetings, Your Highness."
Of course, when bowing to Jiang Cihe, he seemed rather perfunctory.
Jiang Cihe's expression remained unchanged as he said casually, "About that 250 taels of silver…"
Meng Shuping immediately became alert. "No! Not returning it! Once it's given to me, it's mine! Even Grandfather can't make me! I'll throw a fit and make a scene! No, no, no!"
Just then, he heard Jiang Cihe continue, "...did you receive them?"
Meng Shuping let out a huge sigh of relief and quickly replied, "Yes, yes, I received them!"
"Geez, why'd you have to pause like that? You scared me to death!"
No sooner had he relaxed than he saw Jiang Cihe looking awkward. "Since you've received them, could you..."
Meng Shuping jumped and tensed up again instantly. "No, no, no! Forget it! I absolutely won't give the money back to you!"
Jiang Cihe was hugely amused by Meng Shuping's reaction. Trying not to laugh, he continued, "...could you eat more to build yourself up? You're all skin and bones."
Meng Shuping relaxed once again and said expressionlessly, "Oh."
"Skinny? I'm not skinny! I'm lean—slim in clothes, but built underneath! My figure is great! What does he know?"
"And can he please stop pausing like that when he talks? It's nerve-wracking! My heart almost stopped beating because of him!"
If Jiang Cihe hadn't been there, Meng Houliang would have almost laughed out loud at Meng Shuping's reaction. He cleared his throat, then said seriously, "Ping Geer, His Highness is here to check on your health. Are your injuries better now?"
Meng Shuping quickly coughed. "I'm good, I'm good. My internal injuries are mostly healed. I just cough up blood occasionally—really, it's not serious. A cold isn't a big deal either. I should be fully recovered in another ten days or half a month. *Cough cough*. Thanks for your concern, Your Highness."
"I've made it sound this serious—surely he won't have the nerve to ask for the money back now, right? That would be totally heartless!"
Meng Houliang: "..." This child, when he talks nonsense, he's a smooth liar. If he hadn't just seen him the other day, he might have almost believed it.
He glanced subtly at Jiang Cihe. Could Jiang Cihe hear Meng Shuping's inner thoughts?
Jiang Cihe acted surprised. "What? It's that serious?"
He said in a very apologetic tone, "Tell you what—Fifth Young Master Meng, come back to my residence with me to recuperate. I'll have the imperial physician come to my home to examine you properly and prepare tonics for you daily. I refuse to believe you won't recover."
Meng Shuping quickly refused. "No, no, it's mainly that I'm worried my condition might worsen. Your Highness, don't misunderstand—I'm not saying you'd hit me again."
"As if he wouldn't hit me! Not to brag, but I may not be good at building relationships with others, but when it comes to pissing people off, I'm more than capable!"
Jiang Cihe: "..." You sound proud of that?
Meng Houliang glanced at Jiang Cihe and said awkwardly, "Ping Geer, you're joking. Why would His Highness hit you?"
Meng Shuping nodded guiltily. "Yes, yes, after all, beating me up is pricey. Most people can't afford it."
"But His Highness is rich—so who knows! Sigh, not to criticize him, but even if he's rich, he shouldn't waste it like this! I'd bleed him dry!"
Meng Houliang: "..." This child—he doesn't even know how to describe him. Let's just say he's quite self-aware.
Worried Meng Shuping would push too far and offend Prince Zhao, Meng Houliang had no choice but to look at Jiang Cihe. "Thank you for your kind offer, Your Highness, but it's unnecessary. Let him recuperate here in the residence. We've also summoned an imperial physician for him."
Done teasing Meng Shuping, Jiang Cihe conceded. "Very well, then."
Meng Shuping breathed another sigh of relief. Although he didn't know whether Jiang Cihe genuinely wanted to take him to his residence for treatment or was just saying it, what if it was real?
Just then, Jiang Cihe added, "Speaking of which, I came to the Earl's residence today mainly to discuss something with the Earl."
Meng Houliang quickly said, "Please go ahead, Your Highness."
Jiang Cihe sighed. "Although it was a misunderstanding that day, I still feel very guilty about causing Fifth Young Master Meng to suffer such serious injuries. How about this..."
Meng Shuping's eyes lit up. "More money? Great, great! Come on! Shower me with money!"
Under his expectant gaze, Jiang Cihe continued, "I plan to have Fifth Young Master Meng serve as my personal guard for a while. When the time is right, I'll recommend him for an official position. What do you think?"
Meng Shuping was shocked. "What? Have me be his personal guard?"
Meng Houliang couldn't help but look at Meng Shuping. Could it be that Ping Geer is also inclined to become Prince Zhao's personal guard? Truth be told, this would indeed be a great opportunity for Ping Geer.
After all, Ping Geer has just returned from outside and lacks a solid foundation. If he can gain Prince Zhao's favor, his future would be secure.
However, the next moment, he realized he had thought too much.
Meng Shuping looked at Jiang Cihe speechlessly. "Does he have poor eyesight? Has he not seen my scrawny build? He could take down two of me with one punch!"
"Honestly, instead of making me his personal guard, he should improve his own self-defense skills. He looks much more capable than me. Compared to him, I'm a total amateur."
"Whoa! Could it be that he just wants to use me as a meat shield? No, no, I can't do this job. It'll get me killed. I can't afford it!"
Jiang Cihe looked at Meng Shuping amusedly. Weren't you just boasting about having a great figure, slim in clothes but muscular underneath? Now you're an amateur?
Seeing that Meng Shuping was very unwilling, Meng Houliang declined on his behalf. "Well... Your Highness, Ping Geer is young and reckless, and he's too impulsive. If he offends you, it would be our fault. Let's forget it."
Meng Shuping chimed in repeatedly, "Exactly, exactly! Making a kid who's still mooching off his family go to work—isn't that too insane? What kind of person does that? I can't handle the hardship of work!"
"Besides, isn't it more comfortable to laze around at home? Why seek hardship?"
Jiang Cihe said magnanimously, "It's fine. I think Fifth Young Master Meng is quite clever. How could he offend me? Even if he accidentally does something inappropriate, given his youth, I won't hold it against him."
Meng Shuping didn't believe a word of it. "What do you mean, 'won't hold it against me'? The first time he met me, he kicked me into a pond. Does that sound like a nice guy?"
"Someone like me, who has no street smarts, should stay as far away as possible."
Meng Houliang thought about it and agreed. Ping Geer had just returned to the residence not long ago and already had so many people against him. He might really end up offending Jiang Cihe.
Fine, let's just decline. He was about to speak when Jiang Cihe suddenly said, "Fifth Young Master Meng, why haven't you coughed for so long?"
He stared at Meng Shuping displeasedly, his expression very stern. "Earlier, you said your injuries were severe. Were you lying to me, Fifth Young Master Meng? Lying to royalty is a crime of deceiving the imperial family."
Meng Shuping stiffened and instantly grew nervous. Although he had been quite bold in front of Jiang Cihe before, Jiang Cihe had always seemed approachable and not intimidating.
But now, with this sudden sternness, he became very imposing. Meng Shuping was scared stiff.
Meng Houliang hurriedly said, "Your Highness, you're overthinking it. How could that be?"
Jiang Cihe laughed again. "I was just joking. Of course I believe Fifth Young Master Meng wouldn't deceive me. So, about Fifth Young Master Meng becoming my personal guard..."
Meng Shuping, frightened by his sudden change in attitude, thought, "Wow, I call this wow! He actually dared to threaten me? Does he think I'll be scared? Tell him I've never been afraid of threats since I was a kid! Watch me reject him mercilessly!"
Meng Shuping opened his mouth and said stiffly, "Then what's the pay?"
"Hilarious! I'm someone who knows how to adapt to circumstances! As long as I throw in the towel fast enough, he won't be able to do anything to me!"
Meng Houliang: "..." That sounds about right for you.
Initially, he had worried that Meng Shuping might actually offend Jiang Cihe, but now it seemed he could rest assured. Even if Meng Shuping ended up under Jiang Cihe's command, with his ability to bend and adapt, he'd probably manage just fine.
Jiang Cihe was almost laughing his head off at Meng Shuping. Suppressing his laughter, he said, "The monthly salary is ten taels."
Meng Shuping muttered softly, "Then I want to work five days and rest two."
Jiang Cihe asked, puzzled, "Work five, rest two?"
Meng Shuping, too guilty to meet his gaze, explained, "It means working five days and taking two days off."
"If he doesn't agree, he might as well just kill me! Work is already miserable enough—if he won't even let me rest properly, what's the point of living?"
Jiang Cihe was speechless, utterly at a loss for words. Was taking up a post really worse than death?
If anyone else had such an opportunity, they'd be overjoyed. Only Meng Shuping seemed to dread it like the plague.
But having someone like him around certainly made life much more interesting. He nodded indifferently and said, "Fine. Report here in three days."
Seeing that Jiang Cihe only gave him three days to prepare, Meng Shuping couldn't help but grumble inwardly, "That bastard! Only three days to get ready? How is that enough? A year would be more like it!"
Jiang Cihe: "..." Why not just say he shouldn't come at all?
Meng Houliang gasped and quickly glanced at Jiang Cihe. Seeing no reaction, he relaxed again. Luckily, Jiang Cihe couldn't hear him—if he had, he definitely wouldn't have remained so calm.
But this kid was far too bold with his words. At the thought, Meng Houliang couldn't help but worry for Meng Shuping.
After settling the main purpose of his visit, Jiang Cihe took his leave from Meng Houliang. Once he was gone, Meng Houliang cautioned Meng Shuping, "Ping Geer, from now on, you must show respect to the prince. Don't you dare be disrespectful, understand?"
Meng Shuping replied obediently, "I understand."
"Who would dare be impudent to him? Do they have a death wish?"
Meng Houliang sighed helplessly. He couldn't very well tell him not to curse in his thoughts either, so he simply repeated his advice a few more times before letting Meng Shuping go.
After leaving Ruiwei Hall, Meng Shuping was in a foul mood. And when he was in a foul mood, he felt like stirring up trouble. So he changed direction and headed toward Meng Shuyang's courtyard.