Seeing Jiang Cihe's unwavering resolve to reclaim his silver, Meng Shuping could only sigh helplessly. "Ah, Your Highness has misunderstood. I truly never intended to withhold the silver from you. Although the internal injuries from that kick of yours still haven't healed, even if Your Highness takes the silver back, I won't call you stingy, nor will I accuse you of going back on your word or being heartless."
He looked at Jiang Cihe sincerely. "It's just that, to better protect Your Highness in the future, I used what was left of the silver to commission a set of armor. While I even dipped into my own money, Your Highness truly needn't be overly touched!"
"Of course, if Your Highness insists on having this silver back, then even if I have to beg or resort to street begging, I will repay it to Your Highness!"
[Tsk, tsk, even I'm moved to tears by my own words. I refuse to believe he can remain unmoved! That would be too heartless!]
Jiang Cihe was indeed very moved. With a touched expression, he said, "I never expected you, you two-fifty, to be so devoted to me. Since you insist on repaying this silver, how about this: I have a chipped bowl and a ragged kneeling cushion at my residence. I'll generously lend them to you. You really don't need to thank me too much!"
"Pfft!" Ling Feng, standing nearby, almost choked with laughter. His prince was truly such a tease. Of course, Fifth Young Master Meng was also quite the fast-talker.
Meng Shuping was so shocked he could barely speak. [That jerk! He really wants me to go beg? How can there be such a maniac!]
[Does he think I'll return the silver like this? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! When it comes to being thick-skinned, I never lose!]
Meng Shuping put on an utterly grateful expression and said, "What? Your Highness, you're too good to me. Since that's the case, I can't keep Your Highness waiting. How about this: I spent three hundred taels of silver to commission that armor. I'll reluctantly part with it and offer it to Your Highness. Your Highness just needs to give me back fifty taels."
Meng Shuping had thick skin? Jiang Cihe found it somewhat amusing. With his blushing habit, how could he have the nerve to claim he had thick skin?
He waved it off. "How could that do? That's your beloved item. How can I take it? Besides, you'll still need it to protect your life in the future. Which is more important, your life or silver? At most, I'll give you an extra beggar's staff. You can take your time begging. I'm in no hurry."
Meng Shuping was at a loss for words. [Who needs your beggar's staff? That dog! It's just two hundred and fifty taels of silver. Why is he so difficult?]
Putting on a pained face, he said, "No matter how beloved something is, if Your Highness needs it, how could I bear to withhold it? Besides, how could my life be more important than Your Highness's silver? Even if I get injured without the armor, it's truly fine. Your Highness really doesn't need to feel any guilt over this!"
Watching their back-and-forth, a perfectly matched pair, Ling Feng could barely maintain his serious expression as he laughed. Once again, he found it quite miraculous—this Young Master Meng was truly a unique character.
Jiang Cihe could hardly hold back his laughter. He looked Meng Shuping up and down, making Meng Shuping squirm inside, before saying with a smile, "Tsk, you're quite eloquent in front of me. Why were you so afraid when facing others earlier?"
Meng Shuping was speechless, but seeing that Jiang Cihe had switched topics, he let out a relieved breath and said sarcastically, "They didn't ask me for silver either!"
[Anyway, I won't admit it's because there were so many people around at the time!]
However, a moment later, Meng Shuping suddenly realized, [Ahhh! Why did I bring up silver again? I just got past that!]
He quickly tugged at his arm and said, "Can you let go of me first?"
Jiang Cihe smirked, "No, what if you run away again?"
Meng Shuping widened his eyes, looking wounded. "You're overthinking it! How could I possibly run?"
[That dog! Does he have to be so cunning? How does he know I plan to run?]
Jiang Cihe chuckled, "Do you even believe that yourself?"
Seeing that he couldn't fool Jiang Cihe, Meng Shuping had no choice but to try another tactic. "Then don't you think it's strange for two grown men to be holding hands on the street?"
Jiang Cihe looked at him in surprise, "Grown men? You?"
Meng Shuping deadpanned, [Why am I not a grown man? Is he so capable just because he's two years older than me? What's the big deal?]
He said sharply, "Are you going to let go or not?"
[Don't make me get on my knees and beg you!]
"Pfft!" Jiang Cihe finally couldn't hold back his laughter. "Alright, then. I'll let go, but you'd better not run."
Meng Shuping quickly said, "Of course not..."
[I have to run. Why would I stay and wait for you to shake me down for the silver?]
Jiang Cihe had expected that Meng Shuping wouldn't stay put obediently, but he still calmly let go. Meng Shuping rubbed his wrist, then looked behind Jiang Cihe, "Hey, Grandfather?"
Taking advantage of the moment Jiang Cihe turned his head, he immediately darted off. But he had only taken one step when he felt his collar being grabbed again. He looked up at the sky with complete resignation, [That dog! Why does he have to react so fast?]
Jiang Cihe pulled him back again, his smile unchanged. "Didn't you say you wouldn't run? What were you doing just now?"
Meng Shuping didn't want to say another word at this point. [Life is already so difficult. Why does he have to call me out? Tell me, why?]
Worried that he might push Meng Shuping's buttons further, Jiang Cihe said, "Alright, that two hundred and fifty taels is yours to keep. Don't worry, I won't ask for it back again."
Just as Meng Shuping was about to celebrate, he heard Jiang Cihe add, "But you're not allowed to run away today. Otherwise, I'll go wait for you at the Meng residence."
Meng Shuping's face fell again. [Drat! I knew he wouldn't let me off that easily!]
He said dejectedly, "Then why aren't you letting go yet?"
Jiang Cihe released Meng Shuping's collar, then smoothed out his robes before saying, "Let's go, accompany me for a walk."
Meng Shuping looked nervous, "It's not going to be somewhere crowded, is it?"
[No! I can't do that!]
Jiang Cihe deliberately egged him on, feigning surprise, "Yes! How did you know?"
Meng Shuping wanted to run again. [No! I haven't geared up yet! If he forces me to go, then don't blame me for throwing down the gauntlet!]
Jiang Cihe was very interested. He wanted to hear what kind of threats Meng Shuping would make.
Meng Shuping opened his mouth and said decisively, "Then I demand hazard pay!"
"Pfft!" Jiang Cihe burst into laughter. When he finally stopped laughing, he said, "I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. We're just taking a stroll on the street."
Meng Shuping looked speechless. [Hah, got my hopes up for nothing! But at least it's not somewhere else. Otherwise, I'd really be unprepared.]
A moment later, Jiang Cihe, Meng Shuping, and the others began browsing the shops on the street. Meng Shuping was very puzzled. [Is he really just shopping? Does he have to personally buy everything for the prince's residence? That's so hands-on!]
[But you have to admit, someone like him definitely wouldn't be conned by the procurement staff.]
After browsing for a while, Meng Shuping grew increasingly curious. Why did Jiang Cihe only ask about prices without buying anything? Moreover, the things he asked about were quite varied, mostly related to people's livelihoods. Meng Shuping couldn't help but speculate, [Is he investigating prices?]
Noticing that Meng Shuping had figured it out, Jiang Cihe couldn't help but glance at him. This two-fifty was quite clever. Winter was approaching, and he had come out today precisely to casually check if any merchants were inflating prices.
After leaving the nearest shop, it was almost time for lunch. Just as Jiang Cihe and the others were about to find a place to eat, they heard a sudden commotion break out ahead.
Meng Shuping had been listless, but upon hearing the noise, he immediately perked up. [Wow! Something interesting? Where? Where?]
Seeing his interest, Jiang Cihe said, "Let's go, we'll check it out too."
The group quickly made their way to where the crowd had gathered. Although they were on the outskirts, it didn't take long for Meng Shuping to figure out what was happening.
It turned out that a young master named Tao had taken a sachet from a street vendor without paying. Because he was Noble Consort Tao's nephew, the vendor, fearing his influence, could only write it off as a loss.
But then a young master named Tang stepped forward and began arguing fiercely with Young Master Tao. This Young Master Tang was also of notable status—he was Esteemed Consort Zhao's nephew.
Noble Consort Tao's nephew and Esteemed Consort Zhao's nephew? Meng Shuping frowned. Why did that sound so familiar?
Unable to recall, he had to give up. However, he couldn't resist commenting on Noble Consort Tao's nephew, [You gotta be kidding me! Shouldn't the family of a noble consort be better off than this? Can't even afford a few coins?]
Jiang Cihe snorted, covering his mouth with his hand to keep himself from laughing out loud. Even though this was clearly bullying, Meng Shuping's words made it sound utterly ridiculous.
Tao Zifan, in the heat of the argument, suddenly heard someone talking about him. He whipped his head around—who just said that?
His fierce gaze swept over the crowd, but there were too many onlookers. Jiang Cihe and Meng Shuping were hidden behind the masses, so he couldn't spot anyone suspicious.
Then, the same voice spoke up again, [I heard some wealthy families are so broke they send their daughters to the palace just to stay rich. Could it be that his family is like that too?]
[Tsk, if you're broke, stop acting all high and mighty! Look at him, dressed so flashily, yet he turns out to be a thief. If he's so capable, he shouldn't reach out and take things! And he calls himself a nobleman—he's even pinching stuff that's only worth a few coins. What's the difference between his behavior and a street ruffian? If I were him, I'd be mortified. How does he even have the nerve to argue?]
Tao Zifan's face turned livid with rage. He glared viciously at the crowd around him, "Who's sneaking around there? Step forward!"
Seeing that Tao Zifan had stopped paying attention to him mid-argument, Tang Jiefei was extremely annoyed, "Tao Zifan, I'm talking to you! Are you deaf?"
Meng Shuping chimed in repeatedly, [Exactly, exactly! He's arguing with someone but can't even be bothered to pay attention? How disrespectful!]
Furious but unable to find the speaker, Tao Zifan turned his anger on Tang Jiefei, "I'll do what I want—none of your business!"