Jiang Cihe was torn between exasperation and amusement. Who was digging up this kind of information? Were they truly that idle? It seemed a thorough rectification was in order.
Meng Shuping remained blissfully unaware that his actions were about to land someone in hot water. He was utterly engrossed in the various reports on the table, almost forgetting his surroundings.
A moment later, he stole a glance at Jiang Cihe. Seeing Jiang Cihe preoccupied, he quietly settled into a nearby chair and continued reading in comfort.
After reviewing official documents for a while, Jiang Cihe pinched the bridge of his nose. Indeed, Meng Shuping's inner monologue was far too distracting. Unless he concentrated intently, it was difficult not to be drawn in.
He rose, walked behind Meng Shuping, and asked with a smile, "Didn't you say you couldn't read?"
Meng Shuping was startled by the sudden voice from behind. He shot to his feet and, upon recognizing Jiang Cihe, replied with a lingering tremor in his voice, "Can't I be in the process of learning to read?"
Jiang Cihe's lips curved upward. "Of course, you can."
He then instructed another person, "Go find someone to bring a desk over, and prepare some writing implements."
Meng Shuping was bewildered. What was Jiang Cihe planning? Did he actually intend to put him to work?
A short while later, the requested items were brought in. As Meng Shuping stared in confusion, Jiang Cihe declared, "From now on, you'll sit there."
Meng Shuping asked warily, "What am I supposed to do there?"
Jiang Cihe smiled at him. "Study and learn to read."
Meng Shuping: "..."
He quickly refused, "No, no, no! I'm on duty right now. How can I do personal things during work hours?"
"Is he serious? I should never have said I couldn't read. How am I supposed to slack off now? Besides, wasn't I hired as a personal guard? Why do I need to study and read?"
Jiang Cihe frowned thoughtfully. "I recall you were late this morning, weren't you? About that salary..."
Meng Shuping immediately changed his tune, speaking with earnest sincerity, "Of course! As your personal guard, I must constantly learn and strive to improve myself during work hours, so I can keep pace with your progress!"
Jiang Cihe smirked and patted Meng Shuping's shoulder. "Excellent, very ambitious. Go on!"
Grudgingly, Meng Shuping sat down at the desk and began practicing his calligraphy.
From then on, every official who came to see Jiang Cihe would discreetly scrutinize Meng Shuping. Meng Shuping was immensely grateful he wore a mask; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to endure sitting there.
However, after spending a considerable amount of time there, he gradually understood that the duties of their Military Hall Department extended beyond merely overseeing officials; they also involved monitoring public opinion and economic activities among the populace. No wonder Jiang Cihe was so attentive to market prices!
Of course, the primary reason was Jiang Cihe's diligence and his unwillingness to be easily misled by his subordinates. Otherwise, he could have simply reviewed official documents without personally verifying matters.
After practicing his writing for some time, Meng Shuping rubbed his wrist and decided to use the restroom. After asking for directions, he stood up and headed out the door.
However, shortly after leaving the restroom, and before he had gone far, he encountered a man who appeared to be around thirty years old, with a grim countenance.
At the sight of this man, Meng Shuping shivered. For some inexplicable reason, the man exuded an aura of extreme danger. Instinctively, he wanted to avoid provoking him, sensing it would bring trouble. So he lowered his head, quickened his pace, and tried to leave as quickly as possible.
Unexpectedly, just as he was a few steps away from the man, he suddenly found his path blocked. He looked up, and the man standing before him was none other than the one he had just seen.
Fan Yu scrutinized him from head to toe, his gaze as venomous as a viper's. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
Under that piercing stare, Meng Shuping instantly grew tense. He kept his head slightly lowered, avoiding Fan Yu's eyes. "I—I came here to use the restroom. What, are you here to eat?"
"Is he blind or just stupid? How else could he ask such a dumb question? What else would people do here besides using the restroom?"
"Hahahaha..." Several people nearby—some heading to the restroom, others just leaving—burst into laughter at this. One even shouted, "Lord Fan, if you're hungry, there's plenty freshly served here, enough to go around!"
Fan Yu flew into a rage, glaring viciously at the others. "What are you laughing at? I'll make you regret laughing!"
Meng Shuping felt nothing but contempt. "Go on, do it! Anyone can talk tough. Some tough guy—just a coward!"
Fan Yu's face turned livid with anger. He spun around, grabbed Meng Shuping by the collar, and demanded, "What did you say?"
Meng Shuping feigned innocence. "I didn't say anything!"
"See? Called him a coward and he proves it. So many people are laughing at him, but he doesn't dare do anything to them—just picks on someone who seems harmless!"
Fan Yu froze. Wasn't that voice Meng Shuping's? He immediately drew his sword and scanned the area. "Who's sneaking around there? Come out!"
Taking advantage of Fan Yu's distraction, Meng Shuping swiftly slipped past him. But after just two steps, a blade suddenly pressed against his neck.
Meng Shuping halted abruptly, narrowly avoiding getting cut. A moment later, Fan Yu appeared before him, his face dark and menacing. He glared fiercely at Meng Shuping and gave a sinister smile. "Run. Keep running."
Meng Shuping took two steps back, thoroughly irritated. "Is this guy crazy? Doesn't he know a good dog doesn't block the path? What if someone gets hurt? Could he even pay the damages? I've never seen anyone this irritating. I'm just walking peacefully—what did I do to him? All he does is chase people down and bite!"
Fan Yu was seething but couldn't pinpoint who was insulting him. He directed all his rage at Meng Shuping, pulling his sword from the wall and pointing it at him. "So tell me, who are you really, and why are you here?"
Some who knew Meng Shuping's identity decided to stay and watch. If Fan Yu dared to harm someone brought by the prince, things were about to get interesting.
When Fan Yu repeated the question, Meng Shuping looked at him as if he were an idiot. He asked earnestly, "Aren't you here to use the restroom? What else could you possibly do here?"
He genuinely thought Fan Yu had a screw loose. "I already said I'm here to use the restroom. Can't he understand? And he's with the Military Hall Department? How can he be this stupid?"
"Wait, maybe there are other things to do in a restroom?"
"Yikes."
"Does he want to have a tryst here?"
"Eww, his tastes are too gross! How can he stand the smell?"
Fan Yu's eyes reddened with fury. He now suspected that the voice belonged to the man before him. Though he didn't know how, the voice seemed to be this person's inner thoughts.
He glared and pressed the blade closer to Meng Shuping's neck. "Stop with the games! Give me a straight answer! Why are you really at the Military Hall Department?"
If he ever found out the truth, he'd make this person regret it!
After being interrogated repeatedly, Meng Shuping's frustration peaked. Gathering his courage, he retorted stiffly, "I'm the prince's personal guard. Of course, I'm here on duty. Did you think I came here to play?"
"The prince's personal guard?" Fan Yu sneered. "You? You look pretty scrawny. Could you even take one punch from me? If you're going to lie, at least make it believable!"
Meng Shuping looked at Fan Yu in disbelief. "Still better than being all brawn and no brains!"
"Hahahaha!" The onlookers burst into laughter again. Though they didn't know how Meng Shuping had become the prince's personal guard, he certainly didn't look like a fighter.
Thinking they were laughing at him, Fan Yu raised his sword to strike. The others quickly intervened. "Lord Fan, stop! He really is the prince's personal guard. If you don't believe us, ask the prince!"
Fan Yu halted his blade abruptly and turned in disbelief. "You're not lying?"
The others replied, "Why would we lie? He was in the prince's room earlier! Just go ask the prince and you'll see."
Fan Yu's suspicious gaze swept over Meng Shuping. He said darkly, "If you're the prince's personal guard, why are you hiding your face?"
If Meng Shuping hadn't seemed so suspicious, he wouldn't have questioned him in the first place.
Meng Shuping avoided eye contact guiltily and muttered sheepishly, "My face was burned by fire when I was a child, and it was accidentally disfigured."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone began to look at Fan Yu with reproachful eyes. He's suffered enough already—how could Fan Yu suspect him just because of that?
Fan Yu was momentarily speechless and stubbornly retorted, "Then why did you run when you saw me?"
Meng Shuping glanced up at him and said softly, "I have low self-esteem and avoid people."
"Of course it's because he looks fierce! He's the one who looks scary and he has the nerve to blame others for running? Shouldn't he have some self-awareness?"
Fan Yu was so angry he wanted to draw his sword again, but this time, everyone was getting fed up with him. "Lord Fan, aren't you going too far? You can't just pick on someone because they're timid!"
"Exactly, how can you be so heartless? What has he ever done to you that you're deliberately picking on him?"
"Besides, he works for the prince. Aren't you afraid of facing the prince's wrath if you keep this up?"
Meng Shuping kept agreeing inwardly, "That's right, that's right! I'm definitely telling the prince about this later! He'll regret crossing me!"
Fan Yu felt both stifled and disdainful. Let this guy complain all he wanted—he hadn't actually hurt anyone, and he didn't believe Prince Zhao could do anything to him anyway!
He shot a vicious glare at Meng Shuping before turning and leaving. Sooner or later, he would make sure Prince Zhao couldn't stay here either!
Seeing Fan Yu leave, Meng Shuping also dashed back. He plopped angrily into his seat and grumbled, "What kind of person is that? How could someone like him even get into the Military Hall Department? That bastard! Is he blind? I'm here to be his guard—he might be safe, but I almost lost my life!"
Jiang Cihe was very puzzled. What had happened to Meng Shuping? He asked nonchalantly, "You just went out—did something happen? Why did it take you so long to come back?"